Archaeologist Finds King Herod's Tomb

Tomb Is At Site Called Herodium, Visible From Southern Jerusalem, Hebrew University Says

(AP)  An Israeli archaeologist has found the tomb of King Herod, the legendary builder of ancient Jerusalem and the Holy Land, Hebrew University said late Monday.

The tomb is at a site called Herodium, a flattened hilltop in the Judean Desert, clearly visible from southern Jerusalem. Herod built a palace on the hill, and researchers discovered his burial site there, the university said.

The university had hoped to keep the find a secret until Tuesday, when it planned a news conference to disclose the find in detail, but the Haaretz newspaper found out about the discovery and published an article on its Web site.

Herod became the ruler of the Holy Land under the Romans around 74 B.C. The wall he built around the Old City of Jerusalem still stands, and he also ordered big construction projects in Caesaria, Jericho, the hilltop fortress of Massada and other sites.

It has long been assumed Herod was buried at Herodium, but decades of excavations had failed to turn up the site. The 1st century historian Josephus Flavius described the tomb and Herod's funeral procession.

Haaretz said the tomb was found by archaeologist Ehud Netzer, a Hebrew University professor who has been working at Herodium since 1972. The paper said the tomb was in a previously unexplored area between the two palaces Herod built on the site. Herod died in 4 B.C. in Jericho.

Herodium was one of the last strong points held by Jewish rebels fighting against the Romans, and it was conquered and destroyed by Roman troops in A.D. 71, a year after they destroyed the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

[grazinggoat]

CBS:'Herodium was one of the last strong points held by Jewish rebels fighting against the Romans, and it was conquered and destroyed by Roman troops in A.D. 71, a year after they destroyed the Second Temple in Jerusalem.'

-How can that be?, were Jews rebels and insurgents? Did they commit suicidal attacks?...

-SickRick, this is too nice to read... to tell you that even Jesus was a freedom Fighter... a rebel, He wanted to take power back from the Roman invaders...

[book54552134]

After being able to keep secret the discovery of Jesus' tomb for so many years (check History Channel's archives on their show, 'Digging for the Truth', for more info on this,) it's surprising the Israeli's were not more successful in their efforts to keep this issue also a secret as was their wish.

[grazinggoat]

SickRick, this is too nice to read... to tell you that even Jesus was a freedom Fighter... a rebel, He wanted to take power back from the Roman invaders...
Posted by grazinggoat at 12:15 AM : May 08, 2007

-grazingoat, if Jesus Christ walked in front of you and performed a miracle you still wouldn't believe in Him, would ya?

It's so incredibly difficult for you to go one posting without an insult isn't it???
Posted by singinrick at 12:25 AM : May 08, 2007


-What's so insulting in what I said SickRick. Jesus was a fighter, but he was not well protected and supported by the Jewish intelligensia of the times, so thye let him fight alone. When he found out it would take more than dining and wining the 12 apostles, he turned pacifistic like Neru Ghandi did later on. Too late for Jesus, the rebellion-insurgency accusation was proved on him, which resulted in his crussifiction.

-You still wanna believe in fairy tales, so be it. But don't tell me I'm sladering or insulting you.

[grazinggoat]

SickRick,
If you want to make a devine event of the crussifiction of Jesus, so be it. Of Course Jesus was loving and the crussifiction was the ultimate gift he could give to his people. Exactly the same thing the Insurgents in Iraq are doing to fight the invaders which our Army is doing under the orders of greedy Gwalking-LiarBush and ******** Cheny...

[grazinggoat]

Like I said. Jesus could walk up to you, and perform a miracle, and you still wouldn't believe.

That's your loss, not mine. I believe in Christ nd what He did on the cross for our sins and will until the day I die!

Posted by singinrick at 12:37 AM : May 08, 2007

-SickRick,
If Jesus walked to me, he'd say what an intelligent woman you are. And He'd say I'm right. By the way I have not had the chance to watch the davinci secret. They say it's quite good. It'll be my next DVD rental.

[micma-2009]

singinrick


I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

[micma-2009]

singinrick


Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

[micma-2009]

singinrick



A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?

[micma-2009]

"micma, do you believe in the Bible?"


Yes, absolutely. But I have many questions.


For example:

I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

[grazinggoat]

So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world%u2019s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish.
Posted by singinrick at 12:50 AM : May 08, 2007

- SickRick, Thanks for making a brilliant debater of me. Told you Even Jesus would say that... and he'd have pity of you, 'cause you take anything for granted and you blindedly believe in everything the preacher says with no questionning whatsoever. You are such a dummy believer...

[book54552134]

singinrick - I prefer to accept documentary evidence from the History Channel rather than your unsubstantiated interpretation of their work.

[micma-2009]

singinrick


Lev.21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle- room here?

[micma-2009]

singinrick


I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?


Also, my uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Should we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like they do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)


I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help.


Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

[grazinggoat]

Good night everyone. Need to go to bed. Got to serve earrrrrrly tomorrow morning. And don't be too rough on SickRick.

[micma-2009]

singinrick


I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2. clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to stone him myself, or should I call in an angry mob and do it in the public square?

[book54552134]

singinrick - How was that documentary in any way disparaging of Jesus or Christianity?
I suspect you like to make up fault simply because you like to argue about ... whatever.

[randalds]

Good night everyone. Need to go to bed. Got to serve earrrrrrly tomorrow morning. And don't be too rough on SickRick.
Posted by grazinggoat at 01:06 AM : May 08, 2007

-Good night grazin', and God Bless you.

Work on that "SickRick" would ya.

You'd be pleasantly surprised if you were my neighbor.

Posted by singinrick at 01:12 AM : May 08, 2007

I'd be careful of that GG. I mean ricky takes the bible literally, so watch it when he starts talking about "love thy neighbor". lol

[closethippy]

As an atheist I'd like to bring to the attention of all believers a little note written in the above article about King Herod's death. It reads, "Herod died in 4 B.C. in Jericho."
To me that's the funniest thing but you guys probably still don't get it, do you?
Mr. Herod, you see, died 4 years BEFORE CHRIST. That's what B.C. stands for, doesn't it? OK, then, how in the world could this man have ordered the slaughter of children in his persuit of Geezus when the man wasn't even around?
And how come that only 1 (ONE), of the gospels mentions the supposed slaughter of these children while there's no mention of it whatsoever in the other 3 gospels. Does that mean killing children doesn't impress some Christ fans?
And how come the historian Josephus Flavius who's mentioned in the article above and who wrote a biography of King Herod doesn't mention at all this supposed slaughter of children?
And how come there's not a single eyewitness account of such slaughter anywhere OUTSIDE of that one freaking gospel?
I hope this is a good history lesson to all you folks who would rather believe in fairy tales than look at the evidence at hand, or lack of it as it's very clear in this case, to form a judgement about the world we live in.
People like you are an embarrasment to humanity.

To Closethippy:
Stop embarrasing yourself by displaying your ignorance. They were many "Herods" mentioned in the bible. Herod was the name of several members of the Herodian Dynasty of Roman Iudaea Province. I would suggest that you go to Wikipedia and read up on them. It's really sad that you find so little happiness in your own life that you feel it necessary to try to make fun and try to erode other people's faith by making ridiculous statements. If you don't believe in God...then fine...but why do you care if others do? You are pitiful.

[gkc99]

If the story in the bible about Herod the Great ordering the deaths of all new-born boys around the time of the birth of Yesu bin Yosif, who later became a rabbi, is true, clearly the folks who attribute supernatural powers to the late Yesu miscounted the years. Plus, they royally screwed up in assigning the year of Yesu's birth as 1 AD, not 0 AD--witness the big dispute about when the millenium actually began. But what can you expect--they were Romans who started the count centuries later when they made this Jewish cult the official religion of the world's greatest military superpower. Romans didn't understand the number 0. There is no digit in the Roman numerical system for 0.

Finding Herod's tomb neither proves nor disproves any of the mythology about dead guys coming back to life.

[preacherbob1]

Finding Herod's tomb neither proves nor disproves any of the mythology about dead guys coming back to life.
Posted by gkc99

dear fellow - gkc, I beg to differ with your inane assessment.

Herod

[preacherbob1]

Finding Herod's tomb neither proves nor disproves any of the mythology about dead guys coming back to life.
Posted by gkc99

dear fellow - gkc, I beg to differ with your inane assessment.

Herod

[pwrslm]

people talk down to christians because it makes them feel like they are better and smarter in some respect

but its not true, its a false pride

pride cometh before the fall, eh?

little do they know that most of life is spiritual, and they dont even know it exists...

[rushman71]

closethippy: There is still the debate on what the actual year Jesus was born. We could be actually in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. Correct me if I'm wrong. I'm not a historian. But I do pay attention to what is being told in the books, by the media, and compare it to the bible--the Word of God--which has been around a lot longer.

[Joelran]

closethippy: There is still the debate on what the actual year Jesus was born. We could be actually in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. Correct me if I'm wrong. I'm not a historian. But I do pay attention to what is being told in the books, by the media, and compare it to the bible--the Word of God--which has been around a lot longer.
Posted by rushman71 at 09:16 AM : May 08, 2007

Ummm, the bible was written by man, edited by man, and censored by man for the last 1600 + years. Parts were left out, other parts changed to reflect the politics of the deifferent times.
Plus if you believe man, a finite and limited creature at best, can understand the infinite wisdom and knowledge of God, that is pretty arrogant.

[hopeingod-2009]

Look guys, Christianity is based on....FAITH. Faith is hope in things unseen. I hope you guys are just trying to be funny with some of these statements. One day, Jesus will split the Eastern sky and pronounce that time will be no more. Are you ready? There is literally a Heaven and a Hell. You will spend eternity in one or the other. God is real. I know he is real, because when I accepted him into my heart when I was 9 years old I felt it. I can still feel it today. You may not want to believe it, but you can't tell me it isn't real. May God Bless All.

[grumpas]

Doesn't mean it's right though. It's no secret that people have been trying to disprove the Bible for centuries however, and never have been able to do so.....and never will. They can try, but they won't succeed. Posted by Singinrick

They have never been able to prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt either! After how many thousands of years, it's still an unproven fact. Christianity is built on pure faith! Nothing more! That you are actually reading the word of God! That it wasn't thought up by some man centuries ago who thought people needed some guidance! So, It cannot be proven either. It's very likely it never will be! You want people to respect your belief's...but never give an ounce of respect to belief's different from yours! Good advise for Christian's! You catch a lot more flies with good deeds than you do bible verses! All the bible verses turn people completely off!

[prolegomena]

Actually, arrogance lies more in the notion that God is incapable of revealing himself, or that He is unwilling to communicate with His creation in such a way that they will understand.

In constrast, it is ignorance that refuses to study the history of Scripture, and know that it is, indeed, the very breath of God-- composed in joint venture through prophets and apostles, and which has been safeguarded for many, many centuries. Our Jewish friends did a wonderful job faithfulling keeping the Hebrew Scriptures, some of which pre-date Moses (c. 1500 BC), and the Church has faithfully preserved both that and the New Testament for another 2000 years.

Arrogance and ignorance are both quite unsavory.

[jennmarie620]

... umm ...

If Herod became leader of Jerusalem around 72 A.D., how could he have been alive when Jesus was roughly 30 years old to judge him and ask him to prove he was the son of God?

[mitch0927]

rushman71,
Hate to burst your bubble, but the word of God you are referring to was translated and written 1200 years after Jesus walked the earth as a man. Hence "The King James Version". It is an interpretation of many years removed.

[jn122736]

Re. "Like andersonk49 said, feel free not to believe in the Bible, that is your right, but down-talking those who do is down talking millions of people around the world who believe in Christ."
Posted by singinrick at 08:00 AM : May 08, 2007
--------------------------------
singinrick, do you mean like you constantly %u201Cdown-talk%u201D millions of people who believe in Mohammad when you call him a %u201Cfalse god%u201D?

[jennmarie620]

What I find so interesting is the fact that so many Christians swear by the Bible as the word of God - they dispute history and science and call anyone who tries to disprove anything in the Bible a nonbeliever. But how many of them have actually studied the Bible and compared it to actual history? For example: Moses did not lead the Jews through the Red Sea - but the Sea of Reeds (mistranslation). The Red Sea was hundres of miles out of their way - the Sea of Reeds was on the direct route the Jews historically claim to have taken out of Egypt. And the origianl Aramaic writing of the prophecy in the Old Testament does not claim the son of God will be born to a virgin woman - but an innocent woman. When the Greeks translated the Old Testament, there was no greek word for 'innocent' so they used the greek word for virgin. If you're going to live by a book, then you should research it. Faith is not meant to be blind.

[nothappyatall]

"If Herod became leader of Jerusalem around 72 A.D., how could he have been alive when Jesus was roughly 30 years old to judge him and ask him to prove he was the son of God?
Posted by jennmarie620"

Like most of the biBULL, it's full of errors, conflicting statements and claims and worse.
Time to dump this old book and make up a new fantasy story.

[rushman71]

jennmarie620: You got it wrong. It was Pontius Pilate who ran the trial of His crucifixion. King Herod was still alive when word of the Messiah was being born. He called for all the boys 2 years and younger to be killed. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[jennmarie620]

Newster1 ~

I know. I was pointing out the fact that Herod would have been well over 100 years old had he taken power of Jerusalem in 72A.D. and actually been alive to face the accusations against Jesus. The Bible is full of inaccurate information. I have taken six years of theology classes - learning about ALL of the major world religions.

[nothappyatall]

"I know he is real, because when I accepted him into my heart when I was 9 years old I felt it.
Posted by hopeinGOD"

Hmm, so that makes you about 10 years old now then, better have daddy explain that Santa Claus and the tooth fairy as well as jesus and god are things only 5 year olds believe in.

[rushman71]

newster1: Step down, dumpster1!!! If you don't believe in the Word of God, you don't believe in anything!!!

[jennmarie620]

Rushman ~

You are wrong. Pontius Pilate was the Roman leader who sentenced Jesus to death. But Herod was acting on behalf of the Jews. Initially, Pilate told Herod to handle the situation because he didn't want to get involved but when Jesus refused to provide Herod proof that he was the Messiah, Herod handed it back over to Pilate.

[jennmarie620]

... for anyone who is interested, I recommend you read a book titled "Childhood's End" by Arthur C. Clark. For Christian believers and others - it will give you a new perspective and something to think about.

[rushman71]

Herod the Great (c. 74-4 BC), king of Judea who reconstructed the Second Temple in Jerusalem and was described in the Gospel of Matthew as ordering the "Massacre of the Innocents";
Herod Archelaus (23 BC-c. AD 18), ethnarch of Samaria, Judea, and Idumea;
Herod Antipas (20 BC-c. AD 40), tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea, who was described in the New Testament as ordering John the Baptist's death and as mocking Jesus;
Herod Agrippa I (c. 10 BC-AD 44), king of Judea, called "Herod" in the Acts of the Apostles;
Herod Philip I (4 BC-AD 34), tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis;
Herod Philip II, father of Salome
Herod III, also known as Herod of Chalcis, king of Chalcis (AD 41-48);
Herod Agrippa II (AD 27-100), tetrarch of Chalcis who was described in Acts of the Apostles as "King Agrippa" before whom Paul of Tarsus defended himself.

I truly don't think it was the same Herod!!!

[tm_bailey]

Ok, so Herod was a little off. But why must we argue religion. This is a piece of history. They've found a "lost kingdom". Why can't that be cool enough. Yes it amy help identify landmarks in the Bible, but why? If you believe, you believe...if you don't, you don't. You have the freedom of religion, please don't push it onto everyone here. Not everyone wants to be converted.

[flreason]

There was more than one Herod, folks. And what fun is religion without puzzles to explore? That's why the creator gave us brains. Kudos to this guy for sticking with it for 35 years.

[jetlizhan]

funny how we all get off the subject of the news story at hand - but hopeinGod, your post name says it all - our only hope is in God and yes, i feel it too. it's so real and i feel sorry for anyone that has never accepted Jesus. newster1 is a pitiful example - to never see the kingdom of Heaven is so unthinkable to me. to burn in hell is also unthinkable and so needless. all one has to do is accept Jesus! jennmarie620, you're pretty much full of it if you think the Bible has inaccuracies - if you don't believe in the Bible, then what you DO believe in isn't worth believing in.

[rushman71]

tm_wilson: you are absolutely right about this. Unfortunately, there are those who love twiddle with the believers all they can to try and disprove the existance of God and Jesus. What they believe in is up to them. But making us look like idiots is totally disrespectful.

[jennmarie620]

jetlizhan ~

You, and people like you, are the reason that nonChristians find Christians so abhorrent sometimes. I have not once called anyone a name, or told anyone they were stupid for believing in God or the Bible - but theology professor is one of the most faithful Chrsitians you will ever meet and yet HE even points out the inaccuracies in the Bible. But you, you are intolerant of anyone who doesn't believe as you do and has factual documents and reports from Theologans and Historians alike to back them up.

"newster1 is a pitiful example - to never see the kingdom of Heaven is so unthinkable to me. to burn in hell is also unthinkable and so needless. all one has to do is accept Jesus! jennmarie620, you're pretty much full of it if you think the Bible has inaccuracies - if you don't believe in the Bible, then what you DO believe in isn't worth believing in."

Didn't Jesus teach tolerance? Wow, you failed his lesson in what? Two minutes?

[flreason]

Oops! rushman71 beat me to the punch--and much more eruditely. Thanks! Knowledge doesn't destroy belief, it helps focus and enhance it. Religious belief should not be a place that once you get there you stop learning. As the Quakers said in their traditional welcome "...truth hath many aspects and love is large enough to encompass them all..."

[rf35]

The whole problem with the bible is that it has good history interwoven with pure fantasy. It also tries to pawn off events that were not easily explained by the science of the time as miracles or acts of God. That taints the historically accurate sections and causes thinking people to doubt and seek proof. Occasionally, one of the historically real people or places is found and thus proven. However, cases such as this only prove that specific person. Herod existed. That%u2019s all.

Perhaps the bible was not meant to be a history book, but rather an epic drama. Much of today%u2019s entertainment is full of people, places, events, etc. that are very real with some fictional characters and events thrown in. If these were read/viewed 2,000 years from now by a culture that spoke a language totally un-related to any currently in use, they might well glean several historically accurate facts, yet they also might have a very hard time separating the facts from the fictional elements. I would posit a similar problem with the bible. Translated from several languages, mostly dead ones, and with a level of accuracy that has often been questioned; re-translated several times; passed down for thousands of years; assembled by folks with ulterior motives. It is not questioned that the bible is an amalgamation of multiple documents. Why is it not possible that some of these are fictional or at least contain fictional elements?

[jankebenz]

FOOLS! thats what scripture calls thoes who say " there is no God " and also that " fools thinks themselves wise " Daniel accurately invisioned world events and governments thousands of years before they came to be. How can anyone believe in the so called 'big bang theroy' and or evolution when any explosion creates nothing but chaos and mayhem plus the fact that the geatest minds with all their knowledge and technology can not create life even in the simplest form The search for TRUTH is found only in that "old book"

[hopeingod-2009]

Newster 1, Thank you for responding to my comment. I was hoping to get some feedback. Actually I am 25 years old with a wife and 2 sons. I have been a preacher since the Lord called me at age 17. Listen, you have to want what Christ has to offer. It is free will. The table is always spread. It is up to you to eat. Nothing will be forced on you. I don't know you at all, but I hope the best for you. I just want everyone to know what Jesus has done in my life. I am not perfect, I sin and come short of the Glory of God each and every day, but Jesus still loves me. He saved me from Hell. Although I will fail along the way, I am going to try my best to live for God. And teach my children about the Lord also. But in the end, they will have to accept it for themselves also. Oh, and by the way, are you telling me santa isn't real? No way, now I am depressed. Well I must get back to work now. Take care everyone and Good Day.

[rushman71]

rf35: do you have any PROOF that ANYTHING in the bible is FICTION!!!!!!!