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Herod
Herod became king in 37 BC because his father Antipater had helped the Roman general Pompej
conquer Jerusalem in 63 BC. Herod was a ruthless ruler whose first and main goal was to destroy the Maccabeans who had ruled
before him. He killed all of them, except the princess Mary whom he married. Mary committed adultery with Herod's brother
Joseph while Herod was in Rome (29 BC). When Herod returned and was informed of the adultery, he executed Mary. He then executed
her sons because they were more popular than him with the Jews: they had Maccabean blood. This story is somehow reflected
in the legend that Jesus was the son of Mary and Joseph and that Herod wanted to kill all the Jewish children to make sure
none of them would claim the title of king. It is unlikely that Jesus was the illegitimate son of the historical Mary and
Joseph, because it would make him too old, but the coincidence is striking.
SOPHIA OF WISDOM III
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