Saturnalia, the lively Roman pagan celebration during the winter from which we derive many of our modern, Christmas traditions' has come to an end. Our family has made it out of 2018 a little worse for wear but intact and ready for a healthy 2019.
During our time of celebration, we binge watched history, art-history, art-tutorials, documentaries with a few film noir and classics splashed in the mix; not rambunctious enough for those die-hard Saturnalia festivities but we were entertained.
One such documentary was on King Herod's (The Great- 37 -4BC) reign, his life, his wicked character, his accomplishments as a great architect and his painful end. He lived during the times of Jesus and was appointed to his position by Agustus (Caius Julius Ceasar Octavianus 63 BCE-14CE.)
The documentary stated that the only place the evil deed of decreeing male babies under the age of two be killed after realizing he was duped by the Magi was in the gospel of Matthew, that no other source mentions it, therefore, this deed can not be attributed to Herod. My ears pricked up at this claim and sent me on a little research path.
Just to make it clear, I do this for fun, not to prove a point, I also am not a teacher and may have missed things. I already believe the Bible is inerrant and perfect, I don't need to question it but these exercises help my thinking and study skills. A Christian should be able to think in a well-rounded manner about all subjects. We are given a lifetime and oodles of material to try and perfect that habit!
Findings:
The Book of Matthew is a synoptic gospel. Synoptic meaning to afford a general view of a whole. Matthew, Mark and Luke are symbiotic and similar yet written by different men with different personalities and views, the three books are very similar with shared content. The book of John is different in its stylistic composition. I like to point out that Matthew hung out with Mark and John but most likely didn't meet Luke. The four gospel accounts are like a puzzle piece that fit together, unique with similarity, yet different but when looked at in larger context, fit together beautifully. Mathew also wrote from first-hand experience, he was Jesus' disciple. A tax-collector who could understand more complex systems (finances and government) and the political environment, hence the reason why he discusses Herod more than the other books.
Fact: Matthew is the only gospel account with the mention of the decree to kill the male boys under two in Bethlehem. Matthew 2:16.
Fact: The Matthew 2:16 scripture fulfills a prophecy from Jeremiah 31:15. Matthew takes the time to re-write the prophecy that was fulfilled down in his gospel. It relates to Rachel weeping over her children. Israel weeping for the death of their children.
- No one knows the exact number of babies killed. Often the number may be exaggerated to thousands. Bethlehem and the surrounding areas were small and the number may be less, regardless any number is tragic.
 |
'Saturn Clause'
Photo by: Chandra Brown |
Fact: Luke mentions the rule of Augustus and that he decreed a census should be taken while Quirinius was the Governor of Syria. The first Census was around 4-6 B.C. and displaced many people temporarily to their ancestral homes. Travel in those days took time... (*Syria is important). Luke 2:1-4. (Also fulfills a prophecy, Micah 5:2). Quirinius was probably involved in helping Augustus acquire territory and maintain the control. Judea was under full Roman control by 14 AD.
Scholars say Josephus, the secular, 'go to' historian of that time did not mention this evil act of Herod and Josephus wrote of Herod's atrocities in detail and liked to demonize Herod in his writing. They use this as a point to nullify Matthews account.
I'd like to point out Josephus didn't mention Nicolas of Damascus, a central figure and right hand man to Herod. Nicolas was important before and after King Herod's death and is no where to be found in Josephus' accounts of the death of Herod. Should I nullify Nicolas entirely as being at the death of Herod? Was Josephus in error to not put Nicolas in the account? The answer to both is NO. All historians have a personal view with discretion to add a detail or not. Josephus is still extremely credible. Matthew is too.
Fact: Herod was a paranoid, evil man who acted against those he supposedly loved and did not love with murderous decrees. His view of humanity was consistent across the board. He killed all with no regard. On his death bed, his paranoia and pain drove his madness to order a collective assassination of the notables of Judea, they were held in Jericho's Hippodrome theatre and were ordered to be slaughtered as his death commenced in order to ensure there would be mourning in the city. (Thank goodness they were spared by Salome and Alexas...)
- Herod's character and history support his maniacal behavior
Fact: Ambrosius Theodosius Macrobias (395-423), a pagan Roman scholar mentions in his book, Saturnalia, "When he [emperor Augustus] heard that among the boys in *Syria under two years old whom Herod, king of the Jews, had ordered killed, his own son was also killed, he said: it is better to be Herod's pig, than his son."
- There are variations of this quote...Some say it was in reference to the Jewish aversion to pork
- Saturnalia was a fictional tale written to educate and discuss various subjects with the festival's theme in mind; frivolity, jest, protagonist - antagonist wrought dialogues. Could the quote in his book be tongue and cheek to teach truth? Macrobias was erudite but playful in the manner in which he tried to teach history, philosophy, rhetoric and grammer.
- I haven't read the book in entirety... I would need an educated opinion on the quote above.
Fact: History repeats itself
- Exodus 1:15 and Matthew 2:16 are parallels in the Bible.
- Powerful Egomaniacs tend to murder innocents (Pharoah and Herod)
- Herod is a foreshadow of the Antichrist. Study his life and you'll have a clue to what the Ant-Christ will be like.
Conclusion: Finis
My daughter asked a good question. Did Macrobias read the Bible to glean for his knowledge of writings? I do not know the answer but surmise since he was a devout pagan, he wouldn't have stated the above quote and given the Bible a nod. From what source was he gleaning from?
In any good research, fact finding mission, one tends to be left with more questions. That is good!
I have the Bible and I am fortunate to have the best source of truth at my fingertips.
Resources:
Ambrosius Theodosius Macrobias
Augustus
Saturnalia Translated Quote
Saturnalia-Holiday
Characteristics of Saturnalia
Herod The Great
Josephus_Herod Death
Hippodrome
4th Century Christianity
