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To: Constitutionalist Conservative
BZZZZZT! We're sorry, but Herod was an Edomite (descendent of Esau), not a Jew (descendent of Jacob).

Not quite. Herod's father was an Edomite. But the Hasmoneans forcibly converted the Edomites to Judaism in about 125 BCE, roughly a generation before Herod's father was born. From the writings of Josephus, it seems like the forcible conversion stuck, and the Edomites became believing Jews. So, on his father's side, I think it would be fair to say Herod was Jewish.

Herod's mother, on the other hand, was a Nabatean, not an Israelite or an Edomite.

16 posted on 11/28/2011 11:52:59 PM PST by ChicagoHebrew (.)
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To: ChicagoHebrew

Okay, cool, I didn’t know all of those details. That would explain why the Herods would be interested in building such a grand temple.

My comment was more about their ethnicity rather than their faith.


17 posted on 11/29/2011 7:14:17 AM PST by Constitutionalist Conservative (Never mind.)
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