Herod was an excellent king in certain respects. He maintained external peace in his land. He beautified his own and neighboring countries. He was admired not only by the Roman empire, but also by the Jews outside Judea whose standards of value had changed through contact with Greek civilization. It is not difficult to understand why many people called Herod "the Great."

Yet the majority of Jews of his own kingdom disliked him, and Jews of later generations called him "the Wicked." He pleased the pagans in the land and the cities prospered but the common Jew sank into poverty. When Herod died, the pagans among them mourned while the Jews rejoiced.