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Herod's Will and the Inheritance of His Kingdom Disputed
During his life Herod had written six wills and the sixth will was made only
five days before his death. No doubt it needed the authorization of the emperor.
So as soon as Herod died Archelaus took over the leadership but he did not
accept the title of king nor allow himself to be crowned. Immediately after the
Passover Archelaus and Antipas left for Rome to dispute the last two wills of
Herod while Philip took care of the home front.
Archelaus claimed that Augustus should ratify Herod's last will because it
expressed Herod's desire just before he died. On the other hand Antipas claimed
that the fifth will which already had been ratified did have greater validity
because when Herod designated Antipas as king he was in good physical and mental
health, whereas when he named Archelaus as king in the codicils he was stricken
both in mind and body and was incapable of good reasoning.
To complicate the situation further, there was a revolt in Palestine while the
two brothers were in Rome disputing the will. The result of this revolt was that
a Jewish delegation was sent to Rome pleading for the autonomy of the nation and
for its union with the province of Syria. By now Philip had also gone to Rome.
After long debate and delay Augustus decided on a compromise solution, Augustus
designated Archelaus as ethnarch with the promise to be made king if he proved
capable of that position and was to rule over Idumea, Judea, and; Samaria.
Antipas was made tetrarch over Galilee and Perea and Philip was made tetrarch
over Gaulanitis, Tranchonitis, Batanea, and Paneas. Therefore, although Antipas
lost claim to kingship, he prevented Archelaus from being king over the whole
realm.