The Kingdom of Herod the Great

Map of Herods Kingdom During the New Testament. Herod the Great and his Kingdom. During the time of the birth of Jesus in the New Testament Israel was under the dominion of King Herod "the Great". Herod was the son of Antipater, an Idumean (Edomite) who had come to the aid of Julius Caesar in Alexandria and was made chief minister of Judea in 47 BC. Later in 40 BC Marc Antony and Octavian and the Roman Senate appointed Herod as King of Judea. Although he had many enemies to overcome, Herod defeated them and made himself the recognized king of Judea in 37 BC.