archelaus the ethnarch Summary and Overview
Bible Dictionaries at a Glance
archelaus the ethnarch in Schaff's Bible Dictionary
ARCHELAUS THE ETHNARCH Archelaus, b.c. 4- a.d. 6, ethnarch of Judaea, Samaria, and Idumaea. He was the son of Herod by Malthace, and elder brother of Antipas. Herod the Great, his father, left the "kingdom" to him, but Augustus refused to ratify the will, and put him off with the inferior title ethnarch. He was tyrannical toward his subjects and regardless of their prejudices, marrying his stepbrother's wife, Glaphyra, in violation of the Mosaic Law. He was accused, and, cited to appear at Rome, was deposed from his office and banished to Vienne in Gaul. There is only one mention of Archelaus in the N.T., Matt 2:22.