Beheaded

On Herod's birthday, he held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders, and the leading men of Galilee. Herodias saw the banquet as her opportunity finally kill John the Baptist. And so, for the meal's entertainment, Herodias had her daughter dance. Now, the Bible does not name the daughter of Herodias. But according to historian Flavius Josephus, her name was Salome. And Salome's dancing pleased Herod and his guests. So, Herod said to Salome, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” And he swore an oath to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom!”

Salome went to her mother and asked, “What should I request?”

Herodias answered,  “The head of John the Baptist.”

Salome immediately went back to Herod with her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.”

Herod was consumed with sorrow and grief. But because he had given an oath, which was witnessed by all his guests, Herod did not want to refuse Salome. So, without delay, Herod commanded that John’s head be brought in. He sent an executioner, who went and beheaded John in the prison. Then the man brought John’s head in on a platter and presented it to Salome, who carried it to Herodias.

When John’s disciples heard the news, they came and took John's body and placed it in a tomb. And they went and told Jesus.

Later, when Herod heard about all that Jesus was doing, Herod was perplexed. He said to his servants, “I beheaded John, but who is this man I hear such things about?”

Some people said that John had risen from the dead, others said that Elijah had appeared, and still others said that a prophet of old had arisen. Even Herod had an opinion: “This is John the Baptist,” Herod said. “He has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” And from that time, Herod kept trying to see Jesus.

See Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29; Luke 9:7-9

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