In Mark 6, Herodias plots and schemes to put John the Baptist to death. She is unhappy with John because he criticized her marriage to Herod. Herodias was originally married to Herod’s brother Philip, but Herod took Herodias as his own wife (6:17). This violated Leviticus 18:16 and John confronted Herod about it (6:18). Herodias wasn’t receptive to the correction.
Herodias wanted to put John to death, but Herod did not. He tried to reach a compromise by putting John in jail (6:17, 20). This satisfied Herod, but it didn’t satisfy Herodias. She will go on to use trickery to get what she wants.
Herodias’ daughter (now Herod’s step-daughter) danced before Herod and all of his nobles and military men at his birthday banquet. Herod was so impressed with her that he offered her anything she wanted: “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you, up to half my kingdom” (6:22-23). This was a rash vow that Herod will end up regretting. Herodias takes advantage of the opportunity and instructs her daughter to ask for John to be beheaded (6:24).
When the daughter makes the request to Herod, he’s trapped. He’s promised the daughter whatever she wants. All of his nobles and military men are watching. Will he keep his promise or will he back down? Herod has found himself in a dilemma. The text says he didn’t want to kill John, but he goes through with it anyway (6:26-28).
Herod’s place in this story can be contrasted with the story of Jephthah in Judges 11 (cf. Hebrews 11). Jephthah also made a vow regarding his daughter; his daughter who danced before him. The difference is that Jephthah’s vow was inspired by the Holy Spirit, Herod’s was not. Herod is a wicked king; he lacks godly direction. Mark 6 presents him as a false Jephthah.
Furthermore, we could say that Herodias’ daughter is a false Esther. King Ahasuerus makes the same promise to Esther as Herod does to the daughter, almost verbatim: “What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you, up to half the kingdom!” (Esther 5:3). Esther, of course, uses this opportunity for good – to destroy the wicked and exalt the righteous. Herodias’ daughter does the opposite. She destroys the righteous (John) to exalt the wicked (Herodias).
If Herod is a false Jephthah and if the daughter is a false Esther, what about Herodias? Herodias is presented as a new Jezebel. What Jezebel was to Ahab in the Old Testament (1 Kings 21), Herodias is to Herod in the New. These women are behind the scenes, using deception to make things happen.
Mark 6 gives us a combination of allusions to Old Testament characters and events. It also serves as a preview of the future. This same Herod will play a part in the conspiracy to kill Jesus. In that story-line a new ruler, Pilate, and his wife are added to the mix. Pilate faces the same dilemma Herod did in Mark 6. He’s reluctant to put Jesus to death but he goes through with it anyway.
But there’s a twist: Pilate’s wife tried to dissuade Pilate from killing Jesus (Matthew 27:19). She is an anti-Herodias and anti-Jezebel. Herod wickedly gave in to his wife’s request; Pilate wickedly refused his wife’s request.
Esther, Herod, Herodias' daughter, Jephthah, Jezebel, John the Baptist, Pilate
