'There was in the days of Herod the king of Judea.' Luke 1 v 5

Herod was Idumean, his family coming from Edom and following the Jewish religion. His father Antipater took advantage of the trouble in Israel and in the Roman Empire to forward the family's ambitions; Herod had the same ability.

He was brought up in Idumea, and when he was 26 his father made him governor of Galilee. He soon fell foul of the Sanhedrin, so began showering gifts on the Romans, who gave him the governorship of Coele - Syria (Phoenicia) and Samaria, palaces and land. After Julius Caesar's murder Herod supported Mark Antony with supplies; Antony made him tetrarch (regional ruler for Rome)

Herod dealt with the Jews in two ways; by marrying a princess of the Hasmonean ruling family, and executing the many Jewish nobles who opposed him. He also created a loyal ruling class by giving the members land and possessions. These men were called herodians (Matthew ch 22 v 16) Antony persuaded the Senate to make Herod, king of Judea in 37 BC because he was the only strong man left in the area.