Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
(Matt. 2:1-22; Luke 1:5; Acts 23:35), the son of Antipater, an Idumaean, and Cypros, an Arabian of noble descent. C. 40), and also king of Judea by the Roman senate. He was of a stern and cruel disposition. ” Alarmed by the tidings of one “born King of the Jews,” he sent forth and “slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under” (Matt. 2:16). He was fond of splendour, and lavished great sums in rebuilding and adorning the cities of his empire. ), which he called Sebaste, in honour of Augustus. D. 50 (John 2:20).
, according to the common chronology, in the year in which Jesus was born. After his death his kingdom was divided among three of his sons. Of these, Philip had the land east of Jordan, between Caesarea Philippi and Bethabara, Antipas had Galilee and Peraea, while Archelaus had Judea and Samaria.