Who was King Herod and what was he known for?
King Herod was not a believer but was known as a tremendous builder in antiquity. He remodeled and enlarged the modest temple built by Ezra and Nehemiah on Mount Moriah, making it a wonder of the ancient world and the beautiful temple complex present when Christ began His earthly ministry.
Les explains that King Herod was not even a believer, yet he loved to build and was known as a tremendous builder in antiquity. Herod took it upon himself to remodel and enlarge the small, ramshackle temple that Ezra and Nehemiah had rebuilt on Mount Moriah, turning it into a wonder of the ancient world. That beautiful temple complex stood when Christ began His earthly ministry, but it was destroyed in A.D. 70 by the Roman General Titus, leading to the Jews' dispersion.