Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Matthew 14:6
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
But when Herod’s birthday was kept, etc.] The birthdays of princes, both of their coming into the world, and accession to the throne of government, were kept by the Gentiles; as by the Egyptians, (<014020>Genesis 40:20) and by the f834 Persians, and Romans f835, and other nations, but not by the Jews; who reckon these among the feasts of idolaters. “These (say they f836) are the feasts of idolaters; the “Calends”, and the “Saturnalia”, the time kept in memory of subduing a kingdom (or when a king takes possession of it, the day of his accession), µyklm lç ayswng µwyw, “and the birthday of kings” (when they are made and crowned, the day of coronation), and the day of birth, and the day of death.” And it is a question, whether this day, that was kept, was the day of Herod’s natural birth, or of his civil government, being his accession, or coronation day: and it might also be a question, whether it was the then present Herod’s birthday, or whether it was not his father Herod’s, was it not that Mark says, (<410621>Mark 6:21) it was his birthday; since it is the latter the poet f837 refers to, as kept by Jews, when he says, “At cum Herodis venere dies”; and the old Scholiast upon him observes, that “Herod reigned over the Jews in Syria, in the times of Augustus; therefore the Herodians kept Herod’s birthday, as also the sabbath, on which day they set up candles in the windows lighted, and encircled with violets.” This they did, believing him to be the Messiah: and it is further to be observed, that the word here used, is said f838 to be proper to the dead, and not to the living; and that he that uses it of the living, speaks very inaccurately: but however, it was a festival, and a time of great mirth and jollity; and a proper opportunity offered to Herodias, to execute her malicious designs against John the Baptist; for at this time, the daughter of Herodias danced before them: in the original text it is, “in the midst”, in the middle of the hall; or in the midst of the company, the lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee, for whom Herod made a supper, (<410621>Mark 6:21) and the Syriac renders it akyms µdq, “before the guests”. Music and dancing were usual at such entertainments, they were the common appendages of a feast f839: the daughter of Herodias, who danced before the company for their diversion, whether alone, or with others, was very probably Salome f840, whom she had by her former husband; and therefore is called, not the daughter of Herod, but of Herodias: and pleased Herod; and as Mark adds, “and them that sat with him”; so that the pleasure he had did not arise merely from the respect and honour shown to him and his birthday, by her appearing with so much cheerfulness on this occasion before him; who had taken her father’s wife from him, and defiled her mother; but from the airs, gestures, and motions of the lady in dancing; which were so extremely fine and regular, that she gave wonderful satisfaction and delight to Herod, and the whole company.
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