According to Josephus, as recorded in Wikipedia: Pompey did not remove anything from the Temple or its treasury. He did, however, massacre the Priests who attempted to block his entry to the sanctuary. Pompey then entered the Holy of Holies; this was only the second time that someone had dared to penetrate into this sacred spot (with the first time having been the Syrian king, Antiochus Epiphanes, in 168BC - Editor). Pompey had gone to the Temple to satisfy his curiosity about stories he had heard about the worship of the Jewish people. He made it a priority to find out whether the Jews had no physical statue or image of God in their most sacred place of worship. To Pompey, it was inconceivable to worship a God without portraying him in a type of physical likeness, like a statue. What Pompey saw was unlike anything he had seen on his travels. He found no physical statue, religious image or pictorial description of the Hebrew God. Instead, he saw the Torah scrolls and was thoroughly confused.
Aristobulus was then taken captive to Rome. Pompey appointed Hyrcanus as high priest only and Antipater was put in charge of affairs of state.
In 48BC, during the Roman civil war between Julius Caesar and Pompey, Pompey was treacherously killed by Ptolemy XIII in Egypt. A civil war was then also raging between Ptolemy and his older sister and wife Cleopatra, and Ptolemy's advisers encouraged him to kill Pompey in order to obtain Caesar's assistance. However, Julius Caesar was disgusted at the dishonour done to a fellow Roman, in fact his son-in-law though his daughter had since died, and he took Cleopatra's side. Antipater now brought him 3000 armed Jews in reinforcements. After the victory in Alexandria, Caesar appointed Antipater chief of state in Judaea with the right to collect taxes. At this time, Antipater appointed his son Herod Governor of Galilee.
In the politics of Caesar's assassination in 44BC, Antipater took charge of raising a large sum of tax on Cassius's behalf and was poisoned by a Jewish collector in 43BC.
Herod executed the murderer, convinced Mark Antony and Octavian that his father had been forced to assist Caesar's murderers and was appointed ruler of Galilee. He was betrothed to a young girl, Mariamne, whose mother was Alexandra daughter of Hyrcanus, and whose father was Alexander her mother's cousin, son of Aristobulus. Jewish priesthood and royalty on both sides. In order to marry her, Herod now banished his first wife, Doris, along with their son Antipater. But he fled to Rome when Antigonus, another son of Aristobulus, invaded Judaea with a Parthian army from the east. Antigonus now mutilated his uncle Hyrcanus, making him unfit for priesthood and banished him to Babylon, naming himself king and high priest in his place. Meanwhile in Rome, Herod was declared to be king by Mark Antony and Octavian around 37 BC.
In September 31BC, it was the seventh year of Herod's reign according to Josephus. The sea battle of Actium was now fought between Octavian and his general Agrippa against Mark Antony. Antony had taken Cleopatra's side, favouring her son by Julius Caesar as "King of the Kings" over Octavian. Antony was defeated and committed suicide the following year when his troops defected in large numbers to Octavian. Octavian, who was about to receive the title of Augustus, now summoned Herod to a meeting. In some apprehension, Herod came. But Octavian, seeking to establish the Pax Romana confirmed Herod in his kingdom, granting him the region around Jericho which Cleopatra had detached. Herod received in addition, a number of Greek cities.
At this time, Mariamne's grandfather/great uncle Hyrcanus was accused of plotting with the Nabateans against Herod and was executed. Mariamne was then accused of plotting to kill Herod by Herod's sister Salome. She was found guilty and, to Herod's sorrow, was executed in 29BC. Her mother, Alexandra, declared Herod mentally unfit and herself Queen. She was executed immediately.
Herod now married a third time (about 25 BC), to a second lady named Mariamne, known as Mariamne II, installing her father as high priest. They had a son, Philip. Several other marriages then followed. About 20 BC, the first Mariamne's two sons Aristobulus and Alexander, now 12 years old, were sent for education in Rome. Herod now commenced the massive rebuilding of the damaged Temple — a 46 year project according to the Jews in John 2:20. He also built the city Caesarea (Maritima) on the coast. About 12 BC, both sons returned from Rome. Aristobulus married his cousin Berenice, daughter of Herod's sister Salome. They had a number of children including Herodias and Herod Agrippa I.
About 10BC, Herod made his first-born son Antipater (his son with Doris) first heir in his will. A massive rivalry accordingly developed between Antipater and his half-brothers, Aristobulus and Alexander. About 4BC both Aristobulus and Alexander were accused of plotting to kill their father, and were executed for treason. Herod's third wife, Mariamne II, was then implicated in a plot with his first son Antipater. As a result, Herod divorced her and removed her father, Simon, as high priest. Also her son, Herod Philip I, who was about to have an arranged marriage with his young niece, Herodias, was removed from the line of succession. Following the baby massacre in Bethlehem in 1BC, Herod then had his eldest son, Antipater, executed, with he himself dying just four days later. According to Josephus it was his 37th year, and 34 years from the execution of Antigonus.
Nation now became a tetrarchy (leadership of four people) - Herod Archelaus initially ruling in Judaea and Samaria, Herod Antipas ruling in Galilee and Peraea, Herod Philip II ruling in Trachonitis and Ituraea (further north) and Lysanias ruling in Abilene in the far north.
Married Herodias, the daughter of his half-brother Aristobulus and Berenice. In 14AD, Philip and Herodias have a daughter Salome. Herodias then divorced Philip and married his brother Herod Antipas.
Educated in Rome. Proclaimed king of Judaea and Samaria by his army. Killed two teachers and their students who destroyed the golden eagle on the Temple, then nearly 3000 Pharisees who mutinied at the Passover. Approved as ethnarch - National Leader - by Augustus in Rome. More than 2000 Jews were crucified by the Syrian governor when they rioted while Archelaus was in Rome. Archelaus then divorced his first wife and married the widow of his half brother Alexander. She had remarried, but accordingly divorced her second husband so Archelaus could marry her about 6AD. She shortly afterwards died and Archelaus was at this time deposed by Augustus and banished to Vienne in Gaul. Judas the Galileean led a revolt against new taxes. Put down by the Syrian governor. See
Educated in Rome. Took the throne of Galilee and Peraea (an area east of the Jordan). Divorced first wife. Married Herodias, wife of brother Herod Philip I. Through a rash promise to Herodias's daughter Salome on his birthday, had John the Baptist executed after he condemned the marriage. See
Ruled, according to Josephus, from 4BC (apparently co-reigning with his father during the last 3 years of his father's life) until 34AD in Trachonitis and Ituraea - an area in the north. Rebuilt Caesarea Philippi, in Gaulanitis - i.e. the Golan Heights. Married his niece Salome, daughter of his half-brother Herod Philip I and Herodias. Died childless.
Educated in Rome. Established friendships with Caligula and Claudius. Appointed ruler in place of his uncle Herod Antipas in 39AD, then made Governor of Judaea in 41AD. Recorded in
Grew up in Rome. Received oversight of Chalcis/Chalkis (in northern Syria) and of the Jewish Temple in 48AD. Appointed tetrarchy of Philip and Lysanias (also in the north). His sister Drusilla had married Felix, the Roman governor, who had imprisoned Paul for two years. Now, before Agrippa and his other sister Berenice, and the new Roman governor Festus in 59AD, Paul made his defence at Caesarea (Maritima - not Philippi) in
Click here for a history of Jerusalem since 70 AD.