Herod's Birthday - Mark 6:21

Mark wrote how “Herod feared John” the Baptist, “knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly”, and in chapter six and verse twenty-one of his book, Mark wrote how, “Herod on his birthday made a supper” where we read:

And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords,

high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;

The verse reads, “And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, ...” Mark began with the words, “and when” or “and at the time and moment” “a convenient day” which means “a seasonable, timely and opportune natural day” “was come” or “came into existence, began to be, happened and came to pass”, “that Herod” which means “that King Herod whose name means heroic” “on his birthday” or “on Herod's birthday celebration and feast” “made a supper to his lords” which means “caused, kept and performed a formal meal usually held at the evening for his grandees, magnates, nobles and chief men”, “high captains” or “Herod's chiliarches or commanders of a thousand soldiers”. Mark shared how Herod prepared a “feast” on his “birthday” for his “noblemen and commanders of a thousand soldiers”.

The verse goes on to say, “and chief estates of Galilee;” Mark continued with the words, “and chief” which means “the first in time or place, first in rank and principal” “estates of Galilee” which means “the region of northern Palestine, bounded on the north by Syria, on the west by Sidon, Tyre, Ptolemais and their territories and the promontory of Carmel, on the south by Samaria and on the east by the Jordan”. Mark shared how Herod also prepared his birthday feast for the “first in rank” officials from the area and territory “of Galilee”.

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we notice the beginning of the story for how Herodias will finally get her wish concerning John the Baptist. King Herod desired to celebrate his “birthday” by preparing a great feast for those who were authorities in his kingdom. God knew all these things well in advance, and though King Herod went about his “convenient day” without thinking about God, God was at work. Jesus came to bring people into a personal relationship with His Father God, and when a plan that seems like a normal activity is employed, everyone should be aware that God is aware, and those who are wise shall notice and discern Him being involved.

Next time Mark shares how, “the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".