Embedded. Marc Knutson

They were known as ‘king makers,’ and everyone knows that Herod bought his way in to his position. So, if you’re as paranoid as Herod, don’t you know that he was scrambling?” Hananiah hesitated for a moment, took a sip of his tea, and said, “Herod was paranoid. The rumor in those days had it that Herod killed off so many members of his own family, because of his paranoia, that the national joke arose. It was said that it was better to be one of Herod’s pigs than one of his family members.” His conclusive comment caused everyone at the table to roar in laughter. Each knowing that it really wasn’t funny, as in humorous, but laughing at the ridiculousness of Herod’s actions.

      “Well, were they here to oust Herod,” I asked. “You say you know one of these kingmakers. What has he told you?”

      “He claims that when they arrived at the palace in Jerusalem, Herod received them, how could he not, what with the grand entrance they made, and when they asked him where the new king child was, he was all nice and treated them like literal royalty.” Hananiah made a sour looking face and concluded his comment in a highly sarcastic tone. “He wanted them to go find the child, then swing back through the palace on their way back. His outward reasoning was so that he could know where the new king was, that he could recognize him also. But they could see right through him, and determined among themselves, as they headed to Bethlehem, that they weren’t going to give Herod any information that they uncovered.”