Matthew 14:5

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3 ^aFor Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.

4 Because John had said to him, ^a“It is not lawful for you to have her.”

5 And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, ^abecause they counted him as a prophet.

6 But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod.

7 Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.

Commentaries:

Barnes' Notes

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Matthew 14:3-5

For Herod had laid hold on John ... - See Mark 6:17-20; Luke 3:19-20. This Herodias was a granddaughter of Herod the Great. She was first married to Herod Philip, by whom she had a daughter, Salome, probably the one that danced and pleased Herod. Josephus says that this marriage of Herod Antipas with Herodias took place while he was on a journey to Rome. He stopped at his brother' s; fell in love with his wife; agreed to put away his own wife, the daughter of Aretas, King of Petraea; and Herodias agreed to leave her own husband and live with him. They were living, therefore, in adultery; and John, in faithfulness, though at the risk of his life, had reproved them for their crimes. Herod was guilty of two crimes in this act:

1.Of "adultery," since she was the wife of another man.

2.Of "incest," since she was a near relation, and such marriages were expressly forbidden, Leviticus 18:16.

**Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Matthew 14:5:**

Matthew 4:12
Matthew 14:34-36
Mark 6:14-20
Luke 3:19-20

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