Archaeology: Herodium

While failing to find Herod's tomb itself, excavations near Bethlehem have revealed much of one of his luxurious palaces. An ancient non-biblical writer, Josephus, wrote that Herod was buried at his 45-acre palace, called Herodium, about two miles southeast of Bethlehem.

Following the writings of Josephus, Hebrew University Porfessor Ehud Netzer reported on May 8, 2007, that he discovered Herod's gravesite atop tunnels and water pools, at a flattened desert site, halfway up the hill to Herodium, seven miles south of Jerusalem -- the precise location given by Josephus. Matthew 2:19-20 tells of the death of King Herod while the young child Jesus was in Egypt. Matthew 2:1-16 and Luke 1:5 also refer to Herod.

Kyle Campbell