Who demanded the head of John the Baptist?

Answer 1

Salome was the one who asked of King Herod the head of John the Baptist. Salome had pleased Herod by dancing before him and Herod asked her to choose a reward, even if it be have his kingdom. Salome consulted with her mother, Herodias, with whom Herod was having an affair. Angered by John's public condemnation of this adulterous affair, Herodias told Salome to ask for John's head. You can read this account in The Bible in St. Matthew 14:6-8.

Of interest, tradition records that Salome had a bad end, accidentally becoming impaled on a wedge of ice during an elaborate banquet.

Answer 2

Herodias' daughter made the actual demand, but Herodias put her up to it. Mark 6:21-25 - Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. And when Herodias' daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, "Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you." He also swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom." So she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist!" Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter."

Answer 3

A:In the gospel accounts, Herod Antipas held a party in Galilee for the senior men. The daughter of his new wife, Herodias, entranced him with her dancing and he offered to give her anything she wanted. Herodias wanted John the Baptist dead for criticising her marriage to Antipas, after divorcing Philip, so she told her daughter to ask for John's head on a platter. Herod Antipas was loathe to have John killed, but was forced to keep his promise.

The historical account, told by Josephus, is somewhat different. The gospel account is correct in that John the Baptist had publicly criticised Antipas' marriage to Herodias, which took place in 34 CE. But Herod himself had wanted John killed, lest he start an uprising among the people of Galilee. There was no party in Galilee and John the Baptist died in 35 or 36 CE in the faraway castle of Macherus. The relevant text from Book 18 of Antiquities of the Jews says:"Now many people came in crowds to him, for they were greatly moved by his words. Herod, who feared that the great influence John had over the masses might put them into his power and enable him to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise), thought it best to put him to death. In this way, he might prevent any mischief John might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly John was sent as a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I already mentioned, and was put to death."

Answer 4

A:According to the gospels John the Baptist was executed in Galilee shortly after John baptised Jesus. Mark chapter 6 says that John was imprisoned for publicly criticising Herod Antipas' marriage to Herodias, his brother's former wife. Although Antipas did not want to harm John, Herodias told her daughter, generally assumed to be Salome, to ask for John to be beheaded.

The historical account suggests not only that John the Baptist's execution took place long after the traditional time of Jesus' crucifixion, but also that it took place in faraway Macherus and not necessarily by beheading. The first-century Jewish historian, Josephus, confirms that the reason for John's arrest was his public criticism of Herod Antipas' marriage, which took place in 34 CE. John was imprisoned in faraway Macherus and Antipas ordered him to be executed in 35 or 36 CE, not because Herodias had wanted his head on a platter but out of fear that he was stirring the Jews up for rebellion. The relevant text from Book 18 of Antiquities of the Jews: "Now many people came in crowds to him, for they were greatly moved by his words. Herod, who feared that the great influence John had over the masses might put them into his power and enable him to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise), thought it best to put him to death. In this way, he might prevent any mischief John might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly John was sent as a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I already mentioned, and was put to death."

AnswerIt was the daughter of Herod's wife Herodias who asked for the head of John the Baptist. She became his step-daughter after he married her mother. Nor does the Bible give her name although other sources suggest that her name was Salome.

Answer 5

The daughter of Herodias. Sources outside of the Bible indicate her name was Salome.