Where was John the Baptist imprisoned?

Answer 1

Machaerus .

Answer

According to the Gospels, it would seem that John the Baptist was imprisoned in Galilee, because he was executed at the request of the daugher of Herodias during a birthday party for Herod Antipas, who was most reluctant to have John killed. Mark 6:21 says that the high captains and chief lords of Galilee had been invited to that party, so it must have been held in Galilee itself. Herod would not have demanded that they trek on foot or by donkey all the way to the remote castle of Macherus, east of the Dead Sea.

The account of the first-century Jewish historian Josephus differs in that John was imprisoned in the castle of Macherus and that it was the intention of Herod to execute John as quickly as possible, lest he foment a rebellion among the Jews. The chronology provided by Josephus indicates that the execution must have taken place in 35 or early 36 CE. 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."

Answer 2

According to the Jewish historian Josephus, John the Baptist was imprisoned in the castle at Macherus and executed because he criticised Herod Antipas' marriage to his own brother's former wife. The marriage took place in 34 CE, and John was jailed and executed in 35 or 36 CE.

The gospels appear to agree about the reason for John's imprisonment, although they portray it as occurring much earlier and apparently in Galilee, rather than Macherus.

Answer 3

Answer

The Jewish historian, Josephus, says that John the Baptist was imprisoned and then executed in the castle at Macherus because of his condemnation of the marriage in 34 CE of Herod Antipas to his brother's former wife. Macherus is just to the east of the Dead Sea, in what is now Jordan.

Answer 4

The Jewish historian, Josephus says that John criticised the marriage of Herod Antipas to his brother's former wife, Herodias, which he places at the same time as, or shortly after, the death of Philip II, who he says died in the twentieth year of the reign of Tiberius (34 CE). Antipas imprisoned and executed John out of fear that his words would cause an insurrection. King Aretas of Nabatea attacked and defeated Antipas in 36 CE in revenge for the slight to his daughter, whom Aretas divorced in order to marry Herodias.

It would appear that John was imprisoned some time in 35 CE. Some of the Jews believed that Antipas' defeat was divine retribution for his execution of John, meaning that John had already been executed by the year 36, having probably spent less than a year in prison. Given the problems he faced, Aretas would probably have executed John as soon as he could arrange a show trial to justify John's execution. John might have had to suffer imprisonment for a few weeks at most.

Answer 5

The Jewish historian, Josephus says that John criticised the marriage of Herod Antipas to his brother's former wife, Herodias, which he places at the same time as, or shortly after, the death of Philip II, who he says died in the twentieth year of the reign of Tiberius (34 CE). Antipas imprisoned and executed John out of fear that his words would cause an insurrection. King Aretas of Nabatea attacked and defeated Antipas in 36 CE in revenge for the slight to his daughter, whom Aretas divorced in order to marry Herodias.

It would appear that John was imprisoned some time in 35 CE.

Answer 6

A:We do not know where John the Baptist was actually apprehended, but the Jewish historian Josephus said that Herod Antipas had the Baptist arrested and killed in the castle of Macherus, east of the Dead Sea, because he disapproved of Antipas' marriage to his own brother's wife, who divorced her husband in order to marry Herod Antipas. The gospels agree on the reason for the arrest, but place his detention in Galilee, not Macherus, and also place John's death in a different context. The relevant text from Book 18 of Josephus' 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."

Answer 7

A:Josephus (Book 18 of Antiquities of the Jews) tells us that John the Baptist was imprisoned in the remote fortress of Macherus, out of fear that he would stir up a rebellion among the Jews, and that he was executed there. The cause of his imprisonment was his public criticism of Herod's marriage to his own brother's former wife, which took place in 34 CE, and it appears that John was imprisoned in 35 or early 36 CE: "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 8

For telling Herod he was sinning with his brother Philip's wife. Matthew 14:3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. 14:4 For John said to him: "It is not lawful for you to have her". So Yocannon-(John) upheld Torah and told him because Herold was part Jewish and that he should be keeping Torah (the Law) of YAHVEH who being Yeshua(Jesus) in the flesh. John 1:14

Answer 9

The prison was dark and gloomy inside the cell. It was deadly!