Matthew 14:1-12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:8

And she being before instructed of her mother ,.... What request to make; for as Mark says, "she went forth" to her mother immediately, as soon as she had received the king's promise, and took advice of her, what she should ask; who bid her ask for the head of John the Baptist; and accordingly she went in, "straightway with haste unto the king", as the same evangelist observes, to take him at his word, and whilst he was in the mood; being urged and hastened on by her mother, who was eager to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:9

And the king was sorry ,.... As he might be upon many accounts; partly on account of John, whom, notwithstanding his freedom in reproving him, he had a respect; and partly on his own account, his conscience dictating to him that it was an evil action, and would leave a brand of perpetual infamy upon him; as also on account of the people, who were so much affected to John, lest they should make an insurrection, and rebel against him; and likewise, because it was reckoned an ill omen with the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:10

And he sent ,.... "An executioner", as in Mark 6:27 where the Latin word "speculator", or as it is sometimes written "spiculator", is used; and is the name of an officer concerned in executions, and particularly in beheading of persons; and so is used by Latin writers. "In a civil war (says F24 De beneficiis, 1. 3. c. 25. Seneca), a servant hid his master that was proscribed; and when he had fitted his rings for himself, and put on his clothes, he met "speculatoribus", the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:11

By the executioner that cut it off, to Herod, whilst he and his guests were at table; by which it should seem, that the prison was very near; and it is not improbable, that it was the castle of Macheerus that Herod made this entertainment in: and given to the damsel ; the daughter of Herodias, who, by her mother's instigation, had asked it, and who received it out of the hands of Herod himself; or however, it was delivered to her by his orders: and she brought it to her mother ; who... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:12

And his disciples came ,.... To the prison where his body was left, and to which they had liberty of recourse before; see Matthew 11:2 and very probably, upon hearing what was done, might apply to Herod, as Joseph of Arimathea did to Pilate, for the body of Jesus; who might, as he did, give them leave to take it: and took up the body and buried it . Theophylact says, his body was buried in Baste Caesarea, and that his head was first reposited in Emesesa. This was the last office of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:1

Herod the tetrarch - This was Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great. See the notes on Matthew 2:1 , where an account is given of the Herod family. The word tetrarch properly signifies a person who rules over the fourth part of a country; but it is taken in a more general sense by the Jewish writers, meaning sometimes a governor simply, or a king; see Matthew 14:9 . The estates of Herod the Great were not, at his death, divided into four tetrarchies, but only into three: one was given... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:2

This is John the Baptist - Ον εγω απεκεφαλισα , Whom I beheaded. These words are added here by the Codex Bezae and several others, by the Saxon, and five copies of the Itala. - See the power of conscience! He is miserable because he is guilty; being continually under the dominion of self-accusation, reproach, and remorse. No need for the Baptist now: conscience performs the office of ten thousand accusers! But, to complete the misery, a guilty conscience offers no relief from God - points... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:3

For Herodias' sake - This infamous woman was the daughter of Aristobulus and Bernice, and grand-daughter of Herod the Great. Her first marriage was with Herod Philip, her uncle, by whom she had Salome: some time after, she left her husband, and lived publicly with Herod Antipas, her brother-in-law, who had been before married to the daughter of Aretas, king of Arabia Petraea. As soon as Aretas understood that Herod had determined to put away his daughter, he prepared to make war on him: the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:4

For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. - Here is an instance of zeal, fidelity, and courage, highly worthy of imitation. Plainness, mildness, and modesty, are qualifications necessary to be observed when we reprove the great. The best service a subject can render his prince is to lay before him, in the plainest but most respectful manner, what the law of God requires of him, and what it forbids. How unutterable must the punishment of those be who are chaplains to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:5

He feared the multitude - Miserable prince! who fears more to offend his people, than to sin against his God, by shedding innocent blood. When a man resists sin only by the help of human motives, he cannot long defend himself. read more

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