The Sins of Herod

by Frank G. Slaughter

Spanning the brilliant panorama of an ancient land, here is the mighty saga of mankind's most gripping era...

Here is a world bathed in violence and the men who shape its destiny. The ruthless ruler, Herod Antipas. The mad Emperor Caligula. Peter, John and James--the disciples who must seek a holy legacy. Manahem and Barabbas, bloodthirsty bandits of Judea, plotting a savage revenge on their Roman conquerors.

And here is Prochorus--confidant of Herod, trusted friend of the destined disciples, fearless spy for Manahem, and lover of the beautiful Princess Mariamne. Prochorus is the man who must choose--between the glittering glory of power...and the shining glory of God.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Frank Gill Slaughter , pen-name Frank G. Slaughter, pseudonym C.V. Terry, was an American novelist and physician whose books sold more than 60 million copies. His novels drew on his own experience as a doctor and his interest in history and the Bible. Through his novels, he often introduced readers to new findings in medical research and new medical technologies.

Slaughter was born in Washington, D.C., the son of Stephen Lucious Slaughter and Sarah "Sallie" Nicholson Gill. When he was about five years old, his family moved to a farm near Berea, North Carolina, which is west of Oxford, North Carolina. He earned a bachelor's degree from Trinity College (now Duke University) at 17 and went to medical school at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. He began writing fiction in 1935 while a physician at Riverside Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida.

Books by Slaughter include The Purple Quest, Surgeon, U.S.A., Epidemic! , Tomorrow's Miracle and The Scarlet Cord. Slaughter died May 17, 2001 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Reviews

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Political intrigue following the death of Herod the Great, including the rule of Herod Antipas, his divorce of the Nabatean princess, Phasaelis,
daughter of King AretasIV and marriage of his brother, Herod Philip's wife, Herodias. Herod Antipas (Herod the Great's son), Tetrarch of Galilee was expelled to Gaul by Caligula. Agrippa, Herod the Great's grandson rules as last king of Judea.
Herod the Great was made King of the Jews by Mark Anthony. His wife Mariamne was granddaughter of King Hycanus of the Macabeans or Hasmoneans. He had her murdered.

Decapolis-group of 10 largely Greek centers ruled by the legate in Antioch

Messiah is Jewish, Christ is the Greek word. Christian was the name given to the Nazerenes in Antioch. Antioch was the capital of Ancient Syria and the leading city of the Roman East in the area now known as southern Turkey. In Rome they were known as "The Followers of Chrestus"

Aramaic was the language of the Galileans, Hebrew in the synagogues and Greek throughout the area.

Prochorus was one of the Seven Deacons were leaders elected by the Early Christian church to minister to the people of Jerusalem.

paschal lamb-among the ancient Hebrews, the lamb slain and eaten at the Passover, among Christians, Jesus Christ

Palmyra was called Tadmor when Abrham stopped there. Alexander the Geat made it a military base.
Parthians-Roman name for Persians.

Machaerus-Herod the Great's fortress in Jordan along the King's Highway and where Herod Antipas had John the Baptist beheaded..
Ahura Mazdā (also known as Ohrmazd, Ahuramazda, Hormazd,and Aramazd) is the name for a divinity of the Old Iranian religion who was proclaimed the uncreated God by Zoroaster, the founder of Zoroastrianism. Ahura Mazda is described as the highest deity of worship in Zoroastrianism. The so-called Light of the World.
Dusares, was an aniconic deity in the ancient Middle East worshipped by the Nabataeans at Petra
The Pax Romana, or Roman Peace, is a Latin term referring to the Empire in its glorified prime. From the end of the Republican civil wars, beginning with the accession of Augustus in 27 BC, this era in Roman history lasted until 180 AD and the death of Marcus Aurelius.
Baiae was a Roman seaside resort on the Bay of Naples. Caligula's palyground.
Mithras-cult where initiate was put naked into a pit and a bull was sacrificed over him baptizing him in blood.(taurobolium), cleansing him of past sins and allowing him to born anew.
Herod the Great and descendants were Jews only by forcible adoption after their conquest by the Hasmoneans in 167BC. His homeland was Idumea, a tribal state to the south of Judea.His father Antipater servd in the military under the Hasmoneans.He switched alliagence to Rome after Judea was defeated by Pompei's legions. After fighting with Julius Caesar he was granted Roman Citezenship and became procurator of Judea.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the title misled me to believe the time period was during Herod the Great's reign, this is a great book about politics during post-Herodian times and the rise of Christianity directly after the crucifixion of Jesus.

[Philippe Jonquet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Very informative and entertaining

[Linda Austin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this biblical history novel in a box of old books. It follows a young scribe named Prochorus living in the Holy Land in the time immediately following the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. He is the son of Herod’s steward , Chuza, who was a tribune in the Roman army and Joanna, a Jew who becomes a follower of Jesus. Prochorus has been a friend of John and James ben Zebedee, the fishermen who become disciples for many years. He is hired to scribe for Herod Antipas, son of King Herod, soon meets and is immediately drawn to Princess Mariamne, the granddaughter of King Herod. Prochorus is very astute and a master of diplomacy. He finds himself earning a reputation as being a brilliant political asset and becomes the Deputy Governor of Jerusalem for a time.

This is an old text so they are not included, but having a map of the area and a family tree showing the descendents of King Herod the Great is helpful.

I would never have picked this off the shelves of the library, but it was readily available so I decided to try it. I almost did not finish, but persevered. I would characterize it as rather lengthy and very dry.

[Ridovhusanae · Rating 4 out of 5]

its fiction but it opened my heart n mind on what Jesus' disciples went thro after his death. the phrase 'Jesus is coming soon' really came to life for me through it.

[Steve Hemmeke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good. Historical fiction on Herod, a la Paul Maier

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book when I was in high school. It was my favorite book one year.