Matthew 14:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Behold, what audacity! The Princess dances! And the more gracefully she moves, the more egregious it is, for it is disgraceful for a Princess to engage in any lascivious acts with cleverness.

There is no one else we find commemorating their birthday aside from Herod and Pharaoh, suggesting that those who share in their evil ways also share in their celebrations.

Many individuals often bind themselves through a solemn vow, and even when they recognize that their commitment may have been ill-considered, they honor the sanctity of their word and follow through on their promise. An example of this can be seen in the case of Herod, who shamefully offered a reward to a dancer and, without mercy, executed his promise: shamefully because he offered a kingdom for mere entertainment, and mercilessly because he allowed the life of the prophet to be taken in order to uphold his vow. It would have been far more justifiable to disregard the oath than to see it through in this instance.

In the tradition of monarchs, it was customary to formally observe the anniversary of their birth.

As they marked the occasion of her birth, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance amidst physical indulgence. With each alluring movement, she disseminated carnal delight, as though doubt had taken root in the joys afforded to Israel. The onlookers succumbed to this temptation. Through their transgressions and worldly delights, the Israelites relinquished the blessings of everlasting life. Consequently, the girl requested her mother—who was herself skillful in betrayal—to present her with the head of John, representing the true honor of the law, for the law illuminated Israel's moral failures through the authority of God's decrees.

What folly and then what weakness and degradation in Herod! Such is the outcome of unchecked passion! Daily, we witness individuals, including those of high learning, who recklessly surrender their possessions, joy, and even their integrity to the things they cherish, creating idols that demand their all. This blind affection can swiftly escalate into cruelty, often leading to the most disgraceful acts, such as the shedding of innocent blood, which poses no moral dilemma for a heart steeped in corruption. The head of the greatest Prophet is awarded for a mere dance! From this, learn, Christian mothers, as St. Ambrose urges, the principles to instill in your daughters, and the forms of amusement from which you should shield them! If you truly value purity and virtue, impart to your daughters lessons of faith rather than those of dance.

Beloved, you are aware that cruelty often emerges from indulgence. And they brought his head on a platter (Matthew 14:11). The dwelling transforms into a battleground, the dining table an arena, the guests at the celebration become mere onlookers, the banquet turns into chaos, the food morphs into slaughter, the wine is akin to blood, the day of festivity is overshadowed by death, the dawn gives way to dusk, the feast culminates in homicide, and the instruments of music echo the sorrow of the ages. An animal, not a maiden, enters the gathering; a fierce beast, not a girl, begins to perform. A mane, rather than tresses, flows from her head; with twists and turns, she reveals her dominance, her brutality intensifying.

However, the vengeful Herodias, reminiscent of Jezebel, seized the opportunity to expedite her cruel retribution against her fearless critic. Amid his conflict with his former father-in-law, the Arabian ruler Aretas, who was avenging the dishonor towards his daughter, Herod relocated from Tiberias to Macherontes. During the celebration of his birthday, he hosted a banquet for his nobles, the commanders of the Roman legions who had aided him in his battle against Aretas, and the elders of Galilee. Although Jews typically did not observe birthdays, Herod sought to emulate the lavish practices of Eastern leaders who celebrated such occasions extravagantly. Following Roman customs, he invited musicians, singers, and dancers to entertain the assembly.

To understand the circumstances surrounding the death of John the Baptist, we need to examine the following details: Herodias was the daughter of Aristobulus, who was the son of Herod the Great from his second marriage. At her grandfather's command, she entered into marriage with his other son from his third marriage, whom Josephus Flavius refers to as Herod (a family name), while the evangelists refer to him as Philip. After the passing of his father, this Philip led a private life in Jerusalem. While Philip was still living, and after they had a daughter named Salome, Herodias chose to leave him to marry Herod Antipas, another son of Herod the Great from his fourth marriage, who was the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea.

On the occasion of his birthday, Herod hosted a banquet for the distinguished guests, including military leaders and the elders from Galilee. Although Jews did not traditionally celebrate birthdays, Antipas chose to emulate the customs of Eastern kings. In accordance with Eastern practices, women were typically prohibited from participating in men's feasts, with only young maidens permitted to dance. However, Salome, the daughter of Herodias and Philip, defied this tradition and entered the gathering clad in the attire of a dancer. As she performed, her captivating movements intoxicated Herod, who, in his inebriated state, became eager to grant her any request—even offering half of his kingdom. He solemnly swore this promise in front of all his guests.

The moment soon arose. The Herodian rulers, following the extravagant traditions set by their illustrious ancestors, the Roman emperors, enjoyed hosting lavish banquets and commemorating significant anniversaries. They adopted the pagan practice of celebrating birthdays, and on Herod Antipas's birthday, he hosted a grand feast in one of his opulent castles for his nobles, military leaders, and all the elite of Galilee. The riches of the Herodians, the elaborate design of their numerous palaces, and their inclination toward excessive elegance suggest that this banquet was indeed splendid, characterized by the indulgence of wealth and royal grandeur. It was clear that such gatherings mirrored the decadent customs of Roman times, melding Roman insatiability with Greek debauchery.

Observances of Herod's birthday were established traditions among Eastern monarchs and have since become widespread, characterized by the annual celebratory feasting for the esteemed individuals among their subjects (Gen. 40:20). The reference to "the daughter of Herodias" pertains to Salome, who was married to Philip. Her performance, which delighted Herod, likely involved one of those provocative dances that particularly inflame the desires of those inclined to excess. The nature of the events is ominous. Firstly, it unfolded amidst drunkenness and indulgence, environments that rarely foster goodness; secondly, the attendees were known for their debauchery, and the host of the banquet was deeply dishonorable. Thirdly, the entertainment itself was frenzied.

On the day he was born, Herod hosted a celebration for the nobles, military leaders, and elders of Galilee. Amidst the joyful festivities, the daughter of Herodias, Salomia, danced before the gathering, delighting both Herod and the guests reclining with him. In response to her captivating performance, the governor exclaimed to her, “Request whatever you desire, and I will grant it to you.” In his fervor, he went beyond a simple promise, swearing an oath, “Whatever you ask, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.”