Bible Dictionary
Archelaus
Archelaus was a son of Herod the Great who governed Judea, Samaria, and Idumea. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus avoided Judea after returning from Egypt because of him; Rome later deposed him for misgovernment.
Definition
Archelaus was a son of Herod the Great who governed Judea, Samaria, and Idumea after his father’s death. He is called ruler or ethnarch rather than properly king.
Biblical Usage
Joseph, Mary, and Jesus avoided Judea on their return from Egypt because Archelaus governed there. His presence led them to settle in Galilee.
Historical Background
Archelaus was the son of Herod and Malthace and had been educated at Rome. He was deposed and banished by the Romans in AD 6 for misgovernment.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Ruler of the people, son of Herod the Great, by Malthace, a Samaritan woman. He was educated along with his brother Antipas at Rome. He inherited from his father a third part of his kingdom viz., Idumea, Judea, and Samaria, and hence is called “king” (Matt. 2:22). It was for fear of him that Joseph and Mary turned aside on their way back from Egypt. Till a few days before his death Herod had named Antipas as his successor, but in his last moments he named Archelaus.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(prince of the people), son of Herod the Great by a Samaritan woman, Malthake, and, with his brother Antipas brought up at Rome. At the death of Herod (B.C. 4) his kingdom was divided between his three sons, Herod Antipas, Archelaus and Philip. Archelaus never properly bore the title of king, (Matthew 2:22) but only that of ethnarch. In the tenth year of his reign, or the ninth according to Dion Cassius, i.e. A.D. 6, a complaint was preferred against him by his brothers and his subjects on the ground of his tyranny, in consequence of which he was banished to Vienne in Gaul, where he is generally said to have died.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ar-ke-la'-us (Archelaos, Mt 2:22): Son of Herod the Great by his wife Malthace. He succeeded on his father's death to the government of Judea, Samaria and Idumaea, but was deposed by the Romans for misgovernment in 6 AD. See HEROD.</p>