The Pharisees were a prominent religious and political group in Judea during the Second Temple period, particularly from the second century BC to the first century AD. They are frequently mentioned in the New Testament, where they often appear as opponents of Jesus Christ. The Pharisees were known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and the oral traditions that they believed were equally authoritative. They emphasized purity, tithing, and the observance of the Sabbath, and they were influential in the synagogues.

The Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead, the existence of angels and spirits, and the coming of the Messiah. They held that both the written and oral laws were divinely inspired and necessary for guiding the lives of the Jewish people. This belief in the oral law set them apart from the Sadducees, another Jewish sect of the time, who accepted only the written Torah.

In the New Testament, the Pharisees are often depicted as legalistic and hypocritical. Jesus frequently criticized them for their focus on outward appearances and neglect of inner righteousness. In Matthew 23:27-28 , Jesus says, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."

Despite their opposition to Jesus, some Pharisees were sympathetic to His teachings. Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to Jesus by night to seek understanding (John 3:1-21), and later defended Him before the Sanhedrin (John 7:50-51). After the resurrection, some Pharisees, like Paul the Apostle, became followers of Christ.

Herod

The name "Herod" refers to several rulers of Judea during the time of the New Testament, most notably Herod the Great and his descendants. Herod the Great was appointed King of Judea by the Roman Senate and ruled from 37 BC to 4 BC. He is known for his extensive building projects, including the expansion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, but also for his tyrannical rule and the massacre of the infants in Bethlehem as recorded in Matthew 2:16 : "When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he sent orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi."

Herod the Great's kingdom was divided among his sons after his death. Herod Archelaus ruled Judea, Samaria, and Idumea; Herod Antipas governed Galilee and Perea; and Herod Philip ruled the regions east of the Jordan. Herod Antipas is perhaps the most notable in the New Testament, as he was the ruler who ordered the beheading of John the Baptist (Mark 6:17-29) and mocked Jesus during His trial (Luke 23:7-12).

The Herodian dynasty was known for its complex relationship with the Roman Empire and its attempts to maintain power through political maneuvering and alliances. The Herods were Idumeans by descent, and their rule was often resented by the Jewish population, who viewed them as foreign oppressors. Despite their attempts to curry favor with the Jewish people through building projects and other means, the Herods were generally seen as corrupt and self-serving rulers.