King Herod: A Persecuted Persecutor: A Case Study in Psychohistory and Psychobiography

Aryeh Kasher

Published by De Gruyter 2007

King Herod: A Persecuted Persecutor

A Case Study in Psychohistory and Psychobiography

Aryeh Kasher
In collaboration with: Eliezer Witztum
Translated by: Karen Gold

Volume 36 in the series Studia Judaica

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110200874

Overview
Contents

About this book

The enigma of King Herod as a cruel bloodthirsty tyrant on the one hand, and a great builder on the other is discussed in a systematic modern historical and psychological study. It seeks to unravel the contradictory historic mystery of the man and his deeds. After A. Schalit's König Herodes, this study is a new comprehensive, pioneering study on the intriguing personality of Herod, also using the insights of psychology. Herod's mental state reached an acute level, consistent with the DSM-IV diagnosis for "Paranoid Personality Disorder". He grew up with an ambiguous identity and suffered from feelings of inferiority. Haunted by persecutory delusions, he executed almost any suspect of treason, including his wife and three sons.

The Hebrew original text was Winner of the Ya'acov Bahat Prize for Non-Fiction Hebrew Literature for 2006.

Author / Editor information

Aryeh Kasher, University of Tel-Aviv, Israel;Eliezer Witztum, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.

Reviews

"There is [...] much here for careful study. Herod was no doubt a complex personality, and K. can help us to gain access to him."
L. L. Grabbe in: Book List - Society for Old Testament Study 2009

"L'ouvrage constituera désormais une somme indispensable pour aborder et mieux comprendre le personnage à la fois complexe et contrasté d'Hérode."
Ch. Grappe in: Revue d'Historie et de Philosophie Religieuses 3/2008

"[...] the book provides an interesting and thorough discussion of a controversial figure."
Helen K. Bond in: Journal for the Study of the New Testament 30-5/2008

"Kasher and Witztum's book is a fine historical study and an excellent biography of one of the most important figures in the history of the Jewish people and the Land of Israel."
Magen Broshi in: Ha-Aretz, Juni 2007

Topics

Frontmatter Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	i
Table of Contents Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	v
Foreword Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	xi
Preface Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	xvii
Acknowledgments Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	xix
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Chapter 1. Residues of Childhood in the Late Hasmonaean Period (73/72–63 BCE) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	18
Chapter 2. Adolescence in the Shadow of the Roman Conquest (63–42 BCE) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	34
Chapter 3. From the Utmost Depths to the Conquest of Jerusalem (41–37 BCE) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	57
Chapter 4. Herod in the First Year of His Reign (37 BCE) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	84
Chapter 5. Roots and Ramifications of the Hasmonaean Trauma (37–34 BCE) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	101
Chapter 6. Cleopatra VII’s Influence on Relations between Herod and Antony (34–31 BCE) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	126
Chapter 7. Elimination of Herod’s Hasmonaean Family Members (30–28 BCE) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	155
Chapter 8. Construction and Prosperity in the Shadow of Oppression (27–10 BCE) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	181
Chapter 9. Herod’s Address in Preparation for the Building of the Holy Temple (22/23 BCE) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	213
Chapter 10. Hidden Motivations for Building the Holy Temple: “Rivalry” with the Hasmonaeans and a Desire to Flaunt His Grandeur Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	225
Chapter 11. Return to Daily Reality amid New Tensions (18–14 BCE) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	244
Chapter 12. A Turn for the Worse at Home and Continued Activity Abroad (14–10 BCE) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	259
Chapter 13. Further Deterioration in Herod’s Mental State and Worsening Relations with his Hasmonaean Sons (10–9 BCE) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	281
Chapter 14. A Downward Spiral at Home and Abroad (9–7 BCE) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	305
Chapter 15. Lead-Up to the Great Explosion (8–7 BCE) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	325
Chapter 16. The Tragic End of Alexander and Aristobulus (7 BCE) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	340
Chapter 17. Antipater’s Subversion in the Royal Court of Jerusalem (7–5 BCE) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	353
Chapter 18. The Bitter Fate of Antipater Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	372
Chapter 19. Descent into Oblivion (4 BCE) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	384
Chapter 20. Post-Mortem Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	405
Afterword Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	410
Backmatter Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	424

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter
Audience: Academics, Institutes, Libraries
Pages
- Front matter: 20
- Main content: 514
Illustrations
- Illustrations: 8
Keywords: Herod (Jews; king; I.); Israel (antiquity; religion)

eBook

Published: September 25, 2008
ISBN: 9783110200874

Hardcover

Published: March 19, 2007
ISBN: 9783110189643