17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled ; yet he liked to listen to him.
21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.
The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you." 23 And he promised her with an oath, "Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom."
24 She went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?"
"The head of John the Baptist," she answered.
25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: "I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter."
26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29 On hearing of this, John's disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
My thoughts -
This is why it's best to not get too carried away and make promises in the heat of the moment:
Herod's having a nice birthday party, a beautiful woman dances for him, he gets all carried away and tells her she can have anything, and what she wants is - well, crap - John the Baptist's head on a plate. Seriously, who asks for that? At a dinner party, no less.
But, see, Herod's stuck here. Sure, that religious guy was weird. And he objected to Herod's marriage. But he sure was interesting to listen to. And a little scary, being so righteous and all. But Herod swore an oath. Everyone at the party heard him. He can't just go back on his word. That would not be good. That's just not do-able. Herod's hands are tied. John's head is removed.
So what caused this? Was it pride on Herod's part? Was he too proud to go back on his word? Was it lust? Did he just get taken in by a beautiful woman and lose his mind? What if she had asked for more? Didn't he say she could have anything? Would there have been anything she could have asked for that he would not have been obligated by his fool mouth to give her?
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