Machaerus
LocationsGeographical Setting
Machaerus was a Hasmonean and Herodian fortress located on a steep hilltop east of the Dead Sea, serving as a key defensive stronghold in the region.
What is the meaning of Machaerus in the Bible?
Machaerus was a fortified city and palace complex built by Alexander Jannaeus and later expanded by Herod the Great on a prominent ridge east of the Dead Sea. The site served as a strategic military outpost and royal residence, frequently contested between Herod's forces and the Nabatean kingdom under Aretas IV.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Machaerus provides historical context for the imprisonment and execution of John the Baptist, as described in the Gospels, by locating the event within a specific Herodian stronghold known for holding high-profile political prisoners.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Machaerus in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Machaerus clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.