Hey Bible readers, I'm Tara Lee Cobble, and I'm your host for the Bible recap.

John the Baptist has been in prison since approximately the start of Jesus' ministry.

Herod Antipas arrested him after he rebuked Herod for marrying his brother's wife who

is named Herodius because she's actually the granddaughter of King Herod the Great,

which means both of her husbands are also her uncles.

Okay, she wants JTB dead, but Herod is torn.

When Herod's birthday party rolls around, the daughter of Herodius does a little dance

for him as a part of the event.

In ancient Greco-Roman culture, the dances done at these parties tend to be more on the

seductive side if you catch my drift.

So it's super inappropriate that Herod's stepdaughter slash great niece is the entertainment.

Herod loves it, of course, and makes the grand gesture of offering her anything she wants.

It seems likely that Herodius was using her own daughter as a pawn in order to achieve

this very outcome.

Herodius tells her daughter, Hey, I know you had your heart set on a pony, but hear me

out.

How's about?

You asked for the head of a prisoner instead.

Can you imagine?

So because of the sins of the King and the selfish plotting of his wife, John the Baptist

is beheaded in prison.

He does an unjust death.

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