Would the Son of Man gain for Judea more economic prosperity than Herod the Great, king of the Jews, gained for Judea?

Steve Campbell, author of Historical Accuracy

Attempting to establish a bond with his people, he was addicted to calling public gatherings to recount the beneficial results of his policies and programs and to announce, with some measure of accuracy, that he had brought Judaea greater economic security than it had ever before known.

“Judaea might easily have remained just another of Rome’s assortment of little remembered client states, like Pontus, Commagene, Nabataea, and Thrace. But under Herod, it was transformed into a nation of international repute.”

Taxes were high. However, in years of drought, he reduced taxes on his subjects.

His building projects included new cities as well as state-of-the-art urban renewal for existing ones. He improved aqueduct and sewage systems.

Visitors marveled at Jerusalem’s grandeur.

In hard times, he exploited his contacts in the region to extract priority preference for Judaea in buying corn from Egypt… He had special attention paid to the feeding of the elderly and otherwise vulnerable.

Through the warmth of Herod’s dealings with Augustus Caesar, he was able to sustain uninterrupted self-rule for Judaea throughout his reign.

Herod the Great: Statesman, Visionary, Tyrant by Norman Gelb, p. 81-83.
Norman Gelb is the author of a number of acclaimed books. He is a historian and freelance writer who periodically contributes to publications such as Smithsonian magazine.