In the account of the mission of the Twelve, Mark inserts the story of the death of John the Baptist, to foreshadow the fate of Jesus himself. Prophets were sent to proclaim the word of God to warn and rebuke God’s people who wander away from him. Most often, they prove to be thorns on the side of powerful rulers who oppress the people. The tetrarch Herod Antipas found a worthy advisory in John the Baptist, who was dressed like Elijah; John had condemned his marriage to Herodias who used her own daughter to ask for the death of John the Baptist.

The Jewish historian Josephus narrates that Herod’s first wife was a Nabatean princess who, upon learning that Herod was replacing her with Herodias, fled to her father King Aretas. Later, Herod and his Galilean army suffered a stinging defeat from the Nabateans who avenged the humiliation of the daughter of their king. Only the timely intervention of Rome saved Herod from losing his crown and his head. People would interpret the defeat as an act of God avenging the murder of John the Baptist.

Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. His own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” He even swore many things to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.