Imprisonment and Death of John
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dance for the entertainment of the guests. Salome was in the first flush
of womanhood, and her voluptuous beauty captivated the senses of
the lordly revelers. It was not customary for the ladies of the court
to appear at these festivities, and a flattering compliment was paid to
Herod when this daughter of Israel’s priests and princes danced for the
amusement of his guests.
The king was dazed with wine. Passion held sway, and reason was
dethroned. He saw only the hall of pleasure, with its reveling guests,
the banquet table, the sparkling wine and the flashing lights, and the
young girl dancing before him. In the recklessness of the moment, he
desired to make some display that would exalt him before the great
men of his realm. With an oath he promised to give the daughter of
Herodias whatever she might ask, even to the half of his kingdom.
Salome hastened to her mother, to know what she should ask. The
answer was ready,—the head of John the Baptist. Salome knew not
of the thirst for revenge in her mother’s heart, and she shrank from
presenting the request; but the determination of Herodias prevailed.
The girl returned with the terrible petition, “I will that thou forthwith
give me in a charger the head of John the Baptist.”
Mark 6:25
, R. V.
Herod was astonished and confounded. The riotous mirth ceased,
and an ominous silence settled down upon the scene of revelry. The
king was horror-stricken at the thought of taking the life of John. Yet
his word was pledged, and he was unwilling to appear fickle or rash.
The oath had been made in honor of his guests, and if one of them had
offered a word against the fulfillment of his promise, he would gladly
have spared the prophet. He gave them opportunity to speak in the
prisoner’s behalf. They had traveled long distances in order to hear the
preaching of John, and they knew him to be a man without crime, and
a servant of God. But though shocked at the girl’s demand, they were
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too besotted to interpose a remonstrance. No voice was raised to save
the life of Heaven’s messenger. These men occupied high positions
of trust in the nation, and upon them rested grave responsibilities; yet
they had given themselves up to feasting and drunkenness until the
senses were benumbed. Their heads were turned with the giddy scene
of music and dancing, and conscience lay dormant. By their silence
they pronounced the sentence of death upon the prophet of God to
satisfy the revenge of an abandoned woman.