The Life of Jesus

they expelled many demons, and they anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

Meanwhile, King Herod heard about this, for Yeshua's reputation had spread. Some were saying, "Yochanan the Immerser has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him."

Others said, "It is Eliyahu!" and still others, "He is a prophet, like one of the old prophets."

But when Herod heard about it, he said, "Yochanan, whom I had beheaded, has been raised."

For Herod had sent and had Yochanan arrested and chained in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. Herod had married her,

but Yochanan had told him, "It violates the Torah for you to marry your brother's wife."

So Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted him put to death. But this she could not accomplish,

because Herod stood in awe of Yochanan and protected him, for he knew that he was a tzaddik, a holy man. Whenever he heard him, he became deeply disturbed; yet he liked to listen to him.

Finally, the opportunity came. Herod gave a banquet on his birthday for his nobles and officers and the leading men of the Galil.

The daughter of Herodias came in and danced, and she pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you want; I will give it to you";

and he made a vow to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom."

So she went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" She said, "The head of Yochanan the Immerser."

At once the daughter hurried back to the king and announced her request: "I want you to give me right now on a platter the head of Yochanan the Immerser."

Herod was appalled; but out of regard for the oaths he had sworn before his dinner guests, he did not want to break his word to her.

So the king immediately sent a soldier from his personal guard with orders to bring Yochanan's head. The soldier went and beheaded Yochanan in the prison,

brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.

When Yochanan's talmidim heard of it, they came and took the body and laid it in a grave.

Those who had been sent out rejoined Yeshua and reported to him all they had done and taught.

There were so many people coming and going that they couldn't even take time to eat, so he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a place where we can be alone, and you can get some rest."

They went off by themselves to an isolated spot;

but many people, seeing them leave and recognizing them, ran ahead on foot from all the towns and got there first.

When Yeshua came ashore, he saw a huge crowd. Filled with compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, he began teaching them many things.

By this time, the hour was late. The talmidim came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's getting late.

Send the people away, so that they can go and buy food for themselves in the farms and towns around here."

But he answered them, "Give them something to eat, yourselves!" They replied, "We are to go and spend thousands on bread, and give it to them to eat?"