The enigma of King Herod as a cruel bloodthirsty tyrant on the one hand, and a great builder on the other is discussed in a systematic modern historical and psychological study. It seeks to unravel the contradictory historic mystery of the man and his deeds. After A. Schalit's König Herodes, this study is a new comprehensive, pioneering study on the intriguing personality of Herod, also using the insights of psychology. Herod's mental state reached an acute level, consistent with the DSM-IV diagnosis for "Paranoid Personality Disorder". He grew up with an ambiguous identity and suffered from feelings of inferiority. Haunted by persecutory delusions, he executed almost any suspect of treason, including his wife and three sons.

The Hebrew original text was Winner of the Ya'acov Bahat Prize for Non-Fiction Hebrew Literature for 2006.

Autorentext

Aryeh Kasher, University of Tel-Aviv, Israel;Eliezer Witztum, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.

Zusammenfassung

"There is [...] much here for careful study. Herod was no doubt a complex personality, and K. can help us to gain access to him."
L. L. Grabbe in: Book List - Society for Old Testament Study 2009

"L'ouvrage constituera désormais une somme indispensable pour aborder et mieux comprendre le personnage à la fois complexe et contrasté d'Hérode."
Ch. Grappe in: Revue d'Historie et de Philosophie Religieuses 3/2008

"[...] the book provides an interesting and thorough discussion of a controversial figure."
Helen K. Bond in: Journal for the Study of the New Testament 30-5/2008

"Kasher and Witztum's book is a fine historical study and an excellent biography of one of the most important figures in the history of the Jewish people and the Land of Israel."
Magen Broshi in: Ha-Aretz, Juni 2007