Although he held the title of King of the Jews, he was in fact an Edomite from the town of Idumea. He married into a Jewish family, but himself had no Jewish ancestry.
Edom is another name for Esau, the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham, who was bargained out of his birthright by the wily Jacob. I think Ruth may also have been an Edomite, but I'll have to look further.
So Herod is not without *some* claim.
98 posted on 03/01/2004 6:15:34 AM PST by Mamzelle