Who is…
Salome
Meaning: perfect
This is the name of 2 biblical women.
Salome, wife of Zebedee
She is the wife of Zebedee and mother of the Apostles James and John (Matthew 27:56), and probably the sister of Mary, the mother of our Lord (John 19:25).
Salome is mentioned by name in Mark 15:40 and 16:1.
She sought for her sons places of honor in Christ's kingdom.
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Him with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.” —Matthew 20:20-21; compare Matthew 19:28
She witnessed the crucifixion (Mark 15:40), and was present with the other women at the sepulchre (Matthew 27:56).
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Princess Salome
She is “the daughter of Herodias,” but her name is not included in Scripture.
Herod Antipas (tetrarch of Galilee and of Perea (aka Peraea) a region east of the Jordan River. Antipas is often called “Herod” in the Gospels) had imprisoned John the Baptist for publicly condemning his marriage to Herodias, who had previously been married to Herod's half-brother Philip (Herod Philip I).
During a birthday banquet for Herod in the fortress of Machaerus, the daughter danced before Herod and his guests, pleasing him greatly. Herod impulsively swore an oath to grant her whatever she asked, “up to half my kingdom.” At that time John the Baptist was a prisoner in the dungeons underneath the castle.
Prompted by her mother Herodias (who sought revenge against John), the girl requested the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Though distressed, Herod fulfilled the request due to his oath and the presence of guests, leading to John's unjust execution (Mark 6:14-29). The princess gave his head to her mother, whose revengeful spirit was thus gratified.
“A luxurious feast of the period was not regarded as complete unless it closed with some gross pantomimic representation; and doubtless Herod had adopted the evil fashion of his day. But he had not anticipated for his guests the rare luxury of seeing a princess, his own niece, a grand-daughter of Herod the Great and of Mariamne, a descendant, therefore, of Simon the high priest and the great line of Maccabean princes, a princess who afterwards became the wife of a tetrarch [Philip, tetrarch of Trachonitis] and the mother of a king, honoring them by degrading herself into a scenic dancer.” —Frederic W. Farrar, The Life of Christ (New York : E.P. Dutton & Co., 1893)
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