ARCHELAUS
“chief of the people” (Gr.).
Son of Herod the Great with Maltace, a Samaritan woman. He succeeded his father as ethnarch of Idumea, Judea, Samaria, and the maritime cities of Palestine.
Because of his cruel character Joseph was afraid to take the child Jesus to his territory and went to Galilee, which was under the jurisdiction of his brother Antipas (Mt. 2:22).
He reigned 10 years. Josephus relates of him that shortly after his accession to the throne he had 3,000 Jews put to death. In the end he was deposed for his atrocities and banished to Vienne in Gaul (Ant. 17:8, 9, etc.).