Artifact
Aretas IV — AE Prutah
9 BC–40 AD · Bronze · Hendin CB168
Authentic ancient coin
MARK 6:17–18
“Herod had John arrested because of Herodias, his brother's wife. For John had been saying: 'It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.'”
Aretas IV ruled the Nabataean Kingdom east of Judaea, controlling major caravan routes between Arabia and the Mediterranean. His daughter was the first wife of Herod Antipas. When Antipas divorced her to marry Herodias, John the Baptist condemned the union publicly and paid with his head. Aretas subsequently went to war against Antipas in revenge.
This same king's governor later pursued Paul in Damascus; Paul escaped by being lowered in a basket from the city wall (2 Cor 11:32–33). One coin. Three New Testament stories.
