John the Baptist and Princess Salome

Image via Wikipedia

After the death of Judas of Gamalah (see page “EZEKIAH AND JUDAS OF GAMALAH”) years had passed before Jesus’ family return to Isreal, from their refuge in Egypt. Meanwhile the lack of capable leadership made the Zealot movement to fall apart. It took almost 30 years, before a capable leader made his appearance. His name was Yohanaan (in English John) and his was a first cousin of Jesus and a few months older than him. This figure appears in the New Testament as John the Baptist. We can not know for sure if he was indeed a Baptist, yet we do know that he was a capable leader. He recreated the Zealot movement and started his battle against Herod Antipas (son of Herod the Great).

This of course meant that Jesus and his brothers had lost the leadership, right out of their hands. And it was exactly at this point where Jesus decided to use it’s influence inside the house of Herod Antipas. Princes Salome, Herod Antipas niece and step daughter, was his collaborator. Salome was Jesus blood relative (Mariamne II was her grandmother) and some sources indicated that they had also been lovers (see page “JESUS AND THE WOMEN”). As we all know Salome was the one who convinced (or tricked) Herod into killing John the Baptist. After John’s death, Jesus became the leader of the Zealots and the head of the Church of Jerusalem.

This leadership remained in his family ever since. After his death his brother James (see page “JAMES THE BROTHER OF JESUS AND THE ROLE OF PAUL”) took over, and after him a long list of their relatives, who one by one died as lawless impostors for the kingship of Israel.