Study Desk

An opportune day came when Herod, on his birthday, ^(C1)held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders, and the leading people ^(C2)of Galilee;

and when the daughter of ^(C1)Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and ^(F1)his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you."

And he swore to her, "Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you, up to ^(C1)half of my kingdom."

And she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist."

Immediately she came in a hurry to the king and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter."

And although the king was very sorry, because of his oaths and ^(F1)his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her.

Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and beheaded him in the prison,

and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.