Josephus on Herod’s Assassination of John the Baptist

To some of the Jews, it appeared as if the army of Herod had been destroyed by God, quite justifiably as retribution for what Herod did to John, the one called the baptist. For Herod had murdered him, a good man, who used to exhort the Jews to practice virtue, in terms of both piety toward God and righteousness toward one another, thereby coming together for baptism. For in this way the immersion would be acceptable to Him, if they made use of it not for the remission of some sins [only] but for the purification of the body, inasmuch as the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by righteousness. Now when others gathered together in crowds around him—for they were strongly moved by the hearing of his words—Herod, who feared lest the great influence John exerted over the people might put it into his power and inclination to incite a rebellion—for they appeared ready to do anything at the advice of that man—thought it best, by putting him to death, to prevent any mischief he might cause and not bring himself into difficulties by sparing a man who might make him regret it when it would be too late. So he was sent as a prisoner, under the suspicion of Herod, to Machaerus, the stronghold previously mentioned, and was executed there. Now the Jews held the opinion that the destruction of this army was sent as a punishment upon Herod and a mark of God’s displeasure with him.