Salome suffered the same fate she bestowed upon John the Baptist

A queen pimps her own daughter

Truth, as they say, is stranger than fiction indeed. The story of the woman known as Salome is an indication this adage is accurate. The Bible tells us in Matthew chapter 14:3-12 that Herod the tetrarch was married to his brother Phillip's wife, Herodias. John the Baptist boldly told the ruler he was sinning and his marriage was adultery and wrong.

Herod had the prophet arrested even though he was intrigued by what he had to say. Herodias hated John and saw an opportunity to get rid of him. She asked her daughter to dance for the king, and he was overtaken by lust for this girl.

Over the years, the name Salome has become synonymous with treachery, deceit, and the spirit of seduction. Herodias prostituted her daughter out to her husband, using his lustful, incestuous eyes against him. Herod had sexual thoughts for his own brother's daughter, and it led to the downfall of all three.

Josephus speaks

Josephus, the Jewish historian, fills in details, of this story that the Bible does not. In addition to giving a name to the daughter of Herodias, he also shares her final fate. Herod was overthrown by Aretas and lost his kingdom. He and Herodias were condemned to banishment by Emperor Caligula to Vienna, a city bordering upon Gaul, which lies in the west of the area.

They were later forced to go to Sapin, which was to be their place of exile, and many believe it was God's judgment upon this wicked couple because of what they did to His prophet. Salome is said to have married her uncle, Philip, reigned as a queen, and given birth to two children.

The death of the prophet

Herod promised Salome anything she wanted up to half of his kingdom. She spoke with her mother, who told Salome to request that Herod present her with the prophet's head, and Salome complied.

The king was beyond horrified, but because of his oaths and the fact that his dinner guests heard him promise his stepdaughter whatever she wanted, he granted the evil request. John was beheaded, and his head was given to Salome on a platter.

Today it is commonly said that she requested his head on a silver platter, but scripture or history indicates this is true. The temptress received what she asked for, giving the prophet's head to her mother.

John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. The Bible does not name this girl, but the Jewish historian Josephus says her name was Salome.

No details are given regarding what transpired, but at some point, this wicked girl made a fateful choice to leave the life she was living, and it cost the temptress her life.

The temptress meets her fate

Josephus writes that Salome could not bear to be apart from her mother and stepfather and decided to join them in exile. It's not clear if the daughter of Herodias met her end as she was on her way to Spain or if it happened while she was already living there.

What is known is that it was wintertime, and Salome was crossing the river"Sikirus.": I could not find any reference to this particular river, except in the story as told by Josephus, but the Jewish people consider his works accurate. That body of water probably has a different name today.

It was reported that this wicked seductress was crossing the river on foot when the ice broke beneath her. She immediately sank down into the cold water up to her neck. The story goes that she wriggled and jiggled the lower part of her body beneath the water.

Ice Ice baby/Off with her head

History does not indicate who was with her to report this horrific tale, but it is said that her movements underwater were similar to the way she seductively danced for the king when she asked for John's head. If true, this is ironic indeed, and I do not doubt that this was the judgment of the Lord. Salome's head was glazed by the ice and eventually severed from her body by the sharp, jagged edges of the frozen water.

John's beheading was swift and instant, but the woman who asked for his head suffered long before she died. In those moments of shock and impending death, I wonder if she recalled what she had done to the man of God and had a chance to repent.