Though historians understand that Antipater's family had converted to Judaism in the second century BCE, different stories circulated in the wake of his sons coming to power.

[8] Instead Josephus explains that Antipater's family converted to Judaism during the forced conversions by the Sadducee-influenced Hasmonean leader John Hyrcanus.

[7] Early Church Fathers often portray Herod polemically, and as such, their accounts of his familial origin reflected poetic license in place of historical accuracy.

[13] Antipater served as a governor of Idumea under King Alexander Jannaeus and Queen Salome Alexandra, the parents of the feuding heirs.

[14] Indeed, it is clear in the various forms of assistance that Antipater provides to both Hyrcanus II, brother of Aristobulus, and the Romans, that he possessed great resources and brilliant military and political capabilities.

Together they attacked Aristobulus in Jerusalem, and there was a great upheaval that drew the attention of Marcus Aemilius Scaurus, the Roman magistrate Pompey had assigned to the eastern Mediterranean province.

Due to his loyalty to Rome and reliability as a statesman, he was placed in charge of Judea, with responsibilities and privileges that included mediating civil disturbance and tax collecting.

[22] With Hyrcanus established, Antipater thrived and laid the foundation for his family's success by navigating conflicts of loyalty and power-shifting within the Roman elite.

While Caesar was besieged in Alexandria in 47 BCE, Antipater and Mithridates of Pergamon rescued him with 13,000 men and the aid of numerous nearby friends.

[23] Later when accused by Aristobulus’ son, Antigonus, who returned from Roman bondage to contest for power, Antipater made a great scene of his scars from fighting for Caesar's life in Egypt.

[26] Josephus notes that with his newfound rights and honors, Antipater immediately began to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem that Pompey had destroyed when subduing Aristobulus.

[27] He established order by tempering civil disturbances in Judea and threatening to become a "severe master instead of a gentle governor" should the people grow seditious and unruly.

Herod quickly set about ridding Galilee of what his court historian calls "robbers," although they may also have been people resisting Roman rule.

[34] Antipater's work as power-broker between the Hasmoneans, the Arabians, and the Romans inaugurated dramatic dynamics and steep changes in the history of the Jewish nation.

The diplomacy and artful politics of Antipater produced the Herodian dynasty; he paved the way for the rise of his son Herod the Great, who married the Hasmonean princess Mariamne,[35] endeared himself to Rome, and usurped the Judean throne to become king of Judea under Roman influence.