Hey Minimalist

[A Theist]

For once in your life you make a good point. Both Philo and Josephus consider Pilate to be an arrogant bastard. A far cry from the hand-wringing, hand-washing, "why-are-you-making-me-do-this" pussy of the gospels.

Additionally, I'd point out that the Herodian family was hardly an orthodox Jewish family. They were quite a far cry from the Maccabeean rulers and had credibility problems with their own population, or at least with the priesthood who would prefer a more pious set of rulers. The Herodians were on very good terms with the Romans, or at least politically savvy enough to pretend to be. I'd like to see some sort of evidence that the Herodian family disliked Pilate aside from the possible motive that Pilate was a brutal Roman ruler and kind of an asshole.

It's true that the Herodian family was on good terms with the Romans. It's also true that they were hardly pious orthodox Jews. But that doesn't mean Herod was on good terms with Pilate. It was to Herod's benefit that he maintain the peace with Rome but it was probably no easy task when Pilate was continually antagonizing the Jews to near insurrection. Rome also had their issues with Pilate as well. So I can see where there could have been animosity between Herod and Pilate. It certainly seems that there was animosity between the Roman Emperor, Tiberius and Pilate.