21
Finally, the opportunity came. Herod gave a banquet on his birthday for his nobles and officers and the leading men of the Galil.
22
The daughter of Herodias came in and danced, and she pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you want; I will give it to you";
23
and he made a vow to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom."
24
So she went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" She said, "The head of Yochanan the Immerser."
25
At once the daughter hurried back to the king and announced her request: "I want you to give me right now on a platter the head of Yochanan the Immerser."
26
Herod was appalled; but out of regard for the oaths he had sworn before his dinner guests, he did not want to break his word to her.
27
So the king immediately sent a soldier from his personal guard with orders to bring Yochanan's head. The soldier went and beheaded Yochanan in the prison,
28
brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.
29
When Yochanan's talmidim heard of it, they came and took the body and laid it in a grave.
30
Those who had been sent out rejoined Yeshua and reported to him all they had done and taught.
31
There were so many people coming and going that they couldn't even take time to eat, so he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a place where we can be alone, and you can get some rest."