Herod Antipas put John the Baptist to death in AD 31, after imprisoning him in AD 30. John had publicly denounced Antipas' marriage to Herodias, his niece and his brother Philip's wife, as a violation of Leviticus 20:21, and Herodias hated him from then on. Josephus adds that John was also a political threat, since he gathered a faithful following and proclaimed a soon-coming King, which may have reminded Antipas of his father's last years. At a birthday celebration for Antipas, Herodias' daughter Salome danced so well that he granted her a wish. At her mother's bidding she asked for John's head. Matthew says Antipas was saddened, and Mark records that he had even developed a friendship with John in prison, knowing him to be a holy and just man. Yet he kept his promise and executed the innocent prophet. The episode exposes Antipas' character. Unlike his father, he did not slaughter ruthlessly, but he jailed an innocent man mostly to please his wife, and he foolishly gave his stepdaughter an unconditional wish. He had little moral fiber or conviction and was pliable and easily influenced. Jesus saw through him and called him "that fox" (Luke 13:32), a man who used intellect and power for personal gain, even at the cost of a righteous man's life.