Otherwise; It is the manner of Scripture to speak of events as they were commonly viewed at the time by all. So Joseph is called by Mary herself the father of Jesus; so here Herod is said to be “sorry,” because the guests believed that he was so.
This dissembler of his own inclinations, this contriver of a murder displayed sorrow in his face, when he had joy in his mind. “For his oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given.”
He excuses his crime by his oath, that his wickedness might be done under a pretence of piety. That he adds, “and them that sat at meat with him,” he would have them all sharers in his crime, that a bloody dish might be brought in, in a luxurious feast.
Reproduced in full. Translation: Oxford 1841 (Newman), public domain (Public domain).