He further states that many of the Jews believed that the military disaster that fell upon Herod at the hands of Aretas was God 's punishment for his unrighteous behavior .
Aretas is his father - in - law ( Phasaelis ' father ) .
He further states that many of the Jews believed that the military disaster that fell upon Herod at the hands of Aretas , his father - in - law ( Phasaelis ' father ) , was God 's punishment for his unrighteous behavior .