23. And he put himself under oath to her, Whatever you ask me, I will give it to you, even to the half of my kingdom. [Esth. 5:3, 6.]
24. Then she left the room and said to her mother, What shall I ask for [myself]? And she replied, The head of John the Baptist!
25. And she rushed back instantly to the king and requested, saying, I wish you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.
26. And the king was deeply pained and grieved and exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to slight her [by breaking faith with her].
27. And immediately the king sent off one [of the soldiers] of his bodyguard and gave him orders to bring [John's] head. He went and beheaded him in the prison
28. And brought his head on a platter and handed it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.
29. When his disciples learned of it, they came and took [John's] body and laid it in a tomb.
30. The apostles [sent out as missionaries] came back and gathered together to Jesus, and told Him all that they had done and taught.
31. And He said to them, [As for you] come away by yourselves to a deserted place, and rest a while–for many were [continually] coming and going, and they had not even leisure enough to eat.