Final answer:
Herod the Great was not revered by the Israelites primarily due to his cruelty and tyrannical rule, characterized by excessive taxation, forced labor, and acts of violence, including the killing of many rabbis and some of his own family members.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question, "Why was Herod the Great not revered by the Israelites?", refers to the King of Judea who ruled under Roman auspices. The answer to the question is a) His cruelty and tyrannical rule. Herod the Great was known for his significant contributions to architecture and urban development in Judea, but his rule was also marked by extraordinary ruthlessness and paranoia. He was responsible for numerous acts of cruelty, including the execution of members of his own family and numerous rabbis, which entrenched his reputation as a tyrant among the Israelites. Their resentment towards Herod was intensified by excessive taxation and forced labor, which were burdensome and caused much disdain. Moreover, despite his attempts at pleasing the Romans and the Jews by building grand projects like the expansion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, his propensity for cruelty overshadowed any accomplishments in the eyes of many Judeans.