Mark 6v24

And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

Due to John’s preaching of repentance from sin and cleansing through baptism, he found much opposition from the Devil’s kingdom of sin. Herodias, Herod’s former sister-in-law and now wife (v17-19) had asked for John the Baptist to be killed on several occasions before this one, without success. Here she made sure that another opportunity has arisen.

Herod’s relationship with John was that of possibly most-trusted advisor (v20), although John was imprisoned by him in order to please his wife Herodias (v17).

Herod’s young niece had no doubt danced in a way that was very seductive and pleasing to Herod and his guests, so much so that Herod impulsively offered her anything that she wanted, up to the half of his kingdom (v22-23). This was the very opportunity that Herodias had been waiting for, which is why she told her daughter to ask for John the Baptist’s head.