Matthew 14:9 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And the king was sorry— Sudden horror, no doubt, seized every heart on hearing Salome's request; the king's gaietyvanished; he was confounded and vexed; but being unwilling to appear either rash, or fickle, or false, before a company of the first persons in his kingdom for rank and character, he commanded her request to be granted; not one of the guests being so friendly as to speak the least word to divert him from his mad purpose, though he gave them an opportunity to do it,by signifying to them that he performed his oath out of regard to the company:—perhaps they dreaded the resentment of Herodias. Thus, out of a misplaced regard to his oath and his guests, king Herod committed the most unjust and cruel of actions, which will ever reflect the deepest dishonour and disgrace upon his memory. See Macknight, and the note on Numbers 30:2.