{And Herodias set herself against him} (H(8820)de H(8872)(9369)dias
eneichen aut(9369)). Dative of disadvantage. Literally, {had it in
for him}. This is modern slang, but is in exact accord with this
piece of vernacular _Koin(825f). No object of eichen is expressed,
though org(886e) or cholon may be implied. The tense is imperfect
and aptly described the feelings of Herodias towards this upstart
prophet of the wilderness who had dared to denounce her private
relations with Herod Antipas. Gould suggests that she "kept her
eye on him" or kept up her hostility towards him. She never let
up, but bided her time which, she felt sure, would come. See the
same idiom in  Ge 49:23 . She {desired to kill him} ((8874)helen
auton apokteinai). Imperfect again. {And she could not} (kai
ouk (8864)unato). Kai here has an adversative sense, but she could
not. That is, not yet. "The power was wanting, not the will"
(Swete).