Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 6:26

"And the king was exceeding sorry; but for the sake of his oaths, and of them that sat at meat, he would not reject her." — Mark 6:26 (ASV)

Herod was in a quandary, but “because of his oaths and his dinner guests,” he could hardly refuse the girl. Reluctantly he ordered an executioner to be sent to the prison to decapitate John. John’s head was brought to Herod, who presented it to Salome, who gave it to her mother.