December 24, 4 BC. Judea under Roman occupation. Jews migrate under the Roman census decree, bearing hostility from their oppressors. Joseph and his wife Mary travel to his ancestral spot of Bethlehem. The Innkeeper is unable to give them vacancy, but allows them shelter in a cave-stable, where King David once used as a child. Meanwhile three Wise Men from the East follow a star. The celestial light makes its appearance at Bethlehem, shining brightly over the cave. Shepherds come to the place and see Mary with her newborn baby. Than the Wise Men: Melchior the Hindu, Caspar the Greek, and Balthasar the Egyptian. All honor the infant as their King.
A quarter of years pass. Jerusalem is to receive a new governor in Gratus with the threat of a heavier tax levied on the Jews. The House of Hur, a noble family, has its bond slave Simonides handle the transfer of their riches to the safety of Antioch. Outside the Hur palace, his daughter Esther (unaware of her family’s slave relationship, only knowing her father is the steward) meets a boy, the young prince Judah Ben-Hur. They meet cute via a dove and then separate as her father leaves the city. Judah searches for his childhood friend Messala among the soldiers arriving for Gratus’ entry. He finally sees him, now an arrogant tribune. Despite this, Messala secretly greets his old friend, and Judah takes him to the palace to meet his mother the Princess of Hur and his sister Tirzah. The reunion, however, sours when Messala insults Judah’s people, imploring him to forget being a Jew. Judah refuses, commenting that his people will live to see Rome fall. Before violence is made, the sound of trumpets announce Gratus’ arrival. Messala leaves, warning Judah about his treasonous words. Judah despairs at his people’s oppression, only taking hope that the Holy Child of Bethlehem will become the King to free Judea.
Gratus arrives in a huge procession. The Hur family watch from a balcony. Just as the governor comes pass the palace, Judah accidentally dislodges a tile that falls and strikes Gratus. The Romans storm the palace, arresting the family. Messala claims he saw Judah deliberately throw the tile. All are to be taken away. Judah is violently separated from his family. He prays to God for vengeance on Messala. The fallen prince is forced to march through a desert to his future role as a galley slave. Beaten, pulled, dying of thirst, the prince finds renewed solace & strength when a carpenter gives him water to drink. Meanwhile, Simonides is arrested and tortured to reveal the whereabouts of the Hur fortune.
Three years pass. Judah endures the grueling hardship as a rower on a galley. His energy gets the interest of Roman consul Quintus Arrius. When the Roman fleet spots a Thracian pirate fleet, the slaves are chained. Arrius decides that Judah shall remain unlocked from his position. A Thracian galley (bearing a Roman Prisoner on the front) rams into the Roman ship, engaging the Romans in violent battle. Judah escapes the galley and rescues Arrius. The ship is set ablaze and sinks, with Jew and Roman the only survivors cast adrift. They are spotted by the fleet a recovered. Despite all odds, Arrius has scored a victory over the enemy. But what of Judah? Back to slavery? Arrius takes the prince under his wing, adopting him as his son.
In Rome, Judah, renamed Arrius the Younger, becomes an idol to the populace by his galley-hardened physical strength and charioteer abilities, winning many races. Nevertheless Judah is heartsick over his disappeared family. He learns of a merchant who might be Simonides the Hur Stewart. He and Arrius make their goodbyes.
In Judea, women washing their clothes talk of a Nazarene speaking parables. Some view him as the foretold King, while others scoff at his lack of Royal paraphernalia. Meanwhile in a deep dungeon in Jerusalem, two women huddle together in a dark cell.
Judah goes to Antioch, a place full of games. One such gamer, Shiek Ildereim, suffers the accidental death of his charioteer a day before the big race. Judah goes to the house of the Merchsnt, known only as the Miser of Antioch. He meets his daughter Esther, both sensing Deja vu. He gets an audience with the Miser, who is wary to the mention of the Hurs. He denies Judah, saying the young prince died in the galleys and that the women have presumably died. Judah is heartbroken at the news, comforted by Esther, who acknowledges his mother’s kindness to her. Ildereim enters, seeking the Young Arrius to drive his horses for the upcoming race. Judah refuses, until he learns a competitor is Messala. He pledges his commitment, but with the title The Unknown Jew. The two leave father and daughter alone. The Miser reveals a secret: the man is Judah Ben-Hur. But he and Esther are actually slaves to the Hur family, hence his denial. He gives Esther the choice to reveal this truth to Judah, with all of its consequences.
Messala learns of the Unknown Jew, and gets his vampish mistress Iras to learn his identity. She goes to Ildereim’s banquet, attempting to seduce Judah. They are interrupted by the entrance of Simonides and Esther. They reveal their true connection as his slaves, as well as his ownership of a vast fortune. Iras leaves and tells her info to Messala; he disbelieves it.
The day of the Race arrives. The racers gamble odds on the winner. Ildereim’s servant Sanballat reveals a huge sum to bet against. Messala attacks the man for his supposed trickery only to be confronted by Judah. He reveals he has that sum, and signs up. Messala hovers over committing: he stands to lose everything if he loses. Judah teases his ex-friend: has he forgotten they are Jew and Roman. His pride poked, Messala wagers. They get to their chariots and appear at the Circus, watched by thousands, among them Simonidies,?Esther, Ildereim, and Iras. The race begins, with chariots turning and crashing. Messala takes the lead, with Judah slowly reaching. Messala wrecks a Greek charioteer to stop Judah, but the Jew rides over the wreckage. Soon the two are side by side, their wheels caught together. Judah’s chariot breaks off Messala’s wheel, slowing him down at the mercy of several oncoming chariots. This causes a huge crash. Judah wins the race. The injured Messala is carried away. Iras looks on and scoffs. Judah is celebrated for his victory.
Unfortunately ruining Messala does nothing to cheer him. What good is his winnings if his people are still oppressed. Suddenly, an old friend of Ildereim enters: he is Balthasar, the Wise Man from Egypt. The babe he saw in a cave is now a man and is the future King. Judah decides he will help the King, pledging his fortune to build an army for the cause. He tells Esther his love will have to wait until the King makes his way. As Judah organizes two legions, the King saves an adultress from a stoning and enters Jerusalem on a day to be known as Palm Sunday. Meanwhile, the new governor Pontius Pilate orders the release of all prisoners unlisted in the records. This includes the Princess of Hur and Tirzah, now lepers.On the night the King has his Last Supper with his 12 disciples, Judah returns to the Hur Palace. Mourning his past, he sleeps near the gate. His mother and daughter also come to their old home. They recognize Judah, but can do nothing to wake or touch him. They hide as Esther arrives and the awakened Judah pledges his love to her. Then a messenger arrives with bad news: the Romans have seized the King! Judah rides off for rescue. Esther spots the lepers and recognizes them. The mother pleades with Esther to keep their plight a secret, for it will make Judah suffer. They leave for the Valley of the Lepers.
As the King is brought to Pilate before a mob wishing his death, Esther learns of his miraculous powers. She goes to the Valley and gets the Hur Women. Meanwhile, the King bears his cross through Via Dolorosa. Judah comes bearing a sword, promising safety and retribution. Then he hears a voice telling him that the Son of Man is here not to kill but save. Entranced, Judah drops his sword in shame. Nearby, the King resurrects a dead baby and then heals the Princess and Tirzah of leprosy. Judah recognizes them and joyfully embraces them.
The King is crucified, his death causing thunderstorms and earthquakes. Nearby, the two legions are dispersed by Balthasar, declaring the King’s death and his wish that they forgive their enemies. At the Hur palace, the family and servants watch Golgotha from afar. Judah comforts his mother and Esther, telling them the King is not dead, but will live on in the hearts of men.
