Judah Ben-Hur is a Jewish prince. Messala (Ma-salla) Severus is an adopted Roman who was raised among Judah’s family and treated as a brother. Yet Messala feels less than equal and sets out to become great through serving in the Roman Empire. When these two meet up again, years have passed. Judah is married and strife is rampant in Jerusalem. Eventually the two brothers are pitted against each other as a result of anger, revenge and jealousy.