CHAPTER 1
CONCERNING POLLIO AND SAMEAS. HEROD SLAYS THE PRINCIPAL OF ANTIGONUS'S FRIENDS,
AND SPOILS THE CITY OF ITS WEALTH. ANTONY BEHEADS ANTIGONUS
1. How Sosius and Herod took Jerusalem by force; and besides that, how
they took Antigonus captive, has been related by us in the foregoing book. We
will now proceed in the narration. And since Herod had now the government of
all Judea put into his hands, he promoted such of the private men in the city
as had been of his party, but never left off avenging and punishing every day
those that had chosen to be of the party of his enemies. But Pollio the Pharisee,
and Sameas, a disciple of his, were honored by him above all the rest; for when
Jerusalem was besieged, they advised the citizens to receive Herod, for which
advice they were well requited. But this Pollio, at the time when Herod was
once upon his trial of life and death, foretold, in way of reproach, to Hyrcanus
and the other judges, how this Herod, whom they suffered now to escape, would
afterward inflict punishment on them all; which had its completion in time,
while God fulfilled the words he had spoken.
2. At this time Herod, now he had got Jerusalem
under his power, carried off all the royal ornaments, and spoiled the wealthy
men of what they had gotten; and when, by these means, he had heaped together
a great quantity of silver and gold, he gave it all to Antony, and his friends
that were about him. He also slew forty-five of the principal men of Antigonus's
party, and set guards at the gates of the city, that nothing might be carried
out together with their dead bodies. They also searched the dead, and whatsoever
was found, either of silver or gold, or other treasure, it was carried to the
king; nor was there any end of the miseries he brought upon them; and this distress
was in part occasioned by the covetousness of the prince regent, who was still
in want of more, and in part by the Sabbatic year, which was still going on,
and forced the country to lie still uncultivated, since we are forbidden to
sow our land in that year. Now when Antony had received Antigonus as his captive,
he determined to keep him against his triumph; but when he heard that the nation
grew seditious, and that, out of their hatred to Herod, they continued to bear
good-will to Antigonus, he resolved to behead him at Antioch, for otherwise
the Jews could no way be brought to be quiet. And Strabo of Cappadocia attests
to what I have said, when he thus speaks: "Antony ordered Antigonus the Jew
to be brought to Antioch, and there to be beheaded. And this Antony seems to
me to have been the very first man who beheaded a king, as supposing he could
no other way bend the minds of the Jews so as to receive Herod, whom he had
made king in his stead; for by no torments could they he forced to call him
king, so great a fondness they had for their former king; so he thought that
this dishonorable death would diminish the value they had for Antigonus's memory,
and at the same time would diminish the hatred they bare to Herod." Thus far
Strabo.
CHAPTER
2
HOW HYRCANUS WAS SET AT LIBERTY BY THE PARTHIANS, AND RETURNED TO HEROD; AND
WHAT ALEXANDRA DID WHEN SHE HEARD THAT ANANELUS WAS MADE HIGH PRIEST
1. Now after Herod was in possession of the kingdom, Hyrcanus the high
priest, who was then a captive among the Parthians, came to him again, and was
set free from his captivity, in the manner following: Barzapharnes and Pacorus,
the generals of the Parthians, took Hyrcanus, who was first made high priest
and afterward king, and Herod's brother, Phasaelus captives, and were them away
into Parthia. Phasaelus indeed could not bear the reproach of being in bonds;
and thinking that death with glory was better than any life whatsoever, he became
his own executioner, as I have formerly related.
2. But when Hyrcanus was brought into Parthia
the king Phraates treated him after a very gentle manner, as having already
learned of what an illustrious family he was; on which account he set him free
from his bonds, and gave him a habitation at Babylon,1
where there were Jews in great numbers. These Jews honored Hyrcanus as their
high priest and king, as did all the Jewish nation that dwelt as far as Euphrates;
which respect was very much to his satisfaction. But when he was informed that
Herod had received the kingdom, new hopes came upon him, as having been himself
still of a kind disposition towards him, and expecting that Herod would bear
in mind what favor be had received from him; and when he was upon his trial,
and when he was in danger that a capital sentence would be pronounced against
him, he delivered him from that danger, and from all punishment. Accordingly,
he talked of that matter with the Jews that came often to him with great affection;
but they endeavored to retain him among them, and desired that he would stay
with them, putting him in mind of the kind offices and honors they did him,
and that those honors they paid him were not at all inferior to what they could
pay to either their high priests or their kings; and what was a greater motive
to determine him, they said, was this, that he could not have those dignities
[in Judea] because of that maim in his body, which had been inflicted on him
by Antigonus; and that kings do not use to requite men for those kindnesses
which they received when they were private persons, the height of their fortune
making usually no small changes in them.
3. Now although they suggested these arguments
to him for his own advantage, yet did Hyrcanus still desire to depart. Herod
also wrote to him, and persuaded him to desire of Phraates, and the Jews that
were there, that they should not grudge him the royal authority, which he should
have jointly with himself, for that now was the proper time for himself to make
him amends for the favors he had received from him, as having been brought up
by him, and saved by him also, as well as for Hyrcanus to receive it. And as
he wrote thus to Hyrcanus, so did he send also Saramallas, his ambassador, to
Phraates, and many presents with him, and desired him in the most obliging way
that he would be no hindrance to his gratitude towards his benefactor. But this
zeal of Herod's did not flow from that principle, but because he had been made
governor of that country without having any just claim to it, he was afraid,
and that upon reasons good enough, of a change in his condition, and so made
what haste he could to get Hyrcanus into his power, or indeed to put him quite
out of the way; which last thing he compassed afterward.
4. Accordingly, when Hyrcanus came, full
of assurance, by the permission of the king of Parthia, and at the expense of
the Jews, who supplied him with money, Herod received him with all possible
respect, and gave him the upper place at public meetings, and set him above
all the rest at feasts, and thereby deceived him. He called him his father,
and endeavored, by all the ways possible, that he might have no suspicion of
any treacherous design against him. He also did other things, in order to secure
his government, which yet occasioned a sedition in his own family; for being
cautious how he made any illustrious person the high priest of God,2
he sent for an obscure priest out of Babylon, whose name was Ananelus, and bestowed
the high priesthood upon him.
5. However, Alexandra, the daughter of Hyrcanus,
and wife of Alexander, the son of Aristobulus the king, who had also brought
Alexander [two] children, could not bear this indignity. Now this son was one
of the greatest comeliness, and was called Aristobulus; and the daughter, Mariamne,
was married to Herod, and eminent for her beauty also. This Alexandra was much
disturbed, and took this indignity offered to her son exceeding ill, that while
be was alive, any one else should be sent for to have the dignity of the high
priesthood conferred upon him. Accordingly, she wrote to Cleopatra (a musician
assisting her in taking care to have her letters carried) to desire her intercession
with Antony, in order to gain the high priesthood for her son.
6. But as Antony was slow in granting this
request, his friend Dellius3 came into Judea upon
some affairs; and when he saw Aristobulus, he stood in admiration at the tallness
and handsomeness of the child, and no less at Mariamne, the king's wife, and
was open in his commendations of Alexandra, as the mother of most beautiful
children. And when she came to discourse with him, he persuaded her to get pictures
drawn of them both, and to send them to Antony, for that when he saw them, he
would deny her nothing that she should ask. Accordingly, Alexandra was elevated
with these words of his, and sent the pictures to Antony. Dellius also talked
extravagantly, and said that these children seemed not derived from men, but
from some god or other. His design in doing so was to entice Antony into lewd
pleasures with them, who was ashamed to send for the damsel, as being the wife
of Herod, and avoided it, because of the reproaches he should have from Cleopatra
on that account; but he sent, in the most decent manner he could, for the young
man; but added this withal, unless he thought it hard upon him so to do. When
this letter was brought to Herod, he did not think it safe for him to send one
so handsome as was Aristobulus, in the prime of his life, for he was sixteen
years of age, and of so noble a family, and particularly not to Antony, the
principal man among the Romans, and one that would abuse him in his amours,
and besides, one that openly indulged himself in such pleasures as his power
allowed him without control. He therefore wrote back to him, that if this boy
should only go out of the country, all would be in a state of war and uproar,
because the Jews were in hopes of a change in the government, and to have another
king over them.
7. When Herod had thus excused himself to
Antony, he resolved that he would not entirely permit the child or Alexandra
to be treated dishonorably; but his wife Mariamne lay vehemently at him to restore
the high priesthood to her brother; and he judged it was for his advantage so
to do, because if he once had that dignity, he could not go out of the country.
So he called his friends together, and told them that Alexandra privately conspired
against his royal authority, and endeavored, by the means of Cleopatra, so to
bring it about, that he might be deprived of the government, and that by Antony's
means this youth might have the management of public affairs in his stead; and
that this procedure of hers was unjust, since she would at the same time deprive
her daughter of the dignity she now had, and would bring disturbances upon the
kingdom, for which he had taken a great deal of pains, and had gotten it with
extraordinary hazards; that yet, while he well remembered her wicked practices,
he would not leave off doing what was right himself, but would even now give
the youth the high priesthood; and that he formerly set up Ananelus, because
Aristobulus was then so very young a child. Now when he had said this, not at
random, but as he thought with the best discretion he had, in order to deceive
the women, and those friends whom he had taken to consult withal, Alexandra,
out of the great joy she had at this unexpected promise, and out of fear from
the suspicions she lay under, fell a weeping; and made the following apology
for herself; and said, that as to the [high] priesthood, she was very much concerned
for the disgrace her son was under, and so did her utmost endeavors to procure
it for him; but that as to the kingdom, she had made no attempts, and that if
it were offered her [for her son], she would not accept it; and that now she
would be satisfied with her son's dignity, while he himself held the civil government,
and she had thereby the security that arose from his peculiar ability in governing
to all the remainder of her family; that she was now overcome by his benefits,
and thankfully accepted of this honor showed by him to her son, and that she
would hereafter be entirely obedient. And she desired him to excuse her, if
the nobility of her family, and that freedom of acting which she thought that
allowed her, had made her act too precipitately and imprudently in this matter.
So when they had spoken thus to one another, they came to an agreement, and
all suspicions, so far as appeared, were vanished away.
CHAPTER
3
HOW HEROD, UPON HIS MAKING ARISTOBULUS HIGH PRIEST, TOOK CARE THAT HE SHOULD
BE MURDERED IN A LITTLE TIME; AND WHAT APOLOGY HE MADE TO ANTONY ABOUT ARISTOBULUS;
AS ALSO CONCERNING JOSEPH AND MARIAMNE
1. So king Herod immediately took the high priesthood away from Ananelus,
who, as we said before, was not of this country, but one of those Jews that
had been carried captive beyond Euphrates; for there were not a few ten thousands
of this people that had been carried captives, and dwelt about Babylonia, whence
Ananelus came. He was one of the stock of the high priests,4
and had been of old a particular friend of Herod; and when he was first made
king, he conferred that dignity upon him, and now put him out of it again, in
order to quiet the troubles in his family, though what he did was plainly unlawful,
for at no other time [of old] was any one that had once been in that dignity
deprived of it. It was Antiochus Epiphanes who first brake that law, and deprived
Jesus, and made his brother Onias high priest in his stead. Aristobulus was
the second that did so, and took that dignity from his brother [Hyrcanus]; and
this Herod was the third, who took that high office away [from Ananelus], and
gave it to this young man, Aristobulus, in his stead.
2. And now Herod seemed to have healed the
divisions in his family; yet was he not without suspicion, as is frequently
the case, of people seeming to be reconciled to one another, but thought that,
as Alexandra had already made attempts tending to innovations, so did he fear
that she would go on therein, if she found a fit opportunity for so doing; so
he gave a command that she should dwell in the palace, and meddle with no public
affairs. Her guards also were so careful, that nothing she did in private life
every day was concealed. All these hardships put her out of patience, by little
and little, and she began to hate Herod; for as she had the pride of a woman
to the utmost degree, she had great indignation at this suspicious guard that
was about her, as desirous rather to undergo any thing that could befall her,
than to be deprived of her liberty of speech, and, under the notion of an honorary
guard, to live in a state of slavery and terror. She therefore sent to Cleopatra,
and made a long complaint of the circumstances she was in, and entreated her
to do her utmost for her assistance. Cleopatra hereupon advised her to take
her son with her, and come away immediately to her into Egypt. This advice pleased
her; and she had this contrivance for getting away: she got two coffins made,
as if they were to carry away two dead bodies and put herself into one, and
her son into the other and gave orders to such of her servants as knew of her
intentions to carry them away in the night time. Now their road was to be thence
to the sea-side and there was a ship ready to carry them into Egypt. Now Aesop,
one of her servants, happened to fall upon Sabion, one of her friends, and spake
of this matter to him, as thinking he had known of it before. When Sabion knew
this, (who had formerly been an enemy of Herod, and been esteemed one of those
that laid snares for and gave the poison to [his father] Antipater,) he expected
that this discovery would change Herod's hatred into kindness; so he told the
king of this private stratagem of Alexandra: whereupon be suffered her to proceed
to the execution of her project, and caught her in the very fact; but still
he passed by her offense; and though he had a great mind to do it, he durst
not inflict any thing that was severe upon her, for he knew that Cleopatra would
not bear that he should have her accused, on account of her hatred to him; but
made a show as if it were rather the generosity of his soul, and his great moderation,
that made him forgive them. However, he fully proposed to himself to put this
young man out of the way, by one means or other; but he thought he might in
probability be better concealed in doing it, if he did it not presently, nor
immediately after what had lately happened.
3. And now, upon the approach of the feast
of tabernacles, which is a festival very much observed among us, he let those
days pass over, and both he and the rest of the people were therein very merry;
yet did the envy which at this time arose in him cause him to make haste to
do what lie was about, and provoke him to it; for when this youth Aristobulus,
who was now in the seventeenth year of his age, went up to the altar, according
to the law, to offer the sacrifices, and this with the ornaments of his high
priesthood, and when he performed the sacred offices,5
he seemed to be exceedingly comely, and taller than men usually were at that
age, and to exhibit in his countenance a great deal of that high family he was
sprung from,—a warm zeal and affection towards him appeared among the people,
and the memory of the actions of his grandfather Aristobulus was fresh in their
minds; and their affections got so far the mastery of them, that they could
not forbear to show their inclinations to him. They at once rejoiced and were
confounded, and mingled with good wishes their joyful acclamations which they
made to him, till the good-will of the multitude was made too evident; and they
more rashly proclaimed the happiness they had received from his family than
was fit under a monarchy to have done. Upon all this, Herod resolved to complete
what he had intended against the young man. When therefore the festival was
over, and he was feasting at Jericho6 with Alexandra,
who entertained them there, he was then very pleasant with the young man, and
drew him into a lonely place, and at the same time played with him in a juvenile
and ludicrous manner. Now the nature of that place was hotter than ordinary;
so they went out in a body, and of a sudden, and in a vein of madness; and as
they stood by the fish-ponds, of which there were large ones about the house,
they went to cool themselves [by bathing], because it was in the midst of a
hot day. At first they were only spectators of Herod's servants and acquaintance
as they were swimming; but after a while, the young man, at the instigation
of Herod, went into the water among them, while such of Herod's acquaintance,
as he had appointed to do it, dipped him as he was swimming, and plunged him
under water, in the dark of the evening, as if it had been done in sport only;
nor did they desist till he was entirely suffocated. And thus was Aristobulus
murdered, having lived no more in all than eighteen years,7
and kept the high priesthood one year only; which high priesthood Ananelus now
recovered again.
4. When this sad accident was told the women,
their joy was soon changed to lamentation, at the sight of the dead body that
lay before them, and their sorrow was immoderate. The city also [of Jerusalem],
upon the spreading of this news, were in very great grief, every family looking
on this calamity as if it had not belonged to another, but that one of themselves
was slain. But Alexandra was more deeply affected, upon her knowledge that he
had been destroyed [on purpose]. Her sorrow was greater than that of others,
by her knowing how the murder was committed; but she was under the necessity
of bearing up under it, out of her prospect of a greater mischief that might
otherwise follow; and she oftentimes came to an inclination to kill herself
with her own hand, but still she restrained herself, in hopes she might live
long enough to revenge the unjust murder thus privately committed; nay, she
further resolved to endeavor to live longer, and to give no occasion to think
she suspected that her son was slain on purpose, and supposed that she might
thereby be in a capacity of revenging it at a proper opportunity. Thus did she
restrain herself, that she might not be noted for entertaining any such suspicion.
However, Herod endeavored that none abroad should believe that the child's death
was caused by any design of his; and for this purpose he did not only use the
ordinary signs of sorrow, but fell into tears also, and exhibited a real confusion
of soul; and perhaps his affections were overcome on this occasion, when he
saw the child's countenance so young and so beautiful, although his death was
supposed to tend to his own security. So far at least this grief served as to
make some apology for him; and as for his funeral, that he took care should
be very magnificent, by making great preparation for a sepulchre to lay his
body in, and providing a great quantity of spices, and burying many ornaments
together with him, till the very women, who were in such deep sorrow, were astonished
at it, and received in this way some consolation.
5. However, no such things could overcome
Alexandra's grief; but the remembrance of this miserable case made her sorrow,
both deep and obstinate. Accordingly, she wrote an account of this treacherous
scene to Cleopatra, and how her son was murdered; but Cleopatra, as she had
formerly been desirous to give her what satisfaction she could, and commiserating
Alexandra's misfortunes, made the case her own, and would not let Antony be
quiet, but excited him to punish the child's murder; for that it was an unworthy
thing that Herod, who had been by him made king of a kingdom that no way belonged
to him, should be guilty of such horrid crimes against those that were of the
royal blood in reality. Antony was persuaded by these arguments; and when he
came to Laodicea, he sent and commanded Herod to come and make his defence,
as to what he had done to Aristobulus, for that such a treacherous design was
not well done, if he had any hand in it. Herod was now in fear, both of the
accusation, and of Cleopatra's ill-will to him, which was such that she was
ever endeavoring to make Antony hate him. He therefore determined to obey his
summons, for he had no possible way to avoid it. So he left his uncle Joseph
procurator for his government, and for the public affairs, and gave him a private
charge, that if Antony should kill him, he also should kill Mariamne immediately;
for that he had a tender affection for this his wife, and was afraid of the
injury that should be offered him, if, after his death, she, for her beauty,
should be engaged to some other man: but his intimation was nothing but this
at the bottom, that Antony had fallen in love with her, when he had formerly
heard somewhat of her beauty. So when Herod had given Joseph this charge, and
had indeed no sure hopes of escaping with his life, he went away to Antony.
6. But as Joseph was administering the public
affairs of the kingdom, and for that reason was very frequently with Mariamne,
both because his business required it, and because of the respects he ought
to pay to the queen, he frequently let himself into discourses about Herod's
kindness, and great affection towards her; and when the women, especially Alexandra,
used to turn his discourses into feminine raillery, Joseph was so over-desirous
to demonstrate the kings inclinations, that he proceeded so far as to mention
the charge he had received, and thence drew his demonstration, that Herod was
not able to live without her; and that if he should come to any ill end, he
could not endure a separation from her, even after he was dead. Thus spake Joseph.
But the women, as was natural, did not take this to be an instance of Herod's
strong affection for them, but of his severe usage of them, that they could
not escape destruction, nor a tyrannical death, even when he was dead himself.
And this saying [of Joseph] was a foundation for the women's severe suspicions
about him afterwards.
7. At this time a report went about the
city of Jerusalem among Herod's enemies, that Antony had tortured Herod, and
put him to death. This report, as is natural, disturbed those that were about
the palace, but chiefly the women; upon which Alexandra endeavored to persuade
Joseph to go out of the palace, and fly away with them to the ensigns of the
Roman legion, which then lay encamped about the city, as a guard to the kingdom,
under the command of Julius; for that by this means, if any disturbance should
happen about the palace, they should be in greater security, as having the Romans
favorable to them; and that besides, they hoped to obtain the highest authority,
if Antony did but once see Mariamne, by whose means they should recover the
kingdom, and want nothing which was reasonable for them to hope for, because
of their royal extraction.
8. But as they were in the midst of these
deliberations, letters were brought from Herod about all his affairs, and proved
contrary to the report, and of what they before expected; for when he was come
to Antony, he soon recovered his interest with him, by the presents he made
him, which he had brought with him from Jerusalem; and he soon induced him,
upon discoursing with him, to leave off his indignation at him, so that Cleopatra's
persuasions had less force than the arguments and presents he brought to regain
his friendship; for Antony said that it was not good to require an account of
a king, as to the affairs of his government, for at this rate he could be no
king at all, but that those who had given him that authority ought to permit
him to make use of it. He also said the same things to Cleopatra, that it would
be best for her not busily to meddle with the acts of the king's government.
Herod wrote an account of these things, and enlarged upon the other honors which
he had received from Antony; how he sat by him at his hearing causes, and took
his diet with him every day, and that he enjoyed those favors from him, notwithstanding
the reproaches that Cleopatra so severely laid against him, who having a great
desire of his country, and earnestly entreating Antony that the kingdom might
be given to her, labored with her utmost diligence to have him out of the way;
but that he still found Antony just to him, and had no longer any apprehensions
of hard treatment from him; and that he was soon upon his return, with a firmer
additional assurance of his favor to him, in his reigning and managing public
affairs; and that there was no longer any hope for Cleopatra's covetous temper,
since Antony had given her Coelesyria instead of what she had desired; by which
means he had at once pacified her, and got clear of the entreaties which she
made him to have Judea bestowed upon her.
9. When these letters were brought, the
women left off their attempt for flying to the Romans, which they thought of
while Herod was supposed to be dead; yet was not that purpose of theirs a secret;
but when the king had conducted Antony on his way against the Parthians, he
returned to Judea, when both his sister Salome and his mother informed him of
Alexandra's intentions. Salome also added somewhat further against Joseph, though
it was no more than a calumny, that he had often had criminal conversation with
Mariamne. The reason of her saying so was this, that she for a long time bare
her ill-will; for when they had differences with one another, Mariamne took
great freedoms, and reproached the rest for the meanness of their birth. But
Herod, whose affection to Mariamne was always very warm, was presently disturbed
at this, and could not bear the torments of jealousy, but was still restrained
from doing any rash thing to her by the love he had for her; yet did his vehement
affection and jealousy together make him ask Mariamne by herself about this
matter of Joseph; but she denied it upon her oath, and said all that an innocent
woman could possibly say in her own defence; so that by little and little the
king was prevailed upon to drop the suspicion, and left off his anger at her;
and being overcome with his passion for his wife, he made an apology to her
for having seemed to believe what he had heard about her, and returned her a
great many acknowledgments of her modest behavior, and professed the extraordinary
affection and kindness he had for her, till at last, as is usual between lovers,
they both fell into tears, and embraced one another with a most tender affection.
But as the king gave more and more assurances of his belief of her fidelity,
and endeavored to draw her to a like confidence in him, Mariamne said, "Yet
was not that command thou gavest, that if any harm came to thee from Antony,
I, who had been no occasion of it, should perish with thee, a sign of thy love
to me?" When these words were fallen from her, the king was shocked at them,
and presently let her go out of his arms, and cried out, and tore his hair with
his own hands, and said, that now he had an evident demonstration that Joseph
had had criminal conversation with his wife; for that he would never have uttered
what he had told him alone by himself, unless there had been such a great familiarity
and firm confidence between them. And while he was in this passion he had liked
to have killed his wife; but being still overborne by his love to her, he restrained
this his passion, though not without a lasting grief and disquietness of mind.
However, he gave order to slay Joseph, without permitting him to come into his
sight; and as for Alexandra, he bound her, and kept her in custody, as the cause
of all this mischief.
CHAPTER
4
HOW CLEOPATRA, WHEN SHE HAD GOTTEN FROM ANTONY SOME PARTS OF JUDEA AND ARABIA,
CAME INTO JUDEA; AND HOW HEROD GAVE HER MANY PRESENTS, AND CONDUCTED HER ON
HER WAY BACK TO EGYPT
1. Now at this time the affairs of Syria were in confusion by Cleopatra's
constant persuasions to Antony to make an attempt upon every body's dominions;
for she persuaded him to take those dominions away from their several princes,
and bestow them upon her; and she had a mighty influence upon him, by reason
of his being enslaved to her by his affections. She was also by nature very
covetous, and stuck at no wickedness. She had already poisoned her brother,
because she knew that he was to be king of Egypt, and this when he was but fifteen
years old; and she got her sister Arsinoe to be slain, by the means of Antony,
when she was a supplicant at Diana's temple at Ephesus; for if there were but
any hopes of getting money, she would violate both temples and sepulchres. Nor
was there any holy place that was esteemed the most inviolable, from which she
would not fetch the ornaments it had in it; nor any place so profane, but was
to suffer the most flagitious treatment possible from her, if it could but contribute
somewhat to the covetous humor of this wicked creature: yet did not all this
suffice so extravagant a woman, who was a slave to her lusts, but she still
imagined that she wanted every thing she could think of, and did her utmost
to gain it; for which reason she hurried Antony on perpetually to deprive others
of their dominions, and give them to her. And as she went over Syria with him,
she contrived to get it into her possession; so he slew Lysanias, the son of
Ptolemy, accusing him of his bringing the Parthians upon those countries. She
also petitioned Antony to give her Judea and Arabia; and, in order thereto,
desired him to take these countries away from their present governors. As for
Antony, he was so entirely overcome by this woman, that one would not think
her conversation only could do it, but that he was some way or other bewitched
to do whatsoever she would have him; yet did the grossest parts of her injustice
make him so ashamed, that he would not always hearken to her to do those flagrant
enormities she would have persuaded him to. That therefore he might not totally
deny her, nor, by doing every thing which she enjoined him, appear openly to
be an ill man, he took some parts of each of those countries away from their
former governors, and gave them to her. Thus he gave her the cities that were
within the river Eleutherus, as far as Egypt, excepting Tyre and Sidon, which
he knew to have been free cities from their ancestors, although she pressed
him very often to bestow those on her also.
2. When Cleopatra had obtained thus much,
and had accompanied Antony in his expedition to Armenia as far as Euphrates,
she returned back, and came to Apamia and Damascus, and passed on to Judea,
where Herod met her, and farmed of her her parts of Arabia, and those revenues
that came to her from the region about Jericho. This country bears that balsam,
which is the most precious drug that is there, and grows there alone. The place
bears also palm trees, both many in number, and those excellent in their kind.
When she was there, and was very often with Herod, she endeavored to have criminal
conversation with the king; nor did she affect secrecy in the indulgence of
such sort of pleasures; and perhaps she had in some measure a passion of love
to him; or rather, what is most probable, she laid a treacherous snare for him,
by aiming to obtain such adulterous conversation from him: however, upon the
whole, she seemed overcome with love to him. Now Herod had a great while borne
no good-will to Cleopatra, as knowing that she was a woman irksome to all; and
at that time he thought her particularly worthy of his hatred, if this attempt
proceeded out of lust; he had also thought of preventing her intrigues, by putting
her to death, if such were her endeavors. However, he refused to comply with
her proposals, and called a counsel of his friends to consult with them whether
he should not kill her, now he had her in his power; for that he should thereby
deliver all those from a multitude of evils to whom she was already become irksome,
and was expected to be still so for the time to come; and that this very thing
would be much for the advantage of Antony himself, since she would certainly
not be faithful to him, in case any such season or necessity should come upon
him as that he should stand in need of her fidelity. But when he thought to
follow this advice, his friends would not let him; and told him that, in the
first place, it was not right to attempt so great a thing, and run himself thereby
into the utmost danger; and they laid hard at him, and begged of him to undertake
nothing rashly, for that Antony would never bear it, no, not though any one
should evidently lay before his eyes that it was for his own advantage; and
that the appearance of depriving him of her conversation, by this violent and
treacherous method, would probably set his affections more on a flame than before.
Nor did it appear that he could offer any thing of tolerable weight in his defence,
this attempt being against such a woman as was of the highest dignity of any
of her sex at that time in the world; and as to any advantage to be expected
from such an undertaking, if any such could be supposed in this case, it would
appear to deserve condemnation, on account of the insolence he must take upon
him in doing it: which considerations made it very plain that in so doing he
would find his government filled with mischief, both great and lasting, both
to himself and his posterity, whereas it was still in his power to reject that
wickedness she would persuade him to, and to come off honorably at the same
time. So by thus affrighting Herod, and representing to him the hazard he must,
in all probability, run by this undertaking, they restrained him from it. So
he treated Cleopatra kindly, and made her presents, and conducted her on her
way to Egypt.
3. But Antony subdued Armenia, and sent
Artabazes, the son of Tigranes, in bonds, with his children and procurators,
to Egypt, and made a present of them, and of all the royal ornaments which he
had taken out of that kingdom, to Cleopatra. And Artaxias, the eldest of his
sons, who had escaped at that time, took the kingdom of Armenia; who yet was
ejected by Archelaus and Nero Caesar, when they restored Tigranes, his younger
brother, to that kingdom; but this happened a good while afterward.
4. But then, as to the tributes which Herod
was to pay Cleopatra for that country which Antony had given her, he acted fairly
with her, as deeming it not safe for him to afford any cause for Cleopatra to
hate him. As for the king of Arabia, whose tribute Herod had undertaken to pay
her, for some time indeed he paid him as much as came to two hundred talents;
but he afterwards became very niggardly and slow in his payments, and could
hardly be brought to pay some parts of it, and was not willing to pay even them
without some deductions.
CHAPTER
5
HOW HEROD MADE WAR WITH THE KING OF ARABIA, AND AFTER THEY HAD FOUGHT MANY BATTLES,
AT LENGTH CONQUERED HIM, AND WAS CHOSEN BY THE ARABS TO BE GOVERNOR OF THAT
NATION; AS ALSO CONCERNING A GREAT EARTHQUAKE
1. Hereupon Herod held himself ready to go against the king of Arabia,
because of his ingratitude to him, and because, after all, he would do nothing
that was just to him, although Herod made the Roman war an occasion of delaying
his own; for the battle at Actium was now expected, which fell into the hundred
eighty and seventh olympiad, where Caesar and Antony were to fight for the supreme
power of the world; but Herod having enjoyed a country that was very fruitful,
and that now for a long time, and having received great taxes, and raised great
armies therewith, got together a body of men, and carefully furnished them with
all necessaries, and designed them as auxiliaries for Antony. But Antony said
he had no want of his assistance; but he commanded him to punish the king of
Arabia; for he had heard both from him, and from Cleopatra, how perfidious he
was; for this was what Cleopatra desired, who thought it for her own advantage
that these two kings should do one another as great mischief as possible. Upon
this message from Antony, Herod returned back, but kept his army with him, in
order to invade Arabia immediately. So when his army of horsemen and footmen
was ready, he marched to Diospolis, whither the Arabians came also to meet them,
for they were not unapprised of this war that was coming upon them; and after
a great battle had been fought, the Jews had the victory. But afterward there
were gotten together another numerous army of the Arabians, at Cana, which is
a place of Coelesyria. Herod was informed of this beforehand; so he came marching
against them with the greatest part of the forces he had; and when he was come
near to Cana, he resolved to encamp himself; and he cast up a bulwark, that
he might take a proper season for attacking the enemy; but as he was giving
those orders, the multitude of the Jews cried out that he should make no delay,
but lead them against the Arabians. They went with great spirit, as believing
they were in very good order; and those especially were so that had been in
the former battle, and had been conquerors, and had not permitted their enemies
so much as to come to a close fight with them. And when they were so tumultuous,
and showed such great alacrity, the king resolved to make use of that zeal the
multitude then exhibited; and when he had assured them he would not be behindhand
with them in courage, he led them on, and stood before them all in his armor,
all the regiments following him in their several ranks: whereupon a consternation
fell upon the Arabians; for when they perceived that the Jews were not to be
conquered, and were full of spirit, the greater part of them ran away, and avoided
fighting; and they had been quite destroyed, had not Athenio fallen upon the
Jews, and distressed them; for this man was Cleopatra's general over the soldiers
she had there, and was at enmity with Herod, and very wistfully looked on to
see what the event of the battle would be. He had also resolved, that in case
the Arabians did any thing that was brave and successful, he would lie still;
but in case they were beaten, as it really happened, he would attack the Jews
with those forces he had of his own, and with those that the country had gotten
together for him. So he fell upon the Jews unexpectedly, when they were fatigued,
and thought they had already vanquished the enemy, and made a great slaughter
of them; for as the Jews had spent their courage upon their known enemies, and
were about to enjoy themselves in quietness after their victory, they were easily
beaten by these that attacked them afresh, and in particular received a great
loss in places where the horses could not be of service, and which were very
stony, and where those that attacked them were better acquainted with the places
than themselves. And when the Jews had suffered this loss, the Arabians raised
their spirits after their defeat, and returning back again, slew those that
were already put to flight; and indeed all sorts of slaughter were now frequent,
and of those that escaped, a few only returned into the camp. So king Herod,
when he despaired of the battle, rode up to them to bring them assistance; yet
did he not come time enough to do them any service, though he labored hard to
do it; but the Jewish camp was taken; so that the Arabians had unexpectedly
a most glorious success, having gained that victory which of themselves they
were no way likely to have gained, and slaying a great part of the enemy's army:
whence afterward Herod could only act like a private robber, and make excursions
upon many parts of Arabia, and distress them by sudden incursions, while he
encamped among the mountains, and avoided by any means to come to a pitched
battle; yet did he greatly harass the enemy by his assiduity, and the hard labor
he took in this matter. He also took great care of his own forces, and used
all the means he could to restore his affairs to their old state.
2. At this time it was that the fight happened
at Actium, between Octavius Caesar and Antony, in the seventh year of the reign
of Herod,8 and then it was also that there was an
earthquake in Judea, such a one as had not happened at any other time, and which
earthquake brought a great destruction upon the cattle in that country. About
ten thousand men also perished by the fall of houses; but the army, which lodged
in the field, received no damage by this sad accident. When the Arabians were
informed of this, and when those that hated the Jews, and pleased themselves
with aggravating the reports, told them of it, they raised their spirits, as
if their enemy's country was quite overthrown, and the men were utterly destroyed,
and thought there now remained nothing that could oppose them. Accordingly,
they took the Jewish ambassadors, who came to them after all this had happened,
to make peace with them, and slew them, and came with great alacrity against
their army; but the Jews durst not withstand them, and were so cast down by
the calamities they were under, that they took no care of their affairs, but
gave up themselves to despair; for they had no hope that they should be upon
a level again with them in battles, nor obtain any assistance elsewhere, while
their affairs at home were in such great distress also. When matters were in
this condition, the king persuaded the commanders by his words, and tried to
raise their spirits, which were quite sunk; and first he endeavored to encourage
and embolden some of the better sort beforehand, and then ventured to make a
speech to the multitude, which he had before avoided to do, lest he should find
them uneasy thereat, because of the misfortunes which had happened; so he made
a consolatory speech to the multitude, in the manner following:—
3. "You are not unacquainted, my fellow
soldiers, that we have had, not long since, many accidents that have put a stop
to what we are about, and it is probable that even those that are most distinguished
above others for their courage can hardly keep up their spirits in such circumstances;
but since we cannot avoid fighting, and nothing that hath happened is of such
a nature but it may by ourselves be recovered into a good state, and this by
one brave action only well performed, I have proposed to myself both to give
you some encouragement, and, at the same time, some information; both which
parts of my design will tend to this point; that you may still continue in your
own proper fortitude. I will then, in the first place, demonstrate to you that
this war is a just one on our side, and that on this account it is a war of
necessity, and occasioned by the injustice of our adversaries; for if you be
once satisfied of this, it will be a real cause of alacrity to you; after which
I will further demonstrate, that the misfortunes we are under are of no great
consequence, and that we have the greatest reason to hope for victory. I shall
begin with the first, and appeal to yourselves as witnesses to what I shall
say. You are not ignorant certainly of the wickedness of the Arabians, which
is to that degree as to appear incredible to all other men, and to include somewhat
that shows the grossest barbarity and ignorance of God. The chief things wherein
they have affronted us have arisen from covetousness and envy; and they have
attacked us in an insidious manner, and on the sudden. And what occasion is
there for me to mention many instances of such their procedure? When they were
in danger of losing their own government of themselves, and of being slaves
to Cleopatra, what others were they that freed them from that fear? for it was
the friendship I had with Antony, and the kind disposition he was in towards
us, that hath been the occasion that even these Arabians have not been utterly
undone, Antony being unwilling to undertake any thing which might be suspected
by us of unkindness: but when he had a mind to bestow some parts of each of
our dominions on Cleopatra, I also managed that matter so, that by giving him
presents of my own, I might obtain a security to both nations, while I undertook
myself to answer for the money, and gave him two hundred talents, and became
surety for those two hundred more which were imposed upon the land that was
subject to this tribute; and this they have defrauded us of, although it was
not reasonable that Jews should pay tribute to any man living, or allow part
of their land to be taxable; but although that was to be, yet ought we not to
pay tribute for these Arabians, whom we have ourselves preserved; nor is it
fit that they, who have professed (and that with great integrity and sense of
our kindness) that it is by our means that they keep their principality, should
injure us, and deprive us of what is our due, and this while we have been still
not their enemies, but their friends. And whereas observation of covenants takes
place among the bitterest enemies, but among friends is absolutely necessary,
this is not observed among these men, who think gain to be the best of all things,
let it be by any means whatsoever, and that injustice is no harm, if they may
but get money by it: is it therefore a question with you, whether the unjust
are to be punished or not? when God himself hath declared his mind that so it
ought to be, and hath commanded that we ever should hate injuries and injustice,
which is not only just, but necessary, in wars between several nations; for
these Arabians have done what both the Greeks and barbarians own to be an instance
of the grossest wickedness, with regard to our ambassadors, which they have
beheaded, while the Greeks declare that such ambassadors are sacred and inviolable.9
And for ourselves, we have learned from God the most excellent of our doctrines,
and the most holy part of our law, by angels or ambassadors; for this name brings
God to the knowledge of mankind, and is sufficient to reconcile enemies one
to another. What wickedness then can be greater than the slaughter of ambassadors,
who come to treat about doing what is right? And when such have been their actions,
how is it possible they can either live securely in common life, or be successful
in war? In my opinion, this is impossible; but perhaps some will say, that what
is holy, and what is righteous, is indeed on our side, but that the Arabians
are either more courageous or more numerous than we are. Now, as to this, in
the first place, it is not fit for us to say so, for with whom is what is righteous,
with them is God himself; now where God is, there is both multitude and courage.
But to examine our own circumstances a little, we were conquerors in the first
battle; and when we fought again, they were not able to oppose us, but ran away,
and could not endure our attacks or our courage; but when we had conquered them,
then came Athenion, and made war against us without declaring it; and pray,
is this an instance of their manhood? or is it not a second instance of their
wickedness and treachery? Why are we therefore of less courage, on account of
that which ought to inspire us with stronger hopes? and why are we terrified
at these, who, when they fight upon the level, are continually beaten, and when
they seem to be conquerors, they gain it by wickedness? and if we suppose that
any one should deem them to be men of real courage, will not he be excited by
that very consideration to do his utmost against them? for true valor is not
shown by fighting against weak persons, but in being able to overcome the most
hardy. But then if the distresses we are ourselves under, and the miseries that
have come by the earthquake, hath affrighted any one, let him consider, in the
first place, that this very thing will deceive the Arabians, by their supposal
that what hath befallen us is greater than it really is. Moreover, it is not
right that the same thing that emboldens them should discourage us; for these
men, you see, do not derive their alacrity from any advantageous virtue of their
own, but from their hope, as to us, that we are quite cast down by our misfortunes;
but when we boldly march against them, we shall soon pull down their insolent
conceit of themselves, and shall gain this by attacking them, that they will
not be so insolent when we come to the battle; for our distresses are not so
great, nor is what hath happened all indication of the anger of God against
us, as some imagine; for such things are accidental, and adversities that come
in the usual course of things; and if we allow that this was done by the will
of God, we must allow that it is now over by his will also, and that he is satisfied
with what hath already happened; for had he been willing to afflict us still
more thereby, he had not changed his mind so soon. And as for the war we are
engaged in, he hath himself demonstrated that he is willing it should go on,
and that he knows it to be a just war; for while some of the people in the country
have perished, all you who were in arms have suffered nothing, but are all preserved
alive; whereby God makes it plain to us, that if you had universally, with your
children and wives, been in the army, it had come to pass that you had not undergone
any thing that would have much hurt you. Consider these things, and, what is
more than all the rest, that you have God at all times for your Protector; and
prosecute these men with a just bravery, who, in point of friendship, are unjust,
in their battles perfidious, towards ambassadors impious, and always inferior
to you in valor."
4. When the Jews heard this speech, they
were much raised in their minds, and more disposed to fight than before. So
Herod, when he had offered the sacrifices appointed by the law,10
made haste, and took them, and led them against the Arabians; and in order to
that passed over Jordan, and pitched his camp near to that of the enemy. He
also thought fit to seize upon a certain castle that lay in the midst of them,
as hoping it would be for his advantage, and would the sooner produce a battle;
and that if there were occasion for delay, he should by it have his camp fortified;
and as the Arabians had the same intentions upon that place, a contest arose
about it; at first they were but skirmishes, after which there came more soldiers,
and it proved a sort of fight, and some fell on both sides, till those of the
Arabian side were beaten and retreated. This was no small encouragement to the
Jews immediately; and when Herod observed that the enemy's army was disposed
to any thing rather than to come to an engagement, he ventured boldly to attempt
the bulwark itself, and to pull it to pieces, and so to get nearer to their
camp, in order to fight them; for when they were forced out of their trenches,
they went out in disorder, and had not the least alacrity, or hope of victory;
yet did they fight hand to hand, because they were more in number than the Jews,
and because they were in such a disposition of war that they were under a necessity
of coming on boldly; so they came to a terrible battle, while not a few fell
on each side. However, at length the Arabians fled; and so great a slaughter
was made upon their being routed, that they were not only killed by their enemies,
but became the authors of their own deaths also, and were trodden down by the
multitude, and the great current of people in disorder, and were destroyed by
their own armor; so five thousand men lay dead upon the spot, while the rest
of the multitude soon ran within the bulwark for safety, but had no firm hope
of safety, by reason of their want of necessaries, and especially of water.
The Jews pursued them, but could not get in with them, but sat round about the
bulwark, and watched any assistance that would get in to them, and prevented
any there, that had a mind to it, from running away.
5. When the Arabians were in these circumstances,
they sent ambassadors to Herod, in the first place, to propose terms of accommodation,
and after that to offer him, so pressing was their thirst upon them, to undergo
whatsoever he pleased, if he would free them from their present distress; but
he would admit of no ambassadors, of no price of redemption, nor of any other
moderate terms whatever, being very desirous to revenge those unjust actions
which they had been guilty of towards his nation. So they were necessitated
by other motives, and particularly by their thirst, to come out, and deliver
themselves up to him, to be carried away captives; and in five days' time the
number of four thousand were taken prisoners, while all the rest resolved to
make a sally upon their enemies, and to fight it out with them, choosing rather,
if so it must be, to die therein, than to perish gradually and ingloriously.
When they had taken this resolution, they came out of their trenches, but could
no way sustain the fight, being too much disabled, both in mind and body, and
having not room to exert themselves, and thought it an advantage to be killed,
and a misery to survive; so at the first onset there fell about seven thousand
of them, after which stroke they let all the courage they had put on before
fall, and stood amazed at Herod's warlike spirit under his own calamities; so
for the future they yielded, and made him ruler of their nation; whereupon he
was greatly elevated at so seasonable a success, and returned home, taking great
authority upon him, on account of so bold and glorious an expedition as he had
made.
CHAPTER
6
HOW HEROD SLEW HYRCANUS, AND THEN HASTED AWAY TO CAESAR, AND OBTAINED THE KINGDOM
FROM HIM ALSO; AND HOW, A LITTLE TIME AFTERWARD, HE ENTERTAINED CAESAR IN A
MOST HONORABLE MANNER
1. Herod's other affairs were now very prosperous, and he was not to be
easily assaulted on any side. Yet did there come upon him a danger that would
hazard his entire dominions, after Antony had been beaten at the battle of Actium
by Caesar [Octavian]; for at that time both Herod's enemies and friends despaired
of his affairs, for it was not probable that he would remain without punishment,
who had showed so much friendship for Antony. So it happened that his friends
despaired, and had no hopes of his escape; but for his enemies, they all outwardly
appeared to be troubled at his case, but were privately very glad of it, as
hoping to obtain a change for the better. As for Herod himself he saw that there
was no one of royal dignity left but Hyrcanus, and therefore he thought it would
be for his advantage not to suffer him to be an obstacle in his way any longer;
for that in case he himself survived, and escaped the danger he was in, he thought
it the safest way to put it out of the power of such a man to make any attempt
against him, at such junctures of affairs, as was more worthy of the kingdom
than himself; and in case he should be slain by Caesar, his envy prompted him
to desire to slay him that would otherwise be king after him.
2. While Herod had these things in his mind,
there was a certain occasion afforded him: for Hyrcanus was of so mild a temper,
both then and at other times, that he desired not to meddle with public affairs,
nor to concern himself with innovations, but left all to fortune, and contented
himself with what that afforded him: but Alexandra [his daughter] was a lover
of strife, and was exceeding desirous of a change of the government, and spake
to her father not to bear for ever Herod's injurious treatment of their family,
but to anticipate their future hopes, as he safely might; and desired him to
write about these matters to Malchus, who was then governor of Arabia, to receive
them, and to secure them [from Herod], for that if they went away, and Herod's
affairs proved to be as it was likely they would be, by reason of Caesar's enmity
to him, they should then be the only persons that could take the government;
and this, both on account of the royal family they were of, and on account of
the good disposition of: the multitude to them. While she used these persuasions,
Hyrcanus put off her suit; but as she showed that she was a woman, and a contentious
woman too, and would not desist either night or day, but would always be speaking
to him about these matters, and about Herod's treacherous designs, she at last
prevailed with him to intrust Dositheus, one of his friends, with a letter,
wherein his resolution was declared; and he desired the Arabian governor to
send to him some horsemen, who should receive him, and conduct him to the lake
Asphaltites, which is from the bounds of Jerusalem three hundred furlongs: and
he did therefore trust Dositheus with this letter, because he was a careful
attendant on him, and on Alexandra, and had no small occasions to bear ill-will
to Herod; for he was a kinsman of one Joseph, whom he had slain, and a brother
of those that were formerly slain at Tyre by Antony: yet could not these motives
induce Dositheus to serve Hyrcanus in this affair; for, preferring the hopes
he had from the present king to those he had from him, he gave Herod the letter.
So he took his kindness in good part, and bid him besides do what he had already
done, that is, go on in serving him, by rolling up the epistle and sealing it
again, and delivering it to Malchus, and then to bring back his letter in answer
to it; for it would be much better if he could know Malchus's intentions also.
And when Dositheus was very ready to serve him in this point also, the Arabian
governor returned back for answer, that he would receive Hyrcanus, and all that
should come with him, and even all the Jews that were of his party; that he
would, moreover, send forces sufficient to secure them in their journey; and
that he should be in no want of any thing he should desire. Now as soon as Herod
had received this letter, he immediately sent for Hyrcanus, and questioned him
about the league he had made with Malchus; and when he denied it, he showed
his letter to the Sanhedrim, and put the man to death immediately.
3. And this account we give the reader,
as it is contained in the commentaries of king Herod: but other historians do
not agree with them, for they suppose that Herod did not find, but rather made
this an occasion for thus putting him to death, and that by treacherously laying
a snare for him; for thus do they write: that Herod and he were once at a treat,
and that Herod had given no occasion to suspect [that he was displeased at him],
but put this question to Hyrcanus, whether he had received any letters from
Malchus? and when he answered that he had received letters, but those of salutation
only; and when he asked further, whether he had not received any presents from
him? and when he had replied that he had received no more than four horses to
ride on, which Malchus had sent him; they pretended that Herod charged these
upon him as the crimes of bribery and treason, and gave order that he should
be led away and slain. And in order to demonstrate that he had been guilty of
no offense, when he was thus brought to his end, they alleged how mild his temper
had been, and that even in his youth he had never given any demonstration of
boldness or rashness, and that the case was the same when he came to be king,
but that he even then committed the management of the greatest part of public
affairs to Antipater; and that he was now above fourscore years old, and knew
that Herod's government was in a secure state. He also came over Euphrates,
and left those who greatly honored him beyond that river, though he were to
be entirely under Herod's government; and that it was a most incredible thing
that he should enterprise any thing by way of innovation, and not at all agreeable
to his temper, but that this was a plot of Herod's contrivance.
4. And this was the fate of Hyrcanus; and
thus did he end his life, after he had endured various and manifold turns of
fortune in his lifetime. For he was made high priest of the Jewish nation in
the beginning of his mother Alexandra's reign, who held the government nine
years; and when, after his mother's death, he took the kingdom himself, and
held it three months, he lost it, by the means of his brother Aristobulus. He
was then restored by Pompey, and received all sorts of honor from him, and enjoyed
them forty years; but when he was again deprived by Antigonus, and was maimed
in his body, he was made a captive by the Parthians, and thence returned home
again after some time, on account of the hopes that Herod had given him; none
of which came to pass according to his expectation, but he still conflicted
with many misfortunes through the whole course of his life; and, what was the
heaviest calamity of all, as we have related already, he came to an end which
was undeserved by him. His character appeared to be that of a man of a mild
and moderate disposition, and suffered the administration of affairs to be generally
done by others under him. He was averse to much meddling with the public, nor
had shrewdness enough to govern a kingdom. And both Antipater and Herod came
to their greatness by reason of his mildness; and at last he met with such an
end from them as was not agreeable either to justice or piety.
5. Now Herod, as soon as he had put Hyrcanus
out of the way, made haste to Caesar; and because he could not have any hopes
of kindness from him, on account of the friendship he had for Antony, he had
a suspicion of Alexandra, lest she should take this opportunity to bring the
multitude to a revolt, and introduce a sedition into the affairs of the kingdom;
so he committed the care of every thing to his brother Pheroras, and placed
his mother Cypros, and his sister [Salome], and the whole family at Masada,
and gave him a charge, that if he should hear any sad news about him, he should
take care of the government. But as to Mariamne his wife, because of the misunderstanding
between her and his sister, and his sister's mother, which made it impossible
for them to live together, he placed her at Alexandrium, with Alexandra her
mother, and left his treasurer Joseph and Sohemus of Iturea to take care of
that fortress. These two had been very faithful to him from the beginning, and
were now left as a guard to the women. They also had it in charge, that if they
should hear any mischief had befallen him, they should kill them both, and,
as far as they were able, to preserve the kingdom for his sons, and for his
brother Pheroras.
6. When he had given them this charge, he
made haste to Rhodes, to meet Caesar; and when he had sailed to that city, he
took off his diadem, but remitted nothing else of his usual dignity. And when,
upon his meeting him, he desired that he would let him speak to him, he therein
exhibited a much more noble specimen of a great soul; for he did not betake
himself to supplications, as men usually do upon such occasions, nor offered
him any petition, as if he were an offender; but, after an undaunted manner,
gave an account of what he had done; for he spake thus to Caesar: that he had
the greatest friendship for Antony, and did every thing he could that he might
attain the government; that he was not indeed in the army with him, because
the Arabians had diverted him; but that he had sent him both money and corn,
which was but too little in comparison of what he ought to have done for him;
"for if a man owns himself to be another's friend, and knows him to be a benefactor,
he is obliged to hazard every thing, to use every faculty of his soul, every
member of his body, and all the wealth he hath, for him, in which I confess
I have been too deficient. However, I am conscious to myself, that so far I
have done right, that I have not deserted him upon his defeat at Actium; nor
upon the evident change of his fortune have I transferred my hopes from him
to another, but have preserved myself, though not as a valuable fellow soldier,
yet certainly as a faithful counselor, to Antony, when I demonstrated to him
that the only way that he had to save himself, and not to lose all his authority,
was to slay Cleopatra; for when she was once dead, there would be room for him
to retain his authority, and rather to bring thee to make a composition with
him, than to continue at enmity any longer. None of which advises would he attend
to, but preferred his own rash resolution before them, which have happened unprofitably
for him, but profitably for thee. Now, therefore, in case thou determinest about
me, and my alacrity in serving Antony, according to thy anger at him, I own
there is no room for me to deny what I have done, nor will I be ashamed to own,
and that publicly too, that I had a great kindness for him. But if thou wilt
put him out of the case, and only examine how I behave myself to my benefactors
in general, and what sort of friend I am, thou wilt find by experience that
we shall do and be the same to thyself, for it is but changing the names, and
the firmness of friendship that we shall bear to thee will not be disapproved
by thee."
7. By this speech, and by his behavior,
which showed Caesar the frankness of his mind, he greatly gained upon him, who
was himself of a generous and magnificent temper, insomuch that those very actions,
which were the foundation of the accusation against him, procured him Caesar's
good-will. Accordingly, he restored him his diadem again; and encouraged him
to exhibit himself as great a friend to himself as he had been to Antony, and
then had him in great esteem. Moreover, he added this, that Quintus Didius had
written to him that Herod had very readily assisted him in the affair of the
gladiators. So when he had obtained such a kind reception, and had, beyond all
his hopes, procured his crown to be more entirely and firmly settled upon him
than ever by Caesar's donation, as well as by that decree of the Romans, which
Caesar took care to procure for his greater security, he conducted Caesar on
his way to Egypt, and made presents, even beyond his ability, to both him and
his friends, and in general behaved himself with great magnanimity. He also
desired that Caesar would not put to death one Alexander, who had been a companion
of Antony; but Caesar had sworn to put him to death, and so he could not obtain
that his petition. And now he returned to Judea again with greater honor and
assurance than ever, and affrighted those that had expectations to the contrary,
as still acquiring from his very dangers greater splendor than before, by the
favor of God to him. So he prepared for the reception of Caesar, as he was going
out of Syria to invade Egypt; and when he came, he entertained him at Ptolemais
with all royal magnificence. He also bestowed presents on the army, and brought
them provisions in abundance. He also proved to be one of Caesar's most cordial
friends, and put the army in array, and rode along with Caesar, and had a hundred
and fifty men, well appointed in all respects, after a rich and sumptuous manner,
for the better reception of him and his friends. He also provided them with
what they should want, as they passed over the dry desert, insomuch that they
lacked neither wine nor water, which last the soldiers stood in the greatest
need of; and besides, he presented Caesar with eight hundred talents, and procured
to himself the good-will of them all, because he was assisting to them in a
much greater and more splendid degree than the kingdom he had obtained could
afford; by which means he more and more demonstrated to Caesar the firmness
of his friendship, and his readiness to assist him; and what was of the greatest
advantage to him was this, that his liberality came at a seasonable time also.
And when they returned again out of Egypt, his assistances were no way inferior
to the good offices he had formerly done them.
CHAPTER
7
HOW HEROD SLEW SOHEMUS AND MARIAMNE, AND AFTERWARDS ALEXANDRA AND COSTOBARUS,
AND HIS MOST INTIMATE FRIENDS, AND, AT LAST, THE SONS OF BABBAS ALSO
1. However, when he came into his kingdom again, he found his house all
in disorder, and his wife Mariamne and her mother Alexandra very uneasy; for
as they supposed (what was easy to be supposed) that they were not put into
that fortress [Alexandrium] for the security of their persons, but as into a
garrison for their imprisonment, and that they had no power over any thing,
either of others or of their own affairs, they were very uneasy; and Mariamne
supposing that the king's love to her was but hypocritical, and rather pretended
(as advantageous to himself) than real, she looked upon it as fallacious. She
also was grieved that he would not allow her any hopes of surviving him, if
he should come to any harm himself. She also recollected what commands he had
formerly given to Joseph, insomuch that she endeavored to please her keepers,
and especially Sohemus, as well apprised how all was in his power. And at the
first Sohemus was faithful to Herod, and neglected none of the things he had
given him in charge; but when the women, by kind words and liberal presents,
had gained his affections over to them, he was by degrees overcome, and at length
discovered to them all the king's injunctions, and this on that account principally,
that he did not so much as hope he would come back with the same authority he
had before; so that he thought he should both escape any danger from him, and
supposed that he did hereby much gratify the women, who were likely not to be
overlooked in the settling of the government; nay, that they would be able to
make him abundant recompense, since they must either reign themselves, or be
very near to him that should reign. He had a further ground of hope also, that
though Herod should have all the success he could wish for, and should return
again, he could not contradict his wife in what she desired, for he knew that
the king's fondness for his wife was inexpressible. These were the motives that
drew Sohemus to discover what injunctions had been given him. So Mariamne was
greatly displeased to hear that there was no end of the dangers she was under
from Herod, and was greatly uneasy at it, and wished that he might obtain no
favors [from Caesar], and esteemed it almost an insupportable task to live with
him any longer; and this she afterward openly declared, without concealing her
resentment.
2. And now Herod sailed home with joy, at
the unexpected good success he had had; and went first of all, as was proper,
to this his wife, and told her, and her only, the good news, as preferring her
before the rest, on account of his fondness for her, and the intimacy there
had been between them, and saluted her; but so it happened, that as he told
her of the good success he had had, she was so far from rejoicing at it, that
she rather was sorry for it; nor was she able to conceal her resentments, but,
depending on her dignity, and the nobility of her birth, in return for his salutations,
she gave a groan, and declared evidently that she rather grieved than rejoiced
at his success, and this till Herod was disturbed at her, as affording him,
not only marks of her suspicion, but evident signs of her dissatisfaction. This
much troubled him, to see that this surprising hatred of his wife to him was
not concealed, but open; and he took this so ill, and yet was so unable to bear
it, on account of the fondness he had for her, that he could not continue long
in any one mind, but sometimes was angry at her, and sometimes reconciled himself
to her; but by always changing one passion for another, he was still in great
uncertainty, and thus was he entangled between hatred and love, and was frequently
disposed to inflict punishment on her for her insolence towards him; but being
deeply in love with her in his soul, he was not able to get quit of this woman.
In short, as he would gladly have her punished, so was he afraid lest, ere he
were aware, he should, by putting her to death, bring a heavier punishment upon
himself at the same time.
3. When Herod's sister and mother perceived
that he was in this temper with regard to Mariamne they thought they had now
got an excellent opportunity to exercise their hatred against her and provoked
Herod to wrath by telling him, such long stories and calumnies about her, as
might at once excite his hatred and his jealousy. Now, though he willingly enough
heard their words, yet had not he courage enough to do any thing to her as if
he believed them; but still he became worse and worse disposed to her, and these
ill passions were more and more inflamed on both sides, while she did not hide
her disposition towards him, and he turned his love to her into wrath against
her. But when he was just going to put this matter past all remedy, he heard
the news that Caesar was the victor in the war, and that Antony and Cleopatra
were both dead, and that he had conquered Egypt; whereupon he made haste to
go to meet Caesar, and left the affairs of his family in their present state.
However, Mariamne recommended Sohemus to him, as he was setting out on his journey,
and professed that she owed him thanks for the care he had taken of her, and
asked of the king for him a place in the government; upon which an honorable
employment was bestowed upon him accordingly. Now when Herod was come into Egypt,
he was introduced to Caesar with great freedom, as already a friend of his,
and received very great favors from him; for he made him a present of those
four hundred Galatians who had been Cleopatra's guards, and restored that country
to him again, which, by her means, had been taken away from him. He also added
to his kingdom Gadara, Hippos, and Samaria; and, besides those, the maritime
cities, Gaza, and Anthedon, and Joppa, and Strato's Tower.
4. Upon these new acquisitions, he grew
more magnificent, and conducted Caesar as far as Antioch; but upon his return,
as much as his prosperity was augmented by the foreign additions that had been
made him, so much the greater were the distresses that came upon him in his
own family, and chiefly in the affair of his wife, wherein he formerly appeared
to have been most of all fortunate; for the affection he had for Mariamne was
no way inferior to the affections of such as are on that account celebrated
in history, and this very justly. As for her, she was in other respects a chaste
woman, and faithful to him; yet had she somewhat of a woman rough by nature,
and treated her husband imperiously enough, because she saw he was so fond of
her as to be enslaved to her. She did not also consider seasonably with herself
that she lived under a monarchy, and that she was at another's disposal, and
accordingly would behave herself after a saucy manner to him, which yet he usually
put off in a jesting way, and bore with moderation and good temper. She would
also expose his mother and his sister openly, on account of the meanness of
their birth, and would speak unkindly of them, insomuch that there was before
this a disagreement and unpardonable hatred among the women, and it was now
come to greater reproaches of one another than formerly, which suspicions increased,
and lasted a whole year after Herod returned from Caesar. However, these misfortunes,
which had been kept under some decency for a great while, burst out all at once
upon such an occasion as was now offered; for as the king was one day about
noon lain down on his bed to rest him, he called for Mariamne, out of the great
affection he had always for her. She came in accordingly, but would not lie
down by him; and when he was very desirous of her company, she showed her contempt
of him; and added, by way of reproach, that he had caused her father and her
brother to be slain;11 and when he took this injury
very unkindly, and was ready to use violence to her, in a precipitate manner,
the king's sister Salome, observing that he was more than ordinarily disturbed,
sent in to the king his cup-bearer, who had been prepared long beforehand for
such a design, and bid him tell the king how Mariamne had persuaded him to give
his assistance in preparing a love potion for him; and if he appeared to be
greatly concerned, and to ask what that love potion was, to tell him that she
had the potion, and that he was desired only to give it him; but that in case
he did not appear to be much concerned at this potion, to let the thing drop;
and that if he did so, no harm should thereby come to him. When she had given
him these instructions, she sent him in at this time to make such a speech.
So he went in, after a composed manner, to gain credit to what he should say,
and yet somewhat hastily, and said that Mariamne had given him presents, and
persuaded him to give him a love potion. And when this moved the king, he said
that this love potion was a composition that she had given him, whose effects
he did not know, which was the reason of his resolving to give him this information,
as the safest course he could take, both for himself and for the king. When
Herod heard what he said, and was in an ill disposition before, his indignation
grew more violent; and he ordered that eunuch of Mariamne, who was most faithful
to her, to be brought to torture about this potion, as well knowing it was not
possible that any thing small or great could be done without him. And when the
man was under the utmost agonies, he could say nothing concerning the thing
he was tortured about, but so far he knew, that Mariamne's hatred against him
was occasioned by somewhat that Sohemus had said to her. Now as he was saying
this, Herod cried out aloud, and said that Sohemus, who had been at all other
times most faithful to him, and to his government, would not have betrayed what
injunctions he had given him, unless he had had a nearer conversation than ordinary
with Mariamne. So he gave order that Sohemus should be seized on and slain immediately;
but he allowed his wife to take her trial; and got together those that were
most faithful to him, and laid an elaborate accusation against her for this
love potion and composition, which had been charged upon her by way of calumny
only. However, he kept no temper in what he said, and was in too great a passion
for judging well about this matter. Accordingly, when the court was at length
satisfied that he was so resolved, they passed the sentence of death upon her;
but when the sentence was passed upon her, this temper was suggested by himself,
and by some others of the court, that she should not be thus hastily put to
death, but be laid in prison in one of the fortresses belonging to the kingdom:
but Salome and her party labored hard to have the woman put to death; and they
prevailed with the king to do so, and advised this out of caution, lest the
multitude should be tumultuous if she were suffered to live; and thus was Mariamne
led to execution.
5. When Alexandra observed how things went,
and that there were small hopes that she herself should escape the like treatment
from Herod, she changed her behavior to quite the reverse of what might have
been expected from her former boldness, and this after a very indecent manner;
for out of her desire to show how entirely ignorant she was of the crimes laid
against Mariamne, she leaped out of her place, and reproached her daughter in
the hearing of all the people; and cried out that she had been an ill woman,
and ungrateful to her husband, and that her punishment came justly upon her
for such her insolent behavior, for that she had not made proper returns to
him who had been their common benefactor. And when she had for some time acted
after this hypocritical manner, and been so outrageous as to tear her hair,
this indecent and dissembling behavior, as was to be expected, was greatly condemned
by the rest of the spectators, as it was principally by the poor woman who was
to suffer; for at the first she gave her not a word, nor was discomposed at
her peevishness, and only looked at her, yet did she out of a greatness of soul
discover her concern for her mother's offense, and especially for her exposing
herself in a manner so unbecoming her; but as for herself, she went to her death
with an unshaken firmness of mind, and without changing the color of her face,
and thereby evidently discovered the nobility of her descent to the spectators,
even in the last moments of her life.
6. And thus died Mariamne, a woman of an
excellent character, both for chastity and greatness of soul; but she wanted
moderation, and had too much of contention in her nature; yet had she all that
can be said in the beauty of her body, and her majestic appearance in conversation;
and thence arose the greatest part of the occasions why she did not prove so
agreeable to the king, nor live so pleasantly with him, as she might otherwise
have done; for while she was most indulgently used by the king, out of his fondness
for her, and did not expect that he could do any hard thing to her, she took
too unbounded a liberty. Moreover, that which most afflicted her was, what he
had done to her relations, and she ventured to speak of all they had suffered
by him, and at last greatly provoked both the king's mother and sister, till
they became enemies to her; and even he himself also did the same, on whom alone
she depended for her expectations of escaping the last of punishments.
7. But when she was once dead, the king's
affections for her were kindled in a more outrageous manner than before, whose
old passion for her we have already described; for his love to her was not of
a calm nature, nor such as we usually meet with among other husbands; for at
its commencement it was of an enthusiastic kind, nor was it by their long cohabitation
and free conversation together brought under his power to manage; but at this
time his love to Mariamne seemed to seize him in such a peculiar manner, as
looked like Divine vengeance upon him for the taking away her life; for he would
frequently call for her, and frequently lament for her in a most indecent manner.
Moreover, he bethought him of every thing he could make use of to divert his
mind from thinking of her, and contrived feasts and assemblies for that purpose,
but nothing would suffice; he therefore laid aside the administration of public
affairs, and was so far conquered by his passion, that he would order his servants
to call for Mariamne, as if she were still alive, and could still hear them.
And when he was in this way, there arose a pestilential disease, and carried
off the greatest part of the multitude, and of his best and most esteemed friends,
and made all men suspect that this was brought upon them by the anger of God,
for the injustice that had been done to Mariamne. This circumstance affected
the king still more, till at length he forced himself to go into desert places,
and there, under pretence of going a hunting, bitterly afflicted himself; yet
had he not borne his grief there many days before he fell into a most dangerous
distemper himself: he had an inflammation upon him, and a pain in the hinder
part of his head, joined with madness; and for the remedies that were used,
they did him no good at all, but proved contrary to his case, and so at length
brought him to despair. All the physicians also that were about him, partly
because the medicines they brought for his recovery could not at all conquer
the disease, and partly because his diet could be no other than what his disease
inclined him to, desired him to eat whatever he had a mind to, and so left the
small hopes they had of his recovery in the power of that diet, and committed
him to fortune. And thus did his distemper go on, while he was at Samaria, now
called Sebaste.
8. Now Alexandra abode at this time at Jerusalem;
and being informed what condition Herod was in, she endeavored to get possession
of the fortified places that were about the city, which were two, the one belonging
to the city itself, the other belonging to the temple; and those that could
get them into their hands had the whole nation under their power, for without
the command of them it was not possible to offer their sacrifices; and to think
of leaving on those sacrifices is to every Jew plainly impossible, who are still
more ready to lose their lives than to leave off that Divine worship which they
have been wont to pay unto God. Alexandra, therefore, discoursed with those
that had the keeping of these strong holds, that it was proper for them to deliver
the same to her, and to Herod's sons, lest, upon his death, any other person
should seize upon the government; and that upon his recovery none could keep
them more safely for him than those of his own family. These words were not
by them at all taken in good part; and as they had been in former times faithful
[to Herod], they resolved to continue so more than ever, both because they hated
Alexandra, and because they thought it a sort of impiety to despair of Herod's
recovery while he was yet alive, for they had been his old friends; and one
of them, whose name was Achiabus, was his cousin-german. They sent messengers
therefore to acquaint him with Alexandra's design; so he made no longer delay,
but gave orders to have her slain; yet was it still with difficulty, and after
he had endured great pain, that he got clear of his distemper. He was still
sorely afflicted, both in mind and body, and made very uneasy, and readier than
ever upon all occasions to inflict punishment upon those that fell under his
hand. He also slew the most intimate of his friends, Costobarus, and Lysimachus,
and Gadias, who was also called Antipater; as also Dositheus, and that upon
the following occasion.
9. Costobarus was an Idumean by birth, and
one of principal dignity among them, and one whose ancestors had been priests
to the Koze, whom the Idumeans had [formerly] esteemed as a god; but after Hyrcanus
had made a change in their political government, and made them receive the Jewish
customs and law, Herod made Costobarus governor of Idumea and Gaza, and gave
him his sister Salome to wife; and this was upon the slaughter of [his uncle]
Joseph, who had that government before, as we have related already. When Costobarus
had gotten to be so highly advanced, it pleased him and was more than he hoped
for, and he was more and more puffed up by his good success, and in a little
while he exceeded all bounds, and did not think fit to obey what Herod, as their
ruler, commanded him, or that the Idumeans should make use of the Jewish customs,
or be subject to them. He therefore sent to Cleopatra, and informed her that
the Idumeans had been always under his progenitors, and that for the same reason
it was but just that she should desire that country for him of Antony, for that
he was ready to transfer his friendship to her; and this he did, not because
he was better pleased to be under Cleopatra's government, but because he thought
that, upon the diminution of Herod's power, it would not be difficult for him
to obtain himself the entire government over the Idumeans, and somewhat more
also; for he raised his hopes still higher, as having no small pretences, both
by his birth and by these riches which he had gotten by his constant attention
to filthy lucre; and accordingly it was not a small matter that he aimed at.
So Cleopatra desired this country of Antony, but failed of her purpose. An account
of this was brought to Herod, who was thereupon ready to kill Costobarus; yet,
upon the entreaties of his sister and mother, he forgave him, and vouchsafed
to pardon him entirely; though he still had a suspicion of him afterward for
this his attempt.
10. But some time afterward, when Salome
happened to quarrel with Costobarus, she sent him a bill of divorce,12
and dissolved her marriage with him, though this was not according to the Jewish
laws; for with us it is lawful for a husband to do so; but a wife if she departs
from her husband, cannot of herself be married to another, unless her former
husband put her away. However, Salome chose to follow not the law of her country,
but the law of her authority, and so renounced her wedlock; and told her brother
Herod, that she left her husband out of her good-will to him, because she perceived
that he, with Antipater, and Lysimachus, and Dositheus, were raising a sedition
against him; as an evidence whereof, she alleged the case of the sons of Babas,
that they had been by him preserved alive already for the interval of twelve
years; which proved to be true. But when Herod thus unexpectedly heard of it,
he was greatly surprised at it, and was the more surprised, because the relation
appeared incredible to him. As for the fact relating to these sons of Babas,
Herod had formerly taken great pains to bring them to punishment, as being enemies
to his government; but they were now forgotten by him, on account of the length
of time [since he had ordered them to be slain]. Now the cause of his ill-will
and hatred to them arose hence, that while Antigonus was king, Herod, with his
army, besieged the city of Jerusalem, where the distress and miseries which
the besieged endured were so pressing, that the greater number of them invited
Herod into the city, and already placed their hopes on him. Now the sons of
Babas were of great dignity, and had power among the multitude, and were faithful
to Antigonus, and were always raising calumnies against Herod, and encouraged
the people to preserve the government to that royal family which held it by
inheritance. So these men acted thus politically, and, as they thought, for
their own advantage; but when the city was taken, and Herod had gotten the government
into his hands, and Costobarus was appointed to hinder men from passing out
at the gates, and to guard the city, that those citizens that were guilty, and
of the party opposite to the king, might not get out of it, Costobarus, being
sensible that the sons of Babas were had in respect and honor by the whole multitude,
and supposing that their preservation might be of great advantage to him in
the changes of government afterward, he set them by themselves, and concealed
them in his own farms; and when the thing was suspected, he assured Herod upon
oath that he really knew nothing of that matter, and so overcame the suspicions
that lay upon him; nay, after that, when the king had publicly proposed a reward
for the discovery, and had put in practice all sorts of methods for searching
out this matter, he would not confess it; but being persuaded that when he had
at first denied it, if the men were found, he should not escape unpunished,
he was forced to keep them secret, not only out of his good-will to them, but
out of a necessary regard to his own preservation also. But when the king knew
the thing, by his sister's information, he sent men to the places where he had
the intimation they were concealed, and ordered both them, and those that were
accused as guilty with them, to be slain, insomuch that there were now none
at all left of the kindred of Hyrcanus, and the kingdom was entirely in Herod's
own power, and there was nobody remaining of such dignity as could put a stop
to what he did against the Jewish laws.
CHAPTER
8
HOW TEN MEN OF THE CITIZENS [OF JERUSALEM] MADE A CONSPIRACY AGAINST HEROD,
FOR THE FOREIGN PRACTICES HE HAD INTRODUCED, WHICH WAS A TRANSGRESSION OF THE
LAWS OF THEIR COUNTRY. CONCERNING THE BUILDING OF SEBASTE AND CESAREA, AND OTHER
EDIFICES OF HEROD
1. On this account it was that Herod revolted from the laws of his country,
and corrupted their ancient constitution, by the introduction of foreign practices,
which constitution yet ought to have been preserved inviolable; by which means
we became guilty of great wickedness afterward, while those religious observances
which used to lead the multitude to piety were now neglected; for, in the first
place, he appointed solemn games to be celebrated every fifth year, in honor
of Caesar, and built a theatre at Jerusalem, as also a very great amphitheatre
in the plain. Both of them were indeed costly works, but opposite to the Jewish
customs; for we have had no such shows delivered down to us as fit to be used
or exhibited by us; yet did he celebrate these games every five years, in the
most solemn and splendid manner. He also made proclamation to the neighboring
countries, and called men together out of every nation. The wrestlers also,
and the rest of those that strove for the prizes in such games, were invited
out of every land, both by the hopes of the rewards there to be bestowed, and
by the glory of victory to be there gained. So the principal persons that were
the most eminent in these sorts of exercises were gotten together, for there
were very great rewards for victory proposed, not only to those that performed
their exercises naked, but to those that played the musicians also, and were
called Thymelici; and he spared no pains to induce all persons, the most famous
for such exercises, to come to this contest for victory. He also proposed no
small rewards to those who ran for the prizes in chariot races, when they were
drawn by two, or three, or four pair of horses. He also imitated every thing,
though never so costly or magnificent, in other nations, out of an ambition
that he might give most public demonstration of his grandeur. Inscriptions also
of the great actions of Caesar, and trophies of those nations which he had conquered
in his wars, and all made of the purest gold and silver, encompassed the theatre
itself; nor was there any thing that could be subservient to his design, whether
it were precious garments, or precious stones set in order, which was not also
exposed to sight in these games. He had also made a great preparation of wild
beasts, and of lions themselves in great abundance, and of such other beasts
as were either of uncommon strength, or of such a sort as were rarely seen.
These were prepared either to fight with one another, or that men who were condemned
to death were to fight with them. And truly foreigners were greatly surprised
and delighted at the vastness of the expenses here exhibited, and at the great
dangers that were here seen; but to natural Jews, this was no better than a
dissolution of those customs for which they had so great a veneration.13
It appeared also no better than an instance of barefaced impiety, to throw men
to wild beasts, for the affording delight to the spectators; and it appeared
an instance of no less impiety, to change their own laws for such foreign exercises:
but, above all the rest, the trophies gave most distaste to the Jews; for as
they imagined them to be images, included within the armor that hung round about
them, they were sorely displeased at them, because it was not the custom of
their country to pay honors to such images.
2. Nor was Herod unacquainted with the disturbance
they were under; and as he thought it unseasonable to use violence with them,
so he spake to some of them by way of consolation, and in order to free them
from that superstitious fear they were under; yet could not he satisfy them,
but they cried out with one accord, out of their great uneasiness at the offenses
they thought he had been guilty of, that although they should think of bearing
all the rest yet would they never bear images of men in their city, meaning
the trophies, because this was disagreeable to the laws of their country. Now
when Herod saw them in such a disorder, and that they would not easily change
their resolution unless they received satisfaction in this point, he called
to him the most eminent men among them, and brought them upon the theatre, and
showed them the trophies, and asked them what sort of things they took these
trophies to be; and when they cried out that they were the images of men, he
gave order that they should be stripped of these outward ornaments which were
about them, and showed them the naked pieces of wood; which pieces of wood,
now without any ornament, became matter of great sport and laughter to them,
because they had before always had the ornaments of images themselves in derision.
3. When therefore Herod had thus got clear
of the multitude, and had dissipated the vehemency of passion under which they
had been, the greatest part of the people were disposed to change their conduct,
and not to be displeased at him any longer; but still some of them continued
in their displeasure against him, for his introduction of new customs, and esteemed
the violation of the laws of their country as likely to be the origin of very
great mischiefs to them, so that they deemed it an instance of piety rather
to hazard themselves [to be put to death], than to seem as if they took no notice
of Herod, who, upon the change he had made in their government, introduced such
customs, and that in a violent manner, which they had never been used to before,
as indeed in pretence a king, but in reality one that showed himself an enemy
to their whole nation; on which account ten men that were citizens [of Jerusalem]
conspired together against him, and sware to one another to undergo any dangers
in the attempt, and took daggers with them under their garments [for the purpose
of killing Herod]. Now there was a certain blind man among those conspirators
who had thus sworn to one another, on account of the indignation he had against
what he heard to have been done; he was not indeed able to afford the rest any
assistance in the undertaking, but was ready to undergo any suffering with them,
if so be they should come to any harm, insomuch that he became a very great
encourager of the rest of the undertakers.
4. When they had taken this resolution,
and that by common consent, they went into the theatre, hoping that, in the
first place, Herod himself could not escape them, as they should fall upon him
so unexpectedly; and supposing, however, that if they missed him, they should
kill a great many of those that were about him; and this resolution they took,
though they should die for it, in order to suggest to the king what injuries
he had done to the multitude. These conspirators, therefore, standing thus prepared
beforehand, went about their design with great alacrity; but there was one of
those spies of Herod, that were appointed for such purposes, to fish out and
inform him of any conspiracies that should be made against him, who found out
the whole affair, and told the king of it, as he was about to go into the theatre.
So when he reflected on the hatred which he knew the greatest part of the people
bore him, and on the disturbances that arose upon every occasion, he thought
this plot against him not to be improbable. Accordingly, he retired into his
palace, and called those that were accused of this conspiracy before him by
their several names; and as, upon the guards falling upon them, they were caught
in the very fact, and knew they could not escape, they prepared themselves for
their ends with all the decency they could, and so as not at all to recede from
their resolute behavior, for they showed no shame for what they were about,
nor denied it; but when they were seized, they showed their daggers, and professed
that the conspiracy they had sworn to was a holy and pious action; that what
they intended to do was not for gain, or out of any indulgence to their passions,
but principally for those common customs of their country, which all the Jews
were obliged to observe, or to die for them. This was what these men said, out
of their undaunted courage in this conspiracy. So they were led away to execution
by the king's guards that stood about them, and patiently underwent all the
torments inflicted on them till they died. Nor was it long before that spy who
had discovered them was seized on by some of the people, out of the hatred they
bore to him; and was not only slain by them, but pulled to pieces, limb from
limb, and given to the dogs. This execution was seen by many of the citizens,
yet would not one of them discover the doers of it, till upon Herod's making
a strict scrutiny after them, by bitter and severe tortures, certain women that
were tortured confessed what they had seen done; the authors of which fact were
so terribly punished by the king, that their entire families were destroyed
for this their rash attempt; yet did not the obstinacy of the people, and that
undaunted constancy they showed in the defence of their laws, make Herod any
easier to them, but he still strengthened himself after a more secure manner,
and resolved to encompass the multitude every way, lest such innovations should
end in an open rebellion.
5. Since, therefore, he had now the city
fortified by the palace in which he lived, and by the temple which had a strong
fortress by it, called Antonia, and was rebuilt by himself, he contrived to
make Samaria a fortress for himself also against all the people, and called
it Sebaste, supposing that this place would be a strong hold against the country,
not inferior to the former. So he fortified that place, which was a day's journey
distant from Jerusalem, and which would be useful to him in common, to keep
both the country and the city in awe. He also built another fortress for the
whole nation; it was of old called Strato's Tower, but was by him named Cesarea.
Moreover, he chose out some select horsemen, and placed them ill the great plain;
and built [for them] a place in Galilee, called Gaba with Hesebonitis, in Perea.
And these were the places which he particularly built, while he always was inventing
somewhat further for his own security, and encompassing the whole nation with
guards, that they might by no means get from under his power, nor fall into
tumults, which they did continually upon any small commotion; and that if they
did make any commotions, he might know of it, while some of his spies might
be upon them from the neighborhood, and might both be able to know what they
were attempting, and to prevent it. And when he went about building the wall
of Samaria, he contrived to bring thither many of those that had been assisting
to him in his wars, and many of the people in that neighborhood also, whom he
made fellow citizens with the rest. This he did out of an ambitious desire of
building a temple, and out of a desire to make the city more eminent than it
had been before; but principally because he contrived that it might at once
be for his own security, and a monument of his magnificence. He also changed
its name, and called it Sebaste. Moreover, he parted the adjoining country,
which was excellent in its kind, among the inhabitants of Samaria, that they
might be in a happy condition, upon their first coming to inhabit. Besides all
which, he encompassed the city with a wall of great strength, and made use of
the acclivity of the place for making its fortifications stronger; nor was the
compass of the place made now so small as it had been before, but was such as
rendered it not inferior to the most famous cities; for it was twenty furlongs
in circumference. Now within, and about the middle of it, he built a sacred
place, of a furlong and a half [in circuit], and adorned it with all sorts of
decorations, and therein erected a temple, which was illustrious on account
of both its largeness and beauty. And as to the several parts of the city, he
adorned them with decorations of all sorts also; and as to what was necessary
to provide for his own security, he made the walls very strong for that purpose,
and made it for the greatest part a citadel; and as to the elegance of the building,
it was taken care of also, that he might leave monuments of the fineness of
his taste, and of his beneficence, to future ages.
CHAPTER
9
CONCERNING THE FAMINE THAT HAPPENED IN JUDEA AND SYRIA; AND HOW HEROD, AFTER
HE HAD MARRIED ANOTHER WIFE, REBUILT CESAREA, AND OTHER GRECIAN CITIES
1. Now on this very year, which was the thirteenth year of the reign of
Herod, very great calamities came upon the country; whether they were derived
from the anger of God, or whether this misery returns again naturally in certain
periods of time;14 for, in the first place, there
were perpetual droughts, and for that reason the ground was barren, and did
not bring forth the same quantity of fruits that it used to produce; and after
this barrenness of the soil, that change of food which the want of corn occasioned
produced distempers in the bodies of men, and a pestilential disease prevailed,
one misery following upon the back of another; and these circumstances, that
they were destitute both of methods of cure and of food, made the pestilential
distemper, which began after a violent manner, the more lasting. The destruction
of men also after such a manner deprived those that survived of all their courage,
because they had no way to provide remedies sufficient for the distresses they
were in. When therefore the fruits of that year were spoiled, and whatsoever
they had laid up beforehand was spent, there was no foundation of hope for relief
remaining, but the misery, contrary to what they expected still increased upon
them; and this not only on that year, while they had nothing for themselves
left [at the end of it], but what seed they had sown perished also, by reason
of the ground not yielding its fruits on the second year.15
This distress they were in made them also, out of necessity, to eat many things
that did not use to be eaten; nor was the king himself free from this distress
any more than other men, as being deprived of that tribute he used to have from
the fruits of the ground, and having already expended what money he had, in
his liberality to those whose cities he had built; nor had he any people that
were worthy of his assistance, since this miserable state of things had procured
him the hatred of his subjects: for it is a constant rule, that misfortunes
are still laid to the account of those that govern.
2. In these circumstances he considered
with himself how to procure some seasonable help; but this was a hard thing
to be done, while their neighbors had no food to sell them; and their money
also was gone, had it been possible to purchase a little food at a great price.
However, he thought it his best way, by all means, not to leave off his endeavors
to assist his people; so he cut off the rich furniture that was in his palace,
both of silver and gold, insomuch that he did not spare the finest vessels he
had, or those that were made with the most elaborate skill of the artificers,
but sent the money to Petronius, who had been made prefect of Egypt by Caesar;
and as not a few had already fled to him under their necessities, and as he
was particularly a friend to Herod, and desirous to have his subjects preserved,
he gave leave to them in the first place to export corn, and assisted them every
way, both in purchasing and exporting the same; so that he was the principal,
if not the only person, who afforded them what help they had. And Herod taking
care the people should understand that this help came from himself, did thereby
not only remove the ill opinion of those that formerly hated him, but gave them
the greatest demonstration possible of his good-will to them, and care of them;
for, in the first place, as for those who were able to provide their own food,
he distributed to them their proportion of corn in the exactest manner; but
for those many that were not able, either by reason of their old age, or any
other infirmity, to provide food for themselves, he made this provision for
them, the bakers should make their bread ready for them. He also took care that
they might not be hurt by the dangers of winter, since they were in great want
of clothing also, by reason of the utter destruction and consumption of their
sheep and goats, till they had no wool to make use of, nor any thing else to
cover themselves withal. And when he had procured these things for his own subjects,
he went further, in order to provide necessaries for their neighbors, and gave
seed to the Syrians, which thing turned greatly to his own advantage also, this
charitable assistance being afforded most seasonably to their fruitful soil,
so that every one had now a plentiful provision of food. Upon the whole, when
the harvest of the land was approaching, he sent no fewer than fifty thousand
men, whom he had sustained, into the country; by which means he both repaired
the afflicted condition of his own kingdom with great generosity and diligence,
and lightened the afflictions of his neighbors, who were under the same calamities;
for there was nobody who had been in want that was left destitute of a suitable
assistance by him; nay, further, there were neither any people, nor any cities,
nor any private men, who were to make provision for the multitudes, and on that
account were in want of support, and had recourse to him, but received what
they stood in need of, insomuch that it appeared, upon a computation, that the
number of cori of wheat, of ten attic medimni apiece, that were given to foreigners,
amounted to ten thousand, and the number that was given in his own kingdom was
about fourscore thousand. Now it happened that this care of his, and this seasonable
benefaction, had such influence on the Jews, and was so cried up among other
nations, as to wipe off that old hatred which his violation of some of their
customs, during his reign, had procured him among all the nation, and that this
liberality of his assistance in this their greatest necessity was full satisfaction
for all that he had done of that nature, as it also procured him great fame
among foreigners; and it looked as if these calamities that afflicted his land,
to a degree plainly incredible, came in order to raise his glory, and to be
to his great advantage; for the greatness of his liberality in these distresses,
which he now demonstrated beyond all expectation, did so change the disposition
of the multitude towards him, that they were ready to suppose he had been from
the beginning not such a one as they had found him to be by experience, but
such a one as the care he had taken of them in supplying their necessities proved
him now to be.
3. About this time it was that he sent five
hundred chosen men out of the guards of his body as auxiliaries to Caesar, whom
Aelius Gallus16 led to the Red Sea, and who were of
great service to him there. When therefore his affairs were thus improved, and
were again in a flourishing condition, he built himself a palace in the upper
city, raising the rooms to a very great height, and adorning them with the most
costly furniture of gold, and marble seats, and beds; and these were so large
that they could contain very many companies of men. These apartments were also
of distinct magnitudes, and had particular names given them; for one apartment
was called Caesar's, another Agrippa's. He also fell in love again, and married
another wife, not suffering his reason to hinder him from living as he pleased.
The occasion of this his marriage was as follows: there was one Simon, a citizen
of Jerusalem, the son of one Boethus, a citizen of Alexandria, and a priest
of great note there; this man had a daughter, who was esteemed the most beautiful
woman of that time; and when the people of Jerusalem began to speak much in
her commendation, it happened that Herod was much affected with what was said
of her; and when he saw the damsel, he was smitten with her beauty, yet did
he entirely reject the thoughts of using his authority to abuse her, as believing,
what was the truth, that by so doing he should be stigmatised for violence and
tyranny; so he thought it best to take the damsel to wife. And while Simon was
of a dignity too inferior to be allied to him, but still too considerable to
be despised, he governed his inclinations after the most prudent manner, by
augmenting the dignity of the family, and making them more honorable; so he
immediately deprived Jesus, the son of Phabet, of the high priesthood, and conferred
that dignity on Simon, and so joined in affinity with him [by marrying his daughter].
4. When this wedding was over, he built
another citadel in that place where he had conquered the Jews when he was driven
out of his government, and Antigonus enjoyed it. This citadel is distant from
Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. It was strong by nature, and fit for such
a building. It is a sort of a moderate hill, raised to a further height by the
hand of man, till it was of the shape of a woman's breast. It is encompassed
with circular towers, and hath a strait ascent up to it, which ascent is composed
of steps of polished stones, in number two hundred. Within it are royal and
very rich apartments, of a structure that provided both for security and for
beauty. About the bottom there are habitations of such a structure as are well
worth seeing, both on other accounts, and also on account of the water which
is brought thither from a great way off, and at vast expenses, for the place
itself is destitute of water. The plain that is about this citadel is full of
edifices, not inferior to any city in largeness, and having the hill above it
in the nature of a castle.
5. And now, when all Herod's designs had
succeeded according to his hopes, he had not the least suspicion that any troubles
could arise in his kingdom, because he kept his people obedient, as well by
the fear they stood in of him, for he was implacable in the infliction of his
punishments, as by the provident care he had showed towards them, after the
most magnanimous manner, when they were under their distresses. But still he
took care to have external security for his government as a fortress against
his subjects; for the orations he made to the cities were very fine, and full
of kindness; and he cultivated a seasonable good understanding with their governors,
and bestowed presents on every one of them, inducing them thereby to be more
friendly to him, and using his magnificent disposition so as his kingdom might
be the better secured to him, and this till all his affairs were every way more
and more augmented. But then this magnificent temper of his, and that submissive
behavior and liberality which he exercised towards Caesar, and the most powerful
men of Rome, obliged him to transgress the customs of his nation, and to set
aside many of their laws, and by building cities after an extravagant manner,
and erecting temples,—not in Judea indeed, for that would not have been borne,
it being forbidden for us to pay any honor to images, or representations of
animals, after the manner of the Greeks; but still he did thus in the country
[properly] out of our bounds, and in the cities thereof.17
The apology which he made to the Jews for these things was this: that all was
done, not out of his own inclinations, but by the commands and injunctions of
others, in order to please Caesar and the Romans, as though he had not the Jewish
customs so much in his eye as he had the honor of those Romans, while yet he
had himself entirely in view all the while, and indeed was very ambitious to
leave great monuments of his government to posterity; whence it was that he
was so zealous in building such fine cities, and spent such vast sums of money
upon them.
6. Now upon his observation of a place near
the sea, which was very proper for containing a city, and was before called
Strato's Tower, he set about getting a plan for a magnificent city there, and
erected many edifices with great diligence all over it, and this of white stone.
He also adorned it with most sumptuous palaces and large edifices for containing
the people; and what was the greatest and most laborious work of all, he adorned
it with a haven, that was always free from the waves of the sea. Its largeness
was not less than the Pyraeum [at Athens], and had towards the city a double
station for the ships. It was of excellent workmanship; and this was the more
remarkable for its being built in a place that of itself was not suitable to
such noble structures, but was to be brought to perfection by materials from
other places, and at very great expenses. This city is situate in Phoenicia,
in the passage by sea to Egypt, between Joppa and Dora, which are lesser maritime
cities, and not fit for havens, on account of the impetuous south winds that
beat upon them, which rolling the sands that come from the sea against the shores,
do not admit of ships lying in their station; but the merchants are generally
there forced to ride at their anchors in the sea itself. So Herod endeavored
to rectify this inconvenience, and laid out such a compass towards the land
as might be sufficient for a haven, wherein the great ships might lie in safety;
and this he effected by letting down vast stones of above fifty feet in length,
not less than eighteen in breadth, and nine in depth, into twenty fathoms deep;
and as some were lesser, so were others bigger than those dimensions. This mole
which he built by the sea-side was two hundred feet wide, the half of which
was opposed to the current of the waves, so as to keep off those waves which
were to break upon them, and so was called Procymatia, or the first breaker
of the waves; but the other half had upon it a wall, with several towers, the
largest of which was named Drusus, and was a work of very great excellence,
and had its name from Drusus, the son-in-law of Caesar, who died young. There
were also a great number of arches where the mariners dwelt. There was also
before them a quay, [or landing-place,] which ran round the entire