Priests Garment signifieth the Sun and Moon The number of the Gems allude to L the number of the Months or the twelve Houses or the equal number of parts of that Circle which the Grecians call the Zodiack The Thiara or Mitre likewise hath an allusion to Heaven by reason of its Azure or Hyacinthine colour for otherwise the Name of God might not be placed therein and the Triple Crown of Gold by its brightness represents his glory and Soveraign Majesty Let this suffice for the present for that which we will discourse hereafter will furnish us with sufficient and ample matter to shew and set out the Wisdom of our Law-giver CHAP. IX Of Aaron's Priesthood Exod. 28 29. and the Laws which appertain to the Feasts and Sacrifices M AFter these things were thus order'd and it remained onely to consecrate the Tabernacle Hedio Ruffinus cap. 12. God appeared to Moses commanding him to establish Aaron his Brother Exod. 28. v. 1 2 3 High Priest who in respect of his vertue deserved that Title of Honour above all the rest 29. 1. ad 28. For which cause Moses assembling the congregation discoursed unto them his vertues God elected Aaron Moses Brother for High Priest and discovered his good affection and reckoned up unto them how many dangers he had suffered in their behalf Every one approved this choice declaring the forward zeal and love they alwayes bare unto him Whereupon he spake unto them after this manner The work is now brought unto such an end as it hath pleased God and hath been possible for us and for that you know we are to receive him into N this Tabernacle we ought above all things to have a special care in the election of such an one who is to make sacrifice and supplication for us Touching my self if the matter depended on my private choice I should esteem no Man more worthy than my self to execute this Function both for that naturally Men love themselves and for that I am well assured how many travels I have supported for your sake But God himself hath judged Aaron worthy of this honour and hath chosen him for his High Priest in that he excelleth all other in equity and justice commanding that he should be invested with the Sacred Robes and take charge of the Altars and Sacrifices He shall make Prayers for you unto God who will hear them willingly by reason that he hath care of your Race and will receive them proceeding from a person whom he himself O hath elected These words of his were grateful unto the People and they all approved the election which God had made For Aaron was more capable of that honour than any A other both by reason of his race and in regard of the gift of prophecy which he had receiv'd and also for the eminent vertue of his Brother He had at that time four Sons Nadab Abihu Eleazar and Ithamar But whatsoever remained of those things which were gathered for the building of the Tabernacle was imployed to make Veyles to cover the Tabernacle Candelstick Altar and the other Instruments to the end that in their travel they might not be soyled either by rain or dust Aarons Sons And having once more assembled the People together Exod. 36. 8. he commanded them to offer every one of them half a Sicle the Sicle is a kind of Hebrew Coyne that is as much in value as four Athenian Drams whereunto they obeyed willingly Sicle The number of them that offered was six hundred five thousand five hundred and fifty And they that brought this Money B were such as were of a free condition The number of the Israelites betwixt twenty and fifty years of age and betwixt the years of twenty and fifty and that which was received was imployed in the necessaries of the Temple Then did he purifie the Tabernacle and the Priests in this manner He took the weight of five hundred Sycles of chosen Myrrh and the like quantity of Ireos of Cinamon and of Calamus which is a most Odoriferous Drug the half of the said weight and he caused all these to to be beaten and infused into a Hin of Oyl of Olive this Hin is one of our Measures containing two Choas of Athens all which he mixed and boyled together according to the Art of Perfumers and he made thereof a most Odoriferous Oyntment which he took and anointed the Priest therewith and all that which belonged to the Tabernacle The Holy Oyntment to the intent to purifie them offering many and sundry sorts C of Perfumes of great price upon the Altar of Gold whereof I forbear to speak any further for fear I should grow tedious to the Readers Twice a day before Sun-rise and Sun-set The Sacrifices they were to burn Incense and supply the Lamps of this purifi'd Oyl whereof three were to burn every day upon the sacred Candlestick in honour of God and the rest were lighted in the evening Amongst them that wrought and finished these things Beseleel and Eliah were the most excellent and expert workmen for whatsoever had been enterprized by others v. 2. they in their Art polished and perfected And they found out many new things Beseleel of their own invention yet was Beseleel judged the most excellent of the two All the time imployed in this work was seven months and at that time was the year D accomplished which began at their departure out of Egypt In the beginning of the second year in the moneth which the Macedonians call Xantichus and the Hebrews Nisan upon the new Moon they dedicated the Tabernacle with all things belonging thereunto Exo. 40. 1 2 3. according as I have made mention And God presently testified that both their Gifts and Works were acceptable in his sight The Tabernacle was dedicated on the first day of April the second year after their departure out of Egypt the year after the Creation of the World 2455. before Christs birth 1509. by his presence honouring the Tabernacle after this manner The Sky being elsewhere clear and fair over the Tabernacle alone there was a Cloud not wholly thick like a Winter strom nor yet so thin that a Man could see thorow the same from whenc there descended a Dew that gave testimony of Gods presence unto them that had Faith Moses having recompenced all the Work-masters with such rewards as appertained unto them by desert offer'd sacrifice E according as God had commanded him in the Door or Porch of the Tabernacle a Bull and a Ram and a Kid for their sins but with what ceremony these things are done I will declare when I treat of Sacrifices as also what Offerings are to be burnt by fire and according to the Law are allowed to be fed upon and with the blood of the slaughtered Beasts he sprinkled the Vestment of Aaron and purified both him and his Children
was requisite for necessity or pleasure 12. Adam asketh pardon might have hapned of it self unto you by my only providence without any travel or care on your parts which if you had well used your life would have been very lovely and very happy Adam's punishment but you have scorned this mine Ordinance and broken my Commandments 13. Eves punishment For in that thou art silent at this time it proceedeth N not of respect but of evil of which thou findest thy self culpable Adam excuseth his sin as well as he could 17 18. The Seed of the Woman that is Christ shall bruise the Serpent's head and prayed God not to be incensed against him laying the fault of that which had hapned upon his Wife alledging that he had offended by reason he was deceived by her and the Woman accused the Serpent But God for his punishment because he had suffer'd himself to be overcome by the counsel of a Woman declared that the earth thenceforward never more of its own accord should bring forth fruit but only when they till'd it with the sweat of their countenance Gen. 3. 14 15. nor should it always yield all that was expected from it The Serpent's punishment And as touching Eve he chastised her with Child-bearing and throes in Travel for that being her self deceived by the Serpent she had drawn her Husband by the same means into extreme misery He took also from the Serpent his speech and O was displeased with him * Joseph's ignorance in understanding this place of Scripture by reason of the malice he had conceived against Adam and he put venom on his tongue declaring him an enemy both to Man and Woman whom A he commanded to bruise the head of the Serpent as well for that all the evil which chanced unto Men 14. proceeded from his head as also in that being assaulted in that part he is most easily put to death The year of the World 1. before Christ's Nativity 3963. Moreover having deprived him of his feet he condemned him to slide and trail himself along the earth After God had ordained them to suffer these punishments he drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden of delights into nanother place CHAP. II. Cain kills his Brother Abel God banishes him for it His Posterity is as wicked as himself The virtues of Seth the other Son of Adam B BUt Adam and Eve had two male-children Hedio Ruffinus cap. 2. the first whereof was called Cain which signifies acquisition and the second was called Abel which signifies mourning they had also three Daughters Gen. 4. v 1 2. These Brothers were of very different inclinations Of Cain and Abel Brethren Abel the younger honoured justice and supposing that God was present in all his actions he always and wholy fixed his thoughts on virtue and his exercise was keeping of sheep But Cain being a wicked Man 2. The year of the World 70. before Christ's Nativity 894. and addicted to unsatiable desire of profit was he that first found out the use of the Plough He killed his Brother for the cause which ensueth Having concluded among themselves to sacrifice unto God Cain offered the fruits of his labour and planting Abel presented milk and the firstlings of his fold which sacrifice of his was more acceptable to God in that it rather consisted of things produced of themselves by the order of nature 3. The sacrifice of Cain and Abel than that which Cains covetousness C had forcibly in a manner extorted from nature Hereupon Cain being enrag'd because his Brother Abel was more honoured by God than himself slew his Brother and having hidden his body out of sight 4. Weak reason in Josephus he thought the murder would be concealed But God well knowing the fact appeared to Cain and questioned him concerning his Brother what was become of him 5 6 7. Cain slew his Brother Abel for that for some days he had not seen him whereas before they had been always together Cain being troubled and ignorant what answer to make unto God said at first that he wondred what was the cause his Brother was so long absent 8. The talk betwixt God and Cain but afterwards being troubled that God continued the question and more closely press'd him he said he was not his Brothers keeper nor bound to take care of his affairs 9. 10 11 12. Then God reproved and convicted Cain of murthering his Brother D and ask'd him how he dar'd deny the knowledge of his brothers death where as he himself had slain him Notwithstanding God forbare to inflict upon him the punishment deserved for this murther by reason that Cain offer'd sacrifice and made request unto God that it would please him to remit somewhat of the severity of his justice against him Yet did God curse him and threaten to punish his Posterity to the seventh Generation Cain's banishment Then did he drive him and his Wife out of that Countrey whereat Cain being affrighted for fear of being encountred and devour'd by some Savage Beasts God commanded him to suspect no dangerous event for that cause 14. assuring him that he might safely travel thorow all Regions 15. without being either assaulted or seized by Savage Beasts and having set his mark upon him by which he E might be known he commanded him to depart the Countrey After that Cain accompanied with his Wife had travelled thorow divers Regions he made his abode at Nais 16. Cain is not bettered by Gods chastisements and in that place had several Children But he made not use of this chastisement for his better amendment but rather became worse and worse for he abandoned himself to all sensual pleasures making it his sport to outrage those with whom he conversed filling his house with riches gotten by rapine and violence and gathering together other wicked and debauch'd Men he taught them to commit all sorts of crimes and impieties he destroy'd that simplicity which Men before that time had used in their mutual societies Measures and Waights found out by Cain by the inventions of Measures and Weights the ignorance whereof was the cause that the life of Man was estranged from deceit but instead F and place of free and plain sincerity Enos the first City he introduced fraud and deceit He it was that first bounded the fields and built the first City and made a Wall and a rampire enforcing his Followers to dwell therein This City he named Enos by the name of Enos his first begotten Son Jared was the Son of Enos of Jared issued Malaleel whose Son was Methusala 1â— 18 20. who begot Lamech who had 77 Children by his two Wives Sella and Ada amongst whom Jobel the Son of Ada was the first that made Tents and took delight to lead a pastoral life contenting himself with the same Jubal his
time desirous that Isaac's Blessing should light upon her Son Jacob contrary to her Husbands intent and mind Jacob by his Mothers counsel stealeth his Brothers Blessing commanded him to go and kill a Kid and prepare a repast for his Father Jacob being obsequious and obedient to his Mother in all things obey'd her command and as soon as the meat was ready he wrapped his L arms and covered his hands with the Goats Skins The year of the World 2186. before Christs Nativity 1778. hoping by the Hairiness thereof to make his Father believe that he was Esau For being his Twin Brother he resembled him in all things except in this thing onely wherefore fearing lest he should be surprized in his subtilty before his Father Isaac had finished his prayers and instead of his Blessings he might be loaden with his Curses in this dress he presented the Meat unto his Father But Isaac perceiving some difference in his voyce from that of his Brother called his Son who stretching out his hands unto him covered with the Kids Skins Thou art saith he more like unto Jacob in thy voyce but by thy Hairiness thou seemest unto me to be Esau Thus suspecting no deceit and having already eaten he addressed himself to pray and called upon God saying O Eternal Lord maker of all Creatures thou hast promised great M Blessings unto my Father and hast given me many present felicities and hast vowed that thou wouldest be merciful unto my posterity and plentifully pour upon them more and more ample benefits let this thy favor I beseech thee be continued towards me neither dispise thou me by reason of this my present weakness which is the cause that I have more need of thy help Save and keep this my Son by thy clemency preserve him from all evil give him a happy life and possession of all blessings and benefits which are in thy power to bestow upon him make him terrible to his Enemies and gracious to his Friends Thus prayed he unto God thinking he had Blessed Esau Scarce had he finished his Prayers but Esau returned from Hunting which though Isaac perceived he was no ways moved with displeasure v. 30 ad 42. but held himself silent Esau besought him that he might obtain as much as he N had vouchsafed his Brother Esau required a Blessing but Isaac denyed him in that he had bestowed all his Blessings upon Jacob for which cause Esau lamented and wept His Father moved by his tears foretold him that he should excel in Hunting in force of Body in Arms and other such exercises whereby he should purchase immortal Glory both to himself and his posterity yet notwithstanding that he should be his Brothers Vassal Hedio Ruffinus chap. 27. Now for that Jacob feared lest his Brother should seek to be revenged of him for robbing him of his Fathers Blessing he was by his Mothers means delivered from this danger For she persuaded her Husband to send Jacob to take a Wife near Allied unto her out of Mesopotamia Esau at that time Married another Wife called Bassemath the Daughter of Ishmael knowing that Isaac was not well pleased with his former alliance with the Canaanites v. 42. ad fineâ— for which O cause to give him contentment he married Bassemath whom afterward he loved more entirely than any of his other Wives A CHAP. XVIII How Jacob fled into Mesopotamia for fear of his Brother Gen. 28. BUt Jacob being sent into Mesopotamia by his Mother in order to Marry the Daughter of Laban her Brother Gen. 28. whereunto Isaac consented through the counsel of his Wife passed through the Countrey of Canaan And for that there was a declared and open enmity betwixt Isaac's People and the inhabitants of Canaan he would not take up his lodging amongst them but lay abroad in the fields resting his head upon stones which he had heaped together in stead of a Pillow 10 11 ad 19. and during the time of his rest this vision B was presented unto him Jacob's Ladder It seemed unto him that he saw a Ladder that reached from the earth up unto Heaven on the steps whereof there descended certain persons more excellent to look on than the ordinary part of humane kind and on the top thereof God manifestly appeared and calling him by his name spake unto him after this manner Jacob God speaketh unto Jacob. Thou art the Son of a good Father and descended from a Grandfather renowned and famous for his great vertue thou must not therefore be daunted or dismayed by thy present travels but rather be encourag'd with the hope of a future happiness For by mine assistance thou shalt be blessed and endowed with many benefits For I am he that brought Abraham hither from the Countrey of Mesopotamia at such time as he was driven away from thence I have also made thy Father happy and C will be no less gracious and favourable unto thy self Be courageous therefore and prosecute thy journey under mine assistance The Marriage which thou pursuest shall have a happy issue and thou shalt have a good children who in number shall grow infinite and shall likewise leave after them a plentiful and famous posterity and I will give them the soveraignty over this Countrey both to them and their successors and they shall people and replenish both the Earth and the Sea as far as the Sun enlightneth the World 20. Jacob voweth a sacrifice unto God and calleth the place Bethel which is the house of God Let not therefore any danger dismay thee nor travel discomfort thee for besides all this whatsoever thou shalt undertake I will not cease to assist thee in it These things did God foretel unto Jacob who greatly rejoycing at that which he had seen and that which had been declared to him anointed the Stones on which he had rested his head D whilst the promises of so many blessings were made to him and vowed to offer sacrifice to God on the same if he return'd happy and safe into his Countrey which as he returned he accordingly performed The year of the World 2186. before Christs Nativ ty 1778. offering unto God the tenth of all his goods And as for the place where the vision appeared unto him he called it by the name of Bethel which in the Hebrew tongue signifieth the house of God Continuing then his journey into Mesopotamia he travelled so long till at last he arrived at Charran and having met in the Suburbs of the City with certain shepherds and young Men accompanied with young Maidens Gen. 29. 1 2 ad 9. sitting near to a certain Fountain he drew near unto them desiring them to give him drink Jacob arriveth at Charran in Mesopotamia among his Mothers Kindred and falling in discourse with them he asked them Whether they knew one that was called Laban and whether he were yet alive All of them
it alwayes to be thought that God likewise is Further that when they should have perpetrated this fact they should alwayes have their consciences as an armed Adversary against them which never would forsake them That it was an H impious fact to kill a Man 's own Brother although he had done him injury and much more meritorious to forgive a Mans Friend that had offended against him Moreover he said that Joseph had done them no wrong whose tender years rather required care and compassion at their hands than hate and tyranny Besides that the cause of his slaughter would aggravate their offence if it should be known that for envy of his future felicity they should take away his life all which good hap they likewise might participate by reason of consanguinity and that it was their duty to think that whatsoever blessing God imparted to Joseph was theirs and that for that cause they were to consider that God would be more displeased against them if they should endeavour to deprive him of his life whom he had esteemed and adjudged worthy of prosperity to I come Reuben alledging these and many other things dissuaded and laboured to divert them from shedding their Brothers blood But seeing that all these his motives could in no sort mollifie them and that they hastened the rather to perpetrate the Murther he counselled them that at leastwise they should allot him some milder kind of death telling them that he endeavoured all what in him lay at the first to dissuade them But since it was throughly resolved among them that he should not live that less mischief should follow of it if they would be ruled by his counsel for by that means their will should have effect yet a more mild and less hurtful v. 29. Reuben persuadeth them to cast Joseph into a Pit in comparison of Murther that it were better for them to withhold their hands and keep them immaculate by casting him into the next Pit and there leaving him in the hands of death To this counsel all of them agreed So Reuben K took Joseph Hedio Ruffinus chap. 3. and bound him with cords and let him down easily into a Pit which was dry which done he departed to seek out a more convenient place for pasture But when Reuben was gon Juda one of Jacob's Sons espying certain Merchants of Arabia of the Countrey of the Ishmalites v. 27. who from the Countrey of Galaad carried spicery and Syrian Merchandise into Egypt counselled his Brothers to draw up Joseph out of the Well Joseph by the counsel of Juda is sold to the Arabian Merchants and to sell him to those Arabians assuring them by that means it would come to pass that Joseph should die the farther off from them amongst Strangers and as touching themselves they should he exempt from that pollution Which counsel of his being commended by them all 29. Reuben by night cometh to the Pit they drew Joseph out of the Pit and sold him to the Arabians for the summe of twenty pieces of Silver at such time as he was seventeen years L of age Now had Reuben resolved in himself to save Joseph without his Brothers privity for which cause coming by night unto the Pit he called him with a loud voice and seeing that he gave him no answer he began to conjecture with himself that his Brethren had put him to death he reproved them therefore very bitterly but after they had told him what was become of him he gave over his mourning After these things were thus passed the Brethren consulted among themselves in what sort they might clear themselves from their Fathers suspicion 31. and concluded among themselves to tear the Coat wherewith Joseph was attired when he came to them and which they had taken from him when they cast him into the Well to the end that having stained it in the Blood of a Goat 32. Josephs Brothers persuaded his Father that he is devoured by Wild-Beasts they might afterwards carry it to their Father and shew it him to the end he M might suppose that Joseph was slain by wild Beasts Which done they came unto the old Man who had already heard something of Joseph's misfortunes and told him that they had not seen their Brother Joseph neither could they assure him what mishap had befaln him but that notwithstanding they had found his Coat all bloodied and torn which made them suspect 34. Jacob bewaileth Joseph for dead that he was slain by some wild Beasts if so be he were sent unto them attired in that Coat But Jacob that hitherto expected more gentle tidings supposing and hoping that Joseph had only been captive gave over this opinion and took the Coat for a most assured testimony of his Sons death for he knew that he was apparelled therewith at such time as he sent him to his Brothers for which cause he lamented Joseph from that N time forward as certainly dead And such was the grief of his heart that he received no consolation but suffered himself to be persuaded by the Brothers that Joseph was slain by Savage Beasts He therefore sate him down being clothed in Sackcloth and charged with sorrow 27 28. Joseph is sold in Egypt to Putiphar and neither could his Sons by their counsels mitigate his moans nor he himself remit the rigour of his lamentation Now Joseph was sold by the Merchants and bought by Putiphar an Egyptian Lord and steward of King Pharaohs houshold who held him in high estimation and trained him up in all liberal Sciences Gen 39. 7 9 10. suffering him to live not after a servile but liberal manner and committing unto his charge the care of his houshold all which favours he made use of Yet was he no wayes diverted by these his priviledges and promotions from his habitual O virtue testifying hereby that prudence doth not submit to adverse fortune if a Man use the same orderly and not at that time only when fortune fawneth and flattereth A It fortuned not long after Gen. 39. 7 9 10 that his Masters Wife fell in love with him both for his beauty Putiphars Wife soliciteth Joseph to lie with her and for his wit and diligence and she imagin'd that if she open'd her mind to him she might easily enjoy him and that he would esteem it a part of his felicity to be loved by his Mistriss All which she fancied having onely regard to that servile condition wherein at that present he was and not to his manners which continued always virtuous notwithstanding any change that could happen unto him So she discover'd to him her passion and desir'd him to grant her an amorous encounter but he refused her demand alledging that it was a most wicked requital towards his Master if it should come to pass that he who had bought him and so greatly honoured him should receive so great an iniury and
at liberty saying That they found the Money among the Wheat at such time as they emptied their Sacks which now in discharge of their truth they had brought back again But he denying that he ever missed their Money and they being delivered from this fear began to be more secure so that Simeon was suddenly G set at liberty to converse among his Brethren Now when Joseph was returned from the service of the King they offer him presents and he enquiring of them how their Father did they answered that he was in health Then perceiving that Benjamin was yet alive whom he saw among them he ask'd whether that were their younger Brother H and hearing that it was vers 29. he only uttered these words Joseph unknown to his Brethren saluteth both them and Benjamin That God's providence was over all things and departed from them being unwilling that any of them should see him shed Tears which he could not any longer contain Inviting them afterwards unto a Banquet he commanded them to sit down in order according as they were wont to do when they were with their Father and whereas he kindly entertained all of them he honoured Benjamin with a double share After the Banquet when they were all laid down to rest he commanded the steward to measure out the Wheat which every one should bear away with him and to hide the price thereof again in their Sacks but in Benjamins Sack he commanded him to put his Cup which he ordinarily made use of This he did Hedio Ruffinus chap. 6. with intent to make triall of their loves towards Benjamin and whether I they would stick unto him Gen. 44. 2 3 being accused of Theft or leave him behind as a malefactor and return unto their Father Joseph tempteth Benjamins Brothers whether they would assist him as if the matter no wayes touched them Which being done according as he had commanded early in the morning all Jacobs Sons arose and taking with them Simeon departed onwards of their journey rejoycing as well at his restitution as Benjamins return whom they both promised and protested to bring back again to their Father Josephs brethren are staid in their journey when behold suddenly a Troop of Horsemen beset them round amongst whom was that Servant who had hid the Cup in the Sack They being troubled by this sudden incursion and asking why they set upon them whom they so lately had both invited and entertained so honourably v. 5 12. The Egyptians answered and exclaimed against them Jacobs Sons are accused of Theft calling them wicked Men who forgetting the late benefits received K and Joseph's gentleness and humanity were so wicked as to return him injuries for his courtesies threatning them that they should be punished for their Theft and telling them that although for a time they had deceived the Officer of the Table yet could they not deceive God and again asking them whether they were well in their wits in supposing that for this offence they should not be incontinently punished with these and the like speeches the Servant insulted over them But they who nothing at all suspected this subtilty accused him saying That they wondred at the Mans unreasonableness in so rashly accusing them of Theft who had not kept back the price of their Corn which they found in their Sacks whereas none but themselves knew of that Money so far were they from purposely offering any wrong Yet in that they thought the searching L would better satisfie them than denial they bid them search their Sacks offering themselves each of them to suffer punishment if any one of them were found guilty of the Theft This search which they offered the Egyptians accepted yet agreed the punishment should be inflicted onely on him who had done the injury Afterwards beginning to search and orderly looking into each Mans Sack at length they came to Benjamin not that they were ignorant the Cup was hid in his Sack but that they might seem to discharge their duty more exactly Now all the rest being secure in themselves they were only careful of their Brother Benjamin and they hoped that he would not be found guilty of falshood for which cause they more freely upbraided their persecutors objecting unto them how through their importunity they had been hindred M a good part of their journey Now as they searched Benjamins Sack they found the Cup whereupon all the Brothers began to mourn and lament both bewailing their Brothers misfortune who was presently to suffer death for the Theft and their own mishap who having plighted their faith unto their Father for Benjamins safe return were compelled to falsifie the same through this accident And that which further increased their grief was that when as they most of all hoped to be free from dangers they were by fortunes envy thrust into so great calamity confessing themselves to be the authors both of their Fathers and this their Brothers misfortune in that they had never ceased to importune and compel their Father although he were unwilling and resisted to send the Child with them N Now the Horsemen having laid hands on Benjamin led him unto Joseph and his Brothers followed him ver 12. Joseph beholding his Brother in the others hands and the rest bemoaning him round about them Benjamin is attached for Theft Have you said he O most wicked Men either so contemned my humanity or Gods providence as that you durst attempt such a hainous injury against him who entertained you with hospitality and dismissed you with benefits To whom they answered that they were ready to suffer punishment for Benjamin calling again to their remembrance Joseph's injuries saying that he was happy who delivered by death from life was exempt from all calamities and that if he lived God inflicted that plague on them for his sake They said also that they were the plague and great misfortune of their Father because that to the former sorrow which he had endur'd O ever since the time of Josephs death they had also annexed this new misery neither did Reuben desist to reproach them in bitter manner with the wickedness which they had A committed But Joseph told them that he dismissed them all seeing that their innocence was proved to him and would be contented with the Lads punishment for said he neither is it reasonable that he should be delivered for the sake of those who have not offended nor they punished for him that hath done the Theft He commanded them therefore to depart and promised them safe conduct on their way Whilest all of them were grievously wounded with these words so that scarcely one of them could speak for sorrow Juda who had persuaded his Father to send Benjamin with them A ver 18. ad finem and who above the rest was a Man of confidence purposed to expose himself to all danger in that resolution to
Enemy the Canaanites hoping that God would be their Guide Ver. 43. so as they needed not the assistance of their Lawgiver The Canaanites put the Hebrews to flight When this sentence was approv'd by a general consent they flock out in multitudes against their Enemies who neither affrighted by their boldness nor multitude valiantly resisted them who desperately charg'd them so that the better part of the Hebrews being slain they pursued the rest enforced shamefully to turn their backs even unto their Camp This overthrow hapning besides all mens opinion wondrously dejected the minds of the multitude so that they grew desperate of all future good fortune concluding that God had sent and inflicted that plague upon them because without his counsel and order O they had enterpriz'd the Battel But when Moses saw that his Countreymen were dismay'd with the overthrow which they had receiv'd and the Enemy grown proud with A their late Victory fearing likewise lest not content with their present success they should attempt further he determined to retire his Forces back again into the Desart And whereas the People promised thenceforward to be obedient to him being taught by their own misery that nothing would fall out prosperously unto them without the counsel and conduct of their Guide they disincamping themselves Moses retireth the people into the Desart retired into the Desart with this resolution that they would no more attempt a Battel against the Canaanites till they received a sign of their good success from Heaven But even as in a great Army it accustomably falleth out especially in time of trouble that the common multitude wax head-strong and disobedient to their Governors so did the like also happen amongst the Jews For whereas they were in number 600000 and even in their better B Fortunes sufficiently disobedient to their Governors so much the more were they exasperated by their wants and misfortunes Sedition against Moses both amongst themselves and against their Governor For which cause there arose so great a Sedition as neither among the Greeks or Barbarians the like was ever heard Which things without doubt had overthrown them being brought into so desperate an estate had not Moses forgetting the injury he had received which was no less than a purpose to stone him to death succoured and relieved their distressed Fortunes Neither did God utterly abandon the care of them but although they were contumelious against their Lawgiver and transgressed also against the Laws which he had delivered them by Moses yet delivered he them out of that danger of which without his special Providence there could be expected no C other but a lamentable issue This Sedition as also how Moses governed the estate when the troubles were ended we will now declare having first expressed the cause thereof CHAP. II. The Sedition raised by Chore against Moses and his Brother for the Priesthood CHore a Man noble by Birth Numb 16. 1. ad 4. and famous for his wealth amongst the Hebrews and endowed with a certain kind of popular Eloquence seeing Moses placed in the highest place of Authority Chore endeavoureth to persuade the multitude to mutiny against Moses was filled with jealousie and envy thereat For although he were of the same Tribe and Kindred yet he thought it a great indignity to himself to D be held his inferior being both more potent in Riches and his equal in Parentage For which cause he began to murmur and complain to the Levites which were of the same Tribe with him and his Kinsmen telling them That it was not to be suffered that Moses under a pretext of Communication with God should by ambitious policy to other mens prejudice onely study his own glory having of late against all sort of reason given the Priesthood to his Brother Aaron and distributed other dignities at his own pleasure like a King without the suffrage and approbation of the People That this injury done by him was not to be endured by reason that so covertly he had insinuated himself into the Government that before it could be observ'd the People would be brought into servitude For he that knoweth himself to be worthy of a Government endeavors to obtain the same by the consent of the People and not E by force and violence but they that despair by good means to attain thereunto do notwithstanding abstain from force lest they should lose the opinion of their goodness and honesty yet endeavor they by malicious subtilties to attain thereunto That it concerned the Commonweal to check the attempts of such Men lest of private they at last grow publick Enemies For what reason said he can Moses give why he hath bestowed the High Priesthood on Aaron and his Sons If God had decreed that this honour should be bestowed on one of the Tribe of Levi there were more reason that I should have it who am of the same Kindred with Moses and who surpass him both in riches and age On the contrary If this honour appertain to the most ancient of the Tribes that of Reuben ought by right to enjoy it namely Dathan and Abiram and Phalal Alias Baâ—â—â— who are the most ancient of that Tribe and the most powerful in riches These things F spake Chore under colour and pretence of the good of the Commonwealth but in effect only to raise a Tumult amongst the multitude and intrude into the office of the High Priest Ver. 35. Which discourse of his passing by little and little from one ear to another Two hundred and fifty men follow Chore's Faction amongst the multitude and multiplied by the envious and such as maligned Aaron at last brought all the Tribes into a mutiny so that 250 of the chiefest Nobles grew at length to be partakers of Chore's Conspiracy and all of these conspir'd together to take away the Priesthood from Moses's Brother and to transfer it to him The People likewise were in such sort incensed They cry out to stone Moses that they sought to stone Moses and ran all of them confusedly with noise and uproar crying out before the Tabernacle of God that the Tyrant was to be cut off and the People delivered from thraldom who under pretext G of Religion had insupportable thraldom imposed on them For if it were God that had chosen him to be High Priest he would have preferred such an one to the dignity who had been worthy and would not have confer'd it on those who were far inferior to others That if he had decreed to bestow it on Aaron he would have remitted the election H to the People and not left the disposition thereof to his Brother Although Moses was inform'd of Chore's treacherous Calumnies and saw the People highly incensed yet was be nothing at all abashed thereat but being satisfi'd in his Conscience that he had governed the estate uprightly and well assured that his Brother obtained the Priesthood not
this People ignorant thereof But because they maliciously interpret my management of affairs be pleas'd O my God to give them a testimony of my innocence At such time as I led a peaceable life and that by thy help and my labour and my Father-in-law Raguels favour I liv'd quietly and happily I forsook the possession of my goods and the fruition of my peace E to ingage my self in these miseries which I have suffered for these Men and particularly for their liberty and now likewise for their safety I have most readily undertaken grievous travels Now therefore since I am grown into suspition among those Men who by my care and providence have escaped so many mischiefs and miseries thou that appearedst unto me in that fire on the Mountain of Sinai and vouchsafedst both to speak unto me and to confirm me by the sight of miracles who in thy Name didst send me a messenger into Egypt who hast abated the pride of the Egyptians and hast given us means to escape from their Servitude and hast humbled Pharaohs power when we were ignorant of our way by giving us a passage thorow the Sea in whose bottom afterward the Egyptians were drowned who gavest us Arms when we were naked thou madest the bitter water savory and fit to be drunk of and in our scarcity of water F enforcedst drink for us out of the bowels of the hard Rock and when we found no meat on the Land didst send it us from the Sea Moreover as a thing never before heard of affordedst us meat from Heaven and hast established our estate with admirable and holy Laws Be thou O Lord my Judge in all things and my unpartial witness that I have not been corrupted by any bribe of any particular Hebrew to favour injustice nor suffered a poor Man in his just cause to lose his right against a rich adversary And now having administred the Commonwealth with all sincerity I am called in question for a crime whereof I am altogether guiltless as if I had conferred thy Priesthood on my Brother for private affection and not by thy command make it known that all things are disposed by thy providence and that nothing is brought to effect by casualty but by thy special ordinance And to shew that thou hast care of the Hebrews testifie G the same by thy just pâ—nishment inflicted on Dathan and Abiram who accuse thee to be insensible and boast that thou art circumvented by my subtilties But thou shalt make thy revenge most notorious upon the unbridled detractors of thy glory if they perish after no common manner but let the earth which they unworthily tread upon open it self and swallow them up with all H their Families and substance By this means both thy power will manifestly appear unto all Men and thou shalt leave an example to posterity that no Man hereafter shall dare to think otherwise of thy Majesty than becometh him and my ministry shall be proved to proceed from thy direction Dathan and Abiram swallowed up But if those crimes be truly urged which are inforced against me then let the curse return and light on mine head and let those whom I have cursed live in safety But Lord after thou hast inflicted punishment upon those that disturb thy People keep the rest of the multitude in peace v. 31 32 33. concord and observation of thy commandments since it is contrary to thy justice that the innocent multitude of the Israelites should answer their misdeeds and suffer their punishments Whilest he spake these words and intermixed them with tears the earth presently trembled and shaking began to be agitated after such a manner as I the waves of the Sea are by the winds in a great Tempest Hereat were all the People amazed and soon after with a dreadful noise the earth opened and swallowed up the seditious with their Families their Tents and all their Goods so that nothing remained of theirs to be seen Whereupon in a moment the earth closed again and the vast gaping was shut so that there appeared not any sign of that which had hapned Thus perished they all leaving behind them an example of God's power and judgments This accident was the more deplorable in that their was none of their kindred or allies that had compassion of them so that even those that had sided with them praised God's Justice with joyful acclamations esteeming them unworthy to be bemoaned but to be held as the plague and perverters of the People After that Dathan with his Family K was extinguished Moses assembled all those that contended for the Priesthood together committing again the election of the Priesthood unto God concluding that that honour should be ratified to him whose sacrifice was most acceptable in God's sight For which cause the two hundred and fifty Men assembled themselves who were both honoured for the virtue of their Ancestors and for their own abilities with these also stood Aaron and Chore and all of them offered with their censors before the Tabernacle such perfumes as they brought with them when suddenly so great a fire shone as the like was never seen either breaking forth from the bowels of the burning earth kindled in Forests by the Sun and Winds but such an one as seemed to be kindled by God himself most bright and flaming Chore with two hundred and fifty Men is consumed with fire by force and power whereof those two hundred and L fifty together with Chore were so consumed that there scarce appeared the least relique of their carcasses onely Aaron remained untouched to the end it might appear that this fire came from Heaven These things thus brought to pass Moses intending to leave a perpetual memory to posterity of that punishment to the end they should not be ignorant thereof commanded Eleazar the Son of Aaron to consecrate their Censors and fasten them to the Brazen Altar that by reason of this Monument all Men might be terrified who think that the Divine power can be circumvented by humane policy CHAP. IV. M What things hapned in thirty eight years space to the Hebrews in the Desart AFter that by so evident an Argument it appeared sufficiently Numb 17. 1 2 3. ad finem that Aaron neither by sinister insinuations nor by the favour of his Brother but onely by God's election had obtained the Priesthood he ever after held it without any contradiction Yet for all this Another sedition against Moses a new sedition brake out among the People with greater fury than at first by reason of the Subject which occasioned it For though they were perswaded that all that had hapned was brought to pass by God's order and will yet they imagined that God wrought these things in favor of Moses to him therefore imputed they all these things as if God had not punished those Men through indignation N against their sins but onely upon Moses sollicitation and they
Field They that Mow and Reap Corn ought not to gather up all the ears too exactly but leave some for those that are in necessity to the end to succor them They likewse that plant Vines ought to leave some clusters for the poor and some fruit on the Olive-Trees to the intent that they that have none of these may gather something for their relief for the owners of the Field shall be so far from suffering damage by the negligent gathering of their Corn that on the contrary they shall draw profit form their charity for God will bring to pass that their Land who regard not their particular profit but have care of the nourishment of those that are in necessity shall be far F more fat and fertile to bring forth its fruit Neither is the mouth of the Ox to be muzled Deut. 25. 4. at such time as he treadeth the Corn in the Mow Oxen treading or grinding For it standeth not with reason that they who have been partakers of the labour and have travelled for the encrease of the fruits should be restrained from all use and benefit thereof Deut. 23 24. Neither ought the Traveller in his journey be denied to gather and taste the fruits of Autumn Travellers are not to be driven away from ripe fruits but he is to be permitted to take the same freely whether he be of the Countrey or a stranger who shall depart joyfully in that they have been made partakers of such Fruit but it is not lawful for them to carry any away with them They likewise that gather Grapes ought not to forbid any man to taste of them G as they bear them to the Press for it is an unjust thing that the goods which are given by the will of God for the sustenance of man should be denied them that desire to taste the fruit which God gives us in a season which suddenly passes away Yea they are to be invited that through modesty make nice to touch the same if H they be Israelites for such are to be esteem'd Friends and Masters of what we have The year of the World 2493. before Christ's Nativity 1571. in that they are of the same race and if Strangers we ought to exercise hospitality towards them with out thinking that we lose any thing by the small present we make them of the fruits which we have by God's bounty Nor is it to be supposed ill imployed which in way of courtesie a man permitteth another to take since it is God that furnisheth and giveth the abundance of all things not to the end to enjoy the same in private but also to bestow them liberally And he it is that by this means would declare unto other people the good will he beareth to the people of Israel and the felicity whereof he maketh them partakers by reason that in that abundance which they have his will is that other men should have part thereof But I whosoever shall do the contrary let him be chastised for his sordidness and in publick receive thirty nine stripes because of a free man he maketh himself a slave to his gain and so dishonours himself Thirty nine stripes It shall very well become you said Moses since you have tasted miseries both in Egypt and the Desart Deut. 25. 3. that you have compassion of those who are in like estate and for that you are made rich by Gods mercy and providence The Law laid on 40. but the Jews of superstition use but 39. as you may see it behoveth and becometh you to impart somewhat to the indigent who at the present are in that condition in which you were Besides the two Tenths which I commanded you yearly to pay 2. Cor. 11. 24 the one to the Levites The Tenth for the poor The first-fruits and the other for your Festivals you shall for every year pay a third to be K distributed among the poor Widows and Orphans When a man hath gathered his First-fruits Deut. 26 2 3. c. he shall bring them to the Temple and after he hath given thanks unto God that the Land which he hath given him in possession hath brought forth fruit and accomplished that Sacrifice which the Law commandeth him to make he shall give the first-fruits to the Priests And after he hath done all that which concerneth him to do as well concerning the Tenths of the Levites as those ordained for the Feasts being ready to return home let him present himself at the door of the Temple and give thanks to God That having delivered them from the grievous servitude of Egypt he hath given them a plentiful and ample Land to enjoy and making protestation that he hath paid the Tenths according to L Moses Law let him beseech God that he will be favourable both to himself in privaâ—t and the Hebrews in publick and that he will continue those goods unto him which hitherto he hath bestowed upon him and of his great goodness and mercy vouchsafe to encrease them Let those that are of full years to be married Of Marriage match themselves with virtuous Virgins Lev. 21. 13 14. and such as are born of honest Parents And he that will not take a Virgin to Wife Free-men ought not to marry Servants let him not meddle with one that is married to another man lest he breed discontent and sorrow to her first husband Let not free-men match themselves with such as are slaves or bondwomen although they be thereunto moved by love for it is a thing praise worthy The marriage of an Harlot and honorable to surmount a mans affectionss Let no man marry with an harlot M whose sacrifice God refuseth by reason she hath dishonor'd her body besides that the children the more laudably and virtuously inclin'd who are of virtuous parents than those who issue from a shameful alliance contracted by unchaste affection The penalty of a woman married for a Virgin and not found so Deut. 24. If any one that is married for a virgin be afterwards found to the contrary let her be brought before the Judge and let her Husband produce all the signs he can of his suspition and let the new-married Wife's cause be defended by her Father or Brother or by them that are next in blood and if the Wife be found innocent let her return and dwell with him that hath accused her who may not any more refuse her except she give him great occasions whereunto she cannot contradict But he that without cause and rashly shall accuse and slander his Wâ—fe shall be punished with thirty nine stripes and in way of amends N shall pay fifty Sicles to her Father But if it be proved that she hath been deflowred and hath been common then shall she be stoned to death for that she hath not chastly conserved her Virginity till the time of her lawful marriage and if she
be of the Race of the Priests she shall be burnt alive If any man have two Wives Deut. 21. 15 16 17. the one of which he holdeth in greater honour and amity The first begotten should hold his right either for Love or by reason of her Beauty than the other if the Son of her that is more loved demand to have the prerogative of the elder which is a double portion of his Fathers patrimony for so much import our Ordinances and challenge the same by reason that his Father more dearly loveth his Mother than the other let it not be granted him For it is against justice that the eldest should be deprived O of that which appertaineth unto him by birthright because his Mothers condition is inferior to that of the other on account of his Fathers affection A If a man shall have corrupted a Maiden betrothed to another man and she hath consented The year of the World 2493 before Christ's Nativity 1471. they shall both be punisht with death for they are both equally guilty of sin the man because he hath persuaded the Maiden to prefer her lust before an honest marriage and the maid for suffering herself to be overcome and abandoning her body to leudness either for lust or lucre sake But if meeting her he alone enforce her and she have none near to succour her let him die alone He that shall deflowre the Virgin that is unmarried The punishment of adultery or rather ravishing shall take her to Wife but if he condescend not to the Father to take her in wedlock he shall pay fifty Sicles for amends of the injury Deut. 22. 23 24. If any man pretend to separate himself from his Wife for certain causes v. 25. such as ordinarily B happen amongst married couples The deflowring of a virgin let him confirm it in writing That he will never more entertain her again and then she may marry again unto another and refuse the former Husband and if it happen that she be ill us'd by the second or that he being dead the first would take her again in marriage it is not lawful for the Wife to return to him Let the Brother of him that is deceased without issue Deut. 25. 5 ad 9. take to Wife her whom his deceased Brother had married The Wife of the dead Brother married and let the Son born by this second wedlock bear his name and he brought up as the successor of his inheritance For it is advantageous to the commonwealth that Families should not come to ruine and that the goods remain to those of the same kindred And it will be a comfort to the Widow to be joyned C in marriage with one so near akin to her first Husband But if the Brother will not take her to Wife she shall repair to the Senate and make this protestation that the Brother of her deceased Husband will not marry her although she had desired to remain in that line and bring forth children to it and that by him only the memory of her deceased husband is dishonoured And when the Senate shall have examined the cause why he declineth this marriage his excuse shall be allowed of how great or slight soever it be and then shall the Widow unloose his shooe and spit in his face and tell him that he hath deservedly suffered these things in that he hath injured the memory of his dead Brother And thus shall he depart out of the Court being defamed for his whole life-time and the Woman may marry whomsoever she D please If any man take a Virgin prisoner Marriage with a Bond-woman or such an one as hath been already married and be desirous to take her to his Wife it is not lawful for him to touch or approach her till she is shaven Deut. 21. 11 12 13. and having put on her mourning apparel hath bewailed her Parents or Friends slain in Battel but after she hath in this sort asswaged her sorrow she may afterwards addict herself to mirth and marriage For it is a matter both honest and just The lamentatation and mourning of thirty dayes that he that entertaineth her to have issue by her should condescend unto her will in all wherein he may gratifie her and that he should not only addict himself to the pursuit of his pleasure but when the thirty dayes of mourning shall be expired for that time is sufficient for the Wife to bewail her Friends then E may she hearken after marriage And if after he hath had his pleasure with her it happen that he mislike her and will not accept her for his Wife he can no more make her his slave but she may go whithersoever she pleaseth for that she beareth with her her liberty All those Children that shall make no reckoning of their Fathers and Mothers Deut. 21. 18 ad 21. nor shew them that honour which belongeth to them but contemn them and behave themselves insolently towards them Disobedience 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Parents whom Nature hath made their judges shall begin by remonstrating to them that they were matched together in Matrimony not for their pleasures sake or that by uniting their possessions they might become the richer but to the end they might beget Children who might nourish them in their F age and minister unto them in their necessities that they had received them at God's hands with great thanksgiving and infinite joy and brought them up with care and diligence sparing nothing that conduc'd to their sustenance or instruction But since some pardon is to be allow'd to the follies of youth let it suffice my Son that hitherto you have forgotten your duty recollect your self and grow wise remembring that God is grievously offended against those who disobey or disdain their Parents because he is the Father of all mankind and takes himself to be concern'd in that dishonour which is done unto those that bear that name when they receive not such duty from their Childrens hands as he commandeth and that the Law likewise inflicteth an inevitable punishment against such which I should be very sorry if thou G shouldest be so unhappy as to incur If by these remonstrances the child amend it is fit to pardon him the faults committed by him rather out of ignorance than malice for in so doing the Lawgiver shall be accounted wise and the Parents shall be held happy when they see that their Son or Daughter is exempt from the punishment H which the Laws appoint But if such speeches and instructions of the Father are set light by the Son let the Laws be irreconcileable enemies against such continual outrages and let him be drag'd out of the City in the sight and presence of all the people and there let him be stoned to death and after the offender hath lain a whole day in the sight of the people let him be buried by
Army and the place of General he might send him to make War upon the Son of Bochri Joab by reason of Amasa's delay is sent out against Siba by David After that Amasa was departed and had employed his time in gathering up his Army the King seeing that he failed to return upon the third day told Joab that it was dangerous to permit Siba to gather a greater head by N delay and thereby breed more trouble and molestation than Absalon had done For which cause said he stay thou not but take unto thee those forces which thou hast in readiness and my six hundred men with thy brother Abisai and pursue thou the Enemy and in what place soever thou meetest him by all means endeavour to give him the Battel Haste therefore and overtake him lest he seize some of our strongest Cities and thereby create us a greater trouble Joab with all expedition obeyed his commandment and took with him the six hundred with his Brother Abisai and commanded all the forces that were in Jerusalem to follow after him and marched in good order after Siba When he came unto Gabaon a Village about forty furlongs distant from Jerusalem Amasa met him with great forces Joab having his Sword girt by his â—ide v. 9 10. whilst Amasa came onward to salute him he on purpose O let his Sword slip out of his sheath Joab killeth Amasa and taking it up from the ground with one hand he drew near unto Amasa under pretence to salute him and taking him by the beard he H thrust the Sword that was in his other hand into his belly and slew him Which action of his was hainous and detestable proceeding from a jealousie he had conceived against a virtuous young man one of great merit and of great hopes being his near Relation who had in no sort offended him but only by accepting the place of General which the King had conferred on him and because David had equalled him in honour with him for which very cause heretofore he had slain Abner Notwithstanding that act of his seemed in some sort more excusable by reason of the wrong which he had pretended to be done unto his Brother Azael v. 9 10. yet was not this a sufficient colour to excuse the murther of Amasa Joab killeth Amasa When this was done he pursued Siba and left a certain man to wait upon the body of Amasa who had commandment given him to proclaim with a loud voice I thorow the whole army that he was justly and deservedly slain commanding those that favored the Kings title to follow their General Joab and his Brother Abisai whilest his body lay thus in the way and all the multitude as it is usual in such like accidents flocked round about it he that had charge of the body took it up and bare it into a certain place out of the way and covered it with a Garment which done all the people followed Joab Now whilest he pursued Siba thorow all the Region of the Israelites he told him that he had retired himself into a certain strong City called Abelmacha where he no sooner arrived but that he begirt the City and entrenched it round about commanding his Soldiers to undermine and overthrow the walls for he was much incensed because they had shut the gates against him Joab besiegeth and shutteth up Siba within Abelmachaea But a certain prudent woman seeing her countrey in extreme K peril she went up to the top of the walls and called unto Joab who coming forth unto her she spake after this manner God hath ordained Kings and Generals of Armies to the end they might destroy the Enemies of the Hebrews and plant amongst them an universal and perpetual peace v. 16. ad 22. but you enforce your selves to destroy one of the chief Cities of Israel A woman rebuketh Joab for seeking the subversion of the City which he rather ought to protect that hath in no sort offended you Joab declared that far from any such design he wished them all happiness and prosperity and said that for his own part it was not his meaning that any one of the City should die neither his pretence to raze and deface so famous a City his intent only was that if Siba the Son of Bochri and the Kings adversary were delivered into his hands to do justice on him he would raise the siege and cause his Army to retire from thence When the woman heard what Joab had said Joabs conditions of peace proposed to the besieged she prayed him to stay a little while promising him L very speedily to cast his head over unto him Whereupon she came down amongst the assembly of the Citizens to whom she spake after this manner Wretched men that you are The punishment of Siba will you miserably suffer your Wives and Children to be slain for a wicked mans cause and a stranger whom ye know not will you admit him in the place of David your King from whose hands you have received so many benefits v. 23. ad finem think you that one only City can resist so vast an Army Officers distributed by David After this manner persuaded she them to cut off Sibas head and to cast it into Joabs camp which done Joab commanded the retreat to be sounded and raised the siege and returning back unto Jerusalem was once more declared General of all the people The King also appointed Benaja Captain of his Guards and of six hundred Soldiers Adoram was made Treasurer to gather in the Tributes Sabath and Achilaus had M the charge of Registers Hedio Ruffinus cap. 2. Susa was made Secretary Sadoc and Abiathar were made the High-Priests 2 Sam. 21. 1. 2. After this it hapned that the Countrey was afflicted with a famine For which cause David besought God that he would have compassion on his people A famine inflâ—cted on the Israelites for breach of oath and that it might please him to manifest not only the cause but also the remedy of the malady The Prophets answered him that God would be revenged of the wrong done to the Gibeonites whom King Saul had deceived and traiterously slain without respect of the oath which the Governour Josuah and the Elders made unto them If therefore he would suffer the Gibeonites to revenge the death of their slaughtered friends according to their desire God had promised to be appeased and to deliver the people from their imminent and present evils As soon as he understood by the Prophets what God required he sent N for the Gibeonites and asked them what it was which they required who wished him to deliver into their hands seven of Sauls Sons to take their revenge on them whereupon the King made search after them only sparing and protecting Mephiboseth the Son of Jonathan v. 7 9. When the Gibeonites had laid hold of these seven
worthy of a great Prince and in this great authority wherein he was placed he stept not any ways awry but in the case of Vria's Wife He left as much or rather more riches behind him than any other King of the Hebrews or other Nations had F done His Son Solomon buried him most Royally in Jerusalem with all those ceremonies which were accustomed in Royal obsequies and amongst other things he buried a great quantity of riches with him the incredible estimate whereof may be conjectured by that which followeth The sumptuous Sepulchre of David For one thousand three hundred years after the High Priest Hircanus being besieged by Antiochus surnamed the Religious who was Demetrius's Son and willing to gratifie him with some summe of money to the intent he might raise the siege Hircanus â—aketh a huge sum of money out of Davids Tomb. and remove his Army and unable to levy money by any other means he opened the Sepulchre of David from whence he took three thousand talents which he delivered to Antiochus and by this means delivered the City from the siege as we have declared in another place Herod spoileth Davids Sepulchre And again a long time after this Herod also opened it and took from G thence a great summe Nevertheless no man violated that part of the monument where the body of the King was laid for it was so artificially hidden under ground that it would be very difficult to discover it A The Eighth Book of the Antiquities of the JEWS Written by FLAVIVS JOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the Eighth Book 1. How Solomon obtaining the Kingdom expelled his enemies 2. Of the riches prudence and wisdom of Solomon and how first of all he builded the Temple in Jerusalem B 3. How Solomon being dead the people revolted from Rehoboam his son and made Jeroboam King of the ten Tribes 4. How Susac King of Egypt sacking Jerusalem carried away the riches of that City into Egypt 5. The War of Jeroboam against Abias Rehobohams son and the slaughter of his Army and how Basanes extirpated Jeroboams posterity and possess'd the Kingdom 6. The Invasion of the Ethiopians under Asa and the overthrow of their Army 7. The Race of Basanes being rooted out Zamri ruled in Israel with his son Ahab 8. Adad King of Damascus and Syria is twice overthrown by Ahab 9. Of Jehoshaphat King of Jerusalem C 10. Ahab being provoked to War by the Syrians is overcome and slain in battel CHAP. I. How Solomon obtaining the Kingdom expelled his enemies WE have declared in the former Book what David was how great his virtue hath been 1 Kings 2. what profits and benefits those of his Nation received by him Solomon King of Israel after Davids death what Wars he undertook what Victories he obtained and how happily at last through extremity of age he departed D out of this life But after that Solomon his son being at that time very young had obtained the Kingdom and was placed in his fathers Throne according as David had determined and the divine power had decreed the whole people according to the common course in the election of new Princes with many acclamations wished him a long and prosperous Reign But Adonias who during his fathers life-time thought to possess and seize himself of the Royal estate came unto the Kings mother and with all humility and reverence saluted her To whom Bethsabe said That if there were any thing wherein she might serve him he should let her know it and that she would willingly apply her self unto it Whereupon he began to say That it was a thing very well known that the Kingdom appertained unto him both in regard of his age as also in respect of E the favor and good liking of the people Ver. 17 ad 24. but since that it had been transferred unto Solomon her son Adonias requireth Abisag to wife by the Will of God he was content therewith and would be his servant being very glad of the fortunate success of his Affairs He therefore besought her that she would sollicite Solomon in his behalf and persuade him to give him Abisag to Wife â—ho had slept with David for that he had not any carnal company with her by reason of his age and that as yet she was fully possessed of her virginity Bethsabe promised him to further his suit to the uttermost of her power and willingly to employ herself toward the accomplishment of the Marriage since she knew the King was willing to gratifie her in whatsoever she should desire as also for that she would instantly intreat him so that he departed from her with assured hope of good success in F his designed Marriage Hereupon Bethsabe presently addressed herself to the King intending to certifie him both what Adonias had requested and what she had granted When Solomon heard that his Mother came to visit him he went out to meet her and embraced her and afterwards conducting her into his Presence-chamber he sate him down and commanded his servants to place a seat on his right hand for his Mother who being seated by him spake unto him after this manner My son vouchsafe me one favor that I shall request at thy hands and send me not hence discontented and dissatisfied through thy refusal Solomon answered her That she should command him by reason that duty tyed him to the satisfaction and favor of his Mothers suits reproving her for that insinuation she had used by reason that thereby she evidently expressed that she was not G thorowly assured to obtain her demand but that she feared a refusal and repulse she therefore required him to give the Damsel Abisag for Wife to Adonias his Brother The King displeased at this her suit dismissed his Mother alledging that Adonias had ill designs and that he wondered that in requiring Abisag to Wife he had not requested Solomon H likewise to give him place in the Kingdom for Adonias was elder than he and had more mighty friends than he had namely the General Joab and the High Priest Abiathar For which cause he forthwith sent Benaia Captain of his Guard to kill Adonias his Brother Ver. 25. Then calling unto him the High Priest Abiathar The pains said he that thou hast endured by accompanying my father David Adonias is slain and attending and bearing the Ark with him make thee escape from death yet notwithstanding for that thou hast been assistant to Adonias Ver. 26. 27. and followed his faction Abiathar iâ— dispossessed of the Priesthood I banish thee from my presence charging thee not to see my face any more but to retire thy self to thine own house and there to live in thy Countrey until thou hast ended thy dayes since you have made your self unworthy of that charge wherewith you are entrusted For this cause was the House of Ithamar deprived of the Priestly I
so doing they should be in security For the thirteenth day of the twelfth month by the Hebrews called Adar and by the Mecedonians Distre the posts that carried the Kings letters certified them that they should exterminate their enemies on that very day whereon they themselves were in danger to be exterminated The Governors likewise of the Provinces the Lords and chief Magistrates did honour to the Jews for the fear they had of Mardocehus and after the Kings Letters were published it came to pass that the Jews slew about five hundred of their enemies Within the City of Susa the King declared unto Esther the number of the dead that perished in the City Esther 9. v. 2. 5 10 13. and suspecting what might happen thorow the whole Countrey he asked her if she requested any further matter promising her that D he would see it executed she besought him that it might be lawful for the Jews to revenge themselves yet once more the next day upon their enemies and to hang Hamans ten Sons upon the gibbet which the King being loth to contradict Esther permitted so that on the 14. day of the Month Distre they slew about three hundred more of their enemies without taking the smallest portion of their goods Furthermore the Jews slew in the Countrey and in the Cities about sixty five thousand of their enemies whom they dispatched the thirteenth day of the month and solemnized the day following in mirth and feasting The Jews that were at Susan assembled themselves likewise on the fourteenth day of the month and banquetted that whole day Whence it cometh to pass that all the Jews which are throughout the world keep and solemnize E this day for a festival and send Presents the one unto the other Mardocheus also wrote unto the Jews who lived under the Empire of Artaxerxes commanding them to observe those dayes and to solemnize them willing them to charge their Successors to do the like to the end that this feast might continue for ever For since on that day they should have been destroyed by Haman they should do well if after they had escaped that danger and taken revenge on their enemies they should observe the same day to give thanks to God For this cause the Jews keep a solemn feast on these dayes and call it Purim that is to say Lotts But Mardocheus was great and powerfull with the King Governing the whole Kingdom under him and had also all the power that could be conferred on him by the Queen and for this cause the affairs of the Jews had F better success than was hoped but there was nothing during the whole reign of Artaxerxes which hapned to be of greater importanance than this which we are going to relate C. 10 per totum Puraea festa Mardocheus authority G H CHAP. VII The year of the World 3584. before Christ's Nativity 380. John the High-Priest kills Jesus his brother in the Temple Manasses the brother of Jaddus the High-Priest espouseth the daughter of Sanaballath Governor of Samaria AFter the death of Eliasib the High-Priest Judas his son succeeded in the office And Judas being dead Hedio Ruffinus cap. 7. John his son obtained the place and was the cause that Bagoses General of Artaxerxes Army The revenge taken of John for slaying his brother polluted the Temple and made the Jews tributaries so I that before they could offer their ordinary and daily sacrifices they were compelled to pay for every Lamb 50 drachmes which hapned upon this occasion John had a brother called Jesus whom Bagoses favoured and promised to give him the High-Priesthood One day these two Brethren being in the Temple they fell out about the succession and the quarrel rose so high that John slew his brother Jesus in that holy place It was a thing very strange that John being a Priest should commit such an impiety against his brother and yet far more strange in that so cruel an act and an offence so impious hath neither hapned amongst Greeks nor Barbarians But God left it not unpunished in that for the same sin the people lost their liberty and the Temple was polluted by the Persians When Bagoses had intelligence that John the High-Priest among the Jews had slain his brother Jesus in the Temple Jaddus High-Priest whose brother Manasses marrieth Sanaballaths daughter he came thither in all haste and began to break K forth into bitter threats against the Jews Have you said he been so bold as to commit murther in your Temple And when he attempted to enter they hindered him Whereupon he replied Am I therefore more polluted than the body that lieth dead in the Temple And having spoken thus he entred thereinto and for the space of seven years Bagoses being thus incensed against the Jews punish'd them for murthering Jesus After that John was deceased Jaddus his son was made High-Priest who had a brother called Manasses Sanaballath sent by the late King Darius to govern Samaria for he also was of the race of the Chuteans from whom came the Samaritans knowing that Jerusalem was a famous City and that the Kings thereof wrought much trouble unto the Inhabitants of Assyria and Coelosyria he willingly marrieth his daughter Nicasis to this Manasses with L an intent that this Marriage should be as a pledge of his good will to the Nation of the Jews CHAP. VIII Alexander the great King of Macedonia passeth out of Europe into Asia destroyes the Empire of the Persians and when it was believed that he would have demolish'd the City of Jerusalem he pardons the Jews and treats them very favourably M ABout this time Philip King of Macedon died in the City of Aegaea being traiterously slain by Pausanias the son of Cerastes Alexander made King after Philip his father King of Macedon of the race of Orestes and his son Alexander succeeded him in the kingdom who passing over the Hellespont gave battel unto the huge Army of Darius near the River Granic and there obtained a famous victory And hereupon also invading the Countrey of Lydia after he had conquered Jonia and over-run Caria he fell upon the quarters of Pamphilia as is declared in another place But the Elders of Jerusalem were much displeased that Jaddus's brother who was at that time High Priest and had married a foreign Woman should be companion and associate with him in the Priesthood so as they mutined against him For they supposed that that Marriage would be but a means to animate those who had a mind to profane Marriages N and prove an inducement to others to communicate in Marriage with strangers calling to mind that the cause of their evils and first captivity was because some of them had fallen and offended by coupling themselves with Women of foreign Nations They therefore commanded Manasses either to forsake his Wife or else never more to approach the Altar The High-Priest likewise being
advice given by Demetrius is this O Demetrius to the great King Health A Most mighty Prince since you have committed the trust unto me to find out such Books as are wanting to your Library Demetrius exhortatory Letter to Ptolomy touching his Library and to search for such Volumes as hitherto have been hid from my sight to the end that I might gather them together after that I had used herein all the care that was possible I have found that amongst others we want the Books of the Laws of the Jews For they being written in Hebrew Characters we have no notice thereof nor have we taken the pains to inquire after them because your Majesty hath not as yet thought fit to desire them But I think it necessary that your Majesty should have them procured and that they be faithfully B Translated because those Laws proceeded from God himself and it is most certain that of all other Laws in the World they are the wisest and incorruptest For which cause Hecateus the Abderite saith That neither Poets nor Historians have made any mention of them nor of those that have been governed under the same because in themselves they are pure and are not to be published by the mouth of the profane May it therefore please your Majesty to write unto the High-Priest of the Jews commanding him to send you six of every Tribe such as he shall know to be most expert in their Law by whom we may clearly apprehend the sence contained in those Books to the end that having the faithful interpretation of those things that are contained therein we may collect and gather them together to the satisfaction of your Majesty When the King had in this manner been advised he wrote unto Eleazar the High-Priest C of the Jews The Kings liberality towards the Jews touching this matter letting him know what liberty was by him granted unto the Jews that were in his kingdom He sent him also 50 Talents of gold to make cups ewers and vessels with an infinite number of precious stones commanding his Cofferers who had the charge of his Jewels to suffer the Workmen to choose what stones they liked best Furthermore he appointed that a hundred Talents should be given for the sacrifices and oblations and other uses of the Temple But after that I have declared what was the Copy of the Letter sent unto Eleazar the High-Priest and the manner how he obtained that Sacerdotal dignity I will give an account of the rich Presents and their curious Workmanship After the death of Onias the High-Priest his son Simon sirnamed the Just succeeded D in his place who for that cause was so called by reason of the piety which he shewed toward God and good affection which he bare unto his Countreymen This Simon dying and leaving behind him one onely son of young and tender years who was called Onias his brother which was this Eleazar of whom we speak at this present took upon him the Priesthood and to him wrote Ptolomy in such manner as is hereafter expressed King Ptolomy to the High-Priest Eleazar Health Whereas divers Jews dwelt in my kingdom whom my father had honoured though during the Reign of the Persians they were sent thither as Prisoners and made some of them E Captains in his Wars Ptolomy's Epistle to Eleazar for Interpreteâ—s to translate the Bible allowing them honourable wages and conditions To others born in his time in Egypt he hath committed his Forts and Garisons which made them much honoured and feared among the Egyptians Since my coming to the Government I have behaved my self graciously towards all men and especially toward those of your Nation of whom I have delivered more than 100000 out of Captivity paying their ransom out of mine own Coffers I have likewise listed some of those that were of age in the companies and bands of my men of War I have received some into my Court whom I took to be faithful and loyal and in my opinion well worthy of such preferment supposing this to be the most acceptable Present that I could offer up unto God for his Providence in advancing me to the Kingdom And being desirous not only to gratifie them but also all those Jews that are in the whole world I have determined to cause F your Law to be Translated out of Hebrew into Greek that I might put it in my Library You shall therefore do well if you choose out six discreet and learned men of every Tribe amongst you and send them unto me such as by reason of their age shall be well instructed in your Laws and sufficiently enabled to expound the same And I doubt not but that the work succeeding as I hope it will I shall thereby gain great glory Wherefore I send unto you Andrew the chiefest Captain of my Guard and Aristeus also whom we especially honour to confer with you by whom I have sent you 100 Talents of silver as the first-fruits of those gifts and sacrifices which we intend to offer in the Temple You will do us an especial favor if you signifie your mind unto us by your Letters G As soon as Eleazar had received the Kings Letters he returned him an answer full of respect as followeth A The High Priest Eleazar to King Ptolomey health If your self your Queen Arsinoe and your children be in health we do very much rejoyce thereat We have received your Princely Letters with no small joy and have read and considered the contents thereof we have also published them in the presence of all the People and have declared unto them your piety towards God and have shewed them those vesselles which you sent us twenty of Gold and thirty of silver with five vessells and a Table which you have sent us as Presents We have likewise shewed them those hundred talents which Andrew and Aristeus vertuous and excellently learned men Eleazars Letters in answer to Ptolomey and honoured by you amongst your B dearest friends have brought unto us to be employed in sacrifices and other uses in the Temple Know therefore that whatsoever you are pleased to command we will readily observe that we may acknowledge the benefits which you have divers wayes bestowed upon our Nation We have therefore daily offered sacrifice for you your Queen Arsinoe your children and friends the people likewise have prayed that God would send you happy success in whatsoever you desire that your Kingdom may be continued in peace and that the translation of our Law may be accomplished at your desire for our own satisfaction To that intent we have chosen six Elders out of every Tribe whom we send unto you together with the original of our Law Our request is that according to your accustomed piety and justice you return us both our Laws and these interpreters in safety as soon as they have answered your expectation Fare C you well This is the answer
a great warrior and very respective of the commandments of his father Matthias having done and suffer'd all that was possible to recover the liberty of his Countrey Being therefore after this manner accomplished he had left behind him a perpetual renown of his worthy acts and an honourable memory of himself obtained by the liberty in which he re-established his Nation delivering them from the servitude of the Macedonians He died after he had discharged the office of the High-Priest for the space of three years E F H The Thirteenth Book of the Antiquities of the JEWS The year of the World 3085. before Christ's Nativity 159. Written by FLAVIVS JOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the Thirteenth Book 1. Jonathan after his brother Judas's death succeedeth in the Government 2. Jonathan having wearied Bacchides by War compelleth him to make a League and draw I off his Army 3. Alexander the son of Antiochus Epiphanes maketh War upon King Demetrius 4. Demetrius sendeth an Ambassador to Jonathan with Presents persuading him to be of his party 5. Alexander by greater Presents than Demetrius and by offering the High-Priesthood to Jonathan draweth him over to his party 6. Of the Temple of God built by Onias 7. How Alexander after the death of Demetrius highly honour'd Jonathan 8. Demetrius the son of Demetrius overcoming Alexander possesseth the Kingdom and maketh an alliance with Jonathan K 9. Triphon Apamenus after he had overcome Demetrius reserved the Kingdom for Antiochus Alexander's son who receiveth Jonathan into favor 10. Demetrius being overcome by the Parthians Triphon breaketh his covenant of peace and laying hold on Jonathan traiterously killeth him and afterwards assaulteth Simon his brother 11. How the Nation of the Jews committed both the Priesthood and the Government of the Army to Simon 12. Simon driving Tryphon into Dora besieged him and maketh a League with Antiochus sirnamed Pius 13. A debate arising between Antiochus and Simon Cendebaeus the Kings Captain is driven L out of the Countrey 14. How Simon was traiterously slain at a banquet by Ptolomy his father-in-law 15. How Ptolomy's endeavors being made frustrate Hircanus obtaineth the Government 16. How Antiochus sirnamed the Just leading an Army against Hircanus for 300 Talents is reconciled and entreth into a League 17. Hircanus 's expedition into Syria 18. How Antiochus Cyzicenus assisting the Samaritans is conquered and enforced to flie 19. Aristobulus causeth himself to be crowned King 20. The acts of Alexander the King of the Jews 21. The victory of Ptolomy Lathurus against Alexander M 22. Demetrius Eucaerus overcometh Alexander in battel 23. The expedition of Antiochus Dionysius into Jewry 24. Alexander being dead his wife Alexandra succeeded him in the Kingdom CHAP. I. After the death of Judas Machabeus Jonathan his brother is by the Jews chosen General of their Army Bacchides the Commander of Demetrius's Army attempts to kill him treacherously but failing he assaults him openly A great battel and a fair retreat managed N by Jonathan The son of Amar kills his brother John and thereby draws the divine vengeance on his head Bacchides besiegeth him and Simon his brother in Bethalaga but they force him to raise his siege WE have declar'd in the former Book how the Nation of the Jews after they had been under the subjection of the Macedonians recovered their liberty we have likewise related the great wars of Judas their Captain and in which he was at last slain in the defence of their liberty how likewise after the death of Judas all the wicked Apostate Jews who had revolted from their Religion took courage molesting and doing many injuries O to the rest of their Countreymen Finally how besides their malice the Famine raged in the Countrey so that divers being unable to sustain these two scourges of Famine and War were constrain'd to submit themselves unto the Macedonians In the mean while Bacchides gathering together the Apostates who were fallen from the Religion A of the Jews with an intent to live after the manner of the Heathen committeth the government of the Countrey unto them who laying hold on Judas's friends and partakers betrayed and deliver'd them to Bacchides who first of all tormented and beat them The Jews compelled by the Apostates and by famine submit themselves to the Macedonians and afterwards put them to death This so great affliction than which the Jews had never endured a worse since their return from Babylon was the cause that those of Judas's faction who were yet alive fearing the total ruine of their Nation addressed themselves to Jonathan his brother exhorting him to imitate his brother Judas 's virtues and to have no less care of his Countrey than him who dyed in the defence of it beseeching him that he would not suffer his Nation to perish for want of a Captain Bacchides murthereth those of Judas's faction since he himself was so well B qualified to command them Jonathan answer'd them That he was ready to dye for them and being in all things esteemed no less valiant and politick than his brother Judas he was proclaimed General and Captain of the Jews Bacchides having notice hereof Jonathan by the publick instigation of the Jews undertaketh the government feared lest Jonathan should be no less troublesom to the King and the Macedonians than his brother Judas before him had been for which cause he sought means to make him away by Treason But both Jonathan and his brother Simon gat intelligence thereof and having discover'd his practice they took all their families with them Bacchides comploâ—teth to betray Jonathan and his brother and fled into the desart that confin'd upon the City of Jerusalem and retiring near unto a water call'd the Lake of Asphar they remained in that place When Bacchides perceiv'd that they mistrusted him and were driven thither he went out against them with all his Forces and being encamped on the other side of Jordan he gathered C his Army together Jonathan knowing well that Bacchides came out to seek him sent his brother John sirnamed Gaddis unto the Arabians and Nabatheans to commit the trust of their goods into their hands Bacchides draweth out his Forces against Jonathan until the end of the War betwixt him and Bacchides for the Arabians were his friends Whil'st therefore John marched towards the Nabatheans who were of the City of Medaba the sons of Amareus laid an ambush for him and after they had furiously set upon him on the way and laid hold on whatsoever he brought with him John the brother of Judas is slain by Amars son they at length slew him and all his company for which fact of theirs they were shortly after punished by his brethren as we shall relate hereafter When Bacchides knew that Jonathan was encamped in the Marshes of Jordan Bacchides assaileth Jonathan on the Sâ—bbath-day and loseth 2000 of his men he made D choice
prophane hands For I already perceive that the prophane Nations despise us and contemn you as if you had no Leader Simon succeedeth his brothers Judas and Jonathan and I know already that they are marching forward to fight you By these words Simon heartned the People who were distracted with fear so that they revived their spirits and conceived better hope Simon sendeth Jonathan Absalons son to Joppa to expulse the inhabitants thereof Tryphon by fraudulent promises under certain conditions persuadeth Simon that his brother should be set at liberty Whereupon all of them cried with a loud voice That Simon was their General and that he was to succeed his two valiant brethren N Judas and Jonathan in the Government and that as touching themselves they would be obedient in all things that he should command them He therefore assembled in one instant all the men at Arms in that Countrey and hastened to repair the City walls fortifying them with high and strong Towers and sent a certain friend of his called Jonathan the son of Absalon with an Army to Joppa commanding him to turn out the Inhabitants of that City from thence feraing they would submit themselves to Tryphon as for himself he remained in Jerusalem to secure the same Tryphon departing from Ptolomais with a great Army came into Judea leading his Prisoner Jonathan with him Whereupon Simon and his Army went out against him as far as Addida a City scituate upon a Mountain at the foot whereof beginneth the Champain O Countrey of Judea Tryphon knowing that Simon was made Governor of the Jews sent messengers unto him intending to circumvent him by Treason and Policy giving him to understand That if he were desirous of his brothers enlargement he should send him one hundred Talents of silver The year of the World 3821. before Christ's Nativity 143. and two of Jonathans children for hostages to assure him that being A set at liberty he should not withdraw Judea from the obedience of the King For till that present he was held and kept Prisoner by reason of the money which he ow'd the King Simon was no ways ignorant of this cunning intent of Tryphons but knew well enough that he should both lose his money if he should deliver the same and that his brother should not be enlarged no though his children were deliver'd for hostages on the other side he feared lest the People should judge sinisterly of him as if he had been the cause of his brothers death both by not delivering the money neither yet the children Having therefore assembled the Army he declar'd unto them what Tryphon demanded telling them That the whole scope of his actions were nothing else but treacherous stratagems and subtilities yet notwithstanding he told them That he had rather send both the money and the B children to Tryphon than by refusing his conditions and demands to be accused to have neglected the life of his brother Simon sent therefore both the money and children of Jonathan but Tryphon having receiv'd both kept not his promise but detain'd Jonathan and leading his Army thorow the Countrey intended to pass by Idumaea to repair to Jerusalem He came therefore to Dora a City in Idumaea and thitherward marched Simon to encounter with him encamping always right over against him They that were in the Castle of Jerusalem hearing news hereof sent Tryphon word that he should hasten and come unto them and send them munition whereupon he addressed his Horsemen pretending that very night to ride unto Jerusalem but the snow about that time fell in such abundance that it covered the way in such sort and was so thick as the Horses could not C Travel which hindred his repair to Jerusalem For which cause he departed from thence and came into Coelosyria Jonathan is slain by Tryphon and speedily invading the Countrey of Galaad he put Jonathan to death in that place and after he had buried him there he returned to Antioch But Simon sent unto Basca and transported his brothers bones and interred them in his Countrey Modin in his fathers Sepulchre and all the People mourned and lamented for him many days Simon also built a great monument of white and polished marble for his father and brethren Jonathans Monument and rais'd it to a great height and garnish'd it round about with galleries and pillars all of one piece which was an admirable Work to behold Besides that he erected seven Pyramids for his father mother and brethren for each of them one so great and so fair as they caused admiration in those that beheld them and are D as yet to be seen at this present day So great was Simons care that Jonathan and the rest of his family should be honour'd with so magnificent a Sepulchre which Jonathan dyed after he had exercis'd the place of High-Priest and possessed the Government for four years Thus much as touching his death As soon as Simon had taken possession of the High-Priesthood by the election of the People the very first year of his Government he acquitted the People of the Tribute which they were wont to pay to the Macedonians This liberty and exemption from Tribute hapned amongst the Jews one hundred and seventy years since the time that Seleucus The Jews discharged of Tributes sirnamed Nicanor obtain'd the kingdom of Syria And in so great honour was Simon amongst the People that in their private Contracts and publick Letters the date E began Simons authority From the first year of Simon the Benefactor and Governor of the Jewish Nation For they prospered greatly under his Government and had the victory of all their neighbouring Enemies round about them For he destroy'd the Cities of Gaza Joppa and Jamnia he demolished or slighted also the Cittadel of Jerusalem and level'd it with the ground Simon razeth the Castle of Jerusalem to the intent the Enemies might never seize on it any more nor retreat thither to endamage the City as they had done before Which when he had brought to pass he thought it not amiss but very profitable to level the Hill whereon the Castle stood to the intent the Temple might be the eminentest place All this he persuaded the People to do in a common Assembly representing to them how much they had suffer'd by the Garisons and how much they were like to suffer hereafter if a stranger should once F more be master of the kingdom and build a Cittadel in that place By these exhortations he persuaded the People to finish these Works and all of them began to work without intermission both day and night so that in the space of three years they level'd the mountain and from that time forward there was nothing but the Temple that commanded the City See here what Simon perform'd hitherto G H CHAP. XII The year of the World 3824. before Christ's Nativity 140. Tryphon caused Antiochus Alexander
good seeing himself so much honour'd by us Let this suffice to express the honours bestow'd on Hircanus by the People of Rome and the Citizens of Athens After that Caesar had given order for the affairs of Syria Hedio Ruffinus cap. 18. he returned back by Sea And as soon as Antipater had accompanied Caesar out of Syria Caesar departeth out of Syria he returned into Judea and suddenly built up the Walls of Jerusalem which Pompey had beaten down and in riding a Circuit about the Countrey he pacified the troubles not only by threatnings but by good advice also Antipater pacifieth all occasion of commotion in Judea which he gave every one to live in peace assuring them That if they submitted themselves to Hircanus their Prince they should live happily and enjoy their possessions without any trouble and that if they hoped to advance themselves by any new commotion M supposing by that means to benefit themselves they should feel that instead of a Governor they had a Master and instead of a King they should find Hircanus a Tyrant and instead of the Romans and Caesar to be their Governors they should find them to be their most hateful Enemies for they would not suffer that any thing should be altered that they had established By these and such like admonitions he kept and continued all the Country in peace N O CHAP. XVII The year of the World 3921. before Christ's Nativity 43. A Antipater gaineth great repute by his virtue His eldest son Phasaelus is made Governor of Jerusalem and Herod his second son is made Governor of Galilee Herod causeth to be executed several Robbers Some great mens jealousie against Antipater and his children They made Hircanus accuse Herod for those that he had put to death He compareth in judgment and then retireth He cometh to besiege Jerusalem which he had taken if Antipater and Phasaelus had not hindred him Hircanus reneweth his alliance with the Romans The testimony of the Romans esteem and affection for Hircanus and the Jews Caesar is B murther'd in the Capitol by Cassius and Brutus ANtipater perceiving that Hircanus was slow and idle he declared and appointed Phasaelus his eldest son Alias cap. 20. Governor over Jerusalem and the Countrey thereabout As for Herod who was very young Antipater maketh Phasaelus Governor in Jerusalem and Herod in Galilee for he was not at that time above 15 years old he committed Galilee unto his charge who although young in years yet he was ripe in courage and conduct which he witnessed in apprehending Ezechias who was the chief of those Thieves who ranged over all Syria he put him to death with divers of his Complices Which act of his got him esteem and credit among the Syrians for by that means he freed their Countrey of all those Robbers according as they desir'd He was therefore praised thorow the Villages and Cities for this action Herod executeth Ezekias and his followers for robberies as he that had given them peace C and assured possession of their Estates For this cause he was made known to Sextus Caesar who was Uncle to Caesar the Great Furthermore his brother Phasaelus was encouraged to follow his noble actions and inforced himself to obtain no less reputation than he had Sextus Caesar Governor of Syria for which cause he strove to get the good will of the common People in Jerusalem and govern'd the City with such discretion that he acted all things to every mans content The form of Phasaelus's government and abused not his power to any private mans injury which was the cause that Antipater was honour'd by the whole Nation with no less respect than if he had been their only Lord and Soveraign Antipater notwithstanding his high authority was alwayes faithful to Hircanus Yet did not this eminency of estate so far distract him that he forgot the love and duty he ought to Hircanus as in such like occasions it oftentimes falleth out notwithstanding divers of the greatest amongst the Jews seeing D Antipater and his sons so highly advanced both by the publick favor of the whole Nation as also by the Revenues that they drew both out of Jewry as also by the employment of Hircanus's money were grievously incensed against them Antipater winneth the Romans hearts by Hircanus's money and draweth the Jews into hatred For Antipater had made friendship with the Emperors of Rome and having persuaded Hircanus to send them money he had appropriated the same unto himself sending it not in Hircanus's name but in his own which though Hircanus knew yet he was not moved therewith but rather well contented But that which most of all terrifi'd the Princes of the Jews was to behold the violent and audacious nature of Herod who govern'd after a tyrannical manner The Jews accuse Antipater and Herod before Hircanus For this cause they address'd themselves to Hircanus and accus'd Antipater openly How long said they will you dissemble and wink at those things that are daily practised E See you not that Antipater and his sons possess in effect the Royal Power and Authority of the Kingdom and that you have only the name Assure your self that you are not out of danger in contemning thus both your self and your Kingdom For Antipater and his sons are not now your Substitutes neither intend they your profit or your Countries good whatsoever your opinion is of them they are publickly acknowledg'd Lords and Masters For Herod Antipater 's son hath already put Ezechias and his Confederates to death and thereby transgressed our Laws which forbid to take away any mans life how wicked soever he be except he be first of all condemned to death by the Council Herod called in question appeareth with a great train and notwithstanding this he hath been so bold as to do justice without your authority When Hircanus heard this he grew angry for their mothers whom Herod had slain had incensed him by their continual Exclamations in the Temple F exhorting the King and People to call Herod to account before the Council of that which he had done So that Hircanus moved by these Women called Herod to answer unto those accusations which were objected against him Who made his appearance forewarned by his father not to present himself after the manner of a private person but well attended and accompanied to withstand all inconveniencies Sextus Caesar writeth to Hircanus to discharge Herod After he had taken order for the affairs in Galilee according as he thought fit and that he himself was sufficiently accompanied to make his Voyage with such a Guard as neither might terrifie Hircanus with number nor leave himself unsecured in danger he resorted to Jerusalem Moreover Sextus Caesar Governor of Syria wrote unto Hircanus to absolve him adding G threats to his persuasions if so be he should perform the contrary which gave Hircanus
in the Countrey of Galilee and for this cause was greatly beloved by Cassius for he being prudent and discreet thought it no small policy at that time to win the Romans good will on other mens expences Under the other Governors the Cities were set to sale together with their Inhabitants and amongst them these four were the chiefest namely Gophna Emaus Lydda and Thamna for Cassius sold the people thereof to them that would give most Besides Cassius was so much transported with choler E that he had slain Malichus if Hircanus had not restrained his fury by sending him One hundred Talents of his own money by Antipater But as soon as Cassius was departed out of the Countrey of Judaea he practised Antipater's death supposing that his cutting off would assure Hircanus's state But Antipater was not ignorant of this his resolution for having an inkling thereof he got himself on the other side of Jordan and assembled an Army of Soldiers both Jews and Arabians Hereupon Malichus who was a politick and subtil fellow denied stoutly that he had intended any Treason Maâ—ichus layeth in wait to murther Antipater but forsweareth the same and is reconciled clearing himself with an Oath before Antipater and his Children that he had never any such intent especially seeing that Phasaelus held Jerusalem and Herod F had an Army at command And in the end perceiving the difficulty wherein he was he reconciled himself to Antipater and they agreed at that time that Marcus governed Syria who perceiving that Malichus began to raise troubles in Jewry resorted thither and there wanted little but that he had slain him had not Antipater by earnest request obtained his life CHAP. XIX Cassius and Marcus leaving Sâ—ria give Herod the command of the Army which they had raised promising to establish him King Malichus causeth Antipater to be poysoned Herod dissembleth with him BUT imprudent Antipater saved Malichus to his own mischief Cassius and Marâ—â—us make Herod Governor of Coelosyria For when Cassius G and Marcus had assembled their Army they committed all the charge into Herods hands and made him Governor of Coelosyria and delivered him great forces both of H Foot and Horse The year of the World 3923. before Christ's Nativity 41. and Ships by Sea They promised him likewise the Kingdom of Judaea after they had finished the War that was at that time betwixt them and Anthony and Caesar the younger Whereupon Malichus mightily fearing Antipaters power determined to destroy him and having corrupted Hircanus's Butler with Money with whom both of them celebrated a Feast he poysoned him Malichus causeth Antipater to be poisoned and afterwards assembling many Soldiers about him he made himself Master of the City When Herod and Phasaelus understood the traiterous conspiracy attempted against their Father they were grievously incensed against Malichus But he denied all and especial abjured the intent or practice of the murther Thus died Antipater a just and virtuous man and such an one as dearly loved his Countrey But Herod who was his younger son immediately resolved to I revenge his fathers death and came forth with an Army against Malichus But Phasaelus who was the elder resolved to circumvent him by policy lest he should raise a Civil War He therefore accepted of Malichus justifications and made a shew that he supposed that he had in no manner contrived Antipater's death and onely minded his Fathers Monument and Funerals Mean while Herod resorting to Samaria and finding it in a desperate condition restored the same and pacified the dissentions that were amongst the Inhabitants Not long after by reason of a Feast he came to Jerusalem with his Soldiers Malichus being afraid of his access perswaded Hircanus that he should not permit him to enter into the City whereunto Hircanus condescended alleadging that amongst the holy People it was not lawful to intermix a Troop of polluted K Men. But Herod slighted them that brought him this news and notwithstanding his command entred the City by night whereat Malichus was much amazed Whereupon according to his ordinary dissimulation he openly wept and bewailed the death of Antipater his especial friend but under-hand he prepared a guard for his own safety Notwithstanding it was thought fit by Herod's friends to take no notice of his dissimulation but to make shew that they were well-affected towards Malichus CHAP. XX. Cassius at Herod's entreaty sends orders to the Commanders of the Roman Troops to revenge L Antipater's death they stab Malichus Felix who commands the Roman Garison in Jerusalem attacketh Phasaelus who reduceth him to capitulate HErod having assured Cassius of Antipater his fathers death he knowing very well of what a wicked man Malichus was wrote back unto Herod that he should revenge the death of his father besides he sent secret Letters to the Captains that were in Tyre commanding them to aid and assist Herod in that just execution which he intended After that Cassius had taken Laodicea and the Inhabitants of the Countrey came together bringing with them Crowns and Silver to present him Herod expecting that Malichus should receive his punishment there but Malichus mistrusting their designs M when he was drawing near to Tyre in Phaenicia he contriv'd a greater enterprize For whereas his son was an hostage in Tyre he entred the City to draw him thence and afterwards return into Judaea taking that opportunity by reason of Cassius's troubles who marched to meet with Anthony he resolved to draw the people to an insurrection and to make himself Lord of the Countrey but God disappointed his unjust purposes For Herod being a man of a ripe judgment immediately discovered his intention and sent one of his servants before under the notion to prepare a banquet because he had told him formerly that he would entertein all his followers but in effect he sent him to the Captains to command them to go out with their Daggers and to meet Malichus who marching forth and meeting with him near the shore he N stabbed him Which act did so much astonish Hircanus that through amaze he grew speechless and being much moved he demanded of Herod's men how this accident had hapned and who it was that had killed Malichus which having heard and how nothing was done without Cassius's commannd he answered that all was well done Malichus being a wicked Man and a Traitor to his Countrey See here how Malichus was justly punished for the wickedness he committed against Antipater When Cassius was gone out of Syria there arose a new tumult in Judaea for Felix who was left in Jerusalem with an Army marched forth against Phasaelus and all the people were in arms For which cause Herod speedily repaired to Fabius Governor of Damasco and intending to succor his brother was prevented by a sickness so that O Phasaelus obtaining a victory by his own forces against Faelix enclosed him up in a Tower whence afterwards he dismissed him under
Parthians than to his adversaries as soon as it was night concluded to make use of the time and to make away without staying any longer amongst those uncertain dangers which his enemies intended against him For which cause he fled B with those Forces he had with him and mounting his mother his sister and his betrothed whom he was to marry who was Alexander's daughter the niece of Aristobulus and her mother who was Hircanus's daughter and her younger brother with all their family and train he departed into Idumaea without suspition of the enemy Amongst whom there was not one so hard-hearted who seeing such a pitiful spectacle could not be moved to compassion beholding the mothers drag away their little children and abandon their Countrey with tears and complaints and that which was worse to leave their friends in bondage without any hope of comfort or redress But Herod mastered these misfortunes by his invincible courage Herod comforteth his friends in their flight and for that he was C a constant man in all fortunes he exhorted every one of them whom he met in the way to be of good courage and not abandon themselves to immeasurable sorrow for that by such means they might hinder his retreat on which their sole and securest conservation depended Herod seeing his mothers chariot overturned is ready to murther himself whereupon they for their part endeavoured themselves to digest their griefs according to Herod's exhortation Mean-while he hardly refrained from laying violent hands on himself by reason of the Chariot wherein his mother rode which overturned and had almost slain her yea so much did this casualty terrifie him for fear lest the enemy in pursuit should surprise him during these delays so that he drew and prepared his sword to kill himself had not some assistants and followers stept in to him and stayed the stroke beseeching him instantly not to forsake D them and leave them subject to the enemies violence assuring him that it was not the part of a valiant man to respect his own private interest and neglect his friends danger By these perswasions he was induced to hold his hands both by reason of the apprehension of these words which were spoken unto him as also for that he was over-ruled by the multitude of those who would not permit his hand to execute his will so that taking up his mother and doing her all the service that the time permitted he followed on his way and with the speediest and nearest means he could he retired toward the Castle of Massada where in the way he oftentimes fought against the Parthians that charged and pursued him Herod retiring towards Massada is assailed by the Parthians but he always got the victory The Jews also pursued him during his flight for scarcely had he travelled sixty furlogs out of the City but that they E assailed him in the high-way but he put them to flight and obtained the victory not like a desperate man enforced thereunto through necessity but like a discreet clear couraged and valiant Soldier So that in the very place where he obtained the victory against the Jews after he was made King he builded a most sumptuous Palace and a City which he called Herodium Whilst he remained at Ressa a borough of Idumaea Joseph his brother came forth to meet him and to consult with him concerning their present condition and to know of him what should become of that great multitude that followed him considering that they had no Soldiers in pay and the Castle of Massada whither they intended too fly was too little to hold all the people for which cause he sent away many to the number of Nine thousand willing them to F disperse themselves here and there in the Countrey of Idumaea and for the better dispatch of their journey he furnished them with victuals As for himself he took with him his most able Soldiers and Friends and repaired to the Castle of Massada in which place he left the women and their train to the number of Eight hundred or thereabouts The Paathians sâ—oil the Cititizens of Jerusalem and destroy Marissa and furnishing the place with Corn Water and other Provisions necessary he went unto Petra the chiefest City of Arabia As soon as it was day the Parthians plundered all that Herod left in Jerusalem and amongst other things they spoiled the Palace but they medled not with Hircanus's money which amounted to some 300 Talents They left divers other things them behind also that appertained to Herod and especially that which had been transported into Idumaea by his providence Neither G were the Parthians content with the spoil of the City but they forraged all the Countrey round about and ruined Marissa a very rich City H Thus Antigonus brought back into his Countrey by the King of the Parthians received Hircanus and Phasaelus that were Prisoners yet he was vehemently dipleased because the women was escaped whom according to his promise he intended to have delivered with the money and fearing lest Hircanus through the favor of the people should be re-established in his Kingdom who then was Prisoner in the custody of the Parthians he cut off both his ears Antigonus restored to the Kingdom by the Parthians cutteth off Hirâ—arus's â—ars to prevent his re-instalment in the Priesthood depriving him by that means from enjoying the Priesthood any more by reason of that maim because the Law commanded that they who are in that dignity should be sound in all their members But Phasaelus is to be admired for his great courage at that time for understanding that he must needs die he was no wayes disheartned with death but that which he esteemed most miserable I and dishonourable was that he must needs die by the hands of his Enemy Seeing therefore that he could not dispatch himself by other means because he was bound and chained he knockt out his own brains against a stone Phasaelus dasheth out his own brains and so ended his life with as great honour as may be imagined in such a desperate estate depriving his Enemy of that power which he intended to practise in tyrannizing over him at his pleasure Antigonus putteth poyson into Phasaelus's wounds instead of curing him It is said that the wound being very deep Antigonus sent privily Chirurgions to cure him and that under colour of healing him they should put poyson into the same wherethrough he might die But before Phasaelus gave up the ghost he understood by a certain womans that his brother Herod had escaped from his Enemies for which cause K he endured his death with far greater cheerfulness and constancy seeing that he left behind him such a man as would revenge his death and punish his Enemies But Herod was no ways discomfited with the greatness of those adversities which invironed him round about but was the more whetted on to find out new inventions and to
adventure considerable attempts Herod flyeth to Malchus King of Arabia to borrow money For he went unto Malchus King of the Arabians to whom formerly he had shewed much courtesie hoping to receive the like of him in this time of his great necessity and to draw some money from him either by interest or gift For being ignorant of his brothers death he endeavoured to redeem him speedily from his Enemies by paying his Ransom which amounted to Three hundred Talents and for that cause he led with him the son of Phasaelus who was only seven years old to leave him in pledge amongst the Arabians for the sum that was demanded L But certain messengers came to him from Malchus Herod is commanded out of Arabia and flyeth into Egypt from thence after some storms he repaired to Rome where he certifieth Antonius of that which had befallen him who charged him in the Kings behalf to retire back again for that the Parthians had enjoyned him that he should neither receive nor retain Herod And used this colourable pretence because he would not pay his debts and hereunto was perswaded by the advice of the greatest in authority among the Arabians who pretended thereby to make themselves masters of that treasure that Antipater had committed to their custody Herod answered them That he repaired not into their Countrey to give them cause of any trouble but onely to consult with them about certain matters of great importance touching his own estate and that afterwards he was resolved to depart and withdraw himself into Egypt as secretly as might be possible He returned therefore to a certain Temple where he had left divers of M his followers and the next day he came to Rhinocâ—ra in which place he heard tidings of his brothers death But afterwards Malchus repented himself of his ingratitude and speedily sent after Herod but he could not overtake him for he had gotten far on his way and was already arrived near to Pelusium where being denyed his passage to Alexandria in those ships that were there he addressed himself to the Magistrates of the place who highly respected and honoured him and sent him to the City where Cleopatra was who entertained him kindly yet notwithstanding she could not perswade him to remain with her Whereupon he repaired towards Rome notwithstanding the Winter and those grievous troubles that at the very same time afflicted Italy as it was reported Embarking himself therefore to sail into Pamphilia he was tost with a most N cruel storm so that with great danger at last he arrived in Rhodes having been inforced in the tempest to cast into the Sea great part of his goods There he met with Sappinas and Ptolomey two of his endeared friends He found also the City of Rhodes had suffered much misery by Cassius's Wars and although his means were very short yet he helped them in what he might and caused their Walls to be repaired notwithstanding that by so doing he greatly hindred himself After that he caused a little Frigot to be built and embarked himself with his friends to repair into Italy and arrived at Arundusium and from thence went to Rome The first to whom he discovered his misfortunes was Marcus Antonius to whom he reported all the occurrances in Judaea and how his brother Phasaelus was taken by the Parthians and slain and how O Hircanus was imprisoned with him The manner also how they had established Antigonus King under promise to give them One thousand Talents and Five hundred of the fairest Women whom he intended to chuse out of his own race Lastly how he stole away by night and rescued them and escaping his Enemies hands had afterwards endured A many miseries Besides that his friends were in great danger and left besieged for which cause he had sailed by Winter and despised all dangers only to seek for assistance at his hands on whom depended his hope and last refuge CHAP. XXVâ—â—I Herod through Antonius's and Augustus's assistance is declared King of the Jews at Rome Antigonus besiegeth Massada defended by Joseph Herod's Brother ANtonius hearing of all those alterations that had befallen Herod Hedio Ruffinus cap. 23. al. 25. had compassion of B his misery bethinking himself of the estate and condition of great men who are likewise subject to no less casualties and the rather was he induced to do him good Antonius loved Herod and hated Antigonus both in remembrance of the friendship he had with Antipater his father and also by reason of Herods promises of certain sums of money if he were made King by his means Caesar Augustus Herods friend as he had been formerly declared Tetrarch But that which most moved him hereunto was the hatred which he bare unto Antigonus whom he accounted to be a mutinous man and an Enemy to the Romans On the other side Caesar was well inclined to succor him both in regard of those Armies which Antipater had brought into Egypt in his fathers service as also because of the good hospitality and kindness that he had shewed him in all things and especially to gratifie Antonius who was well affected C towards Herod Whereupon the Senate being assembled Messala and Atratinus brought forth Herod Herod admitted into the Senate and declared King and after they had praised him and recited the favors which the Romans had received by his father and the great affection and good will which he bare to the people of Rome they accused and declared Antigonus the Romans Enemy not only for his ancient crimes but also that in contempt of the Romans he had received the Kingdom from the Parthians Whilst the Senate was sore displeased at the report of these things Antonius arose and declared openly before them all that in furtherance of the Parthian War it were not amiss that Herod should be made King which opinion of his was generally allowed and finally ratified The principal demonstration of the love and affection which Antonius bare unto Herod Herod intending the Kingdom for his Wifes brother enjoyeth the same himself was that he D not only obtained him the Kingdom beyond all hope for he never thought that the Romans would grant that dignity unto him who were wont to reserve that honour to those of the Kings blood and therefore he intended to have demanded it for his Wifes Brother Alexander Herod ascendeth the Capitol with Antonius and Caesaâ— and Nephew to Aristobulus by the Fathers side and to Hircanus by the Mother which Alexander Herod afterwards put to death as shall be declared in time and place but also for that within the term of seven dayes he sent him out of Italy with the unexpected titles of his felicity As soon as the Senate was risen Antonius and Caesar went forth leading Herod between them and being accompanied by the Consuls and other Magistrates went up into the Capitol to do sacrifice and to place there this Decree
the Senate had made as touching E this matter The first day of Herod's Reign Antonius feasted him and after this manner he was established King the hundred and eighty fourth Olympiade in the year wherein C. Domitius Calvinus twice Consul and Caius Asinius Pollio were Consuls Mean while Antigonus besieged those that were in the Castle of Massada who were plentifully furnished with all things necessary except it were water for which cause Joseph Herods family besieged by Antigonus in Massada Herod's Brother that was within and Two hundred of his friends had concluded to fly unto the Arabians for that they understood that Malchus had repented himself of the fault he had committed against Herod But whilst they stood upon these terms God poured down a huge rain on a certain night that in short time filled their Cisterns so that they had no more necessity to fly and from that time forward they took courage and made F a sally upon their Enemies in which they charged Antigonus's Soldiers after such a manner sometimes in open field sometimes by surprizal that they slew a great number of them Venâ—idius under 〈◊〉 to help â—â—seph fsheth to 〈◊〉 money of Antigonus At that time Ventidius a Roman Captain was sent into Syria to drive the Parthians from thence and after their departure he arrived in Jewry making show that he would assist Joseph but in effect all his pretence was to draw money from Antigonus Being therefore encamped near unto Jerusalem and having drawn sufficient money from Antigonus he retired himself with the greater part of his Forces and to the intent his deceitful dealing might not be discovered he left Silo with a company of his Soldiers who likewise was honoured by Antigonus lest he should be cause of some new trouble before the Parthians whose coming he expected should yield him aid G CHAP. XXVII The year of the World 3926. before Christ's Nativity 38. Herod being returned from Rome raiseth an Army taketh some places and besiegeth Jerusalem but cannot take it he defeateth the enemy in a great battel the art he used to draw several of his Jews who had hid themselves in dens from Antigonus party he marched with some troops to find out Antonius who was making war against the Parthians the five battels that he fought on the way Joseph Herods brother is killed in a fight and Antigonus caused his head to be cut off The manner how Herod revenged this death he besiegeth Jerusalem where Sosius joyneth him with a Roman I army during this siege Herod Marrieth Mariamna AFter that Herod was come from Italy by Sea to Ptolomais and that he had assembled no small number of Soldiers both strangers and his own Country-men Hedio Ruffinus chap. 24. al. 16. he marched forward against Antigonus and passed thorow Galilee Silo and Ventidius also gave him assistance in this action having received direction by Gellius from Antonius Herod returning back out of Italy leadeth forth his army against Antigonus that they should assist Herod to recover his Countrey But Ventidius was employed in appeasing the troubles that were raised in the Cities by the Parthians and as touching Silo he kept in Judaea having been corrupted by Antigonus But the further that Herod daily marched into the Countrey the more his forces did increase and all Galilee except a very few submitted themselves unto him Herod assaulteth Joppe and taketh it Whilest he marched forward K towards Massada being moved thereunto for to relieve his parents that were besieged therein the City of Joppe would not grant him passage for the Citizens thereof were his Enemies so that it behoved him first of all to ruinate the same to the end he might leave no retreat behind him for his Enemy if he made toward Jerusalem Upon which occasion Silo laying hold dislodged his army and made thitherward whom when the Jews did pursue Herod sallieth out with a small company and put them to flight and saved Silo who could not resist any longer Afterwards having seized on Joppe he hasted forwards to deliver his friends that were besieged in Massada but part of the inhabitants submitted themselves unto him for the friendship they had born unto his father Many submit themselves to Herod and others of them for the honor that they bear unto him the rest admitted L his government in acknowledgement of those favors they had received from them both But the greatest part was moved thereunto by the hope they had conceived of their new elected King and the confirmation of his Government Thus by these means was his Army mightily increased Whilest thus he marched forward Antigonus seized on those places that were fittest to lay ambushes in or to fight at advantages by the way notwithstanding that by those stratagems he did but small or no hurt at all to his enemy so that Herod raised the siege and relieved his friends out of the Castle of Massada and after he had taken the Fort of Ressa Ressa taken Massada delivered from the siege after which Herod marcheth towards Jerusalem he approached Jerusalem being attended by Silo's Army and by divers Citizens of the City who were afraid of his power And when he had M pitched his Camp to the westward of the City those that kept the watch and guard on that side shot their Arrows and threw stones against him divers likewise sallied forth and fought hand to hand against those that were planted there For which cause first of all Herod caused a Proclamation to be made round about the Walls Herod proclaimeth about the walls of Jerusalem that he repaireth thither for the good of the people and the common Weal signifying unto them that he resorted thither for the common good of the people and for the conservation of the City without intent of revenge or memory of any wrongs that his private Enemies had offered him promising his most free pardon to all those whosoever had hainously offended him Hereunto Antigonus made this answer directing his speech to Silo and the Roman Soldiers that contrary to all justice they gave the Kingdom to Herod who was a private man and an Idumaean that is to say a half N Jew whereas it hath been a custome to bestow the same on them that are of the line of the Priests Antigonus upbraideth Herod that he is but half a Jew and of no Kingly Race For albeit at that present they were displeased with him for that he had seized on the Kingdom by the means of the Parthians and had resolved with themselves to dispossess him yet that there were divers others of that Royal Race who might be made Kings according to the law The enemy repulseth Herods power from the wall who have no wayes misdemeanded themselves towards the Romanes and moreover there are Priests who should not be justly and uprightly dealt withall if they should be deprived of that honor which
Caves Hedio Ruffinus chap 25. but fear constrained them to hold themselves quiet But a certain Souldier having girt his Sword by his side Herod leadeth his Soldiers against those theeves that held the caves and taken hold of the chain with both his hands whereto the Coffer was fastned slid down as far as the entry of the Cave and being displeased that none came out he shot divers Arrows at those that were within I Herod letteth down his Souldiers from the top of the mountain in Coffers and wounded them and after that with his hook he drew those unto him who resisted and tumbled them down headlong from the steep Rock which done he rushed in upon those that were within the Cave and slew many of them and afterwards returned and rested himself in his Coffer Divers hearing the groans of those that were wounded were surprised with fear and dispair of their life but the nights approach was the cause that the matter was not fully accomplished and many of them getting notice of the Kings free pardon by a Herauld submitted themselves The next day they renewed and continued the same manner of fight and divers went out of their Coffers to fight at the enterances of the Caves throwing in fire which there being much fewel in the Caves did great execution Within these Caves there was a certain old man apprehended K A certain old man killeth his wife and seven of his sons and at last casteth himself headlong from the Rock with his wife and seven Sons who being desired by them that he would suffer them to go and submit themselves to their enemies took up the entrey of the cave and as his Sons advanced to get out he slew them all and after them his Wife and at last when he had cast their dead bodies down the Rocks he threw himself down headlong after them prefering death to slavery Yet before his death he reviled Herod bitterly and upbraided him with his ignoble extraction and although Herod who saw all that which had happned stretched out his hand unto him for pardon yet he would not give ear to him and by this means were all these Caves entred and the theeves taken Now when the King had established Ptolomey General over the Army in that Countrey Herod retireth toward Samaria to fight with Antigomus he retired into Samaria with six hundred horse and three thousand foot with a resolution L to fight Antigonus and to end their quarrel But Ptolomey had but very slender success in his Government for they that before-time had troubled the Countrey of Galilee sallied out upon him and defeated him After which execution they fled into the Marishes and unaccessible places where they robbed and spoiled all the Countrey But Herod returning and setting upon them punished them for he slew some of them and the rest were constrained to flie into strong places where he besieged them and entring their fortresses perforce put them to the sword and destroyed their fortifications and having brought this rebellion to an end he condemned the Cities to pay him the sum of one hundred talents Mean while Pacorus was killed in the War and the Parthians were defeated with him Herod punisheth the Rebels in Galilee which was the cause that Ventidius sent Machaeras to succor M Herod with two legions and 1000 horse by Antonius order corupted by Antigonus mony Ventidius overcometh Pacorus and the â—arthians in baâ—â—el But Machaeras was notwithstanding Herods disswasion yet he went to him alleadging that he did it to look into his actions But Antigonus suspecting his sudden approach entertained him not but caused him to be darted at and driven thence giving him to understand by his entertainment what opinion he had of him who at that time perceived plainly that Herod had given him good counsel Machaeras killeth many Jews and that himself had failed in misbelieving his advice for which cause he returned to the City Emaus and killed all those Jews whom he met withall in the way Herod resolving to depart to Antonius and to accuse Macharas is reconciled by him and leaveth his brother Joseph with an army behind him being much troubled at it whether friends or enemies he was so highly displeased at that which had happned Herod came to Samaria resolving with himself to go to Antonius to complain of these grievances and to tell N him that he had no need of such associates who did him more harm than his enemies whereas of himself he was able to make good his War against Antigonus But Machaeras hasted after him entreating him to stay and to go no further on that journey and prayed him to leave his brother Joseph behind him to go with him against Antigonus By these perswasions and instant intreaties of Machaeras he was somewhat appeased so that he left his brother Joseph behind him with an Army charging him no way to hazard his fortune Herod repaireth to Antonius at the siege of Samaria and in the way killeth many Barbarians or to fall at odds with Machaeras As for himself he hasted toward Antony who at that time besieged Samotsata a City situate near unto Euphrates having with him an Army of his associates both horse and foot When Herod was arrived in Antioch he found divers men assembled there who were desirous to go and seek out Antony O but they durst not advance for fear the Barbarians should set upon them in their journey Herod encouraged them and offered himself to be their guide When they were come two dayes journy off Samosala the Barbarians laid an ambush for them and had barred up the way with Hurdles and had likewise hidden some Horsemen thereabouts until the A Passengers had recover'd the Plain Now when the foremost were past the ambush consisting of about some 500 Horsemen they suddenly charged Herod who was in the Rear when they had broken the first Ranks whom they had met Herod with his Troop that was about him immediately repulsed them and after he had encouraged his followers and whetted them on to the fight he did so much that he made those that fled to face about and fight so that the Barbarians were put to the sword on all sides The King also pursu'd them so long until at last he recover'd that which had been taken by them which was a certain number of Sumpter-horses and Slaves But being charged afresh by others and they in greater number than those who encountred him at first he likewise B rallying his Forces together charged and overcame them and killing divers of them he secured the way to those that follow'd after who all of them acknowledg'd him for their preserver When he drew near unto Samosata Herod was honourably entertained by Antonius and his Host Antonius sent out the best of his Army to meet and honour him As soon as he came to Antonius's presence he entertain'd him kindly
they submitted themselves to Herod whom to their own sorrow they had approved to be a valiant Souldier CHAP. IX Antonius is overcome by Augustus in the Battle of Actium Herod put Hircanus to death his pretence for it he resolveth to repair to Augustus his orders before his way going M HErod puffed up with his successful fortune Hedio Ruffinus chap. 7. returned back into his own Countrey having obtained great reputation by his valour and vertue But when he supposed his State to be most assured Herod dismaied at Antonies overthrow he grew in danger both to lose his dignity and life by reason of that victory that Caesar obtained against Antony in the Actian War For at that time he not only supposed himself to be utterly overthrown but both his friends and Enemies that were round about him lost their hopes for that it was unlikely that he should escape unpunished with Antony Whereby it came to pass that his friends could not conceal their despair and his Enemies under their colourable and dissembled griefs covered their joy promising themselves thereafter a better and N pleasing administration of the Common-Wealth Hereupon Herod perceiving that except Hircanus Herod determineth to make away Hircanus there was not any one of the blood Royal alive determined to cut him off resolving with himself that if he hapned to escape the danger a man who at that time was worthier the Kingdom then himself should not claime the Crown and if any misfortune should befall him in regard of Caesar he desired to dispossess Hircanus of the Kingdom in regard of the envy which he bare him for that he was the only man who deserved to be advanced to that dignity Alexandra solliciteth Hiranus her father to require assistance at Malchus hands Whilest thus he was tormented in his thoughts he had an occasion offered him by Hircanus own followers to execute his intention For Hircanus being of a milde and gentle nature during all his life-time O forbare to entermeddle with State affairs committing all things to fortune and contenting himself with whatsoever condition it pleased her to allot him But Alexandra being an ambitious woman and unable to conceal with modesty the hope she conceived of change sollicited her father that he should not any longer endure the subiection of Herod who was the very scourge of their family but rather A that he should stand upon his own guard and reserve himself to his better fortune She gave him counsel to write unto Malchus who had the Government of Arabia requesting him to grant him both protection and entertainment for that if Herod should chance to be cut off by Caesars displeasure doubtless the Kingdom would return unto him both in regard of his Nobility as also of the peoples favour These perswasions of hers Hircanus at the first repulsed but afterwards being overcome by the importunity of the woman Alexandra solliciteth Hircanus her father to require assistance at Malchus hands who ceased not day and night to sing the same Song of future hope and of Herods Treasons he gave certain Letters to a friend of his written to the Arabian wherein he required him to send him certain Horsemen who might conduct him to the Asphaltite Lake which lieth distant from the confines of Jerusalem some three hundred Furlongs And therefore he committed these Letters to Dositheus trust both B for that he favoured Hircanus and his Daughter Three hundred furlongs contain nine Germane Miles and seemed likely for divers causes to hate Herod for he was Josephs kinsman who was killed by Herod and not long before certain of his Brothers were put to death amongst others at Tyre by Antonies command yet for none of those considerations continued he faithful to Hircanus For he preferring the present favour of the King that then reigned to the rest discovered the Letter unto the King who first of all giving him thanks required one office of friendship more at his hands which was that folding up the Letter and sealing it he should conveigh and deliver the same to Malchus and return his answer for that it neerly concerned him if he knew his resolution also Which when Dositheus had diligently performed the Arabian returned this answer for that it neerly concerned him if he knew C his resolution also Hircanus by Herods commands is put to death Which when Dositheus had diligently performed the Arabian returned this answer that he was ready to entertain both himself and his whole family and all those Jews likewise which were of this faction promising to send him a band of Soldiers who should be able to conduct him safely thither and should be obedient to his command in all things Now as soon as Herod had seized on these Letters he called for Hircanus and demanded of him whether he had any confederacy with Malchus he denied it but Herod protesting and bringing forth his Letter in an open assembly commanded him afterwards to be put to death Thus are these matters Registred in Herods commentaries for by some they are delivered otherwise namely that he was executed not for this crime which he had committed but for some Treasons against the King For D they Write to this effect that Herod at a certain banquet dissembling his suspition demanded of Hircanus whether he had received any Letters from Malchus and that he answered that he had received Letters but such as contained nothing else but compliments Hircanus dieth guiltless He asked him also whether he had received any present and when he had answered that he had received nothing but four Coursers for his Saddle the King wrested this to a Capitall offence of corruption and treason Hircanus life and commanded him presently to be led to death Now that he died guiltless they alledge this for a most approved argument namely his gentle disposition who evenin his youthful years never gave sign or appearance of rashness or pride or signification of audaciousness no not even then when he had the royal government in his hands but in the freedome E of authority disposed of the most things by Antipaters advice But at that time he was more then fourescore years old and knew that Herods estate was secured and that there is no likelyhood that he would remove from beyond Eufrates where he lived in great repute to live under Herods Jurisdiction or to engage in any trouble contrary to his humor and so far different from his nature so that all these things seem to be fained by Herod Thus ended Hircanus life after his variable and adverse fortunes wherewith during all his life time he was afflicted For when his mother Alexandra lived he was created High Priest of the Jews and obtained that honor for the space of nine years and after his mothers death he had scarcely governed the Kingdom for the space of three F months but that he was expulsed by his brother Aristobulus
and afterwards restored by Pompeys assistance and receiving all his former honours he lived in full possession of them for the space of fourty years After this he was once more dispossessed by Antigonus and being maimed in his body lived certain years in captivity among the Parthians from whence not long after he returned home and though he had many things promised him by Herod yet after so many alterations of fortune he obtained nothing at his hands and that which amongst all the rest is most of all to be lamented as we have said he was unjustly put to death an innocent and in his old age For he was a lover of justice and an observer of perpetual modesty and governed his Kingdom for the most part by other mens direction being only guilty in himself of ignorance and the love G of idleness Truly Antipater and Herod by this mans goodness obtained so great riches For which deserts of his against all Law and right he was cruelly put to death H But Herod after Hircanus's death addressed himself to perform his journey towards Caesar and having little hope of any good fortune in regard of his friendship with Antonius he grew desperately jealous of Alexandra lest she taking opportunity of the time should incite the people to rebel and fill the Kingdom with domestical sedition for which cause Herods disposition of his affairs before he repaired to Caesar committing the Government to his brother Pheroras he left his mother Cypros his sister and all his Kindred in the Castle of Massada and commanded his brother that if any misfortune should befal him he should retain the Kingdom in his own hands and maintain it As for his Wife Mariamne for that by reason of certain dislikes betwixt her his mother and sister he left her with her mother in the Castle of Alexandrion and committed them to the custody of his Treasurer Joseph and Sohemus the Iturean I and with her the keeping of his Castles both which had always been his faithful friends and to whom in way of honour he committed the custody of these Princely Ladies But he gave them also this command That if they should be certainly informed that any sinister mishap had befallen him they should presently kill them both and to the utmost of their power continue the Kingdom in his Children and his Brother Pheroras CHAP. X. Herod speaketh so generously to Augustus that he obtained his favor he accompanieth him K into Egypt and receiveth him with such an extraordinary magnificence that it put him in repute with all the Romans AFter he had in this sort given order for all his affairs Herod cometh to Caesar and declareth unto him what pleasures he had done Antony promising him no less duty and love if so be he might be received into his favor he took shipping to Rhodes to meet with Caesar And as soon as he arrived in that City he took the Crown from his Head and laid it apart but as for his other Princely ornaments he changed them not and being admitted to Caesars presence he gave a more ample testimony of the greatness of his courage than ever for he neither addressed his speech to intreat his favor according to the custom of suppliants neither presented he any request as if he had in any sort offended him but gave account of all that which he had done without being daunted L in the least For he freely confessed before Caesar that he had intirely loved Antonius and that to the utmost of his power he had done him service to the end that he might obtain the soveraignty and the Empire of the World not by joining his Forces unto his in that he was otherwise imployed in the Arabian War but in furnishing him both with Wheat and Money and that this was the least office which it behoved him to perform towards Antonius for that being once his professed friend it behoved him not onely to imploy his best endeavors on his so Princely benefactor but also to hazard both his head and happiness to deliver him from perils All which said he I have not performed according as I ought to have done yet notwithstanding I know that at such time as he was overcome in the Actian Battel I did not alter my affection with M his fortune neither did I restrain my self for although I befriended not Antonius with my presence and assistance in the Actian War yet at least I assisted him with my counsel assuring him that he had but one onely means left him for his security and prevention of his utter ruine which was to put Cleopatra to death for that by cutting her off he might enjoy her estate and might more easily obtain his peace and pacifie thy displeasure against him And for that he gave but slender regard to these my admonitions by his own sottishness and indiscretion he hath hurt himself and profited you because as I said he did not follow my counsel Now therefore O Caesar in regard of the hatred which you bear unto Antony you condemn my friendship also I will not deny that which I have done neither am I afraid freely and publickly to protest how much I have loved him but if without regard of persons N you consider how kindly I am affected towards my benefactors and how resolute and constant a friend I am and how mindful of kindness the effect of that which I have done may make me known unto thee For if the name be onely changed the friendship notwithstanding may remain and deserve a due praise By these words which were manifest testimonies of his resolute and noble courage he so inwardly indeared himself unto Caesar Hedio Ruffinus cap. 8. who was a magnificent and worthy Monarch Caesar confirmeth Herods authority that he converted this his accusation into an occasion to win and work him to be his friend for which cause Caesar setting the Crown upon his head exhorted him that he should no less respect his friendship than he had in former times Antonies and withal did him much honour certifying him moreover that Capidius had written unto O him how much Herod had assisted him in his Wars that he had with the Monarchs of Syria Herod seeing that he was thus entertained and that contrary to his expectation the Kingdom was more surely confirmed unto him than before time both by Caesars bounty and also by the decree of the Senate The year of the World 3935. before Christ's Nativity 29. which he had practised to obtain for A his greater assurance accompanied Caesar as far as Aegypt presenting both himself and his friends with many rich gifts beyond the proportion of his estate endeavoring by these means both to win their favor and to shew also the greatness of his courage requiring moreover at Caesars hands Herod conducteth Caesar toward Egypt and presenteth him with many sumptuous gifts that Alexander who was one of Antonies
of which building Nicholaus also a writer of that time maketh mention but he speaketh not how they went into the Sepulchre of David thinking that therein he should not keep Decorum if he should make mention thereof Wherein he followed this accustomed order for his Writings were to come to the ears of the King yet living wherein he did only curry favour mentioning only that that might redound unto the King's credit So that many of his open and wicked pranks he did either colour under some other pretence or else all ways possible he endeavoured to hide them For he doth as it were tell a tale of Herod's cruelty against Mariamne and his Sons as though he did thereby deserve credit and praise accusing her of Adultery D and them as Traitors unto their Father and this he doth all along too much extolling the King 's good deeds Joseph came of the Priestly Line of the Asmonians and too diligently excusing his iniquities But as I have said we must pardon him who did not so much write to leave a memory of things done unto after Ages as to gratifie and please his King But I who come of the lineage of the Asmonian Kings and execute the office of a Priest account it a shame to lie and do intend to relate the History of all things that were acted and done yet with a reverence for Herod's Posterity who do also now bear sway and rule yet with their pardon and leave I must prefer the truth to their inclinations After the Sepulchre was thus violated A discord in Herod's house Herod's house began to decay whether revenge lighting upon that part which was already scarce sound or whether by mere E chance such calamity at that time befel him as might justly be thought the reward of impiety For there was a discord in the Court not unlike to Civil Wars every one striving against other with hatred and forged accusations Antipater's crafty plotting against his Brethren But especially Antipater's politick practice against his Brethren was to be noted who entangled them by other men's forged accusations himself oftentimes seemed to take upon him their defence that making a shew of good will unto them he might secretly oppress them the sooner and he did so craftily circumvent his Father that his Father esteemed him to be his only Conserver Wherefore the King commanded Ptolomens his chief Secretary of State to conceal nothing of the affairs of the Kingdom from Antipater who imparted all to his Mother so that all things were done according as they pleased and F they made him displeased with those against whom they knew the King's displeasure might redound unto their profit But Mariamne's Children were every day more and more provoked disdaining to give place unto their inferiours The women at discord and variance their Wives did the like and Alexander's Wife Glaphyra who was the Daughter of Archelaus King of Cappadocia did greatly envy and disdain Salome and she also her again both for the love that she bare unto her Husband and for that she disdained as women are wont that her Daughter married unto Aristobulus should be in equal honour with her Pheroras also the King's Brother had a hand in this contention Pheroras refused the King's Daughter offered him to Wife about a private cause of suspicion and hatred For he fell so far in love with one of his maids that he refused the Kings Daughter offered unto him rather G making choice of his maid Herod took this in very ill part seeing his Brother who had received so many benefits at his hands and was almost his fellow in his Kingdom by his means not to shew the like brotherly affection to him again as he ought And seeing he could not disswade him from that madness he married his Daughter unto H Phasaelus his Son And afterwards thinking that his Brother's mind towards his maid was satisfied he complained of his injurious dealing in repulsing his Daughter offered unto him to Wife he offered him another of his Daughters named Cypros Then Ptolomeus advised Pheroras not to contemn his Brother's offer and persist in such folly still telling him it was mere madness to incur the King's displeasure on such an account Pheroras understanding this counsel profitable for him having obtained pardon at the King's hands sent away his maid by whom he had a Son and promised the King to marry this his other Daughter and appointed the thirteenth day after to celebrate his Marriage making a solemn Oath unto the King never after that time to use the company of that woman whom he had put away The time appointed being expired I he fell so far in love with the former woman that he would not stand to his promise but again accompanied with his maid Then Herod not able any longer to contain himself used many speeches whereby he evidently shewed his mind to be alienated from his Brother And there were many who taking this opportunity did by forged calumnies encrease his aversion so that now there was no day nor hour past wherein he did not still hear some new combustions and stirs amongst his dearest friends Salome enticed her Daughter to betray her husband's secrets For Salome being so offended at Mariamne's Children did not permit her Daughter married to Aristobulus to enjoy mutual love and comfort of her Husband enticing her to bewray her Husband's secrets and if there happened any small occasions of offence as often it falleth out she should the K more aggravate them with suspicions whereby she also learned all their secrets and made the young Princess hate her Husband And she to please her Mother related how that often when her Husband and Alexander were alone that they were wont to talk of Mariamne their Mother and use reproachful words against their Father and threatning that if they ever did obtain the Kingdom they would make the Sons of the King whom he had by other Wives Notaries and Town-Clerks and so they might reap profit of their Learning which they had attained to and whensoever they saw any of the Kings Wives wear any of Mariamne's apparel that then they vowed instead of that attire to cloath them with Sack-cloth and shut them up where they should never see the Sun Salome presently told all this to the King who though he were L much grieved hereat yet he chose rather to seek to amend it than to punish them and thus notwithstanding he was daily more and more put out of humour believing all reports whatsoever yet he contented himself with chiding of them and seemed satisfied with their excuses But presently the mischief was again set on foot for Pheroras the King's Brother meeting Alexander who as we have said was Glaphyra her Husband who was Daughter to Archelaus he told him that he heard by Salome that Herod was so far in love with Glaphyra that he could not shake off this affection Herod
being in prison his friends were tortured he would afterwards have gone to Rome Wherefore endeavouring to find some stronger argument of his Son's impiety and because he would not be thought rashly to have committed his Son to prison he caused the most noble and eminent of all Alexander's friends to be tortured and they confessing no such matter as he expected he put them to death Whilst thus all the Court did resound with fear One accused Alexander to have sent letters to Rome against his Father torments and contentions a certain B man accused Alexander to have sent letters to his friends at Rome to entreat them to cause him to be sent for by Caesar thither that he might accuse his Father of certain conspiracies against Caesar and how he more esteemed the friendship of Mithridates King of the Parthians than the friendship of the Romans affirming also that he had poyson ready prepared at Ascalon Herod hearing this was comforted by flatterers about him as having not done any thing rashly and so he gave now full credit unto all Alexander confesseth the treason and who had a hand in it Yet the poyson was diligently sought for but could not be found Alexander being now oppressed with this calamity he yet took courage and because he would more incite his Father's displeasure against him he did not deny it Perhaps meaning to make his Father ashamed of himself for giving credit so easily unto forged C tales or at least if he could not effect that entangle all the Court and him too in calamity and misery Which that he might the better do he writ four little Pamphlets and sent them unto his Father telling him that it was needless to use any more torments for indeed treason was intended against him and that Pheroras and his most trusty friends were herein conspirators And that in the night time Salome came secretly unto him and as it were forced him to lie with her And that all of them aimed at this mark to have him made away that so they might enjoy their wished liberty He also accused Ptolomeus and Sapinnius of this conspiracy who were more faithful unto their King than all others So that now these men who before were most friendly one to another began like mad men to rage one against another and punishment so D hastily pursued every one that they had not time to speak in their own defence Neither was their punishment deferred till their cause was tried and the truth known so that some were bound and imprisoned others presently put to death others laughed in their sleeves to see that day yet discontented for that any delay was used for their punishment Herod was so troubled with the contention in his house that he was weary of his life So that the King's Court was now greatly defaced with sorrow and heaviness wherewith the usual felicity thereof was destroyed Herod himself amidst these calamities could not but be weary of his life who not daring to trust himself in any bodies hand he was tormented with a dayly and hourly fear of some untimely death that would befall And many times perswaded himself that he did see his Sons before him with a drawn sword ready to kill him and this was his cogitation night and day E so that herewith he almost ran mad CHAP. XII How Archelaus King of Cappadocia reconciled Alexander to his Father WHilst Herod was thus troubled in his mind Hedio Ruffinus chap. 9 al. 13. Archelaus King of Cappadocia careful of his Daughter and the young Prince his Son in Law and pitying his friend Herod in such calamities Archelaus the King of Cappadocia feigneth displeasure against Alexander his Son in Law and so reconciled Herod unto him he thought it his duty to make a journey unto him And F finding him so affected as it was reported unto him before his coming he thought it an unfit way to argue him of too much credulity and rashness perceiving that thereby he would be rather exasperated so much the more labouring to excuse himself Wherefore Archelaus devised another way to appease these troubles he counterfeited indignation against the young Prince approving all the King's actions affirming that he would break the band of Wedlock between his Daughter and Alexander and that if she knew of the Conspiracy and did not inform the King thereof himself would punish her Then Herod contrary to his expectation seeing Archelaus so angry for the offence committed against him began to remit his anger And now with just consideration weighing what he had done by little and little G he began to have a Fatherly affection and to be hereby moved to compassion yet so oft as any one sought to excuse the young Prince he grew very angry thereat but when Archelaus also began to accuse him then Herod's heart relented and he with tears besought Archelaus not to yield too much to anger nor for the young Princes offence H break off the marriage Then Archelaus perceiving him to relent began to turn the matter against Herod's friends as the causes of all this mischief who had corrupted Alexander who of himself was void of malice and especially he aggravated the matter against Pheroras the King's Brother Archelaus layeth the fault of Alexander's offence upon others and especially upon Pheroras Pheroras having now incurred the King's displeasure perceived that none could so soon reconcile him unto the King as Archelaus wherefore clothed in black and making other signs as though he despaired of his life he went unto him who did not deny to help him what he could yet he told him that it was no easie matter for him to pacifie the King so highly offended perswading him rather himself to go unto the King his Brother and crave pardon of him confessing himself to have been cause of all this mischief by which confession of his I the King's wrath would be greatly appeased and so he also should have better occasion to entreat for him Pheroras confessed himself to be the author of all mischief and obtaineth pardon of his brother Pheroras followed his counsel which fell out happily for them both for the Prince contrary to any ones expectation was freed from all his troubles And Archelaus made Pheroras and Herod friends and he himself having obtained great friendship of the King in his adversities he returned joyfully into Cappadocia being rewarded with rich gifts and being accounted of as Herod's chiefest friend They also agreed amongst themselves that Herod should go to Rome because he had already written unto Caesar Herod accompanied Archelaus unto Antioch concerning this matter And they both went together to Antiochia and there Herod reconciled Titus the President of Syria unto Archelaus and so he returned into Judea K CHAP. XIII Herod declareth War against the Arabians for protecting Trachonites Robbers WHilest Herod being gone to Rome The year of the World 3956. before
they were excellent and especially Alexander the eldest of them It had been enough for him suppose he had condemned them either to have kept them in perpetual Prison or banished them into some far Countrey seeing that he was assured of the Roman Power under whose protection he neither needed to have feared invasion nor secret Treason against him For to put them to death only to satisfie his own furious will what else doth it argue but only an impious liberty casting K off all Fatherly humanity and kindness especially seeing that he was aged whose years could neither plead ignorance nor that he was deceived For neither was he the more excused by the delay he used nay it had been a less offence if amazed with some sudden news he had been incited to so hainous an offence But after so long deliberation at last to effect such a matter betokens a bloody mind and hardened in wickedness as he shewed afterwards not sparing the rest whom before he held most dear Who though they were less to be pitied in that they justly suffered yet was it an argument of his like cruelty in that he abstained not from their deaths also But we will speak of this hereafter L M N O A THE SEVENTEENTH BOOK Of the B ANTIQUITIES of the JEWS Written by FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS The Contents of the Chapters of the Seventeenth Book 1. Antipater endeavoureth to hasten his Father's death that he may reign in his place The Children that Herod had by his nine Wives C 2. Of Zamaris a Babilonish Jew a man of singular virtue 3. Antipater Pheroras and his Wife conspire against Herod Salome acquainteth him with it he causeth some Pharisees who were of this Conspiracy to be put to death He endeavoureth to make Pheroras repudiate his Wife but he cannot be perswaded to it 4. Herod sendeth Antipater to Augustus with his Will by which he declareth him his Successor Syllaeus bribeth one of Herod's Guards to kill him but the plot is discovered 5. Pheroras's death D 6. Pheroras's Wife is accused and Herod is advertised of Antipater's Conspiracies 7. Antipater being returned back unto Judaea from Rome is convicted in the presence of Varus Governour of Syria for having endeavoured to poyson the King his Father Herod causeth him to be imprisoned and writeth to Augustus on that Subject 8. The Golden Eagle that Herod had consecrated and fixed on the Portal of the Temple is pulled off the severe punishment that he inflicteth for it The King 's terrible sickness and the cruel orders that he giveth to his Sister Salome and to her husband E 9. Augustus referreth it to Herod to dispose of Antipater as he pleaseth Herod falling into a relapse of his Torments desireth to kill himself Achiavus one of his Grand-children hindreth him It is reported that he is dead Antipater endeavoureth in vain to bribe his Keeper to set him at liberty as soon as Herod heareth of it he sendeth one to kill him 10. Herod altereth his Will declareth Archelaus his Successor he dieth five days after Antipater Herod's glorious Funeral ordained by Archelaus the peoples great acclamation in favour of Archelaus 11. Some Jews who demanded satisfaction for Judas and Matthias and others deaths F whom Herod caused to be burned for having pulled down the Eagle at the Portal of the Temple make an Insurrection which obligeth Archelaus to cause three thousand of them to be put to death He goeth afterwards to Rome to be confirmed King by Augustus His Brother Antipas who pretends to have right to the Crown repaireth thither also the Cause is pleaded before Augustus 12. A great Rebellion in Judea whilest Archelaus was at Rome Varus Governour of Syria stoppeth it Philip Archelaus's Brother goeth also to Rome in hopes to obtain one part of the Kingdom The Jews send Ambassadours to Augustus G to free them from their obedience to Kings and to re-unite them to Syria They complain to him against Archelaus and abhor the memory of Herod 13. Caesar confirms Herod's Testament and appointeth his Children to be his Successors H 14. An Impostor counterfeits himself to be Alexander Herod's Son Augustus finds out the Cheat and sends him to the Galleys 15. Archelaus marrieth Glaphyra his Brother Alexander's Widow Augustus having heard several of the Jews complaints of him confineth him to Vienna in France and uniteth his possessions to Syria Glaphyra's death CHAP. I. I Antipater endeavoureth to hasten his Father's death that he may reign in his place The Children that Herod had by his nine Wives AFter that Antipater had made away his Brothers through the extreme impiety and unbridled fury wherewith Herod their Father was incensed against them yet he did not immediately obtain that which undoubtedly he hoped for For being freed of K that fear he conceived lest his Brothers should be partakers with him in the Kingdom Hedio Ruffinus chap. 1. he found it a difficult and dangerous matter to find the means how to obtain it Antipater after he had made away his Brothers grew hateful both to the Souldiers and the people so strange and hainous a hatred had all the Nation conceived against him On the other side in shewing himself proud and lofty he more and more encreased that hatred which the Souldiers had conceived against him in whom the security of the Kingdom consisted if it should fortune to fall out that the people should attempt any alteration All which mischiefs were procured by his own sins and the unnatural murther of his Brothers Antipater governed the Kingdom with his Father Nevertheless he governed the Kingdom with his Father living only in less Authority than himself Herod also reposed more confidence in L him even in those things for which he was worthy to lose his head For the King conceived that in confirmation of his good affection towards him Antipater had accused his Brethren to continue his Father in security and not for any hatred he bore unto them more than to his Father though indeed he hated them for his Father's sake being transported with fury But all these were but as so many stratagems to insinuate himself into Herod's Counsels and Favours and these did he craftily make use of to cut off the occasion lest any should prevent or accuse him of that which he pretended to do and that Herod might be deprived of all relief if so be that Antipater should beâ—â— his Forces against him Antipater wisheth his Father's death For the Treason he complotted against his Brothers proceeded from the hatred he bare unto his Father But at that time he was the more egged on to prosecute M his intended purposes without any delay For if Herod should happen to die it was most sure that the Kingdom should be his and should his life continue any longer time and the practice Antipater went about should be discovered seeing himself invironed with these dangers he
should be enforced to make his Father his Enemy For which cause he was very liberal to all those that were about his Father Antipater spared no cost to win his Father's friends and through the great gifts he bestowed upon them he extinguished that hatred which all of them bare unto him and above all things he continued himself in credit with those friends which Herod had at Rome by sending them divers Presents and namely Saturninus who was Governour of Syria He hoped also by bribes and rewards to draw his Father's Brother into his faction and to corrupt the King's Sister also who was married to N one of the King 's most esteemed friends in Court He was a subtil and politick man in entertaining those men with colourable shew of friendship with whom he conversed and to draw himself into credit with them he was sufficiently dexterous to dissemble his malice and discontents which he had conceived against any man Notwithstanding all this Antipater could not deceive his Aunt he could not deceive Salome his Aunt who of long time before had sounded his inclinations and who was not so simple as to suffer her self to be deceived but had already by all cunning means that might be prevented his malice although she had a Daughter married unto his Uncle by the Mother's side This Daughter was first of all wedded to Aristobulus and afterwards by Antipater's means to his Uncle For Callaeas her Husband's Son had married the other But neither could this affinity colour the O matter so much but that his malice was discovered neither could that former consanguinity extinguish the deserved hatred conceived against him Herod constrained Salome A who through amorous passion had thought to have married her self to Syllaeus the Arabian to marry with Alexas and that by the mediation and perswasion of Julia Caesar's wife who advised Salome not to refuse that Marriage lest he should prove her mortal enemy for Herod had made an Oath that if Salome condescended not to marry Alexas Herod compelleth Salome to marry Alexas he would never make account of her For which cause she followed Julia's advice who was Caesar's wife and counselled her also to her profit and preferment At the same time Herod sent his Daughter Glaphyra to King Archelaus who had been married to Alexander Glaphyra sometimes Alexander's Wife is sent back to Archelaus King of Cappadocia Hedio and Ruffinus c. 1. presenting him a Dowry out of his own Treasury lest there should any difference arise between them and he himself most carefully brought up his Sons Children For Alexander had two Sons by Glaphyra and Aristobulus begat B on Bernice Salomes Daughter three Sons and two Daughters Sometimes he would recommend them unto his Friends and bewailing the misfortune of his Sons would beseech God that no such ill fortune might befall their children but rather that they might increase in virtue and acknowledge their education and bringing up with all dutiful respects unto their Parents Herod bringeth up his Sons children He provided them also each of them with a wife when they were ready for Marriage Namely the Daughter of Pheroras for the eldest of Alexander's Sons and the Daughter of Antipater for Aristobulus's eldest Son and one of Aristobulus's Daughters was married to Antipater's Son and the other to Herod his own Son whom he had begotten of the Daughter of the High Priest For it is lawful in our Countrey and according to our custom to have divers Wives at one C time The King procured these Marriages through the compassion he had of those Orphans thinking by this mutual Alliance to cause Antipater to be their Friend But Antipater conceived no less hatred toward the children than he had done malice towards their Fathers Antipater hateth his Brothers children For the care that Herod had of them increased his hatred in that he pretended to be the greatest among the Brethren and he especially feared lest when they should grow to mans estate they would resist his power being assisted by King Archelaus as his Sons in Law and Pheroras who was a Tetrarch should do the like for that he had married his Son to Alexander's Daughter And so much the more was he incited because all the people had compassion of these Orphans and had conceived a hatred against him who never ceased to express his malice against his D Brethren Antipater laboureth his Father to break of the Marriages he intended He therefore devised all the means that were possible to disanul the Decrees which his Father had resolved upon to this effect being very loath that they should ever live to be partners with him in the Kingdom So that at last Herod condescended to Antipater's demand which was that he might marry Aristobulus's Daughter and his Son to Pheroras's Daughter and thus were the forementioned Marriages wholly cut off Herod's nine Wives yea even against Herod's former Decree At that time Herod had nine Wives namely Antipater's Mother the High Priests Daughter by whom he had a Son that bare his name and a Daughter of his Brothers and a Cozen of his own by whom he had no children He had another Wife also that by Nation was a Samaritane by whom he had two Sons Antipas and Archelaus and a Daughter called Olympias E who was afterward married to Joseph the Kings Cozen. As for Archelaus and Antipas they were brought up at Rome with a certain private Friend of his Moreover he married one that was called Cleopatra that was born in Jerusalem by whom he had Herod and Philip which Philip was brought up at Rome By Pallas he had Phasaelus by Phedra and Helpia he had two Daughters Roxane and Salome As for his eldest Daughters Alexander's Sisters by the Mothers side whom Pheroras had refused to take in Marriage he match'd the one with Antipater his Sisters Son and the other he wedded to Phasaelus his Brothers Son and this was Herod's Progeny F CHAP. II. Of Zamaris a Babylonish Jew a man of singular virtue AFter this Herod buildeth a Castle in the Region of the Trachonites and maketh Zamaris the Jew that came from Babylon Governour therein intending to assure his Estate in the Countrey of Trachonite he resolved to build a Borough of the bigness of a City in the midst of the Countrey as well to secure his Countrey as to be in better readiness to repulse his Enemies with more expedition And having intelligence that a certain Jew was come from Babylon with five hundred Archers on Horseback and about one hundred of his Kinsmen G and had adventured to pass Euphrates and was in the Countrey adjoyning to Antioch near unto Daphne in Syria where Saturnine General of the Roman Army had given him a Castle called Valatha to inhabit he sent for him and his followers promising to give him both Lands and Lordships in the Segniory of Batanea which H bordereth on
death amongst the Pharisees who were the principal Authors of this Advice and with them also the Eunuch Bagoas and Carus who was his darling and one of the finest men of that time He afterwards cut off all those amongst his houshold Servants who were of the Pharisees Faction for the Pharisees had perswaded Bagoas that this new King whom they prognosticated would not only consider him as his Benefactor and Father but that he himself should also marry and find himself capable to beget Children D But after that Herod had punished those amongst the Pharisees Hedio Ruffinus chap. 4. who were convicted to have been of the Conspiracy Herod accuseth Pheroras's Wife and commandeth him to put her away he assembled a Council of his friends before whom he accused Pheroras's Wife and ripped up the injuries that were done unto his Daughters as it hath been declared ascribing the same to the pride of this woman objecting it for a crime against her for having injured his Honour Besides this he accused her that she had of set purpose stirr'd up Mutinies and by all means possible both in words and deeds contrary to all Law of Nature stirred up debate betwixt him and his Brother and that the Fine that he had imposed upon his Adversaries was satisfied at her charge so that no jot of that Conspiracy was contrived without her consent For which causes said he Brother Pheroras it shall not be amiss for you of your own accord E to drive such a wretched woman from you before you be requested and the Sentence be pronounced against her otherwise she will be the cause to kindle a War betwixt you and me For if you will continue the Friendship and Brotherhood betwixt you and me seperate your self from her In so doing I will account you for my Brother and you shall lose nothing by the affection which I bear unto you For the bond of Brotherly love cannot continue safe and inviolable unless you put her away Now although Pheroras was moved with the importance and weight of this discourse Pheroras refuseth to put away his Wife yet he said that for the love he bare unto his Wife he would forget nothing of that duty which Consanguinity required at his hands in regard of his Brother but that he had rather die than live without her company Herod interdicteth Pheroras and Antipater their privy meetings and forbiddeth the Ladies no less whom he loved more dearly than his life Herod although he took this answer F of his Brother 's for a most grievous injury yet forbare he to discover his displeasure towards him He only forbad Antipater and his Mother and in like manner Pheroras to frequent the one with the other any more He commanded the women likewise that they should give over their familiar entertainments the one with the other which all of them promised to perform Yet this notwithstanding upon fit opportunities and occasions they visited one another and Antipater and Pheroras feasted one another by night The report also went that Antipater had the company of Pheroras's Wife and that his Mother was the means and instrument of their privy meeting G CHAP. IV. H Herod sendeth Antipater to Augustus with his Will by which he declareth him his Successor Syllaeus bribeth one of Herod's Guards to kill him but the plot is discovered ANtipater suspecting his Father's distastes Herod sendeth Antipater to Caesar and fearing lest his hatred should bring him into hazard he wrote unto his friends in Rome requiring them to write their Letters unto Herod requesting him to send Antipater unto Caesar with all expedition as was possible Which being brought to pass Herod sent him thither with divers Royal I Presents and gave him his Testament and Will with him wherein he had bequeathed the Kingdom to Antipater And if it should happen that Antipater should die before him then he bequeathed the same to his Son Herod whom he had by the High Priest's Daughter About the same time Syllaeus the Arabian repaired to Rome notwithstanding he had neglected those things which Caesar had commanded him Antipater accused him before Caesar Antipater accuseth Syllaeus at Rome before Caesar for the same faults wherewith he was charged by Nicholaus Syllaeus also was accused by Aretas for murthering divers of the best account in the City of Petra countrary to his mind amongst the which was Sohemus a man of much virtue and honour and Probatus Aretas accuseth Syllaeus for killing Probatus and others Caesar's Servant of which Crimes Syllaeus was accused upon this occasion which ensueth There was a certain man of K Corinthus who was one of the King's Guard and one he put very great trust in Syllaeus perswaded him by store of money and Bribes to kill Herod which he promised to perform Probatus made privy to Syllaeus's mind he presently told it to the King who caused him to be apprehended and tortured A Traytor that sought the King's death is apprehended who confessed the whole matter He laid hands also on two Arabians perswaded by this Corinthian's confession one of which was a man of Command in his Countrey and the other was Syllaeus's chief friend They being examined confessed that they came thither to solicite with many exhortations the Corinthian to execute the murther and to assist him if he stood in need of them Which being fully proved by Herod before Saturnine he sent them to Rome there more amply to be proceeded against and so to be punished L CHAP. V. Pheroras's death HErod perceiving that his Brother Pheroras did constantly continue his affection towards his Wife he commanded him to retire himself into his own Dominions whereupon he willingly departed to his Tetrarchy An Oath solemnly observed protesting by many solemn Oaths that he would never more return into the City unless he were assured that Herod was M dead Not long after it hapned that the King fell sick he was sent for to receive certain secret instructions as from the mouth of a dying man but Pheroras would not obey him in regard of his Oath Notwithstanding Herod dealt more kindly with him and continued his love and affection towards him Pheroras in his Sickness is visited by Herod and being dead is honourably buried by him for he came to Pheroras as soon as he heard of his first Sickness without being sent for And after he was deceased he sent his body to Jerusalem and honourably entombed him in that place and grievously lamented his death This was the beginning of Antipater's mis-haps who at that time was gone to Rome For it was God's pleasure that at last he should be punished for the murther of his Brethren I will discourse of this at large that it may serve for an example to many Kings how they ought to practice and follow Virtue in all their N actions CHAP. VI. Pheroras's Wife is accused and Herod is
another of Antipholas's Brothers and the Mother I to them both confessed no less being constrained thereunto by force of violence and torture and acknowledged the Box. The King's Wife also who was the Daughter of the High Priest The King putteth away his Wife and blots his Son out of his Testament He degradeth Simon and instateth Matthias in the Priestood was accused of confederacy and concealment of all these Treasons For which cause Herod put her away from him and cancelled his Sons name out of his Testament wherein he had bequeathed him the Kingdom after his decease He displaced also his Father-in-law Simon the Son of Boethus from the Priesthood and placed Matthias the Son of Theophilus who was born in Jerusalem In the mean time Bathillus Antipater's Freeman returned from Rome who being tortured confessed that he brought a Poyson with him to deliver it to Antipater's Mother and Pheroras to the end that if the first Poyson were not effectual enough to dispatch the King they might K make use of this other to cut him off speedily There came Letters also to Herod's hands from his friends at Rome Archelaus Philip are accused by Antipaters means written and devised by Antipater's means to accuse Archelaus and Philip for very often they had refreshed the memory of Alexander and Aristobulus's death contrived by their Father and for that they lamented the miserable fate of them who were innocently betrayed and that now also they themselves were called back into their Countrey for no other cause but upon their arrival to be made partakers of their Brother 's miserable destiny These things did Antipater's friends certifie Herod of in that by many and mighty Presents he wrought them thereunto He himself also wrote unto his Father colourably after a manner excusing the young men and imputing their words unto their indiscretion and young years L Mean while he busied himself in accusing Syllaeus and courted the chiefest Romans buying divers Ornaments and Jewels to present them with to the value of two hundred Talents And it is to be wondred at that so great matters being in agitation against him seven months at least before his return into the Countrey of Judaea that no inkling thereof came unto his ears But the cause partly was the diligent search and watch that was kept upon the High-ways and partly the hatred that all men had conceived against Antipater For there was not any that would put themselves in hazard to procure his security M CHAP. VII Antipater being returned back into Judaea from Rome is convicted in the presence of Varus Governour of Syria for having endeavoured to poyson the King his Father Herod causeth him to be imprisoned and writeth to Augustus on that Subject HErod concealing his displeasure Hedio Ruffinus chap. 6. answered Antipater his Son's Letters giving him a strict charge as soon as he had dispatched his affairs to hasten homeward lest his long absence should prove hurtful to him Herod writeth friendly Letters to Antipater and calleth him home from Rome He likewise after a temperate manner N complained unto him of his Mother promising notwithstanding to remit the fault upon his return and by all means he made shew to him of much kindness fearing lest he apprehending any suspicion should defer to hasten his return and lingring too long at Rome should contrive some treacherous stratagem to the prejudice of himself and the overthrow of his Kingdom Antipater received these Letters in Cilicia and had already received others at Tarentum by which he understood of Pheroras his Unkle's death whereat he was sore grieved not for the love he bare to Pheroras but for that he died before he had murthered his Father according as he had promised him As soon as he came to Celenderis a City of Cilicia he grew doubtful whether he should return or no and was grievously troubled at his Mother's disgraces O who was banished from the Court The opinions of his friends in his behalf were various for some of them counselled him to stay and expect the event of these troubles A in some place others on the other side advised him to delay no longer his return into his Countrey for that upon his arrival he might easily satisfie all those objections and accusations that were forged against him because his accusers had nothing else to strengthen their cause with but his absence This later advice pleased him best so that he betook himself to Sea Celenderis in Cilicia and at last arrived in the Port of Sebaste so called and builded by Herod to his great charge in honour of Caesar And now already it manifestly appeared that Antipater was upon his downfal Sebaste a Haven builded by Herod in honour of Caesar For no man came out to salute him no man entertained him as they did upon his departure when as all of them accompanied him with prayers and happy acclamations but contrariwise they boldly and openly spake against him and bitterly cursed him telling B him that he was justly punished for the wickedness that he had committed against his brothers Antipater upon his return is saluted by no man About the same time Quintilius Varus who was sent to succeed Saturnine in the Government of Syria was at Jerusalem Quintilius Varus Governour of Syria and drew thither at that instant upon Herods request to assist him with his Counsels in his present and weighty occasions Now whilest these two sate and cousulted together Antipater came in before any man expected him and in that purple garment and Royalty that he was accustomed to use entered the Palace The Guard of the Gates suffered him to enter in but they excluded all those that were with him This first of all affrighted and appaled his Spirits in that he already perceived into what calamity he was fallen and now also C when he drew near his Father he thrust him from him accusing him of the murder of his Brethren and reproaching him with that intent he had to poyson him telling him that the next day Varus should both hear and judge all his misdemeanours He altogether daunted at the greatness of that unexpected mischief which he both heard and saw departed presently from them wholly amazed and in the way met with his Mother and his Wife which was Antigonus's daughter who had been King of the Jews before Herod by whom he was advertised of all that which had happened and for that cause more diligently prepared himself for his tryal Herod calleth his Son in question before Quintilius Varus The next day Varus and Herod sate in judgement accompanied by their friends on both sides thither also D were cited the Kings kindred and his sister Salome and certain others who could discover his secret practices some of which had been tortured and namely Antipaters mothers servants who a little before his arrival had been apprehended with a letter to this
back again unto them and that then he would consult with them for the common profit according to their demands wishing them for the present to contain themselves and to take heed lest they stirred up Sedition I When he had thus instructed his General he sent him unto them But they cried out with a loud voice and would not suffer him to speak but for fear of danger and death they put him to silence And if any other were so forward as to speak unto them and perswade them to some moderation and to alter their sinister resolutions he was also in danger For that they had this perswasion that all things ought rather to be ordered according to their pleasures than by the Authority of their Superiours supposing that although during Herod's life time they had been deprived of their dearest friends it would be now a matter unworthy their courages after his death to be cut off from their privilege to demand their revenge For they were transported with their own opinions and held all that for lawful and upright which was in any sort conformable K to their pleasures without fore-seeing the danger that might happen thereby they were so desirous to be revenged on those whom they reputed to be their enemies Now whereas divers were sent by Archelaus to advise them and divers came unto them not as messengers from him but as friends and lovers of peace of their own motion with an intent to pacifie them they would not permit any of them to speak and through their rage there arose a great tumult which had grown to a further extremity if a great number of people had joyned with them At that time fell the Feast of Unleavened Bread Sedition at the Feast of the Passover which is called Pascha which is a Memorial of their deliverance out of Egypt at which time all men do most willingly present their Sacrifices and a greater number of Beasts are killed at that Feast than at L any other time To this Solemnity also an infinite number of people assembled from all parts to honour God whereby the seditious supposing that they had gotten fit opportunity lamented Judas and Matthias who were the Expositors of the Law and kept themselves within the Temple whither they had gathered good store of Victuals which they were not ashamed impudently to beg for But Archelaus fearing lest their rage should produce some more grievous effect of mischief sent out a Captain with a Regiment of a thousand men to repress their fury before the rest of the people were infected with their follies and to bring them likewise unto him whom they found to be the forwardest in that Commotion Against those the Seditious cried out with great clamours and incensed the people against them so that all of them rushed M in upon the Soldiers and killed divers of them The rest of them escaped with their Captain yet not without divers Wounds That done they which were within the Temple returned again to their Divine Service Now Archelaus supposing that his whole Fortune was endangered except he repressed the rage of the multitude he sent out all his Foot with a certain number of Horse to prevent lest they that were without should yield assistance to those who had taken up their lodging in the Temple and to put those to the sword who having escaped the violence of the Foot Three thousand Jews slain supposed themselves to be in security These Horsemen slew about three thousand men the rest retired themselves into the Mountains that were near adjoyning Hereupon Archelaus made Proclamation that each one should repair N unto his own house For which cause they departed and abandoned the Feast for fear of greater mischief notwithstanding they had spleen enough as it is the ordinary custom of the ignorant multitude After this Archelaus repairs to Rome and many of his Faction follow him Archelaus accompanied with his Mother took his Voyage to Rome with Nicholaus and Ptolomey and with divers other his Friends committing the Government of all his Houshold and Kingdom to his Brother Philip Salome Herod's Sister went also leading with her her Children There went also divers other of his Kindred who said that they would all of them endeavour for Archelaus that he might obtain the Kingdom but in effect it was to hinder him with all their Power and especially Hedio Ruffinus chap. 13. al. 14. to accuse him unanimously for what was done in the Temple Sabinus Caesar's O Viceroy in Syria posting into Jewry to take charge of Herod's Money met with Archelaus in Caesarea But Varus arriving in the mean while detained him from finishing A that Voyage for Archelaus had sent for him to come thither by Ptolomey and Sabinus willing to do Varus a pleasure would not seize the Fortress of Jewry nether sealed up Herod's Treasures but left them in Archelaus's possession until such time as Caesar had given order for the Estate and after he had made this promise he stayed in Caesarea After Archelaus had set sail towards Rome Sabinus repaireth to Jerusalem with an intent to seize Herod's Treasures and Castles and Varus was departed for Antioch Sabinus went to Jerusalem where he seized the King's Palace and calling before him the King's Agents and the Captains of his Garrisons he required them to deliver up their Castles into his hands But they according as Archelaus had commanded them continued the possession in their accustomed manner according to the King's direction pretending B to keep the same in Caesar's behalf Antipas in hope to recover the Kingdom saileth to Rome At the same time Antipas Herod's Son travelled to Rome likewise in hopes to be elected King in regard of Salome's promises and for that he better deserved the same than Archelaus considering that in the first Testament which should be of more force than the later he had been appointed King He led his Mother also with him and Ptolomey the Brother of Nicholaus who had been one of Herod's most esteemed friends and was well affected to further his Title But especially he was stirred up to seek the Kingdom by Ireneus a man very eloquent and to whose charge in regard of his sufficiency the Affairs of the Kingdom had been committed For which cause although he was perswaded to give over the Kingdom unto his elder Brother who was confirmed in the Kingdom by his Father's Testament yet he would not C give ear thereunto But Antipas no sooner arrived in Rome but all his Kinsfolk revolted from Archelaus unto him not so much for the love they bare to him as for the hatred they conceived against Archelaus and above all for the desire they had to recover their liberty and to draw themselves under a Roman Governour For they thought that if there were any contradiction that Antipas for whom they endeavoured to procure the Royalty should be more profitable to them than Archelaus
in his Tetrarchy should be kept within the bounds of the same Countrey CHAP. VII K A War between Aretas King of Petra and Herod the Tetrarch who having married his Daughter would repudiate her to marry Herodias Aristobulus's Daughter and his Brother Herod's Wife Herod's Army is totally routed and the Jews impute it to John the Baptist's Imprisonment Herod the Great 's Posterity MEan while Aretas King of Arabia Petraea and Herod fell at strife the one with the other Herod the Tetrarch putteth away Aretas Daughter and marrieth Herodias his Brother Herod's Wife for this cause that ensueth Herod the Tetrarch married Aretas's Daughter with whom he had lived married a very long time Afterwards taking his journey towards Rome he lodged with Herod his half Brother by the L Father's side for Herod was the Son of Simon 's Daughter which Simon was the High Priest and there being surprised with the love of Herodias his Brother's Wife which was the Daughter of Aristobulus their Brother and Sister to the Great Agrippa he was so bold as to propose Marriage to her which was to be performed as soon as he returned back from Rome and to repudiate Aretas's Daughter After he had ratified those Covenants he continued his Voyage to Rome from whence he no sooner returned and performed that for which he went but his Wife who had some privy notice of the Conventions which were made betwixt him and Herodias before he suspected that she knew thereof required him to send her to the Castle of Macheron Herod's Wife returned into her own Countrey which was the Frontier Town M betwixt Herod's and Aretas's Countreys without acquainting him any ways with her intent Herod condescended unto her request thinking she was ignorant of his drift But she long before that time had taken order with the Governour of Macheron which at that time was under her Father's Government to prepare all things for her journey where being arrived she speedily posted into Arabia under the Convoy of those Governours who received and conducted her the one after the other As soon as she arrived in her Father's Court she presently acquainted him with Herod's resolution whence arose the beginning of this discord between them Therefore they both of them assembled their Armies upon the Confines of the Countrey of Gamalite and fought under the Conduct of the two Generals to whom they had committed N their Armies Herod's Army discomfited by the Arabians In this Battel Herod's Army was wholly defeated through the Treason that was plotted against him by certain banished men of Philip's Tetrarchy which were in pay with Herod Tiberius got notice of all this by those Letters which Herod had written unto him Tiberius commandeth Vitellius to make War against Aretas and being very much displeased with Aretas for his proud attempt he commanded Vitellius to make War against him desiring him that if he could take him alive he should send him bound unto him but if dead he should send him his head Divers Jews were of the opinion that Herod's Army was overthrown by the just vengeance of God who punished him most justly because of the Execution which he caused to be done on John sirnamed Baptist Hedio Ruffinus chap. 10. alias cap. 14. For he had put this man to death who O was endued with all Virtue and who exhorted the Jews to addict themselves thereto and to practice Justice towards men and Piety towards God exhorting them to be A baptized and telling them that Baptism should at that time be agreeable unto God if they should renounce not only their sins but if to the purity of their bodies they should add the cleanness of their Souls re-purified by Justice And whereas it came to pass that divers flocked and followed him to hear his Doctrine Herod feared lest his Subjects allured by his Doctrine and Perswasions should be drawn to revolt For it seemed that they would subscribe in all things to his advice he therefore thought it better to prevent a mischief by putting him to death than to expect some suddain Commotion John Baptist slain by Herod which he might afterwards repent Upon this suspicion Herod caused him to be bound and sent to the Castle of Macheron whereof we have spoken heretofore and there he was put to death Hedio Ruffinus chap. 16. The Jews were of opinion that in revenge of B this so grievous a sin Herod's Army against whom God was displeased had been subject to their utter ruine and overthrow Vitellius leadeth his Army against the King of Arabia But Vitellius being resolved to make War against Aretas gathered together two Legions and all those Horse or Foot that he could assemble amongst those Kings who were the Romans Allies and marching towards Petra he stayed at Ptolemais because he pretended to pass by Judaea Which when the principal Nobles amongst the Jews had notice of The year of the World 4001. after Christ's Nativity 39. they went out to meet him beseeching him that he would not pass thorough that Countrey because it was a custom amongst them not to see any Images born such as he had of divers colours in his Army Vitellius repaireth to Jerusalem and displaceth Jonathan and preferreth his Brother Whereunto he condescended and having changed his purpose he caused his Army to march thorough the great Plain As for himself he came to Jerusalem C accompanied with Herod the Tetrarch and his Friends to offer Sacrifice to God upon the next Festival day where he was most magnificently received by all the people of the Jews He stayed for the space of three days during which time deposed Jonathan from the High Priesthood and gave it to Theophilus his Brother The fourth day Letters came to him Caius Caligula succeedeth after Tiberius that advertised him of Tiberius's death for which cause he commanded the Oath of Fidelity should be ministred to the people in the new Emperour Caius's behalf He called back his Army also and sent them to their Winter Quarters because it was not lawful for him to prosecute the War by reason the Empire was fallen unto Caius It is said Aretas gathereth by Auguries that it was impossible for the Army to come to Petra that Aretas hearing news of Vitellius's Expedition or Voyage and after he D had taken counsel of the Augurs said that the Army should not advance as far as Petra because he that had the command of the Expedition or he that obeyed his Ordinance in conducting the same or he against whom the Army was conducted should die Vitellius therefore retired to Antioch A year before the death of Tiberius Agrippa Aristobulus's Son came to Rome to treat with the Emperour about certain Affairs But before I speak any thing hereof I will relate Herod's Progeny both for that it is pertinent to this present Narration and also that the greatness of God's Providence may
that City Yet Herod did not continue long time in that mind although by the A means he had given him he had not satisfied his Kinsman's necessities For being in the City of Tyre in a certain company where he drank immoderately Agrippa esteemed it for an extream injury that Herod had upbraided him with his poverty and hit him in the teeth that he maintained him at his charge For which cause he withdrew himself to Flaccus Herod taunteth Agrippa with his Poverty who had been sometimes Consul at Rome and for the present was President of Syria with whom he had been very familiar at Rome Flaccus received him very kindly and had also done the like a good while before to Aristobulus Agrippa's Brother who were both at variance between themselves yet Agrippa retireth himself to Flaccus notwithstanding this Dissention between them Flaccus entertained them both with equal favour But Aristobulus remitted nothing of his hatred he bare his Brother and never rested till he had B drawn Flaccus into dislike with his Brother Aristobulus draweth Agrippa into Flaccus's disfavour upon this occasion The Inhabitants of Damasco contending with the Sidonians about their limits and being to debate their cause before Flaccus knowing what interest Agrippa had in him they besought him that he would further their Cause promising him a great Summ of money whereupon he addressed himself in what he could to further those of Damasco But Aristobulus who had an inkling of this conclusion and promise accused his Brother to Flaccus and after enquiry was made and he found guilty of the Fact Agrippa grew out of the Presidents favour and falling again into extream poverty he came to Ptolemais and having no way to subsist he resolved to go into Italy And seeing he wanted Money he commanded Marsyas his Free-man that by all means whatsoever he should seek to C take up Money upon Interest He spake unto Protus who was Agrippa's Mother's Freeman who by the Testament of his deceased Mistress was left unto Antonius's protection that upon his Master's Bill and Promise he would lend him some Money But he alledging that Agrippa before that time owed him money Agrippa by Marsyas's means borroweth money of Protus extorted from Marsyas a Bill of his hand for twenty thousand Attick Drachmes deducting out of that Summ two thousand and five hundred which Marsyas took for himself which he might the more easily do for that Agrippa could not otherwise chuse Having therefore received this money he went to Anthedon where getting Shipping he prepared himself for the journey But when Herennius Capito who was Treasurer of Jamnia understood of his being D there Agrippa whilst Herennius Capito extorteth money at his hands flieth to Alexandria by night he sent his Souldiers to him to exact three hundred thousand silver Drachmes at his hands for which he stood indebted to Caesar's Treasurer during his being at Rome by which means he was enforced to stay Whereupon he made a shew that he would obey their demand but as soon as it was night he caused the Cables of the Ship to be cut and cast off and sailed to Alexandria there he requested Alexander Alabarcha to lend him two hundred thousand Drachmes in Silver he protested that he would trust him with nothing Agrippa borroweth money at Alexandria But admiring Cypros his Wife 's constant love toward her Husband and her many other Virtues he upon her promise condescended to do him a kindness Whereupon in present money he payed him five Talents in Alexandria and promised to deliver him the rest of the money at Puteol fearing Agrippa's unthriftiness E Thus Cypros having furnished her Husband for his Journey into Italy returned her self and her Children into Judaea by Land Agrippa arriveth at Puteol and is admitted to Caesar's presence But Agrippa as soon as he arrived at Puteol wrote unto Tiberius Caesar who lived in Capreas signifying unto him that he came to do his duty beseeching him that he would grant him free and favourable access Tiberius with all expedition returned him a very kind answer assuring him that he would be very glad to see him safely arrived in Capreas In a word as soon as he was arrived Caesar expressed and made it known that his affection was answerable to his Letters and both embraced him and lodged him The next day Caesar received Letters from Herennius Capito who advertised him that Agrippa owed three hundred thousand Drachmes of Silver which he borrowed and payed not at the time prefixed F and that when the appointed time of payment was come he was fled out of the Countrey and by this occasion he had deprived him of the means to constrain him to make satisfaction When Caesar had read these Letters he was highly displeased and commanded those of his â—â—mber that they should not admit Agrippa to his presence until such time as he had liâ—â—â—arged that debt Agrippa borroweth three hundred thousand drachmes of Antonia Germanicus's Claudius's Mother But he nothing daunted at Caesar's displeasure required Antonia Germanicus and Claudius's Mother who was afterwards Emperour to lend him the summ of three hundred thousand Drachmes to the end he might not lose Caesar's friendship Who remembring her Bernice Agrippa's Mother and with what familiarity they had conversed together and how Agrippa likewise had been brought up with Claudius her Son lent G him that money Caius commended to Agrippa's charge Whereupon he paying the debt without any contradiction enjoyed the Princes favour and was so reconciled to Caesar that he committed his Nephew to Agrippa's charge commanding him to attend him always whithersoever he went Being by this benefit bound and tied to Antonia he began to reverence her Nephew H Caius who was gracious in all mens eyes and honoured in memory of his Parents At that time by chance there was one Allius a Samaritan Caesar's Free-man of whom he borrowed ten hundred thousand Drachmes of Silver and payed Antonia her due and kept the rest Allius Caesars Free-man lendeth Agrippa money the more honourably to attend and wait on Caius By whom being entertained with most inward familiarity it happened one day that riding in the same Coach with him Agrippa wisht for they two were alone that Tiberius might shortly surrender the Kingdom and Empire unto Caius who was each way more worthy than he These words of his were overheard by the Coachman called Eutychus who was Agrippa's Free-man who for the time spoke not a word thereof But being afterwards accused for stealing Agrippa's garment as he indeed had done and brought I back again after he had fled away to Piso who was the Governour of the City he asked him why he fled Hedio Ruffinus chap. 13. who answered that he had certain secrets which he desired to reveal unto Caesar Eutychus Agrippa's Free-man bethinks him to accuse Agrippa to the Emperour that appertained to his
a Tyrant being of himself a cholerick man implacable towards all men without any occasion having a natural inclination so cruel that the easiest pain whereunto he adjudged G those whom he condemned was death Notwithstanding therefore that every man took pleasure to hear the news yet did all conceal it until such time as they might be more fully assured through the fear of those miseries they foresaw if the matter should fall out otherways But Marsyas Agrippa's Free-man having certain H notice of Tiberius's death ran speedily to comfort his Master Agrippa with these good news and meeting with him as he came out of the Bath he made a sign unto him and told him in the Hebrew Tongue the Lyon was dead Agrippa conceiving that which he meant Marsyas Agrippa's Free-man certifieth him of Tiberius's death was ravished with joy and said unto him I will requite thee for all those benefits I have received at thy hands and especially for this good news provided that it prove true The Centurion who had the keeping of Agrippa considering what expedition Marsyas had used in running and the pleasure that Agrippa had conceived in his report he began to suspect some alteration and asked him what had happened and whereas he delayed to give him an answer he importuned him the more Whereupon Agrippa told him plainly what he had heard in that he had grown already intimately I familiar with him The Centurion rejoyced at this news as well as Agrippa hoping to speed the better thereby and made Agrippa good cheer But whilst they were in the midst of their Banquetting The rumour was spread in Rome that Tiberius was alive and drunk freely there came one unto them who told them that Tiberius was alive and that within few days he would come to Rome The Centurion troubled with this news for that he had committed a Capital crime in eating in the company of a Prisoner upon the news of Caesar's death and by rejoycing with him he drave Agrippa out of the place where he sate and reproachfully said unto him Thinkest thou said he that I know not how falsely thou spreadest the rumour of Caesar 's death yes be assured thou shalt answer thy lie with the loss of thy head This said he caused Agrippa to be bound whom before-time he had suffered to go at K liberty and shut him up in more close Prison than he had been before so that Agrippa was all that night long in this extream misery The next day the rumour was spread thorough the whole City that confirmed Tiberius's death and at that time every one boldly protested it There were some also who offered Sacrifices for this cause Caius certifieth the Senate and Piso of Tiberius's death and his Succession and willeth that Agrippa should be sent to his own Lodging And there came Letters also from Caius which were addressed to the Senate by which he assured them that Tiberius was dead and how the Empire was committed to his hands He writ another also to Piso who had the Guard of the City containing the like report and besides that commanding him to transfer Agrippa from the company of those Souldiers by whom he was kept to the same place where he was lodged before so that from that time forwards he grew confident For although he was L as yet a Prisoner yet lived he at his own discretion Caius arriving in Rome brought with him Tiberius's body which he burned most magnificently according to the custom of the Countrey Tiberius's Funeral And although he were very willing to set Agrippa at liberty the same day yet he was disswaded from it by Antonia not for any ill will she bare the Prisoner but in regard of Caius's honour lest thereby he should shew himself to be glad of Tiberius's death in setting him at liberty so speedily whom he had committed to Prison When therefore some few days were over he sent for him to his house and caused his hair to be cut and his garments changed and that done he set a Diadem upon his head Caius createth Agrippa King and giveth him two Tetrarchies and made him King of Philip's Tetrarchy to which he added Lysanias's Tetrarchy and changed his Chain of Iron into a Chain of Gold of the same M weight and sent Marullus into Judaea to govern there The second year of Caius's Reign Agrippa asked leave to repair into Judaea to dispose of his Kingdom purposing to return again when he had dispatched those Affairs Agrippa departeth into his Kingdom Which when the Emperour had granted him he came into Judaea and was seen and saluted for a King beyond all men's expectation serving thereby for a most notable example unto men to express unto them how great the power of Destiny is in humane Affairs The year of the World 4002. after Christ's Nativity 40. considering the poor estate wherein he had been before and the happiness which he enjoyed at that time Some termed him happy in that he resolutely followed his hopes others could scarcely believe that he was thus advanced N CHAP. IX Herodias Hedio Ruffinus chap. 14. alias chap. 16. Herod the Tetrarch's Wife and King Agrippa's Sister being impatient to see her Brother reign in so much Prosperity compels her Husband to go to Rome to obtain a Crown also Herodias Agrippa's Sister envieth her Brothers happiness and inciteth her Husband to seek a Kingdom but Agrippa having written to Caius against him he banished him and his Wife to Lions in France HErodias Agrippa's Sister was married to Herod the Tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea Shee envied her Brother to see him raised to so great Authority and to far greater O Dignity than her Husband enjoyed For which cause she was displeased that her Brother who fled out of his Countrey in that he wanted means to pay his debts was returned A in great Honour and State This alteration seemed unsufferable to her especially to see him apparelled like a King and environed with a great multitude of people so that it was impossible for her to hide her grief for which cause she incited her Husband and perswaded him to make a Voyage to Rome and to purchase as much as he possessed For said she I cannot endure to live if Agrippa Aristobulus 's Son condemned to die by the sentence of his own Father so poor and indigent that to redress his necessities wherewith he was daily pressed by his Creditors he was constrained at last to flee to Rome should return with such Titles of Honour and that her Husband who was a King's Son and was called to the Kingdom by his Father should live obscure and pass his life like a private man Husband said she if herefore it hath been no prejudice to thee to live in less Dignity B than thy Father hath done now at least desire that due honour which belongeth to thy Family neither think it sufferable
to be inferiour to him who in times past hath been maintained by thy Bounty Neither suffer it to be thought through thine own sloth that he in his necessity had more industry to obtain an ample Fortune than you amidst your abundance as if it redounded not to thy shame to be thought inferiour to him at this time who not long since except by thy pity had no means to live Let us therefore hastily repair to Rome and neither spare Gold Silver or any other expence for that it availeth us not so much to keep the same as to employ it in the purchase of a Kingdom But Herod disswaded her as much as he could for he contented himself to live in quiet and suspected the Confusion that was at Rome which he endeavoured as much as in him lay to lay open to Herodias C But the more negligent she saw him the more instantly she incited him to seek out for the Kingdom and never gave over until she had conformed him to her desire which she forced him to Herod with Herodias repair to Rome rather than obtained Having therefore furnished himself after the most magnificent manner and spared no cost he repaired to Rome and led Herodias his Wife with him Agrippa sendeth Fortunatus with Letters and Presents after him Agrippa smelling their intent and the preparation they made he bestirred himself too And having notice that they were put to Sea he sent Fortunatus one of his Free-men to Rome with Presents to the Emperour and Letters against Herod with Commission to acquaint Caius with every particular according as the occasion should serve He embarking himself after Herod had a quick passage and was only prevented by him but for the space that Herod presented himself to Caius for he presently followed D him and delivered his Letters For they arrived at one time at Puteol and found Caius at Baia Baiae are certain Baths in Campania not far from Puteol a Village of Campania distant from Puteol some five Stades adorned with most Royal and sumptuous Palaces for that every Emperour enforced himself to exceed the honour of his Predecessor by reason of the hot Baths that naturally issued out of the earth serving both for the health of the body and recreation of the spirits Whilest Caius talked with Herod Herod is accused for favouring Artabanus the Parthian having visited him first he received Agrippa's Letters containing Herod's Accusations for they accused him of a Conspiracy plotted betwixt him and Sejanus since the beginning of Tiberius's Empire And how for the present he favoured Artabanus King of the Parthians to the prejudice of the Emperour Caius of which the preparations Herod had stored up in his Arcenals gave evident testimony which were E sufficient to arm seventy thousand men Caius was much moved with these informations and asked Herod if that which was informed him touching his warlike preparation was true He unable to contradict the same in any thing for fear he should be convicted of falshood Herod is perpetually banished and confined in Lions in France and Agrippa is made Lord of his Lands and Goods and Herodias despising Caesar's bounty accompanieth him in exile confessed no less Whereupon Caius supposing the Accusation of his revolt to be sufficiently proved deprived him of his Tetrarchy and annexed it to Agrippa's Kingdom bestowing Herod's Substance also upon him He banished him likewise for ever and confined him in the City of Lions in France and understanding that Herodias was Agrippa's Sister he gave her all that which in right appertained to her And supposing that she would not willingly accompany her Husband in his calamity he told her that he pardoned her for her Brother's sake But she gave him this reply Mighty F Emperour you speak magnificently and as it well becometh so great a Majesty but there is a cause that hindreth me from partaking the benefit of that bounty which you intend towards me which is the affection that I bear unto my Husband whom if I should forsake in his misery it would very ill beseem me in that I have been a partner with him in his felicity Caius displeased with her resolute answer banished her likewise with her Husband and gave her Estate also to Agrippa God did after this manner punish Herodias in regard of that envy which she had conceived against her Brother Caius at the first governed the Common-weal very happily but afterwards usurped divine honours and plagued Herod in that he had so easily listned to the foolish perswasions of a woman But Caius governed the Empire the first and second year of his Reign with great applause behaving himself graciously towards all men whereby he obtained the good liking of the Romans and the favour of G his other Subjects But in process of time the greatness of his Estate made him surpass the limits of humane condition and challenge to himself the Title of Divinity whereby he governed all things in contempt of God CHAP. X. H The Sedition of the Jews and Grecians in the City of Alexandria WHereas there arose a Sedition betwixt the Jews and Grecians that inhabited Alexandria Hedio Ruffinus chap. 15. alias cap. 17. three chosen Ambassadours on either side were sent unto Caius One of these Ambassadours of Alexandria was Appion Appion Prince of the Alexandrians Ambassadour accuseth the Jews because they ascribed not Divinity to Caesar who accused the Jews of many failings and amongst other things he alledged that they made no account of honouring Caesar And that whereas all other Subjects of the Roman Empire had erected Altars and Temples in honour of Caius and in all other things had received him as I a God the Jews supposed it to be a dishonour for them to honour his Statues or swear by his name After that Appion had urged many things and inveighed grievously against the Jews hoping that Caius would be provoked against them as in all likelihood and appearance it should have fallen out Philo Judaeus for the Jews is shut out and can get no audience and committeth the cause to God Philo the chiefest among the Ambassadours of the Jews a man of great worth and Brother to Alexander Alabarcha being experienced in Philosophy addressed himself to answer those Accusations which were urged against the Jews but Caius commanded him silence and willed him instantly to withdraw himself and was so displeased that it appeared very manifestly that he intended some cruel revenge against them Whereupon Philo departed after he had been grievously threatned and spake thus unto the Jews that flocked about him K We must be of good courage since Caius in words seemeth to be displeased with us for in effect he will arm God in our behalf against himself CHAP. XI Caius commands Petronius Governour of Syria to compel the Jews by force of Arms to receive his Statue in the Temple but Petronius mollified by their Prayers writeth to
was changed and instead thereof he grew more averse from them daily whereby they were enforced to conspire against him and seek his ruine Now Hedio Ruffinus chap. 3. as I have heretofore declared Claudius understanding of that which had befallen Caius his Nephew and seeing all his house wholly troubled for this occasion O was in such distress that he knew not what to do to save himself but went and hid himself in a certain corner where he was surprized having no other cause to apprehend A his danger except his Nobility For during the time that he lived a private man he behaved himself modestly kindly and favourably unto all men being well seen in the Sciences and principally in the Greek tongue shunning as much as in him lay all tumult and train that might breed trouble When as therefore the people at that time were wholly amazed at the trouble and the Palace was full of fury and fear and nothing reigned more in general than confusion and disorder the Souldiers of the Guard who were the most experienced and bold consulted amongst themselves what course they were to take Neither were they much discontented with Caius death in that they supposed that upon just occasion he was put to death for which cause they rather bethought themselves on that which concerned their fortunes and how they B might assure themselves in those dangers seeing the Germans were wholly bent against those who had killed Caius rather incited thereunto of their own cruel natures than of any good affection they had towards the welfare of the Common weal. All which things troubled Claudius and put him in fear of his life the rather for that he saw Asprenas head and the rest of the Nobility that were massacred carried about to be seen for this cause he kept himself in a certain place which was only accessible by certain steps or stairs and hid himself therein because it was obscure In that place one of the Souldiers of the Palace called Gratus being unable to discern who he was in regard of the obscurity of the place and supposing him to be some one that desired to be concealed he drew near unto him to the intent he might the C better know him and when Claudius besought him that he would depart and leave him he passed the more onwards and laying hold of him and drawing him into the light knew him crying out to those that followed him This is Germanicus let us take hold of him and create him Emperour Claudius perceiving that he was ready to be attached and fearing lest they should put him to death as they had done Caius besought them that they would pardon him protesting unto them his innocency and how he had no ways been either accessary or agent in that which had been done Whereupon Gratus beginning to smile took him by the hand saying that he had no cause to suspect his life For said he it behoveth thee to rouse up thy spirits and to bethink thee how to govern an Empire of which the gods who D have the care of the whole world have deprived Caius to reward thy virtue with Arise therefore and take possession of the Throne of thine Ancestors This said he lifted him on his shoulders for that Claudius could not walk on foot through the fear and joy that he had conceived of that which had been told him Upon these speeches divers of the Souldiers of the Guard assembled about Gratus and perceiving that it was Claudius whom they supposed to be dragged to his death they had compassion of him as on an innocent for that they knew him to be a man of a milde nature who all the time of his life intermedled with nothing and who in like sort had been often in great danger during Caius life There were others of them that said Claudius against his will drawn unto the Empire that the judgment of this matter belonged to the Consuls whereupon E although a great number of Souldiers flocked about him and the simple people that were unarmed fled from them yet could not Claudius go on his way so weak and feeble felt he himself in his whole body It fortuned likewise that they who carried his litter perceiving his plight fled away for fear and left him so little hope had they that their Master should escape with his life whom they saw to be thus drawn by the Souldiers Now when Gratus and his Associates were arrived in the Court of the Palace which as it is reported is the place which was first of all inhabited in Rome they began to think upon that which was to be done thither also there flocked a great number of other Souldiers unto them The cause that induceth the Army to make Claudius Emperour who took pleasure to behold Claudius enforcing themselves to place him in the Imperial Dignity in regard of F that good affection which they bare to Germanicus his Brother whose memory was much honoured among all those who had conversed with him Moreover they ripped up how many avaritious acts the Senate had committed and how great errors the chiefest Senators had been guilty of before the Publick Government was changed Moreover they considered the danger and difficulty of their actions then in hand for that the Government being administred by one only man would be dangerous for them if he should obtain the same by any other means whereas if Claudius should enjoy the same by their permission and good will he would have them in remembrance who had favoured him and would recompence them according to their merits This was the effect of their discourse Claudius carried on mens shoulder unto the Army which they held among themselves or when they met G with one another All of them at length concluded upon this advice and environed Claudius and lifting him up upon their shoulders they carried him into the Army to the intent that no man might hinder them to finish that which they intended There fell a debate also betwixt the Senators and Citizens For the Senate desirous H to recover their former Dignity and enforcing themselves to avoid the slavery that had befallen them by the wickedness of Tyrants intending the maintenance of their present good fortune Contrariwise the people envied them that Dignity And knowing that their Emperours should be as it were bridles Difference betwixt the Citizens and Senators to restrain the avarice of the Senate and the refuge of the people they were very glad to see that Claudius was advanced making their account that if he were created Emperour they should avoid a Civil war like unto that which hapned in Pompeius time The Senate knowing that Claudius was carried into the Army by the Souldiers The Senate perswade Claudius to resign the Dignity offerâ—ed him chose out some of their order and sent them as Embassadours in their behalfs to signifie unto him that he ought to use
and Sabinus were come out into the streets notwithstanding they were forbidden by Pollio whom not long before Claudius had made Captain of his Guard And as soon as Claudius came into the Palace whither he assembled his friends he pronounced sentence against Chaereas For although his action was accounted both generous and noble yet he was condemned for this because he was perfidious whereupon he was adjudged to die to give example to others to the end that Princes and Emperours may hereafter live in safety He was therefore led to his death with Lupus Those that murthered Caius are executed and divers other Romans It is said of Chaereas that he endured this accident with a great courage which he expressed not only in that he changed not his countenance but also by the reproaches which he gave Lupus O who wept For when Lupus was putting off his Cloaths and complained of the cold that he felt he taunted him thus alluding to his name which was Lupus That never any cold A did harm to a Wolf Furthermore when he came to the place of Execution where a great number of people were gathered together to behold the spectacle he asked the Soldier that was appointed to behead him if he were a cunning heads-man and whether he had a new Sword wishing him to use that wherewith he murthered Caius His death was happy for he received but one stroke whereas Lupus was faint-hearted and received divers because he stretched not out his neck freely Some few days after at such time as the Romans solemnized their Expiations and that every one honoured the memory of his dear Friend they gave Chaereas a part of that honour and cast his portion into the fire saying That was to deface and purge their ingratitude whereof they were guilty towards him Thus ended Chaereas his Life But for Sabinus B although Claudius had not only absolved him but also suffered him to exercise his Office as he had done before Sabinus Killeth himself yet he thought that he should do amiss and against Justice if he falsified his Faith to his Associates and Confederates for which cause he shortned his own days thrusting his Sword through his own body to the very hilts CHAP. IV. Claudius the Emperour confirmeth Agrippa in his Kingdom adding Judaea and Samaria C thereunto He giveth the Kingdom of Chalcis to Herod Agrippa's Brother and maketh Edicts in favour of the Jews ONe of the first things that Claudius did after his establishment in the Empire Hedio Ruffinus chap 5. was to disband those Soldiers whom he suspected and published an Edict by which he confirmed the Kingdom to Agrippa Alias 4. that Caius had given him accompanying his bounty with many Praises Claudius giveth Agrippa Judaea Samaria and Lysanias 's Countrey adding moreover unto his Government all that which his Grandfather had possessed towit Judaea and Samaria which in that they were as one Lawful Inheritance appertained unto him He gave him also out of his own Dominions Abela and all the Countrey about Libanus that in times past appertained to Lysanias And D he caused the Alliance that was past betwixt them to be engraven and registred in an open place of the City of Rome Antiochus King of Comagena He took from Antiochus the Kingdom that he had and gave him in exchange a portion of Cilicia and Comagena He set Alexander Lysimachus Alebarcha at liberty Alexander Lysimachus Alebarcha who had been his old Friend and sometimes Governour in Arabia and once his Mother Antonia's Steward who had been committed Prisoner through Caius's displeasure and espoused Bernice Agrippa's Daughter to his Son Marcus which after the death of Marcus who died before he was maried was afterwards married with her Father Agrippa's allowance Herod Agrippa's Brother created King of Chalcis to Herod his Brother for whom Agrippa begg'd of Claudius the Kingdom of Chalcis At that very time the Jews that were in the City of Alexandria mutined against the Greeks For after Caius's death E the Nation of the Jews which had been oppressed during his Reign and injuriously dealt withal by the Alexandrines Sedition in Alexandria betwixt the Greeks and Jews recovered their former courage For which cause Claudius gave Commission to the Governour of Egypt to pacifie and appease that Uproar He sent also his Letters Patents into Alexandria and Syria at the request of the two Kings Agrippa and Herod to this effect Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus Claudius's Edict in favour of the Jews in Alexandria Father of the people signifieth this that followeth Vnderstanding that the Jews Inhabitants in Alexandria and for that cause called Alexandrines have at all times enjoyed the self same Privileges of the City which the ancient and first Alexandrines have had Which Favours they have obtained by the Leave of those Princes that were our Predecessors as it hath been plainly made known F unto us as well by Letters which have been written unto us as by confirmed Decrees And that since Alexandria hath been united to our Empire by Caesar Augustus their Privileges have continued in force during the several Successions of many of our Governours which Rights of theirs have never been called in question no not in that time when Aquila was Governour in Alexandria Since in like sort Caesar Augustus hath not letted them but when the Governour of their Nation was dead they might establish other Substitutes and Governours in his place commanding that all of them should yield him obedience in observation of their Laws and Customs without constraint or impulsion to do any thing contrary to their Religion Yet notwithstanding the Alexandrines have mutined against the Jews being in the City of Alexandria in the time of the Emperour Caius by reason of the G folly and frenzy of Caius who disgraced and oppressed the Nation of the Jews because they would not violate their Religion nor acknowledge the said Caius for a God Our Will and Pleasure is that no one of the Privileges of the Nation of the Jews be abolished by reason of Caius's frenzy but my mind is to maintain those which heretofore have been H given them to the end they may continue and live according to their ancient Laws and Customs Commanding you and every one of you very carefully to provide that after the publication of this our Ordinance they be in no ways troubled This was the Tenour of that Ordinance which was made in favour of the Jews in Alexandria But that which was generally made in favour of those Claudius's Edict in the behalf of the Jews scattered thorough the whole Empire who were dispersed thorough the whole World was to this effect Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus High Priest Father of the people elected Consul the second time signifieth that which ensueth Our well-beloved Friends the Kings Agrippa and Herod have required us that we will permit all those
away F Now when they came to Rome the younger Agrippa who was his Son that lately died knowing the cause of their coming and being ordinarily accustomed to attend upon Caesar according as we have heretofore declared besought Caesar that he would grant the Jews their request concerning the Sacred Robe and that it might please him to signifie no less unto Fadus On this his Petition Claudius gave the Ambassadours Audience and told them that he favoured their suit desiring them to be thankful to Agrippa upon whose suit he respected them and granted their Demands And besides this Answer he delivered them a Letter to this effect Claudius Caesar Germanicus Conserver of the people Consul created the fifth time G Emperour the fourth time Father of the Countrey the tenth time to the Magistrates of Jerusalem the Senate People and all the Nation of the Jews Being required by our well beloved Agrippa whom I both have and at this present do bring up with me I have heard your Ambassadors who were admitted to my Presence by his H means and have received their thanks for the benefits I have bestowed on your Nation I have also willingly inclined to that instant and express request you have made unto me and it is my pleasure that the Sacred Robe of the High Priest and the Holy Miter remain in your custody Claudius upon the younger Agrippa's motion granteth the Jews liberty to have the custody of the High Priest's Vestments in such manner as our most dear and right honoured Friend Vitellius heretofore ordained To which demand of yours I vouchsafe my allowance first in regard of mine own Piety and that I desire that every one should serve God according to his own Religion Moreover in so doing I shall gratifie King Herod and young Aristobulus whose affection towards me I am privy to and whose good inclination towards you I can witness for whom I have a particular kindness by reason of their singular Virtue I have also written to this effect to Cuspius Fadus mine Agent the names of those who have received my I Letters are Cornelius the Son of Ceron Tryphon the Son of Theudeon Dorotheus the Son of Nathanael alias chap. 3. and John the Son of John Given the eight and twentieth of June in the year wherein Rufus and Pompeius Silvanus were Consuls Claudius's Epistle to the Jews At the same time Herod who was Agrippa 's Brother that had lately deceased to whose hands in times past the Government of Chalcis had been committed Alias cap. 9. required the Emperour Claudius to grant him the power over the Temple Herod Prince of Chalcis hath Authority granted him to create the High Priest and the Sacred Vestments and the Authority of chusing the High Priest all which he obtained And from that time forward until the end of the War of the Jews this power remained in all his Successors According to this Authority Herod deposed Canthara from the Priesthood and gave the Succession thereof to Joseph the Son of Caneus K CHAP. II. Izates King of Adiabena and Queen Helena his Mother embrace the Religion of the Jews Their singular Piety and the great Actions of this Prince whom God protects visibly Fadus Governour of Judaea punisheth a man and his followers who deceived the Jews L AT that time Helena Queen of Adiabena Hedio Ruffinus cap. 2. and her Son Izates conformed themselves to the Religion of the Jews Alias 5. upon this occasion that ensueth Monobazus King of Adiabena Monobazus the King of Adiabena begetteth two Sons on Helena his Sister Monobazus and Izates who was also called Bazeos having fallen deeply in love with his Sister Helena married her and got her with Child Upon a time it happened that sleeping with her he laid his hand on her belly whilst she lay asleep and he thought that he heard a voice that commanded him to take away his hand from off her belly lest he should crush the Fruit that was therein which by God's Providence should have a happy beginning and no less fortunate ending Monobazus was much troubled at this voice and as soon as he awoke he told it to his Wife and afterwards when the Child was born he called him Izates Besides he had another elder Son M by the same Wife who was called Monobazus according to his own name And he had also other Sons by his other Wives yet notwithstanding Izates was most manifestly his best beloved and so cherished by him as if he had been his only begotten Son for which cause his other Brothers envied him The Father manifestly perceived all this yet he pardoned them knowing that they did it not for malice but for the desire that every one of them had to be best esteemed by his Father Notwithstanding being afraid lest some mis-hap should betide Izates by reason of the hatred his Brethren bare unto him Izates sent to Abemerigus marrieth his Daughter Samacha he gave him many great Gifts and sent him to Abemerigus who reigned at that time in a Fort called Spasinus committing his Son's life into his hands Abemerigus also entertained him very kindly and loved him so N that in process of time he gave him Samacha his Daughter to Wife and for her Dowry he gave him a Countrey of great Revenue Monobazus being old Caron very fruitful in 〈◊〉 in which the Relikes of Noahs Ark are to be seen and seeing he had not long time to live desired before his death that his Son might come and visit him he therefore sent for him and received him very lovingly giving him a Countrey which he called Caeron which bringeth forth great abundance of Odoriferous Plants In this place was the remainder of the Ark in which Noah was saved during the Deluge which remnants are to be seen at this day if any man have a desire to behold the same Izates remained in that place until his Father's decease But on the very day of his death Helena sent for all the Lords and Governours of the Kingdom and Captains of all the Army and upon their O assembly she spake unto them after this manner I suppose said she that you are not ignorant of my Husband's mind who hath desired that A Izates might be King in his stead and hath esteemed him most worthy of such an honour yet I expect your judgment in this point For he that receiveth the Sovereignty not from one mans hand but from many and hath the same confirmed unto him by their consent is happy She used this discourse unto them to try what their intent was who were there assembled Izates was made King by his Mother Helena and the Nobility and Monobazus governeth the Kingdom till his coming They understanding her mind prostrated themselves first of all upon the earth before the Queen according to the custom of their Country and afterwards answered her that they approved the Kings election
Parthia and Armenia to Tiridates who was the younger When Monobazus King Izates's Brother and the rest of his Kinsfolk saw how happily all things succeeded to Izates Monobazus and his Kindred think to receive the Jews Religion and how in respect of his Piety towards God he was E honoured and reverenced by all men they also resolved themselves to forsake their Religion and to serve God after the manner of the Jews But this intent of theirs was discovered Whereupon the chiefest among them grew displeased yet they did not manifest their despight but kept it hidden in their hearts expecting some fit occasion to revenge themselves as soon as they might They wrote also to Abias King of Arabia and promised him great sums of money if he would take Arms against their King The Adiabenians conspire with the King of Arabia against Izates promising him upon the first charge they would forsake him for that they desired to be revenged on him for having forsaken their Religion Having therefore confirmed their promise with an Oath they incited him to make haste The King of Arabia performed that which they required and marched forth against Izates with a F great power And when the first charge was ready to be given and before they came to blows all Izates Soldiers forsook him and turning their backs to their enemies fled in great disorder as if they had been surprized with a Panick fear yet was Izates no ways daunted but having discovered that it was treason and conspiracy of his greatest Peers he retired also into his Camp where he enquired of the Cause that they pretended After he knew that they had plotted with the Arabian he caused the Conspirators to be put to death and the next day after went out to fight and killed a great number of his enemies and constrained the rest to betake them to flight He pursued their King also into a Fort called Arsam which he battered and assaulted with such vigour and diligence that he took the same with G a great quantity of booty that was therein and returned to Adiabena with great triumph but he took not Abias alive for he himself had prevented his captivity with his death The Lords of Adiabena seeing themselves frustrated of their former hopes in that by God's hand they were delivered into the hands of their King could not contain H their displeasure but practised further mischief for they wrote their Letters to Vologesus King of Parthia desiring him to kill Izates and to bestow another King upon them who was a Parthian for that they hated their King who had abolished their Religion The Lords of Adiabena perswade Vologesus to kill Izates and had embraced a strange Law The Parthian understanding hereof prepared himself for War and having no just colour or pretext to authorize it he sent a messenger unto him to redemand those honours which his father had given him which if he refused he denounced War against him Izates was not a little troubled in his mind when he understood this message For he thought that if he should restore the gifts he should do himself great prejudice for that it would be imagined that he did it for fear knowing on the other side that if the Parthian should recover I that which he redemanded yet he would not be quiet he therefore commended his cause to God trusting that he would take care of him And building upon this that the greatest good he might have was to have God to help he shut his wives and children in a strong Castle and his corn in his strongest Tower and afterwards burned all the hay and forrage and having after this manner provided for all things he expected the approach of his enemy The Parthian came forward sooner than he was expected with a great power of Horse and Foot For he marched forward in all haste and encamped near unto the river that separateth Adiabena from Media Izates likewise encamped not far from thence having with him about six thousand Horse To whom the Parthian sent a messenger to give him to understand how great his power K was which extended from the River Euphrates as far as Bactria shewing him what Kings he had under his subjection threatning him to punish him very severely in that he behaved himself so ungratefully towards his Benefactors yea that the God whom he adored could not deliver him out of the Kings hands Hereunto Izates answered that he knew well that the Parthian far exceeded him in power but that he was far better assured that God's power extended beyond all mens contradiction Izates calleth upon God who sendeth the Dahans and Sacans into Parthia upon whose arrival Vologesus returneth And having returned them this answer he betook himself to his prayers and prostrating himself upon the earth and casting ashes on his head and fasting himself his wives and children he called upon God and prayed after this manner O Lord Almighty if I have not vainly submitted my self to thy protection but have intirely chosen thee L for my only and true God be thou my help and assistance and not only deliver me from mine enemies but also abate and controul their pride who have not been afraid in their blasphemous language to prophane thy holy and sacred Name and utter blasphemous speeches against thy power Thus prayed he with sighs and tears and God heard him For the very same night Vologesus received Letters by which he was certified that a great number of Dahans and Sacans taking opportunity by his absence were entred into the Kingdom of Parthia and spoiled the whole Country For which cause he returned back into his Country without any further trouble And thus Izates by Gods Providence was delivered from the Parthian threats Not long after this Izates delivereth up the Kingdom to his Brother Monobazus and dieth after he had lived fifty five years and reigned four and twenty M and left behind him four and twenty sons he died and appointed his Brother Monobazus to succeed him in the Kingdom requiting hereby his faith and Loyalty in that during the time of his absence and after the death of his Father he had faithfully ruled and governed the Kingdom to his use His Mother Helena hearing news of his death lamented very grievously that she being his Mother was deprived of a Son that so zealously honoured and feared God yet notwithstanding she was comforted when she understood that her eldest Son was to succeed him in the Kingdom and hasted with all diligence to go and meet him As soon as she arrived in Adiabena she lived not long time after her Son Izates Whereupon Monobazus took both her body and his Brothers bones and sent them to Jerusalem commanding that they should be buried N in three Pyramids which Helena had builded Hedio Ruffinus cap. 5. aliàs 8. some three stades or furlongs from Jerusalem But hereafter we will recite the
it would cost much time and expence he denied their request permitting them nevertheless to pave their City with broad Stone Matthias the Son of Theophilus High Priest He took the Priesthood from Jesus the Son of Gamaliel and gave it to Matthias the Son of Theophilus in whose time the Wars betwixt the Romans and the Jews began But I think it not amiss Hedio Ruffinus chap. 18. but very answerable to the course of this present History N to speak of the High Priests The Succession and number of the High Priests among the Jews and to shew how they had their beginning and to whom this honour may be lawfully communicated and how many they were in number until the end of the War The first of them was Aaron Moses's Brother after whose death his Children succeeded him and from that time forward the honour hath continued with their Successors For it is a Law observed by our Ancestors that no man should be admitted to the Priesthood There were eighty three High Priests in all except he be of Aaron's Posterity for albeit he were a King if so be that he were of another Line it was impossible for him to obtain the Priesthood All the Priests after Aaron who as we have said was the first until Phanasus whom the Seditious created Priest in the time of the War have been in number eighty three whereof thirteen have executed the Office from the time that O Moses erected God's Tabernacle in the Desart until such time as arriving in Judaea King Solomon builded a Temple to God For in the beginning the High Priesthood continued A with the Possessors for term of life but afterwards although the Priests were yet alive yet were there other Successors put in their rooms These thirteen were of Aaron's Posterity and obtained this degree in succession the one after the other Their first Government was Aristocracy which is the Government of the Nobility afterwards a Monarchy and at last a Royal Government The number of years wherein these thirteen flourished were six hundred and twelve years from the day that our Fathers departed out of Egypt under the conduct of Moses until the building of the Temple in Jerusalem by King Solomon After these thirteen High Priests there were eighteen others who after Solomon's time succeeded one after another until the time that Nabuchodonozor King of Babylon B having encamped before the City took it and burned the Temple and transported our Nation into Babylon and led away the High Priest Josedech Prisoner The time of the Priesthood and continuance of these eighteen was four hundred sixty years six months and ten days so long as the Jews have had the Royal Government After the surprizal of Jerusalem by the Babylonians until such time as Cyrus King of Persia dismissed the Jews and gave them leave to return from Babylon into their own Countrey with permission to re-edifie their Temple there are seventy two years and at that time the Captives being returned Jesus the Son of Josedech took upon him the High Priesthood who with those of his Posterity to the number of fifteen have governed in a Democracy or Popular Government until the time of Antiochus surnamed C Eupator for the space of four hundred and fourteen years This Antiochus was the first who with his General Lysias displaced Onias surnamed Menelaus of his Priesthood commanding him to be killed at Berith and after he had driven his Son out of the Succession he established Jacim High Priest who notwithstanding was of Aaron's Race but not of his Family For this cause Onias the Son of Onias and Nephew to the deceased Onias retired himself into Egypt Where growing familiar with Ptolomey Philometor and Cleopatra his Wife he perswaded them to build a Temple in the Confines of Heliopolis not unlike to that of Jerusalem and to create a High Priest in the same of which Temple in Egypt we have made very oftentimes mention After that Jacim had held the Priestood for the space of three years he died without D Successor so the City remained seven years without a High Priest Again the Asmoneans recovered the Government of their Nation and after they had made War against the Macedonians they established Jonathan High Priest who exercised the Office seven years but afterwards he was killed in an Ambush and Treason conspired against him by Tryphon as we have declared elsewhere After him Simon his Brother undertook the Priesthood who was not long after killed treacherously by his Son-in-Law at a Banquet After him succeeded his Son Hircanus who enjoying this Dignity for the space of thirty one years died when he was very old leaving behind him Judas surnamed Aristobulus who dying left his Brother Alexander his Heir both of the Kingdom and High Priesthood After that Aristobulus had obtained the E Royal Government he enjoyed both Dignities one whole year For this Judas surnamed Aristobulus was the first that set the Diadem on his head causing himself to be called a King the which Alexander did continue for he also joyned the Kingdom with the High Priesthood and reigned twenty seven years And feeling himself draw near to his death he left in Alexandras his Wife's hands to dispose of the Priesthood as she pleased She therefore bestowed it on Hircanus and as for the Kingdom she kept it in her own hands nine years and afterwards died Her Son Hircanus was High Priest for so long time For after Alexandra's death his Brother Aristobulus made War against him and having overcome him he took the Kingdom from him and not only seized on the Crown but the Priesthood After he had reigned three F years and as many months Pompey repaired to Jerusalem and took it perforce and laying hold of Aristobulus sent him bound unto Rome with his Children After which he restored the Priesthood once more to Hircanus committing the Government of the Nation unto his hands forbidding him in the mean space to wear the Diadem Besides the first nine years Hircanus governed twenty and four But Barzapharnes and Pacorus Princes of the Parthians passed Euphrates and made war against Hircanus and took him alive Prisoner and made Antigonus Aristobulus's Son King But after he had governed three years and three months Sosius and Herod took him alive perforce and Antonius sent him to Antioch where he was beheaded After that Herod was created King by the Romans there was never any High Priest created of G the Posterity of the Asmoneans for he gave the High Priesthood to certain men of obscure and base extraction who were of the Order of Priests Aristobulus only excepted This Aristobulus was Hircanus's Nephew who was a Prisoner among the Parthians and having given him the Priesthood he married Mariamne his Sister to the intent H to continue himself in the good liking of the people in remembrance of Hircanus But afterwards fearing lest all of them should turn to Aristobulus's
that if Antigonus came armed they should kill him himself then lodging in a certain Castle which in times past was called Bari and afterwards Antonia by Herod in honour of Antonius with this Commission that if Antigonus came unarmed they should let him pass if otherwise they should kill him He sent certain Messengers also to Antigonus requiring him to repair unto him dis-armed But the wicked Queen prevented this good intent of his by a subtil stratagem complotted by those that with her conspired against him The Queen 's cunning Stratagem against Antigonus for she perswaded those that were to carry this message to discover nothing of what the King had commanded them but to tell Antigonus that his Brother having intelligence that he had brought very goodly Armour with other C fair Furniture for War from Galilee desired him to come to him arm'd as he was that he might have the pleasure to see him in his Warlike Ornaments Antigonus suspecteth not his Brother Which when Antigonus understood who by reason of his Brother's affection suspected no mischief he armed himself and resorted to him intending to content him with his appearance But no sooner arrived he in the strait which is called the Tower of Straton but the Guard of Aristobulus set upon him and slaughtered him yielding by this means a demonstrative testimony that Detraction is able to destroy all good nature and friendship and that there is no union of affection so great as it can always resist the attempts of envy to ruine it In this Occurrence there happened a thing which cannot be too much admired Judas the Prophet foretelleth Antigonus's death D One Judas who was of the Sect of the Esseans had so certain a knowledge of the Future that his Predictions were never found false This man beholding Antigonus pass thorough the Temple cried out to his familiars who attended him in no small number as ordinarily divers of his Disciples did Ah how happy were it for me at this present if I were dead since truth is dead before me and one of my Predictions is found faulty For behold Antigonus yet liveth who should this day have died in the Tower of Straton which is distant from this place six hundred furlongs and 't is now the fourth hour of the day now therefore is the time wherein my Divination shall be falsified Having spoken to this effect the old man sat down being altogether disconsolate and pensive within a while after it was told him that Antigonus was slain in a place under E ground called the Tower of Straton being of the same name with that at Caesarea which is scituate upon the Sea-coast which conformity of names was the cause that Judas staggered in his Divination The sorrow which incontinently seized Aristobulus Aristobulus through the grief he conceived at his Brother's death falleth sick for committing this hainous Murther augmented his sickness in such sort that his Soul was continually troubled with the thought of his sin and his body through extream heat of passion became dried up and the grief that he felt was so vehement that his Entrails became exulcerated so that he voided blood in great abundance And it so fell out by God's Providence that one of his Servants who was deputed to that Office bearing out that blood which came from him A Servant spilleth blood in the same place where Antigonus was slain missed his way and came to that place where Antigonus had F been slain where still there appeared some signs and stains of the blood of Antigonus on which he poured out the blood of the Murtherer Aristobulus Which when they perceived who stood hard by imagining that the Servant had purposely spilled the blood in that place as it were in Sacrifice to the Ghost of that Prince they cryed out so loud that Aristobulus hearing their cry demanded the cause thereof and the more that each man feared to discover the same to him the more instantly he desired to understand the truth so that at length after he had used threats he was certified of what had passed Whereupon his eyes were suddenly filled with tears and in vehement agony of mind The eye of God discovereth every sin he cryed out and said How could I hope but that the great eye of the Divine Majesty should see my wicked acts and the sudden vengeance of my Brother's blood G pursue and overtake me Aristobulus dieth miserably How long O thou miserable Body wilt thou detain my Soul from being sacrificed to the vengeance of my Mother and Brother's death Why do I thus lingeringly languish in offering a part of my blood unto them Let them take it all at once and let not the Divine Vengeance laugh any longer to see the effusion of mine Entrails The year of the World 3862. before Christ's Nativity 100 H This said he died after he had only reigned one year His Wife after his death delivered his Brother Alexander from Prison and established him King who was both the eldest and seemed to be the most moderate among the rest of his Brethren Ant. l. 13. c. 9 But growing by this means both proud and potent he put one of his Brethren to death Alexander advanced to the Kingdom useth much cruelty for aspiring after the Kingdom but spared the other alive for that he contented himself with a private and contemplative life He made War also against Ptolomey that was called Lathyrus who had surprized the City of Asoth and put a great number of his enemies to the Sword nevertheless Ptolomey's side obtained the Victory But retiring himself into the Countrey of Egypt by reason that his Mother Cleopatra pursued him with open War Alexander forcibly entred the City I of Gadara Alexander is overthrown by Theodore and the Fort of Amath one of the greatest of all those that were beyond Jordan in which place Theodore Zeno's Son had hoarded up his chiefest and most precious moveables which he took but enjoyed not long for Theodore suddenly setting upon him recovered all that which was his and furthermore laid hands on the King's Carriage in seizing which he slaughtered many Jews to the number of ten thousand But Alexander after he had recovered this loss invaded the Frontire Towns upon the Sea-coast and won Rapha Gaza and Anthedon which afterwards by King Herod was called Agrippias The Sedition of the Jews against Alexander upon a Festival day But after he had conquered these places the common sort of the Jews raised a mutiny against him during a certain solemn and holy Feast as Mutinies and Seditions are commonly raised at Banquets and it is K thought that he could not have prevailed against those Rebels had he not been assisted by the Pisidians and Cilicians whom he hired to help him for the Syrians he refused to hire by reason of their natural hatred they bare against the Jews Having therefore slain
discontent and moreover being emboldened by the love which he bare her Mariamne hatefully upbraideth Herod with Hircanus's death she every day upbraided him with that which he had done to Hircanus her Uncle and to her Brother Aristobulus For Herod spared him not although he was a Child but after he had made him High Priest in the seventeenth year of his age he presently put him to death after he had so honoured him who when he came to the Altar clothed in sacred attire upon a Festival day all the people K wept for joy which caused so great a jealousie in Herod that the same night he sent him to Jericho to be drowned in a Lake by the Galatians who had received commission to perform the murther These things did Mariamne daily cast in Herod's teeth and upbraided both his Mother and Sister with very sharp and reproachful words Herod's Mother and Sister do falsly accuse Mariamne to him yet he so loved her that notwithstanding all this he held his peace But the women were set on fire and that they might the rather move Herod against her they accused her of adultery and of many other things which bare a shew of truth objecting against her that she had sent her picture into Egypt to Antonius and that through immoderate lust she did what she could to make her self known unto him who doted upon womens love and was of sufficient power to do what wrong L he pleased Hereat Herod was much moved Herod secretly chargeth Joseph to kill his wife especially for that he was jealous of her whom he loved bethinking himself upon the cruelty of Cleopatra for whose sake King Lysanias and Malichus King of Arabia were put to death and now he measured not the danger by the loss of his wife but by his own death which he feared For which cause being drawn by his affairs into the Country he gave secret commandment to Joseph his Sister Salomes husband whom he knew to be trusty and one who for affinity was his well-willer to kill his wife Mariamne if so be Antonius should have killed him But Joseph not maliciously but simply to shew how greatly the King loved her disclosed that secret unto her and she when Herod was returned and amongst other talk M with many Oaths sware that he never loved woman but her Indeed said she it may well be known how greatly you love me by the commandment you gave to Joseph whom you charged to kill me Herod's suspicion betwixt Joseph and his wife Herod hearing this which he thought to be secret was like a mad man and presently perswaded himself that Joseph would never have disclosed that commandment of his except he had abused her so that hereupon he became furious and leaping out of his bed he walked up and down the Palace whereupon his Sister Salome having fit opportunity confirmed his suspicion of Joseph For which cause Herod growing now raging mad with jealousie commanded both of them to be killed Which being done his wrath was seconded by Repentance and after his anger ceased Herod commandeth both Joseph and Mariamne to be slain the passion of love was presently renewed yea so great was N the power of his affection that he would not believe she was dead but spake unto her as though she were alive until in process of time being ascertained of her funeral he equalled the affection he bare her during her life by the vehemency of his passion for her death Mariamnes Sons inheritors of her displeasure Mariamnes Sons succeeded their Mother in her hatred and recogitating what an impious act it was they accounted their Father as a mortal enemy both before and after they went to study at Rome and especially after they returned again into Judea The year of the World 3956. before Christ's Nativity 6. For as they grew in years so did the violence of their revenge increase And being now marriageable one of them married the Daughter of their Aunt Salome who accused their Mother the other married the Daughter of Archelaus King of Cappadocia And now to their hatred was joyned a liberty to speak O more freely against their Father and by this occasion of their boldness many were animated to calumniate them so that some did openly tell the King that both his A Sons sought to work treason against him and that the one of them prepared an Army to help the other to revenge the death of their Mother and that the other to wit he that was Son-in-law to Archelaus purposed to flee and accuse Herod before Caesar Herod giving ear to those calumniations sent for Antipater whom he had by Doris Herod's debate with those Sons he had by Mariamne to the end he might defend him against his two Sons and sought to advance him above them But they thought this alteration intolerable seeing one whose Mother was but a private woman so preferred and they exalted with their own Nobleness of Birth could not contain their indignation but upon every occasion shewed themselves offended Ant. lib. 16. cap. 4. by reason of which imprudence they were every day less accounted of As for Antipater he wrought himself into favour for he B knew how to flatter his Father Antipater by disgracing his Brothers is declared his Fathers heir and raised many slanders on his two Brethren partly invented by himself partly divulged by some of his Favourites whom he set awork about the matter till at last he put his Brethren out of all hope of having the Kingdom For he was now by the Kings Will and testament declared King so that he was sent as a King to Caesar in a Kingly habit and pomp only he wore no Crown and in time he so prevailed that he wrought his Mother into Mariamnes stead Herod accuseth Alexander before Caesar and with flatteries and calumniations so moved the King that he began to deliberate about putting his Sons to death For which cause he conducted his Son Alexander with him to Rome and accused him before Caesar that he had given him poyson But he with much ado having obtained lieve to plead his own cause and that before C a Judge more wise than Herod or Antipater he modestly held his peace in all things his Father had offended in and first of all he cleared his Brother Aristobulus from that crime in which he was involved with himself And afterwards he inveighed against Antipater's subtilty and complained of those injuries which had been offered him having beside the equity of his cause sufficient eloquence to acquit himself for he was a vehement Orator and knew well how to perswade Last of all he objected that his Father having a desire to put both him and his Brother to death A reconciliation between Herod and his Sons had laid an accusation upon him whereat the whole Audience wept and Caesar was so moved that not regarding the accusations that
by their Offices for one of them was his Butler the other was his Cook and the third waited upon him in his Bed-chamber These three Alexander with great gifts corrupted G Which the King understanding by torments forced them to confess and declare with what promises they were thereto by Alexander induced and how he had deceived them by affirming that there was no trusting to Herod who was a morose old man The year of the World 3956. before Christ's Nativity 6. and that he died his hair to make himself seem young and that in despight of H him he would be his Successor and then he would be revenged upon his enemies and make his friends happy and especially them And that the whole Nobility secretly joyned with him and the Captains of the Army and Governours privily came to him Herod feareth his Son Alexander Hereat Herod was so terrified that he durst not presently divulge their confessions but night and day he sent out spies to learn what was said or done and whom he suspected them he presently killed so that his whole Kingdom was full of Blood-shed For every one as his malice moved him feigned Calumniations and many desirous of Blood-shed abused the King's passion as they pleased against their enemies Credit was given to every lie and no man was so soon accused but presently he was punished and he who presently before accused others was now accused himself and I carried to be punished with him whom he had accused Ant. lib. 17. cap. 8. For the King's jealousy shortned the time of Trial for their lives and he became so tyrannous that he afforded not a good look Herod's cruelty even to them that were not accused but shewed himself most fierce and violent to his dearest friends So that he banished many out of his Kingdom and railed against such as he had no power over Antipater encreased this mischief more and more by employing all his friends to accomplish the ruine of Alexander By whose rumours and tales the King was so possessed that he fancied always that he saw Alexander before him with a drawn Sword Herod casteth Alexander into Prison and tortured his friends For which cause he suddenly cast him in Prison and tortured his friends many of which died in torments because they would not confess more than in conscience was true Others not able to endure the torments K were forced to confess that Alexander and his Brother Aristobulus designed Treason against their Father and that they expected their time till he went a hunting resolving with themselves that having killed him they would presently flee to Rome Although these and such like Calumniations were no ways probable yet extremity of pain forced men to invent them and the King willingly believed them as it were comforting himself thereby that he might not be thought to have imprisoned his Son unjustly Alexander perceiving that it was impossible for him to remove his Father's suspicion Alexander during his imprisonment wrote four Books against his enemies thought it best to yield himself guilty and so he made four Writings wherein he confessed the Treason and nominated his partakers therein namely Pheroras and Salome who were the chief which later he said had been so impudently L unchaste as to come in the night to him without his consent and lie in his bed These Writings which charged the greatest amongst the Nobility with most heinous matters were in Herod's hands when Archelaus fearing his Son-in-law and Daughter to be in great danger speedily came into Judaea and by his prudence appeased the King's wrath For so soon as he came to Herod he cryed Where is that wicked Son-in-law of mine or where may I see the face of that wretch that goeth about to murther his Father that I may tear him in pieces with mine own hands and marry my Daughter to a better Husband For although she be not privy to his counsel yet 't is enough to make her infamous that she is Wife to such a man Nay I admire your patience who are in such danger Archelaus King of Cappadocia and suffer Alexander yet to live For I came thus hastily out of Cappadocia thinking M he had been put to death to talk with you concerning my Daughter whom I married to him for your sake Wherefore now let us take counsel what to do with them both and seeing you are too Father-like and not able to punish your Son your treacherous Son let 〈◊〉 change rooms and let me be in your place to revenge you How great soever Herod's choler was this discourse of Archelaus disarmed it And Herod shewed him the Books that Alexander had writ Archelaus and Herod consult upon Alexander's Book and upon reading every Chapter with deliberation Archelaus took occasion fit for his purpose and by little and little laid all the fault on Pheroras and those that were accused in the Book And perceiving the King to give ear unto him Let us said he consider whether the young man hath not been circumvented by the treachery of so many malicious persons and not of himself formed a design against N you For there appears no cause why he should fall into such wickedness who already enjoyed the honours of the Kingdom and hoped to succeed you therein had he not been perswaded thereto by other men who seeing him a young man enticed him to such an attempt For we see that by such persons not only young men but also old men and most Noble Families Herod is incensed against his Brother Pheroras yea and whole Kingdomes are ruinated Herod upon these speeches began somewhat to relent and abate his animosity against Alexander but encreased it towards Pheroras for he was the Subject of the whole Book Pheroras perceiving the King so to trust to Archelaus's friendship that he was led by him to do what he pleased he in humble manner came to Archelans seeking humbly for succour at his hands of whom he had not deserved any favour Archelaus answered him that he knew O no ways to obtain his Pardon who was guilty of so heinous Crimes and convicted manifestly to have practised High Treason against the King 's own Person and to be A the cause of all these miseries that had now befallen the young man except that he would lay aside all subtil dealing and denying of his Fact and confess the Crimes whereof he was accused and so humbly go to his Brother who loved him dearly and crave pardon promising that if he would so do he would do him what good he could Pheroras attired in a mourning garment with tears falleth before Herod's feet and craveth pardon Hereupon Pheroras obeyed Archelaus's counsel and putting on a black Attire in a pitiful manner and with tears he prostrated himself at Herod's feet and craving pardon obtained it confessing himself to be a most wicked and vile person and to be guilty of all that
and esteemed that only their felicity to do and endure any thing so that they might prevail against those against whom they enterprized Wars And that they failed also herein I omit to rehearse For not only one or two of them at once but oftentimes whole Companies of them forgetting their own Laws yielded themselves to their Enemies And can any one tell of I say not many but of one or two of us that ever was treacherous to his own Laws or that feared to dye for them I mean not a common death such as Souldiers are subject unto but such a death as is effected by all torments and tortures that can be devised Which I think those that prevail against us imposed upon us not for hatred but that they desired G to see so admirable a matter and to see we being but men and such who esteemed it the greatest impiety possible to do it could be compelled by them to speak or do any thing contrary to our Laws The strict Laws of the Jews Yet it is no wonder that we for our Law do dye with H such constancy rather than any other Nation For other Nations cannot abide to endure that which we account a trifle to wit labour and simple fare abstinence from our Wives and observation of our days of rest and we are always careful that when we fight against our Enemies we observe our Laws concerning our Meats And thus we take pleasure to observe and keep our Laws and to exercise fortitude in obeying them Let now Lysimachus or Molonus pass and all such as they be wicked lying Writers and Sophisters deceivers of young men and detracters of our Nation as though we were the wickedest People living As for me I will not examine the Laws of other Nations Moses forbideth to deride and blaspheme false gods only for the name of God imputed unto them for it is our Custom to keep and observe our own not to detract others yea and our Law-maker openly prohibited us from blaspheming such as other Nations I hold for gods only for the Name of God attributed unto them yet may we not leave the Objections of our accusers unanswered seeing that which we are to speak against them is not our own device but many before us have spoken it Who then of all the wise Greeks will not condemn the most famous Poets and especially the Law-makers who at first brought and setled such vain opinions of the gods among the common People The number of gods amongst the Gentiles 〈◊〉 affirming the number of them to be as many as they thought good and that they were born at divers times allotting to every one his proper place as unto other living Creatures some to be under the Earth others in the Sea and the ancientest amongst them in Hell fettered and bound and those whom they place in Heaven in words they do term him a Father but in deeds they shew him to be a Tyrant and for this cause they K report that his Wife his Brother and his Daughter whom they affirm to have been born of his Brain conspired against him to bind him and hang him as they report him also to have dealt by his Father The Fable of Jupiter and â—allas Against these vanities all excellent and wise men do worthily inveigh who beside this already rehearsed in derision add how some of the gods are young some are old some infants others are gods of Arts and Sciences and one is a Smith another a Weaver another a Pilgrim and at variance with mortal men others delight in Musick others in Shooting Moreover that they are at variance one with another amongst themselves and that they fall out one with another in mens behalf and that not only one of them layeth violent hands upon the other but that also they are wounded by mortal men and sorrow and grive for the wounds and that which L is most abominable of all do use carnal Copulation with mankind and that most undecently that their unbridled lust is extended both to men and women Then that their chief god Jupiter whom they call Father contemned and drowned certain women whom he himself had deceived and gotten with Child and that he could not deliver the Children born of these Women from calamity for that destiny had obliged him nor see their deaths without tears This is all good stuff as also is that which followeth to wit Adulteries committed in Heaven so openly and impudently among the gods that some profess themselves to envy their fellow gods and goddesses tied together in such filthiness And what should the rest of them do when as their King the most antient amongst them could not refrain M his lustful licentiousness and debauchery Moreover Some of them became servants unto men some built houses for money and others became Shepherds others like malefactors were chained in Hell What man then that ever was accounted wise would not blush at these follies and reprove the inventors hereof and the foolish believers also Others made them subject to terrour and fear and madness and such simplicity as that they might be deceived and all other naughty passions to be found in the nature of their gods and have perswaded whole Cities to offer sacrifice to the most noble amongst them And they are in great perplexity thinking that some of the gods are the givers of all good things others again to be their enemies and so seek to please them with gifts as they would do wicked men and they are verily perswaded that they shall N sustain great dammage by their means except they do daily pacify their wrath by frequent gifts What is the cause of this shameful ignorance What is the cause of such error concerning God and erroneous iniquity concerning God Truly I am perswaded For that their first Law-makers were themselves herein to seek and ignorant of the nature of God or else that they did not faithfully deliver unto their Common-wealth so much as themselves knew concerning this point but as though it had been a thing of least moment did willfully let it pass giving licence to Poets and permitting them to deifie and make gods whom they pleased and that the Orators should write of the Common-wealths affairs and tell what them liked of strange gods O Moreover the Painters and Image-makers amongst the Greeks had a great hand in A making of gods Poets and Painters cause the multitude of gods it being lawful for them every one to frame what shape he list and how he list some of Earth others of Colours and the chiefest god-makers amongst them used Ivory and Gold to make their god of a true argument of their mutable novelty And then the ancient gods whom at first they honoured and reverenced as much as they could possibly devise being now withered with Age are out of credit and other youngsters possess their places and honours their Temples
the Israelites 77. C. spoiled and their utter ruine foretold ibid. and 118. N. overcome the Israelites 135 B. are destroyed 156. O. burnt Siceleg 173. A. Amarames Moses Father See Amram Amasias K. of Juda 246. E. revengeth his fathers death 247. M. overcometh the Amalechites ibid. O. reproved and why 248. A. commandeth Joas to yield him homage ibid. D. his army flies and he taken prisoner ibid. E. is slain ibid. F. Amasa slain 194. O. Amazement of the seditious 775. G. Ambition 177. E. of Adonias 199. D. of John 698. M. of Eleazar 711. F. An Ambush laid for the Ainites 124. I. Ambushes of Saul for David 167. E. c. of Adad for Joram 238. A. Amnon deflowreth Thamar 186. L. M. Ammonites oppress the Israelites 138. M. and are overcome 139. A. injure Davids Embassadours 183. C. revenge wrought on them ibid. F. War against Josaphat 234. G. kill one another 235. K. Amorites overcome 104. M. their Country possessed by the Hebrews 105. B. Amos a wicked King 258. D. is slain ibid. Amphitheater built by Herod 410. G. 415. L. Amram Moses father 63. B. prayeth to God 63. B. casts Moses into the river and why 63. G. Amri King of Israel 225. M. slew Thaman ibid. his impiety and death ibid. N. Ananias death 631. C. Ananus High Priest 539. B. Ananias High Priest slain 736. N. Ananus stoneth James 539. C. Ananus Governour of Jerusalem 637. F. his invective against the zealous 689. A. disposeth his souldiers ibid. slain 694. K. Ananus a cruel souldier 636. K. Achimelech entertaineth David 165. B. delivers him Goliabs sword ibid. C. accused to Saul 166. I. and slain 166. K. Ancestors conceal not honest things 25. G. Angels guarded Elizaeus 238. C. Angels i. sons of God 30. L. Angel resisteth Balaam 105. F. Angels promise Abraham a son 39. A. enter Lots house ibid. foretel the destruction of Sodom ibid. Angel appeared to Agar 38. I. 40. K. to Jacob 45. B. 48. M. to Manaach his wife 139. F. foretelleth her Samâ—oâ—s birth ibid. F. worketh a miracle 140. K. 238. C. Anger See Wrath. Anilaeus receiveth charge from Artabanus 499. E. killeth a noble man 500. I. reproved and accused ibid. M. taketh Mithridates prisoner 500. O. Anna wife of Elcana prayed to God for a son 143. G. bare Samuel and consecrated him to God 144. I. Annius taketh Gerasa 702. N. Answer of Simon to Jesus Oration 691. A. Answer of Isaac 41. C. of Balaam to Balac 106. M. of God to Joshuah 124. H. of Achab to the Syrians 229. O. of Caesar to Herod 582. H. of Antipater to Herod 600. L. of John 684. M. of Eleazar to Antiochus 818. I. of Alexander 295. K. Antaeus against whom Hercules made war 42. I. Antigonus copartner in the Kingdom 349. D. his death complotted ibid. F. effected 350. H. 561. C. Antigonus accuseth Hircanus and Antipater 370. D. 568. H. promiseth the Parthians money and why 380. F. restored to the Kingdom 383. H. cutteth off Hircanus ears ibid. H. declared an enemy to the Romans 384. C. 577. E. upbraideth Herod 385. N. getteth Massada 575. A. repulseth Herods power ibid. surpriseth Herods victuallers 386. B. cruelly handleth Josephs carcass 577. O. submitteth himself to Sosius 391. H. put to death ibid. L. Antiochus the Great vexeth the Jews 305. E. recovers Cities of Coelosyria ibid. F. his Epistle to Ptolomy 306. his Edict in honour of the Temple 306. his Epistle to Zeuxis 307. I. Antiochus Epiphanes departeth Egypt 313. L. spoileth the Temple of Jerusalem ibid. N. abrogates Gods Laws 214. G. inforceth the Jews to Idolatry ibid. tortureth Eleazar 818. M. slayeth him 819. H. forbiddeth the Jews to use their Laws 314. G. c. invades Judaea again 317. I. departeth into Persia ibid. besiegeth Elymas 321. I. falleth sick and dieth ibid. K. Antiochus Eupater created King 321. N. marcheth into Judaea 312. B. fighteth with Judas Macchabeus ibid. C. marcheth against Philip ibid. E. entreth a league with Judas 323. I. slayeth Philip ibid. K. displaceth Onias ibid. is slain ibid. M. Antiochus son of Alexander 337. I. crowned King ibid. discomfited Demetrius 338. A. favoureth Jonathan ibid. Antiochus marrieth Cleopatra 343. K. putteth Triphon to flight ibid. L. warreth against Hircanus 345. I. permitteth a truce ibid. K. slain 346. A. Antiochus Gryphus overcometh Alexander 347. I. his War against his brother ibid. slain 353. M. Antiochus Cyzicenus warreth against his brother 347. K. 351. B. put to flight 347. N. slain 353. M. Antiochus Eusebius puts Seleucus to flight 353. N. slayeth Seleucus brother ibid. dieth ibid. O. Antiochus Seleucus slayeth his Uncle 353. M. burned ibid. N. Antiochus Dionysius King 355. K. thrust out of his Kingdom ibid. slain 345. M. Antiochus perfidious to his Citizens 762. M. N. Antiochus King of Comagena accused 77. O. his choice c. ibid. M. reconciled to Caesar ibid. N. Antipas Herods son 606. K. claimeth the Kingdom ibid. accuseth Archelaus 606. L. hath part of the Kingdom with Archelaus 471. D. Antipater the Idumaean 360. K. incenseth the Princes against Aristobulus 360. M. relieveth Gabinius 367. M. his wife and children 369. A. c. gathereth souldiers for Caesars service ibid. E. made a citizen of Rome and Governour over Judaea 370. C. D. E. 567. F. makes his sons Governours 372. B. perswadeth Hircanus to flye 564. N. his exploits 567. C. poisoned 377. H. 570. K. Antipater banished 585. G. advanced 426. M. inciteth his father against his brothers 426. N. his congratulation 429. F. plotteth against his brethren 433. E. 588. L. cause of mischief 436. M. governeth the Kingdom c. 448. L. practiseth his fathers death ibid. M. 598. M. could not deceive his Aunt 448. N. hateth his brothers children 449. C. his treasons 599. F. accuseth Syllaeus 598. L. 452. K. studieth to win favour 594. M. conspireth against his father 594. L. accused by Herod 455. E. 599. F. answereth his fathers objections 456. H. hated of all 599. B. 457. G. hath liberty to justifie himself ibid. D. put to death 461. G. 603. A. Antipater accuseth Antipater 453. E. Antipater accuseth Archelaus 465. E. 606. L. M. Antipatris built 430. N. burned 635. C. Antiphilus letter to Antipater 456. M. blamed 459. B. Antiquity of the Jews proved 784. M. See Arguments Antiquities when written 543. B. Antonia described 722. A. not unlike a City ibid. C. Antonius writeth to Hircanus 378. G. writeth in the Jews behalf 379. K. maketh Tetrarchs 380. C. loveth Herod 384. B. maketh Herod King ibid. C. requireth Aristobulus 394. B. giveth Cleopatra a portion of Judaea and Arabia 399. H. conquereth Armenia ibid. M. Aphrica once called Lybia 42. I. Apollonius accuseth the Jews 806. M. Apollonius sent to rob the Temple 417. B. acknowledged his offence ibid. C. General of Antiochus army 316. E. discomfited and slain ibid. E. Apollonius Davus put to flight 334. E. Apology of Achimelech 166. K. of Aristobulus 363. H. Apostacy of the Priests 294. A. Apostates
Jews of Caesar's threats 616 n. writeth to Caius 496 i. receiveth Letters of Caius's death 497 â— 617 d. his Letter to the Dorâ—res 521 c. Phaceias King of Israel 250 â— his impiety and wickedness ibid. e. slew 120000 Jews 251 l. took Achaz's son Prisoner ib. m. was slain 252 c. Pharao enamoured of Sara 36 l. plagâ—ed ib. m. Pharao his dreams 55 b c. delivereth Joseph from bonds ib. c. advanceth him to great honour 55 g. rejoyceth at the arrival of Joseph's brethren 60 m. enquireth Jacob's age 61 e. restored the profits of his subject's lands 62 h. Pharao killeth the male children 62 o. would have killed Moses 64 n. and 66 k. his death 67 f. Pharao counselled to dismiss the Hebrews 68 i. not moved with miracles layeth heavier tasks on them ib. l. advised once more ibid. â— driveth away Moses 70 h. dismisseth the Israelites ib. k. his host drowned 72 k. Pharisees a sect 339 m. 477 a. greedy of revenge 357 i. exempt from swearing 417 l. would not swear obedience 451 c. 463 d. their opinion 614 n. Pharos a tower 708 m. Phasaelus his government 372 c. vanquisheth Foelix 377 o. 571 b. made Tetrarch 380 c. 571 e. taken prisoner 371 n. dasheth out his brains 383 i. Phasaelus Tower and City 530 n. 584 n. Pheroras made Tetrarch 416 g. accuseth Alexander and Aristobulus 426 l. refuseth the Kings daughter 433 g. blamed for Alexanders offence 438 l. pardoned ibid. deceived 450 m. refuseth to put away his wife 451 f. banished 596 m. falleth sick and dieth 452 m. 596 n. his wise accused 452 o. she confesseth the poyson 453 f. Philip rebelleth against Antiochus 322 f. is slain 323 k. Philip King of Syria 355 i. besiegeth Demetrius 355 h. Philip Herod's son 471 d. hath part of the Kingdom 471 d. repaireth Cities 478 â— Philo Judaeus's defence c. 494 i. Philistines overcame the Israelites 139 f. exacted tribute of them 139 f. put to flight 1â—8 m. invade the Israelâ—ites 154 k. are overcome 155 b c. and 160 m. discomfit Sauls army 173 f. overcome by David 180 i. k. by Ozias 249 l. by Ezechias 253 k. Phineas the son of Eleazar 108 k. slayeth Zambrias and Chosbi ib. l. overthrew the Madianites 108 l m. his Oration to the two tribes and half 127 g. succeeded Eleazar 128 o. foretold the Israelites their victory c. 131 d. Phineas Elies son 143 e his wickedness and impiety ib. e. is slain 144 n. his wife then bare Ichabod 145 c. Phison a flood of Paradise 28 k. called also Ganges ib. k. Phora 28 k. Phraates King of Parthia slain 478 o. Phul King of the Syrians 250 d. for money made a peace ibid. d. Piety profitable 224 n o. Piety of Ancestors remembred 63 b. Piety contemned cause of calamities 132 n. 133 d. 144 k c. 168 i. 252 c d. Piety of Asa 224 i. of Josaphat 231 m. of Jotham 250 f. of Ezechias 252 d. of Josias 258 〈◊〉 and 259 h i. c. of Matthias c. 315 i. Pigeons dung sold 23â— g. Pilate succeedeth Gratus 480 i. bringeth Caesar's statues to Jerusalem 480 i. not admitted 480 k. crucifieth Christ 480 m. putteth Samaritans to flight 482 l. accused ib. sendeth the statues from Jerusalem 480 k. beateth the seditious 615 f. Pillage taken 255 l. Pillars raised 30 k. A Pillar called Galaad 48 i. Pitcher of water 169 g. Pit to be senced 117 c. Pit of swearing 40 h. Pits bituminous 37 b. Pity of Joseph towards his brethren 60 i. Placidus repulsed at Jotapata 692 i. his victory 682 o. burneth Bethenabris â—00 i. Placing of the vessels c. in the Temple 250 b c. and 21â— d. 211 h l. Plagues of Egypt 68 o. 69 a b c d e f g. 70 k. Plague in David's time 19â— f. Plague invadeth Judea 409 k. 412 g. Plat-forms erected 669 a. Plants sprang at first out of the earth 27 f. Plants not of four years growth 113 c. Plato admired 811 d. permitteth not Poets c. 813 b. Pledge to be restored to the poor 116 k. Plenty fore-signified 55 e f. Plotting of Antipater 433 e. The Plough found out and by whom 29 b. Poem of Homer 781 b. Poets cause multitudes of gods 813 a. Poyson tryed c. 458 k l. 601 b. Policy of Rebecca c. for her son 44 l. of Jacob to pacifie his brother 48 m. of the Gabeonites 124 m. of Joseph 9 e. â—0 k. 1â— e. of Jonathan 16 m. of Joseph 642 h. 665 c. 668 h. 10 l m. Politianus meets with Agrippa c. 625 c. inciteth the people to peace ib. e. Pompey Governour of Syria 362 d. marcheth against Aristobulus 363 l. 36â— h. besiegeth Jerusalem 36â— l. committeth Aristobulus to prison ib. 565 g. taketh the Temple 365 k. bestoweth the Priesthood on Hircanus ib. 366 o. spoileth not the Temple ib. d. 566 m. carrieth Aristobulus to Rome 567 a. beheadeth conspirators 56â— n o. Popedius accused 5â—5 f. Popularity of Alcimus 324 b c. Porch of the Temple 208 m. â—ired 747 a. Port of Caesarea 415 i. Port made by Herod 584 i k. Portion of Salpades daughters 109 f. Portion of Judea 659 f. Possession of Canaan prophecâ—ed of 62 i. Posterity of Ismael 40 l. Posterity of Giants extinguished 37 b. Posterity of Jethro possessed of Land 129 d. Posterity of Noah replenished the world 32 o. Posterity of Esau 50 l. of Jacob 61 b. Poyson not to be used 1â—7 a. Power given to save 59 f. Power of God every where 230 f. Power of Kings Wine and Women 277 i k l. Power of the soul â—74 l. Power of David and Solomon 805 f. Practice of Simeon and Levi 49 c. Prey that the Israelites got in war 77 b c. 109 a. 123 â— 124 l. Prayer of Noah 32 â— of Amram 63 b. of Moses 72 i. 101 d c. of Joshuah 123 f. of Samson 142 k of Solomon 211 k. of Samuel and the Israelites 148 k l. Praise of Abraham 43 d. of Jacob 62 i. of Joseph 62 k. of Joshua 77 c. and 128 n of Moses 120 k. of Samuel 16â— l. of Saul 172 k. of David 202 e. of Solomon 218 c. of Josaphat 235 m. of Nehemias 285 k. of Ananus 694 n. of Eleazar 819 d. Praise given to God 70 k l. Prediction of things to come â—18 m. Preparations for war burned 322 b. Presents of Abraham 42 k. of Jacob 57 e. of the Egyptians 70 k. of Abigail 169 b. of the Mesopotamians 184 i. of the Queen of Aethiopia and of Kings 215 f. 216 l. of Ptolomy to the Interpreters 392 o. of Herod 591 d. Preservation of Moses 63 g. 64 n. of Daniel and his companions 269 n. Preservation from blood-shed 169 b. Presidents in every City 112 k. and what manner of men they ought to be ibid. k. Pride of Amasias 248 a. of Ozias 249 o. of Senacherib 255 n. of Nebuchodonosor 269 n. of Balthasar 271 h. of John 698 m. Priest's
incensed against his brother as well as the People drave him in like manner from the Sacrifice For which cause Manasses addressing himself to his Father-in-law Sanaballath told him Manasses under hope of greater fortunes retaineth the foreign wife he had That although he loved his daughter Nicasis very intirely yet would he not condescend for her sake to be deprived of the Priesthood which was the greatest dignity that could be among their Nation and which had ever continued in his race Whereupon Sanaballath answer'd and promis'd him That he O would not only continue him in the Priesthood but also would give him the power and dignity of the High-Priesthood and make him Governor of all places that he commanded provided the Marriage solemnized betwixt his daughter and him The year of the World 3630. before Christ's Nativity 334. were continued He furthermore assured A him That he would build a Temple resembling that in Jerusalem upon the Mountain of Garzim which was the highest in all the Countrey permitting him to do the same with Darius 's consent Manasses puffed up by these promises remaineth with Sanaballath and grew in hopes that he should obtain the Priesthood by Darius's means for Sanaballath was very old The Apostasie of the Priests Whereas divers others both Priests and common People among the Israelites were intangled in such Marriages there arose no small commotion in Jerusalem For all they of this condition retired themselves to Manasses whom Sanaballath furnished with money and lands to till and houses to inhabit to favour the ambition of his Son-in-law At the same time Darius understanding that Alexander having passed the Hellespont had B overcome those Governors Hedio Ruffinus cap. 8. whom he had placed near unto the River Granicus and that he passed further spoiling his Countrey he gathered together his Horsemen and Footmen resolving to make head against the Macedonians before they should gain all Asia he therefore passed Euphrates and Mount Taurus in Cilicia to encounter his enemies Sanaballath joyful at Darius's approach incontinently told Manasses that he would fulfill his promise as soon as Darius should return from the conquest of his enemies For not only he but also all the Asians persuaded themselves most assuredly that the Macedonians would not abide the battel against the Persians Alexander's victory against Darius by reason of their great multitude but it fell out altogether contrary to their expectation For the Persian encountering with the Macedonians was overcome and after he had lost the greater part of his Army and C left his Mother Wife and Children Prisoners he himself fled into Persia Alexander arriving in Syria seized on Damascus took Sidon and besieged Tyre and by his letters sending unto Jaddus the High-Priest of the Jews he required him to send him some supplies and to sell his Army victuals for their money assuring him That if he desired the friendship of the Macedonians he would give him that tribute which he paid to Darius and he should have no cause to repent of the choice which he should make The High-Priest answered Alexanders Messenger That he had sworn unto Darius never to bear Arms against him during his life-time against which oath of his he could not act Which when Alexander heard he was displeased but resolved notwithstanding to continue the siege at Tyre until such time as it should be taken yet threatned he that as soon as he had taken it he would lead D forth his Army against the High-Priest to the end that all Men might know to whom they ought to keep their faith For which cause sparing no labour he overcame Tyre and after he had given order for the settlement thereof he came unto Gaza and took it with Bahemeses the Captain of the Garison that held it But Sanaballath finding a fit opportunity to make himself great forsook Darius and followed Alexander leading with him eight thousand of his Subjects and coming to him at the beginning of the siege of Tyre he offered to surrender to him all those places wherein he commanded acknowledging him for his Lord more willingly than he had Darius Alexander received him graciously whereupon Sanaballath informed him of his condition and let him understand that Manasses who was brother to Jaddus the High-Priest of the Jews was his Son-in-law E who with divers of the same Nation were desirous to build them a Temple in the Countries under his dominion assuring the King of much profit thereby because in so doing the force of the Jews would be dismembred into two parts and they could not conspire together to make any new insurrection or trouble as in times past they had done during the Government of the Kings of Asiria When Sanaballath had permission from Alexander to build his Temple with the greatest speed he might he finished the same Manasses enjoyeth his desire and made Manasses the High-Priest thereof supposing that it was the greatest advantage that might happen to his daughters children Seven months after the surrender of Tyre and two after the taking of Gaza Sanaballath died Alexander also razed Gaza and prepared himself to come suddenly upon Jerusalem F Which when the High-Priest Jaddus understood he was much grieved and afraid not knowing how to gain the favour of the Macedonians and on the other side knowing that the King was displeased with him because heretofore he had disobeyed him He commanded the people to make their prayers unto God and he in his own person offered sacrifice beseeching God that it would please him to be a shield of defence and succor to their Nation and to deliver them from those imminent dangers wherewith they were threatned But the next night following whil'st he slept God appeared unto him and commanded him to be of good courage and that as soon as he had gone about the Wall he should open the Gates boldly and command the rest of the people to attire themselves in white and that accompanied with them he should march forwards G in those Priestly ornaments which were appointed by the Law to the end that in H this equipage they might go and meet with Alexander without any apprehension of future evil because he would protect them As soon as he awaked from his sleep he was very joyful and related this Revelation from God and performing that which had been commanded him he expected in this manner the approach of the King and when he knew that he was not far off from the City he marched forth to meet him accompanied with the Priests Alexander intending to besiege Jerusalem meeteth with the High-Priest and people in white and is honorably received by them and doâ—â— them honor in memory of his vision that appeared unto him in the like habit and a multitude of other people giving him a most Royal entertainment and far different from that of other Nations near unto a place called Sapha which word signifieth
out certain armed men who killed many of them and wounded the rest Hircanus after this disaster caused the dead to be buried and the wounded to be cured notwithstanding all this they that escaped would not contain themselves in Peace but so troubled the H City that Antonius in displeasure slew those that he had in hold CHAP. XI Of the War of the Parthians against the Jews Of the flight of Herod and his being made King of Judaea TWo years after this Ant. lib. 14. cap. 21. and when Barzapharnes a great Noble man of the Parthians governed Syria with Pacorus the King's Son Lysanias perswadeth Barzapharnes to depose Hircanus and enstate Antigonus Lysanias who had succeeded his Father I Ptolomaeus Son of Minaeus promised them a thousand Talents and five hundred Women to put Antigonus in possession of the Kingdom of Judaea and depose Hircanus Being induced by these promises Pacorus march'd along the Sea-coast and Barzapharnes past through the midst of the Countrey But amongst the rest of the places bordering on the Sea the Tyrians would not receive Pacorus notwithstanding the Citizens of Ptolemais and Sidon had given him entertainment wherefore he gave part of his Horse unto one who was the King's Butler called Pacorus as himself was commanding him to pass into Judaea and learn what their enemies meant to do and to help Antigonus where need required As they wasted the Countrey about Carmel many Jews came of their own accord and joyned with Antigonus shewing themselves K very prompt to fight for which cause he sent them before to take a place called Drymos where having fought with his enemies and put them to flight he pursued them with all speed as far as Jerusalem And his number being augmented he came to the King's Palace A sore fight in the Market-place betwixt Antigonus and Hircanus But Hircanus and Phasaelus met them with a strong Company and fought with them in the Market-place where the enemies were forced to fly and part of them were by Herod shut up in the Temple and he appointed to keep them sixty men which he placed in the houses next adjoyning But the people bearing a grudge to the two Brethren Daily slaughters in Jerusalem set the houses on fire Whereat Herod being angry for that his men were consumed with fire set upon the people and killed a great many of them and every hour one laid wait for another so that every day some were murthered L Now the Feast of Pentecost drawing nigh all places about the Temple and the whole City was filled with people of the Countrey whereof the most part was armed and Phasaelus kept the Walls and Herod with a small Company kept the King's Palace and assaulting their enemies upon the suddain as they were in the Suburbs they killed a great many of them and put all the rest to flight part of them he couped up in the City others he shut in the Temple and the rest between that and the uttermost Rampire Whereupon Antigonus requested that Pacorus might come and treat a Peace betwixt them Phasaelus entertaineth the Parthian and with him five hundred Horse Pacorus's Treason and subtilty Phasaelus moved by these prayers received the Parthian into the City and entertained him into his house accompanied with five hundred Horse who came under a pretence to make Peace but in effect he resorted M thither to help Antigonus for craftily conspiring against Phasaelus he perswaded him to repair to Barzapharnes as an Ambassadour to treat a Peace notwithstanding that Herod altogether disswaded him willing him to kill the Traitor and not to trust his subtilty adding that the Parthians were naturally unfaithful Pacorus departing out of the City The year of the World 3924. before Christ's Nativity 38. took Hircanus with him that he might be the less suspected and leaving some Horse with Herod named * Or free Eleutheri he followed Phasaelus with the rest When they came near Galilee they found the Inhabitants at variance and up in Arms and met with Barzapharnes who craftily with pretence of courtesie and friendship hid his Treachery who after he had bestowed Presents upon them and that they were retired laid an Ambush for them whereof they had intelligence N as they came to a place near the Sea-coast named Edippon Here they were informed of the thousand Talents that were promised Herod in Jerusalem and Phasaelus in the Camp are in danger of their lives and how that Antigonus had given the Parthians more than five hundred women of those that were amongst them and that oftentimes they had been laid wait for and had been lately taken but that delay was made till such time as Herod was surprized in Jerusalem lest he hearing what was become of them might provide for himself Now they perceived that these were not only words for they beheld some Guards not far off Yet would not Phasaelus forsake Hircanus notwithstanding that Oselius to whom Saramalla the richest among the Syrians had declared all the Treason exhorted him to fly but he chose rather to to go to Barzapharnes and to upbraid him to his face that he had treacherously laid O wait for him and for money had suffered himself to be corrupted whereas he himself would have given more for his life and liberty than Antigonus had done for the Kingdom A At these words the Parthian with Oaths and Protestations craftily freed himself from suspition and repaired to Pacorus But presently the Parthians who stayed behind and had charge so to do laid hands on Phasaelus and Hircanus who openly exclaimed against their falshood and perjury In the mean time Pacorus was sent out to surprize Herod and by some stratagem to â—oul him out of the City Herod is laid for to be betrayed He wrought by all the means he could according as he was instructed but Herod who was always wont to mistrust the perfideous practices of the Parthian and believed that the Letters which Phasaelus had writ to him to discover the Treason were fallen into the enemies hands would not go forth though Pacorus incited him to ride out and meet them that brought the Letters for he had already learnt B the taking of Phasaelus and Mariamne a very wise woman Hircanus's Daughter with many entreaties perswaded Herod not to go forth but to beware how he trusted himself to the mercy of that Barbarous people whose ill designs he could not be ignorant of Herod in the night time flyeth into Idumaea Whilst Pacorus was consulting with his Complices how he might privily effect his Treasons seeing it was not possible openly to circumvent a man of so great Wisdom Herod in the night time whilst his enemies neither knew nor suspected his intent took his nearest kindred and fled into Idumaea which being once known the Parthians followed him For which cause he made his Mother his Brethren and Mariamne whom he had espoused and
her Mother and youngest Brother to keep on their journey Herod more hotly pursued by the Jews than the Parthians and he with his Servants warily assaulted the Parthians and having in divers assaults C killed a great number of them he hasted towards the Castle of Massada and in his retreat sustained more harm by the Jews than by the Parthians who as they had been always troublesome so now within three score furlongs from the Town they set upon him Herod's Victory The Battel was long but Herod obtained the Victory killed a great many of them and in remembrance of the action built on that place a most stately Palace Herodion and a strong Castle which from his own name he called Herodion In this retreat many joyned with him But when he came to Thersa a Town of Idumaea his Brother Joseph met him and perswaded him to lessen the number of his followers because Massada could not receive such a multitude for the number amounted to above nine thousand Massada Herod according to his counsel dismissed those that were unfit for D his turn and sent them into Idumaea giving them necessaries for their journey As for those that were chosen men and fit for his purpose he retained them with him and so he was received into the Castle where leaving eight hundred Soldiers to defend the women Petra a City of Arabia and Provision sufficient for those that were within he himself went to Petra a City of Arabia In the mean time the Parthians at Jerusalem began to sack the houses of them that were fled The year of the World 3925. before Christ's Nativity 37. and the King's Palace they only abstained from Hircanus's money which amounted to more than three hundred Talents As for other men's Goods they found not so much as they expected for Herod long before suspecting the infidelity of the Parthians had sent all his Riches and Jewels into Idumaea as his followers also had E done When the Parthians had taken the spoil they were so impious that they left no place of the whole Countrey free from Pillage They destroyed the City of Marsa and bound Phasaelus and Hircanus and delivered them in Chains to Antigonus who presently cut off Hircanus's ears Antigonus cutteth off Hircanus's ears to the end that if by some alteration he chanced hereafter to get loose he might be no more High Priest for by our Law none may offer Sacrifice that wants any member of his body But Phasaelus his fortitude prevented the cruelty of Antigonus for having neither Weapon nor his hands at liberty he beat out his own brains against a stone and died demonstrating himself by that act to be the true Brother of Herod and not a Poltron like Hircanus Yet some report that Antigonus sent a Chirurgeon under pretence to cure the wound who filled the same with venomous F Medicines Phasaelus's words before he died and so killed him It is reported likewise that understanding before his death by means of a certain woman that Herod was escaped he spake these words Now I shall die without regret since I leave behind me one that will take vengeance of my enemies The Parthians established Antigonus King and so he died Although the Parthians had not yet received the five hundred women promised them which was the chief thing they looked for yet they established Antigonus in Jerusalem and led Hircanus Prisoner into Parthia But Herod with all speed hasted into Arabia as if his Brother had been yet alive to the intent to borrow money of the King of Arabia with which alone he hoped that the cruelty of those barbarous Parthians might be mitigated towards Phasaelus For his opinion was that although the Arabian had now forgot his Father's Friendship and G were hard-hearted yet at least he would lend him money seeing it was to redeem his Brother whose Son he meant to leave as a Pledge for it For Herod took with him a Son of his Brother 's into Arabia that was seven years old and purposed to give 300 Talents for his Ransom and had made the Tyrians intercessors for him to the Parthians H But Fortune prevented his endeavours so that his love and care for his Brother prevailed nothing He found also that the Arabians renounc'd the League of Amity for Malichus their King sent to him as he was yet in the way charging him with all speed to depart out of his Dominions pretending that the Parthians had sent Ambassadours to him to request him to drive him out of his Countrey but indeed the cause was that his ingratitude suffered him not to pay that which Antipater had deserved or requite his Sons now comfortless for those good turns that he had received at their Father's hands And those who counselled him to this were such as offered to forswear those Summs which Antipater had put them in trust with who were the chiefest men about him Herod perceiveth the Arabians to be his enemies Herod perceiving the Arabians to be his foes for that which I he thought would procure him friendship answered the Messenger according as his resentment moved him and took his journey towards Egypt and the first night he lodged in a Countrey Temple to the intent that those of his company that were behind him might overtake him The next day coming to Rhinoslura his Brother's death was told him after he had paid what he could not refuse to the first sentiments of so violent a sorrow he went forward In the mean time the King of Arabia though too late repented himself of that which he had done to Herod and sent Messengers after him to desire him to return but they could not overtake him he had marched so fast When Herod was come to Pelusium the Mariners of the City would not receive him into their Vessels for which K cause he in person went to the Governours who reverencing the Fame and Dignity of the man conducted him to Alexandria whither he no sooner came but Cleopatra received him very honourably intending to make him General of her Army which she was preparing at that time Herod in great dangers repaireth to Rome But he neither regarding the offers of the Queen nor yet discouraged by the hard Winter Season nor the dangers of the Seas took his journey towards Rome and being in great danger of Shipwrack near Pamphilia both he and the rest of the Passengers were forced to cast away the most part of their lading with much ado he arrived safe at Rhodes which had been much ruined in the War against Cassius there he was entertained by two of his friends Ptolomey and Sapinas and although his money grew scant yet there he built a great Galley with three Ranks of L Oars and in it being accompanied with his friends he sailed to Brundusium and from thence went straight to Rome Herod repairing to Rome hath conference with Antonius
do the like for himself for he built a Castle on a Mountain near Arabia having on one O side a strong place of defence Herodium and this Castle he called Herodium after his own name By the same name also he called a Mount sixty stades from Jerusalem artificially made A in manner of a woman's Dug which he adorned on the top with round Turrets and round about it he built Princely houses gallantly adorned both within and without He also brought water from a great distance with great cost and charges and made a pair of stairs of pure White Marble to go up which had two hundred steps For the whole Hill was made by Art and was of an exceeding height At the foot thereof likewise he built another Palace and houses to receive his Friends and their Carriages Herodium a Castle resembling a City so that this Castle for the abundance of all necessary Lodgings seemed a City and yet was all the King's Palace Having erected thus many Buildings he shewed his great mind in strange Cities likewise for at Tripolis and Damascus and Ptolemais Herod's bounty to all men he built publick Colledges for instructing Youth He built the Wall of Byblis B and Seats Porches Temples and Markets at Berytus and Tyre At Sidon and Damascus he built a Theatre and a Water-conduit at Laodicea a Sea-town At Ascalon he built Fountains or Lakes very sumptuous and Baths with Pillars that for greatness and good work were miraculous To other places he gave Forrests and Ports and to many Cities added Fields as though they had been Fellow-cities of his Kingdom And to others as to Coos he gave Annual Revenues for ever to the end they might never lose the remembrance of the obligation they had to him Moreover he gave all poor people Corn and he often and in sundry places lent the Rhodians money to build a Navy of Ships Herod famous through the World At his own proper cost he repaired the Temple of Apollo Pythius which had been burnt What shall I say of his liberality towards them C of Lycia and Samos or his magnificent Gifts towards all the people of Jonia Nay and the Athenians The year of the World 3954. before Christ's Nativity 8. Lacedemonians Nicopolites and the Citizens of Pergamus and Mysia received very many benefits at his hands He paved also a large Street in Antioch of Syria which was in length twenty stades and that with fair Marble This Street before that time was so full of dirt that no man could go thorough it And all along it he built Galleries that people might go dry thorough it in rainy weather Some may say that these benefits thus bestowed were for the proper use of those people on whom he bestowed them but no man can deny but that which he did for the Citizens of Elis was not only common to those of Achaia but to all the World where the Games called Olympica Certamina were solemnized For Herod seeing D them decay only for want of maintenance and that this was the only remainder of all the ancient Monuments of Greece he not only in his person at that time became one of the proposers of rewards in that Olympiade in which he went to Rome but also gave a yearly stipend to maintain the same lest for want they should be left off It is not to be told what Debts and Tributes he remitted for he delivered the Phasaelites and Balaneotes and other Towns of Cilicia from the payment of a yearly Tribute yet was he not so liberal to them as he would have been fearing lest the envy of some might accuse him of some further meaning if he should be more bountiful to the Cities than those that were the owners thereof Herod a great hunter He exercised his body likewise in exercises fit for so valiant a mind for he was a very skilful hunter wherein he had always his E purpose by reason of his skill in riding so that in one day he killed forty Wild Beasts That Countrey hath many Boars but it hath more store of Harts and Wild Asses He was such a Warrier that no man was able to encounter with him so that many were astonished to see him with what force and exactness he cast the Dart and drew the Bow Herod besides the vertue of mind and body had the blessings of Fortune Besides the Vertue both of his mind and body he had also good Fortune for very seldom the event of War was otherwise than he expected if it sometimes fell out contrary it was not through his fault but through the rashness of his Soldiers or else through Treason F CHAP. XVII Of the disagreement between Herod and his Sons Alexander and Aristobulus BUt his private and domestical sorrows troubled his publick felicity Ant. lib. 1â— cap. 3 8. lib. 16. cap. 13. and most adverse fortune befel him through the means of a woman whom he loved as himself For being now made King he put away his Wife which he first married a Lady born in Jerusalem Herod expelleth Antipater out of the City and killeth Hircanus his Wife's Uncle whose name was Doris and married Mariamne the Daughter of Alexander the Son of Aristobulus which caused troubles in his house both before but especially after his return from Rome For he banished his eldest Son Antipater G whom he had by Doris out of the City only for his Children's sake that he had by Mariamne licencing him only at Festival times to come to the City in regard of some suspicion of Treason intended against him And afterwards he slew Hircanus his wifes Uncle notwithstanding that he returned out of Parthia unto him because he H suspected that he intended some treason against him Barzapharnes after he had taken all Syria had carried him away prisoner with him But his own Countreymen that dwelt beyond Euphrates in commiseration redeemed him from thraldom and had he been counselled by them and not come to Herod he had not been killed but the marriage of his Niece caused his death for for that cause and especially for the love of his native soil he came thither That which moved Herod to kill him was not for that he sought the Kingdom but because he had right to the Kingdom Herod's children by Mariamne Herod had five Children by Mariamne two Daughters and three Sons The youngest was sent to Rome to study where he died The other two he brought up like Princes both for their Mothers Nobility and for that they were born after he I was King But that which above all was most prevalent in their favour was the love he bare to Mariamne which from day to day tormented him more violently in such sort that he seem'd insensible of those griefs which this his best beloved caused to him For Mariamne hated him as much as he loved her and having a just cause and colour of