And *the seventh day we set apart from labour; it is dedicated to the learning of our customs and laws, we thinking it proper to reflect on them, as well as on any good thing else, in order to our avoiding of sins. If any one, therefore, examine into our observances, he will find, they are good in themselves, and that they are ancient also; though some think otherwise. Iusomuch that those who have received them cannot easily be brought to depart from them, out of that honour they pay to the length of time they have religiously enjoyed and observed them. Now our adversaries take these privileges away unjustly; they violently seize upon that money of ours which is offered to God, and called sacred money; and this openly, after a sacrilegious manner. They also impose tributes upon us, and bring us before tribunals on holy days; and then require other like debts of us, not because the contracts require it, and for their own advantage; but because they would put an affront on our religion; of which they are conscious as well as we, and have indulged themselves in an unjust hatred. For your government over all is one; tending to the establishing of benevolence, and abolishing of ill-will among such as are disposed to it. This is, therefore, what we implore from thee, most excellent Agrippa, that we may not be ill-treated; that we may not be abused; that we may not be hindered from making use of our own customs; nor be despoiled of our goods, nor be forced by these men to do what we ourselves force nobody to do. For these privileges of ours are not only according to justice, but have formerly been granted us by you. And we are able to read to you many decrees of the senate, and the tables that contain them, which are still extant in the capitol, concerning these things which, it is evident, were granted after you had had experience of our fidelity towards you; which ought to be valid, though no such fidelity had been. For you have hitherto preserved what people were in possession of, not to us only, but al most to all men; and have added greater advantages than they could have hoped for: and thereby your government is become : We may here observe the ancient practice of the Jews, of dedicating the sabbath day, not to idleness, but to the learning of their sacred rites and religious customs; and to the meditation on the law of Moses, a great advantage to them. And if any one were able to enumerate the prosperity you have conferred on every nation, which they possess by your means, he could never put an end to his discourse. But that we may demonstrate that we are not unworthy of all those advantages we have obtained, it will be sufficient for us to say nothing of other things, but to speak freely of this king who now governs us, and is now one of your ancestors. And indeed in what instance of good will as to your house hath he been deficient? What mark of fidelity to it hath he omitted? What token of honour hath he not devised? What occasion for his assistance of you hath he not regarded at the very first? What hindereth therefore, but that your kindnesses may be as numerous as his benefits to you have been? It may also perhaps be fit not here to pass over in silence the valour of his father Antipater; who, when Cæsar made an expedition into Egypt, assisted him with two thousand armed men; and proved inferior to none, neither in the battles at land, nor in the management of the navy. And what need I say any thing of how great weight those soldiers were at that juncture? or how many,. and how great presents they were vouchsafed by Cæsar? And truly I ought before now to have mentioned the epistles which Cæsar wrote to the senate: and how Antipater had honours and the freedom of the city of Rome bestowed upon him. For these are demonstrations both that we have received these favours by our own deserts, and do on that account petition for your confirmation of them; from whom we had reason to hope for them; though they had not been given us before: both out of regard to our king's disposition towards you, and your disposition towards him. And farther, we have been informed by those Jews that were there, with what kindness thou camest into our country; and how thou offeredst the most perfect sacrifices to God, and honouredst him with remarkable vows and how thou gavest the people a feast, and acceptedst of their own hospitable presents to thee. We ought to esteem all these kind entertainments made both by our nation and our city, to a man who is the ruler and manager of so much of the public affairs, as indications of that friendship which thou hast returned to the Jewish nation; and which hath been procured them by the family of Herod. So we remind thee of these things in the presence of the king, now sitting by thee; and make our request for no more but this; that what you have given us yourselves, you will hot see taken away by others." speech, there was no opposiFor this was not an inquiry When Nicolaus had made this tion made to it by the Greeks. made, as in a court of justice; but an intercession to prevent violence to be offered to the Jews any longer. Nor did the Greeks make any defence of themselves: or deny what it is supposed they had done. Their pretence was no more than this, that while the Jews inhabited in their country, they were entirely unjust to them, in not joining in their worship. But they demonstrated their generosity in this; that though they worshipped according to their own institutions they did nothing that ought to grieve them. So when Agrippa perceived that they had been oppressed by violence, he made answer, that on account of Herod's good will and friendship, he was ready to grant the Jews whatsoever they should ask and that their requests seemed in themselves just: and that if they requested any thing farther, he should not scruple to grant it them; provided they were no way to the detriment of the Roman government. But that, while their request was no more than this, that what privileges they had already given them might not be abrogated, he confirmed this to them, that they might continue in the observance of their own customs, without any one offering them the least injury. And when he had said thus, he dissolved the assembly. Upon which Herod stood up and saluted him, and gave him thanks for the kind disposition he showed to them. Agrippa also took this in a very obliging manner, and saluted him again, and embraced him in his arms. After which he went away from Lesbos. But the king determined to sail from Samos to his own country: and when he had taken leave of Agrippa, he pursued his voyage: and landed at Cæsarea in a few days; as having favourable winds. He then went to Jerusalem, * and there gathered all the people to an assembly; not a few being there out of the country also. So he came to them, and gave them a particular account of all his journey, and of the affairs of all the Jews in Asia; how by his means they would live without injurious treatment for the time to come. He also told them of the good fortune he had met with; and how he had administered the government; and had not neglected any thing which was for their advantage. And as he was very joyful, he now remitted to them the fourth part of their taxes for the last year. Accordingly they were so pleased with his favour and speech to them, that they went their ways with great gladness, and wished the king all manner of happiness. CHAP. III. OF THE DISTURBANCES WHICH AROSE IN HEROD'S FAMILY ON HIS PREFERRING ANTIPATER, HIS ELDEST SON, BEFORE THE REST. BUT the affairs in Herod's family were more and more in disorder, and became more severe upon him, by the hatred of Salome to the young men Alexander and Aristobulus: which descended as it were by inheritance, from their mother Mariamne. And as she had fully succeeded against their mother; so she proceeded to that degree of madness and insolence, as to endeavour that none of her posterity might be left alive, who might have it in their power to revenge her death. The young men had also somewhat of a bold and uneasy disposition towards their father; occasioned by the remembrance of what their mother had unjustly suffered; and by their own ambition of governing. The old grudge was also renewed; and they cast reproaches on Salome and Pheroras: who requited the young men with malicious designs, and actually laid treacherous snares for them.Now this hatred was equal on both sides; but the manner of exerting it was different. For the young men were rash; reproaching and affronting the others openly and were inexperienced enough to think it most generous to declare their minds in that undaunted manner. But the others made use of calumnies after a subtle and spiteful manner; still provoking the young men, and imagining that their boldness might in time turn to the offering violence to their father. For inasmuch as they were not ashamed of the pretended crimes of their mother, nor thought : she suffered justly; these supposed that might at length exceed all bounds, and induce them to think they ought to be avenged on their father; though it were by despatching him with their own hands. At length the whole city was full of these discourses: and, as is usual in such contests, the unskilfulness of the young men was pitied; but the contrivance of Salome was too hard for them, and what imputations she laid upon them came to be believed, by means of their own conduct. For they were so deeply affected with the death of their mother, that while they said both she and themselves were in a miserable case, they vehemently complained of her pitiable end; which indeed was truly such; and said that they were themselves in a pitiable case also; because they were forced to live with those that had been her murderers, and to be partakers with them. These disorders increased greatly and the king's absence had afforded a fit opportunity for that increase. But as soon as Herod was returned, and had made the aforementioned speech to the multitude, Pheroras and Salome immediately dropped some hints as if he were in great danger; and as if the young men openly threatened, that they would not spare him any longer, but would revenge their mother's death upon him. They also added another circumstance, that their hopes were fixed on Archelaus, the king of Cappadocia ; that they should be able by his means to come to Cæsar, and accuse their father. Upon hearing these things, Herod was greatly disturbed; and indeed was the more astonished because the same things were related to him by some others also. He then called to mind his former calamity, and considered, that the disorders in his family had hindered him from enjoying any comfort with those that were dearest to him, or with his wife whom he loved so well. And suspecting that his future troubles would soon be heavier and greater than those that were past, he was in great confusion of mind; for Divine Providence had in reality conferred upon him a great many outward advantages for his happiness, even beyond his hopes. But the troubles he had at home were, such as he never expected to have met with; and rendered him un * An. 13. |