fortune as much as any man ever was; for from a private man he became a king: and though he were encompassed with ten thousand dangers, he got clear of them all, and continued his life till a very old age. But as to the affairs of his family, he was very unfortunate, though he deemed himself fortunate, in being able to conquer his enemies.

But Salome and Alexas, before the king's death was made known, dismissed those that were shut up in the Hippodrome; and told them, that the king ordered them to go their ways to their own lands, and take care of their own affairs; which was esteemed, by the nation, a very great benefit. And now the king's death was made public; when Salome and Alexas gathered the soldiery together in the amphitheatre at Jericho.And the first thing they did was to read Herod's letter to the soldiery; thanking them for their fidelity and good will to him, and exhorting them to afford his son Archelaus, whom he had appointed for their king, like fidelity and good will. After which Ptolemy, who had the king's seal intrusted to him, read the king's will; which was to be of force no otherwise than as it should stand when Cæsar had inspected it. So there was presently an acclamation made to Archelaus, as king. And the soldiers came by bands, and their commanders with them, and promised the same good will and readiness to serve him, which they had exhibited to Herod : and they prayed God to be assistant to him.

After this was over, they prepared for the funeral: it being Archelaus's care that the procession to his father's sepulchre should be very sumptuous. Accordingly he brought out all his ornaments, to adorn the pomp of the funeral. The body was carried upon a golden bier, embroidered with very precious stones, of great variety; and it was covered over with purple, as well as the body itself; he had also a diadem upon his head, and above it a crown of gold; and held a sceptre in his right hand. About the bier were his sons, and his numerous relations. Next to these was the soldiery; distinguished according to their several countries and denominations. And they were put into the following order. First of all went his guards; then the band of Thracians; and after them the Germans; and next the

And

band of Galatians; every one in their habiliments of war. behind these marched the whole army, in the same manner as they used to go out to war; and as they used to be put in array by their muster-masters, and centurions. These were followed by five hundred of his domestics, carrying spices. So they went *eight furlongs to Herodium: for there, by his own command, he was to be buried.

Now Archelaus paid him so much respect, as to continue his mourning till the fseventh day: for so many days are appointed for it by the law of our fathers. And when he had given a treat to the multitude, and left off his mourning, he went up into the temple. He had also acclamations and praises given him which way soever he went; every one striving who should appear to use the loudest acclamations. So he ascended a high elevation made for him, and took his seat in a throne made of gold; and spake kindly to the multitude; and declared with what joy he received their acclamations, and the marks of the good will they showed to him. And returned them thanks, that they did not remember the injuries his father had done them, to his disadvantage; and promised them he would not be tardy in rewarding their alacrity in his service, after a suitable manner. But that he should abstain at present from the name of king; and that he should have the honour of that dignity, if Cæsar should confirm and settle that will which his father had made and that it was on this account, that when the army would have placed the diadem on his head at Jericho, he would not accept of that honour, which is usually so much desired, because it was not yet evident that he who was to be principally concerned in bestowing it, would give it him. Although, by his acceptance of the government, he should not want the ability of rewarding their kindness to him: and that it should be his endeavour, as to all things wherein they were concerned, to prove, in every respect, better than his father. Hereupon

* At eight stadia or furlongs a day, as here, Herod's funeral, conducted to Herodium, (which lay at the distance from Jericho, where he died, of 200 stadia or furlongs; of the War, 1. 33.) must have taken up no less than 25 days.

+ See the note Of the War, II. 1.

the multitude, as it is usual with them, supposed that the first days of those that enter upon such governments declare the intentions of those that accept them: and so by how much Archelaus spake the more gently and civilly to them, by so much did they more highly commend him, and made application to him for the grant of what they desired. Some intreated that he would ease them of some of their annual payments; but others desired him to release those that were put into prison by Herod, who were many, and had been put there at several times; while others required that he would take away those heavy taxes which had been levied upon what was publicly sold and bought. So Archelaus contradicted them in nothing; since he pretended to do all things so as to get the good will of the multitude to him: as looking on that good will to be a great step towards his preservation of the government. Accordingly he went and offered sacrifice to God; and then sat down to feast with his friends.

CHAP. IX.

OF THE SEDITION WHICH WAS RAISED AGAINST ARCHELAUS; AND OF HIS VOYAGE TO ROME.

AT this time* some of the Jews got together out of a desire of innovation. They lamented Matthias, and those that were slain with him, for pulling down the golden eagle; who had not any respect paid them by a funeral mourning, out of the fear men were in of Herod. The people made a great clamour and lamentation hereupon; and cast out some reproaches against the king; as if that tended to alleviate the miseries of the deceased. These people assembled together, and desired of Archelaus, that, in way of revenge on their account, he would inflict punishment on those who had been honoured by Herod ; and that in the first place, he would deprive the high-priest whom Herod had made; and would appoint one more agreeable to the law, and of greater purity to officiate at the altar. This

was granted by Archelaus, although he was greatly offended at their importunity; because he proposed to go to Rome imme-. diately, to look after Cæsar's determination about him. However, he sent the general of his forces to use persuasions, and to tell them that the death which was inflicted on their friends was according to the law; and to represent to them that their petitions about these things were carried to a great height of injury to him; that the present time was not proper for such petitions; but required their unanimity, until he should be established in the government by the consent of Cæsar, and should be come back to them. For that he would then consult with them in common, concerning the purport of their petitions; but that they ought at present to be quiet, lest they should seem seditious persons.

When the king had suggested these things, and instructed his general in what he was to say, he sent him to the people. But they made a clamour, and would not give him leave to speak, but put him in danger of his life and as many more as were desirous to venture upon saying openly any thing which might reduce them to a sober mind, and prevent their going on in their present courses. Because they had more concern to have all their own wills performed, than to yield obedience to their governors; thinking it to be a thing insufferable, that while Herod was alive, they should lose those that were the most dear to them; and that when he was dead, they could not get the actors to be punished. So they went on with their designs after a violent manner; and thought all to be lawful and right which tended to please them and being unskilful in foreseeing what dangers they incurred; and when they had some suspicion of such a thing, yet did the present pleasure they took in the punishment of those they deemed their enemies, overweigh all such considerations. And although Archelaus sent many to speak to them, yet they treated them not as messengers sent by him, but as persons that came of their own accord to mitigate their anger; and would not let one of them speak. The sedition also was made by such as were in a great passion: and it was evident that they were proceeding farther in seditious practices, by the multitudes running so fast unto them.

:

Now upon the approach of that feast of unleavened bread, which the law of their fathers had appointed for the Jews at this time; which feast is called the Passover, and is a memorial of their deliverance out of Egypt: when they are required to slay more sacrifices than at any other festival; and when an innumerable multitude came thither out of the country, nay, from beyond its limits also, in order to worship God; the seditious lamented Judas and Matthias, those teachers of the laws; and kept together in the temple, and had plenty of food; because these seditious persons were not ashamed to beg it. And as Archelaus was afraid lest some terrible thing should spring up by the means of these men's madness, he sent a regiment of armed men, and with them a captain of a thousand, to suppress the violent efforts of the seditious, before the whole multitude should be infected with the like madness; and gave them this charge, that if they found any more openly seditious than others, and more busy in tumultuous practices, they should bring them to him. But those that were seditious on account of those teachers of the law, irritated the people by the noise and clamour they used to encourage them in their designs. So they made an assault upon the soldiers, and came up to them; and · stoned the greatest part of them: although some of them ran away wounded, and their captain among them. And when they had thus done, they returned to the sacrifices which were already in their hands. Now Archelaus thought there was no way to preserve the government, but by cutting off those who made this attempt upon it. So he sent out the whole army upon them, and sent the horsemen to prevent those that had their tents without the temple, from assisting those that were within; and to kill such as ran away from the footmen, when they thought themselves out of danger. Accordingly, the horsemen slew three thousand men while the rest went to the neighbouring mountains. Then did Archelaus order proclamation to be made to them all, that they should retire to their own homes. So they went away and left the festival, out of fear of somewhat worse which would follow; although they had been so bold, by reason of their want of instruction. So Archelaus