own wickedness. Many things were also said, by a great number of persons, who were no way obliged to say them. Insomuch, chat Antipater, who used generally to be very shrewd in his lies and impudence, was not able to say one word to the contrary. When Nicolaus had left off speaking, and had produced the evidence; Varus bade Antipater make his defence; if he had prepared any thing whereby it might appear that he was not guilty of the crimes he was accused of. For that as he was himself desirous, so did he know that his father was in like manner desirous also, to have him found entirely innocent. But Antipater fell down on his face, and appealed to God, and to all men, for testimonials of his innocence; desiring that God would declare by some evident signals that he had not laid any plot against his father. This being the usual method of all men destitute of virtue; that when they set about any wicked undertakings, they fall to work according to their own inclinations as if they believed that God was unconcerned in human affairs: but when once they are found out, and are in danger of undergoing the punishment due to their crimes, they endeavor to overthrow all the evidence against them by appealing to God. And this was the thing which Antipater now did for whereas he had done every thing, as if there were no God in the world; when he was on all sides distressed by justice, and when he had no other advantage to expect from any legal proofs, by which he might disprove the accusations laid against him; he impudently abused the majesty of God; and ascribed it to his power, that he had been preserved hitherto and produced before them. all the difficulties he had ever undergone in his bold endeavors for his father's preservation. : So when Varus, upon asking Antipater what he had to say for himself, found that he had nothing to say, besides his appeal to God; and saw that there was no end of that; he bade them bring the potion before the court, that he might see what virtue still remained in it. And when it was brought, and one that was condemned to die had drank it, by Varus's command, he died presently. Then Varus got up, and departed out of the court; and went away the day following to Antioch, where his usual residence was: because that was the palace of the Syrians. Hereupon Herod laid his son in bonds: but what were Varus's discourses to Herod was not known to the generality and upon what words it was that he went away. Though it was also generally supposed, that whatsoever Herod did afterward about his son was done with his approbation. But when Herod had bound his son, he sent letters to Rome about him: and such messengers withal as should, by word of mouth, inform Cæsar of Antipater's wickedness. Now at this time there was seized a letter of Antiphilus's, written to Antipater, out of Egypt, (for he lived there,) and, when it was opened by the king, it was found to contain what follows: "I have sent thee Acme's letter; and hazarded my own life: for thou knowest that I am in danger from two families, if I be discovered. I wish thee good success in thy affair." These were the contents of this letter. But the king made inquiry about the other letter also: for it did not appear. And Antiphilus's slave, who brought that letter which had been read, denied that he had received the other. But, while the king was in doubt about it, one of Herod's friends seeing a seam upon the inner coat of the slave, and a doubling of the cloth, (for he had two coats on,) he guessed that the letter might be within that doubling; which accordingly proved to be true. So they took out the letter, and its contents were these: "Acme to Antipater. I have written such a letter to thy father as thou desiredst me. I also have taken a copy, and sent it, as if it came from Salome to my lady Livia. Which when thou readest, I know that Herod will punish Salome, as plotting against him." Now this pretended letter of Salome's to her lady was composed by Antipater, in the name of Salome, as to its real meaning but in the words of Acine. The letter was this: "Acme to king Herod. I have done my endeavor that nothing that is done against thee should be concealed from thee. So upon my finding a letter of Salome's, written to my lady* against thee, I have written out a copy, and sent it thee; with hazard to myself, but for thy advantage. The reason why she wrote it was this, that she had a mind to be married to Sylleus. Do thou, therefore, tear this letter to pieces, that I may not come into danger of my life." Now Acme had written to Antipater himself, and informed him, that, in compliance with his command, she had both written to Herod, as if Salome had laid a sudden plot entirely against him; and had herself sent a copy of an epistle, as coming from Salome to her lady. Now Acme was a Jewess by birth, and a servant to Julia, Cæsar's wife: and did this out of her friendship for Antipater; as having been corrupted by him with a large present of money, to assist in his pernicious designs against his father, and his aunt. laid all upon Antiphilus: but discovered nobody else. Hereupon Herod was in such grief, that he was ready to send his son to Rome, to Cæsar, there to give an account of these his wicked contrivances. But he soon became afraid, lest he might there, by the assistance of his friends, escape the danger he was in. So he kept him bound as before and sent more ambassadors and letters to Rome, with accusations against his son, and an account of the assistance Acme had given him in his wicked designs with copies of the afore-mentioned epistles. CHAP. VI. CONCERNING THE DISEASE WITH WHICH HEROD WAS AF- Now Herod's ambassadors hastened to Hereupon Herod was so amazed at the prodigious wickedness of Antipater, that he was ready to have ordered him to be slain immediately; as a turbulent person in the most important concerns; and as one that had laid a plot, not only against himself, but against his sister also; and even corrupted Cæsar's own domestics. Salome also provoked him to it; beating her breast, and bid-and Philip which the calumnies of Antipater ding him kill her, if he could produce any credible testimony that she had acted in that manner. Herod also sent for his son, and asked him about this matter; and bade him contradict it if he could, and not suppress any thing he had to say for himself. And when he had not one word to say, he desired, since he was every way caught in his villany, that he would make no further delay, but discover his associates in his wicked designs. So he * Livia. It is thought strange by some, that Josephus, who writes the life of Herod in most of its circumstances, should make no manner of mention of the murder of the innocents but, when it is considered that Josephus was only born in the first year of Caligula, and the thirty-seventh year of Christ; that he wrote his history of the Jewish Wars (which he extracted from public records) in the fifty-sixth year of his age; and that it can scarce be supposed an action so inglorious to the memory of Herod, as this massacre was, should be preserved in the Jewish re had raised against them. He also bequeathed a thousand talents to Cæsar; and five hundred to Cæsar's wife, children, friends, and freed-men. He distributed among his sons and grandsons his money, revenues, and lands. He also made Salome his sister very rich: because she had continued faithful to him in all his circumstances; and was never so rash as to do him any harm. And as he despaired of recovering, (for he was about the seven cords; it is not so very wonderful that he, who wrote above ninety-three years after the fact was committed, should make no mention of it; nor is it very material that he did not, since we find Macrobius, an Heathen author, about the latter end of the fourth age, not forgetting to acquaint us that Herod the king ordered to be slain in Syria (which, in Roman authors, is frequently set for Judea) some children that were under two years old' though he is mistaken in the circumstances of the story, when he makes Herod's own son to be one of them. Saturn. lib. 2, c. 4. B. tieth year of his age;) he grew fierce, and indulged the bitterest anger upon all occasions. The cause was that he thought himself despised; and that the nation was pleased with his misfortunes: besides which he resented a sedition excited against him, by some of the lower orders, on the following occasion: Our an example of life that would never be forgotten to posterity. They added, that as the common calamity of dying could not be avoided by living so as to escape any such dangers, it was proper for those who were in love with a virtuous conduct to wait for that fatal hour by such a behaviour as might carry them out of the world with praise and honor: and that it would alleviate death to a great degree to come at it by the performance of brave actions, which were attended with danger and at the same time to leave that reputation behind them to their children, and to all their relations, which would be of great There was one Judas, the son of Saripheus; and Matthias, the son of Margalothus; two of the most eloquent men among the Jews, and the most celebrated interpreters of the Jewish laws; and men well beloved by the people, because of their education of their youth: for all those that were studious of virtue frequent-advantage to them afterward. ed their lectures every day. These men, when With such discourses did these men excite they found that the king's distemper was in-their pupils to this action: and a report being curable, excited the young men to pull down come to them that the king was dead, this all those works which the king had erected, was an addition to their persuasions. So, in contrary to the law of their fathers and the very middle of the day, they got upon the thereby obtain the rewards which the law place, pulled down the eagle, and cut it to would confer on them for such actions of pieces with axes: while a great number of piety. For that it was truly on account of people were in the temple. And now the Herod's rashness in making such things as the king's captain, upon hearing what the underlaw had forbidden that his other misfortunes, taking was, and supposing it was a thing of a and this distemper also, which was so unusual higher nature than it proved to be, came up among mankind, and with which he was now thither: having a band of soldiers with him, afflicted, came upon him. For Herod had such as was sufficient to put a stop to the mulcaused such things to be made, as were con- titude of those who pulled down what was detrary to the law of which he was accused by dicated to God. So he fell upon them unexJudas and Matthias. For the king had erect-pectedly, and as they were upon this bold ed over the great gate of the temple a large attempt, in a foolish presumption, rather than golden eagle, of great value: and had dedi-a cautious circumspection, as is usual with the cated it to the temple. Now the law forbids those that propose to live according to it to * erect images or representations of any living creature. So these men persuaded their scholars to pull down the golden eagle: alleging, that although they should incur any danger, which might bring them to their deaths, the virtue of the action now proposed would appear much more advantageous to them than the pleasures of life: since they would die for the preservation and observance of the law of their fathers; and they would also acquire an everlasting fame, and commendation since they would be both commended by the present generation, and leave multitude; and while they were in disorder, and incautious of what was for their advantage. So he caught no fewer than forty of the younger men, who had the courage to stay behind, when the rest ran away; together with the authors of this bold attempt, Judas and Matthias, who thought it an ignominious thing to retire upon his approach; and led them to the king. And when they were come to the king, and he had asked them, If they had been so bold as to pull down what he had dedicated to God? "Yes," said they, "what was contrived we contrived, and what hath been performed we performed; and that with such a virtuous courage as becomes men. * That the making of images without an intention to worship them was not unlawful to the Jews, see the note on Book VIII. chap. 7. Now the people, on account of Herod's barbarous temper, and for fear he should be so cruel as to inflict punishment on them, said, that what was done was done without their For we have given our assistance to those || pulled it down to the ground. They prethings which were dedicated to the majesty tended, indeed, that they did it to affront him ; of God; and we have provided for what we but if any one considered the thing truly, they have learned by hearing the law. And it would find that they had been guilty of sacriought not to be wondered at, if we esteem lege against God. those laws which Moses had suggested to him, and were taught him by God, and which he wrote and left behind him, more worthy of observance than thy commands. Accordingly we will undergo death, and all sorts of punish-approbation; and that it seemed to them that ment which thou canst inflict upon us, with the actors might justly be punished. But as pleasure; since we are conscious to ourselves for Herod, he dealt more mildly with others. that we shall die, not for any unrighteous of the assembly: but he deprived Matthias of action, but for our love to religion. And the high-priesthood, as in part an occasion of thus they all said: and their courage was this action; and made Joazar, who was Matequal to their profession, and equal to that thias's wife's brother, high-priest in his stead. with which they readily set about this under- Now it happened that, during the time of the taking. And when the king had ordered high-priesthood of this Matthias, there was them to be bound, he sent them to Jericho, another person made high-priest for a single and convened the principal men among the day; that very day which the Jews observe Jews. And when they were come, he made as as a fast. The occasion was as follows: them assemble in the theatre: and because he This Matthias the high-priest, on the night could not himself stand, he lay upon a couch, before that day when the fast was to be celeand enumerated the many labors that he had brated, seemed, in a dream, to have converlong endured on their account; and his build-sation with his wife and because he could ing of the temple, and what a vast charge that not officiate himself on that account, Joseph, was to him while the Asmoneans, during the the son of Ellemus, his kinsman, assisted hin hundred and twenty-five years of their go-in that sacred office. But Herod deprived vernment, had not been able to perform any so great a work for the honor of God as that was. He said he had also adorned it with very valuable donations: on which account he hoped that he had left himself a memorial, and procured a reputation after his death. But now Herod's distemper increased upon He then cried out that these men had not him, after a severe manner; and this by abstained from affronting him, even in his God's judgment for his sins. For a fire life-time; but that in the very day-time, and glowed in him slowly, which did not so much in the sight of the multitude, they had abused appear to the touch outwardly as it augmenthim to that degree, as to fall upon what heed his pains inwardly. For it brought upon had dedicated, and in that way of abuse had him a vehement appetite to eating, which he this Matthias of the high-priesthood; and burnt the other Matthias, who had raised the sedition, with his companions, alive. And that † very night there was an eclipse of the moon. This eclipse of the moon (which is the only eclipse of either of the luminaries mentioned by Josephus in any of his writings) is of the greatest consequence for the determination of the time for the death of Herod and Antipater, and for the birth and entire chronology of Jesus Christ. It happened March 13th, in the year of the Juperiod 4710, and the fourth year before the Chris This fact, that one Joseph was made high priest for a single day, on occasion of the accident that befel Matthias, the real high-priest, in his sleep, the night before the great day of expiation, is attested to both in the Mishna and Talmud, as Dr. Hudson here informs us. And indeed from this fact, thus fully attested, we may confute that pretended rule in the Talmud, that the high-lian priest was not suffered to sleep the night before that great day of expiation: which watching would surely rather unfit him for the many important duties he was to perform on that solemn day, than dispose him duly to perform them. tian æra. The disease of which he died, and the misery which he suffered under it, plainly shewed that the hand of God was then, in a signal manner, upon him. For, not long after the murder of the infants at Bethlehem, his could could not avoid to supply with one sort of food or other. His entrails were also ulcerated: an aqueous and transparent liquor had settled itself about his feet; and a like matter afflicted him at the bottom of his belly. And when he sat upright, he had a difficulty of breathing, which was very loathsome on account of the stench of his breath, and the quickness of its returns. He had also convulsions in all parts of his body; which debilitated him to an insufferable degree. It was said by those who pretended to divine, and who were endued with wisdom to foretel such things, that God inflicted this punishment on the king on account of his great impiety. Yet was he still in hopes of recovering; though his afflictions seemed greater than any one could bear. He also sent for physicians, and did not refuse to follow what they prescribed for his assistance: and went beyond the river Jordan, and bathed himself in the warm baths that were at Callirrhoe; which, besides their other general virtues, were also fit to drink: which water runs into the lake called Asphaltites. And when the physicians once thought fit to have him bathed in a vessel full of oil, it was supposed that he was just dying. But, upon the lamentable cries of his domestics, he revived: and, having no longer the least hopes of recovering, he gave order that every soldier should be paid fifty drachmæ : and he also gave a great deal to their commanders, and to his friends; and came again to Jericho. There, however, he grew so choleric, that it brought him to do all things like a madman: and, though he were near his death, he contrived the following wicked designs. He commanded that all the principal men of the Jewish nation, wheresoever they lived, should be called to him. Accordingly a great number came; because the whole nation were called; and all men heard of this call; and death was the penalty of such as should neglect the epistles that were sent to call them and now the king was in a wild rage against them all; the innocent, as well as those that had afforded ground for accusations. And, when they were come, he ordered them to be all shut up in the hippodrome: and sent for his sister Salome and her husband Alexas, and spake thus to them: village in Judea, upon pain of death, he summoned to come together to Jericho, where he was lying sick, and, when they were come, commanded his soldiers to shut them all up in a spacious place, called the hippodrome: when having called his sister Salome, and her husband Alexas, with some choice friends, he told them with tears That he was sensible of the Jews' hatred to his government and person, and that his death would be a high satisfaction to them; that his friends, therefore, ought to procure him some solace in the midst of his bitter anguish, which if they performed according to his order, the mournings and lamentations at his death would be as great and magnificent as ever any prince had; and this order was, that, on the same hour when he expired, the soldiers should surround the Hippodrome, and put all the enclosed persons to the sword, and then publish his death, which (as he said), would cause his exit to be doubly triumphant; first, for the posthumous execution of his commands; and, secondly, for the quantity and number of his mourners.' But Salome and Alexas, not being wicked enough to do what they had been made solemnly to promise, chose rather to break their obligation, than make themselves the executioners of so bloody a design; and, therefore, as soon as Herod was dead, they opened the Hippodrome, and permitted all that were shut up in it to return to their respective homes. Josephus De Bello Jud. lib. 1, c. 18; Prideaux's Connection, Part II. and Eachard's Ecclesiastical History, distemper (as Josephus informs us) daily increased, af- * A place for the horse-races. |