so powerful withal. So Herod yielded to him, and changed his resolution at his entreaty and the determination now was, that Antipater himself should marry Aristobulus's daughter; and Antipater's son should marry Pheroras's daughter. So the espousals for the marriages were changed after this manner; even without the king's real approba tion. Now Herod had at this time nine wives. Antipater's mother; and the high-priest's aughter, by whom he had a son of his own uame. He had also one of his wives who was his brother's daughter; and another who was his sister's daughter: which two had no children. One of his wives also was of the Samaritan nation; whose sons were Antipas, Archelaus; and whose daughter was Olympias; which daughter was afterward married to Joseph, the king's brother's son. But Archelaus and Antipas were brought up with a certain private man at Rome. Herod had also to wife Cleopatra of Jerusalem, and by her he had his sons Herod and Philip, which last was also brought up at Rome. Pallas also was one of his wives, which bare him his son "Phasaelus. And besides these he had for his See Book XVI. chap. 7. wives Phedra and Elpis; by whom he had his CHAP. II. CONCERNING ZAMARIS, THE BABYLONIAN JEW; THE PLOTS AND now it was that Herod, being de- + Those who have a mind to know all the family and descendants of Antipater the Idumean, and of Herod the Great, his son; and have a memory to preserve them all distinctly; may consult Josephus, both here and XVIII. 5, * and Of the War, I. 28, and Noldius in Havercamp's edition, p. 336, and Spanheim, ibid. pag. 402-405, and Reland Palestin. Pt. 1. pag. 175, 176. I shall content myself with a scheme of his own wives and children; with those that are mentioned or intimated in the New Testament. Autipater of Idumea had four sons: Phasaelus, Herodes, Josephus, and Pheroras; and a daughter Salome, 1 with an hundred of his relations, had passed over Euphrates, and now resided at Antioch by Daphne of Syria: where Saturninus, who was then president, had given them a place for habitation, called Valatha: he sent for this man, with the multitude that followed him, and promised to give him land in the toparchy called Batanea: which country is bounded by Trachonitis: as desirous to make that habitation a guard to himself. He also engaged to let him hold the country free from tribute; and that they should dwell entirely without paying such customs as used to be paid, and gave it him tax-free. whom when the Romans have now taken the government into their own hands, they still give them the privilege of their freedom; but oppress them entirely with the imposition of taxes. At length Zamaris, the Babylonian, to whom Herod had given that country for a possession, died having lived virtuously, and left children of a good character behind him. One of which was Jacim; who was famous for his valor, and taught bis Babylonians how to ride their horses. And a troop of them were guards to the aforementioned kings. And when Jacim was dead in his old age, he left a son, whose name was Philip; one of great strength in bis hands, and in other respects also more eminent for his valor than any of his contemporaries. On which account there was a confidence and firm friendship between him and king Agrippa. He had also an army, which he maintained, as great as that of king: which he exercised, and led whereso¬ ever he had occasion to march. a The Babylonian was induced by these offers to come hither. So he took possession of the land, and built in it fortresses, and a village; and named it Bathyra. Thus this man became a safeguard to the inhabitants against the Trachonites; and preserved those Jews who came out of Babylon, to offer their sacrifices at Jerusalem, from being hurt by the Trachonite robberies. So that a great number came to him from all those parts where the When the affairs of Herod were in the conancient Jewish laws were observed; and the dition I have described, all the public affairs country became populous, by reason of their depended upon Antipater: and his power was universal freedom from taxes. This continued such, that he could do good turns to as many during the life of Herod. But when Philip, as he pleased; and this by his father's conwho was tetrarch after him, took the govern- cession: and in hopes of his good will and ment, he made them pay some small taxes, fidelity to him: and this till he ventured to and that for a little while only. But Agrippa use his power still farther: because his wicked the Great, and his son, of the same name, designs were concealed from his father, and although they harassed them greatly, yet he made him believe every thing he said. He would not take their liberty away. From was also formidable to all: not so much on HEROD the Great Antipater slain by his father five days before he died, Antiq. XVII. 7 and 8. Of the War, I. 33. He was one of those that sought the young child's life, Matt. ii. 20. The other was Herod himself. Aristobulus the Agrippa, or Herod the Great: made by Caius 1 2 Herodias, wife to Herod-Philip. Matt. xiv. 3. Agrippa, jun. king of a country near Judea, Acts xxv. 13, 23. Almost a Christian. Acts xxvi. 28. 2 Bernice, his sister, ib, and wife to his brother Herod, king of Chalcis, Antiq. XIX. 5. Drusilla, his other sister, Acts xxiv. 24. and wife to Felix the Jewish governor. 3 Archelaus: king or ethnarch of Judea, Matt. ii. 22. Antiq. XVIII. 8- -13. the son of Malthace. Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis, Luc. iii. 1. Antiq. XVIII. 8. the son of Cleopatra. He married Salome, the daughter of Herodias, by Herod-Philip, Antiq. XVIII. 5. not Herodias herself. Herod-Philip: the first husband of Herodias; and the father of her daughter Salome: he was the son of Mariamne, the high-priest Simon's daughter, Of the War, I. 28. Of these see also Prid. at the year 4. *The Bashan of the Old Testament. account * account of the power and authority he had, as chief; but agree perfectly when they are aut for the shrewdness of his vile attempts, before-of the sight of the multitude. For when they band. But he who principally cultivated a are alone by themselves, they act in concert friendship with him was Pheroras; who re- and profess that they will never leave off their ceived the like marks of his friendship; while friendship, but will fight against those from Antipater had cunningly encompassed him whom they conceal their designs." And thus with a company of women, whom he placed did she search out these things, and get a as guards about him. For Pheroras was greatly perfect knowledge of them; and then told her enslaved by his wife, and her mother, and sis-brother of them. He, indeed, understood of ter; and this notwithstanding the batred he himself a great deal of what she said; but bare them, for the indignities they bad offered still durst not depend upon it: because of the to his virgin daughters. Yet did he bear them, suspicions he had of his sister's calumnies. For and nothing was to be done without the wo- there was a certain sect of men that were men who had got this man into their circle, Jews, who valued themselves highly upon the and continued still to assist each other in all exact skill they had in the law of their fathers, things: insomuch that Antipater was entirely and † made men believe they were highly addicted to them, both by himself and by his favored by God, by whom this set of women mother. For these four women said all one were inveigled. These are those that are and the same thing. But the opinions of called the sect of the Pharisees; who are in a Pheroras and Antipater were different in some capacity of greatly opposing kings. A cunpoints of no consequence. But the king's sis- ning seet they were; and soon elevated to a ter Salome was their antagonist; who for a pitch of open fighting, and doing mischief. good while had looked about all their affairs, Accordingly, when all the people of the Jews and was apprized that this their friendship was gave assurance of their good will to Cæsar, and made in order to do Herod some mischief; to the king's government; these did not and was disposed to inform the king of it. swear; being above six thousand. And when And since these people knew that their friend- the king imposed a fine upon them, Pheroras's ship was very disagreeable to Herod; as wife paid their fine for them. In order to tending to do him a mischief; they contrived requite which kindness of her, since they that their meetings should not be discovered. were believed to have the foreknowledge So they pretended to hate one another, and of things to come, by divine inspiration; to abuse each other when time served; and they foretold how God had decreed that Heespecially when Herod was present, or when rod's government should cease, and his pos any one was there that would tell him, But terity should be deprived of it; but that the still their intimacy was firmer than ever, when kingdom should come to her, and Pheroras, they were private. They could not, however, and to their children. These predictions were conceal from Salome their first contrivance, not concealed from Salome; but were told when they set about these their intentions; the king: as also how they bad perverted nor when they had made some progress in some persons about the palace. So the king them. But she searched out every thing; and, slew such of the Pharisees as were principally aggravating the relations to her brother, de-accused, and Bagoas the eunuch; and one clared to him as well their secret meetings Carus, who exceeded all men of that time in as their counsels taken in a clandestine man- comeliness; and one that was his catamite, ner which if they were not in order to destroy He also slew, all those of his own family, who bim, they might well have been open and had consented to what the Pharisees foretold. public. "Now," said she, "to appearance And for Bagoas, he had been puffed up by they are at variance, and speak about one them, as though he should be named the father another as if they intended one another a mis- and benefactor of him who, by the prediction, * Pheroras's wife, with her mother and sister, and Doris, Antipater's mother. † Great pretensions to the favor of God is frequently suspicious, and proceeds from bad motives. It is cer tainly criminal when it is advanced-in order to depreciate others. B. was foretold to be their appointed king. For that this king would have all things in his power; and would enable Bagoas to marry, and to have children of his own body. CHAP. III. merry meetings. It was also reported that Antipater had criminal conversation with Pheroras's wife; and that they were brought together by Antipater's mother. Antipater had now a suspicion of his father; and was afraid that the effects of this hatred to him might increase. So he wrote to his OF THE ENMITY BETWEEN HEROD AND PHERORAS; AN- friends at Rome, and bade them to send to TIPATER'S JOURNEY TO ROME; AND THE DEATH OF PHERORAS. WHE Herod, that he would immediately send Antipater to Cæsar. Which, when it was done, HEN Herod had punished those Pha-Herod sent Antipater thither; and sent most risees who had been convicted of the noble presents along with him; as also his foregoing crimes, he convened an assembly of testament: wherein Antipater was appointed his friends, and accused Pheroras's wife and to be his successor. And that, if Antipater ascribing the abuses of the virgins to the im- should die first, his son by the high-priest's pudence of that woman, laid an accusation daughter should succeed. And together with against her for the dishonor she had brought Antipater, there went to Rome Sylleus, the upon them saying that she had studiously Arabian: although he had done nothing of introduced a quarrel between him and his all that Cæsar had enjoined him. Antipater brother; and, by her natural ill temper, had also accused him of the same crimes of which brought them into a state of war; both by her he had formerly been accused by Herod. words and actions: that the fines which he Sylleus was also accused by Aretas, that withhad imposed had not been paid, and the of- out his consent he had slain many of the chief fenders had escaped punishment, by her means: of the Arabians at Petra; and particularly and that nothing of late had been done with- Soemus; a man that deserved to be honored out her. "For these reasons," said he, "thou by all men; and that he had slain Fabatus, Pheroras wilt do well, of thine own accord, a servant of Caesar's. These were the things and not at my entreaty, or as following my of which Sylleus was accused; and that on opinion, to put thy wife away; as one that the following occasion: There was one Cowill still be the occasion of war between thee rinthus belonging to Herod, of the king's and me. And now, if thou valuest thy relation- body guards; and one who was greatly trusted ship to me, put this wife of thine away. For by him. Sylleus had persuaded this man, by this means thou wilt continue to be a bro- with the offer of a great sum of money, to kill ther, and wilt abide in thy love to me." Herod : and he had promised to do it. When Pheroras, although pressed hard by the former Fabatus had been made acquainted with this, words, replied, that although he would not do (for Sylleus had himself told him of it,) he so unjust a thing as to renounce his brotherly informed the king of it; who caught Corinthus, relation, yet would he not leave off his affec- and put him to the torture; and thereby got tion for his wife: for he would rather choose out of him the whole conspiracy. He also to die, than to live and be deprived of a wife caught two other Arabians, who were disthat was so dear to him. Hereupon Herod put covered by Corinthus; the one the head of a off his anger against Pheroras on these ac- tribe, and the other a friend to Sylleus; who counts: although he himself thereby under- both were brought to the torture, and confessed went a very uneasy punishment. However, that they were come to encourage Corinthus he forbade Antipater and his mother to have not to fail of doing what he had undertaken; any conversation with Pheroras, and ordered and to assist him with their own hands, if need them to take care to avoid the assemblies of should require their assistance. So Saturninus, the women. This they promised to do; but upon Herod's discovering the whole to him, still got together, when occasion served and sent them to Rome. both Pheroras and Antipater had their own * Herod-Philip. At this time Herod commanded Pheroras, that that, since he was so obstinate in his affection || this potion was brought out of Arabia by a for his wife, he should retire into his own woman, woman, under pretence of being a love-potion, tetrarchy. This he did very willingly; and but in reality to kill Pheroras. For that the sware that he would not come again, till he Arabian women are skilful in making such heard that Herod was dead. And, indeed, poisons; and the woman, to whom they aswhen upon a sickness of the king's he was cribe this, was confessedly a most intimate desired to come to him before he died, that he friend of one of Sylleus's mistresses; and that might intrust him with some of his injunctions, both the mother and the sister of Pheroras's he had such a regard to his oath, that he would wife had been at the places where she lived, not come to him. Yet did not Herod so re- and had persuaded her to sell them this potion, tain his hatred to Pheroras; but remitted of and had come back, and brought it with them his purpose not to see him, which he before the day before that of his supper."+ Hereupon had; and that for such great causes as have the king was provoked, and put the women been already mentioned: but as soon as he slaves to the torture; and some that were free began to be ill, he came to him, and this with- with them. And as the fact did not yet apout being sent for; and, when he was dead, he pear, because none of them would confess: at took care of his funeral, and had his body length one of them, under her utmost agonies, brought to Jerusalem, and buried there; and said, she prayed that God would send the like appointed a solemn mourning for him. This agonies upon Antipater's mother, who had death of Pheroras became the origin of Anti- been the occasion of these miseries to all of pater's misfortunes; although he were already them. This prayer induced Herod to insailed for Rome; God now being about to crease the women's tortures, till thereby all punish him for the murder of his brethren. I was discovered: their merry meetings, their will explain the history of this matter very secret assemblies, and the disclosing of what distinctly, that it may serve as a warning to he had said to his son alone unto Pheroras's mankind, that they take care of conducting women. (Now what Herod had charged their whole lives by the rules of virtue. Antipater to conceal was the gift of an hundred talents to him, not to have any conversation with Pheroras.) And what hatred he bore to his father: and that he complained to CHAP. IV. OF THE ACCUSATIONS LAID AGAINST THE WIFE OF PHERO- his mother, how very long his father lived RAS; AND THE DISCOVERY OF THE DANGEROUS DESIGNS As soon as Porro, two of Pheroras a freeds S soon as Pheroras was dead, and his men, who were much esteemed by him, came to Herod, and entreated him not to leave the murder of his brother without avenging it; but to examine into such an unreasonable and unhappy death. When he was moved with these words, they said, that "Pheroras supped with his wife the day before he fell sick; and that a certain potion was brought him in such a sort of food as he was not used to eat. But that when he had eaten he died of it: that * An. 4. It seems by this whole story that Pheroras was not himself poisoned, as is commonly supposed. For Antipater had persuaded him to poison Herod, Chap. 5. which would fall to the ground if he were himself poisoned. Nor could the poisoning of Pheroras serve any design that ap ; and that he was himself almost an old man; insomuch that if the kingdom should come to sure. him, it would not afford him any great plea And that there were a great many of his brothers, or brothers' children, bringing up, that might have hopes of the kingdom as well as himself. All which made his own hopes of it uncertain. For that even now, if he should not live, Herod had ordained that the government should be conferred, not on his son, but rather on a brother. He also had accused the king of great barbarity, and of the slaughter of his sons; and that it was out of the fear he was under lest he should do the pears now going forward. It was only the supposal of two of his freedmen that this love-potion, or poison, which they knew was brought to Pheroras's wife, was made use of for poisoning him: whereas it appears to have been brought for her husband to poison Herod withal; as the future examinations demonstrate. |