Page images
PDF
EPUB

any honor to images, or representations of animals, affer the manner of the Greeks; but still he did thus in the country properly, out of our bounds, and in the cities thereof. The apology which he made to the Jews for these things was, that all was done, not out of his own inclinations, but by the commands and injunctions of others, in order to please Cæsar, and the Romans as though he had not the Jewish customs so much in his eye, as he had the honor of those Romans while yet he had himself entirely in view all the while: and indeed was very ambitious to leave great monuments of his government to posterity. Whence it was that he was so zealous in building such fine cities, and expended such vast sums of money upon them.

Now upon his noticing a place near the sea, which was very proper for containing a city, and was before called Strato's tower, he set about getting a plan for a magnificennt city there; and erected many edifices of white stone, with great diligence all, over it. He also adorned it with most sumptu ous palaces, and large edifices for containing the people; and what was the greatest and most labo rious work of all, he adorned it with a haven, that was always free from the waves of the sea. Its Fargeness was not less than the Pyræum, at Athens: and had towards the city a double station for the ships. It was of excellent workmanship; and this was the more remarkable for its being built in a place that of itself was not suitable to such noble struc tnres, but was to be brought to perfection by materials from other places, and at very great expences. This city is situate in Phoenicia, in the passage by sea, to Egypt, between Joppa and Dora: which are lesser maritime cities, and not fit for havens, on account of the impetuous south winds that beat upon them which rolling the sands that come from the sea against the shores, do not admit of ships lying in their station: but the merchants are generally there forced to ride at their anchors in the sea itself. Herod endeavored to rectify this inconvenience and laid out such a compass towards the land, as might be sufficient for a haven, wherein the great ships might lie in safety. And this he effected by letting down vast stones of above fifty feet in length; not less than eighteen in breadth, and nine in depth, into twenty fathoms deep: and as some were lesser, so were others bigger than those dimensions. This mole which he built by the sea side was two hundred feet wide: the half of which was opposed to the current of the waves, so as to keep off those waves which were to break upon them; and so was called Procymatia, or the first breaker of the waves: but the other half had upon it a wall: with several

* An. 22.

So

+ Cæsarea being here said to be rebuilt, and adorned in 12 years; and soon afterwards in 10 years, XVI. 5.

Now

towers; the largest of which was a work of very great excellence, and was called Drusus, from the son-in-law of Casar, who died young. There were a great number of arches where the mariners dwelt: and there was also before them; a quay, or landing place, which ran round the entire haven, and was a most agreeable walk. But the entrance or mouth. of the 'port was made on the north quarter: on which side was the stillest of the winds of all in this place. And the basis of the whole circuit on the left hand, at the entrance of the port, supported a round turret; which was made very strong, in order to resist the greatest waves: while on the right hand, stood two vast stones, and those each of them larger than the turret, which were over-against them. These stood upright, and were joined together. there were edifices all along the circular haven, made of the finest stone; with a certain elevation, whereon was erected a temple, that was seen a great way off, by those that were sailing for that haven, and had in it two statues, the one of Rome, the other of Cæsar. As the city itself was called Cæsarea: which was also built of fine materials, and was of a fine structure. Nay the very subterranean vaults and cellars had no less of architecture bestowed on them, than had the building above ground. Some of these vaults carried things at even distances, to the haven, and to the sea: but one of them ran obliquely, and bound all the rest together: that both the rain and the filth of the streets were together carried off with ease, and the sea itself, upon the flux of the tide from without, came into the city, and washed it all clean. Herod also built therein a theatre of stone and on the south quarter, behind the port he erected an amphitheatre, capable of holding a vast number of men, and conveniently situated for a prospect of the sea. So this city was thus finished in + twelve years during which time the king did not fail both to go on with the work, and to pay the charges that were necessary.

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

were entertained at the house of * Pollio, who was very fond of Herod's friendship: and they had leave to lodge in Cæsar's own palace; for he received these sons of Herod with all humanity, and gave Herod permission to give his kingdom to which of his sons he pleased: and, besides all this, he bestowed on him Trachon, and Batanea, and Auranitis, on the following occasion. One + Zenodorus had hired what was called the house of Lysanias. But he was not satisfied with its revenues, he became a partner with the robbers that inhabited the Trachones; and so procured himself a larger income. For the inhabitants of those places lived in a mad way, and pillaged the country of the Damascenes: while Zenodorus did not restrain them, but partook of the prey they acquired. Now as the neighboring people were hereby great sufferers, they complained to Varro, who was then president of Syria, and intreated him to write to Cæsar about this injustice of Zenodorus. When these matters were laid before Cæsar, he wrote back to Varro to destroy those nests of robbers, and to give the land to Herod; that by his care the neighboring countries might be no longer disturbed with these doings of the Trachonites. For it was not an easy thing to restrain them since this way of robbery had been their usual practice, and they had no other way to get their living: because they had neither any city of their own, nor lands in their possession: but only some receptacles and dens in the earth; and there they and their cattle lived in common together. However, they had made contrivances to get pools of water, and laid up corn in granaries for themselves; and were able to make great resistance, by issuing out suddenly against any that attacked them. the entrances of their caves were narrow; in which but one could come at a time: and the places within incredibly large, and made very wide. But the ground over their habitations was not very high, but rather on a plain: while the rocks are altogether hard, and difficult to be entered upon; unless any one gets into the plain road, by the guidance of ano. ther. For these roads are not straight, but have several revolutions. But when these men are hindered from their depredations upon their neighbors, their custom is to prey one upon another: inso much that no sort of injustice comes amiss to them. But when Herod had received this grant from Cæsar, and was come into this country, he procured skilful

For

and 14th years of Herod's reign was the terrible famine in Judea which would prevent any fulness of his treasury for some years: and because then it will begin in his 18th year, when we know he had recovered himself enough to set about rebuilding the temple.

* This Pollio, with whom Herod's sons lived at Rome, was not Pollio the Pharisee, already mentioned by Josephus, chap. 1. and again presently after this, chap. 10. but Asinius Pollio, the Roman.

guides, and put a stop to their wicked robberies, and procured peace and quietness to the neighboring people...

Hereupon Zenodorus was grieved, in the first place, beceuse his principality was taken away from him; and still more so, because he envied Herod, who had gotten it. So he went up to Rome to accuse him; but returned back without success. Now Agrippa was, about this time, sent to succeed Casar in the government of the countries beyond the Ionian sea; and Herod met with him when he was wintering about Mitylene; (for he had been his particular friend and companion :) and then returned into Judea again. Some of the Gadarenes now came to Agrippa, and accused Hered; but they were sent back bound to the king without a hearing. The Arabians, however, who of old bare ill will to Herod's government, were incensed, and at, that time attempted to raise a sedition in his dominions: and as they thought, upon a more justifiable occasion. For Zenodorus, despairing already of success as to his own affairs, prevented his enemies by selling to those Arabians a part of his principality, called Auranitis, for the value of fifty talents. But as this was included in the donation of Cæsar, they contested the point with Herod, as unjustly deprived of what they had bought. Sometimes they did this by making incursions upon his territories, sometimes by attempting force against him, and sometimes by going to law with him. They also persuaded the poorer soldiers to help them, and were troublesome. to him; out of a constant hope that they should reduce the people to raise a sedition. In which designs those that are in the most miserable circumstances of life are still the most earnest. And although He rod had been a great while apprised of these atsempts; yet did not he indulge any severity against them; but by rational methods aimed to mitigate things, as not willing to give any handle for tumults.

Now when Herod had reigned for seventeen years, Cæsar came into Syria; at which time the greatest part of the inhabitants of Gadara clamored against Herod, as one that was heavy in his injunc tions, and tyrannical. These reproaches they chiefly ventured upon by the encouragement of Zenodorus; who took his oath that he would never leave Herod, till he had procured that they should be separated from Herod's kingdom, and joined to Cæsar's province. The Gadarenes were induced hereby, and

[blocks in formation]
[graphic][ocr errors]
[graphic][merged small][ocr errors][subsumed][ocr errors]

Here

made no small cry against him: and that the more boldly, because those that had been delivered up by Agrippa, were not punished by Herod; who let them go, and did them no harm. For indeed he was the principal man in the world who appeared almost inexorable in punishing crime in his own family; but very generous in remitting the offences that were committed elsewhere. And while they accused Herod of injuries, and plunderings, and subversions of temples, he stood unconcerned, and was ready to make his defence. However Cæsar gave him his right hand; and remitted nothing of his kindness to him, upon this disturbance by the multitude. And indeed these things were alledged the first day but the hearing proceeded no farther. For as the Gadarenes saw the inclination of Cæsar and of his assessors; and expected, as they had reason to do, that they should be delivered up to the king; some of them, out of a dread of the torments they might undergo, cut their own throats in the night, and some of them threw themselves down precipices; and others cast themselves into the river, and destroyed themselves of their own accord. Which accidents seemed a sufficient condemnation of the rashness and crimes they had been guilty of. upon Cæsar made no longer delay. but cleared Herod from the crimes he was accused of. Another happy accident there was, which was a farther great advantage to Herod at this time. For Zenodorus's belly burst, and a great quantity of blood issued from him in his sickness, and he thereby departed this life at Antioch in Syria, So Cæsar bestowed his country upon Herod. It lay between Trachon and Galilee; and contained Ulatha, and Paneas, and the country round about. He also made him one of the procurators of Syria; and commanded that they should do every thing with his approbation. And, in short, he arrived at that pitch of felicity, that whereas there were but two men that governed the vast Roman empire, first Cæsar, and then Agrippa, who was his principal favorite; Cæsar preferred no one to Herod, besides Agrippa: and Agrippa made no one his greater friend than Herod, beside Cæsar. And when he had acquired such freedom, he begged of Cæsar a tetrarchy for his brother Pheroras; while he did himself bestow upon him a revenue of a hundred talents, out of his own king.dom: that in case he came to any harm himself, his brother might be in safety; and that his sons might not have dominion over him. So when he had conducted Cæsar to the sea, and was returned home, he built a most beautiful temple, of the whitest stone,

A tetrarchy, properly and originally denoted the fourth part of an entire kingdom, or country: and a tetrach, one that was ruler of such a fourth part:, which always implies somewhat less extent of dominion and power than belong to a kingdom, and to a king. But, this first vexactness has not always been adhered to in the use of VOL. 1.-NO. XXXI,

in Zenodorus's country, near the place called Panium. This is a very fine cave, in a mountain, under which there is a great cavity in the earth; and the cavern is abrupt, and prodigiously deep, and full of still water. Over it hangs a vast mountain; and under the caverns arise the springs of the river Jordan. Herod adorned this place, which was already a very remarkable one still farther, by the erection of this temple, which he dedicated to Cæsar.

At this time Herod released to his subjects the third part of their taxes: under pretence indeed of relieving them, after the dearth they had had; but the main reason was, to recover their good will, which he now wanted. For they were uneasy because of the innovations he had introduced in their practices; of the dissolution of their religion; and ! of the disuse of their own customs. And the people every where talked against him, like those that were still more and more provoked and disturbed at his procedure. procedure. Against these discontents, however, he greatly guarded himself, and took away the oppor tunities they might have to disturb him: and enjoined them to be always at work. Nor did he permit the citizens either to assemble, or to walk, or' eat together; but watched every thing they did and when any were caught, they were severely punished. And many there were who were brought to the ci tadel Hyrcania, both openly, and secretly; and were there put to death. And there were spies set every where, both in the city, and in the roads, who watched those that met together. Nay it is re-t ported that he did not himself neglect this part of caution; but that he would oftentimes assume the habit of a private man, and mix among the multitude, in the night time; and make trial what opinionthey had of his government. And as for those that could no way be reduced to acquiesce under his scheme of government, he prosecuted them all manner of ways. But for the rest of the multitude, he required that they should be obliged to take an oath of fidelity to him ; and at the same time compelled them to swear that they would bear him good will, and continue certainly so to do in his management of the government. And indeed a great part of them, either to please him, or out of fear of punishment, yielded to what he required. But for such as were of a more open and generous disposition, and had indignation at the force he used to them, he by one means or other made away with them. He endeavored also to persuade Pollio, the Pharisee, and Sameas, and the greatest part of their scholars to take the oath. But these would neither submit so to do; nor were

[blocks in formation]
« PreviousContinue »