CHAP. XVIII.

Herod, after getting possession of Jerusalem, and the sorereignty of Judea, revenges himself on his enemies. He promotes a person of mean birth to the pontificate, but afterwards deposes him at the instigation of his relations, and places Aristobulus in his stead. Hyrcanus is treated with great respect by the king of Parthia, who gives him his liberty and he returns to Jerusalem. Herod confines Alexandra, the daughter of Hyrcanus, causes Aristobulus, the high-priest, to be drowned, and puts to death his uncle Joseph. He marches with an army to assist Antony against Cæsar Octavianus, but, by Antony's orders, he makes war with the Arabians. A dreadful earthquake happens in Judea. The Arabians take advantage of this, and after murdering the Jewish ambassadors, march with great resolution against Herod. A battle ensues, in which Herod proves victorious, and the Arabians are totally reduced. Antony is defeated and killed at the battle of Actium. Herod, fearful that Hyrcanus should supplant him in the sovereignty, causes him to be put to death. He submissively applies to Cæsar, who now assumes the surname of Augustus. He meets with a favorable reception, and is confirmed in the government of Judea. He is greatly perplexed by domestic troubles on his return to Jerusalem. He goes a second time to Cæsar, and on his return puts to death his wife Mariamne. He repents of his conduct, and, from the horrors of his mind, is seized with a dangerous disease. On his recovery he rebuilds the temple of Jerusalem, which is the last memorable occurrence previous to the incarnation of Our Blessed Saviour, the Prince of Peace, and Redeemer of Mankind.

THE conquest of Jerusalem having established Herod in the sovereignty of Judea, he began his reign by revenging himself on all those whom he knew to have been his enemies. Among these were the members of the Sanhedrim, all of whom he caused to be put to death, except two, the one named Pollio, and the other Samaes. These two, during the whole course of the siege, were for delivering up the city to Herod, while the rest strongly opposed the motion, and did all in their power to excite

the people to that fierce and obstinate resistance, which made the siege of such long duration.

The unfortunate Hyrcanus was at this time a prisoner in Parthia; and as the people wanted an high-priest, Herod thought it most advisable to chuse a man of obscurity to that office, who, having no credit or interest at Jerusalem, might not be capable (notwithstanding his high station and dignity) to interfere with the royal authority. He therefore sent for one Ananel from Babylon (who was, indeed, of the pontifical family, but of no farther merit than having an acquaintance with Herod) and him he immediately constituted high-priest of Jerusalem.

The promotion of this mean person greatly disgusted Alexandra, the daughter of Hyrcanus, and mother of Aristobulus, (brother to Mariamne the wife of Herod) to whom, by right of birth, the office of high-priest belonged. She therefore, in order to resent the contempt offered her family, in setting aside her son, and obtruding a foreigner into the pontificate, wrote to Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, (who had an absolute ascendancy over Antony) to bestow that honor upon her son. Her application succeeded to her utmost wishes. Herod, having heard of the steps she had taken, at first affected resentment, but being persuaded of the great influence the Egyptian queen had over Antony, he soon formed a reconciliation with Alexandra, deposed Ananel, and made Aristobulus (who was then only seventeen years of age) high-priest in his stead.

During these transactions the old king of Parthia died, and was succeeded in the government by his son Phraortes. This prince no sooner heard of Hyrcanus's character and quality, than he treated him with the greatest respect, and, by his conduct, evinced how much he wished to prove himself his friend and protector. He ordered him to be released from his chains, and allowed him the whole city of Babylon (which was then a part of the Parthian empire) as the bounds of his confinement. There were at this time in Babylon great numbers of Jews, all of whom were greatly pleased at the indulgence given to Hyrcanus, and testified their satisfaction by paying him that reverence which was due to him both as an high-priest and a monarch.

But notwithstanding the situation of Hyrcanus was thus rendered agreeable through the benevolence of the Parthian king, yet he was dissatisfied in his mind, and discovered a fond desire to his native country, vainly imagining that former services (he having been the preserver of Herod's life when he was arraigned before the Sanhedrim, and indeed the founder of his fortunes) would secure him the favor of the king. On the other hand Herod, having heard of the indulgence given to Hyrcanus, and his desire to return to Jerusalem, was as anxious to get him into his power as he was willing to come. He therefore not only invited him with great earnestness, and still greater promises, but sent an embassy to Phraortes to solicit his return. Phraortes readily complied with the inclinations of the one, and the request of the other; upon which Hyrcanus left Babylon and returned to Jerusalem, where, for some time, he was treated by Herod with all the outward tokens of kindness and respect due to his character.

Though Herod had formed a seeming reconciliation with Alexandra the daughter of Hyrcanus, yet he detested her in his heart, and as she had, by the interest of Cleopatra, got her son into the high-priesthood, he was fearful that she might, by the same means, procure her father the sovereignty. In consequence of these fears, he took an opportunity of quarrelling with her, forbade her to concern herself with any affairs of a public nature, confined her to the court, and set spies to watch even her domestic economy.

This base treatment so exasperated Alexandra, that she again applied to Cleopatra, and having received an invitation from that princess, she made the necessary preparations for departing to Egypt; intending to take with her Aristobulus her son. To conceal her design from Herod she had procured two biers, in which the servants were to carry them to the sea side, where a vessel lay in readiness to convey them to Egypt. But this stratagem miscarried owing to the treachery of one of the servants, who communicated the whole scheme to a man named Sabbion. This person had been suspected of assisting in the death of Antipater, the father of Herod, and there.

fore, in order to obviate the consequences that might follow, he divulged the whole secret to Herod. The king suffered them to go some way from the city, and then surprized and brought them back; but, fearing the power and influence of Cleopatra, he suspended his resentment, and, making a virtue of necessity, pretended, with great clemency, to pardon in both what he dared not punish in either. But it was not long before he embraced the opportunity of taking a fatal revenge on the young Aristobulas.

The Feast of Tabernacles was now approaching, and Aristobulus was to officiate as high-priest. He was very beautiful in person, tall, well shaped, and in the eighteenth year of his age. During the time of his officiating he discharged himself with so becoming a reverence, and the splendor of the pontifical robes added such a lustre to the gracefulness of his person, that by both these he captivated the affections of the people, who could not help expressing their approbation of him in terms of the most respectful nature. This raised Herod's jealousy to such a degree, that he immediately meditated a scheme for taking away the life of Aristobulus, which he effected as follows.

As soon as the Feast of Tabernacles was over, Herod invited Aristobulus to an entertainment at Jericho, and when, after dinner, several of his attendants bathed themselves in a fish-pond, Aristobulus was prevailed upon to bear them company; but no sooner was he plunged into the water than those who were in it before (according as they were directed by Herod) ducked and dipped him (by way of sport and play as they pretended) so long under water, that he was at length actually drowned. Thus was this accomplished youth taken off through the base devices of a wicked king, who immediately restored his creature Ananel to the pontifical dignity.

Herod, in order to wipe off all suspicion of so foul a deed, visited Alexandra, and, to give his abominable hypocrisy an air of sincerity, affected the most poignant grief for the fate of Aristobulus, whom he represented to have lost his life by an unhappy accident, He expended

a large sum in a splendid funeral for him, and himself acted the part of chief mourner.

This hypocrisy, however, was easily seen through, and justly detested, by all about the court, but by none more than Alexandra, who was inconsolable for the loss of her beloved Aristobulus; nor could she have survived it but for the hopes of obtaining revenge on the perfidious murderer. To this purpose she again had recourse to Cleopatra, whom she acquainted with the untimely death of her son, and the manner in which it was effected. She represented the villainy of Herod in such a light, and pictured her own distress on the occasion in such feeling terms, as moved the queen's compassion, and made her resolve to do the utmost in her power to procure some redress. She accordingly made immediate application to Antony, to whom she related the whole story, and besought him to punish Herod for his baseness and perfidy. Antony would willingly have avoided interposing in this matter, but Cleopatra was determined that Herod should be brought to account for his infamous conduct; nor did she cease her solicitations to Antony, till at length she prevailed with him to call Herod to account. He therefore repaired to Laodicea, where he cited Herod to appear before him in order to clear himself of the imputation laid to his charge for the death of Aristobulus.

Herod was too sensible of his guilt to trust to the merits of his cause, and dreading the influence of Cleopatra, who had incensed Antony against him, he was greatly perplexed in what manner to proceed at so critical a juncture. He, however, well knew that it was in vain to dispute the will of the powerful Antony, and therefore made the necessary preparations for obeying his commands. He had, on former occasions, experienced the prevailing influence of gold, and therefore, having provided himself with a considerable sum of money as a present, he repaired with confidence of success, to Laodicea. This had the desired effect, for by means of the present, and the smooth and insinuating tongue of Herod, he so wrought upon Antony, that he not only exculpated him from every imputation of his having been accessary to the murder of Aristobulus, but gave him repeated