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BOOK XV。
Containing The Interval Of Eighteen Years。
From The Death Of Antigonus To The Finishing Of The Temple By
Herod。
CHAPTER 1。
Concerning Pollio And Sameas。 Herod Slays The Principal Of
Antigonus's Friends； And Spoils The City Of Its Wealth。 Antony
Beheads Antigonus。
1。 How Sosius and Herod took Jerusalem by force； and besides
that； how they took Antigonus captive； has been related by us in
the foregoing book。 We will now proceed in the narration。 And
since Herod had now the government of all Judea put into his
hands； he promoted such of the private men in the city as had
been of his party； but never left off avenging and punishing
every day those that had chosen to be of the party of his
enemies。 But Pollio the Pharisee； and Sameas； a disciple of his；
were honored by him above all the rest； for when Jerusalem was
besieged； they advised the citizens to receive Herod； for which
advice they were well requited。 But this Pollio； at the time when
Herod was once upon his trial of life and death； foretold； in way
of reproach； to Hyrcanus and the other judges； how this Herod；
whom they suffered now to escape； would afterward inflict
punishment on them all； which had its completion in time； while
God fulfilled the words he had spoken。
2。 At this time Herod； now he had got Jerusalem under his power；
carried off all the royal ornaments； and spoiled the wealthy men
of what they had gotten； and when； by these means； he had heaped
together a great quantity of silver and gold； he gave it all to
Antony； and his friends that were about him。 He also slew
forty…five of the principal men of Antigonus's party； and set
guards at the gates of the city； that nothing might be carried
out together with their dead bodies。 They also searched the dead；
and whatsoever was found； either of silver or gold； or other
treasure； it was carried to the king； nor was there any end of
the miseries he brought upon them； and this distress was in part
occasioned by the covetousness of the prince regent； who was
still in want of more； and in part by the Sabbatic year； which
was still going on； and forced the country to lie still
uncultivated； since we are forbidden to sow our land in that
year。 Now when Antony had received Antigonus as his captive； he
determined to keep him against his triumph； but when he heard
that the nation grew seditious； and that； out of their hatred to
Herod； they continued to bear good…will to Antigonus； he resolved
to behead him at Antioch； for otherwise the Jews could no way be
brought to be quiet。 And Strabo of Cappadocia attests to what I
have said； when he thus speaks： 〃Antony ordered Antigonus the Jew
to be brought to Antioch； and there to be beheaded。 And this
Antony seems to me to have been the very first man who beheaded a
king； as supposing he could no other way bend the minds of the
Jews so as to receive Herod； whom he had made king in his stead；
for by no torments could they he forced to call him king； so
great a fondness they had for their former king； so he thought
that this dishonorable death would diminish the value they had
for Antigonus's memory； and at the same time would diminish the
hatred they bare to Herod。〃 Thus far Strabo。
CHAPTER 2。
How Hyrcanus Was Set At Liberty By The Parthians； And Returned To
Herod； And What Alexandra Did When She Heard That Ananelus Was
Made High Priest。
1。 Now after Herod was in possession of the kingdom； Hyrcanus the
high priest； who was then a captive among the Parthians； came to
him again； and was set free from his captivity； in the manner
following： Barzapharnes and Pacorus； the generals of the
Parthians； took Hyreanus； who was first made high priest and
afterward king； and Herod's brother； Phasaelus captives； and were
them away into Parthis。 Phasaelus indeed could not bear the
reproach of being in bonds； and thinking that death with glory
was better than any life whatsoever； he became his own
executioner； as I have formerly related。
2。 But when Hyrcanus was brought into Parthia the king Phraates
treated him after a very gentle manner； as having already learned
of what an illustrious family he was； on which account he set him
free from his bonds； and gave him a habitation at Babylon； （1）
where there were Jews in great numbers。 These Jews honored
Hyrcanus as their high priest and king； as did all the Jewish
nation that dwelt as far as Euphrates； which respect was very
much to his satisfaction。 But when he was informed that Herod had
received the kingdom； new hopes came upon him； as having been
himself still of a kind disposition towards him； and expecting
that Herod would bear in mind what favor be had received from
him； and when he was upon his trial； and when he was in danger
that a capital sentence would be pronounced against him； he
delivered him from that danger； and from all punishment。
Accordingly； he talked of that matter with the Jew that came
often to him with great affection； but they endeavored to retain
him among them； and desired that he would stay with them； putting
him in mind of the kind offices and honors they did him； and that
those honors they paid him were not at all inferior to what they
could pay to either their high priests or their kings； and what
was a greater motive to determine him； they said； was this； that
he could not have those dignities ＇in Judea＇ because of that maim
in his body； which had been inflicted on him by Antigonus； and
that kings do not use to requite men for those kindnesses which
they received when they were private persons； the height of their
fortune making usually no small changes in them。
3。 Now although they suggested these arguments to him for his own
advantage； yet did Hyrcanus still desire to depart。 Herod also
wrote to him； and persuaded him to desire of Phraates； and the
Jews that were there； that they should not grudge him the royal
authority； which he should have jointly with himself； for that
now was the proper time for himself to make him amends for the
favors he had received from him； as having been brought up by
him； and saved by him also； as well as for Hyrcanus to receive
it。 And as he wrote thus to Hyrcanus； so did he send also
Saramallas； his ambassador； to Phraates； and many presents with
him； and desired him in the most obliging way that he would be no
hinderance to his gratitude towards his benefactor。 But this zeal
of Herod's did not flow from that principle； but because he had
been made governor of that country without having any just claim
to it； he was afraid； and that upon reasons good enough； of a
change in his condition； and so made what haste he could to get
Hyrcanus into his power； or indeed to put him quite out of the
way； which last thing he compassed afterward。
4。 Accordingly； when Hyrcanus came； full of assurance； by the
permission of the king of Parthia； and at the expense of the
Jews； who supplied him with money； Herod received him with all
possible respect； and gave him the upper place at public
meetings； and set him above all the rest at feasts； and thereby
deceived him。 He called him his father； and endeavored； by all
the ways possible； that he might have no suspic