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deceived him。 He called him his father； and endeavored； by all
the ways possible； that he might have no suspicion of any
treacherous design against him。 He also did other things； in
order to secure his government； which yet occasioned a sedition
in his own family； for being cautious how he made any illustrious
person the high priest of God； （2） he sent for an obscure priest
out of Babylon； whose name was Ananelus； and bestowed the high
priesthood upon him。
5。 However； Alexandra； the daughter of Hyrcanus； and wife of
Alexander； the son of Aristobulus the king； who had also brought
Alexander ＇two＇ children； could not bear this indignity。 Now this
son was one of the greatest comeliness； and was called
Aristobulus； and the daughter； Mariamne； was married to Herod；
and eminent for her beauty also。 This Alexandra was much
disturbed； and took this indignity offered to her son exceeding
ill； that while be was alive； any one else should be sent for to
have the dignity of the high priesthood conferred upon him。
Accordingly； she wrote to Cleopatra （a musician assisting her in
taking care to have her letters carried） to desire her
intercession with Antony； in order to gain the high priesthood
for her son。
6。 But as Antony was slow in granting this request； his friend
Dellius （3） came into Judea upon some affairs； and when he saw
Aristobulus； he stood in admiration at the tallness and
handsomeness of the child； and no less at Mariarune； the king's
wife； and was open in his commendations of Alexandra； as the
mother of most beautiful children。 And when she came to discourse
with him； he persuaded her to get pictures drawn of them both；
and to send them to Antony； for that when he saw them； he would
deny her nothing that she should ask。 Accordingly； Alexandra was
elevated with these words of his； and sent the pictures to
Antony。 Dellius also talked extravagantly； and said that these
children seemed not derived from men； but from some god or other。
His design in doing so was to entice Antony into lewd pleasures
with them； who was ashamed to send for the damsel； as being the
wife of Herod； and avoided it； because of the reproaches he
should have from Cleopatra on that account； but he sent； in the
most decent manner he could； for the young man； but added this
withal； unless he thought it hard upon him so to do。 When this
letter was brought to Herod； he did not think it safe for him to
send one so handsome as was Aristobulus； in the prime of his
life； for he was sixteen years of age； and of so noble a family；
and particularly not to Antony； the principal man among the
Romans； and one that would abuse him in his amours； and besides；
one that openly indulged himself in such pleasures as his power
allowed him without control。 He therefore wrote back to him； that
if this boy should only go out of the country； all would be in a
state of war and uproar； because the Jews were in hopes of a
change in the government； and to have another king over them。
7。 When Herod had thus excused himself to Antony； he resolved
that he would not entirely permit the child or Alexandra to be
treated dishonorably； but his wife Mariamne lay vehemently at him
to restore the high priesthood to her brother； and he judged it
was for his advantage so to do； because if he once had that
dignity； he could not go out of the country。 So he called his
friends together； and told them that Alexandra privately
conspired against his royal authority； and endeavored； by the
means of Cleopatra； so to bring it about； that he might be
deprived of the government； and that by Antony's means this youth
might have the management of public affairs in his stead； and
that this procedure of hers was unjust； since she would at the
same time deprive her daughter of the dignity she now had； and
would bring disturbances upon the kingdom； for which he had taken
a great deal of pains； and had gotten it with extraordinary
hazards； that yet； while he well remembered her wicked practices；
he would not leave off doing what was right himself； but would
even now give the youth the high priesthood； and that he formerly
set up Ananelus； because Aristobulus was then so very young a
child。 Now when he had said this； not at random； but as he
thought with the best discretion he had； in order to deceive the
women； and those friends whom he had taken to consult withal；
Alexandra； out of the great joy she had at this unexpected
promise； and out of fear from the suspicions she lay under； fell
a weeping； and made the following apology for herself； and said；
that as to the ＇high＇ priesthood； she was very much concerned for
the disgrace her son was under； and so did her utmost endeavors
to procure it for him； but that as to the kingdom； she had made
no attempts； and that if it were offered her ＇for her son＇； she
would not accept it； and that now she would be satisfied with her
son's dignity； while he himself held the civil government； and
she had thereby the security that arose from his peculiar ability
in governing to all the remainder of her family； that she was now
overcome by his benefits； and thankfully accepted of this honor
showed by him to her son； and that she would hereafter be
entirely obedient。 And she desired him to excuse her； if the
nobility of her family； and that freedom of acting which she
thought that allowed her； had made her act too precipitately and
imprudently in this matter。 So when they had spoken thus to one
another； they came to an agreement； and all suspicions； so far as
appeared； were vanished away。
CHAPTER 3。
How Herod Upon His Making Aristobulus High Priest Took Care That
He Should Be Murdered In A Little Time； And What Apology He Made
To Antony About Aristobulus； As Also Concerning Joseph And
Mariamne。
1。 So king Herod immediately took the high priesthood away from
Ananelus； who； as we said before； was not of this country； but
one of those Jews that had been carried captive beyond Euphrates；
for there were not a few ten thousands of this people that had
been carried captives； and dwelt about Babylonia； whence Ananelus
came。 He was one of the stock of the high priests （4） and had
been of old a particular friend of Herod； and when he was first
made king； he conferred that dignity upon him； and now put him
out of it again； in order to quiet the troubles in his family；
though what he did was plainly unlawful； for at no other time ＇of
old＇ was any one that had once been in that dignity deprived of
it。 It was Antiochus Epiphanes who first brake that law； and
deprived Jesus； and made his brother Onias high priest in his
stead。 Aristobulus was the second that did so； and took that
dignity from his brother ＇Hyrcanus＇； and this Herod was the
third； who took that high office away ＇from Arianflus＇； and gave
it to this young man； Aristobulus； in his stead。
2。 And now Herod seemed to have healed the divisions in his
family； yet was he not without suspicion； as is frequently the
case； of people seeming to be reconciled to one another； but
thought that； as Alexandra had already made attempts tending to
innovations； so did he fear that she would go on therein； if she
found a fit opportu