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three gates ＇equally＇ distant one from another； but on the east
quarter； towards the sun…rising； there was one large gate；
through which such as were pure came in； together with their
wives； but the temple further inward in that gate was not allowed
to the women； but still more inward was there a third ＇court of
the＇ temple； whereinto it was not lawful for any but the priests
alone to enter。 The temple itself was within this； and before
that temple was the altar； upon which we offer our sacrifices and
burnt…offerings to God。 Into none of these three did king Herod
enter； （24） for he was forbidden； because he was not a priest。
However； he took care of the cloisters and the outer enclosures；
and these he built in eight years。
6。 But the temple itself was built by the priests in a year and
six months； upon which all the people were full of joy； and
presently they returned thanks； in the first place； to God； and
in the next place； for the alacrity the king had showed。 They
feasted and celebrated this rebuilding of the temple： and for the
king； he sacrificed three hundred oxen to God； as did the rest
every one according to his ability； the number of which
sacrifices is not possible to set down； for it cannot be that we
should truly relate it； for at the same time with this
celebration for the work about the temple fell also the day of
the king's inauguration； which he kept of an old custom as a
festival； and it now coincided with the other； which coincidence
of them both made the festival most illustrious。
7。 There was also an occult passage built for the king； it led
from Antonia to the inner temple； at its eastern gate； over which
he also erected for himself a tower； that he might have the
opportunity of a subterraneous ascent to the temple； in order to
guard against any sedition which might be made by the people
against their kings。 It is also reported； （25） that during the
time that the temple was building； it did not rain in the
daytime； but that the showers fell in the nights； so that the
work was not hindered。 And this our fathers have delivered to us；
nor is it incredible； if any one have regard to the
manifestations of God。 And thus was performed the work of the
rebuilding of the temple。
BOOK XVI。
Containing The Interval Of Twelve Years。
From The Finishing Of The Temple By Herod To The Death Of
Alexander And Aristobulus。
CHAPTER 1。
A Law Of Herod's About； Thieves。 Salome And Pheroras Calumniate
Alexander And Aristobulus； Upon Their Return From Rome For Whom
Yet Herod Provides Wives。
1。 As king Herod was very zealous in the administration of his
entire government； and desirous to put a stop to particular acts
of injustice which were done by criminals about the city and
country； he made a law； no way like our original laws； and which
he enacted of himself； to expose house…breakers to be ejected out
of his kingdom； which punishment was not only grievous to be
borne by the offenders； but contained in it a dissolution of the
customs of our forefathers； for this slavery to foreigners； and
such as did not live after the manner of Jews； and this necessity
that they were under to do whatsoever such men should command；
was an offense against our religious settlement； rather than a
punishment to such as were found to have offended； such a
punishment being avoided in our original laws； for those laws
ordain； that the thief shall restore fourfold； and that if he
have not so much； he shall be sold indeed； but not to foreigners；
nor so that he be under perpetual slavery； for he must have been
released after six years。 But this law； thus enacted； in order to
introduce a severe and illegal punishment； seemed to be a piece
of insolence of Herod； when he did not act as a king； but as a
tyrant； and thus contemptuously； and without any regard to his
subjects； did he venture to introduce such a punishment。 Now this
penalty； thus brought into practice； was like Herod's other
actions； and became a part of his accusation； and an occasion of
the hatred he lay under。
2。 Now at this time it was that he sailed to Italy； as very
desirous to meet with Caesar； and to see his sons who lived at
Rome； and Caesar was not only very obliging to him in other
respects； but delivered him his sons again； that he might take
them home with him； as having already completed themselves in the
sciences； but as soon as the young men were come from Italy； the
multitude were very desirous to see them； and they became
conspicuous among them all； as adorned with great blessings of
fortune； and having the countenances of persons of royal dignity。
So they soon appeared to be the objects of envy to Salome； the
king's sister； and to such as had raised calumnies against
Mariamne； for they were suspicious； that when these came to the
government； they should be punished for the wickedness they had
been guilty of against their mother； so they made this very fear
of theirs a motive to raise calumnies against them also。 They
gave it out that they were not pleased with their father's
company； because he had put their mother to death； as if it were
not agreeable to piety to appear to converse with their mother's
murderer。 Now； by carrying these stories； that had indeed a true
foundation ＇in the fact＇； but were only built on probabilities as
to the present accusation； they were able to do them mischief；
and to make Herod take away that kindness from his sons which he
had before borne to them； for they did not say these things to
him openly； but scattered abroad such words； among the rest of
the multitude； from which words； when carried to Herod； he was
induced ＇at last＇ to hate them； and which natural affection
itself； even in length of time； was not able to overcome； yet was
the king at that time in a condition to prefer the natural
affection of a father before all the suspicions and calumnies his
sons lay under。 So he respected them as he ought to do； and
married them to wives； now they were of an age suitable thereto。
To Aristobulus he gave for a wife Bernice； Salome's daughter； and
to Alexander； Glaphyra； the daughter of Archelaus； king of
Cappadocia。
CHAPTER 2。
How Herod Twice Sailed To Agrippa； And How Upon The Complaint In
Ionia Against The Greeks Agrippa Confirmed The Laws To Them。
1。 When Herod had despatched these affairs； and he understood
that Marcus Agrippa had sailed again out of Italy into Asia； he
made haste to him； and besought him to come to him into his
kingdom； and to partake of what he might justly expect from one
that had been his guest； and was his friend。 This request he
greatly pressed； and to it Agrippa agreed； and came into Judea；
whereupon Herod omitted nothing that might please him。 He
entertained him in his new…built cities； and showed him the
edifices he had built； and provided all sorts of the best and
most costly dainties for him and his friends； and that at Sebaste
and Cesarea； about that port that he had built； and at the
fortresses which he had erected at great expenses； Alexandrium；
and Herodium； and Hyrcania。 He also conducted him to the city
Jerusalem； where all the people met him in their festival
garments； an