按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
espousals for the children； out of commiseration of them now they
were fatherless； as endeavoring to render Antipater kind to them
by these intermarriages。 But Antipater did not fail to bear the
same temper of mind to his brothers' children which he had borne
to his brothers themselves； and his father's concern about them
provoked his indignation against them upon this supposal； that
they would become greater than ever his brothers had been； while
Archclaus； a king； would support his daughter's sons； and
Pheroras； a tetrarch； would accept of one of the daughters as a
wife to his son。 What provoked him also was this； that all the
multitude would so commiserate these fatherless children； and so
hate him ＇for making them fatherless＇； that all would come out；
since they were no strangers to his vile disposition towards his
brethren。 He contrived； therefore； to overturn his father's
settlements； as thinking it a terrible thing that they should be
so related to him； and be so powerful withal。 So Herod yielded to
him； and changed his resolution at his entreaty； and the
determination now was； that Antipater himself should marry
Aristobulus's daughter； and Antipater's son should marry
Pheroras's daughter。 So the espousals for the marriages were
changed after this manner； even without the king's real
approbation。
3。 Now Herod the king had at this time nine wives； one of them
Antipater's mother； and another the high priest's daughter； by
whom he had a son of his own name。 He had also one who was his
brother's daughter； and another his sister's daughter； which two
had no children。 One of his wives also was of the Samaritan
nation； whose sons were Antipas and Archelaus； and whose daughter
was Olympias； which daughter was afterward married to Joseph； the
king's brother's son； but Archelaus and Antipas were brought up
with a certain private man at Rome。 Herod had also to wife
Cleopatra of Jerusalem； and by her he had his sons Herod and
Philip； which last was also brought up at Rome。 Pallas also was
one of his wives； which bare him his son Phasaelus。 And besides
these； he had for his wives Phedra and E1pis； by whom he had his
daughters Roxana and Salome。 As for his elder daughters by the
same mother with Alexander and Aristobulus； and whom Pheroras
neglected to marry； he gave the one in marriage to Antipater； the
king's sister's son； and the other to Phasaelus； his brother's
son。 And this was the posterity of Herod。
CHAPTER 2。
Concerning Zamaris； The Babylonian Jew； Concerning The Plots Laid
By Antipater Against His Father； And Somewhat About The
Pharisees。
1。 And now it was that Herod； being desirous of securing himself
on the side of the Trachonites； resolved to build a village as
large as a city for the Jews； in the middle of that country；
which might make his own country difficult to be assaulted； and
whence he might be at hand to make sallies upon them； and do them
a mischief。 Accordingly； when he understood that there was a man
that was a Jew come out of Babylon； with five hundred horsemen；
all of whom could shoot their arrows as they rode on horde…back；
and； with a hundred of his relations； had passed over Euphrates；
and now abode at Antioch by Daphne of Syria； where Saturninus；
who was then president； had given them a place for habitation；
called Valatha； he sent for this man； with the multitude that
followed him； and promised to give him land in the toparchy
called Batanea； which country is bounded with Trachonitis； as
desirous to make that his habitation a guard to himself。 He also
engaged to let him hold the country free from tribute； and that
they should dwell entirely without paying such customs as used to
be paid； and gave it him tax…free。
2。 The Babylonian was reduced by these offers to come hither； so
he took possession of the land； and built in it fortresses and a
village； and named it Bathyra。 Whereby this man became a
safeguard to the inhabitants against the Trachonites； and
preserved those Jews who came out of Babylon； to offer their
sacrifices at Jerusalem； from being hurt by the Trachonite
robbers； so that a great number came to him from all those parts
where the ancient Jewish laws were observed； and the country
became full of people； by reason of their universal freedom from
taxes。 This continued during the life of Herod； but when Philip；
who was ＇tetrarch＇ after him； took the government； he made them
pay some small taxes； and that for a little while only； and
Agrippa the Great； and his son of the same name； although they
harassed them greatly； yet would they not take their liberty
away。 From whom； when the Romans have now taken the government
into their own hands； they still gave them the privilege of their
freedom； but oppress them entirely with the imposition of taxes。
Of which matter I shall treat more accurately in the progress of
this history。 （2）
3。 At length Zamaris the Babylonian； to whom Herod had given that
country for a possession； died； having lived virtuously； and left
children of a good character behind him； one of whom was Jacim；
who was famous for his valor； and taught his Babylonians how to
ride their horses； and a troop of them were guards to the
forementioned kings。 And when Jacim was dead in his old age； he
left a son； whose name was Philip； one of great strength in his
hands； and in other respects also more eminent for his valor than
any of his contemporaries； on which account there was a
confidence and firm friendship between him and king Agrippa。 He
had also an army which he maintained as great as that of a king；
which he exercised and led wheresoever lie had occasion to march。
4。 When the affairs of Herod were in the condition I have
described； all the public affairs depended upon Antipater； and
his power was such； that he could do good turns to as many as he
pleased； and this by his father's concession； in hopes of his
good…will and fidelity to him； and this till he ventured to use
his power still further； because his wicked designs were
concealed from his father； and he made him believe every thing he
said。 He was also formidable to all； not so much on account of
the power and authority he had； as for the shrewdness of his vile
attempts beforehand； but he who principally cultivated a
friendship with him was Pheroras； who received the like marks of
his friendship； while Antipater had cunningly encompassed him
about by a company of women； whom he placed as guards about him；
for Pheroras was greatly enslaved to his wife； and to her mother；
and to her sister； and this notwithstanding the hatred he bare
them for the indignities they had offered to his virgin
daughters。 Yet did he bear them； and nothing was to he done
without the women； who had got this man into their circle； and
continued still to assist each other in all things； insomuch that
Antipater was entirely addicted to them； both by himself and by
his mother； for these four women； （3） said all one and the same
thing； but the opinions of Pheroras and Antipater were different
in some points of no consequence。 But the king's sister ＇Salome＇
was their antagonist； who for a good while had looked about all
their affairs