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to be a great step towards his preservation of the government。
Hereupon he went and offered sacrifice to God； and then betook
himself to feast with his friends。
CHAPTER 9。
How The People Raised A Sedition Against Archelaus； And How He
Sailed To Rome。
1。 At this time also it was that some of the Jews got together
out of a desire of innovation。 They lamented Matthias； and those
that were slain with him by Herod； who had not any respect paid
them by a funeral mourning； out of the fear men were in of that
man； they were those who had been condemned for pulling down the
golden eagle。 The people made a great clamor and lamentation
hereupon； and cast out some reproaches against the king also； as
if that tended to alleviate the miseries of the deceased。 The
people assembled together； and desired of Archelaus； that； in way
of revenge on their account； he would inflict punishment on those
who had been honored by Herod； and that； in the first and
principal place； he would deprive that high priest whom Herod had
made； and would choose one more agreeable to the law； and of
greater purity； to officiate as high priest。 This was granted by
Archelaus； although he was mightily offended at their
importunity； because he proposed to himself to go to Rome
immediately to look after Caesar's determination about him。
However； he sent the general of his forces to use persuasions；
and to tell them that the death which was inflicted on their
friends was according to the law； and to represent to them that
their petitions about these things were carried to a great height
of injury to him； that the time was not now proper for such
petitions； but required their unanimity until such time as he
should be established in the government by the consent of Caesar；
and should then be come back to them； for that he would then
consult with them in common concerning the purport of their
petitions； but that they ought at present to be quiet； lest they
should seem seditious persons。
2。 So when the king had suggested these things； and instructed
his general in what he was to say； be sent him away to the
people； but they made a clamor； and would not give him leave to
speak； and put him in danger of his life； and as many more as
were desirous to venture upon saying openly any thing which might
reduce them to a sober mind； and prevent their going on in their
present courses； because they had more concern to have all their
own wills performed than to yield obedience to their governors；
thinking it to be a thing insufferable； that； while Herod was
alive； they should lose those that were most dear to them； and
that when he was dead； they could not get the actors to be
punished。 So they went on with their designs after a violent
manner； and thought all to be lawful and right which tended to
please them； and being unskillful in foreseeing what dangers they
incurred； and when they had suspicion of such a thing； yet did
the present pleasure they took in the punishment of those they
deemed their enemies overweigh all such considerations； and
although Archelaus sent many to speak to them； yet they treated
them not as messengers sent by him； but as persons that came of
their own accord to mitigate their anger； and would not let one
of them speak。 The sedition also was made by such as were in a
great passion； and it was evident that they were proceeding
further in seditious practices； by the multitude running so fast
upon them。
3。 Now； upon the approach of that feast of unleavened bread；
which the law of their fathers had appointed for the Jews at this
time； which feast is called the Passover （13） and is a memorial
of their deliverance out of Egypt； when they offer sacrifices
with great alacrity； and when they are required to slay more
sacrifices in number than at any other festival； and when an
innumerable multitude came thither out of the country； nay； from
beyond its limits also； in order to worship God； the seditious
lamented Judas and Matthias； those teachers of the laws； and kept
together in the temple； and had plenty of food； because these
seditious persons were not ashamed to beg it。 And as Archelaus
was afraid lest some terrible thing should spring up by means of
these men's madness； he sent a regiment of armed men； and with
them a captain of a thousand； to suppress the violent efforts of
the seditious before the whole multitude should be infected with
the like madness； and gave them this charge； that if they found
any much more openly seditious than others； and more busy in
tumultuous practices； they should bring them to him。 But those
that were seditious on account of those teachers of the law；
irritated the people by the noise and clamors they used to
encourage the people in their designs； so they made an assault
upon the soldiers； and came up to them； and stoned the greatest
part of them； although some of them ran away wounded； and their
captain among them； and when they had thus done； they returned to
the sacrifices which were already in their hands。 Now Archelaus
thought there was no way to preserve the entire government but by
cutting off those who made this attempt upon it； so he sent out
the whole army upon them； and sent the horsemen to prevent those
that had their tents without the temple from assisting those that
were within the temple； and to kill such as ran away from the
footmen when they thought themselves out of danger； which
horsemen slew three thousand men； while the rest went to the
neighboring mountains。 Then did Archelaus order proclamation to
be made to them all； that they should retire to their own homes；
so they went away； and left the festival； out of fear of somewhat
worse which would follow； although they had been so bold by
reason of their want of instruction。 So Archelaus went down to
the sea with his mother； and took with him Nicolaus and Ptolemy；
and many others of his friends； and left Philip his brother as
governor of all things belonging both to his own family and to
the public。 There went out also with him Salome； Herod's sister
who took with her； her children； and many of her kindred were
with her； which kindred of hers went； as they pretended； to
assist Archelaus in gaining the kingdom； but in reality to oppose
him； and chiefly to make loud complaints of what he had done in
the temple。 But Sabinus； Caesar's steward for Syrian affairs； as
he was making haste into Judea to preserve Herod's effects； met
with Archclaus at Caesarea； but Varus （president of Syria） came
at that time； and restrained him from meddling with them； for he
was there as sent for by Archceaus； by the means of Ptolemy。 And
Sabinus； out of regard to Varus； did neither seize upon any of
the castles that were among the Jews； nor did he seal up the
treasures in them； but permitted Archelaus to have them； until
Caesar should declare his resolution about them； so that； upon
this his promise； he tarried still at Cesarea。 But after
Archelaus was sailed for Rome； and Varus was removed to Antioch；
Sabinus went to Jerusalem； and seized on the king's palace。 He
also sent for the keepers of the garrisons； and for all those
that had the charge of Herod's effects； an