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put on a garment made wholly of silver； and of a contexture truly
wonderful； and came into the theater early in the morning； at
which time the silver of his garment being illuminated by the
fresh reflection of the sun's rays upon it； shone out after a
surprising manner； and was so resplendent as to spread a horror
over those that looked intently upon him； and presently his
flatterers cried out； one from one place； and another from
another； （though not for his good；） that he was a god； and they
added； 〃Be thou merciful to us； for although we have hitherto
reverenced thee only as a man； yet shall we henceforth own thee
as superior to mortal nature。〃 Upon this the king did neither
rebuke them； nor reject their impious flattery。 But as he
presently afterward looked up； he saw an owl （21） sitting on a
certain rope over his head； and immediately understood that this
bird was the messenger of ill tidings； as it had once been the
messenger of good tidings to him； and fell into the deepest
sorrow。 A severe pain also arose in his belly； and began in a
most violent manner。 He therefore looked upon his friends； and
said； 〃I； whom you call a god； am commanded presently to depart
this life； while Providence thus reproves the lying words you
just now said to me； and I； who was by you called immortal； am
immediately to be hurried away by death。 But I am bound to accept
of what Providence allots； as it pleases God； for we have by no
means lived ill； but in a splendid and happy manner。〃 When he
said this； his pain was become violent。 Accordingly he was
carried into the palace； and the rumor went abroad every where；
that he would certainly die in a little time。 But the multitude
presently sat in sackcloth； with their wives and children； after
the law of their country； and besought God for the king's
recovery。 All places were also full of mourning and lamentation。
Now the king rested in a high chamber； and as he saw them below
lying prostrate on the ground； he could not himself forbear
weeping。 And when he had been quite worn out by the pain in his
belly for five days； he departed this life； being in the
fifty…fourth year of his age； and in the seventh year of his
reign； for he reigned four years under Caius Caesar； three of
them were over Philip's tetrarchy only； and on the fourth he had
that of Herod added to it； and he reigned； besides those； three
years under the reign of Claudius Caesar； in which time he
reigned over the forementioned countries； and also had Judea
added to them； as well as Samaria and Cesarea。 The revenues that
he received out of them were very great； no less than twelve
millions of drachme。 （22） Yet did he borrow great sums from
others； for he was so very liberal that his expenses exceeded his
incomes； and his generosity was boundless。 （23）
3。 But before the multitude were made acquainted with Agrippa's
being expired； Herod the king of Chalcis； and Helcias the master
of his horse； and the king's friend； sent Aristo； one of the
king's most faithful servants； and slew Silas； who had been their
enemy； as if it had been done by the king's own command。
CHAPTER 9。
What Things Were Done After The Death Of Agrippa； And How
Claudius； On Account Of The Youth And Unskilfulness Of Agrippa；
Junior； Sent Cuspius Fadus To Be Procurator Of Judea； And Of The
Entire Kingdom。
1。 And thus did king Agrippa depart this life。 But he left behind
him a son； Agrippa by name； a youth in the seventeenth year of
his age； and three daughters； one of which； Bernice； was married
to Herod； his father's brother； and was sixteen years old； the
other two； Mariamne and Drusilla； were still virgins； the former
was ten years old； and Drusilla six。 Now these his daughters were
thus espoused by their father； Marlatone to Julius Archclaus
Epiphanes； the son of Antiochus； the son of Chelcias； and
Drusilla to the king of Commagena。 But when it was known that
Agrippa was departed this life； the inhabitants of Cesarea and of
Sebaste forgot the kindnesses he had bestowed on them； and acted
the part of the bitterest enemies； for they cast such reproaches
upon the deceased as are not fit to be spoken of； and so many of
them as were then soldiers； which were a great number； went to
his house； and hastily carried off the statues （24） of this
king's daughters； and all at once carried them into the
brothel…houses； and when they had set them on the tops of those
houses； they abused them to the utmost of their power； and did
such things to them as are too indecent to be related。 They also
laid themselves down in public places； and celebrated general
feastings； with garlands on their heads； and with ointments and
libations to Charon； and drinking to one another for joy that the
king was expired。 Nay； they were not only unmindful of Agrippa；
who had extended his liberality to them in abundance； but of his
grandfather Herod also； who had himself rebuilt their cities； and
had raised them havens and temples at vast expenses。
2。 Now Agrippa； the son of the deceased； was at Rome； and brought
up with Claudius Caesar。 And when Caesar was informed that
Agrippa was dead； and that the inhabitants of Sebaste and Cesarea
had abused him； he was sorry for the first news； and was
displeased with the ingratitude of those cities。 He was therefore
disposed to send Agrippa； junior； away presently to succeed his
father in the kingdom； and was willing to confirm him in it by
his oath。 But those freed…men and friends of his； who had the
greatest authority with him； dissuaded him from it； and said that
it was a dangerous experiment to permit so large a kingdom to
come under the government of so very young a man； and one hardly
yet arrived at years of discretion； who would not be able to take
sufficient care of its administration； while the weight of a
kingdom is heavy enough to a grown man。 So Caesar thought what
they said to be reasonable。 Accordingly he sent Cuspins Fadus to
be procurator of Judea； and of the entire kingdom； and paid that
respect to the eceased as not to introduce Marcus； who had been
at variance with him； into his kingdom。 But he determined； in the
first place； to send orders to Fadus； that he should chastise the
inhabitants of Cesarca and Sebaste for those abuses they had
offered to him that was deceased； and their madness towards his
daughters that were still alive； and that he should remove that
body of soldiers that were at Cesarea and Sebaste； with the five
regiments； into Pontus； that they might do their military duty
there； and that he should choose an equal number of soldiers out
of the Roman legions that were in Syria； to supply their place。
Yet were not those that had such orders actually removed； for by
sending ambassadors to Claudius； they mollified him； and got
leave to abide in Judea still； and these were the very men that
became the source of very great calamities to the Jews in
after…times； and sowed the seeds of that war which began under
Florus； whence it was that when Vespasian had subdued the
country； he removed them out of his province； as we shall relate
hereafter。
BOOK XX。
Containing The Interval Of Twenty…Two Years。
From Fadus The P