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！
as not indulging those passions out of an ill disposition； but
out of a desire each of them had to be beloved by their father。
However； he sent Izates； with many presents； to Abennerig； the
king of Charax…Spasini； and that out of the great dread he was in
about him； lest he should come to some misfortune by the hatred
his brethren bore him； and he committed his son's preservation to
him。 Upon which Abennerig gladly received the young man； and had
a great affection for him； and married him to his own daughter；
whose name was Samacha： he also bestowed a country upon him； from
which he received large revenues。
2。 But when Monobazus was grown old； and saw that he had but a
little time to live； he had a mind to come to the sight of his
son before he died。 So he sent for him； and embraced him after
the most affectionate manner； and bestowed on him the country
called Carra； it was a soil that bare amomum in great plenty：
there are also in it the remains of that ark； wherein it is
related that Noah escaped the deluge； and where they are still
shown to such as are desirous to see them。 （3） Accordingly；
Izates abode in that country until his father's death。 But the
very day that Monobazus died； queen Helena sent for all the
grandees； and governors of the kingdom； and for those that had
the armies committed to their command； and when they were come；
she made the following speech to them： 〃I believe you are not
unacquainted that my husband was desirous Izates should succeed
him in the government； and thought him worthy so to do。 However；
I wait your determination； for happy is he who receives a
kingdom； not from a single person only； but from the willing
suffrages of a great many。〃 This she said； in order to try those
that were invited； and to discover their sentiments。 Upon the
hearing of which； they first of all paid their homage to the
queen； as their custom was； and then they said that they
confirmed the king's determination； and would submit to it； and
they rejoiced that Izates's father had preferred him before the
rest of his brethren； as being agreeable to all their wishes： but
that they were desirous first of all to slay his brethren and
kinsmen； that so the government might come securely to Izates；
because if they were once destroyed； all that fear would be over
which might arise from their hatred and envy to him。 Helena
replied to this； that she returned them her thanks for their
kindness to herself and to Izates； but desired that they would
however defer the execution of this slaughter of Izates's
brethren till he should be there himself； and give his
approbation to it。 So since these men had not prevailed with her；
when they advised her to slay them； they exhorted her at least to
keep them in bonds till he should come； and that for their own
security； they also gave her counsel to set up some one whom she
could put the greatest trust in； as a governor of the kingdom in
the mean time。 So queen Helena complied with this counsel of
theirs； and set up Monobazus； the eldest son； to be king； and put
the diadem upon his head； and gave him his father's ring； with
its signet； as also the ornament which they call Sampser； and
exhorted him to administer the affairs of the kingdom till his
brother should come； who came suddenly upon hearing that his
father was dead； and succeeded his brother Monobazus； who
resigned up the government to him。
3。 Now； during the time Izates abode at Charax…Spasini； a certain
Jewish merchant； whose name was Ananias； got among the women that
belonged to the king； and taught them to worship God according to
the Jewish religion。 He； moreover； by their means； became known
to Izates； and persuaded him； in like manner； to embrace that
religion； he also； at the earnest entreaty of Izates； accompanied
him when he was sent for by his father to come to Adiabene； it
also happened that Helena； about the same time； was instructed by
a certain other Jew and went over to them。 But when Izates had
taken the kingdom； and was come to Adiabene； and there saw his
brethren and other kinsmen in bonds； he was displeased at it； and
as he thought it an instance of impiety either to slay or
imprison them； but still thought it a hazardous thing for to let
them have their liberty； with the remembrance of the injuries
that had been offered them； he sent some of them and their
children for hostages to Rome； to Claudius Caesar； and sent the
others to Artabanus； the king of Parthia； with the like
intentions。
4。 And when he perceived that his mother was highly pleased with
the Jewish customs； he made haste to change； and to embrace them
entirely； and as he supposed that he could not he thoroughly a
Jew unless he were circumcised； he was ready to have it done。 But
when his mother understood what he was about； she endeavored to
hinder him from doing it； and said to him that this thing would
bring him into danger； and that； as he was a king； he would
thereby bring himself into great odium among his subjects； when
they should understand that he was so fond of rites that were to
them strange and foreign； and that they would never bear to be
ruled over by a Jew。 This it was that she said to him； and for
the present persuaded him to forbear。 And when he had related
what she had said to Ananias； he confirmed what his mother had
said； and when he had also threatened to leave him； unless he
complied with him； he went away from him； and said that he was
afraid lest such an action being once become public to all； he
should himself be in danger of punishment for having been the
occasion of it； and having been the king's instructor in actions
that were of ill reputation； and he said that he might worship
God without being circumcised； even though he did resolve to
follow the Jewish law entirely； which worship of God was of a
superior nature to circumcision。 He added； that God would forgive
him； though he did not perform the operation； while it was
omitted out of necessity； and for fear of his subjects。 So the
king at that time complied with these persuasions of Ananias。 But
afterwards； as he had not quite left off his desire of doing this
thing； a certain other Jew that came out of Galilee； whose name
was Eleazar； and who was esteemed very skillful in the learning
of his country； persuaded him to do the thing； for as he entered
into his palace to salute him； and found him reading the law of
Moses； he said to him； 〃Thou dost not consider； O king！ that thou
unjustly breakest the principal of those laws； and art injurious
to God himself； ＇by omitting to be circumcised＇； for thou
oughtest not only to read them； but chiefly to practice what they
enjoin thee。 How long wilt thou continue uncircumcised？ But if
thou hast not yet read the law about circumcision； and dost not
know how great impiety thou art guilty of by neglecting it； read
it now。〃 When the king had heard what he said； he delayed the
thing no longer； but retired to another room； and sent for a
surgeon； and did what he was commanded to do。 He then sent for
his mother； and Ananias his tutor； and informed them that he had
done the thing； upon which they were presently struck with
astonis