5988. Caesarea Sebaste was finished in the 28th year of Herod's reign, (beginning from the death of Antigonus,) in the 3rd year of the 192nd Olympiad. It was dedicated with great solemnity and most sumptuous preparations. Musicians were brought to see who was the best. Naked wrestlers and a great number of sword players and wild beasts and whatever was done either at Rome or in other countries were also brought there to perform. These sports were consecrated to Caesar and were to be held every fifth year. All this preparation, the king provided to be brought there at his own expense to show the greatness of his magnificence. Julia, the wife of Caesar (Josephus always calls her Livia) gave many things toward the sports. The total cost of the event was over 500 talents. A huge crowd came to see these sports. He entertained all ambassadors who were sent to him from various countries to thank Herod for the favours they had received from him. He lodged, feasted and entertained them. He spent all the days in seeing the sports and the nights in banquets. {Josephus, l. 16. c. 9. <c. 5. 1:434,435>}
3995a AM, 4704 JP, 10 BC
5989. After the dedication and feasts, Herod began to build another city in a place called Capharsala, (or Capharsuluma, {/APC 1Ma 7:31}) which he named Antipatris, after his father's name. He built a citadel which he called Cyprus after his mother's name. In honour of his dead brother, he built in the city of Jerusalem, a good tower not inferior to the Pharos and called it Phasaelus. Later he built a town by the same name, in the valley of Jericho from which the surrounding country is called Phasaelus. {Josephus, l. 16. c. 9. <c. 5. 1:435>}
3995b AM, 4705 JP, 9 BC
5990. The Jews of Asia and Cyrene complained through their ambassadors to Augustus, that the Greeks would not allow them to practice their religion and ignored the immunities which were granted to them by the Romans. The ambassadors wanted to obtain letters confirming these privileges. {Josephus, l. 16. c. 10. <c. 6. 1:436>})
5991. Herod had wasted his wealth by his great expenses and now needed money. He followed the example of John Hireanus and went by night without the knowledge of the people and opened David's sepulchre. He found no money, but large amounts of costly attire and ornaments of gold, which he removed. To atone for this, he built a most sumptuous monument at the entrance of the sepulchre of white marble. Nicholas Damascene mentions this monument but not the king's entering the sepulchre. He wrote the acts of this King Herod in his lifetime. {Josephus, l. 16. c. 11. <c. 7. 1:437.>}
5992. Antipater continued to implicate his brothers, Alexander and Aristobulus, by false accusations made through others. He often seemed to take upon him their defence so that making a pretence of good will toward them, he might more easily oppress them. By these subtleties he so wrought with his father, that Herod thought he was his only preserver. Therefore, the king commended his steward Ptolemy to Antipater and discussed all his plans with his mother Doris. Everything was done according to their wishes and they made the king displeased with those whom it was to their advantage that he should be angry with. {Josephus, l. 16. c. 11. <c. 7. 1:437.>}
5993. Pheroras fell so madly in love with his own servant that he refused the marriage with Cypros, Herod's daughter who was offered to him by Herod. He was persuaded by Ptolemy, the king's steward, to promise to divorce his servant and to marry Cypros within thirty days which he failed to do. He also accused Herod to his son Alexander, that he had heard from Salome, his sister, (which she denied) that Herod was greatly in love with Alexander's wife, Glaphyra. This made the king highly displeased with both of them. {Josephus, l. 16. c. 11. <c. 7. 1:438,439>}
3996 AM, 4706 JP, 8 BC
5994. The man who was diseased started to lie at the pool of Bethesda. He was healed by Christ 38 years later. {Joh 5:5}
5995. Alexander by the wiles of his adversaries was driven to desperation. He was reconciled to his father by Archelaus, the king of the Cappadocians who came to Jerusalem. {Josephus, l. 16. c. 11. <c. 8. 1:442>}
5996. Archelaus was considered one of Herod's best friends. He received generous gifts from Herod and departed into Cappadocia. Herod accompanied him as far as Antioch. Herod and Titus, the president of Syria, reconciled their differences and Herod returned to Judea. {Josephus, l. 16. c. 11. <c. 8. 1:442>}
5997. Herod went the third time to Rome to Caesar. {Josephus, l. 16. c. 11. <c. 9. 1:442>}
5998. While Herod was away from his kingdom, those thieves of Trachona, who had fled to Syllaeus, the Arabian, infested all of Judea and Coelosyria with their robberies. Syllaeus granted them impunity and security for their thievery. {Josephus, l. 16. c. 13. <c. 9. 1:442,443>}
5999. When Augustus was the high priest, he restored to the previous reckoning, the year as it was ordained by Julius Caesar. Later, through negligence, it was incorrectly calculated. {Suetonius, in Octavian, c. 31.} In 36 years, there were intercalated 12 days where there ought to have been but 9 days intercalated. Therefore, Augustus commanded that twelve years should pass without any leap year at all so that those excess three days that had been added by the over zealous priests in thirty six years should be eliminated in the following twelve years which would not be leap years. {*Pliny. l. 2. c. 6. 1:191} {Salinus, c. 3.} {Macrob. Saturnal, l. 1. c. 14.}
6000. In the ordering of the year, Augustus called the month Sextilis after his own name August, rather than calling the month September after his name even though he was born in that month. He did this because in the month of Sextilis, he had first been consul, and also had had many great victories. {Suetonius, in Octavian, c. 31.} {Dio, l. 55. 6:395} Macrobius records the very words of the decree of the senate. {Macrobius, Saturnal, l. 1. c. 12.} He also mentioned the decree of the people concerning the same matter. Pacuritus the tribune of the people proposed the law. This was when C. Marcius Censorinus and G. Asinius Gallus were consuls. {Censorinus, de die. natali} {*Dio, l. 55. 6:391}
6001. In their consulship there was a second census of the citizens made at Rome. In the census, there were 4,233,000 Roman citizens, as is gathered from the fragments of Ancyran marble. {Gruter, Inscriptions, p. 230.} In Suidas in Aunousq the number is far less of those that were numbered, 4,101,017. Suidas very ridiculously states that this number was for the city and not the whole world.
6002. When Herod returned from Rome, he celebrated the dedication of the temple built again by him within nine and an half years on the very anniversary of his kingdom when he first received it from the senate. His custom was to solemnize the day with great joy. The king sacrificed 300 oxen to God and numerous others offered sacrifices according to their abilities. {Josephus, l. 15. c. ult. <c. 11. 1:423>}
3997a AM, 4706 JP, 8 BC
6003. Herod had found that in his absence, his people had been greatly harmed by those thieves of Trachona. He could not subdue them because they were under the protection of the Arabians and neither could he tolerate their attacks. Therefore, he entered Trachona and he killed all their relatives. By this they were the more incensed (especially because they had a law by which they are commanded not to allow the slaughter of their families to go unrevenged.) Therefore they ignored all dangers and molested all Herod's country with continual excursions and driving and carrying away their goods. {Josephus, l. 16. c. 13. <c. 9. 1:443>}
6004. When Augustus would resign his principality since another ten years was almost expired, he assumed it again as though against his will. He made war on the Germans. He sent Tiberius against them but he himself stayed home. {*Dio, l. 55. 6:393} He gave money to the soldiers also because they had Caius along with them for the first time taking part in their military exercises. {*Dio, l. 55. 6:395}
3997b AM, 4707 JP, 7 BC
6005. Dionysius Halicarnassus began to write the books of Roman history in the 193rd Olympiad when Claudius Tiberius Nero and Cn. Calphurnius Piso were consuls. This he stated in the preface to those books. He was considered an historian by Clement {Clement Alexandria, l. 3. c. 1.} and a rhetorician by Quintilian. {Quintilian, l. 3. c. 1.}
6006. Herod sent to the presidents of Syria who were appointed by Caesar, Saturninus and Volumnius (the agent) and demanded that he might punish those thieves of Trachona who were wasting his country by there invasions from Arabia and Nabatea. They were told that the robbers had increased to about 1000 and began to make sudden invasions and to waste both field and villages and cut the throats of all that fell into their hands. Therefore Herod demanded those thieves be turned over to him, and required the sixty talents that he had lent Obodas under Syllaeus' security. Syllaeus had kicked Obodas out of the government and now ruled all himself. He denied that those thieves were in Arabia and he deferred to pay the money concerning which it was debated before Saturninus and Volumnius. Finally, it was determined by them that within thirty days time both the money should be repayed and the runaways from both countries should be turned over to each other. {Josephus, l. 16. c. 13. <c. 9. 1:443>} Syllaeus also swore by the fortune of Caesar, in the presence of those presidents of Syria that he would pay the money within thirty days and turn over those fugitives to Herod. {Josephus, l. 16. c. 16. <c. 10. 1:447>}
6007. After the time appointed was come, Syllaeus was unwilling to live up to his agreement and went to Rome. Herod, with the permission of Saturninus and Volumnius who had given him permission to prosecute those obstinate people, entered Arabia with an army. In three days, he travelled as far as they use to do in seven. When he came to the citadel where the thieves lived, he took it at the first assault. He demolished this fortress called Raeeptu and did no harm to the inhabitants of the country. When a captain of the Arabians came to their aid, they joined battle. A few of the Herodians and about 25 Arabians were killed along with their captain. The rest of the Arabians fled. When Herod was revenged of the thieves, he brought 3000 Idumaeans into Trachona to restrain the thieves who lived there. He sent letters to the Roman captains who were then in Phoenicia, in which he told them that he had only used the power they had granted them against those obstinate Arabians and nothing else. When they inquired about this, they found that what Herod had said, was true. {Josephus, l. 16. c. 14. <c. 9. 1:443>}
3998a AM, 4707 JP, 7 BC
6008. At Rome, Syllaeus received letters about what happened but they grossly exaggerated everything. These lies so incensed Caesar against Herod that he wrote to him threatening letters because he had marched with an army from his own kingdom. At first, Caesar would not so much as admit his ambassadors who were sent to plead his cause. They again petitioned to be heard and he dismissed them without anything being done. {Josephus, Antiq. c. 16. c. 15. <c. 9. 1:443>}
6009. The Trachonites together with the Arabians seized on this occasion and attacked the garrison of the Idumaeans that Herod had sent to them. Herod was terrified by the anger of Caesar and was forced to bear it. {Josephus, Antiq. c. 16. c. 15. <c. 9. 1:443>}
6010. After Obodas, the king of the Arabians (of Nabatea) had died, Aeneas succeeded him in the kingdom, who changed his name and was called Aretas. While Syllaeus was at Rome, he tried by false accusations to have him thrust from the kingdom and to get the kingdom for himself. He gave much money to the courtiers and promised many great things to Caesar. He knew Caesar was offended with Aretas because he dared assume the kingdom without his consent. {Josephus, Antiq. c. 16. c. 15. <c. 9. 1:444>}
3998b AM, 4708 JP, 6 BC
6011. Caius and Lucius, the sons of Augustus by adoption, were raised in the imperial house. They were quite insolent even when they were very young. Lucius, the younger of the two, entered the theatre unattended where he was received with a general applause. This increased his boldness and he even dared ask that the consulship might be given to his brother Caius before he was of military age. When Augustus heard this, he wished that there might never be a time of necessity as in his own case when the consulship was given to one that was not 20 years old. When his son did earnestly desire this of him, he then said, that this office was to be undertaken by one who could both avoid making mistakes and that could resist the desires of the people. Finally, he gave the priesthood to Caius and gave him permission that he might go into the senate and to sit with the senators both at the plays and the feasts. {*Dio, l. 55. 6:401} He also granted that although they were not yet seventeen they should be called princes of youth. Augustus declined the consulship for them which they strongly wanted. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 1. c. 3.}
6012. To make his sons behave more modestly like private citizens, Augustus granted to Tiberius the power of Tribune for five years. He assigned him to Armenia which had revolted after the death of Tigranes (who was made king by Tiberius.) This did not work as Augustus planned and the sons and Tiberius were offended. The sons felt ignored and Tiberius feared their anger and he went to Rhodes not to Armenia. {Xyphiline, ex Dio} {Zonaras, ex Dio} {*Dio, l. 55. 6:403} He used the pretence that he wanted to study the arts but his real reason was so the sons would be relieved of the sight of him and his actions. {Xyphiline, ex Dio} {Zonaras, ex Dio}{*Dio, l. 55. 6:403} {in Excerptis, ab Henric. Vales. edit. p. 662.} He feared lest his glory might dim the beginnings of the careers of two rising young men. {Velleius Paterculus, l. 2. c. 99. 1:257} Some thought that when Augustus' sons were now young men, Tiberius left the place and the position of second highest in the empire which he held so long. He followed the example of Marcus Agrippa, who went to Mitylene. Marcus Marcellus was admitted to public offices. If Tiberius was present he might conflict with them and detract from their glory. Tiberius gave that reason a long time later. {Suetonius, in Tiberius, c. 10.}
6013. Some think that he went away because of his wife Julia whom he dared not accuse, nor divorce and he could not endure her any longer. {Suetonius, in Tiberius, c. 10.} {*Dio, l. 55. 6:405} {in Excerptis, ab Henric. Vales. edit. p. 662.} Others say that he was offended that he was not adopted by Caesar. Still others claim that he was sent there by Augustus, because he acted treacherously against his sons. {*Dio, l. 55. 6:405}
6014. Concealing his true reasons, Tiberius asked permission of Augustus who was his father-in-law, to go away from Rome and from his wife. {*Velleius Paterculus, l. 2. c. 99. 1:403,405} {Suetonius, in Tiberius, c. 10.} Neither did he yield to his mother who humbly besought him or his father-in-law complaining that he also was forsaken by the senate. They resolutely detained him and he ate nothing in four days. Finally they granted him permission to go. He went down presently to Ostia and did not say a word to those who went with him. He kissed very few of them when he sailed. {Suetonius, in Tiberius, c. 10.} At his departure, he opened his will and read it before his mother and Augustus. {in Excerptis, ab Henric. Vales. edit. p. 665.} {Dio, l. 55. 6:405}
6015. From Ostia he sailed along the coast of Campania, where he heard of the weakness of Augustus. He stayed there a little time. However, the rumour increased as if he tarried for an occasion of greater hopes. He sailed to Rhodes almost in foul weather. {Suetonius, in Tiberius, c. 11.} He took his journey like a private man, except that he compelled the Pharians to sell him a statue of Vesta which he dedicated in the temple of Concord. {Dio, l. 55. 6:405} {in Excerptis, ab Henric. Vales. edit. p. 662.}
6016. When he came to Rhodes, he was contented with a small house there and a slightly larger one in the country. He lived a most retired life. He sometimes walked into their gymnasiums without either sergeant or guard. He gave and received courtesies from the Greeks on equal terms. {Suetonius, in Tiberius, c. 11} Nevertheless, all the proconsuls and lieutenants who were going into foreign provinces, came there to visit him. They always submitted their fasces to him. Although as a private citizen, he confessed that his retirement was more honourable than when he was in the government. {Velleius Paterculus, l. 2. c. 99. 1:257} In his retirement, he diligently listened to Theodorus the Gadarean, a rhetorician, who desired to be called the Rhodian. {Quintil. l. 3. c. 1.}
6017. There was a great conjunction of the planets which only occurs once every 800 years.
6018. Aeneas, who is called Aretas, the new king of the Arabians of Nabatea sent letters and gifts to Caesar which included a crown worth many talents. In his letters, he accused Syllaeus of many crimes and of being a most wicked servant who had poisoned Obodas. While Obodas was alive, Syllaeus had done as he pleased. Caesar would not even hear his ambassadors and also despised his presents and dismissed them without anything done. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 16. c. 15. <c. 9. 1:444>}
6019. Herod was compelled by the wrongs and insolence of the Arabians, to send Nicholas Damascene to Rome to see if he could get any justice from Caesar through his friend's mediation. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 16. c. 15. <c. 9. 1:444>}
6020. The discord of Herod with his sons that he had by Mariamme was greatly increased by the wiles of Eurichus, a Lacedemonian. He was the same person (unless I am deceived) who fled 25 years earlier with Antony from the battle of Actium. He was now being entertained by Herod and stayed at Antipater's house. He had ingratiated himself to Alexander. Herod gave him 50 talents for information against Alexander. Eurichus went to Archelaus, the king of Cappadocia and bragged how he had reconciled Alexander to his father's favour again. He received money from Archelaus also and returned to Lacedemon. There he continued his wicked ways and he was banished from Lacedemon. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 16. c. 16. <c. 10. 1:444,445>}
6021. Herod made diligent inquiry about his sons. He put to death, by extreme torture, many of his own and of his son's friends. However, he found nothing wrong except that some were too free in their complaints about these unfortunate young men. They complained of their father's immoderate cruelty and of the dishonest ease of listening to any gossip of wicked men. They noted the impiety and wicked deceits of their brother Antipater and of the faction that was combined against them. They thought to escape further harm by fleeing to Archelaus. His two sons did not deny this but Herod put them in prison, as if they were guilty of treason against their father. He said that he would punish them accordingly as his affairs went at Rome. Concerning this business, he sent letters to Caesar by Volumnius, (the general of his army) as Josephus calls him, {Josephus, Wars, l. 1. c. 17.) and Olympius, his friend. Herod ordered that on their trip they should stop at Eleusa, a town of Cilicia and give a letter to Archelaus. They should expostulate with him because he was a partner in his sons' plans. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 16. c. 16. <c. 10. 4:446>}
6022. At Rome Nicholas Damascene allied himself with the Arabians who came to accuse Syllaeus. He claimed that he was Herod's accuser before Augustus and not Herod's defender otherwise he would not likely have been allowed to speak and turned away as others had been. When Nicholas had exposed publicly many of Syllaeus' crimes, he also added that Caesar was misled by his lies in the case of Herod. When he had so publicly shown and had confirmed by certain and authentic records, Caesar condemned Syllaeus and remanded him to the province that he might be punished after he had paid his debt. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 16. c. 16. <c. 10. 4:446,447>}
6023. From this time, Augustus was reconciled to Aretas and Herod and then received his presents which he so often had rejected. He confirmed by his authority, the kingdom of the Arabians on him. He advised Herod also by letters, that he should call a council at Berytus and meet with the presidents of Syria, Archelaus, the king of the Cappadocians, and others of his friends and noble men. Together they should settle the whole business. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 16. c. 16. <c. 11. 4:448>}
6024. In the isle of Cos, an earthquake destroyed much property. {Eusebius, Chronicles}
6025. The angel, Gabriel, (who had in time past foretold to Daniel the coming of the Messiah, by a definite number of weeks of years) appeared at the right side of the altar of incense to Zacharias, the priest of the course of Abia as he was offering incense in the temple of the Lord according to the custom of the priest's office. {Ex 30:7,8} He told him that there would be born to him who was now old and to his aged wife Elizabeth, who was barren, a son. He would be called John, a Nazarite, and be the forerunner of the Lord. He would minister in the spirit and power of Elijah. Zacharias did not believe the promise and was made dumb. {Lu 1:5-22}
3999a AM, 4708 JP, 6 BC
6026. After the days of his ministry were finished, Zacharias returned home and his wife Elizabeth conceived a son by him and hid herself five months, saying:
``Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.'' {Lu 1:23-25}
6027. When Herod received Augustus' letters, he rejoiced exceedingly because he was restored into his favour and he was given the power to do what he wanted with his sons. He convened by messengers all those whom Caesar had appointed to meet at Berythus except for Archelaus who kept his sons not far from the city, in Plaran a city of the Sidonians. First of all Saturninus, one who had been a consul and one of great dignity spoke his opinion. He was moderate and said that indeed the sons of Herod were to be condemned but not to be put to death. After him his three sons who were their father's lieutenants, were of the same opinion. On the other side Volumnius stated that they were to be punished with death because they were so impious toward their father. Most followed his opinion. Then the king took his sons with him to Tyre where Nicolaus arrived as he came from Rome. After Herod had conferred with him concerning his sons, he ordered Nicolaus to sail with him to Caesarea. {Josephus, l. 16. c. ult. <c. 11. 1:448>}
6028. At Caesarea a certain old soldier named Tero smartly reprehended Herod for the wickedness he planned against his sons and told him that he and 300 captains were of the same opinion. Herod ordered him to be cast into prison. Trypho, the king's barber used this occasion and accused Tero. He said that he had been often solicited by Tero that he would cut the king's throat with his razor as he was trimming him. Immediately both the barber and Tero and his son were tortured. His son saw his father so cruelly handled. To free him from the tortures, he were unadvisedly merciful and accused him of intending to murder the king. Then Herod brought those 300 captains together with Tero and his son and the barber and accused them before the people. The people threw anything that came next to hand and killed everyone of them. {Josephus, l. 16. c. ult. <c. 11. 1:449>}
6029. Alexander and Aristobulus were led to Sebaste and there strangled by their father's command. Their bodies were buried in the citadel of Alexandrion where Alexander their grandfather on their mother's side, and many of their family were buried. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 16. c. ult. <c. 11. 1:450>, Wars, l. 1. c. 17.}
3999b AM, 4709 JP, 5 BC
6030. When Augustus had assumed the twelfth consulship, he brought Caius into the court who was now of age and designed him "Prince of Youth", and made him a prefect of a tribe, {Suetonius, in Octavian, c. 26.} {Zonaras, ex Dio} {*Dio, l. 55. 6:405} This title of prince was given him by:
``all the Roman equestrians that gave him silver spears.''
6031. Augustus stated this in the breviary of his deeds. Augustus also mentions the consulship that was then decreed both to Caius and Lucius.
``In respect of honouring me, the senate and people of Rome designed them consuls when they were only fifteen years old so that they might enter into that office after five years, to be calculated from that day that they were brought into the court.''
6032. Thus the Ancyran Marble has it. {Gruter, Inscriptions, p. 231} Whereas in another Roman stone it is said that the people created Caius consul when he was only fourteen years old. (For "created" it means "designed" for at this time his fourteenth year was ended and he was entering on his fifteenth.)
6033. After his brothers were dead, Antipater, intended also to remove his father. Since Antipater knew he was hated by many in the kingdom, he endeavoured by bribes to get the good will of his friends at Rome and in Judea. He especially solicited Saturnius, the president of Syria, and Pheroras and Salome, the brother and sister of Herod. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 17. c. 1. <1:451>}
6034. Herod sent home Glaphira the widow of his son Alexander to Archelaus, her father, the king of Cappadocia. He gave her also a dowry from the king's treasury lest some controversy should arise concerning it. He took good care of the young children of Alexander and Aristobulus. Antipater was grieved by this and feared that when they were come of age, that they would restrain his power. Hence, he plotted their destruction also and he so overcame Herod by his intreaties, that he would allow him to marry the daughter of Aristobulus and allow Antipater's son to marry the daughter of his uncle, Pheroras. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 17. c. 1. <1:451>}
6035. Herod invited Zamaris, a Babylonian Jew, and gave him a country in Trachonis to inhabit so that he might guard that country against thieves. He came with 500 cavalry and 100 of his relatives. He built various citadels in various places around Trachonis and also at Bathyra. With these he gave safe passage to the Jews who came from Babylon to the feasts at Jerusalem from the thiefs of the Trachonites and others. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 17. c. 1. <c. 2. 1:452>}
6036. Antipater plotted treason against his father and involved his uncle Pheroras with him along with some of the king's women who belong mainly to the Pharisees. Salome remained loyal to her brother Herod. The Pharisees were a crafty people, arrogant and enemies to kings. Thereupon when as the whole country was to swear loyalty to the king and Caesar, they alone would not swear. They numbered more than 6000. They were fined by the king for this reason and the wife of Pheroras paid their fine for them. Since they were thought to be able to foresee the future, in return they foretold her that it was decreed that the kingdom would be taken from Herod and his children and would be given to her and her husband and their children. Salome told Herod about this and that they had solicited and corrupted many of his courtiers with bribes. Herod killed the leading Pharisees who were involved along with the eunuch Dagoas and his catamite, Carus who was commended to him for his handsomeness. Herod also killed whomever he had found of his family that had conspired with the Pharisees. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 17. c. 3. <c. 2. 1:453,454>}
6037. After Herod had convicted the Pharisees and punished them, he called a council of his friends. Before them, he began an accusation against Pheroras' wife. When Pheroras would not forsake her in favour of his brother, Herod forbid Antipater to associate with Pheroras. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 17. c. 3. <c. 2. 1:453,454>}
6038. To remove all suspicion of his father from himself, Antipater through his friends who lived at Rome, requested that Herod should send Antipater immediately to Augustus. Herod sent along with him many expensive presents and his will. In it he stated that Antipater should be king but if he died then Herod's son, Herod Philip, whom he had by Mariamme, the daughter of Simon the high priest, would be the king. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 17. c. 4. <c. 3. 1:454)}
6039. In the sixth month after John was conceived, the angel, Gabriel, was sent by God to Nazareth in Galilee, to the most blessed virgin Mary who was betrothed to Joseph. They were both of the tribe of Judah and of David's family. He greeted her and declared that she should bring forth the Son of God and should call his name, Jesus. She was more fully instructed by the angel of the admirable manner of her conception to be performed by the power of the Holy Ghost who would overshadow her. With great faith, she said that it should be to the handmaid of the Lord according to thy word. {Lu 1:26-38}
6040. Christ was thus conceived and the mother of the Lord hurried into the hill country to a city of Judah. (That is, Hebron, a city of the priests located in the mountains of Judah {Jos 21:10,11}) When she had entered into the house of Zacharias, the priest and had greeted her cousin, Elizabeth, she perceived the child to leap in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost and declared that Mary was blessed. She believed this and confirmed that those things should be performed that were told her by the Lord. Mary imitated that song of Hannah, {1Sa 2:1-10} and spoke that divine hymn, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, &c." Mary stayed with her about three months. {Lu 1:39-56}
6041. Syllaeus, the Arabian, went to Rome but had done nothing which Caesar had ordered him to do. Antipater accused him before Caesar of the same crimes that Nicolaus Damascene had previously accused him of. There was also present another accuser, Aretas (the king of the Nabateans) who accused him of the murder of many honourable men without his consent. He especially complained about the murder of Sohemus who was a man most famous for all virtue. He also complained about the murder of Fabalus, Caesar's agent. {Josephus, Wars, l. 1. c. 18. Antiq., l. 17. c. 4. <c. 3. 1:454>}
6042. Herod banished his brother Pheroras into his tetrarchy because he so obstinately persisted in the love of his wife. He went willingly and swore that he would never return until he heard of Herod's death. Soon after that, Herod became sick and often sent for him to receive some private instructions from him as he lay on his death bed. He refused to come for his oath's sake. {Josephus, Wars. l. 1. c. 19. Antiq. l. 17. c. 5. <c. 3. 1:454>)
6043. When the time of Elizabeth was come, she gave birth to a son. When he was to be circumcised the eighth day the bystanders would have had him called Zacharias, after his father's name but his parents said that they would have him named John. Zacharias had his speech restored and was filled with the Holy Ghost and prophesied saying, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, &c." {Lu 1:57-68} When Joseph found his betrothed wife, Mary with child, he was willing to put her away quietly. He was told by God in a dream that she had conceived by the Holy Ghost and should bring forth her son, Jesus, who would save his people from their sins. He then took her as his wife. {Mt 1:18-24}
6044. When Pheroras became sick beyond all hope of getting well, Herod, his brother, came and visited him and very kindly sought help for him. However, he died within a few days. Herod brought his body to Jerusalem and buried it there. Herod honoured him with public mourning. {Josephus, Wars, l. 1. c. 19. Antiq. l. 17. c. 5. <c. 3. 1:454,455>}
6045. Two of Pherora's freed men who were most dear to him, (who were Taphenites) told Herod, how he had been killed with poison by Doris, the mother of Antipater. Herod inquired into this villainy and by luck he by little and little found out much greater villainies and the obvious treasons of his son, Antipater. Antipater on his journey to Rome, had given a deadly poison to Pheroras. Theudon, the brother of Doris, sent it from Egypt by Antiphilus, one of Antipator's friends, to kill his father. Theudon did this when he was away so that no one would suspect he had anything to do with his father's death. {Josephus, Antiq. l. 17. c. 6. <c. 4. 1:455>}
6046. Thereupon Herod expelled Doris, the mother of Antipater, from the palace and took her jewels from her which were worth many talents. Herod divorced his wife, another Mariamme, the daughter of the high priest, who was in on this plot. He removed her son from his will, where he was appointed successor. He also deprived his father-in-law of the high priesthood and substituted Matthias, the son of Theophilus who was born at Jerusalem. {Josephus, Antiq. l. 17. c. 6. <c. 4. 1:455,456>}
4000a AM, 4709 JP, 5 BC
6047. On the day of atonement, when there was a solemn fast of the Jews, the new high priest Matthias could not perform the divine service because he had suffered from nocturnal pollution. Therefore Joseph, the son of Ellemus was appointed to be his assistant and substitute, since he was his relative and the same day he entered into the Holy of Holies. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 17. c. 8. <c. 6. 1:462>}
6048. Bathyllus, the freed man of Antipater came from Rome. When he was tortured, he confessed that he had brought poison which he gave to Antipater's mother for Pheroras. He said if the first poison was too weak, they could certainly kill him with this one. Antipater had his friends at Rome sent letters to the king. These accused Archelaus and Philip, Herod's sons, of complaining about the murder of Alexander and Aristobulus and pitied the misfortune of their innocent brothers. These young men were at that time at Rome to study but now their father ordered them to return. Thereupon Antipater bribed his friends with large gifts that they might make his father suspect these two men who stood in the way of Antipater's ambitions. Antipater himself, wrote to his father concerning them as if he were excusing them because they were young. {Josephus, l. 17. c. 6. <c. 4. 1:456>, Wars, l. 1. c. 20.}
6049. Augustus ordered that all the Roman world should be taxed. This taxing first happened when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. {Lu 2:1} From this a little book was made by Augustus, containing all the public riches, number of Roman citizens and armed allies. It listed the navies, kingdoms and provinces. It had what tribute and customs were required to be paid. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 1. c. 11.}
6050. P. Sulpicius Quirinius is called in the Greek Kutwiou or Kurniou had been a consul at Rome for seven years previous to this. Strabo {*Strabo, l. 12. c. 6. 5:479} wrote about the Homonadensians, a people of Cilicia:
``Quirinius overcame them by famine and took 4000 men and distributed them into the neighbouring cities.''
6051. Tacitus wrote: {Tacitus, Annals, l. 3. c. 48.}
``He was a valiant warrior and ambitious in all his duties. He had the consulship under Augustus. He was famous for he won the citadels of the Homonadensians by assault and he obtained the ensigns of triumph.''
6052. Augustus himself had decreed that magistrates should not be sent into provinces as soon as they had left office. {Suetonius, in Octavian, c. 36.} They should wait five years after their term of office. {*Dio, l. 53. 6:227}
6053. Thereupon Quirinius obtained the proconsulate of Cilicia and might be sent into Syria that was close by either as censor with an extraordinary power or as Caesar's governor with ordinary power. He would still retain the proconsulship of Cilicia and Sextius Saturninus of Syria. We have often read in Josephus that Volumnius and Saturninus in like manner were called presidents of Syria, when as Volumnius, was only epitropou {Josephus, Wars, l. 1. c. 17.} A little later, Quintillius Varus was made successor to Saturninus with the proconsular authority. So nothing is incorrect in that Quirinius may be said to have succeeded or rather to have been added to the office of administration of Caesar's affairs, as King Herod was. Josephus noted Herod was to be the governor of all Syria {Josephus, Wars, l. 1. c. 15.} and was so constituted by Augustus that he was added to the governors and that all things should be done according to his wishes. {Josephus, Antiq. l. 15. c. 13.} Hence both would govern together as Tertulian has it: {Tertulian, contra. Marcion, l. 4. c. 9.}
``that there was a tax raised under Augustus in Judea, by Sentius Saturninus.''
6054. The words of Luke tell us when this same taxing was made.
``when Cyrenius or Quirinius was governor of Syria.''
6055. Luke would rather mention him than of the governor of Saturninus because he would compare this taxing with another that was made by the same Quirinius ten years later after Archelaus was sent into banishment. He stated that of the two taxings that this was the first that was the time of the birth of Christ.
6056. When this first taxing was enacted, Joseph went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth into Judea to the city of David, called Bethlehem because he was of the house and linage of David so that he might be taxed with Mary his wife who was due to deliver. {Lu 2:4,5}
The Seventh Age of the World
6057. Jesus Christ and Son of God, in the fulness of time was born of the most blessed virgin Mary, at Bethlehem. {Mt 1:25 2:1,5 Ga 4:4} Mary wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room in the inn. {Lu 2:7}
6058. The birth of our saviour was revealed by an angel of the Lord to shepherds who kept their flock by night in the neighbouring fields. They heard the word of a multitude of the heavenly host who prayed for glory to God, peace to the earth and good will to men. The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger. They told everyone what they had heard concerning the child and they returned praising and glorifying God. {Lu 2:8-20}
6059. The child was circumcised on the eighth day after his birth and his name was called Jesus as foretold by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. {Lu 2:21}
4000b AM, 4710 JP, 4 BC
6060. The wise men from the east were guided by a star and came to Herod at Jerusalem. They were told that the birth place of Christ was in Bethlehem of Judea. They went there and entering into the house which was showed to them by the star that stood over it. They found the little child with Mary, his mother. They fell down and worshipped him and gave their treasures to him, gold, frankincense and myrrh. They were warned by God in a dream that they should not return to Herod and so they departed into their own country by another way. {Mt 2:1-12}
6061. On the fortieth day after her delivery, Mary went to Jerusalem to the temple to present him to the Lord according to the law of the firstborn and also to offer for herself a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons. (She could not afford to offer a lamb.) This was according to the Levitical law. {Lu 2:22-24,27 Le 12:2-4,6,8}
6062. When his parents brought the child Jesus into the temple to perform the requirements of the law, Simeon came into the temple to whom it was revealed by God that he should not die until he had seen the anointed of the Lord. He took Jesus in his arms and praised the Lord and spoke prophesies about Christ and his mother. At the same time, Anna, a prophetess the daughter of Phanuel, came and publicly acknowledged the Lord and spoke of him to all who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. {Lu 2:25-38}
6063. When Joseph and Mary had performed all the things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee to their own city of Nazareth. {Lu 2:39}
6064. The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and warned him to flee to Egypt to save the life of the child and escape the machinations of Herod. When he awoke, he took the young child and his mother by night and went into Egypt where he remained until the death of Herod. {Mt 2:13-15}
6065. Herod thought the young child was still at Bethlehem. He killed all the children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding area who were two years old or less. This was according to the time when the star first was seen in the east and when the wise men enquired about the child. {Mt 2:16}
6066. Herod received letters from Antipater from Rome, in which he told him that he had settled all his business according to his wishes and he would return home in a short time. Herod wrote to him back again and concealed his anger. He said he should hurry home lest anything happen to him while he was away. He also modestly complained of his mother and promised that he would settle all differences after his return. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 17. c. 7. <c. 5. 1:456>}
6067. Antipater heard no news all this time either of the death of Pheroras or of those things that were brought against him even though seven months had elapsed. {Josephus, Wars, l. 1. c. 20} {Josephus, Antiq., l. 17. c. 6. fin. <c. 5. 1:456>} On his journey, he received a letter at Tarentum about Pheroras' death. In Cilicia he got those letters from his father that told him to hurry home. When he came to Celenderis, a town of Cilicia, he began to have doubts about his return and was extremely sorrowful for the disgrace of his mother. However, he sailed on and he came to Sebaste, the port of Caesarea. He was greeted by no one and he went to Jerusalem. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 17. c. 6. fin. <c. 5. 1:456,457>}
6068. It happened that at the same time, Quintilius Varus was at Jerusalem, who was sent as the successor to Saturninus in Syria and was summoned there by Herod. Herod wanted Varus to help him with his council in his weighty affairs. As they were sitting both together, Antipater came in not suspecting anything. He entered the palace in his purple garment that he usually wore. When he entered, the guards at the gates allowed none of his followers to come in with him. As he approached them, his father thrust him from him and accused him of the murder of Pheroras, Herod's brother and of intendeding to poison his father. He told him that on the next day Varus would both hear and determine all things between them. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 17. c. 6. fin. <c. 5. 1:457>}
6069. The next day Varus and the king sat in judgment. His father first began the accusation and left the prosecution and confirmation of it to Nicholas Damascene, his dear and close friend and one who knew all the business. When Antipater could not clear himself from the crimes alleged against him, Varus ordered the poison which he had prepared for his father to be brought out. It was given to another condemned man who immediately died. After this, Varus arose from the council and the next day he went to Antioch because this was the main palace of the Syrians. Herod soon put his son into prison and sent letters to Caesar indicating what he had done. He also sent messengers who by word of mouth, might verify to Caesar of the cursed treason of Antipater. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 17. c. 6. fin. <c. 5. 1:457-460>}
6070. At the same time, letters were intercepted from Antiphilus to Antipater from Egypt along with others from Rome which were sent to Antipater and Herod the king and written from Acme. She was a Jew and a chambermaid to Livia, Caesar's wife. She was well bribed by Antipater and sent a forged letter to Herod as if it had been written from Salome to her Livia against him, in which she desired that she might have permission to marry Syllaeus. (This is that Nabatean who was Herod's sworn enemy.) A little after this, Syllaeus was beheaded at Rome for betraying Aelius Gallus on the Arabian expedition and for other crimes. {*Strabo, l. 16. 7:363} Herod sent by his ambassadors to Caesar, a copy of these letters together with those of his own against his son. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 17. c. 6. fin. <c. 5. 1:460>}
6071. While the ambassadors hurried to Rome, Herod fell sick and made his will. He left the succession of his kingdom to his youngest son, Herod Antipas since he was estranged from Archelaus and Philip, by the false accusations of Antipater. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 17. c. 8. <c. 6. 1:460>}
6072. Judas, the son of Saripheus and Matthias, the son of Margalothus, were two of the most learned of the Jews and best interpreters of the law. When they knew that the king's sickness was incurable, they persuaded some young men who were their scholars that they should throw down the golden eagle that Herod erected over the large gate of the temple. They went at noon day, they pulled and hewed down with their axes the eagle while a large number in the temple witnessed their actions. As soon as it was told the captain, he came with a strong band of soldiers and laid hold upon some forty of the young men together with their masters and brought them to Herod. These continually defended their actions and Herod ordered them to be bound and sent to Jericho. He convened the rulers of the Jews and was brought into the assembly in a litter because he was so weak. He complained not so much of the wrong done to himself as to God, as he said. They denied that it was done according to their order and Herod dealt more mildly with them. He took away the high priesthood from Matthias since he knew of this affair and replaced him with Jazar the brother of his wife, (Mariamme, the daughter of Simon the high priest.) He burned alive the other Matthias that was partner of this sedition along with his companions. That night the moon was eclipsed {Josephus, Antiq., l. 17. c. 8 <c. 5. 1:461,462>} on March 13th, three hours after midnight according to the astronomical tables.
6073. Herod's disease grew worse, for he was inflamed with a slow fire which was not felt but it burnt up his very bowels. He had also the disease called bulimia which was a continual desire for food. To satisfy this, he was always eating. He was also continually tortured with ulcers in his bowels and pains of the colic. His feet swelled with a moist liquid. Also his thighs and his members rotted and were full of worms. He also had a filthy and no less troublesome priapism and a most terrible stench. In addition, he was troubled with convulsions and had difficulty in breathing. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 17. c. 8. <c. 6. 1:462>}
6074. Although he was so grievously tormented that everyone thought he would die from this, yet he hoped he should get well. He very carefully sent for physicians and sought medicines from every place. He went also beyond the Jordan River into the hot baths at Callirrhoe which drained into the Dead Sea. Beside their medicinal value, the water is pleasant to drink. By the advice of his physicians, he was placed in a bathing tub filled with oil. When he seemed to have died, his friends suddenly cried out and bewailed him. He came to himself and now realised there was no more hope for recovery. He ordered 50 drachmas to be given to every soldier and was generous to his captains and friends. He returned again to Jericho. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 17. c. 8. <c. 6. 1:462>}
6075. Augustus had heard that among the children that Herod, the king of the Jews had ordered to be killed who were two years or under. One of Herod's own sons was also killed by this same edict. Augustus said: {Macrobius, Saturnal, l. 2. c. 4.}
``It was better to be Herod's hog than his son.''
4001a AM, 4710 JP, 4 BC
6076. Herod by an edict, convened to Jericho from every place, the most noble of the Jews and locked them up in a place called the hippodrome. He ordered his sister Salome and her husband Alexas, that as soon as he was dead, they would order the soldiers to kill all those that were confined so that the people should have cause for sorrow otherwise they would rejoice at the death of their king that they hated so much. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 17. c. 8. <c. 6. 1:463>}
6077. Letters came from Rome from the ambassadors that were sent to Caesar. They stated that Acme was put to death by Caesar who was angry for her involvement in Antipater's conspiracy. Antipater was left to his father's pleasure, either to banish him or to put him to death. When Herod had heard these things, he was cheered a little but presently he was in pain again. He was hungry and called for an apple and a knife to peal it. When he tried to stab himself, Achialus, his nephew, prevented him and called for help as he held out Herod's right hand. A great sorrow with fear and tumult struck the whole palace, as if Herod had been dead. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 17. c. 9. <c. 7. 1:463>}
6078. When Antipater heard the noise, he thought certainly that his father was dead. He began to bargain with his keeper about letting him out. He promised him many things now and in the future when it was within his power. The keeper told the king who for very anger cried out. Although he was so near death yet raised himself up in his bed and ordered one of his guard to immediately go and execute Antipater. He was to be buried in the castle of Hircania without any honour. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 17. c. 9. <c. 7. 1:463>}
6079. Then Herod changed his mind and made a new will. Antipas who before he had made his successor in the kingdom, he made him tetrarch of Galilee and Petrea. He gave the kingdom to Archelaus and assigned to his son Philip the regions of Gaulanitis, Trachonitis, Batanaea and Paneada in the name of a tetrarchy. He gave to Salome, his sister, Jamnia, Azotus and Phasaelis with 500,000 drachmas. To the rest of his family, he gave money and yearly pensions. To Caesar he gave 10,000,000 drachmas of silver and all his vessels as well of gold as silver, and a great quantity of precious clothes. To Livia, Caesar's wife and to some certain friends he gave 5,000,000 drachmas. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 17. c. 10. <c. 8. 1:463,464>}
6080. After Herod had ordered these things, he died five days after he had executed Antipater. He held the kingdom for 34 years after he had killed Antigonus but from the time that he was declared king by the Romans, 37 years. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 17. c. 9. <c. 8. 1:464>} He died about the 25th of November that is the 7th of the month Chisleu which is therefore accounted a joyful and festival day because in that day:
``Herod died who hated all wise men.''
6081. This is according to Edward Liveley, a most learned man, as noted in his chronology, in the tyn[t tlygm, Volume of the Fejunii.
6082. Before the king's death was known, Salome and Alexas, sent all those home that were locked up in the hippodrome. They said that Herod had so ordered that they should go into the country and follow own their businesses. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 17. c. 10. <c. 8. 1:464>}
6083. When the king's death was declared, all the soldiers were called into the amphitheatre of Jericho. They first read the king's letter to the soldiers in which Herod thanked them for their fidelity and love to him. Herod desired that they would be faithful to his son Archelaus, whom he had appointed to be his successor in the kingdom. Then Ptolemy the keeper of the king's seal, read his will which he could not ratify without Caesar's consent. Then was there a shout for joy that Archelaus was king and the soldiers came flocking in with their captains around him. They promised that they would be just as faithful to him as they had been to his father and they prayed God to prosper him in his reign. Archelaus prepared the king's funeral most royally. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 17. c. 10. <c. 8. 1:464>}
4001b AM, 4711 JP, 3 BC
6084. After Herod had died who sought the life of the young child, Jesus, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream in Egypt and ordered that he should return with the young child and his mother to the land of Israel. When he awoke, he did what he was commanded to do. {Mt 2:19-21.}
6085. When Joseph came into the land of Israel, he heard that Archelaus reigned in Judea in the place of his father, Herod and he feared to go there. God warned him in a dream and he departed into the region of Galilee (the tetrarchy which Archelaus' father Herod had given to Antipas in his will.) He settled in the city of Nazareth from whence Jesus took the name of Nazarene, {Mt 2:22,23} and the Christians of Nazarenes. {Ac 24:5}
6086. Herod's body was carried in a funeral possession 45 miles from Jericho, to the citadel Herodion where he had arranged to be buried. {Josephus, Wars, l. 1. c. ult. fin. <c. 33. 1:597>} Each day they only travelled one mile. He was carried on a golden bier embroidered with precious jewel and covered with a purple cloth. His body was clothed with purple also. A diadem was put on his head and also over him a crown of gold and a sceptre in his right hand. His son and his relatives walked beside the bier and were followed by the soldiers, marshalled according to their countries. Then came 500 servants who carried perfumes. {Josephus, Antiq. l. 17. c. 10. <c. 8. 1:464>}
6087. After the funeral ceremony was over, Archelaus came to Jerusalem, and solemnized the mourning for his father for seven days according to the traditions of the Jews. At the end of the mourning, he made a funeral banquet to the people. He went up into the temple and wherever he went he was congratulated. He went up to a higher place and sat on a golden throne. He spoke graciously and honestly to the people. However, he said that he would not take the name of king until Caesar had confirmed his father's will. After the sacrifices were over, he banqueted with his friends. {Josephus, Antiq. l. 17. c. 10. <c. 8. 1:464>}
6088. The friends of those whom Herod had put to death for throwing down the golden eagle, made a sedition. They reproached the dead king and demanded some of his friends also to be punished. Moreover they desired that Joazar, the high priest to be removed from the priesthood. Archelaus tried to appease them but in vain. It happened that about the feast of the passover, Archelaus sent the whole army against them and 3000 men were killed by the cavalry around the temple. The rest fled to the adjoining mountains. {Josephus, Antiq. l. 17. c. 11. <c. 9. 1:465,466>}
6089. Archelaus went down to the sea with his mother (Malthace, a Samaritan) to sail to Caesar. He took along Nicolaus Damascene, Ptolemy (Herod's agent) and his many other friends. He committed his family and kingdom to the trust of his brother Philip. Salome also, the sister of Herod, went with him and took with her all her children. Others of his relatives also went under the pretence of helping him to get the kingdom when indeed they planned to oppose him and to accuse him for that deed that was committed in the temple. {Josephus, Antiq. l. 17. c. 11. <c. 9. 1:466>}
6090. As Archelaus was travelling with this group, Sabinus, Caesar's agent in Syria met him and said he sent to Judea to take charge of Herod's money. Varus, the governor of Syria fortunately met him and restrained him for Archelaus had sent for Varus by Ptolemy. Sabinus yielded to the governor and neither seized the citadels of Judea nor sealed up the king's treasures. He left all things in Archelaus' control until Caesar should determine something concerning them. When Sabinus had promised this, he stayed at Caesarea. After Archelaus sailed for Rome and Varus returned to Antioch, Sabinus went to Jerusalem and seized the palace. He convened the captains of the citadels and the king's agents and demanded the accounts from them and that the citadels should be delivered over to him. The captains obeyed Archelaus and kept all things as they were until the king's return. They pretended that they kept them for Caesar. {Josephus, Antiq. l. 17. c. 11. <c. 9. 1:466>}
6091. At the same time Antipas, the son of Herod, sailed to Rome with hopes of getting the kingdom for himself. Salome instigated him to do this since he was to be preferred before Archelaus because he was appointed the successor of the kingdom in Herod's first will which ought to have more validity than the second. He took with him his mother (Cleopatra who was born at Jerusalem) and Ptolemy, the brother of Nicolaus Damascene. He was one of Herod's best friends and favoured his title. He especially included Irenaeus, an orator who was an eloquent man knowledgable in the king's businesses, to help him secure the kingdom. After Antipas came to Rome, all the relatives sided with him because they hated Archelaus. Sabinus wrote letters to Caesar also to accuse Archelaus. {Josephus, Antiq. l. 17. c. 11. <c. 9. 1:466>}
6092. Archelaus through Ptolemy showed a petition to Caesar containing his own right and the accounts of Herod's money that was sealed up. When Caesar had read the petition as well as Varus' and Sabinus' letters, he convened his friends. He gave the first place in the council to Caius, the son of Agrippa and his daughter Julia whom he had now adopted. Antipater, the son of Salome who was a very eloquent man, spoke against Archelaus to whom Nicolaus Damascene answered in his defence. When he had finished his discourse, Archelaus fell down at Caesar's feet, whom he courteously raised up and pronounced that he was worthy of the kingdom. Caesar said pretending that he would do nothing unless it was prescribed in his father's will or that should be profitable for Archelaus. When Caesar saw the young man confirmed in some hope by his promise, he determined nothing more at that time. {Josephus, Antiq. l. 17. c. 11. <c. 9. 1:466>}
6093. Varus came from Antioch to repress the seditions that were raised in Judea after Archelaus' departure. He punished the instigators of the sedition and after the sedition was mostly settled, he returned and left one legion in Jerusalem to prevent further seditions. As soon as he was gone, Sabinus, Caesar's agent came there and took control of those troops. He thought he was more than a match for the people and tried to seize the citadels. He forcibly searched for the king's money for his own private wealth and covetousness sake. {Josephus, Antiq. l. 17. c. 11. <c. 10. 1:468>}
6094. Many thousands came to the feast of Pentecost not so much for religion's sake but to revenge Sabinus. They came not only from Judea which was more grievously afflicted but from Galilee, Idumaea, Jericho and from the towns that were beyond the Jordan River. They fiercely attacked Sabinus and divided their troops into three brigades. The Roman soldiers valiantly opposed them and killed many of them. The soldiers entered the treasure house of the holy treasure and stole most of it. 400 talents of that money was openly brought to Sabinus. A company of the most warlike Jews besieged the palace but Rufus and Gratus, who had under their command 3000 men of the most warlike and best of Herod's soldiers, allied themselves with the Romans. In spite of this, the Jews zealously continued the assault and undermined the walls. They exhorted their adversaries to depart and promised them safe conduct. Sabinus did not trust them and would not withdraw his soldiers. He expected help from Varus. {Josephus, Antiq. l. 17. c. 11. <c. 10. 1:468,469>}
6095. In this state of things, there were various other seditions raised in Judea and in other places because the country did not have a king of their own who might restrain the multitude and compel obedience to the law. For 2000 men, who had served under Herod, were disbanded to live at home. They got together and attacked the king's faction who were under Archiabus, Herod's nephew, and general for the king. He dared not attack the old soldiers on equal terms and so he defended himself and his side as well as he could by retreating to the mountainous regions that were hard to get at. {Josephus, Antiq. l. 17. c. 11. <c. 10. 1:469>}