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from these torments for what he should say； he would tell the
truth。 And when the king had given his word to do so； he said
that there was an agreement made； that Tero should lay violent
hands on the king； because it was easy for him to come when he
was alone； and that if； when he had done the thing； he should
suffer death for it； as was not unlikely； it would be an act of
generosity done in favor of Alexander。 This was what Tero's son
said； and thereby freed his father from the distress he was in；
but uncertain it is whether he had been thus forced to speak what
was true； or whether it were a contrivance of his； in order to
procure his own and his father's deliverance from their miseries。
7。 As for Herod； if he had before any doubt about the slaughter
of his sons； there was now no longer any room left in his soul
for it； but he had banished away whatsoever might afford him the
least suggestion of reasoning better about this matter； so he
already made haste to bring his purpose to a conclusion。 He also
brought out three hundred of the officers that were under an
accusation； as also Tero and his son； and the barber that accused
them before an assembly； and brought an accusation against them
all； whom the multitude stoned with whatsoever came to hand； and
thereby slew them。 Alexander also and Aristobulus were brought to
Sebaste； by their father's command； and there strangled； but
their dead bodies were in the night time carried to Alexandraum；
where their uncle by the mother's side； and the greatest part of
their ancestors； had been deposited。
8。 （15） And now perhaps it may not seem unreasonable to some；
that such an inveterate hatred might increase so much ＇on both
sides＇； as to proceed further； and overcome nature； but it may
justly deserve consideration； whether it be to be laid to the
charge of the young men； that they gave such an occasion to their
father's anger； and led him to do what he did； and by going on
long in the same way put things past remedy； and brought him to
use them so unmercifully； or whether it be to be laid to the
father's charge； that he was so hard…hearted； and so very tender
in the desire of government； and of other things that would tend
to his glory； that tae would take no one into a partnership with
him； that so whatsoever he would have done himself might continue
immovable； or； indeed； whether fortune have not greater power
than all prudent reasonings； whence we are persuaded that human
actions are thereby determined beforehand by an inevitable
necessity； and we call her Fate； because there is nothing which
is not done by her； wherefore I suppose it will be sufficient to
compare this notion with that other； which attribute somewhat to
ourselves； and renders men not unaccountable for the different
conducts of their lives； which notion is no other than the
philosophical determination of our ancient law。 Accordingly； of
the two other causes of this sad event； any body may lay the
blame on the young men； who acted by youthful vanity； and pride
of their royal birth； that they should bear to hear the calumnies
that were raised against their father； while certainly they were
not equitable judges of the actions of his life； but ill…natured
in suspecting； and intemperate in speaking of it； and on both
accounts easily caught by those that observed them； and revealed
them to gain favor； yet cannot their father be thought worthy
excuse； as to that horrid impiety which he was guilty of about
them； while he ventured； without any certain evidence of their
treacherous designs against him； and without any proofs that they
had made preparations for such attempt； to kill his own sons； who
were of very comely bodies； and the great darlings of other men；
and no way deficient in their conduct； whether it were in
hunting； or in warlike exercises； or in speaking upon occasional
topics of discourse； for in all these they were skillful； and
especially Alexander； who was the eldest； for certainly it had
been sufficient； even though he had condemned them； to have kept
them alive in bonds； or to let them live at a distance from his
dominions in banishment； while he was surrounded by the Roman
forces； which were a strong security to him； whose help would
prevent his suffering any thing by a sudden onset； or by open
force； but for him to kill them on the sudden； in order to
gratify a passion that governed him； was a demonstration of
insufferable impiety。 He also was guilty of so great a crime in
his older age； nor will the delays that he made； and the length
of time in which the thing was done； plead at all for his excuse；
for when a man is on a sudden amazed； and in commotion of mind；
and then commits a wicked action； although this be a heavy crime；
yet is it a thing that frequently happens； but to do it upon
deliberation； and after frequent attempts； and as frequent
puttings…off； to undertake it at last； and accomplish it； was the
action of a murderous mind； and such as was not easily moved from
that which is evil。 And this temper he showed in what he did
afterward； when he did not spare those that seemed to be the best
beloved of his friends that were left； wherein； though the
justice of the punishment caused those that perished to be the
less pitied； yet was the barbarity of the man here equal； in that
he did not abstain from their slaughter also。 But of those
persons we shall have occasion to discourse more hereafter。
BOOK XVII。
Containing The Interval Of Fourteen Years。
From The Death Of Alexander And Aristobulus To The Banishment Of
Archelaus。
CHAPTER 1。
How Antipater Was Hated By All The Nation ＇Of The Jews＇ For The
Slaughter Of His Brethren； And How； For That Reason He Got Into
Peculiar Favor With His Friends At Rome； By Giving Them Many
Presents； As He Did Also With Saturninus； The President Of Syria
And The Governors Who Were Under Him； And Concerning Herod's
Wives And Children。
1。 When Antipater had thus taken off his brethren； and had
brought his father into the highest degree of impiety； till he
was haunted with furies for what he had done； his hopes did not
succeed to his mind； as to the rest of his life； for although he
was delivered from the fear of his brethren being his rivals as
to the government； yet did he find it a very hard thing； and
almost impracticable； to come at the kingdom； because the hatred
of the nation against him on that account was become very great；
and besides this very disagreeable circumstance； the affair of
the soldiery grieved him still more； who were alienated from him；
from which yet these kings derived all the safety which they had；
whenever they found the nation desirous of innovation： and all
this danger was drawn upon him by his destruction of his
brethren。 However； he governed the nation jointly with his
father； being indeed no other than a king already； and he was for
that very reason trusted； and the more firmly depended on； for
the which he ought himself to have been put to death； as
appearing to have betrayed his brethren out of his concern for
the preservation of Herod； and not rather out of his ill…will to
them； and； before them； to his father himself： and this was the
accursed state he was in。 Now all Antipater's contrivances tended
to make his way to take off Herod； that he might have nobody to
accuse him in the vile practices he was devising： and that Herod
might have no refuge； nor any to afford him their assistance；
since they must thereby have Antipater for their open enemy；
insomuch that the very plots he had laid against his brethren
were occasioned by the hatred he bore his father。 But at this
time he was more than ever set upon the execution of his attempts
against Herod； because if he were once dead； the government would
now be firmly secured to him； but if he were suffered to live any
longer； he should be in danger； upon a discovery of that
wickedness of which he had been the contriver； and his father
would of necessity then become his enemy。 And on this account it
was that he became very bountiful to his father's friends； and
bestowed great sums on several of them； in order to surprise men
with his good deeds； and take off their hatred against him。 And
he sent great presents to his friends at Rome particularly； to
gain their good…will； and above all to Saturninus； the president
of Syria。 He also hoped to gain the favor of Saturninus's brother
with the large presents he bestowed on him； as also he used the
same art to ＇Salome＇ the king's sister； who had married one of
Herod's chief friends。 And when he counterfeited friendship to
those with whom he conversed； he was very subtle in gaining their
belief； and very cunning to hide his hatred against any that he
really did hate。 But he could not impose upon his aunt； who
understood him of a long time； and was a woman not easily to be
deluded； especially while she had already used all possible
caution in preventing his pernicious designs。 Although
Antipeter's uncle by the mother's side was married to her
daughter； and this by his own connivance and management； while
she had before been married to Aristobulus； and while Salome's
other daughter by that husband was married