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who pulled down what was dedicated to God； so he fell upon them
unexpectedly； and as they were upon this bold attempt； in a
foolish presumption rather than a cautious circumspection； as is
usual with the multitude； and while they were in disorder； and
incautious of what was for their advantage； so he caught no fewer
than forty of the young men； who had the courage to stay behind
when the rest ran away； together with the authors of this bold
attempt； Judas and Matthius； who thought it an ignominious thing
to retire upon his approach； and led them to the king。 And when
they were come to the king； and he asked them if they had been so
bold as to pull down what he had dedicated to God； 〃Yes； （said
they；） what was contrived we contrived； and what hath been
performed we performed it； and that with such a virtuous courage
as becomes men； for we have given our assistance to those things
which were dedicated to the majesty of God； and we have provided
for what we have learned by hearing the law； and it ought not to
be wondered at； if we esteem those laws which Moses had suggested
to him； and were taught him by God； and which he wrote and left
behind him； more worthy of observation than thy commands。
Accordingly we will undergo death； and all sorts of punishments
which thou canst inflict upon us； with pleasure； since we are
conscious to ourselves that we shall die； not for any unrighteous
actions； but for our love to religion。〃 And thus they all said；
and their courage was still equal to their profession； and equal
to that with which they readily set about this undertaking。 And
when the king had ordered them to be bound； he sent them to
Jericho； and called together the principal men among the Jews；
and when they were come； he made them assemble in the theater；
and because he could not himself stand； he lay upon a couch； and
enumerated the many labors that he had long endured on their
account； and his building of the temple； and what a vast charge
that was to him； while the Asamoneans； during the hundred and
twenty…five years of their government； had not been able to
perform any so great a work for the honor of God as that was；
that he had also adorned it with very valuable donations； on
which account he hoped that he had left himself a memorial； and
procured himself a reputation after his death。 He then cried out；
that these men had not abstained from affronting him； even in his
lifetime； but that in the very day time； and in the sight of the
multitude； they had abused him to that degree； as to fall upon
what he had dedicated； and in that way of abuse had pulled it
down to the ground。 They pretended； indeed； that they did it to
affront him； but if any one consider the thing truly； they will
find that they were guilty of sacrilege against God therein。
4。 But the people； on account of Herod's barbarous temper； and
for fear he should be so cruel and to inflict punishment on them；
said what was done was done without their approbation； and that
it seemed to them that the actors might well be punished for what
they had done。 But as for Herod； he dealt more mildly with others
＇of the assembly＇ but he deprived Matthias of the high
priesthood； as in part an occasion of this action； and made
Joazar； who was Matthias's wife's brother； high priest in his
stead。 Now it happened； that during the time of the high
priesthood of this Matthias； there was another person made high
priest for a single day； that very day which the Jews observed as
a fast。 The occasion was this： This Matthias the high priest； on
the night before that day when the fast was to be celebrated；
seemed； in a dream； （7） to have conversation with his wife； and
because he could not officiate himself on that account； Joseph；
the son of Ellemus； his kinsman； assisted him in that sacred
office。 But Herod deprived this Matthias of the high priesthood；
and burnt the other Matthias； who had raised the sedition； with
his companions； alive。 And that very night there was an eclipse
of the moon。 （8）
5。 But now Herod's distemper greatly increased upon him after a
severe manner； and this by God's judgment upon him for his sins；
for a fire glowed in him slowly； which did not so much appear to
the touch outwardly； as it augmented his pains inwardly； for it
brought upon him a vehement appetite to eating； which he could
not avoid to supply with one sort of food or other。 His entrails
were also ex…ulcerated； and the chief violence of his pain lay on
his colon； an aqueous and transparent liquor also had settled
itself about his feet； and a like matter afflicted him at the
bottom of his belly。 Nay； further； his privy…member was
putrefied； and produced worms； and when he sat upright； he had a
difficulty of breathing； which was very loathsome； on account of
the stench of his breath； and the quickness of its returns； he
had also convulsions in all parts of his body； which increased
his strength to an insufferable degree。 It was said by those who
pretended to divine； and who were endued with wisdom to foretell
such things； that God inflicted this punishment on the king on
account of his great impiety； yet was he still in hopes of
recovering； though his afflictions seemed greater than any one
could bear。 He also sent for physicians； and did not refuse to
follow what they prescribed for his assistance； and went beyond
the river Jordan； and bathed himself in the warm baths that were
at Callirrhoe； which； besides their other general virtues； were
also fit to drink； which water runs into the lake called
Asphaltiris。 And when the physicians once thought fit to have him
bathed in a vessel full of oil； it was supposed that he was just
dying； but upon the lamentable cries of his domestics； he
revived； and having no longer the least hopes of recovering； he
gave order that every soldier should be paid fifty drachmae； and
he also gave a great deal to their commanders； and to his
friends； and came again to Jericho； where he grew so choleric；
that it brought him to do all things like a madman； and though he
were near his death； he contrived the following wicked designs。
He commanded that all the principal men of the entire Jewish
nation； wheresoever they lived； should be called to him。
Accordingly； they were a great number that came； because the
whole nation was called； and all men heard of this call； and
death was the penalty of such as should despise the epistles that
were sent to call them。 And now the king was in a wild rage
against them all； the innocent as well as those that had afforded
ground for accusations； and when they were come； he ordered them
to be all shut up in the hyppodrome； （9） and sent for his sister
Salome； and her husband Alexas； and spake thus to them： 〃I shall
die in a little time； so great are my pains； which death ought to
be cheerfully borne； and to be welcomed by all men； but what
principally troubles me is this； that I shall die without being
lamented； and without such mourning as men usually expect at a
king's death。 For that he was not unacquainted with the temper of
the Jews； that his death would be a thing very desirable； and
exceedingly acceptable to them； because during his lifetime they
were ready to revolt from him； and to abuse the donations he had
dedicated to God that it therefore was their business to resolve
to afford him some alleviation of his great sorrows on this
occasion； for that if they do not refuse him their consent in
what he desires； he shall have a great mourning at his funeral；
and such as never had any king before him； for then the whole
nation would mourn from their very soul； which otherwise would be
done in sport and mockery only。 He desired therefore； that as
soon as they see he hath given up the ghost； they shall place
soldiers round the hippodrome； while they do not know that he is
dead； and that they shall not declare his death to the multitude
till this is done； but that they shall give orders to have those
that are in custody shot with their darts； and that this
slaughter of them all will cause that he shall not miss to
rejoice on a double account； that as he is dying； they will make
him secure that his will shall be executed in what he charges
them to do； and that he shall have the honor of a memorable
mourning at his funeral。 So he deplored his condition； with tears
in his eyes； and obtested them by the kindness due from them； as
of his kindred； and by the faith they owed to God； and begged of
them that they would not hinder him of this honorable mourning at
his funeral。 So they promised him not to transgress his commands。
6。 Now any one may easily discover the temper of this man's mind；
which not only took pleasure in doing what he had done formerly
against his relations； out of the love of life； but by those
commands of his which savored of no humanity； since he took care；
when he was departing out of this life； that the whole nation
should be put into mourning； and indeed made desolate of their
dearest kindred； when he gave order that one out of every family
should be slain； although they had done nothing that was unjust；
or that was against him； nor were they accused of any other
crimes； while it is usual for thos