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or that was against him； nor were they accused of any other
crimes； while it is usual for those who have any regard to virtue
to lay aside their hatred at such a time； even with respect to
those they justly esteemed their enemies。
CHAPTER 7。
Herod Has Thoughts Of Killing Himself With His Own Hand； And A
Little Afterwards He Orders Antipater To Be Slain。
1。 As he was giving these commands to his relations； there came
letters from his ambassadors； who had been sent to Rome unto
Caesar； which； when they were read； their purport was this： That
Acme was slain by Caesar； out of his indignation at what hand；
she had in Antipater's wicked practices； and that as to Antipater
himself； Caesar left it to Herod to act as became a father and a
king； and either to banish him； or to take away his life； which
he pleased。 When Herod heard this； he was some…what better； out
of the pleasure he had from the contents of the letters； and was
elevated at the death of Acme； and at the power that was given
him over his son； but as his pains were become very great； he was
now ready to faint for want of somewhat to eat； so he called for
an apple and a knife； for it was his custom formerly to pare the
apple himself； and soon afterwards to cut it； and eat it。 When he
had got the knife； he looked about； and had a mind to stab
himself with it； and he had done it； had not his first cousin；
Achiabus； prevented him； and held his hand； and cried out loudly。
Whereupon a woeful lamentation echoed through the palace； and a
great tumult was made； as if the king were dead。 Upon which
Antipater； who verily believed his father was deceased； grew bold
in his discourse； as hoping to be immediately and entirely
released from his bonds； and to take the kingdom into his hands
without any more ado； so he discoursed with the jailer about
letting him go； and in that case promised him great things； both
now and hereafter； as if that were the only thing now in
question。 But the jailer did not only refuse to do what Antipater
would have him； but informed the king of his intentions； and how
many solicitations he had had from him ＇of that nature＇。 Hereupon
Herod； who had formerly no affection nor good…will towards his
son to restrain him； when he heard what the jailer said； he cried
out； and beat his head； although he was at death's door； and
raised himself upon his elbow； and sent for some of his guards；
and commanded them to kill Antipater without tiny further delay；
and to do it presently； and to bury him in an ignoble manner at
Hyrcania。
CHAPTER 8。
Concerning Herod's Death； And Testament； And Burial。
1。 And now Herod altered his testament upon the alteration of his
mind； for he appointed Antipas； to whom he had before left the
kingdom； to be tetrarch of Galilee and Perea； and granted the
kingdom to Archclaus。 He also gave Gaulonitis； and Trachonitis；
and Paneas to Philip； who was his son； but own brother to
Archclaus （10） by the name of a tetrarchy； and bequeathed
Jarnnia； and Ashdod； and Phasaelis to Salome his sister； with
five hundred thousand ＇drachmae＇ of silver that was coined。 He
also made provision for all the rest of his kindred； by giving
them sums of money and annual revenues； and so left them all in a
wealthy condition。 He bequeathed also to Caesar ten millions ＇of
drachmae＇ of coined money； besides both vessels of gold and
silver； and garments exceeding costly； to Julia； Caesar's wife；
and to certain others； five millions。 When he had done these
things； he died； the fifth day after he had caused Antipater to
be slain； having reigned； since he had procured Antigonus to be
slain； thirty…four years； but since he had been declared king by
the Romans； thirty…seven。 （11） A man he was of great barbarity
towards all men equally； and a slave to his passion； but above
the consideration of what was right； yet was he favored by
fortune as much as any man ever was； for from a private man he
became a king； and though he were encompassed with ten thousand
dangers； he got clear of them all； and continued his life till a
very old age。 But then； as to the affairs of his family and
children； in which indeed； according to his own opinion； he was
also very fortunate； because he was able to conquer his enemies；
yet； in my opinion； he was herein very unfortunate。
2。 But then Salome and Alexas； before the king's death was made
known； dismissed those that were shut up in the hippodrome； and
told them that the king ordered them to go away to their own
lands； and take care of their own affairs； which was esteemed by
the nation a great benefit。 And now the king's death was made
public； when Salome and Alexas gathered the soldiery together in
the amphitheater at Jericho； and the first thing they did was；
they read Herod's letter； written to the soldiery； thanking them
for their fidelity and good…will to him； and exhorting them to
afford his son Archelaus； whom he had appointed for their king；
like fidelity and good…will。 After which Ptolemy； who had the
king's seal intrusted to him； read the king's testament； which
was to be of force no otherwise than as it should stand when
Caesar had inspected it； so there was presently an acclamation
made to Archelaus； as king； and the soldiers came by bands； and
their commanders with them； and promised the same good…will to
him； and readiness to serve him； which they had exhibited to
Herod； and they prayed God to be assistant to him。
3。 After this was over； they prepared for his funeral； it being
Archelaus's care that the procession to his father's sepulcher
should be very sumptuous。 Accordingly； he brought out all his
ornaments to adorn the pomp of the funeral。 The body was carried
upon a golden bier； embroidered with very precious stones of
great variety； and it was covered over with purple； as well as
the body itself； he had a diadem upon his head； and above it a
crown of gold： he also had a scepter in his right hand。 About the
bier were his sons and his numerous relations； next to these was
the soldiery； distinguished according to their several countries
and denominations； and they were put into the following order：
First of all went his guards； then the band of Thracians； and
after them the Germans； and next the band of Galatians； every one
in their habiliments of war； and behind these marched the whole
army in the same manner as they used to go out to war； and as
they used to be put in array by their muster…masters and
centurions； these were followed by five hundred of his domestics
carrying spices。 So they went eight furlongs （12） to Herodium；
for there by his own command he was to be buried。 And thus did
Herod end his life。
4。 Now Archelaus paid him so much respect； as to continue his
mourning till the seventh day； for so many days are appointed for
it by the law of our fathers。 And when he had given a treat to
the multitude； and left off his motoring； he went up into the
temple； he had also acclamations and praises given him； which way
soever he went； every one striving with the rest who should
appear to use the loudest acclamations。 So he ascended a high
elevation made for him； and took his seat； in a throne made of
gold； and spake kindly to the multitude； and declared with what
joy he received their acclamations； and the marks of the
good…will they showed to him； and returned them thanks that they
did not remember the injuries his father had done them to his
disadvantage； and promised them he would endeavor not to be
behindhand with them in rewarding their alacrity in his service；
after a suitable manner； but that he should abstain at present
from the name of king； and that he should have the honor of that
dignity； if Caesar should confirm and settle that testament which
his father had made； and that it was on this account； that when
the army would have put the diadem on him at Jericho； he would
not accept of that honor； which is usually so much desired；
because it was not yet evident that he who was to be principally
concerned in bestowing it would give it him； although； by his
acceptance of the government； he should not want the ability of
rewarding their kindness to him and that it should be his
endeavor； as to all things wherein they were concerned； to prove
in every respect better than his father。 Whereupon the multitude；
as it is usual with them； supposed that the first days of those
that enter upon such governments declare the intentions of those
that accept them； and so by how much Archelaus spake the more
gently and civilly to them； by so much did they more highly
commend him； and made application to him for the grant of what
they desired。 Some made a clamor that he would ease them of some
of their annual payments； but others desired him to release those
that were put into prison by Herod； who were many； and had been
put there at several times； others of them required that he would
take away those taxes which had been severely laid upon what was
publicly sold and bought。 So Archelaus contradicted them in
nothing； since he pretended to do all things so as to get the
good…will of the multitude to him； as looking upon that good…will
to be a great step towards his preservation of the gover