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slain; and this was an incitement to him to endeavor to obtain
the government; so he took to him as an assistant a man of his
own country; (one that was well acquainted with the affairs of
the palace; but; on other accounts; an ill man; and one whose
nature made him capable of causing great disturbances to the
public; and one that became a teacher of such a mischievous
contrivance to the other;) and declared himself to be Alexander;
and the son of Herod; but stolen away。 by one of those that were
sent to slay him; who; in reality; slew other men; in order to
deceive the spectators; but saved both him and his brother
Aristobulus。 Thus was this man elated; and able to impose on
those that came to him; and when he was come to Crete; he made
all the Jews that came to discourse with him believe him 'to be
Alexander'。 And when he had gotten much money which had been
presented to him there; he passed over to Melos; where he got
much more money than he had before; out of the belief they had
that he was of the royal family; and their hopes that he would
recover his father's principality; and reward his benefactors; so
he made haste to Rome; and was conducted thither by those
strangers who entertained him。 He was also so fortunate; as; upon
his landing at Dicearchia; to bring the Jews that were there into
the same delusion; and not only other people; but also all those
that had been great with Herod; or had a kindness for him; joined
themselves to this man as to their king。 The cause of it was
this; that men were glad of his pretenses; which were seconded by
the likeness of his countenance; which made those that had been
acquainted with Alexander strongly to believe that he was no
other but the very same person; which they also confirmed to
others by oath; insomuch that when the report went about him that
he was coming to Rome; the whole multitude of the Jews that were
there went out to meet him; ascribing it to Divine Providence
that he has so unexpectedly escaped; and being very joyful on
account of his mother's family。 And when he was come; he was
carried in a royal litter through the streets; and all the
ornaments about him were such as kings are adorned withal; and
this was at the expense of those that entertained him。 The
multitude also flocked about him greatly; and made mighty
acclamations to him; and nothing was omitted which could be
thought suitable to such as had been so unexpectedly preserved。
2。 When this thing was told Caesar; he did not believe it;
because Herod was not easily to be imposed upon in such affairs
as were of great concern to him; yet; having some suspicion it
might be so; he sent one Celadus; a freed…man of his; and one
that had conversed with the young men themselves; and bade him
bring Alexander into his presence; so he brought him; being no
more accurate in judging about him than the rest of the
multitude。 Yet did not he deceive Caesar; for although there was
a resemblance between him and Alexander; yet was it not so exact
as to impose on such as were prudent in discerning; for this
spurious Alexander had his hands rough; by the labors he had been
put to and instead of that softness of body which the other had;
and this as derived from his delicate and generous education;
this man; for the contrary reason; had a rugged body。 When;
therefore; Caesar saw how the master and the scholar agreed in
this lying story; and in a bold way of talking; he inquired about
Aristobulus; and asked what became of him who (it seems) was
stolen away together with him; and for what reason it was that he
did not come along with him; and endeavor to recover that
dominion which was due to his high birth also。 And when he said
that he had been left in the isle of Crete; for fear of the
dangers of the sea; that; in case any accident should come to
himself; the posterity of Mariamne might not utterly perish; but
that Aristobulus might survive; and punish those that laid such
treacherous designs against them; and when he persevered in his
affirmations; and the author of the imposture agreed in
supporting it; Caesar took the young man by himself; and said to
him; 〃If thou wilt not impose upon me; thou shalt have this for
thy reward; that thou shalt escape with thy life; tell me; then;
who thou art; and who it was that had boldness enough to contrive
such a cheat as this。 For this contrivance is too considerable a
piece of villainy to be undertaken by one of thy age。〃
Accordingly; because he had no other way to take; he told Caesar
the contrivance; and after what manner and by whom it was laid
together。 So Caesar; upon observing the spurious Alexander to be
a strong active man; and fit to work with his hands; that he
might not break his promise to him; put him among those that were
to row among the mariners; but slew him that induced him to do
what he had done; for as for the people of Melos; he thought them
sufficiently punished; in having thrown away so much of their
money upon this spurious Alexander。 And such was the ignominious
conclusion of this bold contrivance about the spurious Alexander。
CHAPTER 13。
How Archelaus Upon A Second Accusation; Was Banished To Vienna。
1。 When Archelaus was entered on his ethnarchy; and was come into
Judea; he accused Joazar; the son of Boethus; of assisting the
seditious; and took away the high priesthood from him; and put
Eleazar his brother in his place。 He also magnificently rebuilt
the royal palace that had been at Jericho; and he diverted half
the water with which the village of Neara used to be watered; and
drew off that water into the plain; to water those palm trees
which he had there planted: he also built a village; and put his
own name upon it; and called it Archelais。 Moreover; he
transgressed the law of our fathers (23) and married Glaphyra;
the daughter of Archelaus; who had been the wife of his brother
Alexander; which Alexander had three children by her; while it
was a thing detestable among the Jews to marry the brother's
wife。 Nor did this Eleazar abide long in the high priesthood;
Jesus; the son of Sie; being put in his room while he was still
living。
2。 But in the tenth year of Archelaus's government; both his
brethren; and the principal men of Judea and Samaria; not being
able to bear his barbarous and tyrannical usage of them; accused
him before Caesar; and that especially because they knew he had
broken the commands of Caesar; which obliged him to behave
himself with moderation among them。 Whereupon Caesar; when he
heard it; was very angry; and called for Archelaus's steward; who
took care of his affairs at Rome; and whose name was Archelaus
also; and thinking it beneath him to write to Archelaus; he bid
him sail away as soon as possible; and bring him to us: so the
man made haste in his voyage; and when he came into Judea; he
found Archelaus feasting with his friends; so he told him what
Caesar had sent him about; and hastened him away。 And when he was
come 'to Rome'; Caesar; upon hearing what certain accusers of his
had to say; and what reply he could make; both banished him; and
appointed Vienna; a city of Gaul; to be the place of his
habitation; and took his money away from him。
3。 Now; before Archelaus was gone up to Rome upon this message;
he related this dream to his friends: That he saw ears of corn;
in number ten; full of wheat; perfectly ripe; which ears; as it
seemed to him; were devoured by oxen。 And when he was awake and
gotten up; because the vision appeared to beof great importance
to him; he sent for the diviners; whose study was employed about
dreams。 And while some were of one opinion; and some of another;
(for all their interpretations did not agree;) Simon; a man of
the sect of the Essens; desired leave to speak his mind freely;
and said that the vision denoted a change in the affairs of
Archelaus; and that not for the better; that oxen; because that
animal takes uneasy pains in his labors; denoted afflictions; and
indeed denoted; further; a change of affairs; because that land
which is ploughed by oxen cannot remain in its former state; and
that the ears of corn being ten; determined the like number of
years; because an ear of corn grows in one year; and that the
time of Archelaus's government was over。 And thus did this man
expound the dream。 Now on the fifth day after this dream came
first to Archelaus; the other Archelaus; that was sent to Judea
by Caesar to call him away; came hither also。
4。 The like accident befell Glaphyra his wife; who was the
daughter of king Archelaus; who; as I said before; was married;
while she was a virgin; to Alexander; the son of Herod; and
brother of Archelaus; but since it fell out so that Alexander was
slain by his father; she was married to Juba; the king of Lybia;
and when he was dead; and she lived in widowhood in Cappadocia
with her father; Archclaus divorced his former wife Mariamne; and
married her; so great was his affection for this Glphyra; who;
during her marriage to him; saw the following dream: She thought
she saw Alexander standing by her; at which she rejoiced; and
embraced him with great affection; but that he complained o her;
and said; O Glaphyra! thou pro