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Accordingly she acted ill； and because she was desirous to avoid
her sister Bernice's envy； for she was very ill treated by her on
account of her beauty； was prevailed upon to transgress the laws
of her forefathers； and to marry Felix； and when he had had a son
by her； he named him Agrippa。 But after what manner that young
man； with his wife； perished at the conflagration of the mountain
Vesuvius； （14） in the days of Titus Caesar； shall be related
hereafter。 （15）
3。 But as for Bernice； she lived a widow a long while after the
death of Herod ＇king of Chalcis＇； who was both her husband and
her uncle； but when the report went that she had criminal
conversation with her brother； ＇Agrippa； junior；＇ she persuaded
Poleme； who was king of Cilicia； to be circumcised； and to marry
her； as supposing that by this means she should prove those
calumnies upon her to be false； and Poleme was prevailed upon；
and that chiefly on account of her riches。 Yet did not this
matrimony endure long； but Bernice left Poleme； and； as was said；
with impure intentions。 So he forsook at once this matrimony； and
the Jewish religion； and； at the same time； Mariamne put away
Archclaus； and was married to Demetrius； the principal man among
the Alexandrian Jews； both for his family and his wealth； and
indeed he was then their alabarch。 So she named her son whom she
had by him Agrippinus。 But of all these particulars we shall
hereafter treat more exactly。 （16）
CHAPTER 8。
After What Manner Upon The Death Of Claudius； Nero Succeeded In
The Government； As Also What Barbarous Things He Did。 Concerning
The Robbers； Murderers And Impostors； That Arose While Felix And
Festus Were Procurators Of Judea。
1。 Now Claudius Caesar died when he had reigned thirteen years；
eight months； and twenty days； （17） and a report went about that
he was poisoned by his wife Agrippina。 Her father was Germanicus；
the brother of Caesar。 Her husband was Domitius Aenobarbus； one
of the most illustrious persons that was in the city of Rome；
after whose death； and her long continuance in widowhood；
Claudius took her to wife。 She brought along with her a son；
Domtitus； of the same name with his father。 He had before this
slain his wife Messalina； out of jealousy； by whom he had his
children Britannicus and Octavia； their eldest sister was
Antonia； whom he had by Pelina his first wife。 He also married
Octavia to Nero； for that was the name that Caesar gave him
afterward； upon his adopting him for his son。
2。 But now Agrippina was afraid； lest； when Britannicus should
come to man's estate； he should succeed his father in the
government； and desired to seize upon the principality beforehand
for her own son ＇Nero＇； upon which the report went that she
thence compassed the death of Claudius。 Accordingly； she sent
Burrhus； the general of the army； immediately； and with him the
tribunes； and such also of the freed…men as were of the greatest
authority； to bring Nero away into the camp； and to salute him
emperor。 And when Nero had thus obtained the government； he got
Britannicus to be so poisoned； that the multitude should not
perceive it； although he publicly put his own mother to death not
long afterward； making her this requital； not only for being born
of her； but for bringing it so about by her contrivances that he
obtained the Roman empire。 He also slew Octavia his own wife； and
many other illustrious persons； under this pretense； that they
plotted against him。
3。 But I omit any further discourse about these affairs； for
there have been a great many who have composed the history of
Nero； some of which have departed from the truth of facts out of
favor； as having received benefits from him； while others； out of
hatred to him； and the great ill…will which they bare him； have
so impudently raved against him with their lies； that they justly
deserve to be condemned。 Nor do I wonder at such as have told
lies of Nero； since they have not in their writings preserved the
truth of history as to those facts that were earlier than his
time； even when the actors could have no way incurred their
hatred； since those writers lived a long time after them。 But as
to those that have no regard to truth； they may write as they
please； for in that they take delight： but as to ourselves； who
have made truth our direct aim； we shall briefly touch upon what
only belongs remotely to this undertaking； but shall relate what
hath happened to us Jews with great accuracy； and shall not
grudge our pains in giving an account both of the calamities we
have suffered； and of the crimes we have been guilty of。 I will
now therefore return to the relation of our own affairs。
4。 For in the first year of the reign of Nero； upon the death of
Azizus； king of Emesa； Soemus； his brother； succeeded in his
kingdom； and Aristobulus； the son of Herod； king of Chalcis； was
intrusted by Nero with the government of the Lesser Armenia。
Caesar also bestowed on Agrippa a certain part of Galilee；
Tiberias； and Tarichae； （18） and ordered them to submit to his
jurisdiction。 He gave him also Julias； a city of Perea； with
fourteen villages that lay about it。
5。 Now as for the affairs of the Jews； they grew worse and worse
continually； for the country was again filled with robbers and
impostors； who deluded the multitude。 Yet did Felix catch and put
to death many of those impostors every day； together with the
robbers。 He also caught Eleazar； the son of Dineas； who had
gotten together a company of robbers； and this he did by
treachery； for he gave him assurance that he should suffer no
harm； and thereby persuaded him to come to him； but when he came；
he bound him； and sent him to Rome。 Felix also bore an ill…will
to Jonathan； the high priest； because he frequently gave him
admonitions about governing the Jewish affairs better than he
did； lest he should himself have complaints made of him by the
multitude； since he it was who had desired Caesar to send him as
procurator of Judea。 So Felix contrived a method whereby he might
get rid of him； now he was become so continually troublesome to
him； for such continual admonitions are grievous to those who are
disposed to act unjustly。 Wherefore Felix persuaded one of
Jonathan's most faithful friends； a citizen of Jerusalem； whose
name was Doras； to bring the robbers upon Jonathan； in order to
kill him； and this he did by promising to give him a great deal
of money for so doing。 Doras complied with the proposal； and
contrived matters so； that the robbers might murder him after the
following manner： Certain of those robbers went up to the city；
as if they were going to worship God； while they had daggers
under their garments； and by thus mingling themselves among the
multitude they slew Jonathan （19） and as this murder was never
avenged； the robbers went up with the greatest security at the
festivals after this time； and having weapons concealed in like
manner as before； and mingling themselves among the multitude；
they slew certain of their own enemies； and were subservient to
other men for money； and slew others； not only in remote parts of
the city； but in the temple itself also； for they had the
boldness to murder men there； without thinking of the impiety of
which they were guilty。 And this seems to me to have been the
reason why God； out of his hatred of these men's wickedness；
rejected our city； and as for the temple； he no longer esteemed
it sufficiently pure for him to inhabit therein； but brought the
Romans upon us； and threw a fire upon the city to purge it； and
brought upon us； our wives； and children； slavery； as desirous to
make us wiser by our calamities。
6。 These works； that were done by the robbers； filled the city
with all sorts of impiety。 And now these impostors and deceivers
persuaded the multitude to follow them into the wilderness； and
pretended that they would exhibit manifest wonders and signs；
that should be performed by the providence of God。 And many that
were prevailed on by them suffered the punishments of their
folly； for Felix brought them back； and then punished them。
Moreover； there came out of Egypt （20） about this time to
Jerusalem one that said he was a prophet； and advised the
multitude of the common people to go along with him to the Mount
of Olives； as it was called； which lay over against the city； and
at the distance of five furlongs。 He said further； that he would
show them from hence how； at his command； the walls of Jerusalem
would fall down； and he promised them that he would procure them
an entrance into the city through those walls； when they were
fallen down。 Now when Felix was informed of these things； he
ordered his soldiers to take their weapons； and came against them
with a great number of horsemen and footmen from Jerusalem； and
attacked the Egyptian and the people that were with him。 He also
slew four hundred of them； and took two hundred alive。 But the
Egyptian himself escaped out of the fight； but did not appear any
more。 And again the robbers stirred up the people to make war
with the Romans； and said they ought not to obey them at all； and
when any persons would not comply with them； they set fire to
their vi