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第247章

the antiquities of the jews-1-第247章

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together carried off with ease; and the sea itself; upon the flux
of the tide from without; came into the city; and washed it all
clean。 Herod also built therein a theater of stone; and on the
south quarter; behind the port; an amphitheater also; capable of
holding a vast number of men; and conveniently situated for a
prospect to the sea。 So this city was thus finished in twelve
years; (18) during which time the king did not fail to go on both
with the work; and to pay the charges that were necessary。

CHAPTER 10。

How Herod Sent His Sons To Rome; How Also He Was Accused By
Zenodorus And The Gadarens; But Was Cleared Of What They Accused
Him Of And Withal Gained To Himself The Good…Will Of Caesar。
Concerning The Pharisees; The Essens And Manahem。

1。 When Herod was engaged in such matters; and when he had
already re…edified Sebaste; 'Samaria;' he resolved to send his
sons Alexander and Aristobulus to Rome; to enjoy the company of
Caesar; who; when they came thither; lodged at the house of
Pollio; (19) who was very fond of Herod's friendship; and they
had leave to lodge in Caesar's own palace; for he received these
sons of Herod with all humanity; and gave Herod leave to give
his; kingdom to which of his sons he pleased; and besides all
this; he bestowed on him Trachon; and Batanea; and Auranitis;
which he gave him on the occasion following: One Zenodorus (20)
had hired what was called the house of Lysanias; who; as he was
not satisfied with its revenues; became a partner with the
robbers that inhabited the Trachonites; and so procured himself a
larger income; for the inhabitants of those places lived in a mad
way; and pillaged the country of the Damascenes; while Zenodorus
did not restrain them; but partook of the prey they acquired。 Now
as the neighboring people were hereby great。 sufferers; they
complained to Varro; who was then president 'of Syria'; and
entreated him to write to Caesar about this injustice of
Zenodorus。 When these matters were laid before Caesar; he wrote
back to Varro to destroy those nests of robbers; and to give the
land to Herod; that so by his care the neighboring countries
might be no longer disturbed with these doings of the
Trachonites; for it was not an easy firing to restrain them;
since this way of robbery had been their usual practice; and they
had no other way to get their living; because they had neither
any city of their own; nor lands in their possession; but only
some receptacles and dens in the earth; and there they and their
cattle lived in common together。 However; they had made
contrivances to get pools of water; and laid up corn in granaries
for themselves; and were able to make great resistance; by
issuing out on the sudden against any that attacked them; for the
entrances of their caves were narrow; in which but one could come
in at a time; and the places within incredibly large; and made
very wide but the ground over their habitations was not very
high; but rather on a plain; while the rocks are altogether hard
and difficult to be entered upon; unless any one gets into the
plain road by the guidance of another; for these roads are not
straight; but have several revolutions。 But when these men are
hindered from their wicked preying upon their neighbors; their
custom is to prey one upon another; insomuch that no sort of
injustice comes amiss to them。 But when Herod had received this
grant from Caesar; and was come into this country; he procured
skillful guides; and put a stop to their wicked robberies; and
procured peace and quietness to the neighboring people。

2。 Hereupon Zenodorus was grieved; in the first place; because
his principality was taken away from him; and still more so;
because he envied Herod; who had gotten it; So he went up to Rome
to accuse him; but returned back again without success。 Now
Agrippa was 'about this time' sent to succeed Caesar in the
government of the countries beyond the Ionian Sea; upon whom
Herod lighted when he was wintering about Mitylene; for he had
been his particular friend and companion; and then returned into
Judea again。 However; some of the Gadarens came to Agrippa; and
accused Herod; whom he sent back bound to the king without giving
them the hearing。 But still the Arabians; who of old bare
ill…will to Herod's government; were nettled; and at that time
attempted to raise a sedition in his dominions; and; as they
thought; upon a more justifiable occasion; for Zenodorus;
despairing already of success as to his own affairs; prevented
'his enemies'; by selling to those Arabians a part of his
principality; called Auranitis; for the value of fifty talents;
but as this was included in the donations of Caesar; they
contested the point with Herod; as unjustly deprived of what they
had bought。 Sometimes they did this by making incursions upon
him; and sometimes by attempting force against him; and sometimes
by going to law with him。 Moreover; they persuaded the poorer
soldiers to help them; and were troublesome to him; out of a
constant hope that they should reduce the people to raise a
sedition; in which designs those that are in the most miserable
circumstances of life are still the most earnest; and although
Herod had been a great while apprized of these attempts; yet did
not he indulge any severity to them; but by rational methods
aimed to mitigate things; as not willing to give any handle for
tumults。

3。 Now when Herod had already reigned seventeen years; Caesar
came into Syria; at which time the greatest part of the
inhabitants of Gadara clamored against Herod; as one that was
heavy in his injunctions; and tyrannical。 These reproaches they
mainly ventured upon by the encouragement of Zenodorus; who took
his oath that he would never leave Herod till he had procured
that they should be severed from Herod's kingdom; and joined to
Caesar's province。 The Gadarens were induced hereby; and made no
small cry against him; and that the more boldly; because those
that had been delivered up by Agrippa were not punished by Herod;
who let them go; and did them no harm; for indeed he was the
principal man in the world who appeared almost inexorable in
punishing crimes in his own family; but very generous in
remitting the offenses that were committed elsewhere。 And while
they accused Herod of injuries; and plunderings; and subversions
of temples; he stood unconcerned; and was ready to make his
defense。 However; Caesar gave him his right hand; and remitted
nothing of his kindness to him; upon this disturbance by the
multitude; and indeed these things were alleged the first day;
but the hearing proceeded no further; for as the Gadarens saw the
inclination of Caesar and of his assessors; and expected; as they
had reason to do; that they should be delivered up to the king;
some of them; out of a dread of the torments they might undergo;
cut their own throats in the night time; and some of them threw
themselves down precipices; and others of them cast themselves
into the river; and destroyed themselves of their own accord;
which accidents seemed a sufficient condemnation of the rashness
and crimes they had been guilty of; whereupon Caesar made no
longer delay; but cleared Herod from the crimes he was accused
of。 Another happy accident there was; which was a further great
advantage to Herod at this time; for Zenodorus's belly burst; and
a great quantity of blood issued from him in his sickness; and he
thereby departed this life at Antioch in Syria; so Caesar
bestowed his country; which was no small one; upon Herod; it lay
between Trachon and Galilee; and contained Ulatha; and Paneas;
and the country round about。 He also made him one of the
procurators of Syria; and commanded that they should do every
thing with his approbation; and; in short; he arrived at that
pitch of felicity; that whereas there were but two men that
governed the vast Roman empire; first Caesar; and then Agrippa;
who was his principal favorite; Caesar preferred no one to Herod
besides Agrippa; and Agrippa made no one his greater friend than
Herod besides Caesar。 And when he had acquired such freedom; he
begged of Caesar a tetrarchy (21) for his brother Pheroras; while

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