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第268章

the antiquities of the jews-1-第268章

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him; and changed his resolution at his entreaty; and the
determination now was; that Antipater himself should marry
Aristobulus's daughter; and Antipater's son should marry
Pheroras's daughter。 So the espousals for the marriages were
changed after this manner; even without the king's real
approbation。

3。 Now Herod the king had at this time nine wives; one of them
Antipater's mother; and another the high priest's daughter; by
whom he had a son of his own name。 He had also one who was his
brother's daughter; and another his sister's daughter; which two
had no children。 One of his wives also was of the Samaritan
nation; whose sons were Antipas and Archelaus; and whose daughter
was Olympias; which daughter was afterward married to Joseph; the
king's brother's son; but Archelaus and Antipas were brought up
with a certain private man at Rome。 Herod had also to wife
Cleopatra of Jerusalem; and by her he had his sons Herod and
Philip; which last was also brought up at Rome。 Pallas also was
one of his wives; which bare him his son Phasaelus。 And besides
these; he had for his wives Phedra and E1pis; by whom he had his
daughters Roxana and Salome。 As for his elder daughters by the
same mother with Alexander and Aristobulus; and whom Pheroras
neglected to marry; he gave the one in marriage to Antipater; the
king's sister's son; and the other to Phasaelus; his brother's
son。 And this was the posterity of Herod。

CHAPTER 2。

Concerning Zamaris; The Babylonian Jew; Concerning The Plots Laid
By Antipater Against His Father; And Somewhat About The
Pharisees。

1。 And now it was that Herod; being desirous of securing himself
on the side of the Trachonites; resolved to build a village as
large as a city for the Jews; in the middle of that country;
which might make his own country difficult to be assaulted; and
whence he might be at hand to make sallies upon them; and do them
a mischief。 Accordingly; when he understood that there was a man
that was a Jew come out of Babylon; with five hundred horsemen;
all of whom could shoot their arrows as they rode on horde…back;
and; with a hundred of his relations; had passed over Euphrates;
and now abode at Antioch by Daphne of Syria; where Saturninus;
who was then president; had given them a place for habitation;
called Valatha; he sent for this man; with the multitude that
followed him; and promised to give him land in the toparchy
called Batanea; which country is bounded with Trachonitis; as
desirous to make that his habitation a guard to himself。 He also
engaged to let him hold the country free from tribute; and that
they should dwell entirely without paying such customs as used to
be paid; and gave it him tax…free。

2。 The Babylonian was reduced by these offers to come hither; so
he took possession of the land; and built in it fortresses and a
village; and named it Bathyra。 Whereby this man became a
safeguard to the inhabitants against the Trachonites; and
preserved those Jews who came out of Babylon; to offer their
sacrifices at Jerusalem; from being hurt by the Trachonite
robbers; so that a great number came to him from all those parts
where the ancient Jewish laws were observed; and the country
became full of people; by reason of their universal freedom from
taxes。 This continued during the life of Herod; but when Philip;
who was 'tetrarch' after him; took the government; he made them
pay some small taxes; and that for a little while only; and
Agrippa the Great; and his son of the same name; although they
harassed them greatly; yet would they not take their liberty
away。 From whom; when the Romans have now taken the government
into their own hands; they still gave them the privilege of their
freedom; but oppress them entirely with the imposition of taxes。
Of which matter I shall treat more accurately in the progress of
this history。 (2)

3。 At length Zamaris the Babylonian; to whom Herod had given that
country for a possession; died; having lived virtuously; and left
children of a good character behind him; one of whom was Jacim;
who was famous for his valor; and taught his Babylonians how to
ride their horses; and a troop of them were guards to the
forementioned kings。 And when Jacim was dead in his old age; he
left a son; whose name was Philip; one of great strength in his
hands; and in other respects also more eminent for his valor than
any of his contemporaries; on which account there was a
confidence and firm friendship between him and king Agrippa。 He
had also an army which he maintained as great as that of a king;
which he exercised and led wheresoever lie had occasion to march。

4。 When the affairs of Herod were in the condition I have
described; all the public affairs depended upon Antipater; and
his power was such; that he could do good turns to as many as he
pleased; and this by his father's concession; in hopes of his
good…will and fidelity to him; and this till he ventured to use
his power still further; because his wicked designs were
concealed from his father; and he made him believe every thing he
said。 He was also formidable to all; not so much on account of
the power and authority he had; as for the shrewdness of his vile
attempts beforehand; but he who principally cultivated a
friendship with him was Pheroras; who received the like marks of
his friendship; while Antipater had cunningly encompassed him
about by a company of women; whom he placed as guards about him;
for Pheroras was greatly enslaved to his wife; and to her mother;
and to her sister; and this notwithstanding the hatred he bare
them for the indignities they had offered to his virgin
daughters。 Yet did he bear them; and nothing was to he done
without the women; who had got this man into their circle; and
continued still to assist each other in all things; insomuch that
Antipater was entirely addicted to them; both by himself and by
his mother; for these four women; (3) said all one and the same
thing; but the opinions of Pheroras and Antipater were different
in some points of no consequence。 But the king's sister 'Salome'
was their antagonist; who for a good while had looked about all
their affairs; and was apprized that this their friendship was
made in order to do Herod some mischief; and was disposed to
inform the king of it。 And since these people knew that their
friendship was very disagreeable to Herod; as tending to do him a
mischief; they contrived that their meetings should not be
discovered; so they pretended to hate one another; and to abuse
one another when time served; and especially when Herod was
present; or when any one was there that would tell him: but still
their intimacy was firmer than ever; when they were private。 And
this was the course they took。 But they could not conceal from
Salome neither their first contrivance; when they set about these
their intentions; nor when they had made some progress in them;
but she searched out every thing; and; aggravating the relations
to her brother; declared to him; as well their secret assemblies
and compotations; as their counsels taken in a clandestine
manner; which if they were not in order to destroy him; they
might well enough have been open and public。 But to appearance
they are at variance; and speak about one another as if they
intended one another a mischief; but agree so well together when
they are out of the sight of the multitude; for when they are
alone by themselves; they act in concert; and profess that they
will never leave off their friendship; but will fight against
those from whom they conceal their designs。 And thus did she
search out these things; and get a perfect knowledge of them; and
then told her brother of them; who understood also of himself a
great deal of what she said; but still durst not depend upon it;
because of the suspicions he had of his sister's calumnies。 For
there was a certain sect of men that were Jews; who valued
themselves highly upon the exact skill they had in the law of
their fathers; and made men believe they were highly favored by
God; by whom this set of women were inveigled。 These are those
that are called the sect of the Pharisees; who were in a capacity
of greatly opposing kin

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