still in want of more； and in part by the Sabbatic year； which
was still going on； and forced the country to lie still
uncultivated； since we are forbidden to sow our land in that
year。 Now when Antony had received Antigonus as his captive； he
determined to keep him against his triumph； but when he heard
that the nation grew seditious； and that； out of their hatred to
Herod； they continued to bear good…will to Antigonus； he resolved
to behead him at Antioch； for otherwise the Jews could no way be
brought to be quiet。 And Strabo of Cappadocia attests to what I
have said； when he thus speaks： 〃Antony ordered Antigonus the Jew
to be brought to Antioch； and there to be beheaded。 And this
Antony seems to me to have been the very first man who beheaded a
king； as supposing he could no other way bend the minds of the
Jews so as to receive Herod； whom he had made king in his stead；
for by no torments could they he forced to call him king； so
great a fondness they had for their former king； so he thought
that this dishonorable death would diminish the value they had
for Antigonus's memory； and at the same time would diminish the
hatred they bare to Herod。〃 Thus far Strabo。
CHAPTER 2。
How Hyrcanus Was Set At Liberty By The Parthians； And Returned To
Herod； And What Alexandra Did When She Heard That Ananelus Was
Made High Priest。
1。 Now after Herod was in possession of the kingdom； Hyrcanus the
high priest； who was then a captive among the Parthians； came to
him again； and was set free from his captivity； in the manner
following： Barzapharnes and Pacorus； the generals of the
Parthians； took Hyreanus； who was first made high priest and
afterward king； and Herod's brother； Phasaelus captives； and were
them away into Parthis。 Phasaelus indeed could not bear the
reproach of being in bonds； and thinking that death with glory
was better than any life whatsoever； he became his own
executioner； as I have formerly related。
2。 But when Hyrcanus was brought into Parthia the king Phraates
treated him after a very gentle manner； as having already learned
of what an illustrious family he was； on which account he set him
free from his bonds； and gave him a habitation at Babylon； （1）
where there were Jews in great numbers。 These Jews honored
Hyrcanus as their high priest and king； as did all the Jewish
nation that dwelt as far as Euphrates； which respect was very
much to his satisfaction。 But when he was informed that Herod had
received the kingdom； new hopes came upon him； as having been
himself still of a kind disposition towards him； and expecting
that Herod would bear in mind what favor be had received from
him； and when he was upon his trial； and when he was in danger
that a capital sentence would be pronounced against him； he
delivered him from that danger； and from all punishment。
Accordingly； he talked of that matter with the Jew that came
often to him with great affection； but they endeavored to retain
him among them； and desired that he would stay with them； putting
him in mind of the kind offices and honors they did him； and that
those honors they paid him were not at all inferior to what they
could pay to either their high priests or their kings； and what
was a greater motive to determine him； they said； was this； that
he could not have those dignities ＇in Judea＇ because of that maim
in his body； which had been inflicted on him by Antigonus； and
that kings do not use to requite men for those kindnesses which
they received when they were private persons； the height of their
fortune making usually no small changes in them。
3。 Now although they suggested these arguments to him for his own
advantage； yet did Hyrcanus still desire to depart。 Herod also
wrote to him； and persuaded him to desire of Phraates； and the
Jews that were there； that they should not grudge him the royal
authority； which he should have jointly with himself； for that
now was the proper time for himself to make him amends for the
favors he had received from him； as having been brought up by
him； and saved by him also； as well as for Hyrcanus to receive
it。 And as he wrote thus to Hyrcanus； so did he send also
Saramallas； his ambassador； to Phraates； and many presents with
him； and desired him in the most obliging way that he would be no
hinderance to his gratitude towards his benefactor。 But this zeal
of Herod's did not flow from that principle； but because he had
been made governor of that country without having any just claim
to it； he was afraid； and that upon reasons good enough； of a
change in his condition； and so made what haste he could to get
Hyrcanus into his power； or indeed to put him quite out of the
way； which last thing he compassed afterward。
4。 Accordingly； when Hyrcanus came； full of assurance； by the
permission of the king of Parthia； and at the expense of the
Jews； who supplied him with money； Herod received him with all
possible respect； and gave him the upper place at public
meetings； and set him above all the rest at feasts； and thereby
deceived him。 He called him his father； and endeavored； by all
the ways possible； that he might have no suspicion of any
treacherous design against him。 He also did other things； in
order to secure his government； which yet occasioned a sedition
in his own family； for being cautious how he made any illustrious
person the high priest of God； （2） he sent for an obscure priest
out of Babylon； whose name was Ananelus； and bestowed the high
priesthood upon him。
5。 However； Alexandra； the daughter of Hyrcanus； and wife of
Alexander； the son of Aristobulus the king； who had also brought
Alexander ＇two＇ children； could not bear this indignity。 Now this
son was one of the greatest comeliness； and was called
Aristobulus； and the daughter； Mariamne； was married to Herod；
and eminent for her beauty also。 This Alexandra was much
disturbed； and took this indignity offered to her son exceeding
ill； that while be was alive； any one else should be sent for to
have the dignity of the high priesthood conferred upon him。
Accordingly； she wrote to Cleopatra （a musician assisting her in
taking care to have her letters carried） to desire her
intercession with Antony； in order to gain the high priesthood
for her son。
6。 But as Antony was slow in granting this request； his friend
Dellius （3） came into Judea upon some affairs； and when he saw
Aristobulus； he stood in admiration at the tallness and
handsomeness of the child； and no less at Mariarune； the king's
wife； and was open in his commendations of Alexandra； as the
mother of most beautiful children。 And when she came to discourse
with him； he persuaded her to get pictures drawn of them both；
and to send them to Antony； for that when he saw them； he would
deny her nothing that she should ask。 Accordingly； Alexandra was
elevated with these words of his； and sent the pictures to
Antony。 Dellius also talked extravagantly； and said that these
children seemed not derived from men； but from some god or other。
His design in doing so was to entice Antony into lewd pleasures
with them； who was ashamed to send for the damsel； as being the
wife of Herod； and avoided it； because of the reproaches he
should have from Cleopatra on that account； but he sent； in the
most decent manner he could； for the young man； but added this
withal； unless he thought it hard upon him so to do。 When this
letter was brought to Herod； he did not think it safe for him to
send one so handsome as was Aristobulus； in the prime of his
life； for he was sixteen years of age； and of so noble a family；
and particularly not to Antony； the principal man among the
Romans； and one that would abuse him in his amours； and besides；
one that openly indulged himself in such pleasures as his power
allowed him without control。 He therefore wrote back to him； that
if this boy should only go out of the country； all would be in a
state of war and uproar； because the Jews were in hopes of a
change in the government； and to have another king over them。
7。 When Herod had thus excused himself to Antony； he resolved
that he would not entirely permit the child or Alexandra to be
treated dishonorably； but his wife Mariamne lay vehemently at him
to restore the high priesthood to her brother； and he judged it
was for his advantage so to do； because if he once had that
dignity； he could not go out of the country。 So he called his
friends together； and told them that Alexandra privately
conspired against his royal authority； and endeavored； by the
means of Cleopatra； so to bring it about； that he might be
deprived of the government； and that by Antony's means this youth
might have the management of public affairs in his stead； and
that this procedure of hers was unjust； since she would at the
same time deprive her daughter of the dignity she now had； and
would bring disturbances upon the kingdom； for which he had taken
a great deal of pains； and had gotten it with extraordinary
hazards； that yet； while he well remembered her wicked practices；
he would not leave off doing what was right himself； but would
even now give the youth the high priesthood； and that he formerly
set up Ananelus； because Aristobulus was then so very young a
child。 Now when he had said this； not at random； but as he
thought with the best discretion he had； in order to deceive the
women； and those friends whom he had taken to consult withal；
Alexandra； out of the great joy she had at this unexpected
promise； and out of fear from the suspicions she lay under； fell
a weeping； and made the following apology for herself； and said；
that as to the ＇high＇ priesthood； she was very much concerned for
the disgrace her son was under； and so did her utmost endeavors
to procure it for him； but that as to the kingdom； she had made
no attempts； and that if it were offered her ＇for her son＇； she
would not accept it； and that now she would be satisfied with her
son's dignity； while he himself held the civil government； and
she had thereby the security that arose from his peculiar ability
in governing to all the remainder of her family； that she was now
overcome by his benefits； and thankfully accepted of this honor
showed by him to her son；