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； and that she would hereafter be
entirely obedient。 And she desired him to excuse her； if the
nobility of her family； and that freedom of acting which she
thought that allowed her； had made her act too precipitately and
imprudently in this matter。 So when they had spoken thus to one
another； they came to an agreement； and all suspicions； so far as
appeared； were vanished away。
CHAPTER 3。
How Herod Upon His Making Aristobulus High Priest Took Care That
He Should Be Murdered In A Little Time； And What Apology He Made
To Antony About Aristobulus； As Also Concerning Joseph And
Mariamne。
1。 So king Herod immediately took the high priesthood away from
Ananelus； who； as we said before； was not of this country； but
one of those Jews that had been carried captive beyond Euphrates；
for there were not a few ten thousands of this people that had
been carried captives； and dwelt about Babylonia； whence Ananelus
came。 He was one of the stock of the high priests （4） and had
been of old a particular friend of Herod； and when he was first
made king； he conferred that dignity upon him； and now put him
out of it again； in order to quiet the troubles in his family；
though what he did was plainly unlawful； for at no other time ＇of
old＇ was any one that had once been in that dignity deprived of
it。 It was Antiochus Epiphanes who first brake that law； and
deprived Jesus； and made his brother Onias high priest in his
stead。 Aristobulus was the second that did so； and took that
dignity from his brother ＇Hyrcanus＇； and this Herod was the
third； who took that high office away ＇from Arianflus＇； and gave
it to this young man； Aristobulus； in his stead。
2。 And now Herod seemed to have healed the divisions in his
family； yet was he not without suspicion； as is frequently the
case； of people seeming to be reconciled to one another； but
thought that； as Alexandra had already made attempts tending to
innovations； so did he fear that she would go on therein； if she
found a fit opportunity for so doing； so he gave a command that
she should dwell in the palace； and meddle with no public
affairs。 Her guards also were so careful； that nothing she did in
private life every day was concealed。 All these hardships put her
out of patience； by little and little and she began to hate
Herod； for as she had the pride of a woman to the utmost degree；
she had great indignation at this suspicious guard that was about
her； as desirous rather to undergo any thing that could befall
her； than to be deprived of her liberty of speech； and； under the
notion of an honorary guard； to live in a state of slavery and
terror。 She therefore sent to Cleopatra； and made a long
complaint of the circumstances she was in； and entreated her to
do her utmost for her assistance。 Cleopatra hereupon advised her
to take her son with her； and come away immediately to her into
Egypt。 This advice pleased her； and she had this contrivance for
getting away： She got two coffins made； as if they were to carry
away two dead bodies and put herself into one； and her son into
the other and gave orders to such of her servants as knew of her
intentions to carry them away in the night time。 Now their road
was to be thence to the sea…side and there was a ship ready to
carry them into Egypt。 Now Aesop； one of her servants； happened
to fall upon Sabion； one of her friends； and spake of this matter
to him； as thinking he had known of it before。 When Sabion knew
this； （who had formerly been an enemy of Herod； and been esteemed
one of those that laid snares for and gave the poison to ＇his
father＇ Antipater；） he expected that this discovery would change
Herod's hatred into kindness； so he told the king of this private
stratagem of Alexandra： whereupon be suffered her to proceed to
the execution of her project； and caught her in the very fact；
but still he passed by her offense； and though he had a great
mind to do it； he durst not inflict any thing that was severe
upon her； for he knew that Cleopatra would not bear that he
should have her accused； on account of her hatred to him； but
made a show as if it were rather the generosity of his soul； and
his great moderation； that made him forgive them。 However； he
fully proposed to himself to put this young man out of the way；
by one means or other； but he thought he might in probability be
better concealed in doing it； if he did it not presently； nor
immediately after what had lately happened。
3。 And now； upon the approach of the feast of tabernacles； which
is a festival very much observed among us； he let those days pass
over； and both he and the rest of the people were therein very
merry； yet did the envy which at this time arose in him cause him
to make haste to do what lie was about； and provoke him to it；
for when this youth Aristobulus； who was now in the seventeenth
year of his age； went up to the altar； according to the law； to
offer the sacrifices； and this with the ornaments of his high
priesthood； and when he performed the sacred offices； （5） he
seemed to be exceedingly comely； and taller than men usually were
at that age； and to exhibit in his countenance a great deal of
that high family he was sprung from； … a warm zeal and affection
towards him appeared among the people； and the memory of the
actions of his grandfather Aristobulus was fresh in their minds；
and their affections got so far the mastery of them； that they
could not forbear to show their inclinations to him。 They at once
rejoiced and were confounded； and mingled with good wishes their
joyful acclamations which they made to him； till the good…will of
the multitude was made too evident； and they more rashly
proclaimed the happiness they had received from his family than
was fit under a monarchy to have done。 Upon all this； Herod
resolved to complete what he had intended against the young man。
When therefore the festival was over； and he was feasting at
Jericho （6） with Alexandra； who entertained them there； he was
then very pleasant with the young man； and drew him into a lonely
place； and at the same time played with him in a juvenile and
ludicrous manner。 Now the nature of that place was hotter than
ordinary； so they went out in a body； and of a sudden； and in a
vein of madness； and as they stood by the fish…ponds； of which
there were large ones about the house； they went to cool
themselves ＇by bathing＇； because it was in the midst of a hot
day。 At first they were only spectators of Herod's servants and
acquaintance as they were swimming； but after a while； the young
man； at the instigation of Herod； went into the water among them；
while such of Herod's acquaintance； as he had appointed to do it；
dipped him as he was swimming； and plunged him under water； in
the dark of the evening； as if it had been done in sport only；
nor did they desist till he was entirely suffocated。 And thus was
Aristobulus murdered； having lived no more in all than eighteen
years； （7） and kept the high priesthood one year only； which high
priesthood Ananelus now recovered again。
4。 When this sad accident was told the women； their joy was soon
changed to lamentation； at the sight of the dead body that lay
before them； and their sorrow was immoderate。 The city also ＇of
Jerusalem＇； upon the spreading of this news； were in very great
grief； every family looking on this calamity as if it had not
belonged to another； but that one of themselves was slain。 But
Alexandra was more deeply affected； upon her knowledge that he
had been destroyed ＇on purpose＇。 Her sorrow was greater than that
of others； by her knowing how the murder was committed； but she
was under the necessity of bearing up under it； out of her
prospect of a greater mischief that might otherwise follow； and
she oftentimes came to an inclination to kill herself with her
own hand； but still she restrained herself； in hopes she might
live long enough to revenge the unjust murder thus privately
committed； nay； she further resolved to endeavor to live longer；
and to give no occasion to think she suspected that her son was
slain on purpose； and supposed that she might thereby be in a
capacity of revenging it at a proper opportunity。 Thus did she
restrain herself； that she might not be noted for entertaining
any such suspicion。 However； Herod endeavored that none abroad
should believe that the child's death was caused by any design of
his； and for this purpose he did not only use the ordinary signs
of sorrow； but fell into tears also； and exhibited a real
confusion of soul； and perhaps his affections were overcome on
this occasion； when he saw the child's countenance so young and
so beautiful； although his death was supposed to tend to his own
security。 So far at least this grief served as to make some
apology for him； and as for his funeral； that he took care should
be very magnificent； by making great preparation for a sepulcher
to lay his body in； and providing a great quantity of spices； and
burying many ornaments together with him； till the very women；
who were in such deep sorrow； were astonished at it； and received
in this way some consolation。
5。 However； no such things could overcome Alexandra's grief； but
the remembrance of this miserable case made her sorrow； both deep
and obstinate。 Accordingly； she wrote an account of this
treacherous scene to Cleopatra； and how her son was murdered； but
Cleopatra； as she had formerly been desirous to give her what
satisfaction she could； and commiserating Alexandra's
misfortunes； made the case her own； and would not let Antony be
quiet； but excited him to punish the child's murder； for that it
was an unworthy thing that Herod； who had been by him made king
of a kingdom that no way belonged to him； should be guilty of
such horrid crimes against those that were of the royal blood in
reality。 Antony was persuaded by these arguments； and when he
came to Laodicea； he sent and commanded Herod to come and make
his defense； as to what he had done to Aristobulus； for that such
a treacherous design was not well done； if he had any h