she all that can be said in the beauty of her body； and her
majestic appearance in conversation； and thence arose the
greatest part of the occasions why she did not prove so agreeable
to the king； nor live so pleasantly with him； as she might
otherwise have done； for while she was most indulgently used by
the king； out of his fondness for her； and did not expect that he
could do any hard thing to her； she took too unbounded a liberty。
Moreover； that which most afflicted her was； what he had done to
her relations； and she ventured to speak of all they had suffered
by him； and at last greatly provoked both the king's mother and
sister； till they became enemies to her； and even he himself also
did the same； on whom alone she depended for her expectations of
escaping the last of punishments。
7。 But when she was once dead； the king's affections for her were
kindled in a more outrageous manner than before； whose old
passion for her we have already described； for his love to her
was not of a calm nature； nor such as we usually meet with among
other husbands； for at its commencement it was of an enthusiastic
kind； nor was it by their long cohabitation and free conversation
together brought under his power to manage； but at this time his
love to Mariamne seemed to seize him in such a peculiar manner；
as looked like Divine vengeance upon him for the taking away her
life； for he would frequently call for her； and frequently lament
for her in a most indecent manner。 Moreover； he bethought him of
every thing he could make use of to divert his mind from thinking
of her； and contrived feasts and assemblies for that purpose； but
nothing would suffice； he therefore laid aside the administration
of public affairs； and was so far conquered by his passion； that
he would order his servants to call for Mariamne； as if she were
still alive； and could still hear them。 And when he was in this
way； there arose a pestilential disease； and carried off the
greatest part of the multitude； and of his best and most esteemed
friends； and made all men suspect that this was brought upon them
by the anger of God； for the injustice that had been done to
Mariamne。 This circumstance affected the king still more； till at
length he forced himself to go into desert places； and there；
under pretense of going a hunting； bitterly afflicted himself；
yet had he not borne his grief there many days before he fell
into a most dangerous distemper himself： he had an inflammation
upon him； and a pain in the hinder part of his head； joined with
madness； and for the remedies that were used； they did him no
good at all； but proved contrary to his case； and so at length
brought him to despair。 All the physicians also that were about
him； partly because the medicines they brought for his recovery
could not at all conquer the disease； and partly because his diet
could be no other than what his disease inclined him to； desired
him to eat whatever he had a mind to； and so left the small hopes
they had of his recovery in the power of that diet； and committed
him to fortune。 And thus did his distemper go on； while he was at
Samaria； now called Sebaste。
8。 Now Alexandra abode at this time at Jerusalem； and being
informed what condition Herod was in； she endeavored to get
possession of the fortified places that were about the city；
which were two； the one belonging to the city itself； the other
belonging to the temple； and those that could get them into their
hands had the whole nation under their power； for without the
command of them it was not possible to offer their sacrifices；
and to think of leaving on those sacrifices is to every Jew
plainly impossible； who are still more ready to lose their lives
than to leave off that Divine worship which they have been wont
to pay unto God。 Alexandra； therefore； discoursed with those that
had the keeping of these strong holds； that it was proper for
them to deliver the same to her； and to Herod's sons； lest； upon
his death； any other person should seize upon the government； and
that upon his recovery none could keep them more safely for him
than those of his own family。 These words were not by them at all
taken in good part； and as they had been in former times faithful
＇to Herod＇； they resolved to continue so more than ever； both
because they hated Alexandra； and because they thought it a sort
of impiety to despair of Herod's recovery while he was yet alive；
for they had been his old friends； and one of them； whose name
was Achiabus； was his cousin…german。 They sent messengers
therefore to acquaint him with Alexandra's design； so he made no
longer delay； but gave orders to have her slain； yet was it still
with difficulty； and after he had endured great pain； that he got
clear of his distemper。 He was still sorely afflicted； both in
mind and body； and made very uneasy； and readier than ever upon
all occasions to inflict punishment upon those that fell under
his hand。 He also slew the most intimate of his friends；
Costobarus； and Lysimachus； and Cadias； who was also called
Antipater； as also Dositheus； and that upon the following
occasion。
9。 Costobarus was an Idumean by birth； and one of principal
dignity among them； and one whose ancestors had been priests to
the Koze； whom the Idumeans had ＇formerly＇ esteemed as a god； but
after Hyrcanus had made a change in their political government；
and made them receive the Jewish customs and law； Herod made
Costobarus governor of Idumea and Gaza； and gave him his sister
Salome to wife； and this was upon the slaughter of ＇his uncle＇
Joseph； who had that government before； as we have related
already。 When Costobarus had gotten to be so highly advanced； it
pleased him and was more than he hoped for； and he was more and
more puffed up by his good success； and in a little while he
exceeded all bounds； and did not think fit to obey what Herod； as
their ruler； commanded him； or that the Idumeans should make use
of the Jewish customs； or be subject to them。 He therefore sent
to Cleopatra； and informed her that the Idumeans had been always
under his progenitors； and that for the same reason it was but
just that she should desire that country for him of Antony； for
that he was ready to transfer his friendship to her； and this he
did； not because he was better pleased to be under Cleopatra's
government； but because he thought that； upon the diminution of
Herod's power； it would not be difficult for him to obtain
himself the entire government over the Idumeans； and somewhat
more also； for he raised his hopes still higher； as having no
small pretenses； both by his birth and by these riches which he
had gotten by his constant attention to filthy lucre； and
accordingly it was not a small matter that he aimed at。 So
Cleopatra desired this country of Antony； but failed of her
purpose。 An account of this was brought to Herod； who was
thereupon ready to kill Costobarus； yet； upon the entreaties of
his sister and mother； he forgave him； and vouchsafed to pardon
him entirely； though he still had a suspicion of him afterward
for this his attempt。
10。 But some time afterward； when Salome happened to quarrel with
Costobarus； she sent him a bill of divorce （12） and dissolved her
marriage with him； though this was not according to the Jewish
laws； for with us it is lawful for a husband to do so； but a
wife； if she departs from her husband； cannot of herself be
married to another； unless her former husband put her away。
However； Salome chose to follow not the law of her country； but
the law of her authority； and so renounced her wedlock； and told
her brother Herod； that she left her husband out of her good…will
to him； because she perceived that he； with Antipater； and
Lysimachus； and Dositheus； were raising a sedition against him；
as an evidence whereof； she alleged the case of the sons of
Babas； that they had been by him preserved alive already for the
interval of twelve years； which proved to be true。 But when Herod
thus unexpectedly heard of it； he was greatly surprised at it；
and was the more surprised； because the relation appeared
incredible to him。 As for the fact relating to these sons of
Babas； Herod had formerly taken great pains to bring them to
punishment； as being enemies to his government； but they were now
forgotten by him； on account of the length of time ＇since he had
ordered them to be slain＇。 Now the cause of his ill…will and
hatred to them arose hence； that while Antigonus was king； Herod；
with his army； besieged the city of Jerusalem； where the distress
and miseries which the besieged endured were so pressing； that
the greater number of them invited Herod into the city； and
already placed their hopes on him。 Now the sons of Babas were of
great dignity； and had power among the multitude； and were
faithful to Antigonus； and were always raising calumnies against
Herod； and encouraged the people to preserve the government to
that royal family which held it by inheritance。 So these men
acted thus politically； and； as they thought； for their own
advantage； but when the city was taken； and Herod had gotten the
government into his hands； and Costobarus was appointed to hinder
men from passing out at the gates； and to guard the city； that
those citizens that were guilty； and of the party opposite to the
king； might not get out of it； Costobarus； being sensible that
the sons of Babas were had in respect and honor by the whole
multitude； and supposing that their preservation might be of
great advantage to him in the changes of government afterward； he
set them by themselves； and concealed them in his own farms； and
when the thing was suspected； he assured Herod upon oath that he
really knew nothing of that matter； and so overcame the
suspicions that lay upon him； nay； after that； when the king had
publicly proposed a reward for the discovery； and had put in
practice all sorts of methods for searching out this matter； he
would not confess it； but being persuaded that when he had at
first denied it； if the men were found； he should not escape
unpunished； he was forced to keep them secret； not only out of
his good…will to them； but out of a necessary regard to his own
prese