his good…will to them； but out of a necessary regard to his own
preservation also。 But when the king knew the thing； by his
sister's information； he sent men to the places where he had the
intimation they were concealed； and ordered both them； and those
that were accused as guilty with them； to be slain； insomuch that
there were now none at all left of the kindred of Hyrcanus； and
the kingdom was entirely in Herod's own power； and there was
nobody remaining of such dignity as could put a stop to what he
did against the Jewish laws。
CHAPTER 8。
How Ten Men Of The Citizens ＇Of Jerusalem＇ Made A Conspiracy
Against Herod； For The Foreign Practices He Had Introduced； Which
Was A Transgression Of The Laws Of Their Country。 Concerning The
Building Of Sebaste And Cesarea； And Other Edifices Of Herod。
1。 On this account it was that Herod revolted from the laws of
his country； and corrupted their ancient constitution； by the
introduction of foreign practices； which constitution yet ought
to have been preserved inviolable； by which means we became
guilty of great wickedness afterward； while those religious
observances which used to lead the multitude to piety were now
neglected； for； in the first place； he appointed solemn games to
be celebrated every fifth year； in honor of Caesar； and built a
theater at Jerusalem； as also a very great amphitheater in the
plain。 Both of them were indeed costly works； but opposite to the
Jewish customs； for we have had no such shows delivered down to
us as fit to be used or exhibited by us； yet did he celebrate
these games every five years； in the most solemn and splendid
manner。 He also made proclamation to the neighboring countries；
and called men together out of every nation。 The wrestlers also；
and the rest of those that strove for the prizes in such games；
were invited out of every land； both by the hopes of the rewards
there to be bestowed； and by the glory of victory to be there
gained。 So the principal persons that were the most eminent in
these sorts of exercises were gotten together； for there were
very great rewards for victory proposed； not only to those that
performed their exercises naked； but to those that played the
musicians also； and were called Thymelici； and he spared no pains
to induce all persons； the most famous for such exercises； to
come to this contest for victory。 He also proposed no small
rewards to those who ran for the prizes in chariot races； when
they were drawn by two； or three； or four pair of horses。 He also
imitated every thing； though never so costly or magnificent； in
other nations； out of an ambition that he might give most public
demonstration of his grandeur。 Inscriptions also of the great
actions of Caesar； and trophies of those nations which he had
conquered in his wars； and all made of the purest gold and
silver； encompassed the theater itself； nor was there any thing
that could be subservient to his design； whether it were precious
garments； or precious stones set in order； which was not also
exposed to sight in these games。 He had also made a great
preparation of wild beasts； and of lions themselves in great
abundance； and of such other beasts as were either of uncommon
strength； or of such a sort as were rarely seen。 These were
prepared either to fight with one another； or that men who were
condemned to death were to fight with them。 And truly foreigners
were greatly surprised and delighted at the vastness of the
expenses here exhibited； and at the great dangers that were here
seen； but to natural Jews； this was no better than a dissolution
of those customs for which they had so great a veneration。 （13）
It appeared also no better than an instance of barefaced impiety；
to throw men to wild beasts； for the affording delight to the
spectators； and it appeared an instance of no less impiety； to
change their own laws for such foreign exercises： but； above all
the rest； the trophies gave most distaste to the Jews； for as
they imagined them to be images； included within the armor that
hung round about them； they were sorely displeased at them；
because it was not the custom of their country to pay honors to
such images。
2。 Nor was Herod unacquainted with the disturbance they were
under； and as he thought it unseasonable to use violence with
them； so he spake to some of them by way of consolation； and in
order to free them from that superstitious fear they were under；
yet could not he satisfy them； but they cried out with one
accord； out of their great uneasiness at the offenses they
thought he had been guilty of； that although they should think of
bearing all the rest yet would they never bear images of men in
their city； meaning the trophies； because this was disagreeable
to the laws of their country。 Now when Herod saw them in such a
disorder； and that they would not easily change their resolution
unless they received satisfaction in this point； he called to him
the most eminent men among them； and brought them upon the
theater； and showed them the trophies； and asked them what sort
of things they took these trophies to be； and when they cried out
that they were the images of men； he gave order that they should
be stripped of these outward ornaments which were about them； and
showed them the naked pieces of wood； which pieces of wood； now
without any ornament； became matter of great sport and laughter
to them； because they had before always had the ornaments of
images themselves in derision。
3。 When therefore Herod had thus got clear of the multitude； and
had dissipated the vehemency of passion under which they had
been； the greatest part of the people were disposed to change
their conduct； and not to be displeased at him any longer； but
still some of them continued in their displeasure against him；
for his introduction of new customs； and esteemed the violation
of the laws of their country as likely to be the origin of very
great mischiefs to them； so that they deemed it an instance of
piety rather to hazard themselves ＇to be put to death＇； than to
seem as if they took no notice of Herod； who； upon the change he
had made in their government； introduced such customs； and that
in a violent manner； which they had never been used to before； as
indeed in pretense a king； but in reality one that showed himself
an enemy to their whole nation； on which account ten men that
were citizens ＇of Jerusalem＇ conspired together against him； and
sware to one another to undergo any dangers in the attempt； and
took daggers with them under their garments ＇for the purpose of
killing Herod＇。 Now there was a certain blind man among those
conspirators who had thus sworn to one another； on account of the
indignation he had against what he heard to have been done； he
was not indeed able to afford the rest any assistance in the
undertaking； but was ready to undergo any suffering with them； if
so be they should come to any harm； insomuch that he became a
very great encourager of the rest of the undertakers。
4。 When they had taken this resolution； and that by common
consent； they went into the theater； hoping that； in the first
place； Herod himself could not escape them； as they should fall
upon him so unexpectedly； and supposing； however； that if they
missed him； they should kill a great many of those that were
about him； and this resolution they took； though they should die
for it； in order to suggest to the king what injuries he had done
to the multitude。 These conspirators； therefore； standing thus
prepared beforehand； went about their design with great alacrity；
but there was one of those spies of Herod； that were appointed
for such purposes； to fish out and inform him of any conspiracies
that should be made against him； who found out the whole affair；
and told the king of it； as he was about to go into the theater。
So when he reflected on the hatred which he knew the greatest
part of the people bore him； and on the disturbances that arose
upon every occasion； he thought this plot against him not to be
improbable。 Accordingly； he retired into his palace； and called
those that were accused of this conspiracy before him by their
several names； and as； upon the guards falling upon them； they
were caught in the very fact； and knew they could not escape；
they prepared themselves for their ends with all the decency they
could； and so as not at all to recede from their resolute
behavior； for they showed no shame for what they were about； nor
denied it； but when they were seized； they showed their daggers；
and professed that the conspiracy they had sworn to was a holy
and pious action； that what they intended to do was not for gain；
or out of any indulgence to their passions； but principally for
those common customs of their country； which all the Jews were
obliged to observe； or to die for them。 This was what these men
said； out of their undaunted courage in this conspiracy。 So they
were led away to execution by the king's guards that stood about
them； and patiently underwent all the torments inflicted on them
till they died。 Nor was it long before that spy who had
discovered them was seized on by some of the people； out of the
hatred they bore to him； and was not only slain by them； but
pulled to pieces； limb from limb； and given to the dogs。 This
execution was seen by many of the citizens； yet would not one of
them discover the doers of it； till upon Herod's making a strict
scrutiny after them； by bitter and severe tortures； certain women
that were tortured confessed what they had seen done； the authors
of which fact were so terribly punished by the king； that their
entire families were destroyed for this their rash attempt； yet
did not the obstinacy of the people； and that undaunted constancy
they showed in the defense of their laws； make Herod any easier
to them； but he still strengthened himself after a more secure
manner； and resolved to encompass the multitude every way； lest
such innovations should end in an open rebellion。
5。 Since； therefore； he had now the city fortified by the palace
in which he lived； and by the temple which had a strong fortress
by it； called Antonia； and was rebuilt by himself； he contrived
to make Samari