to offer sacrifice。 These vestments king Herod kept in that
place； and after his death they were under the power of the
Romans； until the time of Tiberius Caesar； under whose reign
Vitellius； the president of Syria； when he once came to
Jerusalem； and had been most magnificently received by the
multitude； he had a mind to make them some requital for the
kindness they had shewn him； so； upon their petition to have
those holy vestments in their own power； he wrote about them to
Tiberius Caesar； who granted his request： and this their power
over the sacerdotal vestments continued with the Jews till the
death of king Agrippa； but after that； Cassius Longinus； who was
president of Syria； and Cuspius Fadus； who was procurator of
Judea； enjoined the Jews to reposit those vestments in the tower
of Antonia； for that they ought to have them in their power； as
they formerly had。 However； the Jews sent ambassadors to Claudius
Caesar； to intercede with him for them； upon whose coming； king
Agrippa； junior； being then at Rome； asked for and obtained the
power over them from the emperor； who gave command to Vitellius；
who was then commander in Syria； to give it them accordingly。
Before that time they were kept under the seal of the high
priest； and of the treasurers of the temple； which treasurers；
the day before a festival； went up to the Roman captain of the
temple guards； and viewed their own seal； and received the
vestments； and again； when the festival was over； they brought it
to the same place； and showed the captain of the temple guards
their seal； which corresponded with his seal； and reposited them
there。 And that these things were so； the afflictions that
happened to us afterwards ＇about them＇ are sufficient evidence。
But for the tower itself； when Herod the king of the Jews had
fortified it more firmly than before； in order to secure and
guard the temple； he gratified Antonius； who was his friend； and
the Roman ruler； and then gave it the name of the Tower of
Antonia。
5。 Now in the western quarters of the enclosure of the temple
there were four gates； the first led to the king's palace； and
went to a passage over the intermediate valley； two more led to
the suburbs of the city； and the last led to the other city；
where the road descended down into the valley by a great number
of steps； and thence up again by the ascent for the city lay over
against the temple in the manner of a theater； and was
encompassed with a deep valley along the entire south quarter；
but the fourth front of the temple； which was southward； had
indeed itself gates in its middle； as also it had the royal
cloisters； with three walks； which reached in length from the
east valley unto that on the west； for it was impossible it
should reach any farther： and this cloister deserves to be
mentioned better than any other under the sun； for while the
valley was very deep； and its bottom could not be seen； if you
looked from above into the depth； this further vastly high
elevation of the cloister stood upon that height； insomuch that
if any one looked down from the top of the battlements； or down
both those altitudes； he would be giddy； while his sight could
not reach to such an immense depth。 This cloister had pillars
that stood in four rows one over against the other all along； for
the fourth row was interwoven into the wall； which ＇also was
built of stone＇； and the thickness of each pillar was such； that
three men might； with their arms extended； fathom it round； and
join their hands again； while its length was twenty…seven feet；
with a double spiral at its basis； and the number of all the
pillars ＇in that court＇ was a hundred and sixty…two。 Their
chapiters were made with sculptures after the Corinthian order；
and caused an amazement ＇to the spectators＇； by reason of the
grandeur of the whole。 These four rows of pillars included three
intervals for walking in the middle of this cloister； two of
which walks were made parallel to each other； and were contrived
after the same manner； the breadth of each of them was thirty
feet； the length was a furlong； and the height fifty feet； but
the breadth of the middle part of the cloister was one and a half
of the other； and the height was double； for it was much higher
than those on each side； but the roofs were adorned with deep
sculptures in wood； representing many sorts of figures。 The
middle was much higher than the rest； and the wall of the front
was adorned with beams； resting upon pillars； that were
interwoven into it； and that front was all of polished stone；
insomuch that its fineness； to such as had not seen it； was
incredible； and to such as had seen it； was greatly amazing。 Thus
was the first enclosure。 In the midst of which； and not far from
it； was the second； to be gone up to by a few steps： this was
encompassed by a stone wall for a partition； with an inscription；
which forbade any foreigner to go in under pain of death。 Now
this inner enclosure had on its southern and northern quarters
three gates ＇equally＇ distant one from another； but on the east
quarter； towards the sun…rising； there was one large gate；
through which such as were pure came in； together with their
wives； but the temple further inward in that gate was not allowed
to the women； but still more inward was there a third ＇court of
the＇ temple； whereinto it was not lawful for any but the priests
alone to enter。 The temple itself was within this； and before
that temple was the altar； upon which we offer our sacrifices and
burnt…offerings to God。 Into none of these three did king Herod
enter； （24） for he was forbidden； because he was not a priest。
However； he took care of the cloisters and the outer enclosures；
and these he built in eight years。
6。 But the temple itself was built by the priests in a year and
six months； upon which all the people were full of joy； and
presently they returned thanks； in the first place； to God； and
in the next place； for the alacrity the king had showed。 They
feasted and celebrated this rebuilding of the temple： and for the
king； he sacrificed three hundred oxen to God； as did the rest
every one according to his ability； the number of which
sacrifices is not possible to set down； for it cannot be that we
should truly relate it； for at the same time with this
celebration for the work about the temple fell also the day of
the king's inauguration； which he kept of an old custom as a
festival； and it now coincided with the other； which coincidence
of them both made the festival most illustrious。
7。 There was also an occult passage built for the king； it led
from Antonia to the inner temple； at its eastern gate； over which
he also erected for himself a tower； that he might have the
opportunity of a subterraneous ascent to the temple； in order to
guard against any sedition which might be made by the people
against their kings。 It is also reported； （25） that during the
time that the temple was building； it did not rain in the
daytime； but that the showers fell in the nights； so that the
work was not hindered。 And this our fathers have delivered to us；
nor is it incredible； if any one have regard to the
manifestations of God。 And thus was performed the work of the
rebuilding of the temple。
BOOK XVI。
Containing The Interval Of Twelve Years。
From The Finishing Of The Temple By Herod To The Death Of
Alexander And Aristobulus。
CHAPTER 1。
A Law Of Herod's About； Thieves。 Salome And Pheroras Calumniate
Alexander And Aristobulus； Upon Their Return From Rome For Whom
Yet Herod Provides Wives。
1。 As king Herod was very zealous in the administration of his
entire government； and desirous to put a stop to particular acts
of injustice which were done by criminals about the city and
country； he made a law； no way like our original laws； and which
he enacted of himself； to expose house…breakers to be ejected out
of his kingdom； which punishment was not only grievous to be
borne by the offenders； but contained in it a dissolution of the
customs of our forefathers； for this slavery to foreigners； and
such as did not live after the manner of Jews； and this necessity
that they were under to do whatsoever such men should command；
was an offense against our religious settlement； rather than a
punishment to such as were found to have offended； such a
punishment being avoided in our original laws； for those laws
ordain； that the thief shall restore fourfold； and that if he
have not so much； he shall be sold indeed； but not to foreigners；
nor so that he be under perpetual slavery； for he must have been
released after six years。 But this law； thus enacted； in order to
introduce a severe and illegal punishment； seemed to be a piece
of insolence of Herod； when he did not act as a king； but as a
tyrant； and thus contemptuously； and without any regard to his
subjects； did he venture to introduce such a punishment。 Now this
penalty； thus brought into practice； was like Herod's other
actions； and became a part of his accusation； and an occasion of
the hatred he lay under。
2。 Now at this time it was that he sailed to Italy； as very
desirous to meet with Caesar； and to see his sons who lived at
Rome； and Caesar was not only very obliging to him in other
respects； but delivered him his sons again； that he might take
them home with him； as having already completed themselves in the
sciences； but as soon as the young men were come from Italy； the
multitude were very desirous to see them； and they became
conspicuous among them all； as adorned with great blessings of
fortune； and having the countenances of persons of royal dignity。
So they soon appeared to be the objects of envy to Salome； the
king's sister； and to such as had raised calumnies against
Mariamne； for they were suspicious； that when these came to the
government； they should be punished for the wickedness they had
been guilty of against their mother； so they made this very fear
of theirs a motive to raise calumnies against them also。 They
gave it out that they were not pleased with their father's
company； because he had put their mother to death； as if it were
not agreeable to piety to appear to converse with their mother's
murder