if they consider the old governments under kings； together with
your present government； besides the great number of benefits
which this government hath bestowed on them； in order to their
happiness； this is instead of all the rest； that they appear to
be no longer in a state of slavery； but of freedom。 Now the
privileges we desire； even when we are in the best circumstances；
are not such as deserve to be envied； for we are indeed in a
prosperous state by your means； but this is only in common with
others； and it is no more than this which we desire； to preserve
our religion without any prohibition； which as it appears not in
itself a privilege to be envied us； so it is for the advantage of
those that grant it to us； for if the Divinity delights in being
honored； it must delight in those that permit them to be honored。
And there are none of our customs which are inhuman； but all
tending to piety； and devoted to the preservation of justice； nor
do we conceal those injunctions of ours by which we govern our
lives； they being memorials of piety； and of a friendly
conversation among men。 And the seventh day we set apart from
labor； it is dedicated to the learning of our customs and laws；
（1） we thinking it proper to reflect on them； as well as on any
＇good＇ thing else； in order to our avoiding of sin。 If any one
therefore examine into our observances； he will find they are
good in themselves； and that they are ancient also； though some
think otherwise； insomuch that those who have received them
cannot easily be brought to depart from them； out of that honor
they pay to the length of time they have religiously enjoyed them
and observed them。 Now our adversaries take these our privileges
away in the way of injustice； they violently seize upon that
money of ours which is owed to God； and called sacred money； and
this openly； after a sacrilegious manner； and they impose
tributes upon us； and bring us before tribunals on holy days； and
then require other like debts of us； not because the contracts
require it； and for their own advantage； but because they would
put an affront on our religion； of which they are conscious as
well as we； and have indulged themselves in an unjust； and to
them involuntary； hatred； for your government over all is one；
tending to the establishing of benevolence； and abolishing of
ill…will among such as are disposed to it。 This is therefore what
we implore from thee； most excellent Agrippa； that we may not be
ill…treated； that we may not be abused； that we may not be
hindered from making use of our own customs； nor be despoiled of
our goods； nor be forced by these men to do what we ourselves
force nobody to do； for these privileges of ours are not only
according to justice； but have formerly been granted us by you。
And we are able to read to you many decrees of the senate； and
the tables that contain them； which are still extant in the
capitol； concerning these things； which it is evident were
granted after you had experience of our fidelity towards you；
which ought to be valued； though no such fidelity had been； for
you have hitherto preserved what people were in possession of；
not to us only； but almost to all men； and have added greater
advantages than they could have hoped for； and thereby your
government is become a great advantage to them。 And if any one
were able to enumerate the prosperity you have conferred on every
nation； which they possess by your means； he could never put an
end to his discourse； but that we may demonstrate that we are not
unworthy of all those advantages we have obtained； it will be
sufficient for us； to say nothing of other things； but to speak
freely of this king who now governs us； and is now one of thy
assessors； and indeed in what instance of good…will； as to your
house； hath he been deficient？ What mark of fidelity to it hath
he omitted？ What token of honor hath he not devised？ What
occasion for his assistance of you hath he not regarded at the
very first？ What hindereth； therefore； but that your kindnesses
may be as numerous as his so great benefits to you have been？ It
may also perhaps be fit not here to pass over in silence the
valor of his father Antipater； who； when Caesar made an
expedition into Egypt； assisted him with two thousand armed men；
and proved inferior to none； neither in the battles on land； nor
in the management of the navy； and what need I say any thing of
how great weight those soldiers were at that juncture？ or how
many and how great presents they were vouchsafed by Caesar？ And
truly I ought before now to have mentioned the epistles which
Caesar wrote to the senate； and how Antipater had honors； and the
freedom of the city of Rome； bestowed upon him； for these are
demonstrations both that we have received these favors by our own
deserts； and do on that account petition thee for thy
confirmation of them； from whom we had reason to hope for them；
though they had not been given us before； both out of regard to
our king's disposition towards you； and your disposition towards
him。 And further； we have been informed by those Jews that were
there with what kindness thou camest into our country； and how
thou offeredst the most perfect sacrifices to God； and honoredst
him with remarkable vows； and how thou gavest the people a feast；
and acceptedst of their own hospitable presents to thee。 We ought
to esteem all these kind entertainments made both by our nation
and to our city； to a man who is the ruler and manager of so much
of the public affairs； as indications of that friendship which
thou hast returned to the Jewish nation； and which hath been
procured them by the family of Herod。 So we put thee in mind of
these things in the presence of the king； now sitting by thee；
and make our request for no more but this； that what you have
given us yourselves you will not see taken away by others from
us。〃
4。 When Nicolaus had made this speech； there was no opposition
made to it by the Greeks； for this was not an inquiry made； as in
a court of justice； but an intercession to prevent violence to be
offered to the Jews any longer； nor did the Greeks make any
defense of themselves； or deny what it was supposed they had
done。 Their pretense was no more than this； that while the Jews
inhabited in their country； they were entirely unjust to them ＇in
not joining in their worship＇ but they demonstrated their
generosity in this； that though they worshipped according to
their institutions； they did nothing that ought to grieve them。
So when Agrippa perceived that they had been oppressed by
violence； he made this answer： That； on account of Herod's
good…will and friendship； he was ready to grant the Jews
whatsoever they should ask him； and that their requests seemed to
him in themselves just； and that if they requested any thing
further； he should not scruple to grant it them； provided they
were no way to the detriment of the Roman government； but that
while their request was no more than this； that what privileges
they had already given them might not be abrogated； he confirmed
this to them； that they might continue in the observation of
their own customs； without any one offering them the least
injury。 And when he had said thus； he dissolved the assembly；
upon which Herod stood up and saluted him； and gave him thanks
for the kind disposition he showed to them。 Agrippa also took
this in a very obliging manner； and saluted him again； and
embraced him in his arms； after which he went away from Lesbos；
but the king determined to sail from Samos to his own country；
and when he had taken his leave of Agrippa； he pursued his
voyage； and landed at Cesarea in a few days' time； as having
favorable winds； from whence he went to Jerusalem； and there
gathered all the people together to an assembly； not a few being
there out of the country also。 So he came to them； and gave them
a particular account of all his journey； and of the affairs of
all the Jews in Asia； how by his means they would live without
injurious treatment for the time to come。 He also told them of
the entire good fortune he had met with and how he had
administered the government； and had not neglected any thing
which was for their advantage； and as he was very joyful； he now
remitted to them the fourth part of their taxes for the last
year。 Accordingly； they were so pleased with his favor and speech
to them； that they went their ways with great gladness； and
wished the king all manner of happiness。
CHAPTER 3
How Great Disturbances Arose In Herods Family On His Preferring
Antipater His Eldest Son Before The Rest； Till Alexander Took
That Injury Very Heinously。
1。 But now the affairs in Herod's family were in more and more
disorder； and became more severe upon him； by the hatred of
Salome to the young men ＇Alexander and Aristobulus＇； which
descended as it were by inheritance ＇from their mother Mariamne＇；
and as she had fully succeeded against their mother； so she
proceeded to that degree of madness and insolence； as to endeavor
that none of her posterity might be left alive； who might have it
in their power to revenge her death。 The young men had also
somewhat of a bold and uneasy disposition towards their father
occasioned by the remembrance of what their mother had unjustly
suffered； and by their own affectation of dominion。 The old
grudge was also renewed； and they east reproaches on Salome and
Pheroras； who requited the young men with malicious designs； and
actually laid treacherous snares for them。 Now as for this
hatred； it was equal on both sides； but the manner of exerting
that hatred was different； for as for the young men； they were
rash； reproaching and affronting the others openly； and were
inexperienced enough to think it the most generous to declare
their minds in that undaunted manner； but the others did not take
that method； but made use of calumnies after a subtle and a
spiteful manner； still provoking the young men； and imagining
that their boldness might in time turn to the offering violence
to their father； for inasmuch as they were not ashamed of the
pretended crimes of their mother； nor thought she suffered
justly； these supposed that might at length ex