succeed to his mind； as to the rest of his life； for although he
was delivered from the fear of his brethren being his rivals as
to the government； yet did he find it a very hard thing； and
almost impracticable； to come at the kingdom； because the hatred
of the nation against him on that account was become very great；
and besides this very disagreeable circumstance； the affair of
the soldiery grieved him still more； who were alienated from him；
from which yet these kings derived all the safety which they had；
whenever they found the nation desirous of innovation： and all
this danger was drawn upon him by his destruction of his
brethren。 However； he governed the nation jointly with his
father； being indeed no other than a king already； and he was for
that very reason trusted； and the more firmly depended on； for
the which he ought himself to have been put to death； as
appearing to have betrayed his brethren out of his concern for
the preservation of Herod； and not rather out of his ill…will to
them； and； before them； to his father himself： and this was the
accursed state he was in。 Now all Antipater's contrivances tended
to make his way to take off Herod； that he might have nobody to
accuse him in the vile practices he was devising： and that Herod
might have no refuge； nor any to afford him their assistance；
since they must thereby have Antipater for their open enemy；
insomuch that the very plots he had laid against his brethren
were occasioned by the hatred he bore his father。 But at this
time he was more than ever set upon the execution of his attempts
against Herod； because if he were once dead； the government would
now be firmly secured to him； but if he were suffered to live any
longer； he should be in danger； upon a discovery of that
wickedness of which he had been the contriver； and his father
would of necessity then become his enemy。 And on this account it
was that he became very bountiful to his father's friends； and
bestowed great sums on several of them； in order to surprise men
with his good deeds； and take off their hatred against him。 And
he sent great presents to his friends at Rome particularly； to
gain their good…will； and above all to Saturninus； the president
of Syria。 He also hoped to gain the favor of Saturninus's brother
with the large presents he bestowed on him； as also he used the
same art to ＇Salome＇ the king's sister； who had married one of
Herod's chief friends。 And when he counterfeited friendship to
those with whom he conversed； he was very subtle in gaining their
belief； and very cunning to hide his hatred against any that he
really did hate。 But he could not impose upon his aunt； who
understood him of a long time； and was a woman not easily to be
deluded； especially while she had already used all possible
caution in preventing his pernicious designs。 Although
Antipeter's uncle by the mother's side was married to her
daughter； and this by his own connivance and management； while
she had before been married to Aristobulus； and while Salome's
other daughter by that husband was married to the son of Calleas；
yet that marriage was no obstacle to her； who knew how wicked he
was； in her discovering his designs； as her former kindred to him
could not prevent her hatred of him。 Now Herod had compelled
Salome； while she was in love with Sylleus the Arabian； and had
taken a fondness for him； to marry Alexas； which match was by her
submitted to at the instance of Julia； who persuaded Salome not
to refuse it； lest she should herself be their open enemy； since
Herod had sworn that he would never be friends with Salome； if
she would not accept of Alexas for her husband； so she submitted
to Julia as being Caesar's wife； and besides that； she advised
her to nothing but what was very much for her own advantage。 At
this time also it was that Herod sent back king Archelaus's
daughter； who had been Alexander's wife； to her father； returning
the portion he had with her out of his own estate； that there
might be no dispute between them about it。
2。 Now Herod brought up his sons' children with great care； for
Alexander had two sons by Glaphyra； and Aristobulus had three
sons by Bernice； Salome's daughter； and two daughters； and as his
friends were once with him； he presented the children before
them； and deploring the hard fortune of his own sons； he prayed
that no such ill fortune would befall these who were their
children； but that they might improve in virtue； and obtain what
they justly deserved； and might make him amends for his care of
their education。 He also caused them to be betrothed against they
should come to the proper age of marriage； the elder of
Alexander's sons to Pheroras's daughter； and Antipater's daughter
to Aristobulus's eldest son。 He also allotted one of
Aristobulus's daughters to Antipater's son； and Aristobulus's
other daughter to Herod； a son of his own； who was born to him by
the high priest's daughter； for it is the ancient practice among
us to have many wives at the same time。 Now the king made these
espousals for the children； out of commiseration of them now they
were fatherless； as endeavoring to render Antipater kind to them
by these intermarriages。 But Antipater did not fail to bear the
same temper of mind to his brothers' children which he had borne
to his brothers themselves； and his father's concern about them
provoked his indignation against them upon this supposal； that
they would become greater than ever his brothers had been； while
Archclaus； a king； would support his daughter's sons； and
Pheroras； a tetrarch； would accept of one of the daughters as a
wife to his son。 What provoked him also was this； that all the
multitude would so commiserate these fatherless children； and so
hate him ＇for making them fatherless＇； that all would come out；
since they were no strangers to his vile disposition towards his
brethren。 He contrived； therefore； to overturn his father's
settlements； as thinking it a terrible thing that they should be
so related to him； and be so powerful withal。 So Herod yielded to
him； and changed his resolution at his entreaty； and the
determination now was； that Antipater himself should marry
Aristobulus's daughter； and Antipater's son should marry
Pheroras's daughter。 So the espousals for the marriages were
changed after this manner； even without the king's real
approbation。
3。 Now Herod the king had at this time nine wives； one of them
Antipater's mother； and another the high priest's daughter； by
whom he had a son of his own name。 He had also one who was his
brother's daughter； and another his sister's daughter； which two
had no children。 One of his wives also was of the Samaritan
nation； whose sons were Antipas and Archelaus； and whose daughter
was Olympias； which daughter was afterward married to Joseph； the
king's brother's son； but Archelaus and Antipas were brought up
with a certain private man at Rome。 Herod had also to wife
Cleopatra of Jerusalem； and by her he had his sons Herod and
Philip； which last was also brought up at Rome。 Pallas also was
one of his wives； which bare him his son Phasaelus。 And besides
these； he had for his wives Phedra and E1pis； by whom he had his
daughters Roxana and Salome。 As for his elder daughters by the
same mother with Alexander and Aristobulus； and whom Pheroras
neglected to marry； he gave the one in marriage to Antipater； the
king's sister's son； and the other to Phasaelus； his brother's
son。 And this was the posterity of Herod。
CHAPTER 2。
Concerning Zamaris； The Babylonian Jew； Concerning The Plots Laid
By Antipater Against His Father； And Somewhat About The
Pharisees。
1。 And now it was that Herod； being desirous of securing himself
on the side of the Trachonites； resolved to build a village as
large as a city for the Jews； in the middle of that country；
which might make his own country difficult to be assaulted； and
whence he might be at hand to make sallies upon them； and do them
a mischief。 Accordingly； when he understood that there was a man
that was a Jew come out of Babylon； with five hundred horsemen；
all of whom could shoot their arrows as they rode on horde…back；
and； with a hundred of his relations； had passed over Euphrates；
and now abode at Antioch by Daphne of Syria； where Saturninus；
who was then president； had given them a place for habitation；
called Valatha； he sent for this man； with the multitude that
followed him； and promised to give him land in the toparchy
called Batanea； which country is bounded with Trachonitis； as
desirous to make that his habitation a guard to himself。 He also
engaged to let him hold the country free from tribute； and that
they should dwell entirely without paying such customs as used to
be paid； and gave it him tax…free。
2。 The Babylonian was reduced by these offers to come hither； so
he took possession of the land； and built in it fortresses and a
village； and named it Bathyra。 Whereby this man became a
safeguard to the inhabitants against the Trachonites； and
preserved those Jews who came out of Babylon； to offer their
sacrifices at Jerusalem； from being hurt by the Trachonite
robbers； so that a great number came to him from all those parts
where the ancient Jewish laws were observed； and the country
became full of people； by reason of their universal freedom from
taxes。 This continued during the life of Herod； but when Philip；
who was ＇tetrarch＇ after him； took the government； he made them
pay some small taxes； and that for a little while only； and
Agrippa the Great； and his son of the same name； although they
harassed them greatly； yet would they not take their liberty
away。 From whom； when the Romans have now taken the government
into their own hands； they still gave them the privilege of their
freedom； but oppress them entirely with the imposition of taxes。
Of which matter I shall treat more accurately in the progress of
this history。 （2）
3。 At length Zamaris the Babylonian； to whom Herod had given that
country for a possession； died； having lived virtuously； and left
children of a good character behind him； one of whom was Jacim；
who was famous for his valor； and taught his Babylonians how to
ride their horses；