which； when thou readest； I know that Herod Will punish Salome；
as plotting against him？' Now this pretended letter of Salome to
her lady was composed by Antipater； in the name of Salome； as to
its meaning； but in the words of Acme。 The letter was this： 〃Acme
to king Herod。 I have done my endeavor that nothing that is done
against thee should be concealed from thee。 So； upon my finding a
letter of Salome written to my lady against thee； I have written
out a copy； and sent it to thee； with hazard to myself； but for
thy advantage。 The reason why she wrote it was this； that she had
a mind to be married to Sylleus。 Do thou therefore tear this
letter in pieces； that I may not come into danger of my life。〃
Now Acme had written to Antipater himself； and informed him；
that； in compliance with his command； she had both herself
written to Herod； as if Salome had laid a sudden plot entirely
against him； and had herself sent a copy of an epistle； as coming
from Salome to her lady。 Now Acme was a Jew by birth； and a
servant to Julia； Caesar's wife； and did this out of her
friendship for Antipater； as having been corrupted by him with a
large present of money； to assist in his pernicious designs
against his father and his aunt。
8。 Hereupon Herod was so amazed at the prodigious wickedness of
Antipater； that he was ready to have ordered him to be slain
immediately； as a turbulent person in the most important
concerns； and as one that had laid a plot not only against
himself； but against his sister also； and even corrupted Caesar's
own domestics。 Salome also provoked him to it； beating her
breast； and bidding him kill her； if he could produce any
credible testimony that she had acted in that manner。 Herod also
sent for his son； and asked him about this matter； and bid him
contradict if he could； and not suppress any thing he had to say
for himself； and when he had not one word to say； he asked him；
since he was every way caught in his villainy； that he would make
no further delay； but discover his associates in these his wicked
designs。 So he laid all upon Antiphilus； but discovered nobody
else。 Hereupon Herod was in such great grief； that he was ready
to send his son to Rome to Caesar； there to give an account of
these his wicked contrivances。 But he soon became afraid； lest he
might there； by the assistance of his friends； escape the danger
he was in； so he kept him bound as before； and sent more
ambassadors and letters ＇to Rome＇ to accuse his son； and an
account of what assistance Acme had given him in his wicked
designs； with copies of the epistles before mentioned。
CHAPTER 6。
Concerning The Disease That Herod Fell Into And The Sedition
Which The Jews Raised Thereupon； With The Punishment Of The
Seditious。
1。 Now Herod's ambassadors made haste to Rome； but sent； as
instructed beforehand； what answers they were to make to the
questions put to them。 They also carried the epistles with them。
But Herod now fell into a distemper； and made his will； and
bequeathed his kingdom to ＇Antipas＇； his youngest son； and this
out of that hatred to Archclaus and Philip； which the calumnies
of Antipater had raised against them。 He also bequeathed 。a
thousand talents to Caesar； and five hundred to Julia； Caesar's
wife； to Caesar's children； and friends and freed…men。 He also
distributed among his sons and their sons his money； his
revenues； and his lands。 He also made Salome his sister very
rich； because she had continued faithful to him in all his
circumstances； and was never so rash as to do him any harm； and
as he despaired of recovering； for he was about the seventieth
year of his age； he grew fierce； and indulged the bitterest anger
upon all occasions； the cause whereof was this； that he thought
himself despised； and that the nation was pleased with his
misfortunes； besides which； he resented a sedition which some of
the lower sort of men excited against him； the occasion of which
was as follows。
2。 There was one Judas； the son of Saripheus； and Mattbias； the
son of Margalothus； two of the most eloquent men among the Jews；
and the most celebrated interpreters of the Jewish laws； and men
well beloved by the people； because of their education of their
youth； for all those that were studious of virtue frequented
their lectures every day。 These men； when they found that the
king's distemper was incurable； excited the young men that they
would pull down all those works which the king had erected
contrary to the law of their fathers； and thereby obtain the
rewards which the law will confer on them for such actions of
piety； for that it was truly on account of Herod's rashness in
making such things as the law had forbidden； that his other
misfortunes； and this distemper also； which was so unusual among
mankind； and with which he was now afflicted； came upon him； for
Herod had caused such things to be made which were contrary to
the law； of which he was accused by Judas and Matthias； for the
king had erected over the great gate of the temple a large golden
eagle； of great value； and had dedicated it to the temple。 Now
the law forbids those that propose to live according to it； to
erect images （6） or representations of any living creature。 So
these wise men persuaded ＇their scholars＇ to pull down the golden
eagle； alleging； that although they should incur any danger；
which might bring them to their deaths； the virtue of the action
now proposed to them would appear much more advantageous to them
than the pleasures of life； since they would die for the
preservation and observation of the law of their fathers； since
they would also acquire an everlasting fame and commendation；
since they would be both commended by the present generation； and
leave an example of life that would never be forgotten to
posterity； since that common calamity of dying cannot be avoided
by our living so as to escape any such dangers； that therefore it
is a right thing for those who are in love with a virtuous
conduct； to wait for that fatal hour by such behavior as may
carry them out of the world with praise and honor； and that this
will alleviate death to a great degree； thus to come at it by the
performance of brave actions； which bring us into danger of it；
and at the same time to leave that reputation behind them to
their children； and to all their relations； whether they be men
or women； which will be of great advantage to them afterward。
3。 And with such discourses as this did these men excite the
young men to this action； and a report being come to them that
the king was dead； this was an addition to the wise men's
persuasions； so； in the very middle of the day； they got upon the
place； they pulled down the eagle； and cut it into pieces with
axes； while a great number of the people were in the temple。 And
now the king's captain； upon hearing what the undertaking was；
and supposing it was a thing of a higher nature than it proved to
be； came up thither； having a great band of soldiers with him；
such as was sufficient to put a stop to the multitude of those
who pulled down what was dedicated to God； so he fell upon them
unexpectedly； and as they were upon this bold attempt； in a
foolish presumption rather than a cautious circumspection； as is
usual with the multitude； and while they were in disorder； and
incautious of what was for their advantage； so he caught no fewer
than forty of the young men； who had the courage to stay behind
when the rest ran away； together with the authors of this bold
attempt； Judas and Matthius； who thought it an ignominious thing
to retire upon his approach； and led them to the king。 And when
they were come to the king； and he asked them if they had been so
bold as to pull down what he had dedicated to God； 〃Yes； （said
they；） what was contrived we contrived； and what hath been
performed we performed it； and that with such a virtuous courage
as becomes men； for we have given our assistance to those things
which were dedicated to the majesty of God； and we have provided
for what we have learned by hearing the law； and it ought not to
be wondered at； if we esteem those laws which Moses had suggested
to him； and were taught him by God； and which he wrote and left
behind him； more worthy of observation than thy commands。
Accordingly we will undergo death； and all sorts of punishments
which thou canst inflict upon us； with pleasure； since we are
conscious to ourselves that we shall die； not for any unrighteous
actions； but for our love to religion。〃 And thus they all said；
and their courage was still equal to their profession； and equal
to that with which they readily set about this undertaking。 And
when the king had ordered them to be bound； he sent them to
Jericho； and called together the principal men among the Jews；
and when they were come； he made them assemble in the theater；
and because he could not himself stand； he lay upon a couch； and
enumerated the many labors that he had long endured on their
account； and his building of the temple； and what a vast charge
that was to him； while the Asamoneans； during the hundred and
twenty…five years of their government； had not been able to
perform any so great a work for the honor of God as that was；
that he had also adorned it with very valuable donations； on
which account he hoped that he had left himself a memorial； and
procured himself a reputation after his death。 He then cried out；
that these men had not abstained from affronting him； even in his
lifetime； but that in the very day time； and in the sight of the
multitude； they had abused him to that degree； as to fall upon
what he had dedicated； and in that way of abuse had pulled it
down to the ground。 They pretended； indeed； that they did it to
affront him； but if any one consider the thing truly； they will
find that they were guilty of sacrilege against God therein。
4。 But the people； on account of Herod's barbarous temper； and
for fear he should be so cruel and to inflict punishment on them；
said what was done was done without their approbation； and that
it seemed to them that the actors might well be punished for what
they had done。 But as for Herod； he dealt more mildly with others
＇of the assem