very old age。 But then； as to the affairs of his family and
children； in which indeed； according to his own opinion； he was
also very fortunate； because he was able to conquer his enemies；
yet； in my opinion； he was herein very unfortunate。
2。 But then Salome and Alexas； before the king's death was made
known； dismissed those that were shut up in the hippodrome； and
told them that the king ordered them to go away to their own
lands； and take care of their own affairs； which was esteemed by
the nation a great benefit。 And now the king's death was made
public； when Salome and Alexas gathered the soldiery together in
the amphitheater at Jericho； and the first thing they did was；
they read Herod's letter； written to the soldiery； thanking them
for their fidelity and good…will to him； and exhorting them to
afford his son Archelaus； whom he had appointed for their king；
like fidelity and good…will。 After which Ptolemy； who had the
king's seal intrusted to him； read the king's testament； which
was to be of force no otherwise than as it should stand when
Caesar had inspected it； so there was presently an acclamation
made to Archelaus； as king； and the soldiers came by bands； and
their commanders with them； and promised the same good…will to
him； and readiness to serve him； which they had exhibited to
Herod； and they prayed God to be assistant to him。
3。 After this was over； they prepared for his funeral； it being
Archelaus's care that the procession to his father's sepulcher
should be very sumptuous。 Accordingly； he brought out all his
ornaments to adorn the pomp of the funeral。 The body was carried
upon a golden bier； embroidered with very precious stones of
great variety； and it was covered over with purple； as well as
the body itself； he had a diadem upon his head； and above it a
crown of gold： he also had a scepter in his right hand。 About the
bier were his sons and his numerous relations； next to these was
the soldiery； distinguished according to their several countries
and denominations； and they were put into the following order：
First of all went his guards； then the band of Thracians； and
after them the Germans； and next the band of Galatians； every one
in their habiliments of war； and behind these marched the whole
army in the same manner as they used to go out to war； and as
they used to be put in array by their muster…masters and
centurions； these were followed by five hundred of his domestics
carrying spices。 So they went eight furlongs （12） to Herodium；
for there by his own command he was to be buried。 And thus did
Herod end his life。
4。 Now Archelaus paid him so much respect； as to continue his
mourning till the seventh day； for so many days are appointed for
it by the law of our fathers。 And when he had given a treat to
the multitude； and left off his motoring； he went up into the
temple； he had also acclamations and praises given him； which way
soever he went； every one striving with the rest who should
appear to use the loudest acclamations。 So he ascended a high
elevation made for him； and took his seat； in a throne made of
gold； and spake kindly to the multitude； and declared with what
joy he received their acclamations； and the marks of the
good…will they showed to him； and returned them thanks that they
did not remember the injuries his father had done them to his
disadvantage； and promised them he would endeavor not to be
behindhand with them in rewarding their alacrity in his service；
after a suitable manner； but that he should abstain at present
from the name of king； and that he should have the honor of that
dignity； if Caesar should confirm and settle that testament which
his father had made； and that it was on this account； that when
the army would have put the diadem on him at Jericho； he would
not accept of that honor； which is usually so much desired；
because it was not yet evident that he who was to be principally
concerned in bestowing it would give it him； although； by his
acceptance of the government； he should not want the ability of
rewarding their kindness to him and that it should be his
endeavor； as to all things wherein they were concerned； to prove
in every respect better than his father。 Whereupon the multitude；
as it is usual with them； supposed that the first days of those
that enter upon such governments declare the intentions of those
that accept them； and so by how much Archelaus spake the more
gently and civilly to them； by so much did they more highly
commend him； and made application to him for the grant of what
they desired。 Some made a clamor that he would ease them of some
of their annual payments； but others desired him to release those
that were put into prison by Herod； who were many； and had been
put there at several times； others of them required that he would
take away those taxes which had been severely laid upon what was
publicly sold and bought。 So Archelaus contradicted them in
nothing； since he pretended to do all things so as to get the
good…will of the multitude to him； as looking upon that good…will
to be a great step towards his preservation of the government。
Hereupon he went and offered sacrifice to God； and then betook
himself to feast with his friends。
CHAPTER 9。
How The People Raised A Sedition Against Archelaus； And How He
Sailed To Rome。
1。 At this time also it was that some of the Jews got together
out of a desire of innovation。 They lamented Matthias； and those
that were slain with him by Herod； who had not any respect paid
them by a funeral mourning； out of the fear men were in of that
man； they were those who had been condemned for pulling down the
golden eagle。 The people made a great clamor and lamentation
hereupon； and cast out some reproaches against the king also； as
if that tended to alleviate the miseries of the deceased。 The
people assembled together； and desired of Archelaus； that； in way
of revenge on their account； he would inflict punishment on those
who had been honored by Herod； and that； in the first and
principal place； he would deprive that high priest whom Herod had
made； and would choose one more agreeable to the law； and of
greater purity； to officiate as high priest。 This was granted by
Archelaus； although he was mightily offended at their
importunity； because he proposed to himself to go to Rome
immediately to look after Caesar's determination about him。
However； he sent the general of his forces to use persuasions；
and to tell them that the death which was inflicted on their
friends was according to the law； and to represent to them that
their petitions about these things were carried to a great height
of injury to him； that the time was not now proper for such
petitions； but required their unanimity until such time as he
should be established in the government by the consent of Caesar；
and should then be come back to them； for that he would then
consult with them in common concerning the purport of their
petitions； but that they ought at present to be quiet； lest they
should seem seditious persons。
2。 So when the king had suggested these things； and instructed
his general in what he was to say； be sent him away to the
people； but they made a clamor； and would not give him leave to
speak； and put him in danger of his life； and as many more as
were desirous to venture upon saying openly any thing which might
reduce them to a sober mind； and prevent their going on in their
present courses； because they had more concern to have all their
own wills performed than to yield obedience to their governors；
thinking it to be a thing insufferable； that； while Herod was
alive； they should lose those that were most dear to them； and
that when he was dead； they could not get the actors to be
punished。 So they went on with their designs after a violent
manner； and thought all to be lawful and right which tended to
please them； and being unskillful in foreseeing what dangers they
incurred； and when they had suspicion of such a thing； yet did
the present pleasure they took in the punishment of those they
deemed their enemies overweigh all such considerations； and
although Archelaus sent many to speak to them； yet they treated
them not as messengers sent by him； but as persons that came of
their own accord to mitigate their anger； and would not let one
of them speak。 The sedition also was made by such as were in a
great passion； and it was evident that they were proceeding
further in seditious practices； by the multitude running so fast
upon them。
3。 Now； upon the approach of that feast of unleavened bread；
which the law of their fathers had appointed for the Jews at this
time； which feast is called the Passover （13） and is a memorial
of their deliverance out of Egypt； when they offer sacrifices
with great alacrity； and when they are required to slay more
sacrifices in number than at any other festival； and when an
innumerable multitude came thither out of the country； nay； from
beyond its limits also； in order to worship God； the seditious
lamented Judas and Matthias； those teachers of the laws； and kept
together in the temple； and had plenty of food； because these
seditious persons were not ashamed to beg it。 And as Archelaus
was afraid lest some terrible thing should spring up by means of
these men's madness； he sent a regiment of armed men； and with
them a captain of a thousand； to suppress the violent efforts of
the seditious before the whole multitude should be infected with
the like madness； and gave them this charge； that if they found
any much more openly seditious than others； and more busy in
tumultuous practices； they should bring them to him。 But those
that were seditious on account of those teachers of the law；
irritated the people by the noise and clamors they used to
encourage the people in their designs； so they made an assault
upon the soldiers； and came up to them； and stoned the greatest
part of them； although some of them ran away wounded； and their
captain among them； and when they had thus done； they returned to
the sacrifices which were already in their hands。 Now Archelaus
thought there was no way to preserve the entire government but by
cutting off those who made