of them received their own tetrarchy； and settled the affairs
thereof。 Herod also built a wall about Sepphoris； （which is the
security of all Galilee；） and made it the metropolis of the
country。 He also built a wall round Betharamphtha； which was
itself a city also； and called it Julias； from the name of the
emperor's wife。 When Philip also had built Paneas； a city at the
fountains of Jordan； he named it Cesarea。 He also advanced the
village Bethsaids； situate at the lake of Gennesareth； unto the
dignity of a city； both by the number of inhabitants it
contained； and its other grandeur； and called it by the name of
Julias； the same name with Caesar's daughter。
2。 As Coponius； who we told you was sent along with Cyrenius； was
exercising his office of procurator； and governing Judea； the
following accidents happened。 As the Jews were celebrating the
feast of unleavened bread； which we call the Passover； it was
customary for the priests to open the temple…gates just after
midnight。 When； therefore； those gates were first opened； some of
the Samaritans came privately into Jerusalem； and threw about
dead men's bodies； in the cloisters； on which account the Jews
afterward excluded them out of the temple； which they had not
used to do at such festivals； and on other accounts also they
watched the temple more carefully than they had formerly done。 A
little after which accident Coponius returned to Rome； and Marcus
Ambivius came to be his successor in that government； under whom
Salome； the sister of king Herod； died； and left to Julia；
＇Caesar's wife；＇ Jamnia； all its toparchy； and Phasaelis in the
plain； and Arehelais； where is a great plantation of palm trees；
and their fruit is excellent in its kind。 After him came Annius
Rufus； under whom died Caesar； the second emperor of the Romans；
the duration of whose reign was fifty…seven years； besides six
months and two days （of which time Antonius ruled together with
him fourteen years； but the duration of his life was
seventy…seven years）； upon whose death Tiberius Nero； his wife
Julia's son； succeeded。 He was now the third emperor； and he sent
Valerius Gratus to be procurator of Judea； and to succeed Annius
Rufus。 This man deprived Ananus of the high priesthood； and
appointed Ismael； the son of Phabi； to be high priest。 He also
deprived him in a little time； and ordained Eleazar； the son of
Ananus； who had been high priest before； to be high priest； which
office； when he had held for a year； Gratus deprived him of it；
and gave the high priesthood to Simon； the son of Camithus； and
when he had possessed that dignity no longer than a year； Joseph
Caiaphas was made his successor。 When Gratus had done those
things； he went back to Rome； after he had tarried in Judea
eleven years； when Pontius Pilate came as his successor。
3。 And now Herod the tetrarch； who was in great favor with
Tiberius； built a city of the same name with him； and called it
Tiberias。 He built it in the best part of Galilee； at the lake of
Gennesareth。 There are warm baths at a little distance from it；
in a village named Emmaus。 Strangers came and inhabited this
city； a great number of the inhabitants were Galileans also； and
many were necessitated by Herod to come thither out of the
country belonging to him； and were by force compelled to be its
inhabitants； some of them were persons of condition。 He also
admitted poor people； such as those that were collected from all
parts； to dwell in it。 Nay； some of them were not quite free…men；
and these he was benefactor to； and made them free in great
numbers； but obliged them not to forsake the city； by building
them very good houses at his own expenses； and by giving them
land also； for he was sensible； that to make this place a
habitation was to transgress the Jewish ancient laws； because
many sepulchers were to be here taken away； in order to make room
for the city Tiberias （5） whereas our laws pronounce that such
inhabitants are unclean for seven days。 （6）
4。 About this time died Phraates； king of the Parthians； by the
treachery of Phraataces his son； upon the occasion following：
When Phraates had had legitimate sons of his own； he had also an
Italian maid…servant； whose name was Thermusa； who had been
formerly sent to him by Julius Caesar； among other presents。 He
first made her his concubine； but he being a great admirer of her
beauty； in process of time having a son by her； whose name was
Phraataces； he made her his legitimate wife； and had a great
respect for her。 Now she was able to persuade him to do any thing
that she said； and was earnest in procuring the government of
Parthia for her son； but still she saw that her endeavors would
not succeed； unless she could contrive how to remove Phraates's
legitimate sons ＇out of the kingdom；＇ so she persuaded him to
send those his sons as pledges of his fidelity to Rome； and they
were sent to Rome accordingly； because it was not easy for him to
contradict her commands。 Now while Phraataces was alone brought
up in order to succeed in the government； he thought it very
tedious to expect that government by his father's donation ＇as
his successor＇； he therefore formed a treacherous design against
his father； by his mother's assistance； with whom； as the report
went； he had criminal conversation also。 So he was hated for both
these vices； while his subjects esteemed this ＇wicked＇ love of
his mother to be no way inferior to his parricide； and he was by
them； in a sedition； expelled out of the country before he grew
too great； and died。 But as the best sort of Parthians agreed
together that it was impossible they should be governed without a
king； while also it was their constant practice to choose one of
the family of Arsaces； ＇nor did their law allow of any others；
and they thought this kingdom had been sufficiently injured
already by the marriage with an Italian concubine； and by her
issue；＇ they sent ambassadors； and called Orodes ＇to take the
crown＇； for the multitude would not otherwise have borne them；
and though he was accused of very great cruelty； and was of an
untractable temper； and prone to wrath； yet still he was one of
the family of Arsaces。 However； they made a conspiracy against
him； and slew him； and that； as some say； at a festival； and
among their sacrifices； （for it is the universal custom there to
carry their swords with them；） but； as the more general report
is； they slew him when they had drawn him out a hunting。 So they
sent ambassadors to Rome； and desired they would send one of
those that were there as pledges to be their king。 Accordingly；
Vonones was preferred before the rest； and sent to them （for he
seemed capable of such great fortune； which two of the greatest
kingdoms under the sun now offered him； his own and a foreign
one）。 However； the barbarians soon changed their minds； they
being naturally of a mutable disposition； upon the supposal that
this man was not worthy to be their governor； for they could not
think of obeying the commands of one that had been a slave； （for
so they called those that had been hostages；） nor could they bear
the ignominy of that name； and this was the more intolerable；
because then the Parthians must have such a king set over them；
not by right of war； but in time of peace。 So they presently
invited Artabanus； king of Media； to be their king； he being also
of the race of Arsaces。 Artabanus complied with the offer that
was made him； and came to them with an army。 So Vonones met him；
and at first the multitude of the Parthians stood on this side；
and he put his army in array； but Artabanus was beaten； and fled
to the mountains of Media。 Yet did he a little after gather a
great army together； and fought with Vonones； and beat him；
whereupon Vonones fled away on horseback； with a few of his
attendants about him； to Seleucia ＇upon Tigris＇。 So when
Artabanus had slain a great number； and this after he had gotten
the victory by reason of the very great dismay the barbarians
were in； he retired to Ctesiphon with a great number of his
people； and so he now reigned over the Parthians。 But Vonones
fled away to Armenia； and as soon as he came thither； he had an
inclination to have the government of the country given him； and
sent ambassadors to Rome ＇for that purpose＇。 But because Tiberius
refused it him； and because he wanted courage； and because the
Parthian king threatened him； and sent ambassadors to him to
denounce war against him if he proceeded； and because he had no
way to take to regain any other kingdom； （for the people of
authority among the Armenians about Niphates joined themselves to
Artabanus；） he delivered up himself to Silanus； the president of
Syria； who； out of regard to his education at Rome； kept him in
Syria； while Artabanus gave Armenia to Orodes； one of his own
sons。
5。 At this time died Antiochus； the king of Commagene； whereupon
the multitude contended with the nobility； and both sent
ambassadors to ＇Rome＇； for the men of power were desirous that
their form of government might be changed into that of a ＇Roman＇
province； as were the multitude desirous to be under kings； as
their fathers had been。 So the senate made a decree that
Germanicus should be sent to settle the affairs of the East；
fortune hereby taking a proper opportunity for depriving him of
his life； for when he had been in the East； and settled all
affairs there； his life was taken away by the poison which Piso
gave him； as hath been related elsewhere。 （7）
CHAPTER 3。
Sedition Of The Jews Against Pontius Pilate。 Concerning Christ；
And What Befell Paulina And The Jews At Rome；
1。 But now Pilate； the procurator of Judea； removed the army from
Cesarea to Jerusalem； to take their winter quarters there； in
order to abolish the Jewish laws。 So he introduced Caesar's
effigies； which were upon the ensigns； and brought them into the
city； whereas our law forbids us the very making of images； on
which account the former procurators were wont to make their
entry into the city with such ensigns as had not those ornaments。
Pilate was the first who brought those images to Jerusalem； and
set them up there； which was done without the knowledge of the
people；