《the antiquities of the jews-1》

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the antiquities of the jews-1- 第231部分


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marriage between them; which address; when she admitted; an
agreement was made for her to change her habitation; and come to
him as soon as he should return from Rome: one article of this
marriage also was this; that he should divorce Aretas's daughter。
So Antipus; when he had made this agreement; sailed to Rome; but
when he had done there the business he went about; and was
returned again; his wife having discovered the agreement he had
made with Herodias; and having learned it before he had notice of
her knowledge of the whole design; she desired him to send her to
Macherus; which is a place in the borders of the dominions of
Aretas and Herod; without informing him of any of her intentions。
Accordingly Herod sent her thither; as thinking his wife had not
perceived any thing; now she had sent a good while before to
Macherus; which was subject to her father and so all things
necessary for her journey were made ready for her by the general
of Aretas's army; and by that means she soon came into Arabia;
under the conduct of the several generals; who carried her from
one to another successively; and she soon came to her father; and
told him of Herod's intentions。 So Aretas made this the first
occasion of his enmity between him and Herod; who had also some
quarrel with him about their limits at the country of Gamalitis。
So they raised armies on both sides; and prepared for war; and
sent their generals to fight instead of themselves; and when they
had joined battle; all Herod's army was destroyed by the
treachery of some fugitives; who; though they were of the
tetrarchy of Philip; joined with Aretas's army。。 So Herod wrote
about these affairs to Tiberius; who being very angry at the
attempt made by Aretas; wrote to Vitellius to make war upon him;
and either to take him alive; and bring him to him in bonds; or
to kill him; and send him his head。 This was the charge that
Tiberius gave to the president of Syria。

2。 Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod's
army came from God; and that very justly; as a punishment of what
he did against John; that was called the Baptist: for Herod slew
him; who was a good man; and commanded the Jews to exercise
virtue; both as to righteousness towards one another; and piety
towards God; and so to come to baptism; for that the washing
'with water' would be acceptable to him; if they made use of it;
not in order to the putting away 'or the remission' of some sins
'only'; but for the purification of the body; supposing still
that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by
righteousness。 Now when 'many' others came in crowds about him;
for they were very greatly moved 'or pleased' by hearing his
words; Herod; who feared lest the great influence John had over
the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a
rebellion; (for they seemed ready to do any thing he should
advise;) thought it best; by putting him to death; to prevent any
mischief he might cause; and not bring himself into difficulties;
by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be
too late。 Accordingly he was sent a prisoner; out of Herod's
suspicious temper; to Macherus; the castle I before mentioned;
and was there put to death。 Now the Jews had an opinion that the
destruction of this army was sent as a punishment upon Herod; and
a mark of God's displeasure to him。

3。 So Vitellius prepared to make war with Aretas; having with him
two legions of armed men; he also took with him all those of
light armature; and of the horsemen which belonged to them; and
were drawn out of those kingdoms which were under the Romans; and
made haste for Petra; and came to Ptolemais。 But as he was
marching very busily; and leading his army through Judea; the
principal men met him; and desired that he would not thus march
through their land; for that the laws of their country would not
permit them to overlook those images which were brought into it;
of which there were a great many in their ensigns; so he was
persuaded by what they said; and changed that resolution of his
which he had before taken in this matter。 Whereupon he ordered
the army to march along
the great plain; while he himself; with Herod the tetrarch and
his friends; went up to Jerusalem to offer sacrifice to God; an
ancient festival of the Jews being then just approaching; and
when he had been there; and been honorably entertained by the
multitude of the Jews; he made a stay there for three days;
within which time he deprived Jonathan of the high priesthood;
and gave it to his brother Theophilus。 But when on the fourth day
letters came to him; which informed him of the death of Tiberius;
he obliged the multitude to take an oath of fidelity to Caius; he
also recalled his army; and made them every one go home; and take
their winter quarters there; since; upon the devolution of the
empire upon Caius; he had not the like authority of making this
war which he had before。 It was also reported; that when Aretas
heard of the coming of Vitellius to fight him; he said; upon his
consulting the diviners; that it was impossible that this army of
Vitellius's could enter Petra; for that one of the rulers would
die; either he that gave orders for the war; or he that was
marching at the other's desire; in order to be subservient to his
will; or else he against whom this army is prepared。 So Vitellius
truly retired to Antioch; but Agrippa; the son of Aristobulus;
went up to Rome; a year before the death of Tiberius; in order to
treat of some affairs with the emperor; if he might be permitted
so to do。 I have now a mind to describe Herod and his family; how
it fared with them; partly because it is suitable to this history
to speak of that matter; and partly because this thing is a
demonstration of the interposition of Providence; how a multitude
of children is of no advantage; no more than any other strength
that mankind set their hearts upon; besides those acts of piety
which are done towards God; for it happened; that; within the
revolution of a hundred years; the posterity of Herod; which were
a great many in number; were; excepting a few; utterly destroyed。
(16) One may well apply this for the instruction of mankind; and
learn thence how unhappy they were: it will also show us the
history of Agrippa; who; as he was a person most worthy of
admiration; so was he from a private man; beyond all the
expectation of those that knew him; advanced to great power and
authority。 I have said something of them formerly; but I shall
now also speak accurately about them。

4。 Herod the Great had two daughters by Mariamne; the 'grand'
daughter of Hyrcanus; the one was Salampsio; who was married to
Phasaelus; her first cousin; who was himself the son of
Phasaelus; Herod's brother; her father making the match; the
other was Cypros; who was herself married also to her first
cousin Antipater; the son of Salome; Herod's sister。 Phasaelus
had five children by Salampsio; Antipater; Herod; and Alexander;
and two daughters; Alexandra and Cypros; which last Agrippa; the
son of Aristobulus; married; and Timius of Cyprus married
Alexandra; he was a man of note; but had by her no children。
Agrippa had by Cypros two sons and three daughters; which
daughters were named Bernice; Mariarune; and Drusius; but the
names of the sons were Agrippa and Drusus; of which Drusus died
before he came to the years of puberty; but their father;
Agrippa; was brought up with his other brethren; Herod and
Aristobulus; for these were also the sons of the son of Herod the
Great by Bernice; but Bernice was the daughter of Costobarus and
of Salome; who was Herod's sister。 Aristobulus left these infants
when he was slain by his father; together with his brother
Alexander; as we have already related。 But when they were arrived
at years of puberty; this Herod; the brother of Agrippa; married
Mariamne; the daughter of Olympias; who was the daughter of Herod
the king; and of Joseph; the son of Joseph; who was brother to
Herod the king; and had by her a son; Aristobulus; but
Aristobulus; the third brother of Agrippa; married Jotape; the
daughter of Sampsigeramus; king of Emesa; they had a daughter who
was deaf; whose name also was Jotape; and these hitherto were the
children of the male line。 But Herodias; their sister; was
married to Herod 'Philip'; the son of Herod the Great; who was
born of Mariamne; the daughter of Simon the high priest; who had
a daughter; Salome; after whose birth Herodias took upon her to
confound the laws of our country; and divorced herself from her
husband while he was alive; and was married to Herod 'Antipas';
her husband's brother by the father's side; he was tetrarch of
Galilee; but her daughter Salome was married to Philip; the son
of Herod; and tetrarch of Trachonitis; and as he died childless;
Aristobulus; the son of Herod; the brother of Agrippa; married
her; they had three sons; Herod; Agrippa; and Aristobulus; and
this was the posterity of Phasaelus and Salampsio。 But the
daughter of Antipater by Cypros was Cypros; whom Alexas Selcias;
the son of Alexas; married; they had a daughter; Cypros; but
Herod and Alexander; who; as we told you; were the brothers of
Antipater; died childless。 As to Alexander; the son of Herod the
king; who was slain by his father; he had two sons; Alexander and
Tigranes; by the daughter of Archelaus; king of Cappadocia。
Tigranes; who was king of Armenia; was accused at Rome; and died
childless; Alexander had ason of the same name with his brother
Tigranes; and was sent to take possession of the kingdom of
Armenia by Nero; he had a son; Alexander; who married Jotape;
(17) the daughter of Antiochus; the king of Commagena; Vespasian
made him king of an island in Cilicia。 But these descendants of
Alexander; soon after their birth; deserted the Jewish religion;
and went over to that of the Greeks。 But for the rest of the
daughters of Herod the king; it happened that they died
childless。 And as these descendants of Herod; whom we have
enumerated; were in being at the same time that Agrippa the Great
took the kingdom; and I have now given an account of them; it now
remains that I relate the several hard fortunes which b
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