Antiquities of the Jews — Book 14, Chapter 9

1. Now when Cæsar had settled the affairs of Syria, he sailed away. And
as soon as Antipater had conducted Cæsar out of Syria, he returned to
Judea. He then immediately raised up the wall which had been thrown down
by Pompey; and, by coming thither, he pacified that tumult which had
been in the country, and this by both threatening and advising them to
be quiet; for that if they would be of Hyrcanus's side, they would live
happily, and lead their lives without disturbance, and in the enjoyment
of their own possessions; but if they were addicted to the hopes of what
might come by innovation, and aimed to get wealth thereby, they should
have him a severe master instead of a gentle governor, and Hyrcanus a
tyrant instead of a king, and the Romans, together with Cæsar, their
bitter enemies instead of rulers, for that they would never bear him to
be set aside whom they had appointed to govern. And when Antipater had
said this to them, he himself settled the affairs of this country.

2. And seeing that Hyrcanus was of a slow and slothful temper, he made
Phasaelus, his eldest son, governor of Jerusalem, and of the places that
were about it, but committed Galilee to Herod, his next son, who was
then a very young man, for he was but fifteen years of age 14 But that
youth of his was no impediment to him; but as he was a youth of great
mind, he presently met with an opportunity of signalizing his courage;
for finding that there was one Hezekiah, a captain of a band of robbers,
who overran the neighboring parts of Syria with a great troop of them,
he seized him and slew him, as well as a great number of the other
robbers that were with him; for which action he was greatly beloved by
the Syrians; for when they were very desirous to have their country
freed from this nest of robbers, he purged it of them. So they sung
songs in his commendation in their villages and cities, as having
procured them peace, and the secure enjoyment of their possessions; and
on this account it was that he became known to Sextus Cæsar, who was a
relation of the great Cæsar, and was now president of Syria. Now
Phasaelus, Herod's brother, was moved with emulation at his actions, and
envied the fame he had thereby gotten, and became ambitious not to be
behindhand with him in deserving it. So he made the inhabitants of
Jerusalem bear him the greatest good-will while he held the city
himself, but did neither manage its affairs improperly, nor abuse his
authority therein. This conduct procured from the nation to Antipater
such respect as is due to kings, and such honors as he might partake of
if he were an absolute lord of the country. Yet did not this splendor of
his, as frequently happens, in the least diminish in him that kindness
and fidelity which he owed to Hyrcanus.

3. But now the principal men among the Jews, when they saw Antipater and
his sons to grow so much in the good-will the nation bare to them, and
in the revenues which they received out of Judea, and out of Hyrcanus's
own wealth, they became ill- disposed to him; for indeed Antipater had
contracted a friendship with the Roman emperors; and when he had
prevailed with Hyrcanus to send them money, he took it to himself, and
purloined the present intended, and sent it as if it were his own, and
not Hyrcanus's gift to them. Hyrcanus heard of this his management, but
took no care about it; nay, he rather was very glad of it. But the chief
men of the Jews were therefore in fear, because they saw that Herod was
a violent and bold man, and very desirous of acting tyrannically; so
they came to Hyrcanus, and now accused Antipater openly, and said to
him, "How long wilt thou be quiet under such actions as are now done? Or
dost thou not see that Antipater and his sons have already seized upon
the government, and that it is only the name of a king which is given
thee? But do not thou suffer these things to be hidden from thee, nor do
thou think to escape danger by being so careless of thyself and of thy
kingdom; for Antipater and his sons are not now stewards of thine
affairs: do not thou deceive thyself with such a notion; they are
evidently absolute lords; for Herod, Antipater's son, hath slain
Hezekiah, and those that were with him, and hath thereby transgressed
our law, which hath forbidden to slay any man, even though he were a
wicked man, unless he had been first condemned to suffer death by the
Sanhedrim 15 yet hath he been so insolent as to do this, and that
without any authority from thee."

4. Upon Hyrcanus hearing this, he complied with them. The mothers also
of those that had been slain by Herod raised his indignation; for those
women continued every day in the temple, persuading the king and the
people that Herod might undergo a trial before the Sanhedrim for what he
had done. Hyrcanus was so moved by these complaints, that he summoned
Herod to come to his trial for what was charged upon him. Accordingly he
came; but his father had persuaded him to come not like a private man,
but with a guard, for the security of his person; and that when he had
settled the affairs of Galilee in the best manner he could for his own
advantage, he should come to his trial, but still with a body of men
sufficient for his security on his journey, yet so that he should not
come with so great a force as might look like terrifying Hyrcanus, but
still such a one as might not expose him naked and unguarded [to his
enemies.] However, Sextus Cæsar, president of Syria, wrote to Hyrcanus,
and desired him to clear Herod, and dismiss him at his trial, and
threatened him beforehand if he did not do it. Which epistle of his was
the occasion of Hyrcanus delivering Herod from suffering any harm from
the Sanhedrim, for he loved him as his own son. But when Herod stood
before the Sanhedrim, with his body of men about him, he affrighted them
all, and no one of his former accusers durst after that bring any charge
against him, but there was a deep silence, and nobody knew what was to
be done. When affairs stood thus, one whose name was Sameas, 16 a
righteous man he was, and for that reason above all fear, rose up, and
said, "O you that are assessors with me, and O thou that art our king, I
neither have ever myself known such a case, nor do I suppose that any
one of you can name its parallel, that one who is called to take his
trial by us ever stood in such a manner before us; but every one,
whosoever he be, that comes to be tried by this Sanhedrim, presents
himself in a submissive manner, and like one that is in fear of himself,
and that endeavors to move us to compassion, with his hair dishevelled,
and in a black and mourning garment: but this admirable man Herod, who
is accused of murder, and called to answer so heavy an accusation,
stands here clothed in purple, and with the hair of his head finely
trimmed, and with his armed men about him, that if we shall condemn him
by our law, he may slay us, and by overbearing justice may himself
escape death. Yet do not I make this complaint against Herod himself; he
is to be sure more concerned for himself than for the laws; but my
complaint is against yourselves, and your king, who gave him a license
so to do. However, take you notice, that God is great, and that this
very man, whom you are going to absolve and dismiss, for the sake of
Hyrcanus, will one day punish both you and your king himself also." Nor
did Sameas mistake in any part of this prediction; for when Herod had
received the kingdom, he slew all the members of this Sanhedrim, and
Hyrcanus himself also, excepting Sameas, for he had a great honor for
him on account of his righteousness, and because, when the city was
afterward besieged by Herod and Sosius, he persuaded the people to admit
Herod into it; and told them that for their sins they would not be able
to escape his hands:—which things will be related by us in their proper
places.

5. But when Hyrcanus saw that the members of the Sanhedrim were ready to
pronounce the sentence of death upon Herod, he put off the trial to
another day, and sent privately to Herod, and advised him to fly out of
the city, for that by this means he might escape. So he retired to
Damascus, as though he fled from the king; and when he had been with
Sextus Cæsar, and had put his own affairs in a sure posture, he resolved
to do thus; that in case he were again summoned before the Sanhedrim to
take his trial, he would not obey that summons. Hereupon the members of
the Sanhedrim had great indignation at this posture of affairs, and
endeavored to persuade Hyrcanus that all these things were against him;
which state of matters he was not ignorant of; but his temper was so
unmanly, and so foolish, that he was able to do nothing at all. But when
Sextus had made Herod general of the army of Celesyria, for he sold him
that post for money, Hyrcanus was in fear lest Herod should make war
upon him; nor was the effect of what he feared long in coming upon him;
for Herod came and brought an army along with him to fight with
Hyrcanus, as being angry at the trial he had been summoned to undergo
before the Sanhedrim; but his father Antipater, and his brother
[Phasaelus], met him, and hindered him from assaulting Jerusalem. They
also pacified his vehement temper, and persuaded him to do no overt
action, but only to affright them with threatenings, and to proceed no
further against one who had given him the dignity he had: they also
desired him not only to be angry that he was summoned, and obliged to
come to his trial, but to remember withal how he was dismissed without
condemnation, and how he ought to give Hyrcanus thanks for the same; and
that he was not to regard only what was disagreeable to him, and be
unthankful for his deliverance. So they desired him to consider, that
since it is God that turns the scales of war, there is great uncertainty
in the issue of battles, and that therefore he ought of to expect the
victory when he should fight with his king, and him that had supported
him, and bestowed many benefits upon him, and had done nothing itself
very severe to him; for that his accusation, which was derived from evil
counselors, and not from himself, had rather the suspicion of some
severity, than any thing really severe in it. Herod was persuaded by
these arguments, and believed that it was sufficient for his future
hopes to have made a show of his strength before the nation, and done no
more to it—and in this state were the affairs of Judea at this time.