Volume 2

164
Life of Jesus Christ
His persecution in Jerusalem. Pointing toward Upper
Galilee where Jesus was at that instant going about working
miraculous cures, John said: "But He will soon reappear
in those parts. His persecutors will gain nothing over
Him until His mission shall have been fulfilled."
Herod also and his wife came with a guard of soldiers
to John's place of instruction. He had travelled from his
castle of Livias twelve hours, passing near Dibon where
he had to cross two branches of a little river. As far as
Dibon the road was good, but after that it became very
rough and difficult, properly speaking fit only for footpassengers
and beasts of burden. Herod rode upon a long,
narrow chariot on which one could recline or sit sideways.
There were several with him. The wheels proper were
heavy, low, round disks without spokes, though there
were other larger ones and rollers at the back. The road
was so uneven that on one side the chariot rested on the
high wheels, and on the other upon low ones. The journey
was a painful one. Herod's wife, along with her ladies in
waiting, rode upon a similar chariot. They were drawn by
asses preceded and followed by soldiers and courtiers.
Herod had undertaken this journey because John was
now preaching again, and that more boldly and zealously
than before. He was anxious to hear him and learn
whether he said anything personally against himself. His
wife was only waiting for an opportunity to excite him to
extreme measures against John; she hid her crafty designs,
however, under a fair appearance. Herod had still another
motive in making this journey. He knew that the Arabian
king Aretas, father of his repudiated first wife, had come
hither to John and, to escape observation, had mingled
with the disciples. He wanted to see whether Aretas had
any design to stir up the people against himself. His first
wife, a good and very beautiful lady, had returned to her
father who, having heard of John's teaching and of his
opposition to Herod's unlawful desires, had come to