Volume 2

Herod Interrogates John the Baptist
279
instruction and resume their work. They did so, singing
hymns of praise.
Jesus sent some shepherds from Dothain to Machaerus
with directions to John's disciples to induce the people to
disperse, for their rebellion, He said, might render John's
imprisonment more rigorous, or even give occasion for his
death.
Herod and his wife were in Machaerus. I saw that
Herod caused the Baptist to be summoned to his presence
in a grand hall near the prison. There he was seated surrounded
by his guard, many officers, Doctors of the Law,
and numerous Herodians and Sadducees. John was led
through a passage into the hall and placed in the midst of
guards before the large, open doors. I saw Herod's wife
insolently and scornfully sweeping past John as she entered
the hall and took an elevated seat. Her physiognomy
was different from that of most Jewish women. Her whole
face was sharp and angular, even her head was pointed,
and her countenance was in constant motion. She had
developed a very beautiful figure, and in her dress she
was loud and extreme, also very tightly laced. To every
chaste mind she must have been an object of scandal, as
she did everything in her power to attract all eyes upon
her.
Herod began to interrogate John, commanding him to
tell him in plain terms what he thought of Jesus who was
making such disturbance in Galilee. Who was He? Was
He come to deprive him (Herod) of his authority? He
(Herod) had heard indeed that he (John) had formerly announced
Jesus, but he had paid little attention to the fact.
Now, however, John should disclose to him his candid
opinion on the subject, for that Man (Jesus) held
wondrous language on the score of a Kingdom, and uttered
parables in which He called Himself a King's Son,
etc., although He was only the son of a poor carpenter.
Then I heard John in a loud voice, and as if addressing