From the Taking of Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes to the Death of Herod the Great - Flavius Josephus

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Chapter 3 Aristobulus Was the First That Put a Diadem About his Head 1. For after the death of their father, the elder of them, Aristobulus, changed the government into a kingdom, and was the first that put a diadem upon his head, four hundred seventy and one years and three months after our people came down into this country, when they were set free from the Babylonian slavery. Now, of his brethren, he appeared to have an affection for Antigonus, who was next to him, and made him his equal; but for the rest, he bound them, and put them in prison. He also put his mother in bonds, for her contesting the government with him; for John had left her to be the governess of public affairs. He also proceeded to that degree of barbarity as to cause her to be pined to death in prison. 2. But vengeance circumvented him in the affair of his brother Antigonus, whom he loved, and whom he made his partner in the kingdom; for he slew him by the means of the calumnies which ill men about the palace contrived against him. At first, indeed, Aristobulus would not believe their reports, partly out of the affection he had for his brother, and partly because he thought that a great part of these tales were owing to the envy of their relaters: however, as Antigonus came once in a splendid manner from the army to that festival, wherein our ancient custom is to make tabernacles for God, it happened, in those days, that Aristobulus was sick, and that, at the conclusion of the feast, Antigonus came up to it, with his armed men about him; and this when he was adorned in the finest manner possible; and that, in a great measure, to pray to God on the behalf of his brother. Now at this very time it was that these ill men came to the king, and told him in what a pompous manner the armed men came, and with what insolence Antigonus marched, and that such his insolence was too great for a private person, and 9
that accordingly he was come with a great band of men to kill him; for that he could not endure this bare enjoyment of royal honor, when it was in his power to take the kingdom himself. 3. Now Aristobulus, by degrees, and unwillingly, gave credit to these accusations; and accordingly he took care not to discover his suspicion openly, though he provided to be secure against any accidents; so he placed the guards of his body in a certain dark subterranean passage; for he lay sick in a place called formerly the Citadel, though afterwards its name was changed to Antonia; and he gave orders that if Antigonus came unarmed, they should let him alone; but if he came to him in his armor, they should kill him. He also sent some to let him know beforehand that he should come unarmed. But, upon this occasion, the queen very cunningly contrived the matter with those that plotted his ruin, for she persuaded those that were sent to conceal the king's message; but to tell Antigonus how his brother had heard he had got a very the suit of armor made with fine martial ornaments, in Galilee; and because his present sickness hindered him from coming and seeing all that finery, he very much desired to see him now in his armor; because, said he, in a little time thou art going away from me. 4. As soon as Antigonus heard this, the good temper of his brother not allowing him to suspect any harm from him, he came along with his armor on, to show it to his brother; but when he was going along that dark passage which w{s called Strato's Tower, he was slain by the body guards, and became an eminent instance how calumny destroys all good-will and natural affection, and how none of our good affections are strong enough to resist envy perpetually. 5. And truly any one would be surprised at Judas upon this occasion. He was of the sect of the Essens, and had never failed or deceived men in his predictions before. Now this man saw Antigonus as he was passing along by the temple, and cried out to his acquaintance, (they were not a few who 10
Page 1 and 2: BOOK 1 FROM THE TAKING OF JERUSALEM
Page 3 and 4: natural barbarity, indulged all sor
Page 5 and 6: Footnote: 1. I see little differenc
Page 7 and 8: of the empire [of Seleucus]. 3. Thi
Page 9: again within the wall; and when the
Page 13 and 14: a brother slain! How long shall I m
Page 15 and 16: country, together with the Gileadir
Page 17 and 18: marching against the Arabians; so h
Page 19 and 20: Chapter 5 The Time the Pharisees We
Page 21 and 22: as the other cities, Sebaste and Ag
Page 23 and 24: Hyrcanus was treated unjustly, by b
Page 25 and 26: low. However, Pompey commanded him
Page 27 and 28: Chapter 7 Pompey Took the Temple by
Page 29 and 30: with their Divine worship, and were
Page 31 and 32: Chapter 8 Alexander Makes an Expedi
Page 33 and 34: aristocracy. He also parted the who
Page 35 and 36: Judea; and, upon his taking Tariche
Page 37 and 38: had lived, to assist him, and came
Page 39 and 40: Chapter 10 Caesar Makes Antipater P
Page 41 and 42: sung in Herod's commendation, both
Page 43 and 44: this by exhorting him to carry his
Page 45 and 46: Chapter 11 Herod Is Made Procurator
Page 47 and 48: father's death; but, upon hearing t
Page 49 and 50: Chapter 12 Antonius Makes Herod and
Page 51 and 52: took fifteen of them, and put them
Page 53 and 54: Herod, in his rage for killing them
Page 55 and 56: egged of him that he would not go o
Page 57 and 58: 11. This was the death of Phasaelus
Page 59 and 60: eturned back, and went for Egypt. N
Page 61 and 62:
Chapter 15 Antigonus Besieges Those
Page 63 and 64:
guards that were there shot their a
Page 65 and 66:
Chapter 16 Herod Goes to Antony as
Page 67 and 68:
father of seven children, whose chi
Page 69 and 70:
Josephus, has coins still remaining
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ut Sosius sent two legions before h
Page 73 and 74:
ear this blow, so that when the mul
Page 75 and 76:
Chapter 18 Herod and Sosius Took Je
Page 77 and 78:
their commanders, and with a most r
Page 79 and 80:
Chapter 19 Antony Sent Herod to Fig
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accidental misfortunes, than that t
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y the Jews, and a great many by the
Page 85 and 86:
Chapter 20 Herod Is Confirmed in hi
Page 87 and 88:
addition to his kingdom, by giving
Page 89 and 90:
Chapter 21 The Temple That Were Bui
Page 91 and 92:
6. Now although the place where he
Page 93 and 94:
up the remaining space with the mos
Page 95 and 96:
failed, he was not himself the occa
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Chapter 22 The Murder of Aristobulu
Page 99 and 100:
4. When therefore he was about to t
Page 101 and 102:
Chapter 23 Calumnies Against the So
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and was much pleased at their recon
Page 105 and 106:
B. XV. p. 671. Stephanus of Byzanti
Page 107 and 108:
or said. Thus did he act a part ver
Page 109 and 110:
4. Now upon these accounts, though
Page 111 and 112:
time would avenge himself on his en
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Chapter 25 Reconciliation Between A
Page 115 and 116:
4. With this advice Pheroras compli
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Chapter 26 How Eurycles Calumniated
Page 119 and 120:
provoke him so to do, insomuch that
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clearing those miserable creatures;
Page 123 and 124:
together. The presidents sat first,
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should be no longer tortured]. When
Page 127 and 128:
which children are recommended to m
Page 129 and 130:
Alexas, a friend of his, and that o
Page 131 and 132:
and particularly of the affronts sh
Page 133 and 134:
Footnotes: 1. These daughters of He
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accordingly by agreement they went
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then it was that he called me to hi
Page 139 and 140:
furniture, he might conceal the mon
Page 141 and 142:
any discovery had been made, perhap
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which I showed him, he made use of
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thee! Yet was I absent, father, on
Page 147 and 148:
Salome contained, a suspicion came
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the mean-spirited, and those that w
Page 151 and 152:
will weep at it, whether they will
Page 153:
domestic servants and freed-men fol
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From the Taking of Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes to the Death of Herod the Great - Flavius Josephus

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