From the Taking of Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes to the Death of Herod the Great - Flavius Josephus
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eldest son he overlooked <strong>the</strong> intrigues <strong>of</strong> those who s<strong>to</strong>od in <strong>the</strong> way <strong>of</strong> his<br />
expectations; and <strong>by</strong> reproaching Alexander, because he who was born <strong>of</strong> a<br />
queen, and was married <strong>to</strong> a king's daughter, permitted one that was born <strong>of</strong> a<br />
mean woman <strong>to</strong> lay claim <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> succession, and this when he had Archelaus<br />
<strong>to</strong> support him in <strong>the</strong> most complete manner. Nor was his advice thought <strong>to</strong><br />
be o<strong>the</strong>r than faithful <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> young man, because <strong>of</strong> his pretended friendship<br />
with Archelaus; on which account it was that Alexander lamented <strong>to</strong> him<br />
Antipater's behavior with regard <strong>to</strong> himself, and this without concealing any<br />
thing from him; and how it was no wonder if <strong>Herod</strong>, after he had killed <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
mo<strong>the</strong>r, should deprive <strong>the</strong>m <strong>of</strong> her kingdom. Upon this Eurycles pretended<br />
<strong>to</strong> commiserate his condition, and <strong>to</strong> grieve with him. He also, <strong>by</strong> a bait that<br />
he laid for him, procured Aris<strong>to</strong>bulus <strong>to</strong> say <strong>the</strong> same things. Thus did he<br />
inveigle both <strong>the</strong> bro<strong>the</strong>rs <strong>to</strong> make complaints <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir fa<strong>the</strong>r, and <strong>the</strong>n went<br />
<strong>to</strong> Antipater, and carried <strong>the</strong>se grand secrets <strong>to</strong> him. He also added a fiction<br />
<strong>of</strong> his own, as if his bro<strong>the</strong>rs had laid a plot against him, and were almost<br />
ready <strong>to</strong> come upon him with <strong>the</strong>ir drawn swords. For this intelligence he<br />
received a great sum <strong>of</strong> money, and on that account he commended Antipater<br />
before his fa<strong>the</strong>r, and at length under<strong>to</strong>ok <strong>the</strong> work <strong>of</strong> bringing Alexander<br />
and Aris<strong>to</strong>bulus <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir graves, and accused <strong>the</strong>m before <strong>the</strong>ir fa<strong>the</strong>r. So he<br />
came <strong>to</strong> <strong>Herod</strong>, and <strong>to</strong>ld him that he would save his life, as a requital for <strong>the</strong><br />
favors he had received from him, and would preserve his light [<strong>of</strong> life] <strong>by</strong><br />
way <strong>of</strong> retribution for his kind entertainment; for that a sword had been long<br />
whetted, and Alexander's right hand had been long stretched out against him;<br />
but that he had laid impediments in his way, prevented his speed, and that <strong>by</strong><br />
pretending <strong>to</strong> assist him in his design: how Alexander said that <strong>Herod</strong> was<br />
not contented <strong>to</strong> reign in a kingdom that belonged <strong>to</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs, and <strong>to</strong> make<br />
dilapidations in <strong>the</strong>ir mo<strong>the</strong>r's government after he had killed her; but besides<br />
all this, that he introduced a spurious successor, and proposed <strong>to</strong> give <strong>the</strong><br />
kingdom <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir ances<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>to</strong> that pestilent fellow Antipater: - that he would<br />
now appease <strong>the</strong> ghosts <strong>of</strong> Hyrcanus and Mariamne, <strong>by</strong> taking vengeance on<br />
him; for that it was not fit for him <strong>to</strong> take <strong>the</strong> succession <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> government<br />
from such a fa<strong>the</strong>r without bloodshed: that many things happen every day <strong>to</strong><br />
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