From the Taking of Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes to the Death of Herod the Great - Flavius Josephus
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which children are recommended <strong>to</strong> me <strong>by</strong> that natural commiseration which<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir orphan condition requires; however, I will endeavor, though I have<br />
been a most unfortunate fa<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>to</strong> appear a better grandfa<strong>the</strong>r, and <strong>to</strong> leave<br />
<strong>the</strong>se children such cura<strong>to</strong>rs after myself as are dearest <strong>to</strong> me. I <strong>the</strong>refore<br />
betroth thy daughter, Pheroras, <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> elder <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se brethren, <strong>the</strong> children <strong>of</strong><br />
Alexander, that thou mayst be obliged <strong>to</strong> take care <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m. I also betroth <strong>to</strong><br />
thy son, Antipater, <strong>the</strong> daughter <strong>of</strong> Aris<strong>to</strong>bulus; be thou <strong>the</strong>refore a fa<strong>the</strong>r <strong>to</strong><br />
that orphan; and my son <strong>Herod</strong> [Philip] shall have her sister, whose<br />
grandfa<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> mo<strong>the</strong>r's side, was high priest. And let every one that<br />
loves me be <strong>of</strong> my sentiments in <strong>the</strong>se dispositions, which none that hath an<br />
affection for me will abrogate. And I pray God that he will join <strong>the</strong>se<br />
children <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r in marriage, <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> advantage <strong>of</strong> my kingdom, and <strong>of</strong> my<br />
posterity; and may he look down with eyes more serene upon <strong>the</strong>m than he<br />
looked upon <strong>the</strong>ir fa<strong>the</strong>rs."<br />
3. While he spake <strong>the</strong>se words he wept, and joined <strong>the</strong> children's fight<br />
hands <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r; after which he embraced <strong>the</strong>m every one after an affectionate<br />
manner, and dismissed <strong>the</strong> assembly. Upon this, Antipater was in great<br />
disorder immediately, and lamented publicly at what was done; for he<br />
supposed that this dignity which was conferred on <strong>the</strong>se orphans was for his<br />
own destruction, even in his fa<strong>the</strong>r's lifetime, and that he should run ano<strong>the</strong>r<br />
risk <strong>of</strong> losing <strong>the</strong> government, if Alexander's sons should have both<br />
Archelaus [a king], and Pheroras a tetrarch, <strong>to</strong> support <strong>the</strong>m. He also<br />
considered how he was himself hated <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> nation, and how <strong>the</strong>y pitied<br />
<strong>the</strong>se orphans; how great affection <strong>the</strong> Jews bare <strong>to</strong> those brethren <strong>of</strong> his<br />
when <strong>the</strong>y were alive, and how gladly <strong>the</strong>y remembered <strong>the</strong>m now <strong>the</strong>y had<br />
perished <strong>by</strong> his means. So he resolved <strong>by</strong> all <strong>the</strong> ways possible <strong>to</strong> get <strong>the</strong>se<br />
espousals dissolved.<br />
4. Now he was afraid <strong>of</strong> going subtlely about this matter with his fa<strong>the</strong>r,<br />
who was hard <strong>to</strong> be pleased, and was presently moved upon <strong>the</strong> least<br />
suspicion: so he ventured <strong>to</strong> go <strong>to</strong> him directly, and <strong>to</strong> beg <strong>of</strong> him before his<br />
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