按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Antipater； as also Dositheus； and that upon the following
occasion。
9。 Costobarus was an Idumean by birth； and one of principal
dignity among them； and one whose ancestors had been priests to
the Koze； whom the Idumeans had ＇formerly＇ esteemed as a god； but
after Hyrcanus had made a change in their political government；
and made them receive the Jewish customs and law； Herod made
Costobarus governor of Idumea and Gaza； and gave him his sister
Salome to wife； and this was upon the slaughter of ＇his uncle＇
Joseph； who had that government before； as we have related
already。 When Costobarus had gotten to be so highly advanced； it
pleased him and was more than he hoped for； and he was more and
more puffed up by his good success； and in a little while he
exceeded all bounds； and did not think fit to obey what Herod； as
their ruler； commanded him； or that the Idumeans should make use
of the Jewish customs； or be subject to them。 He therefore sent
to Cleopatra； and informed her that the Idumeans had been always
under his progenitors； and that for the same reason it was but
just that she should desire that country for him of Antony； for
that he was ready to transfer his friendship to her； and this he
did； not because he was better pleased to be under Cleopatra's
government； but because he thought that； upon the diminution of
Herod's power； it would not be difficult for him to obtain
himself the entire government over the Idumeans； and somewhat
more also； for he raised his hopes still higher； as having no
small pretenses； both by his birth and by these riches which he
had gotten by his constant attention to filthy lucre； and
accordingly it was not a small matter that he aimed at。 So
Cleopatra desired this country of Antony； but failed of her
purpose。 An account of this was brought to Herod； who was
thereupon ready to kill Costobarus； yet； upon the entreaties of
his sister and mother； he forgave him； and vouchsafed to pardon
him entirely； though he still had a suspicion of him afterward
for this his attempt。
10。 But some time afterward； when Salome happened to quarrel with
Costobarus； she sent him a bill of divorce （12） and dissolved her
marriage with him； though this was not according to the Jewish
laws； for with us it is lawful for a husband to do so； but a
wife； if she departs from her husband； cannot of herself be
married to another； unless her former husband put her away。
However； Salome chose to follow not the law of her country； but
the law of her authority； and so renounced her wedlock； and told
her brother Herod； that she left her husband out of her good…will
to him； because she perceived that he； with Antipater； and
Lysimachus； and Dositheus； were raising a sedition against him；
as an evidence whereof； she alleged the case of the sons of
Babas； that they had been by him preserved alive already for the
interval of twelve years； which proved to be true。 But when Herod
thus unexpectedly heard of it； he was greatly surprised at it；
and was the more surprised； because the relation appeared
incredible to him。 As for the fact relating to these sons of
Babas； Herod had formerly taken great pains to bring them to
punishment； as being enemies to his government； but they were now
forgotten by him； on account of the length of time ＇since he had
ordered them to be slain＇。 Now the cause of his ill…will and
hatred to them arose hence； that while Antigonus was king； Herod；
with his army； besieged the city of Jerusalem； where the distress
and miseries which the besieged endured were so pressing； that
the greater number of them invited Herod into the city； and
already placed their hopes on him。 Now the sons of Babas were of
great dignity； and had power among the multitude； and were
faithful to Antigonus； and were always raising calumnies against
Herod； and encouraged the people to preserve the government to
that royal family which held it by inheritance。 So these men
acted thus politically； and； as they thought； for their own
advantage； but when the city was taken； and Herod had gotten the
government into his hands； and Costobarus was appointed to hinder
men from passing out at the gates； and to guard the city； that
those citizens that were guilty； and of the party opposite to the
king； might not get out of it； Costobarus； being sensible that
the sons of Babas were had in respect and honor by the whole
multitude； and supposing that their preservation might be of
great advantage to him in the changes of government afterward； he
set them by themselves； and concealed them in his own farms； and
when the thing was suspected； he assured Herod upon oath that he
really knew nothing of that matter； and so overcame the
suspicions that lay upon him； nay； after that； when the king had
publicly proposed a reward for the discovery； and had put in
practice all sorts of methods for searching out this matter； he
would not confess it； but being persuaded that when he had at
first denied it； if the men were found； he should not escape
unpunished； he was forced to keep them secret； not only out of
his good…will to them； but out of a necessary regard to his own
preservation also。 But when the king knew the thing； by his
sister's information； he sent men to the places where he had the
intimation they were concealed； and ordered both them； and those
that were accused as guilty with them； to be slain； insomuch that
there were now none at all left of the kindred of Hyrcanus； and
the kingdom was entirely in Herod's own power； and there was
nobody remaining of such dignity as could put a stop to what he
did against the Jewish laws。
CHAPTER 8。
How Ten Men Of The Citizens ＇Of Jerusalem＇ Made A Conspiracy
Against Herod； For The Foreign Practices He Had Introduced； Which
Was A Transgression Of The Laws Of Their Country。 Concerning The
Building Of Sebaste And Cesarea； And Other Edifices Of Herod。
1。 On this account it was that Herod revolted from the laws of
his country； and corrupted their ancient constitution； by the
introduction of foreign practices； which constitution yet ought
to have been preserved inviolable； by which means we became
guilty of great wickedness afterward； while those religious
observances which used to lead the multitude to piety were now
neglected； for； in the first place； he appointed solemn games to
be celebrated every fifth year； in honor of Caesar； and built a
theater at Jerusalem； as also a very great amphitheater in the
plain。 Both of them were indeed costly works； but opposite to the
Jewish customs； for we have had no such shows delivered down to
us as fit to be used or exhibited by us； yet did he celebrate
these games every five years； in the most solemn and splendid
manner。 He also made proclamation to the neighboring countries；
and called men together out of every nation。 The wrestlers also；
and the rest of those that strove for the prizes in such games；
were invited out of every land； both by the hopes of the rewards
there to be bestowed； and by the glory of victory to be there
gained。 So the principal persons that were the most eminent in
these sorts of exercises were gotten together； for there were
very great rewards for victory proposed； not only to those that
performed their exercises naked； but to those that played the
musicians also； and were called Thymelici； and he spared no pains
to induce all persons； the most famous for such exercises； to
come to this contest for victory。 He also proposed no small
rewards to those who ran for the prizes in chariot races； when
they were drawn by two； or three； or four pair of horses。 He also
imitated every thing； though never so costly or magnificent； in
other nations； out of an ambition that he might give most public
demonstration of his grandeur。 Inscriptions also of the great
actions of Caesar； and trophies of those nations which he had
conquered in his wars； and all made of the purest gold and
silver； encompassed the theater itself； nor was there any thing
that could be subservient to his design； whether it were precious
garments； or precious stones set in order； which was not also
exposed to sight in these games。 He had also made a great
preparation of wild beasts； and of lions themselves in great
abundance； and of such other beasts as were either of uncommon
strength； or of such a sort as were rarely seen。 These were
prepared either to fight with one another； or that men who were
condemned to death were to fight with them。 And truly foreigners
were greatly surprised and delighted at the vastness of the
expenses here exhibited； and at the great dangers that were here
seen； but to natural Jews； this was no better than a dissolution
of those customs for which they had so great a veneration。 （13）
It appeared also no better than an instance of barefaced impiety；
to throw men to wild beasts； for the affording delight to the
spectators； and it appeared an instance of no less impiety； to
change their own laws for such foreign exercises： but； above all
the rest； the trophies gave most distaste to the Jews； for as
they imagined them to be images； included within the armor that
hung round about them； they were sorely displeased at them；
because it was not the c