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with the accounts of Herod's money； and with Ptolemy； who brought
Herod's seal； he so expected the event； but when Caesar had read
these papers； and Varus's and Sabinus's letters； with the
accounts of the money； and what were the annual incomes of the
kingdom； and understood that Antipas had also sent letters to lay
claim to the kingdom； he summoned his friends together； to know
their opinions； and with them Caius； the son of Agrippa； and of
Julia his daughter； whom he had adopted； and took him； and made
him sit first of all； and desired such as pleased to speak their
minds about the affairs now before them。 Now Antipater； Salome's
son； a very subtle orator； and a bitter enemy to Archelaus； spake
first to this purpose： That it was ridiculous in Archelaus to
plead now to have the kingdom given him； since he had； in
reality； taken already the power over it to himself； before
Caesar had granted it to him； and appealed to those bold actions
of his； in destroying so many at the Jewish festival； and if the
men had acted unjustly； it was but fit the punishing of them
should have been reserved to those that were out of the country；
but had the power to punish them； and not been executed by a man
that； if he pretended to be a king； he did an injury to Caesar；
by usurping that authority before it was determined for him by
Caesar； but if he owned himself to be a private person； his case
was much worse； since he who was putting in for the kingdom could
by no means expect to have that power granted him； of which he
had already deprived Caesar ＇by taking it to himself＇。 He also
touched sharply upon him； and appealed to his changing the
commanders in the army； and his sitting in the royal throne
beforehand； and his determination of law…suits； all done as if he
were no other than a king。 He appealed also to his concessions to
those that petitioned him on a public account； and indeed doing
such things； than which he could devise no greater if he had been
already settled in the kingdom by Caesar。 He also ascribed to him
the releasing of the prisoners that were in the hippodrome； and
many other things； that either had been certainly done by him； or
were believed to be done； and easily might be believed to have
been done； because they were of such a nature as to be usually
done by young men； and by such as； out of a desire of ruling；
seize upon the government too soon。 He also charged him with his
neglect of the funeral mourning for his father； and with having
merry meetings the very night in which he died； and that it was
thence the multitude took the handle of raising a tumult： and if
Archelaus could thus requite his dead father； who had bestowed
such benefits upon him； and bequeathed such great things to him；
by pretending to shed tears for him in the day time； like an
actor on the stage； but every night making mirth for having
gotten the government； he would appear to be the same Archelaus
with regard to Caesar； if he granted him the kingdom； which he
hath been to his father； since he had then dancing and singing；
as though an enemy of his were fallen； and not as though a man
were carried to his funeral； that was so nearly related； and had
been so great a benefactor to him。 But he said that the greatest
crime of all was this； that he came now before Caesar to obtain
the government by his grant； while he had before acted in all
things as he could have acted if Caesar himself； who ruled all；
had fixed him firmly in the government。 And what he most
aggravated in his pleading was the slaughter of those about the
temple； and the impiety of it； as done at the festival； and how
they were slain like sacrifices themselves； some of whom were
foreigners； and others of their own country； till the temple was
full of dead bodies： and all this was done； not by an alien； but
by one who pretended to the lawful title of a king； that he might
complete the wicked tyranny which his nature prompted him to； and
which is hated by all men。 On which account his father never so
much as dreamed of making him his successor in the kingdom； when
he was of a sound mind； because he knew his disposition； and in
his former and more authentic testament； he appointed his
antagonist Antipas to succeed； but that Archelaus was called by
his father to that dignity when he was in a dying condition； both
of body and mind； while Antipas was called when he was ripest in
his judgment； and of such strength of body as made him capable of
managing his own affairs： and if his father had the like notion
of him formerly that he hath now showed； yet hath he given a
sufficient specimen what a king he is likely to be； when he hath
＇in effect＇ deprived Caesar of that power of disposing of the
kingdom； which he justly hath； and hath not abstained from making
a terrible slaughter of his fellow citizens in the temple； while
lie was but a private person。
6。 So when Antipater had made this speech； and had confirmed what
he had said by producing many witnesses from among Archelaus's
own relations； he made an end of his pleading。 Upon which
Nicolaus arose up to plead for Archelaus； and said； 〃That what
had been done at the temple was rather to be attributed to the
mind of those that had been killed； than to the authority of
Archelaus； for that those who were the authors of such things are
not only wicked in the injuries they do of themselves； but in
forcing sober persons to avenge themselves upon them。 Now it is
evident that what these did in way of opposition was done under
pretense； indeed； against Archelaus； but in reality against
Caesar himself； for they； after an injurious manner； attacked and
slew those who were sent by Archelaus； and who came only to put a
stop to their doings。 They had no regard； either to God or to the
festival； whom Antipater yet is not ashamed to patronize； whether
it be out of his indulgence of an enmity to Archelaus； or out of
his hatred of virtue and justice。 For as to those who begin such
tumults； and first set about such unrighteous actions； they are
the men who force those that punish them to betake themselves to
arms even against their will。 So that Antipater in effect
ascribes the rest of what was done to all those who were of
counsel to the accusers； for nothing which is here accused of
injustice has been done but what was derived from them as its
authors； nor are those things evil in themselves； but so
represented only in order to do harm to Archelaus。 Such is these
men's inclination to do an injury to a man that is of their
kindred； their father's benefactor； and familiarity acquainted
with them； and that hath ever lived in friendship with them； for
that； as to this testament； it was made by the king when he was
of a sound mind； and so ought to be of more authority than his
former testament； and that for this reason； because Caesar is
therein left to be the judge and disposer of all therein
contained； and for Caesar； he will not； to be sure； at all
imitate the unjust proceedings of those men； who； during Herod's
whole life； had on all occasions been joint partakers of power
with him； and yet do zealously endeavor to injure his
determination； while they have not themselves had the same regard
to their kinsman ＇which Archelaus had＇。 Caesar will not therefore
disannul the testament of a man whom he had entirely supported；
of his friend and confederate； and that which is committed to him
in trust to ratify； nor will Caesar's virtuous and upright
disposition； which is known and uncontested through all the
habitable world； imitate the wickedness of these men in
condemning a king as a madman； and as having lost his reason；
while he hath bequeathed the succession to a good son of his； and
to one who flies to Caesar's upright determination for refuge。
Nor can Herod at any time have been mistaken in his judgment
about a successor； while he showed so much prudence as to submit
all to Caesar's determination。〃
7。 Now when Nicolaus had laid these things before Caesar； he
ended his plea； whereupon Caesar was so obliging to Archelaus；
that he raised him up when he had cast himself down at his feet；
and said that he well deserved the kingdom； and he soon let them
know that he was so far moved in his favor； that he would not act
otherwise than his father's testament directed； and than was for
the advantage of Archelaus。 However； while he gave this
encouragement to Archelaus to depend on him securely； he made no
full determination about him； and when the assembly was broken
up； he considered by himself whether he should confirm the
kingdom to Archelaus； or whether he should part it among all
Herod's posterity； and this because they all stood in need of
much assistance to support them。
CHAPTER 10。
A Sedition Against Sabinus； And How Varus Brought The Authors Of
It To Punishment。
1。 But before these things could be brought to a settlement；
Malthace； Archelaus's mother； fell into a distemper； and died of
it； and letters came from Varus； the president of Syria； which
informed Caesar of the revolt of the Jews； for after Archlaus was
sailed； the whole nation was in a tumult。 So Varus； since he was
there himself； brought the authors of the disturban