1
[
188]
AND now Herod altered his testament upon the alteration of his mind;
for he appointed Antipas, to whom he had before left the kingdom, to be
tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, and granted the kingdom to Archclaus. He
also gave Gaulonitis, and Trachonitis, and Paneas to Philip, who was his
son, but own brother to Archclaus
2
by the name of a tetrarchy; and bequeathed Jarnnia, and Ashdod, and Phasaelis
to Salome his sister, with five hundred thousand [drachmae] of silver that
was coined. He also made provision for all the rest of his kindred, by
giving them sums of money and annual revenues, and so left them all in
a wealthy condition. He bequeathed also to Caesar ten millions [of drachmae]
of coined money, besides both vessels of gold and silver, and garments
exceeding costly, to Julia, Caesar's wife; and to certain others, five
millions. When he had done these things, he died, the fifth day after he
had caused Antipater to be slain; having reigned, since he had procured
Antigonus to be slain, thirty-four years; but since he had been declared
king by the Romans, thirty-seven.
3
A man he was of great barbarity towards all men equally, and a slave to
his passion; but above the consideration of what was right; yet was he
favored by fortune as much as any man ever was, for from a private man
he became a king; and though he were encompassed with ten thousand dangers,
he got clear of them all, and continued his life till a very old age. But
then, as to the affairs of his family and children, in which indeed, according
to his own opinion, he was also very fortunate, because he was able to
conquer his enemies, yet, in my opinion, he was herein very unfortunate.
[
193]
But then Salome and Alexas, before the king's death was made known,
dismissed those that were shut up in the hippodrome, and told them that
the king ordered them to go away to their own lands, and take care of their
own affairs, which was esteemed by the nation a great benefit. And now
the king's death was made public, when Salome and Alexas gathered the soldiery
together in the amphitheater at Jericho; and the first thing they did was,
they read Herod's letter, written to the soldiery, thanking them for their
fidelity and good-will to him, and exhorting them to afford his son Archelaus,
whom he had appointed for their king, like fidelity and good-will. After
which Ptolemy, who had the king's seal intrusted to him, read the king's
testament, which was to be of force no otherwise than as it should stand
when Caesar had inspected it; so there was presently an acclamation made
to Archelaus, as king; and the soldiers came by bands, and their commanders
with them, and promised the same good-will to him, and readiness to serve
him, which they had exhibited to Herod; and they prayed God to be assistant
to him.
[
196]
After this was over, they prepared for his funeral, it being Archelaus's
care that the procession to his father's sepulcher should be very sumptuous.
Accordingly, he brought out all his ornaments to adorn the pomp of the
funeral. The body was carried upon a golden bier, embroidered with very
precious stones of great variety, and it was covered over with purple,
as well as the body itself; he had a diadem upon his head, and above it
a crown of gold: he also had a scepter in his right hand. About the bier
were his sons and his numerous relations; next to these was the soldiery,
distinguished according to their several countries and denominations; and
they were put into the following order: First of all went his guards, then
the band of Thracians, and after them the Germans; and next the band of
Galatians, every one in their habiliments of war; and behind these marched
the whole army in the same manner as they used to go out to war, and as
they used to be put in array by their muster-masters and centurions; these
were followed by five hundred of his domestics carrying spices. So they
went eight furlongs
4
to Herodium; for there by his own command he was to be buried. And thus
did Herod end his life.
[
200]
Now Archelaus paid him so much respect, as to continue his mourning
till the seventh day; for so many days are appointed for it by the law
of our fathers. And when he had given a treat to the multitude, and left
off his motoring, he went up into the temple; he had also acclamations
and praises given him, which way soever he went, every one striving with
the rest who should appear to use the loudest acclamations. So he ascended
a high elevation made for him, and took his seat, in a throne made of gold,
and spake kindly to the multitude, and declared with what joy he received
their acclamations, and the marks of the good-will they showed to him;
and returned them thanks that they did not remember the injuries his father
had done them to his disadvantage; and promised them he would endeavor
not to be behindhand with them in rewarding their alacrity in his service,
after a suitable manner; but that he should abstain at present from the
name of king, and that he should have the honor of that dignity, if Caesar
should confirm and settle that testament which his father had made; and
that it was on this account, that when the army would have put the diadem
on him at Jericho, he would not accept of that honor, which is usually
so much desired, because it was not yet evident that he who was to be principally
concerned in bestowing it would give it him; although, by his acceptance
of the government, he should not want the ability of rewarding their kindness
to him and that it should be his endeavor, as to all things wherein they
were concerned, to prove in every respect better than his father. Whereupon
the multitude, as it is usual with them, supposed that the first days of
those that enter upon such governments declare the intentions of those
that accept them; and so by how much Archelaus spake the more gently and
civilly to them, by so much did they more highly commend him, and made
application to him for the grant of what they desired. Some made a clamor
that he would ease them of some of their annual payments; but others desired
him to release those that were put into prison by Herod, who were many,
and had been put there at several times; others of them required that he
would take away those taxes which had been severely laid upon what was
publicly sold and bought. So Archelaus contradicted them in nothing, since
he pretended to do all things so as to get the good-will of the multitude
to him, as looking upon that good-will to be a great step towards his preservation
of the government. Hereupon he went and offered sacrifice to God, and then
betook himself to feast with his friends.