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[356]
SO Caesar was now reconciled to Herod, and wrote thus to him: That
he was grieved for him on account of his sons; and that in case they had
been guilty of any profane and insolent crimes against him, it would behoove
him to punish them as parricides, for which he gave him power accordingly;
but if they had only contrived to fly away, he would have him give them
an admonition, and not proceed to extremity with them. He also advised
him to get an assembly together, and to appoint some place near Berytus,
1
which is a city belonging to the Romans, and to take the presidents of
Syria, and Archelaus king of Cappadocia, and as many more as he thought
to be illustrious for their friendship to him, and the dignities they were
in, and determine what should be done by their approbation. These were
the directions that Caesar gave him. Accordingly Herod, when the letter
was brought to him, was immediately very glad of Caesar's reconciliation
to him, and very glad also that he had a complete authority given him over
his sons. And it strangely came about, that whereas before, in his adversity,
though he had indeed showed himself severe, yet had he not been very rash
nor hasty in procuring the destruction of his sons; he now, in his prosperity,
took advantage of this change for the better, and the freedom he now had,
to exercise his hatred against them after an unheard of manner; he therefore
sent and called as many as he thought fit to this assembly, excepting Archclaus;
for as for him, he either hated him, so that he would not invite him, or
he thought he would be an obstacle to his designs.
1 What Josephus relates Augustus to have here said, that Berytus was a city belonging to the Romans, is confirmed by Spanheim's notes here: "It was," says he, "a colony placed there by Augustus. Whence Ulpian, De Gens. bel. L. T. XV. The colony of Berytus was rendered famous by the benefits of Caesar; and thence it is that, among the coins of Augustus, we meet with some having this inscription: The happy colony of Augustus at Berytua"
Flavius Josephus. The Works of Flavius Josephus. Translated by. William Whiston, A.M. Auburn and Buffalo. John E. Beardsley. 1895.
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