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[457]
Now when Herod was come to Jerusalem, he gathered the people together,
and presented to them his three sons, and gave them an apologetic account
of his absence, and thanked God greatly, and thanked Caesar greatly also,
for settling his house when it was under disturbances, and had procured
concord among his sons, which was of greater consequence than the kingdom
itself, -" and which I will render still more firm; for Caesar hath
put into my power to dispose of the government, and to appoint my successor.
Accordingly, in way of requital for his kindness, and in order to provide
for mine own advantage, I do declare that these three sons of mine shall
be kings. And, in the first place, I pray for the approbation of God to
what I am about; and, in the next place, I desire your approbation also.
The age of one of them, and the nobility of the other two, shall procure
them the succession. Nay, indeed, my kingdom is so large that it may be
sufficient for more kings. Now do you keep those in their places whom Caesar
hath joined, and their father hath appointed; and do not you pay undue
or unequal respects to them, but to every one according to the prerogative
of their births; for he that pays such respects unduly, will thereby not
make him that is honored beyond what his age requires so joyful, as he
will make him that is dishonored sorrowful. As for the kindred and friends
that are to converse with them, I will appoint them to each of them, and
will so constitute them, that they may be securities for their concord;
as well knowing that the ill tempers of those with whom they converse will
produce quarrels and contentions among them; but that if these with whom
they converse be of good tempers, they will preserve their natural affections
for one another. But still I desire that not these only, but all the captains
of my army, have for the present their hopes placed on me alone; for I
do not give away my kingdom to these my sons, but give them royal honors
only; whereby it will come to pass that they will enjoy the sweet parts
of government as rulers themselves, but that the burden of administration
will rest upon myself whether I will or not. And let every one consider
what age I am of, how I have conducted my life, and what piety I have exercised;
for my age is not so great that men may soon expect the end of my life;
nor have I indulged such a luxurious way of living as cuts men off when
they are young; and we have been so religious towards God, that we [have
reason to hope we] may arrive at a very great age. But for such as cultivate
a friendship with my sons, so as to aim at my destruction, they shall be
punished by me on their account. I am not one who envy my own children,
and therefore forbid men to pay them great respect; but I know that such
[extravagant] respects are the way to make them insolent. And if every
one that comes near them does but revolve this in his mind, that if he
prove a good man, he shall receive a reward from me, but that if he prove
seditious, his ill-intended complaisance shall get him nothing from him
to whom it is shown, I suppose they will all be of my side, that is, of
my sons' side; for it will be for their advantage that I reign, and that
I be at concord with them. But do you, O my good children, reflect upon
the holiness of nature itself, by whose means natural affection is preserved,
even among wild beasts; in the next place, reflect upon Caesar, who hath
made this reconciliation among us; and in the third place, reflect upon
me, who entreat you to do what I have power to command you, - continue
brethren. I give you royal garments, and royal honors; and I pray to God
to preserve what I have determined, in case you be at concord one with
another." When the king had thus spoken, and had saluted every one
of his sons after an obliging manner, he dismissed the multitude; some
of which gave their assent to what he had said, and wished it might take
effect accordingly; but for those who wished for a change of affairs, they
pretended they did not so much as hear what he said.
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