第 10 节
作者:不受约束      更新:2024-05-25 15:05      字数:9322
  s to be a tyrant instead of a king; and both the Romans and Caesar to be their enemies; instead of rulers; for that they would not suffer him to be removed from the government; whom they had made their governor。 And; at the same time that he said this; he settled the affairs of the country by himself; because he saw that Hyrcanus was inactive; and not fit to manage the affairs of the kingdom。 So he constituted his eldest son; Phasaelus; governor of Jerusalem; and of the parts about it; he also sent his next son; Herod; who was very young; (13) with equal authority into Galilee。
  5。 Now Herod was an active man; and soon found proper materials for his active spirit to work upon。 As therefore he found that Hezekias; the head of the robbers; ran over the neighboring parts of Syria with a great band of men; he caught him and slew him; and many more of the robbers with him; which exploit was chiefly grateful to the Syrians; insomuch that hymns were sung in Herod's commendation; both in the villages and in the cities; as having procured their quietness; and having preserved what they possessed to them; on which occasion he became acquainted with Sextus Caesar; a kinsman of the great Caesar; and president of Syria。 A just emulation of his glorious actions excited Phasaelus also to imitate him。 Accordingly; he procured the good…will of the inhabitants of Jerusalem; by his own management of the city affairs; and did not abuse his power in any disagreeable manner; whence it came to pass that the nation paid Antipater the respects that were due only to a king; and the honors they all yielded him were equal to the honors due to an absolute lord; yet did he not abate any part of that good…will or fidelity which he owed to Hyrcanus。
  6。 However; he found it impossible to escape envy in such his prosperity; for the glory of these young men affected even Hyrcanus himself already privately; though he said nothing of it to any body; but what he principally was grieved at was the great actions of Herod; and that so many messengers came one before another; and informed him of the great reputation he got in all his undertakings。 There were also many people in the royal palace itself who inflamed his envy at him; those; I mean; who were obstructed in their designs by the prudence either of the young men; or of Antipater。 These men said; that by committing the public affairs to the management of Antipater and of his sons; he sat down with nothing but the bare name of a king; without any of its authority; and they asked him how long he would so far mistake himself; as to breed up kings against his own interest; for that they did not now conceal their government of affairs any longer; but were plainly lords of the nation; and had thrust him out of his authority; that this was the case when Herod slew so many men without his giving him any command to do it; either by word of mouth; or by his letter; and this in contradiction to the law of the Jews; who therefore; in case he be not a king; but a private man; still ought to come to his trial; and answer it to him; and to the laws of his country; which do not permit any one to be killed till he hath been condemned in judgment。
  7。 Now Hyrcanus was; by degrees; inflamed with these discourses; and at length could bear no longer; but he summoned Herod to take his trial。 Accordingly; by his father's advice; and as soon as the affairs of Galilee would give him leave; he came up to 'Jerusalem'; when he had first placed garrisons in Galilee; however; he came with a sufficient body of soldiers; so many indeed that he might not appear to have with him an army able to overthrow Hyrcanus's government; nor yet so few as to expose him to the insults of those that envied him。 However; Sextus Caesar was in fear for the young man; lest he should be taken by his enemies; and brought to punishment; so he sent some to denounce expressly to Hyrcanus that he should acquit Herod of the capital charge against him; who acquitted him accordingly; as being otherwise inclined also so to do; for he loved Herod。
  8。 But Herod; supposing that he had escaped punishment without the consent of the king; retired to Sextus; to Damascus; and got every thing ready; in order not to obey him if he should summon him again; whereupon those that were evil…disposed irritated Hyrcanus; and told him that Herod was gone away in anger; and was prepared to make war upon him; and as the king believed what they said; he knew not what to do; since he saw his antagonist was stronger than he was himself。 And now; since Herod was made general of Coelesyria and Samaria by Sextus Caesar; he was formidable; not only from the good…will which the nation bore him; but by the power he himself had; insomuch that Hyrcanus fell into the utmost degree of terror; and expected he would presently march against him with his army。
  9。 Nor was he mistaken in the conjecture he made; for Herod got his army together; out of the anger he bare him for his threatening him with the accusation in a public court; and led it to Jerusalem; in order to throw Hyrcanus down from his kingdom; and this he had soon done; unless his father and brother had gone out together and broken the force of his fury; and this by exhorting him to carry his revenge no further than to threatening and affrighting; but to spare the king; under whom he had been advanced to such a degree of power; and that he ought not to be so much provoked at his being tried; as to forget to be thankful that he was acquitted; nor so long to think upon what was of a melancholy nature; as to be ungrateful for his deliverance; and if we ought to reckon that God is the arbitrator of success in war; an unjust cause is of more disadvantage than an army can be of advantage; and that therefore he ought not to be entirely confident of success in a case where he is to fight against his king; his supporter; and one that had often been his benefactor; and that had never been severe to him; any otherwise than as he had hearkened to evil counselors; and this no further than by bringing a shadow of injustice upon him。 So Herod was prevailed upon by these arguments; and supposed that what he had already done was sufficient for his future hopes; and that he had enough shown his power to the nation。
  10。 In the mean time; there was a disturbance among the Romans about Apamia; and a civil war occasioned by the treacherous slaughter of Sextus Caesar; by Cecilius Bassus; which he perpetrated out of his good…will to Pompey; he also took the authority over his forces; but as the rest of Caesar's commanders attacked Bassus with their whole army; in order to punish him for the murder of Caesar; Antipater also sent them assistance by his sons; both on account of him that was murdered; and on account of that Caesar who was still alive; both of which were their friends; and as this war grew to be of a considerable length; Marcus came out of Italy as successor to Sextus。
  CHAPTER 11。
  Herod Is Made Procurator Of All Syria; Malichus Is Afraid Of Him; And Takes Antipater Off By Poison; Whereupon The Tribunes Of The Soldiers Are Prevailed With To Kill Him。
  1。 There; was at this time a mighty war raised among the Romans upon the sudden and treacherous slaughter of Caesar by Cassius and Brutus; after he had held the government for three years and seven months。 (14) Upon this murder there were very great agitations; and the great men were mightily at difference one with another; and every one betook himself to that party where they had the greatest hopes of their own; of advancing themselves。 Accordingly; Cassius came into Syria; in order to receive the forces that were at Apamia; where he procured a reconciliation between Bassus and Marcus; and the legions which were at difference with him; so he raised the siege of Apamia; and took upon him the command of the army; and went about exacting tribute of the cities; and demanding their money to such a degree as they were not able to bear。
  2。 So he gave command that the Jews should bring in seven hundred talents; whereupon Antipater; out of his dread of Cassius's threats; parted the raising of this sum among his sons; and among others of his acquaintance; and to be done immediately; and among them he required one Malichus; who was at enmity with him; to do his part also; which necessity forced him to do。 Now Herod; in the first place; mitigated the passion of Cassius; by bringing his share out of Galilee; which was a hundred talents; on which account he was in the highest favor with him; and when he reproached the rest for being tardy; he was angry at the cities themselves; so he made slaves of Gophna and Emmaus; and two others of less note; nay; he proceeded as if he would kill Malichus; because he had not made greater haste in exacting his tribute; but Antipater prevented the ruin of this man; and of the other cities; and got into Cassius's favor by bringing in a hundred talents immediately。 (15)
  3。 However; when Cassius was gone Malichus forgot the kindness that Antipater had done him; and laid frequent plots against him that had saved him; as making haste to get him out of the way; who was an obstacle to his wicked practices; but Antipater was so much afraid of the power and cunning of the man; th