第 34 节
作者:不受约束      更新:2024-05-25 15:05      字数:9322
  funeral feast to the multitude; (which custom is the occasion of poverty to many of the Jews; because they are forced to feast the multitude; for if any one omits it; he is not esteemed a holy person;) he put on a white garment; and went up to the temple; where the people accosted him with various acclamations。 He also spake kindly to the multitude from an elevated seat and a throne of gold; and returned them thanks for the zeal they had shown about his father's funeral; and the submission they had made to him; as if he were already settled in the kingdom; but he told them withal; that he would not at present take upon him either the authority of a king; or the names thereto belonging; until Caesar; who is made lord of this whole affair by the testament; confirm the succession; for that when the soldiers would have set the diadem on his head at Jericho; he would not accept of it; but that he would make abundant requitals; not to the soldiers only; but to the people; for their alacrity and good…will to him; when the superior lords 'the Romans' should have given him a complete title to the kingdom; for that it should be his study to appear in all things better than his father。
  2。 Upon this the multitude were pleased; and presently made a trial of what he intended; by asking great things of him; for some made a clamor that he would ease them in their taxes; others; that he would take off the duties upon commodities; and some; that he would loose those that were in prison; in all which cases he answered readily to their satisfaction; in order to get the good…will of the multitude; after which he offered 'the proper' sacrifices; and feasted with his friends。 And here it was that a great many of those that desired innovations came in crowds towards the evening; and began then to mourn on their own account; when the public mourning for the king was over。 These lamented those that were put to death by Herod; because they had cut down the golden eagle that had been over the gate of the temple。 Nor was this mourning of a private nature; but the lamentations were very great; the mourning solemn; and the weeping such as was loudly heard all over the city; as being for those men who had perished for the laws of their country; and for the temple。 They cried out that a punishment ought to be inflicted for these men upon those that were honored by Herod; and that; in the first place; the man whom he had made high priest should be deprived; and that it was fit to choose a person of greater piety and purity than he was。
  3。 At these clamors Archelaus was provoked; but restrained himself from taking vengeance on the authors; on account of the haste he was in of going to Rome; as fearing lest; upon his making war on the multitude; such an action might detain him at home。 Accordingly; he made trial to quiet the innovators by persuasion; rather than by force; and sent his general in a private way to them; and by him exhorted them to be quiet。 But the seditious threw stones at him; and drove him away; as he came into the temple; and before he could say any thing to them。 The like treatment they showed to others; who came to them after him; many of which were sent by Archelaus; in order to reduce them to sobriety; and these answered still on all occasions after a passionate manner; and it openly appeared that they would not be quiet; if their numbers were but considerable。 And indeed; at the feast of unleavened bread; which was now at hand; and is by the Jews called the Passover; and used to he celebrated with a great number of sacrifices; an innumerable multitude of the people came out of the country to worship; some of these stood in the temple bewailing the Rabbins 'that had been put to death'; and procured their sustenance by begging; in order to support their sedition。 At this Archclaus was aftrighted; and privately sent a tribune; with his cohort of soldiers; upon them; before the disease should spread over the whole multitude; and gave orders that they should constrain those that began the tumult; by force; to be quiet。 At these the whole multitude were irritated; and threw stones at many of the soldiers; and killed them; but the tribune fled away wounded; and had much ado to escape so。 After which they betook themselves to their sacrifices; as if they had done no mischief; nor did it appear to Archelaus that the multitude could be restrained without bloodshed; so he sent his whole army upon them; the footmen in great multitudes; by the way of the city; and the horsemen by the way of the plain; who; falling upon them on the sudden; as they were offering their sacrifices; destroyed about three thousand of them; but the rest of the multitude were dispersed upon the adjoining mountains: these were followed by Archelaus's heralds; who commanded every one to retire to their own homes; whither they all went; and left the festival。
  CHAPTER 2。
  Archelaus Goes To Rome With A Great Number Of His Kindred。 He Is There Accused Before Caesar By Antipater; But Is Superior To His Accusers In Judgment By The Means Of That Defense Which Nicolaus Made For Him。
  1。 Archelaus went down now to the sea…side; with his mother and his friends; Poplas; and Ptolemy; and Nicolaus; and left behind him Philip; to be his steward in the palace; and to take care of his domestic affairs。 Salome went also along with him with her sons; as did also the king's brethren and sons…in…law。 These; in appearance; went to give him all the assistance they were able; in order to secure his succession; but in reality to accuse him for his breach of the laws by what he had done at the temple。  2。 But as they were come to Cesarea; Sabinus; the procurator of Syria; met them; he was going up to Judea; to secure Herod's effects; but Varus; 'president of Syria;' who was come thither; restrained him from going any farther。 This Varus Archelaus had sent for; by the earnest entreaty of Ptolemy。 At this time; indeed; Sabinus; to gratify Varus; neither went to the citadels; nor did he shut up the treasuries where his father's money was laid up; but promised that he would lie still; until Caesar should have taken cognizance of the affair。 So he abode at Cesarea; but as soon as those that were his hinderance were gone; when Varus was gone to Antioch; and Archclaus was sailed to Rome; he immediately went on to Jerusalem; and seized upon the palace。 And when he had called for the governors of the citadels; and the stewards 'of the king's private affairs'; he tried to sift out the accounts of the money; and to take possession of the citadels。 But the governors of those citadels were not unmindful of the commands laid upon them by Archelaus; and continued to guard them; and said the custody of them rather belonged to Caesar than to Archelaus。
  3。 In the mean time; Antipas went also to Rome; to strive for the kingdom; and to insist that the former testament; wherein he was named to be king; was valid before the latter testament。 Salome had also promised to assist him; as had many of Archelaus's kindred; who sailed along with Archelaus himself also。 He also carried along with him his mother; and Ptolemy; the brother of Nicolaus; who seemed one of great weight; on account of the great trust Herod put in him; he having been one of his most honored friends。 However; Antipas depended chiefly upon Ireneus; the orator; upon whose authority he had rejected such as advised him to yield to Archelaus; because he was his elder brother; and because the second testament gave the kingdom to him。 The inclinations also of all Archelaus's kindred; who hated him; were removed to Antipas; when they came to Rome; although in the first place every one rather desired to live under their own laws 'without a king'; and to be under a Roman governor; but if they should fail in that point; these desired that Antipas might be their king。
  4。 Sabinus did also afford these his assistance to the same purpose by letters he sent; wherein he accused Archelaus before Caesar; and highly commended Antipas。 Salome also; and those with her; put the crimes which they accused Archelaus of in order; and put them into Caesar's hands; and after they had done that; Archelaus wrote down the reasons of his claim; and; by Ptolemy; sent in his father's ring; and his father's accounts。 And when Caesar had maturely weighed by himself what both had to allege for themselves; as also had considered of the great burden of the kingdom; and largeness of the revenues; and withal the number of the children Herod had left behind him; and had moreover read the letters he had received from Varus and Sabinus on this occasion; he assembled the principal persons among the Romans together; (in which assembly Caius; the son of Agrippa; and his daughter Julias; but by himself adopted for his own son; sat in the first seat;) and gave the pleaders leave to speak。
  5。 Then stood up Salome's son; Antipater; (who of all Archelaus's antagonists was the shrewdest pleader;) and accused him in the following speech: That Archelaus did in words contend for the kingdom; but that in deeds he had long exercised royal authority; and so did but insult Caesar in desiring to be now heard on that account; since he had not staid for his determination about the succession; and since he had s