第 37 节
作者:不受约束      更新:2024-05-25 15:05      字数:9322
  and envy at him; would not give them leave; while yet they were afraid to be seen by Caesar with his accusers。 Besides these; there were present Archelaus's brother Philip; being sent thither beforehand; out of kindness by Varus; for two reasons: the one was this; that he might be assisting to Archelaus; and the other was this; that in case Caesar should make a distribution of what Herod possessed among his posterity; he might obtain some share of it。
  2。 And now; upon the permission that was given the accusers to speak; they; in the first place; went over Herod's breaches of their law; and said that be was not a king; but the most barbarous of all tyrants; and that they had found him to be such by the sufferings they underwent from him; that when a very great number had been slain by him; those that were left had endured such miseries; that they called those that were dead happy men; that he had not only tortured the bodies of his subjects; but entire cities; and had done much harm to the cities of his own country; while he adorned those that belonged to foreigners; and he shed the blood of Jews; in order to do kindnesses to those people that were out of their bounds; that he had filled the nation full of poverty; and of the greatest iniquity; instead of that happiness and those laws which they had anciently enjoyed; that; in short; the Jews had borne more calamities from Herod; in a few years; than had their forefathers during all that interval of time that had passed since they had come out of Babylon; and returned home; in the reign of Xerxes (3) that; however; the nation was come to so low a condition; by being inured to hardships; that they submitted to his successor of their own accord; though he brought them into bitter slavery; that accordingly they readily called Archelaus; though he was the son of so great a tyrant; king; after the decease of his father; and joined with him in mourning for the death of Herod; and in wishing him good success in that his succession; while yet this Archelaus; lest he should be in danger of not being thought the genuine son of Herod; began his reign with the murder of three thousand citizens; as if he had a mind to offer so many bloody sacrifices to God for his government; and to fill the temple with the like number of dead bodies at that festival: that; however; those that were left after so many miseries; had just reason to consider now at last the calamities they had undergone; and to oppose themselves; like soldiers in war; to receive those stripes upon their faces 'but not upon their backs; as hitherto'。 Whereupon they prayed that the Romans would have compassion upon the 'poor' remains of Judea; and not expose what was left of them to such as barbarously tore them to pieces; and that they would join their country to Syria; and administer the government by their own commanders; whereby it would 'soon' be demonstrated that those who are now under the calumny of seditious persons; and lovers of war; know how to bear governors that are set over them; if they be but tolerable ones。 So the Jews concluded their accusation with this request。 Then rose up Nicolaus; and confuted the accusations which were brought against the kings; and himself accused the Jewish nation; as hard to be ruled; and as naturally disobedient to kings。 He also reproached all those kinsmen of Archelaus who had left him; and were gone over to his accusers。  3。 So Caesar; after he had heard both sides; dissolved the assembly for that time; but a few days afterward; he gave the one half of Herod's kingdom to Archelaus; by the name of Ethnarch; and promised to make him king also afterward; if he rendered himself worthy of that dignity。 But as to the other half; he divided it into two tetrarchies; and gave them to two other sons of Herod; the one of them to Philip; and the other to that Antipas who contested the kingdom with Archelaus。 Under this last was Perea and Galilee; with a revenue of two hundred talents; but Batanea; and Trachonitis; and Auranitis; and certain parts of Zeno's house about Jamnia; with a revenue of a hundred talents; were made subject to Philip; while Idumea; and all Judea; and Samaria were parts of the ethnarchy of Archelaus; although Samaria was eased of one quarter of its taxes; out of regard to their not having revolted with the rest of the nation。 He also made subject to him the following cities; viz。 Strato's Tower; and Sebaste; and Joppa; and Jerusalem; but as to the Grecian cities; Gaza; and Gadara; and Hippos; he cut them off from the kingdom; and added them to Syria。 Now the revenue of the country that was given to Archelaus was four hundred talents。 Salome also; besides what the king had left her in his testaments; was now made mistress of Jamnia; and Ashdod; and Phasaelis。 Caesar did moreover bestow upon her the royal palace of Ascalon; by all which she got together a revenue of sixty talents; but he put her house under the ethnarchy of Archelaus。 And for the rest of Herod's offspring; they received what was bequeathed to them in his testaments; but; besides that; Caesar granted to Herod's two virgin daughters five hundred thousand 'drachmae' of silver; and gave them in marriage to the sons of Pheroras: but after this family distribution; he gave between them what had been bequeathed to him by Herod; which was a thousand talents; reserving to himself only some inconsiderable presents; in honor of the deceased。
  CHAPTER 7。
  The History Of The Spurious Alexander。 Archelaus Is Banished And Glaphyra Dies; After What Was To Happen To Both Of Them Had Been Showed Them In Dreams。
  1。 In the meantime; there was a man; who was by birth a Jew; but brought up at Sidon with one of the Roman freed…men; who falsely pretended; on account of the resemblance of their countenances; that he was that Alexander who was slain by Herod。 This man came to Rome; in hopes of not being detected。 He had one who was his assistant; of his own nation; and who knew all the affairs of the kingdom; and instructed him to say how those that were sent to kill him and Aristobulus had pity upon them; and stole them away; by putting bodies that were like theirs in their places。 This man deceived the Jews that were at Crete; and got a great deal of money of them for traveling in splendor; and thence sailed to Melos; where he was thought so certainly genuine; that he got a great deal more money; and prevailed with those that had treated him to sail along with him to Rome。 So he landed at Dicearchia; 'Puteoli;' and got very large presents from the Jews who dwelt there; and was conducted by his father's friends as if he were a king; nay; the resemblance in his countenance procured him so much credit; that those who had seen Alexander; and had known him very well; would take their oaths that he was the very same person。 Accordingly; the whole body of the Jews that were at Rome ran out in crowds to see him; and an innumerable multitude there was which stood in the narrow places through which he was carried; for those of Melos were so far distracted; that they carried him in a sedan; and maintained a royal attendance for him at their own proper charges。
  2。 But Caesar; who knew perfectly well the lineaments of Alexander's face; because he had been accused by Herod before him; discerned the fallacy in his countenance; even before he saw the man。 However; he suffered the agreeable fame that went of him to have some weight with him; and sent Celadus; one who well knew Alexander; and ordered him to bring the young man to him。 But when Caesar saw him; he immediately discerned a difference in his countenance; and when he had discovered that his whole body was of a more robust texture; and like that of a slave; he understood the whole was a contrivance。 But the impudence of what he said greatly provoked him to be angry at him; for when he was asked about Aristobulus; he said that he was also preserved alive; and was left on purpose in Cyprus; for fear of treachery; because it would be harder for plotters to get them both into their power while they were separate。 Then did Caesar take him by himself privately; and said to him; 〃I will give thee thy life; if thou wilt discover who it was that persuaded thee to forge such stories。〃 So he said that he would discover him; and followed Caesar; and pointed to that Jew who abused the resemblance of his face to get money; for that he had received more presents in every city than ever Alexander did when he was alive。 Caesar laughed at the contrivance; and put this spurious Alexander among his rowers; on account of the strength of his body; but ordered him that persuaded him to be put to death。 But for the people of Melos; they had been sufficiently punished for their folly; by the expenses they had been at on his account。
  3。 And now Archelaus took possession of his ethnarchy; and used not the Jews only; but the Samaritans also; barbarously; and this out of his resentment of their old quarrels with him。 Whereupon they both of them sent ambassadors against him to Caesar; and in the ninth year of his government he was banished to Vienna; a city of Gaul; and his effects were put into Caesar's treasury。 But the report goes; that before he was sent for by Caesar; he seemed to see nine ears of corn; full