the trampling of their squadrons, and the flight of their arrows, he met with the punishment of his crime, for he and the greatest part of the army which abetted his spoliations, were left lifeless corpses upon the plains of Mesopotamia.

What was the fate of Aristobulus II.

The fate of Aristobulus was most tragical. When the great civil war broke out between Cæsar and Pompey, the former imagined that the Jewish prince might be of essential service to him in the East. He therefore released him from the prison in which he had languished eight years, and commissioned him to proceed with two legions into Judæa, to keep in awe the party of Pompey in Syria. Rome at that time was a theatre of crimes-some of the adherents of Pompey poisoned the unfortunate prince before he could commence his expedition. His son Alexander soon followed him to his grave. With his usual activity he had no sooner heard of the appointment and probable return of his father, than he collected some troops to reinforce him on his arrival; but the eye of Pompey was upon him; his design was soon discovered; Q. Metellus Scipio, who presided in Syria, seized him, carried him to Antioch, and condemned him to suffer the punishment of decapitation.

CHAPTER X.

FROM THE RISE OF THE HERODIAN FAMILY TO THE DEATH OF HEROD THE GREAT.

SECTION I.

THE RISE OF HEROD.

WHAT family rose into eminence in Judæa during the war between Julius Cæsar and Pompey?

THE mighty struggle for empire between Julius Cæsar and Pompey the Great had a most important influence upon the affairs of Judæa, more particularly as it accelerated the rise of a family which superseded the race of the Asmonean princes, and first brought into notice that remarkable man, who proved the last independent sovereign of the Jews. The artful conduct of Antipater in rendering the national commotions and changes which have been recorded in the preceding pages, subservient to the aggrandisement of his family, has already been mentioned. The great civil war which agitated the world, presented facilities of which he availed himself with consummate policy, for the successful prosecution of his ambitious designs. When the battle of Pharsalia had decided the contest, and Cæsar had commenced his hostile operations in Egypt, Antipater, to ingratiate himself with the conqueror, marched with three thousand Jewish auxiliaries to his aid; he engaged the Egyptian Jews to declare for his party, and to give him their effectual assistance; and, in the battle fought in the Delta, his valour retrieved the fortune, and decided the victory, of the day. To recompense these important services, while Hyrcanus was confirmed in his high-priesthood, Cæsar made Antipater

the procurator of Judæa, with the privileges of a citi zen of Rome. Such indeed was the indolence or incapacity of Hyrcanus, that the whole administration and authority of the state, were possessed by the crafty Idumæan. When he had received his appointment from Cæsar, and had rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, he more openly carried on his design for the advancement of his family, making his eldest son Phasael the governor of Jerusalem, and his second son Herod the governor of Galilee.

Describe the rise of Herod.

A. C. 47.

The growing greatness of Herod excited the jealousy of the Jews, and it was not long before they fully demonstrated their apprehensions. A band of robbers had infested the province of Herod. The first public action of this extraordinary man strongly exemplified those qualities which he displayed in every part of his eventful career. He took Hezekiah the captain of the banditti with a number of his followers, and put them to immediate death. The Sanhedrim, alarmed by such indications of promptitude and decision, persuaded Hyrcanus to summon him before their tribunal. He obeyed, he appeared, but he appeared in arms, and with such a retinue. as enabled him to bid defiance to their vengeance. His accusers were terrified and were silent; but Sameas, a distinguished Jew, arraigned him, not so much for putting criminals to death upon his own authority, as for his boldness in confronting the authority of the venerable court; and in the conclusion of his address he justly predicted that "this young man, whom they dared not to condemn, would one day be their king, and would put them all to death, together with Hyrcanus himself, who presided over the assembly." The condemnation of Herod, in spite of his boldness and defiance, appeared inevitable; and to avoid its unpleasant consequences, he hastened to Sextus Cæsar at Damascus, in whose favour he rapidly rose, and by whom he was appointed the governor of Colo-Syria. Herod never forgave an injury. He had no sooner taken possession of his new dignity, than he raised an army, commenced his march to Jerusalem, and had he not been persuaded by his father and brother to return, he

would no doubt have inflicted a bloody revenge upon the Sanhedrim. The death of Julius Cæsar in Rome, and of Sextus Cæsar in Asia, produced no change in the situation of Herod. Brutus and Cassius continued him in his government of Colo-Syria; and already the energy and resolution which belonged to his character attached such importance to his services, that to secure his fidelity, they engaged to constitute him king of Judæa, when their war with Octavius and Antony should be ended.

What Jew became the murderer of Antipater?

Malichus, a Jew of illustrious birth and of considerable influence and power, had long been animated with the most deadly hatred against Antipater and his family. Desirous of increasing his authority, of becoming preeminent in the state, and at the same time capable of the most perfidious and detestable actions, he poisoned Antipater when he was seated at the table of his prince. Malichus protested his innocence, and Herod pretended to believe him. He watched however his opportunity; and it was not long before he procured his assassination. Herod signalized his courage and abilities soon afterwards by the total defeat of Antigonus, the son of Aristobulus, who had collected an army, and threatened the security of Judæa.

To what dignity were the sons of Antipater elevated after the decisive battle of Philippi?

When the battle of Philippi decided the fate of Brutus and Cassius, and sealed the destruction of the liberties of the world, Herod immediately paid his court to Mark Antony; and though a hundred Jews repaired to the Roman triumvir at Antioch, with the most serious accusations against Herod and Phasael his brother, and though the same complaints were repeated in the most forcible manner, the testimony of Hyrcanus in their favour preponderated over all the condemnatory representations of their enemies; Antony made them the Tetrarchs of Judæa, and committed the whole province to their government.

Describe the events which immediately afterwards occurred.

The

The sons of Antipater had no sooner been A. C. 42. invested in their new dignity, than they were compelled to abandon the country of which they were professedly the rulers. A formidable army of Parthians came to reinstate Antigonus in his kingdom, and to drive the usurpers from Jerusalem. The Jews, uniting with the party of Antigonus, he became too strong to be resisted with success. The aged Hyrcanus and Phasael in the hope of procuring an accommodation with the Parthians, consented, with strange infatuation, to proceed to the quarters of Barzaphernes, the commander-in-chief of the barbarian army. consequences of their imprudence might easily have been foreseen. Hyrcanus was mutilated, and was thus rendered incapable of ever more discharging the functions of the sacerdotal office; and Phasael, to avoid the intolerable insults and the brutal treatment of the Parthians, killed himself in a fit of despair. Herod, however, who was too penetrating a politician, and too well acquainted with the character of bis enemies, to be duped by treacherous representations and promises, soon became fully aware of the extent of his danger; fled from Jerusalem with Cypros his mother, Salome his sister, Mariamne his betrothed bride, and Alexandra her mother; and succeeded in reaching the strong fortress of Massada, whose impregnable situation, colossal fortifications, and valiant garrison, bid defiance to all the forces of Antigonus.

In this emergency what was the conduct of Herod ?

Herod, leaving his female relatives with Mariamne at Massada, repaired to Rome; pleaded his own cause before Octavius and Mark Antony; and both those mighty rulers were so desirous of obliging him, that in the short space of seven days, the verdict of the senate was obtained, the kingdom of Judæa was bestowed, and Antigonus was declared an enemy of the commonwealth.

What were the exploits of Herod when he entered upon the possession of his kingdom?

Herod arrived at Ptolemais, collected some troops,