iv. Origin of tiik Dynasty of the Herods. — The dyna.sty of the HerodH rose into prorainenoo during the confusion which resulted from the decay of tho Hostnona-an dynn.ity, tliu transference of Syria and Palestine to the sway of the Romans, and tlie civil wars wliich marked the decay of the Kepublic. Their ance.itor "os Antipater or Antipas, a oan of wealth and capacity whom
84. 87.
41. 44.
60. 63.
70.
100,
Ale.xander Jann^us had made governor of Idiima'a. So much is clear, hut of the origin of the tainily tliere are very contradictory accounts. Nioolaus of Damascus said, according to Jo.<^ephus {Ant. XIV. i. 3), that he was of the stock of the Jews who first came back from Babylon. This ajjpears lo have been a tiction invented for the beneht of llerod. Josephus evidently looked upon him as an Idu- ma-an ; as such he was considered half a Jew. But Pharisaic and perhaps Christian hatred was not satislied with this. He is stated by Justin to liave been a native of Ashkelou {Dial. c. 52), and therefore of the hated Philistine race ; while .Julius Africanus {ap. Eus. ITE 1. vii. 11) improves the story by telling us that some Idumiean robbers had attacked Ashkelon and carried away the father of Antipater, who was the son of one of the temple slaves ; the priest of th'> temple wa.s not able to ransom him, and so ht was brought up as an Iduiiiii'im ; this .story Afrioanus had from the kins- men of the Saviour. Whatever was tlie origin of the family, its ability is undoubted. Antipater's son, who bore the same name as himself, first appears in history on the death of Alexandra, the Maccaba;an queen, in tiK. Her eldest son, HjTcanus ll., a man of a peaceful and quiet dis- position, allowed himself to be set aside by hia younger brother, Aristobulus ll., a man of very dillerent character. Antipater, who had been building up for himself a strong position in Idu- ma-a by allying himself with the Arabs at Petra and the Philistine cities, saw his opportunity ; under Aristobulus he would be nobody, under Hyrcanus he would rule the country. He attached himself to UjTcanus, persuaded him not to submit to his younger brother, and, so far as we know, remained absolutely faithful to him the whole of his life, quite content to have the reality of power, and too wise or too loyal to endanger his position by arousing dynastic hatred. At lirst he attempted to restore Hyrcanus with the assistance of Aretas, king of the iSabatrean Arabs, — (his wife Cypros belonged to one of the noblest families of that country), — but before the war was concluded a new power appeared on the scene. In 66Pompeyhad defeated Mithridates, and was now pursuing nis first march through Asia. On his approach all the rival parties of every state and country attempted to gain him to their side. Aris- tobulu.s, Antipater on behalf of Hyrcanus, and the Pharisaic party who wished to restore the theo- cracy, rivalled one another in bribes, comi)laints, and promises. Pompey ■was, as always, deliberate, and it soon became apparent that Aristobulus was too proud to submit, too faithless to be an ally, and too powerless to restrain the people from rebellion. When the Romans approached Jeru- salem, the party of Hyrcanus delivered the city over without a blow ; the war party with Aris. tobulus retired to the temple fortress. A siege followed, in which the defendeis e.\liihited the fanatical courage which the Jews always have shown when their cause is hopeless, and observed the law so strictly that they refu.scd to destroy their enemies' works on tho Sabbath day. The city was taken by as-sault in the autumn of 03, about the fast of the .Vtoncment, and tlie priests continued to otTer the s,acrihces in the midst of the battle and were cut down at the altar. Pompey violated the Holyof Holies, butdid not plunder the wealth of the temple. Aristobulus and his family were carried captive, and the priest-kinp of tho Jews had to adorn a Roman triumph. The king- dom was reduced in size, tho Greek towns were freed, but the hierarchy was untouched. Hyrcanus was made high priest without tho title of king, and Antipater became the most im|>ortnnt person in the i-ountrj". This was the tirst iostance in
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HKKUD
which Antipater showed the mnrvellous power his family possessed of securing the support of every successive Roman of distinction. Historians generally ascribe it to their capacity for bribing, and this they undoubtedly possessed. Moreover, they had the wisdom to know that bribes must be large. But that was not enough. They were dis- tinguislied by being always faitliful to the Komans, alwayscompotent.and always agreeable. Toattach themselves to each successive lionian who became powerful, to spare nothing in his support, and to add to the services they had rendered an agreeable ]irivat« friendship, was the secret of their succes-s.
The next twenty years gave many proofs of this. Antipater helped Scaurus in an expedition against Arctas, and persuaded .Aretas to submit. He made tlie acquaintance and even the friendship of Mark Antony. He assisted Gabinius in a war with Archelaus with corn and weapons and money, and Gabinius settled the all'airs of Jerusalem as Anti- pater wished (Ant. xiv. vi. 4). When Ca;sar was in Egypt after the battle of Pharsalia, Aritipater saved nim when he was in great danger. Caesar, in return for this and many other services, conlirmed Hyrcanusinthehigh prie.sthood, and made Ant ijiater a Koman citizen. Afterwards ho made Hyrcanus etlinarch, Antipater procurator, and allowed the walls of Jerusalem to be rebuilt, while he conferred pri\'ileges on the Jewish race everywhere. When Ca.ssius, after the death of Caesar, came to Syria to collect money and show how hateful the cause of the Kepublic could be, Antipater and his sons had the wisdom to pro^nde him with all he required, thus saving their cities from slavery. Antipater was murdered in the year B.C. 43 by a certain Malichos. ' He was distinguished,' says Josephus, ' for piety and justice and love of his country.' His el lest son Phasaul had been made governor of Jerusalem, his second son Herod governor of Galilee. The latter had already shown the energy and the brilliant military capacity for which he was afterwards distinguished. When Antony came to Syria after the battle of Philippi, Herod exhibited all the address of his father by securing his friendship ; he and his brother were made tetrarchs, and many members of the i'harisaic party, who persisted in bringing accusa- tions against them, were put to death.