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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. 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.
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, that he went
beyond Jordan, in order to get an army to guard himself against
his treacherous designs; but when Malichus was caught in his
plot, he put upon Antipater's sons by his impudence, for he
thoroughly deluded Phasaelus, who was the guardian of Jerusalem,
and Herod who was intrusted with the weapons of war, and this by
a great many excuses and oaths, and persuaded them to procure his
reconciliation to his father. Thus was he preserved again by
Antipater, who dissuaded Marcus, the then president of Syria,
from his resolution of killing Malichus, on account of his
attempts for innovation.
4. Upon the war between Cassius and Brutus on one side, against
the younger Caesar [Augustus] and Antony on the other, Cassius
and Marcus got together an army out of Syria; and because Herod
was likely to have a great share in providing necessaries, they
then made him procurator of all Syria, and gave him an army of
foot and horse. Cassius premised him also, that after the war was
over, he would make him king of Judea. But it so happened that
the power and hopes of his son became the cause of his perdition;
for as Malichus was afraid of this, he corrupted one of the
king's cup-bearers with money to give a poisoned potion to
Antipater; so he became a sacrifice to Malichus's wickedness, and
died at a feast. He was a man in other respects active in the
management of affairs, and one that recovered the government to
Hyrcanus, and preserved it in his hands.
5. However, Malichus, when lie was suspected ef poisoning
Antipater, and when the multitude was angry with him for it,
denied it, and made the people believe he was not guilty. He also
prepared to make a greater figure, and raised soldiers; for he
did not suppose that Herod would be quiet, who indeed came upon
him with an army presently, in order to revenge his father's
death; but, upon hearing the advice of his brother Phasaelus, not
to punish him in an open manner, lest the multitude should fall
into a sedition, he admitted of Malichus's apology, and professed
that he cleared him of that suspicion; he also made a pompous
funeral for his father.
6. So Herod went to Samaria, which was then in a tumult, and
settled the city in peace; after which at the [Pentecost]
festival, he returned to Jerusalem, having his armed men with
him: hereupon Hyrcanus, at the request of Malichus, who feared
his reproach, forbade them to introduce foreigners to mix
themselves with the people of the country while they were
purifying themselves; but Herod despised the pretense, and him
that gave that command, and came in by night. Upon which Malithus
came to him, and bewailed Antipater; Herod also made him believe
[he admitted of his lamentations as real], although he had much
ado to restrain his passion at him; however, he did himself
bewail the murder of his father in his letters to Cassius, who,
on other accounts, also hated Malichus. Cassius sent him word
back that he should avenge his father's death upon him, and
privately gave order to the tribunes that were under him, that
they should assist Herod in a righteous action he was about.
7. And because, upon the taking of Laodicea by Cassius, the men
of power were gotten together from all quarters, with presents
and crowns in their hands, Herod allotted this time for the
punishment of Malichus. When Malichus suspected that, and was at
Tyre, he resolved to withdraw his son privately from among the
Tyrians, who was a hostage there, while he got ready to fly away
into Judea; the despair he was in of escaping excited him to
think of greater things; for he hoped that he should raise the
nation to a revolt from the Romans, while Cassius was busy about
the war against Antony, and that he should easily depose
Hyrcanus, and get the crown for himself.
8. But fate laughed at the hopes he had; for Herod foresaw what
he was so zealous about, and invited both Hyrcanus and him to
supper; but calling one of the principal servants that stood by
him to him, he sent him out, as though it were to get things
ready for supper, but in reality to give notice beforehand about
the plot that was laid against him; accordingly they called to
mind what orders Cassius had given them, and went out of the city
with their swords in their hands upon the sea-shore, where they
encompassed Malichus round about, and killed him with many
wounds. Upon which Hyrcanus was immediately aftrighted, till he
swooned away and fell down at the surprise he was in; and it was
with difficulty that he was recovered, when he asked who it was
that had killed Malichus. And when one of the tribunes replied
that it was done by the command of Cassius," Then," said he,
"Cassius hath saved both me and my country, by cutting off one
that was laying plots against them both." Whether he spake
according to his own sentiments, or whether his fear was such
that he was obliged to commend the action by saying so, is
uncertain; however, by this method Herod inflicted punishment
upon Malichus.
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