een saw that he was ready to die, and had
no longer any hopes of surviving, she came to him weeping and lamenting,
and bewailed herself and her sons on the desolate condition they should
be left in; and said to him, "To whom dost thou thus leave me and my
children, who are destitute of all other supports, and this when thou
knowest how much ill-will thy nation bears thee?" But he gave her the
following advice: That she need but follow what he would suggest to her,
in order to retain the kingdom securely, with her children: that she
should conceal his death from the soldiers till she should have taken
that place; after this she should go in triumph, as upon a victory,
to Jerusalem, and put some of her authority into the hands of the
Pharisees; for that they would commend her for the honor she had done
them, and would reconcile the nation to her for he told her they had
great authority among the Jews, both to do hurt to such as they hated,
and to bring advantages to those to whom they were friendly disposed;
for that they are then believed best of all by the multitude when they
speak any severe thing against others, though it be only out of envy at
them. And he said that it was by their means that he had incurred
the displeasure of the nation, whom indeed he had injured. "Do thou,
therefore," said he, "when thou art come to Jerusalem, send for the
leading men among them, and show them my body, and with great appearance
of sincerity, give them leave to use it as they themselves please,
whether they will dishonor the dead body by refusing it burial, as
having severely suffered by my means, or whether in their anger they
will offer any other injury to that body. Promise them also that thou
wilt do nothing without them in the affairs of the kingdom. If thou dost
but say this to them, I shall have the honor of a more glorious Funeral
from them than thou couldst have made for me; and when it is in their
power to abuse my dead body, they will do it no injury at all, and thou
wilt rule in safety." [44] So when he had given his wife this advice,
he died, after he had reigned twenty-seven years, and lived fifty years
within one.

CHAPTER 16. How Alexandra By Gaining The Good-Will Of The Pharisees,
Retained The Kingdom Nine Years, And Then, Having Done Many Glorious
Actions Died.

1. So Alexandra, when she had taken the fortress, acted as her husband
had suggested to her, and spake to the Pharisees, and put all things
into