y birth, and one of principal dignity
among them, and one whose ancestors had been priests to the Koze, whom
the Idumeans had [formerly] esteemed as a god; but after Hyrcanus had
made a change in their political government, and made them receive the
Jewish customs and law, Herod made Costobarus governor of Idumea and
Gaza, and gave him his sister Salome to wife; and this was upon the
slaughter of [his uncle] Joseph, who had that government before, as
we have related already. When Costobarus had gotten to be so highly
advanced, it pleased him and was more than he hoped for, and he was
more and more puffed up by his good success, and in a little while he
exceeded all bounds, and did not think fit to obey what Herod, as their
ruler, commanded him, or that the Idumeans should make use of the Jewish
customs, or be subject to them. He therefore sent to Cleopatra, and
informed her that the Idumeans had been always under his progenitors,
and that for the same reason it was but just that she should desire
that country for him of Antony, for that he was ready to transfer his
friendship to her; and this he did, not because he was better pleased to
be under Cleopatra's government, but because he thought that, upon the
diminution of Herod's power, it would not be difficult for him to obtain
himself the entire government over the Idumeans, and somewhat more also;
for he raised his hopes still higher, as having no small pretenses, both
by his birth and by these riches which he had gotten by his constant
attention to filthy lucre; and accordingly it was not a small matter
that he aimed at. So Cleopatra desired this country of Antony, but
failed of her purpose. An account of this was brought to Herod, who
was thereupon ready to kill Costobarus; yet, upon the entreaties of
his sister and mother, he forgave him, and vouchsafed to pardon him
entirely; though he still had a suspicion of him afterward for this his
attempt.

10. But some time afterward, when Salome happened to quarrel with
Costobarus, she sent him a bill of divorce [12] and dissolved her
marriage with him, though this was not according to the Jewish laws; for
with us it is lawful for a husband to do so; but a wife; if she departs
from her husband, cannot of herself be married to another, unless her
former husband put her away. However, Salome chose to follow not the
law of her country, but the law of her authority, and so renounced her
wedlock; and told her brother Herod, tha