these men had not abstained from
affronting him, even in his lifetime, but that in the very day time, and
in the sight of the multitude, they had abused him to that degree, as to
fall upon what he had dedicated, and in that way of abuse had pulled it
down to the ground. They pretended, indeed, that they did it to affront
him; but if any one consider the thing truly, they will find that they
were guilty of sacrilege against God therein.

4. But the people, on account of Herod's barbarous temper, and for fear
he should be so cruel and to inflict punishment on them, said what was
done was done without their approbation, and that it seemed to them that
the actors might well be punished for what they had done. But as
for Herod, he dealt more mildly with others [of the assembly] but he
deprived Matthias of the high priesthood, as in part an occasion of this
action, and made Joazar, who was Matthias's wife's brother, high
priest in his stead. Now it happened, that during the time of the high
priesthood of this Matthias, there was another person made high priest
for a single day, that very day which the Jews observed as a fast. The
occasion was this: This Matthias the high priest, on the night before
that day when the fast was to be celebrated, seemed, in a dream, [7]
to have conversation with his wife; and because he could not officiate
himself on that account, Joseph, the son of Ellemus, his kinsman,
assisted him in that sacred office. But Herod deprived this Matthias of
the high priesthood, and burnt the other Matthias, who had raised the
sedition, with his companions, alive. And that very night there was an
eclipse of the moon. [8]

5. But now Herod's distemper greatly increased upon him after a severe
manner, and this by God's judgment upon him for his sins; for a
fire glowed in him slowly, which did not so much appear to the touch
outwardly, as it augmented his pains inwardly; for it brought upon him a
vehement appetite to eating, which he could not avoid to supply with
one sort of food or other. His entrails were also ex-ulcerated, and the
chief violence of his pain lay on his colon; an aqueous and transparent
liquor also had settled itself about his feet, and a like matter
afflicted him at the bottom of his belly. Nay, further, his privy-member
was putrefied, and produced worms; and when he sat upright, he had a
difficulty of breathing, which was very loathsome, on account of the
stench of his breath, and the quicknes