ision for all the rest of his kindred, by giving them sums of money
and annual revenues, and so left them all in a wealthy condition. He
bequeathed also to Caesar ten millions [of drachmae] of coined money,
besides both vessels of gold and silver, and garments exceeding costly,
to Julia, Caesar's wife; and to certain others, five millions. When
he had done these things, he died, the fifth day after he had caused
Antipater to be slain; having reigned, since he had procured Antigonus
to be slain, thirty-four years; but since he had been declared king by
the Romans, thirty-seven. [11] A man he was of great barbarity towards
all men equally, and a slave to his passion; but above the consideration
of what was right; yet was he favored by fortune as much as any man
ever was, for from a private man he became a king; and though he were
encompassed with ten thousand dangers, he got clear of them all, and
continued his life till a very old age. But then, as to the affairs of
his family and children, in which indeed, according to his own opinion,
he was also very fortunate, because he was able to conquer his enemies,
yet, in my opinion, he was herein very unfortunate.

2. But then Salome and Alexas, before the king's death was made known,
dismissed those that were shut up in the hippodrome, and told them that
the king ordered them to go away to their own lands, and take care of
their own affairs, which was esteemed by the nation a great benefit. And
now the king's death was made public, when Salome and Alexas gathered
the soldiery together in the amphitheater at Jericho; and the first
thing they did was, they read Herod's letter, written to the soldiery,
thanking them for their fidelity and good-will to him, and exhorting
them to afford his son Archelaus, whom he had appointed for their king,
like fidelity and good-will. After which Ptolemy, who had the king's
seal intrusted to him, read the king's testament, which was to be of
force no otherwise than as it should stand when Caesar had inspected it;
so there was presently an acclamation made to Archelaus, as king; and
the soldiers came by bands, and their commanders with them, and promised
the same good-will to him, and readiness to serve him, which they had
exhibited to Herod; and they prayed God to be assistant to him.

3. After this was over, they prepared for his funeral, it being
Archelaus's care that the procession to his father's sepulcher should be
very sumptuous. Accordin