brother's son, Phasaelus.

CHAPTER 29.

Antipater Becomes Intolerable. He Is Sent To Rome, And
Carries Herod's Testament With Him; Pheroras Leaves His
Brother, That He May Keep His Wife. He Dies At Home.

1. Now when Antipater had cut off the hopes of the orphans, and had
contracted such affinities as would be most for his own advantage, he
proceeded briskly, as having a certain expectation of the kingdom; and
as he had now assurance added to his wickedness, he became intolerable;
for not being able to avoid the hatred of all people, he built his
security upon the terror he struck into them. Pheroras also assisted him
in his designs, looking upon him as already fixed in the kingdom.
There was also a company of women in the court, which excited new
disturbances; for Pheroras's wife, together with her mother and sister,
as also Antipater's mother, grew very impudent in the palace. She also
was so insolent as to affront the king's two daughters, [44] on which
account the king hated her to a great degree; yet although these women
were hated by him, they domineered over others: there was only Salome
who opposed their good agreement, and informed the king of their
meetings, as not being for the advantage of his affairs. And when those
women knew what calumnies she had raised against them, and how much
Herod was displeased, they left off their public meetings, and friendly
entertainments of one another; nay, on the contrary, they pretended
to quarrel one with another when the king was within hearing. The like
dissimulation did Antipater make use of; and when matters were public,
he opposed Pheroras; but still they had private cabals and merry
meetings in the night time; nor did the observation of others do any
more than confirm their mutual agreement. However, Salome knew every
thing they did, and told every thing to Herod.

2. But he was inflamed with anger at them, and chiefly at Pheroras's
wife; for Salome had principally accused her. So he got an assembly of
his friends and kindred together, and there accused this woman of many
things, and particularly of the affronts she had offered his daughters;
and that she had supplied the Pharisees with money, by way of rewards
for what they had done against him, and had procured his brother to
become his enemy, by giving him love potions. At length he turned his
speech to Pheroras, and told him that he would give him his choice of
these two things: Whether he