fifted Antigonus Son of the late King Ariftobulus to recover Jerufalem and Judea, in Oppofition to the united Forces of Phafael, and Herod, and Hyrcanus.

52 Q. Did Antigonus ever recover this Government? A. The Parthian General Pacorus, who was at War with the Romans, did by meer Treachery get into his Cuftody both Hyrcanus and Phafael, feized Jerufalem, and rifled it, made Antigonus Governor of Judea, and delivered up Hyrcanus and Phafael to him in Chains; but Herod made his Escape.

53Q. What became of Phafael and Hyrcanus ? A. Phafael beat out his own Brains in Prifon; Hyrcanus's Ears were cut off, that being maimed he might be no longer a High-Prieft, Lev. xxi, 17. and he was fent afar off among the Parthians, that he might raise no Disturbances against Antigonus.

54 Q. Whither did Herod take his flight? A. After a little time he went to Rome to reprefent all thefe Tranfactions, and he made his Complaints with great and unexpected Succefs; for Julius Cafar being flain in the Roman Senate, Mark Antony and Octavius (who was afterward Auguftus Cafar) governed all things there, and they agreed to make Herod King of Judea, with the Confent or the Senate, hoping it would be for their Interest in the Parthian War.

SECT.

SECT. VIII. Of the Government of HEROD the Great and his Pofterity over the JEWS.

1Q. WHAT did Herad do on his receiving this new Dignity? A. He returning to Judea, firft relieved his Mother, who was put in Prifon by Antigonus, he made himself Mafter of Galilee, he deftroyed fome large Bands of Robbers which infefted the Country thereabout, fheltering themselves in Mountains, and the Caves of steep and craggy Rocks.

2 Q. What Artifice did he ufe in order to attack them? A. By reafon of their dwelling in fuch hollow Caves in Precipices, there was no fcaling them from below; and therefore to ferret them out of their Dens, he made large open Chefts, and filled them with Soldiers, which he let down into the Entrances of thofe Caves by Chains from Engines which he had fixed above, and thus he deftroyed great Numbers of them.

Note, This Country was often annoyed with the Remains of these Plunderers in the Reign of Herod'; but he treated them without Mercy, and all the Country that sheltered them with great Rigor, till he restored Peace to Galilee.

3Q. Where was his next March? A. Into Judea against Antigonus, and after several Battles with various Success on both Sides, at laft, by the Affiftance of the Roman Legions, he befieged Antigonus in Jerufalem.

4Q. Did not Herod himself attend this Siege? A. Yes, but while the Preparations was making

for

for it he went to Samaria, and there married Mariamne, a Lady of the Family of the Maccabees or Afmoneans, the Grand-Daughter of Hyrcanus the fecond, a Woman of great Beauty and Virtue, and admirable Qualifications, hoping the fews would more readily receive him for their King by this Alliance; and having done this, he returned to the Siege.

5 Q. Did he carry this Place at laft? A. He took Jerufalem by ftorm after fix Months hard and bloody Service in the Siege, at which the Romans, being enraged, ravaged the City with Blood and Plunder, notwithstanding all that Herod could do to prevent it; and having taken King Antigonus there, and sent him to Antioch, Herod perfuaded Mark Antony by a large Bribe to put him to death.

Note, Here ended the Reign of the Afmoneans or Maccabees, after that Race had held the Government one hundred and twenty Years. During a great Part of this Time, as well as before, the various Change of thefe Jewish Governors, or the Interruption by Heathen Conquerors, filled the Country of Judea with innumerable Calamities and Defolations, of which JeruSalem itself had a very large Share, nor did they cease in the following Years.

6 Q. How did Herod begin his Reign? A. As he was forced to make his way to the Kingdom through much Blood, fo he established himself by the fame means, putting to death feveral of the Partizans of Antigonus, and among them all the Counsellors of the great Sanhedrim, except Pollid who is called Hillel, and Sameas, who is called Shammai; for both of them had encouraged the City to receive Herod; though it was not out of

love to him, but merely on this View, that it was in vain to refift him.

Note, This Hillel and Shammai were two very great and eminent Teachers among the Doctors of Traditions in the Jewish Schools.

.

7 Q. Who was made High-Priest after the Death of Antigonus, who was both Priest and King? A. At first Herod made one Ananelus or Ananus High Prieft, who was an obfcure Man, but of the House of Aaron, educated among the Jews afar off in Babylonia, and therefore not fo likely to oppose any of Herod's Defigns in Judea.

8 Q. Did Ananelus continue in the High-Prieftbood? A. Herod's beloved Wife Mariamme and her Mother, being of the Race of the Maccabees, were ever teizing him to make Ariftobulus, Mariamne's Brother, a Lad of seventeen Years old, High-Priest in Ananelus's room, to whom indeed it rather belonged as an Heir Male of that Family: This he at laft complyed with againft his Will, but in a very little time he procured him to be drowned, under Pretence of Bathing.

9 Q. What became of Hyrcanus all this while? A. Though he had been banished for fo many Years among the Parthians and Babylonians, yet he returned to Jerufalem upon the Advancement of Herod, prefuming that the Marriage of his Grand-Daughter, and his own former Merits towards him, would fecure to himself a peaceful Old-Age in his own Country under Herod's Protection.

10 Q. How did Herod deal with him? A. He received him at firft with all Respect, but fome

time after found a Pretence to put him to death, when he was above eighty Years of Age, left one time or other, being of the Family of the Maccabees or Afmoneans, he should be restored to the Kingdom.

IQ Befides all thefe Confufions, what other Calamity happened to the Jews about this time? A. A terrible Earthquake ran through the whole Land of Judea, and buried thirty thousand of the Inhabitants in the Ruin of their Houses, in the feventh Year of Herod's Reign; a grievous Peftilence followed it in a little time, and a defolating Famine a very few Years after, at which time Herod was very liberal to the People, but he could not gain their hearty Affection.

12 Q Did Herod maintain his Government when his great Friend Mark Antony was ruined and vanquished by Octavius? A. He took care to make early Submiffion to Octavius, he laid afide his Diadem when he waited on him, and with open Heart he confefs'd his former Friendfhip for Antony, but he now affured Octavius of the fame faithful Friendship and Obedience, if he might be trufted: Upon which Octavius, who now affumed the Name of Auguftus Cæfar, bid him refume his Diadem, confirmed him in the Kingdom, and was his Friend and Protector even to his Death.

13 Q. Did he then continue to reign in perfect Peace? A. Domeftic Troubles broke the Peace of his Mind, threw him into violent Grief and Rage, which further foured his Temper for all his Life after.

14 Q. What were thefe domeftic Troubles? A. He was jealous left any Man fhould poffefs fo great a Beauty as Mariamne his Queen after his Death,

and