CHAPTER X(X. 521 fus Caesar, was executed by his father's approbation. This was the third son whom Ilerod put todeath. 31. Q. When, and in what manner did Herod die ? A. In the seventieth year of his age, and five days after the execu- tion of his 'son Antipater, Herod himself died by a dreadful com- plication of diseases. He had a slow fever, an asthma, an ulcer in his bowels and his lower parts, which bread worms and lice ; be languished under extremepain and torment till he expired, and seems to have been smitten of God in a signal and terrible manner for his cruelty, and the multiplied iniquities of his whole life. 32. Q. What instance of cruelty was he guilty of even at his death ? A. Knowing how much he was hated of the Jews, be concluded there would be no lamentation for him, but rather rejoicing when he died : and to prevent this, he framed a project, one of themost horrid that could enter into the heart of man ; he summoned all the chief Jews over the Nvhole kingdom on pain of death to appear at Jericho where he then lay ; he shut them up prisoners in the Circus, or public place of spews, he ordered and adjured his sister Salome and her husband, who were his chief confidants, to send in soldiers as soon as he was dead, and put them all to the sword ; " For this," said he, "will provide mournersfor my funeral all the land over." 33. Q. Was this barbarous and bloodycommand executed ? A. His sister Salome, as bad as she was, chose rather to break her oath to him than execute so horrid a design, and therefore she released them all after his death. 34. Q. What posterity did Herod leave behind him ? A. He had nine wives, and such of his posterity as are named in scripture, are these that follow, 'viz. Archelaus his son,. who succeded him in the kingdom of Judea and Samaria ; 141ati ii. 22. Herod Antipas, tetrarch or governor of Galilee, who cut off John the Baptist's head ; Math. xiv. 1, 3, 6. Philip, gover- norof Iteres and Trachonitis ; Luke iii. 1. and Herod Philip, who married his own niece Herodias, and had a daughter by her called Salome, whodanced well : but Herodias afterward left hint to marry Herod Antipas his brother, for which John the Baptist reproved thisHerod Antipas ; Luke iä..10. 'l'bis Hero- dias was daughter of Herod's son Aristohulus, whom he put to death, and sister of Herod Agrippa who slew theapostle James; Acts xii. I, 2. and was afterwards smitten of God, at Cesarea ; Verses 20-23. Of this Herod Agrippa was born that king Agrippa the second, before whom Paul pleaded his cause Acts xxv. and,xxvi. and his two sisters were Drusilla, wife to Felix the governor; Acts xxiv. 24. and Bernice, who- attended her brother Agrippa to hear Paul plead. This genealogy is borrowed from Doctor Prideaux. 35. Q. DidArchelaus continue long in his government 2 4 Vol. r. Lc
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