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[174]
And this account we give the reader, as it is contained in the commentaries
of king Herod: but other historians do not agree with them, for they suppose
that Herod did not find, but rather make, this an occasion for thus putting
him to death, and that by treacherously laying a snare for him; for thus
do they write: That Herod and he were once at a treat, and that Herod had
given no occasion to suspect [that he was displeased at him], but put this
question to Hyrcanus, Whether he had received any letters from Malchus?
and when he answered that he had received letters, but those of salutation
only; and when he asked further, whether he had not received any presents
from him? and when he had replied that he had received no more than four
horses to ride on, which Malchus had sent him; they pretended that Herod
charged these upon him as the crimes of bribery and treason, and gave order
that he should be led away and slain. And in order to demonstrate that
he had been guilty of no offense, when he was thus brought to his end,
they alleged how mild his temper had been, and that even in his youth he
had never given any demonstration of boldness or rashness, and that the
case was the same when he came to be king, but that he even then committed
the management of the greatest part of public affairs to Antipater; and
that he was now above fourscore years old, and knew that Herod's government
was in a secure state. He also came over Euphrates, and left those who
greatly honored him beyond that river, though he were to be entirely under
Herod's government; and that it was a most incredible thing that he should
enterprise any thing by way of innovation, and not at all agreeable to
his temper, but that this was a plot of Herod's contrivance.
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