[
50]
And now, upon the approach of the feast of tabernacles, which is
a festival very much observed among us, he let those days pass over, and
both he and the rest of the people were therein very merry; yet did the
envy which at this time arose in him cause him to make haste to do what
lie was about, and provoke him to it; for when this youth Aristobulus,
who was now in the seventeenth year of his age, went up to the altar, according
to the law, to offer the sacrifices, and this with the ornaments of his
high priesthood, and when he performed the sacred offices,
1
he seemed to be exceedingly comely, and taller than men usually were at
that age, and to exhibit in his countenance a great deal of that high family
he was sprung from, - a warm zeal and affection towards him appeared among
the people, and the memory of the actions of his grandfather Aristobulus
was fresh in their minds; and their affections got so far the mastery of
them, that they could not forbear to show their inclinations to him. They
at once rejoiced and were confounded, and mingled with good wishes their
joyful acclamations which they made to him, till the good-will of the multitude
was made too evident; and they more rashly proclaimed the happiness they
had received from his family than was fit under a monarchy to have done.
Upon all this, Herod resolved to complete what he had intended against
the young man. When therefore the festival was over, and he was feasting
at Jericho
2
with Alexandra, who entertained them there, he was then very pleasant with
the young man, and drew him into a lonely place, and at the same time played
with him in a juvenile and ludicrous manner. Now the nature of that place
was hotter than ordinary; so they went out in a body, and of a sudden,
and in a vein of madness; and as they stood by the fish-ponds, of which
there were large ones about the house, they went to cool themselves [by
bathing], because it was in the midst of a hot day. At first they were
only spectators of Herod's servants and acquaintance as they were swimming;
but after a while, the young man, at the instigation of Herod, went into
the water among them, while such of Herod's acquaintance, as he had appointed
to do it, dipped him as he was swimming, and plunged him under water, in
the dark of the evening, as if it had been done in sport only; nor did
they desist till he was entirely suffocated. And thus was Aristobulus murdered,
having lived no more in all than eighteen years,
3
and kept the high priesthood one year only; which high priesthood Ananelus
now recovered again.