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[17]
ABOUT this time it was that Helena, queen of Adiabene, and her son
Izates, changed their course of life, and embraced the Jewish customs,
and this on the occasion following: Monobazus, the king of Adiabene, who
had also the name of Bazeus, fell in love with his sister Helena, and took
her to be his wife, and begat her with child. But as he was in bed with
her one night, he laid his hand upon his wife's belly, and fell asleep,
and seemed to hear a voice, which bid him take his hand off his wife's
belly, and not hurt the infant that was therein, which, by God's providence,
would be safely born, and have a happy end. This voice put him into disorder;
so he awaked immediately, and told the story to his wife; and when his
son was born, he called him Izates. He had indeed Monobazus, his elder
brother, by Helena also, as he had other sons by other wives besides. Yet
did he openly place all his affections on this his only begotten 1
son Izates, which was the origin of that envy which his other brethren,
by the same father, bore to him; while on this account they hated him more
and more, and were all under great affliction that their father should
prefer Izates before them. Now although their father was very sensible
of these their passions, yet did he forgive them, as not indulging those
passions out of an ill disposition, but out of a desire each of them had
to be beloved by their father. However, he sent Izates, with many presents,
to Abennerig, the king of Charax-Spasini, and that out of the great dread
he was in about him, lest he should come to some misfortune by the hatred
his brethren bore him; and he committed his son's preservation to him.
Upon which Abennerig gladly received the young man, and had a great affection
for him, and married him to his own daughter, whose name was Samacha: he
also bestowed a country upon him, from which he received large revenues.
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