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[665]
So Herod, having survived the slaughter of his son five days, died,
having reigned thirty-four years since he had caused Antigonus to be slain,
and obtained his kingdom; but thirty-seven years since he had been made
king by the Romans. Now as for his fortune, it was prosperous in all other
respects, if ever any other man could be so, since, from a private man,
he obtained the kingdom, and kept it so long, and left it to his own sons;
but still in his domestic affairs he was a most unfortunate man. Now, before
the soldiers knew of his death, Salome and her husband came out and dismissed
those that were in bonds, whom the king had commanded to be slain, and
told them that he had altered his mind, and would have every one of them
sent to their own homes. When these men were gone, Salome, told the soldiers
[the king was dead], and got them and the rest of the multitude together
to an assembly, in the amphitheater at Jericho, where Ptolemy, who was
intrusted by the king with his signet ring, came before them, and spake
of the happiness the king had attained, and comforted the multitude, and
read the epistle which had been left for the soldiers, wherein he earnestly
exhorted them to bear good-will to his successor; and after he had read
the epistle, he opened and read his testament, wherein Philip was to inherit
Trachonitis, and the neighboring countries, and Antipas was to be tetrarch,
as we said before, and Archelaus was made king. He had also been commanded
to carry Herod's ring to Caesar, and the settlements he had made, sealed
up, because Caesar was to be lord of all the settlements he had made, and
was to confirm his testament; and he ordered that the dispositions he had
made were to be kept as they were in his former testament.
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