688. No sooner was Mariamne executed, than the grief and remorse of Herod became intolerable. He found no rest, day nor night. Wherever he went, the image of Mariamne haunted him, and filled him with the bitterest reflexions; until, at length, he became subject to fits of temporary madness.

689. Immediately, after the execution of the queen, a grevious pestilence occurred, which carried off great numbers, both of the common people, and the nobility. This, all considered as a just judgment of God upon the wicked king. Herod's disorder of mind was increased by this calamity; so that not knowing what to do with himself, he gave up all care of the public business, and retired to Samaria, where he fell into a grievous sickness.

690. When, with much difficulty he was recovered, and had returned to Jerusalem, he was observed to be more disposed to acts of cruelty, than before, which continued to be his disposition to the end of life.

691. While Herod lay sick, at Samaria, Alexandra, expecting that he would die, began to intrigue for the supreme power. To accomplish her purpose, she negociated with the governors of the strong fortresses, in Jerusalem. The pretext which she used in these negociations was, that she wished to secure the government for Herod's children, by Mariamne. These officers, however, immediately communicated the whole. matter to Herod, who sent orders to have her put to death. This happened in the year 28 B. C.

692. In the year 26 B. C., Salome, Herod's sister, whose first husband was Joseph, and who afterwards married Costobarus, an Idumean, having become weary of her husband, gave him a bill of divorcement, contrary to the usage of the Jews, which permits a hus

band to divorce his wife, but not a wife her husband. But by the authority of Herod, the transaction was sanctioned.

693. Salome having now returned to her brother, to render herself agreeable to him, pretended to reveal a conspiracy, which had been entered into by her late husband, with several other distinguished men of Idumea, against his government. To gain the more credit to her story, she informed him, where Costobarus had concealed the sons of Babas, whom Herod had directed him to put to death. On sending to the place, this accounts was verified; which induced Herod to believe all that she said, respecting the conspiracy. He, therefore, gave orders, that all who were accused by Salome, should be put to death.

694. Having now cut off all the branches of the Asmonean family, and all that favored their pretensions, Herod thought that he might, without danger, make some innovations on the usages of the Jews. He, therefore, erected at Jerusalem, a theatre, and an amphi-theatre, and in honor of Octavianus, (now the emperor Augustus,) celebrated games and exhibited shows. These things, however, were exceedingly offensive to the Jews.

695. This led ten persons among them, to form a conspiracy against the king, who by his spies, obtained some knowledge of the plot; so that when these men came to the theatre, with daggers under their garments, they ware seized, and put to death, with the most exquisite torments. Nor, did he cease to make inquiry, until he had discovered every one of the conspirators, and put them all to death.

CHAPTER XXIX.

AND

DIVINE JUDGMENTS ON THE LAND-HEROD ERECTS A STATELY PALACE ON MOUNT ZION-ERECTS ANOTHER PALACE ON A BEAUTIFUL HILL SEVEN MILES FROM JERUSALEM--ARISTOBULUS ALEXANDER, SONS OF MARIAMNE, SENT TO ROME FOR EDUCATION-HEROD REPAIRS TO MYTILENE, TO VISIT AGRIPPA-AUGUSTUS HIMSELF VISITS THE EAST-IS WAITED ON BY HEROD ALL ACCUSATIONS AGAINST HIM TURN OUT TO HIS BENEFIT-UNDERTAKES TO REBUILD THE TEMPLETHE WORK COMMENCED JUST FORTY SIX YEARS BEFORE CHRIST'S FIRST PASSOVER.

696. HEROD was moved by his dread of conspiracies, to fortify other strong places besides those in Jerusalem; and selected Samaria as a suitable site for one. The place was now reduced very low, having been destroyed by John Hyrcanus, as before related. It was, indeed, no more than a small village, when Herod undertook its restoration. When it was rebuilt, he named it SEBASTE, in honor of Augustus; Sebastos in Greek, being of the same import, as augustus in Latin. In this place, he colonized six thousand people, collected from all parts: among whom he divided the circumjacent country; which being fertile, the town soon became rich and populous.

697. In the thirteenth year of the reign of Herod, great calamities fell on the people of Judea; for a long

drought produced a famine; and the famine a pestilence, which swept away multitudes of people. On this occasion, Herod did a very popular and praiseworthy action. He melted down the plate of his palace-his treasury being empty—and turning it into money, sent to Egypt for corn; by which means so great an abundance was brought into Judea, that they were able to send a supply to the Syrians, who were suffering under the same calamity.

698. The flocks of Judea, having also been cut off by the drought, and there being a want of wool for the clothing of the inhabitants, Herod took care to have a sufficient supply imported from foreign countries. By these acts of generosity and sound policy, he greatly won upon the affections of the people; and among the surrounding nations acquired the reputation of a wise and generous prince. But he could not long refrain from acts of cruelty, which sullied the fame of all his good deeds.

699. Herod being now at peace with all the surrounding nations, and the country being in a prosperous state, he resolved to build a stately palace on Mount Zion, the highest part of Jerusalem. This edifice he made of such size and magnificence, that in appearance, it rivalled the temple. Within, he prepared two apartments, very large and sumptuous; the one of which he named Cesareum, in honor of Augustus, and the other Agrippeum, in honor of Cesar's chief favorite.

700. There was, at this time, in Jerusalem, a young lady of exceeding great beauty, named Mariamne, the daughter of one Simon, a common priest. Her, Herod married; and to exalt her family, made her father,

high priest; turning out Jesus the son of Phebes, to make room for him.

701. Herod having a passion for building, or finding in this occupation some relief to the troubles of his mind, engaged in another expensive work. He erected a palace about seven miles from Jerusalem, where he had obtained a victory over the Parthians, when his affairs were in a very critcal situation. This palace was built on the summit of a beautiful hill, which had a regular declivity on all sides, and commanded an extensive and delightful prospect of the surrounding country. This palace he called Herodium, after his

own name.

702. When this work was finised, Herod went on to build a city at the place on the sea coast, called Straton's Tower. This city he named CESAREA, after the emperor: and on it he spent much time and expense. Before this time, the harbour was very dangerous, so that no ship could ride safely in it, when the wind was S. W.; but by running a mole, or breakwater, in a circular form around the harbor, to the S. W., he made it safe and commodious, and sufficiently capacious for a large fleet. The expense of this work alone was immense; for the stones used in its construction, were brought from a great distance and were of almost incredible dimensions; some of them being fifty feet long and eighteen broad, and nine in thickness. The foundation of this mole was laid in the sea, at the depth of twenty fathoms. Herod was occupied twelve years, before he completed all his works at Cesarea.

703. Alexander and Aristobulus, the sons of Herod by Mariamne, being now of sufficient age, were sent to Rome to be educated. They were committed to the particular care of Pollio, an intmate friend; but Augus