men of the Jews were therefore in fear, because they saw that Herod was
a violent and bold man, and very desirous of acting tyrannically; so
they came to Hyrcanus, and now accused Antipater openly, and said to
him, "How long wilt thou be quiet under such actions as are now done? Or
dost thou not see that Antipater and his sons have already seized upon
the government, and that it is only the name of a king which is given
thee? But do not thou suffer these things to be hidden from thee, nor do
thou think to escape danger by being so careless of thyself and of
thy kingdom; for Antipater and his sons are not now stewards of thine
affairs: do not thou deceive thyself with such a notion; they are
evidently absolute lords; for Herod, Antipater's son, hath slain
Hezekiah, and those that were with him, and hath thereby transgressed
our law, which hath forbidden to slay any man, even though he were a
wicked man, unless he had been first condemned to suffer death by the
Sanhedrim [15] yet hath he been so insolent as to do this, and that
without any authority from thee."

4. Upon Hyrcanus hearing this, he complied with them. The mothers also
of those that had been slain by Herod raised his indignation; for those
women continued every day in the temple, persuading the king and the
people that Herod might undergo a trial before the Sanhedrim for what
he had done. Hyrcanus was so moved by these complaints, that he summoned
Herod to come to his trial for what was charged upon him. Accordingly he
came; but his father had persuaded him to come not like a private man,
but with a guard, for the security of his person; and that when he had
settled the affairs of Galilee in the best manner he could for his own
advantage, he should come to his trial, but still with a body of men
sufficient for his security on his journey, yet so that he should not
come with so great a force as might look like terrifying Hyrcanus, but
still such a one as might not expose him naked and unguarded [to his
enemies.] However, Sextus Caesar, president of Syria, wrote to Hyrcanus,
and desired him to clear Herod, and dismiss him at his trial, and
threatened him beforehand if he did not do it. Which epistle of his was
the occasion of Hyrcanus delivering Herod from suffering any harm from
the Sanhedrim, for he loved him as his own son. But when Herod stood
before the Sanhedrim, with his body of men about him, he aftrighted them
all, and no one of his former accusers durs