be that we should truly relate it; for at the same time with this
celebration for the work about the temple fell also the day of the
king's inauguration, which he kept of an old custom as a festival, and
it now coincided with the other, which coincidence of them both made the
festival most illustrious.

7. There was also an occult passage built for the king; it led from
Antonia to the inner temple, at its eastern gate; over which he also
erected for himself a tower, that he might have the opportunity of
a subterraneous ascent to the temple, in order to guard against any
sedition which might be made by the people against their kings. It is
also reported, [25] that during the time that the temple was building,
it did not rain in the daytime, but that the showers fell in the nights,
so that the work was not hindered. And this our fathers have
delivered to us; nor is it incredible, if any one have regard to the
manifestations of God. And thus was performed the work of the rebuilding
of the temple.

BOOK XVI. Containing The Interval Of Twelve Years.

From The Finishing Of The Temple By Herod To The Death Of Alexander And
Aristobulus.

CHAPTER 1. A Law Of Herod's About, Thieves. Salome And Pheroras
Calumniate Alexander And Aristobulus, Upon Their Return From Rome For
Whom Yet Herod Provides Wives.

1. As king Herod was very zealous in the administration of his entire
government, and desirous to put a stop to particular acts of injustice
which were done by criminals about the city and country, he made a
law, no way like our original laws, and which he enacted of himself, to
expose house-breakers to be ejected out of his kingdom; which punishment
was not only grievous to be borne by the offenders, but contained in
it a dissolution of the customs of our forefathers; for this slavery to
foreigners, and such as did not live after the manner of Jews, and this
necessity that they were under to do whatsoever such men should
command, was an offense against our religious settlement, rather than
a punishment to such as were found to have offended, such a punishment
being avoided in our original laws; for those laws ordain, that the
thief shall restore fourfold; and that if he have not so much, he shall
be sold indeed, but not to foreigners, nor so that he be under perpetual
slavery, for he must have been released after six years. But this law,
thus enacted, in order to introduce a severe and illegal punishment,
seemed to