l them that the death which was inflicted on
their friends was according to the law; and to represent to them that
their petitions about these things were carried to a great height of
injury to him; that the time was not now proper for such petitions, but
required their unanimity until such time as he should be established in
the government by the consent of Caesar, and should then be come back to
them; for that he would then consult with them in common concerning the
purport of their petitions; but that they ought at present to be quiet,
lest they should seem seditious persons.

2. So when the king had suggested these things, and instructed his
general in what he was to say, he sent him away to the people; but they
made a clamor, and would not give him leave to speak, and put him in
danger of his life, and as many more as were desirous to venture upon
saying openly any thing which might reduce them to a sober mind, and
prevent their going on in their present courses, because they had more
concern to have all their own wills performed than to yield obedience
to their governors; thinking it to be a thing insufferable, that, while
Herod was alive, they should lose those that were most dear to them, and
that when he was dead, they could not get the actors to be punished. So
they went on with their designs after a violent manner, and thought all
to be lawful and right which tended to please them, and being unskillful
in foreseeing what dangers they incurred; and when they had suspicion of
such a thing, yet did the present pleasure they took in the punishment
of those they deemed their enemies overweigh all such considerations;
and although Archelaus sent many to speak to them, yet they treated them
not as messengers sent by him, but as persons that came of their own
accord to mitigate their anger, and would not let one of them speak. The
sedition also was made by such as were in a great passion; and it was
evident that they were proceeding further in seditious practices, by the
multitude running so fast upon them.

3. Now, upon the approach of that feast of unleavened bread, which the
law of their fathers had appointed for the Jews at this time, which
feast is called the Passover [13] and is a memorial of their deliverance
out of Egypt, when they offer sacrifices with great alacrity; and when
they are required to slay more sacrifices in number than at any other
festival; and when an innumerable multitude came thither out of