bout the orphans, and discovering at the same time
his repentance for killing their fathers, by his commiseration of those
that sprang from them.

2. Accordingly, Herod got together his kindred and friends, and set
before them the children, and, with his eyes full of tears, said thus
to them: "It was an unlucky fate that took away from me these
children's fathers, which children are recommended to me by that natural
commiseration which their orphan condition requires; however, I will
endeavor, though I have been a most unfortunate father, to appear a
better grandfather, and to leave these children such curators after
myself as are dearest to me. I therefore betroth thy daughter, Pheroras,
to the elder of these brethren, the children of Alexander, that thou
mayst be obliged to take care of them. I also betroth to thy son,
Antipater, the daughter of Aristobulus; be thou therefore a father to
that orphan; and my son Herod [Philip] shall have her sister, whose
grandfather, by the mother's side, was high priest. And let every one
that loves me be of my sentiments in these dispositions, which none that
hath an affection for me will abrogate. And I pray God that he will join
these children together in marriage, to the advantage of my kingdom, and
of my posterity; and may he look down with eyes more serene upon them
than he looked upon their fathers."

3. While he spake these words he wept, and joined the children's
fight hands together; after which he embraced them every one after an
affectionate manner, and dismissed the assembly. Upon this, Antipater
was in great disorder immediately, and lamented publicly at what was
done; for he supposed that this dignity which was conferred on these
orphans was for his own destruction, even in his father's lifetime, and
that he should run another risk of losing the government, if Alexander's
sons should have both Archelaus [a king], and Pheroras a tetrarch, to
support them. He also considered how he was himself hated by the nation,
and how they pitied these orphans; how great affection the Jews bare
to those brethren of his when they were alive, and how gladly they
remembered them now they had perished by his means. So he resolved by
all the ways possible to get these espousals dissolved.

4. Now he was afraid of going subtlely about this matter with his
father, who was hard to be pleased, and was presently moved upon the
least suspicion: so he ventured to go to him directly, and to beg