hich custom is the occasion of poverty to many of
the Jews, because they are forced to feast the multitude; for if any one
omits it, he is not esteemed a holy person,] he put on a white garment,
and went up to the temple, where the people accosted him with various
acclamations. He also spake kindly to the multitude from an elevated
seat and a throne of gold, and returned them thanks for the zeal they
had shown about his father's funeral, and the submission they had made
to him, as if he were already settled in the kingdom; but he told them
withal, that he would not at present take upon him either the authority
of a king, or the names thereto belonging, until Caesar, who is made
lord of this whole affair by the testament, confirm the succession; for
that when the soldiers would have set the diadem on his head at Jericho,
he would not accept of it; but that he would make abundant requitals,
not to the soldiers only, but to the people, for their alacrity and
good-will to him, when the superior lords [the Romans] should have given
him a complete title to the kingdom; for that it should be his study to
appear in all things better than his father.

2. Upon this the multitude were pleased, and presently made a trial of
what he intended, by asking great things of him; for some made a clamor
that he would ease them in their taxes; others, that he would take off
the duties upon commodities; and some, that he would loose those
that were in prison; in all which cases he answered readily to their
satisfaction, in order to get the good-will of the multitude; after
which he offered [the proper] sacrifices, and feasted with his friends.
And here it was that a great many of those that desired innovations
came in crowds towards the evening, and began then to mourn on their own
account, when the public mourning for the king was over. These lamented
those that were put to death by Herod, because they had cut down the
golden eagle that had been over the gate of the temple. Nor was this
mourning of a private nature, but the lamentations were very great, the
mourning solemn, and the weeping such as was loudly heard all over the
city, as being for those men who had perished for the laws of their
country, and for the temple. They cried out that a punishment ought to
be inflicted for these men upon those that were honored by Herod; and
that, in the first place, the man whom he had made high priest should
be deprived; and that it was fit to choose