or
he who showed such prudence as to recede from his own power, and yield
it up to the lord of the world, cannot be supposed mistaken in his
judgment about him that was to be his heir; and he that so well
knew whom to choose for arbitrator of the succession could not be
unacquainted with him whom he chose for his successor.

7. When Nicolaus had gone through all he had to say, Archelaus came,
and fell down before Caesar's knees, without any noise;--upon which he
raised him up, after a very obliging manner, and declared that truly
he was worthy to succeed his father. However, he still made no firm
determination in his case; but when he had dismissed those assessors
that had been with him that day, he deliberated by himself about the
allegations which he had heard, whether it were fit to constitute any
of those named in the testaments for Herod's successor, or whether the
government should be parted among all his posterity, and this because of
the number of those that seemed to stand in need of support therefrom.

CHAPTER 3.

The Jews Fight A Great Battle With Sabinus's Soldiers, And A
Great Destruction Is Made At Jerusalem.

1. Now before Caesar had determined any thing about these affairs,
Malthace, Arehelaus's mother, fell sick and died. Letters also were
brought out of Syria from Varus, about a revolt of the Jews. This was
foreseen by Varus, who accordingly, after Archelaus was sailed, went
up to Jerusalem to restrain the promoters of the sedition, since it was
manifest that the nation would not be at rest; so he left one of those
legions which he brought with him out of Syria in the city, and went
himself to Antioch. But Sabinus came, after he was gone, and gave them
an occasion of making innovations; for he compelled the keepers of the
citadels to deliver them up to him, and made a bitter search after the
king's money, as depending not only on the soldiers which were left by
Varus, but on the multitude of his own servants, all which he armed and
used as the instruments of his covetousness. Now when that feast, which
was observed after seven weeks, and which the Jews called Pentecost, [i.
e. the 50th day,] was at hand, its name being taken from the number
of the days [after the passover], the people got together, but not on
account of the accustomed Divine worship, but of the indignation they
had ['at the present state of affairs']. Wherefore an immense multitude
ran together, out of Galilee, and Id