HEROD HAS THOUGHTS OF KILLING HIMSELF WITH HIS OWN HAND; AND A LITTLE AFTERWARDS HE ORDERS ANTIPATER TO BE SLAIN. FJAJ 17.39
1. AS he was giving these commands to his relations, there came letters
from his ambassadors, who had been sent to Rome unto Caesar, which, when
they were read, their purport was this: That Acme was slain by Caesar,
out of his indignation at what hand, she had in Antipater's wicked practices;
and that as to Antipater himself, Caesar left it to Herod to act as became
a father and a king, and either to banish him, or to take away his life,
which he pleased
When Herod heard this, he was some-what better, out of
the pleasure he had from the contents of the letters, and was elevated
at the death of Acme, and at the power that was given him over his son;
but as his pains were become very great, he was now ready to faint for
want of somewhat to eat; so he called for an apple and a knife; for it
was his custom formerly to pare the apple himself, and soon afterwards
to cut it, and eat it
When he had got the knife, he looked about, and
had a mind to stab himself with it; and he had done it, had not his first
cousin, Achiabus, prevented him, and held his hand, and cried out loudly.
Whereupon a woeful lamentation echoed through the palace, and a great tumult
was made, as if the king were dead
Upon which Antipater, who verily believed
his father was deceased, grew bold in his discourse, as hoping to be immediately
and entirely released from his bonds, and to take the kingdom into his
hands without any more ado; so he discoursed with the jailer about letting
him go, and in that case promised him great things, both now and hereafter,
as if that were the only thing now in question
But the jailer did not
only refuse to do what Antipater would have him, but informed the king
of his intentions, and how many solicitations he had had from him [of that
nature]
Hereupon Herod, who had formerly no affection nor good-will towards
his son to restrain him, when he heard what the jailer said, he cried out,
and beat his head, although he was at death's door, and raised himself
upon his elbow, and sent for some of his guards, and commanded them to
kill Antipater without tiny further delay, and to do it presently, and
to bury him in an ignoble manner at Hyrcania. FJAJ 17.40