ABSTRACT

. Immediately after the public announcement of Herod’s death his last will was read to a large gathering of soldiers and people in the amphitheatre at Jericho. By its provisions, which could not go into effect until approved by Augustus, Archelaus, a son by Malthace, was to receive the royal title with Judea, Samaria, and Idumea; Herod Antipas, brother of Archelaus, as tetrarch, was to govern Galilee and Perea, while Philip, a son by Cleopatra of Jerusalem, was to rule, also as tetrarch, over the northeastern districts of Batanea, Trachonitis, Auranitis, Gaulanitis, Paneas, and Iturea. Salome, the sister of Herod, was remembered by the gift of Jamnia and Ashdod on the coast and Phasaëlis in the Jordan valley. It was quite contrary to Herod’s original intention to break up in this way the large kingdom which his genius had established (see J. W. i. 30, 7), and his final will has been justly estimated as a compromise between the various intrigues of the palace (Hausrath). Whether this estimate be true or not, the will committed the different sections of the kingdom to different policies and issues, determined in each case by the character of the man in supreme command.