ABSTRACT
. The chief, pressing desire of the Jewish deputation which appeared before Augustus while he was considering Herod’s will was “that they might be delivered from kingly and similar governments and be added to Syria” (Ant. xvii. 11, 2). The hope which gave cogency to this petition was that the people in direct relations with Rome would have better government, less friction, and larger freedom. In any other land than Judea such a hope might have been realized under the helpful hand of Roman direction. To the Jews it could prove only delusive, since Judaism knew no interpretation of freedom which did not conform clearly to the standards of the Mosaic and traditional law.
