in his intrigues, being by the favor of Antony made king of Judaea.  But a severe contest was before him, since Antigonus was resolved to defend his crown.  With the aid of the Romans, Herod, after a war of three years, subdued his rival and put him to death, together with every member of the Sanhedrim but two.  His power was cemented by his marriage with Mariamne, the beautiful sister of Aristobulus, whom he made high-priest.

The Asmonean princes were now, by the death of Antigonus, reduced to Aristobulus and the aged Hyrcanus, both of whom were murdered by the suspicious tyrant who had triumphed over so many enemies.  In a fit of jealousy Herod even caused the execution of his beautiful wife, whom he passionately loved, as he had already destroyed her grandfather, father, brother, and uncle.  Supported by Augustus, whom he had managed to conciliate after the death of Antony, Herod reigned with undisputed authority over even an increase of territory.  He doubtless reigned with great ability, tyrant and murderer as he was, and detested by the Jews as an Idumaean.  He reigned in a state of magnificence unknown to the Asmonean princes.  He built a new and magnificent palace on the hill of Zion, and rebuilt the fortress of Baris, which he called Antonia in honor of his friend and patron, Antony.  He also erected strong citadels in different cities of his kingdom, and rebuilt Samaria; he founded Caesarea and colonized it with Greeks, so that it became a great maritime city, rivalling Tyre in magnificence and strength.  But Herod’s greatest work, by which he hoped to ingratiate himself in the favor of the Jews, was the rebuilding of the Temple on a scale of unexampled magnificence.  He was also very liberal in the distribution of corn during a severe famine.  He was in such high favor with Augustus by his presents and his devotion to the imperial interests, that, next to Agrippa, he was the emperor’s greatest favorite.  His two sons by Mariamne were educated at Rome with great care, and were lodged in the palace of the Emperor.

Herod’s latter days however were clouded by the intrigues of his court, by treason and conspiracies, in consequence of which his sons, favorites with the people on account of their accomplishments and their Asmonean blood, were executed by the suspicious and savage despot.  Antipater, another son, by his first wife, whom he had chosen as his successor, conspired against his life, and the proof of his guilt was so clear that he also was summarily executed.  In addition to these troubles Herod was tormented by remorse for the execution of the murdered Mariamne.  He was the victim of jealousy, suspicion, and wrath.  One of his last acts was the order to destroy the infants in the vicinity of Jerusalem in the vain hope of destroying the predicted Messiah,—­him who should be “born king of the Jews.”  He died of a loathsome and excruciating disease, in his seventieth year, having reigned nearly forty years.  His kingdom, by his will, was divided between the children of his later wife, a Samaritan woman,—­the eldest of whom, Archelaus, became monarch of Judea; and the second, Antipas, became tetrarch of Galilee.  The former married the widow of his half-brother Alexander, who was executed; and the latter married Herodias, wife of Philip, also his half-brother.