[Sidenote:  Jos.  Jew.  War, I, 30:5a, 31:1a] And after the death of Herod’s brother Pheroras, the king devoted himself to examining his son Antipater’s steward; and upon torturing him he learned that Antipater had sent for a potion of deadly poison for him from Egypt, and that the uncle of Antipater had received it from him and delivered it to Pheroras, for Antipater had charged him to destroy his father the king, while [Antipater] was at Rome, and so free him from the suspicion of doing it himself.  Antipater’s freedman was also brought to trial, and he was the concluding proof of Antipater’s designs.  This man came and brought another deadly potion of the poison of asps and of other serpents, that if the first potion did not accomplish its end, Pheroras and his wife might be armed with this also against the king.

[Sidenote:  Jos.  Jew.  War, I, 33:1, 7, 8a] Now Herod’s illness became more and more severe because his various ailments attacked him in his old age and when he was in a melancholy state, for he was already almost seventy years of age and was depressed by the calamities that had happened to him in connection with his children, so that he had no pleasure in life even when he was in health.  The fact that Antipater was still alive aggravated his disease, and he preferred to destroy him, not incidentally but by crushing him completely.  When letters came from his ambassadors at Rome containing the information that Antipater was condemned to death, Herod for a little while was restored to cheerfulness; but presently being overcome by his pains, he endeavored to anticipate destiny, and this because he was weakened by want of food and by a convulsive cough.  Accordingly he took an apple and asked for a knife, for he used to pare his apples before eating them.  He then looked around to see that there was no one to hinder him and lifted up his right hand as if to stab himself.  But Achiabus, his cousin, ran up to him and, holding his hand, hindered him from so doing.  Immediately a great lamentation was raised in the palace, as if the king was dying, and as soon as Antipater heard that, he took courage and with joy in his looks besought his keepers for a sum of money to loose him and let him go.  But the head keeper of the prison not only prevented that but also ran and told the king what his design was.  Thereupon the king cried louder than his disease could well bear, and immediately sent some of his body-guards and had Antipater slain.  He also gave orders to have him buried at Hyrcanium, and altered his testament again and therein made Archelaus, his eldest son, and the brother of Antipas, his successor, and made Antipas tetrarch.  Herod, after surviving the death of his son only five days, died, having reigned thirty-four years, since he had obtained control of affairs; but it was thirty-seven years since he had been made king by the Romans.