Antipater Put to Death

As he was giving these commands to his relatives, letters came from his envoys who had been sent to Caesar at Rome. When they were read, their substance was this: that Acme had been put to death by Caesar in his indignation at the part she had played in Antipater’s wicked schemes; and that as for Antipater himself, Caesar left it to Herod to act as befitted a father and a king, and either to banish him or to take his life, whichever he pleased. When Herod heard this he was somewhat better, from the pleasure the letters gave him, and he was elated at Acme’s death and at the power given him over his son. But his pains had become very great, and he was ready to faint for lack of something to eat; so he called for an apple and a knife, for it had been his habit to peel the apple himself and then cut it up and eat it. When he had the knife, he looked around and meant to stab himself with it; and he would have done it, had not his first cousin Achiabus stopped him, seizing his hand and crying out loudly. At this a woeful wailing rang through the palace and a great uproar arose, as though the king were dead. [a]

Then Antipater, who truly believed his father was dead, grew bold in his talk, hoping to be released from his chains at once and completely, and to take the kingdom into his hands without more ado. So he talked with the jailer about letting him go, promising him great things both now and later, as if that were the only question left. But the jailer not only refused to do what Antipater wanted, but reported his intentions to the king, adding a great deal of his own. Then Herod, who even before had no affection or goodwill toward his son to hold him back, cried out when he heard what the jailer said, and beat his head, though he was at death’s door. He raised himself on his elbow and sent for some of his guards, and ordered them to kill Antipater without any further delay, to do it at once, and to bury him without honor at Hyrcania.