Archelaus Saves His Son-in-Law

Alexander saw that it was impossible to change his father’s mind, and he decided to go out and meet the dangers head-on. He composed four books against his enemies. In them he admitted the plot, but he showed that most of his enemies had been his partners in it, and Pheroras and Salome above all. Salome, he said, had even forced her way in to him one night and had intercourse with him against his will. These books came into Herod’s hands, crying out many terrible things against the most powerful men. Then Archelaus arrived in Judea in haste, afraid for his son-in-law and his daughter. He proved a very prudent helper to them, and by a clever stratagem he turned aside the king’s threat. As soon as he met Herod, he cried out, “Where in the world is that accursed son-in-law of mine? Where shall I see the head that plotted to murder its father, so that I can tear it to pieces with my own hands? I will add my daughter to her fine bridegroom; for even if she had no share in the scheme, she is defiled by having become the wife of such a man. And I am amazed at your forbearance, when the plot was against you, if Alexander is still alive. I hurried here from Cappadocia expecting to find that he had paid the penalty long ago, and meaning to look into the matter of my daughter with you, since it was out of regard for your rank that I betrothed her to him. Now we must take counsel about them both. And if you are too much a father, or too weak to punish a son who has plotted against you, let us exchange right hands, and each take over the other’s anger.” [a]

With this blustering he won Herod over, though Herod had been firmly set on his course. Herod gave him the books Alexander had composed to read, and they went through them together, stopping to consider each charge. Archelaus took this as the opening for his stratagem, and little by little he shifted the blame onto the men named in the books, and especially onto Pheroras. When he saw that the king believed him, he said, “We must consider whether the young man may not be the victim of a plot by so many wicked men, rather than you the victim of a plot by the young man. For I can see no reason why he should have fallen into such a horrible crime, when he already enjoys royal rank and has the hope of the succession, unless there were people persuading him to it and turning the easy pliability of his age to evil. Men like these deceive not only the young but the old as well, and they overthrow the most illustrious houses and whole kingdoms.” [b]

Herod agreed with what he said. He relaxed his anger at Alexander a little, but grew furious with Pheroras, for Pheroras was the main subject of the four books. Pheroras saw how quickly the king’s mind could swing, and that Archelaus’s friendship carried everything with him; and since there was no honorable way to save himself, he found one through shamelessness. He abandoned Alexander and took refuge with Archelaus. Archelaus told him that he did not see how he could beg him off, entangled as he was in so many charges, which clearly proved that he had plotted against the king and was the cause of the young man’s present troubles, unless he was willing to give up his trickery and his denials, confess the charges, and ask pardon of his brother, who still loved him. If he would do that, Archelaus said, he would help him in every way he could.

Pheroras took his advice. He made himself look as pitiable as possible, and in black clothing and in tears he threw himself at Herod’s feet, as he had often done before and won pardon. He confessed that he was a wretch, since he had done everything he was accused of, and he lamented the derangement and madness of his mind, which he said his love for the woman had caused. When Archelaus had brought Pheroras to accuse himself and bear witness against himself, then at last he pleaded for him and calmed Herod’s anger. He used examples from his own family: he himself, he said, had suffered far worse from his own brother, yet he had put the claims of nature ahead of revenge. For in kingdoms, as in large bodies, some part is always inflamed under the weight; and it should not be cut off, but treated gently. [c]

By saying this and much more of the same kind, Archelaus softened Herod toward Pheroras. But he himself kept up his indignation against Alexander, and said he would divorce his daughter from him and take her away, until he had brought Herod around to pleading with him in his turn for the young man and asking for his daughter for him again. Archelaus, quite convincingly, told Herod he might marry her to anyone he wished except Alexander, since he valued above everything the keeping of the marriage ties between their houses. The king said that Archelaus would be giving him back his son as a gift if he did not dissolve the marriage. They already had children, he said, and the young man loved his wife dearly. If she stayed with him she would shame him out of his offenses, but if she were torn away she would drive him to utter despair; for reckless ventures grow milder when they are drawn off by affections at home. So Archelaus consented, though with reluctance, and was reconciled to the young man himself, and reconciled his father to him as well. Still, he said, Alexander must by all means be sent to Rome to speak with Caesar, since he himself had already written to Caesar about the whole affair. [d]

So ended the stratagem by which Archelaus rescued his son-in-law. After the reconciliation they spent their time in feasting and friendly entertainment. When Archelaus left, Herod gave him gifts worth seventy talents, with a golden throne set with precious stones, some eunuchs, and a concubine named Pannychis, and he honored each of Archelaus’s friends according to his rank. On the king’s orders all his relatives likewise gave Archelaus splendid gifts, and Herod and his nobles escorted him on his way as far as Antioch. [e]