Weakness of Antigonus and Herod's Strength of Character-- Contest for the Throne--Herod becomes King--Proscriptions and Confiscations--Herod's Policy--Abolition of the Hereditary Tenure of the High Priesthood--Death of the High Priest Aristobulus--War with the Arabians--The Earth-quake --Death of the last of the Hasmonæans--Hillel becomes the Head of the Synhedrion--His System of Tradition--Menahem the Essene--Shammai and his School--Mariamne--Herod's Magnificence and Passion for Building--Herod rebuilds the Temple--Herod executes his Sons Alexander and Aristobulus-- Antipater and his Intrigues--The Pharisees under Herod--The Destruction of the Roman Eagle--Execution of Antipater and Death of Herod _page_ 84
The Family of Herod--Partition of the Kingdom of Judæa --Revolt against Archelaus--Sabinus and Varus--The Adventurer-Chief Judas the Galilæan--Confirmation of Herod's Will--Archelaus as Ruler--His brief Reign and his Banishment--Judæa becomes a Roman Province--The Revolt against the Census--The Schools of Hillel and Shammai-- Judas Founder of the Party of Zealots--Onerous Taxation-- Fresh Hostility of the Samaritans--Expulsion of the Judæans from Rome by Tiberias--Pontius Pilate _page_ 118
MESSIANIC EXPECTATIONS AND ORIGIN OF CHRISTIANITY.
The Messianic Hope--Various Conceptions of the Expected Messiah--The Essene Idea of the Kingdom of Heaven-- John the Baptist, his Work and Imprisonment--Jesus of Nazareth continues John's Labors--Story of his Birth--His Success--His Relations to Judaism and the Sects--His Miraculous Healing of the Sick and Exorcism of Demons--His Secret Appearance as the Messiah--His Journey to Judæa-- Accusations against him, and his Condemnation--The First Christian Community and its Chiefs--The Ebionites--Removal of Pilate from Judæa--Vitellius, Governor of Syria, favors the Judæans _page_ 141
Character of Agrippa--Envy of the Alexandrian Greeks towards the Judæans--Anti-Judæan Literature--Apion--Measures against the Judæans in Alexandria--Flaccus--Judæan Embassy to Rome--Philo--Caligula's Decision against the Judæan Embassy--Caligula orders his Statue to be placed in the Temple--The Death of Caligula relieves the Judæans-- Agrippa's Advance under Claudius--His Reign--Gamaliel the Elder and his Administration--Death of Agrippa--Herod II-- The False Messiah, Theudas--Death of Herod II _page_ 174