Geoff Hudson

ANT.20.2 - HELENA AND IZATES

Ant. 20.1 ends with Herod of Chalcis petitioning Claudius Caesar for the authority over the temple, the sacred treasure and the choice of the high priests. One might expect that Ant.20.2 would contain some reference to Claudius and Herod, but the story appears to switch to two characters, Helena and Izates, that are seemingly unrelated to Ant.20.1.

The story in Ant.20.2 of Helena and Izates has some remarkable similarities to that of Agrippina, the third wife of Claudius and her son who was given the name Nero after being adopted by Claudius.

I have edited the account with text thus:
[ ] = proposed editor’s insertions
{ } = proposed editor’s removals

1.1 About this time it was that [Helena] {Agrippina}, [queen of Adiabene] {the empress}, and her son [Izates] {Nero}, changed their course of life, and embraced the Jewish customs, and this on the occasion following: [Monobazus] {Claudius}, [the king of Adiabene] {Caesar}, who had also the name of [Bazeus] {Nero}, fell in love with his [sister] {brother’s daughter} [Helena] {Agrippina}, and took her to be his wife, and [begat] {adopted} her [with] child.

1.2 But as he was in bed with her one night, he laid his hand upon his wife's {son’s} belly, and fell asleep, and seemed to hear a voice, which bid him take his hand off his wife's {son’s} belly, and not hurt the infant [that was therein,] which, by God's providence, would be safely [born] {adopted}, and have a happy end. This voice put him into disorder; so he awaked immediately, and told the story to his wife; and when his son was [born] {adopted}, he called him [Izates] {Nero}.

1.3 He had indeed [Monobazus] {Britannicus}, his [elder brother] {son}, by [Helena] {Messalina} also, as he had [other sons] {a daughter Octavia} by [other wives] {her} besides. Yet did he openly place all his affections on this his [only begotten] {adopted} son [Izates] {Nero}, which was the origin of that envy which his other brethren [,by the same father,] bore to him; while on this account they hated him more and more, and were all under great affliction that their father should prefer [Izates] {Nero} before them.

1.4 Now although [their father] {Claudius} was very sensible of these their passions, yet did he forgive them, as not indulging those passions out of an ill disposition, but out of a desire each of them had to be beloved by their father. However, he sent [Izates] {Nero}, with many presents, to [Abennerig] {Herod}, the king of [Charax-Spasini] {Chalcis}, and that out of the great dread he was in about him, lest he should come to some misfortune by the hatred his brethren bore him; and he committed his son's preservation to him. Upon which [Abennerig] {Herod} gladly received the young man, and had a great affection for him [,and] {.} {Claudius} married him to his own daughter, whose name was [Samacha] {Octavia}: he also bestowed a country upon him, from which he received large revenues.

2.1 But when [Monobazus] {Claudius} was grown old, and saw that he had but a little time to live, he had a mind to come to the sight of his son before he died. So he sent for him, and embraced him after the most affectionate manner, and bestowed on him the country called Carra; it was a soil that bare amomum in great plenty: there are also in it the remains of that ark, wherein it is related that Noah escaped the deluge, and where they are still shown to such as are desirous to see them. Accordingly, [Izates] {Nero} abode in that country until his father's death.

2.2 But the very day that [Monobazus] {Claudius} died, [queen Helena] {the empress Agrippina} sent for all the [grandees, and governors] {representatives} of the [kingdom] {Senate}, and for those that had the armies committed to their command; and when they were come, she made the following speech to them: "I believe you are not unacquainted that my husband was desirous [Izates] {Nero} should succeed him in the government, and thought him worthy so to do. However, I wait your determination; for happy is he who receives a kingdom, not from a single person only, but from the willing suffrages of a great many." This she said, in order to try those that were invited, and to discover their sentiments. Upon the hearing of which, they first of all paid their homage to the [queen] {empress}, as their custom was, and then they said that they confirmed the [king's] {emperor’s} determination, and would submit to it; and they rejoiced that [Izates's] {Nero’s} father had preferred him before the rest of his brethren, as being agreeable to all their wishes: but that they were desirous first of all to slay his [brethren] {brother} and kinsmen, that so the government might come securely to [Izates] {Nero}; because if they were once destroyed, all that fear would be over which might arise from their hatred and envy to him.

2.3 [Helena] {Agrippina} replied to this, that she returned them her thanks for their kindness to herself and to [Izates] {Nero}; but desired that they would however defer the execution of this slaughter of [Izates's] {Nero’s} [brethren] {brother} till he should be there himself, and give his approbation to it. So since these men had not prevailed with her, when they advised her to slay [them] {him}, they exhorted her at least to keep [them] {him} in bonds till he should come, and that for their own security; they also gave her counsel to set up some one whom she could put the greatest trust in, as a governor of the [kingdom] {empire} in the mean time.

2.4 So [queen Helena] {the empress} complied with this counsel of theirs, and set up [Monobazus] {Seneca},
[the eldest son, to be king, and put the diadem upon his head, and gave him his father's ring, with its signet; as also the ornament which they call Sampser,]
and exhorted him to administer the affairs of the [kingdom] {principate} till [his brother] {Nero} should come {of age};
[ who came suddenly upon hearing that his father was dead, and succeeded his brother Monobazus, who resigned up the government to him.]

3.1 Now, during the time [Izates] {Nero} abode at [Charax-Spasini] {Chalcis}, a [certain] {the} Jewish [merchant] {Rechabite}, whose name was [Ananias] {James}, got among the women that belonged to the king {of Chalcis}, and taught them to worship God according to the [Jewish religion] {Spirit}. He, moreover, by their means, became known to [Izates] {Nero}, and persuaded him, in like manner, to embrace that [religion] {Spirit}; he also, at the earnest entreaty of [Izates] {Nero}, accompanied him when he was sent for by his [father] {mother} to come to [Adiabene] {Rome}; it also happened that [Helena] {Agrippina}, about the same time, was instructed by [a certain other Jew] {James} and went over to [them] {the Spirit}.

3.2 But when [Izates] {Nero} [had taken the kingdom, and] was come to [Adiabene] {Rome}, and there saw his [brethren] {brother} and other kinsmen in bonds, he was displeased at it; and as he thought it an instance of impiety either to slay or imprison them, but still thought it a hazardous thing for to let them have their liberty, with the remembrance of the injuries that had been offered them, he sent some of them and their children for [hostages] {safety} [to Rome], to [Claudius Caesar] {Seneca}, and sent the others to [Artabanus] {Herod}, the king of [Parthia] {Chalcis}, with the like intentions.

4.1 And when [he] {Nero} perceived that his mother was highly pleased with the Jewish customs, he made haste to change, and to embrace them entirely; and as he supposed that he could not be thoroughly a Jew unless he were circumcised, he was ready to have it done. But when his mother understood what he was about, she endeavored to hinder him from doing it, and said to him that this thing would bring him into danger; and that, as he was [a king] {the emperor}, he would thereby bring himself into great odium among his subjects, when they should understand that he was so fond of rites that were to them strange and foreign; and that they would never bear to be ruled over by a Jew.

4.2 Thus it was that she said to him, and for the present persuaded him to forbear. And when he had related what she had said to [Ananias] {Seneca}, he confirmed what his mother had said; and when he had also threatened to leave him, unless he complied with him, he went away from him, and said that he was afraid lest such an action being once become public to all, he should himself be in danger of punishment for having been the occasion of it, and having been the [king's] {emperor’s} instructor in actions that were of ill reputation; and he said that he might worship God without being circumcised, even though he did resolve to follow the [Jewish law] {Spirit} entirely, which [worship] {Spirit} of God was of a superior nature to [circumcision] {the Jewish law}.

4.3 He added, that {the Spirit of} God would [forgive] {purify} him, though he did not perform the operation

[, while it was omitted out of necessity, and for fear of his subjects.]
So the king at that time complied with these persuasions of [Ananias] {Seneca}.

4.4 But afterwards, as he had not quite left off his desire of doing this thing, a [certain other Jew] {high priest} that came [out of Galilee] {from Jerusalem}, whose name was Eleazar, and who was esteemed very skillful in the learning of his country, persuaded him to do the thing; for as he entered into his palace to salute him, and found him reading the law of Moses, he said to him, "Thou dost not consider, O king! that thou unjustly breakest the principal of those laws, and art injurious to God himself, by omitting to be circumcised; for thou oughtest not only to read them, but chiefly to practice what they enjoin thee. How long wilt thou continue uncircumcised? But if thou hast not yet read the law about circumcision, and dost not know how great impiety thou art guilty of by neglecting it, read it now." When the [king] {emperor} had heard what he said, he delayed the thing no longer, but retired to another room, and sent for a surgeon, and did what he was commanded to do.

4.5 He then sent for his mother, and [Ananias] {Seneca} his tutor, and informed them that he had done the thing; upon which they were presently struck with astonishment and fear, and that to a great degree, lest the thing should be openly discovered and censured, and the [king] {emperor} should hazard the loss of his kingdom, while his subjects would not bear to be governed by a man who was so zealous in another religion; and lest they should themselves run some hazard, because they would be supposed the occasion of his so doing.

4.6 But it was God himself who hindered what they feared from taking effect; for he preserved both [Izates] {Nero} himself and his [sons] {tutor} when they fell into many dangers, and procured their deliverance when it seemed to be impossible, and demonstrated thereby that the fruit of piety does not perish as to those that have regard to him, and fix their faith upon him only. But these events we shall relate hereafter.

5.1 But as to [Helena] {Agrippina}, the [king's] {emperor’s} mother, when she saw that the affairs of [Izates's] {Nero’s} kingdom were in peace, and that her son was a happy man, and admired among all men, and even among foreigners, by the means of God's [providence] {Spirit} over him, she had a mind to go to the city of Jerusalem, in order to worship at that temple of God which was so very famous among all men, and to offer her thank-offerings there. So she desired her son to give her leave to go thither; upon which he gave his consent to what she desired very willingly, and made great preparations for her dismission, and gave her a great deal of money, and she went down to the city Jerusalem, her son conducting her on her journey a great way.

5.2 Now her coming was of very great advantage to the people of Jerusalem; for whereas a famine did oppress them at that time, and many people died for want of what was necessary to procure food withal, [queen Helena] {the empress Agrippina} sent some of her servants to Alexandria with money to buy a great quantity of corn, and others of them to Cyprus, to bring a cargo of dried figs. And as soon as they were come back, and had brought those provisions, which was done very quickly, she distributed food to those that were in want of it, and left a most excellent [memorial] {remembrance} behind her of this benefaction, which she bestowed on our whole nation.

5.3 And when her son [Izates] {Nero} was informed of this famine, he sent great sums of money to the principal men in Jerusalem. However, what favors this [queen] and [king] {emperor} conferred upon our city Jerusalem shall be further related hereafter.

Geoff

Geoff Hudson

I know its hot here in the UK, and I'm a little crazy, but this is my latest thought about Josephus from his Life:

(2)Now, my father Matthias was not only eminent on account of his nobility, but had a higher commendation on account of his [righteousness] {purity}, and was in great reputation in [Jerusalem] {ROME}, THE GREATEST CITY we have.

***

Matthias, probably a Rechabite, went to Rome where he had a son Josephus. Josephus was born in Rome. Does Matthias sound familiar?

We even have a "we" document, but "we" means Roman.

I am looking at this in its context.

Geoff

Geoff Hudson

Here is the rest of Life 2.

I was myself brought up with my brother, whose name was Matthias, for he was my own brother, by both father and mother; and I made mighty proficiency in the improvements of my learning, and appeared to have both a great memory and understanding. Moreover, when I was a child, and about fourteen years of age, I was commended by all for the [love] {spirit} I had [to] {of} learning; on which account the [high priests] {LAWYERS} and principal men of the city came then frequently to me together, in order to know my opinion about the accurate understanding of POINTS OF THE LAW.

*****

It wasn't Jewish law that Josephus knew about, but Roman law.

Geoff

Geoff Hudson

Life 3 has Josephus apparently travelling to Rome in his twenty-sixth year. This is said to be when Felix was procurator of Judea. If Josephus was born in CE37 (Life 1), the year he is said to have gone to Rome would be CE62. But all the references I have seen say that Felix was only procurator until CE59 (E. P. Sanders) or CE60 (Eisenman and Anchor Bible Dictionary).

Geoff

Geoff Hudson

Ant. 20:7:1,2
[ ] read out { } read in

(1)So Claudius sent Felix, the brother of Pallas, to take care of the affairs of Judea; and when he had already completed the twelfth year of his reign, he bestowed upon Agrippa the tetrarchy of Philip and Batanea, and added thereto Trachonites, with Abila; which last had been the tetrarchy of Lysanias; but he took from him Chalcis, when he had been governor thereof four years. And when Agrippa had received these countries as the gift of Caesar, he gave his sister Drusilla in marriage to [Azizus] {Felix}, [king] {governor} of [Emesa] {Judea}, upon his consent to be circumcised; for Epiphanes, the son of king Antiochus, had refused to marry her, because, after he had promised her father formerly to come over to the Jewish religion, he would not now perform that promise. He also gave Mariamne in marriage to Archelaus, the son of Helcias, to whom she had formerly been betrothed by Agrippa her father; from which marriage was derived a daughter, whose name was Bernice.

(2) But for the marriage of Drusilla with [Azizus] {Felix}, it was...

[in no long time afterward dissolved]

...upon the following occasion: While Felix was procurator of Judea, he saw this Drusilla, and fell in love with her; for she did indeed exceed all other women in beauty; and he...

[sent to her a person whose name was Simon one of his friends; a Jew he was, and by birth a Cypriot, and one who pretended to be a magician, and]

...endeavored to persuade her to...

[forsake her present husband, and]

marry him; and promised, that if she would not refuse him, he would [make her a happy woman] {be circumcised}. Accordingly she acted ill, and, because she was desirous to avoid her sister Bernice's envy, for she was very ill treated by her on account of her beauty, was prevailed upon...

[to transgress the laws of her forefathers, and]

...to marry Felix; and when he had had a son by her, he named him Agrippa.
*****

Felix was was a freed slave in Claudius' family, and a particular favourite of the emperor. Having received lands from Claudius it would be natural for Agrippa to offer Drusilla in marriage to Felix who himself was descended from royalty (Tac. Ann. 12.54).

The spurious marriage of Drusilla to Azizus and the story about Felix's fictitious Jewish friend Simon a magician was to scandalise Drusilla, and to cover-up Felix's conversion to Judaism. This Roman procurator had himself circumcised to get Drusilla, and he even named his son after her brother who gave her in marriage. But she married for the wrong reason which was to get away from her sister Bernice.

Geoff