Malichus

MALICHUS, a Jew of an illustrious Birth, and of considerable Power in his Nation. He adhered to the Romans against Alexander, Son of Aristobulus, who made War against Hyrcanus¹.

Under the weak Government of Hyrcanus, Prince and High-priest of the Jews, he shared with Antipater, Father of Herod the great, almost the whole Authority in Judæa; he was for a long Time one of the strongest Supports of this Prince against the Attempts of Aristobulus. He was a crafty intrieguing Man, who not being satisfied with being the second Favourite, would needs be the first². Antipater being the only one that could dispute this with him, Malichus resolved to take him out of the Way. Antipater was aware of it, and thought to avoid it. But when Malichus found himself discovered, he applied to Antipater, and by the Dint of Oaths and Protestations, he had the Art to persuade him and his Sons, that he was intirely innocent. They were reconciled, and Antipater had so much Confidence in him, that he even saved his Life with Marcus, who intended to put him to Death, upon some Intelligence he had received, that he was contriving some Mischief.

But notwithstanding this new Obligation, Malichus did not quit his Undertaking, which he accomplished in this Manner. He corrupted Hyrcanus’s Cupbearer, who one Day as Antipater was eating with this Prince, gave him a Dose of Poison. Immediately by Violence he seized the Government of Jerusalem. But he omitted nothing to persuade Herod and Phasael, the Sons of Antipater, that he had no Hand in this Piece of Wickedness. Herod would not believe him, and even resolved to come to open Force, to revenge the Death of his Father. But Phasael something moderated his Eagerness, rather than to bring on a civil War. However they both concurred in a Resolution of revenging their Father’s Death, but to bring it about without making too great a Noise³. Herod privately sent Notice to Cassius of Malichus’s Wickedness, and procured Leave from him to revenge it. Cassius gave Orders to the Governor of Tyre to support him, and to give him Assistance in this Enterprize.

Some Time after, when Cassius had made himself Master of Laodicea, all the Princes and chief Men of Syria and Palestine repaired to this, to make their Compliments and Presents to Cassius upon this Occasion. Hyrcanus, Malichus, and Herod set out also, to be there as well as others. And when they came near Tyre, where they were to lie, Herod invited the whole Company to Supper. And sending his People before, on Pretence to make Preparation, he gave Notice to the Officers of the Roman Garrison, of the Orders he had for them from Cassius, as to what related to Malichus. They immediately therefore detached a Party from the City, who fell upon Malichus, and put him to Death⁴. His Plot was, if he could have entered into the City without Interruption, to have caused his Son to escape, whom he had sent thither as an Hostage, and then to return back to Judæa, and to have raised the whole Countrey against the Romans. Then by the Favour of that Confusion, into which a civil War would have involved them, to have caused himself to be acknowledged as King of Judæa.

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