4. Character of Herod.--Now some there are who stand amazed at the diversity of Herod's nature and purposes; for when we have respect {18} to his magnificence, and the benefits which he bestowed on all mankind, there is no possibility for even those who had the least respect for him, to deny, or not openly confess, that he had a nature vastly beneficent; but when anyone looks upon the punishment he inflicted and the injuries he did, not only to his subjects, but to his nearest relatives, and takes notice of his severe and unrelenting disposition there, he will be forced to allow that he was brutish, and a stranger to all humanity. * * * If anyone was not very obsequious to him in his language, and would not confess himself to be his slave, or but seemed to think of any innovation in his government, he was not able to contain himself, but prosecuted his very kindred and friends and punished them as if they were enemies; and this wickedness he undertook out of a desire that he might be himself alone honored. * * * A man he was of great barbarity towards all men equally, and a slave to his passion; but above the consideration of what was right.--Josephus. 5. Last Illness of Herod.--But now Herod's distemper greatly increased upon him after a severe manner, and this by God's judgment upon him for his sins; for a fire glowed in him slowly, which did not so much appear to the touch outwardly, as it augmented his pains inwardly; for it brought upon him a vehement appetite to eating, which he could not avoid to supply with one sort of food or other. His entrails were exulcerated, and the chief violence of his pain lay on his colon; an aqueous and transparent liquor also had settled itself upon his feet; * * * and when he sat upright, he had a difficulty of breathing which was very loathsome, on account of the stench of his breath, and the quickness of his returns. He had also convulsions in all parts of his body, which increased his strength to an unsufferable degree. It was said by those who pretended to divine, and who were endowed with wisdom to foretell such things, that God inflicted this punishment on the king on account of his great impurity; yet was he still in hopes of recovering, though his afflictions seemed greater than anyone could bear.--Josephus. REVIEW. 1. In what year of Rome was Messiah born? 2. State the reasons for placing the date of Messiah's birth in the year of Rome 753. (See notes 1 and 2.) 3. Give the name of Messiah's birthplace. 4. For what is Ephratah noted? (Note.) 5. Who was the mother of Jesus? 6. Relate what you can of Mary, and the announcement that she should be the mother of the Son of God. 7. Relate the circumstances under which Christ was born. {19} 8. Give an account of the visitation of the angels to the shepherds. 9. What is Canon Farrar's translation of the title of the angelic song? 10. Give an account of the magi's visit to Jerusalem in search of the Christ.