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Pheroras

The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia

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Son of Antipater and his wife Cypros; died in 5 B.C. (Josephus, "Ant." 17:3, § 3; "B. J." 1:29, § 4). He was the youngest brother of Herod, who entrusted to him the petty warfare with the partizans of Antigonus, and at whose order he rebuilt the fortress of ALEXANDRIUM ("Ant." 14:7, § 3; 15, § 4). When Herod was accused before Antony, he left his mother and other relatives at Masada in charge of Pheroras (ib. 15:6, § 5), whose rule at court henceforth was confined to petty squabbles and intrigues. With his sister Salome and Herod's son Antipater, he plotted against Alexander and Aristobulus, the sons of Mariamne (ib. 16:7, § 2; "B. J." 1:24, § 1), while the Pharisees persuaded him that he was the Messiah ("Ant." 17:2, § 4). Despite this, Herod requested Augustus to appoint Pheroras tetrarch of Perea, in 20 B.C., with an allowance of 100 talents ("Ant." 15:10, § 3; "B. J." 1:24, § 5). After the death of his first wife he refused the hand of the richly dowered eldest daughter of Herod because of his love for a slave girl. As he lay sick, however, Herod forgave him. He escaped by his early death the fate of many of the house of Herod. After his death two of his sons married two daughters of Herod, who were dowered by the emperor Augustus himself ("Ant." 17:11, § 5; "B. J." 2:6, § 3).