Section 69
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 37 effluvia, and the rapidity of the respiration. He was also so con vulsed in every part of his body, that it added an almost insupera ble strength. It was said, therefore, by those who are conversant with divine things, and to whose wisdom it appertained to declare such things, that God inflicted this punishment upon the king on account of his great impiety." These are the particulars which are stated by the aforesaid writer, in the book mentioned ; and in the second book of his his tory, he gives very much the same account concerning him, in the following words: " Then the disease pervading his whole body, distracted it by various torments. For the fever became more intense, the itching of the whole surface was insupportable, and the pains of the lower abdomen were incessant. On his feet were swellings, as of one labouring with the dropsy. There was also an inflammation of the ventricle, and a putrefaction that gene rated worms. Beside this, a more violent breathing, and difficult respiration, and convulsions of all the limbs ; so that they who re ferred to a divine agency, said that this disease was a punish ment. But, though struggling with so many sufferings, he never theless clung to life, and did not relinquish the hope of deliverance, but was ever devising new remedies. Crossing the Jordan, there fore, he used the warm baths near Callirhoe. These flow into the lake Asphaltites, (Dead sea,) but by reason of their sweetness, they are also potable. As the physicians here deemed it neces sary to use some soothing application, his whole body was bathed in tepid oil, in a bathing tub filled with oil for that purpose, when he was so overcome that his eyes began to break, and turn up like one dead. His servants then being alarmed and raising an outcry, he indeed returned to himself at the noise ; but after that, despairing of recovery, he ordered about fifty drachms to be dis tributed to the soldiers, and considerable sums to be given to his generals and friends. Returning, he came to Jericho; where, being seized with despair, and now only threatening death him self, he proceeded to a crowning act of most nefarious character. He collected the distinguished men of every village from the whole of Judea, and commanded them to be shut up in what was called the Hippodrome. He then sent for Salome, his sister, and hei