Queen Helena of Adiabene

20.17–23

Around this time [during the reign of Herod], Helena, queen of Adiabene, and her son Izates converted to the Jewish religion on account of the following: Monobazus, the king of Adiabene, who also had the name of Bazeus, fell in love with his sister Helena, took her to be his wife, and impregnated her. But as he was in bed with her one night, he laid his hand upon his wife’s belly, fell asleep, and seemed to hear a voice, which urged him to take his hand off his wife’s belly and not hurt the infant that was within, who by God’s providence would be safely born and have a happy end. This voice put him into disorder, so he woke immediately and told the story to his wife.

When his son was born, he called him Izates. He also had an elder son named Monobazus by Helena, as well as other children by his other wives. Yet he openly placed all his affections on Izates, as though he were an only child, which was the source of the envy that his other half-brothers (by the same father) bore to the child. On this account, their envy grew into hatred, as they were all distressed that their father should prefer Izates to themselves. Now although their father clearly perceived this matter, he did forgive them as not harboring these passions out of ill disposition but out of a desire each of them had to be loved by their father. He did, however, send Izates with many presents to Abennerig, the king of Charax-Spasini [an ancient port city at the head of the Persian Gulf]. He entrusted his son’s safety to him on account of the great fear he had concerning him—that he should come to some misfortune due to the hatred his brothers had for him. Abennerig gladly received the young man, had great affection for him, and married him to his own daughter, whose name was Samacha. He also granted him a territory from which he would receive large revenues.

20.24–33

But Monobazus—now being old and seeing that he had but a short time to live—wished to see his son before he died. So he sent for him, embraced him most affectionately, and granted him the territory called Carra [location obscure]. The land produces amomum [a spice] in great abundance. There also lie the remains of that ark, in which it is related that Noah was saved from the flood; and the remains are still shown to those who desire to see them. Accordingly, Izates passed the time in that territory until the death of his father.

But the very day that Monobazus died, Queen Helena sent for all the magnates, governors of the kingdom, and those entrusted with command over the military. When they arrived, she gave the following speech to them: “I believe you are not unaware that my husband longed for Izates to succeed him in the government and considered him worthy to do so. However, I await your determination. For happy is he who receives a kingdom not from a single person only but from the willing consent of a great many.” She said this in order to test those who were invited and to discover their sentiments. Having heard her speech, they first of all paid homage to the queen, as was their custom. They then said that they supported the king’s decision and would comply with it. They rejoiced—as being agreeable to all their wishes—that Izates’ father had preferred him over the rest of his brothers. They desired first though to slay his brethren and kinsmen, so that the government might come securely to Izates; because once they were destroyed, all that fear which might arise from their hatred and envy toward him would be removed. Helena replied to this; she returned her gratitude for their kindness to both herself and to Izates. She desired though that they would defer the execution of this slaughter of Izates’ brothers until he should be there himself and give his approval to it. Now since these men, having advised that the brothers be slain, did not persuade her, for their own security they recommended that she at least keep them in bonds until Izates arrived. They also counseled her to appoint someone in whom she could put the greatest trust as governor of the kingdom in the interim.

Queen Helena complied with their counsel and appointed Monobazus, the eldest son, to be king. Placing the diadem upon his head and giving him his father’s signet ring, and also the ornament that they call Sampser [perhaps a golden shield], she exhorted him to administer the affairs of the kingdom until his brother should be present. And he [Izates] arrived suddenly, upon hearing that his father was dead, and succeeded his brother Monobazus, who yielded the government to him.

20.34–48

Now, during the time Izates was residing at Charax-Spasini, a certain Jewish merchant whose name was Ananias entered among the wives of the king and taught them to worship God according to the Jewish tradition. Moreover, by means of these women he became known to Izates and similarly persuaded him to embrace that religion. At the earnest request of Izates, Ananias also accompanied him when he was summoned by his father to come to Adiabene. It also happened that, at about the same time, Helena was instructed by another Jew and adopted their laws.

When Izates arrived in Adiabene and took over the kingdom and saw his brothers and other relations in bonds there, he was displeased by what had taken place. Believing it an act of impiety either to slay or imprison them—but still considering it dangerous to have them with him without being imprisoned—with the memory of the injuries committed against them, he sent some of them and their children as hostages to Rome, to Claudius Caesar, and sent the others to Artabanus, the king of Parthia, with similar intentions.

When Izates perceived that his mother was highly pleased with the Jewish customs, he himself became zealous to convert and embrace them entirely. Supposing that he could not be a Jew with certainty unless he were circumcised, he was ready to have it done. But when his mother understood what he was about to do, she endeavored to prevent him, telling him that this would pose a danger for him; that, as king, he would thereby bring himself into great odium among his subjects if they should understand that he was so fond of rites that were to them strange and foreign; and that they would never tolerate a Jew ruling over them as king. This is what she said to him and, for the present, persuaded him to forbear. For his part, he related what she had said to Ananias, who confirmed what his mother had said. When he [Ananias] had also threatened to leave Izates unless he complied [with his mother’s wish], he went away from him and said that he was afraid that if such an action should become public to all, he himself would be in danger of punishment for having been responsible for it, for having been the king’s instructor in actions that were disreputable. He said that the king could worship God without being circumcised, even though he did resolve to follow the Jewish traditions entirely, as worship of God carried more authority than circumcision. He added that God would forgive him for not performing the operation since it was omitted out of necessity and due to fear of his subjects. At that time, the king complied with these arguments of Ananias. But afterward, since he had not quite given up his desire to do this thing, a certain other Jew who came from Galilee, whose name was Eleazar—and who was esteemed very skillful in the ancestral traditions of his country—persuaded him to perform the rite. For as he entered into his palace to salute him and found him reading the law of Moses, he said to him, “You are unaware, O king, that you unjustly break the greatest principles of those laws and therefore commit offense against God Himself [by not becoming circumcised]. For you ought not only read those laws but of first importance must practice what is commanded by them. How long will you remain uncircumcised? If you have not yet read the law concerning circumcision and do not know how great an impiety you are guilty of by neglecting it, read it now.”

When the king heard what he said, he delayed the action no longer and retired to another room, sent for a physician, and did what he was commanded to do. He then sent for his mother and Ananias, his tutor, and informed them that he had performed the rite. They were immediately struck with astonishment and fear—and that to a great degree—lest the action should be openly discovered and censured and the king jeopardize his kingdom, since his subjects would not bear to be governed by a man who was so zealous for foreign customs and lest they should themselves be at risk because they would be held responsible for his action. But it was God Himself who prevented what they feared from taking place. He preserved both Izates himself and his sons when they fell into many dangers, procured their deliverance when it seemed to be impossible, and demonstrated thereby that the fruit of piety does not perish for those who have special regard for Him and fix their faith upon Him only. These events we shall report hereafter.

20.49–53

As for Helena, the king’s mother, when she saw that the affairs of Izates’ kingdom were at peace and that her son was happy, admired even among foreigners, owing to God’s providence over him, she wished to go to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple of God, which was quite famous among all men, and to make thanksgiving offerings there. She requested her son give her leave to go there. He consented to her request quite willingly, made great preparations for her expedition, and gave her a great deal of money. She went down to the city of Jerusalem, with her son conducting her on her journey a great part of the way.

Now her coming was of very great advantage to the people of Jerusalem, for a famine had oppressed them at that time, and many people died for lack of what was necessary to procure food. Queen Helena sent some of her servants to Alexandria with money to procure a great quantity of grain and others of them to Cyprus to bring back a cargo of dried figs. As soon as they returned and had brought back those provisions, which was done very quickly, she distributed food to those who were in need and left a most excellent memorial behind her of this benefaction, which she bestowed on our whole nation. When her son Izates was informed of this famine, he sent great sums of money to the leading men of Jerusalem. But, I shall report later on the good things performed by these monarchs for our city. [ . . . ]

20.94–96

But when Helena, his mother, heard of her son’s death [from natural causes], she was deeply distressed, as was natural, over her loss of such an extremely pious son. Yet it was comforting to her when she heard that her eldest son succeeded him. Accordingly, she went to him in haste. Once she arrived in Adiabene, she did not long outlive her son Izates. But Monobazus sent her bones, along with those of Izates, his brother, to Jerusalem and ordered that they should be buried at the pyramids that their mother had erected, which were three in number, and no more than three furlongs [less than half a mile] from the city of Jerusalem. As for the actions of Monobazus the king, which he performed during the rest of his life, we will report these later.

Translated by William Whiston, adapted byAaron Samuels.