www.sacred-texts.com/chr/pjc/pjc35.htm an
interesting take
on this subject 201:1 The cause of the quarrel between Pilate and Herod was,
according to the account of Sister Emmerich, simply this: Pilate
had undertaken to build an aqueduct on the south-east side of the
mountain on which the Temple stood, at the edge of the torrent
into which the waters of the pool of Bethsaida emptied
themselves, and this aqueduct was to carry off the refuse of the
Temple. Herod, through the medium of one of his confidants,
who was a member of the Sanhedrim, agreed to furnish him with
the necessary materials, as also with twenty-eight architects, who
were also Herodians. His aim was to set the Jews still more
against the Roman governor, by causing the undertaking to fail.
He accordingly came to a private understanding with the
architects, who agreed to construct the aqueduct in such a
manner that it would be certain to fall. When the work was
almost finished, and a number of bricklayers from Ophel were
busily employed in removing the scaffolding, the twenty-eight
builders went on to the top of the Tower of Siloe to contemplate
the crash which they knew must take place. Not only did the
whole of the building crumble to pieces, fall, and kill ninety-three
workmen, but even the tower containing the twenty-eight
architects came down, and not one escaped death. This accident
occurred a short time previous to the 8th of January, two years
after Jesus had commenced preaching; it took place on Herod’s
birthday, the same day that John the Baptist was beheaded in the
Castle of Marcherunt. No Roman officer attended these festivities
on account of the affair of the aqueduct, although Pilate had, with
hypocritical politeness, been requested to take a part in them.
Sister Emmerich saw some of the disciples of Jesus carry the news
of this event into Samaria, where he was teaching, on the 8th of
January. Jesus went from thence to Hebron, to comfort the family
of John; and she saw him, on the 13th of January, cure many
among the workmen of Ophel who had been injured by the fall of
the aqueduct. We have seen by the relation previously given how
little gratitude they p. 202 showed him. The enmity of Herod
towards Pilate was still farther increased by the manner in which
the latter revenged himself on the followers of Herod. We will
insert here a few details which were communicated at different
times to Sister Emmerich. On the 25th of March, of the second year
of our Lord’s preaching, when Jesus and his disciples were in the
neighbourhood of Bethania, they were warned by Lazarus that
Judas of Gaulon intended to excite an insurrection against Pilate.
On the 28th of March, Pilate issued a proclamation to the effect
that he intended to impose a tax, the proceeds of which were
partly to cover the expenses he had incurred in raising the
building which had just fallen to the ground. This announcement
was followed by a sedition headed by Judas of Gaulon, who
always stood up for liberty, and who was (unknown to himself) a
tool in the hands of the Herodians. The Herodians were rather like
our Freemasons. On the 30th of March, at ten o’clock P.M., Jesus,
dressed in a dark garment, was teaching in the Temple, with his
Apostles and thirty disciples. The revolt of the Galilæans against
Pilate burst forth on this very day, and the rebels set free fifty of
their number who had been imprisoned the day before; and
many among the Romans were killed. On the 6th of April, Pilate
caused the Galilæans to be massacred at the moment of offering
sacrifice, by disguised soldiers whom he had concealed in the
Temple. Judas was killed with his companions. This massacre
exasperated Herod still more against Pilate, and we have just
seen by what means their reconciliation was affected.
)