The works of Josephus with great diligence revised and amended according to the excellent French translation of Monsieur Arnauld D'Andilly : also the Embassy of Philo Judæus to the Emperor Caius Caligula :

[ A] CHAP. XII.

Of Herod's War for the recovering of Jerusalem after his return from Rome; and how he warred against the Thieves.

AT this time Antigonus besieged those that were left in the Castle of Massada, who had great store of Victuals, and wanted nothing but Water. Joseph, Herod's Brother, who defended it, purposed to go to the Arabians with two hundred of his dearest friends, for that he had intelligence that Malichus repented that he had given [ B] Herod no better entertainment. And accordingly he had forsaken the Castle, had not great store of rain fallen that very night, wherein he intended to flee; but the Wells and Cisterns being now filled with Water, there was no cause to flee; so that issuing out of the Castle, he assaulted Antigonus's Soldiers, and killed very many of them; sometimes in open fight, and sometimes by pollicy: Yet, he fought not always with fortunate success, but returned sometimes with loss. In the mean time, Ventidius (who was General of the Roman Army which was sent to expel the Parthians out of Syria) after he had repulsed them, came into Judaea, under pretence to succour Joseph and the rest that were besieged; out in effect, to get money from Antigonus. When therefore he drew near Jerusalem, and had received the money he looked for, he departed with [ C] the greatest part of his Army, leaving Silo behind him with a few to colour his pre∣tence: And Antigonus hoping for a second Supply from the Parthians, corrupted Silo not to molest him for the present. By this time Herod having sailed from Italy to Ptolemais, and gathered a great Army of strangers and his own Countreymen to∣gether, came into Galilee against Antigonus, being assisted with the Forces of Ven∣tidius and Silo, whom Gellius, who was sent from Antonius, perswaded to establish Herod in his Kingdom. But Ventidius was busie in appeasing the Broils that the Par∣thians had made in the Cities, and Silo was corrupted by Antigonus: Yet did not He∣rod want aid; for every day, the further he marched into the Countrey, the more his Army encreased, all Galilee (very little excepted) yielding unto him. Whereupon he [ D] purposed first of all to go to Massada, to deliver his friends that were there besieged; but Joppa hindred his purpose; which being an enemy Town, he thought best to take it before he went any further, lest whilst he was going to Jerusalem, his enemies should have a place behind him to flee to. Now Silo joyned Armies with Herod, rejoyc∣ing that he had found occasion to retire; but he was pursued by the Jews of Antigo∣nus's Party, who Herod with a loose Wing of his Army, and a small Company of men, encountred, and presently put to flight, and saved Silo, who had much ado to make resistance against them. This done, and Joppa taken, he hasted to Massada; and the people of the Countrey (some for his Father's sake, others for his own, and many for both) joyned themselves to him: Many also, came to him for hope, because he was [ E] now King, so that now he had a very puissant Army: But Antigonus hindred his jour∣ney, by planting certain Ambushes in places convenient, where Herod was to pass; though by all this they little harmed him.

Herod having raised the Siege of Massada, and rescued his friends, from thence went to Jerusalem; where both Silo's Soldiers, and many of the City came and joyned with him. Being now terrified with the greatness of his Forces, there pitching their Tents at the west side of the Town, they that guarded that part, assaulted them with Darts and Arrows; and others issuing by Troops forth of the City, assaulted the Front of the Army: Whereupon Herod caused one to go about the Walls of the City, and to proclaim, how that he was come for the good of the whole City; and that he would [ F] not take revenge of any, though his open enemy; but would pardon, even them that had been most seditious. But when Antigonus his followers with loud exclamations hindred the Crier's voice from being heard, lest any man should alter his mind; Herod presently commanded his men to beat the enemies off from the Wall; upon which order, they shot such a flight of Arrows and Darts from the top of the Towers, that they for∣ced them to retire. At this time Silo was detected to have been corrupted with mo∣ney; for he solicited many Soldiers to cry out that they wanted Provisions, and to ask money and Victuals, and to crave to be dismissed and sent into some fit place of Quar∣ter during the Winter, because Antigonus had laid waste all the Countrey; and even Silo himself offered to be gone, and exhorted others to do the like. But Herod seeing [ G] himself ready to be forsaken, went to the Captains that served under Silo; and calling many of the Soldiers together, requested them not to forsake him at that exigent, whom Caesar, Antonius, and the whole Senate (as they knew) had sent thither; promising

them, that within one day he would relieve all their necessities. When he had thus [ H] entreated them, himself went about the Fields, and brought them so much Provision that he cut off all Silo's excuses; and forecasting lest hereafter there should be any want, he sent Letters to Samaria (which City about this time had put it self under his protection) willing them to bring Victuals, and Wine, and Oyl, and Cattel to Jericho. Antigonus hearing this, presently sent certain of his men to lie in Ambush in the Fields, and suddenly to set upon those that came for Provision, and kill them, and so hinder them from carrying any Victuals to the Camp: according to his Commandment, there went a great number of Soldiers to Jericho, and placed themselves upon the Moun∣tains, with an intent to espy if any body carried Provision to the Army. In the mean time Herod rested not; for taking with him ten Companies (five of the Romans, and [ I] five of the Jews, with three hundred Mercenaries, and a few Horse,) he came to Jeri∣cho, where he found the City without Inhabitants, and five hundred with their Wives and Families had placed themselves upon the tops of the Mountains; whom when he had surprized, he permitted to depart. But the Romans brake into the City, and sacked it (where they found the houses stored with all manner of Riches;) and the King leaving a Garrison at Jericho returned. He sent likewise the Roman Soldiers to the Provinces which were on his side; to wit, Idumaea, Galilee and Samaria, that they might abide there till Winter was past. Antigonus also, th••ough Silo's means (whom by money he had made his friend) obtained that a part of his Army might (during the Winter time) abide at Lidda, that he might by this means obtain the favour of Anto∣nius: [ K] and the Romans, being now discharged from the Wars, lived in great ease and plenty.

All this time Herod was not idle, but accompanied with two thousand Foot, and five hundred Horse, he went about Idumaea, and sent also his Brother Joseph, lest by Anti∣gonus's means the people should rebel. And having carried his Mother, and the rest of his Kindred, whom he took from Massada, into Samaria, and placed them where no danger might betide them; himself went into Galilee, to subdue that part of the Coun∣trey which as yet was not in his hands, and to expel from thence the Garrisons left by Antigonus. And when he was come to Sephoris, notwithstanding there was a very great Snow, he easily took it, for the Garrison fled before he assaulted it; and finding [ L] there great store of Provision, he refreshed his Soldiers, which now with Winter wea∣ther were much harassed; and then sent them against the great number of Thieves that infested that Province, and lay lurking in Dens and Caves; and who making of∣ten incursions upon the Countrey, molested the Inhabitants no less than if they had been an Army of Enemies. And sending before three Companies of Foot, and one Troop of Horse into a Village called Arbela, himself forty days after came thither with the whole Army. For all this the Thieves feared him not, but arming themselves, came to meet him, trusting to their experience in Warlike affairs, and their own des∣perate courage. The Battel being joyned, the Right Wing of their Party put the Left Wing of Herod's to flight; but he with his Right Wing presently succoured them, [ M] and recalled his men that fled; and rushing violently upon his enemies, he a little stopped their career; till at last the Fore-front of their Battel, not able to stand any longer, fled: Herod pursued them even unto Jordan, and killed many of them; those that escaped fled over the River. And thus he freed Galilee from that fear, save that yet there were left some lurking in the Caves, by whom he was constrained to make a longer stay. Wherefore, first of all he gave the Soldiers some fruit of their labours, distributing to every one of them an hundred and fifty Drachmes of Silver, and unto the Captains more, and so he sent them where they should pass the Winter. Also he writ unto his youngest Brother Pheroras, to provide necessaries for them, and to build a Wall about the Castle of Alexandrium; which he performed. [ N]

In the mean while Antonius passed the time about Athens, and Ventidius sent for Silo and Herod, to assist him in the War against the Parthians; after they had settled the af∣fairs of Judaea, so as no longer to need their presence. Herod willingly sent Silo unto Ventidius; and in the mean time he with his Army went against the Thieves in the Caves. These Caves were in very steep Mountains, so that there was no way to come to them, save only by crooked and very narrow passages: And these Mountains were all Rocks of Stone, hanging over the Valleys; so that the King a great while was doubt∣ful what to do, seeing the place so inaccessible. At last, Herod devised a way scarcely heard of before; for he put the valiantest of his men into Chests, and so let them down to the mouths of the Caves, where they killed the Thieves and their Families, and put [ O] fire to them that resisted. And Herod seeking to save some of them, caused a Trumpet to publish to them, that they might come to him with safety; but there was not one

[ A] that came; and those that were forced, chose rather to kill themselves than be his Cap∣tives: So that an old man having seven Sons and a Wife, who all requested him that they might go forth to the King and save their lives, killed them all after this manner: Himself stood before the door of the Cave, and bad them come forth one by one, and always as one of them came forth, he killed him. And Herod being in a place where he might behold this spectacle, being moved with compassion, stretched forth his hand and requested him to spare his Children: But he being nothing moved to compassion by Herod's words, upbraided Herod's meanness of mind; and having butchered his Sons, he also killed his Wife; and casting the dead bodies down into the Valleys, at last he cast himself likewise down headlong.

[ B] Herod having thus taken the Caves, and slain those that were in them, left such a part of his Army, as he thought might suffice to repress any that should attempt a Re∣bellion, under the Command of Ptolomey, and returned to Samaria, carrying with him three thousand Foot, and six hundred Horse against Antigonus. After his departure, those that were accustomed to trouble Galilee, having now (as they thought) opportu∣nity, assaulted Ptolomey at unawares, and killed him; and having wasted the Countrey, retired into Marish Grounds, and Strong Holds. Which when Herod understood, he presently came to succour the Countrey, and killed most part of the enemies; and having taken all the Castles by force, he exacted an hundred Talents for a punishment of that revolt, to be paid by the Cities. In the mean time the Parthians being put to [ C] flight, and Pacorus slain, Ventidius, in obedience to Letters from Antonius, sent Machae∣ra to Herod with a thousand Horse, and two Legions of Foot, to assist him against An∣tigonus. Antigonus writ Letters to Machaera, desiring him to help him; and complain∣ing that Herod had injured him, promised him a great summ of money: But he think∣ing it not best to forsake him he was sent to succour, especially seeing that Herod would give more, would not be subborned by him; yet counterfeiting himself to be Antigo∣nus his friend, under that pretence to discover what Forces he had, contrary to Herod's counsel, he went to him. But Antigonus distrusting his intent, kept him out of the Ci∣ty, and like an enemy drave him away from the Walls: Machaera ashamed of what he had done, returned to Emmaus unto Herod; and being in a rage that things fell out a∣gainst [ D] his expectation, he killed all the Jews he found, not respecting whether they fa∣voured Herod or Antigonus. Herod hereat was moved, and purposed to be revenged upon Machaera, as an enemy; yet he bridled himself, and hasted to Antonius, to let him understand Machaera's cruelty: Machaera remembring how he had offended, fol∣lowed the King, and with many entreaties besought him to be reconciled, and obtain∣ed it. Yet Herod kept on his journey to Antonius; and hearing that he was now with a great Army besieging Samosata (a very strong City near Euphrates) he made the more haste; thinking it now a fit time to shew his affection and his courage, and that there∣by he might win Antonius's favour the more. His arrival hastned the taking of the place, which Antiochus was constrained to deliver; for he killed a great number of the [ E] enemies, and had for his reward a great part of the Spoil; and Antonius, though before he admired his vertue, yet now his opinion of him encreased, so that he had a greater addition of his honour, and reason to hope his establishment in the Kingdom.

Notes

• Ant. lib. 14. cap. 23.
• Antigonus getteth Mas∣sada.
• The Wars be∣tween Anti∣gonus's Soldi∣ers and Joseph, Herod's Bro∣ther.
• Ventidius the Roman Gene∣ral taketh mo∣ney from An∣tigonus.
• Ant. lib. 14. cap. 24.
• Herod against Antigonus.
• Herod intend∣eth after he hath taken Massada and Joppa, to be∣siege Jerusa∣lem.
• Herod begirt∣eth Jerusalem with a Siege, and proclaim∣eth the cause of his coming.
• Silo's subtilty being corrupt∣ed by the Jews.
• Herod g••••her∣eth great store of provision.
• Herod accom∣panied with ten Troops, cometh to Je∣richo.
• The Romans got a great Prey.
• Ant. lib. 14. cap. 24.
• Herod taketh the City of ••••phoris.
• Herod setteth forth against the Thieves.
• The year of the World, 3926. before Christ's Nativity, 36.
• Ant. lib. 14. cap. 25.
• The descrip∣tion of the Caves where the Thieves kept▪
• Ptolomey Cap∣tain of Herod's Soldiers slain.
• Machaera's i∣niquity.
• The year of the World, 3927. before Christ's Nativity. 35.
• Antonius ad∣mireth He∣rod's valour.