composition Whereupon he grievously rebuked Hircanus that being forgetful of divers good offices which he had received by him The year of the World 3924. before Christ's Nativity 40. he had given aid unto his enemies For Malichus's brother being at that time A revolted planted Garisons in divers Fortresses and namely in Masada which was the strongest of them all As soon as Herod had recovered his health he drew forth his forces against him and dipossessed him of divers places that he held and after suffered him to depart with his life and goods CHAP. XXI Antigâ—nus Aristobulus's son gets an Army Herod overcometh him and returneth triumphing to Jerusalem Hircanus promiseth him his Grand-daughter Mariamna daughter of Alexander Aristobulus's son B ANtigonus Ptolomey Mennaeus adopteth Antigonus Aristobulus 's son Aristobulus's son got an Army together and hired Fabius Ptolomey Mennaeus adopted Antigonus for being of his near relations He was also assisted by Marion whom Cassius had made Governor of Tyre and tyrannized over Syria having put Garisons in several places of it and had taken possession of three places in Galilee which bordered with his Countrey Herod expelleth Antigonus out of Jewry Herod also marching forth against him dispossessed him of them all and graciously dismissed those Tyrians that had the keeping thereof bestowing Presents on some of them for the love he bare unto their City And that done he came and encountred with Antigonus and fought him and overcame him before he had scarcely entred on the marches of Judaea and drove him from thence C Being come in triumph to Jerusalem Herod marrieth Mariamne Hircanus's niece by his daughter Hircanus and all the People honoured him with Crowns For Hircanus look'd upon him as one of his Family because he was to marry Mariamna daughter of Alexander son of Aristobulus and of Alexandra Hircanus's daughter on whom he begat three sons and two daughters Before her also had he married a Wife of his own Nation Doris Herod's wife who was called Doris on whom he begat Antipater his eldest son CHAP. XXII After Cassius's defeat near the City of Philippi Antonius cometh into Asia Herod obtaineth D his friendship by great Presents Antonius's Edicts in favor of Hircanus and of the Jewish Nation ANtonius and Caesar having overcome Cassius near unto the City of Philippi Caesar went from thence into France and Antonius into Asia And being in Bithynia The Judge corrupted with monâ—â— Embassadors resorted to him from all parts Thither also repaired certain principal Men among the Jews to accuse Phasaelus and Herod saying that Hircanus had onely the name but he the authority of the Kingdom But Antonius greatly honoured Herod Hircanus's Embassadors present Antonius with a Crown of Gold and require the captive Jews liberty sold by Cassius who came unto him to answer those accusations that they had imposed on him for which cause they that were his adversaries could obtain no Audience for E Herod had bought that priviledge from them with his Money As soon as Antonius was arrived in Ephesus Hircanus the High-Priest and all our Nation presently sent an Embassador unto him with a Crown of Gold requiring him that he would write unto the Provinces that the Jews whom Cassius had taken Prisoners contrary to the law of Arms might be set at liberty and that their Countrey which was taken from them in Cassius's time might be restored Antonius supposing that the demands which the Jews had proposed were reasonable wrote back presently to the High-Priest Hircanus and the Jews and sent an Edict also to the Tyrians ta this effect Marcus Antonius Emperor to Hircanus High-Priest and Prince of the Jews Health F Lysimachus the son of Pausanias and Joseph the son of Mennaeus and Alexander the son of Theodore your Ambassadors came unto me to Ephesus and have renewed the same Embassage which they heretofore brought to Rome 〈…〉 and at this present likewise they have duly and faithfully acquitted themselves of the Embassage which they present in the behalf of you and your Nation by giving us to understand what affection you bear towards us so that I esteem you for our friend since I understand how friendly you have behaved your self towards us both in words and deeds For when our adversaries and enemies of the Roman Nation spoiled all the Countrey of Asia and without regard of their Oaths spared neither Cities nor Temples we have opposed our selves against them not onely for our private G respect but in the quarrel of the Common-weal to punish the authors of such offences committed against Men and of such impieties perpetrated against God for which we suppose H that the Sun hath in a manner obscured himself by beholding with unwilling eyes what an hainous offence was committed against Caesar But we have gotten the upper hand of their impious enterprizes which are fallen upon Macedonia as on the Countrey and Air from whence proceed such detestable designs and we have likewise cut off the course of their desperate resolution which made them encounter us near to Philippi a City of Macedonia where we seized their places fortified by nature and enclosed with mountains as if it were with walls as far as the Sea so that the passage was barred up as it were with a gate had not the gods given us way by resisting their unjust exploits and furthering ours Brutus is likewise compelled to flie to Philippi where being besieged by us he suffered with his Consort Cassius and since they have been punished as they deserved we hope for the I future to enjoy peace and tranquility and that Asia shall be delivered from all the miseries of War and as for your part you may assure your selves that both you and your Countrey shall have your share in this happiness because we have so great a kindness for you to lose any opportunity to procure your advantage and all the body thereof seems to be relieved from a grievous malady by means of our victory We have already sent Letters from City to City to the intent that if any one among you either captive or free-man have been sold to the utmost by Caius Cassius or any of that Army they may be set at liberty And our will is that you reap the fruits of all the favors that we and Dolobella have granted you forbidding the Tyrians to molest you and commanding them to restore all that which they have taken from the Jews in goods or possessions As for the Crown which you sent me I accept K of it Marcus Antonius Emperor Marcus Antonius writeth to the Magistrates of Tyre to restore Hircanus and the Jews their Lands Goods and Liberties to the Governors Senate and People of Tyre Health I have been informed in Ephesus by Hircanus's Embassadors who is High-Priest and Prince â— the Jews that you have seized on their Countrey and spoiled the same when our adversaries held that
were put to death I came out again and join'd my self with the Priests and chiefest Pharisees whom I found surprized with great fear when they saw the People in Arms and uncertain what to do wanting the means to pacifie these mutinies But apparently perceiving the danger both I and the Pharisees feign'd our selves of their mind and counselled them to contain themselves in peace and let the Roman Forces depart in hope that Gessius would with all expedition draw out great Forces and chastise these L Peace-breakers But as soon as he arrived and fought with them he was overcome and a great number of his men slain whereupon follow'd the utter ruine of our whole Nation For such as desired the War were puffed up with that Victory and conceived assured hope that in the end they should overcome the Romans Besides this ensuing occasion presented it self The Inhabitants of the Cities that border upon Syria The Jews are plagued both by strangers and their own Countreymen laid hands on those Jews that dwelt among them and slew them with their Wives and Children without any just cause or crime committed by them For they had not conspired any ways or intended to revolt from the Romans or to use any Hostility or any secret Conspiracy against any of those with whom they were conversant But amongst all the rest the Citizens of Scythopolis exceeded all other in M impiety and wickedness For being besieged by certain of the Jews they inforced those Jews that inhabited amongst them to take Arms and fight against those of their own Nation which is expresly prohibited by our Laws and having overcome by their assistance they by a detestable perfidiousness forgot the obligation they had the faith which they had engag'd to them and slew every one of them to the number of many Thousands The like misfortune also fell upon those Jews that inhabited Damascus But of this we have more amply spoken in those our Books which we have written of the Wars of the Jews and at this present I make mention hereof onely to signifie to the Reader The Jews constrained by necessity to make War that our Nation became engaged in War with the Romans not out of voluntary intent and purpose but in great part by necessity and constraint N After that Gessius was overcome as is before declared the chiefest men of Jerusalem perceiving that the Seditious were strongly armed and provided they began to fear lest if they should be found disarmed they should suddenly be overthrown by their enemies as in effect it fell out afterwards and hearing that all Galilee was not as yet wholly revolted from the Romans but that a part thereof as yet remained in peace they sent me with two other Priests Joazar and Judas who were both virtuous and honourable men to persuade the mutinous to lay down their Arms and to let them know that it was more advantagious for the Nation that such Men as were in Authority and Reputation should have the keeping thereof The resolution that was taken O by them was that they had them always ready upon all occasions but that they expected until they were certified what the Romans intended to do A With this Commission and the like Instructions I repaired into Galilee where I found the Sephorites were ready to come to a Battel with the Galileans The danger of the Sephorites for that these latter had threatned to ravage their Countrey in regard of their league of friendship with the Romans contracted and ratified by Senius Gallus Governor of Syria But I delivered them from that fear and appeased the Common people by permiting them to send at all times when they pleased Sedition in the City of Tiberias their Hostages to Gessius who lay at Dora a City of Phoenicia I found likewise that the Inhabitants of Tiberias were already in Arms upon this occasion There were in that City three different Factions the one of the Nobility whose Chief was Julius Capella Three Factions in the City of Tiberias to whom were joined Herod the Son of Miarus Herod the Son of Gamal and Compsus the Son of Compsus For Crispus the Brother of Compsus who in times past had been made B Governor of the City for Agrippa sirnamed the Great was in his own possessions on the other side of Jordan All these I say were of opinion to remain under the Romans authority and to obey their King But Pistus alone of the Nobility would no ways acaccord to this advice by the persuasion of his Son Justus The second Faction was of the common sort who concluded upon War Justus Son of Pistus who was the Ringleader of the third Faction carried himself very doubtfully touching the War yet notwithstanding he secretly thirsted after Innovation hoping that by a change he should encrease his power The Oration of Justus Pistus's Son to the multitude Presenting himself therefore in the midst of the multitude he endeavored to persuade them that their City was always one of the chief of Galilee and that during the days of Herod the Tetrarch who founded the same it was the C chiefest City whose pleasure it was that the City of Sephoris should yield obedience to that of Tiberias That they had not lost that preheminence in the time of King Agrippa the Father but had continued the same till Faelix obtained the Government of Judaea But for the present since they had been given by Nero to the younger Agrippa they had fallen from and lost their Superiority For the City of Sephoris obtained the Sovereignty of Galilee after that she acknowledged the Roman Government which had removed the Treasure of the Charters and the Receipts of the Kings Money By these words and others of like nature against King Agrippa he incited the People to Rebellion Justus incites the people to Rebellion signifying to them That an opportunity invited them to take Arms to the end that being associated with the Galileans they might recover the advantages which D they had lost unjustly To which purpose all the Province would willingly join with them through the hatred they bare the Sephorites on whom they would revenge themselves with great power because they continued in their Allegiance which they promised to the Romans By these words he won the Peoples hearts to him for he was a Man very eloquent and by his subtilty and politick discourse Justus the off-spring of War easily overthrew all that which his Adversaries produced against him He was also skilful enough in the Greek Language to attempt the writing of the History of those Transactions to the end to disguise the truth thereof But in the process of this discourse I will shew more particularly what his ill designs were and how by his and his Brothers means he wanted little of utterly overthrowing E his Countrey When therefore this Justus had persuaded the Citizens of Tiberias to take
that are called Hesperians in Aethiopia and Sabaeus founded the Sabeans M As for Nimrod the sixth son of Chus Nabrodes or Nâ—mbroth he setled his Colony upon the Confines of Babylon and tyrannized there as is before declared All the eight sons of Misraim occupied all the Countrey from Gaza unto Egypt Palestine so named of Philestine but onely one of the eight named Philistin hath left his name to the Countrey which he possess'd for the Greeks call a part thereof Palestine As touching the rest Lom Enam and Labim Nethem Phetrosim Chestem Chreesene and Chepthom we know neither of their actions nor of their names except Labim who planted a Colony in Lybia and gave his name to it For the Aethiopians whereof hereafter we shall make mention overthrew their Cities Canaan also had eleven sons The Children of Canaan amongst whom Sidonius built and named Sidon a City in N Phoenicia and Amathus built Amath which at this day the Inhabitants call Amatha though the Macedonians call it Epiphania which signifies famous from the name of one of its Princes Arudeus possessed the Isles of Arudus and Ariceus built the City of Arce upon mount Libanus As for the other seven Eveus Cheteus Jebuseus Eucleus Sineus Samarcus and Gorgeseus there is no memory remaining of them in Sacred Scriptures but onely their names For the Hebrews razed their Cities upon the occasions which I am going to relate After the Deluge Hedio Ruffinus cap. 13. when the earth was established in its first estate Noah gave himself to Tillage Gen. 9. 19 20 21 22 23 24 25. and planted Vineyards and when the Fruit thereof was ripe and he had pressed and made Wine thereof he drank and banquetted after he had done sacrifice being thereby made drunk and overpressed with sleep he lay discovered in a most unseemly O and shameful fashion which when Cham his younger son beheld he scornfully discover'd it to his Brothers who being asham'd cover'd their Father's nakedness with A reverence Noah is made drunk lieth naked and is scorned and curseth him that derideth him Which fact of his coming to the knowledge of Noah he wished all felicity to the two other and as touching Cham out of a fatherly tenderness he cursed him not but only his posterity after him who accordingly were punisht for the sin of their Forefather as we shall shew hereafter Sem the third son of Noah had five sons who inhabited the Countrey of Asia beginning at Euphrates Hedio Ruffinus cap. 14. and extending to the Indian Ocean For Elimis the eldest left the Elimeans or Elamites for his Successors whence proceeded the Persians Assur the second built the City of Ninive Gen. 7. 1. and gave his Subjects the name of Assyrians who were rich above all the rest Of the Sons of Sem the third Son of Noah and of theirs and Abraham's Progeny Arphaxad the third named those of his command Arphaxadians who at this day are called Chaldeans Aram the fourth had the Arameans whom the Greeks call Syrians B And from Ludis the fifth came the Ludéans who at this day are called Lydians Of those four sons which Aram had Vses dwelt in the Region of Trachonites and built the City of Damascus scituate between Palestine and that part of Syria which is sirnamed Caeler or hollow Otrus obtained Armenia Gether Bactria Misas was father to the Mezaneans whose Countrey is called at this day the valley of Pasin Sale Arphaxad's son was Heber's father from whose name in times past the Hebrews were denominated Heber begat Jucta and Phaleg The original of the Hebrews who was so called for that he was born at such time as Lands came to be divided for Phaleg in Hebrew signifieth Division They that follow were the sons of Jucta Elmodad Saleph Azermoth Izrais Edoram Vzal Dael Ebal Ebemael Sapham Ophir Evilas and Jobel who occupied some parcel of that Region which was between Cophen a River C in India and the hither Syria Hitherto have we spoken of the Progeny of Sem now we come to speak of the Hebrews Abraham's Genealogy Phaleg the son of Heber begat Ragaus by whom was begot Seruch from whom Nachor descended and from Nachor Thares who was Abraham's father the tenth in account from Noah and born 292 years after the Deluge For Thares being 70 years old begat Abraham Nachor at 120 years of age begat Thares Nachor was born to Seruch when he was about the years of 132 of his life and Ragaus begat Seruch when he was 130 years old and about those years Phaleg begat Ragaus But Heber at 34 years of age begat Phaleg himself begotten by Sela when he was 135 years old which Sela was begotten by Arphaxad when he was 135 years of age And Arphaxad was the son of Sem and Grandson of Noah whom he begat two years after the Deluge Abraham had two D brothers Nachor and Aram of whom Aram left Lot for his son and Sara and Melcha for his daughters and afterwards dyed in the land of Canaan in a City called Vr of the Chaldees where his Sepulchre is to be seen even at this day His daughters were married Melcha to Nachor The year of the World 2950. before Christ's Nativity 2014. and Sara to Abraham But Thares growing weary of Chaldaea after the death of his son Aram he and his Family transported themselves into Charan a City of Mesopotamia in which place they buried Thares when he had lived the space of 250 years For about this time the life of man was abridged and grew more short until the time of Moses The term of man's life about this term 120. when the space of man's life limited by God himself was 120 years to which term Moses attained Nachor had eight children by Melcha his wife Vx Baux Manuel Zacham Azam Phaleg Jadelphus and Bathuel who were the legitimate sons of Nachor E But Tabaeus and Gadan Thavan and Macham were begotten by him on his Concubine Ruma To Bathuel one of the legitimate sons of Nachor was born a daughter named Rebecca and a son called Laban CHAP. VII How Abraham Gen. 12. 1. ad 4. the Author of our Nation departed from the Land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in the Countrey of the Canaanites which is now called Judea ABraham having no Issue adopted Lot the son of Aram's brother and brother to Sara his wife The year of the World 2204 before Chri 〈…〉 Nativity 1940. he departed out of the Countrey of Chaldee when he was 75 years old having had commandment from God to depart thence into Canaan in which Countrey F he remained and left the same to his Posterity after him He was a man accomplished in all things full of understanding and apt to persuade those that gave ear unto him without any default in his foresight and providence Hedio Ruffinus cap. 15. For this cause
Temple of God 3. In what estimation the Jews were with the Kings of Asia and how the freedome of those Cities which they built was granted them 4. Joseph the Son of Tobias driveth away the Jews imminent calamity by reason of his friendship with King Ptolomey 5. The friendship and society between the Lacedaemonians and Onias the High Priest of the Jews 6. The Jews distracted by seditions call Antiochus to their assistance 7. How Antiochus leading his Army to Jerusalem and taking the City spoyled the Temple K 8. Antiochus forbiddeth the Jews to use the Laws of their forefathers the Son of Asmonaeus called Matthias contemned the King and put his Captains to flight 9. Mathias being dead Judas his Son succeeded him 10. Apollonius a Captain of Antiochus is overcome in Jewry and slain 11. The overthrow and death of Lysias and Gorgias sent out against the Jews 12. How dividing their Armys Simon overcame the Tyrants and Ptolomaidans and Judas the Ammonites 13. The death of Antiochus Epiphanes among the Persians 14. Antiochus Eupator overthrowing the Army of the Jews besieged Judas in the Temple 15. Antiochus giving over his siege plighteth a league of friendship with Judas L 16. Bacchides a Captain belonging to Demetrius being sent with his Army against the Jews returneth back to the King without success 17. Nicanor elected Captain after Bacchides and sent out against the Jews is slain with his whole Army 18 Bacchides sent out once more against the Jews overcometh them 19. How Judas being overcome in battle is slain CHAP. I. After the death of Alexander the Great his Army is divided amongst his Captains M Ptolomey one of the chife of them makes himself Master of Jerusalem by surprise sends several Colonies of Jews into Egypt and puts great confidence in them continual Wars betwixt the Inhabitants of Jerusalem and the Samaritans ALexander King of Macedon having overcome the Persians and establisht the state of the Jews according as hath been related departed this life The death of Alexander and the Wars of his succssors Whereupon his Dominions and Kingdoms fell into divers mens hands Antigonus made himself Governor of Asia Seleucus of Babylon and the bordering Nations Jerusalem surprized by policy and the Jews lead way captive Lysimachus had the Hellespont Cassander Macedon and N Ptolomey the Son of Lagus held Egypt Now when these men were at discord amongst themselves whilest each of them affected the soveraignty and fought the one against the other they raised divers great and bloody Wars which ruined many Cities and destroyed great numbers of their Inhabitants Syria had sufficient experience of all these miseries under the Government of Ptolomey the Son of Lagus surnamed Soter a Title which he little deserved He it was that seized on Jerusalem by a stratagem for he entred the City upon a Sabbath day under pretext to offer sacrifice and whilst the Jews suspected nothing but spent the day in ease and idleness he surprised the City without resistance and made the Citizens captives Agatharchides the Cnidian who wrote the Acts of Alexanders successors testifieth the same reproaching us of superstition as if by that means we lost our City O He writeth to this effect There is a certain Nation which are called Jews who inhabit a City which is call'd Jerusalem both strong and mighty They suffered it to fall into Ptolomeys hands because they would not stand upon their guard and through their unseasonable superstition they permitted themselves to be subdued by a Tyrant conquerour The year of the World 3634. before Christ's Nativity 321. See A here what Agatharchides saith in this place of our Nation But Ptolomey leading away with him divers prisoners from the better quarters of Judaea and the places near unto Jerusalem of Samaria and mount Garzim sent them into Egypt to inhabit there and being assured that those of Jerusalem were most firm in maintaining their oaths and promises according as it appeared by their answer made to Alexander when after the discomfiture of Darius he sent Ambassadors unto them he put divers of them into his Garrisons giving them the same priviledges in the City of Alexandria which the Macedonians had After he had received their oath that they should be faithful unto him and his successours in memory of the great trust and favours he had bestowed on them many of the other Jews likewise of their own accord went into Egypt partly B allured thereunto by the plenty of the countrey Sedition betwixt the Jews and Samaritans as touching the Temple partly by the liberality of Ptolomey towards their Nation Yet were there continual quarels betwixt their posterity and the Samaritans because they would keep and maintain the customes and ordinances of their forefathers whereupon divers wars arose amongst them For they of Jerusalem said that their Temple was the true Sanctuary of God and would have the offerings and sacrifices sent thither the Samaritans on the other side commanded them to be brought to the mount Garazim CHAP. II. Ptolomey Philadelphus caused the Laws of the Jews to be translated into C the Greek tongue and dismissing many Captive Jews dedicateth many presents to the Temple of God AFter the death of Ptolomeus Soter his Son Ptolomeus Philadelphus succeeded in the Kingdom of Egyptt Hedio Ruffinus chap. 2. and held it for nine and thirty years space he it was that translated the law into the Greek tongue and delivered the Jews from that servitude wherein they were inthralled in Egypt to the number of sixscore thousand upon this occasion 〈◊〉 library of Ptolomey Phyladelphus Demetrius Phalereus Master of the Kings Library endeavoured to make a collection of all sorts of Books that were in the world and brought all which he thought would be agreeable to the King who was very curious in his collection of Books D The Kings demanding one day how many thousands of Volumes he had already gathered he answered him that he had already gott about two hundred thousand Volums but that shortly he hoped to have to the number of five hundred thousand Besides he told him that he had been lately informed that there ware divers Volumes among the Jews wherein many things touching their Laws and policies were written which were worthy to be known and deserved a place in so memorable and famous a Liberary but that it would be very difficult to translate them into the Greek tongue for their characters seem to have some relation to the Syriack and their pronunciation likewise is not much different from it notwithstanding they have their phrase proper and peculiar unto themselves But nevertheless he believed it might be done since his Majesty would E not think much of any charge the King approved of this proposal and wrote unto the High Priest of the Jews to help him to these books In the mean time a certaâ—n man called Aristaeus who was intirely beloved by
Gazeans had the upper hand because that they made their Enemies believe that Ptolomey was come to their rescue but as soon K as the day appeared and this opinion was found false as soon as the Jews were assured of the truth they turned back upon them and charging the Gazeans they slew about 1000 of them Notwithstanding all this the besieged stood out still being neither daunted with loss of Men nor lack of Provision whatsoever resolving rather to endure any misery than yield to their Enemies Aretas King of Arabia flattereth the Gazeans with hope of rescue and that which made them more confident was the hope of help which they expected from Aretas King of Arabia who had promised no less But it came to pass that Apollodotus was slain before his arrival and the City taken For Lysimachus his brother conceived a jealousie against him by reason of the good opinion which the Inhabitants had of him Lysimachus killeth his brother Apollodotus and betrayed Gaza to Alexander and having slain him and gather'd those fighting Men that he L might he yielded up the City unto Alexander who at the first made a peaceable entry but afterwards dispersed his Soldiers and gave them licence to execute all hostility against the Citizens so that they acted their cruelty in every place and slew many of the Gazeans Neither died these Citizens unrevenged but so manfully behaved themselves that they butchered no less number of Jews than they murthered Citizens among them Some of them likewise perceiving themselves to be alone set their Houses on fire taking away first that which was therein that the Enemy might not be 〈◊〉 with their spoils Others killed their Wives and Children with their own hands to deliver them from the Enemies cruelty But the Senators to the number of 500 fled into the Temple of Apollo for to save themselves but that did not secure them for when the Enemy M entred the Town they were by chance assembled in counsel Alexander 〈◊〉 them all to the sword and instantly razed and levelled that City with the ground which done he returned to Jerusalem after he had spent one whole year at the siege before Gaza About this time Antiochus Antiochus Gryphus slain sirnamed Gryphus died by the Treason of Heracleon in the 45 year of his age and in the â—9 of his Reign His son Seleucus had the Kingdom after him Seleucus Gryphus son maketh War with Antiochus the Cyzicenian who made War against his Uncle Antiochus sirnamed 〈◊〉 and having overcome him he slew him Not long after Antiochus the son of Cyzicenus and Antoninus sirnamed the Deâ—out came to Arade and crowned them and made War against Seleucus whom they overcame in one conflict and drove him out of all 〈◊〉 who flying into Cilicia and arriving again in the City of the Mopseates he exacted a sum of money from the Citizens N But the people were so incensed that they set his Palace on fire whereby it came to pass Antiochus Eusebes putteth Seleucus to flight that both he and his friends were burnt to dust During the time that Antiochus the son of Cyzicenuâ— reigned in â—yria another Antiochus Seleucus's brother made War against him but he was not only overcome but both he and his Army were put to the sword Antiochus Seleucus's brother fighteth against Antiochus the son of the Cyzicenian After him â—hilip his son took the Crown and governed in certain places of Syria Mean while Ptolomey Lathyrus sent to 〈◊〉 for his fourth brother Demetrius Eucaerus and made him King of Damascus Against these two brothers Antiochus made a manly and valiant resistance but died very shortly after For repairing to Laodicea to succor the Queen of the Galadenians Demetrius Eucâ—rus made King of Damascus by Ptolomey Laâ—â—â—rus who made VVar against the â—arthians he was killed fighting valiantly and his two brothers Demetrius and Philip possessed Syria as hereafter O shall be declared As for Alexander his own Subjects rebelled against him for the people arose and mutined at such time as he assisted at the Altar to solemnize the feast of Tabernacles and during the time that he intended the Sacrifice they cast Citrons at him The year of the World 3884. before Christ's Nativity 80. for as we have declared elsewhere the Jews have this custom that on the feast A of the Tabernacles each one bringeth a branch of Palm and of Citrons They upbraided him also with many injurious speeches reproaching him that he had been Prisoner in War and that he was also unworthy of the honour of the Priesthood Whereupon Citrons cast at Alexander he being moved by these disgraces put to death about 6000 Men and having made an inclosure of Wood about the Temple and the Altar as far as the place whereinto it was lawful for none to enter but the Priest he kept there to the intent the people might not apprehend him he entertained also certain foreign Soldiers Pisidians and Cilicians For being at odds with the Syrians he made no use of them After this having overcome the Arabians he constrained the Moabites and Galaadites to pay him Tribute and destroyed the City of Amath whilest Theodore for fear gave B over to resist him Amath destroyed But encountering with Obeda the King of Arabia and being surprized and betrayed by an ambuscado in certain miry places Obeda King of Arabia he was thrust by the crowd of Camels into a deep Trench near unto Gadara a Village of Galaad from whence he almost despaired to escape notwithstanding having overcome that danger he came to Jerusalem And besides this the people hated him against whom he made VVar for the space of six years and slew at the least 50000 of them and the more he entreated them to be quiet they grew worse against him for what they had suffered so that when he demanded of them What they would have him do to please them They all of them with one voice cried out That he should kill himself And thereupon they presently sent messengers to Demetrius 〈◊〉 requesting him of his favor and assistance C CHAP. XXII Demetrius Eucerus King of Syria comes to assist the Jews against their King Alexander whom he defeats in a battel and retireth The Jews prosecute the War alone against him he overcomes them in several battels and proves extreme cruel to them Demetrius besiegeth his brother Philip in Bâ—roa Mithridates Synaces King of the Parthians sends an Army against him taketh him Prisoner he dyeth shortly after DEmetrius coming onward with his Army Hedio Ruffinus cap. 20. and taking with him those who had incited D him to the enterprize Demetrius Eucâ—rus marcheth out against Alexander came and encamped near unto the City of Sicheâ— But Alexander gathering together some 20000 Jews whom he knew to be well-affected towards him with 6200 mercenary soldiers and strangers marched forward against Demetrius
Demetrius fighteth with Alexander had the upper hand who led with him 3000 Horsemen and 40000 Footmen Both on the one and the other side there fell out many subtil stratagems the one of them striving on the one side to inveigle and withdraw the foreign Soldiers who were Grecians and the other inforcing himself to reconcile those Jews that were of Demetrius's followers to his faction Alexander in this fight loseth all his hired Soldiers but neither the one noâ— other prevailed at all by these devices so that at length they were driven to decide their quarrel by the sword in which encounter Demetriâ—s had the upper hand For all the strangers that were on Alexanders side were every one E hewed in pieces after they had made sufficient proof both of their fidelity and valour There fell also many of Demetrius's Soldiers But after that Alexander had fled unto the mountains Six thousand men resort unto Alexander divers Jews to the number of 6000 in commiseration of his desperate estate and through the fear they had of Demetriâ—â— resorted unto him which when the Conqueror heard Alexander being assailed by the Jews besieged the mightiest of them in Bethom he retired himself After this the Jews made VVar against Alexander and in divers losses which they received there fell a great number of them in divers combats At length after he had 〈◊〉 up the best amongst them in the City of Bethom he besieged them and after he had taken the City and brought them under his subjection he carried them to Jerusalem where he committed an unspeakable and cruel murther Alexander crucifieth 800 Jews and murthereth their wives and children in their presence For whil'st he banquetted with his Concubines in the sight of them all he F commanded 800 of them or thereabout to be crucified and before their eyes whil'st they yet lived he caused their wives and childrens Threats to be cut All which he did to be revenged of those wrongs which he had received but he exceeded the bounds of Humanity herein notwithstanding they had rebelled against him and reduc'd him into a most pitiful estate and put him in danger both of his life and kingdom For being not content to assail and make VVar upon him with their Forces they drew strangers also into his Countrey against him and at length they overpower'd him so that he was constrained to yield up into the King of Arabians hands the Countries and Cities that he had conquered from the Moâ—bites and Galaadites for fear they should join with the Jews and make War against him Alexander sirnamed Thracidas besides other innumerable injuries and outrages which they G committed against him All this cannot hinder but that he ought to be abhorred for his cruelty so that he was justly called Thracidas that is to say as cruel as Thracian and H this Title continued amongst the Jews The year of the World 3887. before Christ's Nativity 77. The Soldiers of the contrary party who amounted to the number of 8000 fled by night into strong and sure holds and as long as Alexander lived they were in exile But at last he was deliver'd of all these Troubles he lived in quiet and governed his kingdom peaceably all the rest of his life-time But Demetrius marching from Judea to Beroea besieged his brother Philip with 10000 Foot and 1000 Horse But Straton Lord of Beroea allied to Philip called Zizus Duke of the Arabians and Mithridates Sinaces Governor of the Parthians unto his help who repairing unto him with great Forces besieged Demetrius in his own Trenches in which they so inclosed him by continual shooting of Darts and want of Water that they constrained him Demetrius besiegeth his brother Philip in Beroea and those that were with him to submit themselves to I their mercy When they had spoilt the whole Countrey and had seized on Demetrius they sent him prisoner to Mithridates who at that time was King of Parthia And as for the Antiochians as many of them as were found in the Camp were suffered to be gone with the safety of their lives and baggage and to return to Antioch But Mithridates King of Parthia honour'd Demetrius by all means possible until he was surprized with a sickness whereof he died Immediately after the battel Philip came into Antioch and having obtained the kingdom ruled over Syria CHAP. XXIII K Divers Wars of the Kings of Syria Alexander King of the Jews takes many places His death and his advice to his Queen Alexandra to insinuate her self in the favor of the Pharisees for to gain the love of the People AFter this Antiochus called Dionysius who was Philip's brother came into Damascus to make himself Master of it Hedio Ruffinus cap. 21. which he did quickly in his brothers absence who was gone against the Arabians Antiochus King of Damascus When his brother Philip who had an Army in a readiness to invade the Arabians had tydings hereof he came to Damascus with great speed and made him surrender up the City Antiochus thrust out of his kingdom by his brother both by the means of Milesius whom Antiochus had left Governor in the Castle and also by the consent of the Citizens themselves L But Philip shewed himself ungrateful towards Milesius performing nothing of that which he had promis'd him at the recovery of the City that the World might think that the fear of his power and not Milesius's favor was the cause of the surrender of Damascus Which act of his made Milesius suspect him and was the cause that he lost the City again For departing from thence to exercise himself at Tilt Milesius lockt the gates against him and kept the City for Antiochus Who having intelligence of that which had befallen Philip Caâ—pâ—â—asa called Antipatris returned out of Arabia and at that very instant led his Army into Judea in which were 800 Foot and 800 Horse Alexander fearing his approach made a deep Trench from Caparsabe Antioâ—hus's death and the Famine amongst his Army which is called at this day Antipatris as far as the Sea of Joppa which was the only streight whereby he might be assailed and made M a Wall fortified with wooden Towers with their Courts of Guard distant the one from the other 150 Furlongs to keep back Antiochus But he fired all his fortifications and made his Army pass into Arabia thorow this streight The King of Arabia retired upon the first assault but afterwards he presently came into the field with 10000 Horsemen whom Antiochus charged very valiantly and in the onset lost his life yet with victory whil'st he sought to succor a company of his men that were hard put to it After Antiochus's death his Army retired to the borough of Cana where divers of them dyed for hunger After him Aretas reigned in Coelosyria who was called unto that kingdom by those that held Damascus
the frontiers of Egypt with two Legions of the Romans he went into Cilicia and from thence drew towards Rome leading with him Aristobulus in bonds and his children who were two sons and two daughters one of which called N Alexander escaped and as for Antigonâ—s who was the younger he was led to Rome with his sisters O CHAP. IX The year of the World 3904. before Christ's Nativity 60. A Antipater proveth very useful to Scaurus in Arabia SCaurus led forth his Army against Petra a City in Arabia Hedio Ruffinus cap. 9. and the wayes being so bad that he could hardly get to it he spoilt all the Countrey round about his Army was pressed with famine Antipater by the order of Hircanus furnish'd him with Corn and all other necessaries out of Jewry who being sent Ambassador to Aretas from Scaurus persuaded him to contribute a certain sum of silver to secure his Country from being pillaged and he himself also became pledge for 300 Talents This done Scaurus B finished the War according to his desire and with no less contentment to Aretas and his Country CHAP. X. Alexander Aristobulus's son armeth in Judea and fortifieth the Towns Gabinius overthrows him in battel and besiegeth him in the Castle of Alexandrion Alexander delivereth it up to him with several other places Gabinius establisheth Hircanus High-Priest in his room and reduceth Judea to be governed under the Nobility NOt long after this Alexander Aristobulus's son made divers inroads into Jewry for C which cause Gabinius came from Rome into Syria Hedio Ruffinus cap. 10. al. 11. and besides other things worthy of memory which he atchieved he led forth his Army against Alexander for that Hircanus had not as yet sufficient power to resist him Castles fortified being otherwise exercised in building the Walls of Jerusalem that were beaten down by Pompey notwithstanding the Romans that were in Jewry hindred him from performing the same This Alexander travelling through the whole Countrey assembled divers Jews so that in short time having gotten together 10000 Foot and 1500 Horse with good ammunition he fortified the Castle of Alexandrion near to the City of Coreas He fortified Machaeron also in the mountains of Arabia Gabinius therefore came forth against him having sent before him D Marcus Antonius accompanied with other Commanders who recruited the Romans with their coming and the Jews that were under their obedience whose Captains were Pitholaus and Malichus They took also those Allies whom Antipater had hired and in this equipage they came against Alexander Gabinius also seconded them with his Troops Hereupon Alexander drew nearer with his Army towards Jerusalem where giving battel to the Romans he lost about 3000 of his followers and the like number of his men were led away Prisoners After this Gabinius repaired to Alexandrion and invited those that held it to yield promising them pardon for the Rebellion they had begun And many of his Enemies having encamped themselves before the Fort the Romans charged them in which conflict Marcus Antonius behaved himself very valiantly Gabinius causeth divers Cities in Jewry to be repaired that were defaced having killed several E of the Enemy with his own hand Gabinius left a part of his Army in that place to the end that during the siege thereof he might go and visit the Countrey of Judea he commanded therefore all those Cities which in his journey he found either desolate or destroyed to be repaired for that Samaria Azot Scythopolis Anthedon Raphia Dora Marissa and Gaza with divers others were new built so that through the obedience that was given to Gabinius's command it came to pass that the Cities were safely inhabited which had layen long time before desart And after Gabinius had behaved himself in this manner in the Countrey he returned to Alexandrion Hedio Ruffinus cap. 11. al. 12. Whil'st he thus insisted about the siege Alexander sent Ambassadors unto him demanding pardon for his offences and restoring into his hands the Castles of F Hircania and Machaeron Alexandrion and other Castles razed and finally that of Alexandrion which Gabinius levelled with the ground And whereas Alexander's mother came unto him who favoured the Roman faction and whose husband and children were kept in Prison in Rome she obtained all that which she requested at his hands and after he had carefully and friendly disposed of her affairs he led Hircanus to Jerusalem to take charge of the Temple and Priesthood He ordained also five judgment seats and places of session Five prâ—â—â—ial sieges in Jewry and divided the Province into answerable parts for the one answered in Jerusalem the second at Gadara the third in Amatha the fourth at Jericho and the fifth at Saphora which is a Town of Galilee By this means the Jews were deliver'd of their Monarchy and lived under an Aristocracy or government of the Nobility G H CHAP. XI Aristobulus being Prisoner at Rome maketh his escape with Antigonus one of his sons and cometh to Judea The Romans overcome him in battel He retreateth into Alexandrion where he is besieged and taken Gabinius sends him back Prisoner to Rome He defeats Alexander Aristobulus's son in a battel returns to Rome and leaveth â—rassus in his place BUt Aristobulus flying from Rome Hedio Ruffinus cap. 12. al. 13. returneth to Jewry and resolved to rebuild the Castle I of Alexandrion which not long since was ruinated Against him Gabinius sent out certain Men of War with their Captains Aristobulus returning from Rome seeketh to re-establish Alexandrion namely Sisenna Antonius and Servilius both to keep him from the possession of the place and to apprehend and surprize him likewise For many Jews resorted unto him being drawn thereunto by the ancient Reputation that he had who desired likewise revolutions and changes Pitholaus also who was established Lieutenant-General in Jerusalem of his own accord came unto him with a 1000 Men well armed but the other that were retired within for the most part were not sufficiently furnish'd with Arms for Aristobulus making his reckoning to seize Machaeron dismissed those followers of his that were disarmed and were unapt for any execution and retaining only 8000 well armed Men he marched thither But the Romans K pursuing and overtaking him Aristobulus overcome in battel by the Romans fought desperately with him and overcame both him and his notwithstanding their valiant resistance about 5000 of them were killed and the rest dispersed wandring here and there where they could best secure themselves but Aristobulus fled to Machaeron with more than a 1000 followers and fortified the place And though his affairs had very slender success yet he lost not his hope but after he had endured the siege some two dayes and received many Wounds he was taken Prisoner and with his son Antigonus who fled from Rome with him led away Captive by Gabinius
Province But as we have undertaken the War for the Empire and in defence of Justice and Piety we have punished these ungrateful disloyal and perfidious persons Our will is that you suffer our allies to live in peace and as touching that which you have obtained of our adversaries our pleasure is that you restore the same to those that are dispossessed For none of them had obtained either Province or Army by the consent of the Senate but had usurped them by force and afterwards bestowed them on those who have been Ministers of their impieties and injustice But since they have been punished according to their L deserts we require that our Allies enjoy their own without any hindrance and if you hold any places at this present which belong to Hircanus Prince of the Jews that were seized since the time that Caius Cassius by an unjust War invaded our Provinces restore them unto him without offering to hinder him from the possession of his own And if you have or pretend to have any right in them when I shall repair to those places it shall be lawful for you to debate your right and we will so judge that our allies shall receive no wrong Marcus Antonius Emperor to the Governors Senate and People of Tyre Health I have sent you my Edict my pleasure is that you carefully consider it and that you register it among your publick Records in Roman and Greek letters and set it up in Writing in an M open place to the end that it may be read by all Men. Marcus Antonius Emperor and Triumvir in the presence of the Tyrians assembled for their publick affairs hath declared That Caius Cassius during the troubles by the assistance of his Souldiers hath usurped another mans Province and hath in like sort spoiled our Allies and hath ransackt the Nation of the Jews who are friends to the people of Rome and for that by our valor we have repressed his insolence by our Edicts and Judgments we will correct his offences to the end that all things may be restored to our Allies and that all whatsoever hath been sold and appertained to the Jews whether they be Prisoners or Possessions be restored to their Masters to the end that each Man may be at liberty as he was before and that each mans possession may be restored to his first owner And my pleasure is N That whosoever disobeyeth this Ordinance he may be punished accordingly He wrote to the like effect to the Sidonians Antiochians and Arabians all which we will insert in a convenient place to testifie what account the Romans made of our Nation O CHAP. XXIII The year of the World 3924. Cefore Christ's Nativity 41. A The beginning of Antonius's love for Cleopatra he is very severe to those Jews who came to accuse Herod and Phasaelas Antigonus Aristobulus's son contracteth a friendship with the Parthians AFter this Antonius went into Syria Hedio Ruffinus chap. 11. and Cleopatra came forth to meet him near unto Silicia Cleopatra cometh into Cilicia to Antonius and entangled him in her love At that time also One hundred of the chiefest among the Jews came in Embassage to him to accuse Herod and Phasaelus they had chosen the most esteemed Orator that might be found Messala likewise undertook the B defence of the young men that were accused Herod accuseth by one hundred Jews before Antonius and made them answer Hircanus also was there in person who was already by marriage allied unto them After that Antonius had heard both the one and the other in the City of Daphen he demanded of Hircanas which of both the parties governed the Common-weal best who returned him answer That they who were on Herod's side were most studious of the publick good Antonius maketh Phasaelus and Herod Tetrarchs Antonius who long since had born a good affection towards them by reason of the ancient hospitality that he had received of their father during the time Gabinius was in Judaea established them both Governors of the fourth part committing to their hands the affairs in Judaea and to this effect wrote Letters and committed fourteen of their enemies to prison had not Herod interceeded for their lives he had C condemned them to death Ten thousand Jews repair to Tyre to accuse Herod who are partly slain partly wouned and partly put to flight Notwithstanding this as soon as they returned from their Embassage they could not contain themselves in quiet but resorted once more unto Antonius to the number of 10000 to the City of Tyre where Antonius was But Antonius already corrupted by store of mony by Herod and his brother who commanded in that place ordained that the Embassadors of the Jews should be punished for that they had attempted to make new disturbances and he confirmed Herod's Government At that time Herod walking by the Sea side came unto them advising both them and Hircanus who at that present was with them to give over their appeal lest some misfortune should befal them Which they not regarding certain Jews and Inhabitants of that City all at once ran upon them killed some of them and hurt others and the rest taking their D flight towards their Counerey ever afterwards contained themselves and lived in quiet through the fear the had conceived But when the people ceased not to exclaim and protest against Herod Antonius was so displeased that he commanded all those whom he held prisoners to be put to death The year after 〈◊〉 the Kings son and Barzapharnes a Prince among the Parthians invaded and seized Syria About this time Ptolomey died the son of Mennaeus and his son Lysias reigned in his stead who plighted friendship with Antigonus the son of Aristobulus who obtained his favor at his hands by the councel and sollicitation of a certain Prince of great authority and credit with him E CHAP. XXIV Antigonus being assisted by the Parthians besiegeth Phasaelus and Herod in the Palace of Jerusalem but in vain Hircanus and Phasaelus are perswaded to repair to Barsapharnes ANtigonus having promised the Parthians to give them One thousand Talents of Silver Hedio Ruffinus chap. 22. and five hundred Women Antigonus promiseth the Parthians a great sum of money to 〈◊〉 him in the Kingdom if so be they would deprive Hircanus of the Kingdom and restore it unto him and withal put Herod and his friends to death The F Parthians undertook it and marched towards Judaea though they had not received as yet any of Antigonus's Money Pachorus led his Troops along the Sea-coast and Barzapharnes conducted his more within the Land The Tyrians shut their Gates against Pacorus Pacorus sendeth Horsemâ—n to Antigonus in Judaea but the Sidonians and Ptolomaidans received him into their City He sent a body of Horse into Jewry to discover the estate of the Countrey and to give succors to Antigonus The commander of these Horse was
the Senate had made as touching E this matter The first day of Herod's Reign Antonius feasted him and after this manner he was established King the hundred and eighty fourth Olympiade in the year wherein C. Domitius Calvinus twice Consul and Caius Asinius Pollio were Consuls Mean while Antigonus besieged those that were in the Castle of Massada who were plentifully furnished with all things necessary except it were water for which cause Joseph Herods family besieged by Antigonus in Massada Herod's Brother that was within and Two hundred of his friends had concluded to fly unto the Arabians for that they understood that Malchus had repented himself of the fault he had committed against Herod But whilst they stood upon these terms God poured down a huge rain on a certain night that in short time filled their Cisterns so that they had no more necessity to fly and from that time forward they took courage and made F a sally upon their Enemies in which they charged Antigonus's Soldiers after such a manner sometimes in open field sometimes by surprizal that they slew a great number of them Venâ—idius under 〈◊〉 to help â—â—seph fsheth to 〈◊〉 money of Antigonus At that time Ventidius a Roman Captain was sent into Syria to drive the Parthians from thence and after their departure he arrived in Jewry making show that he would assist Joseph but in effect all his pretence was to draw money from Antigonus Being therefore encamped near unto Jerusalem and having drawn sufficient money from Antigonus he retired himself with the greater part of his Forces and to the intent his deceitful dealing might not be discovered he left Silo with a company of his Soldiers who likewise was honoured by Antigonus lest he should be cause of some new trouble before the Parthians whose coming he expected should yield him aid G CHAP. XXVII The year of the World 3926. before Christ's Nativity 38. Herod being returned from Rome raiseth an Army taketh some places and besiegeth Jerusalem but cannot take it he defeateth the enemy in a great battel the art he used to draw several of his Jews who had hid themselves in dens from Antigonus party he marched with some troops to find out Antonius who was making war against the Parthians the five battels that he fought on the way Joseph Herods brother is killed in a fight and Antigonus caused his head to be cut off The manner how Herod revenged this death he besiegeth Jerusalem where Sosius joyneth him with a Roman I army during this siege Herod Marrieth Mariamna AFter that Herod was come from Italy by Sea to Ptolomais and that he had assembled no small number of Soldiers both strangers and his own Country-men Hedio Ruffinus chap. 24. al. 16. he marched forward against Antigonus and passed thorow Galilee Silo and Ventidius also gave him assistance in this action having received direction by Gellius from Antonius Herod returning back out of Italy leadeth forth his army against Antigonus that they should assist Herod to recover his Countrey But Ventidius was employed in appeasing the troubles that were raised in the Cities by the Parthians and as touching Silo he kept in Judaea having been corrupted by Antigonus But the further that Herod daily marched into the Countrey the more his forces did increase and all Galilee except a very few submitted themselves unto him Herod assaulteth Joppe and taketh it Whilest he marched forward K towards Massada being moved thereunto for to relieve his parents that were besieged therein the City of Joppe would not grant him passage for the Citizens thereof were his Enemies so that it behoved him first of all to ruinate the same to the end he might leave no retreat behind him for his Enemy if he made toward Jerusalem Upon which occasion Silo laying hold dislodged his army and made thitherward whom when the Jews did pursue Herod sallieth out with a small company and put them to flight and saved Silo who could not resist any longer Afterwards having seized on Joppe he hasted forwards to deliver his friends that were besieged in Massada but part of the inhabitants submitted themselves unto him for the friendship they had born unto his father Many submit themselves to Herod and others of them for the honor that they bear unto him the rest admitted L his government in acknowledgement of those favors they had received from them both But the greatest part was moved thereunto by the hope they had conceived of their new elected King and the confirmation of his Government Thus by these means was his Army mightily increased Whilest thus he marched forward Antigonus seized on those places that were fittest to lay ambushes in or to fight at advantages by the way notwithstanding that by those stratagems he did but small or no hurt at all to his enemy so that Herod raised the siege and relieved his friends out of the Castle of Massada and after he had taken the Fort of Ressa Ressa taken Massada delivered from the siege after which Herod marcheth towards Jerusalem he approached Jerusalem being attended by Silo's Army and by divers Citizens of the City who were afraid of his power And when he had M pitched his Camp to the westward of the City those that kept the watch and guard on that side shot their Arrows and threw stones against him divers likewise sallied forth and fought hand to hand against those that were planted there For which cause first of all Herod caused a Proclamation to be made round about the Walls Herod proclaimeth about the walls of Jerusalem that he repaireth thither for the good of the people and the common Weal signifying unto them that he resorted thither for the common good of the people and for the conservation of the City without intent of revenge or memory of any wrongs that his private Enemies had offered him promising his most free pardon to all those whosoever had hainously offended him Hereunto Antigonus made this answer directing his speech to Silo and the Roman Soldiers that contrary to all justice they gave the Kingdom to Herod who was a private man and an Idumaean that is to say a half N Jew whereas it hath been a custome to bestow the same on them that are of the line of the Priests Antigonus upbraideth Herod that he is but half a Jew and of no Kingly Race For albeit at that present they were displeased with him for that he had seized on the Kingdom by the means of the Parthians and had resolved with themselves to dispossess him yet that there were divers others of that Royal Race who might be made Kings according to the law The enemy repulseth Herods power from the wall who have no wayes misdemeanded themselves towards the Romanes and moreover there are Priests who should not be justly and uprightly dealt withall if they should be deprived of that honor which
Caves Hedio Ruffinus chap 25. but fear constrained them to hold themselves quiet But a certain Souldier having girt his Sword by his side Herod leadeth his Soldiers against those theeves that held the caves and taken hold of the chain with both his hands whereto the Coffer was fastned slid down as far as the entry of the Cave and being displeased that none came out he shot divers Arrows at those that were within I Herod letteth down his Souldiers from the top of the mountain in Coffers and wounded them and after that with his hook he drew those unto him who resisted and tumbled them down headlong from the steep Rock which done he rushed in upon those that were within the Cave and slew many of them and afterwards returned and rested himself in his Coffer Divers hearing the groans of those that were wounded were surprised with fear and dispair of their life but the nights approach was the cause that the matter was not fully accomplished and many of them getting notice of the Kings free pardon by a Herauld submitted themselves The next day they renewed and continued the same manner of fight and divers went out of their Coffers to fight at the enterances of the Caves throwing in fire which there being much fewel in the Caves did great execution Within these Caves there was a certain old man apprehended K A certain old man killeth his wife and seven of his sons and at last casteth himself headlong from the Rock with his wife and seven Sons who being desired by them that he would suffer them to go and submit themselves to their enemies took up the entrey of the cave and as his Sons advanced to get out he slew them all and after them his Wife and at last when he had cast their dead bodies down the Rocks he threw himself down headlong after them prefering death to slavery Yet before his death he reviled Herod bitterly and upbraided him with his ignoble extraction and although Herod who saw all that which had happned stretched out his hand unto him for pardon yet he would not give ear to him and by this means were all these Caves entred and the theeves taken Now when the King had established Ptolomey General over the Army in that Countrey Herod retireth toward Samaria to fight with Antigomus he retired into Samaria with six hundred horse and three thousand foot with a resolution L to fight Antigonus and to end their quarrel But Ptolomey had but very slender success in his Government for they that before-time had troubled the Countrey of Galilee sallied out upon him and defeated him After which execution they fled into the Marishes and unaccessible places where they robbed and spoiled all the Countrey But Herod returning and setting upon them punished them for he slew some of them and the rest were constrained to flie into strong places where he besieged them and entring their fortresses perforce put them to the sword and destroyed their fortifications and having brought this rebellion to an end he condemned the Cities to pay him the sum of one hundred talents Mean while Pacorus was killed in the War and the Parthians were defeated with him Herod punisheth the Rebels in Galilee which was the cause that Ventidius sent Machaeras to succor M Herod with two legions and 1000 horse by Antonius order corupted by Antigonus mony Ventidius overcometh Pacorus and the â—arthians in baâ—â—el But Machaeras was notwithstanding Herods disswasion yet he went to him alleadging that he did it to look into his actions But Antigonus suspecting his sudden approach entertained him not but caused him to be darted at and driven thence giving him to understand by his entertainment what opinion he had of him who at that time perceived plainly that Herod had given him good counsel Machaeras killeth many Jews and that himself had failed in misbelieving his advice for which cause he returned to the City Emaus and killed all those Jews whom he met withall in the way Herod resolving to depart to Antonius and to accuse Macharas is reconciled by him and leaveth his brother Joseph with an army behind him being much troubled at it whether friends or enemies he was so highly displeased at that which had happned Herod came to Samaria resolving with himself to go to Antonius to complain of these grievances and to tell N him that he had no need of such associates who did him more harm than his enemies whereas of himself he was able to make good his War against Antigonus But Machaeras hasted after him entreating him to stay and to go no further on that journey and prayed him to leave his brother Joseph behind him to go with him against Antigonus By these perswasions and instant intreaties of Machaeras he was somewhat appeased so that he left his brother Joseph behind him with an Army charging him no way to hazard his fortune Herod repaireth to Antonius at the siege of Samaria and in the way killeth many Barbarians or to fall at odds with Machaeras As for himself he hasted toward Antony who at that time besieged Samotsata a City situate near unto Euphrates having with him an Army of his associates both horse and foot When Herod was arrived in Antioch he found divers men assembled there who were desirous to go and seek out Antony O but they durst not advance for fear the Barbarians should set upon them in their journey Herod encouraged them and offered himself to be their guide When they were come two dayes journy off Samosala the Barbarians laid an ambush for them and had barred up the way with Hurdles and had likewise hidden some Horsemen thereabouts until the A Passengers had recover'd the Plain Now when the foremost were past the ambush consisting of about some 500 Horsemen they suddenly charged Herod who was in the Rear when they had broken the first Ranks whom they had met Herod with his Troop that was about him immediately repulsed them and after he had encouraged his followers and whetted them on to the fight he did so much that he made those that fled to face about and fight so that the Barbarians were put to the sword on all sides The King also pursu'd them so long until at last he recover'd that which had been taken by them which was a certain number of Sumpter-horses and Slaves But being charged afresh by others and they in greater number than those who encountred him at first he likewise B rallying his Forces together charged and overcame them and killing divers of them he secured the way to those that follow'd after who all of them acknowledg'd him for their preserver When he drew near unto Samosata Herod was honourably entertained by Antonius and his Host Antonius sent out the best of his Army to meet and honour him As soon as he came to Antonius's presence he entertain'd him kindly
should commit no such like offence For that his first action was not allowable Some of them also went to meet Albinus being on his way to Alexandria Ananus accused before Albinus to inform him that it was unlawful for Ananus to assemble the Council without his Licence Albinus perswaded by these words wrote a cholerick Letter to Ananus Jesus the Son of Damnaeus possesseth Ananus's place wherein he threatned to punish him And for the same cause King Agrippa dispossessed him of the Priesthood after he had held the same for the space of three months and in his stead he established Jesus the Son of Damnaeus After that Albinus was arrived in Jerusalem he employed all his care and study to pacifie the E Countrey by executing divers of the Thieves But the High Priest Ananias daily encreased in honour and credit and purchased the good will of the Citizens Some forcibly gather the Tenths of the Priests by his liberality and great gifts But he had some mischievous Servants about him who conversed with those that were most intemperate and audâ—cious who repaired from Barn to Barn and took up many Tithes that belonged to the Priests and beat those that refused to render them The Priests used no less violence than their servants having no man that might restrain them whereby it came to pass that the Priests who were formerly maintained by the tenth died at that time for want of Victuals And the Thieves renewing their entrance into the City by night during the Feast that was celebrated at that time The Thieves apprehend Ananias's Kindred and Servants took the Secretary of Captain Eleazar F alive who was Ananias's Son who was the High Priest And having bound him led him out of the City sending Ananias word that they would deliver his Secretary if he would prevail so much with Albinus as to deliver them their ten Companions then Prisoners who were taken by him To the performance whereof Ananias perswaded Albinus by manifest reasons Caesarea Philippi new builded by Agrippa and called Neronias And by obtaining his demand encreased and begat a number of miseries For the Thieves used all the cunning means they could devise in apprehending some one of Ananias's house and when they had taken any one of them alive they would not deliver him except before they might have one of their own delivered So that encreasing both in courage and number they became more and more insolent to afflict the Countrey G At that time King Agrippa enlarged the City of Caesarea The Berithians receive much kindness at Agrippa's hands surnamed Philippi and in honour of Nero called it Neronias He builded also to his great charge a Theatre in favour of the Berytians He distributed Oyl and Corn for every one of the people and adorned all the City with most antick and fine Portraitures upon the Porches The year of the world 4026. after Christs Nativity 64. In H short he transported into that City almost all the Ornaments of the rest of the Kingdom For which cause his Subjects began to hate him seeing he deprived them of their rare Ornaments to adorn one strange City Jesus the Son of Gamaliel succeeded in the Priesthood which the King had given him and taken away from Jesus the Son of Damnaeus who resigned him his place against his will Whereupon there arose a discord between them Ananias Costobarus and Saul prepared to spoil the weaker for having assembled their resolutest followers they came from bitter words to blows and stones But amongst all the rest Ananias was the richest in wealth and by his bounty reconciled the more unto him Costobarus also and Saul gathered each of them a Band of Rascals and desperate men These two were of the Blood-Royal and by reason of their affinity and alliance with Agrippa they were well beloved I For which cause they were insolent and violent oppressing always the weaker sort From this time forward the estate of our City grew desperate encreasing daily more and more in wickedness When Albinus understood that Gessius Florus came to succeed him Hedio Ruffinus chap. 17. alias cap. 22. desiring that they of Jerusalem should acknowledge some of his good deeds he called before him all those Prisoners that were notoriously guilty of Murther Albinus executeth the hainous Malefactors and caused them to be executed As for those that were imprisoned upon any small or slight cause upon payment of their Fines he delivered them and in so doing the Prison was cleansed of Malefactors and from that time the Countrey remained full of Thieves and Robbers The Levites Agrippa giveth them of the Tribe of Levi leave to wear the Linnen Garments who were ordained to sing Hymns to God solicited the King to assemble K the Council and thereby to permit them to wear the Linnen Robe which the Priests were accustomed to use telling him that such an Ordinance would dignifie his Estate very much in that he would be always famous in memory of this new Establishment Agrippa permitteth the Ministers of the Temple to sing the Sacred Hymns This Suit of theirs was easily granted for the King after he had consulted with those who were his Assistants suffered the Levites that sung the Hymns to lay aside their ordinary Robe and to apparel themselves in Linnen as best liked them He permitted also that another part of the Levites who intended the service of the Temple should learn to sing the Hymns and Psalms as they had required All which he did contrary to the Ordinances of the Countrey which being broken there was nothing else to be expected but Punishment L At that time the building of the Temple was finished The people of the Jews beseech the King that it may be lawful for them to repair the Porch And the people perceiving that more than eighteen thousand Work-men should be idle and deprived of Wages whereupon they were accustomed to live by the building of the Temple on the other side being loath to reserve their money through the fear they had of the Romans to provide for those Workmen in the entertainment of whom they resolved to employ their Treasure for if any one of them wrought but one hour of the day he was suddenly paid his wages they requested the King that it would please him to repair the Eastern Gate on the outward part of the Temple scituate in a Descent the Walls whereof were in height four hundred Cubits made of square Stones of white Marble from the top to the bottom and every stone twenty foot long and six M foot thick This Work was first builded by King Solomon who was the first that builded our Temple But Agrippa to whom Claudius Caesar had given the Commission of building of the Temple thinking with himself that it was very easie to break it down but very hard to build it up and that to re-edifie the Porch
But his Mother being no way dismayed with the stripes which she endured nor with the death wherewith she was threatned lifted up her hands to her Son beseeching him that he would not in regard of her miseries be moved to spare so impious a person for she should esteem her death G happy if so be Ptolemy might receive just punishment for the villany which he had impiously committed against their house Hircanus seeing the resolute mind of his Mother and hearing her entreaty was moved to assault the Castle but straightway seeing her beaten and torn he relented with compassion and his mind agitated with H different Sentiments was full of confusion and trouble By which means the Siege continued long and the Jubilee year was come which falleth out every seventh year Ptolomey was no sooner delivered from the Siege by this occasion but he put Hircanus's Mother and his Brethren to death Ptolâ—maeus murthereth Hircanus's Mother and Brethren and afterwards fled to Zeno the Tyrant of Philadelphia who was also surnamed Cotylas In the mean while Antiochus to be revenged for the Victory which Simon had got over his Generals entred with an Army into Judaea and besieged Hircanus in Jerusalem who opening the Sepulchre of David who had been one of the richest of all the Kings of Judaea took more than three thousand Talents from thence The year of the world 3839. before Christ's Nativity 123. of which he gave three hundred to Antiochus and so obliged him to depart the Countrey This I Hircanus was the first Prince that entertained Forreign Soldiers But so soon as Antiochus had bent his Power and Forces against the Medes he took that opportunity to revenge himself Antiochus upon the payment of three hundred Talents raiseth his Siege and presently assaulted the Towers of Syria assuring himself he should find them as indeed they were void of Soldiers to defend them He made himself Master of Medaba Samea Sichem and Garizim and subdued the Cuthaeans who inhabit the places adjoyning to the Temple that was built in imitation of that which is at Jerusalem Ant. lib. 13. cap. 15. Moreover he took many Cities of Idumaea and amongst the rest Doteon and Marisa and coming into Samaria which Herod afterwards rebuilt and called Sebaste he besieged it on every side Ariâ—â—obulus and Antigonus besiege Sâ—basâ—â— and left his two Sons Aristobulus and Antigonus to continue the Siege They omitted nothing to the purpose and there came such a Famine K in the City that the Inhabitants were constrained to eat very unaccustomed Meats In this extremity they desired aid of Antiochus surnamed Spondius who speedily came to relieve them but he was overcome by Aristobulus and Antigonus and was pursued by them to Scythopolis whither he retired himself But they returning again to Samaria Sebasâ— overthrown and spoiled straitned the City and at last taking it by force destroyed the same and led away their Inhabitants Captives Whilst thus Fortune favoured them they ceased not to pursue their good success but led their Army beyond Scythopolis and shared between them all the Land of Mount Carmel L CHAP. III. Of Aristobulus Antigonus Judas Essaeus Alexander Theodorus and Demetrius THis Felicity and good hap of Hircanus and his Sons was accompanied with the envy of many of his Countrey-men and their discontent was the cause of an open Rebellion The Seditious overcome in War For divers of the Jews rising up in Arms against them were so much over-ruled by their ambitious passion that they could not contain themselves from the prosecution of an open and bloody War Hircanus after he had happily governed the Countrey for thirty three years space dieth wherein notwithstanding they were put to the worst From that day forward Hircanus passed the remainder of his life in all M tranquillity and happiness and after he had governed the Commonwealth for the space of thirty and three years he departed this life leaving behind him five valiant Sons He was a man of more than ordinary felicity being possessed of three excellent endowments together for he was the Prince of his Countrey High Priest and a Prophet The year of the world 3861. before Christ's Nativity 101. to whom God spake and gave him the knowledge of future accidents He foresaw and foretold that his two eldest Sons should not continue long in the Government whose ends are worth rehearsal being very different from their Father's felicity for the eldest Son Aristobulus after his Father's death changed the Principality into a Kingdom and was the first that put a Crown on his head four hundred twenty one years Ant. lib. 13. cap. 19. and three months after the deliverance of the people from the Captivity of Babylon N As for Antigonus who was his second Brother and whom in appearance he seemed to love most entirely he made him partaker of his Dignity and committed the rest of them to Prison He imprisoned his Mother also for that she had contended with him for the Government of which Hircanus had made her Regent Aristobulus famisheth his Mother And he was so given over to all kind of cruelty that he not only kept her Prisoner in Bonds but also put her to death by Famine Aristobulus loved Antigonus very dearly To which Impiety he added that of killing his own Brother Antigonus whom he had entirely loved and made Partner with him in the Kingdom For by reason of certain scandalous slanders which his envious and malignant Courtiers contrived and invented against him he commanded him to be put to death Upon their first information Aristobulus swayed by Brotherly affection gave them no O credit conceiving those Accusations to proceed from envy rather than any good ground But when Antigonus returned from the War at that Festival time wherein A according to the custom of our Countrey we celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles it happened that Aristobulus fell sick Antigonus therefore about the end of those Festival days attended with a great Equipage and Train of armed men ascended up into the Temple to offer Sacrifice and to pray God for the health of the King his Brother Hereupon certain cursed and wicked detractors repaired to the King and told him that this great Guard of Soldiers which accompanied Antigonus Antigonus in honour of his Brother ascended up into the Temple and his magnificent Pomp shew'd that he was not contented with the honour he had done him in associating him in the Royalty but was minded to possess it wholly to himself in which resolution they said he was come accompanied with so many Soldiers Antigonus falsly accused to his Brother that it could not be doubted but that it was to murther him Aristobulus though unwillingly yet at B last being won to believe them desirous to hide his suspicion commanded his Guard to hide themselves in a certain place under ground Aristobulus commandeth his Guard
business for which cause labouring under his disease Ant. lib. 13. cap. 22. he applied himself to War and toiling above his strength amidst those tumults he yielded up the Ghost in the thirty seventh year of his Reign leaving the Kingdom to Alexandra his Wife Alexandra Alexander's Wife through the opinion of Vertue obtaineth the Kingdom fully accounting that the Jews would in all things obey her because that she always misliking and seeking to hinder his cruelty and iniquity had won the hearts of the people Neither was he deceived for she being admired for her piety amongst them they easily submitted to her the rather F for that she was well acquainted with the Customs of her Countrey and even from her Childhood detested them who violated our holy Laws Hircanus first made High Priest and afterwards King She had by Alexander two Sons the eldest was called Hircanus whom by reason of his years she made High Priest and because of his dull nature she thought that though he were in Princely Authority yet he would molest no man As for the youngest Son Aristobulus because he was of a hot spirit she was willing that he should lead a private life Now there was a certain Sect among the Jews The Pharisees getting in favour with the Queen are made her chief Governours and enjoy all honours which were called Pharisees who joyned themselves with the Queen These people were thought to be of the godliest sort and to be more skilful than others in interpreting the Scriptures and Alexandra favoured them the more because she was much given to Religion These having by G little and little insinuated themselves into her favour domineer'd at their pleasure displacing disposing imprisoning and restoring to liberty whom they pleased for no other purpose but that they might enjoy the Profits and Commodities of the Kingdom leaving to Alexandra nothing but the Expences and care of the Government H This Queen was always desirous of high attempts and daily studied to encrease her wealth She levied two Armies and hired many strangers whereby she not only strengthened her own Countrey but also made her self feared by other Nations Alexandra willingly obeyeth the Pharisees She ruled others but her self was ruled by the Pharisees who at last killed Diogenes a gallant man and highly in favour with King Alexander affirming that through his counsel the King commanded those eight hundred before-mentioned to be crucified The Pharisees by their envy and Accusations are the death of many good men And further they perswaded the Queen Alexandra that she should put to death all others through whose counsel Alexander her Husband had been incited against those eight hundred The Queen being blinded with Superstition thought it unlawful to deny any thing which they requested so that they put to death whom they I pleased till such time as the chiefest of those who were in this danger in humble wise came to Aristobulus Aristobulus expostulateth with his Mother who perswaded his Mother to spare some and to banish others who she thought had deserved punishment which Exiles dispersed themselves through the whole Countrey Now Alexandra sent an Army to Damascus and because Ptolomey daily vexed the City she took it without doing any thing worthy of memory She also solicited Tigranes King of Armenia with Gifts and Promises who with an Army had besieged Ptolemais wherein Cleopatra was but he for fear of troubles in his own Countrey in that Lucullus had entred into Armenia withdrew himself from thence Shortly after Alexandra falling sick Aristobulus proclaimeth himself King her youngest Son Aristobulus with his Servants K which were many in number all trusty and in the heat of their youth got all the Castles Alexandra imprisoneth Aristobulus's Wife and Children and hiring Soldiers with the money he found in those Castles he proclaimed himself King But Alexandra pitying the complaints of Hircanus imprisoned the Wife and Children of Aristobulus in a Castle near the North part of the Temple which in old time was called Baris as we said before afterwards Antonia from Antonius The year of the World 3863. before Christ's Nativity â—â— as in like manner Sebaste and Agrippias other Cities were named of Augustus and Agrippa But Alexandra died before she could revenge Hircanus of the wrongs which Aristobulus had done him This Queen reigned nine years and left Hircanus in possession of all whom during her life time she had advanced to the Kingdom But Aristobulus being both stronger in power Alexandra dieth and Hircanus succeedeth her in the Kingdom and greater in authority encountred with his L Brother about Jericho where many of Hircanus's Soldiers forsaking their King fled to Aristobulus so that he and the remnant that followed him were forced to fly into the Castle called Antonia where he found Hostages to redeem them for as we have already said Aristobulus his Wife and Children were imprisoned in that place Ant. l. 14 c. 1. And lest any worse mis-hap should betide him The Brethren contending for the Kingdom are accorded upon certain conditions he concluded a Peace upon condition that Aristobulus should be King and that he as Brother to the King should enjoy some other Dignities Upon these conditions they were made friends in the Temple where in the presence of all the people they friendly embraced each other which when they had done Ant. lib. 14. cap. 2 3 4. they changed houses and Aristobulus went to the King's Palace and Hircanus to Aristobulus's house M CHAP. V. Of the War between Hircanus and the Arabians Antipater perswadeth Hircanus to fly to Aretas King of Arabia and to crave his assistance to recover his Kingdom and of the taking of Jerusalem NOw a sudden fear invaded all the enemies of Aristobulus when they saw him contrary to all expectation made King and especially Antipater above all others whom Aristobulus had long hated This Antipater was an Idumaean born and for Nobility and Riches the chief and best reputed of his Nation This man perswaded N Hircanus to fly to Aretas King of Arabia and crave his help to set him in his Kingdom He exhorted Aretas likewise to receive Hircanus and to help him to recover his Kingdom Antipater with Hircanus fly from Jerusalem by night to Aretas King of Arabia speaking much against the manners of Aristobulus and praising Hircanus adding that he being King of so famous a Nation ought to assist those who were unjustly oppressed and that Hircanus had manifest injury offered him being forced to forsake his Kingdom which by the right of Succession was due unto him After he had thus made his way he took in the night time Hircanus and fled with him out of the City and making all haste possible they arrived safe at a Town called Petra a Town where the King 's of Arabia are accustomed to keep their Court there he delivered Hircanus into the King's
Judaea and hoped quickly to take Jerusalem because the Wall which was destroyed by Pompey had not been built up again But Gabinius a great Captain who was sent into Syria to succeed Scaurus march'd with an Army against him Whereupon The year of the World 3904. before Christ's Nativity 58. fearing the worst he assembled all the Forces he could to make resistance D so that he had ten thousand Foot and a thousand and five hundred Horse He fortified also the commodious places of the Countrey to wit Alâ—â—candrium Hircania and Machaeron which are near the Mountains of Arabia Gabinius sent Marcus Antonius before him with part of the Army Alexander gathereth ten thousand Foot and fifteen hundred Horse and followed after with the rest and certain chosen men out of Antipater's Company and other Companies of the Jews whereof Malichus and Pitholaus were made chief joyned themselves with Marcus Antonius and presently after them followed Gabinius with all his Company to meet Alexander Alexander perceiving himself unable to encounter all those united Forces Antipater with his Forces goeth out to meet Alexander fled but drawing near Jerusalem he was constrained to hazard the fight where losing to the E number of six thousand whereof three thousand were taken alive and other three thousand slain he escaped with the rest Alexander fighteth with his Enemies and loseth six thousand men Gabiâ—ius pursued him and as soon as he came to the Castle called Alexandrium understanding that many Jews had forsaken their Colours he by promising them Pardon sought to unite them to his Party again but when he perceived that they hammered on no abject resolution he slew the most of them Marcus Antonius a Captain and for the rest he drove them into the Castle In this Battel Marcus Antonius did many things worthy of renown and although he had always shewed himself valiant yet there especially his courage appeared Gabinius leaving some to besiege the Castle went to the Cities of the Province and strengthned those that were not yet assaulted and re-edified those that were destroyed and by his Commandment F Scythopolis What Cities the Jews received to inhabit Samaria Anthedon Apollonia Jamnia Raphia Marissa Dora Gadara and Azotus and many more began to be inhabited so that their Inhabitants joyfully returned and dwelt therein Which when he had done he returned to Alexandrium Ant. lib. 14. cap. 11. and began a more close Siege whereat Alexander being terrified and made desperate Alexander's Mother striveth to pacifie Gabinius with rewards sent Ambassadours to him beseeching him to pardon him promising to render unto him the Castles of Machaeron and Hircania which were in his power besides Alexandrium All which Gabinius by counsel of Alexander's Mother destroyed lest they might be occasion of new Wars For the apprehension which this Princess had for her Husband The change of the Government of the Jews and for her other Children Prisoners at Rome made her omit nothing to endeavour to gain the affection of Gabinius After this Gabinius carried G Hircanus to Jerusalem and committing the Temple to his charge he committed to others of the Nobility the care of the Commonwealth Ant. lib. 14. cap. 1â— and divided the whole Nation of the Jews into five parts and Governments whereof one was established at Jerusalem another at Doris the third at Amathon the fourth at Jericho and the fifth at Sephoris H a City of Galilee And the Jews being delivered from the Government of one man only willingly suffered themselves to be ruled by an Aristocratical Government But shortly after Aristobulus escaping from Rome raised new troubles and gathering a great Army Aristobulus escaping from Rome raiseth new troubles partly of those that desired a change and partly of such as loved him before took Alexandrium and began to compass it again with a Wall But hearing that Gabinius had sent Sisenna Antonius and Servilius against him with an Army he went to Machaeron Aristobulus fighteth with the Romans and dismissing those that were not fit for War he took with him only eight thousand armed men amongst whom was Pitholaus Governour of them that were revolted who with one thousand men fled out of Jerusalem But the Romans pursued them and joyning Battel with them Aristobulus with his men fought I valiantly till being by force overcome the Romans slew five thousand of them and almost two thousand men fled into a Mountain and the other thousand breaking the Ranks of the Romans with Aristobulus retreated to Machaeron where the King hiding himself the first night amongst the Ruines hoped that having respit he might gather another Army The Romans obtain the Victory and carry away Aristobulus and his Son to Rome and fortifie the Castle But having for two days sustained the Forces of the Romans with extraordinary courage at last he was taken and with his Son Antigonus who had been imprisoned with him at Rome he was carried to Gabinius and from thence to Rome where the Senate put him in Prison but his Sons they sent into Judaea because Gabinius writ that he had so promised Aristobulus's Wife upon condition the Castles might be yielded K Whilst Gabinius prepared to war against the Parthians Ptolomey hindred him being returned from Euphrates into Egypt Antipater and Hircanus assisted him with all things belonging to the War as Money Weapons Corn and Men and Antipater perswaded the Jews who kept the ways that lead to Pelusium to suffer Gabinius to pass Now Alexander Aristobulus's Son once more provoketh the Jews to Rebellion in the other part of Syria at the departure of Gabinius there began a Commotion and Alexander Aristobulus's Son once more incited the Jews to Rebellion and having gathered a mighty power purposed to destroy all the Romans that were in that Countrey Which Gabinius fearing who was returned out of Egypt at the beginning of these tumults he sent Antipater before who perswaded some of the Rebels to be quiet yet thirty thousand remained with Alexander For which cause he was L very forward to fight The Jews overcome by the Romans and went out to Battel near Itabyrium they fought the Romans prevailed and ten thousand were slain and the rest were put to flight and Gabinius returned to Jerusalem by the counsel of Antipater Gabinius overcometh the Nabathaeans in Battel where having established all things he marched thence and overcame the Nabathaeans in Battel he likewise permitted Mithridates and Orsanes two Parthian Noblemen who were fled to him from the Parthians Ant. lib. 14. cap. 13. secretly to depart saying that they had escaped from the Soldiers In the mean time Crassus who was appointed to be his Successor had Syria delivered him Marcus Crassus taketh away the rest of the Gold of the Temple and towards the maintenance of the Parthian Wars he took all the Gold that was in the Temple of Jerusalem besides the two
Where first of all in regard of the familiarity between his Father and him he went to Antonius declaring unto him both his own calamity and the miserable desolation of the whole Countrey and how leaving his dearest friends besieged in a Castle himself through the stormy Winter Seas was come to him to implore his assistance Antonius compassionating his calamity and remembring his familiarity with Antipater and esteeming the merit of Herod which stood before him determined to make him King of the Jews whom before he himself had made Tetrarch For he loved not Herod so well but he hated Antigonus as much holding him both a seditious person Ant. lib. 14. cap. 13. and an enemy to the Romans Now to the accomplishment M of this Herod findeth both Caesar and Antonius favourable unto him he found Caesar far more ready than himself when he called to mind the service that Antipater did in Egypt under his Father and his entertainment and friendship in all things And besides all these he was much satisfied with Herod's courage and ability Wherefore he caused the Senate to be assembled wherein Messala and himself Herod praised before the Senate in the presence of Herod recounted his Father's deserts and fidelity towards the Romans declaring Antigonus to be an enemy not only because he had formerly revolted but for that now lately in despight of the Romans he had by the assistance of the Parthians Herod made King by the Roman Senate usurped the Kingdom With which considerations the Senate being moved and Antonius affirming it to be expedient for the Roman Wars a-against the Parthians that Herod should be created King the whole Senate consented N and when it was dismissed Antonius and Caesar came forth with Herod between them and the Consuls marched before him accompanied with other Magistrates to offer Sacrifice and to Register the Decree of the Senate in the Capitol After which Antonius feasted Herod the first day of his Reign 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 Ant. lib. 14. cap. 23. who had great store of Victuals Antigonus getteth Massada 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 The Wars between Antigonus's Soldiers and Joseph Herod's Brother 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 Ventidius the Roman General taketh money from Antigonus 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 Ant. lib. 14. cap. 24. leaving Silo behind him with a few to colour his pretence And Antigonus hoping for a second Supply from the Parthians corrupted Silo not to molest him for the present Herod against Antigonus By this time Herod having sailed from Italy to Ptolemais and gathered a great Army of strangers and his own Countreymen together came into Galilee against Antigonus being assisted with the Forces of Ventidius and Silo whom Gellius who was sent from Antonius perswaded to establish Herod in his Kingdom Herod intendeth after he hath taken Massada and Joppa to besiege Jerusalem But Ventidius was busie in appeasing the Broils that the Parthians had made in the Cities and Silo was corrupted by Antigonus Yet did not Herod 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 rejoycing that he had found occasion to retire but he was pursued by the Jews of Antigonus'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 journey 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 Herod begirteth Jerusalem with a Siege and proclaimeth the cause of his coming 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 forced them to retire At this time Silo was detected to have been corrupted with money Silo's subtilty being corrupted by the Jews 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 Quarter during the Winter because Antigonus had laid
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 Rebellion under the Command of Ptolomey and returned to Samaria carrying with him three thousand Foot Ptolomey Captain of Herod's Soldiers slain and six hundred Horse against Antigonus After his departure those that were accustomed to trouble Galilee having now as they thought opportunity 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 Machaera to Herod with a thousand Horse and two Legions of Foot to assist him against Antigonus Antigonus writ Letters to Machaera desiring him to help him and complaining that Herod had injured him promised him a great summ of money But he thinking 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 Antigonus 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 City Machaera's iniquity 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 against D his expectation he killed all the Jews he found not respecting whether they favoured Herod or Antigonus The year of the World 3927. before Christ's Nativity 35. 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 followed the King and with many entreaties besought him to be reconciled and obtained 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 thereby 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 Antonius admireth Herod's valour 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 CHAP. XIII Of the death of Joseph Ant. lib. 14. cap. 25. How Herod besieged Jerusalem and how Antigonus was slain F IN the mean time Herod's Affairs in Judaea went backward He had left his Brother Joseph Governour of all and commanded him to attempt nothing against Antigonus till his return for he little trusted to Machaera's help because of the part he had played before But Joseph seeing his Brother to be far off regarded not what charge was left him but went to Jericho with his own Troops and five Companies of Horse which Machaera sent with him thinking now in Harvest time to have taken away their Corn but being assaulted by the enemies upon the Mountains and in difficult places himself was there slain after he had shewed himself in the fight a worthy and valiant man and there was not one left alive of all the Roman Horse for they had been newly levied in Syria and they had no old Soldiers amongst them to assist their want of experience G Antigonus not contented with the Victory Antigonus's cruelty against Joseph's Carkass became such a Tyrant that having the dead 〈◊〉 in his power he cut off Joseph's head and caused his body to be scourged although Pheroras his Brother offered fifty Talents to redeem the same entire After Antigonus had obtained this Victory there was such a change in Galilee that H those who favoured him too the chiefest of Herod's Favourites and drowned them in a Lake Also there arose great Commotions in Idumaea where Machaera was repairing the Walls of a certain Castle called Githa All this while Herod heard nothing of the news Herod certified of his Brother's death in a Dream for after Samosata was taken Antonius made Sosius Governour of Syria leaving order with him to help Herod against Antigonus and so he departed into Egypt Sosius sent two Legions with Herod into Judaea to help him and he himself with the rest of the Army followed When Herod was at Antiochia near Daphne his Brother's death was shewed him in a Dream and being troubled at it he leaped out of his bed even at the same instant that the Messengers who brought tidings of his death entred into the house He could not forbear some expressions of grief but he check'd his I sorrow to hasten to revenge it upon his enemies with incredible speed When he came to Libanus he took eight hundred Inhabitants of that Mountain to help him and joyned unto them one of the Roman Legions and not expecting the day with them he entred into Galilee where meeting with some enemies he forced them to flee to the place from whence they came and besieged their Castle but before he could take it he was constrained by hard weather to lead his Army into the next Village Within a few days his number being encreased with another Legion which Antonius sent he put his enemies in such fear that in the night time they forsook the Castle Then he hasted to Jericho to be revenged on those that had killed his Brother Herod's Dining-room fell after he had forsaken it and gone to bed where there befel him a most strange accident from which being against all hope delivered he perswaded K himself that God bare a particular love to him For when many Nobles that night had supped with him and Supper being ended every one was gone forth incontinently the house wherein he supped fell down Herod took this as a Presage both of the dangers and prosperous success he was to have in his Wars And the next morning early he removed from thence and about six thousand of the enemies descending from the Mountains charged his Vanguard yet they durst not joyn Battel with the Romans but molested them with stones and darts with which they wounded many so that Herod himself passing along was wounded in the side with a Dart. Antigonus desirous to shew himself the stronger as well in multitude of men as in courage sent Pappus a friend of his with some Forces to Samaria with a design to fight L and
defeat Machaera Herod on the other side went about the enemies Countrey and took five Towns and destroyed two thousand of the Inhabitants and firing the houses returned to his Army near a Village called Cana. Every day there came flocking to him a very great number of Jews both from Jericho and other parts of the Countrey some out of hatred to Antigonus and others out of love of change and an esteem of Herod Whilst thus he hasted to fight Pappus with his men neither fearing the multitude nor strength of their enemies came fiercely upon them and offered Battel Which being begun those that were not engaged against Herod resisted a while but Herod remembring his Brother's death ventured more than the rest to the end to be revenged upon them that were the Authors thereof M and so he easily overcame the enemies and still assaulting the fresh men put them all to flight There was a mighty slaughter for many being forced to flee into the Village from whence they came he pursued them and slew an infinite number though all the houses and house-tops were full of armed men to defend it After he had slain those that were abroad he overthrew the houses and so forced them that were within to come forth Others he killed in Companies with the ruines of the houses wherein they were and if any one chanced to escape the Soldiers without killed them So that the heaps of dead bodies were so great The number of the Carcases hinder the Soldiers passage that they who had the Victory could not pass thorough the streets for them Those of the Countrey were so dismayed with this overthrow that the whole multitude of them fled away and Herod by the benefit of N his good fortune had even then come to Jerusalem had not a great storm hindred him which was the only cause that at that time he got not a full Conquest and Antigonus was not utterly overthrown who through fear and desperation was preparing to leave the City But Herod towards night having given his friends leave to depart to refresh themselves being himself heated with his Armour after the manner of Soldiers entred into a Bath accompanied only with one Page And as he was there three of his enemies that had escaped out of the Battel and came to the Bath to hide themselves seeing the King there were so terrified with the King's Presence although at that time he was naked and weaponless that they thought of nothing but flight and being no body was present there to surprize them they escaped and Herod was very O well contented that he had no harm by them Herod beheadeth Pappus Antigonus 's Captain The next day he beheaded Pappus who was the General of Antigonus his Army and sent his head to his Brother Pheroras to comfort him for their common loss for Pappus was he that slew Joseph A The Winter being past The year of the World 3928. before Christ's Nativity 34. he with his Army came to Jerusalem and besieged it pitching his Tents before the Temple where it was easiest to take the City and where formerly Pompey had entred it It was now the third year after Herod had been declared King at Rome Now when he had quartered his Army as he thought best for his purpose Aâ—t lib. 14. cap. 12. and divided the Suburbs he caused three Rampiers to be raised for Towers to be built upon them and leaving there his trusty friends that would not slack their business Jerusalem besieged he went to Samaria to visit Mariamne the Daughter of Alexander who was Son to Aristobulus formerly as we before made mention espoused to him And he wedded her even in the time of the Siege to shew how he contemned his enemies After his Marriage-rites were performed he returned to Jerusalem with a far greater B Army Sosius also seconded him with a great Army of Foot and Horse whom he sent before him through the midst of the Countrey and he himself came after by Phoenicia Now when all his whole Army was joyned together The year of the world 3929. before Christ's Nativity 33. to the number of about eleven Legions of Foot and six thousand Horse besides the Syrians that came to help him which were no small number he laid his Assault and Battery to the Northermost Wall He grounded his Right upon the Decree of the Senate whereby he was declared to be King The Jews valiantly defend themselves Sosius also was warranted by Antonius's Letters whereby he commanded him to help Herod with all the Forces under his Command Mean-while the Jews that were within the City were diversly troubled for the weaker sort gathering themselves together about the Temple deplored their unhappiness and envied C the felicity of those that died before they were reduced to these miseries But those who were hardiest among them joyning themselves together robbed and took away what they could especially Victuals from those places that were next the City so that they neither left meat for Horses nor Men And the valiantest of them all being set to defend the Walls against those that besieged them hindred the Adversaries from erecting their Batteries by some new device Neither did they any ways prevail so much as by their Mines The King sought to repress the Excursions of the Plunderers by placing an Ambush of men to intercept them and relieved the want and scarcity of Victuals by fetching Provision from places far distant But notwithstanding they in fight failed not to express incredible valour yet did the military experience of the D Romans surpass them A wall no sooner began to totter but they wrought with so great diligence to make another that this was finished before that was fallen In a word they neither spared hands nor Engines but were all of them determined to fight it out to the last And although they were besieged by two so potent Armies yet they defended the Town five months Herod's Soldiers after five months Siege enter the City But at last certain of Herod's bravest men by a breach entered the City and the Romans the like on another side Those places nearest the Temple were the first that they seized upon afterwards the whole Army entring the City it was lamentable to see how in every corner the people were massacred Slaughter in Jerusalem for the Romans being displeased that the Siege continued so long time became more cruel and Herod's Army endeavoured to let none of the adverse part escape E So that many were slain both in the streets and in their own houses yea even then also when they fled into the Temple without respect of Age or Sex For although the King commanded the Soldiers to spare the people yet for all that they never restrained their cruel hands but like mad men raged against all men women and children Sosius taketh Antigonus Antigonus not considering his former condition came and
revenge and so abated the pride of the Arabians that they took him for their Protector K CHAP. XV. How Herod was confirmed in the peaceable Possession of the Kingdom of Judaea by Augustus Caesar THe joy of this prosperous success 〈…〉 was soon abated by the news of the Victory of Augustus over Antonius at Actium and his love for the latter made him apprehend the worst that could be imagined from the former Yet was he more afraid than L hurt by this his suspicion for Caesar counted not Antonius fully conquered so long as Herod kept to his Party Wherefore the King timely foreseeing those dangers that might ensue went to Rhodes where at that time Caesar resided and in the habit of a private man without a Crown but with a Kingly Majesty he presented himself before him Herod 's Oration to Augustus Caesar and with great constancy spake to him in this manner I was O Caesar made King of Judaea by Antonius his means and I cannot deny but that had not the Arabians hindred me I had with all the Power I could have made seconded and assisted Antonius against thee Yea although personally I could not go yet did I what I could to help him Herod speaks freely before Caesar and sent him many thousand Measures of Corn. Nay though he had the Overthrow at Actium yet did not I forsake him who had deserved well at my hands and although I M was not able to assist him with force of Arms yet I gave him the best counsel I could inculcating oftentimes unto him that the only way to redress his affairs was to put Cleopatra to death which if he would do I promised him to assist him with money Strong holds and an Army yea and with mine own person against thee But the love of Cleopatra and God who had already designed the Empire of the World to thee stopped his ears By this means O Caesar I find my self conquered with Antonius and have forsaken my Crown and Dignity with his Fortunes and I am come unto thee without grounding the hope of my safety upon any thing but my own Vertue and the experience which thou mayest make of my fidelity to my Friends Caesar's Answer to Herod Herod having spoken in this manner Caesar answered Live in safety and reign now with greater security than before for thou deservest to rule others N who with such constancy didst defend and maintain thy friendship Hence forward endeavour to continue faithful towards them that are more fortunate than Antonius for for my part I have conceived a great hope and expectation of thy Valour and Prowess I cannot blame Antonius in that he rather hearkened to Cleopatra than to thee since by his imprudence I have obtained thy friendship That thou hast begun to do well it hereby appeareth because Ventidius hath signified unto me that thou hast sent him succours against his enemies For which cause by this my present Decree be thou established in thy Kingdom and I will shortly give thee such proofs of my Amity that thou shalt have no cause to bewail the loss of Antonius After this speech Augustus put the Crown upon Herod 's head and made a Decree and sealed it testifying how he had remitted all things O done by Herod and confirmed him in his Kingdom and rehearsing many things greatly tending to Herod 's praise After that Herod had made great Presents to Caesar he A requested him to pardon Alexander one of Antonius his friends who earnestly and in humble manner desired the same But Caesar being much incensed against him answered that he for whom he entreated had greatly and many times offended and so he repelled Herod with this answer When Caesar travelled into Egypt through Syria Herod's gratulation toward Caesar he was entertained by Herod with all Royal Pomp possible And that was the first time that he shewed himself to take part with Caesar when near Ptolemais he took a view of the Soldiers with Caesar and made a Banquet for him and all his friends and feasted the whole Army And in as much as he travelled to Pelusium thorough a dry Countrey when they returned again he provided water for them and furnished the Army with all necessaries so that both Caesar B and the Soldiers thought the Kingdom a small recompence for his deserts Caesar encreaseth Herod's Dominion For which cause after he came into Egypt and that Antonius and Cleopatra were now dead he did not only encrease his honour but also restored to him that portion of his Countrey which was taken away by Antonius and given to Cleopatra And besides that Gadara and Hippon and Samaria and other Cities about the Sea-coast to wit Gaza and Anthedon and Joppa and Straton's Tower and moreover gave him four hundred Galatians which before were Cleopatra's Guard Nor did Caesar's Liberality stop here but to shew how far his esteem of this Prince's merit proceeded he added to his Dominion Trachonitis and Batanaea and Auranitis upon this occasion Zenodorus who for money had hired the Lands of Lysanias continually sent people out of Trachonitis to C rob the people of Damascus who in humble manner went to Varus who was at that time Governour of Syria entreating him to inform Caesar of their calamity Caesar understanding the same writ back again commanding him to exterminate those Thieves Whereupon Varus with an Army Herod made Governour of Syria went to those places which were most infested and rid the Countrey of the Thieves and confiscated the Territory from Zenodorus which Caesar lest it should again be a refuge for Thieves to spoil Damascus gave to Herod and made him Ruler over all Syria Ten years after Caesar returning to this Countrey commanded the Governours to do nothing without Herod's counsel And after Zenodorus's death he gave him all the Countrey between Trachonitis and Galilee But that which Herod esteemed above all the rest was that Caesar loved him best of all next to D Agrippa and that Agrippa loved him most of all men next to Caesar When he was arrived to this pitch of Felicity he shewed the greatness of his Soul by the greatest and most holy enterprize that can be imagined CHAP. XVI Of the Cities and Monuments repaired and builded by Herod and of his felicity and liberality towards strangers E IN the fifteenth year of his Reign he repaired the Temple The year of the world 3947. before Christ's Nativity 15. and enclosed twice as much ground as was before about the Temple with a strong Wall whereon he bestowed great costs and charges to beautifie it as the great Porches will testifie which he built about the Temple and the Castle on the North part thereunto adjoyning which he built even from the foundation The Castle was so rich and sumptuous that it was equal to the King's Palace Ant. lib. 15. c. 10. 12 13 14. and in honour of Antonius he named it
Romans 4. How Placidus Assaulted Jotapata 5. How Vespasian invaded Galilee and how at his presence the Galileans fled C 6. How Gabara was taken 7. How Jotapata was besieged and of the situation and battery thereof 8. Of the Siege of Jotapata by Vespasian and of Joseph's diligence and of the excursions of the Jews against the Romans 9. How Vespasian battered the Walls of Jotapata with a Ram and other warlike Engines 10. How Jotapata was again assaulted 11. How Trajan and Titus took Japha 12. How Cerealis overcame the Samaritans 13. How Jotapata was taken D 14. How Joseph being taken saved his own life 15. How Joppe was taken again 16. How Tiberias was yielded 17. How Tarichea was besieged 18. Of the Lake called Genesareth and the Fountains of Jordan 19. How Tarichea was delivered CHAP. I. E Of Vespasian's coming into Judea and of the Massacre of the Jews VVHen the Emperor Nero understood the ill success of his Armies against the Jews Nero is amazed and afraid at the valiant acts of the Jews he was seized with fear and astonishment yet he dissembled it as much as necessity would permit him In the mean-while he set a good face on the matter and made as though he were of more courage saying That that which hapned was rather by the fault of his General Cestius than the valour of their Adversaries thinking that it behoved him who was Emperor not to shew himself moved with a little bad news and that the greatness of his Empire ought to secure his mind from the apprehension of considerable misfortunes Yet it appeared by the vexation of his F spirit that he was much moved and in great care to whom he should commit the charge of the East which had rebelled who might both reduce the Jews and hinder the Inhabitants of other Countries from the like attempts Nero sendeth Vespasian to govern in Syria and direct his War At last he pitcht upon Vespasian whom he thought only meet for that purpose a man who from his Infancy had been trained up in War even until he was gray-headed who had appeased the people of the West and helped them being troubled by the Germans and recovered it for the Romans as also he did Britain which was unknown before and for that cause made his Father Claudius triumph without taking any pains for it Nero considered all these things and his prudence grounded on old Age and Experience and that also he had Sons in the flower of their Age to be pledges for his fidelity who might assist their G Father by their Courage Wherefore God as it should seem even then disposing it so for the good of the whole Common-wealth Nero sent him to govern the Armies in Syria greatly encouraging him with fair speeches and promises as at that time need H required Accordingly Vespasian departed out of Achaia where he was with Nero and he commanded Titus his Son to lead the fifth and tenth Legions from Alexandria and he himself crossing over the Hellespont Vespasian and Titus gather great Forces against the Jews followed after by land into Syria where he assembled all the Roman forces and all Auxiliaries of the Kings adjoyning that were confederates The Jews after Cestius unfortunate success became proud of their Victory and could not contain themselves but like men uncapable of moderation they still gave more occasion of War and gathering all their Forces together they went to Ascalon which is an old City seven hundred and twenty furlongs distant from Jerusalem which the Jews had always hated for which cause they also first assaulted it The Commanders I in this expedition were three men excellent above the rest for Conduct and Valour to wit The Jews besiege Ascalon Niger of Paerea Silas the Babylonian and John the Essean Now the City of Ascalon had very strong Walls but few men to defend it for it had only one Company of Foot and one Band of Horse whom Antonius commanded The Jews made such haste as though they had dwelt hard by Anthony fighteth with the â—words Antonius perswading himself that they would assault him caused his Horse to issue forth of the City and neither fearing the multitude nor the malice of his adversaries he valiantly received the first assault of the Enemies and beat them back that attempted to assault the Wall So the Jews who were unskilful having to do with them that were expert and fighting on foot against Horsemen without order against those that were in good order lightly armed against K their adversaries who were well provided they were easily defeated Indeed they were more led by rage and fury than good Counsel and they against whom they fought were obedient and would do nothing without the commandment of their Leader Wherefore their first ranks being broken they were forced by the Horse to turn their backs and retiring themselves to their own Company who turned toward the Wall they became as it were Enemies to themselves So that seeking to avoid the Horsemen they were all dispersed about the field which was in every place for the advantage of the Horse The Romans overcome the Jews and make a great slaughter of them This greatly helped the Romans to kill so many Jews for they that fled were easily overtaken by the Romans and killed and others compassing divers of the Jews about slew them with Darts so that the Jews were in a great L desperation for all their great multitude as if they had been alone The Jews willing to overcome their misfortunes were ashamed to flie and so fled not hastily in hope that Fortune would change But the Romans not wearied with that which they did with great dexterity continued the fight the most part of the day so that there were slain of the Jews ten thousand 〈…〉 and two of their Leaders John and Silas The rest whereof many were wounded followed their General Niger who fled into a little Town of Idumaea named Salis Of the Romans only some were wounded in that fight Yet the Jews were not daunted with this misfortune but the grief thereof much increased their Courage neither were they dismayed with the former loss of so many men within so short time but rather calling to mind the great Victory they had got before they M drew upon themselves another defeat For before their mens wounds were healed they gathered together all their Forces and went again to Aschalon in great number and fury but with the same success and disadvantages in warlike affairs which they had before For Antonius having notice which way they meant to come placed an ambush in the way Eight thousand Jews slain at 〈◊〉 and the Horse setting upon them at unawares killed above eight thousand of them before they could prepare themselves to fight whereupon all the rest fled and Niger with them after he had given all the proofs that could be expected from a valiant man
prosperity and felicity The Tiberians entertain Vespasian with acclamations The Gates of the City were narrow so that the Army could not quickly enter in wherefore Vespasian commanded a part of the Wall on the Southside to be pull'd down and so entred forbidding to spoil the Citizens or ruine the Walls for Agrippa's sake who promised that from thenceforth the Citizens should be quiet And indeed this King spared no pains to repair the mischiefs which Division had caus'd amongst them I CHAP. XVII How Tarichea was besieged VEspasian departed from Tiberias Vespasian besieged Tarichea and encamped near Tarichea and fortifi'd his Camp foreseeing that the Siege of this place would cost much time for all Rebels that had desired War were got thither trusting both to the strength of the City and the Lake adjoyning to it called Genesareth For this City was built like Tiberias upon a Mountain and Joseph had inclosed it with a Wall where it was not compassed by the Lake But the Wall though strong yet was not so strong as that of Tiberias K for Joseph built that in the beginning of the Revolt having men and money at will but that of Tarichea was built only by the remainder of his liberality The Taricheans had great store of Ships in the Lake adjoyning to the end that if they were overcome by Land they might flie by Water to which end they had prepared their Ships for Battel by Water if need should be Whilst the Romans entrenched themselves Jesus and his followers not dismayed either with the multitude or Military Discipline of his Enemies issued out of the City and slew the Workmen and destroyed part of the Work The Romans drive the Jews to their Ships till perceiving the Romans assembled together against him he fled again to his Company without any loss or harm received But the Romans pursued them so fast that they forced them to take their Ships and so being gone so far from the L shore as that yet they might easily reach them with the shot of an Arrow they cast Anchor and disposed their Ships in Warlike manner and fought against the Romans who were on Shore Vespasian understanding at the same time that a great multitude of them were gathered together in a place neer the City sent his Son Titus against them with 600 Horse who finding the number of his Enemies too great to encounter he certified his Father that he needed more Forces Yet perceiving many of those Horsemen of good courage before any more aid came though some of them were afraid of the Jews he got upon a high place where all might hear him Titus Oration to his terrified Souldiers and said O ye Romans I will first put you in mind who you are and of what Nation that so considering what your selves are you may also consider who they are with whom we are to fight As for you was there ever any M Enemy in any part of the World that could escape our hands Jews are not to be feared And as for he Jews though they endure and manfully bear out their misery yet they look upon themselves as vanquisht If therefore they constantly endure misery and fight valiantly being in adversity what should we do who are in prosperity I rejoyce to see you shew good Countenance yet I fear lest so great a multitude of our Enemies may discourage some of you Let every one therefore once again consider who himself is and with whom he is to fight and that although the Jews be bold and valiant enough yet they observe no warlike order and are unarmed and so are rather to be termed a multitude than an Army I need not speak of your knowledg and skill in War since for this only cause we are trained up in Warlike discipline in time of Peace to the end that our courage should answer the number of our enemies when we are to joyn Battel for what N fruit shall we shew of this our perpetual warlike order and discipline if we dare only fight with a rude multitude that are no more in number than our selves consider that you being armed are to fight with men unarmed and being Horsmen are to fight with Footmen and being guided by good Officers with those who have no Head or Ruler All which things supply in us the want of more men and the contrary in our Enemies doth much deminish their number Victory doth not depend on the multitude of men be they never so warlike but in a few if they be valiant 〈…〉 for as they are few so are they easiâ—y kept in order and may easily come to help one another not being pestered whereas great multitudes do more hinder one another than do good and oftentimes do themselves more â—arm than their Enemies The Jews indeed are led with Desperation Rage and Fury which when good fortune seconds them are of some force but the O least ill fortune quickly extinguishes that order But we are led by Vertue and Obedience A and fortitude which are of force in prosperity and also are good in adversity Moreover we have greater reason to fight than the Jews have for they fight only for their Country and Liberty but we fight for Renown and Empire that since we have already gained the Empire of the whole World it might not be thought that our Enemies the Jews are Adversaries able to match us Consider moreover that ye need not fear any great danger for we have many to help us and that hard by let us therefore atchieve the Victory before any more succour come to us so shall our honour and our Victory be greater Now there will be a trial made of me my Father and you whether he deserves the reputation he enjoys whether I am worthy to be his Son and whether I may esteem my self happy in commanding you For he is wont to be victorious and shall I return to him being conquered and are you not asham'd to be dismayed B seeing that I your Captain offer my self It becometh Souldiers to obey their Captain and will undergo the greatest perils my self will bear the brunt of the Enemies and first encounter with them and let none of you depart from me perswade your selves that God will assist me in this fight and boldly presume that we can do much more being in the midst of our Enemies then if we should only fight with them at distance Titus having thus spoken as it were by Gods providence all his Souldiers took heart and courage so that now they were sorry to see Trajan come with 400 Horsmen more before the fight began as though their Victory would be less renowned because he came to help them Vespasian also sent Antonius and Silo with 2000 Archers to take the Mountain that was just opposite to the Town Vespasian sendeth new supplies to Titus and to beat them that defended the City off from the Walls and they
Captains about Josephs liberty who was yet in hold But calling Mutianus and the rest of his friends C together first of all he told them how Valiant Joseph had been and what difficulty he had to win Jotapata only because of his Valour and then his Prophecies which at that time he esteemed only Fables fained for fear but now time and event had proved them true Wherefore it seemed an unreasonable thing that he who had been the foreteller of his Exaltation and a Messenger to him from God should still continue in bonds like a Captive and be left in adversity So calling for Joseph he commanded him to be set at liberty This fact of his made the Captains under him hope for great reward at his hands seeing he had been so kind to a stranger Titus being there present said It is meet O Father that as you acquit Joseph from Captivity so you also take away the shame of that which he hath already endured For if we D not only unty his Chains but also break them in sunder he shall be as though he had never been in bondage for this is the manner used for redress when any one being guiltless is commited to bonds Vespasian hereto agreed and so one came with an Axe and hewed his Chains in pieces Thus was Joseph rewarded for his Prophecy and thenceforward he was esteemed worthy to be believed CHAP. XIII Of Vetellius his Death and Manners E WHen Vespasian had answered the Embassadors and disposed of all the Commands of his Army according to every ones merit he went to Antioch and there deliberated whither to go first Vespasian bethinks himself to return to Rome and it seemed best to him to go to Rome rather than to Alexandria for he knew that Alexandria was quiet firm but Rome was held by Vitellius Wherefore he sent Mutianus into Italy with many Troops of Foot and Horse who fearing to go by Sea went thorow Cappadocia and Phrygia for it was Winter-time Antonius Primus who was Governour of Moesia brought from thence the third Legion remaining there and march'd against Vitellius Vitellius sent Caecinna to meet him with a great Army who departing from Rome met with Antonius at Cremona a Town of Lombardy F situate upon the confines of Italy but beholding the discipline order of his Forces he durst not fight with them and thinking it very dangerous to flie design'd to revolt and so calling to him the Centurions and Tribunes of his Army he perswaded them to go and joyn with Antonius after he had extenuated Vitellius his Power and extolled that of Vespasian Cecinna perswades the Souldiers to forsake Vitellius and honour Vespasian affirming the first to have only the bare name of the Emperour and the last to have also all Vertues meet for an Emperour Moreover that it would be better for them to do that of their own accord which otherwise they should be compelled to and seeing themselves already surpassed in number it was Prudence to prevent all danger For Vespasian was able without their assistance to subdue all the rest but Vitellius was not able with their help to keep that he had And speaking to this effect he perswaded G them to all that he would have done And so with his whole Army joyn'd with Antonius The same night the Souldiers repenting themselves of what they had done and also lest fearing Vitellius should get the upper hand who sent them against Antonius drew H their Swords and would have slain Cecinna And they had done it had not the Tribunes come and entreated them to the contrary wherefore they did not kill him but kept him bound meaning to send him to Vitellius as a Traitor Primus Antonius hearing this went with his Army and assaulted them who revolted from him Caecinna is apprel ended for Treason and they a while resisted yet at last forced to retire they fled to Cremona and Primus accompanied with Horsemen prevented their escape and so slew most of them before they got into the City and afterward setting upon it he gave his Souldiers the spoil of it Many Merchants of other Countries many Townsmen were slain all Vitellius Army consisting of 30200 men Antonius lost in this battel 4500 of those whom he brought out of Moesia And delivering Cecinna from Prison Vespasian honours Caecinna with unexpected honours and is acquitted of Treason he sent him to carry the news hereof to Vespasian who praised I him for his fact and honoured him above his expectation in reward of his Treason Sabinus who was at Rome hearing that Antonius was at hand greatly rejoyced and took courage and gathering together the Companies of the City-watch in the night-time he seiz'd on the Capitol Sabinus takes the Capitol and leaves Vitellius and in the morning many of the Nobles joyned with him amongst others Domitian his Brothers Son who was a great cause and help to obtain the Victory Vitellius little esteeming Primus turned his anger against Sabinus and those that had revolted with him as it were naturally thirsting after the blood of the Nobility he sent all the Army he brought out of Germany with him to assault the Capitol where many valiant deeds were shewed on both parts and at last the Germans being most in number got the Capitol Hill Domitian with many brave Noblemen as it K were by Gods providence escaped safe the rest of the multitude were there slain Sabinus was carried to Vitellius and by his commandment instantly put to death and the Souldiers taking away all the gifts and treasure in the Temple set it one fire The day after Antonius arrived Vitellius slain and Vitellius his Souldiers met him there was fighting in three several places of the City the forces of Vitellius were all defeated whereupon Vitellius came out of his Palace drunk and full gorged with delicate meat he was imediately seiz'd upon and drawn thorow the midst of the streets and after many contumelies slain having reigned Eight months and five days if he had lived longer the whole Empire had scarce been sufficient to have maintained his Gluttony There were slain above 50000 of other people And this was done the third day of October The day after L Mutianus with his Army entred Rome and repressed the Souldiers of Antonius who still sought about in every place for Vitellius's Souldiers The people of Rome proclaim Vespasian Emperour and many of his favourites and slew whom they thought good not examining any matter by reason of their fury and bringing out Domitian he declared to the people that he was to govern the City till his Father came The people being delivered from fear proclaimed Vespasian Emperour and made Feasts and Triumphs both under one for his establishing in the Empire and for joy that Vitellius was deposed CHAP. XIV M How Titus was sent by his Father against the Jews WHen Vespasian came to Alexandria
him And you that I I may omit your iniquity done within the City which though I would I could not sufficiently decipher do revile and attempt to kill me for giving you wholsom Counsel for your good only for that I put you in mind of your sins which you have not patience to hear The same happened also when Antiochus sirnamed Epiphanes besieged the City God was highly displeased at our Ancestors permited them to be slain the Town spoiled and this Holy-place for three years and six months to be made desolate What should I shew unto you any more examples Who first incited the Romans against the Jews Was it not the impiety of our own Countrey-Men that did it Whence was our bondage at that time Did it not proceed from the Sedition of our Ancestors Josephs bitter invective against them when the fury of Aristobulus and Hircanus brought Pompey into our City and God subdued them by the Romans being grown unworthy of K liberty and at length after a three months siege though they were not so great offenders as you are and better able to abide the siege yet they yielded themselves Are we ignorant of the end of Antigonus the Son of Aristobulus who invaded the Kingdom and brought our Nation again into subjection God laying this bondage upon them being provoked by the iniquity of our Nation Herod the Son of Antipater brought Sosius and the Roman Army and besieged the City six months and at last for the greatness of our iniquity it was taken and punished and sacked by the Enemies Thus you evidently see that our Nation never prevail'd by force of Arms. And assure your selves that even now the City will be taken It is meet therefore that you who keep this Holy-place commit your selves wholly to God and then you need not fear the forces of your Enemies when your piety assures L you of Gods help and succour The Jews sins against the Laws But what one Article of Gods Law have you observed Nay what have you not done that he forbad How far greater is your impiety than theirs and yet they suddenly perished for their sins For making small account of secret sins as Stealing Deceit and Adulteries you violently take away mens Goods by force you murder whom you please devise new ways to sin have made the Holy Temple the place of your impieties and what the Romans themselves did adore is by your own Nation polluted and defiled whilst you derogate from the honour of our Religion by the impiety of your actions and yet hope for his help whom you have so heinously offended you are very just people and obedient The Romans use the same manner of overthrow against the Jews as the Assyrians did and it is with pure hands you beg assistance of God Did our King pray so unto God when he obteined that in one night so many of the Assyrians should be destroyed Or M do the Romans commit such impiety as the Assyrians did that you may hope of the like revenge upon them The Assyrian received a sum of Money to save the City and yet not regarding his Oath indeavoured to destroy it The Romans do only request the same Tribute that was paid by our Ancestors and if they may have it will never destroy the City nor touch our Holy things They will also permit you to enjoy freely your Familes and Possessions God knoweth when to revenge and suffer your Laws to remain inviolate It is madness for you to hope that God will punish just men as he did sinners and impious persons seeing he can punish as he pleases To be short he destroyed the Assyrians the first night they encamped before the City And if he had purposed to deliver you and punish the Romans he would have done it when Pompey and Sosius came against the City or when Vespasian wasted Galilee or now N when Titus made his assault The Fountains that before-time were dry now slow to Titus But neither Pompey nor Sosius suffered any harm and both of them took the City Vespasian prospered so well in his Wars against you that he hath got the whole Empire And the Fountains which yielded you no Water before do give it to Titus in abundance For you know that before his coming the Fountains without the City and Siloa were so dry that Water was sold by measure yet now they flow plentifully and do not only serve his Army but water all the Gardens about What this wonder foretelleth you have already experienced when the King of Babylon came with his Army and destroyed the City took it and fired it and the Temple notwithstanding that as I am perswaded the Jews at that time were not so wicked as now I think therefore that God hath forsaken this Holy place and is gone over to your Enemies Will not a good man fly a wicked house O and abhor the impiety of the Inhabitants And do you think that God will abide your impiety A who beholdeth all secrets and knoweth all things that are hid But what is secret amongst you Or what do you seek to find Nay what do you that your Enemies do not know All your iniquities are apparent and your contention with one another is who shall be most impious and with as much labour endeavour to be Vitious as others do to be Vertuous Yet for all this it is not too late to amend God is wont to shew mercy to those who confess and be peditent God's wrath will be appeased if ye acknowledg your sins and be penitent for your offences Throw away your Arms then and pity your Country now ruined by your own means Turn your Eyes and behold the beauty of the Place whose ruine you seek How brave a City how magnificent a Temple how rich with the Gifts of all Nations Who would fire these who would desire the ruin of these Or what is there B in the World that better deserveth to be preserved O hard-hearted people more blockish and insensible than Stones Or if you do not pity your Temple let your Families move you look upon your Children your Wives and your Parents all ready to be consumed either with Sword or Famine I am sensible my Wife my Children and Family must perish with you and there was a time when they would have been considered and it may be thought it is to save their lives I give this advice but kill them and sacrifice me for your welfare I am prepared to die if my death may be a means to preserve you in being Whilst Joseph made this speech unto them the Tears trickled down his Cheeks but the Seditious being nothing moved Joseph love and constancy towards his Country replyed that it was not safe for them to yeild The C people however were perswaded to fly and selling their possessions and what they had at small rates they swallow'd down the Gold which they received lest
their force Sin cannot shun Gods justice but yielding himself unto them having cruelly butchered many G under pretence of false Criminations to wit for having revolted to the Romans But impiety cannot escape Gods vengeance neither is the Divine justice of so weak force but that it can at one time or other punish those that violate it and it many H times inflicteth grievous punishment upon men when they think they have escaped all are not presently punished which also Simon felt after he fell into the Romans hands his comming out of the earth caus'd a great many more of the Seditious at that time to be taken in the Caves A great multitude of the Seditious taken in Vaults When Caesar was returned to Caesarea by the Sea-Coast Simon was presented bound to him and he commanded that he should be reserved for his Triumph which he purposed to make at Rome After making some abode in that place he celebrated his brother Domitian's birth-day with great solemnity In a shew in Caesarea two thousand five hundred Jews dies in this solemnity he brought forth divers Jews whose punishment he had of purpose deferred till this time the number of all that perished there with fighting against Beasts and amongst themselves Titus celebrateth Vespasians Birth-day and by fire amounted to more than 2500 men Yet the Romans thought all I these punishments too light and easie for them After this Titus went to Beritus which is a City in Phoenicia and a Colony of the Romans and here also he made some long abode and celebrated the birth of the Emperour his Father with far greater Solemnity then the former as well in giving divers Shews to the people as in great expence and Sumptuousness and causing many Captives to perish as before CHAP. XXI K Of the Calamity of the Jews at Antioch AT the same time the Jews who liv'd at Antioch were in great misery for the whole City was incited against them both for some new crimes laid to their charge and for certain offences before committed which necessarily I must recount before I proceed The Nation of the Jews was mixed amongst almost all Nations of the World The Nation of the Jews intermixed among the people of the World and especially amongst the Syrians by reason of their vicinity and many of them were at Antiochia because it was a great City and the Kings that succeeded Antiochus permitted them freely to inhabit there and to injoy all the liberties of the City For Antiochus sirnamed Epiphanes destroyed Jerusalem and sacked the Temple but L his Successors restored all the Brass vessels that were taken from the Temple to the Jews to be used in their Synagogue at Antioch A number of Jews in Antioch and permitted them to have the same liberties in the City that the Greeks enjoyed and the other Kings also of latter times used them after the like sort so that their number greatly encreased and they enlarged their Temple and enriched it with sundry offerings and oftentimes gain'd some Pagans to be of their Religion and so rendred them also a part of their Nation Now about the time that the War broke out and Vespasian arrived in Syria the Jews begun to be generally hated of all men A Jew called Antiochus is the cause of their mighty misery in Antioch and one of them named Antiochus of considerable parentage whose Father was chief of all the Jews in Antioch at such time as the people of Antioch were assembled in the Theater came in amongst them and accused M his own Father and the rest of the Jews to have conspired together to burn the City in the night time and he nam'd some other Stranger-Jews to them as Conspirators with the rest The people hearing this could not repress their rage but presently caused those that were accused to be burnt in the Theater and made great speed to set upon all the Jews hoping that by speedy dispatch they might preserve their Country which otherwise was like to perish Antiochus perfidious to his Citizens Antiochus to enrage them the more offer'd to sacrifice according to the custom of the Pagans thereby as it were assuring the Antiochians Antiochus forbiddeth to Sanctifie the seventh day that he hated the Jews and their customs moving them also to compel all the rest of the Jews to do the like and whosoever refused so to do were to be judged Traitors The Antiochians followed his counsel but few Jews would N obey and they that denied to sacrifice were slain Then Antiochus receiving a party of Souldiers from the Roman Governours became most cruel against his Country-men and would not permit them to keep holy the Seventh day but in it obliged them to do all labour and business that they were acustomed to do upon any other day and he so urged them hereto that within short time the seventh day was not only violated among them of Antioch but also in other places and Cities round about The Jews at Antioch having endured this persecution Another calamity at Antioch fell into another as great calamity whereof I intend to speak It hapned that the foursquare Market and the publick Places where all Writings and Registers were kept as also the Kings House were burnt and the fire so encreased that with much ado it was hindred O from firing the whole City Of this fact Antiochus accused the Jews thereby inciting A the Antiochians against them The year of the World 4035. after the Nativity of Christ 73. and it was not hard for him to believe his calumniatious although they had not hated them before by reason of that which lately past so that now they almost perswaded themselves that they had seen the Jews put fire to the houses and so in a great rage all of them set upon those that were accused Wherefore Collega the Lievtenant-Governour had much ado to pacifie the people notwithstanding that he reqeusted them to permit him to inform Caesar of all that was past For Vespasian had already sent Cesennius Portus to be Governour of Syria but he was not as yet arrived there Then Collega making diligent enquiry of the matter found out the truth A sort of wicked men by means they were indebted burn the Market-place and and the publick Records and not one of the Jews accused by Antiochus was prov'd guilty for certain impious people had done all this mischief being indebted thinking that if they burnt B the market-place and the publick writings then their debts could not be required at their hands Nevertheless the Jews lived in great fear and expected the event of these forged accusations CHAP. XXII How Vespasian at his return was received by the Romans C AFter Titus had received Letters from his Father The City of Rome entertaineth Vespasian with all willingness and pomp that he was arrived in Italy and that all the Cities
36. H. writ a Volume of Abraham ibid. K. Height of the Mountain Itaburium 682. M. Temple 208. M. Heirs of David 181. D. Helen Queen of Adiabena 928. L. repaireth to Jerusalem 530. K. Heliopolis appointed for Jacob 61. D. Help of God when most ready 71. O. Help of God to be sought for 74. O. Heraulds 118. H. Hercules his War 42. I. Herod made Governor of Galilee 372. B. executeth Ezechias 372. C. called in question ibid. F. 578. O. saveth himself by flight 373. K. killeth Malichus 370. O. 570. O. expelleth Antigonus out of Jewry 378. B. 571. C. marrieth Mariamme ibid. accused made Tetrarch 380. B. C. 571. F. assailed by the Parthians 382. A. fleeth to Malchâ—â— 383. K. made King 384. C. leadeth his Army against Antigonus 385. M. 571. C. his Proclamation 385. M. 575. E. overcometh the Galileans 386. D. 388. D. subdueth the Thieves 387. I. K. 576. M. repaireth to Antonius 391. K. wounded 388. G. besiegeth Jerusalem 389. K. hindreth the spoil of the City 391. I. bribeth Antonius ibid. L. preferreth his favourites 392. honoureth Hircaâ—â—â— 393. N. maketh Annuel High Priest 393. O. taketh the Priesthood from Ananel 395. I. contriveth Aristobulus's death 393. N. his counterfeit sorrow 396. E. goeth to Antony 39. C. committeth his Wife to Joseph c. ibid. C. D. E. instateth Cleopatra c. 399. C. levieth an Army 400. B. overcometh the Arabians 402. G. 582. K. dismayed at Antonies overthrow 403. M. practiseth Hircanus death 404. D. banisheth Antipater 585. F. repaireth to Caesar 405. K. his speech to Caesar ibid. entertaineth Caesar and his Army 406. B. incensed against Mariamme 407. I. against Pheroras 590. N. cometh to Jericho 576. I. takes Sephoris 576. L. his Buildings and works as Theaters 410. G. Castles 412. B. 414. G. 415. I. 415. L. 416. F. 417. H. H. 584. M. 585. A. distributeth Corn among the People 413. L. remits the third part of Tribute 417. H. sweareth the people 417. K. re-edifieth the Temple 418. A. B. c. saileth into Italy 422. L. giveth Wives to his Sons 422. O. his liberality 423. B. 424. G openeth Davids Sepulchre 433. B. crediteth all tales 436. I. weary of his life why 437. D. fortunate abroad and unfortunate at home 426. M. beheadeth Pappus 578. O. accuseth his Sons before Caesar 427. E. 428. I. K. 578. B. giveth ear to Accusers 441. A. B. accuseth his Sons 444. K. 593. D. strangleth them 594. K. accuseth Pheroras Wife 451. D. sendeth Antipater to Caesar 452. I. tortureth the Bond-Women 453. B. putteth away his Wife 454. K. calleth Antipater from Rome 454. M. 998. N. bringeth him in question 455. D. imprisoneth Antipater 458. â— maketh his Will 459. D. E. 467. I. certified of his Brothers death 578. H. commandeth the Nobles to be slain 460. N. his liberality 460. O. 579. G. bemoaneth his Sons 594. N. betrotheth his Nephews ibid. G. 595. I. loved Antipater above the rest 600. I. blotteth him out of his Testament 601. E. putteth him to death 603. A. his own death and burial 462. K. c. 603. D. Herod fortifieth Cities 478. I. buildeth Tiberias 478. N. Herod dismisseth Aretas Daughter 484. M. marrieth Herodias ibid. N. repaireth to Rome 493. C. accused and banished ibid. D. E. Herod created King of Chalcis 519. E. killeth Silas 524. F. his authority to create the High Priest 528. K. Herodias envieth Agrippa 492. O. banished 493. E. Herodian a Castle 573. D. 585. A. High Priests Ornaments 871. B. c. garment 721. High Priest since Sadoc 265. M. Hill of witness 48. I. Hiraâ— his League 179. D. his Ambassadors to Solomon 206. N. promiseth him Wood 207. B. receiveth great quantity of Wheat 117. D. ibid. proposeth hard questions 213. F. Hircanus High Priest 334. G. besiegeth Ptolomy ibid. maketh peace with Antiochus 345. M. taketh Money out of Davids Mounument ibid. N. surprizeth Cities of Syria 346. C. conquereth the Idumeans ibid O. besiegeth Samaria 347. M. takes it 348. B. discontented with the Pharisees 348. B. followeth the Sadduces 110. G. his death ibid. Hircanus Josephs Son 309. M. Treason intended against him 310. K. accused and why 310. F. his Apology ib. his jests 311. B. C. assailed by his brethren 311. E. afflicteth the Arabians 31â— K. his buildings ibid. K. kills himself ibid. C. Hircanus High Priest 566. N. 357. H. content to live a private life 360. I. his Embassage to Scaurus 362. B. repaireth the walls of Jerusalem 376. F. honoured by the Atheniaâ—s 371. I. foretold of his death 373 H. his Ambassadours brought into the Senate 375. M. taken prisoner 381. N. highly hououred 393. N. his death 404. C. Hire of a Harlot 111. G. Hire not to be detained 117. D. History of Dina 49. B. Histories recited 729. C. Histories of Antiquities 780. K. Historiographers refuted 792. K. L. 793. F. 794. K. N. 795. F. 796. F. 797. A. B. hide Antiochus perjury 803. D. Holy oyntment 89. C. Holocaust or burnt Sacrifice 91. B. Homer antientest Greek Writer 781. B. Homicide committed 112. O. Honourable drawn before Tyrants 732. I. Honouring of strange gods look Idolatry Honours of Joseph 55. G. and 60. M. Honour of the Magistrate 112. L. 626. K. Honour change manners 166. M. Honour of Mordocheus 289. C. D. Honour due to Parents 810. L. Horses taken 127. A. Horsemen of Solomon 206. K. Horsemen brought Letters to Joseph 13. D. Horsemen of the Romans 661. D. Hospitality of the Esseans 612. N. Host look Army Houshold-stuff 127. A. Houses full of dead Men 735. F. 758. K. Humanity becometh a King 169. C. Humanity of Balaam 105. D. E. of the three Kings 237. L. of Caesar 607. D. of Titus 744. N. Humanity of Titus counted cowardize 727. B. Humanity of the Romans inciteth the Jews against them 754. O. Hunger killeth many 727. D. Hurt of the General dismaieth the Soldiers 233. K. Hymns sung to God 253. H. J. JAbisites besieged 152. H. promised assistance ibid. L. bury the bodies of Saul and his Sons 174. K. praised 175. Jabin a King of Canaan 134. K. subdueth the Israelites ibid. L. his Army put to flight 135. A. Jacob the Son of Isaac 43. E. his greatness foretold ibid. held his brothers heel 43. E. steals the Blessing 44 M. fleeing to Laban seeth a Vision 45. B. voweth a Sacrifice to God ibid. D. arriveth at Charran ibid. A. talks with Rachel and Laban ibid F. c. requireth Rachel c. 46. â— deceived 46. L. departeth privily from Laban 47. â— accuseth Laban of ill dealing 47. F. maketh a Covenant with him 48. H. sendeth messengers to his brother Esaâ— 48. K. is reconciled to him and how ibid. M. wrestleth with an Angel ibid. N. sacrificeth 42. D. bewaileth Joseph 52. M. sendeth his Sons into Egypt c. 56. K. would not part without Benjamin 57. D. rejoyceth at Josephs prosperity 60. M. his journey into Egypt 61. B. meeteth Joseph and talks with Pharaoh 61. D. blesseth his Sons
bridle his displeasure yet dissembled the same Cassius chargeth Herod by letters to revenge his fathers death and sent letters to Cassius wherein he complained of his fathers death Cassius already hated Malichus sufficiently and so he writ again to Herod willing him to revenge his father's death which that he might the better effect he secretly commanded the Captains of his Regiment to assist him Now for that after the surprizal of Laodicea all the best of the City came to Herod bringing presents and crowns he appointed this for a fit time of his intended revenge which Malichus suspecting as he was near Tyre he purposed secretly to get away his son who was there a pledge and to flee into Judaea But despair of his own safety urged him to greater matters for he hoped to incite the Jews to take Arms against the Romans N whilst Cassius was now busie in the War against Antonius so that he thought he might easily depose Hircanus and make himself King But God prevented these vain hopes For Herod suspecting he had some great design invited him and Hircanus to supper in order to which he made a shew as though he had sent one of his servants to cause a banquet to be prepared but indeed he sent him to the Roman Captains to tell them to lie in wait for Malichus who remembring what charge Cassius gave them The decree of fate laugheth at humane hope came forth of the City to the shore next adjoyning to the Town all armed with swords where compassing Malichus round about they killed him with many wounds Hircanus hereat astonished fell in a swoon and being scarcely come to himself Herod's Tribunes kill Malichus he demanded who killed Malichus one of the Captains answered that Cassius O gave the commandment whereupon he answered truly Cassius hath preserved me and my Country in killing him who was a Traitour to us both but whether herein A he spake as he thought The year of the World 3923. before Christ's Nativity 39. or that for fear he approved the fact it is uncertain Thus was Herod revenged upon Malichus CHAP. X. Ant. lib. 14. cap. 20. How Herod was accused and set free Felix cometh with an army against Phasaelus AFter Cassius was departed from Syria Phasaelus overcometh Felix and reproacheth Hircanus with ingratitude there arose another sedition in Jerusalem B for Felix came with an Army against Phasaelus to be revenged upon Herod for killing Malichus It chanced that Herod was at that time at Damascus with Fabius a Roman Captain and would have come to assist Phasaelus but by the way he fell sick so that he could not succour him but it so fell out that Phasaelus without any help did of himself overcome Felix and afterwards reproached Hircanus as ungrateful in that he had both favoured Felix and suffered Malichus's brother to seize upon divers place as already he had done and especially one of greatest strength called Massada Yet all these did not protect him from Herod who was no sooner recovered of his sickness but presently he retook them all and at Hircanus's request permitted him to depart He also chased Marion whom Cassius had made Prince of the Tyrians C out of Galilee who had got three Castles in that Country As for the Tyrians that he took he spared their lives and sent some away with rewards whereby he got the good will of the City and the hatred of the Tyrant Which Marion had gotten into his hands all Syria and for the hatred he bore to Herod took with him Antigonus Aristobulus's Son and marched against him and by Fabius's means whom Antigonus had gained to himself by money Antigonus Aristobulus's Son put to flight by Herod he also got Ptolemy to assist him in this expedition which Ptolemy was father-in-law to Antigonus and furnished him with all necessaries Herod likewise having prepar'd himself against them gave them battel in the entrance into Judea and got the victory and having put Antigonus to flight he returned to Jerusalem where he was honoured by all men for his courage in that victory so that even they D that before despised him now by reason of his affinity newly contracted with Hircanus sought his friendship and familiarity This Herod long before this time had a wife which was a noble woman of his own Country Doris Herod's first wife of good birth by whom he had Antipater named Doris and had by her a Son named Antipater but he then married Mariamne daughter of Alexander who was Aristobulus his son and of Alexandra Hircanus his daughter by reason whereof he came to be in favour with the King But when Cassius was slain near Philippi Caesar departed into Italy The chiefest Jews repair to Caesar to accuse Phasaelus and Herod and Antonius into Asia at which time the chief of the Jews came and accused Phasaelus and Herod alledging that they by force got unto themselves the rule of the Country and left Hircanus only the bare name of King But Herod being then present so wrought himself into Antonius's favour by a great sum of money E that he permitted not his enemies to speak one word more Ant. lib. 14. cap. 21. who thereupon returned home Afterward an hundred men of the most honourable amongst the Jews repaired to Daphne near Antioch to Antonius now doting on the love of Cleopatra and offered an accusation against the two brethren having chosen some of the greatest Quality and Eloquence to speak for them Messala undertook their defence being assisted by Hircanus Antonius having heard both parties demanded of Hircanus whom he thought the fittest to govern the Common-wealth who answered Herod and his brethren Whereat Antonius was exceeding glad for he had been most courteously entertained by Antipater when he came with Gabinius into Judea and thereupon he made them Tetrarchs Antonius maketh the two brothers Tetrarchs committing to them the rule of all Judaea F which when the Jews Ambassadors misliked he put fifteen of them in prison and was near resolving to put them to death the rest he sent away after he had treated them very ill The Jews once more complain against the two brothers Whereupon there arose greater tumults in Jerusalem and the Jews sent another Embassage of a thousand men to Tyre where Antonius resided with an intent to come against Jerusalem Antonius displeased with their murmurs and complaints commanded the Magistrates of Tyre to kill all they could catch of the Jews and to maintain their Authority Antonius commandeth in Zyre whom he himself had constituted Tetrarchs But Herod and Hircanus went to these Deputies who walk'd on the Sea-shore admonishing them earnestly to be contented lest by their indiscreet proceeding they should become not only the cause of their own deaths but also of War against their own Country G but because they would not be reclaimed by these admonitions Antonius sent
out certain armed men who killed many of them and wounded the rest Hircanus after this disaster caused the dead to be buried and the wounded to be cured notwithstanding all this they that escaped would not contain themselves in Peace but so troubled the H City that Antonius in displeasure slew those that he had in hold CHAP. XI Of the War of the Parthians against the Jews Of the flight of Herod and his being made King of Judaea TWo years after this Ant. lib. 14. cap. 21. and when Barzapharnes a great Noble man of the Parthians governed Syria with Pacorus the King's Son Lysanias perswadeth Barzapharnes to depose Hircanus and enstate Antigonus Lysanias who had succeeded his Father I Ptolomaeus Son of Minaeus promised them a thousand Talents and five hundred Women to put Antigonus in possession of the Kingdom of Judaea and depose Hircanus Being induced by these promises Pacorus march'd along the Sea-coast and Barzapharnes past through the midst of the Countrey But amongst the rest of the places bordering on the Sea the Tyrians would not receive Pacorus notwithstanding the Citizens of Ptolemais and Sidon had given him entertainment wherefore he gave part of his Horse unto one who was the King's Butler called Pacorus as himself was commanding him to pass into Judaea and learn what their enemies meant to do and to help Antigonus where need required As they wasted the Countrey about Carmel many Jews came of their own accord and joyned with Antigonus shewing themselves K very prompt to fight for which cause he sent them before to take a place called Drymos where having fought with his enemies and put them to flight he pursued them with all speed as far as Jerusalem And his number being augmented he came to the King's Palace A sore fight in the Market-place betwixt Antigonus and Hircanus But Hircanus and Phasaelus met them with a strong Company and fought with them in the Market-place where the enemies were forced to fly and part of them were by Herod shut up in the Temple and he appointed to keep them sixty men which he placed in the houses next adjoyning But the people bearing a grudge to the two Brethren Daily slaughters in Jerusalem set the houses on fire Whereat Herod being angry for that his men were consumed with fire set upon the people and killed a great many of them and every hour one laid wait for another so that every day some were murthered L Now the Feast of Pentecost drawing nigh all places about the Temple and the whole City was filled with people of the Countrey whereof the most part was armed and Phasaelus kept the Walls and Herod with a small Company kept the King's Palace and assaulting their enemies upon the suddain as they were in the Suburbs they killed a great many of them and put all the rest to flight part of them he couped up in the City others he shut in the Temple and the rest between that and the uttermost Rampire Whereupon Antigonus requested that Pacorus might come and treat a Peace betwixt them Phasaelus entertaineth the Parthian and with him five hundred Horse Pacorus's Treason and subtilty Phasaelus moved by these prayers received the Parthian into the City and entertained him into his house accompanied with five hundred Horse who came under a pretence to make Peace but in effect he resorted M thither to help Antigonus for craftily conspiring against Phasaelus he perswaded him to repair to Barzapharnes as an Ambassadour to treat a Peace notwithstanding that Herod altogether disswaded him willing him to kill the Traitor and not to trust his subtilty adding that the Parthians were naturally unfaithful Pacorus departing out of the City The year of the World 3924. before Christ's Nativity 38. took Hircanus with him that he might be the less suspected and leaving some Horse with Herod named * Or free Eleutheri he followed Phasaelus with the rest When they came near Galilee they found the Inhabitants at variance and up in Arms and met with Barzapharnes who craftily with pretence of courtesie and friendship hid his Treachery who after he had bestowed Presents upon them and that they were retired laid an Ambush for them whereof they had intelligence N as they came to a place near the Sea-coast named Edippon Here they were informed of the thousand Talents that were promised Herod in Jerusalem and Phasaelus in the Camp are in danger of their lives and how that Antigonus had given the Parthians more than five hundred women of those that were amongst them and that oftentimes they had been laid wait for and had been lately taken but that delay was made till such time as Herod was surprized in Jerusalem lest he hearing what was become of them might provide for himself Now they perceived that these were not only words for they beheld some Guards not far off Yet would not Phasaelus forsake Hircanus notwithstanding that Oselius to whom Saramalla the richest among the Syrians had declared all the Treason exhorted him to fly but he chose rather to to go to Barzapharnes and to upbraid him to his face that he had treacherously laid O wait for him and for money had suffered himself to be corrupted whereas he himself would have given more for his life and liberty than Antigonus had done for the Kingdom A At these words the Parthian with Oaths and Protestations craftily freed himself from suspition and repaired to Pacorus But presently the Parthians who stayed behind and had charge so to do laid hands on Phasaelus and Hircanus who openly exclaimed against their falshood and perjury In the mean time Pacorus was sent out to surprize Herod and by some stratagem to â—oul him out of the City Herod is laid for to be betrayed He wrought by all the means he could according as he was instructed but Herod who was always wont to mistrust the perfideous practices of the Parthian and believed that the Letters which Phasaelus had writ to him to discover the Treason were fallen into the enemies hands would not go forth though Pacorus incited him to ride out and meet them that brought the Letters for he had already learnt B the taking of Phasaelus and Mariamne a very wise woman Hircanus's Daughter with many entreaties perswaded Herod not to go forth but to beware how he trusted himself to the mercy of that Barbarous people whose ill designs he could not be ignorant of Herod in the night time flyeth into Idumaea Whilst Pacorus was consulting with his Complices how he might privily effect his Treasons seeing it was not possible openly to circumvent a man of so great Wisdom Herod in the night time whilst his enemies neither knew nor suspected his intent took his nearest kindred and fled into Idumaea which being once known the Parthians followed him For which cause he made his Mother his Brethren and Mariamne whom he had espoused and
Antonia He built himself also a Palace in the upper part of the City Herod's Buildings and in it two very great Apartments so rich and admirable that no Temple was to be compared to them He termed one of them Caesarea and the other Agrippias in honour of Augustus and Agrippa But it was not only by Palaces that he would preserve his Name to Posterity and immortalize F his memory but in the Countrey of Samaria he built a fair City with a Wall which was about twenty stades in circuit and called it Sebaste and he sent thither six thousand Inhabitants giving them a most fertile Soil and sundry Privileges There also amongst other Buildings he erected a very fair Temple and dedicated it to Caesar About this Temple there was a piece of ground containing three stades and an half For this Testimony of Herod's affection Caesar added to his Dominion another Countrey In gratitude for which Herod erected another Temple of White Marble to him near the head of Jordan in a place called Panium where there is a Mountain rising very high into the air at the side whereof is an obscure Valley where there are high Rocks that by spouts of water falling on them are made hollow so that the water standing in G their concavity till they run over The Fountain head of Jordan falleth down with a stream of such a depth as is admirable At the foot of this Valley on the outside spring certain Fountains which many think to be the head of the River Jordan which whether it be true or no we will declare hereafter At Jericho also between the Castle of Cyprus and the other ancient Palaces he erected H other Buildings fairer and more commodious than the former calling them after the names of Augustus and Agrippa Finally there was no convenient place in the whole Kingdom wherein he erected not something in honour of Caesar and having in every place of his own Kingdom devised and dedicated Temples unto him in Syria also where he ruled he did the like founding in many Cites Temples which he called by the name of Caesar Aud perceiving that amongst the Cities of the Sea-coast there was one called Straton's Tower which being very old and ruinated and for the scituation thereof deserving reparation and cost he repaired it with White Stone and built a very Royal Palace therein in which work more than in any other he shewed how great and high his mind was For this stands in the midst between Dora I and Joppa in a Coast where there was no Port or Haven so that they who sail from Phaenicia into Egypt are in great danger by reason of the violent Winds that blow from Africa whose blasts enforce the water with such violence against the Rocks on the shore that the waves rebounding back again a good way within the Sea make the whole Sea tempestuous Herod makes a greater Port than that of Pâ—rarum .. But the King by his liberality and cost overcoming nature built Stations for Ships And although the nature of the place was altogether contrary to his intent yet he so overcame all difficulty that the Sea could do that Building no harm And it was so goodly and beautiful to behold that one would have thought there had been no difficulty in this admirable work An apt description of a Haven For having measured out a sit place for the Port he laid a Foundation twenty ells deep of Stone K whereof most of them were fifty foot long nine foot thick and ten foot broad and some bigger and all the bottom of the Haven where the water came was laid with these stones Which done he raised a Mole of two hundred foot whereof one hundred foot served to break the violence of the waves the other hundred foot served for a Foundation of the Wall wherewith the Haven was compassed and on which were built many goodly Towers the greatest and fairest whereof he called Drusius after the name of Drusus the Son of the Empress Livia Wife of Augustus Within the Port there were very many Vaults also to store such Merchandize as was brought into the Haven and divers other Vaults for Sea men to lodg in A very pleasant Descent which might serve for a Walk encompassed the whole Port The entrance hereunto L was on the North side for by reason of the scituation of the place the North Wind there is the calmest On either side of the entrance were three great Colosses set on Pilasters those on the left hand are propped up by a Tower being a solid Rock of Stone But at the entrance on the right hand were two huge stones joyned together which make a greater Tower than the other There is also a house adjoyning to the Haven built of white Stone The Streets of the City leading to this place are of one bigness and proportion Upon a Hill opposite to the mouth of the Haven he built a Temple very beautiful and exceeding great which he dedicated to Caesar wherein was placed Caesar's Statue full as great as that of Jupiter at Olympus for it was made after that Model and M another of Rome like that of Juno at Argos The City he built for the benefit of the Inhabitants of the Province Caesarea in times past called the Tower of Straton and the Port or Haven for Commerce All this he did in honour of Caesar after whose name he called it Caesarea And that nothing might be wanting to render it worthy so glorious a name he added to so many great works the fairest Market-place in the World Ant. lib 15. cap. 10. 12. besides a Theatre and an Amphitheatre not inferiour to the rest Ant. lib. 17. cap. 5. He also appointed Games and Spectacles to be celebrated every fifth year in honour of Augustus And himself first began them in the 192 Olympiade and he proposed great rewards not only to the Victors but also to the second and third after them Agrippium Moreover he repaired Anthedon which was destroyed by the Wars and called it Agrippina in honour of Agrippa whose name he caused to be engraven N over the Portal he built to the Temple Antipatris Nether was he unmindful of his Parents for in the richest Soil of the whole Kingdom he built a City in memory of his Father and by his name called it Antipatris being in a very rich Soil both for Woods and Rivers Cyprus At Jericho also he built a very goodly and strong Castle and called it Cyprus Phasaelus's Tower in honour of his Mother He likewise built a Tower in memory of his Brother Phasaelus at Jerusalem and called it Phasaelus his Tower of the strength and beauty of which we shall speak hereafter He also called another City Phasaelus which is scituate in a Valley beyond Jericho towards the North. Having thus eternized the memory of his Friends and Kindred he did not forget to