and his sons may be remunerated by the Senate and People of Rome according to the measure of their loyalties and good deserts Julius Caius Caesar Roman Consul To the Governors Senate and People of Patras Health The Jews are come unto us to Delos with some of the Colonies of their Countreymen in the presence of your Ambassadors and assure us of a Decree made by you whereby you forbid them the practice and ancient use of their sacrifices and oblations I think it not fit that you make any such Decrees against our friends and associates neither that you forbid them to live according to their fashions and customs or to employ their purses together in supplying their feasts and sacrifices since in Rome it self they are not interdicted or forbidden to perform the same For at such time as Caius Caesar Consul had prohibited by Edict That in celebrating the Bacchanals no one should dance about the City yet were the L Jews alone exempted from this inhibition and neither have they been prohibited to contribute neither to banquet together My self also in like case in the defence I have made to forbid all other societies have excepted the Jews therein and have given them leave to assemble and demean themselves according to the customs ceremonies and ordinances of their Countrey If therefore you have made any such Decrees against our friends and associates you shall do well to disanul them by reason of the vertue of the Jews and the forwardness they have protested in performance of our service After Caius Caesar's death M. Antonius and P. Dolobella bring Hircanue's Embassadors into the Senate the Consuls Marcus Antonius and Publius Dolobella assembled the Senate and having brought in Hircanus's Embassadors they declared their request and contracted amity with them The Senate likewise ordained that each thing should M be granted them that they required And Dolobella having received Hircanus's Letters sent them throughout all Asia to Ephesus which is the Metropolitan City of Asia in these The General Dolobella to the Princes Dolobellas's Letters to the Ephesians Senate and People of Ephesus Health terms The General or Emperor Dolobella this word Emperor was in those times a title of honour conferred on those Generals who had obtained some great Victory Alexander the son of Theodore Embassador to Hircanus the High-Priest and Prince of the Jews hath given us to understand that his Subjects cannot go to Wars because it is not lawful for them to bear Arms nor travel on the Sabbath day as also for that they may not seek for their victuals and other necessaries on that day according to the custom of their Countrey for this cause I grant them exemption from the War as my Predecessors have done permitting them N to use the ceremonies and rites of their Countrey assembling themselves to make their oblations and sacrifices as their laws and customs require in contributing to the offering of the sacrifices in the Temple And my will is That you write to this effect to every City of the Province See here how Dolobella honoured Hircanus when he sent his Embassadors unto him Lucius Lentulus Consul pronounceth that the Jews that are Citizens of Rome Lucius Luâ—ulllus in the French Lentulus in the Latine being Consul maketh an Edict in the behalf of the Jews and that observe and offer the sacrifices of the Jews in Ephesus before the Tribunal be exempt from warfare by reason of their Religion Given the nineteenth of October There are besides these many other Edicts and Ordinances made to this purpose by the same Generals and by the Roman Senate in favor of Hircanus and our Nation and some O other Cities In like sort there were divers Decrees and writs sent unto the Governors and Rulers of the Provinces concerning our Priviledges all which may be easily believed by those that shall read our History with no prejudicate opinion if they consider those that we have here inserted The year of the World 39â—2 Before Christ's Nativity 42. For we have shewed more express and lively A testimonies of the friendship that we have had with the Romans and such as at this day are affixed to Pillars and engraven in Tables of Brass on the Capitol and that hereafter shall remain affixed for ever For which cause I have thought it to be a frivolous and unnecessary matter to insert all in this place Josephus's conclusion concerning these Edicts and I think that there is not any man of so sinister judgment that will not believe how much we have been esteemed by the Romans as they have given testimonies by divers Decrees published in our behalf neither may any man suppose that we lie considering the truth of that which we publish Thus have we sufficiently declared the amity and league that in time past we have had with the Romans Caecilius â—assus murthereth Sextus Caesar About this time it came to pass that the estate of â—yria was B sore troubled upon the occasion that ensueth Caecilius â—assus one of Pompeys followers laid an ambush for Sextus Caesar and slew him and seising upon his Army usurped the Government Whereby there arose great War near Apamea For Caesars Captains marched out against Caecilius with great force both of Foot and Horse to whom Antipater sent his sons with forces to second them in remembrance of the benefits he had received at Caesars hands supposing it to be an act of justice that the murtherer should be punished for his so hainous offence Marcus succeedeth Sextus in Syria Now whereas this War continued a long time Câ—sar slain by Cassius and Brutus Marcus came and succeeded Sextus And Caesar was slain by Cassius and Brutus in the midst of the Senate after he had commanded three years and six months as it is expressed in another place C CHAP. XVIII Cassius cometh from Syria draweth Seven hundred Talents out of Judaea Herod gains his favor Malichus's ingratitude towards Antipater AFter Caesar's death Hedio Ruffinus chap. 20. the brand of Civil War began to flame and the chiefest of Rome made it their business to raise forces Cassius cometh into Syria and exacteth more then 700 Talents of silver from the Jews But Cassius came into Syria with an intent to take the Army that was near to Apamea and having raised the siege he drew both Bassus and Marcus to be of his faction and travelling from City to City he gathered a number of Soldiers and much warlike provision and imposed huge Tributes D Herod winneth Cassius's heart by the money that he levieth in Galilee but especially he afflicted Jewry and exacted of that Countrey Seven hundred Talents of Silver Antipater seeing the State in so great fear and trouble committing the exaction of a part of this money to his sons the rest he commanded to be assigned to Malichus who was his Enemy Herod first of all gathered that which was commanded him
is abandoned not to the wisdom of the Laws but to the fury of intemperate Governours Julius Caesar For since Jullius Caesar bent his thoughts to overthrow the Popular Government in Rome and violated the happy course of Law whereby our State flourished the Commonweal hath been overthrown For in subjecting the Law to his good liking and himself to his particular desires there is not any kind of misery and mischief that hath not overthrown our City so that his Successors have employed themselves to the L uttermost and with a certain emulation to abolish the Laws of our Countrey striving which of them might diprive our Commonweal of her Noblest Citizens For that they have made their account that their security consisted in communicating their secrets with such as were hase and abject abasing not only the great Courages of those men who were famous for their Nobility and Virtue but also by murthering a great number of them by all sorts of Punishments And whilst all of them endeavoured to be absolute in their Command they made it their business to oppress the Commonwealth But amongst all the rest Caius who this day hath lost the benefit of life hath wrought greater mischiefs himself alone than any other by discharging his brutish and beastly wrath not only against the common Citizens but also against his own Parents and Friends demeaning M himself alike towards all men and manifesting his injustice in that he pursued them most who were most innocent and by this means grew hateful not only to men but also to the Immortal Gods For it is not enough for Tyrants to satisfie their Concupiscence to use all sorts of Injuries to ravish both men's Wealth and their Wives but also they glory when they may utterly ruine both their Fortunes and Families who are their enemies For all Liberty is opposed against Tyranny and it is impossible notwithstanding all the miseries that may be imagined or offered that Free-men should agree with Tyrants how little time soever it be that they have exercised their Tyranny They also know too well with how many mischiefs they have entangled their Subjects although they have not the spirits to revenge themselves of those wrongs that are done unto them and being well assured into N what incumbrances they have drawn them perswade themselves that they have but one only means left them to secure themselves from suspitions and to procure their own security which is An Exhortation to maintain Liberty to put them to death if they may possibly do it Since therefore at this time you are delivered from so many mischiefs and are no more subject except to one another which is a Pledge of Concord for the present and of security in time to come and Glory unto him that hath redressed the Estate you shall deal very well and wisely in my opinion to provide for the Commonweal foreseeing very diligently all that which concerneth the good and profit thereof It is free for any man to speak his opinion of that which displeaseth him for that there is no Superiour to countermand their saying or that is exempt from reproof if he offend against the Commonweal or that may threaten with the Authority of O an Emperour for that shall be said For what else in these later times hath encreased and furthered our over-topping Tyranny than their slothful fear who durst in no wise oppose A themselves against his Lust For being entangled by a certain kind of pleasure of a quiet life and accustomed to live after the manner of Slaves and being afraid also to die virtuously and desirous to live with shame we are fallen into these scarce sufferable Calamities and into such mischiefs as have concerned us too nearly First of all therefore you ought to honour those who have killed the Tyrant Chaereas to be honoured for his Noble Attempt by dignifying them with as great honours as may be imagined and especially Chaereas For he only hath been the man who by the power of the Gods and through his great wisdom and valour hath given you your Liberty Neither ought you to forget him but to heap Honours on his head yea special favours as to the man who first of all consulted and first of all hazarded himself against a Tyrant for your liberty It is an honest and well-beseeming action of men of free hearts to restore B and repay suitable kindness for the benefits they have received Such is this man in your behalf not like to Brutus and Cassius who murthered Caesar for they were the Originals of Seditions and Civil Wars in this City And this man by the death of a Tyrant hath not only at once delivered you of him but also hath cut off those mischiefs that arose by him Thus spake Sentius and his advice was entertained with great applause not only by the Senators but the Knights also that were there present Whereupon a Senator called Trebellius Maximus arose and stepping to him pulled off the Ring which Sentius had on his finger wherein was inchased a Stone with Caius's Picture in it which Sentius had forgot to pull off so intent was he about that which he both said and did C and by this means the engraved Image was broken Now in regard it was late Chaereas demanded the Watch-word from the Consul Chaereas requireth a Watchword at the Consuls hands who gave him the word Liberty They were all astonished at this change and could scarcely believe that which hapned For since the Popular Government had been abolished the Consuls had never given the Watch-word until that present time For before the City was oppressed by Tyranny the Consuls commanded the Soldiers After that Chaereas had received the Word he gave it his Soldiers who subscribed to the Senate's Authority Of these there were about four Companies which preferred the Lawful Government before a Tyranny who also retired themselves to their Officers As for the people they returned to their respective homes full of joy hope and courage for that they had regained D the Government of the State which belonged unto them and not to any particular Governour In a word Chaereas was their only hope He foreseeing that there would some mischief follow if Caius's Wife and Daughter should remain alive and that if all his Friends and Family should not be utterly extinguished all those who should be spared would serve to no other end but to the ruine of the Commonweal and the Laws And on the other side desiring to see an end of that which he had begun Chaereas sendeth Julius Lupus to kill Caius's Wife and Daughter and to satisfie that hatred he had conceived against Caius he sent Julius Lupus one of the Captains of the Guard to kill both his Wife and Daughter which he did And the cause why he gave this charge chiefly to Lupus was for that Lupus was Clement's Kinsman who was a Confederate in the execution of
and strike him on the face according as the Law had ordained which done Boos espoused Ruth by whom about a year after he had a Son which Naomi brought up and called his name Obed in hope he would assist in her old age E for Obed in the Hebrew tongue signifies assistance v. 13. Obed begat Jesse Boos begetteth Obed Davids grand father upon Ruth and Jesse begat David who was King and who left the Realm to his successors for one and twenty Generations I was obliged to relate these things touching Ruth because I would declare how God by his Soveragin power 1 Sam. 2. 12. ad 17. raises whom he pleases from obscurity to the highest dignity as he did David whose original I have shewed you The affairs of the Hebrews were at this time in very poor estate Ophni and Phinees the wicked Sons of Eli the High-Priest and they entred into a new War against the Philistines upon this occasion The High Priest Eli had two Sons Ophni and Phinees They against all right and law offering outrages to men and committing impieties against God suffered no sin to escape them Hedio Ruffinus chap. 1◠all 12. for they were not contented to receive what belonged to them but they took what did not And as women F came to the Tabernacle for devotion they abused them ravishing some against their wills and corrupting others by presents and thus they exercised a manifest and licentious tyranny their Father was much displeased with them for these crimes as well as the people And God having declared to Eli and the Prophet Samuel who then was very young what vengeance should fall upon Eli's Children he mourned over them as if they had been already dead But I will first speak something concerning this Prophet Samuel and afterwards of the Children of Eli and what calamity fell upon all the Hebrew Nation Elcana was a Levite of mean condition living in Ramath a part of Ephraim 1 Sam. 1. v. 10 12 13. he had married two Wives the one called Anna the other Phenenna by Phenenna he had children Anna. the Wife of Elcana requireth a Son at Gods hand yet he loved Anna very intirely although she was barren G One day when Elcana with his Wives were at Silo where the Tabernacle of God was as we have before declared to the intent to offer Sacrifice in that place during the festival he distributed the portion of his meat to his Wives and Children Anna beholding the Children of his other Wife sitting neer their Mother began to weep and H lament with her self The year of the World 2818. before Christ's Nativity 1468. because she was without issue and could not be eased with all consolation which her Husband gave her She went into the Tabernacle to beseech God that it would please him to make her a Mother and made a vow that if he gave her a Son he should be dedicated to the service of God And for that she employed much time in making her prayers the High Priest Eli who sate before the Tabernacle commanded her to depart from thence supposing that she had drunk too much Wine but after she told him that she drank nothing but Water and that being oppressed with grief she was come to the Tabernacle to beseech God that it would please him to grant her Children he exhorted her to be of good courage and assured her that God had heard her prayers whereupon she returned to her Husband full of good hope and I took her repast with joy v. 20. ad finem They returned to their own house she began to be big with child Hannah bare Samuel to Elkanah her Husband and at last she brought forth a Son whom she called Samuel that is to say requested of God Afterwards they returned to offer Sacrifice and give thanks to God for the birth of the child which God had given them and to bring their tenths Hannah remembring the vow she had made delivered the child into the hands of Eli and consecrated him to God to be his Prophsie For which cause they suffered his Hair to grow and he drank nothing but Water and he was brought up in the Temple Elkanah had by Hannah other Sons also and three Daughters 1 Sam. 3. v. 3. ad 10. As soon as Samuel had attained to the age of twelve years he began to prophecy For on a certain night whilest he slept God called him by his name and he supposing that it was the High Priest that K called him came unto him but Eli told him that he had not called him The same thing was done three times and then Eli easily judging what it was said to him Samuel I neither called thee now nor before but it is God that calleth thee answer him therefore and say Here I am ready to obey He heard the voice of God once more and he answered behold me O Lord what wouldst thou have me to do I am ready to obey Then God answered saying Go and tell the Israelites that so great a calamity shall fall upon them that no tongue can express it The Sons of Eli shall die in one day and the Priest hood shall be removed from his Family to that of Eleazar For Eli hath loved his Children more than my service and hath drawn my curse upon them Samuel fearing to overwhelm the old man with sorrow C. v. 11. ad 21. would not disclose L this oracle to him God foresheweth Samuel of the death of Eli and his Sons but Eli constrained him to tell it and it made him the more assured of the imiminent death of his Sons And because all the things which Samuel prophesied came to pass his reputation increased daily more and more At that time the Philistines leading out their Army against the Israelites incamped near the City of Amphec Hedio Ruffinus chap. 16. and for that the Hebrews were negligent to oppose them 1. Sam. 4. v. 1. 〈◊〉 4. they advanced further into the Countrey So at length in a fight with their Enemies the Philistines got the upper hand and slew 4000 Hebrews The Philistines kill four-thousand of the Israelites and pursued those that fled even to their own Tents The fear of the Hebrews after this overthrow was so great that they sent to the Council of the Elders and the High Priest praying them to bring the Ark of God with them to the end that having it present with them they might give M battel and overcome their Enemies But they considered not that he that had pronounced the sentence of their calamity against them C. 4. v. 4. was greater than the Ark which deserved not to be reverenced but for him The Hebrews bring the Ark into the battel The Ark was brought and the Sons of Eli attended it whom their Father expresly commanded that if it fell out that the Ark was
suffering great Travels and after they had once more renewed the oath of mutual Amity and Faith between them for all the time of their lives calling God to witness with imprecations against him that should fail therein Jonathan left David somewhat eased in heart and disburthened of his fear and returned to his own home But the Ziphians to gratifie Saul told him v. 19. that David was amongst them and promised to deliver him prisoner into his hands The Ziphians certifie Saul of Davids abode in their Countrey if so be he would come out against him for if he would seize all the straights of the Countrey it should be impossible for him to flie into D any other place The King praised their fidelity and promised them to require it and to remunerate them shortly for this their good affection and withall sent out certain men to seek out David and to break over the Forest promising them that shortly he would follow after them Thus did the Governours and Princes of the Ziphians offer themselves to the King to search out and apprehend him expressing their affection therein not only in outward shew but also with their whole power labouring what they might that surprizing him they might deliver him into the Kings hands But their unjust desire had as unfortunate success wicked people as they were who being to incur no peril by concealing him from pursuit promised to betray him into the Kings hands through adulation and avarice v. 26. a man that was both vertous and wrongfully persecuted E to death by his Enemies David hearing of the Kings coming flieth to save himself For David being informed of their malice and of the Kings approach quitted those narrow straights wherein he then encamped and escaped to a certain Rock sâ—ituate in the Desart of Simon Saul continued to pursue him and knowing by the way that he had overcome the straights he came to the other side of the Rock where David had surely been taken had not the King been revoked by tidings which assured him that the Philistines had forcibly entred and spoyled his Kingdom v. 27 28. For he thought it more conveninet to revenge himself on those his publick and open Enemies Saul pursueth David and having circumvented him had taken him had not he received news that revoked him and to give succor to his Countrey and people being ready to be spoiled and wasted than out of desire to lay hands on a private Enemy to betray both his Countrey and Subjects to their Swords and thus was David saved beyond all expectation and F he retired himself to the straights of Engaddi But after Saul had repelled the Philistines certain news was brought him that David was in the straights of Engaddi whereupon presently taking with him three thousand of the choicest men in all his Army he led them speedily to the forenamed place and being not far from thence he perceived near the high way a deep and large Cave where David with his four hundred men were hid and he descended alone into the Cave to disburthen the necessities of nature This was presently discovered by one of Davids followers who told him that God had presented him a fit opportunity to revenge him on his Enemy 1 Sam. 24 5. and counselled him to cut off Sauls head David cut off the lap of Sauls Garment and to discharge himself thereby of further trouble But David arising and finding him out only cut off the lap of the vesture wherewith Saul was attired and presently G thereupon repented himself saying that it were a wicked deed in him to kill his Lord whom God by Election had raised to the estate of Majesty and Empire For said he although he be unjust toward me yet ought I not to be injurious towards him who is my Lord. But when Saul was gon out of the Cave David followed him and cryed with a loud H voice beseeching Saul to give him audience Saul turning back to him David cast himself prostrate at his feet according to the custome and spake after this manner How unworthy is it for thee O King that opening thy ears to scandalous backbiters and giving trust and credit to vain and loose men thou suspectest thy most faithfull friends whom thou rather oughtest to judge by their sincere and upright actions for words may be either false or true but the mind can be descovered by no more apparent arguments than by mens actions as at this present thou mayest judge David upbraideth Saul for his subtilities to seek his death who was innocent whether thou hast raishly believed them that make me guilty before thy Majesty of that crime that was never yet so much as in my thought and who have so much exasperated thee against me that day and night thou thinkest on nothing more than my destruction Seest thou not now how vain thy opinion is whereby they persuade thee that I I am an Enemy of thy house and earnestly desirous of thy death Or with what eyes thinkest thou doth God behold thy cruelty who seekest the death of him who having an opportunity offered him to be revenged on thee spareth thy life whose life were it in thy hands were assuredly lost For as easily might I have cut off thy head as this lap of thy garment and therewithall in confirmation of his words he shewed it him yet did I forbear this just revenge But God shall bear witness hereof and shall condemn him of us two that shall be found the most culpable Saul amazed to see how strangely his life had been preserved and to consider the vertue and generosity of David v. 10 ad 17. began to weep and David wept also but Saul said that he had greater cause to lament than he Saul acknowledged his malice and Davids innocency and requesteth him that when he hath obtained the Kingdom he would be favourable to his Family For said he by thy means have I received many benefits and thou at my hands hast been repayed with infinite K injuries This day hast thou testified that thou retainest the ancient justice of our ancestors who instead of taking away the lives of their Enemies when they found them at advantage accounted it glorious to spare them Now I no longer doubt that God hath reserved the Kingdom for thee and that the Empire of all the Hebrews attendeth thee Assure thou me therefore by an oath that thou wilt not exterminate my Race or remember those injuries that I have done unto thee but that sparing my posterity thou wilt keep them under thy protection David sware to him according as he had required and suffered him to return into his Realm and both he and his companies retired themselves to the straights of Maspha About the same time died Samuel the Prophet a man who for his merit was in great estimation amongst the Hebrews Samuels death and burial the testimony of L
this time forward the Nation of the Jews were in quiet without any invasion and lived in peace for a little time Alcim the High-Priest dieth but afterwards they were troubled with the like incursions Whereas therefore the High-Priest Alcim intended to beat down an old wall of the Sanctuary which had been built by the holy Prophets he was suddenly strucken by God so that he lost his speech and fell to the ground and after he had endured many torments at last K he died miserably after he had enjoyed the Priesthood for the space of four years After his death Hedio Ruffinus cap. 17. the people with a general consent conferred that office upon Judas who hearing of the great power of the Romans 1 Mach. 8. and how they had conquer'd Gaule Spain Judas covenanteth a peace with the Romans Carthage Grece and the Kings Perseus and Philip and besides all these the great King Antiochus he resolved to procure their friendship and to that purpose he sent Eupolemus the son of John and Jason the son of Eleazar his two most intimate friends unto Rome to entreat the Romans to be their Allies and Confederates and to write unto Demetrius That he should forbear to make War against the Jews When the Ambassadors that were sent from Judas were arrived at Rome the Senate received them and after they had discoursed with them upon the occasion of their coming they accepted their alliance L and made a Decree the Copy whereof was then brought into Judea and the original reserved in the Capitol engraven on a Table of brass Which Decree of the Romans concerning their alliance with the Jews contained these Articles That no man under the obedience of the Romans The decree of the Romans touching society and friendship of the Jews should maintain War against the Nation of the Jews nor should furnish those with victuals ships or money that should make War against them And if any enemies should assail the Jews the Romans should give them succor to the utmost of their power and that likewise if any one should make War against the Romans the Jews should succor them That if the Jewish Nation would add or diminish any thing of that association it should be done with the common advice of the people of Rome and that that which should be ordained should remain irrevocable M This Copy was written by Eupolemus the son of John and by Jason the son of Eleazar at such time as Judas was High-Priest and his brother Simon General over the Army Thus the first amity and alliance was contracted between the Romans and the Jews CHAP. XVIII King Demetrius sends Bacchides with a new Army against Judas Machabeus who resolves to give him battel although he had but 800 men WHen Nicanor's death and the defeat of his Army was told Demetrius he sent a N new Army into Judea Hedio Ruffinus cap. 18. under the conduct of Bacchides who departing from Antioch 1 Mach. 9. and coming to Judea encamped in Arbela a City of Galilee where having taken captive a great number of those that were retir'd into Caves Demetrius sendeth Bacchides with Forces into Jury he departed from thence and went to Jerusalem And understanding that Judas was encamped in the village of Berzeth he marched out against him with 20000 Foot and 2000 Horse Judas had not on his side in all above 2000 men Bacchides meeteth Judas with 20000 Soldiers the greater part whereof being afraid of the numerous Army of the Syrians forsook their Camp and fled away by which means there remained no more with Judas than 800 men He seeing himself abandoned by so many of his men and pressed by his enemies who gave him no time to reinforce his Army he O resolved to engage with those 800 which remained whom he exhorted to be of good courage and to fight valiantly but they answer'd That they were not able to make head against so great an Army and counselled him to retire and stand on his guard for that time until he had gather'd Forces that might be able to face the enemy But Judas replied to this effect God forbid said he that the Sun should see me turn my back upon A mine enemies And if by this means I meet with my death and that I must needs spend my last blood in this battel I will never sullie so many notable actions so worthily atchieved nor diminish that glory which I have obtained by one ignominious flight And having in this manner exhorted the small remnant of those Soldiers that were with him Judas with a small Army intendeth to assail a mighty Host he commanded them that without any apprehension of danger they should make head against the enemy CHAP. XIX Judas Machabeus with 800 men engageth against the whole Army of Demetrius He is slain after he had performed actions almost incredible His praise B BAcchides drew out his Army and ranged them in battel placing the Horsemen on both the wings Bacchides disposeth his Army and fighteth with Judas his light-armed Soldiers and Archers in the front of the Army and after these a strong Band called the Macedonian Phalanx and he himself led the right wing of the battel And in this aray he approached Judas's Camp and caused the Trumpets to be sounded commanding his Soldiers to give a great shout and to charge their enemies Judas did the like and encountred Bacchides so that on both sides there was a most cruel conflict which continued until the Sun-set And when Judas perceiv'd that Bacchides and the flower of his Army fought in the right wing he chose out a certain number of his most resolute Soldiers and drew towards that quarter and setting upon C them Judas disperseth the enemies Army killeth some and at last is slain himself he brake their squadron and afterwards thrusting into the midst of them he forced them to flie and pursu'd them as far as the Mount Aza They of the left wing perceiving the flight of those in the right went after Judas and inclosed him behind So that being unable to flie and seeing himself inclosed by his enemies he resolved to fight it out And after having slain a great number of his enemies he found himself so feeble by the wounds which he had receiv'd that he fell to the ground and crowned all his other great and immortal actions by a glorious death His Soldiers seeing him dead and having no Commander of note left amongst them after the loss of so valiant a Captain betook them all to flight Simon and Jonathan his brothers upon intreaty recover'd his body Judas buried in Modin and carried it to Modin a place where his father was buried there was he interred D by all the people who wept for him divers dayes and honour'd him publickly according to the custom of their Countrey Such was Judas's end who was a valiant man
and after he had heard that which had befaln him in the way he embraced him in admiration of his virtue and did him great honour as to him whom a little before he had raised to a Royal dignity Not long after this Antiochus surrendred the Fort of Samosata to Antonius and upon this occasion the War was ended Whereupon Antonius committed the Province with the Army to Sosius and after he had commanded him to succor Herod he departed into Egypt Sosius therefore sent two Legions of Soldiers before C into Judea to succor Herod and afterwards he follow'd with the rest of his Army In the mean while Joseph is killed in Jewry Sosius hath the army committed to his charge by Antonius who departeth into Egypt on this occasion that ensueth For forgetting his brother Herod's command which he gave him when he repaired to Antonius he took five Companies of Soldiers which Machaeras had left him and marching towards Jericho to gather in the fruits of the field he pitched his Tents upon the Mountains and for that the Roman Troops were but newly levied and consisted of those Men who were untrained in the Wars Joseph Herods brother is slain by Antigonus and for the most part were gather'd out of the Countrey of Coelosyria the Enemies having advertisement hereof assailed and surprized him in certain places of disadvantage The Galileans revolt from Herod where there was a hot skirmish between them in which Joseph died fighting valiantly and all his Army was defeated The dead bodies being in D Antigonus's power he cut off Joseph's head notwithstanding that his brother Pheroras proffer'd him 50 Talents for the whole body Machaeras fortifieth Gath. Which done the Galileans revolting from their Governors Herod departeth from Daphne a Suburb of Antioch into Galilee drowned those of Herods party in the Lake so that divers Commotions and Troubles were raised in Jewry Machaeras he fortified the Castle of Gath. This misfortune of Josephs was reported to the King in a certain Suburb of Antioch called Daphne Herod fighteth with the Galileans and overcometh them and driveth them into a Castle who before the tydings had already conceived some suspition and fear grounded upon certain dreams which gave him certain intelligence of his brothers death Departing therefore from thence with all expedition he arrived near to the Mount Libanus where he took about 800 Men with him and the Roman Legion which he had and from thence came to Ptolomais from whence he departed with his Army by night and E crossed Galilee with them Whereupon the Enemies came forth against him and were overcome by him and shut up in a Fort from whence they were come out but the day before where Herod assailed them by break of day but being unable to do them any harm The house wherein Herod solemnized his Feast fell down when the guests were gone without any mans detriment by reason of the bad Weather he led his Men into the Villages near adjoining But when Antonius's second Legion was come and joined to his Forces they that were within the Fort grew disheartned and forsook the same by night So that Herod marched with all diligence to Jericho with an intent to revenge his brothers death and being encamped near unto the same he banquetted and entertained the Officers of his Army and after the Feast was ended and he had dismissed his company he withdrew himself into his lodging in which place it appeared how much God loved the King for the roof of F the house where he had solemniz'd his Feast fell down without hurt to any one whomsoever for not one was left within it Whence it came to pass that each one persuaded himself that Herod was beloved by God considering he had avoided so great and unexpected a danger The next day Herod wounded by his enemies 6000 Enemies came down from the top of the Mountains to fight with him who afrighted the Romans and their forlorn hope chased Herods Soldiers with darts Antigonus sendeth Pappus to Samaria and stones who was himself also hurt in the Thigh with an arrow Antigonus sent a Captain to Samaria whose name was Pappus with some Soldiers intending thereby to signifie unto his Enemies that he had more Forces than he needed Pappus drew near to Machaeras the Roman Captain and as for Herod he took five Cities by force and put G some 2000 of them that were in Garison to the sword and afterwards having set the houses on fire he went out to encounter Pappus who was encamped in a Borough called H Isanas The year of the World â—9â—9 before Christ's Nativity 35. Divers that came from Jericho and Jewry submitted themselves to Herod who drawing near the Enemy who marched forward with great boldness he fought them and overcame them and being inflamed with a great desire he had to revenge his brothers death he pursued them that fled and killed them even within their borâ—ugh These Houses were presently filled with Soldiers Fight in the houses and divers fled and hid themselves upon the tops thereof who were at last taken for the Roofs of the Houses were beaten down whereby divers were killed by stones that were thrown at them from above the most grievous spectable of all those that had hapned in those Wars was to see an infinite number of bodies heaped up amidst the Rooms of the Houses This exploit of Herod did very much abate the courage of his enemies who lost all I hopes of any better success for the future for a man might have seen them flie away in whole droves and had not a sudden and violent tempest fallen upon them the triumphant Army of Herod had immediately entred Jerusalem with assurance of victory which had made an end of all that War Herod being alonâ— and naked in his house escaped unhurt amongst mâ—ny armed â—nâ—mies For Antigonus had no other thoughts but to flie away and to forsake the City Now the night drawing on Herod gave order for the Soldiers to eat and himself being weary retired into his Chamber to bathe where he escaped a most evident danger through Gods providence for being naked and having no body within but one of his servants three of the enemies who had his themselves for fear started out with their Swords in their hands Herod sendeth Pappus's head to his brother Phaeroras and ran away without daring to attempt any thing against the Kings person so terrible was his presence to them The next day K Herod caused Pappus's Head to be cut off and sent it to Phaeroras to comfort him for the loss of his brother Joseph Herod besiegeth Jerusalem whom this Pappus had killed When the Tempest was over he departed from thence and approached near to Jerusalem and encamped near unto the City Herod repaireâ—h to Samaria to marry â—lexanders daughter This was about the third year after he had