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years of age; for this very reason; that he might be a hostage
for the repayment of the money。 But there came messengers from
Malchus to meet him; by whom he was desired to be gone; for that
the Parthians had laid a charge upon him not to entertain Herod。
This was only a pretense which he made use of; that he might not
be obliged to repay him what he owed him; and this he was further
induced to by the principal men among the Arabians; that they
might cheat him of what sums they had received from 'his father'
Antipater; and which he had committed to their fidelity。 He made
answer; that he did not intend to be troublesome to them by his
coning thither; but that he desired only to discourse with them
about certain affairs that were to him of the greatest
importance。

2。 Hereupon he resolved to go away; and did go very prudently the
road to Egypt; and then it was that he lodged in a certain
temple; for he had left a great many of his followers there。 On
the next day he came to Rhinocolura; and there it was that he
heard what was befallen his brother。 Though Malehus soon repented
of what he had done; and came running after Herod; but with no
manner of success; for he was gotten a very great way off; and
made haste into the road to Pelusium; and when the stationary
ships that lay there hindered him from sailing to Alexandria; he
went to their captains; by whose assistance; and that out of much
reverence of and great regard to him; he was conducted into the
city 'Alexandria'; and was retained there by Cleopatra; yet was
she not able to prevail with him to stay there; because he was
making haste to Rome; even though the weather was stormy; and he
was informed that the affairs of Italy were very tumultuous; and
in great disorder。

3。 So he set sail from thence to Pamphylia; and falling into a
violent storm; he had much ado to escape to Rhodes; with the loss
of the ship's burden; and there it was that two of his friends;
Sappinas and Ptolemeus; met with him; and as he found that city
very much damaged in the war against Cassius; though he were in
necessity himself; he neglected not to do it a kindness; but did
what he could to recover it to its former state。 He also built
there a three…decked ship; and set sail thence; with his friends;
for Italy; and came to the port of Brundusium; and when he was
come from thence to Rome; he first related to Antony what had
befallen him in Judea; and how Phasaelus his brother was seized
on by the Parthians; and put to death by them; and how Hyrcanus
was detained captive by them; and how they had made Antigonus
king; who had promised them a sum of money; no less than a
thousand talents; with five hundred women; who were to be of the
principal families; and of the Jewish stock; and that he had
carried off the women by night; and that; by undergoing a great
many hardships; he had escaped the hands of his enemies; as also;
that his own relations were in danger of being besieged and
taken; and that he had sailed through a storm; and contemned all
these terrible dangers of it; in order to come; as soon as
possible; to him; who was his hope and only succor at this time。

4。 This account made Antony commiserate the change that had
happened in Herod's condition; (26) and reasoning with himself
that this was a common case among those that are placed in such
great dignities; and that they are liable to the mutations that
come from fortune; he was very ready to give him the assistance
he desired; and this because he called to mind the friendship he
had had with Antipater because Herod offered him money to make
him king; as he had formerly given it him to make him tetrarch;
and chiefly because of his hatred to Antigonus; for he took him
to be a seditious person; and an enemy to the Romans。 Caesar was
also the forwarder to raise Herod's dignity; and to give him his
assistance in what he desired; on account of the toils of war
which he had himself undergone with Antipater his father in
Egypt; and of the hospitality he had treated him withal; and the
kindness he had always showed him; as also to gratify Antony; who
was very zealous for Herod。 So a senate was convocated; and
Messala first; and then Atratinus; introduced Herod into it; and
enlarged upon the benefits they had received from his father; and
put them in mind of the good…will he had borne to the Romans。 At
the same time; they accused Antigonus; and declared him an enemy;
not only because of his former opposition to them; but that he
had now overlooked the Romans; and taken the government from the
Parthians。 Upon this the senate was irritated; and Antony
informed them further; that it was for their advantage in the
Parthian war that Herod should be king。 This seemed good to all
the senators; and so they made a decree accordingly。

5。 And this was the principal instance of Antony's affection for
Herod; that he not only procured him a kingdom which he did not
expect; (for he did not come with an intention to ask the kingdom
for himself; which he did not suppose the Romans would grant him;
who used to bestow it on some of the royal family; but intended
to desire it for his wife's brother; who was grandson by his
father to Aristobulus; and to Hyrcanus by his mother;) but that
he procured it for him so suddenly; that he obtained what he did
not expect; and departed out of Italy in so few days as seven in
all。 This young man 'the grandson' Herod afterward took care to
have slain; as we shall show in its proper place。 But when the
senate was dissolved; Antony and Caesar went out of the senate
house with Herod between them; and with the consuls and other
magistrates before them; in order to offer sacrifices; and to lay
up their decrees in the capitol。 Antony also feasted Herod the
first day of his reign。 And thus did this man receive the
kingdom; having obtained it on the hundred and eighty…fourth
olympiad; when Caius Domitius Calvinus was consul the second
time; and Caius Asinius Pollio 'the first time'。

6。 All this while Antigonus besieged those that were in Masada;
who had plenty of all other necessaries; but were only in want of
water (27) insomuch that on this occasion Joseph; Herod's
brother; was contriving to run away from it; with two hundred of
his dependents; to the Arabians; for he had heard that Malchus
repented of the offenses he had been guilty of with regard to
Herod; but God; by sending rain in the night time; prevented his
going away; for their cisterns were thereby filled; and he was
under no necessity of running away on that account; but they were
now of good courage; and the more so; because the sending that
plenty of water which they had been in want of seemed a mark of
Divine Providence; so they made a sally; and fought hand to hand
with Antigonus's soldiers; (with some openly; with some
privately;) and destroyed a great number of them。 At the same
time Ventidius; the general of the Romans; was sent out of Syria;
to drive the Parthians out of it; and marched after them into
Judea; in pretense indeed to succor Joseph; but in reality the
whole affair was no more than a stratagem; in order to get money
of Antigonus; so they pitched their camp very near to Jerusalem;
and stripped Antigonus of a great deal of money; and then he
retired himself with the greater part of the army; but; that the
wickedness he had been guilty of might be found out; he left Silo
there; with a certain part of his soldiers; with whom also
Antigonus cultivated an acquaintance; that he might cause him no
disturbance; and was still in hopes that the Parthians would come
again and defend him。

CHAPTER 15。

How Herod Sailed Out Of Italy To Judea; And Fought With Antigonus
And What Other Things Happened In Judea About That Time。

1。 By this time Herod had sailed out of Italy to Ptolemais; and
had gotten together no small army; both of strangers and of his
own countrymen; and marched through Galilee against Antignus。
Silo also; and Ventidius; came and assisted him; being persuaded
by Dellius; who was sent by Antony to assist in bringing back
Herod。 Now for Ventidius; he was employed in composing the
disturbances that had been made in the cities by the means of the
Parthians; and for Silo; he was in Judea indeed; but corrupted by
Antigonus。 However; as Herod went along his army increased every
day; and all Galilee; with some small exception; joined him; but
as he was to those that were in Masada; (for he was obliged to
endeavor to save those that were in that fortress now they were
besieged; because they were his relations;) Joppa was a
hinderance to him; for it was necessary for him to take that
place first; it being a city at variance with him; that no strong
hold might be left in his enemies' hands behind him when he
should go to Jerusalem。 And when Silo made this a pretense for
rising up from Jerusalem; and was thereupon pursued by the Jews;
Herod fell upon them with a small body of men; and both put the
Jews to flight and saved Silo; when he was very poorly able to
defend himself; but when Herod had taken Joppa; he made haste to
set free those of his family that were in Masada。 Now of the
people of the country; some joined him because 

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