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However; when the night came on; that put an end to the whole
work; and as the king proclaimed pardon by a herald to such as
delivered themselves up to him; many accepted of the offer。 The
same method of assault was made use of the next day; and they
went further; and got out in baskets to fight them; and fought
them at their doors; and sent fire among them; and set their
caves on fire; for there was a great deal of combustible matter
within them。 Now there was one old man who was caught within one
of these caves; with seven children and a wife; these prayed him
to give them leave to go out; and yield themselves up to the
enemy; but he stood at the cave's mouth; and always slew that
child of his who went out; till he had destroyed them every one;
and after that he slew his wife; and cast their dead bodies down
the precipice; and himself after them; and so underwent death
rather than slavery: but before he did this; he greatly
reproached Herod with the meanness of his family; although he was
then king。 Herod also saw what he was doing; and stretched out
his hand; and offered him all manner of security for his life; by
which means all these caves were at length subdued entirely。

6。 And when the king had set Ptolemy over these parts of the
country as his general; he went to Samaria; with six hundred
horsemen; and three thousand armed footmen; as intending to fight
Antigonus。 But still this command of the army did not succeed
well with Ptolemy; but those that had been troublesome to Galilee
before attacked him; and slew him; and when they had done this;
they fled among the lakes and places almost inaccessible laying
waste and plundering whatsoever they could come at in those
places。 But Herod soon returned; and punished them for what they
had done; for some of these rebels he slew; and others of them;
who had fled to the strong holds he besieged; and both slew them;
and demolished their strong holds。 And when he had thus put an
end to their rebellion; he laid a fine upon the cities of a
hundred talents。

7。 In the mean time; Pacorus was fallen in a battle; and the
Parthians were defeated; when Ventidius sent Macheras to the
assistance of Herod; with two legions; and a thousand horsemen;
while Antony encouraged him to make haste。 But Macheras; at the
instigation of Antigonus; without the approbation of Herod; as
being corrupted by money; went about to take a view of his
affairs; but Antigonus suspecting this intention of his coming;
did not admit him into the city; but kept him at a distance; with
throwing stones at him; and plainly showed what he himself meant。
But when Macheras was sensible that Herod had given him good
advice; and that he had made a mistake himself in not hearkening
to that advice; he retired to the city Emmaus; and what Jews he
met with he slew them; whether they were enemies or friends; out
of the rage he was in at what hardships he had undergone。 The
king was provoked at this conduct of his; and went to Samaria;
and resolved to go to Antony about these affairs; and to inform
him that he stood in no need of such helpers; who did him more
mischief than they did his enemies; and that he was able of
himself to beat Antigonus。 But Macheras followed him; and desired
that he would not go to Antony; or if he was resolved to go; that
he would join his brother Joseph with them; and let them fight
against Antigonus。 So he was reconciled to Macheras; upon his
earnest entreaties。 Accordingly; he left Joseph there with his
army; but charged him to run no hazards; nor to quarrel with
Macheras。

8。 But for his own part; he made haste to Antony (who was then at
the siege of Samosata; a place upon Euphrates) with his troops;
both horsemen and footmen; to be auxiliaries to him。 And when he
came to Antioch; and met there a great number of men gotten
together that were very desirous to go to Antony; but durst not
venture to go; out of fear; because the barbarians fell upon men
on the road; and slew many; so he encouraged them; and became
their conductor upon the road。 Now when they were within two
days' march of Samosata; the barbarians had laid an ambush there
to disturb those that came to Antony; and where the woods made
the passes narrow; as they led to the plains; there they laid not
a few of their horsemen; who were to lie still until those
passengers were gone by into the wide place。 Now as soon as the
first ranks were gone by; (for Herod brought on the rear;) those
that lay in ambush; who were about five hundred; fell upon them
on the sudden; and when they had put the foremost to flight; the
king came riding hard; with the forces that were about him; and
immediately drove back the enemy; by which means he made the
minds of his own men courageous; and imboldened them to go on;
insomuch that those who ran away before now returned back; and
the barbarians were slain on all sides。 The king also went on
killing them; and recovered all the baggage; among which were a
great number of beasts for burden; and of slaves; and proceeded
on in his march; and whereas there were a great number of those
in the woods that attacked them; and were near the passage that
led into the plain; he made a sally upon these also with a strong
body of men; and put them to flight; and slew many of them; and
thereby rendered the way safe for those that came after; and
these called Herod their savior and protector。

9。 And when he was near to Samosata; Antony sent out his army in
all their proper habiliments to meet him; in order to pay Herod
this respect; and because of the assistance he had given him; for
he had heard what attacks the barbarians had made upon him 'in
Judea'。 He also was very glad to see him there; as having been
made acquainted with the great actions he had performed upon the
road。 So he entertained him very kindly; and could not but admire
his courage。 Antony also embraced him as soon as he saw him; and
saluted him after a most affectionate manner; and gave him the
upper hand; as having himself lately made him a king; and in a
little time Antiochus delivered up the fortress; and on that
account this war was at an end; then Antony committed the rest to
Sosius; and gave him orders to assist Herod; and went himself to
Egypt。 Accordingly; Sosius sent two legions before into Judea to
the assistance of Herod; and he followed himself with the body of
the army。

10。 Now Joseph was already slain in Judea; in the manner
following: He forgot what charge his brother Herod had given him
when he went to Antony; and when he had pitched his camp among
the mountains; for Macheras had lent him five regiments; with
these he went hastily to Jericho; in :order to reap the corn
thereto belonging; and as the Roman regiments were but newly
raised; and were unskillful in war; for they were in great part
collected out of Syria; he was attacked by the enemy; and caught
in those places of difficulty; and was himself slain; as he was
fighting bravely; and the whole army was lost; for there were six
regiments slain。 So when Antigonus had got possession of the dead
bodies; he cut off Joseph's head; although Pheroras his brother
would have redeemed it at the price of fifty talents。 After which
defeat; the Galileans revolted from their commanders; and took
those of Herod's party; and drowned them in the lake; and a great
part of Judea was become seditious; but Macheras fortified the
place Gitta 'in Samaria'。

11。 At this time messengers came to Herod; and informed him of
what had been done; and when he was come to Daphne by Antioch;
they told him of the ill fortune that had befallen his brother;
which yet he expected; from certain visions that appeared to him
in his dreams; which clearly foreshowed his brother's death。 So
he hastened his march; and when he came to Mount Libanus; he
received about eight hundred of the men of that place; having
already with him also one Roman legion; and with these he came to
Ptolemais。 He also marched thence by night with his army; and
proceeded along Galilee。 Here it was that the enemy met him; and
fought him; and were beaten; and shut up in the same place of
strength whence they had sallied out the day before。 So he
attacked the place in the morning; but by reason of a great storm
that was then very violent; he was able to do nothing; but drew
off his army into the neighboring villages; yet as soon as the
other legion that Antony sent him was come to his assistance;
those that were in garrison in the place were afraid; and
deserted it in the night time。 Then did the king march hastily to
Jericho; intending to avenge himself on the enemy for the
slaughter of his brother; and when he had pitched his tents; he
made a feast for the principal commanders; and after this
collation was over; and he had dismissed his guests; he retired
to his own chamber; and here may one see what kindness God had
for the king; for the upper part of the house fell down when
nobody was in it; and so killed none; insomuch that all the
people believed that Herod was beloved of God; since he had
escaped such a great and surprising danger。

12。 But the next day six thousand of the enemy came down from the
tops of the mount

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