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第230章

the antiquities of the jews-1-第230章

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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 mountains to fight the Romans; which greatly
terrified them; and the soldiers that were in light armor came
near; and pelted the king's guards that were come out with darts
and stones; and one of them hit him on the side with a dart。
Antigonus also sent a commander against Samaria; whose name was
Pappus; with some forces; being desirous to show the enemy how
potent he was; and that he had men to spare in his war with them。
He sat down to oppose Macheras; but Herod; when he had taken five
cities; took such as were left in them; being about two thousand;
and slew them; and burnt the cities themselves; and then returned
to go against Pappus; who was encamped at a village called
Isanas; and there ran in to him many out of Jericho and Judea;
near to which places he was; and the enemy fell upon his men; so
stout were they at this time; and joined battle with them; but he
beat them in the fight; and in order to be revenged on them for
the slaughter of his brother; he pursued them sharply; and killed
them as they ran away; and as the houses were full of armed men;
(29) and many of them ran as far as the tops of the houses; he
got them under his power; and pulled down the roofs of the
houses; and saw the lower rooms full of soldiers that were
caught; and lay all on a heap; so they threw stones down upon
them as they lay piled one upon another; and thereby killed them;
nor was there a more frightful spectacle in all the war than
this; where beyond the walls an immense multitude of dead men lay
heaped one upon another。 This action it was which chiefly brake
the spirits of the enemy; who expected now what would come; for
there appeared a mighty number of people that came from places
far distant; that were now about the village; but then ran away;
and had it not been for the depth of winter; which then
restrained them; the king's army had presently gone to Jerusalem;
as being very courageous at this good success; and the whole work
had been done immediately; for Antigonus was already looking
about how he might fly away and leave the city。

13。 At this time the king gave order that the soldiers should go
to supper; for it was late at night; while he went into a chamber
to use the bath; for he was very weary; and here it was that he
was in the greatest danger; which yet; by God's providence; he
escaped; for as he was naked; and had but one servant that
followed him; to be with him while he was bathing in an inner
room; certain of the enemy; who were in their armor; and had fled
thither; out of fear; were then in the place; and as he was
bathing; the first of them came out with his naked sword drawn;
and went out at the doors; and after him a second; and a third;
armed in like manner; and were under such a consternation; that
they did no hurt to the king; and thought themselves to have come
off very well ill suffering no harm themselves in their getting
out of the house。 However; on the next day; he cut off the head
of Pappus; for he was already slain; and sent it to Pheroras; as
a punishment of what their brother had suffered by his means; for
he was the man that slew him with his own hand。

14。 When the rigor of winter was over; Herod removed his army;
and came near to Jerusalem; and pitched his camp hard by the
city。 Now this was the third year since he had been made king at
Rome; and as he removed his camp; and came near that part of the
wall where it could be most easily assaulted; he pitched that
camp before the temple; intending to make his attacks in the same
manner as did Pompey。 So he encompassed the place with three
bulwarks; and erected towers; and employed a great many hands
about the work; and cut down the trees that were round about the
city; and when he had appointed proper persons to oversee the
works; even while the army lay before the city; he himself went
to Samaria; to complete his marriage; and to take to wife the
daughter of Alexander; the son of Aristobulus; for he had
betrothed her already; as I have before related。

CHAPTER 16。

How He

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