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 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。