by it； called Antonia； and was rebuilt by himself； he contrived
to make Samaria a fortress for himself also against all the
people； and called it Sebaste； supposing that this place would be
a strong hold against the country； not inferior to the former。 So
he fortified that place； which was a day's journey distant from
Jerusalem； and which would be useful to him in common； to keep
both the country and the city in awe。 He also built another
fortress for the whole nation； it was of old called Strato's
Tower； but was by him named Cesarea。 Moreover； he chose out some
select horsemen； and placed them ill the great plain； and built
＇for them＇ a place in Galilee； called Gaba with Hesebonitis； in
Perea。 And these were the places which he particularly built；
while he always was inventing somewhat further for his own
security； and encompassing the whole nation with guards； that
they might by no means get from under his power； nor fall into
tumults； which they did continually upon any small commotion； and
that if they did make any commotions； he might know of it； while
some of his spies might be upon them from the neighborhood； and
might both be able to know what they were attempting； and to
prevent it。 And when he went about building the wall of Samaria；
he contrived to bring thither many of those that had been
assisting to him in his wars； and many of the people in that
neighborhood also； whom he made fellow citizens with the rest。
This he did out of an ambitious desire of building a temple； and
out of a desire to make the city more eminent than it had been
before； but principally because he contrived that it might at
once be for his own security； and a monument of his magnificence。
He also changed its name； and called it Sebaste。 Moreover； he
parted the adjoining country； which was excellent in its kind；
among the inhabitants of Samaria； that they might be in a happy
condition； upon their first coming to inhabit。 Besides all which；
he encompassed the city with a wall of great strength； and made
use of the acclivity of the place for making its fortifications
stronger； nor was the compass of the place made now so small as
it had been before； but was such as rendered it not inferior to
the most famous cities； for it was twenty furlongs in
circumference。 Now within； and about the middle of it； he built a
sacred place； of a furlong and a half ＇in circuit＇； and adorned
it with all sorts of decorations； and therein erected a temple；
which was illustrious on account of both its largeness and
beauty。 And as to the several parts of the city； he adorned them
with decorations of all sorts also； and as to what was necessary
to provide for his own security； he made the walls very strong
for that purpose； and made it for the greatest part a citadel；
and as to the elegance of the building； it was taken care of
also； that he might leave monuments of the fineness of his taste；
and of his beneficence； to future ages。
CHAPTER 9。
Concerning The Famine That Happened In Judea And Syria； And How
Herod； After He Had Married Another Wife； Rebuilt Cesarea； And
Other Grecian Cities。
1。 Now on this very year； which was the thirteenth year of the
reign of Herod； very great calamities came upon the country；
whether they were derived from the anger of God； or whether this
misery returns again naturally in certain periods of time （14）
for； in the first place； there were perpetual droughts； and for
that reason the ground was barren； and did not bring forth the
same quantity of fruits that it used to produce； and after this
barrenness of the soil； that change of food which the want of
corn occasioned produced distempers in the bodies of men； and a
pestilential disease prevailed； one misery following upon the
back of another； and these circumstances； that they were
destitute both of methods of cure and of food； made the
pestilential distemper； which began after a violent manner； the
more lasting。 The destruction of men also after such a manner
deprived those that surived of all their courage； because they
had no way to provide remedies sufficient for the distresses they
were in。 When therefore the fruits of that year were spoiled； and
whatsoever they had laid up beforehand was spent； there was no
foundation of hope for relief remaining； but the misery； contrary
to what they expected still increased upon them； and this not
only on that year； while they had nothing for themselves left ＇at
the end of it＇； but what seed they had sown perished also； by
reason of the ground not yielding its fruits on the second year。
（15） This distress they were in made them also； out of necessity；
to eat many things that did not use to be eaten； nor was the king
himself free from this distress any more than other men； as being
deprived of that tribute he used to have from the fruits of the
ground； and having already expended what money he had； in his
liberality to those whose cities he had built； nor had he any
people that were worthy of his assistance； since this miserable
state of things had procured him the hatred of his subjects： for
it is a constant rule； that misfortunes are still laid to the
account of those that govern。
2。 In these circumstances he considered with himself how to
procure some seasonable help； but this was a hard thing to be
done； while their neighbors had no food to sell them； and their
money also was gone； had it been possible to purchase a little
food at a great price。 However； he thought it his best way； by
all means； not to leave off his endeavors to assist his people；
so he cut off the rich furniture that was in his palace； both of
silver and gold； insomuch that he did not spare the finest
vessels he had； or those that were made with the most elaborate
skill of the artificers； but sent the money to Petronius； who had
been made prefect of Egypt by Caesar； and as not a few had
already fled to him under their necessities； and as he was
particularly a friend to Herod； and desirous to have his subjects
preserved； he gave leave to them in the first place to export
corn； and assisted them every way； both in purchasing and
exporting the same； so that he was the principal； if not the only
person； who afforded them what help they had。 And Herod taking
care the people should understand that this help came from
himself； did thereby not only remove the ill opinion of those
that formerly hated him； but gave them the greatest demonstration
possible of his good…will to them； and care of them； for； in the
first place； as for those who were able to provide their own
food； he distributed to them their proportion of corn in the
exactest manner； but for those many that were not able； either by
reason of their old age； or any other infirmity； to provide food
for themselves； he made this provision for them； the bakers
should make their bread ready for them。 He also took care that
they might not be hurt by the dangers of winter； since they were
in great want of clothing also； by reason of the utter
destruction and consumption of their sheep and goats； till they
had no wool to make use of； nor any thing else to cover
themselves withal。 And when he had procured these things for his
own subjects； he went further； in order to provide necessaries
for their neighbors； and gave seed to the Syrians； which thing
turned greatly to his own advantage also； this charitable
assistance being afforded most seasonably to their fruitful soil；
so that every one had now a plentiful provision of food。 Upon the
whole； when the harvest of the land was approaching； he sent no
fewer than fifty thousand men； whom he had sustained； into the
country； by which means he both repaired the afflicted condition
of his own kingdom with great generosity and diligence； and
lightened the afflictions of his neighbors； who were under the
same calamities； for there was nobody who had been in want that
was left destitute of a suitable assistance by him； nay； further；
there were neither any people； nor any cities； nor any private
men； who were to make provision for the multitudes； and on that
account were in want of support； and had recourse to him； but
received what they stood in need of； insomuch that it appeared；
upon a computation； that the number of cori of wheat； of ten
attic medimni apiece； that were given to foreigners； amounted to
ten thousand； and the number that was given in his own kingdom
was about fourscore thousand。 Now it happened that this care of
his； and this seasonable benefaction； had such influence on the
Jews； and was so cried up among other nations； as to wipe off
that old hatred which his violation of some of their customs；
during his reign； had procured him among all the nation； and that
this liberality of his assistance in this their greatest
necessity was full satisfaction for all that he had done of that
nature； as it also procured him great fame among foreigners； and
it looked as if these calamities that afflicted his land； to a
degree plainly incredible； came in order to raise his glory； and
to be to his great advantage； for the greatness of his liberality
in these distresses； which he now demonstrated beyond all
expectation； did so change the disposition of the multitude
towards him； that they were ready to suppose he had been from the
beginning not such a one as they had found him to be by
experience； but such a one as the care he had taken of them in
supplying their necessities proved him now to be。
3。 About this time it was that he sent five hundred chosen men
out of the guards of his body as auxiliaries to Caesar； whom
Aelius Gallus （16） led to the Red Sea； and who were of great
service to him there。 When therefore his affairs were thus
improved； and were again in a flourishing condition； he built
himself a palace in the upper city； raising the rooms to a very
great height； and adorning them with the most costly furniture of
gold； and marble scats； and beds； and these were so large that
they could contain very many companies of men。 These apartments
were also of distinct magnitudes； and had particular names given
them； for one apartment was called Caesar's； another Agrippa's。
He also fell in love again； and married another wife； not
suffer