back to Varro to destroy those nests of robbers； and to give the
land to Herod； that so by his care the neighboring countries
might be no longer disturbed with these doings of the
Trachonites； for it was not an easy firing to restrain them；
since this way of robbery had been their usual practice； and they
had no other way to get their living； because they had neither
any city of their own； nor lands in their possession； but only
some receptacles and dens in the earth； and there they and their
cattle lived in common together。 However； they had made
contrivances to get pools of water； and laid up corn in granaries
for themselves； and were able to make great resistance； by
issuing out on the sudden against any that attacked them； for the
entrances of their caves were narrow； in which but one could come
in at a time； and the places within incredibly large； and made
very wide but the ground over their habitations was not very
high； but rather on a plain； while the rocks are altogether hard
and difficult to be entered upon； unless any one gets into the
plain road by the guidance of another； for these roads are not
straight； but have several revolutions。 But when these men are
hindered from their wicked preying upon their neighbors； their
custom is to prey one upon another； insomuch that no sort of
injustice comes amiss to them。 But when Herod had received this
grant from Caesar； and was come into this country； he procured
skillful guides； and put a stop to their wicked robberies； and
procured peace and quietness to the neighboring people。
2。 Hereupon Zenodorus was grieved； in the first place； because
his principality was taken away from him； and still more so；
because he envied Herod； who had gotten it； So he went up to Rome
to accuse him； but returned back again without success。 Now
Agrippa was ＇about this time＇ sent to succeed Caesar in the
government of the countries beyond the Ionian Sea； upon whom
Herod lighted when he was wintering about Mitylene； for he had
been his particular friend and companion； and then returned into
Judea again。 However； some of the Gadarens came to Agrippa； and
accused Herod； whom he sent back bound to the king without giving
them the hearing。 But still the Arabians； who of old bare
ill…will to Herod's government； were nettled； and at that time
attempted to raise a sedition in his dominions； and； as they
thought； upon a more justifiable occasion； for Zenodorus；
despairing already of success as to his own affairs； prevented
＇his enemies＇； by selling to those Arabians a part of his
principality； called Auranitis； for the value of fifty talents；
but as this was included in the donations of Caesar； they
contested the point with Herod； as unjustly deprived of what they
had bought。 Sometimes they did this by making incursions upon
him； and sometimes by attempting force against him； and sometimes
by going to law with him。 Moreover； they persuaded the poorer
soldiers to help them； and were troublesome to him； out of a
constant hope that they should reduce the people to raise a
sedition； in which designs those that are in the most miserable
circumstances of life are still the most earnest； and although
Herod had been a great while apprized of these attempts； yet did
not he indulge any severity to them； but by rational methods
aimed to mitigate things； as not willing to give any handle for
tumults。
3。 Now when Herod had already reigned seventeen years； Caesar
came into Syria； at which time the greatest part of the
inhabitants of Gadara clamored against Herod； as one that was
heavy in his injunctions； and tyrannical。 These reproaches they
mainly ventured upon by the encouragement of Zenodorus； who took
his oath that he would never leave Herod till he had procured
that they should be severed from Herod's kingdom； and joined to
Caesar's province。 The Gadarens were induced hereby； and made no
small cry against him； and that the more boldly； because those
that had been delivered up by Agrippa were not punished by Herod；
who let them go； and did them no harm； for indeed he was the
principal man in the world who appeared almost inexorable in
punishing crimes in his own family； but very generous in
remitting the offenses that were committed elsewhere。 And while
they accused Herod of injuries； and plunderings； and subversions
of temples； he stood unconcerned； and was ready to make his
defense。 However； Caesar gave him his right hand； and remitted
nothing of his kindness to him； upon this disturbance by the
multitude； and indeed these things were alleged the first day；
but the hearing proceeded no further； for as the Gadarens saw the
inclination of Caesar and of his assessors； and expected； as they
had reason to do； that they should be delivered up to the king；
some of them； out of a dread of the torments they might undergo；
cut their own throats in the night time； and some of them threw
themselves down precipices； and others of them cast themselves
into the river； and destroyed themselves of their own accord；
which accidents seemed a sufficient condemnation of the rashness
and crimes they had been guilty of； whereupon Caesar made no
longer delay； but cleared Herod from the crimes he was accused
of。 Another happy accident there was； which was a further great
advantage to Herod at this time； for Zenodorus's belly burst； and
a great quantity of blood issued from him in his sickness； and he
thereby departed this life at Antioch in Syria； so Caesar
bestowed his country； which was no small one； upon Herod； it lay
between Trachon and Galilee； and contained Ulatha； and Paneas；
and the country round about。 He also made him one of the
procurators of Syria； and commanded that they should do every
thing with his approbation； and； in short； he arrived at that
pitch of felicity； that whereas there were but two men that
governed the vast Roman empire； first Caesar； and then Agrippa；
who was his principal favorite； Caesar preferred no one to Herod
besides Agrippa； and Agrippa made no one his greater friend than
Herod besides Caesar。 And when he had acquired such freedom； he
begged of Caesar a tetrarchy （21） for his brother Pheroras； while
he did himself bestow upon him a revenue of a hundred talents out
of his own kingdom； that in case he came to any harm himself； his
brother might be in safety； and that his sons might not have
dominion over him。 So when he had conducted Caesar to the sea；
and was returned home； he built him a most beautiful temple； of
the whitest stone； in Zenodorus's country； near the place called
Panlure。 This is a very fine cave in a mountain； under which
there is a great cavity in the earth； and the cavern is abrupt；
and prodigiously deep； and frill of a still water； over it hangs
a vast mountain； and under the caverns arise the springs of the
river Jordan。 Herod adorned this place； which was already a very
remarkable one； still further by the erection of this temple；
which he dedicated to Caesar。
4。 At which time Herod released to his subjects the third part of
their taxes； under pretense indeed of relieving them； after the
dearth they had had； but the main reason was； to recover their
good…will； which he now wanted； for they were uneasy at him；
because of the innovations he had introduced in their practices；
of the dissolution of their religion； and of the disuse of their
own customs； and the people every where talked against him； like
those that were still more provoked and disturbed at his
procedure； against which discontents he greatly guarded himself；
and took away the opportunities they might have to disturb him；
and enjoined them to be always at work； nor did he permit the
citizens either to meet together； or to walk or eat together； but
watched every thing they did； and when any were caught； they were
severely punished； and many there were who were brought to the
citadel Hyrcania； both openly and secretly； and were there put to
death； and there were spies set every where； both in the city and
in the roads； who watched those that met together； nay； it is
reported that he did not himself neglect this part of caution；
but that he would oftentimes himself take the habit of a private
man； and mix among the multitude； in the night time； and make
trial what opinion they had of his government： and as for those
that could no way be reduced to acquiesce under his scheme of
government； he prosecuted them all manner of ways； but for the
rest of the multitude； he required that they should be obliged to
take an oath of fidelity to him； and at the same time compelled
them to swear that they would bear him good…will； and continue
certainly so to do； in his management of the government； and
indeed a great part of them； either to please him； or out of fear
of him； yielded to what he required of them； but for such as were
of a more open and generous disposition； and had indignation at
the force he used to them； he by one means or other made away；
with them。 He endeavored also to persuade Pollio the Pharisee；
and Satneas； and the greatest part of their scholars； to take the
oath； but these would neither submit so to do； nor were they
punished together with the rest； out of the reverence he bore to
Pollio。 The Essens also； as we call a sect of ours； were excused
from this imposition。 These men live the same kind of life as do
those whom the Greeks call Pythagoreans； concerning whom I shall
discourse more fully elsewhere。 However； it is but fit to set
down here the reasons wherefore Herod had these Essens in such
honor； and thought higher of them than their mortal nature
required； nor will this account be unsuitable to the nature of
this history； as it will show the opinion men had of these
Essens。
5。 Now there was one of these Essens； whose name was Manahem； who
had this testimony； that he not only conducted his life after an
excellent manner； but had the foreknowledge of future events
given him by God also。 This man once saw Herod when he was a
child； and going to school； and saluted him as king of the Jews；
but he； thinking that either he did not know him； or that he was
in jest； put him in mind that he was but a private man； but
Manahem smiled to himself； and clapped him o