the men who force those that punish them to betake themselves to
arms even against their will。 So that Antipater in effect
ascribes the rest of what was done to all those who were of
counsel to the accusers； for nothing which is here accused of
injustice has been done but what was derived from them as its
authors； nor are those things evil in themselves； but so
represented only in order to do harm to Archelaus。 Such is these
men's inclination to do an injury to a man that is of their
kindred； their father's benefactor； and familiarity acquainted
with them； and that hath ever lived in friendship with them； for
that； as to this testament； it was made by the king when he was
of a sound mind； and so ought to be of more authority than his
former testament； and that for this reason； because Caesar is
therein left to be the judge and disposer of all therein
contained； and for Caesar； he will not； to be sure； at all
imitate the unjust proceedings of those men； who； during Herod's
whole life； had on all occasions been joint partakers of power
with him； and yet do zealously endeavor to injure his
determination； while they have not themselves had the same regard
to their kinsman ＇which Archelaus had＇。 Caesar will not therefore
disannul the testament of a man whom he had entirely supported；
of his friend and confederate； and that which is committed to him
in trust to ratify； nor will Caesar's virtuous and upright
disposition； which is known and uncontested through all the
habitable world； imitate the wickedness of these men in
condemning a king as a madman； and as having lost his reason；
while he hath bequeathed the succession to a good son of his； and
to one who flies to Caesar's upright determination for refuge。
Nor can Herod at any time have been mistaken in his judgment
about a successor； while he showed so much prudence as to submit
all to Caesar's determination。〃
7。 Now when Nicolaus had laid these things before Caesar； he
ended his plea； whereupon Caesar was so obliging to Archelaus；
that he raised him up when he had cast himself down at his feet；
and said that he well deserved the kingdom； and he soon let them
know that he was so far moved in his favor； that he would not act
otherwise than his father's testament directed； and than was for
the advantage of Archelaus。 However； while he gave this
encouragement to Archelaus to depend on him securely； he made no
full determination about him； and when the assembly was broken
up； he considered by himself whether he should confirm the
kingdom to Archelaus； or whether he should part it among all
Herod's posterity； and this because they all stood in need of
much assistance to support them。
CHAPTER 10。
A Sedition Against Sabinus； And How Varus Brought The Authors Of
It To Punishment。
1。 But before these things could be brought to a settlement；
Malthace； Archelaus's mother； fell into a distemper； and died of
it； and letters came from Varus； the president of Syria； which
informed Caesar of the revolt of the Jews； for after Archlaus was
sailed； the whole nation was in a tumult。 So Varus； since he was
there himself； brought the authors of the disturbance to
punishment； and when he had restrained them for the most part
from this sedition； which was a great one； he took his journey to
Antiocli； leaving one legion of his army at Jerusalem to keep the
Jews quiet； who were now very fond of innovation。 Yet did not
this at all avail to put an end to that their sedition； for after
Varus was gone away； Sabinus； Caesar's procurator； staid behind；
and greatly distressed the Jews； relying on the forces that were
left there that they would by their multitude protect him； for he
made use of them； and armed them as his guards； thereby so
oppressing the Jews； and giving them so great disturbance； that
at length they rebelled； for he used force in seizing the
citadels； and zealously pressed on the search after the king's
money； in order to seize upon it by force； on account of his love
of gain and his extraordinary covetousness。
2。 But on the approach of pentecost； which is a festival of ours；
so called from the days of our forefathers； a great many ten
thousands of men got together； nor did they come only to
celebrate the festival； but out of their indignation at the
madness of Sabinus； and at the injuries he offered them。 A great
number there was of Galileans； and Idumeans； and many men from
Jericho； and others who had passed over the river Jordan； and
inhabited those parts。 This whole multitude joined themselves to
all the rest； and were more zealous than the others in making an
assault on Sabinus； in order to be avenged on him； so they parted
themselves into three bands； and encamped themselves in the
places following： … some of them seized on the hippodrome and of
the other two bands； one pitched themselves from the northern
part of the temple to the southern； on the east quarter； but the
third band held the western part of the city； where the king's
palace was。 Their work tended entirely to besiege the Romans； and
to enclose them on all sides。 Now Sabinus was afraid of these
men's number； and of their resolution； who had little regard to
their lives； but were very desirous not to be overcome； while
they thought it a point of puissance to overcome their enemies；
so he sent immediately a letter to Varus； and； as he used to do；
was very pressing with him； and entreated him to come quickly to
his assistance； because the forces he had left were in imminent
danger； and would probably； in no long time； be seized upon； and
cut to pieces； while he did himself get up to the highest tower
of the fortress Phasaelus； which had been built in honor of
Phasaelus； king Herod's brother； and called so when the Parthians
had brought him to his death。 （14） So Sabinus gave thence a
signal to the Romans to fall upon the Jews； although he did not
himself venture so much as to come down to his friends； and
thought he might expect that the others should expose themselves
first to die on account of his avarice。 However； the Romans
ventured to make a sally out of the place； and a terrible battle
ensued； wherein； though it is true the Romans beat their
adversaries； yet were not the Jews daunted in their resolutions；
even when they had the sight of that terrible slaughter that was
made of them； but they went round about； and got upon those
cloisters which encompassed the outer court of the temple； where
a great fight was still continued； and they cast stones at the
Romans； partly with their hands； and partly with slings； as being
much used to those exercises。 All the archers also in array did
the Romans a great deal of mischief； because they used their
hands dexterously from a place superior to the others； and
because the others were at an utter loss what to do； for when
they tried to shoot their arrows against the Jews upwards； these
arrows could not reach them； insomuch that the Jews were easily
too hard for their enemies。 And this sort of fight lasted a great
while； till at last the Romans； who were greatly distressed by
what was done； set fire to the cloisters so privately； that those
that were gotten upon them did not perceive it。 This fire （15）
being fed by a great deal of combustible matter； caught hold
immediately on the roof of the cloisters； so the wood； which was
full of pitch and wax； and whose gold was laid on it with wax；
yielded to the flame presently； and those vast works； which were
of the highest value and esteem； were destroyed utterly； while
those that were on the roof unexpectedly perished at the same
time； for as the roof tumbled down； some of these men tumbled
down with it； and others of them were killed by their enemies who
encompassed them。 There was a great number more； who； out of
despair of saving their lives； and out of astonishment at the
misery that surrounded them； did either cast themselves into the
fire； or threw themselves upon their swords； and so got out of
their misery。 But as to those that retired behind the same way by
which they ascended； and thereby escaped； they were all killed by
the Romans； as being unarmed men； and their courage failing them；
their wild fury being now not able to help them； because they
were destitute of armor； insomuch that of those that went up to
the top of the roof； not one escaped。 The Romans also rushed
through the fire； where it gave them room so to do； and seized on
that treasure where the sacred money was reposited； a great part
of which was stolen by the soldiers； and Sabinus got openly four
hundred talents。
3。 But this calamity of the Jews' friends； who fell in this
battle； grieved them； as did also this plundering of the money
dedicated to God in the temple。 Accordingly； that body of them
which continued best together； and was the most warlike；
encompassed the palace； and threatened to set fire to it； and
kill all that were in it。 Yet still they commanded them to go out
presently； and promised； that if they would do so； they would not
hurt them； nor Sabinus neither； at which time the greatest part
of the king's troops deserted to them； while Rufus and Gratus；
who had three thousand of the most warlike of Herod's army with
them； who were men of active bodies； went over to the Romans。
There was also a band of horsemen under the command of Ruffis；
which itself went over to the Romans also。 However； the Jews went
on with the siege； and dug mines under the palace walls； and
besought those that were gone over to the other side not to be
their hinderance； now they had such a proper opportunity for the
recovery of their country's ancient liberty； and for Sabinus；
truly he was desirous of going away with his soldiers； but was
not able to trust himself with the enemy； on account of what
mischief he had already done them； and he took this great
＇pretended＇ lenity of theirs for an argument why he should not
comply with them； and so； because he expected that Varus was
coming； he still bore the siege。
4。 Now at this time there were ten thousand other disorders in
Judea； which were like tumults； because a great number put
themselves into a warlike posture； either out of hopes of gain to
themselves； or out of enmity t