other things devoted to him； for they made use of these cities as
a treasury； whence； at a proper time； they were transmitted to
Jerusalem； and many ten thousand men undertook the carriage of
those donations； out of fear of the ravages of the Parthians； to
whom the Babylonians were then subject。 Now there were two men；
Asineus and Anileus； of the city Neerda by birth； and brethren to
one another。 They were destitute of a father； and their mother
put them to learn the art of weaving curtains； it not being
esteemed ；disgrace among them for men to be weavers of cloth。 Now
he that taught them that art； and was set over them； complained
that they came too late to their work； and punished them with
stripes； but they took this just punishment as an affront； and
carried off all the weapons which were kept in that house； which
were not a few； and went into a certain place where was a
partition of the rivers； and was a place naturally very fit for
the feeding of cattle； and for preserving such fruits as were
usually laid up against winter。 The poorest sort of the young men
also resorted to them； whom they armed with the weapons they had
gotten； and became their captains； and nothing hindered them from
being their leaders into mischief； for as soon as they were
become invincible； and had built them a citadel； they sent to
such as fed cattle； and ordered them to pay them so much tribute
out of them as might be sufficient for their maintenance；
proposing also that they would be their friends； if they would
submit to them； and that they would defend them from all their
other enemies on every side； but that they would kill the cattle
of those that refused to obey them。 So they hearkened to their
proposals； （for they could do nothing else；） and sent them as
many sheep as were required of them； whereby their forces grew
greater； and they became lords over all they pleased； because
they marched suddenly； and did them a mischief； insomuch that
every body who had to do with them chose to pay them respect； and
they became formidable to such as came to assault them； till the
report about them came to the ears of the king of Parthia
himself。
2。 But when the governor of Babylonia understood this； and had a
mind to put a stop to them before they grew greater； and before
greater mischiefs should arise from them； he got together as
great an army as he could； both of Parthians and Babylonians； and
marched against them； thinking to attack them and destroy them
before any one should carry them the news that he had got an army
together。 He then encamped at a lake； and lay still； but on the
next day （it was the sabbath； which is among the Jews a day of
rest from all sorts of work） he supposed that the enemy would not
dare to fight him thereon； but that he would take them and carry
them away prisoners； without fighting。 He therefore proceeded
gradually； and thought to fall upon them on the sudden。 Now
Asineus was sitting with the rest； and their weapons lay by them；
upon which he said； 〃Sirs； I hear a neighing of horses； not of
such as are feeding； but such as have men on their backs； I also
hear such a noise of their bridles； that I am afraid that some
enemies are coming upon us to encompass us round。 However； let
somebody go to look about； and make report of what reality there
is in the present state of things； and may what I have said prove
a false alarm。〃 And when he had said this； some of them went out
to spy out what was the matter； and they came again immediately；
and said to him； that 〃neither hast thou been mistaken in telling
us what our enemies were doing； nor will those enemies permit us
to be injurious to people any longer。 We are caught by their
intrigues like brute beasts； and there is a large body of cavalry
marching upon us； while we are destitute of hands to defend
ourselves withal； because we are restrained from doing it by the
prohibition of our law； which obliges us to rest ＇on this day＇。〃
But Asiueus did not by any means agree with the opinion of his
spy as to what was to be done； but thought it more agreeable to
the law to pluck up their spirits in this necessity they were
fallen into； and break their law by avenging themselves； although
they should die in the action； than by doing nothing to please
their enemies in submitting to be slain by them。 Accordingly； he
took up his weapons； and infused courage into those that were
with him to act as courageously as himself。 So they fell upon
their enemies； and slew a great many of them； because they
despised them and came as to a certain victory； and put the rest
to flight。
3。 But when the news of this fight came to the king of Parthia；
he was surprised at the boldness of these brethren； and was
desirous to see them； and speak with them。 He therefore sent the
most trusty of all his guards to say thus to them： 〃That king
Artsbanus； although he had been unjustly treated by you； who have
made an attempt against his government； yet hath he more regard
to your courageous behavior； than to the anger he bears to you；
and hath sent me to give you his right hand （35） and security；
and he permits you to come to him safely； and without any
violence upon the road； and he wants to have you address
yourselves to him as friends； without meaning any guile or deceit
to you。 He also promises to make you presents； and to pay you
those respects which will make an addition of his power to your
courage； and thereby be of advantage to you。〃 Yet did Asineus
himself put off his journey thither； but sent his brother Anileus
with all such presents as he could procure。 So he went； and was
admitted to the king's presence； and when Artabanus saw Anileus
coming alone； he inquired into the reason why Asineus avoided to
come along with him； and when he understood that he was afraid；
and staid by the lake； he took an oath； by the gods of his
country； that he would do them no harm； if they came to him upon
the assurances he gave them； and gave him his right hand。 This is
of the greatest force there with all these barbarians； and
affords a firm security to those who converse with them； for none
of them will deceive you when once they have given you their
right hands； nor will any one doubt of their fidelity； when that
is once given； even though they were before suspected of
injustice。 When Artabanus had done this； he sent away Anileus to
persuade his brother to come to him。 Now this the king did；
because he wanted to curb his own governors of provinces by the
courage of these Jewish brethren； lest they should make a league
with them； for they were ready for a revolt； and were disposed to
rebel； had they been sent on an expedition against them。 He was
also afraid； lest when he was engaged in a war； in order to
subdue those governors of provinces that had revolted； the party
of Asineus； and those in Babylonia； should be augmented； and
either make war upon him； when they should hear of that revolt；
or if they should be disappointed in that case； they would not
fail of doing further mischief to him。
4。 When the king had these intentions； he sent away Anileus； and
Anileus prevailed on his brother ＇to come to the king＇； when he
had related to him the king's good…will； and the oath that he had
taken。 Accordingly； they made haste to go to Artsbanus； who
received them when they were come with pleasure； and admired
Asineus's courage in the actions he had done； and this because he
was a little man to see to； and at first sight appeared
contemptible also； and such as one might deem a person of no
value at all。 He also said to his friends； how； upon the
comparison； he showed his soul to be in all respects superior to
his body； and when； as they were drinking together； he once
showed Asineus to Abdagases； one of the generals of his army； and
told him his name； and described the great courage he was of in
war； and Abdagases had desired leave to kill him； and thereby to
inflict on him a punishment for those injuries he had done to the
Parthian government； the king replied； 〃I will never give thee
leave to kill a man who hath depended on my faith； especially not
after I have sent him my right hand； and endeavored to gain his
belief by oaths made by the gods。 But if thou be a truly warlike
man； thou standest not in need of my perjury。 Go thou then； and
avenge the Parthian government； attack this man； when he is
returned back； and conquer him by the forces that are under thy
command； without my privity。〃 Hereupon the king called for
Asineus； and said to him； 〃It is time for thee； O thou young man！
to return home； and not provoke the indignation of my generals in
this place any further； lest they attempt to murder thee； and
that without my approbation。 I commit to thee the country of
Babylonia in trust； that it may； by thy care； be preserved free
from robbers； and from other mischiefs。 I have kept my faith
inviolable to thee； and that not in trifling affairs； but in
those that concerned thy safety； and do therefore deserve thou
shouldst be kind to me。〃 When he had said this； and given Asineus
some presents； he sent him away immediately； who； when he was
come home； built fortresses； and became great in a little time；
and managed things with such courage and success； as no other
person； that had no higher a beginning； ever did before him。
Those Parthian governors also； who were sent that way； paid him
great respect； and the honor that was paid him by the Babylonians
seemed to them too small； and beneath his deserts； although he
were in no small dignity and power there； nay； indeed； all the
affairs of Mesopotamia depended upon him； and he more and more
flourished in this happy condition of his for fifteen years。
5。 But as their affairs were in so flourishing a state； there
sprang up a calamity among them on the following occasion。 When
once they had deviated from that course of virtue whereby they
had gained so great power； they affronted and transgressed the
laws of their forefathers； and fell under the dominion of their
lusts and pleasures。 A certain Parthian； who came as general of
an army into those parts； had a wife following him； who had a
vast reputation for other accomplishments； and particul