The War, Book 1

(Greek and English text)

The War of the Jews against the Romans

(Antiochus Epiphanes to king Herod)

Other Vols: Bk 2 . . Bk 3 . . Bk 4 . . Bk 5 . . Bk 6 . . Bk 7
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Preface

1. After Antiochus Epiphanes, Jews liberated by the Maccabees

2. Judas Maccabeus followed by Jonathan, Simon and John Hyrcanus

3. Aristobulus kills his brother Antigonus; dies of Remorse

4. 27-year reign of Alexander Janneus

5. Pharisees dominant, in Alexandra's 9-year reign

6. Aristobulus as king, then Hyrcanus. Pompey to Judea as Arbitrator

7. Pompey enters Jerusalem & the Holy of Holies. His other offences in Judea

8. Alexander tries to annul what Pompey did. Gabinius and Crassus quell revolt

9. Murders of Aristobulus and Alexander. Antipater wins Caesar's friendship

10. As Judean procurator, Antipater crowns his sons Phasael and Herod Antipas

11. Cassius makes Herod ruler of Syria. Antipater's murder is avenged by Herod

12. Mark Antony makes Phasael and Herod tetrarchs, despite local opposition

13. Parthians restore Antigonus' rule. Hyrcanus is mutilated and Herod put to flight

14. Herod appeals to Mark Antony and Caesar. Roman Senate makes him king of Judea

15. War of Herod vs Antigonus; Herod relieves Masada and besieges Jerusalem

16. Herod rids Galilee of brigands; goes to Antony for further support

17. Herod's Good Fortune in War. His marriage to Mariamne

18. Herod captures Jerusalem; Antigonus dies. Herod appeases Cleopatra

19. Since Cleopatra has Herod fighting the Arabs, he avoids battle of Actium

20. Caesar Augustus confirms Herod as king; restores what Cleopatra had taken away

21. Herod the builder: Temple and Fortress. Herod's Generosity and Virtues

22. Herod's domestic troubles & murder. Mariamne is accused and condemned

23. Mariamne's sons are suspected. Caesar reconciles them with Herod, for a time

24. Rancour between Herod's sons. Antipater sees the others accused of treason

25. Herod's son Archelaus reconciles him with Alexander and Pheroras

26. The Spartan Eurycles accuses Mariamne's sons. Euaratus of Cos defends them

27. Mariamne's sons are condemned. Herod executes Aristobulus and Alexander

28. Antipater is hated by all, for meddling. Herod's complex domestic arrangements

29. Antipater sent to Rome with Herod's testament. Pheroras defends his accused wife

30. Herod's suspicions grow; he tortures many and disinherits Herod Junior

31. Antipater returns to Judea from Rome, unaware of accusations against him

32. Antipater's trial for plotting vs Herod. His defence, and Herod's Testament

33. Herod's final barbarities; executes Antipater; plans a massacre at his death

[1] Ἐπειδὴ τὸν Ἰουδαίων πρὸς Ῥωμαίους πόλεμον συστάντα μέγιστον οὐ μόνον τῶν καθ' ἡμᾶς, σχεδὸν δὲ καὶ ὧν ἀκοῇ παρειλήφαμεν ἢ πόλεων πρὸς πόλεις ἢ ἐθνῶν ἔθνεσι συρραγέντων, οἱ μὲν οὐ παρατυχόντες τοῖς πράγμασιν, ἀλλ' ἀκοῇ συλλέγοντες εἰκαῖα καὶ ἀσύμφωνα διηγήματα σοφιστικῶς ἀναγράφουσιν, [2] οἱ παραγενόμενοι δὲ ἢ κολακείᾳ τῇ πρὸς Ῥωμαίους ἢ μίσει τῷ πρὸς Ἰουδαίους καταψεύδονται τῶν πραγμάτων, περιέχει δὲ αὐτοῖς ὅπου μὲν κατηγορίαν ὅπου δὲ ἐγκώμιον τὰ συγγράμματα, τὸ δ' ἀκριβὲς τῆς ἱστορίας οὐδαμοῦ, [3] προυθέμην ἐγὼ τοῖς κατὰ τὴν Ῥωμαίων ἡγεμονίαν Ἑλλάδι γλώσσῃ μεταβαλὼν ἃ τοῖς ἄνω βαρβάροις τῇ πατρίῳ συντάξας ἀνέπεμψα πρότερον ἀφηγήσασθαι Ἰώσηπος Ματθίου παῖς ἐξ Ἱεροσολύμων ἱερεύς, αὐτός τε Ῥωμαίους πολεμήσας τὰ πρῶτα καὶ τοῖς ὕστερον παρατυχὼν ἐξ ἀνάγκης.

1. ⁰⁰¹ Since the war of the Jews against the Romans was the greatest fought between cities or nations, not just of our own times, but arguably of all times, and since some who were not present at it have recorded baseless, contradictory stories about it in a pseudo scholarly style, ⁰⁰² and some who were involved in it have given false accounts of things, either in flattery towards the Romans or from hatred of the Jews, and since their writings, whether blaming or praising, by no means contain the accurate history, ⁰⁰³ I, Joseph, son of Matthias, born a priest of Jerusalem parents, having at first fought against the Romans and later having to witness its sequel, propose to provide for the subjects of the Roman empire a version in Greek of the account I composed earlier in my native language and sent to the Barbarians of the interior.

[4] γενομένου γάρ, ὡς ἔφην, μεγίστου τοῦδε τοῦ κινήματος ἐν Ῥωμαίοις μὲν ἐνόσει τὰ οἰκεῖα, Ἰουδαίων δὲ τὸ νεωτερίζον τότε τεταραγμένοις ἐπανέστη τοῖς καιροῖς ἀκμάζον κατά τε χεῖρα καὶ χρήμασιν, ὡς δι' ὑπερβολὴν θορύβων τοῖς μὲν ἐν ἐλπίδι κτήσεως τοῖς δ' ἐν ἀφαιρέσεως δέει γίνεσθαι τὰ πρὸς τὴν ἀνατολήν, [5] ἐπειδὴ Ἰουδαῖοι μὲν ἅπαν τὸ ὑπὲρ Εὐφράτην ὁμόφυλον συνεπαρθήσεσθαι σφίσιν ἤλπισαν, Ῥωμαίους δὲ οἵ τε γείτονες Γαλάται παρεκίνουν καὶ τὸ Κελτικὸν οὐκ ἠρέμει, μεστὰ δ' ἦν πάντα θορύβων μετὰ Νέρωνα, καὶ πολλοὺς μὲν βασιλειᾶν ὁ καιρὸς ἀνέπειθεν, τὰ στρατιωτικὰ δὲ ἤρα μεταβολῆς ἐλπίδι λημμάτων.

[6] ἄτοπον ἡγησάμενος περιιδεῖν πλαζομένην ἐπὶ τηλικούτοις πράγμασι τὴν ἀλήθειαν, καὶ Πάρθους μὲν καὶ Βαβυλωνίους Ἀράβων τε τοὺς πορρωτάτω καὶ τὸ ὑπὲρ Εὐφράτην ὁμόφυλον ἡμῖν Ἀδιαβηνούς τε γνῶναι διὰ τῆς ἐμῆς ἐπιμελείας ἀκριβῶς, ὅθεν τε ἤρξατο καὶ δι' ὅσων ἐχώρησεν παθῶν ὁ πόλεμος καὶ ὅπως κατέστρεψεν, ἀγνοεῖν δὲ Ἕλληνας ταῦτα καὶ Ῥωμαίων τοὺς μὴ ἐπιστρατευσαμένους, ἐντυγχάνοντας ἢ κολακείαις ἢ πλάσμασι.

2. ⁰⁰⁴ This great upheaval occurred when domestic situation of the Romans was in great confusion and the Jews who favoured rebellion were at the peak of their strength and riches, and seized their chance when things were in flux, as the East was unstable and some were hoping to profit from its break-up and others fearing to lose by it. ⁰⁰⁵ The Jews hoped that all of their nation beyond the Euphrates would rise up with them while the Romans were occupied with the neighbouring Gauls, the Celts were not at peace, and all was in turmoil after Nero's death, for the chance to win the kingship appealed to many, and the military wanted change, in hope of gain.

⁰⁰⁶ I thought it wrong to look on and let the truth be falsified in matters of such importance, leaving the Greeks and Romans who were not in the military unaware of these things, for all they had to read were flatteries or fictions while, through me, the Parthians, the Babylonians and the remotest Arabs, our own nation beyond the Euphrates and the Adiabeni had accurate knowledge of why the war began, the disasters it brought upon us and how it ended.

[7] Καίτοι γε ἱστορίας αὐτὰς ἐπιγράφειν τολμῶσιν, ἐν αἷς πρὸς τῷ μηδὲν ὑγιὲς δηλοῦν καὶ τοῦ σκοποῦ δοκοῦσιν ἔμοιγε διαμαρτάνειν. βούλονται μὲν γὰρ μεγάλους τοὺς Ῥωμαίους ἀποδεικνύειν, καταβάλλουσιν δὲ ἀεὶ τὰ Ἰουδαίων καὶ ταπεινοῦσιν: [8] οὐχ ὁρῶ δέ, πῶς ἂν εἶναι μεγάλοι δοκοῖεν οἱ μικροὺς νενικηκότες: καὶ οὔτε τὸ μῆκος αἰδοῦνται τοῦ πολέμου οὔτε τὸ πλῆθος τῆς Ῥωμαίων καμούσης στρατιᾶς οὔτε τὸ μέγεθος τῶν στρατηγῶν, οἳ πολλὰ περὶ τοῖς Ἱεροσολύμοις ἱδρώσαντες οἶμαι ταπεινουμένου τοῦ κατορθώματος αὐτοῖς ἀδοξοῦσιν.

3. ⁰⁰⁷ While these other writers venture to call their accounts histories, to me they seem to miss the mark entirely in wanting to prove the power of the Romans while trivialising and undervaluing the actions of the Jews. ⁰⁰⁸ I do not see how one can extol the exploits of a group that defeats a people that seems small. They ignore the length of the war, the number of the Roman forces who suffered so much in it, or the merit of the commanders, whose mighty efforts about Jerusalem will seem less glorious, if what they achieved be deemed such a small matter.

[9] Οὐ μὴν ἐγὼ τοῖς ἐπαίρουσι τὰ Ῥωμαίων ἀντιφιλονεικῶν αὔξειν τὰ τῶν ὁμοφύλων διέγνων, ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν ἔργα μετ' ἀκριβείας ἀμφοτέρων διέξειμι, τοὺς δ' ἐπὶ τοῖς πράγμασι λόγους ἀνατίθημι τῇ διαθέσει καὶ τοῖς ἐμαυτοῦ πάθεσι διδοὺς ἐπολοφύρεσθαι ταῖς τῆς πατρίδος συμφοραῖς. [10] ὅτι γὰρ αὐτὴν στάσις οἰκεία καθεῖλεν, καὶ τὰς Ῥωμαίων χεῖρας ἀκούσας καὶ τὸ πῦρ ἐπὶ τὸν ναὸν εἵλκυσαν οἱ Ἰουδαίων τύραννοι, μάρτυς αὐτὸς ὁ πορθήσας Καῖσαρ Τίτος, ἐν παντὶ τῷ πολέμῳ τὸν μὲν δῆμον ἐλεήσας ὑπὸ τῶν στασιαστῶν φρουρούμενον, πολλάκις δὲ ἑκὼν τὴν ἅλωσιν τῆς πόλεως ὑπερτιθέμενος καὶ διδοὺς τῇ πολιορκίαι χρόνον εἰς μετάνοιαν τῶν αἰτίων.

[11] εἰ δή τις ὅσα πρὸς τοὺς τυράννους ἢ τὸ λῃστρικὸν αὐτῶν κατηγορικῶς λέγοιμεν ἢ τοῖς δυστυχήμασι τῆς πατρίδος ἐπιστένοντες συκοφαντοίη, διδότω παρὰ τὸν τῆς ἱστορίας νόμον συγγνώμην τῷ πάθει: πόλιν μὲν γὰρ δὴ τῶν ὑπὸ Ῥωμαίοις πασῶν τὴν ἡμετέραν ἐπὶ πλεῖστόν τε εὐδαιμονίας συνέβη προελθεῖν καὶ πρὸς ἔσχατον συμφορῶν αὖθις καταπεσεῖν: [12] τὰ γοῦν πάντων ἀπ' αἰῶνος ἀτυχήματα πρὸς τὰ Ἰουδαίων ἡττῆσθαι δοκῶ κατὰ σύγκρισιν: καὶ τούτων αἴτιος οὐδεὶς ἀλλόφυλος, ὥστε ἀμήχανον ἦν ὀδυρμῶν ἐπικρατεῖν. εἰ δέ τις οἴκτου σκληρότερος εἴη δικαστής, τὰ μὲν πράγματα τῇ ἱστορίαι προσκρινέτω, τὰς δ' ὀλοφύρσεις τῷ γράφοντι.

4. ⁰⁰⁹ But even if oppposed to those who laud their Roman fellow-countrymen too highly, I will accurately follow the actions of both parties and will adapt my language to the passion I feel about the matters described, for I must be allowed some grieving for the troubles of my own country. ⁰¹⁰ That it was our rebellious spirit brought about our ruin and that it was the tyrants among the Jews who made the Roman power attack us, unwillingly, and caused our holy temple to be burned, Titus Caesar, who destroyed it, can testify. All through the war he pitied the people who were kept under by the rebels, and often of his own accord delayed taking the city and let the siege go on, in order to give it time to repent.

⁰¹¹ Should anyone blame us for speaking so hotly about the tyrants and the brigands, or bitterly lamenting the troubles of our country, let him allow me this emotion, despite the norms of history writing, for of all cities under the rule of Rome, ours enjoyed the highest prosperity, yet fell to the depths of disaster. ⁰¹² From the beginning of the world probably no other people has endured as much as the Jews. Nor was it foreigners who were at fault, which makes it so hard to contain my grief. But if anyone censures me for this, let him assign the facts as belonging to the historical part and the laments merely to the writer himself.

[13] Καίτοι γε ἐπιτιμήσαιμ' ἂν αὐτὸς δικαίως τοῖς Ἑλλήνων λογίοις, οἳ τηλικούτων κατ' αὐτοὺς πραγμάτων γεγενημένων, ἃ κατὰ σύγκρισιν ἐλαχίστους ἀποδείκνυσι τοὺς πάλαι πολέμους, τούτων μὲν κάθηνται κριταὶ τοῖς φιλοτιμουμένοις ἐπηρεάζοντες, ὧν εἰ καὶ τῷ λόγῳ πλεονεκτοῦσι, λείπονται τῇ προαιρέσει: αὐτοὶ δὲ τὰ Ἀσσυρίων καὶ Μήδων συγγράφουσιν ὥσπερ ἧττον καλῶς ὑπὸ τῶν ἀρχαίων συγγραφέων ἀπηγγελμένα. [14] καίτοι τοσούτῳ τῆς ἐκείνων ἡττῶνται δυνάμεως ἐν τῷ γράφειν, ὅσῳ καὶ τῆς γνώμης: τὰ γὰρ κατ' αὐτοὺς ἐσπούδαζον ἕκαστοι γράφειν, ὅπου καὶ τὸ παρατυχεῖν τοῖς πράγμασιν ἐποίει τὴν ἀπαγγελίαν ἐναργῆ καὶ τὸ ψεύδεσθαι παρ' εἰδόσιν αἰσχρὸν ἦν. [15] τό γε μὴν μνήμῃ τὰ προϊστορηθέντα διδόναι καὶ τὰ τῶν ἰδίων χρόνων τοῖς μετ' αὐτὸν συνιστάνειν ἐπαίνου καὶ μαρτυρίας ἄξιον: φιλόπονος δὲ οὐχ ὁ μεταποιῶν οἰκονομίαν καὶ τάξιν ἀλλοτρίαν, ἀλλ' ὁ μετὰ τοῦ καινὰ λέγειν καὶ τὸ σῶμα τῆς ἱστορίας κατασκευάζων ἴδιον.

[16] κἀγὼ μὲν ἀναλώμασι καὶ πόνοις μεγίστοις ἀλλόφυλος ὢν Ἕλλησί τε καὶ Ῥωμαίοις τὴν μνήμην τῶν κατορθωμάτων ἀνατίθημι: τοῖς δὲ γνησίοις πρὸς μὲν τὰ λήμματα καὶ τὰς δίκας κέχηνεν εὐθέως τὸ στόμα καὶ γλῶσσα λέλυται, πρὸς δὲ τὴν ἱστορίαν, ἔνθα χρὴ τἀληθῆ λέγειν καὶ μετὰ πολλοῦ πόνου τὰ πράγματα συλλέγειν, πεφίμωνται παρέντες τοῖς ἀσθενεστέροις καὶ μηδὲ γινώσκουσι τὰς πράξεις τῶν ἡγεμόνων γράφειν. τιμάσθω δὴ παρ' ἡμῖν τὸ τῆς ἱστορίας ἀληθές, ἐπεὶ παρ' Ἕλλησιν ἠμέληται.

5. ⁰¹³ And I too have a just complaint against the learned among the Greeks. While in their own times more important events have happened than the ancient wars, they offer no judgment about them and yet sit in judgment on those who have sought to describe them, actually doing so, even if in a style less eloquent than theirs. They instead write about Assyrians and Medes, as if previous writers had not done so with better skill and in judgment. ⁰¹⁴ In those days people did write about their own times. Their involvement in the actions gave value to their assertions and they would have been ashamed to write lies, since their readers necessarily knew the facts. ⁰¹⁵ Handing on the memory of what was not hitherto recorded and the events of one's own time to those who come later, is what really merits praise and acknowledgment. The serious writer is not one who remodels the shape and order of others' works, but tells what has not been told before, and personally shapes the framework for his history.

⁰¹⁶ So, after much effort, though a foreigner, I dedicate this work to Greeks and Romans, as a memorial of great actions. Some of the natives, by contrast, have wide mouths and wagging tongues when it comes to profit and law-suits, but are quite muzzled about history, where what counts are truth and the careful gathering of facts. They leave it to weaker, less-informed people to describe the actions of their commanders. Let us honour the truth about history, even it be neglected by the Greeks.

[17]Ἀρχαιολογεῖν μὲν δὴ τὰ Ἰουδαίων, τίνες τε ὄντες καὶ ὅπως ἀπανέστησαν Αἰγυπτίων, χώραν τε ὅσην ἐπῆλθον ἀλώμενοι καὶ πόσα ἑξῆς κατέλαβον καὶ ὅπως μετανέστησαν, νῦν τε ἄκαιρον ὠιήθην εἶναι καὶ ἄλλως περιττόν, ἐπειδήπερ καὶ Ἰουδαίων πολλοὶ πρὸ ἐμοῦ τὰ τῶν προγόνων συνετάξαντο μετ' ἀκριβείας καί τινες Ἑλλήνων ἐκεῖνα τῇ πατρίῳ φωνῇ μεταβαλόντες οὐ πολὺ τῆς ἀληθείας διήμαρτον. [18] ὅπου δ' οἵ τε τούτων συγγραφεῖς ἐπαύσαντο καὶ οἱ ἡμέτεροι προφῆται, τὴν ἀρχὴν ἐκεῖθεν ποιήσομαι τῆς συντάξεως: τούτων δὲ τὰ μὲν τοῦ κατ' ἐμαυτὸν πολέμου διεξοδικώτερον καὶ μεθ' ὅσης ἂν ἐξεργασίας δύνωμαι δίειμι, τὰ δὲ προγενέστερα τῆς ἐμῆς ἡλικίας ἐπιδραμῶ συντόμως,

6. ⁰¹⁷ To write about the Antiquities of the Jews, who they are and how they migrated to Egypt, the land they traversed and the territories they later occupied and how they were deported from them, would, I think, be inopportune and superfluous here, for many Jews before me have accurately written about our ancestors, and some Greeks have also done so, translating them into their own tongue without serious error. ⁰¹⁸ I shall begin my work at the point where these writers and our prophets come to an end. In it I will describe as extensively as I can the war which happened in my own lifetime and will limit myself to a brief summary of what preceded my own time.

[19] ὡς Ἀντίοχος ὁ κληθεὶς Ἐπιφανὴς ἑλὼν κατὰ κράτος Ἱεροσόλυμα καὶ κατασχὼν ἔτεσι τρισὶ καὶ μησὶν ἓξ ὑπὸ τῶν Ἀσαμωναίου παίδων ἐκβάλλεται τῆς χώρας, ἔπειθ' ὡς οἱ τούτων ἔγγονοι περὶ τῆς βασιλείας διαστασιάσαντες εἵλκυσαν εἰς τὰ πράγματα Ῥωμαίους καὶ Πομπήιον. καὶ ὡς Ἡρώδης ὁ Ἀντιπάτρου κατέλυσε τὴν δυναστείαν αὐτῶν ἐπαγαγὼν Σόσσιον, [20] ὅπως τε ὁ λαὸς μετὰ τὴν Ἡρώδου τελευτὴν κατεστασίασεν Αὐγούστου μὲν Ῥωμαίων ἡγεμονεύοντος, Κυιντιλίου δὲ Οὐάρου κατὰ τὴν χώραν ὄντος, καὶ ὡς ἔτει δωδεκάτῳ τῆς Νέρωνος ἀρχῆς ὁ πόλεμος ἀνερράγη τά τε συμβάντα κατὰ Κέστιον καὶ ὅσα κατὰ τὰς πρώτας ὁρμὰς ἐπῆλθον οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι τοῖς ὅπλοις,

7. ⁰¹⁹ [I shall tell] how Antiochus, called Epiphanes, took Jerusalem by force and, after holding it for three years and six months was expelled from the country by the sons of Hasmoneus; next, how their descendants quarreled about power and drew the Romans and Pompey into the scene; also how Herod, son of Antipater, with help from Sosius, put an end to their dynasty; ⁰²⁰ then how the people rebelled after Herod's death, when Augustus was emperor of the Romans and Quintilius Varus ruled the province, and how the war broke out in the twelfth year of Nero, and what happened to Cestius, and how the Jews occupied the country during the opening actions of the war.

[21] ὅπως τε τὰς περιοίκους ἐτειχίσαντο, καὶ ὡς Νέρων ἐπὶ τοῖς Κεστίου πταίσμασι δείσας περὶ τῶν ὅλων Οὐεσπασιανὸν ἐφίστησι τῷ πολέμῳ, καὶ ὡς οὗτος μετὰ τοῦ πρεσβυτέρου τῶν παίδων εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίων χώραν ἐνέβαλεν ὅσῃ τε χρώμενος Ῥωμαίων στρατιᾷ καὶ ὅσοι σύμμαχοι ἐκόπησαν εἰς ὅλην τὴν Γαλιλαίαν, καὶ ὡς τῶν πόλεων αὐτῆς ἃς μὲν ὁλοσχερῶς καὶ κατὰ κράτος ἃς δὲ δι' ὁμολογίας ἔλαβεν: [22] ἔνθα δὴ καὶ τὰ περὶ τῆς Ῥωμαίων ἐν πολέμοις εὐταξίας καὶ τὴν ἄσκησιν τῶν ταγμάτων, τῆς τε Γαλιλαίας ἑκατέρας τὰ διαστήματα καὶ τὴν φύσιν καὶ τοὺς τῆς Ἰουδαίας ὅρους, ἔτι τε τῆς χώρας τὴν ἰδιότητα, λίμνας τε καὶ πηγὰς τὰς ἐν αὐτῇ, καὶ τὰ περὶ ἑκάστην πόλιν τῶν ἁλισκομένων πάθη μετὰ ἀκριβείας, ὡς εἶδον ἢ ἔπαθον, δίειμι. οὐδὲ γὰρ τῶν ἐμαυτοῦ τι συμφορῶν ἀποκρύψομαι μέλλων γε πρὸς εἰδότας ἐρεῖν.

8. ⁰²¹ [I shall tell] how they fortified the neighbouring towns; how Nero, apprehensive about the whole matter after Cestius's defeat, soon put Vespasian in command of the war; how this Vespasian with his elder son invaded the Judean territory; about the strength of the Roman army and allies that he brought into Galilee, and how he took some of its cities by sheer force and others by negotiation. ⁰²² On the way I shall describe the good military order of the Romans and the discipline of their legions; the extent and nature of the two Galilees, and the limits of Judea; the characteristics of the country, with its lakes and springs, and an account of the sufferings of the prisoners in each town as they were taken, as I myself saw and endured it. For I shall conceal nothing of my own woes, since my readers will know about them.

[23] Ἔπειθ' ὡς ἤδη καμνόντων Ἰουδαίοις τῶν πραγμάτων θνήσκει μὲν Νέρων, Οὐεσπασιανὸς δὲ ἐπὶ Ἱεροσολύμων ὡρμημένος ὑπὸ τῆς ἡγεμονίας ἀνθέλκεται: τά τε γενόμενα περὶ ταύτης αὐτῷ σημεῖα καὶ τὰς ἐπὶ Ῥώμης μεταβολάς, [24] καὶ ὡς αὐτὸς ὑπὸ τῶν στρατιωτῶν ἄκων αὐτοκράτωρ ἀποδείκνυται, καὶ ἀποχωρήσαντος ἐπὶ διοικήσει τῶν ὅλων εἰς τὴν Αἴγυπτον ἐστασιάσθη τὰ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ὅπως τε ἐπανέστησαν αὐτοῖς οἱ τύραννοι, καὶ τὰς τούτων πρὸς ἀλλήλους διαφοράς.

9. ⁰²³ [I shall tell] how, when things were going badly for the Jews, Nero died and Vespasian, as he was about to attack Jerusalem, was recalled to become emperor; the portents he received about this, and the changes then happening in Rome; ⁰²⁴ how, though unwilling, he was made emperor by his soldiers; how, as he left for Egypt restore the empire to order, civil war broke out among the Jews, and how tyrants rose to power and then began feuding among themselves.

[25] Καὶ ὡς ἄρας ἀπὸ τῆς Αἰγύπτου Τίτος δεύτερον εἰς τὴν χώραν ἐνέβαλεν, ὅπως τε τὰς δυνάμεις καὶ ὅπου συνήγαγε καὶ ὁπόσας, καὶ ὅπως ἐκ τῆς στάσεως ἡ πόλις διέκειτο παρόντος αὐτοῦ, προσβολάς τε ὅσας ἐποιήσατο καὶ ὁπόσα χώματα, περιβόλους τε τῶν τριῶν τειχῶν καὶ τὰ μέτρα τούτων, τήν τε τῆς πόλεως ὀχυρότητα καὶ τοῦ ἱεροῦ καὶ τοῦ ναοῦ τὴν διάθεσιν, [26] ἔτι δὲ τούτων καὶ τοῦ βωμοῦ τὰ μέτρα πάντα μετ' ἀκριβείας, ἔθη τε ἑορτῶν ἔνια καὶ τὰς ἑπτὰ ἁγνείας καὶ τὰς τῶν ἱερέων λειτουργίας, ἔτι δὲ τὰς ἐσθῆτας τῶν ἱερέων καὶ τοῦ ἀρχιερέως, καὶ οἷον ἦν τοῦ ναοῦ τὸ ἅγιον, οὐδὲν οὔτε ἀποκρυπτόμενος οὔτε προστιθεὶς τοῖς πεφωραμένοις.

10. ⁰²⁵ Then [I shall tell] how Titus invaded the land a second time, from Egypt, and how and where he gathered his forces, the state the city was in at his coming, after the civil war, the attacks he made and the earthworks he built, and about the triple wall around the city and its measurements. The strength of the city, the structure of the temple and sanctuary, ⁰²⁶ and the dimensions of these buildings and the altar will all be exactly stated. I will tell of various festivals, the seven levels of purity, and the sacred functions of the priests, their vestments and those of the high priests, and the Holy of Holies, neither omitting nor adding anything beyond the established truth.

[27] Ἔπειτα διέξειμι τήν τε τῶν τυράννων πρὸς τοὺς ὁμοφύλους ὠμότητα καὶ τὴν Ῥωμαίων φειδὼ πρὸς τοὺς ἀλλοφύλους, καὶ ὁσάκις Τίτος σῶσαι τὴν πόλιν καὶ τὸν ναὸν ἐπιθυμῶν ἐπὶ δεξιὰς τοὺς στασιάζοντας προυκαλέσατο, διακρινῶ δὲ τὰ πάθη τοῦ δήμου καὶ τὰς συμφορὰς ὅσα τε ὑπὸ τοῦ πολέμου καὶ ὅσα ὑπὸ τῆς στάσεως καὶ ὅσα ὑπὸ τοῦ λιμοῦ κακωθέντες ἑάλωσαν. [28] παραλείψω δὲ οὐδὲ τὰς τῶν αὐτομόλων ἀτυχίας οὐδὲ τὰς τῶν αἰχμαλώτων κολάσεις, ὅπως τε ὁ ναὸς ἄκοντος ἐνεπρήσθη Καίσαρος καὶ ὅσα τῶν ἱερῶν κειμηλίων ἐκ τοῦ πυρὸς ἡρπάγη τήν τε τῆς ὅλης πόλεως ἅλωσιν καὶ τὰ πρὸ ταύτης σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα καὶ τὴν αἰχμαλωσίαν τῶν τυράννων τῶν τε ἀνδραποδισθέντων τὸ πλῆθος καὶ εἰς ἣν ἕκαστοι τύχην διενεμήθησαν: [29] καὶ ὡς Ῥωμαῖοι μὲν ἐπεξῆλθον τὰ λείψανα τοῦ πολέμου καὶ τὰ ἐρύματα τῶν χωρίων καθεῖλον, Τίτος δὲ πᾶσαν ἐπελθὼν τὴν χώραν κατεστήσατο, τήν τε ὑποστροφὴν αὐτοῦ τὴν εἰς Ἰταλίαν καὶ τὸν θρίαμβον.

11. ⁰²⁷ I shall tell of the tyrants' savagery towards their fellow-citizens, and the clemency of the Romans towards foreigners, and how often Titus, in his desire to spare the city and the temple, invited the rebels to come to terms with him. I shall also distinguish between the people's sufferings and disasters, which ended in their defeat, and which resulted respectively from the war, the civil war and the famine. ⁰²⁸ I will not omit the woes of the deserters and the punishments inflicted on the prisoners, and how, against Caesar's wishes, the temple was burned, and how many of the temple treasures were snatched from the fire. [I will tell of] the destruction of the entire city, with the signs and wonders preceding it, and the capture of the tyrants, and the numbers of the enslaved, and the fates to which they were sent. ⁰²⁹ Also, what the Romans did to the remnants of the wall, and how they demolished the strongholds in the country, and how Titus went over the whole land and settled its affairs, and his return into Italy and his triumph.

[30] [30] Ταῦτα πάντα περιλαβὼν ἐν ἑπτὰ βιβλίοις καὶ μηδεμίαν τοῖς ἐπισταμένοις τὰ πράγματα καὶ παρατυχοῦσι τῷ πολέμῳ καταλιπὼν ἢ μέμψεως ἀφορμὴν ἢ κατηγορίας, τοῖς γε τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἀγαπῶσιν, ἀλλὰ μὴ πρὸς ἡδονὴν ἀνέγραψα. ποιήσομαι δὲ ταύτην τῆς ἐξηγήσεως ἀρχήν, ἣν καὶ τῶν κεφαλαίων ἐποιησάμην.

12. ⁰³⁰ I have covered all of this in seven books, giving no cause for complaint or blame by people who know about this war, but I have written it down for the sake of those who love truth, not for those who merely read for pleasure. So now I begin my account of the things which I listed at the top of this chapter.

[31] Στάσεως τοῖς δυνατοῖς Ἰουδαίων ἐμπεσούσης καθ' ὃν καιρὸν Ἀντίοχος ὁ κληθεὶς Ἐπιφανὴς διεφέρετο περὶ ὅλης Συρίας πρὸς Πτολεμαῖον τὸν ἕκτον, ἡ φιλοτιμία δ' ἦν αὐτοῖς περὶ δυναστείας ἑκάστου τῶν ἐν ἀξιώματι μὴ φέροντος τοῖς ὁμοίοις ὑποτετάχθαι, Ὀνίας μὲν εἷς τῶν ἀρχιερέων ἐπικρατήσας ἐξέβαλε τῆς πόλεως τοὺς Τωβία υἱούς. [32] οἱ δὲ καταφυγόντες πρὸς Ἀντίοχον ἱκέτευσαν αὐτοῖς ἡγεμόσι χρώμενον εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν ἐμβαλεῖν. πείθεται δ' ὁ βασιλεὺς ὡρμημένος πάλαι, καὶ μετὰ πλείστης δυνάμεως αὐτὸς ὁρμήσας τήν τε πόλιν αἱρεῖ κατὰ κράτος καὶ πολὺ πλῆθος τῶν Πτολεμαίῳ προσεχόντων ἀναιρεῖ, ταῖς τε ἁρπαγαῖς ἀνέδην ἐπαφιεὶς τοὺς στρατιώτας αὐτὸς καὶ τὸν ναὸν ἐσύλησε καὶ τὸν ἐνδελεχισμὸν τῶν καθ' ἡμέραν ἐναγισμῶν ἔπαυσεν ἐπ' ἔτη τρία καὶ μῆνας ἕξ. [33] ὁ δ' ἀρχιερεὺς Ὀνίας πρὸς Πτολεμαῖον διαφυγὼν καὶ παρ' αὐτοῦ λαβὼν τόπον ἐν τῷ Ἡλιοπολίτῃ νομῷ πολίχνην τε τοῖς Ἱεροσολύμοις ἀπεικασμένην καὶ ναὸν ἔκτισεν ὅμοιον, περὶ ὧν αὖθις κατὰ χώραν δηλώσομεν.

1. ⁰³¹ At the time when Antiochus, called Epiphanes, clashed with the sixth Ptolemy about the government of all Syria, among the Judean nobility there was a power-struggle, with none of these dignitaries willing to be subject to their equals, until Onias, one of the high priests, got the upper hand and expelled the sons of Tobias from the city. ⁰³² These fled to Antiochus and implored him to use them as his guides for an invasion into Judea. Already disposed to do so, the king agreed and attacked the Jews with a large army and took their city by force, killing many who sided with Ptolemy and sending his soldiers to loot them without mercy. He also ransacked the temple and for three years and six months interrupted the regular course of daily sacrifice. ⁰³³ Onias the high priest fled to Ptolemy and received a place from him in the Nomos of Heliopolis, where he built a city like Jerusalem and a similar temple, about which we shall later have more to say, in its proper place.

[34] Ἀντιόχῳ γε μὴν οὔτε τὸ παρ' ἐλπίδα κρατῆσαι τῆς πόλεως οὔτε αἱ ἁρπαγαὶ καὶ ὁ τοσοῦτος φόνος ἤρκεσεν, ὑπὸ δὲ ἀκρασίας παθῶν καὶ κατὰ μνήμην ὧν παρὰ τὴν πολιορκίαν ἔπαθεν ἠνάγκαζεν Ἰουδαίους καταλύσαντας τὰ πάτρια βρέφη τε αὐτῶν φυλάττειν ἀπερίτμητα καὶ σῦς ἐπιθύειν τῷ βωμῷ: [35] πρὸς ἃ ἅπαντες μὲν ἠπείθουν, ἐσφάττοντο δὲ οἱ δοκιμώτατοι. καὶ Βακχίδης ὁ πεμφθεὶς ὑπὸ Ἀντιόχου φρούραρχος, τῇ φυσικῇ προσλαβὼν ὠμότητι τὰ ἀσεβῆ παραγγέλματα παρανομίας οὐδεμίαν κατέλιπεν ὑπερβολὴν καὶ κατ' ἄνδρα τοὺς ἀξιολόγους αἰκιζόμενος καὶ κοινῇ καθ' ἡμέραν ἐνδεικνύμενος ὄψιν ἁλώσεως τῇ πόλει, μέχρι ταῖς ὑπερβολαῖς τῶν ἀδικημάτων τοὺς πάσχοντας εἰς ἀμύνης τόλμαν ἠρέθισε.

2. ⁰³⁴ Antiochus, not content with his unexpected capture and looting of the city and the many deaths he had caused, moved by his violent passions and the memory of what he had suffered during the siege, forced the Jews to violate their ancestral laws and to keep their infants uncircumcised and to sacrifice swine's flesh upon the altar. ⁰³⁵ All resisted this, and the noblest among them were put to death. Bacchides who was sent as head of the garrison, with wicked commands along with his natural savagery, indulged in all extremes of evil and tortured their worthiest people one by one, humilating them every day with the signs of their city's captivity, until his flagrant misdeeds finally drove the victims to risk revenge.

[36] Ματθίας γοῦν υἱὸς Ἀσαμωναίου τῶν ἱερέων εἷς ἀπὸ κώμης Μωδεεὶν ὄνομα, συνασπίσας μετὰ χειρὸς οἰκείας, πέντε γὰρ υἱεῖς ἦσαν αὐτῷ, κοπίσιν ἀναιρεῖ τὸν Βακχίδην. καὶ παραχρῆμα μὲν δείσας τὸ πλῆθος τῶν φρουρῶν εἰς τὰ ὄρη καταφεύγει: [37] προσγενομένων δὲ ἀπὸ τοῦ δήμου πολλῶν ἀναθαρσήσας κάτεισι καὶ συμβαλὼν μάχῃ νικᾷ τε τοὺς Ἀντιόχου στρατηγοὺς καὶ τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἐξελαύνει. παρελθὼν δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς εὐπραγίας εἰς δυναστείαν καὶ διὰ τὴν ἀπαλλαγὴν τῶν ἀλλοφύλων ἄρξας τῶν σφετέρων ἑκόντων, τελευτᾷ Ἰούδαι τῷ πρεσβυτάτῳ τῶν παίδων καταλιπὼν τὴν ἀρχήν.

3. ⁰³⁶ In a village called Modin, Matthias, a priestly descendant of Hasmoneus, with his family of five sons took up arms, and killed Bacchides with daggers, then quickly fled to the mountains for fear of the large garrison. ⁰³⁷ So many joined him that he was persuaded to come down and fight against Antiochus's generals, defeating them and driving them from Judea. His success made him prominent, and for expelling the foreigners his own people gave him the leadership, which at his death he left to his eldest son, Judah.

[38] Ὁ δέ, οὐ γὰρ ἠρεμήσειν Ἀντίοχον ὑπελάμβανε, τάς τε ἐπιχωρίους συγκροτεῖ δυνάμεις, καὶ πρὸς Ῥωμαίους πρῶτος ἐποιήσατο φιλίαν, καὶ τὸν Ἐπιφανῆ πάλιν εἰς τὴν χώραν ἐμβάλλοντα μετὰ καρτερᾶς πληγῆς ἀνέστειλεν. [39] ἀπὸ δὲ θερμοῦ τοῦ κατορθώματος ὥρμησεν ἐπὶ τὴν ἐν τῇ πόλει φρουράν, οὔπω γὰρ ἐκκέκοπτο, καὶ ἐκβαλὼν ἀπὸ τῆς ἄνω πόλεως συνωθεῖ τοὺς στρατιώτας εἰς τὴν κάτω: τοῦτο δὲ τοῦ ἄστεος τὸ μέρος Ἄκρα κέκληται: κυριεύσας δὲ τοῦ ἱεροῦ τόν τε χῶρον ἐκάθηρε πάντα καὶ περιετείχισε καὶ τὰ πρὸς τὰς λειτουργίας σκεύη καινὰ κατασκευάσας εἰς τὸν ναὸν εἰσήνεγκεν ὡς τῶν προτέρων μεμιαμμένων, βωμόν τε ὠικοδόμησεν ἕτερον καὶ τῶν ἐναγισμῶν ἤρξατο. [40] λαμβανούσης δὲ ἄρτι τὸ ἱερὸν κατάστημα τῆς πόλεως τελευτᾷ μὲν Ἀντίοχος, κληρονόμος δὲ τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ καὶ τῆς πρὸς Ἰουδαίους ἀπεχθείας ὁ υἱὸς Ἀντίοχος γίνεται.

4. ⁰³⁸ Realising that Antiochus would not remain inactive, Judah gathered an army of his countrymen and was the first to make a treaty of friendship with the Romans, and drove Epiphanes from the country, and defeated him badly when he invaded it a second time. ⁰³⁹ Warmed by this great success, he attacked the garrison in the city, for so far it had not been ousted. He expelled them from the upper city and drove the soldiers into the lower part of the city, called the Fortress. Being then in control of the temple he cleansed the whole place, walled it around and made new vessels for sacred ministrations and brought them into the temple, to replace the former that had been profaned, and built another altar and began the holy sacrifices. ⁰⁴⁰ As the city was resuming its sacred constitution, Antiochus died, his son Antiochus succeeding him in the kingship and also in his hatred towards the Jews.

[41] Συναγαγὼν γοῦν πεζῶν μὲν μυριάδας πέντε, ἱππεῖς δὲ πεντακισχιλίους, ἐλέφαντας δὲ ὀγδοήκοντα ἐμβάλλει διὰ τῆς Ἰουδαίας εἰς τὴν ὀρεινήν. Βηθσουρὸν μὲν οὖν πολίχνην αἱρεῖ, κατὰ δὲ τόπον, ὃς καλεῖται Βεθζαχαρία στενῆς οὔσης τῆς παρόδου Ἰούδας ὑπαντᾷ μετὰ τῆς δυνάμεως. [42] πρὶν δὲ συνάψαι τὰς φάλαγγας Ἐλεάζαρος ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ προϊδὼν τὸν ὑψηλότατον τῶν ἐλεφάντων πύργῳ τε μεγάλῳ καὶ περιχρύσοις προτειχίσμασι κεκοσμημένον, ὑπολαβὼν ἐπ' αὐτοῦ τὸν Ἀντίοχον εἶναι, τῶν τε ἰδίων ἐκτρέχει πολὺ καὶ διακόψας τὸ στῖφος τῶν πολεμίων ἐπὶ τὸν ἐλέφαντα διήνυσεν. [43] ἐφικέσθαι μὲν οὖν τοῦ δοκοῦντος εἶναι βασιλέως οὐχ οἷός τε ἦν διὰ τὸ ὕψος, ὁ δὲ τὸ θηρίον ὑπὸ τὴν γαστέρα πλήξας ἐπικατέσεισεν ἑαυτῷ καὶ συντριβεὶς ἐτελεύτησεν, μηδὲν πλέον δράσας τοῦ τοῖς μεγάλοις ἐπιβαλέσθαι θέμενος εὐκλείας ἐν δευτέρῳ τὸ ζῆν. [44] ὅ γε μὴν κυβερνῶν τὸν ἐλέφαντα ἰδιώτης ἦν: κἂν εἰ συνέβη δὲ εἶναι τὸν Ἀντίοχον, οὐδὲν πλέον ἤνυσεν ὁ τολμήσας τοῦ δοκεῖν ἐπ' ἐλπίδι μόνῃ λαμπροῦ κατορθώματος ἑλέσθαι τὸν θάνατον.

[45] γίνεται δὲ καὶ κλῃδὼν τἀδελφῷ τῆς ὅλης παρατάξεως: καρτερῶς μὲν γὰρ οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι καὶ μέχρι πολλοῦ διηγωνίσαντο, πλήθει δὲ ὑπερέχοντες οἱ βασιλικοὶ καὶ δεξιᾷ χρησάμενοι τύχῃ κρατοῦσι, καὶ πολλῶν ἀναιρεθέντων τοὺς λοιποὺς ἔχων Ἰούδας εἰς τὴν Γοφνιτικὴν τοπαρχίαν φεύγει. [46] Ἀντίοχος δὲ παρελθὼν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα καὶ καθίσας ὀλίγας ἡμέρας ἐν αὐτῇ κατὰ σπάνιν τῶν ἐπιτηδείων ἀπανίσταται, καταλιπὼν μὲν φρουρὰν ὅσην ἀποχρήσειν ὑπελάμβανε, τὴν δὲ λοιπὴν δύναμιν ἀπαγαγὼν χειμεριοῦσαν εἰς τὴν Συρίαν.

5. ⁰⁴¹ Assembling fifty thousand infantry and five thousand cavalry and eighty elephants he marched through Judea into the hill country. He then took Bethsuron, a small city, but Judah met him with his army at a place called Bethzacharia, where the passage was narrow. ⁰⁴² Before the forces began the battle, Judah's brother Eleazar, seeing the very tallest of the elephants adorned with a large tower and with gilded trappings to protect him and thinking that Antiochus himself was riding in it, he ran a long way ahead of his own army and cutting his way through the enemy's troops, he got as far as the elephant. ⁰⁴³ Unable to reach the one he thought of as the king, since he was so high up, he ran his weapon into the belly of the beast and brought him down upon himself and was crushed to death, achieving no more than a brave attempt and showing that he valued life less than renown. ⁰⁴⁴ But the one driving the elephant was just a commoner, and even had it been Antiochus, this daring deed would have proved no more than a willingness to die, in the hope of thereby doing something glorious.

⁰⁴⁵ This failure gave his brother an omen of how the entire battle would end. While the Jews fought it out bravely for a long time, the king's forces, superior in number and with fortune on their side, won the victory. When many of his men were killed, Judah fled with the rest to the district of Gophna. ⁰⁴⁶ Antiochus went to Jerusalem but lacking provisions he stayed there only a few days and then went off, leaving behind what he thought a sufficient garrison, and took the rest of his army to winter quarters in Syria.

[47] Πρὸς δὲ τὴν ὑποχώρησιν τοῦ βασιλέως Ἰούδας οὐκ ἠρέμει, προσγενομένων δ' ἐκ τοῦ ἔθνους πολλῶν καὶ τοὺς διασωθέντας ἐκ τῆς μάχης ἐπισυγκροτήσας κατὰ κώμην Ἀκέδασαν συμβάλλει τοῖς Ἀντιόχου στρατηγοῖς, καὶ φανεὶς ἄριστος κατὰ τὴν μάχην πολλούς τε τῶν πολεμίων ἀποκτείνας ἀναιρεῖται καὶ μεθ' ἡμέρας ὀλίγας ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ Ἰωάννης ἐπιβουλευθεὶς ὑπὸ τῶν τὰ Ἀντιόχου φρονούντων τελευτᾶι.

6. ⁰⁴⁷ After the king's retreat, Judah was not idle. Since many of the nation joined him, he re-grouped the survivors of the battle and again fought Antiochus's generals at a village called Adasa, and overcoming his enemies in the battle he killed many, but finally was also killed himself. A few days later his brother John also died, due to a plot against him by Antiochus's party.

[48] Διαδεξάμενος δὲ τοῦτον ὁ ἀδελφὸς Ἰωνάθης τά τε ἄλλα πρὸς τοὺς ἐπιχωρίους διὰ φυλακῆς ἦγεν ἑαυτὸν καὶ τῇ πρὸς Ῥωμαίους φιλίαι τὴν ἀρχὴν ἐκρατύνατο πρός τε τὸν Ἀντιόχου παῖδα διαλλαγὰς ἐποιήσατο. οὐ μήν τι τούτων ἤρκεσεν αὐτῷ πρὸς ἀσφάλειαν: [49] Τρύφων γὰρ ὁ τύραννος, ἐπίτροπος μὲν ὢν τοῦ Ἀντιόχου παιδὸς ἐπιβουλεύων δ' αὐτῷ καὶ πρόσθεν, ἀποσκευάζεσθαι τοὺς φίλους αὐτοῦ πειρώμενος ἥκοντα τὸν Ἰωνάθην σὺν ὀλίγοις εἰς Πτολεμαΐδα πρὸς Ἀντίοχον δόλῳ συλλαμβάνει καὶ δήσας ἐπὶ Ἰουδαίαν στρατεύει: εἶτ' ἀπελαθεὶς ὑπὸ τοῦ Σίμωνος, ὃς ἦν ἀδελφὸς τοῦ Ἰωνάθου, καὶ πρὸς τὴν ἧτταν ὠργισμένος κτείνει τὸν Ἰωνάθην.

1. ⁰⁴⁸ When Jonathan, Judah's brother, succeeded him, he carefully guarded himself against his countrymen and strengthened his authority by a treaty with the Romans. He also made a treaty with the younger Antiochus. ⁰⁴⁹ Yet all this was not sufficient for his security, for the tyrant Trypho, who was guardian to Antiochus's son, schemed against him, seeking to win away his friends. He caught Jonathan in a trap, as he was going with a few others to Ptolemais to visit Antiochus. He put him in chains and then made war on the Jews, but when repulsed by Jonathan's brother Simon, in his rage at his defeat he put Jonathan to death.

[50] Σίμων δὲ γενναίως ἀφηγούμενος τῶν πραγμάτων αἱρεῖ μὲν Γάζαρά τε καὶ Ἰόππην καὶ Ἰάμνειαν τῶν προσοίκων, κατέσκαψε δὲ καὶ τὴν ἄκραν τῶν φρουρῶν κρατήσας. αὖθις δὲ γίνεται καὶ Ἀντιόχῳ σύμμαχος κατὰ Τρύφωνος, ὃν ἐν Δώροις πρὸ τῆς ἐπὶ Μήδους στρατείας ἐπολιόρκει. [51] ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐξεδυσώπησεν τὴν τοῦ βασιλέως πλεονεξίαν Τρύφωνα συνεξελών: μετ' οὐ πολὺ γὰρ Ἀντίοχος Κενδεβαῖον τὸν αὐτοῦ στρατηγὸν μετὰ δυνάμεως δῃώσοντα τὴν Ἰουδαίαν ἔπεμψεν καὶ καταδουλωσόμενον Σίμωνα. [52] ὁ δὲ καίτοι γε γηραλέος ὢν νεανικώτερον ἀφηγήσατο τοῦ πολέμου: τοὺς μέντοι γε υἱεῖς αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἐρρωμενεστάτων προεκπέμπει, αὐτὸς δὲ μοῖραν τῆς δυνάμεως ἀναλαβὼν ἐπήιει κατ' ἄλλο μέρος. [53] πολλοὺς δὲ πολλαχοῦ κἀν τοῖς ὄρεσι προλοχίσας πάσαις κρατεῖ ταῖς ἐπιβολαῖς καὶ νικήσας λαμπρῶς ἀρχιερεὺς ἀποδείκνυται καὶ τῆς Μακεδόνων ἐπικρατείας μετὰ ἑκατὸν καὶ ἑβδομήκοντα ἔτη Ἰουδαίους ἀπαλλάττει.

2. ⁰⁵⁰ Simon administered things things very well and took the neighbouring cities of Gazara and Joppa and Jamnia, and defeating the garrison he demolished the fortress. Later he allied with Antiochus against Trypho, whom the king besieged in Dora before going on his expedition against the Medes. ⁰⁵¹ But even after helping him to kill Trypho, he could not shame the king out of his covetous desire, for before long Antiochus sent his general Cendebaeus with an army to ravage Judea and bring Simon to heel. ⁰⁵² The latter, though he was getting old, fought the war like a young man and sent his sons with his most vigorous men against Antiochus, while he himself attacked him on another front with part of the army. ⁰⁵³ He set many ambushes in various places in the mountains and all his attacks succeeded, and won a glorious victory; so he was made high priest and set the Jews free from the Macedonian dominance that had lasted a hundred and seventy years.

[54] Θνήσκει δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπιβουλευθεὶς ἐν συμποσίῳ ὑπὸ Πτολεμαίου τοῦ γαμβροῦ, ὃς αὐτοῦ τήν τε γυναῖκα καὶ τοὺς δύο παῖδας ἐγκαθείρξας ἐπὶ τὸν τρίτον Ἰωάννην, ὃς καὶ Ὑρκανὸς ἐκαλεῖτο, τοὺς ἀναιρήσοντας ἔπεμψεν. [55] προγνοὺς δὲ τὴν ἔφοδον ὁ νεανίσκος παραγενέσθαι εἰς τὴν πόλιν ἠπείγετο, πλεῖστον τῷ λαῷ πεποιθὼς κατά τε μνήμην τῶν πατρώιων κατορθωμάτων καὶ μῖσος τῆς Πτολεμαίου παρανομίας. ὥρμησε δὲ καὶ Πτολεμαῖος εἰσελθεῖν καθ' ἑτέραν πύλην, ἐξεκρούσθη γε μὴν ὑπὸ τοῦ δήμου ταχέως δεδεγμένων ἤδη τὸν Ὑρκανόν. [56] καὶ ὁ μὲν παραχρῆμα ἀνεχώρησεν εἴς τι τῶν ὑπὲρ Ἱεριχοῦντος ἐρυμάτων, ὃ Δαγὼν καλεῖται: κομισάμενος δὲ τὴν πατρώιαν ἀρχιερωσύνην Ὑρκανὸς καὶ θύσας τῷ θεῷ μετὰ τάχους ἐπὶ Πτολεμαῖον ὥρμησεν βοηθήσων τῇ μητρὶ καὶ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς,

3. ⁰⁵⁴ He too was killed, betrayed at a feast by his son-in-law Ptolemy, who imprisoned his wife and two sons, and sent people to kill John, surnamed Hyrcanus. ⁰⁵⁵ But as the young man was forewarned of their coming, he hurried to the city, having great confidence in the people there and their memory of his father's glorious deeds and their hatred of Ptolemy's crimes. Ptolemy also tried to rush into the city by another gate, but was repelled by the people, who had already made Hyrcanus very welcome. ⁰⁵⁶ He then retreated to one of the fortresses near Jericho, called Dagon. When Hyrcanus had received the high priesthood held by his father before him and had offered sacrifice to God, he hurried out after Ptolemy, to bring help to his mother and brothers.

[057] καὶ προσβαλὼν τῷ φρουρίῳ τὰ μὲν ἄλλα κρείττων ἦν, ἡττᾶτο δὲ δικαίου πάθους: ὁ γὰρ Πτολεμαῖος ὁπότε καταπονοῖτο, τήν τε μητέρα καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ προάγων ἐπὶ τοῦ τείχους εἰς εὐσύνοπτον ἠικίζετο καὶ κατακρημνιεῖν, εἰ μὴ θᾶττον ἀπανασταίη, διηπείλει. [58] πρὸς ἃ τὸν μὲν Ὑρκανὸν ὀργῆς πλείων οἶκτος εἰσήιει καὶ δέος, ἡ δὲ μήτηρ οὐδὲν οὔτε πρὸς τὰς αἰκίας οὔτε πρὸς τὸν ἀπειλούμενον αὐτῇ θάνατον ἐνδιδοῦσα χεῖρας ὤρεγε καὶ κατηντιβόλει τὸν παῖδα μήτι πρὸς τὴν αὐτῆς ὕβριν ἐπικλασθέντα φείσασθαι τοῦ δυσσεβοῦς, ὡς αὐτῇ γε κρείττονα τὸν ἐκ Πτολεμαίου θάνατον ἀθανασίας εἶναι δόντος δίκας ἐφ' οἷς εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτῶν παρηνόμησεν. [59] ὁ δὲ Ἰωάννης ὁπότε μὲν ἐνθυμηθείη τὸ παράστημα τῆς μητρὸς καὶ κατακούσειε τῆς ἱκεσίας, ὥρμητο προσβάλλειν, ἐπειδὰν δὲ κατίδοι τυπτομένην τε καὶ σπαραττομένην, ἐθηλύνετο καὶ τοῦ πάθους ὅλος ἦν. [60] τριβομένης δὲ διὰ ταῦτα τῆς πολιορκίας ἐπέστη τὸ ἀργὸν ἔτος, ὃ κατὰ ἑπταετίαν ἀργεῖται παρὰ Ἰουδαίοις ὁμοίως ταῖς ἑβδομάσιν ἡμέραις. κἀν τούτῳ Πτολεμαῖος ἀνεθεὶς τῆς πολιορκίας ἀναιρεῖ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς Ἰωάννου σὺν τῇ μητρὶ καὶ φεύγει πρὸς Ζήνωνα τὸν ἐπικληθέντα Κοτυλᾶν: Φιλαδελφείας δ' ἦν τύραννος.

4. ⁰⁵⁷ He laid siege to the fortress and had the advantage over Ptolemy in other ways, but was defeated by his finer feelings. For when under pressure, Ptolemy brought out his mother and brothers and set them upon the wall in the sight of all, and tortured them and threatened to throw them down headlong unless he left instantly. ⁰⁵⁸ At this sight Hyrcanus's anger yielded to his pity and concern. But his mother, undaunted either by the torture or the death threat, with outstretched hands implored her son not to be moved by her pains to spare the wretch, for she would prefer death from Ptolemy to immortality, so long as he was punished for his crime against their family. ⁰⁵⁹ Heartened by his mother's courage John heeded her plea and set out to attack, but when he saw her flogged and torn to pieces with the stripes, he weakened and was overcome by his feelings. ⁰⁶⁰ As the siege then dragged on the year of rest was beginning, whereby every seventh year the Jews rest just as they do each seventh day, and so Ptolemy, being relieved of the siege, killed the brothers of John with their mother, and fled to Zeno, surnamed Cotylas, who was tyrant of Philadelphia.

[61] Ἀντίοχος δὲ κατ' ὀργὴν ὧν ὑπὸ Σίμωνος ἔπαθεν, στρατεύσας εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν ἐπολιόρκει τὸν Ὑρκανὸν προσκαθεζόμενος τοῖς Ἱεροσολύμοις. ὁ δὲ τὸν Δαυίδου τάφον ἀνοίξας, ὃς δὴ πλουσιώτατος βασιλέων ἐγένετο, καὶ ὑφελόμενος ὑπὲρ τρισχίλια τάλαντα χρημάτων τόν τε Ἀντίοχον ἀνίστησι τῆς πολιορκίας πείσας τριακοσίοις ταλάντοις καὶ δὴ καὶ ξενοτροφεῖν πρῶτος Ἰουδαίων ἐκ τῆς περιουσίας ἤρξατο.

5. ⁰⁶¹ Angry at what he had endured from Simon, Antiochus led an army into Judea and camped near Jerusalem to besiege Hyrcanus, who in turn opened the burial vault of David, the richest of all the kings, and took out about three thousand talents in money and paid Antiochus a bribe of three hundred talents to lift the siege, using the remainder to hire foreign allies, being the first of the Jews to do so.

[62] Αὖθίς γε μὴν Ἀντίοχος ἐπὶ Μήδους στρατεύσας καιρὸν ἀμύνης αὐτῷ παρεῖχεν: εὐθέως γὰρ ὥρμησεν ἐπὶ τὰς ἐν Συρίαι πόλεις, κενάς, ὅπερ ἦν, ὑπολαμβάνων τῶν μαχιμωτέρων εὑρήσειν. [63] Μεδάβην μὲν οὖν καὶ Σαμαγὰν ἅμα ταῖς πλησίον, ἔτι δὲ Σίκιμα καὶ Ἀργαρίζειν αὐτὸς αἱρεῖ, πρὸς αἷς τὸ Χουθαίων γένος, οἳ περιώικουν τὸ εἰκασθὲν τῷ ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις ἱερῷ. αἱρεῖ δὲ καὶ τῆς Ἰδουμαίας ἄλλας τε οὐκ ὀλίγας καὶ Ἀδωρεὸν καὶ Μάρισαν.

6. ⁰⁶² Later he had a chance to take revenge on Antiochus when he had gone to war against the Medes, and immediately attacked the cities of Syria, rightly expecting to find them short of warriors. ⁰⁶³ So he took Medaba and Samaga and the nearby towns, and Sikima and Garizim, and also the Cuthean nation, who lived near the temple which was built in imitation of that in Jerusalem. He also took several other cities of Idumaea, including Adoreon and Marissa.

[64] Προελθὼν δὲ καὶ μέχρι Σαμαρείας, ἔνθα νῦν ἐστιν Σεβαστὴ πόλις ὑπὸ Ἡρώδου κτισθεῖσα τοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ πάντοθεν αὐτὴν ἀποτειχίσας τοὺς υἱεῖς ἐπέστησε τῇ πολιορκίαι Ἀριστόβουλον καὶ Ἀντίγονον: ὧν οὐδὲν ἀνιέντων λιμοῦ μὲν εἰς τοσοῦτον προῆλθον οἱ κατὰ τὴν πόλιν, ὡς ἅψασθαι καὶ τῶν ἀηθεστάτων. [65] ἐπικαλοῦνται δὲ βοηθὸν Ἀντίοχον τὸν ἐπικληθέντα Ἀσπένδιον: κἀκεῖνος ἑτοίμως ὑπακούσας ὑπὸ τῶν περὶ Ἀριστόβουλον ἡττᾶται. καὶ ὁ μὲν μέχρι Σκυθοπόλεως διωχθεὶς ὑπὸ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἐκφεύγει, οἱ δὲ ἐπὶ τοὺς Σαμαρεῖς ὑποστρέψαντες τό τε πλῆθος πάλιν εἰς τὸ τεῖχος συγκλείουσιν καὶ τὴν πόλιν ἑλόντες αὐτήν τε κατασκάπτουσιν καὶ τοὺς ἐνοικοῦντας ἐξηνδραποδίσαντο. [66] προχωρούντων δὲ τῶν κατορθωμάτων τὴν ὁρμὴν οὐ κατέψυξαν, ἀλλὰ προελθόντες ἅμα τῇ δυνάμει μέχρι τῆς Σκυθοπόλεως ταύτην τε κατέδραμον καὶ τὴν ἐντὸς Καρμήλου τοῦ ὄρους χώραν ἅπασαν κατενείμαντο.

7. ⁰⁶⁴ He proceeded as far as Samaria, where now stands the city of Sebaste, built by king Herod, and surrounded it with a wall and put his sons, Aristobulus and Antigonus, in charge of the siege. They pressed it so hard that famine gripped the city and the people had to eat things never before regarded as food. ⁰⁶⁵ They also called on the help of Antiochus, surnamed Cyzicenus, and he quickly answered their call, but was defeated by Aristobulus and Antigonus, and fled from the brothers as far as Scythopolis. So they returned to Samaria and again blockaded the people within the city walls, and captured and demolished it and enslaved its inhabitants. ⁰⁶⁶ As their campaign was so successful, they did not let up, but marched with an army to Scythopolis and attacked it and ravaged all the countryside around Mount Carmel.

[67] Πρὸς δὲ τὰς εὐπραγίας αὐτοῦ τε Ἰωάννου καὶ τῶν παίδων φθόνος ἐγείρει στάσιν τῶν ἐπιχωρίων, καὶ πολλοὶ κατ' αὐτῶν συνελθόντες οὐκ ἠρέμουν, μέχρι καὶ πρὸς φανερὸν πόλεμον ἐκριπισθέντες ἡττῶνται. [68] τὸ λοιπὸν δ' ἐπιβιοὺς ἐν εὐδαιμονίαι Ἰωάννης καὶ τὰ κατὰ τὴν ἀρχὴν κάλλιστα διοικήσας ἐν τρισὶν ὅλοις καὶ τριάκοντα ἔτεσιν ἐπὶ πέντε υἱοῖς τελευτᾶι, μακαριστὸς ὄντως καὶ κατὰ μηδὲν ἐάσας ἐφ' ἑαυτῷ μεμφθῆναι τὴν τύχην. τρία γοῦν τὰ κρατιστεύοντα μόνος εἶχεν, τήν τε ἀρχὴν τοῦ ἔθνους καὶ τὴν ἀρχιερωσύνην καὶ προφητείαν: [69] ὡμίλει γὰρ αὐτῷ τὸ δαιμόνιον ὡς μηδὲν τῶν μελλόντων ἀγνοεῖν, ὅς γε καὶ περὶ δύο τῶν πρεσβυτέρων υἱῶν ὅτι μὴ διαμενοῦσι κύριοι τῶν πραγμάτων προεῖδέν τε καὶ προεφήτευσεν: ὧν τὴν καταστροφὴν ἄξιον ἀφηγήσασθαι, παρ' ὅσον τῆς πατρώιας εὐδαιμονίας ἀπέκλιναν.

8. ⁰⁶⁷ Then the success of John and his sons provoked envy and a revolt among their countrymen, for many had gathered and would not rest until they fanned the flames into and open war, in which they were defeated. ⁰⁶⁸ So John lived the rest of his life quite happily and administered the leadership very well for a total of thirty-three years and died, leaving five sons behind him. He was certainly a very fortunate man who had no reason to complain of his fate. He alone held three of the most desirable things in the world: to rule his nation, hold the high priesthood and have the gift of prophecy. ⁰⁶⁹ For the daemon conversed with him in such a way that he was not unaware of future events, but foresaw and foretold that his two eldest sons would not continue as leaders. Their downfall must be described, and how poorly they fared compared with their father.

[70] Μετὰ γὰρ τὴν τοῦ πατρὸς τελευτὴν ὁ πρεσβύτερος αὐτῶν Ἀριστόβουλος τὴν ἀρχὴν εἰς βασιλείαν μετατιθεὶς περιτίθεται μὲν διάδημα πρῶτος μετὰ τετρακοσιοστὸν καὶ ἑβδομηκοστὸν πρῶτον ἔτος, πρὸς δὲ μῆνας τρεῖς, ἐξ οὗ κατῆλθεν ὁ λαὸς εἰς τὴν χώραν ἀπαλλαγεὶς τῆς ἐν Βαβυλῶνι δουλείας: [71] τῶν δὲ ἀδελφῶν τὸν μὲν μεθ' ἑαυτὸν Ἀντίγονον, ἐδόκει γὰρ ἀγαπᾶν, ἦγεν ἰσοτίμως, τοὺς δ' ἄλλους εἵργνυσι δήσας. δεσμεῖ δὲ καὶ τὴν μητέρα διενεχθεῖσαν περὶ τῆς ἐξουσίας, ταύτην γὰρ κυρίαν τῶν ὅλων ὁ Ἰωάννης ἀπολελοίπει, καὶ μέχρι τοσαύτης ὠμότητος προῆλθεν, ὥστε καὶ λιμῷ διαφθεῖρᾳ δεδεμένην.

1. ⁰⁷⁰ After their father's death, the eldest of them, Aristobulus, changed the leadership into a monarchy and was the first to put a diadem upon his head, four hundred seventy one years and three months after the return of our people to this country, when released from slavery in Babylon. ⁰⁷¹ Of his brothers, he granted to his next-born, Antigonus, equal status with himself, and had the rest imprisoned. For disputing the sovereignty with him, he chained up his own mother, whom John had left in charge of everything, and cruelly left her to starve to death in prison.

[72] Περιέρχεται δὲ αὐτῶν ἡ τίσις εἰς τὸν ἀδελφὸν Ἀντίγονον, ὃν ἠγάπα τε καὶ τῆς βασιλείας κοινωνὸν εἶχεν: κτείνει γὰρ καὶ τοῦτον ἐκ διαβολῶν, ἃς οἱ πονηροὶ τῶν κατὰ τὸ βασίλειον ἐνεσκευάσαντο. τὰ μὲν δὴ πρῶτα διηπίστει τοῖς λεγομένοις ὁ Ἀριστόβουλος ἅτε δὴ καὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἀγαπῶν καὶ διδοὺς φθόνῳ τὰ πολλὰ τῶν λογοποιουμένων. [73] ὡς δ' ὁ Ἀντίγονος λαμπρὸς ἀπὸ στρατείας ἦλθεν εἰς τὴν ἑορτήν, ἐν ἧι σκηνοποιεῖσθαι πάτριον τῷ θεῷ, συνέβη μὲν κατ' ἐκείνας τὰς ἡμέρας νόσῳ χρήσασθαι τὸν Ἀριστόβουλον, τὸν δὲ Ἀντίγονον ἐπὶ τέλει τῆς ἑορτῆς ἀναβάντα μετὰ τῶν περὶ αὐτὸν ὁπλιτῶν ὡς ἐνῆν μάλιστα κεκοσμημένον προσκυνῆσαι τὸ πλέον ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ. [74] κἀν τούτῳ προσιόντες οἱ πονηροὶ τῷ βασιλεῖ τήν τε πομπὴν τῶν ὁπλιτῶν ἐδήλουν καὶ τὸ παράστημα τοῦ Ἀντιγόνου μεῖζον ἢ κατ' ἰδιώτην, ὅτι τε παρείη μετὰ μεγίστου συντάγματος ἀναιρήσων αὐτόν: οὐ γὰρ ἀνέχεσθαι τιμὴν μόνον ἐκ βασιλείας ἔχων, παρὸν αὐτὴν κατασχεῖν.

2. ⁰⁷² But vengeance caught up with him for his brother Antigonus, whom he loved and with whom he shared his rule, for he killed him too, because of the lies spread against him by evil people around the palace. At first Aristobulus would not believe their reports, partly for love of his brother and partly from the idea that most of these tales came from the envy of their tellers. ⁰⁷³ Once however, Aristobulus lay sick as Antigonus came in triumph from a campaign to the festival where we customarily make tents for God. Towards the end of the feast, Antigonus, surrounded by his bodyguard and adorned in the finery, went up to the temple to pray on behalf of his brother. ⁰⁷⁴ Those mischief makers went to report to the king how pompous the bodyguard had seemed and how proudly Antigonus presented himself, far too grandly for a private citizen, and that with his large band of men he had really come to kill him, not content merely to enjoy the honours of royalty when it was in his power to seize the throne itself.

[75] Τούτοις κατὰ μικρὸν ἄκων ἐπίστευσεν ὁ Ἀριστόβουλος, καὶ προνοῶν τοῦ μήθ' ὑποπτεύων φανερὸς γενέσθαι καὶ προησφαλίσθαι πρὸς τὸ ἄδηλον καθίστησι μὲν τοὺς σωματοφύλακας ἔν τινι τῶν ὑπογαίων ἀλαμπεῖ, κατέκειτο δ' ἐν τῇ βάρει πρότερον αὖθις δ' Ἀντωνίαι μετονομασθείσῃ, προστάξας ἀνόπλου μὲν ἀπέχεσθαι, κτείνειν δὲ τὸν Ἀντίγονον, εἰ μετὰ τῶν ὅπλων προσίοι, καὶ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἔπεμψεν τοὺς προεροῦντας ἄνοπλον ἐλθεῖν. [76] πρὸς τοῦτο πάνυ πανούργως ἡ βασίλισσα συντάσσεται μετὰ τῶν ἐπιβούλων: τοὺς γὰρ πεμφθέντας πείθουσιν τὰ μὲν παρὰ τοῦ βασιλέως σιωπῆσαι, λέγειν δὲ πρὸς τὸν Ἀντίγονον ὡς ὁ ἀδελφὸς ἀκούσας ὅπλα τε αὐτῷ παρεσκευακέναι κάλλιστα καὶ πολεμικὸν κόσμον ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίαι διὰ μὲν τὴν ἀσθένειαν αὐτὸς ἐπιδεῖν ἕκαστα κωλυθείη, νῦν δ' ἐπεὶ καὶ χωρίζεσθαι μέλλοις, θεάσαιτ' ἂν ἥδιστά σε ἐν τοῖς ὅπλοις.

3. ⁰⁷⁵ Gradually and unwillingly Aristobulus came to believe it, and guarded against the risk while being careful not to publicly reveal his suspicion. He had his bodyguards in a dark underground chamber beneath the place where for he lay sick, which was formerly called Baris though later renamed to Antonia, with orders to leave Antigonus alone if he came unarmed, but to kill him if he came fully armed; and he sent some ahead to tell him to come unarmed. ⁰⁷⁶ But the queen worked with the conspirators, persuading the messengers to say nothing about the king's instructions. Instead, they should tell Antigonus how his brother had heard of the fine suit of armour he had got made for himself in Galilee, with its ornaments of war, and since his present sickness prevented him from coming to admire it and he was due to depart soon, he wished to see him now in his armour.

[77] Ταῦτα ἀκούσας ὁ Ἀντίγονος, ἐνῆγεν δ' ἡ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ διάθεσις μηδὲν ὑποπτεύειν πονηρόν, ἐχώρει μετὰ τῶν ὅπλων ὡς πρὸς ἐπίδειξιν. γενόμενος δὲ κατὰ τὴν σκοτεινὴν πάροδον, Στράτωνος ἐκαλεῖτο πύργος, ὑπὸ τῶν σωματοφυλάκων ἀναιρεῖται, βέβαιον ἀποδείξας ὅτι πᾶσαν εὔνοιαν καὶ φύσιν κόπτει διαβολὴ καὶ οὐδὲν οὕτως τῶν ἀγαθῶν παθῶν ἰσχυρόν, ὃ τῷ φθόνῳ μέχρι παντὸς ἀντέχει.

4. ⁰⁷⁷ When Antigonus heard this, and suspecting no harm on account of his brother's goodwill, he came along in his armour to show it off. As he was going through the dark passage called Strato's Tower he was killed by the bodyguards, in a memorable instance of how all good will and affection can be destroyed by calumny and how even our good disposition cannot hold out forever against envy.

[78] Θαυμάσαι δ' ἄν τις ἐν τούτῳ καὶ Ἰούδαν, Ἐσσαῖος ἦν γένος οὐκ ἔστιν ὅτε πταίσας ἢ ψευσθεὶς ἐν τοῖς προαπαγγέλμασιν, ὃς ἐπειδὴ καὶ τότε τὸν Ἀντίγονον ἐθεάσατο παριόντα διὰ τοῦ ἱεροῦ, πρὸς τοὺς γνωρίμους ἀνέκραγεν, ἦσαν δ' οὐκ ὀλίγοι παρεδρεύοντες αὐτῷ τῶν μανθανόντων, [79] «παπαί, νῦν ἐμοὶ καλόν, ἔφη, τὸ θανεῖν, ὅτε μου προτέθνηκεν ἡ ἀλήθεια καί τι τῶν ὑπ' ἐμοῦ προρρηθέντων διέψευσται: ζῇ γὰρ Ἀντίγονος οὑτοσὶ σήμερον ὀφείλων ἀνῃρῆσθαι. χωρίον δὲ αὐτῷ πρὸς σφαγὴν Στράτωνος πύργος εἵμαρτο: καὶ τοῦτο μὲν ἀπὸ ἑξακοσίων ἐντεῦθεν σταδίων ἐστίν, ὧρᾳ δὲ τῆς ἡμέρας ἤδη τέσσαρες: [80] ὁ δὴ χρόνος ἐκκρούει τὸ μάντευμα.» ταῦτα εἰπὼν σκυθρωπὸς ἐπὶ συννοίας ὁ γέρων διεκαρτέρει, καὶ μετ' ὀλίγον ἀνῃρημένος Ἀντίγονος ἠγγέλλετο κατὰ τὸ ὑπόγαιον χωρίον, ὃ δὴ καὶ αὐτὸ Στράτωνος ἐκαλεῖτο πύργος ὁμωνυμοῦν τῇ παραλίῳ Καισαρείαι. τοῦτο γοῦν τὸν μάντιν διετάραξεν.

5. ⁰⁷⁸ A surprise in this case was the the conduct of Judah who belonged to the sect of the Essenes and had never before proven wrong or false in his predictions. This man saw Antigonus as he was passing along by the temple and called out loud, for many of his disciples were sitting around him, ⁰⁷⁹ "Oh that I might die now, since truth has died before me. What I foretold has proved false, since this Antigonus is still alive, a man who was due to die this day, and the place predicted for the murder was Strato's Tower, six hundred furlongs away from here. But already four hours of this day have passed, so time rules out the prediction." ⁰⁸⁰ Saying this, the old man paused, in a gloomy frame of mind. But shortly afterwards came the news that Antigonus had been killed in an underground place, also called Strato's Tower, like Caesarea-on-sea, and the prophet's confusion arose from this ambiguity.

[81] Ἀριστοβούλῳ γε μὴν εὐθὺς ἡ περὶ τοῦ μύσους μεταμέλεια νόσον ἐνσκήπτει καὶ πρὸς ἔννοιαν τοῦ φόνου τὴν ψυχὴν ἔχων ἀεὶ τεταραγμένην συνετήκετο, μέχρι τῶν σπλάγχνων ὑπ' ἀκράτου τῆς λύπης σπαραττομένων ἄθρουν αἷμα ἀναβάλλει. [82] τοῦτό τις τῶν ἐν τῇ θεραπείᾳ παίδων ἐκφέρων δαιμονίῳ προνοίαι σφάλλεται καθ' ὃν τόπον Ἀντίγονος ἔσφακτο καὶ φαινομένοις ἔτι τοῖς ἀπὸ τοῦ φόνου σπίλοις τὸ αἷμα τοῦ κτείναντος ἐπέχεεν. ἤρθη δ' εὐθὺς οἰμωγὴ τῶν θεασαμένων ὥσπερ ἐπίτηδες τοῦ παιδὸς ἐκεῖ ἐπικατασπείσαντος τὸ αἷμα. [83] τῆς δὲ βοῆς ἀκούσας ὁ βασιλεὺς τὴν αἰτίαν ἐπυνθάνετο καὶ μηδενὸς τολμῶντος εἰπεῖν μᾶλλον ἐνέκειτο μαθεῖν ἐθέλων: τέλος δὲ ἀπειλοῦντι καὶ βιαζομένῳ τἀληθὲς εἶπον. ὁ δὲ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐμπίπλησι δακρύων καὶ στενάξας ὅσον ἦν αὐτῷ δύναμις εἶπεν: [84] «οὐκ ἄρα θεοῦ μέγαν ὀφθαλμὸν ἐπ' ἔργοις ἀθεμίτοις λήσειν ἔμελλον, ἀλλά με ταχεῖα μέτεισι δίκη φόνου συγγενοῦς. μέχρι τοῦ μοι, σῶμα ἀναιδέστατον, τὴν ἀδελφῷ καὶ μητρὶ κατάκριτον ψυχὴν καθέξεις; μέχρι τοῦ δ' αὐτοῖς ἐπισπείσω κατὰ μέρος τοὐμὸν αἷμα; λαβέτωσαν ἀθρόον τοῦτο, καὶ μηκέτι ταῖς ἐκ τῶν ἐμῶν σπλάγχνων χοαῖς ἐπειρωνευέσθω τὸ δαιμόνιον.» ταῦτα εἰπὼν εὐθέως τελευτᾷ βασιλεύσας οὐ πλεῖον ἐνιαυτοῦ.

6. ⁰⁸¹ The illness of Aristobulus quickly became worse out of remorse at this terrible crime. His mind was constantly agitated by the murder, until his innards churned with grief and he threw up a lot of blood. ⁰⁸² While one of his attendants was carrying it away, some demonic force made him slip and fall at the very place where Antigonus had been killed, so that he spilt some of the killer's blood upon what remained of the lad's blood. A sudden cry of grief came from those who saw it, as though the servant had spilled the blood there on purpose. ⁰⁸³ Hearing the cry, the king asked about the cause of it, and when nobody dared tell him he insisted all the more to know what it was. When by threats he finally forced them to speak, they told him and he burst into tears. With his remaining strength he groaned and said, ⁰⁸⁴ "My crimes are not going to escape the all-seeing eye of God, for justice hotly pursues me for my relative's blood. Wretched body, how long will you cling to a soul condemned for wronging a mother and a brother! How long must I pour out my blood to them drop by drop? Let them take it all at once, with the demon no longer mocking them with just a few droplets from my bowels." With these words, he died, having reigned for less than a year.

[85] Λύσασα δ' ἡ γυνὴ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ βασιλέα καθίστησιν Ἀλέξανδρον τὸν καὶ καθ' ἡλικίαν καὶ μετριότητι προύχειν δοκοῦντα. ὁ δὲ παρελθὼν εἰς τὴν ἐξουσίαν τὸν ἕτερον μὲν τῶν ἀδελφῶν βασιλειῶντα κτείνει, τὸν δὲ καταλιμπανόμενον ἀγαπῶντα τὸ ζῆν δίχα πραγμάτων εἶχεν.

1. ⁰⁸⁵ The king's wife released his brothers and made Alexander king, who was both elder in age and of the most balanced temperament. When he came to power, he killed one of his brothers who aspired to become ruler, but he respected the rest of them, as they wanted a life of leisure, not meddling with public matters.

[86] Γίνεται δ' αὐτῷ καὶ πρὸς τὸν Λάθουρον ἐπικληθέντα Πτολεμαῖον συμβολὴ πόλιν Ἀσωχὶν ἡιρηκότα, καὶ πολλοὺς μὲν ἀνεῖλεν τῶν πολεμίων, ἡ δὲ νίκη πρὸς Πτολεμαῖον ἔρρεψεν. ἐπεὶ δ' ὑπὸ τῆς μητρὸς Κλεοπάτρας διωχθεὶς εἰς Αἴγυπτον ἀνεχώρησεν, Ἀλέξανδρος Γαδάρων τε πολιορκίαι κρατεῖ καὶ Ἀμαθοῦντος, ὃ δὴ μέγιστον μὲν ἦν ἔρυμα τῶν ὑπὲρ Ἰορδάνην, τὰ τιμιώτατα δὲ τῶν Θεοδώρου τοῦ Ζήνωνος κτημάτων ἦν ἐν αὐτῷ. [87] ἐπελθὼν δ' ἐξαίφνης ὁ Θεόδωρος τά τε σφέτερα καὶ τὴν τοῦ βασιλέως ἀποσκευὴν αἱρεῖ, τῶν δ' Ἰουδαίων εἰς μυρίους κτείνει. γίνεται δ' ἐπάνω τῆς πληγῆς Ἀλέξανδρος καὶ τραπόμενος εἰς τὴν παράλιον αἱρεῖ Γάζαν τε καὶ Ῥάφειαν καὶ Ἀνθηδόνα τὴν αὖθις ὑπὸ Ἡρώδου τοῦ βασιλέως Ἀγριππιάδα ἐπικληθεῖσαν.

2. ⁰⁸⁶ He went to battle against Ptolemy, surnamed Lathyrus, who had taken the city of Asochis, and though he killed many of the enemy, victory went to Ptolemy. But when the was persecuted by his mother Cleopatra and retreated to Egypt, Alexander besieged Gadara and took it, and Amathus, the strongest of all the fortresses near the Jordan, where the most precious of all the possessions of Theodorus, son of Zeno, were stored. ⁰⁸⁷ Theodorus marched against him and took back his property, plus the king's baggage, and killed ten thousand of the Jews. But Alexander recovered from this and turned his force towards the sea-coasts and took Raphia and Gaza, and Anthedon which was later called Agrippias by king Herod.

[88] Ἐξανδραποδισαμένῳ δὲ ταύτας ἐπανίσταται τὸ Ἰουδαϊκὸν ἐν ἑορτῇ: μάλιστα γὰρ ἐν ταῖς εὐωχίαις αὐτῶν στάσις ἅπτεται. καὶ δοκεῖ μὴ ἂν κρείττων γενέσθαι τῆς ἐπιβουλῆς, εἰ μὴ τὸ ξενικὸν αὐτῷ παρεβοήθει: Πισίδαι καὶ Κίλικες ἦσαν: Σύρους γὰρ οὐκ ἐδέχετο μισθοφόρους διὰ τὴν ἔμφυτον αὐτῶν πρὸς τὸ ἔθνος ἀπέχθειαν. [89] κτείνας δὲ τῶν ἐπαναστάντων ὑπὲρ ἑξακισχιλίους Ἀραβίας ἥπτετο καὶ ταύτης ἑλὼν Γαλααδίτας καὶ Μωαβίτας φόρον τε αὐτοῖς ἐπιτάξας ἀνέστρεψεν ἐπὶ Ἀμαθοῦν. Θεοδώρου δὲ πρὸς τὰς εὐπραγίας αὐτὸν καταπλαγέντος ἔρημον λαβὼν τὸ φρούριον κατέσκαψεν.

3. ⁰⁸⁸ When he had enslaved these cities, the Jewish nation rose against him during a festival, for it is at feasts that revolts usually begin, and only escaped their plot without the help of foreigners, the Pisidians and Cilicians, though he never took on Syrian mercenaries, due to their inbred hatred of our nation. ⁰⁸⁹ After killing more than six thousand of the rebels, he invaded Arabia, and when he had taken that country, along with the Galadites and Moabites, he made them pay him tribute and returned to Amathus. Then as Theodorus was stunned at his great success, he found the fortress empty and demolished it.

[90] Ἔπειτα συμβαλὼν Ὀβαίδαι τῷ Ἀράβων βασιλεῖ προλοχίσαντι κατὰ τὴν Γαυλάνην ἐνέδρας αὐτῷ γενομένης πᾶσαν ἀποβάλλει τὴν στρατιὰν συνωσθεῖσαν κατὰ βαθείας φάραγγος καὶ πλήθει καμήλων συντριβεῖσαν. διαφυγὼν δ' αὐτὸς εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα τῷ μεγέθει τῆς συμφορᾶς πάλαι μισοῦν τὸ ἔθνος ἠρέθισεν εἰς ἐπανάστασιν. [91] γίνεται δὲ καὶ τότε κρείττων καὶ μάχαις ἐπαλλήλοις οὐκ ἔλαττον πεντακισμυρίων Ἰουδαίων ἀνεῖλεν ἐν ἓξ ἔτεσιν: οὐ μὴν εὐφραίνετό γε ταῖς νίκαις τὴν ἑαυτοῦ βασιλείαν ἀναλίσκων: ὅθεν παυσάμενος τῶν ὅπλων λόγοις ἐπεχείρει διαλύεσθαι πρὸς τοὺς ὑποτεταγμένους. [92] οἱ δὲ μᾶλλον ἐμίσουν τὴν μετάνοιαν αὐτοῦ καὶ τοῦ τρόπου τὸ ἀνώμαλον, πυνθανομένῳ τε τὸ αἴτιον, τί ἂν ποιήσας καταστείλειεν αὐτούς, ἀποθανών, ἔλεγον: νεκρῷ γὰρ ἂν διαλλαγῆναι μόλις τῷ τοσαῦτα δράσαντι. ἅμα δὲ καὶ τὸν Ἄκαιρον ἐπικληθέντα Δημήτριον ἐπεκαλοῦντο. ῥαιδίως δὲ ὑπακούσαντος κατ' ἐλπίδα μειζόνων καὶ μετὰ στρατιᾶς ἥκοντος συνέμισγον οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι τοῖς συμμάχοις περὶ Σίκιμα.

4. ⁰⁹⁰ But when he fought Obodas, king of the Arabs, who slyly ambushed him near Golan, he lost his entire army, herded together into a deep valley and crushed under the weight of camels; and when he fled to Jerusalem the people, who already hated him, seeing the scale of his disaster, rebelled against him. ⁰⁹¹ He proved superior, and in their battles he killed no fewer than fifty thousand Jews over a period of six years. Yet these victories gave him no joy, since he was ruining his own kingdom, and at last he gave up fighting and tried to pacify his subjects by persuasion. ⁰⁹² But the change and inconsistency of his approach made them hate him still more. When asked why they hated him and what he could do to appease them, they said, "by death!" for even in his death they would scarcely be reconciled to one who had done such dreadful things. Then they called on the help of Demetrius, surnamed Eucerus, who readily accepted, seeing hopes of great gain, and came with his army, and the Jews joined up with their allies about Sikima.

[93] Δέχεται δ' ἑκατέρους Ἀλέξανδρος ἱππεῦσι μὲν χιλίοις, μισθοφόροις δὲ πεζοῖς ὀκτακισχιλίοις: παρῆν δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ τὸ εὐνοοῦν Ἰουδαϊκὸν εἰς μυρίους. τῶν δ' ἐναντίων ἱππεῖς μὲν ἦσαν τρισχίλιοι, πεζῶν δὲ μύριοι τετρακισχίλιοι. καὶ πρὶν εἰς χεῖρας ἐλθεῖν διακηρύσσοντες οἱ βασιλεῖς ἐπειρῶντο τῶν παρ' ἀλλήλοις ἀποστάσεων, Δημήτριος μὲν τοὺς Ἀλεξάνδρου μισθοφόρους, Ἀλέξανδρος δὲ τοὺς ἅμα Δημητρίῳ Ἰουδαίους μεταπείσειν ἐλπίσας. [94] ὡς δ' οὔτε Ἰουδαῖοι θυμῶν οὔτε οἱ Ἕλληνες ἐπαύσαντο πίστεως, διεκρίνοντο ἤδη τοῖς ὅπλοις συμπεσόντες. [95] κρατεῖ δὲ τῇ μάχῃ Δημήτριος καίτοι πολλὰ τῶν Ἀλεξάνδρου μισθοφόρων καὶ ψυχῆς ἔργα καὶ χειρὸς ἐπιδειξαμένων. χωρεῖ δὲ τὸ τέλος τῆς παρατάξεως παρὰ δόξαν ἀμφοτέροις: οὔτε γὰρ Δημητρίῳ παρέμειναν νικῶντι οἱ καλέσαντες, καὶ κατὰ οἶκτον τῆς μεταβολῆς Ἀλεξάνδρῳ προσεχώρησαν εἰς τὰ ὄρη καταφυγόντι Ἰουδαίων ἑξακισχίλιοι. ταύτην τὴν ῥοπὴν οὐκ ἤνεγκεν Δημήτριος, ἀλλ' ὑπολαβὼν ἤδη μὲν ἀξιόμαχον εἶναι πάλιν Ἀλέξανδρον, μεταρρεῖν δὲ καὶ πᾶν τὸ ἔθνος εἰς αὐτόν, ἀνεχώρησεν.

5. ⁰⁹³ Alexander met both these forces with a thousand cavalry and eight thousand mercenary foot-soldiers. Also with him were ten thousand of the Jews who took his side, while the opposition had three thousand cavalry and fourteen thousand infantry. Before the battle, the officers made proclamations to win over each other's soldiers and get them to revolt. Demetrius hoped to get Alexander's mercenaries to desert while Alexander hoped to get the Jews to leave Demetrius. ⁰⁹⁴ But the Jews did not give up their rage nor did the Greeks prove unfaithful, so they met in a bitter clash of arms. ⁰⁹⁵ If Demetrius won the battle, Alexander's mercenaries performed greater exploits, both in soul and body; but the upshot proved unexpected for both of them. For those who invited Demetrius to come to them did not stay loyal to him even in victory, and six thousand Jews, pitying Alexander's misfortune when he fled to the mountains, went over to him. ⁰⁹⁶ Demetrius found this unbearable, and thinking that Alexander had become as strong as him again and that all the nation would turn to him, he went away.

[96] Οὐ μὴν τό γε λοιπὸν πλῆθος ὑποχωρησάντων τῶν συμμάχων κατέθεντο τὰς διαφοράς, συνεχὴς δὲ πρὸς Ἀλέξανδρον ἦν αὐτοῖς ὁ πόλεμος, μέχρι πλείστους ἀποκτείνας τοὺς λοιποὺς ἀπήλασεν εἰς Βεμέσελιν πόλιν καὶ ταύτην καταστρεψάμενος αἰχμαλώτους ἀνήγαγεν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα. [97] προύκοψεν δὲ αὐτῷ δι' ὑπερβολὴν ὀργῆς εἰς ἀσέβειαν τὸ τῆς ὠμότητος: τῶν γὰρ ληφθέντων ὀκτακοσίους ἀνασταυρώσας ἐν μέσῃ τῇ πόλει γυναῖκάς τε καὶ τέκνα αὐτῶν ἀπέσφαξεν ταῖς ὄψεσι: καὶ ταῦτα πίνων καὶ συγκατακείμενος ταῖς παλλακίσιν ἀφεώρα. [98] τοσαύτη δὲ κατάπληξις ἔσχεν τὸν δῆμον, ὥστε τῶν ἀντιστασιαστῶν κατὰ τὴν ἐπιοῦσαν νύκτα φυγεῖν ὀκτακισχιλίους ἔξω Ἰουδαίας ὅλης, οἷς ὅρος τῆς φυγῆς ὁ Ἀλεξάνδρου θάνατος κατέστη. τοιούτοις ἔργοις ὀψὲ καὶ μόλις ἡσυχίαν τῇ βασιλείᾳ πορίσας ἀνεπαύσατο τῶν ὅπλων.

6. ⁰⁹⁶ But the rest of the crowd did not lay aside their quarrels with him, when the foreign allies had left, but fought a perpetual war with Alexander until he killed most of them and drove the rest into the city of Bemeselis, and when he had demolished it, brought the captives to Jerusalem. ⁰⁹⁷ Indeed his rage was so excessive and his savagery so godless that after ordering eight hundred men to be crucified within the city, he had the throats of their wives and children cut before their eyes, and witnessed these executions while drinking and cavorting with his concubines. ⁰⁹⁸ At this the people were so shocked that eight thousand of his opponents fled the very next night, from all Judea, and their flight only ended with Alexander's death. Only by such actions, though not until late and with great difficulty, did he finally win peace for his kingdom and set aside war.

[99] Γίνεται δὲ πάλιν ἀρχὴ θορύβων Ἀντίοχος ὁ καὶ Διόνυσος ἐπικληθείς, Δημητρίου μὲν ἀδελφὸς ὤν, τελευταῖος δὲ τῶν ἀπὸ Σελεύκου: τοῦτον γὰρ δείσας στρατεύεσθαι ἐπὶ τοὺς Ἄραβας ὡρμημένον τὸ μὲν μεταξὺ τῆς ὑπὲρ Ἀντιπατρίδος παρωρείου καὶ τῶν Ἰόππης αἰγιαλῶν διαταφρεύει φάραγγι βαθείαι, πρὸ δὲ τῆς τάφρου τεῖχος ἤγειρεν ὑψηλὸν καὶ ξυλίνους πύργους ἐτεκτήνατο τὰς εὐμαρεῖς ἐμβολὰς ἀποφράττων. [100] οὐ μὴν εἶρξαί γε τὸν Ἀντίοχον ἴσχυσεν: ἐμπρήσας γὰρ τοὺς πύργους καὶ τὴν τάφρον χώσας διήλαυνε μετὰ τῆς δυνάμεως. θέμενος δὲ ἐν δευτέρῳ τὴν πρὸς τὸν κωλύσαντα ἄμυναν εὐθὺς ἐπὶ τοὺς Ἄραβας ἤιει. [101] τῶν δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς ἀναχωρῶν εἰς τὰ χρησιμώτερα τῆς χώρας πρὸς τὴν μάχην, ἔπειτα τὴν ἵππον ἐξαίφνης ἐπιστρέψας, μυρία δ' ἦν τὸν ἀριθμόν, ἀτάκτοις ἐπιπίπτει τοῖς περὶ τὸν Ἀντίοχον. καρτερᾶς δὲ μάχης γενομένης ἕως μὲν περιῆν Ἀντίοχος ἀντεῖχεν ἡ δύναμις αὐτοῦ καίπερ ἀνέδην ὑπὸ τῶν Ἀράβων φονευόμενοι: [102] πεσόντος δέ, καὶ γὰρ προεκινδύνευεν ἀεὶ τοῖς ἡττωμένοις παραβοηθῶν, ἐγκλίνουσιν πάντες, καὶ τὸ μὲν πλεῖστον αὐτῶν ἐπί τε τῆς παρατάξεως κἀν τῇ φυγῇ διαφθείρεται, τοὺς δὲ λοιποὺς καταφυγόντας εἰς Κανὰ κώμην σπάνει τῶν ἐπιτηδείων ἀναλωθῆναι συνέβη πλὴν ὀλίγων ἅπαντας.

7. ⁰⁹⁹ Yet Antiochus, surnamed Dionysius, who was the brother of Demetrius and the last of the race of the Seleucids, once again gave rise to disturbances. When he was on a campaign against the Arabs, Alexander was afraid of him so he cut a deep trench from Antipatris, near the mountains, down to the coast at Joppa. In front of the trench he built a high wall and wooden towers, to prevent any sudden attacks. ¹⁰⁰ But still he was unable to keep out Antiochus, who burned the towers and filled up the trenches and marched through with his army. However, as he regarded taking revenge on Alexander for trying to stop him as less important, he pushed right on against the Arabs. ¹⁰¹ Their king retreated into the parts of the country most suited for a battle and then suddenly wheeled round his cavalry, ten thousand strong, and attacked the army of Antiochus while they were in disorder and the fierce battle that followed, as long as Antiochus was alive his troops held out, although the Arabs killed many of them, ¹⁰² but once he fell, for he was rallying his troops at the front in the point of greatest danger, they all fell back and most of them were killed, either in the action or in the flight, and of the remnant who fled to the village of Cana, all except a few died of starvation.

[103] Ἐκ τούτου Δαμασκηνοὶ διὰ τὸ πρὸς Πτολεμαῖον τὸν Μενναίου μῖσος Ἀρέταν ἐπάγονται καὶ καθιστῶσιν κοίλης Συρίας βασιλέα. στρατεύεται δ' οὗτος ἐπὶ τὴν Ἰουδαίαν καὶ μάχῃ νικήσας Ἀλέξανδρον κατὰ συνθήκας ἀνεχώρησεν. [104] Ἀλέξανδρος δὲ Πέλλαν ἑλὼν ἐπὶ Γέρασαν ἤιει πάλιν τῶν Θεοδώρου κτημάτων γλιχόμενος, καὶ τρισὶ τοὺς φρουροὺς περιβόλοις ἀποτειχίσας διὰ μάχης τὸ χωρίον παραλαμβάνει. [105] καταστρέφεται δὲ καὶ Γαυλάνην καὶ Σελεύκειαν καὶ τὴν Ἀντιόχου φάραγγα καλουμένην, πρὸς οἷς Γάμαλα φρούριον καρτερὸν ἑλών, τὸν ἄρχοντα Δημήτριον ἐν αὐτῷ παραλύσας ἐκ πολλῶν ἐγκλημάτων ἐπάνεισιν εἰς Ἰουδαίαν, τρία πληρώσας ἔτη τῆς στρατείας. ἀσμένως δ' ὑπὸ τοῦ ἔθνους ἐδέχθη διὰ τὴν εὐπραγίαν, καὶ λαμβάνει τὴν ἀνάπαυσιν τοῦ πολεμεῖν ἀρχὴν νόσου. [106] τεταρταίαις δὲ περιόδοις πυρετῶν ἐνοχλούμενος ὠιήθη διακρούσεσθαι τὴν νόσον πάλιν ἁψάμενος πραγμάτων. διὸ δὴ στρατείαις ἀκαίροις ἑαυτὸν ἐπιδιδοὺς καὶ βιαζόμενος παρὰ δύναμιν τὸ σῶμα πρὸς τὰς ἐνεργείας ἀπήλλαξεν. τελευτᾷ γοῦν ἐν μέσοις τοῖς θορύβοις στρεφόμενος βασιλεύσας ἑπτὰ πρὸς τοῖς εἴκοσιν ἔτη.

8. ¹⁰³ About this time the people of Damascus, because they hated Ptolemy, the son of Mennaeus, invited Aretas and made him king of Coele-Syria. This man also made war on Judea and defeated Alexander in battle, but later retreated under a treaty. ¹⁰⁴ But Alexander took Pella and marched again on Gerasa, because he coveted the property of Theodorus, and building a triple wall around the garrison, took the place by force. ¹⁰⁵ He also demolished Golan and Seleucia and the so-called Gorge of Antiochus, and took the strong fortress of Gamala, robbing the property of its ruler Demetrius, who was accused of many crimes. After an expedition of three years he returned to Judea and was welcomed by the nation for his success; but while resting from the war he fell sick. ¹⁰⁶ He suffered from a recurring ailment and thought he could get rid of it by more exercise in warlike activities; but by such expeditions at unsuitable times and subjecting his body to more hardship than it could bear, they put an end to him and he died after reigning for twenty seven years.

[107] Καταλείπει δὲ τὴν βασιλείαν Ἀλεξάνδρᾳ τῇ γυναικὶ πεπεισμένος ταύτῃ μάλιστ' ἂν ὑπακοῦσαι τοὺς Ἰουδαίους, ἐπειδὴ τῆς ὠμότητος αὐτοῦ μακρὰν ἀποδέουσα καὶ ταῖς παρανομίαις ἀνθισταμένη τὸν δῆμον εἰς εὔνοιαν προσηγάγετο. [108] καὶ οὐ διήμαρτεν τῆς ἐλπίδος: ἐκράτησεν γὰρ τῆς ἀρχῆς τὸ γύναιον διὰ δόξαν εὐσεβείας: ἠκρίβου γὰρ δὴ μάλιστα τοῦ νόμου τὰ πάτρια καὶ τοὺς πλημμελοῦντας εἰς τοὺς ἱεροὺς νόμους ἐξ ἀρχῆς προεβάλλετο. [109] δύο δ' αὐτῇ παίδων ὄντων ἐξ Ἀλεξάνδρου τὸν μὲν πρεσβύτερον Ὑρκανὸν διά τε τὴν ἡλικίαν ἀποδείκνυσιν ἀρχιερέα καὶ ἄλλως ὄντα νωθέστερον ἢ ὥστε ἐνοχλεῖν περὶ τῶν ὅλων, τὸν δὲ νεώτερον Ἀριστόβουλον διὰ θερμότητα κατεῖχεν ἰδιώτην.

1. ¹⁰⁷ Alexander left the kingdom to his wife Alexandra and expected the Jews to submit readily to her, as she had been against the savagery with which he treated them and had opposed his violating their laws, and thereby gained the people's goodwill. ¹⁰⁸ He was not mistaken in this, for she ruled due to the people's esteem for her piety, and she seriously studied the ancient customs of her country and expelled from office those who broke their holy laws. ¹⁰⁹ Of her two sons by Alexander, she appointed the elder, Hyrcanus, as high priest, because of his age and his inactive temper, which in no way disposed him to disturb the public, but she kept the younger, Aristobulus, with her as a private citizen, because of his rashness.

[110] Παραφύονται δὲ αὐτῆς εἰς τὴν ἐξουσίαν Φαρισαῖοι, σύνταγμά τι Ἰουδαίων δοκοῦν εὐσεβέστερον εἶναι τῶν ἄλλων καὶ τοὺς νόμους ἀκριβέστερον ἀφηγεῖσθαι. [111] τούτοις περισσὸν δή τι προσεῖχεν ἡ Ἀλεξάνδρα σεσοβημένη περὶ τὸ θεῖον. οἱ δὲ τὴν ἁπλότητα τῆς ἀνθρώπου κατὰ μικρὸν ὑπιόντες ἤδη καὶ διοικηταὶ τῶν ὅλων ἐγίνοντο διώκειν τε καὶ κατάγειν οὓς ἐθέλοιεν, λύειν τε καὶ δεσμεῖν. καθόλου δὲ αἱ μὲν ἀπολαύσεις τῶν βασιλείων ἐκείνων ἦσαν, τὰ δ' ἀναλώματα καὶ αἱ δυσχέρειαι τῆς Ἀλεξάνδρας. [112] δεινὴ δ' ἦν τὰ μείζω διοικεῖν, δύναμίν τε ἀεὶ συγκροτοῦσα διπλασίονα κατέστησεν καὶ ξενικὴν συνήγαγεν οὐκ ὀλίγην, ὡς μὴ μόνον κρατύνεσθαι τὸ οἰκεῖον ἔθνος, φοβερὰν δὲ καὶ τοῖς ἔξωθεν εἶναι δυνάσταις. ἐκράτει δὲ τῶν μὲν ἄλλων αὐτή, Φαρισαῖοι δ' αὐτῆς.

2. ¹¹⁰ Alongside her, to help her in ruling, she had the Pharisees, a sect of the Jews visibly more religious than others and devoted to the exposition of the laws. ¹¹¹ Alexandra, who was very devoted to the Deity, paid great deference to them. They took advantage of her naivety and gradually became the real rulers of the state, banishing and recalling and loosing and binding as they pleased. Briefly, they enjoyed royal authority, while its cost and burdens fell to Alexandra. ¹¹² In larger matters she was a good ruler, and by enlisting soldiers increased the army by half and gathered a significant foreign regiment to strengthen the nation, so that she was feared by foreign princes. But while she ruled others, the Pharisees ruled her.

[113] Διογένην γοῦν τινα τῶν ἐπισήμων φίλον Ἀλεξάνδρῳ γεγενημένον κτείνουσιν αὐτοὶ σύμβουλον ἐγκαλοῦντες γεγονέναι περὶ τῶν ἀνασταυρωθέντων ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως ὀκτακοσίων. ἐνῆγον δὲ τὴν Ἀλεξάνδραν εἰς τὸ καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους διαχειρίσασθαι τῶν παροξυνάντων ἐπ' ἐκείνους τὸν Ἀλέξανδρον: ἐνδιδούσης δ' ὑπὸ δεισιδαιμονίας ἀνήιρουν οὓς ἐθέλοιεν αὐτοί. [114] προσφεύγουσι δὲ Ἀριστοβούλῳ τῶν κινδυνευόντων οἱ προύχειν δοκοῦντες, κἀκεῖνος πείθει τὴν μητέρα φείσασθαι μὲν διὰ τὸ ἀξίωμα τῶν ἀνδρῶν, ἐκπέμψαι δ' αὐτούς, εἰ μὴ καθαροὺς ὑπείληφεν, ἐκ τῆς πόλεως. οἱ μὲν οὖν δοθείσης ἀδείας ἐσκεδάσθησαν ἀνὰ τὴν χώραν.

[115] Ἀλεξάνδρα δὲ ἐκπέμψασα ἐπὶ Δαμασκὸν στρατιάν, πρόφασις δ' ἦν Πτολεμαῖος ἀεὶ θλίβων τὴν πόλιν, ταύτην μὲν ὑπεδέξατο μηθὲν ἀξιόλογον ἐργασαμένην. [116] Τιγράνην δὲ τὸν Ἀρμενίων βασιλέα προσκαθεζόμενον Πτολεμαΐδι καὶ πολιορκοῦντα Κλεοπάτραν συνθήκαις καὶ δώροις ὑπηγάγετο. φθάνει δ' ἐκεῖνος ἀπαναστὰς διὰ τὰς οἴκοι ταραχὰς ἐμβεβληκότος εἰς τὴν Ἀρμενίαν Λευκόλλου.

3. ¹¹³ They caused the death of Diogenes, a distinguished man who had been a friend to Alexander, alleging that he had advised the king to crucify the eight hundred men. They also persuaded Alexandra to put to death the rest of those who had angered him against them, and she was so devout as to follow their desires and so they killed whoever they pleased. ¹¹⁴ But the most distinguished of the people in danger fled to Aristobulus, who persuaded his mother to spare them due to their dignity, but to expel them from the city, unless she saw them as innocent, so they were left alive and scattered all over the country.

¹¹⁵ Alexandra sent out her army to Damascus, under pretext that Ptolemy was always a danger to that city, and took it without much of a fight. ¹¹⁶ By agreements and gifts, she also got Tigranes, king of Armenia, who with his troops was camped round Ptolemais besieging Cleopatra, to leave. Soon he abandoned the siege, because of the domestic riots following Lucullus's invasion of Armenia.

[117] Κἀν τούτῳ νοσούσης Ἀλεξάνδρας ὁ νεώτερος τῶν παίδων Ἀριστόβουλος τὸν καιρὸν ἁρπάσας μετὰ τῶν οἰκετῶν, εἶχεν δὲ πολλοὺς καὶ πάντας εὔνους διὰ τὴν θερμότητα, κρατεῖ μὲν τῶν ἐρυμάτων ἁπάντων, τοῖς δ' ἐκ τούτων χρήμασιν μισθοφόρους ἀθροίσας ἑαυτὸν ἀποδείκνυσι βασιλέα. [118] πρὸς ταῦτα ὀδυρόμενον τὸν Ὑρκανὸν ἡ μήτηρ οἰκτείρασα τήν τε γυναῖκα καὶ τοὺς παῖδας Ἀριστοβούλου καθείργνυσιν εἰς τὴν Ἀντωνίαν: φρούριον δ' ἦν τῷ βορείῳ κλίματι τοῦ ἱεροῦ προσκείμενον, πάλαι μέν, ὡς ἔφην, βᾶρις ὀνομαζόμενον, αὖθις δὲ ταύτης τυχὸν τῆς προσηγορίας ἐπικρατήσαντος Ἀντωνίου, καθάπερ ἀπό τε τοῦ Σεβαστοῦ καὶ Ἀγρίππα Σεβαστὴ καὶ Ἀγριππιὰς πόλεις ἐπωνομάσθησαν. [119] πρὶν δὲ ἐπεξελθεῖν Ἀλεξάνδρα τὸν Ἀριστόβουλον τῆς τἀδελφοῦ καταλύσεως τελευτᾷ διοικήσασα τὴν ἀρχὴν ἔτεσιν ἐννέα.

4. ¹¹⁷ Alexandra then fell sick and Aristobulus, her younger son, took his chance, along which his many accomplices who were fervently devoted to him and seized all the fortresses. He also used the money he found in them to gather a number of mercenaries and made himself king. ¹¹⁸ When Hyrcanus complained to his mother, she supported his case and shut up Aristobulus's wife and sons in the Antonia, a fortress adjoining the north side of the temple. It was formerly called the Baris, , as I said, but later got the name of Antonia, under Antony, just as the cities of Sebaste and Agrippias were called after Augustus and Agrippa. ¹¹⁹ Alexandra died after reigning for nine years, before she could punish Aristobulus for pushing his brother aside.

[120] Καὶ κληρονόμος μὲν ἦν τῶν ὅλων Ὑρκανός, ὧι καὶ ζῶσα τὴν βασιλείαν ἐνεχείρισεν, δυνάμει δὲ καὶ φρονήματι προεῖχεν ὁ Ἀριστόβουλος. γενομένης δὲ αὐτοῖς περὶ τῶν ὅλων συμβολῆς περὶ Ἱεριχοῦντα καταλιπόντες οἱ πολλοὶ τὸν Ὑρκανὸν μεταβαίνουσιν πρὸς τὸν Ἀριστόβουλον. [121] ὁ δὲ μετὰ τῶν συμμεινάντων φθάνει συμφυγὼν ἐπὶ τὴν Ἀντωνίαν καὶ κυριεύσας τῶν πρὸς σωτηρίαν ὁμήρων: ταῦτα δ' ἦν ἡ Ἀριστοβούλου γυνὴ μετὰ τῶν τέκνων. ἀμέλει πρὶν ἀνηκέστου πάθους διελύθησαν, ὥστε βασιλεύειν μὲν Ἀριστόβουλον, Ὑρκανὸν δὲ ἐκστάντα τῆς ἄλλης ἀπολαύειν τιμῆς ὥσπερ ἀδελφὸν βασιλέως. [122] ἐπὶ τούτοις διαλλαγέντες ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ καὶ τοῦ λαοῦ περιεστῶτος φιλοφρόνως ἀλλήλους ἀσπασάμενοι διήμειψαν τὰς οἰκίας: Ἀριστόβουλος μὲν γὰρ εἰς τὰ βασίλεια, Ὑρκανὸς δὲ ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὴν Ἀριστοβούλου οἰκίαν.

1. ¹²⁰ Hyrcanus was heir to the kingdom as his mother had entrusted it to him before she died, but Aristobulus surpassed him in power and intelligence, and when there was a conflict between them near Jericho, to decide the dispute about the kingship, the majority deserted Hyrcanus and went over to Aristobulus. ¹²¹ Hyrcanus and those of his party who stayed with him fled to the Antonia and to ensure his safety seized as hostages Aristobulus's wife and children. Before it got too extreme, however, they agreed that Aristobulus would rule and Hyrcanus to resign, enjoying all his other dignities as the king's brother. ¹²² With this they were reconciled in the temple and warmly embraced each other, surrounded by the people. They also exchanged houses, with Aristobulus going to the royal palace and Hyrcanus retiring to the house of Aristobulus.

[123] Δέος δὲ τοῖς τε ἄλλοις τῶν Ἀριστοβούλου διαφόρων ἐμπίπτει παρ' ἐλπίδα κρατήσαντος καὶ μάλιστα Ἀντιπάτρῳ πάλαι διαμισουμένῳ. γένος δ' ἦν Ἰδουμαῖος προγόνων τε ἕνεκα καὶ πλούτου καὶ τῆς ἄλλης ἰσχύος πρωτεύων τοῦ ἔθνους. [124] οὗτος ἅμα καὶ τὸν Ὑρκανὸν Ἀρέται προσφυγόντα τῷ βασιλεῖ τῆς Ἀραβίας ἀνακτήσασθαι τὴν βασιλείαν ἔπειθεν καὶ τὸν Ἀρέταν δέξασθαί τε τὸν Ὑρκανὸν καὶ καταγαγεῖν ἐπὶ τὴν ἀρχήν, πολλὰ μὲν τὸν Ἀριστόβουλον εἰς τὸ ἦθος διαβάλλων, πολλὰ δ' ἐπαινῶν τὸν Ὑρκανὸν [παρήινει δέξασθαι], καὶ ὡς πρέπον εἴη τὸν οὕτω λαμπρᾶς προεστῶτα βασιλείας ὑπερέχειν χεῖρα τῷ ἀδικουμένῳ: ἀδικεῖσθαι δὲ τὸν Ὑρκανὸν στερηθέντα τῆς κατὰ τὸ πρεσβεῖον αὐτῷ προσηκούσης ἀρχῆς. [125] προκατασκευάσας δὲ ἀμφοτέρους, νύκτωρ ἀναλαβὼν τὸν Ὑρκανὸν ἀπὸ τῆς πόλεως ἀποδιδράσκει καὶ συντόνῳ φυγῇ χρώμενος εἰς τὴν καλουμένην Πέτραν διασώζεται: βασίλειον αὕτη τῆς Ἀραβίας ἐστίν. [126] ἔνθα τῷ Ἀρέται τὸν Ὑρκανὸν ἐγχειρίσας καὶ πολλὰ μὲν καθομιλήσας, πολλοῖς δὲ δώροις ὑπελθὼν δοῦναι δύναμιν αὐτῷ πείθει τὴν κατάξουσαν αὐτόν: ἦν δ' αὕτη πεζῶν τε καὶ ἱππέων πέντε μυριάδες, πρὸς ἣν οὐκ ἀντέσχεν Ἀριστόβουλος, ἀλλ' ἐν τῇ πρώτῃ συμβολῇ λειφθεὶς εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα συνελαύνεται. [127] κἂν ἔφθη κατὰ κράτος ληφθείς, εἰ μὴ Σκαῦρος ὁ Ῥωμαίων στρατηγὸς ἐπαναστὰς αὐτῶν τοῖς καιροῖς ἔλυσε τὴν πολιορκίαν: ὃς ἐπέμφθη μὲν εἰς Συρίαν ἀπὸ Ἀρμενίας ὑπὸ Πομπηίου Μάγνου πολεμοῦντος πρὸς Τιγράνην, παραγενόμενος δὲ εἰς Δαμασκὸν ἑαλωκυῖαν προσφάτως ὑπὸ Μετέλλου καὶ Λολλίου καὶ τούτους μεταστήσας, ἐπειδὴ τὰ κατὰ τὴν Ἰουδαίαν ἐπύθετο, καθάπερ ἐφ' ἕρμαιον ἠπείχθη.

2. ¹²³ Those opposed to Aristobulus were afraid when he unexpectedly came to power, and especially Antipater whom Aristobulus hated of old. He was by birth an Idumaean and a leading figure in that nation, due to his ancestors and riches and other resources. ¹²⁴ He persuaded Hyrcanus to flee to Aretas, the king of Arabia, and to reclaim his kingship, and persuaded Aretas to welcome Hyrcanus and to restore him as king. He accused Aristobulus of gross immorality and praised Hyrcanus, urging Aretas to receive him and saying how fine it would be for him, who ruled so splendid a kingdom, to lend a hand to one who was wronged, claiming that Hyrcanus was wronged by being deprived of the leadership which was his by right of age. ¹²⁵ Having convinced them both, he took Hyrcanus by night and fled from the city, and in a swift flight, reached the place called Petra, the royal seat of Arabia. ¹²⁶ There he put Hyrcanus into Aretas's hands and after much conversation and winning him over with many gifts, persuaded Aretas to give him an army for his return. This consisted of fifty thousand infantry and cavalry, and Aristobulus could not hold it at bay, for he was deserted at the first attack and driven back to Jerusalem. ¹²⁶ He would have been captured early on, if Scaurus, the Roman general, had not come in the nick of time and raised the siege. This Scaurus was sent into Syria from Armenia by Pompey the Great, who was fighting against Tigranes, so Scaurus came to Damascus, which had recently been captured by Metellus and Lollius and drove them out of it, and then, hearing how things stood in Judea, hurried there as though to certain victory.

[128] Παρελθόντος γοῦν εἰς τὴν χώραν πρέσβεις εὐθέως ἧκον παρὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἑκατέρου δεομένου βοηθεῖν αὐτῷ. γίνεται δ' ἐπίπροσθεν τοῦ δικαίου τὰ παρὰ Ἀριστοβούλου τριακόσια τάλαντα: τοσοῦτον γὰρ λαβὼν Σκαῦρος ἐπικηρυκεύεται πρός τε Ὑρκανὸν καὶ τοὺς Ἄραβας ἀπειλῶν Ῥωμαίους καὶ Πομπήιον, εἰ μὴ λύσειαν τὴν πολιορκίαν. [129] ἀνεχώρει δὲ ἐκ τῆς Ἰουδαίας εἰς Φιλαδέλφειαν Ἀρέτας καταπλαγείς, καὶ πάλιν εἰς Δαμασκὸν Σκαῦρος. [130] Ἀριστοβούλῳ δ' οὐκ ἀπέχρησεν τὸ μὴ ἁλῶναι, πᾶσαν δὲ τὴν δύναμιν ἐπισυλλέξας εἵπετο τοῖς πολεμίοις καὶ περὶ τὸν καλούμενον Παπυρῶνα συμβαλὼν αὐτοῖς ὑπὲρ ἑξακισχιλίους κτείνει, μεθ' ὧν καὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν τὸν Ἀντιπάτρου Φαλλίωνα.

3. ¹²⁸ When he arrived in that country, envoys came from both the brothers, each looking for his help, but Aristobulus's three hundred talents weighed more with him than the justice of the cause. After accepting the money, Scaurus sent a herald to Hyrcanus and the Arabs threatening them with the wrath of the Romans and of Pompey, unless they raised the siege. ¹²⁸ Aretas was fearful and retreated from Judea to Philadelphia, and Scaurus returned to Damascus. ¹³⁰ Not satisfied with merely escaping, Aristobulus gathered all his forces and pursued his enemies and fought them at a place called Papyron and killed about six thousand of them, including Antipater's brother Phallion.

[131] Ὑρκανὸς δὲ καὶ Ἀντίπατρος τῶν Ἀράβων ἀφαιρεθέντες μετέφερον ἐπὶ τοὺς ἐναντίους τὴν ἐλπίδα, καὶ ἐπειδὴ Πομπήιος ἐπιὼν τὴν Συρίαν εἰς Δαμασκὸν ἧκεν, ἐπ' αὐτὸν καταφεύγουσιν καὶ δίχα δωρεῶν αἷς καὶ πρὸς τὸν Ἀρέταν δικαιολογίαις χρώμενοι κατηντιβόλουν μισῆσαι μὲν τὴν Ἀριστοβούλου βίαν, κατάγειν δὲ ἐπὶ τὴν βασιλείαν τὸν καὶ τρόπῳ καὶ καθ' ἡλικίαν προσήκοντα. [132] οὐ μὴν οὐδ' Ἀριστόβουλος ὑστέρει πεποιθὼς τῇ Σκαύρου δωροδοκίαι παρῆν τε καὶ αὐτὸς ὡς οἷόν τε βασιλικώτατα κεκοσμηκὼς ἑαυτόν. ἀδοξήσας δὲ πρὸς τὰς θεραπείας καὶ μὴ φέρων δουλεύειν ταῖς χρείαις ταπεινότερον τοῦ σχήματος ἀπὸ διὸς ἡλίου πόλεως χωρίζεται.

4. ¹³¹ Disappointed by the Arabs, Hyrcanus and Antipater put their hopes in the opposing side, and since Pompey had crossed Syria and reached Damascus, they fled to him and, without any bribes, made the just plea as they had to Aretas, to quell the violence of Aristobulus and give the kingdom to the one to whom it rightly belonged, for his good character and being the elder. ¹³² Aristobulus, relying his bribes to Scaurus, was not backward in this matter either. He too went there in person, dressed as royally as possible. But soon he felt it beneath him to come as a client, and unable to bear to pursue his goal in so abject a style, he left Diospolis.

[133] Πρὸς ταῦτ' ἀγανακτήσας Πομπήιος πολλὰ καὶ τῶν περὶ Ὑρκανὸν ἱκετευόντων ὥρμησεν ἐπ' Ἀριστόβουλον, ἀναλαβὼν τήν τε Ῥωμαϊκὴν δύναμιν καὶ πολλοὺς ἐκ τῆς Συρίας συμμάχους. [134] ἐπεὶ δὲ παρελαύνων Πέλλαν καὶ Σκυθόπολιν ἧκεν εἰς Κορέας. ὅθεν ἡ Ἰουδαίων ἄρχεται χώρα κατὰ τὴν μεσόγειον ἀνιόντων, ἀκούσας συμπεφευγέναι τὸν Ἀριστόβουλον εἰς Ἀλεξάνδρειον, τοῦτο δ' ἐστὶν φρούριον τῶν πάνυ φιλοτίμως ἐξησκημένων ὑπὲρ ὄρους ὑψηλοῦ κείμενον, πέμψας καταβαίνειν αὐτὸν ἐκέλευσεν. [135] τῷ δ' ἦν μὲν ὁρμὴ καλουμένῳ δεσποτικώτερον διακινδυνεύειν μᾶλλον ἢ ὑπακοῦσαι, καθεώρα δὲ τὸ πλῆθος ὀρρωδοῦν, καὶ παρήινουν οἱ φίλοι σκέπτεσθαι τὴν Ῥωμαίων ἰσχὺν οὖσαν ἀνυπόστατον. οἷς πεισθεὶς κάτεισιν πρὸς Πομπήιον καὶ πολλὰ περὶ τοῦ δικαίως ἄρχειν ἀπολογηθεὶς ὑπέστρεψεν εἰς τὸ ἔρυμα. [136] πάλιν τε τἀδελφοῦ προκαλουμένου καταβὰς καὶ διαλεχθεὶς περὶ τῶν δικαίων ἄπεισιν μὴ κωλύοντος τοῦ Πομπηΐου. μέσος δ' ἦν ἐλπίδος καὶ δέους, καὶ κατήιει μὲν ὡς δυσωπήσων Πομπήιον πάντ' ἐπιτρέπειν αὐτῷ, πάλιν δὲ ἀνέβαινεν εἰς τὴν ἄκραν, ὡς μὴ προκαταλύειν δόξειεν αὑτόν. [137] ἐπεὶ μέντοι Πομπήιος ἐξίστασθαί τε τῶν φρουρίων ἐκέλευεν αὐτῷ καὶ παράγγελμα τῶν φρουράρχων ἐχόντων μόναις πειθαρχεῖν ταῖς αὐτογράφοις ἐπιστολαῖς, ἠνάγκαζεν αὐτὸν ἑκάστοις γράφειν ἐκχωρεῖν, ποιεῖ μὲν τὰ προσταχθέντα, ἀγανακτήσας δὲ ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα καὶ παρεσκευάζετο πολεμεῖν πρὸς Πομπήιον.

5. ¹³³ Pompey was furious at this and at the petition of Hyrcanus and his friends marched against Aristobulus not only with his Roman forces, but with many Syrian allies. ¹³⁴ When he had passed by Pella and Scythopolis and came to Corea, where the district of Judea is entered from the Mediterranean side, he heard that Aristobulus had fled to Alexandreion, a wonderfully fortified stronghold situated on a high mountain, and he sent orders for him to come down. ¹³⁵ At so despotic a summons, he was inclined to risk battle, rather than obey. However, he saw the crowd afraid and his friends urged him to consider how the Roman power is irresistible, and so persuaded, he came down to Pompey, and after making a long defence of his coming to power, he returned to the fortress. ¹³⁶ When his brother called him out again, he came down and explained the rights of the matter and left without hindrance from Pompey. He was caught between hope and fear. Coming down, it was to get Pompey to grant him everything, but he returned to the fortress, not to seem to abase himself too much. ¹³⁷ However, when Pompey required him to surrender his fortresses and to write to each of their commanders to yield them up, as they had been ordered to obey no letters except in his own handwriting. He did as instructed but felt angry about it and retreated to Jerusalem to prepare for battle with Pompey.

[138] Ὁ δέ, οὐ γὰρ ἐδίδου χρόνον ταῖς παρασκευαῖς, εὐθέως εἵπετο, καὶ προσεπέρρωσεν τὴν ὁρμὴν ὁ Μιθριδάτου θάνατος ἀγγελθεὶς αὐτῷ περὶ Ἱεριχοῦντα, ἔνθα τῆς Ἰουδαίας τὸ πιότατον φοίνικά τε πάμπολυν καὶ βάλσαμον τρέφει. τοῦτο λίθοις ὀξέσιν ἐπιτέμνοντες τὰ πρέμνα συνάγουσιν κατὰ τὰς τομὰς ἐκδακρῦον. [139] καὶ στρατοπεδευσάμενος ἐν τῷ χωρίῳ μίαν ἑσπέραν ἕωθεν ἠπείγετο πρὸς τὰ Ἱεροσόλυμα. καταπλαγεὶς δὲ τὴν ἔφοδον Ἀριστόβουλος ἱκέτης ἀπαντᾷ χρημάτων τε ὑποσχέσει καὶ τῷ μετὰ τῆς πόλεως ἐπιτρέπειν καὶ ἑαυτὸν χαλεπαίνοντα καταστέλλει τὸν Πομπήιον. [140] οὐ μήν τι τῶν ὡμολογημένων ἐγένετο: τὸν γὰρ ἐπὶ τὴν κομιδὴν τῶν χρημάτων ἐκπεμφθέντα Γαβίνιον οἱ τὰ Ἀριστοβούλου φρονοῦντες οὐδὲ τῇ πόλει δέχονται.

6. ¹³⁸ He gave him no time to prepare but pursued him immediately, in a hurry because of the death of Mithridates, news of which he got near Jericho. That is the most fruitful part of Judea, which grows many palm trees besides the balsam tree, whose sprouts they cut with sharp stones and from the incisions they gather the juice, dropping down like tears. ¹³⁹ So pitching camp one night in that place, he hurried on to Jerusalem. Aristobulus was so fearful of his coming that he came out like a supplicant to meet him and calmed Pompey's anger by promising him money and to surrender both himself and the city to him. ¹⁴⁰ But none of this agreement was carried out, for when Gabinius was sent to receive the promised money, Aristobulus's party would not even admit him into the city.

[141] Πρὸς ταῦτα ἀγανακτήσας Πομπήιος Ἀριστόβουλον μὲν ἐφρούρει, πρὸς δὲ τὴν πόλιν ἐλθὼν περιεσκόπει ὅπως δεῖ προσβαλεῖν, τήν τε ὀχυρότητα τῶν τειχῶν δυσμεταχείριστον ὁρῶν καὶ τὴν πρὸ τούτων φάραγγα φοβερὰν τό τε ἱερὸν ἐντὸς τῆς φάραγγος ὀχυρώτατα τετειχισμένον, ὥστε τοῦ ἄστεος ἁλισκομένου δευτέραν εἶναι καταφυγὴν τοῦτο τοῖς πολεμίοις.

1. ¹⁴¹ Angry at this treatment, Pompey kept Aristobulus in custody. When he came to the city, he looked round to see best to attack, noting how the ramparts were so firm that it would be hard to overcome them, and the tremendous ravine before the ramparts, and that the temple on the edge of that ravine was itself surrounded with a very strong wall, so that if the city were taken, the temple would be a second place of refuge where the enemy could retreat.

[142] Διαποροῦντος δ' ἐπὶ πολὺν χρόνον στάσις τοῖς ἔνδον ἐμπίπτει, τῶν μὲν Ἀριστοβούλου πολεμεῖν ἀξιούντων καὶ ῥύεσθαι τὸν βασιλέα, τῶν δὲ τὰ Ὑρκανοῦ φρονούντων ἀνοίγειν Πομπηίῳ τὰς πύλας: πολλοὺς δὲ τούτους ἐποίει τὸ δέος ἀφορῶντας εἰς τὴν τῶν Ῥωμαίων εὐταξίαν. [143] ἡττώμενον δὲ τὸ Ἀριστοβούλου μέρος εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν ἀνεχώρησεν καὶ τὴν συνάπτουσαν ἀπ' αὐτοῦ τῇ πόλει γέφυραν ἀποκόψαντες ἀντισχεῖν εἰς ἔσχατον παρεσκευάζοντο. τῶν δὲ ἑτέρων δεχομένων Ῥωμαίους τῇ πόλει καὶ τὰ βασίλεια παραδιδόντων ἐπὶ μὲν ταῦτα Πομπήιος ἕνα τῶν ὑφ' ἑαυτῷ στρατηγῶν Πείσωνα εἰσπέμπει μετὰ στρατιᾶς: [144] ὃς διαλαβὼν φρουραῖς τὴν πόλιν, ἐπειδὴ τῶν εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν καταφυγόντων οὐδένα λόγοις ἔπειθεν συμβῆναι, τὰ πέριξ εἰς προσβολὰς εὐτρέπιζεν ἔχων τοὺς περὶ τὸν Ὑρκανὸν εἴς τε τὰς ἐπινοίας καὶ τὰς ὑπηρεσίας προθύμους.

2. ¹⁴² As he deliberated matter at length, the people within the city were divided, Aristobulus's party wanting to fight and set their king free, while the party of Hyrcanus wanted to open the gates to Pompey. The dread people felt increased the numbers of the latter, as they saw the Roman soldiers in such excellent order. ¹⁴³ Aa Aristobulus's party were outnumbered they retreated into the temple and cut off the communication between the temple and the city, by breaking down the connecting bridge and prepared to resist to the utmost, but as the others had received the Romans into the city and had handed over the palace to him, Pompey sent Piso, one of his major officers, with armed troops into that palace. ¹⁴⁴ When he could not persuade any of those who had fled to the temple to come to a treaty he put sentries round the city, and prepared the circumstances for and assault, with Hyrcanus's party most ready to advise and help him.

[145] Αὐτὸς δὲ κατὰ τὸ προσάρκτιον κλίμα τήν τε τάφρον ἔχου καὶ τὴν φάραγγα πᾶσαν ὕλην συμφορούσης τῆς δυνάμεως. χαλεπὸν δ' ἦν τὸ ἀναπληροῦν διὰ βάθος ἄπειρον καὶ τῶν Ἰουδαίων πάντα τρόπον εἰργόντων ἄνωθεν, [146] κἂν ἀτέλεστος ἔμεινεν τοῖς Ῥωμαίοις ὁ πόνος, εἰ μὴ τὰς ἑβδομάδας ἐπιτηρῶν ὁ Πομπήιος, ἐν αἷς παντὸς ἔργου διὰ τὴν θρησκείαν χεῖρας ἀπίσχουσιν Ἰουδαῖοι, τὸ χῶμα ὕψου τῆς κατὰ χεῖρα συμβολῆς εἴργων τοὺς στρατιώτας: ὑπὲρ μόνου γὰρ τοῦ σώματος ἀμύνονται τοῖς σαββάτοις. [147] ἤδη δὲ ἀναπεπληρωμένης τῆς φάραγγος πύργους ὑψηλοὺς ἐπιστήσας τῷ χώματι καὶ προσαγαγὼν τὰς ἐκ Τύρου κομισθείσας μηχανὰς ἐπειρᾶτο τοῦ τείχους: ἀνέστελλον δὲ αἱ πετροβόλοι τοὺς καθύπερθεν κωλύοντας. ἀντεῖχον δ' ἐπὶ πλεῖον οἱ κατὰ τοῦτο τὸ μέρος πύργοι μεγέθει τε καὶ κάλλει διαφέροντες.

3. ¹⁴⁵ He was on the north side, filling in the ditch and the entire valley with the materials the army brought up; and it was hard to fill up the valley's great depth, especially as the Jews, from their superior situation, used all possible means to repel them. ¹⁴⁶ The Romans would have failed in their efforts, had not Pompey known of the sabbath, when the religious Jews abstain from work of any kind, and raised his works on those days, while keeping his soldiers from fighting on them, for the Jews only defended themselves on the sabbath. ¹⁴⁷ When he had filled up the valley, he built high towers upon the bank and brought the machines they had fetched from Tyre near to the wall and tried to batter it down, and the stone-slingers drove off those who stood above them, but on this area the very large and splendid towers put up a tough resistance.

[148] Ἔνθα δὴ πολλὰ τῶν Ῥωμαίων κακοπαθούντων ὁ Πομπήιος τά τε ἄλλα τῆς καρτερίας τοὺς Ἰουδαίους ἀπεθαύμαζεν καὶ μάλιστα τοῦ μηδὲν παραλῦσαι: τῆς θρησκείας ἐν μέσοις τοῖς βέλεσιν ἀνειλημένους: ὥσπερ γὰρ εἰρήνης βαθείας κατεχούσης τὴν πόλιν αἵ τε θυσίαι καθ' ἡμέραν καὶ οἱ ἐναγισμοὶ καὶ πᾶσα θεραπεία κατὰ τἀκριβὲς ἐξετελεῖτο τῷ θεῷ, καὶ οὐδὲ κατ' αὐτὴν τὴν ἅλωσιν περὶ τῷ βωμῷ φονευόμενοι τῶν καθ' ἡμέραν νομίμων εἰς τὴν θρησκείαν ἀπέστησαν. [149] τρίτῳ γὰρ μηνὶ τῆς πολιορκίας μόλις ἕνα τῶν πύργων καταρρίψαντες εἰσέπιπτον εἰς τὸ ἱερόν. ὁ δὲ πρῶτος ὑπερβῆναι τολμήσας τὸ τεῖχος Σύλλα παῖς ἦν Φαῦστος Κορνήλιος καὶ μετ' αὐτὸν ἑκατοντάρχαι δύο Φούριος καὶ Φάβιος. εἵπετο δὲ ἑκάστῳ τὸ ἴδιον στῖφος, καὶ περισχόντες πανταχοῦ τὸ ἱερὸν ἔκτεινον οὓς μὲν τῷ ναῷ προσφεύγοντας, οὓς δὲ ἀμυνομένους πρὸς ὀλίγον.

4. ¹⁴⁸ While the Romans toiled hard at this, Pompey had to admire not only the Jews' bravery but how they did not give up their religious services, even when showered with missiles from all sides. For, as if the city were fully at peace, their daily sacrifices and purifications and all aspects of their worship were still duly performed to God. Even when the temple was actually taken and they were being killed near the altar, they did not give up the forms of their daily worship appointed by the law. ¹⁴⁹ Only with difficulty, in the third month of the siege, did the Romans destroy one of the towers and enter the temple. The man who first dared to scale the wall was Faustus Cornelius the son of Sylla, and with him two centurions, Furius and Fabius, each followed by his own cohort, who surrounded and killed the defenders, some as they ran to the sanctuary for refuge and others as they fought briefly in self-defense.

[150] Ἔνθα πολλοὶ τῶν ἱερέων ξιφήρεις τοὺς πολεμίους ἐπιόντας βλέποντες ἀθορύβως ἐπὶ τῆς θρησκείας ἔμειναν, σπένδοντες δὲ ἀπεσφάττοντο καὶ θυμιῶντες καὶ τῆς πρὸς τὸ θεῖον θεραπείας ἐν δευτέρῳ τὴν σωτηρίαν τιθέμενοι. πλεῖστοι δ' ὑπὸ τῶν ὁμοφύλων ἀντιστασιαστῶν ἀνῃροῦντο καὶ κατὰ τῶν κρημνῶν ἔρριπτον ἑαυτοὺς ἄπειροι: καὶ τὰ περὶ τὸ τεῖχος δ' ἔνιοι μανιῶντες ἐν ταῖς ἀμηχανίαις ὑπέπρησαν καὶ συγκατεφλέγοντο. [151] Ἰουδαίων μὲν οὖν ἀνῃρέθησαν μύριοι καὶ δισχίλιοι, Ῥωμαίων δὲ ὀλίγοι μὲν πάνυ νεκροί, τραυματίαι δ' ἐγένοντο πλείους.

5. ¹⁵⁰ Many of the priests, even when they saw their enemies coming at them sword in hand, continued the liturgy and were killed while sacrificing and burning incense, putting the divine service before their own safety. Most were killed by their countrymen of the other faction and many jumped down the cliffsides. Some were in such a mad, hopeless plight that they set fire to places near the wall and were burned up with them. ¹⁵¹ Twelve thousand of the Jews died but very few of the Romans, though a greater number was wounded.

[152] Οὐδὲν δὲ οὕτως ἐν ταῖς τότε συμφοραῖς καθήψατο τοῦ ἔθνους ὡς τὸ τέως ἀόρατον ἅγιον ἐκκαλυφθὲν ὑπὸ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων: παρελθὼν γοῦν σὺν τοῖς περὶ αὐτὸν ὁ Πομπήιος εἰς τὸν ναόν, ἔνθα μόνῳ θεμιτὸν ἦν παριέναι τῷ ἀρχιερεῖ, τὰ ἔνδον ἐθεάσατο, λυχνίαν τε καὶ λύχνους καὶ τράπεζαν καὶ σπονδεῖα καὶ θυμιατήρια, ὁλόχρυσα πάντα, πλῆθός τε ἀρωμάτων σεσωρευμένον καὶ τῶν ἱερῶν χρημάτων εἰς τάλαντα δισχίλια. [153] οὔτε δὲ τούτων οὔτε ἄλλου τινὸς τῶν ἱερῶν κειμηλίων ἥψατο, ἀλλὰ καὶ μετὰ μίαν τῆς ἁλώσεως ἡμέραν καθᾶρᾳ τὸ ἱερὸν τοῖς νεωκόροις προσέταξεν καὶ τὰς ἐξ ἔθους ἐπιτελεῖν θυσίας. αὖθις δ' ἀποδείξας Ὑρκανὸν ἀρχιερέα τά τε ἄλλα προθυμότατον ἑαυτὸν ἐν τῇ πολιορκίαι παρασχόντα καὶ διότι τὸ κατὰ τὴν χώραν πλῆθος ἀπέστησεν Ἀριστοβούλῳ συμπολεμεῖν ὡρμημένον, ἐκ τούτων, ὅπερ ἦν προσῆκον ἀγαθῷ στρατηγῷ, τὸν λαὸν εὐνοίαι πλέον ἢ δέει προσηγάγετο. [154] ἐν δὲ τοῖς αἰχμαλώτοις ἐλήφθη καὶ ὁ Ἀριστοβούλου πενθερός, ὁ δ' αὐτὸς ἦν καὶ θεῖος αὐτῷ. καὶ τοὺς αἰτιωτάτους μὲν τοῦ πολέμου πελέκει κολάζει, Φαῦστον δὲ καὶ τοὺς μετ' αὐτοῦ γενναίως ἀγωνισαμένους λαμπροῖς ἀριστείοις δωρησάμενος τῇ τε χώρᾳ καὶ τοῖς Ἱεροσολύμοις ἐπιτάσσει φόρον.

6. ¹⁵² Amid these calamities nothing touched the nation so much as that their holy place, which had always remained unseen was opened up to foreigners, and Pompey and his men went into the sanctuary which only the high priest was allowed to enter, and saw what was within, the candlestick and its lamps and the table and the pouring vessels and the censers, all made entirely of gold, and a large heap of spices, with two thousand talents of sacred money. ¹⁵³ He did not touch that money, or anything else deposited there, but the day after taking it ordered the officials to purify the temple and to offer the usual sacrifices. He made Hyrcanus high priest for his full support during the siege, and for keeping the rural population from fighting for Aristobulus, which otherwise they were eager to do. This was how he acted the part of a good general and reconciled the people to him more by goodwill than by fear. ¹⁵⁴ Among the captives he took was Aristobulus's father-in-law, who was also his uncle. Those who were the most guilty he punished with beheading, but he rewarded with glorious gifts Faustus and his men who had fought so bravely, and imposed a tax on the country and on Jerusalem itself.

[155] Ἀφελόμενος δὲ τοῦ ἔθνους καὶ τὰς ἐν κοίλῃ Συρίαι πόλεις, ἃς εἷλον, ὑπέταξεν τῷ κατ' ἐκεῖνο Ῥωμαίων στρατηγῷ κατατεταγμένῳ καὶ μόνοις αὐτοὺς τοῖς ἰδίοις ὅροις περιέκλεισεν. ἀνακτίζει δὲ καὶ Γάδαρα ὑπὸ Ἰουδαίων κατεστραμμένην Γαδαρεῖ τινὶ τῶν ἰδίων ἀπελευθέρων Δημητρίῳ χαριζόμενος. [156] ἠλευθέρωσεν δὲ ἀπ' αὐτῶν καὶ τὰς ἐν τῇ μεσογείᾳ πόλεις, ὅσας μὴ φθάσαντες κατέσκαψαν, Ἵππον Σκυθόπολίν τε καὶ Πέλλαν καὶ Σαμάρειαν καὶ Ἰάμνειαν καὶ Μάρισαν Ἄζωτόν τε καὶ Ἀρέθουσαν, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ τὰς παραλίους Γάζαν Ἰόππην Δῶρα καὶ τὴν πάλαι μὲν Στράτωνος πύργον καλουμένην, ὕστερον δὲ μετακτισθεῖσάν τε ὑφ' Ἡρώδου βασιλέως λαμπροτάτοις κατασκευ άσμασιν καὶ μετονομασθεῖσαν Καισάρειαν. [157] ἃς πάσας τοῖς γνησίοις ἀποδοὺς πολίταις κατέταξεν εἰς τὴν Συριακὴν ἐπαρχίαν. παραδοὺς δὲ ταύτην τε καὶ τὴν Ἰουδαίαν καὶ τὰ μέχρις Αἰγύπτου καὶ Εὐφράτου Σκαύρῳ διέπειν καὶ δύο τῶν ταγμάτων, αὐτὸς διὰ Κιλικίας εἰς Ῥώμην ἠπείγετο τὸν Ἀριστόβουλον ἄγων μετὰ τῆς γενεᾶς αἰχμάλωτον. [158] δύο δ' ἦσαν αὐτῷ θυγατέρες καὶ δύο υἱεῖς, ὧν ὁ ἕτερος μὲν Ἀλέξανδρος ἐκ τῆς ὁδοῦ διαδιδράσκει, σὺν δὲ ταῖς ἀδελφαῖς ὁ νεώτερος Ἀντίγονος εἰς Ῥώμην ἐκομίζετο.

7. ¹⁵⁵ He took back all the cities the nation had taken belonging to Coele-Syria and made them subject to whoever was appointed there as Roman governor, and limited them to their own borders. He also rebuilt Gadara, which had been demolished by the Jews, to gratify one of his freedmen, Demetrius, who was from there. ¹⁵⁶ He also set free from their rule throughout the country other cities they had not already demolished: Hippos and Scythopolis, Pella, Samaria, Marissa, Azotus, Jamnia and Arethusa. He did the same for the maritime cities, Gaza and Joppa and Dora and what was previously called Strato's Tower, but was later rebuilt with the most magnificently by king Herod and was renamed Caesarea. ¹⁵⁷ All these he returned to their proper owners and put them under the province of Syria; which along with Judea and the land as far as Egypt and the Euphrates, he entrusted to be ruled by Scaurus, with two legions in support; and then hurried as quickly as he could through Cilicia on his way to Rome, bringing Aristobulus and his children along as prisoners. ¹⁵⁸ These were two daughters and two sons, of whom one, Alexander, escaped during the journey, but Antigonus the younger son was brought to Rome, along with his sisters.

[159] Κἀν τούτῳ Σκαῦρος εἰς τὴν Ἀραβίαν ἐμβαλὼν τῆς μὲν Πέτρας εἴργετο ταῖς δυσχωρίαις, ἐπόρθει δὲ τὰ πέριξ πολλὰ κἀν τούτῳ κακοπαθῶν: ἐλίμωττεν γὰρ ἡ στρατιά. καὶ πρὸς τοῦτο Ὑρκανὸς ἐπεβοήθει διὰ Ἀντιπάτου τὰ ἐπιτήδεια πέμπων. ὃν καὶ καθίησι Σκαῦρος ὄντα συνήθη πρὸς Ἀρέταν, ὅπως ἐπὶ χρήμασιν διαλύσαιτο τὸν πόλεμον. πείθεται δὲ ὁ Ἄραψ τριακόσια δοῦναι τάλαντα, κἀπὶ τούτοις Σκαῦρος ἐξῆγεν τῆς Ἀραβίας τὴν δύναμιν.

1. ¹⁵⁹ Meanwhile Scaurus led an army into Arabia, and though hampered by the terrain near Petra, he ravaged the area round about, though even then his army suffered severely from hunger. To help him, Hyrcanus sent him provisions by means of Antipater. Scaurus then sent him to Aretas, whom he knew well, to have him pay money to end the war. The Arab agreed to pay three hundred talents, and so Scaurus withdrew his forces from Arabia.

[160] Ὁ δ' ἀποδρὰς τῶν Ἀριστοβούλου παίδων Πομπήιον Ἀλέξανδρος χρόνῳ συναγαγὼν χεῖρα συχνὴν βαρὺς ἦν Ὑρκανῷ καὶ τὴν Ἰουδαίαν κατέτρεχεν, ἐδόκει τε ἂν καταλῦσαι ταχέως αὐτόν, ὅς γε ἤδη καὶ τὸ καταρριφθὲν ὑπὸ Πομπηίου τεῖχος ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις ἀνακτίζειν ἐθάρρει προσελθών, εἰ μὴ Γαβίνιος εἰς Συρίαν πεμφθεὶς Σκαύρῳ διάδοχος τά τε ἄλλα γενναῖον ἀπέδειξεν ἑαυτὸν ἐν πολλοῖς καὶ ἐπ' Ἀλέξανδρον ὥρμησεν. [161] ὁ δὲ δείσας πρὸς τὴν ἔφοδον δύναμίν τε πλείω συνέλεγεν, ὡς γενέσθαι μυρίους μὲν ὁπλίτας χιλίους δὲ καὶ πεντακοσίους ἱππεῖς, καὶ τὰ ἐπιτήδεια τῶν χωρίων ἐτείχιζε Ἀλεξάνδρειόν τε καὶ Ὑρκάνειον καὶ Μαχαιροῦντα πρὸς τοῖς Ἀραβίοις ὄρεσιν.

¹⁶⁰ Alexander, the son of Aristobulus who had fled from Pompey, got together a big band of men and pressed hard on Hyrcanus and overran Judea and was likely to defeat him soon, and would have reached Jerusalem and rebuilt its wall that Pompey had thrown down, if Gabinius, who was sent to Syria as successor to Scaurus, had not shown his mettle by attacking Alexander and in various other ways. ¹⁶¹ The latter, fearing the attack, increased his army to ten thousand armed infantry and fifteen hundred cavalry, and fortified strategic places, Alexandreion and Hyrcanium and Machaerus, near the mountains of Arabia.

[162] Γαβίνιος δὲ μετὰ μέρους τῆς στρατιᾶς Μᾶρκον Ἀντώνιον προπέμψας αὐτὸς εἵπετο τὴν ὅλην ἔχων δύναμιν. οἱ δὲ περὶ τὸν Ἀντίπατρον ἐπίλεκτοι καὶ τὸ ἄλλο τάγμα τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ὧν Μάλιχος ἦρχεν καὶ Πειθόλαος, συμμίξαντες τοῖς περὶ Μᾶρκον Ἀντώνιον ἡγεμόσιν ὑπήντων Ἀλεξάνδρῳ. καὶ μετ' οὐ πολὺ παρῆν ἅμα τῇ φάλαγγι Γαβίνιος. [163] ἑνουμένην δὲ τὴν τῶν πολεμίων δύναμιν οὐχ ὑπομείνας Ἀλέξανδρος ἀνεχώρει καὶ πλησίον ἤδη Ἱεροσολύμων γενόμενος ἀναγκάζεται συμβαλεῖν καὶ κατὰ τὴν μάχην ἑξακισχιλίους ἀποβαλών, ὧν τρισχίλιοι μὲν ἔπεσον τρισχίλιοι δὲ ἐζωγρήθησαν, φεύγει σὺν τοῖς καταλειφθεῖσιν εἰς Ἀλεξάνδρειον.

3. ¹⁶² Gabinius sent Mark Antony ahead of him and followed in person with his whole army, except the elite body of soldiers around Antipater and another body of Jews under the command of Malichus and Pitholaus. These joined with Mark Antony's officers to face Alexander, and a little later Gabinius arrived with the heavy infantry. ¹⁶³ Unable to oppose the joint force of his enemies, Alexander retreated, but on his approach to Jerusalem he was forced to fight and in the battle lost six thousand men, three thousand killed and three thousand taken alive, and he fled with the rest to Alexandreion.

[164] Γαβίνιος δὲ πρὸς τὸ Ἀλεξάνδρειον ἐλθὼν ἐπειδὴ πολλοὺς εὗρεν ἐστρατοπεδευμένους, ἐπειρᾶτο συγγνώμης ὑποσχέσει περὶ τῶν ἡμαρτημένων πρὸ μάχης αὐτοὺς προσαγαγέσθαι: μηδὲν δὲ μέτριον φρονούντων ἀποκτείνας πολλοὺς τοὺς λοιποὺς ἀπέκλεισεν εἰς τὸ ἔρυμα. [165] κατὰ ταύτην ἀριστεύει τὴν μάχην ὁ ἡγεμὼν Μᾶρκος Ἀντώνιος, πανταχοῦ μὲν γενναῖος ἀεὶ φανείς, οὐδαμοῦ δ' οὕτως. Γαβίνιος δὲ τοὺς ἐξαιρήσοντας τὸ φρούριον καταλιπὼν αὐτὸς ἐπήιει τὰς μὲν ἀπορθήτους πόλεις καθιστάμενος, τὰς δὲ κατεστραμμένας ἀνακτίζων. [166] συνεπολίσθησαν γοῦν τούτου κελεύσαντος Σκυθόπολίς τε καὶ Σαμάρεια καὶ Ἀνθηδὼν καὶ Ἀπολλωνία καὶ Ἰάμνεια καὶ Ῥάφεια Μάρισά τε καὶ Ἀδώρεος καὶ Γάβαλα καὶ Ἄζωτος καὶ ἄλλαι πολλαί, τῶν οἰκητόρων ἀσμένως ἐφ' ἑκάστην συνθεόντων.

4. ¹⁶⁴ When Gabinius came to Alexandreion and found so many encamped there, he tried to induce them to come over to him without a fight, with a promise of amnesty for their former offenses. But when they would not relent, he killed many of them and blockaded the rest within the fortress. ¹⁶⁵ Their leader, Mark Antony, a man always noted for courage distinguished himself more than ever in this battle. Gabinius, leaving forces to take the fortress, went off to pacify the cities that had not been demolished and rebuilt the ones that had been destroyed. ¹⁶⁶ At his orders these cities were restored: Scythopolis and Samaria and Anthedon and Apollonia and Jamnia and Raphia and Mariassa and Adoreus and Gamala and Azotus and many others; while settlers gladly hurried to inhabit each of them.

[167] Μετὰ δὲ τὴν τούτων ἐπιμέλειαν ἐπανελθὼν πρὸς τὸ Ἀλεξάνδρειον ἐπέρρωσεν τὴν πολιορκίαν, ὥστε Ἀλέξανδρος ἀπογνοὺς περὶ τῶν ὅλων ἐπικηρυκεύεται πρὸς αὐτόν, συγγνωσθῆναί τε τῶν ἡμαρτημένων δεόμενος καὶ τὰ συλληφθέντα φρούρια παραδιδοὺς Ὑρκάνειον καὶ Μαχαιροῦντα: αὖθις δὲ καὶ τὸ Ἀλεξάνδρειον ἐνεχείρισεν. [168] ἃ πάντα Γαβίνιος ἐναγούσης τῆς Ἀλεξάνδρου μητρὸς κατέστρεψεν, ὡς μὴ πάλιν ὁρμητήριον γένοιτο δευτέρου πολέμου: παρῆν δὲ μειλισσομένη τὸν Γαβίνιον κατὰ δέος τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς Ῥώμης αἰχμαλώτων, τοῦ τε ἀνδρὸς καὶ τῶν ἄλλων τέκνων. [169] μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα Γαβίνιος Ὑρκανὸν καταγαγὼν καὶ τὴν τοῦ ἱεροῦ παραδοὺς κηδεμονίαν αὐτῷ καθίστατο τὴν ἄλλην πολιτείαν ἐπὶ προστασίαι τῶν ἀρίστων. [170] διεῖλεν δὲ πᾶν τὸ ἔθνος εἰς πέντε συνόδους, τὸ μὲν Ἱεροσολύμοις προστάξας, τὸ δὲ Γαδάροις, οἱ δὲ ἵνα συντελῶσιν εἰς Ἀμαθοῦντα, τὸ δὲ τέταρτον εἰς Ἱεριχοῦντα κεκλήρωτο, καὶ τῷ πέμπτῳ Σέπφωρις ἀπεδείχθη πόλις τῆς Γαλιλαίας. ἀσμένως δὲ τῆς ἐξ ἑνὸς ἐπικρατείας ἐλευθερωθέντες τὸ λοιπὸν ἀριστοκρατίαι διῳκοῦντο.

5. ¹⁶⁷ Having made these arrangements, he returned to Alexandreion and tightened the siege, so that Alexander gave up hope of ever coming to power and sent envoys imploring his forgiveness for offending him and offering to surrender the remaining fortresses, Hyrcanium and Machaerus, just as he later handed over Alexandreion to him. ¹⁶⁸ Gabinius demolished them all, at the persuasion of Alexander's mother, so as not to provide places of refuge in the case of another war. She came there now to mollify Gabinius, concerned for her relatives who were prisoners in Rome, that is, her husband and her other children. ¹⁶⁹ So Gabinius brought Hyrcanus back to Jerusalem and entrusted him with the care of the temple, but ordered the rest of the nation to be ruled by an aristocracy. ¹⁷⁰ He divided the whole nation into five divisions, assigning one to Jerusalem, another to Gadara, another to Amathus, a fourth to Jericho and the fifth to Sepphoris, a city of Galilee. The people were glad to be set free from monarchy and in future were ruled by an aristocracy.

[171] Μετ' οὐ πολύ γε μὴν αὐτοῖς ἀρχὴ γίνεται θορύβων Ἀριστόβουλος ἀποδρὰς ἐκ Ῥώμης, ὃς αὖθις πολλοὺς Ἰουδαίων ἐπισυνίστη, τοὺς μὲν ἐπιθυμοῦντας μεταβολῆς, τοὺς δὲ ἀγαπῶντας αὐτὸν πάλαι. καὶ τὸ μὲν πρῶτον καταλαβόμενος τὸ Ἀλεξάνδρειον ἀνατειχίζειν ἐπειρᾶτο: ὡς δὲ Γαβίνιος ὑπὸ Σισένναι καὶ Ἀντωνίῳ καὶ Σερουιανῷ στρατιὰν ἔπεμψεν ἐπ' αὐτόν. γνοὺς ἀνεχώρει ἐπὶ Μαχαιροῦντος. [172] καὶ τὸν μὲν ἄχρηστον ὄχλον ἀπεφορτίσατο, μόνους δὲ ἐπήγετο τοὺς ὡπλισμένους ὄντας εἰς ὀκτακισχιλίους, ἐν οἷς καὶ Πειθόλαος ἦν ὁ ἐξ Ἱεροσολύμων ὑποστράτηγος αὐτομολήσας μετὰ χιλίων. Ῥωμαῖοι δ' ἐπηκολούθουν, καὶ γενομένης συμβολῆς μέχρι πολλοῦ μὲν οἱ περὶ τὸν Ἀριστόβουλον διεκαρτέρουν γενναίως ἀγωνιζόμενοι, τέλος δὲ βιασθέντες ὑπὸ τῶν Ῥωμαίων πίπτουσι μὲν πεντακισχίλιοι, περὶ δὲ δισχιλίους ἀνέφυγον εἴς τινα λόφον, οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ χίλιοι σὺν Ἀριστοβούλῳ διακόψαντες τὴν φάλαγγα τῶν Ῥωμαίων εἰς Μαχαιροῦντα συνελαύνονται. [173] ἔνθα δὴ τὴν πρώτην ἑσπέραν ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῖς ἐρειπίοις ἐναυλισάμενος ἐν ἐλπίσι μὲν ἦν ἄλλην συναθροίσειν δύναμιν ἀνοχὴν τοῦ πολέμου διδόντος καὶ τὸ φρούριον κακῶς ὠχύρου: προσπεσόντων δὲ Ῥωμαίων ἐπὶ δύο ἡμέρας ἀντισχὼν ὑπὲρ δύναμιν ἁλίσκεται καὶ μετ' Ἀντιγόνου τοῦ παιδός, ὃς ἀπὸ Ῥώμης αὐτῷ συναπέδρα, δεσμώτης ἐπὶ Γαβίνιον ἀνήχθη καὶ ἀπὸ Γαβινίου πάλιν εἰς Ῥώμην. [174] τοῦτον μὲν οὖν ἡ σύγκλητος εἷρξεν, τὰ τέκνα δ' αὐτοῦ διῆγεν εἰς Ἰουδαίαν Γαβινίου δι' ἐπιστολῶν δηλώσαντος τῇ Ἀριστοβούλου γυναικὶ τοῦτο ἀντὶ τῆς παραδόσεως τῶν ἐρυμάτων ὡμολογηκέναι.

6. ¹⁷¹ Aristobulus soon caused new disturbances by taking flight from Rome and gathering many of the Jews who were eager for a change and had loved him in the past. Once he had taken Alexandreion he tried to fortify it, but when Gabinius sent an army against him under Sisenna, Antony and Servilius, he got wind of it and retreated to Machaerus. ¹⁷² He sent home the useless crowd, and marched only with those who were armed, eight thousand of them, among whom was Pitholaus, the former lieutenant in Jerusalem who had come over to Aristobulus with a thousand men. The Romans pursued him and in the battle Aristobulus's party struggled bravely, but were finally overcome by the Romans. Five thousand of them were killed and about two thousand fled to a little hill, but the thousand who stayed with Aristobulus broke through the Roman lines and marched together into Machaerus. ¹⁷³ After the king had lodged the first night within its ruins, he hoped to raise another army, if only the war would ease a little, so he fortified that stronghold, though it was poorly done. When the Romans attacked he fought back for two days even beyond his strength, and then was taken prisoner and brought to Gabinius along with his son, Antigonus, who had escaped from Rome along with him and Gabinius sent him back to Rome. ¹⁷⁴ The senate put him in prison, but returned his children to Judea, for Gabinius wrote to them that he had promised this to the wife of Aristobulus, for surrendering the fortresses to him.

[175] Γαβινίῳ δ' ἐπὶ Πάρθους ὡρμημένῳ στρατεύειν γίνεται Πτολεμαῖος ἐμπόδιον: ὃς ὑποστρέψας ἀπ' Εὐφράτου κατῆγεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον ἐπιτηδείοις εἰς ἅπαντα χρώμενος κατὰ τὴν στρατείαν Ὑρκανῷ καὶ Ἀντιπάτρῳ: καὶ γὰρ χρήματα καὶ ὅπλα καὶ σῖτον καὶ ἐπικούρους Ἀντίπατρος προσῆγεν, καὶ τοὺς ταύτῃ Ἰουδαίους φρουροῦντας τὰς κατὰ τὸ Πηλούσιον ἐμβολὰς παρεῖναι Γαβίνιον ἔπεισεν. [176] τῆς δ' ἄλλης Συρίας πρὸς τὸν Γαβινίου χωρισμὸν κινηθείσης καὶ Ἰουδαίους πάλιν ἀπέστησεν Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ Ἀριστοβούλου, μεγίστην δὲ συγκροτήσας δύναμιν ὥρμητο πάντας τοὺς κατὰ τὴν χώραν Ῥωμαίους ἀνελεῖν. [177] πρὸς ὃ Γαβίνιος δείσας, ἤδη δὲ παρῆν ἀπ' Αἰγύπτου τοῖς τῇδε θορύβοις ἠπειγμένος, ἐπὶ τινὰς μὲν τῶν ἀφεστώτων Ἀντίπατρον προπέμψας μετέπεισεν, συνέμενον δὲ Ἀλεξάνδρῳ τρεῖς μυριάδες, κἀκεῖνος ὥρμητο πολεμεῖν. οὕτως ἔξεισιν πρὸς μάχην. ὑπήντων δὲ οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι, καὶ συμβαλόντων περὶ τὸ Ἰταβύριον ὄρος μύριοι μὲν ἀναιροῦνται, τὸ δὲ λοιπὸν πλῆθος ἐσκεδάσθη φυγῇ. [178] καὶ Γαβίνιος ἐλθὼν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα πρὸς τὸ Ἀντιπάτρου βούλημα κατεστήσατο τὴν πολιτείαν. ἔνθεν ὁρμήσας Ναβαταίων τε μάχῃ κρατεῖ καὶ Μιθριδάτην καὶ Ὀρσάνην φυγόντας ἐκ Πάρθων κρύφα μὲν ἀπέπεμψεν, παρὰ δὲ τοῖς στρατιώταις ἔλεγεν ἀποδρᾶναι.

7. ¹⁷⁵ As Gabinius was marching to the war against the Parthians, he was delayed by Ptolemy, whom he had to restore to Egypt, coming back from the Euphrates to do so. He got Hyrcanus and Antipater to provide all the needs for this expedition, for Antipater furnished money and weapons and corn and allies. He also persuaded the local Jews guarding the entrances near Pelusium, to let them pass. ¹⁷⁶ While Gabinius was absent, the other part of Syria was in turmoil for Alexander, the son of Aristobulus, got the Jews to revolt again, gathering a large army and setting out to kill all the Romans in the land. ¹⁷⁷ Gabinius, who had come back from Egypt on account of these riots, became alarmed and sent Antipater, who managed to win over some of the rebels. But thirty thousand still stayed with Alexander, who was eager for a fight, so he went out against him and the Jews met him the battle was fought near Mount Itaburion, when ten thousand of them were killed and the rest of the crowd dispersed and fled. ¹⁷⁸ Then Gabinius came to Jerusalem and settled its government according to Antipater's wishes. From there he marched and fought and beat the Nabateans, and secretly sent away Mithridates and Orsanes, who had fled from Parthia, telling the soldiers that they had run away.

[179] Κἀν τούτῳ Κράσσος αὐτῷ διάδοχος ἐλθὼν παραλαμβάνει Συρίαν. οὗτος εἰς τὴν ἐπὶ Πάρθους στρατείαν τόν τε ἄλλον τοῦ ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις ναοῦ χρυσὸν πάντα περιεῖλεν καὶ τὰ δισχίλια τάλαντα ἦρεν, ὧν ἀπέσχετο Πομπήιος. διαβὰς δὲ τὸν Εὐφράτην αὐτός τε ἀπώλετο καὶ ὁ στρατὸς αὐτοῦ, περὶ ὧν οὐ νῦν καιρὸς λέγειν.

8. ¹⁷⁹ Meanwhile Crassus came as his successor in Syria. He took away all the rest of the gold in the Jerusalem temple, to provide for his expedition against the Parthians, and took the two thousand talents which Pompey had left bahind. Then after crossing the Euphrates, he and his army were killed; but now is not a suitable time to speak about this.

[180] Πάρθους δὲ μετὰ τὸν Κράσσον ἐπιδιαβαίνειν εἰς Συρίαν ὡρμημένους ἀνέκοπτεν Κάσσιος εἰς τὴν ἐπαρχίαν διαφυγών. περιποιησάμενος δὲ αὐτὴν ἐπὶ Ἰουδαίους ἠπείγετο, καὶ Ταριχέας μὲν ἑλὼν εἰς τρεῖς μυριάδας Ἰουδαίων ἀνδραποδίζεται, κτείνει δὲ καὶ Πειθόλαον τοὺς Ἀριστοβούλου στασιαστὰς ἐπισυνιστάντα: τοῦ φόνου δὲ ἦν σύμβουλος Ἀντίπατρος. [181] τούτῳ γήμαντι γυναῖκα τῶν ἐπισήμων ἐξ Ἀραβίας Κύπρον τοὔνομα τέσσαρες μὲν υἱεῖς γίνονται, Φασάηλος καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς αὖθις Ἡρώδης, πρὸς οἷς Ἰώσηπος καὶ Φερώρας καὶ Σαλώμη θυγάτηρ. ἐξῳκειωμένος δὲ τοὺς πανταχοῦ δυνατοὺς φιλίαις τε καὶ ξενίαις μάλιστα προσηγάγετο τὸν Ἀράβων βασιλέα διὰ τὴν ἐπιγαμβρίαν, κἀπειδὴ τὸν πρὸς τὸν Ἀριστόβουλον ἀνείλετο πόλεμον, ἐκείνῳ παρακαταθήκην ἔπεμψεν τὰ τέκνα. [182] Κάσσιος δὲ κατὰ συνθήκας ἡσυχάζειν Ἀλέξανδρον ἀναγκάσας ἐπὶ τὸν Εὐφράτην ὑπέστρεψεν Πάρθους διαβαίνειν ἀνείρξων, περὶ ὧν ἐν ἑτέροις ἐροῦμεν.

9. ¹⁸⁰ After Crassus, Cassius put a stop to the Parthians, who were marching to enter Syria. Cassius had rushed to that province and after occupying it, made a hasty march into Judea, and after taking Tarichea, enslaved thirty thousand Jews. On the advice of Antipater he also killed Pitholaus, who had supported the rebel followers of Aristobulus. ¹⁸¹ Antipater had married a woman of a distinguished Arabian family named Cypros, and by her had four sons, Phasael and Herod, who was later king, and Joseph and Pheroras, and a daughter, Salome. As he made friends with the notables everywhere by the favours he did them and his hospitality towards them, he became especially close to the king of the Arabs by marrying his relative, so that he sent his children to him for safety when he went to war against Aristobulus. ¹⁸² When Cassius had forced Alexander to come to terms and keep the peace, he returned to the Euphrates to prevent the Parthians from recrossing it. Of this we shall speak elsewhere.

[183] Καῖσαρ δὲ Πομπηίου καὶ τῆς συγκλήτου φυγόντων ὑπὲρ τὸν Ἰόνιον Ῥώμης καὶ τῶν ὅλων κρατήσας ἀνίησι μὲν τῶν δεσμῶν τὸν Ἀριστόβουλον, παραδοὺς δ' αὐτῷ δύο τάγματα κατὰ τάχος ἔπεμψεν εἰς Συρίαν, ταύτην τε ῥαιδίως ἐλπίσας καὶ τὰ περὶ τὴν Ἰουδαίαν δι' αὐτοῦ προσάξεσθαι. [184] φθάνει δ' ὁ φθόνος καὶ τὴν Ἀριστοβούλου προθυμίαν καὶ τὰς Καίσαρος ἐλπίδας: φαρμάκῳ γοῦν ἀναιρεθεὶς ὑπὸ τῶν τὰ Πομπηίου φρονούντων μέχρι πολλοῦ μὲν οὐδὲ ταφῆς ἐν τῇ πατρώιαι χώρᾳ μετεῖχεν, ἔκειτο δὲ μέλιτι συντηρούμενος ὁ νεκρὸς αὐτοῦ, ἕως ὑπ' Ἀντωνίου Ἰουδαίοις ἐπέμφθη τοῖς βασιλικοῖς μνημείοις ἐνταφησόμενος.

1. ¹⁸³ After General Pompey and the senate fled beyond the Ionian Sea, Caesar had Rome and the empire in his power and released Aristobulus from his chains. He also entrusted two legions to him and sent him quickly into Syria, hoping through him to easily conquer it and the area adjoining Judea. ¹⁸⁴ But envy thwarted Caesar's hopes and the zeal of Aristobulus, for he was killed by poison given him by Pompey's people. For a long time he was not even allowed burial in his own country, but his corpse lay preserved in honey, until it was sent by Antony to the Jews, for burial in the royal tombs.

[185] Ἀναιρεῖται δὲ καὶ ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ Ἀλέξανδρος πελέκει ὑπὸ Σκιπίωνος ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ Πομπηίου τοῦτ' ἐπιστείλαντος καὶ γενομένης κατηγορίας πρὸ τοῦ βήματος ὧν Ῥωμαίους ἔβλαψεν. τοὺς δ' ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ Πτολεμαῖος ὁ Μενναίου παραλαβών, ὃς ἐκράτει τῆς ὑπὸ τῷ Λιβάνῳ Χαλκίδος, Φιλιππίωνα τὸν υἱὸν ἐπ' αὐτοὺς εἰς Ἀσκάλωνα πέμπει. [186] κἀκεῖνος ἀποσπάσας τῆς Ἀριστοβούλου γυναικὸς Ἀντίγονον καὶ τὰς ἀδελφὰς αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὸν πατέρα ἀνήγαγεν. ἁλοὺς δ' ἔρωτι γαμεῖ τὴν ἑτέραν καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ὑπὸ τοῦ πατρὸς δι' αὐτὴν κτείνεται: γαμεῖ γὰρ Πτολεμαῖος τὴν Ἀλεξάνδραν ἀνελὼν τὸν υἱὸν καὶ διὰ τὸν γάμον κηδεμονικώτερος αὐτὸς ἦν πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφούς.

2. ¹⁸⁵ His son Alexander also was beheaded by Scipio in Antioch, at the command of Pompey when he was accused before his tribunal for wrongs he had done to the Romans. But Ptolemy, son of Mennaeus, who was then ruler of Chalcis, below Libanus, took care of his brothers, by sending his son Philippio for them to Ascalon. ¹⁸⁶ He took Antigonus and his sisters away from the wife of Aristobulus and brought them to his father. Then he fell in love with the younger daughter and married her, and was later killed by his father on account of her. After killing his son, Ptolemy married the one called Alexandra, and took better care of her siblings on account of the marriage.

[187] Ἀντίπατρος δὲ μετὰ τὴν Πομπηίου τελευτὴν μεταβὰς ἐθεράπευεν Καίσαρα, κἀπειδὴ Μιθριδάτης ὁ Περγαμηνὸς μεθ' ἧς ἦγεν ἐπ' Αἴγυπτον δυνάμεως εἰργόμενος τῶν κατὰ τὸ Πηλούσιον ἐμβολῶν ἐν Ἀσκάλωνι κατείχετο, τούς τε Ἄραβας ξένος ὢν ἔπεισεν ἐπικουρῆσαι καὶ αὐτὸς ἧκεν ἄγων Ἰουδαίων εἰς τρισχιλίους ὁπλίτας. [188] παρώρμησεν δὲ καὶ τοὺς ἐν Συρίαι δυνατοὺς ἐπὶ τὴν βοήθειαν τόν τε ἔποικον τοῦ Λιβάνου Πτολεμαῖον καὶ Ἰάμβλιχον, δι' οὓς αἱ ταύτῃ πόλεις ἑτοίμως συνεφήψαντο τοῦ πολέμου. [189] καὶ θαρρῶν ἤδη Μιθριδάτης τῇ προσγενομένῃ δι' Ἀντίπατρον ἰσχύι πρὸς τὸ Πηλούσιον ἐξελαύνει κωλυόμενός τε διελθεῖν ἐπολιόρκει τὴν πόλιν. γίνεται δὲ κἀν τῇ προσβολῇ διασημότατος Ἀντίπατρος: τὸ γὰρ κατ' αὐτὸν μέρος τοῦ τείχους διαρρήξας πρῶτος εἰσεπήδησεν εἰς τὴν πόλιν μετὰ τῶν σὺν αὐτῷ.

3. ¹⁸⁷ After Pompey died, Antipater changed sides and cultivated Caesar. And since Mithridates of Pergamus and the forces he was leading against Egypt, was barred at the pass near Pelusium and forced to stay in Ascalon, he persuaded the Arabs among whom he had lived, to side with him and arrived at the head of three thousand Jewish infantry. ¹⁸⁸ He also urged the leaders of Syria to come and help him, including Ptolemy who lived near Libanus, and Jamblicus, through whom the cities of that area willingly joined in this war. ¹⁸⁹ Helped by the additional strength he had gained with the help of Antipater, Mithridates ventured on to Pelusium, and besieged the city when they refused to let him through, and Antipater was outstanding in the attack, for he brought down the part of the wall opposite him and was first to dash into the city, with his troops.

[190] Καὶ τὸ Πηλούσιον μὲν ἑάλω, πρόσω δ' αὐτὸν ἰόντα εἶργον αὖθις οἱ τὴν Ὀνίου προσαγορευομένην χώραν κατέχοντες: ἦσαν δὲ Ἰουδαῖοι Αἰγύπτιοι. τούτους Ἀντίπατρος οὐ μόνον μὴ κωλύειν ἔπεισεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ ἐπιτήδεια τῇ δυνάμει παρασχεῖν: ὅθεν οὐδὲ οἱ κατὰ Μέμφιν ἔτι εἰς χεῖρας ἦλθον, ἑκούσιοι δὲ προσέθεντο Μιθριδάτῃ. [191] κἀκεῖνος ἤδη τὸ Δέλτα περιελθὼν συνέβαλλεν τοῖς λοιποῖς Αἰγυπτίοις εἰς μάχην κατὰ χῶρον, ὃς Ἰουδαίων στρατόπεδον καλεῖται. κινδυνεύοντα δ' αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ παρατάξει σὺν ὅλῳ τῷ δεξιῷ κέρατι ῥύεται περιελθὼν Ἀντίπατρος παρὰ τὸν αἰγιαλὸν τοῦ ποταμοῦ: [192] τῶν γὰρ καθ' ἑαυτὸν ἐκράτει τὸ λαιὸν ἔχων κέρας: ἔπειτα προσπεσὼν τοῖς διώκουσι Μιθριδάτην ἀπέκτεινεν πολλοὺς καὶ μέχρι τοσούτου τοὺς καταλειπομένους ἐδίωξεν ὡς καὶ τὸ στρατόπεδον αὐτῶν ἑλεῖν. ὀγδοήκοντα δὲ μόνους τῶν ἰδίων ἀπέβαλεν, καὶ Μιθριδάτης ἐν τῇ τροπῇ περὶ ὀκτακοσίους. σωθεὶς δ' αὐτὸς παρ' ἐλπίδα μάρτυς ἀβάσκανος γίνεται πρὸς Καίσαρα τῶν Ἀντιπάτρου κατορθωμάτων.

4. ¹⁹⁰ Pelusium was taken, but as they went on through they were stopped by the Egyptian Jews living in the district of Onias. Then Antipater persuaded them not only not to hinder them, but to provide provisions for their army, so that even the people around Memphis would not oppose them, but willingly joined Mithridates. ¹⁹¹ Then he rounded the Delta and fought the rest of the Egyptians at a place called the Camp of the Jews. During the battle when he was in danger with all his right wing, Antipater wheeled about and came to his help along the bank of the river. ¹⁹² Leading the left wing, he defeated his opponents and then attacked the people harrying Mithridates and killed many of them and pursed the rest to the extent that he took their camp, while losing only eighty of his own men. Mithridates lost about eight hundred while he was being pursued, but unexpectedly his own life was saved, so that he became an outspoken witness to Caesar about the great deeds of Antipater.

[193] Ὁ δὲ τότε μὲν τὸν ἄνδρα τοῖς ἐπαίνοις καὶ ταῖς ἐλπίσιν εἰς τοὺς ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ κινδύνους ἐπέρρωσεν, ἐν οἷς πᾶσιν παραβολώτατος ἀγωνιστὴς γενόμενος καὶ πολλὰ τρωθεὶς ἐφ' ὅλου σχεδὸν τοῦ σώματος εἶχεν τὰ σημεῖα τῆς ἀρετῆς. [194] αὖθις δὲ καταστησάμενος τὰ κατὰ τὴν Αἴγυπτον ὡς ἐπανῆκεν εἰς Συρίαν, πολιτείᾳ τε αὐτὸν τῇ Ῥωμαίων ἐδωρήσατο καὶ ἀτελείᾳ τῆς τε ἄλλης τιμῆς καὶ φιλοφρονήσεως ἕνεκεν ζηλωτὸν ἐποίησεν καὶ τὴν ἀρχιερωσύνην δὲ δι' αὐτὸν ἐπεκύρωσεν Ὑρκανῷ.

5. ¹⁹³ Then, by a mixture of praise and the promise of rewards, he got him to undertake other dangerous missions where he risked his life for him, and became a famous warrior, with many wounds on most of his body to attest his bravery. ¹⁹⁴ When he had settled affairs in Egypt and was returning to Syria, he gave him the privilege of a Roman citizen and freedom from taxes and made him much admired by the honours and tokens of friendship he gave him. This was also why he confirmed Hyrcanus in the high priesthood.

[195] Κατ' αὐτὸ δὲ καὶ Ἀντίγονος ὁ Ἀριστοβούλου πρὸς τὸν Καίσαρα παρὼν γίνεται παραδόξως Ἀντιπάτρῳ μείζονος προκοπῆς αἴτιος: δέον γὰρ ἀποδύρεσθαι περὶ τοῦ πατρὸς πεφαρμάχθαι δοκοῦντος ἐκ τῶν πρὸς Πομπήιον διαφορῶν καὶ περὶ τἀδελφοῦ τὴν Σκιπίωνος ὠμότητα μέμφεσθαι καὶ μηδὲν εἰς τὸν ἔλεον παραμῖξαι φθονερὸν πάθος, ὁ δὲ ἐπὶ τούτοις Ὑρκανοῦ καὶ Ἀντιπάτρου κατηγόρει παρελθών, [196] ὡς παρανομώτατα μὲν αὐτὸν μετὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν πάσης ἀπελαύνοιεν τῆς πατρίου γῆς, πολλὰ δ' εἰς τὸ ἔθνος αὐτοὶ διὰ κόρον ἐξυβρίζοιεν, καὶ ὅτι τὴν εἰς Αἴγυπτον συμμαχίαν οὐκ ἐπ' εὐνοίαι αὐτῷ πέμψειαν, ἀλλὰ κατὰ δέος τῶν πάλαι διαφορῶν καὶ τὴν πρὸς τὸν Πομπήιον φιλίαν ἀποσκευαζόμενοι.

1. ¹⁹⁵ About this time Antigonus, son of Aristobulus, came to Caesar and oddly became the cause of Antipater's further promotion. Whereas he should have complained that his father seemed to have been poisoned due to his quarrels with Pompey, and about Scipio's savagery towards his brother, and not to mix any envious passion when he was suing for mercy, when he arrived he accused Hyrcanus and Antipater ¹⁹⁶ of driving him and his brothers from their native land and of many outrages towards their nation, and that the help they had sent him to Egypt was not given from goodwill, but out of their fear arising from past quarrels and in order to be pardoned for their friendship with Pompey.

[197] Πρὸς ταῦτα ὁ Ἀντίπατρος ἀπορρίψας τὴν ἐσθῆτα τὸ πλῆθος ἐπεδείκνυεν τῶν τραυμάτων, καὶ περὶ μὲν τῆς εἰς Καίσαρα εὐνοίας οὐκ ἔφη λόγου δεῖν αὐτῷ: κεκραγέναι γὰρ τὸ σῶμα σιωπῶντος: [198] Ἀντιγόνου δὲ θαυμάζειν τὴν τόλμαν, εἰ πολεμίου Ῥωμαίων υἱὸς ὢν καὶ Ῥωμαίων δραπέτου καὶ τὸ νεωτεροποιὸς εἶναι καὶ στασιώδης αὐτὸς πατρῷον ἔχων, παρὰ τῷ Ῥωμαίων ἡγεμόνι κατηγορεῖν ἐπικεχείρηκεν ἑτέρων καὶ πειρᾶται τυχεῖν ἀγαθοῦ τινος, δέον ἀγαπᾶν ὅτι ζῇ: καὶ γὰρ νῦν ἐφίεσθαι πραγμάτων οὐ τοσοῦτον δι' ἀπορίαν, ἀλλ' ἵνα Ἰουδαίους διαστασιάσῃ παρελθὼν καὶ χρήσηται κατὰ τῶν δόντων ταῖς ἀφορμαῖς.

2. ¹⁹⁷ In response, Antipater threw off his clothes and showed the number of his wounds and said that he had no need to speak of his love for Caesar, since his body shouted it aloud even if he stayed silent, ¹⁹⁸ but that he was amazed at the audacity of Antigonus, the son of an enemy of Rome and a fugitive, who had inherited from his father a love of change and strife, to dare to accuse other men before the Roman governor for the sake of profit, when he ought to be glad to be still alive. He wanted to rule not because he was badly off, but so that once he in power he could stir up revolt among the Jews and use his position against those who gave it to him.

[199] Τούτων Καῖσαρ ἀκούσας Ὑρκανὸν μὲν ἀξιώτερον τῆς ἀρχιερωσύνης ἀπεφήνατο, Ἀντιπάτρῳ δὲ δυναστείας αἵρεσιν ἔδωκεν. ὁ δ' ἐπὶ τῷ τιμήσαντι τὸ μέτρον τῆς τιμῆς θέμενος πάσης ἐπίτροπος Ἰουδαίας ἀποδείκνυται καὶ προσεπιτυγχάνει τὰ τείχη τῆς πατρίδος ἀνακτίσαι κατεστραμμένα. [200] τὰς μὲν δὴ τιμὰς ταύτας Καῖσαρ ἐπέστελλεν ἐν τῷ Καπετωλίῳ χαραχθῆναι τῆς τε αὐτοῦ δικαιοσύνης σημεῖον καὶ τῆς τἀνδρὸς ἐσομένας ἀρετῆς.

3. ¹⁹⁹ When Caesar heard it he pronounced Hyrcanus more worthy to be high priest and left Antipater free to choose his own kind of rule. The latter wanted the measure of his honour to be decided by the one granting it to him and was appointed procurator of all Judea, with permission to rebuild the ramparts of his country that had been thrown down. ²⁰⁰ Caesar sent orders to have these honours engraved in the Capitol, to stand there as signs of his own justice and of the man's courage.

[201] Ἀντίπατρος δὲ Καίσαρα προπέμψας ἐκ τῆς Συρίας εἰς Ἰουδαίαν ὑπέστρεψεν. καὶ πρῶτον μὲν τὸ τεῖχος ἀνεδείματο τῆς πατρίδος ὑπὸ Πομπηίου κατεστραμμένον καὶ τοὺς ἀνὰ τὴν χώραν θορύβους ἐπιὼν κατέστελλεν, ἀπειλητὴς ἅμα καὶ σύμβουλος ὢν ἑκάστοις, ὅτι τὰ μὲν Ὑρκανοῦ φρονοῦντες ἐν ὄλβῳ καὶ καθ' ἡσυχίαν βιώσονται τῶν τε ἰδίων κτημάτων καὶ κοινῆς εἰρήνης ἀπολαύοντες: [202] εἰ δὲ πείθοιντο ταῖς ψυχραῖς ἐλπίσιν τῶν νεωτερίζειν ἐπὶ κέρδεσιν οἰκείοις ἐθελόντων, ὡς αὐτόν τε πειράσουσιν ἀντὶ κηδεμόνος δεσπότην καὶ Ὑρκανὸν ἀντὶ βασιλέως τύραννον, Ῥωμαίους γε μὴν καὶ Καίσαρα πολεμίους ἀνθ' ἡγεμόνων καὶ φίλων: οὐ γὰρ ἀνέξεσθαι μετακινούμενον ἐκ τῆς ἀρχῆς ὃν αὐτοὶ κατέστησαν. [203] ἅμα δὲ ταῦτα λέγων καὶ δι' αὑτοῦ καθίστατο τὴν χώραν ὁρῶν τὸν Ὑρκανὸν νωθῆ τε καὶ βασιλείας ἀτονώτερον. Φασάηλον μὲν δὴ τῶν παίδων τὸν πρεσβύτατον Ἱεροσολύμων καὶ τῶν πέριξ στρατηγὸν καθίστησιν, τὸν δὲ μετ' αὐτὸν Ἡρώδην ἐπὶ τοῖς ἴσοις ἔστειλεν εἰς Γαλιλαίαν κομιδῇ νέον.

4. ²⁰¹ After escorting Caesar from Syria Antipater returned to Judea and his first act was to rebuild the wall of his ancestral city which Pompey had destroyed and then went to quell the disturbances around the country. With a mixture of threat and persuasion he told them all that if they submitted to Hyrcanus they would live happily and peaceably and enjoy their possessions in peaceful calm, ²⁰² but if they heeded those who were stirring things up in hope of profit, they would find him a despot rather than a procurator, and Hyrcanus a tyrant instead of a king, and the Romans and Caesar as enemies instead of their leaders and friends, for they would not allow the man they had set up as ruler to be deposed. ²⁰³ With these words he settled matters on his own, seeing that Hyrcanus was inactive and unfit to manage the affairs of the kingdom. He made his eldest son, Phasael, ruler of Jerusalem and the district around it and sent his next son, Herod, though still young, with similar authority into Galilee.

[204] Ὁ δὲ ὢν φύσει δραστήριος ὕλην εὐθέως εὑρίσκει τῷ φρονήματι. καταλαβὼν οὖν Ἐζεκίαν τὸν ἀρχιλῃστὴν τὰ προσεχῆ τῇ Συρίαι κατατρέχοντα μετὰ μεγίστου στίφους αὐτόν τε συλλαβὼν ἀποκτείνει καὶ πολλοὺς τῶν λῃστῶν. [205] ὃ δὴ μάλιστα τοῖς Σύροις ἡγεῖτο κεχαρισμένον: ὑμνεῖτο γοῦν ἀνά τε τὰς κώμας καὶ ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν Ἡρώδης ὡς εἰρήνην αὐτοῖς καὶ τὰς κτήσεις ἀνασεσωκώς. γίνεται δ' ἐκ τούτου καὶ Σέξτῳ Καίσαρι γνώριμος ὄντι συγγενεῖ τοῦ μεγάλου Καίσαρος καὶ διοικοῦντι τὴν Συρίαν. [206] πρὸς δὲ τὸν ἀδελφὸν εὐδοκιμοῦντα καὶ Φασάηλος ἐφιλοτιμεῖτο τὴν ἀγαθὴν ἔριν τοὺς ἐν τοῖς Ἱεροσολύμοις εὐνουστέρους καθιστάμενος καὶ δι' αὑτοῦ μὲν ἔχων τὴν πόλιν μηδὲν δὲ ἀπειροκάλως εἰς τὴν ἐξουσίαν ἐξυβρίζων. ἐντεῦθεν Ἀντιπάτρῳ θεραπεία τε ἦν ἐκ τοῦ ἔθνους βασιλικὴ καὶ τιμαὶ παρὰ πάντων ὡς δεσπότῃ τῶν ὅλων: οὐ μὴν αὐτὸς τῆς πρὸς Ὑρκανὸν εὐνοίας ἢ πίστεώς τι μετεκίνησεν.

5. ²⁰⁴ Active by nature, the latter soon found material to work upon. Finding that Hezekias, the brigand chief, was devastating the neighbouring parts of Syria with a large band, he caught him and killed him and many of the brigands. ²⁰⁵ This was warmly welcomed by the Syrians, so that hymns were sung in the villages and cities in praise of Herod, for winning peace and saving their possessions for them. At that time he made the acquaintance of Sextus Caesar, ruler of Syria and a relative of the great Caesar. ²⁰⁶ His brother's reputation prompted Phasael to emulate him and he gained favour with the people of Jerusalem by his management of the city affairs and did not offend them by any abuse of his power. ²⁰⁷ But though the nation honoured Antipater like a king and treated him like those an absolute lord, he never lessened his goodwill and fidelity to Hyrcanus.

[208] Ἀμήχανον δ' ἐν εὐπραγίαις φθόνον διαφυγεῖν: Ὑρκανὸς γοῦν ἤδη μὲν καὶ καθ' ἑαυτὸν ἡσυχῆ πρὸς τὸ κλέος τῶν νεανίσκων ἐδάκνετο, μάλιστα δὲ ἐλύπει τὰ Ἡρώδου κατορθώματα καὶ κήρυκες ἐπάλληλοι τῆς καθ' ἕκαστον εὐδοξίας προστρέχοντες πολλοὶ [δὲ] τῶν ἐν τοῖς βασιλείοις βασκάνων ἠρέθιζον, οἷς ἢ τὸ τῶν παίδων ἢ τὸ Ἀντιπάτρου σωφρονικὸν προσίστατο, [209] λέγοντες ὡς Ἀντιπάτρῳ καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτοῦ παραχωρήσας τῶν πραγμάτων καθέζοιτο τοὔνομα μόνον βασιλέως ἔχων ἔρημον ἐξουσίας. καὶ μέχρι τοῦ πλανηθήσεται καθ' ἑαυτοῦ βασιλεῖς ἐπιτρέφων; οὐδὲ γὰρ εἰρωνεύεσθαι τὴν ἐπιτροπὴν αὐτοὺς ἔτι, φανεροὺς δὲ εἶναι δεσπότας παρωσαμένους ἐκεῖνον, εἴ γε μήτε ἐντολὰς δόντος μήτε ἐπιστείλαντος αὐτοῦ τοσούτους παρὰ τὸν τῶν Ἰουδαίων νόμον ἀνήιρηκεν Ἡρώδης: ὅν, εἰ μὴ βασιλεύς ἐστιν ἀλλ' ἔτι ἰδιώτης, δεῖν ἐπὶ δίκην ἥκειν ἀποδώσοντα λόγον αὐτῷ τε καὶ τοῖς πατρίοις νόμοις, οἳ κτείνειν ἀκρίτους οὐκ ἐφιᾶσιν.

6. ²⁰⁸ Even amid prosperity he could not keep envy at bay, for the lustre of the young men secretly irritated Hyrcanus. The achievements of Herod grieved him especially, with a succession of messengers coming to sing his praises and many in the palace stoked his envy, annoyed by the prudence either of the young men, or of Antipater. ²⁰⁹ These said that by leaving matters to Antipater and his sons, he himself had merely the title of king, without its authority and asked how long he would make the mistake of rearing kings against himself, since they did not hide their sovereignty but were plainly lording it and supplanting him. For example, contrary to Jewish law Herod had killed so many without his orders or permission and should be brought to trial, not as a king but as a private citizen, to answer for it before him and the laws of his country, which do not allow anyone to be killed, untried.

[210] Τούτοις κατὰ μικρὸν Ὑρκανὸς ἐξεκαίετο καὶ τὴν ὀργὴν τελευταῖον ἐκρήξας ἐκάλει κριθησόμενον τὸν Ἡρώδην. ὁ δὲ καὶ τοῦ πατρὸς παραινοῦντος καὶ τῶν πραγμάτων διδόντων παρρησίαν ἀνήιει φρουραῖς διαλαβὼν πρότερον τὴν Γαλιλαίαν. ἤιει δὲ μετὰ καρτεροῦ στίφους, ὡς μήτε καταλύειν δόξειεν Ὑρκανὸν λαμπρὰν ἄγων δύναμιν μήτε γυμνὸς ἐμπέσοι τῷ φθόνῳ. [211] Σέξτος δὲ Καῖσαρ δείσας περὶ τῷ νεανίαι, μή τι παρὰ τοῖς ἐχθροῖς ἀποληφθεὶς πάθῃ, πέμπει πρὸς Ὑρκανὸν τοὺς παραγγελοῦντας διαρρήδην ἀπολύειν Ἡρώδην τῆς φονικῆς δίκης. ὁ δὲ καὶ ἄλλως ὡρμημένος, ἠγάπα γὰρ Ἡρώδην, ἀποψηφίζεται.

7. ²¹⁰ Little by little these notions burned into Hyrcanus until finally his anger flared and he summoned Herod to trial. As soon as matters allowed it, at his father's advice he placed garrisons in Galilee and went up with a troop of soldiers, not so many as would make him seem intent on overthrowing Hyrcanus, yet not so few as to expose him to those who envied him. ²¹¹ Sextus Caesar was still afraid that the young man might be taken by his enemies and punished, so he sent some to expressly tell Hyrcanus to acquit Herod of the capital charge, and he did so, as he was inclined to do anyway, out of affection for Herod.

[212] Καὶ ὃς ὑπολαμβάνων ἄκοντος τοῦ βασιλέως διαφυγεῖν εἰς Δαμασκὸν ἀνεχώρησεν πρὸς Σέξτον παρασκευαζόμενος οὐδὲ αὖθις ὑπακοῦσαι καλοῦντι. καὶ πάλιν οἱ πονηροὶ παρώξυνον τὸν Ὑρκανὸν κατ' ὀργήν τε οἴχεσθαι τὸν Ἡρώδην λέγοντες καὶ παρεσκευασμένον κατ' αὐτοῦ: πιστεύων δ' ὁ βασιλεὺς οὐκ εἶχεν ὅ τι χρὴ δρᾶν. [213] ὡς ἑώρα μείζονα τὸν διάφορον. ἐπεὶ δὲ ὑπὸ Σέξτου Καίσαρος στρατηγὸς ἀνεδείχθη κοίλης Συρίας καὶ Σαμαρείας οὐ μόνον τε κατ' εὔνοιαν τὴν ἐκ τοῦ ἔθνους ἀλλὰ καὶ δυνάμει φοβερὸς ἦν. εἰς ἔσχατον δέους κατέπεσεν Ὑρκανός, ὅσον οὔπω προσδοκῶν ἐπ' αὐτὸν ὁρμήσειν μετὰ στρατιᾶς.

8. ²¹² Thinking that he had escaped against the wishes of the king, Herod retreated to Sextus in Damascus, intending to disobey if he were summoned again. Malicious people upset Hyrcanus by saying that Herod had left in anger and was preparing to make war on him and believing it, the king did not know what to do, seeing that his opponent was stronger than himself. ²¹³ Ever since Sextus Caesar had made him general of Coelesyria and Samaria he was formidable, not just because of the nation's support of him, but for his military force, so Hyrcanus was extremely afraid and expected him to march against him soon with an army.

[214] Καὶ οὐ διήμαρτεν τῆς οἰήσεως: ὁ γὰρ Ἡρώδης κατ' ὀργὴν τῆς περὶ τὴν δίκην ἀπειλῆς στρατιὰν ἀθροίσας ἐπὶ Ἱεροσολύμων ἦγεν καταλύσων τὸν Ὑρκανόν. κἂν ἔφθη τοῦτο ποιήσας, εἰ μὴ προεξελθόντες ὅ τε πατὴρ καὶ ὁ ἀδελφὸς ἔκλασαν αὐτοῦ τὴν ὁρμὴν παρακαλοῦντες καὶ αὐτὸν ἀπειλῇ καὶ ἀνατάσει μόνῃ μετρῆσαι τὴν ἄμυναν, φείσασθαι δὲ τοῦ βασιλέως, ὑφ' οὗ μέχρι τοσαύτης δυνάμεως προῆλθεν: δεῖν τε, εἰ κληθεὶς ἐπὶ δίκην παρώξυνται, καὶ περὶ τῆς ἀφέσεως εὐχαριστεῖν καὶ μὴ πρὸς μὲν τὸ σκυθρωπὸν ἀπαντᾶν, περὶ δὲ τῆς σωτηρίας ἀχάριστον εἶναι. [215] εἰ δὲ δὴ λογιστέον εἴη καὶ πολέμου ῥοπὰς βραβεύεσθαι θεῷ, πλέον εἶναι τῆς στρατείας τὸ ἄδικον. διὸ δὴ καὶ περὶ τῆς νίκης οὐ χρὴ κατὰ πᾶν εὔελπιν εἶναι, μέλλοντά γε συμβαλεῖν βασιλεῖ καὶ συντρόφῳ καὶ πολλάκις μὲν εὐεργέτῃ, χαλεπῷ δὲ οὐδέποτε, πλὴν ὅσον πονηροῖς συμβούλοις χρώμενος ἐπισείσειεν αὐτῷ σκιὰν ἀδικήματος. πείθεται τούτοις Ἡρώδης ὑπολαβὼν εἰς τὰς ἐλπίδας αὔταρκες εἶναι καὶ τὸ τὴν ἰσχὺν ἐπιδείξασθαι τῷ ἔθνει.

9. ²¹⁴ In this he was not mistaken, for angry at his threat to put him on trial, Herod turned his army towards Jerusalem to expel Hyrcanus and would have done so if his father and brother had not gone out together and calmed his fury by urging him to carry his revenge no further than threats and gestures, but to spare the king, under whom he had reached such power, and that he should not be so angry about his trial as to forget to be thankful for his acquittal, or dwell so much on misfortune as to be ungrateful for his safety. ²¹⁵ If we reckon that God determines the outcome of war, an unjust cause has more effect than an army, so he ought not to be entirely confident of success if he fought against his king, who had helped him and had often been his benefactor, never treating him severely, and had heeded his evil counsellors only to the point of bringing a taint of injustice upon him. Herod was persuaded by these arguments and thought that for his future hopes he had already sufficiently shown his power to the nation.

[216] Κἀν τούτῳ γίνεται περὶ Ἀπάμειαν ταραχὴ Ῥωμαίων καὶ πόλεμος ἐμφύλιος, Καικιλίου μὲν Βάσσου διὰ τὴν εἰς Πομπήιον εὔνοιαν δολοφονήσαντος Σέξτον Καίσαρα καὶ τὴν ἐκείνου δύναμιν παραλαβόντος, τῶν δ' ἄλλων Καίσαρος στρατηγῶν ἐπὶ τιμωρίαι τοῦ φόνου μετὰ δυνάμεως συνελθόντων. [217] οἷς καὶ διὰ τὸν ἀνῃρημένον καὶ διὰ τὸν περιόντα Καίσαρα φίλους ὄντας ἀμφοτέρους ὁ Ἀντίπατρος διὰ τῶν παίδων ἔπεμψεν συμμαχίαν. μηκυνομένου δὲ τοῦ πολέμου Μοῦρκος μὲν ἀπὸ τῆς Ἰταλίας Σέξτου παραγίνεται διάδοχος,

10. ²¹⁶ Meanwhile the Romans around Apamia were disturbed and there was a civil war caused by the treacherous murder of Sextus Caesar by Cecilius Bassus, which he did for Pompey's sake and took over his forces, but the rest of Caesar's officers attacked Bassus with all their force, to punish him for the murder. ²¹⁷ Antipater sent them help through his sons, for the sake of the one who was murdered and of the Caesar who was still alive, both of whom were his friends, and as this war dragged on, Mourcus came from Italy as successor to Antistius.

[218] συνίσταται δὲ Ῥωμαίοις κατὰ τοῦτον τὸν καιρὸν ὁ μέγας πόλεμος Κασσίου καὶ Βρούτου κτεινάντων δόλῳ Καίσαρα κατασχόντα τὴν ἀρχὴν ἐπ' ἔτη τρία καὶ μῆνας ἑπτά. μεγίστου δ' ἐπὶ τῷ φόνῳ γενομένου κινήματος καὶ διαστασιασθέντων τῶν δυνατῶν ἕκαστος ἐλπίσιν οἰκείαις ἐχώρει πρὸς ὃ συμφέρειν ὑπελάμβανεν, καὶ δὴ καὶ Κάσσιος εἰς Συρίαν καταληψόμενος τὰς περὶ Ἀπάμειαν δυνάμεις. [219] ἔνθα Βάσσῳ τε Μοῦρκον καὶ τὰ διεστῶτα τάγματα διαλλάξας ἐλευθεροῖ μὲν Ἀπάμειαν τῆς πολιορκίας, ἡγούμενος δ' αὐτὸς τῆς στρατιᾶς ἐπήιει φορολογῶν τὰς πόλεις καὶ παρὰ δύναμιν τὰς εἰσπράξεις ποιούμενος.

1. ²¹⁸ At this time a major war arose among the Romans after the treacherous murder of Caesar by Cassius and Brutus, when he had held power for three years and seven months. This murder caused widespread upheaval and the influential men were sharply divided, each joining the party offering the best hopes of promotion, and Cassius came to Syria, to take command of the forces at Apamia. ²¹⁹ There he reconciled Bassus and Murcus and their opposing legions, and raising the siege of Apamia, he took command of the army and went about exacting larger amounts of tax from the cities than they could bear.

[220] Κελευσθὲν δὲ καὶ Ἰουδαίοις εἰσενεγκεῖν ἑπτακόσια τάλαντα δείσας Ἀντίπατρος τὴν ἀπειλὴν τοῦ Κασσίου τοῖς τε υἱοῖς διεῖλεν εἰσπράττειν τὰ χρήματα καί τισιν ἄλλοις τῶν ἐπιτηδείων κατὰ τάχος, ἐν οἷς καὶ Μαλίχῳ τινὶ τῶν διαφόρων: οὕτως ἤπειγεν ἡ ἀνάγκη. [221] πρῶτος δ' ἀπεμειλίξατο Κάσσιον Ἡρώδης τὴν ἑαυτοῦ μοῖραν ἐκ τῆς Γαλιλαίας κομίσας ἑκατὸν τάλαντα καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἐν τοῖς μάλιστα φίλος ἦν. τοὺς δὲ λοιποὺς εἰς βραδυτῆτα κακίσας αὐταῖς ἐθυμοῦτο ταῖς πόλεσιν. [222] Γόφνα γοῦν καὶ Ἀμμαοῦν καὶ δύο ἑτέρας τῶν ταπεινοτέρων ἐξανδραποδισάμενος ἐχώρει μὲν ὡς καὶ Μάλιχον ἀναιρήσων, ὅτι μὴ σπεύσας εἰσέπραξεν, ἐπέσχεν δὲ τὴν τούτου καὶ τὴν τῶν ἄλλων πόλεων ἀπώλειαν Ἀντίπατρος ταχέως ἑκατὸν ταλάντοις θεραπεύσας Κάσσιον.

2. ²²⁰ He ordered the Jews to bring in seven hundred talents, and dreading the threats of Cassius, Antipater divided the raising of this sum among his sons and some others, needing it done quickly, and among them he required the hostile Malichus to do the necessary. ²²¹ First of all Herod calmed the passion of Cassius by bringing his share from Galilee, a hundred talents, for which he highly favoured him, while insulting the rest for being tardy, and vented his anger on the cities. ²²² He captured Gophna and Emmaus and two others of lesser note, and seemed ready to kill Malichus for not being quicker in exacting his tax. Antipater prevented the ruin of this man and of the other cities and won favour with Cassius by instantly bringing in a hundred talents.

[223] Οὐ μὴν Μάλιχος ἀναχωρήσαντος Κασσίου τῆς χάριτος ἀπεμνημόνευσεν Ἀντιπάτρῳ, κατὰ δὲ τοῦ πολλάκις σωτῆρος ἐπιβουλὴν ἐνεσκευάζετο σπεύδων ἀνελεῖν τὸν ἐμπόδιον αὐτοῦ τοῖς ἀδικήμασιν Ἀντίπατρος δὲ τήν τε ἰσχὺν καὶ τὸ πανοῦργον τἀνδρὸς ὑποδείσας διαβαίνει τὸν Ἰορδάνην στρατὸν ἀθροίσων εἰς τὴν τῆς ἐπιβουλῆς ἄμυναν. [224] φωραθεὶς δὲ Μάλιχος ἀναιδείᾳ τῶν Ἀντιπάτρου παίδων περιγίνεται: τόν τε γὰρ Ἱεροσολύμων φρουρὸν Φασάηλον καὶ Ἡρώδην πεπιστευμένον τὰ ὅπλα πολλαῖς ἀπολογίαις καὶ ὅρκοις ἐκγοητεύσας διαλλακτὰς αὐτῷ πρὸς τὸν πατέρα πείθει γίνεσθαι. πάλιν γοῦν ὑπ' Ἀντιπάτρου σώζεται πείσαντος Μοῦρκον τὸν τότε στρατηγοῦντα Συρίας, ὃς ὥρμητο κτεῖναι Μάλιχον ἐφ' οἷς ἐνεωτέρισεν.

3. ²²² But once Cassius was gone Malichus forgot the favour Antipater had done him and frequently schemed to get rid of the one who had saved him, because he was a hindrance to his misdeeds. Antipater was so afraid of the man's power and cunning that he went across the Jordan to raise an army and guard against his treachery. ²²⁴ When Malichus' plot was found out, he boldly duped Antipater's sons and by many excuses and oaths tricked Phasael, who was in command of Jerusalem and Herod who was entrusted with the arsenal, persuading them to help him be reconciled with his father. So he was again saved by Antipater, who talked Mourcus, the then ruler of Syria, out of his resolve to execute Malichus for attempted rebellion.

[225] Συστάντος δὲ τοῦ πρὸς Κάσσιον καὶ Βροῦτον πολέμου Καίσαρί τε τῷ νέῳ καὶ Ἀντωνίῳ Κάσσιος καὶ Μοῦρκος στρατιὰν ἀθροίσαντες ἐκ τῆς Συρίας, ἐπειδὴ μέγα μέρος εἰς τὰς χρείας Ἡρώδης ἔδοξε, τότε μὲν αὐτὸν Συρίας ἁπάσης ἐπιμελητὴν καθιστᾶσιν δύναμιν πεζήν τε καὶ ἱππικὴν δόντες, μετὰ δὲ τὴν τοῦ πολέμου κατάλυσιν ἀποδείξειν Κάσσιος ὑπέσχετο καὶ Ἰουδαίας βασιλέα. [226] συνέβη δ' Ἀντιπάτρῳ τήν τε ἰσχὺν τοῦ παιδὸς καὶ τὴν ἐλπίδα αἰτίαν ἀπωλείας γενέσθαι: ταῦτα γὰρ δείσας ὁ Μάλιχος διαφθείρει τινὰ τῶν βασιλικῶν οἰνοχόων χρήμασιν δοῦναι φάρμακον Ἀντιπάτρῳ. καὶ ὁ μὲν ἀγώνισμα τῆς Μαλίχου παρανομίας γενόμενος μετὰ τὸ συμπόσιον θνήσκει τά τε ἄλλα δραστήριος ἀνὴρ ἐν ἀφηγήσει πραγμάτων καὶ τὴν ἀρχὴν ἀνακτησάμενός τε Ὑρκανῷ καὶ διαφυλάξας.

4. ²²⁵ During the war of Cassius and Brutus against the younger Caesar and Antony, Cassius and Marcus Brutus gathered an army from Syria, and because Herod was likely to play a big part in providing essentials, they made him procurator of all Syria and gave him an army of both infantry and cavalry, and Cassius promised to make him king of Judea, after the war was over. ²²⁶ But the power and the hopes of his son became the cause of Antipater's ruin, for being anxious about this, Malichus bribed one of the king's cup-bearers to give Antipater a poisoned drink, so he was sacrificed to Malichus's wickedness and died at a feast. He had been most active in the management of affairs, and was vital in regaining and retaining power for Hyrcanus.

[227] Μάλιχος δὲ καθ' ὑπόνοιαν τῆς φαρμακείας ὀργιζόμενον τὸ πλῆθος ἀρνούμενος ἔπειθεν καὶ δυνατώτερον ἑαυτὸν κατεσκεύαζεν ὁπλίτας συγκροτῶν: οὐ γὰρ ἠρεμήσειν Ἡρώδην ὑπελάμβανεν, ὃς δὴ καὶ παρῆν αὐτίκα στρατὸν ἄγων ἐπὶ τιμωρίαι τοῦ πατρός. [228] Φασαήλου δὲ τἀδελφοῦ συμβουλεύσαντος αὐτῷ μὴ φανερῶς τὸν ἄνδρα μετιέναι, διαστασιάσειν γὰρ τὸ πλῆθος, τότε μὲν ἀπολογούμενόν τε προσίεται τὸν Μάλιχον καὶ τῆς ὑπονοίας ἀπολύειν ὡμολόγει, λαμπρὰν δὲ πομπὴν ἐπὶ τῷ πατρὶ κηδείας ἐτέλεσεν.

5. ²²⁷ Suspected of poisoning Antipater and seeing the people's anger at him, Malichus denied it and placated them. But not expecting Herod to remain at peace, he wanted to strengthen his position and raised soldiers, and indeed the latter soon came against him with an army, to revenge his father's death. ²²⁸ Still, advised by his brother Phasael not to execute him publicly in case the people should rebel, he accepted Malichus's apology and professed to lift the suspicion from him and then made a splendid funeral for his father.

[229] Τραπεὶς δ' ἐπὶ Σαμάρειαν στάσει τεταραγμένην κατεστήσατο τὴν πόλιν: ἔπειτα καθ' ἑορτὴν ὑπέστρεφεν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα τοὺς ὁπλίτας ἄγων. καὶ πέμπων Ὑρκανός, ἐνῆγεν γὰρ δεδοικὼς τὴν ἔφοδον Μάλιχος, ἐκώλυεν τοὺς ἀλλοφύλους εἰσαγαγεῖν ἐφ' ἁγνεύοντας τοὺς ἐπιχωρίους. ὁ δὲ τῆς προφάσεως καταφρονήσας καὶ τοῦ προστάσσοντος εἰσέρχεται διὰ νυκτός. [230] καὶ πάλιν Μάλιχος προσιὼν ἔκλαιεν Ἀντίπατρον: ἀνθυπεκρίνετο δὲ μόλις Ἡρώδης τὸν θυμὸν ἐπέχων καὶ Κασσίῳ δι' ἐπιστολῶν τὴν τοῦ πατρὸς ἀναίρεσιν ἀπωδύρετο μισοῦντι καὶ ἄλλως Μάλιχον. ὁ δ' αὐτῷ μετιέναι τὸν φονέα τοῦ πατρὸς ἀντεπιστείλας καὶ τοῖς ὑφ' ἑαυτὸν χιλιάρχοις λάθρα προσέταξεν Ἡρώδῃ βοηθεῖν εἰς πρᾶξιν δικαίαν.

6. ²²⁹ Herod went to quell an uprising in Samaria, and settled the city in peace before returning with his infantry to Jerusalem for the festival. Then Hyrcanus, instigated by Malichus whom he feared, forbade them to let foreigners mingle with the locals during their purifications, but scorning both this pretext and the one who had made it, Herod came in by night. ²³⁰ When Malichus came to sympathise about Antipater, Herod pretended to believe him, though he found it hard to contain his anger. He did, however, complain of his father's murder in his letters to Cassius, who also hated Malichus for other reasons. Cassius sent back word that he would avenge his father's death for him and secretly ordered his tribunes to help Herod to execute justice..

[231] Καὶ ἐπειδὴ Λαοδίκειαν ἑλόντος αὐτοῦ συνῇσαν οἱ πανταχόθεν δυνατοὶ δωρεάς τε καὶ στεφάνους φέροντες, Ἡρώδης μὲν τοῦτον τῇ τιμωρίαι τὸν καιρὸν ἀφώρισεν, Μάλιχος δὲ ὑποπτεύσας, ὡς ἐν Τύρῳ γίνεται, τόν τε υἱὸν ὁμηρεύοντα παρὰ τοῖς Τυρίοις ὑπεξαγαγεῖν ἔγνω λάθρα καὶ αὐτὸς εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν ἀποδρᾶναι παρεσκευάζετο: [232] παρώξυνεν δ' αὐτὸν ἡ τῆς σωτηρίας ἀπόγνωσις ἐνθυμεῖσθαι καὶ μείζονα: τό τε γὰρ ἔθνος ἐπαναστήσειν Ῥωμαίοις ἤλπισεν Κασσίου τῷ πρὸς Ἀντώνιον πολέμῳ περισπωμένου καὶ βασιλεύσειν αὐτὸς Ὑρκανὸν καταλύσας εὐμαρῶς.

7. ²³¹ When he took Laodicea and the leaders flocked to him from all quarters bearing gifts and crowns, Herod took his opportunity to strike at Malichus. Suspecting this while he was in Tyre, Malichus decided to secretly remove his son from the Tyrians, where he was held hostage, while he himself got ready to escape into Judea. ²³² His desperate danger spurred him to aim for higher things, for he hoped to rouse the nation to revolt from the Romans while Cassius was busy with the war against Antony, and that he could easily depose Hyrcanus and become king himself.

[233] Ἐπεγέλα δ' ἄρα τὸ χρεὼν αὐτοῦ ταῖς ἐλπίσιν. ὁ γοῦν Ἡρώδης προϊδόμενος αὐτοῦ τὴν ὁρμὴν τόν τε Ὑρκανὸν κἀκεῖνον ἐπὶ δεῖπνον ἐκάλει, παρεστῶτας ἔπειτα τῶν οἰκετῶν τινας πρὸς αὑτὸν εἰσέπεμψεν ὡς ἐπὶ τὴν τοῦ δείπνου παρασκευήν, τῷ δὲ ὄντι προειπεῖν τοῖς χιλιάρχοις ἐξελθεῖν ἐπὶ τὴν ἐνέδραν. [234] κἀκεῖνοι τῶν Κασσίου προσταγμάτων ἀναμνησθέντες ἐπὶ τὸν πρὸ τῆς πόλεως αἰγιαλὸν ἐξήιεσαν ξιφήρεις, ἔνθα περιστάντες τὸν Μάλιχον πολλοῖς τραύμασιν ἀναιροῦσιν. Ὑρκανὸς δὲ παραχρῆμα μὲν λυθεὶς ὑπ' ἐκπλήξεως ἔπεσεν, μόλις δὲ ἀνενεγκὼν Ἡρώδην διηρώτα, τίς ὁ κτείνας εἴη Μάλιχον. [235] ἀποκριναμένου δέ τινος τῶν χιλιάρχων «τὸ Κασσίου πρόσταγμα», «Κάσσιος ἄρα, ἔφη, κἀμὲ καὶ τὴν πατρίδα μου σώζει τὸν ἀμφοτέρων ἐπίβουλον ἀνελών.» εἴτε δὲ φρονῶν Ὑρκανὸς οὕτως εἴθ' ὑπὸ δέους ὁμόσε τῇ πράξει χωρῶν εἶπεν, ἄδηλον ἦν. ἀλλὰ γὰρ Μάλιχον μὲν οὕτως Ἡρώδης μετῆλθεν.

8. ²³³ But fate mocked his hopes, for Herod foresaw his intent and invited him and Hyrcanus to a supper and then sent out one of his servants as though to prepare things for supper, but in reality to tell the tribunes to be ready for the ambush. ²³⁴ Remembering Cassius' orders, they went down sword in hand from the city to the shore, where they surrounded Malichus and killed him with many wounds. Hyrcanus fainted at the sudden shock and fell down,and had barely revived when he asked Herod who had killed Malichus. ²³⁵ When one of the tribunes replied that it was done at the command of Cassius, he said, "Then, by removing one who was plotting against me and my country, Cassius has saved us both." Whether or not Hyrcanus really thought this, or if it was fear that made him commend the deed, that was how Herod took his revenge on Malichus.

[236] Κασσίου δὲ ἀναχωρήσαντος ἐκ Συρίας πάλιν στάσις ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις γίνεται Ἕλικος μετὰ στρατιᾶς ἐπαναστάντος Φασαήλῳ καὶ κατὰ τὴν ὑπὲρ Μαλίχου τιμωρίαν ἀμύνεσθαι θέλοντος Ἡρώδην εἰς τὸν ἀδελφόν. Ἡρώδης δὲ ἔτυχεν μὲν ὢν παρὰ Φαβίῳ τῷ στρατηγῷ κατὰ Δαμασκόν, ὡρμημένος δὲ βοηθεῖν ὑπὸ νόσου κατείχετο. [237] κἀν τούτῳ Φασάηλος καθ' ἑαυτὸν Ἕλικος περιγενόμενος Ὑρκανὸν ὠνείδιζεν εἰς ἀχαριστίαν ὧν τε Ἕλικι συμπράξειεν, καὶ ὅτι περιορώιη τὸν ἀδελφὸν τὸν Μαλίχου τὰ φρούρια καταλαμβάνοντα: πολλὰ γὰρ δὴ κατείληπτο, καὶ τὸ πάντων ὀχυρώτατον Μασάδαν.

1. ²³⁶ After Cassius left Syria, another rebellion arose in Jerusalem, where Helix attacked Phasael with an army, to take revenge on Herod for the death of Malichus by attacking his brother. At the time, Herod happened to be with Fabius, the ruler of Damascus and as he was going to his brother's help, he was detained by sickness. ²³⁷ Meanwhile, Phasael defeated Helix by himself and reproached Hyrcanus for ingratitude, both for the help he had given Malichus and for ignoring Malichus's brother after he gained possession of the fortresses, for already he held many of them, among them the strongest of them all, Masada.

[238] Οὐ μὴν αὐτῷ τι πρὸς τὴν Ἡρώδου βίαν ἤρκεσεν, ὃς ἀναρρωσθεὶς τά τε ἄλλα παραλαμβάνει κἀκεῖνον ἐκ τῆς Μασάδας ἱκέτην ἀφῆκεν. ἐξήλασεν δὲ καὶ ἐκ τῆς Γαλιλαίας Μαρίωνα τὸν Τυρίων τύραννον ἤδη τρία κατεσχηκότα τῶν ἐρυμάτων, τοὺς δὲ ληφθέντας Τυρίους ἔσωσεν μὲν πάντας, ἦσαν δ' οὓς καὶ δωρησάμενος ἀπέπεμψεν εὔνοιαν ἑαυτῷ παρὰ τῆς πόλεως καὶ τῷ τυράννῳ μῖσος παρασκευαζόμενος. [239] ὁ δὲ Μαρίων ἠξίωτο μὲν τῆς τυραννίδος ὑπὸ Κασσίου τυραννίσιν πᾶσαν διαλαβόντος τὴν Συρίαν, κατὰ δὲ τὸ πρὸς Ἡρώδην ἔχθος συγκατήγαγεν Ἀντίγονον τὸν Ἀριστοβούλου, καὶ τὸ πλέον διὰ Φάβιον, ὃν Ἀντίγονος χρήμασιν προσποιησάμενος βοηθὸν εἶχεν τῆς καθόδου: χορηγὸς δ' ἦν ἁπάντων ὁ κηδεστὴς Πτολεμαῖος Ἀντιγόνῳ.

2. ²³⁸ But he could not withstand the force of Herod, who, as soon as he was recovered, took the other fortresses again and drove him from Masada as a supplicant. He also expelled from Galilee Marion, the tyrant of the Tyrians, when he had already captured three strongholds, though he had let live the Tyrians whom he had caught, even giving gifts to some of them before senging them away. By this he earned from the city goodwill towards himself and hatred towards the tyrant. ²³⁹ Marion's regime was due to Cassius, who appointed tyrants over all of Syria, and, moved by hatred for Herod, had helped Antigonus, son of Aristobulus. In this he was prompted by Fabius, whom Antigonus had paid to help in his restoration, while the expenses of his exile were paid by his relative, Ptolemy.

[240] Πρὸς οὓς Ἡρώδης ἀντιπαραταξάμενος ἐπὶ τῶν ἐμβολῶν τῆς Ἰουδαίας κρατεῖ τῇ μάχῃ καὶ τὸν Ἀντίγονον ἐξελάσας ὑπέστρεψεν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα πᾶσιν ἀγαπητὸς ὢν ἐπὶ τῷ κατορθώματι: καὶ γὰρ οἱ μὴ προσέχοντες πάλαι τότε ὠικείωντο διὰ τὴν πρὸς Ὑρκανὸν ἐπιγαμίαν αὐτῷ. [241] πρότερον μὲν γὰρ ἦκτο γυναῖκα τῶν ἐπιχωρίων οὐκ ἄσημον, Δωρὶς ἐκαλεῖτο, ἐξ ἧς ἐγέννησεν Ἀντίπατρον, τότε δὲ γήμας τὴν Ἀλεξάνδρου τοῦ Ἀριστοβούλου θυγατέρα, θυγατριδῆν δὲ Ὑρκανοῦ Μαριάμην οἰκεῖος τῷ βασιλεῖ γίνεται.

3. ²⁴⁰ Herod resisted them in the highways of Judea and won, and drove Antigonus off and returned to Jerusalem, beloved by all for his splendid exploit. Those who previously did not favour him joined him now, because of his marriage into the family of Hyrcanus. ²⁴¹ Whereas he had formerly married a wife of noble blood called Doris from his own district, by whom he had a son, Antipater, now he married Mariamne, a daughter of Alexander the son of Aristobulus, and a granddaughter of Hyrcanus, and had thereby become related to the king.

[242] Ἐπεὶ δὲ Κάσσιον περὶ Φιλίππους ἀνελόντες ἀνεχώρησαν εἰς μὲν Ἰταλίαν Καῖσαρ ἐπὶ δὲ τῆς Ἀσίας Ἀντώνιος, πρεσβευομένων τῶν ἄλλων πόλεων πρὸς Ἀντώνιον εἰς Βιθυνίαν ἧκον καὶ Ἰουδαίων οἱ δυνατοὶ κατηγοροῦντες Φασαήλου καὶ Ἡρώδου, βίαι μὲν αὐτοὺς κρατεῖν τῶν πραγμάτων, ὄνομα δὲ μόνον περιεῖναι Ὑρκανῷ τίμιον. πρὸς ἃ παρὼν Ἡρώδης καὶ τεθεραπευκὼς οὐκ ὀλίγοις Ἀντώνιον χρήμασιν οὕτως διέθηκεν, ὡς μηδὲ λόγου τῶν ἐχθρῶν ἀνασχέσθαι.

4. ²⁴² But after killing Cassius near Philippi, Caesar went back to Italy and Antony to Asia; then along with other cities which sent envoys to Antony to Bithynia, the great men of the Jews also came to accuse Phasael and Herod of holding power by force, and Hyrcanus of holding only an honourary title. Herod came in person, and befriended Antony by giving him large sums of money, he making him unwilling to hear any hostile words against him, so for the moment his enemies were put to silence.

[243] καὶ τότε μὲν οὕτως διελύθησαν, αὖθις δὲ οἱ ἐν τέλει Ἰουδαίων ἑκατὸν ἄνδρες ἧκον εἰς τὴν πρὸς Ἀντιόχειαν Δάφνην ἐπ' Ἀντώνιον ἤδη τῷ Κλεοπάτρας ἔρωτι δεδουλωμένον: οἳ προστησάμενοι τοὺς ἀξιώματι καὶ λόγῳ σφῶν δυνατωτάτους κατηγόρουν τῶν ἀδελφῶν. ὑπήντα δὲ Μεσσάλας ἀπολογούμενος συμπαρεστῶτος Ὑρκανοῦ διὰ τὸ κῆδος. [244] καὶ Ἀντώνιος ἀκούσας ἑκατέρων Ὑρκανοῦ διεπυνθάνετο τοὺς ἐπιτηδειοτέρους ὄντας ἄρχειν: τοῦ δὲ τοὺς περὶ τὸν Ἡρώδην προκρίνοντος, ἡσθείς, ἦν γὰρ δὴ καὶ ξένος αὐτοῖς πατρῷος δεχθεὶς ὑπ' Ἀντιπάτρου φιλοφρόνως ὅτε εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν σὺν Γαβινίῳ παρέβαλλεν, τετράρχας ἀποδείκνυσιν τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς πᾶσαν διοικεῖν τὴν Ἰουδαίαν ἐπιτρέπων.

5. ²⁴³ Later, however, a hundred of the leading Jews came to Daphne near Antioch, to meet Antony, who was already in thrall to his love for Cleopatra, and putting forward their most noble and eloquent speakers, made their accusations against the brothers. But Messala faced them for the defence while Hyrcanus stood beside him, because of his connection by marriage. ²⁴⁴ When Antony had heard both sides and asked Hyrcanus which party was most fit to govern, he replied in favour of Herod. This pleased Antony, for he had formerly been warmly welcomed by his father Antipater, when campaigning with Gabinius in Judea. So he appointed the brothers tetrarchs and entrusted them with ruling Judea.

[245] Προσαγανακτούντων δὲ τῶν πρέσβεων πεντεκαίδεκα μὲν συλλαβὼν εἵργνυσιν, οὓς καὶ ἀνελεῖν ὥρμησεν, τοὺς δὲ λοιποὺς μεθ' ὕβρεως ἀπήλασεν. πρὸς ὃ μείζων ἐν τοῖς Ἱεροσολύμοις γίνεται ταραχή: χιλίους γοῦν πάλιν ἔπεμψαν πρέσβεις εἰς Τύρον, ἔνθα διέτριβεν Ἀντώνιος ἐπὶ Ἱεροσολύμων ὡρμημένος. ἐπὶ τούτους κεκραγότας ἐκπέμπει τὸν ἄρχοντα τῶν Τυρίων κολάζειν προστάξας οὓς ἂν λάβῃ, συγκατασκευάζειν δὲ τὴν ἀρχὴν τοῖς ὑπ' αὐτοῦ κατασταθεῖσιν τετράρχαις.

6. ²⁴⁵ But when the envoys were angry at this procedure, Antony took and jailed fifteen of them and was prepared to execute them, and the rest he drove away in disgrace. This caused still further rioting in Jerusalem. Again they sent a thousand envoys to Tyre, where Antony had paused during his march to Jerusalem. He sent out the ruler of Tyre against these complainants to punish all of them he could catch and to support the rule of the tetrarchs appointed by him.

[246] Πρὸ δὲ τούτου πολλὰ παρήινει προελθὼν ἐπὶ τὸν αἰγιαλὸν Ἡρώδης σὺν Ὑρκανῷ μήθ' ἑαυτοῖς ἀπωλείας αἰτίους μήτε τῇ πατρίδι πολέμου γίνεσθαι φιλονεικοῦντας ἀκρίτως. τῶν δὲ ἔτι μᾶλλον ἀγανακτούντων Ἀντώνιος ἐκπέμψας ὁπλίτας πολλοὺς μὲν ἀπέκτεινεν, πολλοὺς δὲ ἔτρωσεν: ὧν οἵ τε πεσόντες ταφῆς καὶ οἱ τραυματίαι θεραπείας ἠξιώθησαν ὑπὸ Ὑρκανοῦ. [247] οὐ μὴν οἱ διαφυγόντες ἠρέμουν, ἀλλὰ τὰ κατὰ τὴν πόλιν συνταράσσοντες παρώξυναν Ἀντώνιον ὥστε καὶ τοὺς δεσμώτας ἀποκτεῖναι.

7. ²⁴⁶ Before this Herod and Hyrcanus went to the sea-shore and implored these envoys not to destroy themselves, or bring war on their native land, by ill-judged quarrels. However, as they grew still more embittered, Antony sent troops and killed or wounded many. ²⁴⁷ Although the dead were buried by Hyrcanus, and he had the wounded cared for, even still those who escaped would not be silent but stirred up the city so much that it provoked Antony into killing the prisoners.

[248] Μετὰ δὲ ἔτη δύο Βαζαφράνου τοῦ Πάρθων σατράπου σὺν Πακόρῳ τῷ βασιλέως υἱῷ Συρίαν κατασχόντος Λυσανίας ἀναδεδεγμένος ἤδη τὴν ἀρχὴν τοῦ πατρὸς τελευτήσαντος, Πτολεμαῖος δ' ἦν οὗτος ὁ Μενναίου, πείθει τὸν σατράπην ὑποσχέσει χιλίων ταλάντων καὶ πεντακοσίων γυναικῶν καταγαγεῖν ἐπὶ τὰ βασίλεια τὸν Ἀντίγονον, καταλῦσαι δὲ τὸν Ὑρκανόν. [249] τούτοις ὑπαχθεὶς Πάκορος αὐτὸς μὲν ἤιει κατὰ τὴν παράλιον, Βαζαφράνην δὲ διὰ τῆς μεσογείου προσέταξεν ἐμβαλεῖν. τῶν δ' ἐπιθαλαττίων Τύριοι Πάκορον οὐκ ἐδέξαντο καίτοι Πτολεμαιῶν καὶ Σιδωνίων δεδεγμένων. ὁ δ' οἰνοχόῳ τινὶ τῶν βασιλικῶν ὁμωνύμῳ μοῖραν τῆς ἵππου παραδοὺς προεμβαλεῖν ἐκέλευσεν εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν κατασκεψόμενόν τε τὰ τῶν πολεμίων καὶ πρὸς ἃ δέοι βοηθήσοντα Ἀντιγόνῳ.

1. ²⁴⁸ Two years later, the Parthian satrap Barzapharnes and Pacorus, the king's son, occupied Syria, and Lysanias, who had taken over after the death of his father Ptolemy, the son of Mennaeus, persuaded the satrap, by a promise of a thousand talents and five hundred women, to restore Antigonus to his kingdom and to depose Hyrcanus. ²⁴⁹ Prompted by this, Pacorus marched down along the coastal route, commanding Barzapharnes to march through the interior. Of the coastal towns, the Tyrians would not receive Pacorus, but those of Ptolemais and Sidon did receive him, so he left a troop of his cavalry to a cup-bearer of the same name as himself, belonging to the royal family, with orders to proceed into Judea, to gain information about the enemy and to help Antigonus as required.

[250] Τῶν δὲ λῃζομένων τὸν Κάρμηλον πολλοὶ Ἰουδαῖοι συνδραμόντες πρὸς Ἀντίγονον προθύμους ἑαυτοὺς ἐπὶ τὴν εἰσβολὴν παρεῖχον. ὁ δὲ αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τὸν καλούμενον Δρυμὸν προέπεμψεν τὸ χωρίον καταλαβεῖν: ἐν ὧι γενομένης συμβολῆς ὠσάμενοι τοὺς πολεμίους καὶ διώξαντες ἐπὶ Ἱεροσολύμων ἔθεον γενόμενοί τε πλείους μέχρι τῶν βασιλείων προῆλθον. [251] Ὑρκανοῦ δὲ καὶ Φασαήλου δεξαμένων αὐτοὺς καρτερῷ στίφει μάχη κατὰ τὴν ἀγορὰν συρρήγνυται, καθ' ἣν τρεψάμενοι τοὺς πολεμίους οἱ περὶ Ἡρώδην κατακλείουσιν εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν καὶ φρουροὺς αὐτῶν ἄνδρας ἑξήκοντα ταῖς πλησίον οἰκίαις ἐγκατέστησαν. [252] τούτους μὲν ὁ στασιάζων πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς λαὸς ἐπελθὼν ἐμπίπρησιν, Ἡρώδης δὲ τοῦ δήμου πολλοὺς κατ' ὀργὴν τῶν ἀπολωλότων ἀναιρεῖ συμβαλών, καὶ καθ' ἡμέραν ἐπεκθεόντων ἀλλήλοις κατὰ λόχους φόνος ἦν ἀδιάλειπτος.

2. ²⁵⁰ As these were ravaging Carmel, many of the Jews hurried to join Antigonus, prepared to invade the country, so he sent them ahead to a place called Coppice, to seize it. A battle was fought there and they routed the enemy and pursued them as far as Jerusalem, and with their numbers constantly growing, they reached the royal palace. ²⁵¹ As Hyrcanus and Phasael were ready for them with a strong group of men, a battle ensued in the marketplace, where the Herodian side defeated the enemy and shut them up in the temple and set sixty men in the adjoining houses to keep guard over them. ²⁵² But the people who were opposed to the brothers entered and burned the guards, and Herod, in his rage at losing them, attacked and killed many of the people, until each side in turn ambushed the other by turns on a daily basis, and there was no end of slaughter.

[253] Ἐνστάσης δ' ἑορτῆς, ἣ πεντηκοστὴ καλεῖται, τά τε περὶ τὸ ἱερὸν πάντα καὶ ἡ πόλις ὅλη πλήθους τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς χώρας ἀναπίμπλαται τὸ πλέον ὁπλιτῶν. καὶ Φασάηλος μὲν τὸ τεῖχος, Ἡρώδης δ' οὐ μετὰ πολλῶν ἐφρούρει τὰ βασίλεια: καὶ τοῖς πολεμίοις ἐπεκδραμὼν ἀσυντάκτοις κατὰ τὸ προάστειον πλείστους μὲν ἀναιρεῖ, τρέπεται δὲ πάντας καὶ τοὺς μὲν εἰς τὴν πόλιν, τοὺς δὲ εἰς τὸ ἱερόν, τοὺς δὲ εἰς τὸ ἔξω χαράκωμα ἐγκλείει. [254] κἀν τούτῳ διαλλακτὴν μὲν Ἀντίγονος παρακαλεῖ Πάκορον εἰσαφεῖναι, Φασάηλος δὲ πεισθεὶς τῇ τε πόλει καὶ ξενίαι τὸν Πάρθον εἰσδέχεται μετὰ πεντακοσίων ἱππέων, προφάσει μὲν ἥκοντα τοῦ παῦσαι τὴν στάσιν. [255] τὸ δὲ ἀληθὲς Ἀντιγόνῳ βοηθόν. τὸν γοῦν Φασάηλον ἐνεδρεύων ἀνέπεισεν πρὸς Βαζαφράνην πρεσβεύσασθαι περὶ καταλύσεως, καίτοι γε πολλὰ ἀποτρέποντος Ἡρώδου καὶ παραινοῦντος ἀναιρεῖν τὸν ἐπίβουλον, ἀλλὰ μὴ ταῖς ἐπιβουλαῖς ἑαυτὸν ἐκδιδόναι, φύσει γὰρ ἀπίστους εἶναι τοὺς βαρβάρους, ἔξεισιν Ὑρκανὸν παραλαβών, καὶ Πάκορος, ὡς ἧττον ὑποπτεύοιτο, καταλιπὼν παρ' Ἡρώδῃ τινὰς τῶν καλουμένων Ἐλευθέρων ἱππέων τοῖς λοιποῖς προέπεμψεν Φασάηλον.

3. ²⁵³ When the feast called Pentecost was near, the whole area around the temple and the city itself was thronged with people up from the country, many of them armed. Phasael was guarding the wall and Herod, with a small force, was guarding the royal palace, and when he made an attack on his disorganised enemies, on the north quarter of the city, he killed many and put them all to flight, and shut up some of them within the city and others within the outer fort. ²⁵⁴ Meanwhile Antigonus asked to have Pacorus accepted as a mediator between them, and Phasael agreed to admit the Parthian into the city with five hundred cavalry, purportedly to bring the civil strife to an end, but in fact he came to help Antigonus. ²⁵⁵ This man tricked Phasael into going on an embassy to Barzapharnes to resolve the issue, though Herod tried hard to dissuade him, urging him to kill the conspirator and not risk the traps set for him, since the barbarians are treacherous by nature. But Pacorus came out, bringing Hyrcanus with him so as to be less suspected, and left in Herod's charge some of his cavalry, called the Freemen, and with the rest went off with Phasael.

[256] Ὡς δ' ἐγένοντο κατὰ τὴν Γαλιλαίαν, τοὺς μὲν ἐπιχωρίους ἀφεστῶτας κἀν τοῖς ὅπλοις ὄντας καταλαμβάνουσιν, τῷ σατράπῃ δὲ ἐνετύγχανον πανούργῳ σφόδρα καὶ ταῖς φιλοφρονήσεσιν τὴν ἐπιβουλὴν καλύπτοντι: δῶρα γοῦν δοὺς αὐτοῖς ἔπειτα ἀναχωροῦντας ἐλόχα. [257] τοῖς δ' αἴσθησις γίνεται τῆς ἐπιβουλῆς καταχθεῖσιν εἴς τι τῶν παραθαλασσίων χωρίων, ὃ καλεῖται Ἐκδίππων: ἐκεῖ γὰρ τήν τε ὑπόσχεσιν τῶν χιλίων ἤκουσαν ταλάντων καὶ ὡς Ἀντίγονος τὰς πλείστας τῶν παρ' αὐτοῖς γυναικῶν ἐν ταῖς πεντακοσίαις καθοσιώσειεν Πάρθοις, [258] ὅτι τε προλοχίζοιντο μὲν αὐτοῖς αἱ νύκτες ὑπὸ τῶν βαρβάρων ἀεί, πάλαι δ' ἂν καὶ συνελήφθησαν, εἰ μὴ περιέμενον ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις Ἡρώδην πρότερον λαβεῖν, ὡς μὴ προπυθόμενος τὰ κατ' αὐτοὺς φυλάξαιτο. ταῦτ' οὐκέτι λόγος ἦν μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ φυλακὰς ἤδη πόρρωθεν ἑαυτῶν ἔβλεπον.

4. ²⁵⁶ But when they reached Galilee, they found the local people in armed revolt and when these came to the satrap he cunningly concealed his intentions and received them graciously. First he gave them gifts and then set an ambush for them as they went away. ²⁵⁷ They became aware of the trap when they reached one of the coastal towns named Ecdippon, for where they heard of the promise of a thousand talents and how among the five hundred women Antigonus had promised to the Parthians, most of their wives were included. ²⁵⁸ They also noted how the barbarians regularly set traps for them by night, and would have already seized them if they were not waiting for Herod to be first captured in Jerusalem, so as not to alert him of treachery. And this was no mere hersay, for they saw the sentries already not far from them.

[259] Οὐ μὴν Φασάηλος καίτοι πολλὰ παραινοῦντος Ὀφελλίου φεύγειν, πέπυστο γὰρ οὗτος παρὰ Σαραμάλλα τοῦ πλουσιωτάτου τότε Σύρων τὴν σύνταξιν τῆς ἐπιβουλῆς ὅλην, καταλιπεῖν Ὑρκανὸν ὑπέμεινεν, ἀλλὰ τῷ σατράπῃ προσελθὼν ἄντικρυς ὠνείδιζεν τὴν ἐπιβουλὴν καὶ μάλισθ' ὅτι γένοιτο τοιοῦτος χρημάτων ἕνεκεν: πλείω γε μὴν αὐτὸς ὑπὲρ σωτηρίας δώσειν ὧν Ἀντίγονος ὑπὲρ βασιλείας ὑπέσχετο. [260] πρὸς ταῦτα πανούργως ὁ Πάρθος ἀπολογίαις τε καὶ ὅρκοις ἀποσκευασάμενος τὴν ὑποψίαν ὤιχετο πρὸς Πάκορον. εὐθέως δὲ τῶν καταλειφθέντων Πάρθων οἷς προσετέτακτο Φασάηλόν τε καὶ Ὑρκανὸν συνελάμβανον τά τε ἄλλα πρὸς τὴν ἐπιορκίαν καὶ τὸ ἄπιστον αὐτοῖς καταρωμένους.

5. ²⁵⁹ Phasael would not desert Hyrcanus by escaping, despite the urging of Ophellius, who had learned the details of the plot from Saramalla, the richest of the Syrians. Instead, went to the Parthian ruler and reproached him to his face for this foul play against them, for the sake of a bribe, and promised to pay him more for their safety than Antigonus had promised for the kingdom. ²⁶⁰ The sly Parthian tried to allay the suspicion by apologies and oaths and went away to Pacorus. But a little later the Parthians whom he left in charge arrested Phasael and Hyrcanus, who could do no more than curse their treachery and their perjury.

[261] Ἐν δὲ τούτῳ καὶ τὸν Ἡρώδην ὁ πεμφθεὶς οἰνοχόος ἐπεβούλευε συλλαβεῖν ἔξω τοῦ τείχους ἀπατήσας προελθεῖν, ὥσπερ ἐντολὰς εἶχεν. ὁ δὲ ἀπ' ἀρχῆς ὑποπτεύων τοὺς βαρβάρους καὶ τότε πεπυσμένος εἰς τοὺς πολεμίους ἐμπεπτωκέναι τὰ μηνύοντα τὴν ἐπιβουλὴν αὐτῷ γράμματα, προελθεῖν οὐκ ἠβούλετο καίτοι μάλα ἀξιοπίστως τοῦ Πακόρου φάσκοντος δεῖν αὐτὸν ὑπαντῆσαι τοῖς τὰς ἐπιστολὰς κομίζουσιν: οὔτε γὰρ ἑαλωκέναι τοῖς πολεμίοις αὐτὰς καὶ περιέχειν οὐκ ἐπιβουλήν, ἀλλ' ὁπόσα διεπράξατο Φασάηλος. [262] ἔτυχεν δὲ παρ' ἄλλων προακηκοὼς τὸν ἀδελφὸν συνειλημμένον, καὶ προσήιει Ὑρκανοῦ θυγάτηρ Μαριάμμη, συνετωτάτη γυναικῶν, καταντιβολοῦσα μὴ προϊέναι μηδ' ἐμπιστεύειν ἑαυτὸν ἤδη φανερῶς ἐπιχειροῦσι τοῖς βαρβάροις.

6. ²⁶¹ Meanwhile the cup-bearer was sent with orders to contrive to seize Herod, by luring him out from the city. But Herod suspected the barbarians from the start, and then learned that the messenger who was to bring him letters with news of the intended treachery had fallen among the enemy, so he would not leave the city. Pacorus insisted that he should go out and meet the letter-bearers and that the enemy had not captured them nor would they tell of any plots against them, but only of the activities of Phasael. ²⁶² But had he heard from others how his brother had been seized, and Hyrcanus's daughter, Mariamne, the shrewdest of women, implored him not to go out, or trust the barbarians, who had come to make an open attempt on his life.

[263] Ἔτι δὲ τῶν περὶ Πάκορον σκεπτομένων, πῶς ἂν κρύφα τὴν ἐπιβουλὴν ἀπαρτίσειαν, οὐ γὰρ ἐκ φανεροῦ οἷόν τε ἦν ἀνδρὸς οὕτω δυνατοῦ περιγενέσθαι, προλαβὼν Ἡρώδης μετὰ τῶν οἰκειοτάτων προσώπων νύκτωρ ἐπὶ Ἰδουμαίας ἐχώρει λάθρα τῶν πολεμίων. [264] αἰσθόμενοι δ' οἱ Πάρθοι κατεδίωκον. κἀκεῖνος τὴν μὲν μητέρα καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς καὶ τὴν καθωμολογημένην παῖδα μετὰ τῆς μητρὸς καὶ τοῦ νεωτάτου τῶν ἀδελφῶν προστάξας ὁδεύειν αὐτὸς ἀσφαλῶς μετὰ τῶν θεραπόντων ἀνέκοπτε τοὺς βαρβάρους: καὶ πολλοὺς κατὰ πᾶσαν προσβολὴν ἀποκτείνας εἰς Μασάδαν τὸ φρούριον ἠπείγετο.

7. ²⁶³ As Pacorus and his men were considering how to secretly achieve their aim, since it was impossible to catch such a powerful man in the open, Herod forestalled them by leaving with his household at night for Idumaea, unknown to the enemy. ²⁶⁴ When the Parthians learned of it, they followed them. Telling his mother and sister and his young fiancée, her mother and his youngest brother, to escape as best they could, he himself and his servants did their best to keep off the barbarians, and after killing many each time they attacked, he reached the stronghold of Masada.

[265] Βαρυτέρους δὲ κατὰ τὴν φυγὴν Πάρθων Ἰουδαίους ἐπείρασεν, ἐνοχλήσαντας μὲν διηνεκῶς, ἀπὸ δὲ ἑξήκοντα τῆς πόλεως σταδίων καὶ παραταξαμένους ἐπιεικῶς πολὺν χρόνον. ἔνθα κρατήσας Ἡρώδης καὶ πολλοὺς αὐτῶν ἀποκτείνας αὖθις εἰς μνήμην τοῦ κατορθώματος ἔκτισεν τὸ χωρίον καὶ βασιλείοις πολυτελεστάτοις ἐκόσμησεν καὶ ἀκρόπολιν ὀχυρωτάτην ἀνεδείματο Ἡρώδειόν τε ἐκάλεσεν ἀπὸ ἑαυτοῦ. [266] τηνικαῦτά γε μὴν φεύγοντι καθ' ἡμέραν αὐτῷ προσεγίνοντο πολλοί, καὶ κατὰ Ῥῆσαν γενομένῳ τῆς Ἰδουμαίας Ἰώσηπος ἀδελφὸς ὑπαντήσας συνεβούλευεν τοὺς πολλοὺς τῶν ἑπομένων ἀποφορτίσασθαι: μὴ γὰρ ἂν τοσοῦτον ὄχλον δέξασθαι τὴν Μασάδαν. [267] ἦσαν δὲ ὑπὲρ τοὺς ἐννακισχιλίους. πεισθεὶς Ἡρώδης τοὺς μὲν βαρυτέρους τῆς χρείας διαφῆκεν ἀνὰ τὴν Ἰδουμαίαν δοὺς ἐφόδια, μετὰ δὲ τῶν ἀναγκαιοτάτων τοὺς ἀλκιμωτάτους κατασχὼν εἰς τὸ φρούριον διασώζεται. καταλιπὼν δὲ ἐνταῦθα ταῖς γυναιξὶν ὀκτακοσίους φύλακας καὶ διαρκῆ τὰ ἐπιτήδεια πρὸς πολιορκίαν αὐτὸς εἰς τὴν Ἀραβικὴν Πέτραν ἠπείγετο.

8. ²⁶⁵ During his flight the Jews troubled him more than the Parthians, as they harassed him constantly, and when he had gone sixty furlongs from the city they fought an action that lasted quite some time. Herod won it, however, and killed many of them and later built there, as a memorial to the victory, a strong fortress adorned with lavish palaces and called it Herodium, after himself. ²⁶⁶ In the course of his flight, many joined him daily, and at a place called Rhesa in Idumaea his brother Joseph met him and advised him to rid himself of many of his followers, as Masada would not contain so large a crowd, of more than nine thousand. ²⁶⁷ Herod took this advice and sent back the most burdensome of his retinue into Idumaea, giving them provisions for the journey. Then he reached the fortress safely with his nearest relatives, keeping only the stoutest of his followers, and there he left eight hundred of his men to guard the women, with enough provisions for a siege, while he hurried off to Petra in Arabia.

[268] Πάρθοι δ' ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις ἐφ' ἁρπαγὴν τραπόμενοι τῶν φυγόντων εἰς τὰς οἰκίας εἰσέπιπτον καὶ τὸ βασίλειον ἀπεχόμενοι μόνων τῶν Ὑρκανοῦ χρημάτων: ἦν δ' οὐ πλείω τριακοσίων ταλάντων. ἐπετύγχανον δὲ καὶ τῶν ἄλλων οὐχ ὅσοις ἤλπισαν: ὁ γὰρ Ἡρώδης ἐκ πολλοῦ τὴν ἀπιστίαν τῶν βαρβάρων ὑφορώμενος εἰς τὴν Ἰδουμαίαν τὰ λαμπρότατα τῶν κειμηλίων προανεσκεύαστο, καὶ τῶν αὐτῷ προσεχόντων ὁμοίως ἕκαστος. [269] Πάρθοι δὲ μετὰ τὰς ἁρπαγὰς ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον ὕβρεως ἐχώρησαν ὡς ἐμπλῆσαι μὲν ἀκηρύκτου πολέμου τὴν χώραν ἅπασαν, ἀνάστατον δὲ ποιῆσαι τὴν Μαρισαίων πόλιν, μὴ μόνον δὲ καταστῆσαι βασιλέα Ἀντίγονον, ἀλλὰ καὶ παραδοῦναι αὐτῷ Φασάηλόν τε καὶ Ὑρκανὸν δεσμώτας αἰκίσασθαι. [270] ὁ δὲ Ὑρκανοῦ μὲν προσπεσὼν αὐτὸς τὰ ὦτα λωβᾶται τοῖς ὀδοῦσιν, ὡς μηδὲ αὖθις ἐν μεταβολῇ ποτε δύναιτο τὴν ἀρχιερωσύνην ἀπολαβεῖν: δεῖ γὰρ ὁλοκλήρους ἀρχιερᾶσθαι.

9. ²⁶⁸ The Parthians in Jerusalem took to looting and attacking the houses of those who had fled, as well as the king's palace, sparing nothing but Hyrcanus's money, which was no more than three hundred talents. They took other people's money too, though not as much as they had expected, for Herod had long ago suspected treachery from the barbarians, and had made sure to have the best of his treasures brought to Idumaea, as all his people had done. ²⁶⁹ But the outrageous behaviour of the Parthians brought the whole country to a state of undeclared war. They demolished the city of Marissa and not only set up Antigonus as king, but handed over Phasael and Hyrcanus to him in chains, to be tortured. ²⁷⁰ Antigonus bit off Hyrcanus's ears with his teeth, as he fell down upon his knees to him that so no matter how things turned out he could never resume the high priesthood, since a high priest had to be without deformity.

[271] τῆς Φασαήλου δὲ ἀρετῆς ὑστερίζει φθάσαντος πέτρᾳ προσρῆξαι τὴν κεφαλήν, ὡς καὶ σιδήρου καὶ χειρῶν εἴργετο. κἀκεῖνος μὲν Ἡρώδου γνήσιον ἑαυτὸν ἀποδείξας ἀδελφὸν καὶ Ὑρκανὸν ἀγεννέστατον, ἀνδρειότατα θνήσκει ποιησάμενος τὴν καταστροφὴν τοῖς κατὰ τὸν βίον ἔργοις πρέπουσαν: [272] κατέχει δὲ καὶ ἄλλος λόγος, ὡς ἀνενέγκαι μὲν ἐκ τῆς τότε πληγῆς, πεμφθεὶς δὲ ἰατρὸς ὑπ' Ἀντιγόνου θεραπεῦσαι δῆθεν αὐτὸν ἐμπλήσειεν τὸ τραῦμα δηλητηρίων φαρμάκων καὶ διαφθείρειεν αὐτόν. ὁπότερον δ' ἂν ἀληθὲς ᾖ, τὴν ἀρχὴν ἔχει λαμπράν. φασὶν γοῦν αὐτὸν καὶ πρὶν ἐκπνεῦσαι πυθόμενον παρὰ γυναίου τινὸς ὡς Ἡρώδης διαπεφεύγοι, «νῦν, εἰπεῖν, εὔθυμος ἄπειμι τὸν μετελευσόμενον τοὺς ἐχθροὺς καταλιπὼν ζῶντα.»

10. ²⁷¹ However, he failed in the case of Phasael, on account of the latter's courage. For though he neither had the use of his sword nor of his hands, he forestalled all insults by dashing his head against a stone, and so proved himself to be Herod's own brother, and Hyrcanus a degenerate relative, by dying with great bravery, with the end of his life in tune with his exploits. ²⁷² Another version says that he recovered from that blow and that a surgeon sent by Antigonus to heal him filled his wound with poison and so killed him. Whichever of these deaths he died, its beginning was glorious. It is also reported that before he died a poor woman told him how Herod had escaped from their hands and that he said, "I can now die happy, leaving someone alive behind me to take revenge on my enemies."

[273] Ὁ μὲν οὖν οὕτως τελευτᾶι. Πάρθοι δὲ καίτοι διημαρτηκότες ὧν μάλιστα ἐπεθύμουν γυναικῶν καθιστᾶσιν μὲν ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις Ἀντιγόνῳ τὰ πράγματα, δεσμώτην δ' Ὑρκανὸν ἀνάγουσιν εἰς τὴν Παρθυηνήν

11. ²⁷³ And so he died. But the Parthians, though they failed to get the women they chiefly wanted, left Jerusalem in the hands of Antigonus and took Hyrcanus away in chains and brought him to Parthia.

[274] Ἡρώδης δὲ συντονώτερον ἤλαυνεν εἰς τὴν Ἀραβίαν ὡς ἔτι τἀδελφοῦ ζῶντος ἐπειγόμενος χρήματα παρὰ τοῦ βασιλέως λαβεῖν, οἷς μόνοις πείσειν ὑπὲρ Φασαήλου τὴν τῶν βαρβάρων ἤλπιζεν πλεονεξίαν. ἐλογίζετο γάρ, εἰ τῆς πατρώιας φιλίας ἀμνημονέστερος ὁ Ἄραψ γένοιτο καὶ τοῦ δοῦναι δωρεὰν μικρολογώτερος, δανείσασθαι παρ' αὐτοῦ τὰ λύτρα ῥύσιον θεὶς τὸν τοῦ λυτρουμένου παῖδα: [275] καὶ γὰρ ἐπήγετο τὸν ἀδελφιδοῦν ὄντα ἐτῶν ἑπτά: τάλαντα δ' ἦν ἕτοιμος τριακόσια δοῦναι προστησάμενος Τυρίους παρακαλοῦντας. τὸ χρεὼν δ' ἄρα τὴν αὐτοῦ σπουδὴν ἐφθάκει καὶ Φασαήλου τεθνηκότος εἰς κενὸν Ἡρώδης φιλάδελφος ἦν: οὐ μὴν οὐδὲ παρὰ Ἄραψιν εὑρίσκει φιλίαν οὖσαν. [276] ὁ γοῦν βασιλεὺς αὐτῶν Μάλχος προπέμψας ἐκ τῆς χώρας κατὰ τάχος προσέτασσεν ἀναστρέφειν, προφάσει μὲν χρώμενος Πάρθοις, ἐπικηρυκεύσασθαι γὰρ αὐτοὺς ἐκβαλεῖν Ἡρώδην τῆς Ἀραβίας, τῷ δὲ ὄντι κατασχεῖν προαιρούμενος τὰ παρ' Ἀντιπάτρου χρέα καὶ μηδὲν εἰς τὰς ἐκείνου δωρεὰς ἀντιπαρασχεῖν χρήιζουσιν τοῖς τέκνοις δυσωπεῖσθαι. συμβούλοις δ' ἐχρῆτο τῆς ἀναιδείας τοῖς ὁμοίως ἀποστερεῖν τὰς Ἀντιπάτρου παρακαταθήκας θέλουσιν: ἦσαν δὲ τῶν περὶ αὐτὸν οἱ δυνατώτατοι.

1. ²⁷⁴ Herod hurried to Arabia to get money from the king, while his brother was still alive, for greed was his only hope of getting the barbarians to spare Phasael. He thought that even if the Arabian king had forgotten his father's friendship and too mean to give it freely, he could still borrow from him the ransom for his brother by giving him as hostage a son of the man that was to be ransomed. ²⁷⁵ So he brought him his brother's son, who was seven years old and was ready to give three hundred talents for his brother and would have asked the Tyrians to intercede. But Fate forestalled his diligence, and once Phasael was dead, Herod's brotherly love was now in vain. ²⁷⁶ There was no firm friendship with the Arabs, for their king, Malchus, soon sent to him to tell him to get out of his country and used the name of the Parthians as a pretext for this, as though these had told him by their envoys to throw Herod out of Arabia; while in reality they wished to keep back what they owed to Antipater and not have to repay the money to his sons. He was shamefully advised by others like him who wanted to deprive Herod of Antipater's deposits, and these were the most powerful of his followers.

[277] Ἡρώδης μὲν δὴ πολεμίους τοὺς Ἄραβας εὑρὼν δι' ἃ φιλτάτους ἤλπισεν καὶ τοῖς ἀγγέλοις ἀποκρινάμενος ὡς ὑπηγόρευε τὸ πάθος ὑπέστρεψεν ἐπ' Αἰγύπτου. καὶ τὴν μὲν πρώτην ἑσπέραν κατά τι τῶν ἐπιχωρίων ἱερὸν αὐλίζεται τοὺς ὑπολειφθέντας ἀναλαβών, τῇ δ' ἑξῆς εἰς Ῥινοκούρουρα προελθόντι τὰ περὶ τὴν τἀδελφοῦ τελευτὴν ἀπαγγέλλεται. [278] προσλαβὼν δὲ πένθους ὅσον ἀπεθήκατο φροντίδων ἤιει προσωτέρω. καὶ δὴ βραδέως ὁ Ἄραψ μετανοήσας ἔπεμψεν διὰ τάχους τοὺς ἀνακαλέσοντας τὸν ὑβρισμένον. ἔφθανεν δὲ καὶ τούτους Ἡρώδης εἰς Πηλούσιον ἀφικόμενος, ἔνθα τῆς παρόδου μὴ τυγχάνων ὑπὸ τῶν ἐφορμούντων τοῖς ἡγεμόσιν ἐντυγχάνει: κἀκεῖνοι τήν τε φήμην καὶ τὸ ἀξίωμα τἀνδρὸς αἰδεσθέντες προπέμπουσιν αὐτὸν εἰς Ἀλεξάνδρειαν. [279] ὁ δὲ παρελθὼν εἰς τὴν πόλιν ἐδέχθη μὲν λαμπρῶς ὑπὸ Κλεοπάτρας στρατηγὸν ἐλπιζούσης ἕξειν εἰς ἃ παρεσκευάζετο: διακρουσάμενος δὲ τὰς παρακλήσεις τῆς βασιλίδος καὶ μήτε τὴν ἀκμὴν τοῦ χειμῶνος ὑποδείσας μήτε τοὺς κατὰ τὴν Ἰταλίαν θορύβους ἐπὶ Ῥώμης ἔπλει.

2. ²⁷⁷ When Herod found the Arabs hostile on the point where he hoped they would be most friendly and had replied as passion dictated, he turned towards Egypt and lodged the first evening at a sanctuary of that country, to meet with those whom he left behind. On the next day, on his way to Rhinocurura, the news of his brother's death reached him. ²⁷⁸ After mourning him as his situation allowed, he went on with his journey; but soon the Arab had a change of heart and sent messengers to call him back. Herod was ahead of them and came to Pelusium, where he could not get to sail with the fleet, but at his pleading their captains relented, out of respect for his fame and dignity, and brought him to Alexandria. ²⁷⁹ When he reached the city, he was splendidly received by Cleopatra, who hoped he might be persuaded to command her forces in the expedition she had in hand, but he rejected the queen's request and fearing neither the rage of the storm in progress nor the riots taking place in Italy, he sailed for Rome.

[280] Κινδυνεύσας δὲ περὶ Παμφυλίαν καὶ τοῦ φόρτου τὸ πλεῖον ἐκβαλὼν μόλις εἰς Ῥόδον διασώζεται σφόδρα τῷ πρὸς Κάσσιον πολέμῳ τετρυχωμένην, δεχθεὶς ὑπὸ Πτολεμαίου καὶ Σαπφινίου τῶν φίλων. καίπερ δὲ ὢν ἐν ἀπορίαι χρημάτων ναυπηγεῖται τριήρη μεγίστην, [281] ἐν ἧι μετὰ τῶν φίλων εἰς Βρεντέσιον καταπλεύσας κἀκεῖθεν εἰς Ῥώμην ἐπειχθεὶς πρώτῳ διὰ τὴν πατρώιαν φιλίαν ἐνετύγχανεν Ἀντωνίῳ καὶ τάς τε αὐτοῦ καὶ τοῦ γένους συμφορὰς ἐκδιηγεῖτο, ὅτι τε τοὺς οἰκειοτάτους ἐν φρουρίῳ καταλιπὼν πολιορκουμένους διὰ χειμῶνος πλεύσειεν ἐπ' αὐτὸν ἱκέτης.

3. ²⁸⁰ But near Pamphylia the ship was in danger and they threw out most of its cargo, and he barely managed to get to Rhodes, which had been sacked in the war against Cassius. His friends, Ptolemy and Sappinius, welcomed him and though short of money he was fitted out a large three-decked ship ²⁸¹ in which he and his friends sailed to Brundisium, and from there went on to Rome. Once there, he went first to Antony, due to his friendship with his father and explained his troubles and those of his family, and how he had left his nearest relatives besieged in a fortress and sailed to him through a storm, to beg for his help.

[282] Ἀντωνίου δὲ ἥπτετο πρὸς τὴν μεταβολὴν οἶκτος, καὶ κατὰ μνήμην μὲν τῆς Ἀντιπάτρου ξενίας, τὸ δὲ ὅλον καὶ διὰ τὴν τοῦ παρόντος ἀρετὴν ἔγνω καὶ τότε βασιλέα καθιστᾶν Ἰουδαίων ὃν πρότερον αὐτὸς ἐποίησεν τετράρχην. ἐνῆγεν δὲ οὐκ ἔλαττον τῆς εἰς Ἡρώδην φιλοτιμίας ἡ πρὸς Ἀντίγονον διαφορά: τοῦτον γὰρ δὴ στασιώδη τε καὶ Ῥωμαίων ἐχθρὸν ὑπελάμβανεν. [283] Καίσαρα μὲν οὖν εἶχεν ἑτοιμότερον αὐτοῦ τὰς Ἀντιπάτρου στρατείας ἀνανεούμενον, ἃς κατ' Αἴγυπτον αὐτοῦ τῷ πατρὶ συνδιήνεγκεν, τήν τε ξενίαν καὶ τὴν ἐν ἅπασιν εὔνοιαν, ὁρῶντά γε μὴν καὶ τὸ Ἡρώδου δραστήριον: [284] συνήγαγεν δὲ τὴν βουλήν, ἐν ἧι Μεσσάλας καὶ μετ' αὐτὸν Ἀτρατῖνος παραστησάμενοι τὸν Ἡρώδην τάς τε πατρώιας εὐεργεσίας καὶ τὴν αὐτοῦ πρὸς Ῥωμαίους εὔνοιαν διεξήιεσαν, ἀποδεικνύντες ἅμα καὶ πολέμιον τὸν Ἀντίγονον οὐ μόνον ἐξ ὧν διηνέχθη τάχιον, ἀλλ' ὅτι καὶ τότε διὰ Πάρθων λάβοι τὴν ἀρχὴν Ῥωμαίους ὑπεριδών. τῆς δὲ συγκλήτου πρὸς ταῦτα κεκινημένης ὡς παρελθὼν Ἀντώνιος καὶ πρὸς τὸν κατὰ Πάρθων πόλεμον βασιλεύειν Ἡρώδην συμφέρειν ἔλεγεν, ἐπιψηφίζονται πάντες. [285] λυθείσης δὲ τῆς βουλῆς Ἀντώνιος μὲν καὶ Καῖσαρ μέσον ἔχοντες Ἡρώδην ἐξήιεσαν, προῆγον δὲ σὺν ταῖς ἄλλαις ἀρχαῖς οἱ ὕπατοι θύσοντές τε καὶ τὸ δόγμα ἀναθήσοντες εἰς τὸ Καπετώλιον. τὴν δὲ πρώτην Ἡρώδῃ τῆς βασιλείας ἡμέραν Ἀντώνιος εἱστία.

4. ²⁸² Antony was sorry for Herod's changed circumstances, recalling how hospitably he had been treated by Antipater, but especially because of Herod's own virtue, so he now appointed as king of the Jews the man he had formerly made tetrarch. His struggle with Antigonus was no less a motive than his regard for Herod, for he regarded Antigonus as a rebel and an enemy of the Romans. ²⁸³ He found Caesar even better disposed than Antony, as apart from what he saw in Herod, he remembered his campaigns in Egypt with Antipater his father, who had treated him well and had shown him complete goodwill. ²⁸⁴ So he gathered the senate, and first Messalas and then Atratinus, introduced Herod to them and spoke of his father's merits and his own goodwill towards the Romans. They showed that Antigonus was their enemy, not only because he soon quarreled with them, but because he now ignored the Romans and ruled with help from the Parthians. These reasons moved the meeting, and then Antony came in to say it would help them in the Parthian war if Herod were king, so they all voted for it. ²⁸⁵ As the senate adjourned, Antony and Caesar left with Herod between them, while the consul and the rest of the magistrates went ahead, to offer sacrifices and to place the decree in the Capitol; and Antony held a feast for Herod on the first day of his reign.

[286] Παρὰ δὲ τὸν χρόνον τοῦτον Ἀντίγονος ἐπολιόρκει τοὺς ἐν Μασάδαι, τοῖς μὲν ἄλλοις ἐπιτηδείοις διαρκουμένους, σπανίζοντας δὲ ὕδατος: διὸ καὶ Ἰώσηπος ἀδελφὸς Ἡρώδου σὺν διακοσίοις τῶν οἰκείων δρασμὸν ἐβουλεύετο εἰς Ἄραβας ἀκηκοὼς τῶν εἰς Ἡρώδην ἁμαρτημάτων Μάλχῳ μεταμέλειν. [287] κἂν ἔφθη καταλιπὼν τὸ φρούριον, εἰ μὴ περὶ τὴν νύκτα τῆς ἐξόδου συνέβη πλεῖστον ὗσαι: τῶν γὰρ ἐκδοχείων ὕδατος ἀναπλησθέντων οὐκέτ' ἔχρῃζεν φυγῆς, ἀλλ' ἐπεξήιεσαν ἤδη τοῖς περὶ τὸν Ἀντίγονον καὶ τὰ μὲν φανερῶς συμπλεκόμενοι, τὰ δὲ λοχῶντες συχνοὺς διέφθειρον. οὐ μὴν ἐν ἅπασιν εὐστόχουν, ἔστιν δ' ὅπου καὶ αὐτοὶ πταίοντες ἀνέστρεφον.

1. ²⁸⁶ All this time Antigonus was besieging the people in Masada, who had enough of all other essentials, but were short of water. Hearing that Malchus had had a change of heart, Herod's brother Joseph prepared to escape to the Arabs with two hundred of his friends. ²⁸⁷ He would have already left the fortress except that very night he was to leave, a lot of rain fell, filling his reservoirs with water and so he had no need to escape. After this they attacked Antigonus's party and killed many of them, whether in open battles or by secret ambush. But these attacks were not always successful, for sometimes they were defeated and fled.

[288] Κἀν τούτῳ Βεντίδιος ὁ Ῥωμαίων στρατηγὸς πεμφθεὶς ἐκ Συρίας Πάρθους ἀνείργειν μετ' ἐκείνους εἰς Ἰουδαίαν παρέβαλεν λόγῳ μὲν ὡς βοηθήσων τοῖς περὶ Ἰώσηπον, ἔργῳ δ' Ἀντίγονον ἀργυριούμενος. [289] ἔγγιστα γοῦν Ἱεροσολύμων αὐλισάμενος ὡς ἐνεπλήσθη χρημάτων, αὐτὸς μὲν ἀνεχώρει μετὰ τῆς πλείστης δυνάμεως, Σίλωνα δὲ σὺν μέρει καταλέλοιπεν, ὡς μὴ κατάφωρον τὸ λῆμμα ποιήσειεν πάντας ἀπαναστήσας. Ἀντίγονος δὲ πάλιν ἐλπίζων Πάρθους ἐπαμυνεῖν καὶ Σίλωνα τέως ἐθεράπευεν, ὡς μηδὲν ἐνοχλοίη πρὸ τῆς ἐλπίδος.

2. ²⁸⁸ Meanwhile, the Roman general Ventidius was sent from Syria, to act against the Parthians, and then came into Judea, on pretext of helping Joseph's party, but in fact to get money from Antigonus. ²⁸⁹ After pitching camp very near Jerusalem, as soon as he had his fill of money he went off with most of his forces, leaving Silo with part of them, since it would be clear he had been bribed if he had moved them all. Antigonus hoped that the Parthians would again come to his help, but in the meantime kept on good terms with Silo in case his hopes were thwarted.

[290] Ἤδη δὲ Ἡρώδης καταπεπλευκὼς ἀπὸ τῆς Ἰταλίας εἰς Πτολεμαΐδα καὶ συναγηοχὼς δύναμιν οὐκ ὀλίγην ξένων τε καὶ ὁμοφύλων ἤλαυνεν διὰ τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἐπ' Ἀντίγονον συλλαμβανόντων Βεντιδίου καὶ Σίλωνος, οὓς Δέλλιος ὑπ' Ἀντωνίου πεμφθεὶς Ἡρώδην συγκαταγαγεῖν ἔπεισεν. [291] ἐτύγχανεν δὲ Βεντίδιος μὲν ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν τὰς διὰ Πάρθους ταραχὰς καθιστάμενος, Σίλων δὲ ἐν Ἰουδαίαι χρήμασιν ὑπ' Ἀντιγόνου διεφθαρμένος. οὐ μὴν Ἡρώδης ἰσχύος ἠπόρει, προϊόντι δ' αὐτῷ καθ' ἡμέραν ηὐξεῖτο τὰ τῆς δυνάμεως, καὶ πλὴν ὀλίγων πᾶσα ἡ Γαλιλαία προσέθετο. [292] προύκειτο μὲν οὖν τὸ ἀναγκαιότατον ἀγώνισμα Μασάδα καὶ τὸ ῥύσασθαι πρῶτον τοὺς οἰκείους ἐκ τῆς πολιορκίας, γίνεται δ' ἐμπόδιον Ἰόππη: ταύτην γὰρ ἐχρῆν πολεμίαν οὖσαν ἐξελεῖν πρότερον, ὡς μὴ χωροῦντος ἐπὶ Ἱεροσολύμων κατὰ νώτου τι τοῖς ἐχθροῖς ἔρυμα καταλείποιτο. συνῆπτεν δὲ καὶ Σίλων ἀσμένως τῆς ἀπαναστάσεως πρόφασιν εὑρών, ὧι προσέκειντο Ἰουδαῖοι διώκοντες. ἐπὶ τούτους Ἡρώδης ἐκδραμὼν μετ' ὀλίγου στίφους τρέπεται ταχέως καὶ Σίλωνα διασώζει κακῶς ἀμυνόμενον.

3. ²⁹⁰ Herod had by now sailed from Italy and arrived in Ptolemais, and as soon as he had gathered a decent army of foreigners and his countrymen, he marched through Galilee against Antigonus, with the help of Ventidius and Silo, both persuaded to support Herod by Dellius, Antony's envoy. ²⁹¹ Ventidius was going around the cities settling the disturbances caused by the Parthians, and Silo was in Judea, corrupted by the bribes given to him by Antigonus. Herod was not bereft of power, but as he went along the number of his forces increased day by day, and all of Galilee, with few exceptions, took his side. ²⁹² So he set about his most urgent task, to go to Masada and relieve his besieged household. But Joppa blocked his way and he had first to take that enemy city, so that when he went to Jerusalem he would leave his enemies no fortress to his rear. Silo willingly joined him, as he had now a plausible reason to leave, and when the Jews pursued and threatened him, Herod hurried against them with a small group of men and soon put them to flight, and saved Silo from a most insecure situation.

[293] Ἔπειτα Ἰόππην ἑλὼν πρὸς τὴν Μασάδα ῥυσόμενος τοὺς οἰκείους ἠπείγετο. καὶ τῶν ἐπιχωρίων οὓς μὲν πατρώια φιλία προσῆγεν, οὓς δὲ τὸ αὐτοῦ κλέος, οὓς δὲ τῆς ἐξ ἀμφοῖν εὐεργεσίας ἀμοιβή, πλείστους γε μὴν ἐλπὶς ὡς ἐκ βασιλέως βεβαίου, δυσκίνητός τε ἤδη δύναμις ἤθροιστο. [294] προϊόντα δ' Ἀντίγονος ἐνήδρευεν τὰ ἐπιτήδεια τῶν παρόδων προλοχίζων, ἐν οἷς οὐδὲν ἢ μικρὰ τοὺς πολεμίους ἔβλαπτεν. Ἡρώδης δὲ τοὺς ἐκ Μασάδας οἰκείους παραλαβὼν ῥαιδίως καὶ Ῥῆσαν τὸ φρούριον ἤιει πρὸς τὰ Ἱεροσόλυμα: συνῆπτε δ' αὐτῷ τὸ μετὰ Σίλωνος στρατιωτικὸν καὶ πολλοὶ τῶν ἐκ τῆς πόλεως τὴν ἰσχὺν καταπλαγέντες.

4. ²⁹³ So he took Joppa and rushed to Masada to rescue his relatives. Many came over to him during the march, whether drawn by their friendship with his father or by the reputation he had already won, or to repay favours received from them both. But what brought most to his side was what they hoped from him once he was firmly in charge of the kingdom, and already he had gathered an impressive army. ²⁹⁴ While he was on route Antigonus set an ambush for him but did the enemy little or no harm; and Herod easily rescued his relatives in Masada, took the fortress of Rhesa and then marched to Jerusalem, where Silo's soldiers joined him, as did many from the city, fearing his power.

[295] Στρατοπεδευσαμένους δὲ κατὰ τὸ πρὸς δύσιν κλίμα τοῦ ἄστεος οἱ ταύτῃ φύλακες ἐτόξευόν τε καὶ ἐξηκόντιζον αὐτούς, ἄλλοι δὲ κατὰ στῖφος ἐκθέοντες ἀπεπειρῶντο τῶν προτεταγμένων. Ἡρώδης δὲ τὸ μὲν πρῶτον κηρύσσειν περὶ τὸ τεῖχος ἐκέλευεν ὡς ἐπ' ἀγαθῷ τε παρείη τοῦ δήμου καὶ ἐπὶ σωτηρίαι τῆς πόλεως, μηδὲν μηδὲ τοὺς φανεροὺς ἐχθροὺς ἀμυνούμενος, δώσων δὲ καὶ τοῖς διαφορωτάτοις ἀμνηστίαν. [296] ἐπεὶ δὲ ἀντιπαρηγοροῦντες οἱ περὶ τὸν Ἀντίγονον οὔτε κατακούειν τῶν κηρυγμάτων εἴων τινὰς οὔτε μεταβάλλεσθαι, τὸ λοιπὸν ἀμύνεσθαι τοὺς ἀπὸ τοῦ τείχους ἐπέτρεπεν τοῖς σφετέροις: οἱ δὲ ταχέως ἅπαντας ἀπὸ τῶν πύργων ἐτρέψαντο τοῖς βέλεσιν.

5. ²⁹⁵ When he had encamped on the west side of the city, the sentries who were there shot arrows and spears at them, while others raced out in companies and attacked those in the front. Then Herod had a proclamation made at the wall that he was there for the good of the people and the safety of the city, not planning to take revenge on his declared foes, but granting amnesty to those most opposed to him. ²⁹⁶ Those on the side of Antigonus forbade the people to listen to the proclamation or to change sides, so Herod let his men attack the enemy on the ramparts, and with their spears they soon drove them all from the towers.

[297] Ἔνθα δὴ καὶ Σίλων ἀπεκαλύψατο τὴν δωροδοκίαν: ἐπισκευασάμενος γὰρ πολλοὺς τῶν στρατιωτῶν σπάνιν ἐπιτηδείων ἀναβοᾶν καὶ χρήματα εἰς τροφὰς ἀπαιτεῖν ἀπάγειν τε σφᾶς χειμεριοῦντας εἰς τοὺς ἰδίους τόπους, ἐπειδὴ τὰ περὶ τὴν πόλιν ἦν ἔρημα πάντα τῶν περὶ Ἀντίγονον προανεσκευασμένων, ἐκίνει τε τὸ στρατόπεδον καὶ ἀναχωρεῖν ἐπειρᾶτο. [298] Ἡρώδης δ' ἐντυγχάνων τοῖς τε ὑπὸ τὸν Σίλωνα ἡγεμόσιν καὶ κατὰ πλῆθος τοῖς στρατιώταις ἐδεῖτο μὴ καταλιπεῖν αὐτὸν ὑπό τε Καίσαρος καὶ Ἀντωνίου καὶ τῆς συγκλήτου προπεμφθέντα: λύσειν γὰρ αὐθημερὸν αὐτῶν τὰς ἀπορίας. [299] καὶ μετὰ τὴν δέησιν [εὐθέως] ὁρμήσας αὐτὸς εἰς τὴν χώραν τοσαύτην αὐτοῖς ἐπιτηδείων ἀφθονίαν ἐκόμισεν, ὡς πάσας ἀποκόψαι τὰς Σίλωνος προφάσεις, εἴς τε τὰς ἑξῆς ἡμέρας μὴ διαλιπεῖν τὴν χορηγίαν προνοούμενος ἐπέστελλεν τοῖς περὶ Σαμάρειαν, ὠικείωτο δ' ἡ πόλις αὐτῷ, σῖτον καὶ οἶνον καὶ ἔλαιον καὶ βοσκήματα κατάγειν εἰς Ἱεριχοῦντα.

[300] ταῦτ' ἀκούσας Ἀντίγονος διέπεμψεν περὶ τὴν χώραν εἴργειν καὶ λοχᾶν τοὺς σιτηγοὺς κελεύων. οἱ δ' ὑπήκουον, καὶ πολὺ πλῆθος ὁπλιτῶν ὑπὲρ τὴν Ἱεριχοῦντα συνηθροίσθη: διεκαθέζοντο δὲ ἐπὶ τῶν ὀρῶν παραφυλάσσοντες τοὺς τὰ ἐπιτήδεια ἐκκομίζοντας. [301] οὐ μὴν Ἡρώδης ἠρέμει, δέκα δὲ σπείρας ἀναλαβών, ὧν πέντε μὲν Ῥωμαίων πέντε δὲ Ἰουδαίων ἦσαν ἔχουσαι καὶ μισθοφόρους μιγάδας πρὸς οἷς ὀλίγους τῶν ἱππέων, ἐπὶ τὴν Ἱεριχοῦντα παραγίνεται, καὶ τὴν μὲν πόλιν καταλελειμμένην εὑρίσκει, πεντακοσίους δὲ τὰ ἄκρα κατειληφότας σὺν γυναιξὶν καὶ γενεαῖς. [302] αὐτοὺς μὲν οὖν ἀπολύει λαβών, Ῥωμαῖοι δ' εἰσπεσόντες τὸ λοιπὸν ἄστυ διήρπασαν πλήρεις καταλαμβάνοντες τὰς οἰκίας παντοίων κειμηλίων. Ἱεριχοῦντος μὲν οὖν φρουρὰν ὁ βασιλεὺς καταλιπὼν ὑπέστρεψεν καὶ χειμεριοῦσαν τὴν Ῥωμαίων στρατιὰν εἰς τὰς προσκεχωρηκυίας διαφῆκεν Ἰδουμαίαν καὶ Γαλιλαίαν καὶ Σαμάρειαν. ἐπέτυχεν δὲ καὶ Ἀντίγονος παρὰ τῆς Σίλωνος δωροδοκίας ὑποδέξασθαι τοῦ στρατοῦ μοῖραν ἐν Λύδδοις θεραπεύων Ἀντώνιον.

6. ²⁹⁷ Here Silo showed his vileness, for he got many of the soldiers to complain about their lack of essentials and to demand their pay so as to buy food and then demand to be led to suitable winter quarters, since Antigonus's army had taken everything away and all around the city was left barren. So he dismantled the camp and tried to leave. ²⁹⁸ But Herod went and implored the officers under Silo and many of the soldiers not to leave him, as he had been sent there by Caesar and Antony and the senate, and that he would supply their needs that very day. ²⁹⁹ After this petition, he quickly went into the country and brought back enough provisions to dispose of Silo's pretexts, and in order to ensure that they would not run short of supplies for the following days, he sent to the people around Samaria, for that city had joined him, to bring corn and wine and oil and livestock to Jericho.

³⁰⁰ When Antigonus heard of this, be sent some of his party with orders to block and ambush the men collecting the food. They obeyed and in response a large crowd of warriors gathered near Jericho, taking their station in the mountains and watching out for those bringing the provisions. ³⁰¹ Herod was not idle but took ten cohorts, five of them Romans and five Jewish, and some mercenaries and a few cavalry and came to Jericho. When he arrived he found the city deserted, but that five hundred men, with their wives and children, had occupied the tops of the mountains. ³⁰² These he took and then released, while the Romans attacked the rest of the city and looted it, finding the houses full of goods of all kind. So the king left a garrison at Jericho and returned and sent the Roman army to winter quarters into the cities that had come over to him, in Idumaea and Galilee and Samaria. Antigonus also, to curry favour with Antony, bribed Silo to let part of his army be stationed at Lydda.

[303] Καὶ Ῥωμαῖοι μὲν ἐν ἀφθόνοις διῆγον ἀνειμένοι τῶν ὅπλων, Ἡρώδης δ' οὐκ ἠρέμει, ἀλλὰ τὴν μὲν Ἰδουμαίαν δισχιλίοις πεζοῖς καὶ τετρακοσίοις ἱππεῦσιν διαλαμβάνει πέμψας τὸν ἀδελφὸν Ἰώσηπον, ὡς μή τι νεωτερισθείη πρὸς Ἀντίγονον αὐτὸς δὲ τὴν μητέρα καὶ ὅσους ἐκ Μασάδας οἰκείους ἐξήγαγεν μεταγαγὼν εἰς Σαμάρειαν καὶ καταστησάμενος ἀσφαλῶς ἤιει τὰ λοιπὰ τῆς Γαλιλαίας καταστρεψόμενος καὶ τὰς Ἀντιγόνου φρουρὰς ἐξελάσων.

1. ³⁰³ So the Romans lived in luxury and took a rest from war, but Herod was not resting, but seized and held Idumaea by sending his brother Joseph there with two thousand infantry and four hundred cavalry. He did this to keep Antigonus from rebelling. He also moved his mother and all his relatives, who had been in Masada, to Samaria, and when he had settled them safely, he marched to take the remaining parts of Galilee and to drive out the garrisons of Antigonus.

[304] Πρὸς δὲ τὴν Σέπφωριν ἐν νιφετῷ σφοδροτάτῳ διανύσας ἀκονιτὶ παραλαμβάνει τὴν πόλιν πρὸ τῆς ἐφόδου τῶν φυλάκων ἐκφυγόντων. ἔνθα τοὺς ἑπομένους ὑπὸ τοῦ χειμῶνος κακωθέντας ἀναλαβών, πολλὴ δ' ἦν ἀφθονία τῶν ἐπιτηδείων, ἐπὶ τοὺς ἐν τοῖς σπηλαίοις ὥρμητο λῃστάς, οἳ πολλὴν τῆς χώρας κατατρέχοντες οὐκ ἐλάττω κακὰ πολέμου διετίθεσαν τοὺς ἐπιχωρίους. [305] προπέμψας δὲ πεζῶν τρία τέλη καὶ μίαν ἴλην ἱππέων πρὸς Ἄρβηλα κώμην αὐτὸς μετὰ τεσσαράκοντα ἡμέρας ἐπῆλθεν μετὰ τῆς λοιπῆς δυνάμεως. οὐ μὴν πρὸς τὴν ἔφοδον ἔδεισαν οἱ πολέμιοι, μετὰ δὲ τῶν ὅπλων ἀπήντων ἐμπειρίαν μὲν πολεμικὴν ἔχοντες, τὸ δὲ θράσος λῃστρικόν. [306] συμβαλόντες γοῦν τῷ σφετέρῳ δεξιῷ τὸ εὐώνυμον κέρας τῶν Ἡρώδου τρέπονται. περιελθὼν δὲ ταχέως Ἡρώδης ἐκ τοῦ καθ' ἑαυτὸν δεξιοῦ προσεβοήθει καὶ τὸ μὲν οἰκεῖον ἐπέστρεφεν ἐκ τῆς φυγῆς, τοῖς δὲ διώκουσιν ἐμπίπτων ἀνέκοπτεν τὴν ὁρμὴν μέχρι τὰς κατὰ στόμα προσβολὰς μὴ φέροντες ἐξέκλιναν.

2. ³⁰⁴ But when Herod reached Sepphoris during a very heavy snowfall, he took the city without any difficulty, as the sentries who should have guarded it fled before it was attacked. There he gave his tired followers a chance to refresh themselves, since in that city there was a large amount of supplies. Then he hurried to pursue the brigands who were in the caves, who overran most of the country and did as much harm to its inhabitants as a war could have done. ³⁰⁵ He sent in advance to the village of Arbela three cohorts of infantry and one troop of cavalry, and came himself forty days later with the rest of his forces. Unafraid of his attack, the enemy met him in arms, for they had the skill of infantry and the audacity of brigands. ³⁰⁶ When it came to a pitched battle, they put Herod's left wing to flight with their right, but Herod, wheeling about suddenly from his own right wing, came to the rescue and both turned back his own left wing from its flight and attacked the pursuers and cooled their courage until, unable to bear his direct onslaughts, they turned around and fled.

[307] Ὁ δὲ ἕως Ἰορδάνου κτείνων εἵπετο καὶ πολὺ μὲν αὐτῶν μέρος διέφθειρεν, οἱ λοιποὶ δ' ὑπὲρ τὸν ποταμὸν ἐσκεδάσθησαν, ὥστε τὴν Γαλιλαίαν ἐκκεκαθάρθαι φόβων, πλὴν καθόσον οἱ τοῖς σπηλαίοις ἐμφωλεύοντες ὑπελείποντο: κἀπὶ τούτοις ἔδει διατριβῆς. [308] διὸ δὴ πρῶτον τοῖς στρατιώταις τὰς ἐκ τῶν πεπονημένων ἐπικαρπίας ἀπεδίδου διανέμων ἑκάστῳ δραχμὰς ἑκατὸν πεντήκοντα ἀργυρίου καὶ τοῖς ἡγεμόσιν πολυπλασίονα διέπεμψεν εἰς οὓς ἐχειμέριζον σταθμούς. Φερώρᾳ δὲ τῷ νεωτάτῳ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἐπέστελλεν τῆς τε ἀγορᾶς αὐτοῖς ποιεῖσθαι πρόνοιαν καὶ τειχίζειν Ἀλεξάνδρειον. κἀκεῖνος ἀμφοτέρων ἐπεμελήθη.

3. ³⁰⁷ But he pursued them as far as the Jordan, killing as he went, so that many were lost and the remainder were scattered beyond the river. So Galilee was freed from those who had terrorised it, apart from those still remaining hidden in caves, whose defeat required a longer time. ³⁰⁸ Before proceeding with this, Herod distributed to the soldiers the fruits of their labours, giving each of them a hundred and fifty drachmae of silver and a great deal more to their officers, and sent them into their winter quarters. He also sent to his youngest brother Pheroras, to look after their provisions, and also to build a wall around Alexandreion, and he attended to both of these.

[309] Ἐν δὲ τούτῳ περὶ μὲν Ἀθήνας διῆγεν Ἀντώνιος, Βεντίδιος δὲ ἐπὶ τὸν πρὸς Πάρθους πόλεμον Σίλωνά τε καὶ Ἡρώδην μετεπέμπετο καταστήσασθαι πρότερον ἐπιστέλλων τὰ περὶ Ἰουδαίαν. Ἡρώδης δὲ ἀσμένως Σίλωνα πρὸς Βεντίδιον ἀπολύσας αὐτὸς ἐπὶ τοὺς ἐν τοῖς σπηλαίοις ἐστράτευσεν. [310] τὰ δὲ σπήλαια ταῦτα πρὸς ἀποκρήμνοις ὄρεσιν ἦν οὐδαμόθεν προσιτά, πλαγίας δὲ ἀνόδους μόνον ἔχοντα στενοτάτας. ἡ δὲ κατὰ μέτωπον αὐτῶν πέτρα κατέτεινεν εἰς βαθυτάτας φάραγγας ὄρθιος ἐπιρρέπουσα ταῖς χαράδραις, ὥστε τὸν βασιλέα μέχρι πολλοῦ μὲν ἀπορεῖν πρὸς τὸ ἀμήχανον τοῦ τόπου, τελευταῖον δ' ἐπινοίαι χρήσασθαι σφαλερωτάτῃ. [311] τοὺς γοῦν ἀλκίμους καθιμῶν ἐν λάρναξιν ἐνίει τοῖς στομίοις, οἱ δὲ ἀπέσφαττόν τε αὐτοὺς σὺν γενεαῖς καὶ πῦρ ἐνίεσαν τοῖς ἀμυνομένοις. βουληθεὶς δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν καὶ περισῶσαί τινας Ἡρώδης ἐκήρυξεν ἀναχωρεῖν πρὸς αὐτόν. τῶν δὲ ἐθελουσίως μὲν οὐδεὶς προσέθετο, καὶ τῶν βιαζομένων δὲ πολλοὶ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας προείλοντο θάνατον. [312] ἔνθα καὶ τῶν γηραιῶν τις ἑπτὰ παίδων πατὴρ μετὰ τῆς μητρὸς δεομένους τοὺς παῖδας ἐπιτρέψαι σφίσιν ἐξελθεῖν ἐπὶ δεξιᾷ κτείνει τρόπῳ τοιῷδε: καθ' ἕνα προϊέναι κελεύσας αὐτὸς ἵστατο ἐπὶ τὸ στόμιον καὶ τὸν ἀεὶ προϊόντα τῶν υἱῶν ἀπέσφαττεν. ἐξ ἀπόπτου δὲ Ἡρώδης ἐπιβλέπων τῷ τε πάθει συνείχετο καὶ τῷ πρεσβύτῃ δεξιὰν ὤρεγεν φείσασθαι τῶν τέκνων παρακαλῶν. [313] ὁ δὲ πρὸς οὐδὲν ἐνδοὺς τῶν λεγομένων ἀλλὰ καὶ προσονειδίσας τὸν Ἡρώδην εἰς ταπεινότητα ἐπὶ τοῖς παισὶν ἀναιρεῖ καὶ τὴν γυναῖκα καὶ καταβαλὼν κατὰ τοῦ κρημνοῦ τοὺς νεκροὺς τελευταῖον ἑαυτὸν ἔρριψεν.

4. ³⁰⁹ Meanwhile Antony stayed at Athens, while Ventidius called for Silo and Herod to come to the war against the Parthians, but ordered them first to settle the affairs of Judea. Herod willingly released Silo to go to Ventidius, but he himself led an army against the bandits in the caves. ³¹⁰ These caves were in the precipices of craggy mountains and could not be got at from any side, since they had only some winding and very narrow pathways leading up to them, and the rock in front of them reared above valleys of huge depth and almost perpendicular slope. For a long time the king pondered what to do, because of the near impossibility of attacking the place, and finally came up with a hazardous plan. ³¹¹ By means of ropes he let down the hardiest of his men in baskets and set them at the mouths of the caves. These then killed the brigands and their families and if they resisted, they sent in fire upon them, but since Herod wished to save some of them, he had a proclamation made, calling them out to him. Not one of them came willingly, and of the people forced to come, many opted for death rather than captivity. ³¹² One old man, a father of seven, whose children and their mother asked him to let them leave under Herod's assurance, killed them in this way. He ordered them out one by one, while he stood at the entrance and killed each of his sons who came out. Herod was near enough to see this sight and was moved by the pathos of it and stretched out his hand to the old man imploring him to spare his children. ³¹³ Unwilling to go back on what he had said, the man further insulted Herod on his ignoble descent, then killed his wife and children, and when he had thrown their bodies down the cliff, he finally threw himself down after them.

[314] Χειροῦται μὲν οὕτως τὰ σπήλαια καὶ τοὺς ἐν αὐτοῖς Ἡρώδης: καταλιπὼν δὲ τοῦ στρατοῦ μοῖραν ὅσην ἀποχρήσειν ὑπελάμβανεν πρὸς τὰς ἐπαναστάσεις καὶ Θολεμαῖον ἐπ' αὐτῆς ἐπὶ Σαμαρείας ὑπέστρεφεν, ὁπλίτας μὲν τρισχιλίους ἱππεῖς δ' ἄγων ἑξακοσίους ἐπ' Ἀντίγονον. [315] ἔνθα πρὸς τὴν ἀποχώρησιν αὐτοῦ λαβόντες ἄδειαν οἷς ἔθος ἦν θορυβεῖν τὴν Γαλιλαίαν κτείνουσιν μὲν Θολεμαῖον τὸν στρατηγὸν ἀδοκήτως προσπεσόντες, ἐπόρθουν δὲ τὴν χώραν ποιούμενοι τὰς ἀναφυγὰς εἰς τὰ ἕλη καὶ τὰ δυσερεύνητα τῶν χωρίων. [316] πυθόμενος δὲ Ἡρώδης τὴν ἐπανάστασιν διὰ τάχους ἐπεβοήθει καὶ πολὺ μὲν αὐτῶν πλῆθος διαφθείρει, τὰ φρούρια δὲ πάντα πολιορκίαις ἐξελὼν ἐπιτίμιον τῆς μεταβολῆς εἰσεπράξατο παρὰ τῶν πόλεων ἑκατὸν τάλαντα.

5. ³¹⁴ By this means Herod subdued these caves and their dwellers, and leaving there under the command of Ptolemy, enough of his army to prevent any rebellion, he returned to Samaria with three thousand armed infantry and six hundred cavalry, to fight Antigonus. ³¹⁵ Here those used to rioting in Galilee, being free to do so after he left, suddenly attacked Ptolemy, the general of his forces, and killed him and ravaged the country and then retreated to the bogs and inaccessible places. ³¹⁶ Hearing of the revolt, Herod quickly came to the help of the area and killed many of the rebels and besieged their fortresses. Then he imposed on the towns a tax of a hundred talents, as punishment for their desertion.

[317] Ἤδη δὲ Πάρθων μὲν ἐξεληλαμένων, ἀνῃρημένου δὲ Πακόρου Βεντίδιος ἐπιστείλαντος Ἀντωνίου πέμπει συμμάχους Ἡρώδῃ κατ' Ἀντιγόνου χιλίους ἱππεῖς καὶ δύο τάγματα. τούτων δὲ τὸν στρατηγὸν Μαχαιρᾶν Ἀντίγονος ἱκέτευσεν δι' ἐπιστολῶν ἑαυτῷ βοηθὸν ἀφικέσθαι πολλά τε περὶ τῆς Ἡρώδου βίας ἀποδυρόμενος καὶ χρήματα δώσειν ὑπισχνούμενος. [318] ὁ δέ, οὐ γὰρ κατεφρόνει τοῦ πέμψαντος ἄλλως τε καὶ πλείον' Ἡρώδου διδόντος, εἰς μὲν τὴν προδοσίαν οὐχ ὑπήκουσεν, ὑποκρινόμενος δὲ φιλίαν κατάσκοπος ἤιει τῶν Ἀντιγόνου πραγμάτων Ἡρώδῃ μὴ πεισθεὶς ἀποτρέποντι. [319] προαισθόμενος δ' αὐτοῦ τὴν διάνοιαν Ἀντίγονος τήν τε πόλιν ἀπέκλεισεν καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν τειχῶν ὡς πολέμιον ἠμύνατο, μέχρις αἰδούμενος Μαχαιρᾶς εἰς Ἀμμαοῦντα πρὸς Ἡρώδην ἀναχωρεῖ καὶ πρὸς τὴν διαμαρτίαν θυμούμενος ὅσοις ἐπετύγχανεν Ἰουδαίοις ἀνήιρει, μηδεμίαν τῶν Ἡρωδείων φειδὼ ποιούμενος, ἀλλ' ὡς Ἀντιγονείοις χρώμενος ἅπασιν.

6. ³¹⁷ Once the Parthians had been driven from the land and Pacorus had been killed, at Antony's command Ventidius sent a thousand cavalry and two legions to help Herod against Antigonus. In a letter, Antigonus implored their general, Macheras, to side with him and bitterly complained about Herod's violence and the wrongs he did to the kingdom, and promised to give him money in return for his help. ³¹⁸ Macheras did not accept this invitation to betray his trust, unwilling to insult the one who had sent him, especially as Herod paid him even better. So he pretended to be friends with Antigonus, but came as a spy to find out his plans, although in this he did not listen to Herod's advice, not to do so. ³¹⁹ But Antigonus knew his intentions in advance and kept him out from the city and from the ramparts defended himself against him as against an enemy, until Macheras was ashamed of himself and retreated to Herod in Emmaus. Enraged and disappointed, he killed any Jews he met, without sparing those on Herod's side, but treating them all as if they were in favour of Antigonus.

[320] Ἐφ' οἷς χαλεπήνας Ἡρώδης ὥρμησεν μὲν ἀμύνασθαι Μαχαιρᾶν ὡς πολέμιον, κρατήσας δὲ τῆς ὀργῆς ἤλαυνεν πρὸς Ἀντώνιον κατηγορήσων τῆς Μαχαιρᾶ παρανομίας. ὁ δ' ἐν διαλογισμῷ τῶν ἡμαρτημένων γενόμενος ταχέως μεταδιώκει τε τὸν βασιλέα καὶ πολλὰ δεηθεὶς ἑαυτῷ διαλλάττει. [321] οὐ μὴν Ἡρώδης ἐπαύσατο τῆς πρὸς Ἀντώνιον ὁρμῆς: ἀκηκοὼς δ' αὐτὸν μετὰ πολλῆς δυνάμεως προσπολεμοῦντα Σαμοσάτοις, πόλις δ' ἐστὶν Εὐφράτου πλησίον καρτερά, θᾶττον ἠπείγετο τὸν καιρὸν ἐπιτήδειον ὁρῶν πρός τε ἐπίδειξιν ἀνδρείας καὶ τοῦ μᾶλλον ἀρέσασθαι τὸν Ἀντώνιον. [322] γίνεται γοῦν ἐπελθὼν τέλος αὐτοῖς τῆς πολιορκίας, πολλοὺς μὲν τῶν βαρβάρων ἀποκτείνας, πολλὴν δὲ ἀποτεμόμενος λείαν, ὥστε τὸν μὲν Ἀντώνιον θαυμάζοντα καὶ πάλαι τῆς ἀρετῆς αὐτὸν τότε μᾶλλον οὕτως ἔχειν καὶ προσθεῖναι πολὺ ταῖς τε ἄλλαις τιμαῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ ταῖς εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν ἐλπίσιν, Ἀντίοχον δὲ τὸν βασιλέα ἀναγκασθῆναι παραδοῦναι τὰ Σαμόσατα.

7. ³²⁰ Herod was furious with him for this, and was going to attack Macheras as an enemy, but he stifled his wrath and went to Antony to accuse Macheras of criminal actions. But Macheras was made aware of his offences and soon came to the king to earnestly beg for, and receive, his pardon. ³²¹ But Herod did not abandon his plan to go to Antony, for hearing that with a large army he was besieging Samosata, a strong city near the Euphrates, he hurried there, seeing it as a suitable chance to show his courage and also do something on behalf of Antony. ³²² When he arrived, he put an end to the siege and killed many of the barbarians and seized large amounts of loot, so that Antony, who already admired his courage, now admired it still more and heaped further honours on him and gave him firmer hopes of gaining his kingdom; and king Antiochus was forced to hand over Samosata.

[323] Κἀν τούτῳ θραύεται τὰ κατὰ τὴν Ἰουδαίαν Ἡρώδου πράγματα. κατελελοίπει μὲν γὰρ Ἰώσηπον τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἐπὶ τῶν ὅλων παραγγείλας μηδὲν μέχρι τῆς ὑποστροφῆς αὐτοῦ παρακινεῖν πρὸς Ἀντίγονον: οὐ γὰρ δὴ βέβαιον εἶναι Μαχαιρῶν σύμμαχον ἐξ ὧν ἔδρασεν. ὁ δὲ ὡς ἤκουσεν ὄντα πορρωτάτω τὸν ἀδελφόν, ἀμελήσας τῶν παραγγελμάτων ἐπὶ Ἱεριχοῦντος ἐχώρει μετὰ πέντε σπειρῶν, ἃς συνέπεμψεν Μαχαιρᾶς: ἤιει δὲ τὸν σῖτον ἁρπάσων ἐν ἀκμῇ τοῦ θέρους. [324] ἐπιθεμένων δὲ ἐν τοῖς ὄρεσιν καὶ ταῖς δυσχωρίαις τῶν ἐναντίων αὐτός τε θνήσκει μάλα γενναῖος ἐν τῇ μάχῃ φανείς, καὶ τὸ Ῥωμαϊκὸν πᾶν διαφθείρεται: νεοσύλλεκτοι γὰρ ἦσαν ἐκ τῆς Συρίας αἱ σπεῖραι, καὶ οὐδὲν αὐταῖς ἐνεκέκρατο τῶν πάλαι στρατιωτῶν καλουμένων ἐπαμύνειν τοῖς ἀπείροις πολέμου δυνάμενον.

1. ³²² Meanwhile, Herod's affairs in Judea were doing badly. He had left his brother Joseph with full power, but had instructed him to make no attempts against Antigonus until his return, for Macheras would not be a dependable ally, as was seen from what he had done already. But as soon as Joseph heard that his brother was far away, he disobeyed the order and marched on Jericho with five cohorts sent by Macheras to take away the corn in the height of summer. ³²⁴ But his enemies attacked him in narrow places in the mountains, and though he put up a brave fight he was killed, along with the entire Roman cohorts, which were newly drafted from Syria, with no mixture of so-called "veterans" among them to support the raw recruits.

[325] Ἀντιγόνῳ δὲ οὐκ ἀπέχρησεν ἡ νίκη, προῆλθεν δὲ εἰς τοσοῦτον ὀργῆς, ὥστε καὶ νεκρὸν αἰκίσασθαι τὸν Ἰώσηπον: κρατήσας γοῦν τῶν σωμάτων ἀποτέμνει τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ, καίτοι πεντήκοντα τάλαντα λύτρον αὐτῆς Φερώρα τἀδελφοῦ διδόντος. [326] τὰ δὲ τῆς Γαλιλαίας μετὰ τὴν Ἀντιγόνου νίκην ἐνεωτερίσθη εἰς τοσοῦτον, ὥστε τοὺς τὰ Ἡρώδου φρονοῦντας τῶν δυνατῶν προαγαγόντες εἰς τὴν λίμνην κατέδυσαν οἱ προσέχοντες Ἀντιγόνῳ. μετεβάλλετο δὲ πολλὰ καὶ τῆς Ἰδουμαίας, ἔνθα Μαχαιρᾶς ἀνετείχιζέν τι τῶν ἐρυμάτων, Γιτθὰ καλεῖται. [327] τούτων δὲ οὔπω πέπυστο Ἡρώδης: μετὰ γὰρ τὴν Σαμοσάτων ἅλωσιν Ἀντώνιος μὲν καταστήσας ἐπὶ τῆς Συρίας Σόσσιον καὶ προστάξας Ἡρώδῃ βοηθεῖν ἐπ' Ἀντίγονον αὐτὸς εἰς Αἴγυπτον ἀνεχώρησεν, Σόσσιος δὲ δύο μὲν τάγματα προαπέστειλεν εἰς Ἰουδαίαν Ἡρώδῃ συμμαχῶν, αὐτὸς δὲ μετὰ τῆς λοιπῆς δυνάμεως ἠκολούθει σχεδόν.

2. ³²⁵ This victory was not enough for Antigonus, for in his rage he dishonoured Joseph's corpse. Taking the slain body, he cut off his head, although his brother Pheroras would have paid a price of fifty talents to redeem it. ³²⁶ The affairs of Galilee were so chaotic that after this victory of Antigonus, his men brought the officers of Herod's side to the lake and drowned them there. Great changes also took place in Idumaea, where Macheras was building a wall around one of the fortresses, called Gittha. ³²⁶ Herod had not yet been told this news, for after the taking of Samosata, Antony had set Sosius over the affairs of Syria with orders to help Herod against Antigonus, and left for Egypt. Sosius sent two legions before him into Judea to help Herod and followed soon afterward, with the rest of his forces.

[328] Ὄντι δ' Ἡρώδῃ κατὰ τὴν πρὸς Ἀντιόχειαν Δάφνην ὄνειροι σαφεῖς τὸν τἀδελφοῦ θάνατον προσημαίνουσιν, καὶ μετὰ ταραχῆς ἐκθορόντι τῆς κοίτης εἰσήιεσαν ἄγγελοι τῆς συμφορᾶς. ὁ δὲ ὀλίγον μὲν προσοιμώξας τῷ πάθει, τὸ πλεῖον δὲ τοῦ πένθους ὑπερθέμενος ἐπὶ τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ἠπείγετο ποιούμενος τὴν πορείαν ὑπὲρ δύναμιν. [329] καὶ διανύσας ἐπὶ τὸν Λίβανον ὀκτακοσίους μὲν τῶν περὶ τὸ ὄρος προσλαμβάνει συμμάχους, Ῥωμαίων δὲ ἓν τάγμα ταύτῃ συνῆψεν. μεθ' ὧν οὐ περιμείνας ἡμέραν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν ἐνέβαλεν τούς τε πολεμίους ὑπαντιάσαντας εἰς ὃ καταλελοίπεσαν χωρίον τρέπεται. [330] καὶ προσέβαλλεν μὲν συνεχῶς τῷ φρουρίῳ, πρὶν δὲ ἑλεῖν χειμῶνι βιασθεὶς χαλεπωτάτῳ ταῖς πλησίον ἐνστρατοπεδεύεται κώμαις. ἐπεὶ δ' αὐτῷ μετ' ὀλίγας ἡμέρας καὶ τὸ δεύτερον παρὰ Ἀντωνίου τάγμα συνέμιξεν, δείσαντες τὴν ἰσχὺν οἱ πολέμιοι διὰ νυκτὸς ἐξέλιπον τὸ ἔρυμα.

3. ³²⁸ When Herod was in Daphne, near Antioch, he had some dreams that were a clear forewarning of his brother's death, and as he jumped madly out of bed, messengers came to tell him of that sad reality. After grieving for a while, he posponed the main part of his mourning and hurried to march against his enemies; ³²⁸ and reaching Libanus by a superhuman march, he got the help of eight hundred men from the population living near that mountain. With these and one Roman legion he invaded Galilee before daybreak, and met his enemies and drove them back to the place from which they came. ³³⁰ He also made an immediate attack on the fortress, but before he could take it, he was forced by a terrible storm to encamp in the neighbouring villages. A few days later, when the second legion from Antony joined him, the enemy were afraid of his power and abandoned their fort during the night.

[331] Καὶ τὸ λοιπὸν διὰ Ἱεριχοῦντος ἤιει σπεύδων ἧι τάχιστα τοὺς τἀδελφοῦ φονεῖς μετελθεῖν: ἔνθα καὶ δαιμόνιόν τι αὐτῷ συμβαίνει τέρας, ἐξ οὗ παρ' ἐλπίδα σωθεὶς ἀνδρὸς θεοφιλεστάτου δόξαν ἀπηνέγκατο: πολλοὶ μὲν γὰρ αὐτῷ τῶν ἐν τέλει συνειστιάθησαν κατ' ἐκείνην τὴν ἑσπέραν, διαλυθέντος δὲ τοῦ συμποσίου μετὰ τὸ πάντας ἐξελθεῖν ὁ οἶκος εὐθέως συνέπεσεν. [332] τοῦτο καὶ κινδύνων καὶ σωτηρίας κοινὸν ἐπὶ τῷ μέλλοντι πολέμῳ κρίνας εἶναι σημεῖον ὑπὸ τὴν ἕω διεκίνει τὴν στρατιάν. καὶ τῶν ἐναντίων εἰς ἑξακισχιλίους ἀπὸ τῶν ὀρῶν κατατρέχοντες ἀπεπειρῶντο τῶν προτεταγμένων, κατὰ χεῖρα μὲν συμπλέκεσθαι τοῖς Ῥωμαίοις οὐ σφόδρα θαρροῦντες, πόρρωθεν δὲ χερμάσιν καὶ παλτοῖς ἔβαλλον, ὥστε συχνοὺς κατατιτρώσκειν. ἐν ὧι καὶ αὐτὸς Ἡρώδης παρελαύνων παλτῷ κατὰ τὴν πλευρὰν ἀκοντίζεται.

4. ³³¹ Afterwards he made a quick march through Jericho to take revenge on his brother's murderers. A providential thing happened to him there, a near escape which won him the reputation of being very dear to God. One evening he was dining with many people of influence, and after the feast was over and all the guests had left, the house collapsed. ³³² He judged this to be a general sign of the dangers he would face in the war he was entering, and how he would escape them. Next morning he set off with his army, when about six thousand of the enemy raced down from the mountains and began fighting with his advance guard. They did not dare to engage the Romans hand to hand, but threw stones and spears at them at a distance and in this way they wounded quite a number; and during this action Herod was wounded in the side by an arrow.

[333] Βουλόμενος δὲ Ἀντίγονος μὴ μόνον τόλμῃ τῶν σφετέρων ἀλλὰ καὶ πλήθει περιεῖναι δοκεῖν, Πάππον τινὰ τῶν ἑταίρων μετὰ στρατιᾶς ἐπὶ Σαμάρειαν περιπέμπει. [334] τούτῳ μὲν οὖν ἦν Μαχαιρᾶς ἀγώνισμα, Ἡρώδης δὲ τὴν πολεμίαν καταδραμὼν πέντε μὲν πολίχνας καταστρέφεται, δισχιλίους δὲ τῶν ἐν αὐταῖς διαφθείρει καὶ τὰς οἰκίας ἐμπρήσας ὑπέστρεψεν ἐπὶ τὸ στρατόπεδον: ηὔλιστο δὲ περὶ τὴν καλουμένην Κανᾶ κώμην.

5. ³³³ Antigonus, wishing to be seen to exceed Herod's men in number as well as courage, sent an army to Samaria under one of his companions, Pappus. ³³⁴ There Macheras opposed him and Herod overran the enemy's country and demolished five small towns, killing two thousand men in them and burning their houses, and then returned to his camp, head-quartered in a village called Cana.

[335] Προσεγίνετο δ' αὐτῷ καθ' ἡμέραν πολὺ πλῆθος Ἰουδαίων ἔκ τε αὐτῆς Ἱεριχοῦντος καὶ ἐκ τῆς ἄλλης χώρας, οἱ μὲν διὰ μῖσος τὸ πρὸς Ἀντίγονον, οἱ δὲ ἐπὶ τοῖς αὐτοῦ κατορθώμασιν κεκινημένοι: τούς γε μὴν πολλοὺς ἐνῆγεν ἐπιθυμία μεταβολῆς ἄλογος. καὶ ὁ μὲν ἠπείγετο συμβαλεῖν, οἱ δὲ περὶ Πάππον οὔτε πρὸς τὸ πλῆθος οὔτε πρὸς τὴν ὁρμὴν ὑποδείσαντες αὐτοῦ προθύμως ἀντεπεξῆλθον. [336] γενομένης δὲ τῆς παρατάξεως τὰ μὲν ἄλλα μέρη πρὸς ὀλίγον ἀντέσχεν, Ἡρώδης δὲ κατὰ μνήμην τοῦ φονευθέντος ἀδελφοῦ παραβαλλόμενος, ὡς ἂν τίσαιτο τοὺς αἰτίους τοῦ φόνου, ταχέως τῶν καθ' ἑαυτὸν ἐκράτει καὶ μετ' ἐκείνους ἐπὶ τὸ συνεστὸς ἀεὶ τρεπόμενος ἅπαντας διώκει. [337] φόνος δ' ἦν πολύς, τῶν μὲν εἰς τὴν κώμην συνεξωθουμένων ἐξ ἧς ὥρμηντο, τοῦ δὲ προσκειμένου τοῖς ὑστάτοις καὶ κτείνοντος ἀπείρους. συνεισπίπτει δὲ τοῖς πολεμίοις εἴσω, καὶ πᾶσα μὲν ὁπλιτῶν οἰκία νένακτο, τὰ τέγη δ' ἦν ὕπερθεν ἀμυνομένων κατάπλεα. [338] κἀπειδὴ περιῆν τῶν ἔξωθεν, τὰς οἰκήσεις σπαράττων εἷλκεν τοὺς ἔνδοθεν. καὶ τοῖς μὲν πολλοῖς ἐπικατασείων τοὺς ὀρόφους ἀθρόους ἀνήιρει, τοὺς ὑποφεύγοντας δὲ τῶν ἐρειπίων οἱ στρατιῶται ξιφήρεις ἀνεδέχοντο, καὶ τοσοῦτον ἐσωρεύθη νεκρῶν πλῆθος, ὥστε τὰς ὁδοὺς ἀποφραγῆναι τοῖς κρατοῦσιν. [339] ταύτην τὴν πληγὴν οὐκ ἤνεγκαν οἱ πολέμιοι: τὸ γοῦν ἐπισυλλεγόμενον αὐτῶν πλῆθος ὡς ἐθεάσατο τοὺς ἀνὰ τὴν κώμην διεφθαρμένους, εἰς φυγὴν διεσκεδάσθη, κἂν εὐθέως τῇ νίκῃ τεθαρρηκὼς Ἡρώδης ἐπὶ Ἱεροσολύμων ἤλασεν, εἰ μὴ χειμῶνι διεκωλύθη σφοδροτάτῳ. τοῦτ' ἐμπόδιον ἐκείνῳ τε παντελοῦς κατορθώματος καὶ ἥττης Ἀντιγόνῳ κατέστη βουλευομένῳ καταλιπεῖν ἤδη τὴν πόλιν.

6. ³³⁵ A large crowd of Jews resorted to him every day, both from Jericho and the other parts of the country. Some were moved to do so from hatred to Antigonus and some because of the exploits Herod had done, but many were led on by a mindless lust for change. He was thirsting for battle, but Pappus and his party, undeterred by their numbers or their ardour, marched out against them boldly. ³³⁶ During the action, the enemy resisted for a while in some areas, but Herod, raging at the murder of his brother, risked everything in order to take revenge on those who had caused it, soon defeated those within his reach, and then turned his force against those still facing him and routed them all. ³³⁷ There was great slaughter and they were forced back to the village from which they came. He pressed hard on the rearguard and killed many of them, and following in after the enemy, he found every house full of infantry and the rooftops crowded with soldiers for their defense. ³³⁸ After defeating them out in the open, he pulled the houses to pieces and captured the people inside. He had the roofs brought down on top of many, killing them in droves. Soldiers waited with drawn swords for those who fled from the ruins, and the number killed and lying in heaps was so great that the roads were impassable to the victors. ³³⁹ The enemy could not stand up to this blow, and when those of them who rallied saw those slain in the village, they scattered and fled. Buoyed up by this victory, Herod would have marched on Jerusalem immediately, if a fierce storm had not prevented it. This was what lay in the way of his victorious progress and it prevented Antigonus, who was disposed to forsake the city, from being instantly defeated.

[340] Ἡρώδης δὲ πρὸς ἑσπέραν [ἤδη] τοὺς φίλους κεκμηκότας ἐπὶ θεραπείᾳ τοῦ σώματος διαφεὶς καὶ αὐτὸς ὡς ἦν ἔτι θερμὸς ἐκ τῶν ὅπλων λουσόμενος ἤιει στρατιωτικώτερον: εἷς γοῦν αὐτῷ παῖς εἵπετο. καὶ πρὶν εἰς τὸ βαλανεῖον εἰσελθεῖν ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ τις ἐκτρέχει τῶν πολεμίων ξιφήρης, ἔπειτα δεύτερος καὶ τρίτος, ἑξῆς δὲ πλείους. [341] οὗτοι καταπεφεύγεσαν μὲν ἐκ τῆς παρατάξεως εἰς τὸ βαλανεῖον ὡπλισμένοι, τέως δ' ὑποπεπτηχότες καὶ διαλανθάνοντες ὡς ἐθεάσαντο τὸν βασιλέα, λυθέντες ὑπ' ἐκπλήξεως αὐτὸν μὲν παρέτρεχον γυμνὸν ὄντα τρέμοντες, ἐπὶ δὲ τὰς ἐξόδους ἐχώρουν. τῶν μὲν οὖν ἄλλων οὐδεὶς παρῆν κατὰ τύχην ὁ συλληψόμενος τοὺς ἄνδρας, Ἡρώδῃ δ' ἀπέχρη τὸ μηδὲν παθεῖν, ὥστε διαφεύγουσιν πάντες.

7. ³⁴⁰ That evening after sending his companions to refresh themselves after their fatigue, Herod himself, still warm in his armour, had gone like a common soldier to bathe himself with just one servant attending him. Just before he got into the bath, one of the enemy met him face to face with sword in hand, followed by a second and a third and still more of them. ³⁴¹ These were men who had run away from the battle in their armour, and into the bath-house, and had hidden there for some time, in great terror. When they saw the king, even though he was naked, they quaked with fear and ran past him, making for the exits. By chance there was nobody else nearby to seize these men, and Herod was content to have come to no harm, so they all escaped.

[342] τῇ δ' ὑστεραίαι Πάππον μὲν τὸν Ἀντιγόνου στρατηγὸν καρατομήσας, ἀνήιρητο δ' ἐπὶ τῆς παρατάξεως, πέμπει τὴν κεφαλὴν Φερώρᾳ τἀδελφῷ ποινὴν τοῦ φονευθέντος αὐτῶν ἀδελφοῦ: καὶ γὰρ οὗτος ἦν ὁ τὸν Ἰώσηπον ἀνελών. [343] λωφήσαντος δὲ τοῦ χειμῶνος ἤλαυνεν ἐπὶ Ἱεροσολύμων καὶ μέχρι τοῦ τείχους ἀγαγὼν τὴν δύναμιν, συνήγετο δ' αὐτῷ τρίτον ἔτος ἐξ οὗ βασιλεὺς ἐν Ῥώμῃ ἀπεδέδεικτο, πρὸ τοῦ ἱεροῦ στρατοπεδεύεται: ταύτῃ γὰρ ἦν ἐπίμαχον, καθ' ὃ καὶ πρὶν εἷλεν Πομπήιος τὴν πόλιν. [344] διελὼν δὲ εἰς ἔργα τὴν στρατιὰν καὶ τεμὼν τὰ προάστεια τρία μὲν ἐγείρειν χώματα καὶ πύργους ἐποικοδομεῖν αὐτοῖς κελεύει, καταλιπὼν δὲ τοὺς ἀνυτικωτάτους τῶν ἑταίρων ἐπὶ τῶν ἔργων αὐτὸς εἰς Σαμάρειαν ἤιει τὴν Ἀλεξάνδρου τοῦ Ἀριστοβούλου μετιὼν θυγατέρα καθωμολογημένην ὡς ἔφαμεν αὐτῷ καὶ πάρεργον ποιούμενος τῆς πολιορκίας τὸν γάμον: ἤδη γὰρ ὑπερηφάνει τοὺς πολεμίους.

8. ³⁴² But the next day Herod had Pappus's head cut off, Antigonus' general who was killed in the battle, and sent it to his brother Pheroras, by way of atonement for their killed brother, for he was the man who had killed Joseph. ³⁴³ As winter was ending, Herod marched to Jerusalem and brought his army to its wall; this was the third year since he had been made king in Rome. He encamped before the temple, for on that side it might be besieged and it was there that Pompey had taken the city. ³⁴⁴ So he divided the work among the army and demolished the suburbs, and raised three ramparts, having towers built on those ramparts and leaving the work to the most active of his associates. He himself went to Samaria, to marry the daughter of Alexander, son of Aristobulus, who had earlier been betrothed to him as already said, and so he accomplished this as an aside, during the siege of the city, for already he held his enemies in deep contempt.

[345] Γήμας δὲ ὑπέστρεψεν ἐπὶ Ἱεροσολύμων μετὰ μείζονος δυνάμεως: συνῆπτε δ' αὐτῷ καὶ Σόσσιος μετὰ πλείστης στρατιᾶς ἱππέων τε καὶ πεζῶν, ἣν προεκπέμψας διὰ τῆς μεσογείου τὴν πορείαν αὐτὸς διὰ Φοινίκης ἐποιήσατο. [346] συναθροισθείσης δὲ τῆς ὅλης δυνάμεως εἰς ἕνδεκα μὲν τέλη πεζῶν, ἱππεῖς δὲ ἑξακισχιλίους δίχα τῶν ἀπὸ Συρίας συμμάχων, οἳ μέρος οὐκ ὀλίγον ἦσαν, καταστρατοπεδεύονται τοῦ βορείου τείχους πλησίον, αὐτὸς μὲν πεποιθὼς τοῖς τῆς συγκλήτου δόγμασιν, δι' ὧν βασιλεὺς ἀπεδέδεικτο, Σόσσιος δὲ Ἀντωνίῳ τῷ πέμψαντι τὴν ὑπ' αὐτῷ στρατιὰν Ἡρώδῃ σύμμαχον.

9. ³⁴⁵ After his marriage, he returned to Jerusalem with a greater army. Sosius also joined him with a large army, both cavalry and infantry, which he sent before him through the interior, while he himself marched by the route of Phoenicia ³⁴⁶ When the whole army was gathered, eleven regiments of infantry and six thousand cavalry, besides the Syrian allies, a significant force, they encamped near the north wall. Herod's depended upon the senate's decree which made him king, and Sosius relied upon Antony, who sent his army to Herod's help.

[347] Τῶν δ' ἀνὰ τὴν πόλιν Ἰουδαίων τὸ πλῆθος ποικίλως ἐτετάρακτο: καὶ γὰρ περὶ τὸν ναὸν ἀθροιζόμενον τὸ ἀσθενέστερον ἐδαιμονία καὶ πολλὰ θειωδέστερον πρὸς τοὺς καιροὺς ἐλογοποίει, καὶ τῶν τολμηροτέρων κατὰ στῖφος ἦσαν λῃστεῖαι πολύτροποι, μάλιστα τὰ περὶ τὴν πόλιν ἁρπαζόντων ἐπιτήδεια καὶ μήτε ἵπποις μήτε ἀνδράσιν ὑπολειπομένων τροφήν. [348] τοῦ γε μὴν μαχίμου τὸ εὐτακτότερον ἐτέτακτο πρὸς ἄμυναν τῆς πολιορκίας τούς τε χωννύντας εἶργον ἀπὸ τοῦ τείχους καὶ τοῖς ὀργάνοις ἀντιμηχανώμενον ἀεί τι κώλυμα καινότερον: ἐν οὐδενὶ δ' οὕτως ὡς ἐν ταῖς μεταλλείαις περιῆσαν τῶν πολεμίων.

1. ³⁴⁷ The Jewish population in the city was divided into several factions, for the people who crowded around the temple, being the weaker of them, claimed that as the times were, the man who died first was the best and most godly. But the braver and hardier gathered in groups and began robbing others in various ways and particularly looted the places near the city, as there was no food left either for horses or men. ³⁴⁸ Some of the trained warriors were appointed to defend the city during the siege and to drive off from the wall the men raising the earthworks, and these were always inventing some machine or other to oppose the machines of the enemy, but in nothing did they have as much success as in the mines they dug.

[349] τῷ δὲ βασιλεῖ πρὸς μὲν τὰς λῃστείας ἀντεπενοήθησαν λόχοι δι' ὧν ἀνέστελλεν τὰς διεκδρομάς, πρὸς δὲ τὴν τῶν ἐπιτηδείων ἀπορίαν αἱ πόρρωθεν συγκομιδαί, τῶν δὲ μαχομένων περιῆν τῇ Ῥωμαίων ἐμπειρίαι καίτοι τόλμης οὐδεμίαν καταλιπόντων ὑπερβολήν: [350] φανερῶς μέν γε συνερρήγνυντο τοῖς Ῥωμαίοις ἐπὶ προύπτῳ τῷ θανεῖν, διὰ δὲ τῶν ὑπονόμων ἐν μέσοις αὐτοῖς ἐξαπίνης ἐφαίνοντο, καὶ πρὶν κατασεισθῆναί τι τοῦ τείχους ἕτερον ἀντωχύρουν: καθόλου τε οὔτε χερσὶν οὔτ' ἐπινοίαις ἔκαμνον εἰς ἔσχατον ἀντισχεῖν διεγνωκότες. [351] ἀμέλει τηλικαύτης δυνάμεως περικαθεζομένης πέντε μησὶν διήνεγκαν τὴν πολιορκίαν, ἕως τῶν Ἡρώδου τινὲς ἐπιλέκτων ἐπιβῆναι τοῦ τείχους θαρσήσαντες εἰσπίπτουσιν εἰς τὴν πόλιν, ἐφ' οἷς ἑκατοντάρχαι Σοσσίου. πρῶτα δὲ τὰ περὶ τὸ ἱερὸν ἡλίσκετο, καὶ τῆς δυνάμεως ἐπεισχυθείσης πανταχοῦ φόνος ἦν μυρίος, τῶν μὲν Ῥωμαίων τῇ τριβῇ τῆς πολιορκίας διωργισμένων, τοῦ δὲ περὶ Ἡρώδην Ἰουδαϊκοῦ μηδὲν ὑπολιπέσθαι σπουδάζοντος ἀντίπαλον. [352] ἐσφάττοντο δὲ παμπληθεῖς ἔν τε τοῖς στενωποῖς καὶ κατὰ τὰς οἰκίας συνωθούμενοι καὶ τῷ ναῷ προσφεύγοντες: ἦν τε οὔτε νηπίων οὔτε γήρως ἔλεος οὔτε ἀσθενείας γυναικῶν, ἀλλὰ καίτοι περιπέμποντος τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ φείδεσθαι παρακαλοῦντος οὐδεὶς ἐκράτησεν τῆς δεξιᾶς, ἀλλ' ὥσπερ μεμηνότες πᾶσαν ἡλικίαν ἐπεξήιεσαν. [353] ἔνθα καὶ Ἀντίγονος μήτε τῆς πάλαι μήτε τῆς τότε τύχης ἔννοιαν λαβὼν κάτεισιν μὲν ἀπὸ τῆς βάρεως, προσπίπτει δὲ τοῖς Σοσσίου ποσίν. κἀκεῖνος μηδὲν αὐτὸν οἰκτείρας πρὸς τὴν μεταβολὴν ἐπεγέλασέν τε ἀκρατῶς καὶ Ἀντιγόνην ἐκάλεσεν: οὐ μὴν ὡς γυναῖκά γε καὶ φρουρᾶς ἐλεύθερον ἀφῆκεν, ἀλλ' ὁ μὲν δεθεὶς ἐφυλάττετο.

2. ³⁴⁹ To deal with the robberies the king had ambushes set to restrain them, and to allow the needed provisions be brought in from far away. He overcame the Jews through the Romans' skill in the art of war, though they were extremely brave. ³⁵⁰ Now they dared not have a pitched battle with the Romans, which would be certain death, but by tunneling under ground they would suddenly turn up among them and before they could batter down one wall, they built themselves another in its place, and in a word, they lacked neither energy or ideas, having decided to hold out to the last. ³⁵¹ Although besieged by such a large army they withstood the siege for five months, until some of Herod's crack troops dared to climb the wall and jump into the city, as did the centurions of Sosius after them. First they seized the area around the temple, and as the army poured in, thousands were slaughtered everywhere, because of the rage of the Romans at the long siege and because the Jews who supported Herod wanted none of their opponents to survive. ³⁵² So they were cut to pieces in throngs, as they were herded in narrow streets and houses, or fleeing to the temple; nor was any mercy showed either to infants or to the aged, or to the weakness of women. Though the king sent round asking them to spare lives, none could be persuaded to refrain from slaughter, but madly they killed people of all ages. ³⁵³ Then Antigonus, with no regard to his former or present fate, came down from the fortress and fell at Sosius's feet, who with no pity for the change of his condition, laughed him to scorn and called him Antigona. Still he did not treat him like a woman, or let him go free, but put him into chains and kept him guarded.

[354] Πρόνοια δ' ἦν Ἡρώδῃ κρατοῦντι τῶν πολεμίων τότε κρατῆσαι καὶ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων συμμάχων: ὥρμητο γὰρ τὸ ξενικὸν πλῆθος ἐπὶ θέαν τοῦ τε ἱεροῦ καὶ τῶν κατὰ τὸν ναὸν ἁγίων. ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς τοὺς μὲν παρακαλῶν τοῖς δ' ἀπειλούμενος ἔστιν δ' οὓς καὶ τοῖς ὅπλοις ἀνέστειλεν, ἥττης χαλεπωτέραν τὴν νίκην ὑπολαμβάνων, εἴ τι τῶν ἀθεάτων παρ' αὐτῶν ὀφθείη. [355] διεκώλυσεν δὲ ἤδη καὶ τὰς κατὰ τὴν πόλιν ἁρπαγάς, πολλὰ διατεινόμενος πρὸς Σόσσιον, εἰ χρημάτων τε καὶ ἀνδρῶν τὴν πόλιν Ῥωμαῖοι κενώσαντες καταλείψουσιν αὐτὸν ἐρημίας βασιλέα, καὶ ὡς ἐπὶ τοσούτων πολιτῶν φόνῳ βραχὺ καὶ τὴν τῆς οἰκουμένης ἡγεμονίαν ἀντάλλαγμα κρίνοι. [356] τοῦ δὲ ἀντὶ τῆς πολιορκίας τὰς ἁρπαγὰς δικαίως τοῖς στρατιώταις ἐπιτρέπειν φαμένου, αὐτὸς ἔφη διανεμεῖν ἐκ τῶν ἰδίων χρημάτων τοὺς μισθοὺς ἑκάστοις. οὕτως τε τὴν λοιπὴν ἐξωνησάμενος πατρίδα τὰς ὑποσχέσεις ἐπλήρωσεν: λαμπρῶς μὲν γὰρ ἕκαστον στρατιώτην, ἀναλόγως δὲ τοὺς ἡγεμόνας, βασιλικώτατα δὲ αὐτὸν ἐδωρήσατο Σόσσιον, ὡς μηδένα χρημάτων ἀπελθεῖν δεόμενον. [357] Σόσσιος δὲ χρυσοῦν ἀναθεὶς τῷ θεῷ στέφανον ἀνέζευξεν ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων ἄγων δεσμώτην Ἀντίγονον Ἀντωνίῳ. τοῦτον μὲν οὖν φιλοψυχήσαντα μέχρις ἐσχάτου διὰ ψυχρᾶς ἐλπίδος ἄξιος τῆς ἀγεννείας πέλεκυς ἐκδέχεται.

3. ³⁵⁴ Herod's immediate concern, now that he had his enemies under his control, was to restrain his foreign allies, for these foreigners were eager to see the temple and even the most sacred part of the sanctuary. but the king tried to restrain them, partly by pleas and partly by force, thinking the victory would be worse than defeat for him, if they saw what they ought not to see. ³⁵⁵ He also forbade them to ransack the city asking Sosius whether the Romans, if they emptied the city of money and men, wished to leave him king of a desert, for he thought that to rule over the whole world would not be worth the murder of so many citizens. ³⁵⁶ To the objection that it was only fair to allow the soldiers this looting as a reward for their patience during the siege, he replied that he would reward every one of the soldiers out of his own money. So he purchased the safety of his country and carried out his promises and gave a fine gift to each soldier and similarly to their officers and a most royal bounty to Sosius himself, so that nobody went away empty-handed. ³⁵⁷ Sosius dedicated a crown of gold to God and then left Jerusalem, taking Antigonus in chains to Antony. Though he clung to some forlorn hope of his life to the end, the axe put an end to this man's life, as he well deserved for his ignoble actions.

[358] Βασιλεὺς δὲ Ἡρώδης διακρίνας τὸ κατὰ τὴν πόλιν πλῆθος τοὺς μὲν τὰ αὐτοῦ φρονήσαντας εὐνουστέρους ταῖς τιμαῖς καθίστατο, τοὺς δ' Ἀντιγονείους ἀνήιρει. καὶ κατὰ σπάνιν ἤδη χρημάτων ὅσον εἶχεν κόσμον κατανομιστεύσας Ἀντωνίῳ καὶ τοῖς περὶ αὐτὸν ἀνέπεμψεν. [359] οὐ μὴν εἰς ἅπαν ἐξωνήσατο τὸ μηδὲν παθεῖν: ἤδη γὰρ Ἀντώνιος τῷ Κλεοπάτρας ἔρωτι διεφθαρμένος ἥττων ἦν ἐν πᾶσιν τῆς ἐπιθυμίας, Κλεοπάτρα δὲ διεξελθοῦσα τὴν γενεὰν τὴν ἑαυτῆς ὡς μηδένα τῶν ἀφ' αἵματος ὑπολείπεσθαι, [360] τὸ λοιπὸν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἔξωθεν ἐφόνα, καὶ τοὺς ἐν τέλει Σύρων διαβάλλουσα πρὸς τὸν Ἀντώνιον ἀναιρεῖν ἔπειθεν ὡς ἂν τῶν κτήσεων ἑκάστου ῥαιδίως γινομένη δεσπότις, ἔτι δὲ ἐκτείνουσα τὴν πλεονεξίαν ἐπὶ Ἰουδαίους καὶ Ἄραβας ὑπειργάζετο τοὺς ἑκατέρων βασιλεῖς Ἡρώδην καὶ Μάλχον ἀναιρεθῆναι.

4. ³⁵⁸ King Herod then divided the the city population into two groups, binding those who had sided with him still more to him by the honours he granted them, but killing those who had been with Antigonus. Then, as his money was running low, he converted all his jewels into money and sent it to Antony and to those about him. ³⁵⁹ Yet even with this he could not buy exemption from all wrongs, for Antony was now bewitched with love for Cleopatra and entirely in the grip of passion. Now Cleopatra had done away with all her clan so that none of her blood-relatives remained alive; ³⁶⁰ then she set to killing outsiders, and calumniated the leading Syrians to Antony and persuaded him to have them killed, to facilitate her in taking over their property, and as her greed reached out towards the Jews and Arabs, she secretly worked for the destruction of their kings, Herod and Malchus.

[361] Ἐν μέρει γοῦν τῶν προσταγμάτων ἐπινήψας Ἀντώνιος τὸ κτεῖναι μὲν ἄνδρας ἀγαθοὺς καὶ βασιλεῖς τηλικούτους ἀνόσιον ἡγήσατο, τὸ δὲ τούτων ἔγγιον φίλους διεκρούσατο, πολλὰ δὲ τῆς χώρας αὐτῶν ἀποτεμόμενος καὶ δὴ καὶ τὸν ἐν Ἱεριχοῦντι φοινικῶνα, ἐν ὧι γεννᾶται τὸ βάλσαμον, δίδωσιν αὐτῇ πόλεις τε πλὴν Τύρου καὶ Σιδῶνος τὰς ἐντὸς Ἐλευθέρου ποταμοῦ πάσας. [362] ὧν γενομένη κυρία καὶ προπέμψασα μέχρις Εὐφράτου τὸν Ἀντώνιον ἐπιστρατεύοντα Πάρθοις ἦλθεν εἰς Ἰουδαίαν δι' Ἀπαμείας καὶ Δαμασκοῦ. κἀνταῦθα μεγάλαις μὲν αὐτῆς τὴν δυσμένειαν δωρεαῖς Ἡρώδης ἐκμειλίσσεται, μισθοῦται δὲ καὶ τὰ τῆς βασιλείας ἀπορραγέντα χωρία διακοσίων ταλάντων εἰς ἕκαστον ἐνιαυτόν, προπέμπει δ' αὐτὴν μέχρι Πηλουσίου πάσῃ θεραπείᾳ καταχρώμενος. [363] καὶ μετ' οὐ πολὺ παρῆν ἐκ Πάρθων Ἀντώνιος ἄγων αἰχμάλωτον Ἀρταβάζην τὸν Τιγράνου παῖδα δῶρον Κλεοπάτραι: μετὰ γὰρ τῶν χρημάτων καὶ τῆς λείας ἁπάσης ὁ Πάρθος εὐθὺς ἐχαρίσθη.

5. ³⁶¹ Antony complied in part with her directions, and though he reckoned it too vile to kill such good and worthy kings, yet his former friendship for them grew less, and he annexed to her a large amount of their territory, even the plantation of palm trees at Jericho, where the balsam grows, and all the cities on this side of the river Eleutherus, except Tyre and Sidon. ³⁶² When she became mistress of these and had accompanied Antony to the Euphrates in his expedition against the Parthians, she came by Apamia and Damascus into Judea, where Herod mollified her by large gifts. He also leased from her the parts of his kingdom that had been torn away, at the yearly rent of two hundred talents, and conducted her as far as Pelusium, showing her every possible respect. ³⁶³ Not long after this, Antony returned from Parthia bringing with him Tigranes's son, Artabazes, as a prisoner and gift to Cleopatra, for the Parthian, with his money and all the booty belonging to him, was immediately granted to her.

[364] Τοῦ δ' Ἀκτιακοῦ πολέμου συνερρωγότος παρεσκεύαστο μὲν Ἡρώδης Ἀντωνίῳ συνεξορμᾶν ἤδη τῶν τε ἄλλων τῶν κατὰ Ἰουδαίαν ἀπηλλαγμένος θορύβων καὶ κεκρατηκὼς Ὑρκανίας, ὃ δὴ χωρίον ἡ Ἀντιγόνου κατεῖχεν ἀδελφή. [365] διεκλείσθη γε μὴν πανούργως ὑπὸ τῆς Κλεοπάτρας συμμετασχεῖν τῶν κινδύνων Ἀντωνίῳ: τοῖς γὰρ βασιλεῦσιν, ὡς ἔφαμεν, ἐπιβουλεύουσα πείθει τὸν Ἀντώνιον Ἡρώδῃ διαπιστεῦσαι τὸν πρὸς Ἄραβας πόλεμον, ἵν' ἢ κρατήσαντος Ἀραβίας ἢ κρατηθέντος Ἰουδαίας γένηται δεσπότις καὶ θατέρῳ τῶν δυναστῶν καταλύσῃ τὸν ἕτερον.

1. ³⁶⁴ When the Actium war began, Herod prepared to come to Antony's help, as he was rid of his troubles in Judea and had taken Hyrcania, a place held by Antigonus's sister. ³⁶⁵ However, by Cleopatra's cunning he was hindered from sharing in Antony's risks. For since, as we have already noted, she had schemed against the kings, she persuaded Antony to entrust the war against the Arabs to Herod. In this way, she would become mistress of Arabia if he got the better in it, and of Judea if he were defeated, and so she could use one of the kings to destroy the other.

[366] Ἔρρεψεν μέντοι καθ' Ἡρώδην τὸ βούλευμα: πρῶτον μὲν γὰρ ῥύσια κατὰ τῶν πολεμίων ἄγων καὶ πολὺ συγκροτήσας ἱππικὸν ἐπαφίησιν αὐτοῖς περὶ Διόσπολιν ἐκράτησέν τε καίτοι καρτερῶς ἀντιπαραταξαμένων. πρὸς δὲ τὴν ἧτταν μέγα γίνεται κίνημα τῶν Ἀράβων, καὶ συναθροισθέντες εἰς Κάναθα τῆς κοίλης Συρίας ἄπειροι τὸ πλῆθος τοὺς Ἰουδαίους ἔμενον. [367] ἔνθα μετὰ τῆς δυνάμεως Ἡρώδης ἐπελθὼν ἐπειρᾶτο προμηθέστερον ἀφηγεῖσθαι τοῦ πολέμου καὶ στρατόπεδον ἐκέλευε τειχίζειν. οὐ μὴν ὑπήκουσεν τὸ πλῆθος, ἀλλὰ τῇ προτέρᾳ νίκῃ τεθαρρηκότες ὥρμησαν ἐπὶ τοὺς Ἄραβας καὶ πρὸς μὲν τὴν πρώτην ἐμβολὴν τραπέντας ἐδίωκον, ἐπιβουλεύεται δὲ Ἡρώδης ἐν τῇ διώξει τοὺς ἐκ τῶν Κανάθων ἐπιχωρίους ἀνέντος Ἀθηνίωνος, ὃς ἦν αὐτῷ τῶν Κλεοπάτρας στρατηγῶν αἰεὶ διάφορος: [368] πρὸς γὰρ τὴν τούτων ἐπίθεσιν ἀναθαρρήσαντες οἱ Ἄραβες ἐπιστρέφονται καὶ συνάψαντες τὸ πλῆθος περὶ πετρώδη καὶ δύσβατα χωρία τοὺς Ἡρώδου τρέπονται πλεῖστόν τε αὐτῶν φόνον εἰργάσαντο. οἱ δὲ διασωθέντες ἐκ τῆς μάχης εἰς Ὄρμιζα καταφεύγουσιν, ὅπου καὶ τὸ στρατόπεδον αὐτῶν περισχόντες αὔτανδρον εἷλον οἱ Ἄραβες.

2. ³⁶⁶ However, this scheme benefitted Herod, for first he raided the enemy and gathered a large troop of cavalry and descended on the area of Diospolis and defeated them, though they fought him resolutely. This badly shook the Arabs and vast crowds of them gathered at Kanatha, a city of Coele-Syria, to await the Jews. ³⁶⁷ When Herod arrived he tried to manage this war with particular care and ordered them to build a defensive wall around their camp. His men, however, did not follow those orders, but were so emboldened by their foregoing victory that they soon attacked the Arabs and defeated them at the first onset and then pursued them, but a trap was set for Herod in that pursuit. Athenio, one of Cleopatra's generals and always an opponent to Herod, ³⁶⁸ sent out the men of that country from Kanatha against him. At this fresh onset, the Arabs took courage and turned back and gathered their numerous forces around rocky places, hard to overcome, and there routed Herod's men and slaughtered many of them; while those who escaped from the battle fled to Ormiza, where the Arabs surrounded their camp and took it, with all the men in it.

[369] Μετ' οὐ πολὺ δὲ τῆς συμφορᾶς βοήθειαν ἄγων Ἡρώδης παρῆν τῆς χρείας ὑστέραν. ταύτης τῆς πληγῆς αἴτιον αὐτῷ τὸ τῶν ταξιάρχων ἀπειθὲς κατέστη: μὴ γὰρ ἐξαπιναίου τῆς συμβολῆς γενομένης οὐδ' ἂν Ἀθηνίων εὗρεν καιρὸν ἐπιβουλῆς. ἐτιμωρήσατο μέντοι τοὺς Ἄραβας αὖθις ἀεὶ τὴν χώραν κατατρέχων, ὡς ἀνακαλέσασθαι τὴν μίαν αὐτοῖς νίκην πολλάκις. [370] ἀμυνομένῳ δὲ τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ἐπιπίπτει συμφορὰ δαιμόνιος ἄλλη, κατ' ἔτος μὲν τῆς βασιλείας ἕβδομον, ἀκμάζοντος δὲ τοῦ Ἀκτίου πολέμου. ἀρχομένου γὰρ ἔαρος ἡ γῆ σεισθεῖσα βοσκημάτων μὲν ἄπειρον πλῆθος ἀνθρώπων δὲ τρεῖς διέφθειρεν μυριάδας, τὸ δὲ στρατιωτικὸν ἔμεινεν ἀβλαβές: ὕπαιθρον γὰρ ηὐλίζετο. [371] κἀν τούτῳ τοὺς Ἄραβας ἐπὶ μεῖζον θράσος ἦρεν ἡ φήμη προσλογοποιοῦσα τοῖς σκυθρωποῖς ἀεί τι χαλεπώτερον: ὡς γοῦν ἁπάσης Ἰουδαίας κατερριμμένης οἰηθέντες ἐρήμου τῆς χώρας κρατήσειν ὥρμησαν εἰς αὐτὴν προθυσάμενοι τοὺς πρέσβεις, οἳ παρὰ Ἰουδαίων ἔτυχον ἥκοντες πρὸς αὐτούς. [372] πρὸς δὲ τὴν ἐμβολὴν καταπλαγὲν τὸ πλῆθος καὶ μεγέθει συμφορῶν ἐπαλλήλων ἔκλυτον συναγαγὼν Ἡρώδης ἐπειρᾶτο παρορμᾶν ἐπὶ τὴν ἄμυναν λέγων τοιάδε.

3. ³⁶⁹ Shortly after this disaster, Herod came to their help, but he came too late. The cause of that setback was that the officers would not obey orders, for if the battle had not begun so suddenly, Athenio would not have found occasion to lay the trap for Herod, though later he got even with the Arabs and overran their country and did them more harm than their single victory could compensate. ³⁷⁰ But as he was avenging himself on his enemies, he met another providential disaster, for in the seventh year of his reign, at the height of the war around Actium, at the beginning of spring, there was an earthquake that destroyed a huge number of livestock and thirty thousand people, though the army received no harm, because it was in the open country. ³⁷¹ The report of this earthquake raised the courage of the Arabs, thinking (from the exaggerated rumours about it, as usually happens in tragic events) that all Judea had been destroyed. At this idea that they could easily take over a land that was devoid of inhabitants, they marched into Judea, after first killing the envoys who had come to them from the Jews. ³⁷² The Jewish nation were frightened by this invasion and dispirited at the extent of these successive disasters, but Herod got them together and urged them to defend themselves by the following speech:

[373] «Παραλογώτατά μοι δοκεῖ τὸ παρὸν ὑμῶν καθάπτεσθαι δέος: πρὸς μέν γε τὰς δαιμονίους πληγὰς ἀθυμεῖν εἰκὸς ἦν, τὸ δ' αὐτὸ καὶ πρὸς ἀνθρωπίνην ἔφοδον πάσχειν ἀνάνδρων. ἐγὼ γὰρ τοσοῦτον ἀποδέω κατεπτηχέναι τοὺς πολεμίους μετὰ τὸν σεισμόν, ὥσθ' ὑπολαμβάνειν τὸν θεὸν Ἄραψιν δέλεαρ τοῦτο καθεικέναι τοῦ δοῦναι δίκας ἡμῖν: οὐ γὰρ τοσοῦτον ὅπλοις ἢ χερσὶν πεποιθότες ὅσον ταῖς αὐτομάτοις ἡμῶν συμφοραῖς ἧκον: σφαλερὰ δ' ἐλπὶς οὐκ ἐξ οἰκείας ἰσχύος ἀλλ' ἐξ ἀλλοτρίας ἠρτημένη κακοπραγίας. [374] οὔτε δὲ τὸ δυστυχεῖν οὔτε τοὐναντίον ἐν ἀνθρώποις βέβαιον, ἀλλ' ἔστιν ἰδεῖν ἐπαμειβομένην εἰς ἑκάτερα τὴν τύχην. καὶ τοῦτο μάθοιτ' ἂν ἐξ οἰκείων ὑποδειγμάτων: τῇ γοῦν προτέρᾳ μάχῃ κρατούντων ἐκράτησαν ἡμῶν οἱ πολέμιοι, καὶ κατὰ τὸ εἰκὸς νῦν ἁλώσονται κρατήσειν δοκοῦντες: τὸ μὲν γὰρ ἄγαν πεποιθὸς ἀφύλακτον, οἱ φόβοι δὲ διδάσκουσιν προμήθειαν: ὥστε ἔμοιγε κἀκ τοῦ δεδοικότος ὑμῶν παρίσταται θαρρεῖν. [375] ὅτε γὰρ ἐθρασύνεσθε πέρα τοῦ δέοντος καὶ κατὰ τῶν ἐχθρῶν παρὰ τὴν ἐμὴν γνώμην ἐξωρμήσατε, καιρὸν ἔσχεν ἡ Ἀθηνίωνος ἐνέδρα: νυνὶ δὲ ὁ ὄκνος ὑμῶν καὶ τὸ δοκοῦν ἄθυμον ἀσφάλειαν ἐμοὶ νίκης ἐγγυᾶται. [376] χρὴ μέντοι γε μέχρι τοῦ μέλλειν οὕτως ἔχειν, ἐν δὲ τοῖς ἔργοις ἐγεῖρᾳ τὰ φρονήματα καὶ πεῖσαι τοὺς ἀσεβεστάτους, ὡς οὔτ' ἀνθρώπειόν τι κακὸν οὔτε δαιμόνιον ταπεινώσει ποτὲ τὴν Ἰουδαίων ἀνδραγαθίαν, ἐφ' ὅσον τὰς ψυχὰς ἔχουσιν, οὐδὲ περιόψεταί τις Ἄραβα τῶν ἑαυτοῦ ἀγαθῶν δεσπότην γενόμενον, ὃν παρ' ὀλίγον πολλάκις αἰχμάλωτον ἔλαβεν. [377] μηδ' ὑμᾶς ταρασσέτω τὰ τῶν ἀψύχων κινήματα μηδ' ὑπολαμβάνετε τὸν σεισμὸν ἑτέρας συμφορᾶς τέρας γεγονέναι: φυσικὰ γὰρ τὰ τῶν στοιχείων πάθη καὶ οὐδὲν ἀνθρώποις πλέον ἢ τὴν ἐν ἑαυτοῖς βλάβην ἐπιφέρεται: λοιμοῦ μὲν γὰρ καὶ λιμοῦ καὶ τῶν χθονίων βρασμῶν προγένοιτ' ἄν τι σημεῖον βραχύτερον, αὐτὰ δὲ ταῦτα περιγραφὴν ἔχει τὸ μέγεθος: ἐπεὶ τί δύναται μεῖζον ἡμᾶς τοῦ σεισμοῦ βλάψαι καὶ κρατήσας ὁ πόλεμος; [378] τέρας μέντοι μέγιστον ἁλώσεως γέγονεν τοῖς ἐχθροῖς οὐκ αὐτομάτως οὐδὲ διὰ χειρὸς ἀλλοτρίας, οἳ πρέσβεις ἡμετέρους παρὰ τὸν πάντων ἀνθρώπων νόμον ὠμῶς ἀπέκτειναν καὶ τοιαῦτα τῷ θεῷ θύματα περὶ τοῦ πολέμου κατέστεψαν. ἀλλ' οὐ διαφεύξονται τὸν μέγαν ὀφθαλμὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν ἀνίκητον δεξιάν, δώσουσιν δ' ἡμῖν αὐτίκα δίκας, ἂν τοῦ πατρίου φρονήματος ἤδη σπάσαντες τιμωροὶ τῶν παρεσπονδημένων ἀναστῶμεν. [379] ἴτω τις οὐχ ὑπὲρ γυναικὸς οὐδ' ὑπὲρ τέκνων οὐδ' ὑπὲρ κινδυνευούσης πατρίδος, ἀλλ' ὑπὲρ τῶν πρέσβεων ἀμυνόμενος: ἐκεῖνοι στρατηγήσουσιν τοῦ πολέμου τῶν ζώντων ἄμεινον. προκινδυνεύσω δὲ κἀγὼ χρώμενος ὑμῖν πειθηνίοις: εὖ γὰρ ἴστε τὴν ἑαυτῶν ἀνδρείαν ἀνυπόστατον, ἐὰν μὴ προπετείᾳ τινὶ βλαβῆτε.»

4. ³⁷³ "This dread that grips you seems to me very unreasonable. It is right to be dismayed by the strokes fate has dealt you, but to let yourselves be equally terrified of attack by men is unmanly. Far from fearing our enemies after this earthquake, I think that with it God has laid a trap for the Arabs that we may be avenged on them. Their present invasion owes more to our accidental troubles than to any great confidence in their weapons, or their fitness for action. ³⁷⁴ Any hope which depends not on men's own power, but on others' poor success, is a very fragile thing, for there is no certainty among men, either in their bad or good fortunes, but you know how mutable fortune passes from one side to another as you can can see from your own experience. For when you were winning in a previous fight, your enemies defeated you in the end, and it is likely now that these who think themselves sure of victory will be defeated. When they are very confident they are not on their guard, while fear teaches men to act with caution. Now I dare to prove from your very timidity that you should take heart. ³⁷⁵ It was when you were bolder than you should have been, bolder than I wanted, and you kept going, that Athenio proved treacherous, but your present slowness and apparent depression is to me a pledge and assurance of victory. ³⁷⁶ It is right to take such care in advance, but once we come to action we should raise our minds and make these scoundrels believe that no human or providential setback can lower the courage of Jews while they are still alive, and none of them will ever give in to, or let his goods be taken by, an Arab, whom so often he was near to capturing.

³⁷⁷ Do not worry about the quaking of dead things, or take this earthquake as a sign that another disaster is coming. Such shaking of the elements is in the course of nature, and means no more to humans than the immediate harm it causes. In case of plague, famine and earthquake some sign may come shortly beforehand, but the force of the disasters is spent when they are over. What greater harm can the war, even a violent one, do to us than the earthquake has done? ³⁷⁸ The great sign of our enemies' doom is not a natural one, nor anything done by foreigners. It is that they cruelly murdered our envoys, contrary to the common law of mankind, and treated them as sacrifices for God, for their succes in to this war! But they will not escape his great eye or his mighty right hand, and we shall be revenged on them soon, if we still show any of the courage of our ancestors and rise up boldly to punish these treaty-breakers. ³⁷⁹ So let each one fight on, not so much for his wife and children or his country's danger, but to avenge our envoys. They will wage this war better than we, the living. If you will follow me, I will go ahead of you into the danger, for your courage is irresistible, unless you damage yourselves by rash actions."

[380] Τούτοις παρακροτήσας τὸν στρατὸν ὡς ἑώρα προθύμους, ἔθυεν τῷ θεῷ καὶ μετὰ τὴν θυσίαν διέβαινεν τὸν Ἰορδάνην ποταμὸν μετὰ τῆς δυνάμεως. στρατοπεδευσάμενος δὲ περὶ Φιλαδέλφειαν ἐγγὺς τῶν πολεμίων περὶ τοῦ μεταξὺ φρουρίου πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἠκροβολίζετο βουλόμενος ἐν τάχει συμβαλεῖν: ἔτυχον γὰρ κἀκεῖνοί τινας προπεπομφότες τοὺς καταληψομένους τὸ ἔρυμα. [381] τούτους μὲν οὖν ἀπεκρούσαντο ταχέως οἱ πεμφθέντες ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ τὸν λόφον κατέσχον, αὐτὸς δὲ καθ' ἡμέραν προάγων τὴν δύναμιν εἰς μάχην παρετάσσετο καὶ προεκαλεῖτο τοὺς Ἄραβας. ὡς δ' οὐδεὶς ἐπεξήιει, δεινὴ γάρ τις αὐτοὺς κατάπληξις εἶχε καὶ πρὸ τοῦ πλήθους ὁ στρατηγὸς Ἔλθεμος αὖος ἦν τῷ δέει, προσελθὼν ἐσπάραττεν αὐτῶν τὸ χαράκωμα. [382] κἀν τούτῳ συναναγκασθέντες ἐξίασιν ἐπὶ τὴν μάχην ἄτακτοι καὶ πεφυρμένοι τοῖς ἱππεῦσιν οἱ πεζοί. πλήθει μὲν οὖν τῶν Ἰουδαίων περιῆσαν, ἐλείποντο δὲ ταῖς προθυμίαις καίτοι διὰ τὴν ἀπόγνωσιν τῆς νίκης ὄντες καὶ αὐτοὶ παράβολοι.

5. ³⁸⁰ When Herod had encouraged them by this speech and saw how eagerly they went, he offered sacrifice to God and crossed the river Jordan with his army and encamped near Philadelphia, close to the enemy, around a stronghold that lay between them. He fired missiles at them and wished to come hand-to-hand soon, for some of them had been sent in advance to capture that stronghold. ³⁸¹ These were soon driven from the stronghold by those sent the king, while he himself went ahead of the army in battle-array, and daily invited the Arabs to come out and fight. But as none of them came out of their camp, for they were in a panic and their general, Elthemus, was paralysed with fear, Herod came up them and pulled their stronghold to pieces. ³⁸² This forced them to come out and fight, which they did in confusion and with their cavalry and infantry all mixed together. Though superior in number to the Jews, they showed less vigour, though their very despair of victory made them reckless.

[383] Διὸ μέχρι μὲν ἀντεῖχον οὐ πολὺς ἦν αὐτῶν φόνος, ὡς δ' ὑπέδειξαν τὰ νῶτα, πολλοὶ μὲν ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων πολλοὶ δὲ ὑπὸ σφῶν αὐτῶν συμπατούμενοι διεφθείροντο: πεντακισχίλιοι γοῦν ἔπεσον ἐν τῇ τροπῇ, τὸ δὲ λοιπὸν πλῆθος ἔφθη συνωσθὲν εἰς τὸ χαράκωμα. τούτους περισχὼν ἐπολιόρκει, καὶ μέλλοντας ἁλώσεσθαι τοῖς ὅπλοις προκατήπειγεν ἡ δίψα τῶν ὑδάτων ἐπιλειπόντων. [384] ὑπερηφάνει δὲ πρεσβευομένους ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ λύτρα διδόντων πεντακόσια τάλαντα μᾶλλον ἐνέκειτο. τοῦ δὲ δίψους ἐκκαίοντος ἐξιόντες κατὰ πλῆθος ἐνεχείριζον σφᾶς αὐτοὺς τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις ἑκόντες, ὡς πέντε μὲν ἡμέραις τετρακισχιλίους δεθῆναι, τῇ δ' ἕκτῃ τὸ λειπόμενον πλῆθος ὑπ' ἀπογνώσεως ἐξελθεῖν ἐπὶ μάχην: οἷς συμβαλὼν Ἡρώδης πάλιν εἰς ἑπτακισχιλίους κτείνει. [385] τηλικαύτῃ πληγῇ τὴν Ἀραβίαν ἀμυνάμενος καὶ σβέσας τῶν ἀνδρῶν τὰ φρονήματα προύκοψεν ὥστε καὶ προστάτης ὑπὸ τοῦ ἔθνους αἱρεθῆναι.

6. ³⁸³ As long as they faced the enemy not many were killed, but as soon as they turned their backs many were killed by the Jews and many were trodden to death by their own men, until five thousand had fallen in their flight and the rest escaped immediate death by crowding into the fortress. Herod surrounded these and besieged them, and as they were about to be taken by arms, an additional problem was thirst and lack of water. ³⁸⁴ The king scorned to listen to their envoys, and when they offered five hundred talents as the price of their ransom, he pressed still harder upon them. Parched with thirst, they came out in crowds and freely surrendered to the Jews, until four thousand of them were put in chains within five days, and on the sixth day the remnant came out to fight, in desperation. ³⁸⁵ Herod fought these and killed about seven thousand, so that having punished Arabia so severely and broken the spirits of the men, he was chosen by the nation as their Protector.

[386] Μεταλαμβάνει δὲ αὐτὸν εὐθέως ἡ περὶ τῶν ὅλων πραγμάτων φροντὶς διὰ τὴν πρὸς Ἀντώνιον φιλίαν Καίσαρος περὶ Ἄκτιον νενικηκότος. παρεῖχεν μέντοι δέους πλέον ἢ ἔπασχεν: οὔπω γὰρ ἑαλωκέναι Καῖσαρ Ἀντώνιον ἔκρινεν Ἡρώδου συμμένοντος. [387] ὅ γε μὴν βασιλεὺς ὁμόσε χωρῆσαι τῷ κινδύνῳ διέγνω, καὶ πλεύσας εἰς Ῥόδον, ἔνθα διέτριβεν Καῖσαρ, πρόσεισιν αὐτῷ δίχα διαδήματος, τὴν μὲν ἐσθῆτα καὶ τὸ σχῆμα ἰδιώτης, τὸ δὲ φρόνημα βασιλεύς: μηδὲν γοῦν τῆς ἀληθείας ὑποστειλάμενος ἄντικρυς εἶπεν: [388] «ἐγώ, Καῖσαρ, ὑπὸ Ἀντωνίου βασιλεὺς γενόμενος ἐν πᾶσιν ὁμολογῶ γεγονέναι χρήσιμος Ἀντωνίῳ. καὶ οὐδὲ τοῦτ' ἂν ὑποστειλαίμην εἰπεῖν, ὅτι πάντως ἄν με μετὰ τῶν ὅπλων ἐπείρασας εὐχάριστον, εἰ μὴ διεκώλυσαν Ἄραβες. καὶ συμμαχίαν μέντοι γε αὐτῷ κατὰ τὸ δυνατὸν καὶ σίτου πολλὰς ἔπεμψα μυριάδας, ἀλλ' οὐδὲ μετὰ τὴν ἐν Ἀκτίῳ πληγὴν κατέλιπον τὸν εὐεργέτην, [389] ἐγενόμην δὲ σύμβουλος ἄριστος, ὡς οὐκέτι χρήσιμος ἤμην σύμμαχος, μίαν εἶναι λέγων τῶν πταισθέντων διόρθωσιν τὸν Κλεοπάτρας θάνατον: ἣν ἀνελόντι καὶ χρήματα καὶ τείχη πρὸς ἀσφάλειαν καὶ στρατιὰν καὶ ἐμαυτὸν ὑπισχνούμην κοινωνὸν τοῦ πρὸς σὲ πολέμου. [390] τοῦ δ' ἄρα τὰς ἀκοὰς ἀπέφραξαν οἱ Κλεοπάτρας ἵμεροι καὶ θεὸς ὁ σοὶ τὸ κρατεῖν χαριζόμενος. συνήττημαι δ' Ἀντωνίῳ καὶ τέθεικα μετὰ τῆς ἐκείνου τύχης τὸ διάδημα. πρὸς σὲ δὲ ἦλθον ἔχων τὴν ἀρετὴν τῆς σωτηρίας ἐλπίδα καὶ προλαβὼν ἐξετασθήσεσθαι, ποταπὸς φίλος, οὐ τίνος, ἐγενόμην.»

1. ³⁸⁶ Herod was instantly embroiled in a crisis of his affairs, due to his friendship with Antony, who had been defeated at Actium by Caesar, but he caused more fear than he felt, for Caesar did not think he had finished Antony, as long as Herod remained. ³⁸⁷ The king decided to risk the danger and sailed to Rhodes, where Caesar was staying, and came to him without his crown and in the dress and appearance of a private citizen, though royal in his bearing. Hiding nothing of the truth, he said straight out, ³⁸⁸ "Caesar, as I was made king of the Jews by Antony, I admit that I used my royal authority entirely on his behalf. I do not deny that you would certainly have found me in arms and supporting him, if the Arabs had not hindered me. Indeed, I took his side as best I could and sent him many thousand measures of corn. Even after his defeat at Actium I did not desert my benefactor but advised him as best I could, ³⁸⁹ being no longer able to help him in the war, and said that the only way to recover his standing was by the death of Cleopatra. With her dead I promised to give him money and the safety of my walls, with an army and myself to take part in his war against you. ³⁹⁰ But his passion for Cleopatra blocked his ears, as also did God, who has granted you the power to rule. I see myself as defeated along with him and with the end of his good fortune I set aside my crown and have come here to you, entrusting my survival to your virtue and hoping you will consider how faithful a friend and not whose friend, I have been."

[391] Πρὸς ταῦτα Καῖσαρ «ἀλλὰ σώζου γε, ἔφη, καὶ βασίλευε νῦν βεβαιότερον: ἄξιος γὰρ εἶ πολλῶν ἄρχειν οὕτω φιλίας προϊστάμενος. πειρῶ δὲ καὶ τοῖς εὐτυχεστέροις διαμένειν πιστός, ὡς ἔγωγε λαμπροτάτας ὑπὲρ τοῦ σοῦ φρονήματος ἐλπίδας ἔχω. καλῶς μέντοι γε ἐποίησεν Ἀντώνιος Κλεοπάτρᾳ πεισθεὶς μᾶλλον ἢ σοί: καὶ γὰρ σὲ κεκερδήκαμεν ἐκ τῆς ἀνοίας αὐτοῦ. [392] κατάρχεις δ', ὡς ἔοικεν, εὐποιίας δι' ὧν μοι γράφει καὶ Βεντίδιος συμμαχίαν σε πεπομφέναι πρὸς τοὺς μονομάχους αὐτῷ. νῦν μὲν οὖν δόγματι τὸ βέβαιόν σοι τῆς βασιλείας ἐξαγγέλλω. πειράσομαι δὲ καὶ αὖθις ἀγαθόν τί σε ποιεῖν, ὡς μὴ ζητοίης Ἀντώνιον.»

2. ³⁹¹ To this Caesar said, "You will not only survive but be king, more securely than ever. You are worthy to rule many subjects, because of your steadfast friendship. After my success, you must remain equally faithful to me, and with your generous disposition I depend on it. It is just as well that Antony preferred Cleopatra to you, for her madness gained you for us. ³⁹² And it seems you have already begun to be of service, for Quintus Didius wrote to me about the help you sent him against the gladiators. So I assure you that I will confirm you as king by a decree, and will do still more for you, so that you will not miss Antony."

[393] Τούτοις φιλοφρονησάμενος τὸν βασιλέα καὶ περιθεὶς αὐτῷ τὸ διάδημα δόγματι διεσήμαινεν τὴν δωρεάν, ἐν ὧι πολλὰ μεγαλοφρόνως εἰς ἔπαινον τἀνδρὸς ἐφθέγξατο. ὁ δὲ δώροις ἐπιμειλιξάμενος αὐτὸν ἐξῃτεῖτό τινα τῶν Ἀντωνίου φίλων Ἀλεξᾶν ἱκέτην γενόμενον: ἐνίκα δὲ ἡ Καίσαρος ὀργὴ πολλὰ καὶ χαλεπὰ μεμφομένου τὸν ἐξαιτούμενον οἷς διεκρούσατο τὴν δέησιν. [394] μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα πορευόμενον ἐπ' Αἴγυπτον διὰ Συρίας Καίσαρα παντὶ τῷ βασιλικῷ πλούτῳ δεξάμενος Ἡρώδης τότε πρῶτον καὶ συνιππάσατο ποιουμένου περὶ Πτολεμαΐδα τῆς δυνάμεως ἐξέτασιν εἱστίασέν τε σὺν ἅπασιν τοῖς φίλοις: μεθ' οὓς καὶ τῇ λοιπῇ στρατιᾷ πρὸς εὐωχίαν πάντα διέδωκεν. [395] προυνόησεν δὲ καὶ διὰ τῆς ἀνύδρου πορευομένοις μέχρι Πηλουσίου παρασχεῖν ὕδωρ ἄφθονον ἐπανιοῦσί τε ὁμοίως, οὐδὲ ἔστιν ὅ τι τῶν ἐπιτηδείων ἐνεδέησεν τῇ δυνάμει. δόξα γοῦν αὐτῷ τε Καίσαρι καὶ τοῖς στρατιώταις παρέστη πολλῷ βραχυτέραν περιεῖναι Ἡρώδῃ βασιλείαν πρὸς ἃ παρέσχεν. [396] διὰ τοῦτο, ὡς ἧκεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον ἤδη Κλεοπάτρας καὶ Ἀντωνίου τεθνεώτων, οὐ μόνον αὐτοῦ ταῖς ἄλλαις τιμαῖς, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῇ βασιλείᾳ προσέθηκεν τήν τε ὑπὸ Κλεοπάτρας ἀποτμηθεῖσαν χώραν καὶ ἔξωθεν Γάδαρα καὶ Ἵππον καὶ Σαμάρειαν, πρὸς δὲ τούτοις τῶν παραλίων Γάζαν καὶ Ἀνθηδόνα καὶ Ἰόππην καὶ Στράτωνος πύργον: [397] ἐδωρήσατο δ' αὐτῷ καὶ πρὸς φυλακὴν τοῦ σώματος τετρακοσίους Γαλάτας, οἳ πρότερον ἐδορυφόρουν Κλεοπάτραν. οὐδὲν δὲ οὕτως ἐνῆγεν αὐτὸν εἰς τὰς δωρεὰς ὡς τὸ μεγαλόφρον τοῦ λαμβάνοντος.

3. ³⁹³ After saying these gracious things to the king and putting the diadem on his head, he proclaimed the grant by decree, in which he further praised the man in magnificent style. Her responded to his kindness with gifts, and asked him to pardon Alex, one of Antony's friends, who had also come to him as a supplicant. But Caesar's anger prevailed and he rejected the petition, blaming the many offenses committed by the supplicant. ³⁹⁴ Later when Caesar proceeded to Egypt via Syria, Herod received him with royal extravagance, riding in front alongside him as he was reviewing his army near Ptolemais, and held a banquet for him and all his friends and then provided all the needful for a feast for the rest of the army. ³⁹⁵ He also supplied plenty of water for their march through the desert to Pelusium, and did the same on their return, providing the army with all it needed. It was therefore the view of both Caesar and his soldiers that Herod's kingdom was too narrow in light of the generous gifts he made them. ³⁹⁶ For this reason, when Caesar reached Egypt after the death of Cleopatra and Antony, along with other marks of honour he added to his kingdom, giving him not only the territory Cleopatra had taken from him, but also Gadara and Hippos and Samaria, and the maritime cities of Gaza, Anthedon, Joppa and Strato's Tower. ³⁹⁷ He also made him a gift of four hundred Gauls to serve as his bodyguard, as they had previously been to Cleopatra. Nothing so strongly impelled Caesar to make these gifts as the generosity of the one receiving them.

[398] Μετὰ δὲ τὴν πρώτην ἀκτιάδα προστίθησιν αὐτοῦ τῇ βασιλείᾳ τόν τε Τράχωνα καλούμενον καὶ τὴν προσεχῆ Βαταναίαν τε καὶ τὴν Αὐρανῖτιν χώραν ἐξ αἰτίας τοιᾶσδε: Ζηνόδωρος ὁ τὸν Λυσανίου μεμισθωμένος οἶκον οὐ διέλειπεν ἐπαφεὶς τοὺς ἐκ τοῦ Τράχωνος λῃστὰς Δαμασκηνοῖς. οἱ δ' ἐπὶ Οὐάρρωνα τὸν ἡγεμόνα τῆς Συρίας καταφυγόντες ἐδεήθησαν δηλῶσαι τὴν συμφορὰν αὐτῶν Καίσαρι: Καῖσαρ δὲ γνοὺς ἀντεπέστελλεν ἐξαιρεθῆναι τὸ λῃστήριον. [399] στρατεύσας οὖν Οὐάρρων καθαίρει τε τῶν ἀνδρῶν τὴν γῆν καὶ ἀφαιρεῖται Ζηνόδωρον: ἣν ὕστερον Καῖσαρ, ὡς μὴ γένοιτο πάλιν ὁρμητήριον τοῖς λῃσταῖς ἐπὶ τὴν Δαμασκόν, Ἡρώδῃ δίδωσιν. κατέστησεν δὲ αὐτὸν καὶ Συρίας ὅλης ἐπίτροπον ἔτι δεκάτῳ πάλιν ἐλθὼν εἰς τὴν ἐπαρχίαν, ὡς μηδὲν ἐξεῖναι δίχα τῆς ἐκείνου συμβουλίας τοῖς ἐπιτρόποις διοικεῖν. [400] ἐπεὶ δὲ ἐτελεύτα Ζηνόδωρος, προσένειμεν αὐτῷ καὶ τὴν μεταξὺ Τράχωνος καὶ τῆς Γαλιλαίας γῆν ἅπασαν. ὃ δὲ τούτων Ἡρώδῃ μεῖζον ἦν, ὑπὸ μὲν Καίσαρος ἐφιλεῖτο μετ' Ἀγρίππαν, ὑπ' Ἀγρίππα δὲ μετὰ Καίσαρα. ἔνθεν ἐπὶ πλεῖστον μὲν εὐδαιμονίας προύκοψεν, εἰς μεῖζον δ' ἐξήρθη φρόνημα καὶ τὸ πλέον τῆς μεγαλονοίας ἐπέτεινεν εἰς εὐσέβειαν.

4. ³⁹⁸ Moreover, after the first games at Actium, he added to his kingdom the region called Trachonitis and the neighbouring Batanea, plus the district of Auranitis, on the following occasion. Zenodorus, who had rented the house of Lysanias, regularly sent brigands from Trachonitis among the Damascenes, who soon had recourse to Varro, the ruler of Syria, asking him to inform Caesar of their plight. Hearing of it, Caesar sent back orders for this nest of brigands to be destroyed. ³⁹⁹ So Varro made war on them and cleared them from the land, which he then took from Zenodorus. Later Caesar bestowed it on Herod, to prevent it becoming again a refuge for the brigands going out against Damascus. Ten years later, when he came again to that province, he also made him a procurator for all Syria, with a decree that the other procurators could do nothing in the administration without his advice. ⁴⁰⁰ After Zenodorus died, Caesar gave him all the land between Trachonitis and Galilee. Even more important to Herod was that he was Caesar's best friend after Agrippa, and Agrippa's best friend after Caesar, which brought him great prosperity, surpassed only by the greatness of his soul; and most of his ambition was directed to works of reverence.

[401] Πεντεκαιδεκάτῳ γοῦν ἔτει τῆς βασιλείας αὐτόν τε τὸν ναὸν ἐπεσκεύασεν καὶ περὶ αὐτὸν ἀνετειχίσατο χώραν τῆς οὔσης διπλασίονα, ἀμέτροις μὲν χρησάμενος τοῖς ἀναλώμασιν ἀνυπερβλήτῳ δὲ τῇ πολυτελείαι. τεκμήριον δὲ ἦσαν αἱ μεγάλαι στοαὶ περὶ τὸ ἱερὸν καὶ τὸ βόρειον ἐπ' αὐτῷ φρούριον: ἃς μὲν γὰρ ἀνῳκοδόμησεν ἐκ θεμελίων, ὃ δ' ἐπισκευάσας πλούτῳ δαψιλεῖ κατ' οὐδὲν τῶν βασιλείων ἔλαττον Ἀντωνίαν ἐκάλεσεν εἰς τὴν Ἀντωνίου τιμήν. [402] τό γε μὴν ἑαυτοῦ βασίλειον κατὰ τὴν ἄνω δειμάμενος πόλιν δύο τοὺς μεγίστους καὶ περικαλλεστάτους οἴκους, οἷς οὐδὲ ναός πῃ συνεκρίνετο, προσηγόρευσεν ἀπὸ τῶν φίλων τὸν μὲν Καισάρειον τὸν δὲ Ἀγρίππειον.

1. ⁴⁰¹ In the fifteenth year of his reign, Herod restored the temple and surrounded the area around it with a retaining wall, making the area twice as large as it was before, spending huge amounts of money and giving it unrivalled splendour. Examples of this are the great porticoes round the temple, plus the fortress on its north side. The porticoes he built from the ground up, but the fortress he repaired at a vast expense in the style of a palace and called it Antonia, in honour of Antony. ⁴⁰² He also built for himself in the Upper city, a palace with two large apartments, both very beautiful though in no way comparable to the temple, and he named them after his friends, Caesareum and Agrippeum.

[403] Ἀλλὰ γὰρ οὐκ οἴκοις μόνον αὐτῶν τὴν μνήμην καὶ τὰς ἐπικλήσεις περιέγραψεν, διέβη δὲ εἰς ὅλας πόλεις αὐτῷ τὸ φιλότιμον. ἐν μέν γε τῇ Σαμαρείτιδι πόλιν καλλίστῳ περιβόλῳ τειχισάμενος ἐπὶ σταδίους εἴκοσι καὶ καταγαγὼν ἑξακισχιλίους εἰς αὐτὴν οἰκήτορας, γῆν δὲ τούτοις προσνείμας λιπαρωτάτην καὶ ἐν μέσῳ τῷ κτίσματι ναόν τε ἐνιδρυσάμενος μέγιστον καὶ περὶ αὐτὸν τέμενος ἀποδείξας τῷ Καίσαρι τριῶν ἡμισταδίων, τὸ ἄστυ Σεβαστὴν ἐκάλεσεν: ἐξαίρετον δὲ τοῖς ἐν αὐτῷ παρέσχεν εὐνομίαν.

2. ⁴⁰³ It was not in these buildings only that he commemorated the names of his patrons, for his generosity went as far as entire cities. In the land of Samaria, he enclosed an area within a fine wall twenty furlongs long, and into it brought six thousand inhabitants, allotting to it a fruitful territory. In the middle of this city he built a large temple to Caesar, enclosed by three furlongs and a half of sacred land, and he named the city Sebaste, from Sebastus [Augustus], and gave special privelges to the citizens.

[404] Ἐπὶ τούτοις δωρησαμένου τοῦ Καίσαρος αὐτὸν ἑτέρας προσθέσει χώρας, ὁ δὲ κἀνταῦθα ναὸν αὐτῷ λευκῆς μαρμάρου καθιδρύσατο παρὰ τὰς Ἰορδάνου πηγάς: καλεῖται δὲ Πάνειον ὁ τόπος: [405] ἔνθα κορυφὴ μέν τις ὄρους εἰς ἄπειρον ὕψος ἀνατείνεται, παρὰ δὲ τὴν ὑπόρειον λαγόνα συνηρεφὲς ἄντρον ὑπανοίγει, δι' οὗ βαραθρώδης κρημνὸς εἰς ἀμέτρητον ἀπορρῶγα βαθύνεται πλήθει τε ὕδατος ἀσαλεύτου καὶ τοῖς καθιμῶσίν τι πρὸς ἔρευναν γῆς οὐδὲν μῆκος ἐξαρκεῖ. [406] τοῦ δὲ ἄντρου κατὰ τὰς ἔξωθεν ῥίζας ἀνατέλλουσιν αἱ πηγαί: καὶ γένεσις μέν, ὡς ἔνιοι δοκοῦσιν, ἔνθεν Ἰορδάνου, τὸ δ' ἀκριβὲς ἐν τοῖς ἑξῆς δηλώσομεν.

3. ⁴⁰⁴ When Caesar later gave him further territory he also built a temple there, in white marble, near the fountains of the Jordan, in a place called Panium. ⁴⁰⁵ Above it a mountain-top rises to an immense height at whose base is a dark cave, within which there is a chasm descending abruptly to a vast depth. This contains a huge volume of still water, so deep that no plumbline is long enough to measure it right to the bottom. ⁴⁰⁶ The visible part of the Jordan begins beneath this cavern, and some think this is the river's absolute source, but we will illustrate this more fully, later.

[407]Ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς καὶ ἐν Ἱεριχοῖ μεταξὺ Κύπρου τοῦ φρουρίου καὶ τῶν προτέρων βασιλείων ἄλλα κατασκευάσας ἀμείνω καὶ χρησιμώτερα πρὸς τὰς ἐπιδημίας ἀπὸ τῶν αὐτῶν ὠνόμασεν φίλων. καθόλου δὲ οὐκ ἔστιν εἰπεῖν ὅντινα τῆς βασιλείας ἐπιτήδειον τόπον τῆς πρὸς Καίσαρα τιμῆς γυμνὸν εἴασεν. ἐπεὶ δὲ τὴν ἰδίαν χώραν ἐπλήρωσεν ναῶν, εἰς τὴν ἐπαρχίαν αὐτοῦ τὰς τιμὰς ὑπερεξέχεεν καὶ πολλαῖς πόλεσιν ἐνιδρύσατο Καισάρεια.

4. ⁴⁰⁷ The king also built between the Cypros fortress and the former palace in Jericho, other places for guests which he furnished more commodiously, naming them after the same friends of his. In a word, there was hardly a suitable place in his kingdom where he did not build something in Caesar's honour, and after filling his own district with temples, he lavished similar marks of his esteem throughout his province and built in many cities monuments to Caesar.

[408] Κατιδὼν δὲ κἀν τοῖς παραλίοις πόλιν ἤδη μὲν κάμνουσαν, Στράτωνος ἐκαλεῖτο πύργος, διὰ δὲ εὐφυίαν τοῦ χωρίου δέξασθαι δυναμένην τὸ φιλότιμον αὐτοῦ, πᾶσαν ἀνέκτισεν λευκῷ λίθῳ καὶ λαμπροτάτοις ἐκόσμησεν βασιλείοις, ἐν ἧι μάλιστα τὸ φύσει μεγαλόνουν ἐπεδείξατο. [409] μεταξὺ γὰρ Δώρων καὶ Ἰόππης, ὧν ἡ πόλις μέση κεῖται, πᾶσαν εἶναι συμβέβηκεν τὴν παράλιον ἀλίμενον, ὡς πάντα τὸν τὴν Φοινίκην ἐπ' Αἰγύπτου παραπλέοντα σαλεύειν ἐν πελάγει διὰ τὴν ἐκ λιβὸς ἀπειλήν, ὧι καὶ μετρίως ἐπαυρίζοντι τηλικοῦτον ἐπεγείρεται κῦμα πρὸς ταῖς πέτραις, ὥστε τὴν ὑποστροφὴν τοῦ κύματος ἐπὶ πλεῖστον ἐξαγριοῦν τὴν θάλασσαν. [410] ἀλλ' ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῖς ἀναλώμασιν καὶ τῇ φιλοτιμίαι νικήσας τὴν φύσιν μείζονα μὲν τοῦ Πειραιῶς λιμένα κατεσκεύασεν, ἐν δὲ τοῖς μυχοῖς αὐτοῦ βαθεῖς ὅρμους ἑτέρους.

5. ⁴⁰⁸ He noticed on the coast a much decayed city called Strato's Tower, which due to its favourable location could be greatly improved by his skill. This he rebuilt in white stone and adorned with splendid palaces, as the best example of the grandeur of his spirit. ⁴⁰⁹ The coast between Dora and Joppa, between which this city stands, had no good harbour, so that everyone sailing from Phoenicia for Egypt was obliged to anchor in the stormy sea, in the teeth of the south winds. When this wind blew even gently, it dashes such vast waves upon the rocks that their return causes huge turbulence a long way out to sea. ⁴¹⁰ But driven by ambition and at great expense the king triumphed over nature and built a harbour larger than the Pyraeus and in the inner recesses of the bay made other deep places for docking.

[411] Καθάπαν δ' ἔχων ἀντιπράσσοντα τὸν τόπον ἐφιλονείκησεν πρὸς τὴν δυσχέρειαν, ὡς τὴν μὲν ὀχυρότητα τῆς δομήσεως δυσάλωτον εἶναι τῇ θαλάσσῃ, τὸ δὲ κάλλος ὡς ἐπὶ μηδενὶ δυσκόλῳ κεκοσμῆσθαι: συμμετρησάμενος γὰρ ὅσον εἰρήκαμεν τῷ λιμένι μέγεθος καθίει λίθους ἐπ' ὀργυιὰς εἴκοσιν εἰς τὸ πέλαγος, ὧν ἦσαν οἱ πλεῖστοι μῆκος ποδῶν πεντήκοντα, βάθος ἐννέα, εὖρος δέκα, τινὲς δὲ καὶ μείζους. [412] ἐπεὶ δὲ ἀνεπληρώθη τὸ ὕφαλον, οὕτως ἤδη τὸ ὑπερέχον τοῦ πελάγους τεῖχος ἐπὶ διακοσίους πόδας ηὐρύνετο: ὧν οἱ μὲν ἑκατὸν προδεδόμηντο πρὸς τὴν ἀνακοπὴν τοῦ κύματος, προκυμία γοῦν ἐκλήθη, τὸ δὲ λοιπὸν ὑπόκειται τῷ περιθέοντι λιθίνῳ τείχει. τοῦτο δὲ πύργοις τε διείληπται μεγίστοις, ὧν ὁ προύχων καὶ περικαλλέστατος ἀπὸ τοῦ Καίσαρος προγόνου Δρούσιον κέκληται.

6. ⁴¹¹ Although the place where he built was very difficult, he tackled the task so fully that his solid buildings could not easily be ruined by the sea, and the beauty and ornamentation of the works made it seem that he had made them with ease. After measuring out the large harbour as we have said, he let down rocks into twenty fathoms of water, most of them fifty feet long and nine deep and ten broad, and some even larger. ⁴¹² Once the harbour filled up to that depth, he built up the causeway two hundred feet wide and jutting above the sea; one hundred feet of which were structured so as to break the force of the waves, from which it was called the Breakwater. The rest of the harbour was surrounded by a stone wall. There were large towers on this wall, the first and most beautiful of which was called Drusium, for Caesar's son-in-law, Drusus.

[413] ψαλίδες τε πυκναὶ πρὸς καταγωγὴν τῶν ἐνορμιζομένων καὶ τὸ πρὸ αὐτῶν πᾶν κύκλῳ νάγμα τοῖς ἀποβαίνουσιν πλατὺς περίπατος. ὁ δ' εἴσπλους βόρειος, αἰθριώτατος γὰρ ἀνέμων τῷ τόπῳ βορέας: καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ στόματος κολοσσοὶ τρεῖς ἑκατέρωθεν ὑπεστηριγμένοι κίοσιν, ὧν τοὺς μὲν ἐκ λαιᾶς χειρὸς εἰσπλεόντων πύργος ναστὸς ἀνέχει, τοὺς δὲ ἐκ δεξιοῦ δύο ὀρθοὶ λίθοι συνεζευγμένοι τοῦ κατὰ θάτερον χεῖλος πύργου μείζονες. [414] προσεχεῖς δ' οἰκίαι τῷ λιμένι λευκοῦ καὶ αὗται λίθου, καὶ κατατείνοντες ἐπ' αὐτὸν οἱ στενωποὶ τοῦ ἄστεος πρὸς ἓν διάστημα μεμετρημένοι. καὶ τοῦ στόματος ἀντικρὺ ναὸς Καίσαρος ἐπὶ γηλόφου κάλλει καὶ μεγέθει διάφορος: ἐν δ' αὐτῷ κολοσσὸς Καίσαρος οὐκ ἀποδέων τοῦ Ὀλυμπίασιν Διός, ὧι καὶ προσείκασται, Ῥώμης δὲ ἴσος Ἥρᾳ τῇ κατ' Ἄργος. ἀνέθηκεν δὲ τῇ μὲν ἐπαρχίαι τὴν πόλιν, τοῖς ταύτῃ δὲ πλοϊζομένοις τὸν λιμένα, Καίσαρι δὲ τὴν τιμὴν τοῦ κτίσματος: Καισάρειαν γοῦν ὠνόμασεν αὐτήν.

7. ⁴¹³ There were also many arches in the wall, where the sailors could put in, and in front of them was a large promenade for people coming ashore. Its entrance was to the north, because there the northerly was the gentlest wind of all. At the mouth of the harbour on each side were three great Colossi, supported by pillars, and as you sail into the port those on the left are supported by a solid tower, but those on the right are supported by two upright stones joined together, and larger than the tower on the other side of the entrance. ⁴¹⁴ Adjoining the harbour were houses built of white stone, and the narrow streets of the city leading to the harbour were all equidistant from each other. Facing the mouth of the harbour, upon a rise, was a temple to Caesar, excellent in beauty and size, and within it a Colossus of Caesar, no smaller than that of Olympian Zeus, which it resembled, and one of Rome, the equal to that of Juno at Argos. So he gave the city to the province and the harbour to the sailors but the honour of the building he gave to Caesar, by naming it Caesarea.

[415] Τά γε μὴν λοιπὰ τῶν ἔργων, ἀμφιθέατρον καὶ θέατρον καὶ ἀγοράς, ἄξια τῆς προσηγορίας ἐνιδρύσατο. καὶ πενταετηρικοὺς ἀγῶνας καταστησάμενος ὁμοίως ἐκάλεσεν ἀπὸ τοῦ Καίσαρος, πρῶτος αὐτὸς ἆθλα μέγιστα προθεὶς ἐπὶ τῆς ἑκατοστῆς ἐνενηκοστῆς δευτέρας ὀλυμπιάδος, ἐν οἷς οὐ μόνον οἱ νικῶντες, ἀλλὰ καὶ οἱ μετ' αὐτοὺς καὶ οἱ τρίτοι τοῦ βασιλικοῦ πλούτου μετελάμβανον. [416] ἀνακτίσας δὲ καὶ Ἀνθηδόνα τὴν παράλιον καταρριφθεῖσαν ἐν πολέμῳ Ἀγρίππειον προσηγόρευσε: τοῦ δ' αὐτοῦ φίλου δι' ὑπερβολὴν εὐνοίας καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς πύλης ἐχάραξεν τὸ ὄνομα, ἣν αὐτὸς ἐν τῷ ναῷ κατεσκεύασεν.

8. ⁴¹⁵ The other buildings he put up, amphitheatre and theatre and agora, were worthy of the city's name. He also appointed games for every fifth year, naming them "Caesar's Games" and inaugurated them at the hundred and ninety-second Olympiad, offering huge prizes, so that not only the victors but those who came second and even in third place, shared in his royal bounty. ⁴¹⁶ He also rebuilt Anthedon, a coastal city that had been demolished in the wars and named it Agrippeum, and showed his great affection for his friend Agrippa by having his name engraved upon the gate he had erected in the temple.

[417] Φιλοπάτωρ γε μήν, εἰ καί τις ἕτερος: καὶ γὰρ τῷ πατρὶ μνημεῖον κατέθηκεν πόλιν, ἣν ἐν τῷ καλλίστῳ τῆς βασιλείας πεδίῳ κτίσας ποταμοῖς τε καὶ δένδρεσιν πλουσίαν ὠνόμασεν Ἀντιπατρίδα, καὶ τὸ ὑπὲρ Ἱεριχοῦντος φρούριον ὀχυρότητι καὶ κάλλει διάφορον τειχίσας ἀνέθηκεν τῇ μητρὶ προσειπὼν Κύπρον. [418] Φασαήλῳ δὲ τἀδελφῷ τὸν ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις ὁμώνυμον πύργον, οὗ τό τε σχῆμα καὶ τὴν ἐν τῷ μεγέθει πολυτέλειαν διὰ τῶν ἑξῆς δηλώσομεν. καὶ πόλιν ἄλλην κτίσας κατὰ τὸν ἀπὸ Ἱεριχοῦς ἰόντων αὐλῶνα πρὸς βορέαν Φασαηλίδα ὠνόμασεν.

9. ⁴¹⁷ He was a man devoted to his father, if anyone ever was. As a memorial to his father he built a city in the finest plain in his kingdom, with rivers and trees in abundance, and called it Antipatris. Above Jericho he also built a wall around a fortress, a very strong and very fine building, and dedicating it to his mother he called it Cypros. ⁴¹⁸ Moreover, he dedicated to his brother Phasael a tower in Jerusalem, whose structure, size and magnificence we shall describe later. He also built another city in the valley that leads northward from Jericho and named it Phasaelis.

[419] Παραδοὺς δ' αἰῶνι τούς τε οἰκείους καὶ φίλους οὐδὲ τῆς ἑαυτοῦ μνήμης ἠμέλησεν, ἀλλὰ φρούριον μὲν ἐπιτειχίσας τῷ πρὸς Ἀραβίαν ὄρει προσηγόρευσεν Ἡρώδειον ἀφ' ἑαυτοῦ, τὸν δὲ μαστοειδῆ κολωνὸν ὄντα χειροποίητον ἑξήκοντα σταδίων ἄπωθεν Ἱεροσολύμων ἐκάλεσεν μὲν ὁμοίως, ἐξήσκησεν δὲ φιλοτιμότερον. [420] στρογγύλοις μὲν γὰρ τὴν ἄκραν πύργοις περιέσχεν, ἐπλήρωσεν δὲ τὸν περίβολον βασιλείοις πολυτελεστάτοις, ὡς μὴ μόνον τὴν ἔνδον τῶν οἰκημάτων ὄψιν εἶναι λαμπράν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς ἔξωθεν τοίχοις καὶ θριγκοῖς καὶ στέγαις περικεχύσθαι τὸν πλοῦτον δαψιλῆ: πόρρωθεν δὲ μεγίστοις ἀναλώμασιν ὑδάτων πλῆθος εἰσήγαγεν καὶ βαθμοῖς διακοσίοις λευκοτάτης μαρμάρου τὴν ἄνοδον διέλαβεν: ἦν γὰρ δὴ τὸ γήλοφον ἐπιεικῶς ὑψηλὸν καὶ πᾶν χειροποίητον. [421] κατεσκεύασεν δὲ καὶ περὶ τὰς ῥίζας ἄλλα βασίλεια τήν τε ἀποσκευὴν καὶ τοὺς φίλους δέξασθαι δυνάμενα, ὥστε τῷ μὲν πάντα ἔχειν πόλιν εἶναι δοκεῖν τὸ ἔρυμα, τῇ περιγραφῇ δὲ βασίλειον.

10. ⁴¹⁹ Just as he perpetuated the memory of his family and friends, he did not neglect a memorial for himself. On a hill shaped like a woman's breast, sixty furlongs from Jerusalem, he built a high fortress calling both it and the mountain by his own name, Herodium. ⁴²⁰ He lavished it ambitiously with curious art and built round towers at its top and filled the remaining space with costly palaces. Not only were the inner apartments splendid to behold, but he spent a fortune on the outer walls and partitions and roofs. Besides, he brought a large volume of water from a great distance, at vast expense, and had a gradient of two hundred steps of the whitest marble leading up to it, for the hill was itself moderately high and entirely artificial. ⁴²¹ He also built other palaces at the base of the hill, well furnished to accommodate his friends. In short, the fortress seemed like a city containing all essentials, but its ramparts made it look like like a royal palace.

[422] Τοσαῦτα συγκτίσας πλείσταις καὶ τῶν ἔξω πόλεων τὸ μεγαλόψυχον ἐπεδείξατο. Τριπόλει μὲν γὰρ καὶ Δαμασκῷ καὶ Πτολεμαΐδι γυμνάσια, Βύβλῳ δὲ τεῖχος, ἐξέδρας τε καὶ στοὰς καὶ ναοὺς καὶ ἀγορὰς Βηρυτῷ κατασκευάσας καὶ Τύρῳ, Σιδῶνί γε μὴν καὶ Δαμασκῷ θέατρα, Λαοδικεῦσι δὲ τοῖς παραλίοις ὑδάτων εἰσαγωγήν, Ἀσκαλωνίταις δὲ βαλανεῖα καὶ κρήνας πολυτελεῖς, πρὸς δὲ περίστυλα θαυμαστὰ τήν τε ἐργασίαν καὶ τὸ μέγεθος: εἰσὶ δ' οἷς ἄλση καὶ λειμῶνας ἀνέθηκεν. [423] πολλαὶ δὲ πόλεις ὥσπερ κοινωνοὶ τῆς βασιλείας καὶ χώραν ἔλαβον παρ' αὐτοῦ: γυμνασιαρχίαις δ' ἄλλας ἐπετησίοις τε καὶ διηνεκέσιν ἐδωρήσατο προσόδους κατατάξας, ὥσπερ Κώιοις, ἵνα μηδέποτε ἐκλείπῃ τὸ γέρας. [424] σῖτόν γε μὴν πᾶσιν ἐχορήγησεν τοῖς δεομένοις, καὶ τῇ Ῥόδῳ χρήματα μὲν εἰς ναυτικοῦ κατασκευὴν παρέσχεν πολλαχοῦ καὶ πολλάκις, ἐμπρησθὲν δὲ τὸ Πύθιον ἰδίοις ἀναλώμασιν ἄμεινον ἀνεδείματο. [425] καὶ τί δεῖ λέγειν τὰς εἰς Λυκίους ἢ Σαμίους δωρεὰς ἢ τὴν δι' ὅλης τῆς Ἰωνίας ἐν οἷς ἐδεήθησαν ἕκαστοι δαψίλειαν; ἀλλ' Ἀθηναῖοι καὶ Λακεδαιμόνιοι Νικοπολῖταί τε καὶ τὸ κατὰ Μυσίαν Πέργαμον οὐ τῶν Ἡρώδου γέμουσιν ἀναθημάτων; τὴν δ' Ἀντιοχέων τῶν ἐν Συρίαι πλατεῖαν οὐ φευκτὴν οὖσαν ὑπὸ βορβόρου κατέστρωσέν τε σταδίων εἴκοσι τὸ μῆκος οὖσαν ξεστῇ μαρμάρῳ καὶ πρὸς τὰς τῶν ὑετῶν ἀποφυγὰς ἐκόσμησεν ἰσομήκει στοᾶι.

11. ⁴²² After building so much, he was generous also to quite a few other cities abroad. He built gymnasia in Tripoli and Damascus and Ptolemais, and built a wall around Byblus, and large rooms, porticoes, temples and market-places in Berytus and Tyre, with theatres in Sidon and Damascus. He also built aqueducts for the Laodiceans living by the sea-side, and for those of Ascalon he built baths and costly fountains, and porticoes round a court, admirable in workmanship and size. ⁴²² To some people he dedicated groves and meadows and donated land to various cities as if they were part of his own kingdom. He also granted annual revenues to exercise centres and provided gifts in perpetuity for them and for the people of Cos. ⁴²⁴ He donated corn to all who needed it and gave large sums of money to Rhodes for building ships, and often did the like in other places. When Apollo's temple burned down, he rebuilt it at his own expense, better than it was before. ⁴²⁵ Need I speak of the gifts he gave to the Lycians and Samnians, or of his great generosity through all Ionia, when people were in need. Are not the Athenians and Spartans and Nicopolitans and Pergamus in Mysia, replete with things donated by Herod? Did he not pave with polished marble the large open space in Antioch in Syria, twenty furlongs long, previously shunned by everyone because it was full of dirt and filth, and adorn the paved area with a portico equally long?

[426] Ταῦτα μὲν ἄν τις εἴποι ἴδια τῶν εὖ παθόντων δήμων ἑκάστου, τὸ δὲ Ἠλείοις χαρισθὲν οὐ μόνον κοινὸν τῆς Ἑλλάδος ἀλλ' ὅλης τῆς οἰκουμένης δῶρον, εἰς ἣν ἡ δόξα τῶν Ὀλυμπίασιν ἀγώνων διικνεῖται. [427] τούτους γὰρ δὴ καταλυομένους ἀπορίαι χρημάτων ὁρῶν καὶ τὸ μόνον λείψανον τῆς ἀρχαίας Ἑλλάδος ὑπορρέον, οὐ μόνον ἀγωνοθέτης ἧς ἐπέτυχεν πενταετηρίδος εἰς Ῥώμην παραπλέων ἐγένετο, ἀλλὰ καὶ πρὸς τὸ διηνεκὲς πόρους χρημάτων ἀπέδειξεν, ὡς μηδέποτε ἀγωνοθετοῦσαν αὐτοῦ τὴν μνήμην ἀπολιπεῖν. [428] ἀνήνυτον ἂν εἴη χρεῶν διαλύσεις ἢ φόρων ἐπεξιέναι, καθάπερ Φασηλίταις καὶ Βαλανεώταις καὶ τοῖς περὶ τὴν Κιλικίαν πολιχνίοις τὰς ἐτησίους εἰσφορὰς ἐπεξεκούφισεν. πλεῖστόν γε μὴν αὐτοῦ τῆς μεγαλονοίας ἔθραυσεν ὁ φόβος, ὡς μὴ δόξειεν ἐπίφθονος ἤ τι θηρᾶσθαι μεῖζον εὐεργετῶν τὰς πόλεις πλέον τῶν ἐχόντων.

12. ⁴²⁶ One could say that these favours were enjoyed only by the particular places on which they were bestowed, while his gift to the Eleans was shared not only by all of Greece, but by the whole world, wherever one hears of the glory of the Olympic games. ⁴²⁶ For when he realised how these had failed for lack of money, and with them what remained of ancient Greece, he not only joined in as a combatant when the quinquennial games were revived, which as he sailed to Rome he happened to be present at, but he granted them revenues in perpetuity, so that his fame as a combatant there would not be forgotten. ⁴²⁸ There was no end to his payments of debts or tributes on people's behalf, as he relieved the people of Phasaelis, Batanea and the small cities around Cilicia, of the annual tributes they used to pay. Often his soul was troubled by anxiety about being envied, or seeming to overreach himself, when he bestowed more generous gifts upon these cities than even their owners did.

[429] Ἐχρήσατο δὲ καὶ σώματι πρὸς τὴν ψυχὴν ἀναλόγῳ, κυνηγέτης μὲν ἄριστος ἀεὶ γενόμενος, ἐν ὧι μάλιστα δι' ἐμπειρίαν ἱππικῆς ἐπετύγχανεν: μιᾷ γοῦν ἡμέρᾳ ποτὲ τεσσαράκοντα θηρίων ἐκράτησεν: ἔστι δὲ καὶ συοτρόφος μὲν ἡ χώρα, τὸ πλέον δ' ἐλάφων καὶ ὀνάγρων εὔπορος: πολεμιστὴς δ' ἀνυπόστατος. [430] πολλοὶ γοῦν κἀν ταῖς γυμνασίαις αὐτὸν κατεπλάγησαν ἀκοντιστήν τε ἰθυβολώτατον καὶ τοξότην εὐστοχώτατον ἰδόντες. πρὸς δὲ τοῖς ψυχικοῖς καὶ τοῖς σωματικοῖς προτερήμασιν ἐχρήσατο καὶ δεξιᾷ τύχῃ: καὶ γὰρ σπάνιον ἔπταισεν ἐν πολέμῳ, καὶ τῶν πταισμάτων οὐκ αὐτὸς αἴτιος, ἀλλ' ἢ προδοσίαι τινῶν ἢ προπετείᾳ στρατιωτῶν ἐγένετο.

13. ⁴²⁸ Herod was as healthy in body as in soul and was always an excellent hunter, where he generally had success through his skill in riding horses, and he killed forty wild beasts in a single day, for the country has wild boars and lots of stags and wild donkeys. ⁴³⁰ He was also an invincible warrior and many have admired his his physical fitness, seeing his precision in throwing the javelin and his accuracy with the bow and arrow. Besides these gifts of mind and body, he enjoyed good fortune and seldom failed in his wars, and whenever he did fail, he was not himself to blame, but either he was betrayed or the rashness of his soldiers caused his defeat.

[431] Τάς γε μὴν ὑπαίθρους εὐπραγίας ἡ τύχη τοῖς κατ' οἶκον ἀνιαροῖς ἐνεμέσησεν, καὶ κακοδαιμονεῖν ἐκ γυναικὸς ἤρξατο περὶ ἣν μάλιστα ἐσπούδασεν. [432] ἐπειδὴ γὰρ εἰς τὴν ἀρχὴν παρῆλθεν, ἀποπεμψάμενος ἣν ἰδιώτης ἦκτο γαμετήν, γένος ἦν ἐξ Ἱεροσολύμων Δωρὶς ὄνομα, γαμεῖ Μαριάμμην τὴν Ἀλεξάνδρου τοῦ Ἀριστοβούλου θυγατέρα, δι' ἣν αὐτῷ στασιασθῆναι συνέβη τὸν οἶκον καὶ τάχιον μέν, μάλιστα δὲ μετὰ τὴν ἐκ Ῥώμης ἄφιξιν. [433] πρῶτον μὲν γὰρ τὸν ἐκ τῆς Δωρίδος υἱὸν Ἀντίπατρον διὰ τοὺς ἐκ Μαριάμμης ἐφυγάδευσεν τῆς πόλεως μόναις ταῖς ἑορταῖς ἀφεὶς κατιέναι: ἔπειτα τὸν πάππον τῆς γυναικὸς Ὑρκανὸν ἐκ Πάρθων πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐλθόντα δι' ὑπόνοιαν ἐπιβουλῆς ἀνεῖλεν, ὃν ἠιχμαλωτίσατο μὲν Βαζαφράνης καταδραμὼν Συρίαν, ἐξῃτήσαντο δὲ κατὰ οἶκτον οἱ ὑπὲρ Εὐφράτην ὁμοεθνεῖς. [434] καὶ εἴ γε τούτοις ἐπείσθη παραινοῦσιν μὴ διαβῆναι πρὸς Ἡρώδην, οὐκ ἂν παραπώλετο: δέλεαρ δ' αὐτῷ θανάτου τῆς υἱωνῆς ὁ γάμος κατέστη: τούτῳ γὰρ πεποιθὼς καὶ περισσόν τι τῆς πατρίδος ἐφιέμενος ἧκεν. παρώξυνεν δὲ Ἡρώδην οὐκ αὐτὸς ἀντιποιούμενος βασιλείας, ἀλλ' ἐπεὶ τὸ βασιλεύειν ἐπέβαλλεν αὐτῷ.

1. ⁴³¹ To counterbalance Herod's enormous public successes, fortune gave him domestic troubles, and he began to have strife within his family on account of his wife, of whom he was so very fond. ⁴³² For when he came to power he set aside the Jerusalem woman named Doris, whom he had married earlier when he was a private citizen, and married Mariamne, the daughter of Alexander, son of Aristobulus. Disturbances soon arose in his family on her account, but mainly after his return from Rome. ⁴³³ Firstly, for the sake of his sons by Mariamne, he expelled Antipater the son of Doris from the city, and never allowed him to come there except at the festivals. Then he killed his wife's grandfather, Hyrcanus, when he had returned to him from Parthia, on the suspicion that he was plotting against him. This Hyrcanus had been taken prisoner to Barzapharnes when he overran Syria. His own countrymen beyond the Euphrates wanted him to stay with them, sympathising for his condition, ⁴³⁴ and if he had heeded them when they urged him not to go back across the river to Herod, he would not have died. But his granddaughter's wedding was his undoing, for as he trusted him and was over-fond of his own country, he returned to attend it. Herod's hatred of him was not because of any attempt to gain the kingship, but because [Hyrcanus] had a better claim to the throne than himself.

[435] Τῶν δὲ ἐκ Μαριάμμης πέντε τέκνων γενομένων δύο μὲν θυγατέρες, τρεῖς δ' ἦσαν υἱεῖς. καὶ τούτων ὁ νεώτατος μὲν ἐν Ῥώμῃ παιδευόμενος τελευτᾶι, δύο δὲ τοὺς πρεσβυτάτους βασιλικῶς ἦγεν διά τε τὴν μητρώιαν εὐγένειαν καὶ ὅτι βασιλεύοντι γεγόνεισαν αὐτῷ. [436] τὸ δὲ τούτων ἰσχυρότερον ὁ Μαριάμμης ἔρως συνήργει καθ' ἡμέραν ἐκκαίων Ἡρώδην λαβρότερος, ὡς μηδενὸς τῶν διὰ τὴν στεργομένην λυπηρῶν αἰσθάνεσθαι: τοσοῦτον γὰρ ἦν μῖσος εἰς αὐτὸν τῆς Μαριάμμης, ὅσος ἐκείνου πρὸς αὐτὴν ἔρως. [437] ἔχουσα δὲ τὴν μὲν ἀπέχθειαν ἐκ τῶν πραγμάτων εὔλογον, τὴν δὲ παρρησίαν ἐκ τοῦ φιλεῖσθαι, φανερῶς ὠνείδιζεν αὐτῷ τὰ κατὰ τὸν πάππον Ὑρκανὸν καὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν Ἰωνάθην: οὐδὲ γὰρ τούτου καίπερ ὄντος παιδὸς ἐφείσατο, δοὺς μὲν αὐτῷ τὴν ἀρχιερωσύνην ἑπτακαιδεκαέτει, μετὰ δὲ τὴν τιμὴν κτείνας εὐθέως, ἐπειδὴ τὴν ἱερὰν ἐσθῆτα λαβόντι καὶ τῷ βωμῷ προσελθόντι καθ' ἑορτὴν ἄθρουν ἐπεδάκρυσεν τὸ πλῆθος. πέμπεται μὲν οὖν ὁ παῖς διὰ νυκτὸς εἰς Ἱεριχοῦντα, ἐκεῖ δὲ κατ' ἐντολὴν ὑπὸ τῶν Γαλατῶν βαπτιζόμενος ἐν κολυμβήθρᾳ τελευτᾶι.

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2. ⁴³⁵ Of Herod's five children by Mariamne, two were daughters and three were sons. The youngest of these sons was educated in Rome and died there but the two eldest he treated as of royal blood, due to the nobility of their mother and because they were not born until he was king. ⁴³⁶ But stronger than all was his love for Mariamne, growing more ardent from day to day, which made him overlook the troubles his beloved stirred up against him. ⁴³⁷ But Mariamne's hatred for him was no less than his love for her. Since what he had done gave her only too just a cause to be angry with him and his affection allowed her to speak openly to him, she publicly complained of what he had done to her grandfather Hyrcanus and her brother Aristobulus. He had not spared Aristobulus though he was so young, for after granting him the high priesthood at the age of seventeen, he had him killed soon afterwards. When Aristobulus was wearing the holy vestments and came to the altar at a festival, the crowd burst out in tears, so the young man was sent by night to Jericho, where, at Herod's command, he was plunged by the Galatian guards in a swimming-pool until he drowned.

[438] Διὰ ταῦθ' Ἡρώδην μὲν ὠνείδιζεν ἡ Μαριάμμη, καὶ τὴν ἀδελφὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν μητέρα δειναῖς ἐξύβριζεν λοιδορίαις. ἀλλ' ὁ μὲν πεφίμωτο τοῖς ἱμέροις, δεινὴ δὲ τὰς γυναῖκας ἀγανάκτησις εἰσήιει, καὶ πρὸς ὃ μάλιστα κινήσειν τὸν Ἡρώδην ἔμελλον, εἰς μοιχείαν διέβαλλον αὐτήν, [439] ἄλλα τε πολλὰ πρὸς τὸ πιθανὸν ἐνσκευαζόμεναι καὶ κατηγοροῦσαι διότι τὴν εἰκόνα τὴν ἑαυτῆς πέμψειεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον Ἀντωνίῳ καὶ δι' ὑπερβολὴν ἀσελγείας ἀποῦσαν δείξειεν ἑαυτὴν ἀνθρώπῳ γυναικομανοῦντι καὶ βιάζεσθαι δυναμένῳ. [440] τοῦθ' ὥσπερ σκηπτὸς ἐμπεσὼν ἐτάραξεν Ἡρώδην, μάλιστα μὲν διὰ τὸν ἔρωτα ζηλοτύπως ἔχοντα, λογιζόμενον δὲ καὶ τὴν Κλεοπάτρας δεινότητα, δι' ἣν Λυσανίας τε ὁ βασιλεὺς ἀνήιρητο καὶ Μάλχος ὁ Ἄραψ: οὐ γὰρ ἀφαιρέσει γαμετῆς ἐμέτρει τὸν κίνδυνον, ἀλλὰ θανάτῳ.

3. ⁴³⁸ For these reasons Mariamne spoke out scornfully against Herod and his sister and mother, while he stayed silent due to his fondness for her. The women were furious with her and accused her of adultery, which they thought most likely to move Herod to anger. ⁴³⁹ Among other accusations they invented to convince him, they accused her of having sent her picture to Antony in Egypt and that her lust was so wanton that she wished to show herself, even at that distance, to a man who ran wild after women, a man who could take her by force if he wishes. ⁴⁴⁰ This charge fell upon Herod like a thunderbolt and greatly troubled him, since his love for her made him jealous. Considering how king Lysanias and Malchus the Arab had met their end by Cleopatra's scheming, he feared not only the ending of his own marriage, but death itself.

[441] Μέλλων οὖν ἀποδημήσειν Ἰωσήπῳ τῷ ἀνδρὶ Σαλώμης τῆς ἀδελφῆς αὐτοῦ, πιστὸς δὲ ἦν καὶ διὰ τὸ κῆδος εὔνους, παρατίθεται τὴν γυναῖκα, κρύφα δοὺς ἐντολὰς ἀναιρεῖν αὐτήν, εἰ κἀκεῖνον Ἀντώνιος. ὁ δὲ Ἰώσηπος, οὔτι κακοήθως, ἀλλὰ τὸν ἔρωτα τοῦ βασιλέως παραστῆσαι τῇ γυναικὶ βουλόμενος, ὡς οὐδὲ ἀποθανὼν αὐτῆς ὑπομένοι διαζευχθῆναι, τὸ ἀπόρρητον ἐκφαίνει. [442] κἀκείνη πρὸς ἐπανήκοντα τὸν Ἡρώδην πολλά τε περὶ τοῦ πρὸς αὐτὴν συμπαθοῦς ἐν ταῖς ὁμιλίαις ἐπομνύμενον, ὡς οὐδ' ἐρασθείη ποτὲ γυναικὸς ἄλλης, «πάνυ γοῦν, εἶπεν, ταῖς πρὸς τὸν Ἰώσηπον ἐντολαῖς ἐπεδείξω τὸν πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἔρωτα κτεῖναί με προστάξας.»

4. ⁴⁴¹ Therefore when he was about to go on a trip abroad, he entrusted his wife to Joseph, the husband of his sister Salome, as trustworthy and loyal to him due to their family connection. He also told him secretly that if Antony killed him, he should kill Mariamne. But Joseph, with no bad motive and simply to demonstrate the king's love for his wife, told her this great secret, how Herod could not bear to think of being separated from her, even by death itself. ⁴⁴² When Herod returned, as they talked and with many oaths he was declaring his love for her, and how he had never felt for any other woman what he felt for her, she said back, "What a fine proof of your love was that instruction to Joseph to kill me!"

[443] Ἔκφρων εὐθέως ἀκούσας τὸ ἀπόρρητον ἦν, καὶ οὐκ ἄν ποτε τὸν Ἰώσηπον ἐξαγγεῖλαι τὴν ἐντολὴν φάμενος εἰ μὴ διαφθείρειεν αὐτήν, ἐνεθουσία τῷ πάθει καὶ τῆς κοίτης ἐξαλλόμενος ἀνέδην ἐν τοῖς βασιλείοις ἀνειλεῖτο. καὶ τοῦτον Σαλώμη ἡ ἀδελφὴ τὸν καιρὸν εἰς τὰς διαβολὰς ἁρπάσασα τὴν εἰς τὸν Ἰώσηπον ἐπεβεβαίωσεν ὑποψίαν. ὁ δ' ὑπ' ἀκράτου ζηλοτυπίας ἐκμανεὶς παραχρῆμα κτείνειν προσέταξεν ἀμφοτέρους. [444] μετάνοια δ' εὐθέως εἵπετο τῷ πάθει, καὶ τοῦ θυμοῦ πεσόντος ὁ ἔρως πάλιν ἀνεζωπυρεῖτο. τοσαύτη δ' ἦν φλεγμονὴ τῆς ἐπιθυμίας ὡς μηδὲ τεθνάναι δοκεῖν αὐτήν, ὑπὸ δὲ κακώσεως ὡς ζώσῃ προσλαλεῖν, μέχρι τῷ χρόνῳ διδαχθεὶς τὸ πένθος ἀνάλογον τὴν λύπην ἔσχεν τῇ πρὸς περιοῦσαν διαθέσει.

5. ⁴⁴³ He went mad on hearing the great secret was out, saying that Joseph would never revealed his instruction unless he had corrupted her. His passion drove him stark crazy, and leaping out of bed he ran wildly around the palace. His sister Salome took her chance to ruin Mariamne, by adding to his suspicion about Joseph, and in a jealous rage, he instantly had both of them to be killed. ⁴⁴⁴ When passion cooled, he repented, and as his anger wore off, his affection revived. Indeed his desire for her was so ardent that he could not believe she was dead, and in fits of madness thought he was speaking to her, as though she were still alive. But he learned better with time, and then his grief at her death showed as strongly his affection for her during her lifetime.

[445] Κληρονομοῦσι δὲ τῆς μητρώιας οἱ παῖδες ὀργῆς καὶ τοῦ μύσους ἔννοιαν λαμβάνοντες ὡς πολέμιον ὑφεώρων τὸν πατέρα, καὶ τὸ πρότερον μὲν ἐπὶ Ῥώμης παιδευόμενοι, πλέον δ' ὡς εἰς Ἰουδαίαν ὑπέστρεψαν: συνηνδροῦτο δ' αὐτῶν ταῖς ἡλικίαις ἡ διάθεσις. [446] καὶ ἐπειδὴ γάμων ἔχοντες ὥραν ὁ μὲν τῆς τηθίδος Σαλώμης, ἣ τῆς μητρὸς αὐτῶν κατηγόρησεν, ὁ δ' ἔγημεν Ἀρχελάου τοῦ Καππαδόκων βασιλέως θυγατέρα, προσελάμβανον ἤδη τῷ μίσει καὶ παρρησίαν. [447] ἐκ δὲ τοῦ θράσους αὐτῶν ἀφορμὰς οἱ διαβάλλοντες ἐλάμβανον, καὶ φανερώτερον ἤδη τῷ βασιλεῖ διελέγοντό τινες ὡς ἐπιβουλεύοιτο μὲν ὑπ' ἀμφοτέρων τῶν υἱῶν, ὁ δὲ Ἀρχελάῳ κηδεύσας καὶ φυγὴν παρασκευάζοιτο τῷ πενθερῷ πεποιθώς, ἵν' ἐπὶ Καίσαρος αὐτοῦ κατηγορήσειεν. [448] ἀναπλησθεὶς δὲ τῶν διαβολῶν Ἡρώδης ὥσπερ ἐπιτείχισμα τοῖς υἱοῖς κατάγει τὸν ἐκ τῆς Δωρίδος Ἀντίπατρον καὶ πάντα τρόπον προτιμᾶν ἄρχεται.

1. ⁴⁴⁵ Mariamne's sons inherited that hatred which had been borne their mother, and when they considered the greatness of Herod's crime towards her, they regarded him as an enemy, a mood that began while they were educated in Rome, but especially after their return to Judea, it grew still further with the years. ⁴⁴⁶ When they reached marriageable age, one of them married the daughter of their aunt Salome, who had accused their mother; the other married the daughter of Archelaus, king of Cappadocia. ⁴⁴⁷ Since both their hatred and their outspoken manner continued, their critics used this audacity to attack them and some of them told the king that both his sons were plotting against him and the one who was related to Archelaus, was preparing to flee with his father-in-law's help, in order to accuse Herod before Caesar. ⁴⁴⁸ When Herod had been well fed with these lies, he brought back Antipater, his son by Doris, to defend him against his sons and began to show him preference in every possible way.

[449] Τοῖς δ' ἀφόρητος ἦν ἡ μεταβολή, καὶ τὸν ἐξ ἰδιώτιδος μητρὸς ὁρῶντες προκόπτοντα διὰ τὴν ἑαυτῶν εὐγένειαν οὐκ ἐκράτουν τῆς ἀγανακτήσεως, ἐφ' ἑκάστου δὲ τῶν ἀνιαρῶν τὴν ὀργὴν ἐξέφαινον, [450] ὥσθ' οἱ μὲν καθ' ἡμέραν προσίσταντο μᾶλλον, ὁ δ' Ἀντίπατρος ἤδη καὶ δι' αὑτὸν ἐσπουδάζετο, δεινότατος μὲν ὢν ἐν ταῖς πρὸς τὸν πατέρα κολακείαις, διαβολὰς δὲ κατὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ποικίλας ἐνσκευαζόμενος καὶ τὰ μὲν αὐτὸς λογοποιῶν, τὰ δὲ τοὺς ἐπιτηδείους φημίζειν καθιείς, μέχρι παντάπασιν τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ἀπέρρηξεν τῆς βασιλικῆς ἐλπίδος: [451] καὶ γὰρ ἐν ταῖς διαθήκαις καὶ φανερῶς αὐτὸς ἦν ἤδη διάδοχος: ὡς βασιλεὺς γοῦν ἐπέμφθη καὶ πρὸς Καίσαρα τῷ τε κόσμῳ καὶ ταῖς ἄλλαις θεραπείαις πλὴν διαδήματος χρώμενος. χρόνῳ δ' ἐξίσχυσεν εἰσαγαγεῖν ἐπὶ τὴν Μαριάμμης κοίτην τὴν μητέρα. δυσὶ δ' ὅπλοις κατὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν χρώμενος, κολακείᾳ καὶ διαβολῇ, τὸν βασιλέα καὶ περὶ θανάτου τῶν υἱῶν ὑπειργάσατο.

2. ⁴⁴⁹ This change was unbearable to them. At the sight of him who was born of a mother of no distinction, the nobility of their own birth made them unable to contain their wrath, so they clearly showed the anger they felt. ⁴⁵⁰ As the anger of these sons daily increased, Antipater took care to flatter his father and had many kinds of lies told against the brothers, inventing some himself and getting others to spread further rumours about them, until finally he deprived his brothers of any hope of succeeding to the kingdom. ⁴⁵¹ Publicly named in his father's will as his successor, he was sent to Caesar in royal apparel and with every mark of royalty except the crown. In time he was also able to re-introduce his mother into what had been Mariamne's bed. The two weapons he used against his brothers were flattery and calumny, even bringing the king think to put his sons to death.

[452] Τὸν γοῦν Ἀλέξανδρον σύρας μέχρι Ῥώμης ὁ πατὴρ τῆς ἐφ' ἑαυτῷ φαρμακείας ἔκρινεν ἐπὶ Καίσαρος. ὁ δ' εὑρὼν μόλις ὀλοφυρμοῦ παρρησίαν καὶ δικαστὴν ἐμπειρότατον Ἀντιπάτρου καὶ Ἡρώδου φρονιμώτερον, τὰ μὲν ἁμαρτήματα τοῦ πατρὸς αἰδημόνως ὑπεστείλατο, τὰς δ' αὐτοῦ διαβολὰς ἰσχυρῶς ἀπελύσατο. [453] καθαρὸν δὲ καὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἀποδείξας κοινωνοῦντα τῶν κινδύνων, οὕτως ἤδη τό τε Ἀντιπάτρου πανοῦργον καὶ τὴν αὐτῶν ἀτιμίαν ἀπωδύρετο. συνήργει δ' αὐτῷ μετὰ καθαροῦ τοῦ συνειδότος ἡ περὶ λόγους ἰσχύς: ἦν γὰρ δὴ δεινότατος εἰπεῖν. [454] καὶ τὸ τελευταῖον φάμενος ὡς τῷ πατρὶ κτείνειν αὐτοὺς ἔστιν + ἡδὺ καὶ προτίθεται τὸ ἔγκλημα, προήγαγεν μὲν εἰς δάκρυα πάντας, τὸν δὲ Καίσαρα διέθηκεν οὕτως ὡς ἀπογνῶναι μὲν αὐτῶν τὰ κατηγορημένα, διαλλάξαι δὲ Ἡρώδην εὐθέως. αἱ διαλλαγαὶ δ' ἐπὶ τούτοις ἦσαν, ὥστε ἐκείνους μὲν τῷ πατρὶ πάντα πειθαρχεῖν, τὸν δὲ τὴν βασιλείαν καταλιπεῖν ὧι βούλεται.

3. ⁴⁵² The father brought Alexander as far as Rome, to accuse him before Caesar of attempting to poison him. The accused could hardly express himself for grief, but having as judge one more skilled than Antipater and wiser than Herod, he modestly avoided blaming his father, while robustly refuting the lies against himself. ⁴⁵³ After proving the innocence of his brother, who shared the same danger as himself, he at last complained of the wiles of Antipater and the disgrace they had suffered. He could justify himself, not only by the clear conscience he felt but also by his eloquence, for he was very good with words. ⁴⁵⁴ When finally he said that his father had power to execute them if he found them guilty, he had them all in tears, and Caesar rejected the charges and immediately reconciled them to Herod, on condition that they obey their father in all things and that he could leave the kingdom to whomever he pleased.

[455] Μετὰ ταῦτα δ' ἀπὸ Ῥώμης ὑπέστρεφεν ὁ βασιλεύς, τῶν μὲν ἐγκλημάτων ἀφιέναι τοὺς υἱοὺς δοκῶν, τῆς δ' ὑπονοίας οὐκ ἀπηλλαγμένος: παρηκολούθει γὰρ Ἀντίπατρος ἡ τοῦ μίσους ὑπόθεσις. ἀλλ' εἴς γε τὸ φανερὸν τὴν ἀπέχθειαν οὐκ ἐξέφερεν τὸν διαλλακτὴν αἰδούμενος. [456] ὡς δὲ τὴν Κιλικίαν παραπλέων κατῆρεν εἰς Ἐλεοῦσαν, ἑστιᾷ μὲν αὐτὸν φιλοφρόνως Ἀρχέλαος ὑπὲρ τῆς τοῦ γαμβροῦ σωτηρίας εὐχαριστῶν καὶ ταῖς διαλλαγαῖς ἐφηδόμενος, ὡς ἂν καὶ τάχιον γεγραφὼς τοῖς ἐπὶ Ῥώμης φίλοις συλλαμβάνεσθαι περὶ τὴν δίκην Ἀλεξάνδρῳ: προπέμπει δὲ μέχρι Ζεφυρίου δῶρα δοὺς μέχρι τριάκοντα ταλάντων.

4. ⁴⁵⁵ Then the king returned from Rome, having seemingly forgiven these charges against his sons, but he still held them in suspicion. He was accompanied by Antipater, the source of the hatred, who did not publicly show his hand, out of reverence for the one who had reconciled them. ⁴⁵⁶ But as Herod sailed near Cilicia, he touched at Eleusa, where Archelaus treated him cordially and thanked him for sparing his son-in-law and was very pleased at their reconciliation, having earlier written to his friends in Rome to help Alexander at his trial. So he conducted Herod as far as Zephyrium and gave him gifts to the value of thirty talents.

[457] Ὡς δ' εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα Ἡρώδης ἀφικνεῖται, συναγαγὼν τὸν λαὸν καὶ τοὺς τρεῖς υἱοὺς παραστησάμενος ἀπελογεῖτο περὶ τῆς ἀποδημίας, καὶ πολλὰ μὲν εὐχαρίστει τῷ θεῷ, πολλὰ δὲ Καίσαρι καταστησαμένῳ τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ τεταραγμένον καὶ μεῖζόν τι τοῖς υἱοῖς βασιλείας παρασχόντι τὴν ὁμόνοιαν, [458] ἣν αὐτός, ἔφη, συναρμόσω μᾶλλον: ὁ μὲν γὰρ ἐμὲ κύριον τῆς ἀρχῆς καὶ δικαστὴν διαδόχου κατέστησεν, ἐγὼ δὲ μετὰ τοῦ συμφέροντος ἐμαυτῷ κἀκεῖνον ἀμείβομαι. τούσδε τοὺς τρεῖς παῖδας ἀποδείκνυμι βασιλεῖς, καὶ τῆς γνώμης πρῶτον τὸν θεὸν σύμψηφον, ἔπειτα καὶ ὑμᾶς παρακαλῶ γενέσθαι. τῷ μὲν γὰρ ἡλικία, τοῖς δ' εὐγένεια τὴν διαδοχὴν προξενεῖ, τό γε μὴν μέγεθος τῆς βασιλείας ἀρκεῖ καὶ πλείοσιν. [459] οὓς δὲ Καῖσαρ μὲν ἥνωσεν, καθίστησιν δὲ πατήρ, ὑμεῖς τηρήσατε μήτε ἀδίκους μήτε ἀνωμάλους τὰς τιμὰς διδόντες, ἑκάστῳ δὲ κατὰ τὸ πρεσβεῖον: οὐ γὰρ τοσοῦτον εὐφρανεῖ τις τὸν παρ' ἡλικίαν θεραπευόμενον, ὅσον ὀδυνήσει τὸν ἀτιμούμενον.

οὕς γε μὴν ἑκάστῳ συνεῖναι δεήσει συγγενεῖς καὶ φίλους, ἐγὼ διανεμῶ καὶ τῆς ὁμονοίας ἐγγυητὰς ἐκείνους καταστήσομαι, σαφῶς ἐπιστάμενος ὅτι τὰς στάσεις καὶ τὰς φιλονεικίας γεννῶσιν αἱ τῶν συνδιατριβόντων κακοήθειαι, κἂν ὦσιν οὗτοι χρηστοί, τηροῦσιν τὰς στοργάς. [461] ἀξιῶ δ' οὐ μόνον τούτους ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς ἐν τῇ στρατιᾷ μου ταξιάρχους ἐν ἐμοὶ μόνον τὰς ἐλπίδας ἔχειν ἐπὶ τοῦ παρόντος: οὐ γὰρ βασιλείαν, ἀλλὰ τιμὴν βασιλείας τοῖς υἱοῖς παραδίδωμι, καὶ τῶν μὲν ἡδέων ὡς ἄρχοντες ἀπολαύσουσιν, τὸ βάρος δὲ τῶν πραγμάτων ἐμόν ἐστιν, κἂν μὴ θέλω. [462] σκεπτέσθω δ' ἕκαστος τήν τε ἡλικίαν μου καὶ τὴν ἀγωγὴν τοῦ βίου καὶ τὴν εὐσέβειαν: οὔτε γὰρ οὕτως εἰμὶ γέρων ὥστ' ἂν ἀπελπισθῆναι ταχέως, οὔτε εἰς τρυφὴν ἐκδιαιτώμενος, ἣ καὶ νέους ἐπιτέμνεται: τὸ δὲ θεῖον οὕτως τεθεραπεύκαμεν ὥστ' ἂν ἐπὶ μήκιστον βίου προελθεῖν. [463] ὁ δὴ τοὺς ἐμοὺς παῖδας θεραπεύων ἐπὶ τῇ ἐμῇ καταλύσει δώσει μοι καὶ περὶ ἐκείνων δίκας: οὐ γὰρ ἐγὼ φθονῶν τοῖς ἐξ ἐμοῦ γεγενημένοις ἀνακόπτω τὴν εἰς αὐτοὺς φιλοτιμίαν, ἐπιστάμενος δὲ τοῖς νέοις γίνεσθαι τὰς σπουδὰς θράσους ἐφόδιον. [464] εἴ γε μὴν ἕκαστος ἐνθυμηθείη τῶν προσιόντων, ὅτι χρηστὸς μὲν ὢν παρ' ἐμοῦ λήψεται τὴν ἀμοιβήν, στασιάζων δὲ καὶ παρὰ τῷ θεραπευομένῳ τὸ κακόηθες ἀνόνητον ἕξει, πάντας οἶμαι τὰ ἐμὰ φρονήσειν, τουτέστιν τὰ τῶν ἐμῶν υἱῶν: καὶ γὰρ τούτοις συμφέρει κρατεῖν ἐμὲ κἀμοὶ τούτους ὁμονοεῖν. [465] ὑμεῖς δέ, ὦ παῖδες ἀγαθοί, πρῶτον μὲν ἐνθυμούμενοι τὴν ἱερὰν φύσιν, ἧς καὶ παρὰ θηρίοις αἱ στοργαὶ μένουσιν, ἔπειτα τὸν ποιησάμενον ἡμῶν τὰς διαλλαγὰς Καίσαρα, τρίτον ἐμὲ τὸν ἐν οἷς ἔξεστιν ἐπιτάσσειν παρακαλοῦντα, μείνατε ἀδελφοί. δίδωμι δὲ ὑμῖν ἐσθῆτα ἤδη καὶ θεραπείαν βασιλικήν: ἐπεύχομαι δὲ καὶ τῷ θεῷ τηρῆσαι τὴν ἐμὴν κρίσιν, [466] ἂν ὁμονοῆτε.» ταῦτ' εἰπὼν καὶ φιλοφρόνως ἕκαστον τῶν υἱῶν κατασπασάμενος διέλυσεν τὸ πλῆθος, τοὺς μὲν συνευχομένους τοῖς εἰρημένοις, ὅσοι δ' ἐπεθύμουν μεταβολῆς, μηδ' ἀκηκοέναι προσποιουμένους.

[460]

5. ⁴⁵⁷ When Herod came to Jerusalem, he assembled the people and presented his three sons to them, apologised for his absence and greatly thanked both God and Caesar for settling his house when it was in confusion and bringing peace with his sons, which he valued more than the kingship itself, ⁴⁵⁸ "which" he said "I will hold still more firmly. For Caesar has confirmed my rule and my power to decide the succession. To thank him for his kindness and to care for my own good, I designate these three sons of mine as kings. I put my decision under God's approval and I look for yours too. They deserve the succession, one by reason of age and the other two by their noble birth. Indeed, my kingdom is large enough for even more kings. ⁴⁵⁹ Those whom Caesar has united and their father has appointed, you must uphold, giving none of them undue or unequal honours, but honouring each according to the order of his birth, for if you honour someone unduly, you gratify him less than you offend the one who is thereby slighted.

⁴⁶⁰ I will appoint to each of them the advisers and friends they must consult with, and will hold them responsible for harmony, knowing well how quarrels and rivalries arise when bad advice is given, while good company promotes natural affections. ⁴⁶¹ But for the present I want not only these, but all the captains of my army, to centre their hopes on me alone, for I am not giving away my kingdom to my sons, but only give them royal titles; by which they may enjoy the easy side of government as princes, while the burden of decision rest upon myself whether I want it or not. ⁴⁶² Let everyone consider my age, my lifestyle and my devotion, for my age is not so great that one may expect the end of my life soon; nor have I indulged in the luxurious living that cuts short the lives of the young, and I have served the Deity so well that I may reach a great age. ⁴⁶³ Those who cultivate a friendship with my sons aiming at my destruction will pay the price for it. I am not one to envy my own children or to forbid people to pay them respect, but I know how such compliments could make them insolent. ⁴⁶⁴ Whoever comes near them should know that if he does good I will reward him, but that if he stirs up rebellion, malicious flattery shall gain him nothing from the one he cultivates. I expect all to be on my side, that is, on my sons' side too, for it is to their advantage that I reign and to mine that they be in harmony. ⁴⁶⁵ And you, my good children, first reflect upon sacred Nature itself, which preserves affection even among wild beasts. Think then of Caesar, who has made this reconciliation among us, and thirdly, think of me, who ask of you instead of commanding you, continue as brothers. I give you royal robes and royal honours, and I pray to God to preserve my arrangement, so long as you are in harmony with each other."

⁴⁶⁶ With these words he embraced each of his sons in a friendly manner, and dismissed the people; some of whom agreed with what he said, while others who longed for change pretended not even to have heard what he said.

[467] Συναπήιει δὲ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ἡ στάσις, καὶ χείρους τὰς ἐπ' ἀλλήλοις ὑπονοίας ἔχοντες ἀπηλλάγησαν, Ἀλέξανδρος μὲν καὶ Ἀριστόβουλος ὀδυνώμενοι κεκυρωμένου Ἀντιπάτρῳ τοῦ πρεσβείου, Ἀντίπατρος δὲ καὶ τοῦ δευτερεύειν νεμεσῶν τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς. [468] ἀλλ' ὁ μὲν ποικιλώτατος ὢν τὸ ἦθος ἐχεμυθεῖν τε ἤιδει καὶ πολλῷ τῷ πανούργῳ τὸ πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἐκάλυπτε μῖσος, τοῖς δὲ δι' εὐγένειαν πᾶν τὸ νοηθὲν ἦν ἐπὶ γλώσσης: καὶ παροξύνοντες μὲν ἐνέκειντο πολλοί, πλείους δὲ τῶν φίλων παρεδύοντο κατάσκοποι. [469] πᾶν δὲ τὸ παρ' Ἀλεξάνδρῳ λαληθὲν εὐθέως ἦν παρ' Ἀντιπάτρῳ, καὶ μετὰ προσθήκης μετέβαινεν ἀπὸ Ἀντιπάτρου πρὸς Ἡρώδην: οὔτε γὰρ ἁπλῶς φθεγξάμενος ὁ νεανίας ἀνυπεύθυνος ἦν, ἀλλὰ εἰς διαβολὴν τὸ ῥηθὲν ἐστρέφετο, καὶ μετρίως παρρησιασαμένου μέγιστα τοῖς ἐλαχίστοις προσεπλάττετο. [470] καθίει δ' Ἀντίπατρος ἀεὶ τοὺς ἐρεθίσοντας, ὅπως αὐτῷ τὸ ψεῦδος ἔχοι τὰς ἀφορμὰς ἀληθεῖς: καὶ τῶν φημιζομένων ἕν τι διελεγχθὲν ἅπασιν πίστιν ἐπετίθει. καὶ τῶν μὲν αὐτοῦ φίλων ἢ φύσει στεγανώτατος ἦν ἕκαστος ἢ κατεσκευάζετο δωρεαῖς ὡς μηδὲν ἐκφέρεσθαι τῶν ἀπορρήτων, καὶ τὸν Ἀντιπάτρου βίον οὐκ ἂν ἥμαρτέν τις εἰπὼν κακίας μυστήριον: τοὺς δὲ Ἀλεξάνδρῳ συνόντας χρήμασιν διαφθείρων ἢ κολακείαις ὑπιὼν ἐς πάντα κατειργάσατο καὶ πεποιήκει προδότας καὶ τῶν πραττομένων ἢ λαλουμένων φῶρας. [471] πάντα δὲ περιεσκεμμένως δραματουργῶν τὰς πρὸς Ἡρώδην ὁδοὺς ταῖς διαβολαῖς ἐποιεῖτο τεχνικωτάτας, αὐτὸς μὲν ἀδελφοῦ προσωπεῖον ἐπικείμενος, καθιεὶς δὲ μηνυτὰς ἑτέρους. κἀπειδὰν ἀπαγγελθείη τι κατ' Ἀλεξάνδρου, παρελθὼν ὑπεκρίνετο καὶ διασύρειν τὸ ῥηθὲν ἀρξάμενος ἔπειτα κατεσκεύαζεν ἡσυχῆ καὶ πρὸς ἀγανάκτησιν ἐξεκαλεῖτο τὸν βασιλέα. [472] πάντα δὲ εἰς ἐπιβουλὴν ἀνήγετο καὶ τὸ δοκεῖν τῇ σφαγῇ τοῦ πατρὸς ἐφεδρεύειν Ἀλέξανδρον: οὐδὲν γὰρ οὕτως πίστιν ἐχορήγει ταῖς διαβολαῖς, ὡς ἀπολογούμενος Ἀντίπατρος ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ.

1. ⁴⁶⁷ The quarrel between the brothers still continued after they parted and their suspicions of each other grew worse. Alexander and Aristobulus were bitter that the privilege of the first-born was given to Antipater, while he was angry that his brothers were to succeed him. ⁴⁶⁸ However, being an adroit character, he knew how to hold his tongue and very cunningly hid his hatred for them. They, on the other hand, trusting on the noble lineage, spoke out all that was on their minds; and many goaded them further and many of their friends acted as spies against them. ⁴⁶⁹ All that was said by Alexander was soon brought to Antipater and by Antipater it was passed on to Herod, with additions. Not the simplest thing the young man said failed to give offense, and anything he said was turned to calumny against him and if ever he was unguarded in his remarks, major conclusions were drawn from the smallest clues. ⁴⁷⁰ Antipater was constantly getting people to provoke him to say things, to provide the lies he told of him with some basis in truth, for if only one of the many stories given out about him could be proven true, it would lend credence to the rest. His own friends were all either naturally cautious in speech, or were bribed to conceal their thoughts, so that nothing of these secrets got out through them. It would be no mistake to call the life of Antipater a mystery of evil, for he either bribed Alexander's friends, or won their favour by flattery for his own ends, getting them to betray him and reveal all that he did or said. ⁴⁷¹ So he acted very cunningly through it all and worked his way adroitly by his lies, seeming to be a decent brother while getting others to be informers. When anything was said against Alexander, he would come in and seem to oppose what was said, but would later secretly manage to get the king angry at him. ⁴⁷² The whole aim of his plotting was to make it seem that Alexander was preparing to kill his father, and nothing gave such support to these lies as Antipater's own words on his behalf.

[473] Τούτοις Ἡρώδης ἐξαγριούμενος ὅσον ὑφήιρει καθ' ἡμέραν τῆς πρὸς τὰ μειράκια στοργῆς, τοσοῦτον Ἀντιπάτρῳ προσετίθει. συναπέκλιναν δὲ καὶ τῶν κατὰ τὸ βασίλειον οἱ μὲν ἑκόντες οἱ δ' ἐξ ἐπιτάγματος, ὥσπερ Πτολεμαῖος ὁ τιμιώτατος τῶν φίλων, οἵ τε ἀδελφοὶ τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ πᾶσα ἡ γενεά: πάντα γὰρ Ἀντίπατρος ἦν, καὶ τὰ πικρότατον Ἀλεξάνδρῳ, πάντα ἦν ἡ Ἀντιπάτρου μήτηρ, σύμβουλος κατ' αὐτῶν μητρυιᾶς χαλεπωτέρα καὶ πλεῖόν τι προγόνων μισοῦσα τοὺς ἐκ βασιλίδος. [474] πάντες μὲν οὖν ἐπὶ ταῖς ἐλπίσιν ἐθεράπευον Ἀντίπατρον ἤδη, συναφίστα δ' ἕκαστον τὰ τοῦ βασιλέως προστάγματα, παραγγείλαντος τοῖς τιμιωτάτοις μήτε προσιέναι μήτε προσέχειν τοῖς περὶ Ἀλέξανδρον. φοβερὸς δ' ἦν οὐ μόνον τοῖς ἐκ τῆς βασιλείας, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς ἔξωθεν φίλοις: οὐδενὶ γὰρ βασιλέων Καῖσαρ τοσαύτην ἔδωκεν ἐξουσίαν, ὥστε τὸν ἀπ' αὐτοῦ φυγόντα καὶ μὴ προσηκούσης πόλεως ἐξαγαγεῖν. [475] τὰ δὲ μειράκια τὰς μὲν διαβολὰς ἠγνόει, παρὸ καὶ μᾶλλον ἀφυλάκτως ἐνέπιπτον αὐταῖς: οὐδὲν γὰρ ὁ πατὴρ φανερῶς ἀπεμέμφετο: συνίει δὲ κατὰ μικρὸν ἀπὸ τοῦ ψύγματος καὶ πρὸς τὸ λυποῦν μᾶλλον ἐτραχύνετο. διέθηκεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτὰ καὶ τὸν θεῖον Φερώραν Ἀντίπατρος ἐχθρωδῶς καὶ τὴν τηθίδα Σαλώμην, ὡς ἂν + γαμετὴν οὖσαν, καθομιλῶν ἀεὶ καὶ παροξύνων. [476] συνήργει δὲ καὶ πρὸς τὴν ταύτης ἀπέχθειαν ἡ Ἀλεξάνδρου γυνὴ Γλαφύρα γενεαλογοῦσα τὴν ἑαυτῆς εὐγένειαν, καὶ ὡς πασῶν τῶν κατὰ τὸ βασίλειον εἴη δεσπότις, κατὰ πατέρα μὲν ἀπὸ Τημένου, κατὰ μητέρα δὲ ἀπὸ Δαρείου τοῦ Ὑστάσπεως οὖσα. [477] πολλὰ δὲ ὠνείδιζεν εἰς ἀγένειαν τήν τε ἀδελφὴν τὴν Ἡρώδου καὶ τὰς γυναῖκας, ὧν ἑκάστη δι' εὐμορφίαν οὐκ ἀπὸ γένους ἡιρέθη. πολλαὶ δ' ἦσαν, ὡς ἂν ἐφειμένου τε πατρίως Ἰουδαίοις γαμεῖν πλείους καὶ τοῦ βασιλέως ἡδομένου πλείοσιν, αἳ πᾶσαι διὰ τὸ μεγάλαυχον τὸ Γλαφύρας καὶ τὰς λοιδορίας ἐμίσουν Ἀλέξανδρον.

2. ⁴⁷³ By these means Herod was stirred up and just as his affection for the young men every day grew less, so much did it grow towards Antipater. The courtiers inclined in the same direction, some spontaneously and others by the king's instruction, and in particular Ptolemy, the king's dearest friend, and the king's brothers and all his children. For Antipater was everywhere, and what was most bitter for Alexander, Antipater's mother too was everywhere. It was she who spoke against them and was more harsh than a step-mother, and hated the queen's sons more than is usual for sons-in-law. ⁴⁷⁴ Already all were showing respect to Antipater, in hope of promotion, and the king's own alienated people, as he had ordered his most honoured friends not to approach or pay court to Alexander's circle. Herod was feared not only by his royal household but by his friends abroad, for Caesar had given him a privilege not given to other kings, to recall anyone who fled from him, even from a city not under his own jurisdiction. ⁴⁷⁵ Unaware of these traps, the young men were left unguarded and fell into them, for their father did not blame them openly, though they gradually noticed his coldness and his heightened irritation whenever anything troubled him. Antipater had also made their uncle Pheroras hostile to them, and their aunt Salome too, for he was always talking privately with her and riling her against them. ⁴⁷⁶ Alexander's wife, Glaphyra, also aggravated her resentment by talking about her nobility and genealogy and claiming to be the noblest lady in the kingdom, descended from Temenus through her father and from Darius, son of Hystaspes through her mother. ⁴⁷⁷ Further, she often mocked Herod's sister and wives for their low birth, and that they were all chosen by him for their beauty rather than for their breeding. There were several of them, as the Jews of old could marry many wives, and this king had many, all of whom hated Alexander on account of Glaphyra's boasting and insults.

[478] Τὴν δὲ δὴ Σαλώμην καίτοι πενθερὰν οὖσαν αὐτὸς Ἀριστόβουλος ἑαυτῷ διεστασίασεν ὠργισμένην καὶ πρόσθεν ἐπὶ ταῖς ἐκ Γλαφύρας βλασφημίαις: ὠνείδιζεν γὰρ τῇ γυναικὶ συνεχῶς τὴν ταπεινότητα, καὶ ὡς αὐτὸς μὲν ἰδιῶτιν, ὁ δ' ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ Ἀλέξανδρος γήμαι βασιλίδα. [479] τοῦτο κλαίουσα τῇ Σαλώμῃ διήγγειλεν ἡ θυγάτηρ, προσετίθει δ' ὅτι καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἀδελφῶν τὰς μὲν μητέρας ἀπειλοῖεν οἱ περὶ Ἀλέξανδρον, ἐπειδὰν παραλάβωσιν τὴν βασιλείαν, ἱστουργοὺς ἅμα ταῖς δούλαις ποιήσειν, αὐτοὺς δὲ κωμῶν γραμματεῖς, ἐπισκώπτοντες ὡς πεπαιδευμένους ἐπιμελῶς. πρὸς ἃ τὴν ὀργὴν οὐ κατασχοῦσα Σαλώμη πάντα διήγγειλεν Ἡρώδῃ: σφόδρα δ' ἦν ἀξιόπιστος κατὰ γαμβροῦ λέγουσα. [480] καί τις ἑτέρα διαβολὴ συνέδραμεν ἡ τὸν θυμὸν ὑπεκκαύσασα τοῦ βασιλέως: ἤκουσεν γὰρ αὐτοὺς ἀνακαλεῖσθαι μὲν συνεχῶς τὴν μητέρα καὶ κατοιμώζειν ἐπαρωμένους αὐτῷ, πολλάκις δ' αὐτοῦ διαδιδόντος τῶν Μαριάμμης ἐσθήτων τινὰ ταῖς μεταγενεστέραις γυναιξὶν ἀπειλεῖν, ὡς ἀντὶ τῶν βασιλικῶν ἐν τάχει περιθήσουσιν αὐταῖς ἐκ τριχῶν πεποιημένας.

3. ⁴⁷⁸ Aristobulus also caused a quarrel with his mother-in-law, Salome, besides her rage at Glaphyra's insults; for he constantly vilified his wife for her lowly origins and complained of being married to a commoner, while his brother Alexander had married a princess. ⁴⁷⁹ Salome's daughter wept at this and told her mother, adding that Alexander had threatened the mothers of his other brothers that when he became king he would make them weavers alongside their slave-girls and make his brothers into rural scribes, joking that they were well trained for such work. Salome could not contain her anger at this, but told all to Herod and her evidence could not be doubted, as she spoke against her own son-in-law. ⁴⁸⁰ There was another calumny going around that heightened the king's anger, as he heard that they were always speaking about their mother, and while lamenting her did not refrain from cursing him and that when he gave gifts of any of Mariamne's robes to his later wives, these threatened to give them soon nothing but hair-cloth to wear instead of royal robes.

[481] Διὰ ταῦτα καίτοι τὸ φρόνημα τῶν νεανίσκων ὑποδείσας, ὅμως οὐκ ἀπέκοπτε τὴν ἐλπίδα τῆς διορθώσεως, ἀλλὰ προσκαλεσάμενος αὐτούς, καὶ γὰρ εἰς Ῥώμην ἐκπλεύσειν ἔμελλεν, βραχέα μὲν ἠπείλησεν ὡς βασιλεύς, τὰ πολλὰ δὲ ἐνουθέτησεν ὡς πατήρ, καὶ φιλεῖν τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς παρεκάλει διδοὺς τῶν προημαρτημένων ἄφεσιν, εἰ πρὸς τὸ μέλλον ἀμείνους γένοιντο. [482] οἱ δὲ τὰς μὲν διαβολὰς ἀπεσκευάζοντο ψευδεῖς εἶναι λέγοντες, πιστώσεσθαι δὲ τὴν ἀπολογίαν τοῖς ἔργοις ἔφασκον: δεῖν μέντοι κἀκεῖνον ἀποφράττειν τὰς λογοποιίας τῷ μὴ πιστεύειν ῥαιδίως: οὐ γὰρ ἐπιλείψειν τοὺς καταψευσομένους αὐτῶν, ἕως ἂν ὁ πειθόμενος ᾖ.

4. ⁴⁸¹ For these reasons, though rather afraid of the young men's spirit, he did not give up hope of bringing them to a better mind, so before sailing to Rome he called them to him and both threatened them in royal fashion and also paternally admonished them, urging them to love their siblings, saying that he would pardon their former offenses, if they amended in future. ⁴⁸² But they denied the calumnies against them as false and claimed that their actions were just. They said that he should shut his ears against such tales and not be so quick to believe them, for there were plenty to tell lies against them, if anyone listened.

[483] Τούτοις ὡς πατέρα πείσαντες ταχέως τὸν μὲν ἐν χερσὶν φόβον διεκρούσαντο, τὴν δ' εἰς τὰ μέλλοντα λύπην προσέλαβον: ἔγνωσαν γὰρ τήν τε Σαλώμην ἐχθρὰν καὶ τὸν θεῖον Φερώραν: ἦσαν δὲ βαρεῖς [μὲν] ἀμφότεροι καὶ χαλεποί, Φερώρας δὲ μείζων, ὃς πάσης μὲν ἐκοινώνει τῆς βασιλείας πλὴν διαδήματος, προσόδους δὲ ἰδίας εἶχεν ἑκατὸν τάλαντα, τὴν δὲ πέραν Ἰορδάνου πᾶσαν ἐκαρποῦτο χώραν λαβὼν παρὰ τἀδελφοῦ δῶρον, ὃς αὐτὸν ἐποίησεν καὶ τετράρχην αἰτησάμενος παρὰ Καίσαρος, βασιλικῶν τε γάμων ἠξίωσεν συνοικίσας ἀδελφὴν τῆς ἰδίας γυναικός: μετὰ δὲ τὴν ἐκείνης τελευτὴν καθωσίωσε τὴν πρεσβυτάτην τῶν ἑαυτοῦ θυγατέρων ἐπὶ προικὶ τριακοσίοις ταλάντοις. [484] ἀλλ' ἀπέδρα Φερώρας τὸν βασιλικὸν γάμον πρὸς ἔρωτα δούλης, ἐφ' ὧι χαλεπήνας Ἡρώδης τὴν μὲν θυγατέρα τῷ πρὸς Πάρθων ὕστερον ἀναιρεθέντι συνέζευξεν ἀδελφιδῷ: Φερώρᾳ δὲ μετ' οὐ πολὺ τὴν ὀργὴν ἀνίει διδοὺς συγγνώμην τῇ νόσῳ.

5. ⁴⁸³ Their immediate fear ebbed when their father agreed with this, but soon they had another worry on learning of the hostility of Salome and their uncle Pheroras. Both were significant and dangerous, especially Pheroras, who shared with Herod in everything to do with the kingship, except his crown. With his income of a hundred talents he also had the revenue from all the land beyond the Jordan which he had received as a gift from his brother, whom Caesar had made a tetrarch at his own request. Herod had taken a wife of royal blood, his own wife's sister, and after her death Herod pledged him his own eldest daughter, with a dowry of three hundred talents. ⁴⁸⁴ Pheroras refused this royal marriage, out of love for a slave-girl, which angered Herod and he married the daughter to his brother's son who was later killed by the Parthians, but after some time he set aside his anger against Pheroras and pardoned him for yielding to his passion.

[485] Διεβάλλετο δὲ καὶ πάλαι μὲν ἔτι ζώσης τῆς βασιλίδος ἐπιβουλεύειν αὐτῷ φαρμάκοις, τότε δὲ πλεῖστοι μηνυταὶ προσήιεσαν, ὡς καίπερ φιλαδελφότατον ὄντα τὸν Ἡρώδην εἰς πίστιν ὑπαχθῆναι τῶν λεγομένων καὶ δέος. πολλοὺς δὲ τῶν ἐν ὑπονοίαι βασανίσας τελευταῖον ἦλθεν ἐπὶ τοὺς Φερώρου φίλους. [486] ὧν ἐπιβουλὴν μὲν ἄντικρυς ὡμολόγησεν οὐδείς, ὅτι δὲ τὴν ἐρωμένην ἁρπασάμενος εἰς Πάρθους ἀποδρᾶναι παρεσκευάζετο, συμμέτοχοι δὲ τοῦ σκέμματος αὐτῷ καὶ τῆς φυγῆς Κοστόβαρος ὁ Σαλώμης ἀνήρ, ὧι συνώικισεν αὐτὴν ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐπὶ μοιχείᾳ τοῦ προτέρου διαφθαρέντος. [487] ἦν δ' ἐλευθέρα διαβολῆς οὐδὲ Σαλώμη: καὶ γὰρ αὐτῆς Φερώρας ἁδελφὸς κατηγόρει συνθήκας περὶ γάμου πρὸς Συλλαῖον τὸν Ὀβαίδα τοῦ Ἀράβων βασιλέως ἐπίτροπον, ὃς ἦν ἐχθρότατος Ἡρώδῃ. διελεγχθεῖσα δὲ καὶ τοῦτο καὶ πάνθ' ὅσα Φερώρας ἐνεκάλει, συγγινώσκεται: καὶ αὐτὸν δὲ Φερώραν ὁ βασιλεὺς ἀπέλυσεν τῶν ἐγκλημάτων.

6. ⁴⁸⁵ Long before, while the queen was alive, Pheroras had been accused of plotting to poison him and so many informed on him that Herod, though very fond of his brothers, came to believe what was said and to fear it. When he had tortured many who were under suspicion, he finally came to Pheroras's own friends. ⁴⁸⁶ None of them openly confessed the crime, but they admitted that he was preparing to and flee to the Parthians with the woman he loved, with the help of Costobarus, Salome's husband, a marriage arranged by the king when her former husband was executed for adultery. ⁴⁸⁷ Not even Salome was spared from calumny as Pheroras her brother alleged that she had made a marriage agreement with Silleus, the procurator of Obodas, king of Arabia, who was Herod's bitter enemy, but even when convicted of this and of all that Pheroras said about her her, she was pardoned. The king also pardoned Pheroras himself of the charges against him.

[488]

7. ⁴⁸⁸ But the fury of the whole family shifted to Alexander and all of it rested upon his head. There were three eunuchs highly esteemed by the king, as was clear from the offices they held under him: one was his butler, another prepared his supper and the third helped him into bed and slept near him. ⁴⁸⁹ By large gifts, Alexander had persuaded these men to be his bedfellows, and when this was told to the king, they were tortured and found guilty and soon confessed to their criminal intercourse with them. They also revealed the promises by which they were induced to do so and how they were tricked by Alexander, ⁴⁹⁰ telling them not to fix their hopes upon Herod, an old man who shamelessly dyed his hair, unless they thought that would make him young again, but to pay attention to the one who was to succeed him as king, whether Herod wanted it or not, and who would soon deal with his enemies and make his friends happy and blessed, and themselves above all. ⁴⁹¹ They said that the men of influence already covertly paid their respects to Alexander and that the military leaders and officers came to him in secret.

[492] Μετέβαινεν δὲ ἐπ' Ἀλέξανδρον ὁ χειμὼν τῆς οἰκίας καὶ περὶ τὴν ἐκείνου κεφαλὴν ὅλος ἀπηρείσατο. τρεῖς ἦσαν εὐνοῦχοι τιμιώτατοι τῷ βασιλεῖ, καὶ δῆλον ἐξ ὧν ἐλειτούργουν: τῷ μὲν γὰρ οἰνοχοεῖν προσετέτακτο, τῷ δὲ δεῖπνον προσφέρειν, ὁ δ' αὐτὸν κατεκοίμιζέν τε καὶ συγκατεκλίνετο. [489] τούτους εἰς τὰ παιδικὰ δώροις μεγάλοις ὑπηγάγετο ὁ Ἀλέξανδρος. μηνυθὲν δὲ τῷ βασιλεῖ διηλέγχοντο βασάνοις, καὶ τὴν μὲν συνουσίαν εὐθέως ὡμολόγουν, ἐξέφερον δὲ καὶ τὰς εἰς αὐτὴν ὑποσχέσεις, ὃν τρόπον ἀπατηθεῖεν ὑπὸ Ἀλεξάνδρου λέγοντος, [490] ὡς οὐκ ἐν Ἡρώδῃ δέοι τὰς ἐλπίδας ἔχειν ἀναιδεῖ γέροντι καὶ βαπτομένῳ τὰς κόμας, εἰ μὴ διὰ τοῦτ' αὐτὸν οἴονται καὶ νέον, αὐτῷ δὲ προσέχειν, ὃς καὶ παρὰ ἄκοντος διαδέξεται τὴν βασιλείαν οὐκ εἰς μακράν τε τοὺς μὲν ἐχθροὺς ἀμυνεῖται, τοὺς φίλους δ' εὐδαίμονας ποιήσει καὶ μακαρίους, πρὸ πάντων δὲ αὐτούς: [491] εἶναι δὲ καὶ θεραπείαν τῶν δυνατῶν περὶ τὸν Ἀλέξανδρον λαθραίαν, τούς τε ἡγεμόνας τοῦ στρατιωτικοῦ καὶ τοὺς ταξιάρχους κρύφα πρὸς αὐτὸν συνιέναι. Ταῦτα τὸν Ἡρώδην οὕτως ἐξεφόβησεν, ὡς μηδὲ παραχρῆμα τολμῆσαι τὰς μηνύσεις ἐκφέρειν, ἀλλὰ κατασκόπους ὑποπέμπων νύκτωρ καὶ μεθ' ἡμέραν ἕκαστα τῶν πραττομένων ἢ λεγομένων διηρεύνα καὶ τοὺς ἐν ταῖς ὑποψίαις εὐθέως ἀνήιρει. [493] δεινῆς δὲ ἀνομίας ἐνεπλήσθη τὸ βασίλειον: κατὰ γὰρ ἔχθραν ἢ μῖσος ἴδιον ἕκαστος ἔπλασσεν τὰς διαβολάς, καὶ πολλοὶ πρὸς τοὺς διαφόρους φονῶντι τῷ βασιλικῷ θυμῷ κατεχρῶντο. καὶ τὸ μὲν ψεῦδος εἶχεν παραχρῆμα πίστιν, αἱ κολάσεις δὲ τῶν διαβολῶν ἦσαν ὠκύτεραι. κατηγορεῖτο γοῦν τις ἄρτι κατηγορήσας, καὶ τῷ πρὸς αὐτοῦ διελεγχθέντι συναπήγετο: τὰς γὰρ ἐξετάσεις τοῦ βασιλέως ὁ περὶ τῆς ψυχῆς κίνδυνος ἐπετέμνετο. [494] προύβη δ' εἰς τοσοῦτον πικρίας, ὡς μηδὲ τῶν ἀκαταιτιάτων τινὶ προσβλέπειν ἡμέρως, εἶναι δὲ καὶ τοῖς φίλοις ἀπηνέστατος: πολλοῖς γοῦν αὐτῶν ἀπεῖπεν τὸ βασίλειον, καὶ πρὸς οὓς οὐκ εἶχεν χειρὸς ἐξουσίαν τῷ λόγῳ χαλεπὸς ἦν.

8. ⁴⁹² These confessions so terrified Herod that he dared not publish them immediately, but sent spies around by night and by day, to closely enquire into all that was being done and said, and he summarily executed any who fell under suspicion. ⁴⁹³ The palace was soon full of horrible injustices as everyone made up lies according to their enmity or hatred for others, and there were many who used the king's bloody passion to harm those with whom they had quarreled. Calumnies were easily believed and penalties inflicted as soon as the lies were told. The man who shortly before had been accusing another found himself accused and led away to execution along with the one he had convicted, for the danger to the king's life cut the process very short. ⁴⁹⁴ He became so bitter that he could not look calmly even on those who were not accused, and was cruellest to his own friends. He forbade many of them to come to court and spoke harshly to those whom he could not actually punish.

[498] Ὁ δ' Ἀλέξανδρος ἐπεὶ τὸν πατέρα μεταπείθειν ἀμήχανον ἑώρα, τοῖς δεινοῖς ὁμόσε χωρεῖν διέγνω, καὶ τέσσαρας κατὰ τῶν ἐχθρῶν βίβλους συνταξάμενος προσωμολόγει μὲν τὴν ἐπιβουλήν, κοινωνοὺς δ' ἀπεδείκνυεν τοὺς πλείστους αὐτῶν, πρὸ δὲ πάντων Φερώραν καὶ Σαλώμην: ταύτην γὰρ δὴ καὶ μιγῆναί ποτε αὐτῷ μὴ θέλοντι νύκτωρ εἰσβιασαμένην. [499] αἵ τε οὖν βίβλοι παρῆσαν εἰς χεῖρας Ἡρώδῃ πολλὰ καὶ δεινὰ κατὰ τῶν δυνατωτάτων βοῶσαι, καὶ διὰ τάχους εἰς Ἰουδαίαν Ἀρχέλαος ἀφικνεῖται περὶ τῷ γαμβρῷ καὶ τῇ θυγατρὶ δείσας. γίνεται δὲ βοηθὸς αὐτοῖς μάλα προμηθὴς καὶ τέχνῃ τὴν τοῦ βασιλέως ἀπειλὴν διεκρούσατο. [500] συμβαλὼν γὰρ εὐθέως αὐτῷ «ποῦ ποτέ ἐστιν ὁ ἀλιτήριός μου γαμβρός, ἐβόα, ποῦ δὲ τὴν πατροκτόνον ὄψομαι κεφαλήν, ἣν ταῖς ἐμαυτοῦ χερσὶν διασπαράξω; προσθήσω δὲ καὶ τὴν θυγατέρα μου τῷ καλῷ νυμφίῳ: καὶ γὰρ εἰ μὴ κεκοινώνηκεν τοῦ σκέμματος, ὅτι τοιούτου γυνὴ γέγονεν, μεμίανται. [501] θαυμάζω δὲ καὶ σὲ τὸν ἐπιβουλευθέντα τῆς ἀνεξικακίας, εἰ ζῇ μέχρι νῦν Ἀλέξανδρος: ἐγὼ γὰρ ἠπειγόμην ἀπὸ Καππαδοκίας ὡς τὸν μὲν εὑρήσων πάλαι δεδωκότα δίκας, μετὰ δὲ σοῦ περὶ τῆς θυγατρὸς ἐξετάσων, ἣν ἐκείνῳ γε πρὸς τὸ σὸν ἀξίωμα βλέπων ἐνεγγύησα. νῦν δὲ περὶ ἀμφοῖν ἡμῖν βουλευτέον, κἂν ᾖς πατὴρ λίαν ἢ τοῦ κολάζειν υἱὸν ἀτονώτερος ἐπίβουλον, ἀμείψωμεν τὰς δεξιὰς καὶ γενώμεθα τῆς ἀλλήλων ὀργῆς διάδοχοι.»

1. ⁴⁹⁸ When Alexander saw that he could not win over his father, he decided to confront his grave problems and composed four books against his enemies There he admitted to the plot, but said that most of them had been in it with him, above all Pheroras and Salome, and that Salome had once come at night and forced him to lie with her, despite his wishes. ⁴⁹⁹ When these books were put into Herod's hands they shockingly implicated people of the highest rank. Archelaus soon came to Judea, fearing for his son-in-law and his daughter, and by a shrewd ruse deflected the king from doing as he had threatened. ⁵⁰⁰ For when he came he instantly called out, "Where is my son-in-law, the wretch? Let me see the face of the man who planned to murder his father, for I will tear him to pieces with my own hands! My daughter, too, I will treat the same as her fine husband, for even if she did not share in the plot, as the wife of such a man she is polluted. ⁵⁰¹ I must admire your patience that Alexander is still alive, after this plot against you, for as I hurried here from Cappadocia, I expected to find him long since put to death for his crimes. But on account of my daughter, whom I gave to him in marriage out of regard for you, we need to consider them both. If you are too kind a father to punish your son who has schemed against you, let us shake hands and be content to join each other in leaving a legacy of outrage."

[502] Τούτοις περικομπήσας καίπερ παρατεταγμένον Ἡρώδην ὑπάγεται: δίδωσι γοῦν αὐτῷ τὰς συνταχθείσας ὑπ' Ἀλεξάνδρου βίβλους ἀναγνῶναι καὶ καθ' ἕκαστον ἐφιστὰς κεφάλαιον συνεσκέπτετο. λαμβάνει δ' Ἀρχέλαος ἀφορμὴν τοῦ στρατηγήματος καὶ κατὰ μικρὸν εἰς τοὺς ἐγγεγραμμένους καὶ Φερώραν μετήγαγεν τὰς αἰτίας. [503] ὡς δ' ἑώρα πιστεύοντα τὸν βασιλέα, «σκεπτέον, ἔφη, μή ποτε τὸ μειράκιον ὑπὸ τοσούτων εἴη πονηρῶν ἐπιβουλευόμενον, οὐχ ὑπὸ τοῦ μειρακίου σύ: καὶ γὰρ οὐχ ὁρᾶν αἰτίαν, ἐξ ἧς ἂν εἰς τηλικοῦτον μύσος προέπεσεν, ἀπολαύων μὲν ἤδη βασιλείας, ἐλπίζων δὲ καὶ διαδοχήν, εἰ μή τινες ἦσαν ἀναπείθοντες καὶ τὸ τῆς ἡλικίας εὔκολον ἐπὶ κακῷ μεταχειριζόμενοι. διὰ γὰρ τῶν τοιούτων ἐξαπατᾶσθαι μὲν οὐκ ἐφήβους μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ γέροντας, οἴκους δὲ λαμπροτάτους καὶ βασιλείας ὅλας ἀνατρέπεσθαι.»

2. ⁵⁰² With this fine declaration, he got Herod, though still highly troubled, to relent his anger. Then he let him read the volumes composed by Alexander, and he reflected on each of its chapters, individually. By this ruse Archelaus gradually laid the blame on those mentioned in them, including Pheroras. ⁵⁰³ When he saw how the king believed him, he said, "We must wonder whether instead of conspiring against you, the young man was not himself conspired against by some villains, for I cannot see any reason he would fall into such a crime, since he already enjoys the advantages of royalty and is due to become one of your successors, unless others persuaded him to it, abusing the fact that young men are easily persuaded. Sometimes such people can lead astray not only young men, but old men too, and can ruin even the most splendid families and kingdoms."

[504] Συνήινει τοῖς λεγομένοις Ἡρώδης, καὶ τὴν μὲν πρὸς Ἀλέξανδρον ὀργὴν ἐπανίει πρὸς ὀλίγον, πρὸς δὲ Φερώραν παρωξύνετο: τῶν γὰρ τεσσάρων βίβλων οὗτος ἦν ὑπόθεσις. ὃς κατιδὼν τό τε τοῦ βασιλέως ὀξύρροπον καὶ τὴν Ἀρχελάου φιλίαν παρ' αὐτῷ πάντων κρατοῦσαν, ὡς οὐκ ἐνῆν εὐσχήμονι σωτηρία, τὴν δι' ἀναιδείας ἐπορίζετο: καταλείψας γοῦν Ἀλέξανδρον προσέφυγεν Ἀρχελάῳ. [505] κἀκεῖνος οὐχ ὁρᾶν ἔφη, πῶς ἂν αὐτὸν ἐξαιτήσαιτο τοσούτοις ἐνεχόμενον ἐγκλήμασιν, ἐξ ὧν σαφῶς ἀποδείκνυται τοῦ βασιλέως ἐπίβουλος καὶ τῶν παρόντων τῷ μειρακίῳ κακῶν αἴτιος γεγονώς, εἰ μὴ βούλεται τὸ πανοῦργον καὶ τὰς ἀρνήσεις ἀφεὶς προσομολογῆσαι μὲν τὰ κατηγορημένα, συγγνώμην δ' αἰτήσασθαι παρὰ τἀδελφοῦ καὶ φιλοῦντος: εἰς γὰρ τοῦτο πάντα τρόπον αὐτὸς συνεργήσειν.

3. ⁵⁰⁴ Herod agreed with what he said, and gradually calmed his anger at Alexander, but was furious with Pheroras, the main target of the four books. This man, realising the sudden change in the king's mood and that Archelaus's friendship had total influence on him and that he had no honourable way out, he saved himself by a bold stroke; turning his back on Alexander he appealed to Archelaus. ⁵⁰⁵ He replied that he could not see how to get him excused after being involved in such crimes, which clearly proved his scheming against the king and getting the young man into trouble. His only hope was to stop scheming and denying the charges and confess and beg pardon of his brother, who still felt kindly towards him; and if he did so, Archelaus would help him all he could.

[506] Πείθεται Φερώρας, καὶ κατασκευάσας ἑαυτόν, ὡς ἂν οἰκτρότατος φανείη, μελαίνῃ τε ἐσθῆτι καὶ δακρύοις προσπίπτει τοῖς Ἡρώδου ποσίν, ὡς πολλάκις ἔτυχεν συγγνώμης αἰτούμενος καὶ μιαρὸν μὲν ἑαυτὸν ὁμολογῶν, δεδρακέναι γὰρ πάντα, ὅσα κατηγοροῖτο, παρακοπὴν δὲ φρενῶν καὶ μανίαν ὀδυρόμενος, ἧς αἴτιον εἶναι τὸν ἔρωτα τῆς γυναικὸς ἔλεγεν. [507] παραστήσας δὴ κατήγορον καὶ μάρτυν ἑαυτοῦ Φερώραν Ἀρχέλαος οὕτως ἤδη παρῃτεῖτο καὶ τὴν Ἡρώδου κατέστελλεν ὀργὴν χρώμενος οἰκείοις ὑποδείγμασιν: καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸς πολλῷ χαλεπώτερα πάσχων ὑπὸ τἀδελφοῦ τῆς ἀμύνης ἐπίπροσθεν τίθεσθαι τὸ τῆς φύσεως δίκαιον: ἐν γὰρ ταῖς βασιλείαις ὥσπερ ἐν μεγάλοις σώμασιν ἀεί τι μέρος φλεγμαίνειν ὑπὸ τοῦ βάρους, ὅπερ ἀποκόπτειν μὲν οὐ χρῆναι, θεραπεύειν δὲ πραιότερον.

4. ⁵⁰⁶ Pheroras took this advice and in order to win mercy came dressed in black and with tears in his eyes and threw himself down at Herod's feet, imploring for pardon and admitting he was guilty of all the accusations, and regretting the madness and foolishness to which, he said, the love of a woman had brought him. ⁵⁰⁷ After getting Pheroras to testify against himself, Archelaus made excuses for him and mitigated Herod's anger at him by using personal examples; for instance, when he had suffered even greater harms from his own brother, he had put the duty of nature before the passion of revenge. Kingdoms are like large bodies, where even if one member is swollen by the body's weight, the right thing is not to cut it off, but to heal it by a gentle cure.

[508] Πολλὰ τοιαῦτα λέγων Ἡρώδην μὲν ἐπὶ Φερώρᾳ μειλίσσεται, διέμενε δ' αὐτὸς ἀγανακτῶν πρὸς Ἀλέξανδρον καὶ τὴν θυγατέρα διαζεύξας ἀπάξειν ἔφασκεν, ἕως περιέστησεν Ἡρώδην ἀντιπαρακαλεῖν ὑπὲρ τοῦ μειρακίου καὶ πάλιν αὐτῷ μνηστεύεσθαι τὴν θυγατέρα. σφόδρα δὲ ἀξιοπίστως Ἀρχέλαος ὧι βούλεται συνοικίζειν αὐτὴν ἐπέτρεπεν πλὴν Ἀλεξάνδρου: περὶ πλείστου γὰρ ποιεῖσθαι τηρεῖν πρὸς αὐτὸν τὰ τῆς ἐπιγαμίας δίκαια. [509] φαμένου δὲ τοῦ βασιλέως δῶρον ἕξειν παρ' αὐτοῦ τὸν υἱόν, εἰ μὴ λύσειεν τὸν γάμον, ὄντων μὲν αὐτοῖς ἤδη καὶ τέκνων, στεργομένης δ' οὕτως ὑπὸ τοῦ μειρακίου τῆς γυναικός, ἣν παραμένουσαν μὲν ἔσεσθαι δυσώπημα τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων, ἀπορραγεῖσαν δὲ αἰτίαν τῆς εἰς ἅπαντα ἀπογνώσεως: μαλακωτέρας γὰρ γίνεσθαι τὰς τόλμας πάθεσιν οἰκείοις περισπωμένας: [510] κατανεύει μόλις Ἀρχέλαος διαλλάσσεταί τε καὶ διαλλάσσει τῷ νεανίσκῳ τὸν πατέρα: δεῖν μέντοι πάντως ἔφη πέμπειν αὐτὸν εἰς Ῥώμην Καίσαρι διαλεξόμενον: γεγραφέναι γὰρ αὐτὸς ἐκείνῳ περὶ πάντων.

5. ⁵⁰⁸ As he said this and more in the same vein, Herod's anger at Pheroras calmed down, but he stuck to his anger at Alexander and said that he would have his daughter divorced and taken from him. But eventually Herod was brought round to asking Archelaus on the young man's behalf to let his daughter remain his spouse. As a ruse, Archelaus said that he was free to espouse her to anyone except Alexander, though he regarded it as vital to keep the marriage intact. ⁵⁰⁹ The king then said that his son would take it as a great favour not to dissolve the marriage, especially since she and the young man already had children. After all, he dearly loved his wife, and while she remained with him she would be a good influence to keep him from offending, but her removal would drive him to desperation, while his passions would best be calmed if they were focussed at home. ⁵¹⁰ So Archelaus let himself be persuaded, as though with difficulty, and the father was reconciled with the young man. However, he said it was essential to send him to Rome to talk with Caesar, and he had already written a full account to him of this whole matter.

[511] Τὸ μὲν οὖν Ἀρχελάου στρατήγημα, δι' οὗ τὸν γαμβρὸν ἐρρύσατο, πέρας εἶχεν, μετὰ δὲ τὰς διαλλαγὰς ἐν εὐωχίαις καὶ φιλοφρονήσεσιν διῆγον. ἀπιόντα δ' αὐτὸν Ἡρώδης δωρεῖται ταλάντων ἑβδομήκοντα δώροις θρόνῳ τε χρυσῷ διαλίθῳ καὶ εὐνούχοις καὶ παλλακίδι, ἥτις ἐκαλεῖτο Παννυχίς, τῶν τε φίλων ἐτίμησεν κατ' ἀξίαν ἕκαστον. [512] ὁμοίως τε καὶ οἱ συγγενεῖς προστάξαντος τοῦ βασιλέως πάντες Ἀρχελάῳ δῶρα λαμπρὰ ἔδοσαν, προεπέμφθη τε ὑπό τε Ἡρώδου καὶ τῶν δυνατῶν ἕως Ἀντιοχείας.

6. ⁵¹¹ This completed the ruse by which Archelaus saved his son-in-law, and after the reconciliation they spent some time in celebrating and socialising. As he was leaving, Herod gave him a gift of seventy talents, with a golden throne set with precious stones and some eunuchs and a concubine called Pannychis, and honoured his friends in line with each one's dignity. ⁵¹² At the king's command, all his relatives gave fine gifts to Archelaus, and he was escorted as far as Antioch by Herod and his nobles.

[513] Μετ' οὐ πολὺ δὲ εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν παρέβαλεν ἀνὴρ πολὺ τῶν Ἀρχελάου στρατηγημάτων δυνατώτερος, ὃς οὐ μόνον τὰς ὑπ' ἐκείνου πολιτευθείσας Ἀλεξάνδρῳ διαλλαγὰς ἀνέτρεψεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀπωλείας αἴτιος αὐτῷ κατέστη. γένος ἦν Λάκων, Εὐρυκλῆς τοὔνομα, πόθῳ χρημάτων εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν εἰσφθαρείς: οὐ γὰρ ἀντεῖχεν ἔτι ἡ Ἑλλὰς αὐτοῦ τῇ πολυτελείαι. [514] λαμπρὰ δ' Ἡρώδῃ δῶρα προσενεγκὼν δέλεαρ ὧν ἐθηρᾶτο καὶ παραχρῆμα πολλαπλασίω λαβὼν οὐδὲν ἡγεῖτο τὴν καθαρὰν δόσιν, εἰ μὴ δι' αἵματος ἐμπορεύσεται τὴν βασιλείαν. [515] περιέρχεται γοῦν τὸν βασιλέα κολακείᾳ καὶ δεινότητι λόγων καὶ περὶ αὐτοῦ ψευδέσιν ἐγκωμίοις. ταχέως δὲ συνιδὼν τὸν Ἡρώδου τρόπον καὶ πάντα λέγων τε καὶ πράττων τὰ πρὸς ἡδονὴν αὐτῷ φίλος ἐν τοῖς πρώτοις γίνεται: καὶ γὰρ ὁ βασιλεὺς διὰ τὴν πατρίδα καὶ πάντες οἱ περὶ αὐτὸν ἡδέως προετίμων τὸν Σπαρτιάτην.

1. ⁵¹³ Into Judea soon afterwards came a man far wilier than Archelaus, who not only annulled the reconciliation he had contrived for Alexander, but caused his ruination too. This was a Spartan named Eurycles, so corrupt that for the sake of money he chose to live under a king, since Greece could not supply him with enough luxury. ⁵¹⁴ He presented Herod with splendid gifts, as a bait to entrap him and soon received them back again many times over. But he disregarded mere gifts, unless they were acquired by bathing the kingdom in blood. ⁵¹⁵ He imposed upon the king by flattery and his power with words, and by false praise, for he soon noticed Herod's blind side and said and did everything to please him and thereby became one of his closest friends, for the king and all his associates held the Spartan in high regard, on account of the country he came from.

[516] Ὁ δ' ἐπεὶ τὰ σαθρὰ τῆς οἰκίας κατέμαθεν, τάς τε τῶν ἀδελφῶν διαφορὰς καὶ ὅπως διέκειτο πρὸς ἕκαστον ὁ πατήρ, Ἀντιπάτρου μὲν ξενίαι προκατείληπτο, φιλίαι δὲ Ἀλέξανδρον ὑποκρίνεται ψευσάμενος ἑταῖρον ἑαυτὸν εἶναι καὶ Ἀρχελάου πάλαι: διὸ δὴ καὶ ταχέως ὡς δεδοκιμασμένος ἐδέχθη, συνίστησιν δ' αὐτὸν εὐθέως καὶ Ἀριστοβούλῳ τῷ ἀδελφῷ. [517] πάντων δ' ἀποπειραθεὶς τῶν προσώπων ἄλλον ἄλλως ὑπήιει, γίνεται δὲ προηγουμένως μισθωτὸς Ἀντιπάτρου καὶ προδότης Ἀλεξάνδρου, τῷ μὲν ὀνειδίζων, εἰ πρεσβύτατος ὢν περιόψεται τοὺς ἐφεδρεύοντας αὐτοῦ ταῖς ἐλπίσιν, Ἀλεξάνδρῳ δέ, εἰ γεγενημένος ἐκ βασιλίδος καὶ βασιλίδι συνοικῶν ἐάσει διαδέχεσθαι τὴν ἀρχὴν τὸν ἐξ ἰδιώτιδος, καὶ ταῦτα μεγίστην ἀφορμὴν ἔχων Ἀρχέλαον. [518] ἦν δὲ πιστὸς τῷ μειρακίῳ σύμβουλος τὴν Ἀρχελάου φιλίαν πλασάμενος: διὸ μηδὲν ὑποστελλόμενος Ἀλέξανδρος τά τε κατ' Ἀντίπατρον ἀπωδύρετο πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ ὡς Ἡρώδης αὐτῶν τὴν μητέρα κτείνας οὐ παράδοξον εἰ καὶ αὐτοὺς ἀφαιρεῖται τὴν ἐκείνης βασιλείαν: ἐφ' οἷς ὁ Εὐρυκλῆς οἰκτείρειν τε καὶ συναλγεῖν ὑπεκρίνετο. [519] τὰ δ' αὐτὰ καὶ τὸν Ἀριστόβουλον εἰπεῖν δελεάσας καὶ ταῖς κατὰ τοῦ πατρὸς μέμψεσιν ἐνδησάμενος ἀμφοτέρους ὤιχετο φέρων Ἀντιπάτρῳ τὰ ἀπόρρητα: προσεπιψεύδεται δ' ἐπιβουλὴν ὡς ἐνεδρευόντων αὐτὸν τῶν ἀδελφῶν καὶ μόνον οὐκ ἐπιφερόντων ἤδη τὰ ξίφη. λαβὼν δ' ἐπὶ τούτοις χρημάτων πλῆθος ἐπαινέτης ἦν Ἀντιπάτρου καὶ πρὸς τὸν πατέρα.

[520] τὸ δὲ τελευταῖον ἐργολαβήσας τὸν Ἀριστοβούλου καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου θάνατον κατήγορος αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τοῦ πατρὸς γίνεται καὶ προσελθὼν ἀντιδιδόναι τὸ ζῆν ἔφασκεν Ἡρώδῃ τῶν εἰς αὐτὸν εὐεργεσιῶν καὶ τὸ φῶς ἀμοιβὴν τῆς ξενίας ἀντιπαρέχειν: πάλαι γὰρ ἐπ' αὐτὸν ἠκονῆσθαι ξίφος καὶ τὴν Ἀλεξάνδρου τετονῶσθαι δεξιάν, ἐμποδὼν δ' αὐτὸς γεγονέναι τῷ τάχει συνεργεῖν ὑποκριθείς: [521] φάναι γὰρ τὸν Ἀλέξανδρον, ὡς οὐκ ἀγαπᾷ βασιλεύσας αὐτὸς Ἡρώδης ἐν ἀλλοτρίοις καὶ μετὰ τὸν τῆς μητρὸς αὐτῶν φόνον τὴν ἐκείνης ἀρχὴν σπαθήσας, ἀλλ' ἔτι καὶ νόθον εἰσάγεται διάδοχον Ἀντιπάτρῳ τῷ φθόρῳ τὴν παππώιαν αὐτῶν βασιλείαν προτείνων. τιμωρήσειν γε μὴν αὐτὸς τοῖς Ὑρκανοῦ καὶ τοῖς Μαριάμμης δαίμοσιν: οὐδὲ γὰρ πρέπειν αὐτὸν διαδέξασθαι παρὰ τοιούτου πατρὸς τὴν ἀρχὴν δίχα φόνου. [522] πολλὰ δ' εἶναι τὰ παροξύνοντα καθ' ἡμέραν, ὥστε μηδὲ λαλιᾶς τινα τρόπον ἀσυκοφάντητον καταλελεῖφθαι: περὶ μὲν γὰρ εὐγενείας ἑτέρων μνείας γενομένης αὐτὸς ἀλόγως ὑβρίζεσθαι, τοῦ πατρὸς λέγοντος «ὁ μόνος εὐγενὴς Ἀλέξανδρος καὶ τὸν πατέρα δι' ἀγένειαν ἀδοξῶν»: κατὰ δὲ τὰς θήρας προσκρούειν μὲν σιωπῶν, ἐπαινέσας δὲ προσακούειν εἴρων. [523] πανταχοῦ δ' ἀμείλικτον εὑρίσκειν τὸν πατέρα καὶ μόνῳ φιλόστοργον Ἀντιπάτρῳ, δι' ὃν ἡδέως καὶ τεθνήξεσθαι μὴ κρατήσας τῆς ἐπιβουλῆς. κτείναντι δὲ εἶναι σωτηρίας ἀφορμὴν πρῶτον μὲν Ἀρχέλαον ὄντα κηδεστήν, πρὸς ὃν διαφεύξεσθαι ῥαιδίως, ἔπειτα Καίσαρα μέχρι νῦν ἀγνοοῦντα τὸν Ἡρώδου τρόπον: [524] οὐ γὰρ ὡς πρότερον αὐτῷ παραστήσεσθαι πεφρικὼς τὸν ἐφεστῶτα πατέρα οὐδὲ φθέγξεσθαι περὶ τῶν ἑαυτοῦ μόνον ἐγκλημάτων, ἀλλὰ πρῶτον μὲν κηρύξειν τὰς τοῦ ἔθνους συμφορὰς καὶ τοὺς μέχρι ψυχῆς φορολογουμένους, ἔπειτ' εἰς οἵας τρυφὰς καὶ πράξεις τὰ δι' αἵματος πορισθέντα χρήματα ἀνηλώθη, τούς τε ἐξ ἡμῶν πλουτήσαντας οἷοι, καὶ τὰς θεραπευθείσας πόλεις ἐπὶ τίσιν. [525] ζητήσειν δὲ καὶ τὸν πάππον ἐκεῖ καὶ τὴν μητέρα καὶ τὰ τῆς βασιλείας μύση πάντα κηρύξειν, ἐφ' οἷς οὐ κριθήσεσθαι πατροκτόνος.

2. ⁵¹⁶ When he had learned the rotten elements in the family and the quarrels between the brothers and how the father felt towards each of them, he chose to lodge first in the house of Antipater, but tricked Alexander with a show of friendship and falsely claimed an old association with Archelaus, which soon won him high regard; and instantly put him on good terms with his brother Aristobulus. ⁵¹⁷ When he had tested everybody's mettle, he imposed on each of them by one method or another, but was mainly in the pay of Antipater and a traitor to Alexander. To Antipater he said what a shame it was, as the eldest brother, to overlook the intrigues of those who stood in the way of his ambitions; then he reproached Alexander, because, as the son of a queen and married to a king's daughter, he would let the son of a commoner succeed to the throne, though he could count on the full support of Archelaus. ⁵¹⁸ The young man trusted his advice, due to his pretended friendship with Archelaus, and so Alexander frankly complained to him about Antipater's behaviour towards him, saying how it would be no surprise if Herod, having killed their mother, now robbed them of her kingdom; and Eurycles pretended to pity and sympathise with him. ⁵¹⁹ He also inveigled Aristobulus into saying similar things, and having lured both brothers to complain about their father, he went and brought these secrets to Antipater, falsely adding that the brothers were plotting against him and were about to attack him with swords. For this he received a large sum of money and began to praise Antipater to his father.

⁵²⁰ Finally he tried to bring about the death of Alexander and Aristobulus, by accusing them to their father, for he came to Herod claiming to be trying to save his life in return for the favours he had received from him. He said that for a long time a sword was being sharpened against him, in the hand of Alexander, but that he had postponed the stroke while pretending to help in it. ⁵²¹ According to him, Alexander said that Herod was not satisfied with ruling a kingdom belonging to others and spoiling their mother's kingdom after he had killed her, but had introduced a spurious successor and proposed to hand the kingdom of their ancestors to that wretch Antipater, but that he was about to appease the shades of Hyrcanus and Mariamne and avenge them, for it would be wrong for him to gain the succession from such a father without bloodshed.

⁵²² He added that every day there were many things to provoke him, but he kept silence so as not to draw attention to himself, for whenever mention was made of anybody's noble birth, he was silently spurned, as his father would say "nobody is nobly born except Alexander!" and think himself inglorious for lack of such birth. If he says nothing when they are hunting, it gives offense, and if he commends anyone, they take it as a joke. ⁵²² At all times he found their father very harsh and showing no affection for any of them but Antipater. Therefore he is willing to die if this plot does not succeed, but if he kills him he has various possibilities of escape. First, he has Archelaus his father-in-law to whom he can easily flee, and then Caesar, who had never known Herod's ways. ⁵²⁴ This time he would not appear before him terrified as when in his father's presence, and would not be dealing only with accusations about himself, but would first speak openly about the troubles of their nation and how they are taxed to death and the luxurious ways in which the wealth is spent that was taken by bloodshed; and the kind of people who are enriched at our expense and the cities on which he bestows his favours. ⁵²⁵ He would also ask for an inquiry into what had been done to his grandfather and his mother and proclaim all the wrong that was in the kingdom; and for these reasons he would not be condemned as a patricide.

[526] Τοιαῦτα κατ' Ἀλεξάνδρου τερατευσάμενος Εὐρυκλῆς ἐπήινει πολλὰ τὸν Ἀντίπατρον, ὡς ἄρα μόνος τε εἴη φιλοπάτωρ καὶ διὰ τοῦτο μέχρι νῦν τῆς ἐπιβουλῆς ἐμπόδιος. μήπω δὲ καλῶς ἐπὶ τοῖς πρώτοις ὁ βασιλεὺς κατεσταλμένος εἰς ἀνήκεστον ὀργὴν ἐξαγριοῦται. [527] καὶ πάλιν λαβὼν καιρὸν Ἀντίπατρος ἑτέρους κατὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ὑπέπεμπεν κατηγόρους λέγειν, ὅτι Ἰουκούνδῳ καὶ Τυράννῳ λάθρα διαλέγοιντο τοῖς ἱππάρχοις μέν ποτε τοῦ βασιλέως γενομένοις, τότε δ' ἔκ τινων προσκρουσμάτων ἀποπεπτωκόσι τῆς τάξεως. ἐφ' οἷς Ἡρώδης ὑπεραγανακτήσας εὐθέως ἐβασάνισεν τοὺς ἄνδρας. [528] ἀλλ' οἱ μὲν οὐδὲν τῶν διαβληθέντων ὡμολόγουν, προεκομίσθη δέ τις πρὸς τὸν Ἀλεξανδρείου φρούραρχον ἐπιστολὴ παρὰ Ἀλεξάνδρου παρακαλοῦντος, ἵνα αὐτὸν δέξηται τῷ φρουρίῳ μετὰ Ἀριστοβούλου τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ κτείναντα τὸν πατέρα, καὶ παράσχῃ τοῖς ὅπλοις χρήσασθαι καὶ ταῖς ἄλλαις ἀφορμαῖς. [529] ταύτην Ἀλέξανδρος μὲν ἔλεγεν τέχνασμα εἶναι Διοφάντου: γραμματεὺς δ' ἦν ὁ Διόφαντος τοῦ βασιλέως, τολμηρὸς ἀνὴρ καὶ δεινὸς μιμήσασθαι πάσης χειρὸς γράμματα: πολλὰ γοῦν παραχαράξας τελευταῖον ἐπὶ τούτῳ [καὶ] κτείνεται. βασανίσας δὲ τὸν φρούραρχον Ἡρώδης οὐδὲν ἤκουσεν οὐδὲ παρ' ἐκείνου τῶν διαβεβλημένων.

3. ⁵²⁶ When Eurycles had made this dire speech againstt Alexander, he praised Antipater highly as the only one of the children who cared for his father, and for countering the plot against him. At this the king's anger, which up to now had barely been kept in check, was roused to boiling point. ⁵²⁷ Antipater now took the chance to send others to his father accusing his brothers of holding secret conversations with Jucundus and Tyrannus, former captains of the king's cavalry who had been expelled from that rank for some offenses, which put Herod was in a mighty rage and he immediately had the men tortured. ⁵²⁸ But while these did not confess anything of what was alleged to the king, a letter was produced, purportedly written to the commander of a fort by Alexander, asking him to welcome himself and Aristobulus into the fort after he had killed his father and to give them weapons and any other help he could. ⁵²⁹ Alexander said that this letter was a forgery of Diophantus, the king's secretary, a bold man and adept at imitating anybody's handwriting, who, after forging many writings, was finally put to death for it. Herod also tortured the commander of the fort, but got nothing out of him about the accusations.

[530] Ἀλλὰ καίτοι τοὺς ἐλέγχους εὑρίσκων ἀσθενεῖς τοὺς υἱοὺς ἐκέλευσεν τηρεῖν, ἔτι μέντοι λελυμένους, τὸν δὲ λυμεῶνα τῆς οἰκίας καὶ δραματουργὸν ὅλου τοῦ μύσους Εὐρυκλέα σωτῆρα καὶ εὐεργέτην καλῶν πεντήκοντα δωρεῖται ταλάντοις. ὁ δὲ τὴν ἀκριβῆ φήμην φθάσας εἰς Καππαδοκίαν ἀργυρίζεται καὶ παρὰ Ἀρχελάου, τολμήσας εἰπεῖν ὅτι καὶ διαλλάξειεν Ἡρώδην Ἀλεξάνδρῳ. [531] διάρας δ' εἰς τὴν Ἑλλάδα τοῖς ἐκ κακῶν κτηθεῖσιν εἰς ὅμοια κατεχρήσατο: δὶς γοῦν ἐπὶ Καίσαρος κατηγορηθεὶς ἐπὶ τῷ στάσεως ἐμπλῆσαι τὴν Ἀχαΐαν καὶ περιδύειν τὰς πόλεις φυγαδεύεται. κἀκεῖνον μὲν οὕτως ἡ Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ Ἀριστοβούλου ποινὴ περιῆλθεν.

4. ⁵³⁰ But though he found the proofs to be rather weak, he had his sons put in prison, for they had been free up to now. He also regarded Eurycles, that plague upon his family who had concocted this whole business, as his saviour and benefactor and rewarded him with fifty talents. This man avoided any accurate report of what he had done, by immediately going to Cappadocia, where he got money from Archelaus under the daring pretext that he had reconciled Herod to Alexander. ⁵³¹ From there he crossed over to Greece and used his ill-gotten gains for similar schemes, and twice he was accused before Caesar of filling Achaia with revolt and robbing its cities, for which he was sent into exile. So he was punished for his crime against Aristobulus and Alexander.

[532] Ἄξιον δὲ ἀντιθεῖναι τὸν Κῷον Εὐάρεστον τῷ Σπαρτιάτῃ: καὶ γὰρ οὗτος ὢν ἐν τοῖς μάλιστα φίλοις Ἀλεξάνδρῳ καὶ κατὰ τὸν αὐτὸν Εὐρυκλεῖ καιρὸν ἐπιδημήσας πυνθανομένῳ τῷ βασιλεῖ περὶ ὧν ἐκεῖνος διέβαλλεν ὅρκοις τὸ μηδὲν ἀκηκοέναι τῶν μειρακίων ἐπιστώσατο. [533] οὐ μὴν ὤνησέν γέ τι τοὺς ἀθλίους: μόνων γὰρ ἦν τῶν κακῶν ἀκροατὴς ἑτοιμότατος Ἡρώδης καὶ κεχαρισμένος αὐτῷ πᾶς ὁ συμπιστεύων καὶ συναγανακτῶν.

5. ⁵³² It is worthwhile to contrast Euaratus of Cos with this Spartan, for as he was one of Alexander's closest friends and in his travels arrived at the same time as Eurycles, the king asked him if he thought the accusations were true, and he swore that he had never heard any such things from the young men. ⁵³³ This testimony did nothing to clear the unfortunates, for Herod was inclined to heed only what told against them and was favourable to anyone who believed them guilty and shared his anger at them.

[534] Παρώξυνεν δ' αὐτοῦ καὶ Σαλώμη τὴν ἐπὶ τοῖς τέκνοις ὠμότητα: ταύτην γὰρ συνδήσασθαι τοῖς κινδύνοις ὁ Ἀριστόβουλος θέλων οὖσαν ἑκυρὰν καὶ τηθίδα, διαπέμπεται σώζειν ἑαυτὴν παραινῶν: παρεσκευάσθαι γὰρ βασιλέα κτείνειν αὐτὴν διαβληθεῖσαν ἐφ' οἷς καὶ πρότερον, ὅτι Συλλαίῳ τῷ Ἄραβι γήμασθαι σπουδάζουσα λάθρα τὰ τοῦ βασιλέως ἀπόρρητα διαγγέλλοι πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐχθρὸν ὄντα. [535] τοῦτο δ' ὥσπερ τελευταία θύελλα χειμαζομένους τοὺς νεανίσκους ἐπεβάπτισεν: ἡ γὰρ Σαλώμη δραμοῦσα πρὸς βασιλέα τὴν παραίνεσιν ἐμήνυσεν. κἀκεῖνος οὐκέτι καρτερήσας δεσμεῖ μὲν ἀμφοτέρους τοὺς υἱεῖς καὶ διεχώρισεν ἀπ' ἀλλήλων, πέμπει δὲ πρὸς Καίσαρα διὰ τάχους Οὐολούμνιόν τε τὸν στρατοπεδάρχην καὶ τῶν φίλων Ὄλυμπον ἐγγράφους τὰς μηνύσεις φέροντας. [536] οἱ δ' ὡς εἰς Ῥώμην πλεύσαντες ἀπέδοσαν τὰ ἀπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως γράμματα, σφόδρα μὲν ἠχθέσθη Καῖσαρ ἐπὶ τοῖς νεανίσκοις, οὐ μὴν ὤιετο δεῖν ἀφελέσθαι τὸν πατέρα τὴν περὶ τῶν υἱῶν ἐξουσίαν. [537] ἀντιγράφει γοῦν κύριον μὲν αὐτὸν καθιστάς, εὖ μέντοι ποιήσειν λέγων, εἰ μετὰ κοινοῦ συνεδρίου τῶν τε ἰδίων συγγενῶν καὶ τῶν κατὰ τὴν ἐπαρχίαν ἡγεμόνων ἐξετάσειεν τὴν ἐπιβουλήν: κἂν μὲν ἐνέχωνται, κτείνειν, ἐὰν δὲ μόνον ὦσιν δρασμὸν βεβουλευμένοι, κολάζειν μετριώτερον.

1. ⁵³⁴ Salome sharpened Herod's rage against his sons still further. For Aristobulus wished to involve her, his mother-in-law and his aunt, in the danger that threatened himself, so he sent to her to look out for her own safety since the king was preparing to put her to death, as it was alleged that formerly, when she wanted to marry Syllaeus the Arabian, she had revealed the king's secrets to him, the king's enemy. ⁵³⁵ This was the blast that finally sank the storm-tossed youths. For Salome hurried to the king and told him of their warning, and he could bear it no longer, but had both youths arrested and kept apart from each other. then he sent to Caesar the general of his army, Volumnius, with his friend Olympus, bringing a written account of these developments. ⁵³⁶ When they had sailed to Rome and delivered the king's letters, Caesar was very anxious about the case of the young men, but did not think he should take away from the father the power to condemn his sons. ⁵³⁷ He wrote back assigning him the power over his sons, adding that it would be well to examine in open court this matter of the plot against him, using his own relatives and the leaders of the province as assessors. If those sons were found guilty, he should execute them, but if they seemed to have wanted only to escape from him, their punishment should be less.

[538] Τούτοις Ἡρώδης πείθεται, καὶ παραγενόμενος εἰς Βηρυτόν, ἔνθα προσέταξεν Καῖσαρ, συνῆγε τὸ δικαστήριον. προκαθίζουσίν τε οἱ ἡγεμόνες γραφὲν αὐτοῖς ὑπὸ Καίσαρος, Σατορνῖνός τε καὶ οἱ περὶ Πεδάνιον πρέσβεις, σὺν οἷς [καὶ] Οὐολούμνιος ἐπίτροπος, ἔπειθ' οἱ τοῦ βασιλέως συγγενεῖς καὶ φίλοι, Σαλώμη τε καὶ Φερώρας, μεθ' οὓς οἱ πάσης Συρίας ἄριστοι πλὴν Ἀρχελάου τοῦ βασιλέως: τοῦτον γὰρ ὄντα κηδεστὴν Ἀλεξάνδρου δι' ὑποψίας εἶχεν Ἡρώδης. [539] τούς γε μὴν υἱοὺς οὐ προήγαγεν εἰς τὴν δίκην μάλα προμηθῶς: ἤιδει γάρ, ὅτι καὶ μόνον ὀφθέντες ἐλεηθήσονται πάντως: εἰ δὲ δὴ καὶ λόγου μεταλάβοιεν, ῥαιδίως Ἀλέξανδρον ἀπολύσεσθαι τὰς αἰτίας. ἀλλ' οἱ μὲν ἐν Πλατάνῃ κώμῃ Σιδωνίων ἐφρουροῦντο.

2. ⁵³⁸ Herod took this advice and came to Berytus, as Caesar had said, and there assembled the court. As Caesar had written, the presidents sat first, Saturninus and Pedanius and their lieutenants, and the procurator Volumnius. Next came the king's relatives and friends, including Salome and Pheroras, and after them all the aristocrats of Syria, except Archelaus, for as Alexander's father-in-law Herod distrusted him. ⁵³⁹ Still he did not produce his sons in open court, a prudent move, for he knew well enough that their mere appearance would be certain to rouse sympathy, and that if allowed to speak, Alexander would easily have rebutted the charges. Instead they were held in custody at Platane, a village of the Sidonians.

[540] Καταστὰς δ' ὁ βασιλεὺς ὡς πρὸς παρόντας διετείνετο κατηγόρει τε τὴν μὲν ἐπιβουλὴν ἀσθενῶς ὡς ἂν ἀπορούμενος εἰς αὐτὴν ἐλέγχων, λοιδορίας δὲ καὶ σκώμματα καὶ ὕβρεις καὶ πλημμελείας μυρίας εἰς αὐτόν, ἃ καὶ θανάτου χαλεπώτερα τοῖς συνέδροις ἀπέφηνεν. ἔπειτα μηδενὸς ἀντιλέγοντος ἐποικτισάμενος, ὡς αὐτὸς ἁλίσκοιτο καὶ νικῶν νίκην πικρὰν κατὰ τῶν τέκνων, ἐπηρώτα τὴν γνώμην ἑκάστου. [541] καὶ πρῶτος Σατορνῖνος ἀπεφήνατο κατακρίνειν μὲν τῶν νεανίσκων, ἀλλ' οὐ θάνατον: οὐ γὰρ εἶναι θεμιτὸν αὐτῷ τριῶν παρεστώτων τέκνων ἑτέρου τέκνοις ἀπώλειαν ἐπιψηφίσασθαι. σύμψηφοι δ' αὐτῷ καὶ οἱ δύο πρεσβευταὶ γίνονται, καὶ τούτοις ἕτεροί τινες ἠκολούθησαν. [542] Οὐολούμνιος δὲ τῆς σκυθρωπῆς ἀποφάσεως ἤρξατο, καὶ μετ' αὐτὸν πάντες θάνατον κατακρίνουσιν τῶν μειρακίων, οἱ μὲν κολακεύοντες, οἱ δὲ μισοῦντες Ἡρώδην καὶ οὐδεὶς δι' ἀγανάκτησιν. [543] ἔνθα δὴ μετέωρος ἥ τε Συρία πᾶσα καὶ τὸ Ἰουδαϊκὸν ἦν ἐκδεχομένων τὸ τέλος τοῦ δράματος: οὐδεὶς μέντοι ὑπελάμβανεν ἔσεσθαι μέχρι τεκνοκτονίας ὠμὸν Ἡρώδην. ὁ δὲ σύρας τοὺς υἱοὺς εἰς Τύρον κἀκεῖθεν διαπλεύσας εἰς Καισάρειαν τρόπον ἀναιρέσεως τοῖς μειρακίοις ἐσκέπτετο.

3. ⁵⁴⁰ The king got up and ranted against his sons, as if they were present. His accusation about the plot was weak, for lack of proof, but he focussed on the insults and jests and insolent bearing and countless similar offenses against him, which were worse than death itself; then, with nobody contradicting him, he called for pity on himself, as though he were condemned by this bitter victory against his sons, and called for their verdict. ⁵⁴¹ Saturninus gave his opinion first, which was to condemn the young men, but not to death. It would be wrong for him, with three sons of his own present in the court, to vote for the death of another man's sons. ⁵⁴² His two lieutenants voted similarly and some others also followed their example. Volumnius, however, began to vote on the severe side and all who came after him condemned the young men to die, some out of flattery and some out of hatred for Herod, but none out of real anger. ⁵⁴³ All of Syria and Judea was in suspense, waiting for the last act of this tragedy, with nobody imagining that Herod would be so cruel as to murder his children. But he brought them off to Tyre and from there sailed to Caesarea and deliberated what sort of death they should suffer.

[544] Παλαιὸς δέ τις τοῦ βασιλέως στρατιώτης, ὄνομα Τίρων, ἔχων υἱὸν σφόδρα συνήθη καὶ φίλον Ἀλεξάνδρῳ καὶ αὐτὸς ἠγαπηκὼς ἰδίαι τὰ μειράκια, δι' ὑπερβολὴν ἀγανακτήσεως ἔκφρων ἐγίνετο, καὶ τὸ μὲν πρῶτον ἐβόα περιιὼν πεπατῆσθαι τὸ δίκαιον, ἀπολωλέναι τὴν ἀλήθειαν, συγκεχύσθαι τὴν φύσιν, ἀνομίας γέμειν τὸν βίον, καὶ πάνθ' ὅσα μὴ φειδομένῳ τοῦ ζῆν ὑπηγόρευε τὸ πάθος. [545] τέλος δὲ καὶ τῷ βασιλεῖ τολμήσας προσελθεῖν «ἀλλ' ἐμοὶ μέν, ἔφη, κακοδαιμονέστατος εἶναι δοκεῖς, ὅστις κατὰ τῶν φιλτάτων πείθῃ τοῖς πονηροτάτοις, εἴ γε Φερώρα καὶ Σαλώμης καταγνοὺς πολλάκις θάνατον πιστεύεις τούτοις κατὰ τῶν τέκνων, οἵ σε τῶν γνησίων περικόπτοντες διαδόχων ἐπ' Ἀντιπάτρῳ καταλείπουσι μόνῳ, τὸν ἑαυτοῖς εὐμεταχείριστον αἱρούμενοι βασιλέα. [546] σκέψαι μέντοι γε, μή ποτε κἀκείνῳ γένηται μῖσος ἐν τοῖς στρατιώταις ὁ τῶν ἀδελφῶν θάνατος: οὐ γὰρ ἔστιν ὅστις οὐκ ἐλεεῖ τὰ μειράκια, τῶν δὲ ἡγεμόνων καὶ φανερῶς ἀγανακτοῦσιν πολλοί.» ταῦθ' ἅμα λέγων ὠνόμαζεν τοὺς ἀγανακτοῦντας. ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς εὐθέως ἐκείνους τε καὶ αὐτὸν καὶ τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ συνελάμβανεν.

4. ⁵⁴⁴ An old soldier of the king's army named Tiro, whose son was a close friend to Alexander and who was himself very fond of the young princes, was driven to madness by his anger at what was afoot. First he went about crying aloud that justice was being trampled down; that truth had died and nature was destroyed, and life was full of evil - indeed, everything that passion could suggest to a man who did not care for his own life. ⁵⁴⁵ Finally he dared to go to the king and said, "I think you a man possessed by demons, listening to wicked scoundrels against those who should be dearest to you. You have often resolved to have Pheroras and Salome put to death and yet you believe them against your sons. They want to be rid of your sons and have everything left to Antipater, so as to have as king one who is fully in their own power. ⁵⁴⁶ But consider whether this death of Antipater's brothers will not make him hated by the army for there is nobody but pities the young men, and many of the captains are publicly angry about it." When he named the angry ones, the king immediately had them arrested, along with that man and his son.

[547] Ἐφ' ὧι τῶν ἐκ τῆς αὐλῆς τις κουρέων, Τρύφων ὄνομα, προεκπηδήσας ἔκ τινος θεοβλαβείας ἑαυτοῦ μηνυτὴς γίνεται. «κἀμὲ γάρ, ἔφη, Τίρων οὗτος ἀνέπειθεν, ὅταν θεραπεύω τῷ ξυρῷ σε διαχειρίσασθαι, μεγάλας τέ μοι παρ' Ἀλεξάνδρου δωρεὰς ὑπισχνεῖτο.» [548] ταῦτ' ἀκούσας Ἡρώδης τόν τε Τίρωνα σὺν τῷ παιδὶ καὶ τὸν κουρέα βασάνοις διήλεγχεν, καὶ τῶν μὲν ἀρνουμένων, τοῦ δὲ μηδὲν πλέον λέγοντος, στρεβλοῦν ἐκέλευσεν τὸν Τίρωνα σφοδρότερον. [549] ὁ δ' υἱὸς οἰκτείρας ὑπέσχετο τῷ βασιλεῖ πάντα μηνύσειν, εἰ χαρίσαιτο τὸν πατέρα αὐτῷ. κἀκείνου δόντος εἶπεν, ὡς ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ πεισθεὶς Ἀλεξάνδρῳ θελήσειεν αὐτὸν ἀνελεῖν. τοῦθ' οἱ μὲν εἰς ἀπαλλαγὴν τῆς τοῦ πατρὸς αἰκίας πεπλάσθαι, τινὲς δὲ ἀληθὲς ἔλεγον.

5. ⁵⁴⁷ Meanwhile too, a barber named Trypho came forward in a kind of madness and informed against himself. "This Tiro tried to persuade me to cut your throat with my razor, when I attended you, promising that Alexander would give me large gifts for doing so." ⁵⁴⁸ When Herod heard this, he examined Tiro, with his son and the barber, under torture, but as the others denied the accusation and he said nothing further, Herod had Tiro racked more severely. ⁵⁴⁹ The son, out of pity to his father, promised to reveal all to the king, if he would spare his father. When he agreed to this, he said that his father, persuaded by Alexander, intended to kill him. Some said this was an invention in order to end his father's torments, while some said it was true.

[550] Ἡρώδης γε μὴν ἐν ἐκκλησίαι τῶν τε ἡγεμόνων καὶ Τίρωνος κατηγορήσας τὸν λαὸν ἐπ' αὐτοὺς ἐστρατολόγησεν: αὐτόθι γοῦν ἀναιροῦνται μετὰ τοῦ κουρέως ξύλοις βαλλόμενοι καὶ λίθοις. [551] πέμψας δὲ καὶ τοὺς υἱεῖς εἰς Σεβαστὴν οὖσαν οὐ πόρρω τῆς Καισαρείας προσέταξεν ἀποπνῖξαι. καὶ τελεσθέντος αὐτῷ ταχέως τοῦ προστάγματος τοὺς νεκροὺς εἰς Ἀλεξάνδρειον ἐκέλευσεν ἀνακομισθῆναι τὸ φρούριον συνταφησομένους Ἀλεξάνδρῳ τῷ μητροπάτορι. τὸ μὲν οὖν Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ Ἀριστοβούλου τέλος τοιοῦτον.

6. ⁵⁵⁰ Herod called a public assembly to formally accuse the captains and Tiro, and there they were put to death, along with the barber, killed by the crowd, with clubs and stones. ⁵⁵¹ He also sent his sons to Sebaste, a city not far from Caesarea and ordered them to be strangled. When this was quickly done he ordered to have their corpses brought to the fortress of Alexandreion, to be buried with Alexander, their maternal grandfather. Such was the end of Alexander and Aristobulus.

[552] Ἀντιπάτρῳ δὲ ἀδήριτον ἔχοντι τὴν διαδοχὴν μῖσος μὲν ἀφόρητον ἐκ τοῦ ἔθνους ἐπεγείρεται πάντων ἐπισταμένων, ὅτι τὰς διαβολὰς τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς πάσας ἐπισυντάξειεν οὗτος, ὑποικούρει δὲ καὶ δέος οὐ μέτριον αὐξανομένην ὁρῶντι τὴν τῶν ἀνῃρημένων γενεάν: ἦσαν γὰρ Ἀλεξάνδρῳ μὲν ἐκ Γλαφύρας υἱεῖς δύο Τιγράνης καὶ Ἀλέξανδρος, Ἀριστοβούλῳ δ' ἐκ Βερνίκης τῆς Σαλώμης Ἡρώδης μὲν καὶ Ἀγρίππας καὶ Ἀριστόβουλος υἱοί, θυγατέρες δὲ Ἡρωδιὰς καὶ Μαριάμμη. [553] τὴν μὲν οὖν Γλαφύραν μετὰ τῆς προικὸς Ἡρώδης ἀπέπεμψεν εἰς Καππαδοκίαν, ὡς ἀνεῖλεν Ἀλέξανδρον, τὴν Ἀριστοβούλου δὲ Βερνίκην συνώικισεν θείῳ πρὸς μητρὸς Ἀντιπάτρου: τὴν γὰρ Σαλώμην οὖσαν διάφορον ἐξοικειούμενος ὁ Ἀντίπατρος τοῦτον ἐπραγματεύσατο τὸν γάμον. [554] περιήιει δὲ καὶ τὸν Φερώραν δώροις τε καὶ ταῖς ἄλλαις θεραπείαις καὶ τοὺς Καίσαρος φίλους οὐκ ὀλίγα πέμπων ἐπὶ Ῥώμης χρήματα. οἵ γε μὴν περὶ Σατορνῖνον ἐν Συρίαι πάντες ἐνεπλήσθησαν τῶν ἀπ' αὐτοῦ δωρεῶν. ἐμισεῖτο δὲ διδοὺς πλεῖον, ὡς ἂν οὐκ ἐκ τοῦ μεγαλοψύχου χαριζόμενος ἀλλ' ἀναλίσκων κατὰ δέος. [555] συνέβαινεν δὲ τοὺς μὲν λαμβάνοντας οὐδὲν μᾶλλον εὔνους γίνεσθαι, χαλεπωτέρους δ' ἐχθροὺς οἷς μὴ διδοίη. λαμπροτέρας δὲ καθ' ἡμέραν ἐποιεῖτο τὰς διαδόσεις ὁρῶν τὸν βασιλέα παρ' ἃς αὐτὸς ἐλπίδας εἶχεν ἐπιμελούμενον τῶν ὀρφανῶν καὶ τὴν ἐπὶ τοῖς ἀνῃρημένοις μετάνοιαν ἐμφαίνοντα δι' ὧν ἠλέει τοὺς ἐξ ἐκείνων.

1. ⁵⁵² But the nation's fierce hatred was directed at Antipater, who was now an indisputably destined for the succession, since all knew that he had orchestrated the calumnies against his brothers. So he began to be very afraid, as he saw growing up the descendants of those who had been killed, for with his wife Glaphyra, Alexander had two sons, Tigranes and Alexander. Likewise, with his wife Berenice, Salome's daughter, the sons of Aristobulus were Herod, Agrippa and Aristobulus, and his daughters were Herodias and Mariamne. ⁵⁵³ After he had killed Alexander, Herod sent Glaphyra and her dowry back to Cappadocia. He married Berenice, the daughter of Aristobulus, to Antipater's uncle on his mother's side and it was Antipater who, to reconcile her when she had quarrelled with him, arranged this match. ⁵⁵⁴ He also got into favour with Pheroras and with Caesar's friends, by gifts and other courtesies and sent significant sums of money to Rome. Saturninus and his friends in Syria, too, were loaded with his gifts. But the more he gave, the more he was hated, as these were not seen as given from generosity, but out of fear. ⁵⁵⁵ The receivers felt towards him no more goodwill than before, while those to whom he gave nothing became more bitterly hostile. But he daily spent his money more profusely once he noted that, contrary to what he expected, the king was taking care of the orphans and showing his regret for killing their fathers by his pity for their offspring.

[556] Συναγαγὼν γάρ ποτε Ἡρώδης συγγενεῖς τε καὶ φίλους παραστησάμενός τε τὰ παιδία καὶ δακρύων ἐμπλήσας τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς εἶπεν: «ἐμὲ τοὺς μὲν τούτων πατέρας δαίμων σκυθρωπὸς ἀφείλετο, ταῦτα δέ μοι μετὰ τῆς φύσεως συνίστησιν ἔλεος ὀρφανίας. πειρῶμαι δ', εἰ καὶ πατὴρ ἐγενόμην ἀτυχέστατος, πάππος γοῦν γενέσθαι κηδεμονικώτερος καὶ μετ' ἐμὲ ἡγεμόνας αὐτοῖς ἀπολιπεῖν τοὺς ἐμοὶ φιλτάτους. [557] ἐγγυῶ δὲ τὴν μὲν σήν, ὦ Φερώρα, θυγατέρα τῷ πρεσβυτέρῳ τῶν ἀδελφῶν Ἀλεξάνδρου παίδων, ἵνα ᾖς αὐτῷ κηδεμὼν ἀναγκαῖος, τῷ δὲ σῷ παιδί, Ἀντίπατρε, τὴν Ἀριστοβούλου θυγατέρα: γένοιο γὰρ ἂν οὕτω πατὴρ τῆς ὀρφανῆς. καὶ τὴν ἀδελφὴν αὐτῆς ὁ ἐμὸς Ἡρώδης λήψεται πρὸς μητρὸς ὢν ἀρχιερέως πάππου. [558] τὰ μὲν οὖν ἐμὰ ταύτην ἐχέτω τὴν κρίσιν, ἣν διακόψῃ μηδεὶς τῶν ἐμὲ φιλούντων: ἐπεύχομαι δὲ καὶ τῷ θεῷ συναρμόσαι τοὺς γάμους ἐπὶ συμφέροντι τῆς ἐμῆς βασιλείας καὶ τῶν ἐμῶν ἐκγόνων τά τε παιδία ταυτὶ γαληνοτέροις ἐπιδεῖν ὄμμασιν ἢ τοὺς πατέρας αὐτῶν.»

2. ⁵⁵⁶ Herod once gathered his relatives and friends and set the children in front of them, and with tearful eyes said to them: "It was a harsh fate that took these children's fathers from me, and these are dear to me by the natural pity required by their orphan state. So, though I have been a most unfortunate father, I will try to show myself a better grandfather and to leave them after me in the care of guardians who are very dear to me. ⁵⁵⁷ Therefore Pheroras, I betroth your daughter to the elder of these brothers, Alexander's children, and oblige you to care for them. Antipater, I also betroth the daughter of Aristobulus to your son, so be a father to that orphan, and my son Herod shall wed her sister, whose maternal grandfather was high priest. ⁵⁵⁸ Let all who love me support this settlement, which none who cares for me will abrogate. I pray God to join these children together in marriage, for the good of my kingdom and my descendants, and to look down on them more kindly than on their fathers."

[559] [ἐπειδὴ] ταῦτα εἰπὼν ἀπεδάκρυσέν τε καὶ τῶν παίδων συνήρμοσεν τὰς δεξιάς, ἔπειτα κατασπασάμενος ἕκαστον φιλοφρόνως διέλυσεν τὸ συνέδριον. ἐπαχνώθη δ' εὐθὺς Ἀντίπατρος καὶ δῆλος ἦν ἅπασιν ὀδυνώμενος: ὑπελάμβανεν γὰρ εἶναι παρὰ τῷ πατρὶ τὴν τῶν ὀρφανῶν τιμὴν ἑαυτοῦ κατάλυσιν αὖθίς τε κινδυνεύσειν περὶ τῶν ὅλων, εἰ πρὸς Ἀρχελάῳ καὶ Φερώραν ὄντα τετράρχην βοηθὸν ἔχοιεν οἱ Ἀλεξάνδρου παῖδες. [560] συνελογίζετο δὲ τὸ ἑαυτοῦ μῖσος καὶ τὸν τῶν ὀρφανῶν ἔλεον ἐκ τοῦ ἔθνους, ὅση τε σπουδὴ ζώντων καὶ ὅση μνήμη παρὰ Ἰουδαίοις τῶν δι' αὐτὸν ἀπολωλότων ἦν ἀδελφῶν. ἔγνω δὴ πάντα τρόπον διακόπτειν τὰς ἐγγύας.

3. ⁵⁵⁹ As he said these words he wept, and joined together the children's right hands. Then he lovingly embraced each of them and dismissed the assembly. Antipater was anxious and clearly regretted this action, thinking that this dignity conferred on the orphans might get him killed, even in his father's lifetime, and that the risk of his losing power was greater, if Alexander's sons had the support of Archelaus and Pheroras the tetrarch. ⁵⁶⁰ He considered how he himself was hated by the nation while they pitied these orphans, and how much the Jews had loved those his brothers in their lifetime and how kindly they remembered them after he had them killed, so he decided to get these espousals dissolved by all possible means.

[561] Καὶ τὸ μὲν ὑπιέναι πανούργως ἔδεισε τὸν πατέρα χαλεπὸν ὄντα καὶ πρὸς τὰς ὑποψίας κινούμενον ὀξέως, ἐτόλμησεν δὲ προσελθὼν ἱκετεύειν ἄντικρυς μὴ στερίσκειν αὐτὸν ἧς ἠξίωσεν τιμῆς, μηδὲ αὐτῷ μὲν ὄνομα βασιλείας, δύναμιν δὲ ὑπάρχειν ἄλλοις: οὐ γὰρ κρατήσειν τῶν πραγμάτων, εἰ πρὸς Ἀρχελάῳ πάππῳ καὶ Φερώραν κηδεστὴν ὁ Ἀλεξάνδρου παῖς προσλάβοι. [562] κατηντιβόλει δὲ πολλῆς οὔσης γενεᾶς κατὰ τὸ βασίλειον μεταθεῖναι τοὺς γάμους: ἦσαν γὰρ τῷ βασιλεῖ γυναῖκες μὲν ἐννέα, τέκνα δὲ ἐκ τούτων ἑπτά, αὐτὸς μὲν Ἀντίπατρος ἐκ Δωρίδος, Ἡρώδης δ' ἐκ Μαριάμμης τῆς τοῦ ἀρχιερέως θυγατρός, Ἀντίπας δὲ καὶ Ἀρχέλαος ἐκ Μαλθάκης τῆς Σαμαρείτιδος, καὶ θυγάτηρ Ὀλυμπιάς, ἣν ὁ ἀδελφιδοῦς αὐτοῦ Ἰώσηπος εἶχεν, ἐκ δὲ τῆς Ἱεροσολυμίτιδος Κλεοπάτρας Ἡρώδης καὶ Φίλιππος, ἐκ δὲ Παλλάδος Φασάηλος. [563] ἐγένοντο δ' αὐτῷ καὶ ἄλλαι θυγατέρες Ῥωξάνη τε καὶ Σαλώμη, ἡ μὲν ἐκ Φαίδρας, ἡ δὲ ἐξ Ἐλπίδος. δύο δ' εἶχεν ἀτέκνους, ἀνεψιάν τε καὶ ἀδελφιδῆν. χωρὶς δὲ τούτων δύο ἀδελφὰς Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ Ἀριστοβούλου τὰς ἐκ Μαριάμμης. οὔσης δὲ πολυπροσώπου τῆς γενεᾶς ὁ Ἀντίπατρος ἐδεῖτο μετατεθῆναι τοὺς γάμους.

4. ⁵⁶¹ Fearing about this matter by tricking his father, who was hard to please and quickly roused by the least suspicion, he took the risk of going to him personally and imploring him not to deprive him of the rank he had graciously given him, leaving him with the mere name of king, while the power was in the hands of others. He said he would never be able to stay in power, if Alexander's son was to have his grandfather Archelaus and Pheroras as his guardians. ⁵⁶² Since there were so many of the royal family alive, he implored him to change those marriage arrangements. The king had nine wives, and children by seven of them; Antipater was the son of Doris and Herod Philip the son of Mariamne, the high priest's daughter; Antipas and Archelaus were sons of Malthace, the Samaritan, and Olympias was her daughter, whom his brother Joseph's son had married. By Cleopatra of Jerusalem he had Herod and Philip, and by Pallas, Phasael. ⁵⁶³ He had also two daughters, Roxana and Salome, the one by Phaedra and the other by Elpis. He had two other wives who were childless, one of them his first cousin and the other his niece. Besides these, by Mariamne he had two daughters, the sisters of Alexander and Aristobulus. Since the family was so numerous, Antipater prayed him to set aside the proposed marriages.

[564] Χαλεπῶς δ' ὁ βασιλεὺς ἠγανάκτησεν καταμαθὼν αὐτοῦ τὸ πρὸς τοὺς ὀρφανοὺς ἦθος, ἔννοιά τε αὐτῷ παρέστη περὶ τῶν ἀνῃρημένων, μή ποτε κἀκεῖνοι γένοιντο τῶν Ἀντιπάτρου διαβολῶν ἀγώνισμα. [565] τότε μὲν οὖν πολλὰ πρὸς ὀργὴν ἀποκρινάμενος ἀπελαύνει τὸν Ἀντίπατρον, αὖθις δὲ ὑπαχθεὶς αὐτοῦ ταῖς κολακείαις μεθηρμόσατο, καὶ αὐτῷ μὲν τὴν Ἀριστοβούλου συνώικισεν θυγατέρα, τὸν δὲ υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τῇ Φερώρα θυγατρί.

5. ⁵⁶⁴ When the king noted his intention towards these orphans, it angered him and he began to suspect that perhaps he had put his sons to death on account of false tales spread by Antipater. ⁵⁶⁵ Therefore he now gave Antipater a long, angry answer and sent him away; but later he was won over by his sly flatteries and changed his mind, giving him the daughter of Aristobulus as wife, and giving to his son the daughter of Pheroras.

[566] Καταμάθοι δ' ἄν τις, ὅσον ἴσχυσεν ἐν τούτοις κολακεύων Ἀντίπατρος, ἐκ τοῦ Σαλώμην ἐν ὁμοίοις ἀποτυχεῖν. ταύτην γὰρ δὴ καίπερ οὖσαν ἀδελφὴν καὶ πολλὰ διὰ Λιουίας τῆς γυναικὸς Καίσαρος ἱκετεύουσαν γαμηθῆναι τῷ Ἄραβι Συλλαίῳ, διωμόσατο μὲν ἐχθροτάτην ἕξειν, εἰ μὴ παύσαιτο τῆς σπουδῆς, τὸ δὲ τελευταῖον ἄκουσαν Ἀλεξᾷ τινι τῶν φίλων συνώικισεν καὶ τῶν θυγατέρων αὐτῆς τὴν μὲν τῷ Ἀλεξᾶ παιδί, τὴν δ' ἑτέραν τῷ πρὸς μητρὸς Ἀντιπάτρου θείῳ. τῶν δ' ἐκ Μαριάμμης θυγατέρων ἡ μὲν ἀδελφῆς υἱὸν Ἀντίπατρον εἶχεν, ἡ δὲ ἀδελφοῦ Φασάηλον.

6. ⁵⁶⁶ This shows how the flattery of Antipater succeeded, more than Salome's did in similar circumstances, for though she was his sister and she got strong support from Caesar's wife, Livia, when she asked to be married to Syllaeus the Arabian, he [Herod] swore to be her bitter enemy unless she gave it up. Then against her wishes he married her to his friend Alexas, and married one of her daughters to Alexas's son and the other to Antipater's uncle on the mother's side. Of his daughters born of Mariamne, one married his sister's son, Antipater, and the other his brother's son, Phasael.

[567] Διακόψας δὲ τὰς τῶν ὀρφανῶν ἐλπίδας ὁ Ἀντίπατρος καὶ πρὸς τὸ συμφέρον αὐτῷ τὰς ἐπιγαμίας ποιησάμενος ὡς ἐπὶ βεβαίοις μὲν ὥρμει ταῖς ἐλπίσιν, προσλαβὼν δὲ τῇ κακίαι τὸ πεποιθὸς ἀφόρητος ἦν: τὸ γὰρ παρ' ἑκάστῳ μῖσος ἀποσκευάσασθαι μὴ δυνάμενος ἐκ τοῦ φοβερὸς εἶναι τὴν ἀσφάλειαν ἐπορίζετο. [568] συνήργει δὲ καὶ Φερώρας ὡς ἂν ἤδη καὶ βασιλεῖ βεβαίῳ. γίνεται δὲ καὶ γυναικῶν σύνταγμα κατὰ τὴν αὐλήν, ὃ νεωτέρους ἐκίνησεν θορύβους: ἡ γὰρ Φερώρα γυνὴ μετὰ τῆς μητρὸς καὶ τῆς ἀδελφῆς προσλαβοῦσα καὶ τὴν Ἀντιπάτρου μητέρα πολλὰ μὲν ἠσέλγαινεν κατὰ τὸ βασίλειον, ἐτόλμησεν δὲ καὶ τοῦ βασιλέως ὑβρίσαι δύο θυγατέρας, δι' ἃ δὴ μάλιστα ταύτην ἐκεῖνος προβέβλητο: μισούμεναί γε μὴν ὑπ' αὐτοῦ τῶν ἄλλων ἐπεκράτουν. [569] μόνη δὲ τῆς ὁμονοίας αὐτῶν ἀντίπαλος ἦν Σαλώμη καὶ βασιλεῖ διέβαλλεν τὴν σύνοδον ὡς οὐκ ἐπ' ἀγαθῷ τῶν αὐτοῦ πραγμάτων εἴη. γνοῦσαι δ' ἐκεῖναι τὴν διαβολὴν καὶ ὡς ἀγανακτήσειεν Ἡρώδης, τῆς μὲν φανερᾶς συνόδου καὶ τῶν φιλοφρονήσεων ἐπαύσαντο, τοὐναντίον δ' ὑπεκρίνοντο καὶ διαφέρεσθαι πρὸς ἀλλήλας ἀκούοντος βασιλέως: αἷς συνυπεκρίνετο καὶ Ἀντίπατρος ἐν τῷ φανερῷ προσκρούων Φερώραι. [570] συνουσίαι δὲ ἦσαν αὐτῶν λάθρα καὶ κῶμοι νυκτερινοί, τήν τε ὁμόνοιαν ἡ παρατήρησις ἐπέτεινεν. ἠγνόει δὲ οὐδὲν Σαλώμη τῶν πραττομένων καὶ πάντα Ἡρώδῃ διήγγελλεν.

1. ⁵⁶⁷ After crushing the hopes of the orphans and making alliances to his own advantage, Antipater acted quickly, confidently expecting the crown, and between his assurance and his scheming he became intolerable. Unable to avoid being hated by the people, he built his security on being feared. ⁵⁶⁸ Pheroras helped him in his plans, regarding him as firmly destined for kingship. A group of women at court began new disturbances, for Pheroras's wife, along with her mother and sister and Antipater's mother, grew very arrogant in the palace. She rashly insult the king's two daughters, so that the king loathed her, but despite his hatred these women dominated the others. ⁵⁶⁹ Only Salome opposed their little clique and told the king of their meetings, as something that boded him no good. When the women knew the lies she had told against them and how much Herod was annoyed, they left off meeting in public and all friendly exchanges, pretending to argue with each other whenever the king was within hearing. Antipater used the same kind of dissimulation and in public opposed Pheroras. ⁵⁷⁰ But they still held secret chats by night, and their solidarity was only strengthened by being spied on by others. But nothing they did was unknown to Salome, who told it all to Herod.

[571] Ἐξεκαίετο δ' ἐκεῖνος εἰς ὀργὴν καὶ μάλιστα ἐπὶ τὴν Φερώρου γυναῖκα: ταύτην γὰρ πλέον ἡ Σαλώμη διέβαλλεν. ἀθροίσας οὖν συνέδριον τῶν τε φίλων καὶ συγγενῶν ἄλλα τε πολλὰ τῆς ἀνθρώπου κατηγόρει καὶ τὴν εἰς τὰς ἑαυτοῦ θυγατέρας ὕβριν, ὅτι τε Φαρισαίοις μὲν χορηγήσειεν μισθοὺς κατ' αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτῷ κατασκευάσειεν πολέμιον ἐνδησαμένη φαρμάκοις. [572] τελευταῖον δ' εἰς Φερώραν ἀπέστρεφεν τὸν λόγον, δυοῖν θάτερον ἑλέσθαι λέγων, ἢ ἑαυτὸν ἀδελφὸν ἢ τὴν γυναῖκα. τοῦ δὲ θᾶττον ἀπολείψειν τὸ ζῆν ἢ τὴν γυναῖκα φήσαντος, οὐκ ἔχων ὅ τι χρὴ δρᾶν μετέβαινεν ἐπ' Ἀντίπατρον, ὧι παρήγγειλεν μήτε τῇ Φερώρα γυναικὶ μήτε αὐτῷ μήτ' ἄλλῳ τινὶ τῶν ἐκείνης διαλέγεσθαι. ὁ δὲ φανερῶς μὲν οὐ μετέβαινεν τὸ πρόσταγμα, λάθρα δὲ διενυκτέρευεν σὺν ἐκείνοις. [573] καὶ δεδοικὼς τὴν ἐπιτηροῦσαν Σαλώμην πραγματεύεται διὰ τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς Ἰταλίας φίλων τὴν εἰς Ῥώμην ἀποδημίαν αὑτῷ: γραψάντων γὰρ ἐκείνων δεῖν Ἀντίπατρον διὰ χρόνου πεμφθῆναι πρὸς Καίσαρα, ὁ δὲ οὔ τι μελλήσας ἐξέπεμψεν θεραπείαν τε λαμπρὰν καὶ πλεῖστα δοὺς χρήματα τήν τε διαθήκην κομίζειν, ἐν ἧι βασιλεὺς μὲν Ἀντίπατρος ἐγέγραπτο, Ἀντιπάτρου δὲ Ἡρώδης διάδοχος ὁ ἐκ Μαριάμμης τῆς τοῦ ἀρχιερέως θυγατρὸς γεγονώς.

2. ⁵⁷¹ His anger flared out at them and mainly at Pheroras's wife, for Salome accused her most of all. So gathering a group of his friends and relatives Herod accused this woman of many things and especially how she had insulted his daughters, and that she had given the Pharisees money in reward for acting against him and had made his brother his enemy, by giving him love potions. ⁵⁷² At last he turned his words on Pheroras and gave him his choice between two things: would he prefer to stay friends with his brother, or with his wife? When he replied that he would die rather than forsake his wife, Herod, not knowing what else to do, turned to Antipater and told him to have no contact with Pheroras, or Pheroras's wife, or anyone belonging to her; and while he did not openly disobey this order, they continued to meet secretly by night. ⁵⁷³ However, afraid that Salome had seen him do so, through his Italian friends he got permission to go and live in Rome. When these wrote for Antipater to be sent to Caesar for some time, Herod made no delay in sending him, along with a splendid retinue and a large amount of money and entrusted him with his testament, wherein the kingdom was bequeathed to Antipater, and Herod was named as Antipater's successor, that is, Herod the son of the high priest's daughter, Mariamne.

[574] Ἔπλευσεν δὲ καὶ Συλλαῖος ὁ Ἄραψ ἐπὶ Ῥώμης, ἠμεληκὼς μὲν τῶν Καίσαρος προσταγμάτων, ἀνταγωνιούμενος δὲ πρὸς Ἀντίπατρον περὶ ὧν δεδίκαστο Νικολάῳ τάχιον. οὐ μικρὸς δ' αὐτῷ καὶ πρὸς Ἀρέταν ἦν ἀγὼν τὸν ἑαυτοῦ βασιλέα: τούτου γὰρ ἄλλους τε φίλους ἀνῃρήκει καὶ Σόαιμον τῶν ἐν Πέτρᾳ δυνατωτάτων. [575] πείσας δὲ πολλοῖς χρήμασιν Φάβατον τὸν Καίσαρος διοικητὴν ἐχρῆτο βοηθῷ καὶ καθ' Ἡρώδου. πλείονα δὲ δοὺς Ἡρώδης ἀφίστησίν τε ἀπὸ Συλλαίου Φάβατον καὶ δι' αὐτοῦ τὰ κελευσθέντα ὑπὸ Καίσαρος εἰσέπραττεν. ὁ δὲ μηδὲν ἀποδοὺς ἔτι καὶ κατηγόρει Φαβάτου παρὰ Καίσαρι, διοικητὴν εἶναι λέγων οὐ τῶν ἐκείνῳ, τῶν δὲ Ἡρώδῃ συμφερόντων. [576] ἐφ' οἷς ὀργισθεὶς Φάβατος, ἦν δ' ἔτι παρὰ Ἡρώδῃ μάλιστα τιμώμενος, γίνεται προδότης Συλλαίου τῶν ἀπορρήτων τῷ τε βασιλεῖ φησιν, ὅτι Συλλαῖος διαφθείρειεν αὐτοῦ τὸν σωματοφύλακα Κόρινθον χρήμασιν, ὃν δεῖ φυλάττεσθαι. πείθεται δ' ὁ βασιλεύς: καὶ γὰρ τέθραπτο μὲν ὁ Κόρινθος ἐν τῇ βασιλείαι, γένος δ' ἦν Ἄραψ. [577] συλλαμβάνει δ' εὐθέως οὐκ αὐτὸν μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ δύο ἑτέρους Ἄραβας εὑρὼν παρ' αὐτῷ, τὸν μὲν φίλον Συλλαίου τὸν δὲ φύλαρχον. οἱ δὲ βασανιζόμενοι πεῖσαι Κόρινθον ὡμολόγησαν ἐπὶ πολλοῖς χρήμασιν Ἡρώδην ἀνελεῖν. οὗτοι μὲν οὖν ἀνακριθέντες καὶ παρὰ Σατορνίνῳ τῷ διέποντι τὴν Συρίαν ἀνεπέμφθησαν εἰς Ῥώμην.

3. ⁵⁷⁴ Syllaeus the Arab also sailed to Rome, despite Caesar's instructions, in order to strongly oppose Antipater in the law-suit which Nicolaus had begun with him. This Syllaeus had also a sharp conflict with his own king, Aretas, for he had killed many of Aretas's friends and particularly Sohemus, the most powerful man in the city of Petra. ⁵⁷⁵ He had suborned Phabatus, Herod's steward, by a large gift of money, to help him against Herod, but by giving him more, Herod induced him to leave Syllaeus and so demanded from him all that Caesar had required of him to pay. As he repaid nothing and also accused Phabatus to Caesar, saying that the steward was not acting on Caesar's behalf, but on Herod's. ⁵⁷⁶ Angry at this, and still well esteemed by Herod, Phabatus revealed Syllaeus's secrets to the king, telling him how Syllaeus had bribed one of his bodyguards, Corinthus, whom he should watch with care. The king was persuaded, for this Corinthus, though brought up in Herod's kingdom, was by birth an Arabian. ⁵⁷⁷ So he was immediately arrested along with two other Arabs who were caught with him, one of whom was Syllaeus's friend, and the other the head of a tribe. On being put to the torture, these confessed they had persuaded Corinthus, for a large bribe, to kill Herod, and when they had been further examined before Saturninus, the ruler of Syria, they were sent to Rome.

[578] Ἡρώδης δὲ οὐκ ἀνίει Φερώραν βιαζόμενος ἀπαλλαγῆναι τῆς γυναικὸς οὐδ' ἐπενόει μηχανὴν δι' ἧς ἂν τιμωρήσαιτο τὴν ἄνθρωπον πολλὰς τοῦ μίσους ἔχων αἰτίας, ἕως ὑπεραγανακτήσας σὺν αὐτῇ καὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἐκβάλλει. [579] Φερώρας δὲ ἀγαπήσας τὴν ὕβριν ἀπαλλάσσεται μὲν εἰς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ τετραρχίαν ὀμόσας ὅρον ἕξειν ἕνα τῆς φυγῆς τὸν Ἡρώδου θάνατον καὶ μηδέποτε πρὸς ζῶντα ὑποστρέψειν, ἐπανῆλθεν δὲ οὐδὲ πρὸς νοσοῦντα τὸν ἀδελφὸν καίτοι λιπαρῶς μεταπεμπόμενον: ἐβούλετο γὰρ αὐτῷ τινας ἐντολὰς καταλείψειν ὡς τεθνηξόμενος. [580] ἀλλ' ὁ μὲν παρ' ἐλπίδα σώζεται, μετ' οὐ πολὺ δὲ νοσεῖ Φερώρας, εὑρίσκετο δὲ Ἡρώδης μετριώτερος: καὶ γὰρ ἥκει πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ συμπαθῶς ἐθεράπευεν. οὐ μὴν ὑπερίσχυσεν τοῦ πάθους: μετὰ γὰρ ἡμέρας ὀλίγας ἀποθνήσκει Φερώρας. [581] ὃν καίπερ ἀγαπήσας Ἡρώδης μέχρι τελευταίας ἡμέρας ὅμως καὶ αὐτὸν ἀνελεῖν ἐφημίσθη φαρμάκῳ. τόν γε μὴν νεκρὸν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα κομίσας πένθος τε μέγιστον ὅλῳ τῷ ἔθνει κατήγγειλεν καὶ κηδείας ἠξίωσεν λαμπροτάτης. ἕνα μὲν δὴ τῶν Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ Ἀριστοβούλου φονέων τοιοῦτον περιέρχεται τέλος.

4. ⁵⁷⁸ Herod did not stop pressuring Pheroras, but went on to force him to put away his wife. He still could not find any way to punish the woman herself, though he had many reasons to hate her, until at last he was so uneasy about her that he expelled both her and his brother from his kingdom. ⁵⁷⁹ Pheroras patiently accepted this slight and went off his own tetrarchy, swearing that his exile would only end at Herod's death, since he would never return in his lifetime. In fact he did not return even when his brother was sick, though he urgently sent for him to come, wishing to leave instructions with him before he died. ⁵⁸⁰ But then Herod unexpectedly recovered; and some time later, when Pheroras himself fell sick, Herod showed great fairness, for he came to him and showed pity for his condition and cared for him, though this care did him no good, for Pheroras died soon after. ⁵⁸¹ Though Herod loved him to the last day of his life, the rumour went round that he had killed him by poison. But he arranged to have his corpse brought to Jerusalem and decreed a large national mourning for him and gave him a splendid funeral. This was how one of Alexander's and Aristobulus's murderers came to his end.

[582] Μετέβαινεν δ' ἐπὶ τὸν αὐθέντην Ἀντίπατρον ἡ ποινὴ τὸν Φερώρα θάνατον ἀρχὴν λαβοῦσα. τῶν τούτου γάρ τινες ἀπελευθέρων κατηφεῖς τῷ βασιλεῖ προσελθόντες τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ διεφθάρθαι φαρμάκοις ἔλεγον: προσενεγκεῖν μὲν γὰρ αὐτῷ τι τὴν γυναῖκα τῶν οὐ συνήθως ἐσκευασμένων, φαγόντα δ' εὐθέως εἰς τὴν νόσον καταπεσεῖν. [583] ἀγηοχέναι τε πρὸ δυοῖν ἡμερῶν τὴν μητέρα αὐτῆς καὶ τὴν ἀδελφὴν γύναιον ἐκ τῆς Ἀραβίας φαρμάκων ἔμπειρον, ὅπως φίλτρον σκευάσῃ τῷ Φερώραι, δεδωκέναι δὲ ἀντὶ τούτου θανάσιμον Συλλαίου πραγματευσαμένου: τούτῳ γὰρ ἦν γνώριμον.

[582]

1. ⁵⁸² The punishment was transferred to the original author, Antipater and took its rise from the death of Pheroras, for certain of his freedmen came with a sad face to the king and told him that his brother had been killed by poison and that his wife had brought him something that was prepared in an unusual manner and that after he ate it, he soon fell sick. ⁵⁸³ He also alleged that two days earlier Antipater's mother and sister had brought from Arabia a woman who was skilled with drugs to prepare a potion for Pheroras, and that she had given him deadly poison instead, at the request of Syllaeus, who knew the woman.

[584] Πληγεὶς οὖν ὁ βασιλεὺς ὑποψίαις πλείοσιν θεραπαίνας τε καί τινας τῶν ἐλευθέρων ἐβασάνιζεν. ἐβόα δέ τις ἐν ταῖς ἀλγηδόσιν «θεὸς ὁ γῆν καὶ οὐρανὸν διέπων μετέλθοι τὴν τούτων ἡμῖν τῶν κακῶν αἰτίαν, τὴν Ἀντιπάτρου μητέρα.» ταύτης τῆς ἀρχῆς ὁ βασιλεὺς λαβόμενος ἐπεξήιει πρόσω τὴν ἀλήθειαν. [585] ἡ δὲ γυνὴ τήν τε φιλίαν τῆς Ἀντιπάτρου μητρὸς πρὸς Φερώραν καὶ τὰς ἐκείνου γυναῖκας ἐδήλου καὶ τὰς λαθραίας αὐτῶν συνόδους, ὅτι τε Φερώρας καὶ Ἀντίπατρος σὺν ἐκείναις πίνοιεν ὑποστρέφοντες ἀπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως δι' ὅλης νυκτὸς μηδένα μήτε οἰκέτην μήτε θεράπαιναν ἐῶντες παρατυγχάνειν. μία δὴ τῶν ἐλευθέρων ταῦτα μηνύει.

2. ⁵⁸⁴ The king was deeply moved with all these suspicions and had the maid-servants tortured and some of the free women too. One of them cried out in her agony, "May God who governs the earth and the heaven punish the cause of all our troubles, Antipater's mother!" The king took note of this confession and enquired further into the truth of the matter. ⁵⁸⁵ The woman revealed the friendship of Antipater's mother with Pheroras and Antipater's wives, and their secret meetings, and how Pheroras and Antipater had drunk with them for a whole night together as they returned from the king and would not allow any servant, male or female, to be there. This was revealed by one of the free women.

[586] Τὰς δὲ δούλας χωρὶς ἑκάστην Ἡρώδης ἐβασάνιζεν. ἐρρήθη δὲ παρὰ πάσαις τὰ προειρημένα σύμφωνα, καὶ διότι κατὰ συνθήκην Ἀντίπατρος μὲν εἰς Ῥώμην, Φερώρας δ' ὑποχωρήσειεν εἰς τὴν Περαίαν: πολλάκις γὰρ αὐτοὺς διαλαλεῖν, ὡς μετ' Ἀλέξανδρον καὶ Ἀριστόβουλον ἐπ' αὐτοὺς Ἡρώδης μεταβήσεται καὶ τὰς ἑαυτῶν γυναῖκας. οὐ γὰρ φείσεσθαι μετὰ Μαριάμμην καὶ τοὺς ἐξ ἐκείνης ἑτέρου τινός, ὥστε ἄμεινον εἶναι φεύγειν ὡς πορρωτάτω τοῦ θηρίου. [587] πολλάκις δὲ ἀποδυρόμενον πρὸς τὴν μητέρα τὸν Ἀντίπατρον εἰπεῖν, ὡς αὐτὸς μὲν εἴη πολιὸς ἤδη, νεάζοι δὲ καθ' ἡμέραν ὁ πατήρ, φθάσαι δ' ἂν τάχα καὶ τελευτήσας πρὶν ἄρξασθαι βασιλείας ἀληθοῦς. εἰ δὲ καί ποτε ἐκεῖνος τελευτήσειεν: πότε δ' ἂν γένοιτο τοῦτο; παντάπασιν αὐτῷ τὴν ἀπόλαυσιν τῆς διαδοχῆς γίνεσθαι σύντομον. [588] ὑποβλαστάνειν δὲ τὰς τῆς ὕδρας κεφαλάς, τοὺς Ἀριστοβούλου καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου παῖδας. ἀφῃρῆσθαι δ' αὐτὸν ὑπὸ τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ τὴν ἐπὶ τέκνοις ἐλπίδα: διάδοχον γὰρ οὐ τῶν αὐτοῦ τινα παίδων μετὰ τὴν τελευτήν, ἀλλὰ τὸν ἐκ Μαριάμμης Ἡρώδην γεγραφέναι. καὶ κατὰ τοῦτό γε παντάπασιν παραγηρᾶν οἰόμενον αὐτοῦ καὶ διαθήκας μενεῖν κυρίας: αὐτὸν γὰρ προνοήσειν μηδένα τῆς γενεᾶς ἀπολιπεῖν. [589] ὄντα γε μὴν τῶν πώποτε πατέρων μισοτεκνότατον Ἡρώδην πολὺ μᾶλλον εἶναι μισάδελφον: δοῦναι γοῦν αὐτῷ πρώιην ἑκατὸν τάλαντα ἐπὶ τῷ μὴ διαλέγεσθαι Φερώραι. τοῦ δὲ εἰπόντος «τί γὰρ αὐτὸν ἐβλάπτομεν;» ἀποκρίνασθαι τὸν Ἀντίπατρον «εἴθε πάντα ἡμᾶς ἀφελόμενος γυμνοὺς ἐάσειεν ζῶντας. ἀλλ' ἀμήχανον ἐκφυγεῖν οὕτω φονικὸν θηρίον, παρ' ὧι μηδὲ φιλεῖν τινας ἔξεστι φανερῶς. λάθρα γοῦν νῦν ἀλλήλοις σύνεσμεν, ἐξέσται δὲ φανερῶς, ἐὰν σχῶμέν ποτε ἀνδρῶν φρόνημα καὶ χεῖρας.»

3. ⁵⁸⁶ Then Herod tortured each of the maids separately, and they concurred with what was already stated, adding that it was by mutual agreement that Antipater went off to Rome and Pheroras to Perea, and that they had often spoken together to this effect: That after killing Alexander and Aristobulus, Herod would come after them and their wives, since if he killed Mariamne and her children he would spare nobody, and so it was best to get as far as possible from the wild beast. ⁵⁸⁷ Also, that Antipater often lamented to his mother that he was already gray-haired while his father grew younger every day and that death might come to him before he really became king. Even if Herod eventually died, and who could say when?, he would succeed him for only a short time. ⁵⁸⁸ Those heads of Hydra, the sons of Alexander and Aristobulus, were growing up, and his father had deprived him of the hopes for his children, for after his death he was not to be succeeded by any one his own sons, but Herod the son of Mariamne. On this point he thought Herod was quite mad, to think that his testament would still hold sway, since he would ensure that none of his descendants survived. ⁵⁸⁹ Of all fathers he was the greatest hater of his children, and yet he hates his brother still more. Why, a while ago he gave him [Antipater] a hundred talents, to break off all contact with Pheroras. When Pheroras said, "What harm have we done him?" Antipater replied, "I wish he would simply take all we have, and just leave us our bare lives, but there is no escaping this wild beast, so given to murder. He will not let us show affection to anybody, so now we must meet in secret. Yet we must do so publicly, if we have the courage and strength."

[590] Ταῦτ' ἔλεγον αἱ βασανιζόμεναι, καὶ ὅτι Φερώρας βουλεύσαιτο φυγεῖν μετ' αὐτῶν εἰς Πέτραν. ἐπίστευσεν δ' Ἡρώδης πᾶσιν τοῖς λεγομένοις ἐκ τῶν ἑκατὸν ταλάντων: μόνῳ γὰρ Ἀντιπάτρῳ διείλεκτο περὶ αὐτῶν. ἀποσκήπτει δ' εἰς πρώτην ὁ θυμὸς Δωρίδα τὴν Ἀντιπάτρου μητέρα: καὶ γυμνώσας αὐτὴν παντὸς οὗ δεδώρητο κόσμου, πολλῶν δ' ἦν ταλάντων, ἐκβάλλει δεύτερον. [591] τὰς δὲ Φερώρου γυναῖκας ἀπὸ τῶν βασάνων ἐτημέλει διηλλαγμένος. ἐπτόητο δὲ τῷ φόβῳ καὶ πρὸς πᾶσαν ὑπόνοιαν ἐξερριπίζετο πολλούς τε τῶν οὐκ αἰτίων εἷλκεν εἰς βασάνους δεδοικώς, μή τινα τῶν αἰτίων παραλίπῃ.

4. ⁵⁹⁰ These things were said by the women under torture, adding that Pheroras had decided to flee with them to Perea. Now Herod believed all they said, due to the matter of the hundred talents, for he had told nobody except Antipater about them. So he vented his anger first of all on Antipater's mother, stripping her of all the finery he had given her, worth many talents, and expelling her from the palace a second time. ⁵⁹¹ He was reconciled to Pheroras's women after their tortures and took care of them, but was in low spirits himself and flared up at each suspicion and had many innocent people put to torture, for fear any guilty person would escape him.

[592] Κἀν τούτῳ τρέπεται πρὸς τὸν Σαμαρείτην Ἀντίπατρον, ὃς ἦν ἐπίτροπος Ἀντιπάτρου. βασανίζων δὲ αὐτὸν ἤκουσεν ὅτι μετεπέμψατο μὲν Ἀντίπατρος ἐξ Αἰγύπτου δηλητήριον φάρμακον ἐπ' αὐτὸν διά τινος τῶν ἑταίρων Ἀντιφίλου, λάβοι δὲ παρ' ἐκείνου Θευδίων ὁ θεῖος Ἀντιπάτρου καὶ παραδοίη Φερώραι: τούτῳ γὰρ ἐντείλασθαι τὸν Ἀντίπατρον Ἡρώδην ἀνελεῖν ἕως αὐτός ἐστιν ἐν Ῥώμῃ τῆς ὑπονοίας κεχωρισμένος: Φερώραν δὲ τῇ γυναικὶ παραθέσθαι τὸ φάρμακον. [593] ταύτην ὁ βασιλεὺς μεταπεμψάμενος αὐτίκα τὸ ληφθὲν ἐκέλευσεν κομίζειν. ἡ δ' ἔξεισι μὲν ὡς κομιοῦσα, ῥίπτει δ' ἑαυτὴν ἀπὸ τοῦ τέγους τόν τε ἔλεγχον καὶ τὴν ἐκ τοῦ βασιλέως αἰκίαν φθάνουσα: προνοίαι δ', ὡς ἔοικεν, θεοῦ μετιόντος Ἀντίπατρον οὐκ ἐπὶ κεφαλὴν ἀλλ' ἐπὶ θάτερα πεσοῦσα διασώζεται. [594] κομισθεῖσαν δ' αὐτὴν ὁ βασιλεὺς ἀνακτησάμενος, κεκάρωτο γὰρ ἀπὸ τοῦ πτώματος, ἠρώτα δι' ἣν αἰτίαν ῥίψειεν ἑαυτήν, εἰ μὲν εἴποι τἀληθές, ἀφήσειν πάσης τιμωρίας ἐπομνύμενος, εἰ δ' ὑποστείλαιτο, δαπανήσειν αὐτῆς ἐν βασάνοις τὸ σῶμα καὶ μηδὲ τάφῳ καταλείψειν.

5. ⁵⁹² H examined Antipater of Samaria, the Antipater's steward, and by torturing him learned that Antipater had got a potion of deadly poison for him from Egypt, by his friend Antiphilus. Also that Theudio, Antipater's uncle, got it from him and delivered it to Pheroras, since Antipater had asked him to get rid of his father while he was in Rome and so free him from suspicion of having done it himself, and that Pheroras had entrusted this potion to his wife. ⁵⁹³ The king sent for her and told her to quickly bring to him what she had received. She went as though to fetch it, but threw herself down from the top of the house, to avoid being examined under torture by the king. However, as it seems it was Antipater that Providence intended to punish, she happened to fall not on her head, but on other parts of her body and was not killed. ⁵⁹⁴ When she was brought to the king he took care of her, for she was at first quite senseless upon her fall, and asked her why she had thrown herself down, and swore that if she told the truth he would spare her from punishment, but that if she concealed anything, he would have her torn limb from lime and leave no part of her body for burial.

[595] Πρὸς ταῦθ' ἡ γυνὴ μικρὸν διαλιποῦσα «καὶ τί γάρ, εἶπεν, ἔτι φείδομαι τῶν ἀπορρήτων Φερώρα τεθνεῶτος ἢ σώζουσα τὸν ἀπολέσαντα πάντας ἡμᾶς Ἀντίπατρον; ἄκουε, βασιλεῦ, καὶ μετὰ σοῦ θεὸς ὁ μάρτυς ἐμοὶ τῆς ἀληθείας πλανηθῆναι μὴ δυνάμενος: [596] ὅτε ἀποθνήσκοντι Φερώρᾳ παρεκαθέζου δεδακρυμένος, τότε με προσκαλεσάμενος ἐκεῖνος «ἦ πολύ γε, ἔφη, ὦ γύναι, τῆς εἰς ἐμαυτὸν διανοίας τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ διήμαρτον, τὸν οὕτως στέργοντα μισήσας καὶ κτεῖναι βουλευσάμενος τὸν οὕτως ἐπ' ἐμοὶ μηδὲ τεθνεῶτί πω συγχεόμενον. ἀλλ' ἐγὼ μὲν ἀπέχω τῆς ἀσεβείας τὸ ἐπιτίμιον, σὺ δ' ὃ φυλάσσεις κατ' αὐτοῦ φάρμακον ὑπ' Ἀντιπάτρου καταλειφθὲν ἡμῖν φέρε καὶ βλέποντός μου ταχέως ἀφάνισον, ἵνα μὴ καὶ καθ' [597] ἅιδου φέροιμι τὸν ἀλάστορα.» καὶ κελεύσαντος ἐκόμισα καὶ πλεῖστον μὲν εἰς τὸ πῦρ ὁρῶντος αὐτοῦ κατεκένωσα, βραχὺ δὲ ἐμαυτῇ πρὸς τὰ ἄδηλα καὶ τὸν ἐκ σοῦ φόβον ἐτήρησα.»

6. ⁵⁹⁵ Then the woman paused a little and said, "Why do I conceal these secrets, now Pheroras is dead? It would only save Antipater, who has destroyed us all. Hear then, Your Majesty, and let you and God, who cannot be deceived, witness the truth of what I am going to say. ⁵⁹⁶ While you sat weeping beside Pheroras as he was dying, he called me to him and said, "Dear wife, I have been mistaken about my brother's attitude towards me and have hated him that loved me and planned to kill him who is so grieved about my dying. I myself am being paid back for my impiety, but let you bring the poison that was left with us by Antipater and which you have kept in order to kill him and burn it here on the fire in my sight so that I may not have to face the avenger in Hades." ⁵⁹⁷ This I brought as he bid me and emptied most of it into the fire, but kept a little of it for my own use, because of my fear of you and with the future so uncertain."

[598] Ταῦτ' εἰποῦσα προκομίζει τὴν πυξίδα παντάπασιν ἔχουσαν τοῦ φαρμάκου βραχύ. βασιλεὺς δ' ἐπὶ τὴν μητέρα τὴν Ἀντιφίλου καὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν τὰς βασάνους μετέφερεν, κἀκεῖνοι τὸν Ἀντίφιλον κομίσαι τε ἀπ' Αἰγύπτου τὴν πυξίδα ὡμολόγουν καὶ λαβεῖν παρ' ἀδελφοῦ τὸ φάρμακον ἔφασκον ἰατρεύοντος ἐν Ἀλεξανδρείαι. [599] περιιόντες δὲ οἱ Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ Ἀριστοβούλου δαίμονες ἅπαν τὸ βασίλειον ἐρευνηταί τε καὶ μηνυταὶ τῶν ἀδήλων ἐγίνοντο τούς τε πορρωτάτω τῆς ὑποψίας ὄντας ἔσυρον εἰς τοὺς ἐλέγχους. εὑρίσκεται γοῦν καὶ ἡ τοῦ ἀρχιερέως θυγάτηρ Μαριάμμη τῆς ἐπιβουλῆς συνίστωρ: [600] βασανιζόμενοι γὰρ τοῦτ' ἀπέδειξαν αὐτῆς οἱ ἀδελφοί. βασιλεὺς δὲ τῆς μητρώιας τόλμης καὶ τὸν υἱὸν ἠμύνατο: τὸν γοῦν ἐξ αὐτῆς Ἡρώδην ὄντα διάδοχον Ἀντιπάτρου τῆς διαθήκης ἐξήλειψεν.

7. ⁵⁹⁸ Saying this, she brought the box, containing a small amount of this potion. But the king let her off and instead tortured Antiphilus's mother and brother, who both confessed that Antiphilus brought the box from Egypt and that they had got the potion from a brother of his, a physician in Alexandria. ⁵⁹⁹ Then the spirits of Alexander and Aristobulus went round all the palace and became the inquisitors and revealers of what could not otherwise be known and brought even the most exempt from suspicion to be examined. It was found that the high priest's daughter, Mariamne, knew about this plot, and her own brothers declared it under torture. ⁶⁰⁰ Then the king avenged the mother's insolent attempt upon her son and expunged from his testament the Herod she had borne him, who had earlier been named in it as successor to Antipater.

[601] Ἐπὶ τούτοις καὶ Βάθυλλος εἰς τοὺς ἐλέγχους συνέδραμεν, ἡ τελευταία πίστις τῶν Ἀντιπάτρῳ βεβουλευμένων: ἦν μὲν γὰρ ἀπελεύθερος αὐτοῦ, κομίζων δ' ἧκεν ἄλλο δηλητήριον ἰοὺς ἀσπίδων καὶ χυλοὺς ἑτέρων ἑρπετῶν, ἵνα εἰ τὸ πρῶτον ἀσθενήσει φάρμακον, τούτῳ Φερώρας μετὰ τῆς γυναικὸς ὁπλίσαιτο κατὰ τοῦ βασιλέως. [602] πάρεργον δὲ τῆς ἐπὶ τὸν πατέρα τόλμης ἐκόμιζεν τὰς κατὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἐσκευωρημένας ἐπιστολὰς ὑπ' Ἀντιπάτρου: ἦσαν γὰρ Ἀρχέλαος καὶ Φίλιππος βασιλέως παῖδες ἐπὶ Ῥώμης παιδευόμενοι μειράκιά τε ἤδη καὶ φρονήματος μεστοί. [603] τούτους ἐπανακύπτοντας αὐτοῦ ταῖς ἐλπίσιν ἀποσκευάσασθαι σπεύδων Ἀντίπατρος ἃς μὲν πλάττεται κατ' αὐτῶν ἐπιστολὰς ἐξ ὀνόματος τῶν ἐπὶ Ῥώμης φίλων, οὓς δὲ ἔπειθεν γράψαι διαφθείρας χρήμασιν, ὡς πολλὰ μὲν βλασφημοῖεν τὸν πατέρα, φανερῶς δὲ Ἀλέξανδρον καὶ Ἀριστόβουλον ὀδύροιντο, πρὸς δὲ τὴν μετάκλησιν ἀγανακτοῖεν: ἤδη δ' αὐτοὺς ὁ πατὴρ μετεπέμπετο, καὶ τοῦτο ἦν τὸ μάλιστα ταράσσον Ἀντίπατρον.

1. ⁶⁰¹ Next, Antipater's freedman Bathyllus came under accusation and gave the final proof of what Antipater had planned. This man had brought another deadly potion, the poison of asps and the juices of other snakes that if the first potion did not do the business, Pheroras and his wife might still have this to do away with the king. ⁶⁰² In addition to Antipater's daring attempt on his father were the letters he wrote against his brothers, Archelaus and Philip, the king's sons who were being educated in Rome, still youths of generous spirit. ⁶⁰³ Antipater was anxious to be rid of these as soon as possible, to prevent them thwarting his hopes, and so had forged letters against them in the name of his friends in Rome, whom he bribed to write how they grossly insulted their father and publicly mourned Alexander and Aristobulus and were fearful at being recalled, for their father had already sent for them, which was the very thing that troubled Antipater.

[604] Ἔτι δὲ καὶ πρὸ τῆς ἀποδημίας ἐν Ἰουδαίαι μένων τοιαύτας κατ' αὐτῶν ἐπὶ Ῥώμης ἠγόραζεν ἐπιστολὰς προσιών τε ὡς ἀνύποπτος εἴη τῷ πατρὶ περὶ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἀπελογεῖτο, τὰ μὲν ψευδῆ λέγων εἶναι τῶν γραφομένων, ἃ δὲ νεότητος ἁμαρτήματα. [605] τηνικαῦτά γε μὴν τοῖς γράφουσιν κατὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν πλεῖστα δοὺς χρήματα συμφύρειν ἐπειρᾶτο τὸν ἔλεγχον, ἐσθῆτάς τε πολυτελεῖς καὶ στρωμνὰς ποικίλας ἐκπώματά τε ἀργυρᾶ καὶ χρυσᾶ συνωνούμενος ἄλλα τε πολλὰ τῶν κειμηλίων, ἵνα τῷ πλήθει τῆς εἰς ταῦτα δαπάνης τοὺς εἰς ἐκεῖνα μισθοὺς ἐγκαταγράψῃ: διακόσια γοῦν ἀναλώματος ἀνήνεγκεν τάλαντα, καὶ τούτων μεγίστη πρόφασις ἦν ἡ πρὸς Συλλαῖον δίκη. [606] πάντων δ' αὐτοῦ τότε καὶ τῶν βραχυτέρων ἐν τῷ μείζονι κακῷ διακαλυφθέντων, ὅθ' αἱ μὲν βάσανοι πᾶσαι τὴν πατροκτονίαν, αἱ δ' ἐπιστολαὶ δευτέρας ἀδελφοκτονίας κεκράγεσαν, ὅμως οὐδεὶς τῶν εἰς Ῥώμην ἀφικνουμένων ἀπήγγειλεν αὐτῷ τὰς ἐν Ἰουδαίαι τύχας καίτοι μεταξὺ τῶν ἐλέγχων καὶ τῆς ἐπανόδου διελθόντων ἑπτὰ μηνῶν: τοσοῦτον πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐκ πάντων μῖσος ἦν. [607] τάχα καὶ τοὺς ἀπαγγέλλειν προῃρημένους οἱ τῶν ἀνῃρημένων δαίμονες ἀδελφῶν ἐφίμουν: γράφει γοῦν ἀπὸ Ῥώμης ἄφιξιν ἑαυτοῦ ταχεῖαν εὐαγγελιζόμενος, καὶ ὡς ὑπὸ Καίσαρος μετὰ τιμῆς ἀπολυθείη.

2. ⁶⁰⁴ Indeed, while he was in Judea before departing for Rome, he paid to have similar letters against them sent from Rome and then went to his father, who as yet had no suspicion of him and apologized for his brothers and alleged on their behalf that some of the things contained in those letters were false while others were just youthful mistakes. ⁶⁰⁵ While spending a lot of his money on the gifts given to those who wrote against his brothers, he tried to obscure his accounts by buying expensive clothing and carpets of various textures, and silver and gold cups and many luxuries, so as to hide among these large expenses the money he had used to pay people. For he submitted an account of his expenses, amounting to two hundred talents, his main pretext being his law-suit with Syllaeus. ⁶⁰⁶ While all his lesser misdeeds were covered by his greater villainy, and every examination under torture cried out his attempt to murder his father and the letters proved his second attempt to murder his brothers, none of those who came to Rome told him of his troubles in Judea, though seven months passed between his conviction and his return, such was the hatred of everyone towards him. ⁶⁰⁷ Perhaps it was the ghosts of his brothers who had been murdered that sealed the lips of those who might have told him. He wrote from Rome announcing the good news of his return and how he had been sent away with honour by Caesar.

[608] Ὁ βασιλεὺς δὲ εἰς χεῖρας λαβεῖν σπεύδων τὸν ἐπίβουλον καὶ δεδοικὼς μή ποτε προγνοὺς φυλάξηται, δι' ἐπιστολῆς ἀνθυπεκρίνετο τά τε ἄλλα φιλοφρονούμενος καὶ σπεύδειν παρακαλῶν: θήσεσθαι γὰρ αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰς πρὸς τὴν μητέρα μέμψεις ἐπειχθέντος: οὐ γὰρ ἠγνόει τὴν ἐκβολὴν τῆς μητρὸς Ἀντίπατρος. [609] πρότερον μὲν οὖν εἰλήφει τὴν περὶ τῆς Φερώρα τελευτῆς ἐπιστολὴν ἐν Τάραντι καὶ μέγιστον ἐποιήσατο πένθος, ὅ τινες ὡς ἐπὶ θείῳ καθύμνουν, ἦν δ', ὡς ἔοικεν, ἐπὶ διαμαρτίαι τῆς ἐπιβουλῆς ἡ σύγχυσις καὶ οὐ Φερώραν κλαίοντος, ἀλλὰ τὸν ὑπηρέτην: ἤδη δὲ καὶ φόβος ἐπήιει τις αὐτὸν τῶν τετελεσμένων, μή ποτε φωραθείη τὸ φάρμακον. [610] τότε δ' ἐν Κιλικίαι λαβὼν ἣν προειρήκαμεν παρὰ τοῦ πατρὸς ἐπιστολὴν παραχρῆμα μὲν ἔσπευδεν, ὡς δὲ εἰς Κελένδεριν κατέπλει, λαμβάνει τις αὐτὸν ἔννοια τῶν περὶ τὴν μητέρα κακῶν προμαντευομένης ἤδη καὶ καθ' ἑαυτὴν τῆς ψυχῆς. [611] οἱ μὲν οὖν προμηθέστεροι τῶν φίλων συνεβούλευον μὴ πρότερον ἐμπίπτειν τῷ πατρὶ πρὶν πυθέσθαι σαφῶς δι' ἃς αἰτίας ἐξέβαλεν αὐτοῦ τὴν μητέρα: δεδιέναι γάρ, μή ποτε προσθήκη γένοιτο τῶν κατ' ἐκείνης διαβολῶν. [612] οἱ δὲ ἀσκεπτότεροι καὶ τὴν πατρίδα σπεύδοντες ἰδεῖν μᾶλλον ἢ τὸ συμφέρον Ἀντιπάτρῳ σκοποῦντες, ἐπείγεσθαι παρήινουν καὶ μὴ τῇ μελλήσει παρασχεῖν τῷ πατρὶ μὲν ὑποψίαν φαύλην, τοῖς διαβάλλουσι δὲ ἀφορμήν: καὶ γὰρ νῦν, εἴ τι κεκίνηται κατ' αὐτοῦ, παρὰ τὴν ἀπουσίαν γέγονεν: μηδὲ γὰρ ἂν τολμῆσαι παρόντος: ἄτοπον δ' εἶναι δι' ἀδήλους ὑποψίας προδήλων ἀγαθῶν στερίσκεσθαι, καὶ μὴ θᾶττον ἀποδοῦναι μὲν ἑαυτὸν τῷ πατρί, κομίσασθαι δὲ τὴν βασιλείαν ἐπ' αὐτῷ μόνῳ σαλεύουσαν. [613] πείθεται τούτοις, ἐνῆγεν γὰρ τὸ δαιμόνιον, καὶ διαπεράσας εἰς τὸν Σεβαστὸν λιμένα τῆς Καισαρείας κατάγεται.

3. ⁶⁰⁸ The king, wanting to lay hands on this conspirator but afraid that he might somehow come to know the state of affairs and be on his guard, hid his anger in the letter he wrote him, writing politely and asking him to hurry, for if he came quickly, he would set lay aside his complaints against his mother, for Antipater was not unaware that his mother had been expelled. ⁶⁰⁹ But he had earlier received a letter at Tarentum, with an account of the death of Pheroras, and loudly lamented it, for which some praised him, thinking that his grief was for his uncle, but probably it was for the failure of his plot, and his grief was not for Pheroras but for his accomplice, in case the poison had been discovered. ⁶¹⁰ At any rate he received the said letter from his father while in Cilicia, and so hurried onward. But as he sailed into Celenderis he became suspicious of his mother's woes, as if his soul foreboded some harm to himself. ⁶¹¹ The more cautious of his friends advised him not to rashly go to his father, until he learned why his mother had been expelled, afraid he might be stained by the calumnies heaped upon her. ⁶¹² But the less prudent, more concerned to see their native country than for Antipater's good, persuaded him to hurry home and not delay his journey and cause his father any suspicion or give a pretext to those who told stories against him. If anything had changed to his detriment, they said, it was due to his absence. This would not happen if he were present, and he should not forego certain success for the sake of an uncertain suspicion, so let him return to his father and take up the kingdom which only himself had placed in jeopardy. ⁶¹³ Impelled by Fate, Antipater took the latter advice, and crossed the sea and landed at Sebasté, the harbour of Caesarea.

[614] Παρυπήντησεν δ' αὐτῷ παρὰ δόξαν ἐρημία πολλὴ πάντων ἐκτρεπομένων καὶ μηδενὸς προσιέναι τολμῶντος: ἐμισεῖτο μὲν γὰρ ἐπίσης, καὶ τότε φανῆναι τὸ μῖσος ἔσχεν παρρησίαν, πολλοὺς δὲ ὁ ἐκ τοῦ βασιλέως φόβος ἀπέστρεψεν, ἐπειδὴ πᾶσα πόλις ἤδη τῆς κατ' Ἀντιπάτρου φήμης πεπλήρωτο καὶ μόνος ἠγνόει τὰ κατ' αὐτὸν Ἀντίπατρος: οὔτε δὲ προεπέμφθη λαμπρότερόν τις ἐκείνου πλέοντος ἐπὶ Ῥώμης οὔτε ἀτιμότερον ὑπεδέχθη. [615] ὁ δὲ ἤδη μὲν ἐνενόει τὰς οἴκοι συμφοράς, ἔτι δὲ ἐκ πανουργίας ὑπεκρύπτετο καὶ τῷ δέει τεθνηκὼς ἔνδοθεν σοβαρὸς εἶναι τὸ πρόσωπον ἐβιάζετο. [616] φυγὴ δ' οὐκέτι ἦν οὐδ' ἐκ τῶν περιεχόντων ἀνάδυσις, καὶ σαφὲς μὲν οὐδὲ ἐκεῖ τι τῶν οἴκοθεν ἀπηγγέλλετο διὰ τὴν ἐκ τοῦ βασιλέως ἀπειλήν, ὑπελείπετο δὲ ἐλπὶς ἱλαρωτέρα, τάχα μὲν μηδὲν πεφωρᾶσθαι, τάχα δ', εἴ τι καὶ πεφώραται, διασκευάσειν ἀναιδείᾳ καὶ δόλοις, ἅπερ ἦν αὐτῷ μόνα τὰ τῆς σωτηρίας ἐφόδια.

4. ⁶¹⁴ What he met was total and unexpected solitude, for all avoided him and nobody dared approach him, for he was equally hated by everyone, and now they dared to show it. The people's dread of the king's anger also made them keep away from him, for the whole city was filled with the rumours about Antipater and only he himself was unaware of them. Just as when he began his voyage to Rome, nobody had ever had a more magnificent send-off, so nobody was ever received back with less honour. ⁶¹⁵ Already he had a suspicion of the troubles in Herod's family but shrewdly concealed it, and while inwardly he was dying of fear, he forced himself to put on a bold face. ⁶¹⁶ There was now no way out, no escape from what surrounded him. He had not even any certain news about matters in the royal family, because of the king's threats. Yet he hoped that things would improve if nothing had been discovered, or even if it had, to still clear himself by one of his daring ruses, the only thing that could now save him.

[617] Φραξάμενος οὖν αὐτοῖς ἧκεν εἰς τὸ βασίλειον δίχα τῶν φίλων: οὗτοι γὰρ ὑβρισθέντες ἐπὶ τοῦ πρώτου πυλῶνος εἴρχθησαν: ἔτυχεν δ' ἔνδον ὢν Οὔαρος ὁ τῆς Συρίας ἡγεμών. ὁ δὲ εἴσεισι πρὸς τὸν πατέρα καὶ τῇ τόλμῃ παρακροτήσας ἑαυτὸν ἤγγιζεν ὡς ἀσπασόμενος. [618] κἀκεῖνος τὰς χεῖρας προβαλὼν καὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν παρακλίνας, «ἔστιν, ἐξεβόησεν, καὶ τοῦτο πατροκτόνου τὸ περιπλέκεσθαί μοι θέλειν ἐν τηλικαύταις αἰτίαις ὄντα. φθείρου, δυσσεβεστάτη κεφαλή, μηδέ μου ψαύσῃς πρὶν ἀποσκευάσασθαι τὰ ἐγκλήματα. δίδωμι δέ σοι δικαστήριον καὶ δικαστὴν εὐκαίρως ἥκοντα Οὔαρον. ἴθι καὶ σκέπτου τὴν ἀπολογίαν εἰς αὔριον: παρέχω γάρ σου καιρὸν [619] τοῖς πανουργεύμασιν.» πρὸς ταῦτα μηδὲν ὑπ' ἐκπλήξεως ἀποκρίνασθαι δυνηθεὶς αὐτὸς ὑπέστρεψεν, παραγενόμεναι δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐκδιηγήσαντο πάντας τοὺς ἐλέγχους ἥ τε μήτηρ καὶ ἡ γυνή. καὶ τότε μὲν ἀνανήψας ἐν σκέψει τῆς ἀπολογίας ἦν.

5. ⁶¹⁷ He comforted himself with these hopes until he reached the palace, unaccompanied by his friends, for these were snubbed and excluded at the first gate. Varus the governor of Syria happened to be in the palace when Antipater went to his father, putting on a bold face to greet him. ⁶¹⁸ But Herod stretched out his hands and turned away his head and cried out, "Even this shows him a patricide, to want to embrace me when he stands accused of such foulness. God blast you, you villain; do not touch me, until you have cleared yourself of the crimes accused against you. I want you judged by a court, with Varus is here at the right time to be your judge. Have your defense ready for tomorrow, for I give you until then to lay your plans." ⁶¹⁹ He was so taken aback that he went off, unable to answer, but his mother and wife came to him and told him all the evidence against him, which got him to think and ponder what defense to make against the accusations.

[620] τῇ δ' ἐπιούσῃ συνέδριον μὲν ὁ βασιλεὺς ἀθροίζει τῶν συγγενῶν καὶ φίλων, εἰσκαλεῖ δὲ καὶ τοὺς Ἀντιπάτρου φίλους. προκαθέζεται δὲ αὐτὸς ἅμα Οὐάρῳ καὶ τοὺς μηνυτὰς πάντας ἐκέλευσεν εἰσαγαγεῖν, ἐν οἷς εἰσήχθησαν καὶ τῆς Ἀντιπάτρου μητρὸς οἰκέται τινὲς οὐ πρὸ πολλοῦ συνειλημμένοι, κομίζοντες γράμματα παρ' αὐτῆς πρὸς τὸν υἱὸν τοιάδε: «ἐπεὶ πεφώραται πάντα ἐκεῖνα τῷ πατρί σου, μὴ παραγίνου πρὸς αὐτόν, ἂν μή τινα πορίσῃ παρὰ τοῦ Καίσαρος [621] δύναμιν.» τούτων σὺν τοῖς ἄλλοις εἰσηγμένων Ἀντίπατρος εἰσέρχεται καὶ πεσὼν πρηνὴς πρὸ τῶν ποδῶν τοῦ πατρός, «ἱκετεύω, πάτερ, ἔφη, μηδέν μου προκατεγνωκέναι, παρασχεῖν δέ μοι τὰς ἀκοὰς ἀκεραίους εἰς τὴν ἀπολογίαν: ἀποδείξω γὰρ ἐμαυτὸν καθαρόν, ἂν σὺ θέλῃς.»

1. ⁶²⁰ The next day the king assembled a court of his relatives and friends and called in Antipater's friends. Herod himself presided along with Varus, and Herod called for all the witnesses to be brought in; among whom were some servants of Antipater's mother, who a little earlier had been caught bringing this letter from her to her son: "Since your father knows all these things, do not come to him unless you can get some help from Caesar." ⁶²¹ When these and the other witnesses were brought in, Antipater entered and falling on his face at his father's feet, said, "Father, I beg you not to condemn me in advance, but hear my defense without prejudice, for if you let me, I will prove that I am innocent."

[622] Ὁ δ' αὐτῷ σιγᾶν ἐγκραγὼν πρὸς τὸν Οὔαρον εἶπεν: «ἀλλ' ὅτι μὲν καὶ σύ, Οὔαρε, καὶ πᾶς δικαστὴς ὅσιος Ἀντίπατρον ἐξώλη κρινεῖ, πέπεισμαι. δέδοικα δέ, μὴ κἀμοῦ μισήσῃς τὴν τύχην κἀμὲ κρίνῃς πάσης ἄξιον συμφορᾶς τοιούτους υἱοὺς γεγεννηκότα. χρὴ δέ με διὰ τοῦτο ἐλεεῖσθαι πλέον, ὅτι πρὸς οὕτω μιαροὺς καὶ φιλοστοργότατος πατὴρ ἐγενόμην. [623] τοὺς μὲν γὰρ προτέρους βασιλείας τε ἔτι νέους ἀξιώσας καὶ πρὸς τοῖς ἐν Ῥώμῃ τροφείοις φίλους Καίσαρος, ζηλωτοὺς δὲ ποιήσας βασιλεῦσιν ἑτέροις, εὗρον ἐπιβούλους, οἳ τεθνήκασι τὸ πλέον Ἀντιπάτρῳ: νέῳ γὰρ ὄντι καὶ διαδόχῳ τούτῳ μάλιστα τὴν ἀσφάλειαν ἐποριζόμην. [624] τὸ δὲ μιαρὸν τοῦτο θηρίον τῆς ἐμῆς ὑπερεμπλησθὲν ἀνεξικακίας ἤνεγκεν κατ' ἐμοῦ τὸν κόρον: ἔδοξα γὰρ αὐτῷ πολὺν ζῆν χρόνον, καὶ τὸ ἐμὸν γῆρας ἐβαρύνθη βασιλεύς τε οὐχ ὑπέμεινεν εἰ μὴ διὰ πατροκτονίας γενέσθαι, δίκαια γοῦν βουλευσάμενος, ὅτι καταγαγὼν αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τῆς χώρας ἀπερριμμένον καὶ παρωσάμενος τοὺς ἐκ βασιλίδος μοι γεγενημένους ἀπέδειξα τῆς ἀρχῆς διάδοχον.

[625] ἐξομολογοῦμαί σοι, Οὔαρε, τὴν ἐμαυτοῦ φρενοβλάβειαν: ἐγὼ τοὺς υἱοὺς ἐκείνους κατ' ἐμαυτοῦ παρώξυνα δικαίας αὐτῶν ἀποκόψας ἐλπίδας δι' Ἀντίπατρον. καὶ τί μὲν ἐκείνους εὐεργέτησα τηλικοῦτον, ἡλίκον τοῦτον; ὧι γε ζῶν μὲν ὀλίγου δεῖν παρεχώρησα τῆς ἐξουσίας, φανερῶς δὲ ταῖς διαθήκαις ἐνέγραψα τῆς ἀρχῆς διάδοχον καὶ πρόσοδον μὲν ἰδίαι πεντήκοντα ταλάντων ἔνειμα, τῶν δ' ἐμῶν ἐχορήγησα χρημάτων ἀνέδην, πλέοντι δὲ νῦν εἰς Ῥώμην ἔδωκα τριακόσια τάλαντα, Καίσαρι δ' ἐξ ὅλης τῆς γενεᾶς μόνον ὡς σωτῆρα τοῦ πατρὸς παρεθέμην. [626] τί δ' ἐκεῖνοι τοιοῦτον ἠσέβησαν, οἷον Ἀντίπατρος; ἢ τίς ἔλεγχος ἠνέχθη κατ' αὐτῶν, ἡλίκος ἀποδείκνυσιν τοῦτον ἐπίβουλον; [627] ἀλλὰ φθέγγεσθαί τι τετόλμηκεν ὁ πατροκτόνος καὶ πάλιν δόλοις τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἐπικαλύψειν ἐλπίζει. Οὔαρε, σοὶ φυλακτέον: ἐγὼ γὰρ οἶδα τὸ θηρίον καὶ προορῶμαι τὴν μέλλουσαν ἀξιοπιστίαν καὶ τὸν ἐπίπλαστον ὀλοφυρμόν: οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ παραινῶν ἐμοί ποτε φυλάττεσθαι ζῶντα Ἀλέξανδρον καὶ μὴ πᾶσιν πιστεύειν τὸ σῶμα: οὗτος ὁ μέχρι τῆς κοίτης εἰσάγων καὶ μή μέ τις ἐνεδρεύοι περιβλέπων: οὗτος ὁ ταμίας τῶν ὕπνων καὶ χορηγὸς τῆς ἀμεριμνίας, ὁ παραμυθούμενος τὴν ἐπὶ τοῖς ἀνῃρημένοις λύπην καὶ διακρίνων τὴν τῶν ζώντων εὔνοιαν ἀδελφῶν, ὁ ὑπερασπιστὴς ὁ ἐμός, ὁ σωματοφύλαξ. [628] ὅταν ἀναμνησθῶ, Οὔαρε, τὸ πανοῦργον ἐν ἑκάστῳ καὶ τὴν ὑπόκρισιν, ἀπιστία με τοῦ ζῆν εἰσέρχεται καὶ θαυμάζω, πῶς βαρὺν οὕτως ἐπίβουλον διέφυγον. ἀλλ' ἐπεὶ δαίμων τις ἐξερημοῖ τὸν ἐμὸν οἶκον καί μοι τοὺς φιλτάτους ἐπανίστησιν ἀεί, κλαύσομαι μὲν ἐγὼ τὴν ἄδικον εἱμαρμένην καὶ κατ' ἐμαυτὸν στενάξω τὴν ἐρημίαν, διαφεύξεται δ' οὐδεὶς διψήσας τοὐμὸν αἷμα, κἂν διὰ πάντων μου τῶν τέκνων ὁ ἔλεγχος ἔλθῃ.»

2. ⁶²² Herod shouted to him to be silent and said, "Varus, I must assume that you and every other fair judge will decide that Antipater is a villain. I fear that as well as being shocked by my bad luck you will think that I deserve my fate for begetting such children, though I am more to be pitied for being so fond a father to such wretched sons. ⁶²² For when in their early days I had intended my former sons to have the kingdom, and when, on top of the expense of educating them in Rome, I had made them friends of Caesar and the envy of other kings, I found them plotting against me. Those were put to death, mainly for the sake of Antipater, for when he was young I appointed him my succesor, and took care keep him safe. ⁶²⁴ But like a foul beast, too indulged by my patience, he used against me all that I had given him. He thought I was living too long and was so irked by my old age that, unwilling to wait and sought to become king by patricide. It serves me right for I brought him back to the palace from obscurity in the country, displacing those sons of mine who were born of the queen and naming him successor to my throne.

⁶²⁵ Varus, I confess to you my great foolishness, for I provoked those sons to act against me by robbing them of their rightful hopes for the sake of Antipater. What kindness did I show them, as I did to this fellow? I have, as it were, handed over to him my authority during my lifetime, in publicly naming him in my testament to rule as my successor and giving him a yearly income of fifty talents and extravagant gifts out of my own revenue. When he was sailing to Rome I gave him three hundred talents and commended him to Caesar, alone of all my children, as his father's saviour. ⁶²⁶ What crimes did the others commit, compared to Antipater's? What proof against them was as strong as the proof of this fellow's plot against me? ⁶²⁶ Yet the patricide presumes to speak on his own behalf and hopes to hide the truth again by his cunning. Varus, you must beware of him, for I know the beast and foresee how plausibly he will talk and his artificial laments. It was he who urged me to distrust Alexander when he was alive and not to trust my life to everyone! He it was who came to my bedside and looked around to see if anyone had laid a snare for me! He it was who took care of my sleep, offering me freedom from worry, and comforted me in my grief at the murder of my sons and discerned how my surviving brothers felt towards me! This was my protector and bodyguard! ⁶²⁸ When I call to mind, Varus, his craftiness and hypocrisy in each matter, it's a wonder that I am still alive and have survived such an outright schemer. But since some demon is ruining my family and always stirring against me those who are dearest to me, I will grieve in silence for my hard and lonely lot, but am determined that no one who thirsts for my blood shall go unpunished, even if it includes all my sons."

[629] Τοιαῦτα λέγων αὐτὸς μὲν ὑπὸ συγχύσεως ἐνεκόπη, Νικολάῳ δ' ἑνὶ τῶν φίλων λέγειν τὰς ἀποδείξεις ἔνευσεν. μεταξὺ δ' ὁ Ἀντίπατρος ἐπάρας τὴν κεφαλήν, ἔμενεν γὰρ δὴ βεβλημένος πρὸ τῶν ποδῶν τοῦ πατρός, ἐκβοᾶι: [630] «σύ, πάτερ, ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ πεποίηκας τὴν ἀπολογίαν: πῶς γὰρ ἐγὼ πατροκτόνος, ὃν ὁμολογεῖς φύλακα διὰ παντὸς ἐσχηκέναι; τερατείαν δέ μου καὶ ὑπόκρισιν λέγεις τὴν εὐσέβειαν. πῶς ὁ πανοῦργος ἐν τοῖς ἄλλοις οὕτως ἄφρων ἐγενόμην, ὡς μὴ νοεῖν, ὅτι λαθεῖν οὐδ' ἀνθρώπους ῥάιδιον τηλικοῦτον μύσος ἐνσκευαζόμενον, τὸν δ' ἀπ' οὐρανοῦ δικαστὴν ἀμήχανον, ὃς ἐφορᾷ πάντα καὶ πανταχοῦ πάρεστιν; [631] ἢ τὸ τῶν ἀδελφῶν τέλος ἠγνόουν, οὓς ὁ θεὸς οὕτως μετῆλθε τῆς εἰς σὲ κακοβουλίας; τί δέ με καὶ παρώξυνεν κατὰ σοῦ; βασιλείας ἐλπίς; ἀλλ' ἐβασίλευον. ὑπόνοια μίσους; οὐ γὰρ ἐστεργόμην; φόβος ἐκ σοῦ τις ἄλλος: ἀλλὰ μὴν σὲ τηρῶν ἑτέροις φοβερὸς ἤμην. ἔνδεια χρημάτων; [632] καὶ τίνι μᾶλλον ἐξῆν ἀναλίσκειν; εἰ γὰρ ἐξωλέστατος πάντων ἀνθρώπων ἐγενόμην καὶ θηρίου ψυχὴν εἶχον ἀνημέρου, πάτερ, οὐκ ἂν ταῖς σαῖς εὐεργεσίαις ἐνικήθην, ὃν κατήγαγες μέν, ὡς ἔφης αὐτός, προέκρινας δὲ τοσούτων τέκνων, ἀπέδειξας δὲ ζῶν βασιλέα, δι' ὑπερβολὴν δὲ τῶν ἄλλων ἀγαθῶν ἐποίησας ἐπίφθονον; [633] ὢ τάλας ἐγὼ τῆς πικρᾶς ἀποδημίας, ὡς πολὺν ἔδωκα καιρὸν τῷ φθόνῳ καὶ μακρὰν τοῖς ἐπιβουλεύουσι διωρίαν. σοὶ δέ, πάτερ, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς ἀγῶσιν ἀπεδήμουν, ἵνα μὴ Συλλαῖος τοῦ σοῦ γήρως καταφρονήσῃ. Ῥώμη μοι μάρτυς τῆς εὐσεβείας καὶ ὁ τῆς οἰκουμένης προστάτης Καῖσαρ, ὁ φιλοπάτορα πολλάκις με εἰπών. λάβε, πάτερ, τὰ παρ' αὐτοῦ γράμματα. ταῦτα τῶν ἐνθάδε διαβολῶν πιστότερα, ταῦτα ἀπολογία μοι μόνη, τούτοις τῆς εἰς σὲ φιλοστοργίας τεκμηρίοις χρῶμαι. [634] μέμνησο δὲ ὡς οὐχ ἑκὼν ἔπλεον ἐπιστάμενος τὴν ἐμφωλεύουσαν τῇ βασιλείᾳ κατ' ἐμοῦ δυσμένειαν. σὺ δέ με, πάτερ, ἄκων ἀπώλεσας, ἀναγκάσας καιρὸν διαβολῆς δοῦναι τῷ φθόνῳ. πάρειμι δὲ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἐλέγχους, πάρειμι διὰ γῆς καὶ θαλάσσης οὐδὲν οὐδαμοῦ παθὼν ὁ πατροκτόνος. [635] ἀλλὰ μήπω με τούτῳ φίλει τῷ τεκμηρίῳ: κατέγνωσμαι γὰρ καὶ παρὰ θεῷ καὶ παρὰ σοί, πάτερ. κατεγνωσμένος δὲ δέομαι μὴ ταῖς ἄλλων βασάνοις πιστεύειν, ἀλλὰ κατ' ἐμοῦ φερέσθω τὸ πῦρ, ὁδευέτω διὰ τῶν ἐμῶν σπλάγχνων τὰ ὄργανα, μὴ φειδέσθω ὀλοφυρμὸς τοῦ μιαροῦ σώματος: εἰ γὰρ εἰμὶ πατροκτόνος, [636] οὐκ ὀφείλω θνήσκειν ἀβασάνιστος.» τοιαῦτα μετ' ὀλοφυρμοῦ καὶ δακρύων ἐκβοῶν τούς τε ἄλλους ἅπαντας καὶ τὸν Οὔαρον εἰς οἶκτον προυκαλέσατο, μόνον δὲ ὁ θυμὸς Ἡρώδην ἄδακρυν διεκράτει τοὺς ἐλέγχους ἀληθεῖς ἐπιστάμενον.

3. ⁶²⁹ As Herod said this, he broke off in distress and told Nicolaus, one of his friends, to produce the evidence against Antipater. Meanwhile Antipater lifted up his head and shouted, ⁶³⁰ "Father, you have made my defence for me, for how can I be a patricide, when you admit that you always had me as your guardian? You call my filial loyalty amazing hypocrisy! But how could a man so subtle in other matters, be so mad as not to know that such a terrible crime is hard to hide from others and impossible to hide from the heavenly Judge who sees all and is everywhere present? ⁶³¹ Or did I not know what happened to my brothers, so punished by God for plotting against you? What was there to rouse me against you? The hope of being king? But I was already a king! A suspicion that you hated me? No, for was I not well loved? What had I to fear, when by keeping you safe, I caused fear to others. ⁶³² Was it lack of money? No, for who had as much to spend as I? Father, even if I were the worst of men and with the soul of the wildest beast, would I not have been won over by your favours to me? As you yourself say, you supported me and favoured me over so many of your sons, you made me king in your own lifetime, and, by other great favours you made me an enviable man. ⁶³³ How I regret my sad absence which gave such scope for envy and plotting against me! But father, I was away on your behalf, so that Syllaeus might not treat you with contempt in your old age. Rome can testify to my devotion to you, as can Caesar, ruler of the world, who often called me Philopater. Take these letters he has sent you, which should be believed more than the calumnies against me. These letters are my only apology and prove my affection for you. ⁶³⁴ Remember that it was against my wishes that I sailed away, knowing the secret hatred in the kingdom against me. It was you, father, who ruined me, however unwillingly, by giving time for calumny and envy to rise against me. I have come to answer the charges, and if I am a patricide, I have crossed land and sea without mishap on either. ⁶³⁵ But this proof is no help to me, father, as I seem to be condemned already, in God's sight and yours. Well, if I am already condemned, please do not believe those who have already been tortured, but let fire be brought to me. Let pain rack my bowels and ignore any screams of this wretched body, for if I am a patricide, I ought not die without torture." ⁶³⁶ This he called out with groans and tears, and moved all the rest and Varus in particular, to pity him. Herod was the only one whose feeling was too strong to let him weep, knowing that the evidence was true.

[637] Ἐν τούτῳ Νικόλαος τοῦ βασιλέως κελεύσαντος πολλὰ πρὸς τὸ πανοῦργον τὸ Ἀντιπάτρου προειπὼν καὶ τὸν ἐπ' αὐτῷ διαχέας ἔλεον, ἔπειτα πικρὰν κατηγορίαν κατετείνατο, πάντα μὲν τὰ κατὰ τὴν βασιλείαν κακουργήματα περιτιθεὶς αὐτῷ, μάλιστα δὲ τὴν ἀναίρεσιν τῶν ἀδελφῶν, ἀποδεικνὺς ταῖς ἐκείνου διαβολαῖς ἀπολωλότας. ἐπιβουλεύειν δὲ αὐτὸν ἔλεγεν καὶ τοῖς περιοῦσιν ὡς ἐφέδροις τῆς διαδοχῆς: τὸν γὰρ παρασκευάσαντα πατρὶ φάρμακον ἦ πού γ' ἂν ἀδελφῶν ἀποσχέσθαι. [638] προελθὼν δ' ἐπὶ τὸν ἔλεγχον τῆς φαρμακείας τάς τε μηνύσεις [ἑξῆς] ἐπεδείκνυεν καὶ περὶ Φερώρα κατεσχετλίαζεν, ὅτι κἀκεῖνον Ἀντίπατρος ποιήσειεν ἀδελφοκτόνον καὶ τοὺς φιλτάτους τῷ βασιλεῖ διαφθείρας ὅλον τοῦ μύσους ἀναπλήσειεν τὸν οἶκον, ἄλλα τε πολλὰ πρὸς τούτοις εἰπὼν καὶ ἀποδείξας καταπαύει τὸν λόγον.

4. ⁶³⁷ Then Nicolaus, at the king's command, after saying much about Antipater's guile and countering their pity towards him, accused him bitterly and at length, blaming him for all the plotting in the kingdom and especially for the murder of his brothers, showing that they had died because of his calumnies, and that he also conspired against those who were still alive, seen as a threat to his succession. How could one imagine that a man who prepared poison for his father would spare his brothers? ⁶³⁸ He proceeded to the attempted poisoning and detailed the various discoveries that had been made, waxing indignant about the business about Pheroras, how Antipater had tried to get him to murder his brother and corrupted those dearest to the king and filled the royal house with evil. Then after listing many other accusations and the proofs for them, he concluded his speech.

[639] Οὔαρος δὲ ἀπολογεῖσθαι κελεύσας τὸν Ἀντίπατρον, ὡς οὐδὲν πλέον εἰπὼν ἢ «θεός ἐστίν μοι τοῦ μηδὲν ἀδικεῖν μάρτυς» ἔκειτο σιγῶν, αἰτήσας τὸ φάρμακον δίδωσί τινι τῶν ἐπὶ θανάτῳ κατακρίτων δεσμώτῃ πιεῖν. [640] τοῦ δὲ παραχρῆμα τελευτήσαντος ὁ μὲν ἀπορρήτους ποιήσας τὰς πρὸς Ἡρώδην ὁμιλίας καὶ τὰ περὶ τὸ συνέδριον Καίσαρι γράψας μετὰ μίαν ἡμέραν χωρίζεται. δεσμεῖ δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἀντίπατρον καὶ πρὸς Καίσαρα τοὺς δηλώσοντας τὴν συμφορὰν ἐξέπεμψεν.

5. ⁶³⁹ Varus called on Antipater to make his defense, but he said nothing except, "God is my witness that I am entirely innocent." Then Varus asked for the potion and gave it to be drunk by a condemned prisoner. ⁶⁴⁰ When the man died on the spot, Varus had a secret conversation with Herod and wrote for Caesar an account of this meeting, and then left, having stayed just one day. The king put Antipater in prison and wrote to inform Caesar of the misfortune.

[641] Μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα καὶ κατὰ Σαλώμης ἐπίβουλος Ἀντίπατρος εὑρίσκεται: τῶν γὰρ Ἀντιφίλου τις οἰκετῶν ἧκεν ἐπιστολὰς κομίζων ἀπὸ Ῥώμης παρὰ Λιουίας θεραπαινίδος Ἀκμῆς τοὔνομα. καὶ παρὰ μὲν ταύτης ἐπέσταλτο βασιλεῖ τὰς παρὰ Σαλώμης ἐπιστολὰς ἐν τοῖς Λιουίας εὑρηκέναι γράμμασιν, πεπομφέναι δὲ αὐτῷ λάθρα δι' εὔνοιαν. [642] αἱ δὲ τῆς Σαλώμης λοιδορίας τε τοῦ βασιλέως περιεῖχον πικροτάτας καὶ κατηγορίαν μεγίστην. ταύτας δὲ πλάσας Ἀντίπατρος καὶ τὴν Ἀκμὴν διαφθείρας ἔπεισεν Ἡρώδῃ πέμψαι. [643] διηλέγχθη δὲ ἐκ τῆς πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐπιστολῆς: καὶ γὰρ ἐκείνῳ τὸ γύναιον ἔγραψεν: «ὡς ἐβουλήθης, ἔγραψά σου τῷ πατρὶ καὶ τὰς ἐπιστολὰς ἐκείνας ἔπεμψα πεπεισμένη τὸν βασιλέα μὴ φείσεσθαι τῆς ἀδελφῆς, ὅταν ἀναγνῷ. καλῶς δὲ ποιήσεις, ἐπειδὰν ἀπαρτισθῇ πάντα, μνημονεύσας ὧν ὑπέσχου.»

6. ⁶⁴¹ Later it was found that Antipater had schemed against Salome too. One of Antiphilus's house servants brought letters from Rome, from a maid-servant of Livia, named Acme. She notified the king how she had found among Livia's papers a letter written by Salome, and as a well-wisher had sent it to him secretly. ⁶⁴² In it Salome bitterly insulted the king and made serious accusations against him, but it had been forged by Antipater, who also got Acme to send it to Herod. ⁶⁴³ This was proved by her letter, when the woman wrote to Antipater: "As you wished, I have written to your father and sent that letter and feel sure that the king will not spare his sister when he reads it. When all is done I hope you will remember what you promised."

[644] Ταύτης φωραθείσης τῆς ἐπιστολῆς καὶ τῶν κατὰ Σαλώμης ἐνσκευασθεισῶν ἔννοια μὲν ἐμπίπτει τῷ βασιλεῖ τάχα καὶ κατ' Ἀλεξάνδρου πλασθῆναι γράμματα, περιαλγὴς δ' ἦν ὑπὸ τοῦ πάθους ὡς παρ' ὀλίγον καὶ τὴν ἀδελφὴν ἀποκτείνας δι' Ἀντίπατρον: [645] οὐκέτι οὖν ἀνεβάλλετο λαβεῖν τιμωρίαν ὑπὲρ ἁπάντων. ὡρμημένος δ' ἐπὶ τὸν Ἀντίπατρον ἐπεσχέθη νόσῳ χαλεπῇ: περὶ μέντοι τῆς Ἀκμῆς καὶ τῶν κατὰ Σαλώμης ἐσκευωρημένων ἐπέστειλεν Καίσαρι. [646] τήν τε διαθήκην αἰτήσας μετέγραφεν, καὶ βασιλέα μὲν ἀπεδείκνυεν Ἀντίπαν ἀμελῶν τῶν πρεσβυτάτων Ἀρχελάου καὶ Φιλίππου: διαβεβλήκει γὰρ καὶ τούτους Ἀντίπατρος: Καίσαρι δὲ σὺν τοῖς διὰ χρημάτων δώροις χίλια τάλαντα, τῇ δὲ γυναικὶ καὶ τέκνοις αὐτοῦ καὶ φίλοις καὶ ἀπελευθέροις περὶ πεντακόσια, ἀπένειμεν δὲ καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις ἅπασιν τῆς τε χώρας οὐκ ὀλίγα καὶ τῶν χρημάτων: λαμπροτάταις δὲ δωρεαῖς ἐτίμα Σαλώμην τὴν ἀδελφήν. ἐν μὲν οὖν ταῖς διαθήκαις ταῦτα διωρθώσατο.

7. ⁶⁴⁴ When this letter was found and their inventions against Salome, the king began to suspect that perhaps the letters against Alexander had also been forged and was so deeply troubled that he had almost killed his sister on account of Antipater. ⁶⁴⁵ He wanteed to delay no longer to punish all his crimes, but while serious illness held him back from dealing with Antipater, he wrote to Caesar about Acme and the plans against Salome. ⁶⁴⁶ He also sent for his testament and altered it, designating Antipas as king and by-passing his eldest sons Archelaus and Philip, since Antipater had ruined them, but bequeathing a thousand talents to Caesar, along with other gifts, and about five hundred to his wife and children and friends and freedmen. He also bequeathed to others a large amount of land and money and honoured his sister Salome with splendid gifts. These were the matters he corrected in his will.

[647] Προήιει δ' αὐτῷ πρὸς τὸ χαλεπώτερον ἡ νόσος ἅτε δὴ τῶν ἀρρωστημάτων ἐν γήρᾳ καὶ ἀθυμίᾳ ἐπιπεσόντων: ἦν μὲν γὰρ ἤδη σχεδὸν ἐτῶν ἑβδομήκοντα, τεταπείνωτο δὲ τὴν ψυχὴν ταῖς περὶ τῶν τέκνων συμφοραῖς, ὡς μηδ' ἐν ὑγιείᾳ τι τῶν ἡδέων προσίεσθαι. τῆς νόσου δ' ἦν ἐπίτασις ζῶν Ἀντίπατρος, ὃν οὐκ ἐν παρέργῳ, ῥαΐσας δὲ προήιρητο ἀνελεῖν.

1. ⁶⁴⁷ Herod's illness developed steadily, made worse by his old age and despondency. He was already seventy years of age and his experiences regarding his children saddened his spirit, though they gave him no real pleasure even when he was in health. Worse than his malady was knowing that Antipater was still alive, whom he now decided to execute, not casually but seriously, as soon as he recovered.

[648] Γίνεται δ' ἐν ταῖς συμφοραῖς αὐτῷ καὶ δημοτική τις ἐπανάστασις. δύο ἦσαν σοφισταὶ κατὰ τὴν πόλιν μάλιστα δοκοῦντες ἀκριβοῦν τὰ πάτρια καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἐν παντὶ τῷ ἔθνει μεγίστης ἠξιωμένοι δόξης, Ἰούδας τε υἱὸς Σεπφεραίου καὶ Ματθίας ἕτερος Μαργάλου. [649] τούτοις οὐκ ὀλίγοι προσήιεσαν τῶν νέων ἐξηγουμένοις τοὺς νόμους, καὶ συνεῖχον ὁσημέρᾳ τῶν ἡβώντων στρατόπεδον. οἳ τότε τὸν βασιλέα πυνθανόμενοι ταῖς ἀθυμίαις ὑπορρέοντα καὶ τῇ νόσῳ λόγον καθίεσαν εἰς τοὺς γνωρίμους, ὡς ἄρα καιρὸς ἐπιτηδειότατος εἴη τιμωρεῖν ἤδη τῷ θεῷ καὶ τὰ κατασκευασθέντα παρὰ τοὺς πατρίους νόμους ἔργα κατασπᾶν. [650] ἀθέμιτον γὰρ εἶναι κατὰ τὸν ναὸν ἢ εἰκόνας ἢ προτομὰς ἢ ζώιου τινὸς ἐπώνυμον ἔργον εἶναι: κατεσκευάκει δ' ὁ βασιλεὺς ὑπὲρ τὴν μεγάλην πύλην ἀετὸν χρυσοῦν: ὃν δὴ τότε παρήινουν ἐκκόπτειν οἱ σοφισταί, καλὸν εἶναι λέγοντες, εἰ καί τις γένοιτο κίνδυνος, ὑπὲρ τοῦ πατρίου νόμου θνήσκειν: τοῖς γὰρ οὕτω τελευτῶσιν ἀθάνατόν τε τὴν ψυχὴν καὶ τὴν ἐν ἀγαθοῖς αἴσθησιν αἰώνιον παραμένειν, τοὺς δὲ ἀγενεῖς καὶ τῆς ἑαυτῶν σοφίας ἀπείρους ἀγνοοῦντας φιλοψυχεῖν καὶ πρὸ τοῦ δι' ἀρετῆς τὸν ἐκ νόσου θάνατον αἱρεῖσθαι.

2. ⁶⁴⁸ On top of his other troubles, there also was now a popular rebellion. There were two men of learning in the city, deemed the most skilled in their ancestral laws and much admired by the whole nation on that account; one of them was Judah, son of Sepphoris, and the other Matthias, son of Margalus. ⁶⁴⁹ So many young men gathered to these two when they expounded the laws that every day there assembled a kind of an army of growing adolescents. When these men heard that the king was wasting away with melancholy and ailment, they suggested to their friends that now was the proper time to defend the cause of God and to pull down what had been set up contrary to their ancestral laws. ⁶⁵⁰ It was unlawful to have in the temple any such thing as icons, or busts, or the image of any animal whatever. The king had put up a golden eagle over the great gate of the temple, which these learned men wanted cut down, saying that even if this was dangerous, it was a glorious thing to die for their ancestral laws, the soul was immortal and eternal happiness awaited anyone who died on that account, while the ignoble who had not the wisdom to properly love their souls, preferred death by disease rather than from an act of heroism.

[651] Ἅμα δὲ τοῖς ἐκείνων λόγοις διεφημίσθη καὶ θνήσκειν ὁ βασιλεύς, ὥστε θαρραλεώτερον ἥπτοντο τῆς ἐπιχειρήσεως οἱ νέοι. μέσης γοῦν ἡμέρας καὶ πολλῶν κατὰ τὸ ἱερὸν ἀναστρεφομένων σχοίνοις παχείαις καθιμήσαντες σφᾶς αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ τοῦ τέγους τὸν χρυσοῦν ἀετὸν ἐξέκοπτον πελέκεσιν. [652] ἠγγέλθη δ' εὐθέως τῷ βασιλέως στρατηγῷ, κἀκεῖνος μετὰ χειρὸς οὐκ ὀλίγης ἀναδραμὼν περὶ τεσσαράκοντα νεανίας συλλαμβάνει καὶ κατήγαγεν πρὸς βασιλέα. [653] πυνθανομένῳ δ' αὐτῷ πρῶτον, εἰ τολμήσειαν τὸν χρυσοῦν ἀετὸν ἐκκόπτειν, ὡμολόγουν. ἔπειτα, τίνος κελεύσαντος, ἀπεκρίναντο τοῦ πατρίου νόμου. τί δ' οὕτως γεγήθασιν διερωτήσαντος, ἀναιρεῖσθαι μέλλοντες ἔλεγον, ὅτι πλειόνων ἀγαθῶν ἀπολαύσουσιν μετὰ τὴν τελευτήν.

3. ⁶⁵¹ While they were talking in this way, a rumour went round that the king was dying, which made the young men set about the work with greater audacity. They therefore let themselves down from the top of the temple with thick cords and this at midday and while many of people were in the temple and cut down that golden eagle with axes. ⁶⁵² This was soon told to the king's captain, who came running with a body of soldiers and caught about forty of the young men and brought them to the king. ⁶⁵³ When he asked them, firstly, if they had dared to cut down the golden eagle, they confessed they had done it, and when he asked them by whose command they had done so, they replied, at the command of their ancestral law and when he further asked them how they could be so joyful when they were about to die, they replied that they would enjoy greater happiness after their death.

[654] Ἐπὶ τούτοις ὁ βασιλεὺς δι' ὑπερβολὴν ὀργῆς κρείττων τῆς νόσου γενόμενος πρόεισιν εἰς ἐκκλησίαν, καὶ πολλὰ τῶν ἀνδρῶν κατηγορήσας ὡς ἱεροσύλων καὶ προφάσει τοῦ νόμου πειραζόντων τι μεῖζον ἠξίου κολάζειν ὡς ἀσεβεῖς. [655] ὁ δὲ δῆμος δείσας μὴ διὰ πολλῶν ὁ ἔλεγχος ἔλθῃ, παρεκάλει πρῶτον μὲν τοὺς ὑποθεμένους τὴν πρᾶξιν, ἔπειτα τοὺς ἐν αὐτῇ συλληφθέντας κολάσαντα τοῖς λοιποῖς τὴν ὀργὴν ἀφιέναι. πείθεται μόλις ὁ βασιλεύς, καὶ τοὺς μὲν καθιμήσαντας ἑαυτοὺς ἅμα τοῖς σοφισταῖς κατέκαυσε ζῶντας, τοὺς λοιποὺς δὲ τῶν συλληφθέντων παρέδωκεν τοῖς ὑπηρέταις ἀνελεῖν.

4. ⁶⁵⁴ This put the king in such a fury that he set aside his illness and went out and spoke to the people. He accused the men as guilty of sacrilege for attempting treason under pretext of their law, and called for them to be punished for impiety. ⁶⁵⁵ The people feared that many would be found guilty and asked him to lay aside his anger once he had first punished those who put them up to it and then the people caught doing it. The king barely agreed to this and ordered those who had let themselves down from the roof, and their teachers, to be burned alive, leaving the others to be executed by his officers.

[656] Ἔνθεν αὐτοῦ τὸ σῶμα πᾶν ἡ νόσος διαλαβοῦσα ποικίλοις πάθεσιν ἐμερίζετο: πυρετὸς μὲν γὰρ ἦν οὐ λάβρος, κνησμὸς δὲ ἀφόρητος τῆς ἐπιφανείας ὅλης καὶ κόλου συνεχεῖς ἀλγηδόνες περί τε τοὺς πόδας ὥσπερ ὑδρωπιῶντος οἰδήματα τοῦ τε ἤτρου φλεγμονὴ καὶ δὴ αἰδοίου σηπεδὼν σκώληκας γεννῶσα, πρὸς τούτοις ὀρθόπνοια καὶ δύσπνοια καὶ σπασμοὶ πάντων τῶν μελῶν, ὥστε τοὺς ἐπιθειάζοντας ποινὴν εἶναι τῶν σοφιστῶν τὰ νοσήματα λέγειν. [657] ὁ δὲ παλαίων τοσούτοις πάθεσιν ὅμως τοῦ ζῆν ἀντείχετο σωτηρίαν τε ἤλπιζεν καὶ θεραπείας ἐπενόει: διαβὰς γοῦν τὸν Ἰορδάνην τοῖς κατὰ Καλλιρρόην ἐχρῆτο θερμοῖς: ταῦτα δ' ἔξεισι μὲν εἰς τὴν Ἀσφαλτῖτιν λίμνην, ὑπὸ γλυκύτητος δ' ἐστὶ καὶ πότιμα. δόξαν δὲ ἐνταῦθα τοῖς ἰατροῖς ἐλαίῳ θερμῷ πᾶν ἀναθάλψαι τὸ σῶμα χαλασθὲν εἰς πλήρη πύελον ἐκλύει καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ὡς τεθνεὼς ἀνέστρεψεν. [658] θορύβου δὲ τῶν θεραπευόντων γενομένου πρὸς μὲν τὴν φωνὴν ἀνήνεγκεν, εἰς δὲ τὸ λοιπὸν ἀπογνοὺς τὴν σωτηρίαν τοῖς τε στρατιώταις ἀνὰ πεντήκοντα δραχμὰς ἐκέλευσεν διανεῖμαι καὶ πολλὰ χρήματα τοῖς ἡγεμόσι καὶ τοῖς φίλοις.

5. ⁶⁵⁶ After this the ailment seized his whole body and afflicted him with various symptoms, for he had a mild fever and an intolerable itching over all his skin and constant pains in his intestines and dropsical tumours in his feet and an swelling of the stomach and a rotting of his genitals, producing worms. Besides, he had difficulty in breathing and could only breathe when sitting upright and all all his members were convulsed, diseases that the diviners saw as a punishment sent for what he had done to the teachers. ⁶⁵⁷ But he struggled with his many ailments and still had a desire to live and tried various remedies in hope of a recovery. He went across the Jordan and used the spa at Callirrhoe, which runs into lake Asphaltitis, but whose water is sweet enough to drink. Here the physicians decided to raise his body temperature by letting him down into a large vessel full of oil, which caused his eyes to dim and he came out looking half dead, ⁶⁵⁸ but when his servants called out he revived again. Now despairing of recovery, he ordered that his soldiers be given fifty drachmae apiece and that his officers and friends should receive large sums of money.

[659] Αὐτὸς δὲ ὑποστρέφων εἰς Ἱεριχοῦντα παραγίνεται μελαγχολῶν ἤδη, καὶ μόνον οὐκ ἀπειλῶν αὐτῷ τῷ θανάτῳ προέκοπτεν εἰς ἐπιβολὴν ἀθεμίτου πράξεως: τοὺς γὰρ ἀφ' ἑκάστης κώμης ἐπισήμους ἄνδρας ἐξ ὅλης Ἰουδαίας συναγαγὼν εἰς τὸν καλούμενον ἱππόδρομον ἐκέλευσεν συγκλεῖσαι. [660] προσκαλεσάμενος δὲ Σαλώμην τὴν ἀδελφὴν καὶ τὸν ἄνδρα ταύτης Ἀλεξᾶν «οἶδα, ἔφη, Ἰουδαίους τὸν ἐμὸν ἑορτάσοντας θάνατον, δύναμαι δὲ πενθεῖσθαι δι' ἑτέρων καὶ λαμπρὸν ἐπιτάφιον ἔχειν, ἂν ὑμεῖς θελήσητε ταῖς ἐμαῖς ἐντολαῖς ὑπουργῆσαι. τούσδε τοὺς φρουρουμένους ἄνδρας ἐπειδὰν ἐκπνεύσω τάχιστα κτείνατε περιστήσαντες τοὺς στρατιώτας, ἵνα πᾶσα Ἰουδαία καὶ πᾶς οἶκος ἄκων ἐπ' ἐμοὶ δακρύσῃ.»

6. ⁶⁵⁹ He then returned to Jericho, so ill that he seemed on the point of death, and then he attempted a dreadful deed. He gathered from every village the most prominent members of the whole Jewish nation, into a place called the Hippodrome and there locked them in. ⁶⁶⁰ Calling his sister Salome and her husband Alexas he told them: "I know well enough that the Jews will rejoice at my death; but if you just follow my orders there is another way for me to be mourned and to have a splendid funeral. Immediately after my death, send soldiers to round up and kill those who are now in custody, and then, like it or not, all Judea and every family will weep for me."

[661] Ταῦτα ἐνετέλλετο, καὶ παρὰ τῶν ἐν Ῥώμῃ πρέσβεων ἧκον ἐπιστολαί, δι' ὧν Ἀκμὴ μὲν ἀνῃρημένη κελεύσαντος Καίσαρος ἐδηλοῦτο, θανάτῳ δ' Ἀντίπατρος κατάκριτος: ἔγραφόν γε μὴν ὡς, εἰ καὶ φυγαδεύειν αὐτὸν ἐθελήσειεν ὁ πατήρ, ἐπιτρέποι Καῖσαρ. [662] ὁ δὲ βραχὺ μὲν πρὸς τὴν εὐθυμίαν ἀνήνεγκεν, αὖθις δέ, καὶ γὰρ ἐνδείᾳ τροφῆς καὶ βηχὶ σπασμώδει διετείνετο, τῶν ἀλγηδόνων ἡσσηθεὶς φθάσαι τὴν εἱμαρμένην ἐπεβάλλετο. λαβὼν δὲ μῆλον ἤιτησεν καὶ μαχαίριον, εἰώθει γὰρ ἀποτέμνων ἐσθίειν, ἔπειτα περιαθρήσας μή τις ὁ κωλύων εἴη, ἐπῆρεν τὴν δεξιὰν ὡς πλήξων ἑαυτόν. προσδραμὼν δὲ ἐκώλυσεν Ἀχίαβος ὁ ἀνεψιὸς αὐτοῦ τὴν χεῖρα κατασχών. [663] οἰμωγὴ δ' εὐθέως ἤρθη μεγίστη κατὰ τὸ βασίλειον ὡς οἰχομένου βασιλέως, καὶ ταχέως ἀκούσας Ἀντίπατρος ἀναθαρρεῖ τε καὶ γεγηθὼς τοὺς φύλακας ἱκέτευεν ἐπὶ χρήμασιν ἐξαφεῖναι λύσαντας αὐτόν. ὁ δὲ ἡγεμὼν οὐ μόνον ἐκώλυσεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ βασιλεῖ δραμὼν ἀνήγγειλεν τὴν ἐπιβουλήν. [664] ἀνέκραγεν δ' ἐκεῖνος ἰσχυρότερον τῆς νόσου καὶ παραχρῆμα πέμψας τοὺς δορυφόρους ἀποκτείνει τὸν Ἀντίπατρον. θάψαι δὲ τὸν νεκρὸν αὐτοῦ προστάξας ἐν Ὑρκανίαι πάλιν τὰς διαθήκας ἐπανορθοῦται, καὶ διάδοχον μὲν Ἀρχέλαον τὸν πρεσβύτατον υἱὸν ἀδελφὸν δὲ Ἀντιπάτρου γράφει, τετράρχην δὲ Ἀντίπαν.

7. ⁶⁶¹ As he gave them this order, letters arrived from his envoys in Rome with news that Acme had been killed at Caesar's command and that Antipater was condemned to die. They wrote too that if Herod wished rather to banish him, Caesar would allow it. ⁶⁶² So for a short while he revived and had a desire to live, but soon he was again overcome with pain and was weak from lack of food and a convulsive cough, so he tried to hasten his death. He took an apple and asked for a knife for he used to peel apples and eat them. Looking round to see that there was nobody to stop him he lifted up his right hand as if to stab himself, but his first cousin Achiabus hurried over and held his hand to stop him from doing it. ⁶⁶³ A lament was soon heard in the palace, as if the king were dying. When Antipater heard it, he took courage and with a smile he implored his jailors to unchain him and set him free, in return for a sum of money. Not only did the head jailor deny his request, but he ran and told his plan to the king. ⁶⁶⁴ Then the king roared out louder than his illness should allow and instantly sent some of his guards to kill Antipater. He had him buried in Hyrcanium and altered his testament again, making Archelaus, his eldest son and the brother of Antipas, his successor and making Antipas tetrarch.

[665] Μετὰ δὲ τὴν ἀναίρεσιν τοῦ παιδὸς ἐπιβιοὺς πέντε ἡμέρας τελευτᾶι, βασιλεύσας ἀφ' οὗ μὲν ἀποκτείνας Ἀντίγονον ἐκράτησεν τῶν πραγμάτων ἔτη τέσσαρα καὶ τριάκοντα, ἀφ' οὗ δὲ ὑπὸ Ῥωμαίων ἀπεδείχθη βασιλεὺς ἑπτὰ καὶ τριάκοντα, καὶ κατὰ μὲν τὰ ἄλλα πάντα τύχῃ δεξιᾷ χρησάμενος, εἰ καί τις ἄλλος, ὅστις κατεκτήσατο βασιλείαν ἰδιώτης ὢν καὶ τοσούτῳ χρόνῳ φυλάξας ἰδίοις τέκνοις κατέλιπεν, ἐν δὲ τοῖς κατ' οἶκον ἀτυχέστατος. [666] πρὶν δὲ γνῶναι τὴν τελευτὴν αὐτοῦ τὸ στρατιωτικὸν προελθοῦσα μετὰ τἀνδρὸς ἡ Σαλώμη διαφῆκεν τοὺς δεσμώτας, οὓς κτείνειν ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐνετείλατο, μεταπεισθῆναι τὸν βασιλέα λέγουσα καὶ πάλιν ἀναπέμπειν ἕκαστον εἰς τὰ ἴδια. τούτων δ' οἰχομένων ἐδήλουν ἤδη τοῖς στρατιώταις καὶ συνῆγον αὐτοὺς εἰς ἐκκλησίαν μετὰ τοῦ λοιποῦ πλήθους ἐν τῷ κατὰ Ἱεριχοῦντα ἀμφιθεάτρῳ. [667] ἔνθα παρελθὼν Πτολεμαῖος ὁ καὶ τὸν σημαντῆρα δακτύλιον παρὰ τοῦ βασιλέως πεπιστευμένος τόν τε βασιλέα κατευδαιμονίζει καὶ τὸ πλῆθος παρακαλεῖ καὶ τὴν ἀπολειφθεῖσαν τοῖς στρατιώταις ἀνεγίνωσκεν ἐπιστολήν, ἐν ἧι πολλὰ περὶ τῆς εἰς τὸν διάδοχον εὐνοίας παρεκάλει. [668] μετὰ δὲ τὴν ἐπιστολὴν λύσας τὰς ἐπιδιαθήκας ἀνεγίνωσκεν, ἐν αἷς Φίλιππος μὲν τοῦ Τράχωνος καὶ τῶν γειτνιώντων χωρίων κληρονόμος, τετράρχης δ', ὡς προείπαμεν, Ἀντίπας, βασιλεὺς δ' Ἀρχέλαος ἀπεδείκνυτο. [669] τούτῳ δὲ τόν τε δακτύλιον τὸν ἑαυτοῦ Καίσαρι φέρειν ἐνετέλλετο καὶ τὰς διοικήσεις τῆς βασιλείας σεσημασμένας: κύριον γὰρ ἁπάντων ὧν διατάξειεν καὶ βεβαιωτὴν τῶν διαθηκῶν εἶναι Καίσαρα: τά γε μὴν λοιπὰ κατὰ τὰς προτέρας διαθήκας φυλάττειν.

8. ⁶⁶⁵ So Herod died just five days after killing his son, after reigning for thirty-four years since he had Antigonus killed and took over his kingdom, but thirty-seven years since he was made king by the Romans. It was his destiny to prosper in all other respects more than any other man, since he rose from the rank of commoner to gain the kingship and held it so long and left it to his own sons, and yet, in his domestic affairs he was a most unfortunate man. ⁶⁶⁶ Before the soldiers learned of his death, Salome and her husband came out and released the prisoners whom the king had ordered to be killed and told them that he had changed his mind and wanted them all sent home. When these had gone, Salome, told the soldiers the news and got them and the rest of the people together to a meeting, in the amphitheatre at Jericho. ⁶⁶⁷ There Ptolemy, who was entrusted by the king with his signet ring, spoke to them of the prosperity the king had attained and comforted the people and read the letter left for the soldiers, where he earnestly urged them to be loyal to his successor. ⁶⁶⁸ After he had read the letter, he opened and read his testament, where Philip was to inherit Trachonitis and the neighbouring countries and Antipas was to be tetrarch, as we have said, and Archelaus was made king. ⁶⁶⁹ He had also been ordered to bring Herod's ring to Caesar, sealed up with his projects for the kingdom, because Caesar was to be in charge of all he had aranged and was to confirm his testament, and he ordered that the elements in his former testament should stand.

[670] Βοὴ δ' εὐθὺς ἐγένετο τῶν Ἀρχελάῳ συνηδομένων, καὶ κατὰ στῖφος οἱ στρατιῶται μετὰ τοῦ πλήθους προσιόντες ὑπισχνοῦντο μὲν τὴν ἑαυτῶν εὔνοιαν, συνηύχοντο δὲ καὶ τὴν παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα πρὸς ταφὴν ἐτρέποντο τοῦ βασιλέως. [671] παρέλιπεν δ' οὐδὲν Ἀρχέλαος εἰς πολυτέλειαν, ἀλλὰ πάντα τὸν βασιλικὸν κόσμον προήνεγκεν συμπομπεύσοντα τῷ νεκρῷ: κλίνη μὲν γὰρ ὁλόχρυσος ἦν διάλιθος, στρωμνὴ δὲ ἁλουργὶς ποικίλη, τὸ σῶμα δ' ἐπ' αὐτῆς πορφύρᾳ κεκαλυμμένον, καὶ διάδημα μὲν ἐπέκειτο τῇ κεφαλῇ, στέφανος δ' ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ χρυσοῦς, τὸ δὲ σκῆπτρον παρὰ τὴν δεξιάν. [672] καὶ περὶ τὴν κλίνην οἵ τε υἱεῖς καὶ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν συγγενῶν, ἐφ' οἷς οἱ δορυφόροι καὶ τὸ Θράικιον στῖφος Γερμανοί τε καὶ Γαλάται διεσκευασμένοι πάντες ὡς εἰς πόλεμον. [673] προῆγεν δ' ἡ λοιπὴ δύναμις ὡπλισμένη τοῖς ἡγεμόσιν καὶ ταξιάρχοις ἀκολουθοῦντες ἐν κόσμῳ, πεντακόσιοι δὲ ἐπ' αὐτοῖς τῶν οἰκετῶν καὶ ἀπελευθέρων ἀρωματοφόροι. σταδίους δ' ἐκομίσθη τὸ σῶμα ἑβδομήκοντα εἰς Ἡρώδειον, ὅπου κατὰ τὰς ἐντολὰς ἐτάφη. καὶ τὰ μὲν περὶ Ἡρώδην τοιοῦτον ἔσχεν πέρας.

9. ⁶⁷⁰ Archelaus was loudly hailed on his promotion, and the soldiers and the people went in groups to promise him their loyalty and prayed God to bless his rule and set themselves to prepare for the king's funeral. ⁶⁷¹ In it Archelaus omitted nothing that would enhance it, and brought out all the royal ornaments to increase the splendour of the deceased. There was a golden bier embroidered with precious stones and a purple bed of various texture, with the dead body upon it, covered with purple, and on his head was a crown of gold and in his right hand a sceptre. ⁶⁷² Next to the bier were Herod's sons and a crowd of his relatives, and next to them his guards and the regiment of Thracians, Germans and Gauls, dressed as if for war. ⁶⁷³ The rest of the army marched in front, armed and following their captains and officers in good order. After them came five hundred of his domestic servants and freedmen, with sweet spices in their hands. His corpse was carried for two hundred furlongs, to Herodium, where he had wanted to be buried. That is how the whole Herod saga came to an end.