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which I will that ye take care that it be engraven on the public
tables； in Roman and Greek letters； and that it stand engraven in
the most illustrious places； that it may be read by all。 Marcus
Antonius； imperator； one of the triumvirate over the public
affairs； made this declaration： Since Caius Cassius； in this
revolt he hath made； hath pillaged that province which belonged
not to him； and was held by garrisons there encamped； while they
were our confederates； and hath spoiled that nation of the Jews
that was in friendship with the Roman people； as in war； and
since we have overcome his madness by arms； we now correct by our
decrees and judicial determinations what he hath laid waste； that
those things may be restored to our confederates。 And as for what
hath been sold of the Jewish possessions； whether they be bodies
or possessions； let them be released； the bodies into that state
of freedom they were originally in； and the possessions to their
former owners。 I also will that he who shall not comply with this
decree of mine shall be punished for his disobedience； and if
such a one be caught； I will take care that the offenders suffer
condign punishment。〃
6。 The same thing did Antony write to the Sidonians； and the
Antiochians； and the Aradians。 We have produced these decrees；
therefore； as marks for futurity of the truth of what we have
said； that the Romans had a great concern about our nation。
CHAPTER 13。
How Antony Made Herod And Phasaelus Tetrarchs； After They Had
Been Accused To No Purpose； And How The Parthians When They
Brought Antigonus Into Judea Took Hyrcanus And Phasaelus
Captives。 Herod's Flight； And What Afflictions Hyrcanus And
Phasaelus Endured。
1。 When after this Antony came into Syria； Cleopatra met him in
Cilicia； and brought him to fall in love with her。 And there came
now also a hundred of the most potent of the Jews to accuse Herod
and those about him； and set the men of the greatest eloquence
among them to speak。 But Messala contradicted them； on behalf of
the young men； and all this in the presence of Hyrcanus； who was
Herod's father…in…law （24） already。 When Antony had heard both
sides at Daphne； he asked Hyrcanus who they were that governed
the nation best。 He replied； Herod and his friends。 Hereupon
Antony； by reason of the old hospitable friendship he had made
with his father ＇Antipater＇； at that time when he was with
Gabinius； he made both Herod and Phasaelus tetrarchs； and
committed the public affairs of the Jews to them； and wrote
letters to that purpose。 He also bound fifteen of their
adversaries； and was going to kill them； but that Herod obtained
their pardon。
2。 Yet did not these men continue quiet when they were come back；
but a thousand of the Jews came to Tyre to meet him there；
whither the report was that he would come。 But Antony was
corrupted by the money which Herod and his brother had given him；
and so he gave order to the governor of the place to punish the
Jewish ambassadors； who were for making innovations； and to
settle the government upon Herod； but Herod went out hastily to
them； and Hyrcanus was with him； （for they stood upon the shore
before the city；） and he charged them to go their ways； because
great mischief would befall them if they went on with their
accusation。 But they did not acquiesce； whereupon the Romans ran
upon them with their daggers； and slew some； and wounded more of
them； and the rest fled away and went home； and lay still in
great consternation。 And when the people made a clamor against
Herod； Antony was so provoked at it； that he slew the prisoners。
3。 Now； in the second year； Pacorus； the king of Parthia's son；
and Barzapharnes； a commander of the Parthians； possessed
themselves of Syria。 Ptolemy； the son of Menneus； also was now
dead； and Lysanias his son took his government； and made a league
of friendship with Antigonus； the son of Aristobulus； and in
order to obtain it； made use of that commander； who had great
interest in him。 Now Antigonus had promised to give the Parthians
a thousand talents； and five hundred women； upon condition they
would take the government away from Hyrcanus； and bestow it upon
him； and withal kill Herod。 And although he did not give them
what he had promised； yet did the Parthians make an expedition
into Judea on that account； and carried Antigonus with them。
Pacorus went along the maritime parts； but the commander
Barzapharnes through the midland。 Now the Tyrians excluded
Pacorus； but the Sidontans and those of Ptolemais received him。
However； Pacorus sent a troop of horsemen into Judea； to take a
view of the state of the country； and to assist Antigonus； and
sent also the king's butler； of the same name with himself。 So
when the Jews that dwelt about Mount Carmel came to Antigonus；
and were ready to march with him into Judea； Antigonus hoped to
get some part of the country by their assistance。 The place is
called Drymi； and when some others came and met them； the men
privately fell upon Jerusalem； and when some more were come to
them； they got together in great numbers； and came against the
king's palace； and besieged it。 But as Phasaelus's and Herod's
party came to the other's assistance； and a battle happened
between them in the market…place； the young men beat their
enemies； and pursued them into the temple； and sent some armed
men into the adjoining houses to keep them in； who yet being
destitute of such as should support them； were burnt； and the
houses with them； by the people who rose up against them。 But
Herod was revenged on these seditious adversaries of his a little
afterward for this injury they had offered him； when he fought
with them； and slew a great number of them。
4。 But while there were daily skirmishes； the enemy waited for
the coming of the multitude out of the country to Pentecost； a
feast of ours so called； and when that day was come； many ten
thousands of the people were gathered together about the temple；
some in armor； and some without。 Now those that came guarded both
the temple and the city； excepting what belonged to the palace；
which Herod guarded with a few of his soldiers； and Phasaelus had
the charge of the wall； while Herod； with a body of his men；
sallied out upon the enemy； who lay in the suburbs； and fought
courageously； and put many ten thousands to flight； some flying
into the city； and some into the temple； and some into the outer
fortifications； for some such fortifications there were in that
place。 Phasaelus came also to his assistance； yet was Pacorus；
the general of the Parthians； at the desire of Antigonus；
admitted into the city； with a few of his horsemen； under
pretence indeed as if he would still the sedition； but in reality
to assist Antigonus in obtaining the government。 And when
Phasaelus met him； and received him kindly； Pacorus persuaded him
to go himself as ambassador to Barzapharnes； which was done
fraudulently。 Accordingly； Phasaelus； suspecting no harm；
complied with his proposal； while Herod did not give his consent
to what was done； because of the perfidiousness of these
barbarians； but desired Phasaelus rather to fight those that were
come into the city。
5。 So both Hyrcanus and Phasaelus went on the embassage； but
Pacorus left with Herod two hundred horsemen； and ten men； who
were called the freemen； and conducted the others on their
journey； and when they were in Galilee； the governors of the
cities there met them in their arms。 Barzaphanles also received
them at the first with cheerfulness； and made them presents；
though he afterward conspired against them； and Phasaelus； with
his horsemen； were conducted to the sea…side。 But when they heard
that Antigonus had promised to give the Parthians a thousand
talents； and five hundred women； to assist him against them； they
soon had a suspicion of the barbarians。 Moreover； there was one
who informed them that snares were laid for them by night； while
a guard came about them secretly； and they had then been seized
upon； had not they waited for the seizure of Herod by the
Parthians that were about Jerusalem； lest； upon the slaughter of
Hyrcanus and Phasaelus； he should have an intimation of it； and
escape out of their hands。 And these were the circumstances they
were now in； and they saw who they were that guarded them。 Some
persons indeed would have persuaded Phasaelus to fly away
immediately on horseback； and not stay any longer； and there was
one Ophellius； who； above all the rest； was earnest with him to
do so； for he had heard of this treachery from Saramalla； the
richest of all the Syrians at that time； who also promised to
provide him ships to carry him off； for the sea was just by them。
But he had no mind to desert Hyrcanus； nor bring his brother into
danger； but he went to Barzapharnes； and told him he did not act
justly when he made such a contrivance against them； for that if
he wanted money； he would give him more than Antigonus； and
besides； that it was a horrible thing to slay those that came to
him upon the security of their oaths； and that when they had done
them no injury。 But the barbarian swore to him that there was no
truth in any of his suspicions；