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them no injury。 But the barbarian swore to him that there was no
truth in any of his suspicions； but that he was troubled with
nothing but false proposals； and then went away to Pacorus。
6。 But as soon as he was gone away； some men came and bound
Hyrcanus and Phasaelus； while Phasaelus greatly reproached the
Parthians for their perjury； However； that butler who was sent
against Herod had it in command to get him without the walls of
the city； and seize upon him； but messengers had been sent by
Phasaelus to inform Herod of the perfidiousness of the Parthians。
And when he knew that the enemy had seized upon them； he went to
Pacorus； and to the most potent of the Parthians； as to the lord
of the rest； who； although they knew the whole matter； dissembled
with him in a deceitful way； and said that he ought to go out
with them before the walls； and meet those which were bringing
him his letters； for that they were not taken by his adversaries；
but were coming to give him an account of the good success
Phasaelus had had。 Herod did not give credit to what they said；
for he had heard that his brother was seized upon by others also；
and the daughter of Hyrcanus； whose daughter he had espoused； was
his monitor also ＇not to credit them＇； which made him still more
suspicious of the Parthians； for although other people did not
give heed to her； yet did he believe her as a woman of very great
wisdom。
7。 Now while the Parthians were in consultation what was fit to
be done； for they did not think it proper to make an open attempt
upon a person of his character； and while they put off the
determination to the next day； Herod was under great disturbance
of mind； and rather inclining to believe the reports he heard
about his brother and the Parthians； than to give heed to what
was said on the other side； he determined； that when the evening
came on； he would make use of it for his flight； and not make any
longer delay； as if the dangers from the enemy were not yet
certain。 He therefore removed with the armed men whom he had with
him； and set his wives upon the beasts； as also his mother； and
sister； and her whom he was about to marry； ＇Mariamne；＇ the
daughter of Alexander； the son of Aristobulus； with her mother；
the daughter of Hyrcanus； and his youngest brother； and all their
servants； and the rest of the multitude that was with him； and
without the enemy's privity pursued his way to Idumea。 Nor could
any enemy of his who then saw him in this case be so hardhearted；
but would have commiserated his fortune； while the women drew
along their infant children and left their own country； and their
friends in prison； with tears in their eyes； and sad
lamentations； and in expectation of nothing but what was of a
melancholy nature。
8。 But for Herod himself； he raised his mind above the miserable
state he was in； and was of good courage in the midst of his
misfortunes； and as he passed along； he bid them every one to be
of good cheer； and not to give themselves up to sorrow； because
that would hinder them in their flight； which was now the only
hope of safety that they had。 Accordingly； they tried to bear
with patience the calamity they were under； as he exhorted them
to do； yet was he once almost going to kill himself； upon the
overthrow of a waggon； and the danger his mother was then in of
being killed； and this on two accounts； because of his great
concern for her； and because he was afraid lest； by this delay；
the enemy should overtake him in the pursuit： but as he was
drawing his sword； and going to kill himself therewith； those
that were present restrained him； and being so many in number；
were too hard for him； and told him that he ought not to desert
them； and leave them a prey to their enemies； for that it was not
the part of a brave man to free himself from the distresses he
was in； and to overlook his friends that were in the same
distresses also。 So he was compelled to let that horrid attempt
alone； partly out of shame at what they said to him； and partly
out of regard to the great number of those that would not permit
him to do what he intended。 So he encouraged his mother； and took
all the care of her the time would allow； and proceeded on the
way he proposed to go with the utmost haste； and that was to the
fortress of Masada。 And as he had many skirmishes with such of
the Parthians as attacked him and pursued him； he was conqueror
in them all。
9。 Nor indeed was he free from the Jews all along as he was in
his flight； for by that time he was gotten sixty furlongs out of
the city； and was upon the road； they fell upon him； and fought
hand to hand with him； whom he also put to flight； and overcame；
not like one that was in distress and in necessity； but like one
that was excellently prepared for war； and had what he wanted in
great plenty。 And in this very place where he overcame the Jews
it was that he some time afterward build a most excellent palace；
and a city round about it； and called it Herodium。 And when he
was come to Idumea； at a place called Thressa； his brother Joseph
met him； and he then held a council to take advice about all his
affairs； and what was fit to be done in his circumstances； since
he had a great multitude that followed him； besides his mercenary
soldiers； and the place Masada； whither he proposed to fly； was
too small to contain so great a multitude； so he sent away the
greater part of his company； being above nine thousand； and bid
them go； some one way； and some another； and so save themselves
in Idumea； and gave them what would buy them provisions in their
journey。 But he took with him those that were the least
encumbered； and were most intimate with him； and came to the
fortress； and placed there his wives and his followers； being
eight hundred in number； there being in the place a sufficient
quantity of corn and water； and other necessaries； and went
directly for Petra； in Arabia。 But when it was day； the Parthians
plundered all Jerusalem； and the palace； and abstained from
nothing but Hyrcanus's money； which was three hundred talents。 A
great deal of Herod's money escaped； and principally all that the
man had been so provident as to send into Idumea beforehand； nor
indeed did what was in the city suffice the Parthians； but they
went out into the country； and plundered it； and demolished the
city Marissa。
10。 And thus was Antigonus brought back into Judea by the king of
the Parthians； and received Hyrcanus and Phasaelus for his
prisoners； but he was greatly cast down because the women had
escaped； whom he intended to have given the enemy； as having
promised they should have them； with the money； for their reward：
but being afraid that Hyrcanus； who was under the guard of the
Parthians； might have his kingdom restored to him by the
multitude； he cut off his ears； and thereby took care that the
high priesthood should never come to him any more； because he was
maimed； while the law required that this dignity should belong to
none but such as had all their members entire （25） But now one
cannot but here admire the fortitude of Phasaelus； who；
perceiving that he was to be put to death； did not think death
any terrible thing at all； but to die thus by the means of his
enemy； this he thought a most pitiable and dishonorable thing；
and therefore； since he had not his hands at liberty； but the
bonds he was in prevented him from killing himself thereby； he
dashed his head against a great stone； and thereby took away his
own life； which he thought to be the best thing he could do in
such a distress as he was in； and thereby put it out of the power
of the enemy to bring him to any death he pleased。 It is also
reported； that when he had made a great wound in his head；
Antigonus sent physicians to cure it； and； by ordering them to
infuse poison into the wound； killed him。 However； Phasaelus
hearing； before he was quite dead； by a certain woman； that his
brother Herod had escaped the enemy； underwent his death
cheerfully； since he now left behind him one who would revenge
his death； and who was able to inflict punishment on his enemies。
CHAPTER 14。
How Herod Got Away From The King Of Arabia And Made Haste To Go
Into Egypt And Thence Went Away In Haste Also To Rome； And How；
By Promising A Great Deal Of Money To Antony He Obtained Of The
Senate And Of Caesar To Be Made King Of The Jews。
1。 As for Herod； the great miseries he was in did not discourage
him； but made him sharp in discovering surprising undertakings；
for he went to Malchus； king of Arabia； whom he had formerly been
very kind to； in order to receive somewhat by way of requital；
now he was in more than ordinary want of it； and desired he would
let him have some money； either by way of loan； or as his free
gift； on account of the many benefits he had received from him；
for not knowing what was become of his brother； he was in haste
to redeem him out of the hand of his enemies； as willing to give
three hundred talents for the price of his redemption。 He also
took with him the son of Phasaelus； who was a child of but seven
years of age； for this very reason； that he might be a hostage
for the repayment of the money。 But