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years of age； for this very reason； that he might be a hostage
for the repayment of the money。 But there came messengers from
Malchus to meet him； by whom he was desired to be gone； for that
the Parthians had laid a charge upon him not to entertain Herod。
This was only a pretense which he made use of； that he might not
be obliged to repay him what he owed him； and this he was further
induced to by the principal men among the Arabians； that they
might cheat him of what sums they had received from ＇his father＇
Antipater； and which he had committed to their fidelity。 He made
answer； that he did not intend to be troublesome to them by his
coning thither； but that he desired only to discourse with them
about certain affairs that were to him of the greatest
importance。
2。 Hereupon he resolved to go away； and did go very prudently the
road to Egypt； and then it was that he lodged in a certain
temple； for he had left a great many of his followers there。 On
the next day he came to Rhinocolura； and there it was that he
heard what was befallen his brother。 Though Malehus soon repented
of what he had done； and came running after Herod； but with no
manner of success； for he was gotten a very great way off； and
made haste into the road to Pelusium； and when the stationary
ships that lay there hindered him from sailing to Alexandria； he
went to their captains； by whose assistance； and that out of much
reverence of and great regard to him； he was conducted into the
city ＇Alexandria＇； and was retained there by Cleopatra； yet was
she not able to prevail with him to stay there； because he was
making haste to Rome； even though the weather was stormy； and he
was informed that the affairs of Italy were very tumultuous； and
in great disorder。
3。 So he set sail from thence to Pamphylia； and falling into a
violent storm； he had much ado to escape to Rhodes； with the loss
of the ship's burden； and there it was that two of his friends；
Sappinas and Ptolemeus； met with him； and as he found that city
very much damaged in the war against Cassius； though he were in
necessity himself； he neglected not to do it a kindness； but did
what he could to recover it to its former state。 He also built
there a three…decked ship； and set sail thence； with his friends；
for Italy； and came to the port of Brundusium； and when he was
come from thence to Rome； he first related to Antony what had
befallen him in Judea； and how Phasaelus his brother was seized
on by the Parthians； and put to death by them； and how Hyrcanus
was detained captive by them； and how they had made Antigonus
king； who had promised them a sum of money； no less than a
thousand talents； with five hundred women； who were to be of the
principal families； and of the Jewish stock； and that he had
carried off the women by night； and that； by undergoing a great
many hardships； he had escaped the hands of his enemies； as also；
that his own relations were in danger of being besieged and
taken； and that he had sailed through a storm； and contemned all
these terrible dangers of it； in order to come； as soon as
possible； to him； who was his hope and only succor at this time。
4。 This account made Antony commiserate the change that had
happened in Herod's condition； （26） and reasoning with himself
that this was a common case among those that are placed in such
great dignities； and that they are liable to the mutations that
come from fortune； he was very ready to give him the assistance
he desired； and this because he called to mind the friendship he
had had with Antipater because Herod offered him money to make
him king； as he had formerly given it him to make him tetrarch；
and chiefly because of his hatred to Antigonus； for he took him
to be a seditious person； and an enemy to the Romans。 Caesar was
also the forwarder to raise Herod's dignity； and to give him his
assistance in what he desired； on account of the toils of war
which he had himself undergone with Antipater his father in
Egypt； and of the hospitality he had treated him withal； and the
kindness he had always showed him； as also to gratify Antony； who
was very zealous for Herod。 So a senate was convocated； and
Messala first； and then Atratinus； introduced Herod into it； and
enlarged upon the benefits they had received from his father； and
put them in mind of the good…will he had borne to the Romans。 At
the same time； they accused Antigonus； and declared him an enemy；
not only because of his former opposition to them； but that he
had now overlooked the Romans； and taken the government from the
Parthians。 Upon this the senate was irritated； and Antony
informed them further； that it was for their advantage in the
Parthian war that Herod should be king。 This seemed good to all
the senators； and so they made a decree accordingly。
5。 And this was the principal instance of Antony's affection for
Herod； that he not only procured him a kingdom which he did not
expect； （for he did not come with an intention to ask the kingdom
for himself； which he did not suppose the Romans would grant him；
who used to bestow it on some of the royal family； but intended
to desire it for his wife's brother； who was grandson by his
father to Aristobulus； and to Hyrcanus by his mother；） but that
he procured it for him so suddenly； that he obtained what he did
not expect； and departed out of Italy in so few days as seven in
all。 This young man ＇the grandson＇ Herod afterward took care to
have slain； as we shall show in its proper place。 But when the
senate was dissolved； Antony and Caesar went out of the senate
house with Herod between them； and with the consuls and other
magistrates before them； in order to offer sacrifices； and to lay
up their decrees in the capitol。 Antony also feasted Herod the
first day of his reign。 And thus did this man receive the
kingdom； having obtained it on the hundred and eighty…fourth
olympiad； when Caius Domitius Calvinus was consul the second
time； and Caius Asinius Pollio ＇the first time＇。
6。 All this while Antigonus besieged those that were in Masada；
who had plenty of all other necessaries； but were only in want of
water （27） insomuch that on this occasion Joseph； Herod's
brother； was contriving to run away from it； with two hundred of
his dependents； to the Arabians； for he had heard that Malchus
repented of the offenses he had been guilty of with regard to
Herod； but God； by sending rain in the night time； prevented his
going away； for their cisterns were thereby filled； and he was
under no necessity of running away on that account； but they were
now of good courage； and the more so； because the sending that
plenty of water which they had been in want of seemed a mark of
Divine Providence； so they made a sally； and fought hand to hand
with Antigonus's soldiers； （with some openly； with some
privately；） and destroyed a great number of them。 At the same
time Ventidius； the general of the Romans； was sent out of Syria；
to drive the Parthians out of it； and marched after them into
Judea； in pretense indeed to succor Joseph； but in reality the
whole affair was no more than a stratagem； in order to get money
of Antigonus； so they pitched their camp very near to Jerusalem；
and stripped Antigonus of a great deal of money； and then he
retired himself with the greater part of the army； but； that the
wickedness he had been guilty of might be found out； he left Silo
there； with a certain part of his soldiers； with whom also
Antigonus cultivated an acquaintance； that he might cause him no
disturbance； and was still in hopes that the Parthians would come
again and defend him。
CHAPTER 15。
How Herod Sailed Out Of Italy To Judea； And Fought With Antigonus
And What Other Things Happened In Judea About That Time。
1。 By this time Herod had sailed out of Italy to Ptolemais； and
had gotten together no small army； both of strangers and of his
own countrymen； and marched through Galilee against Antignus。
Silo also； and Ventidius； came and assisted him； being persuaded
by Dellius； who was sent by Antony to assist in bringing back
Herod。 Now for Ventidius； he was employed in composing the
disturbances that had been made in the cities by the means of the
Parthians； and for Silo； he was in Judea indeed； but corrupted by
Antigonus。 However； as Herod went along his army increased every
day； and all Galilee； with some small exception； joined him； but
as he was to those that were in Masada； （for he was obliged to
endeavor to save those that were in that fortress now they were
besieged； because they were his relations；） Joppa was a
hinderance to him； for it was necessary for him to take that
place first； it being a city at variance with him； that no strong
hold might be left in his enemies' hands behind him when he
should go to Jerusalem。 And when Silo made this a pretense for
rising up from Jerusalem； and was thereupon pursued by the Jews；
Herod fell upon them with a small body of men； and both put the
Jews to flight and saved Silo； when he was very poorly able to
defend himself； but when Herod had taken Joppa； he made haste to
set free those of his family that were in Masada。 Now of the
people of the country； some joined him because