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set free those of his family that were in Masada。 Now of the
people of the country； some joined him because of the friendship
they had had with his father； and some because of the splendid
appearance he made； and others by way of requital for the
benefits they had received from both of them； but the greatest
number came to him in hopes of getting somewhat from him
afterward； if he were once firmly settled in the kingdom。
2。 Herod had now a strong army； and as he marched on； Antigonus
laid snares and ambushes in the passes and places most proper for
them； but in truth he thereby did little or no damage to the
enemy。 So Herod received those of his family out of Masada； and
the fortress Ressa； and then went on for Jerusalem。 The soldiery
also that was with Silo accompanied him all along； as did many of
the citizens； being afraid of his power； and as soon as he had
pitched his camp on the west side of the city； the soldiers that
were set to guard that part shot their arrows and threw their
darts at him； and when some sallied out in a crowd； and came to
fight hand to hand with the first ranks of Herod's army； he gave
orders that they should； in the first place； make proclamation
about the wall； that he came for the good of the people； and for
the preservation of the city； and not to bear any old grudge at
even his most open enemies； but ready to forget the offenses
which his greatest adversaries had done him。 But Antigonus； by
way of reply to what Herod had caused to be proclaimed； and this
before the Romans； and before Silo also； said that they would not
do justly； if they gave the kingdom to Herod； who was no more
than a private man； and an Idumean； i。e。 a half Jew； （28） whereas
they ought to bestow it on one of the royal family； as their
custom was； for that in case they at present bear an ill…will to
him； and had resolved to deprive him of the kingdom； as having
received it from the Parthians； yet were there many others of his
family that might by their law take it； and these such as had no
way offended the Romans； and being of the sacerdotal family； it
would be an unworthy thing to put them by。 Now while they said
thus one to another； and fell to reproaching one another on both
sides； Antigonus permitted his own men that were upon the wall to
defend themselves； who using their bows； and showing great
alacrity against their enemies； easily drove them away from the
towers。
3。 And now it was that Silo discovered that he had taken bribes；
for he set a good number of his soldiers to complain aloud of the
want of provisions they were in； and to require money to buy them
food； and that it was fit to let them go into places proper for
winter quarters； since the places near the city were a desert； by
reason that Antigonus's soldiers had carried all away； so he set
the army upon removing； and endeavored to march away； but Herod
pressed Silo not to depart； and exhorted Silo's captains and
soldiers not to desert him； when Caesar； and Antony； and the
senate had sent him thither； for that he would provide them
plenty of all the things they wanted； and easily procure them a
great abundance of what they required； after which entreaty； he
immediately went out into the country； and left not the least
pretense to Silo for his departure； for he brought an unexpected
quantity of provisions； and sent to those friends of his who
inhabited about Samaria to bring down corn； and wine； and oil；
and cattle； and all other provisions； to Jericho； that those
might be no want of a supply for the soldiers for the time to
come。 Antigonus was sensible of this； and sent presently over the
country such as might restrain and lie in ambush for those that
went out for provisions。 So these men obeyed the orders of
Antigonus； and got together a great number of armed men about
Jericho； and sat upon the mountains； and watched those that
brought the provisions。 However； Herod was not idle in the mean
time； for he took ten bands of soldiers； of whom five were of the
Romans； and five of the Jews； with some mercenaries among them；
and with some few horsemen； and came to Jericho； and as they
found the city deserted； but that five hundred of them had
settled themselves on the tops of the hills； with their wives and
children； those he took and sent away； but the Romans fell upon
the city； and plundered it； and found the houses full of all
sorts of good things。 So the king left a garrison at Jericho； and
came back again； and sent the Roman army to take their winter
quarters in the countries that were come over to him； Judea； and
Galilee； and Samaria。 And so much did Antigonus gain of Silo for
the bribes he gave him； that part of the army should be quartered
at Lydda； in order to please Antony。 So the Romans laid their
weapons aside； and lived in plenty of all things。
4。 But Herod was not pleased with lying still； but sent out his
brother Joseph against Idumea with two thousand armed footmen；
and four hundred horsemen； while he himself came to Samaria； and
left his mother and his other relations there； for they were
already gone out of Masada； and went into Galilee； to take
certain places which were held by the garrisons of Antigonus； and
he passed on to Sepphoris； as God sent a snow； while Antigonus's
garrisons withdrew themselves； and had great plenty of
provisions。 He also went thence； and resolved to destroy those
robbers that dwelt in the caves； and did much mischief in the
country； so he sent a troop of horsemen； and three companies of
armed footmen； against them。 They were very near to a village
called Arbela； and on the fortieth day after； he came himself
with his whole army： and as the enemy sallied out boldly upon
him； the left wing of his army gave way； but he appearing with a
body of men； put those to flight who were already conquerors； and
recalled his men that ran away。 He also pressed upon his enemies；
and pursued them as far as the river Jordan； though they ran away
by different roads。 So he brought over to him all Galilee；
excepting those that dwelt in the caves； and distributed money to
every one of his soldiers； giving them a hundred and fifty
drachmae apiece； and much more to their captains； and sent them
into winter quarters； at which time Silo came to him； and his
commanders with him； because Antigonus would not give them
provisions any longer； for he supplied them for no more than one
month； nay； he had sent to all the country about； and ordered
them to carry off the provisions that were there； and retire to
the mountains； that the Romans might have no provisions to live
upon； and so might perish by famine。 But Herod committed the care
of that matter to Pheroras； his youngest brother； and ordered him
to repair Alexandrium also。 Accordingly； he quickly made the
soldiers abound with great plenty of provisions； and rebuilt
Alexandrium； which had been before desolate。
5。 About this time it was that Antony continued some time at
Athens； and that Ventidius； who was now in Syria； sent for Silo；
and commanded him to assist Herod； in the first place； to finish
the present war； and then to send for their confederates for the
war they were themselves engaged in； but as for Herod； he went in
haste against the robbers that were in the caves； and sent Silo
away to Ventidius； while he marched against them。 These caves
were in mountains that were exceeding abrupt； and in their middle
were no other than precipices； with certain entrances into the
caves； and those caves were encompassed with sharp rocks； and in
these did the robbers lie concealed； with all their families
about them； but the king caused certain chests to be made； in
order to destroy them； and to be hung down； bound about with iron
chains； by an engine； from the top of the mountain； it being not
possible to get up to them； by reason of the sharp ascent of the
mountains； nor to creep down to them from above。 Now these chests
were filled with armed men； who had long hooks in their hands； by
which they might pull out such as resisted them； and then tumble
them down； and kill them by so doing； but the letting the chests
down proved to be a matter of great danger； because of the vast
depth they were to be let down； although they had their
provisions in the chests themselves。 But when the chests were let
down； and not one of those in the mouths of the caves durst come
near them； but lay still out of fear； some of the armed men girt
on their armor； and by both their hands took hold of the chain by
which the chests were let down； and went into the mouths of the
caves； because they fretted that such delay was made by the
robbers not daring to come out of the caves； and when they were
at any of those mouths； they first killed many of those that were
in the mouths with their darts； and afterwards pulled those to
them that resisted them with their hooks； and tumbled them down
the precipices； and afterwards went into the caves； and killed
many more； and then went into their chests again； and lay still
there； but； upon this； terror seized the rest； when they heard
the lamentations that were made； and they despaired of escaping。
However； when the night came on； that put an end to the w