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However； when the night came on； that put an end to the whole
work； and as the king proclaimed pardon by a herald to such as
delivered themselves up to him； many accepted of the offer。 The
same method of assault was made use of the next day； and they
went further； and got out in baskets to fight them； and fought
them at their doors； and sent fire among them； and set their
caves on fire； for there was a great deal of combustible matter
within them。 Now there was one old man who was caught within one
of these caves； with seven children and a wife； these prayed him
to give them leave to go out； and yield themselves up to the
enemy； but he stood at the cave's mouth； and always slew that
child of his who went out； till he had destroyed them every one；
and after that he slew his wife； and cast their dead bodies down
the precipice； and himself after them； and so underwent death
rather than slavery： but before he did this； he greatly
reproached Herod with the meanness of his family； although he was
then king。 Herod also saw what he was doing； and stretched out
his hand； and offered him all manner of security for his life； by
which means all these caves were at length subdued entirely。
6。 And when the king had set Ptolemy over these parts of the
country as his general； he went to Samaria； with six hundred
horsemen； and three thousand armed footmen； as intending to fight
Antigonus。 But still this command of the army did not succeed
well with Ptolemy； but those that had been troublesome to Galilee
before attacked him； and slew him； and when they had done this；
they fled among the lakes and places almost inaccessible laying
waste and plundering whatsoever they could come at in those
places。 But Herod soon returned； and punished them for what they
had done； for some of these rebels he slew； and others of them；
who had fled to the strong holds he besieged； and both slew them；
and demolished their strong holds。 And when he had thus put an
end to their rebellion； he laid a fine upon the cities of a
hundred talents。
7。 In the mean time； Pacorus was fallen in a battle； and the
Parthians were defeated； when Ventidius sent Macheras to the
assistance of Herod； with two legions； and a thousand horsemen；
while Antony encouraged him to make haste。 But Macheras； at the
instigation of Antigonus； without the approbation of Herod； as
being corrupted by money； went about to take a view of his
affairs； but Antigonus suspecting this intention of his coming；
did not admit him into the city； but kept him at a distance； with
throwing stones at him； and plainly showed what he himself meant。
But when Macheras was sensible that Herod had given him good
advice； and that he had made a mistake himself in not hearkening
to that advice； he retired to the city Emmaus； and what Jews he
met with he slew them； whether they were enemies or friends； out
of the rage he was in at what hardships he had undergone。 The
king was provoked at this conduct of his； and went to Samaria；
and resolved to go to Antony about these affairs； and to inform
him that he stood in no need of such helpers； who did him more
mischief than they did his enemies； and that he was able of
himself to beat Antigonus。 But Macheras followed him； and desired
that he would not go to Antony； or if he was resolved to go； that
he would join his brother Joseph with them； and let them fight
against Antigonus。 So he was reconciled to Macheras； upon his
earnest entreaties。 Accordingly； he left Joseph there with his
army； but charged him to run no hazards； nor to quarrel with
Macheras。
8。 But for his own part； he made haste to Antony （who was then at
the siege of Samosata； a place upon Euphrates） with his troops；
both horsemen and footmen； to be auxiliaries to him。 And when he
came to Antioch； and met there a great number of men gotten
together that were very desirous to go to Antony； but durst not
venture to go； out of fear； because the barbarians fell upon men
on the road； and slew many； so he encouraged them； and became
their conductor upon the road。 Now when they were within two
days' march of Samosata； the barbarians had laid an ambush there
to disturb those that came to Antony； and where the woods made
the passes narrow； as they led to the plains； there they laid not
a few of their horsemen； who were to lie still until those
passengers were gone by into the wide place。 Now as soon as the
first ranks were gone by； （for Herod brought on the rear；） those
that lay in ambush； who were about five hundred； fell upon them
on the sudden； and when they had put the foremost to flight； the
king came riding hard； with the forces that were about him； and
immediately drove back the enemy； by which means he made the
minds of his own men courageous； and imboldened them to go on；
insomuch that those who ran away before now returned back； and
the barbarians were slain on all sides。 The king also went on
killing them； and recovered all the baggage； among which were a
great number of beasts for burden； and of slaves； and proceeded
on in his march； and whereas there were a great number of those
in the woods that attacked them； and were near the passage that
led into the plain； he made a sally upon these also with a strong
body of men； and put them to flight； and slew many of them； and
thereby rendered the way safe for those that came after； and
these called Herod their savior and protector。
9。 And when he was near to Samosata； Antony sent out his army in
all their proper habiliments to meet him； in order to pay Herod
this respect； and because of the assistance he had given him； for
he had heard what attacks the barbarians had made upon him ＇in
Judea＇。 He also was very glad to see him there； as having been
made acquainted with the great actions he had performed upon the
road。 So he entertained him very kindly； and could not but admire
his courage。 Antony also embraced him as soon as he saw him； and
saluted him after a most affectionate manner； and gave him the
upper hand； as having himself lately made him a king； and in a
little time Antiochus delivered up the fortress； and on that
account this war was at an end； then Antony committed the rest to
Sosius； and gave him orders to assist Herod； and went himself to
Egypt。 Accordingly； Sosius sent two legions before into Judea to
the assistance of Herod； and he followed himself with the body of
the army。
10。 Now Joseph was already slain in Judea； in the manner
following： He forgot what charge his brother Herod had given him
when he went to Antony； and when he had pitched his camp among
the mountains； for Macheras had lent him five regiments； with
these he went hastily to Jericho； in ：order to reap the corn
thereto belonging； and as the Roman regiments were but newly
raised； and were unskillful in war； for they were in great part
collected out of Syria； he was attacked by the enemy； and caught
in those places of difficulty； and was himself slain； as he was
fighting bravely； and the whole army was lost； for there were six
regiments slain。 So when Antigonus had got possession of the dead
bodies； he cut off Joseph's head； although Pheroras his brother
would have redeemed it at the price of fifty talents。 After which
defeat； the Galileans revolted from their commanders； and took
those of Herod's party； and drowned them in the lake； and a great
part of Judea was become seditious； but Macheras fortified the
place Gitta ＇in Samaria＇。
11。 At this time messengers came to Herod； and informed him of
what had been done； and when he was come to Daphne by Antioch；
they told him of the ill fortune that had befallen his brother；
which yet he expected； from certain visions that appeared to him
in his dreams； which clearly foreshowed his brother's death。 So
he hastened his march； and when he came to Mount Libanus； he
received about eight hundred of the men of that place； having
already with him also one Roman legion； and with these he came to
Ptolemais。 He also marched thence by night with his army； and
proceeded along Galilee。 Here it was that the enemy met him； and
fought him； and were beaten； and shut up in the same place of
strength whence they had sallied out the day before。 So he
attacked the place in the morning； but by reason of a great storm
that was then very violent； he was able to do nothing； but drew
off his army into the neighboring villages； yet as soon as the
other legion that Antony sent him was come to his assistance；
those that were in garrison in the place were afraid； and
deserted it in the night time。 Then did the king march hastily to
Jericho； intending to avenge himself on the enemy for the
slaughter of his brother； and when he had pitched his tents； he
made a feast for the principal commanders； and after this
collation was over； and he had dismissed his guests； he retired
to his own chamber； and here may one see what kindness God had
for the king； for the upper part of the house fell down when
nobody was in it； and so killed none； insomuch that all the
people believed that Herod was beloved of God； since he had
escaped such a great and surprising danger。
12。 But the next day six thousand of the enemy came down from the
tops of the mount