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escaped such a great and surprising danger。
12。 But the next day six thousand of the enemy came down from the
tops of the mountains to fight the Romans； which greatly
terrified them； and the soldiers that were in light armor came
near； and pelted the king's guards that were come out with darts
and stones； and one of them hit him on the side with a dart。
Antigonus also sent a commander against Samaria； whose name was
Pappus； with some forces； being desirous to show the enemy how
potent he was； and that he had men to spare in his war with them。
He sat down to oppose Macheras； but Herod； when he had taken five
cities； took such as were left in them； being about two thousand；
and slew them； and burnt the cities themselves； and then returned
to go against Pappus； who was encamped at a village called
Isanas； and there ran in to him many out of Jericho and Judea；
near to which places he was； and the enemy fell upon his men； so
stout were they at this time； and joined battle with them； but he
beat them in the fight； and in order to be revenged on them for
the slaughter of his brother； he pursued them sharply； and killed
them as they ran away； and as the houses were full of armed men；
（29） and many of them ran as far as the tops of the houses； he
got them under his power； and pulled down the roofs of the
houses； and saw the lower rooms full of soldiers that were
caught； and lay all on a heap； so they threw stones down upon
them as they lay piled one upon another； and thereby killed them；
nor was there a more frightful spectacle in all the war than
this； where beyond the walls an immense multitude of dead men lay
heaped one upon another。 This action it was which chiefly brake
the spirits of the enemy； who expected now what would come； for
there appeared a mighty number of people that came from places
far distant； that were now about the village； but then ran away；
and had it not been for the depth of winter； which then
restrained them； the king's army had presently gone to Jerusalem；
as being very courageous at this good success； and the whole work
had been done immediately； for Antigonus was already looking
about how he might fly away and leave the city。
13。 At this time the king gave order that the soldiers should go
to supper； for it was late at night； while he went into a chamber
to use the bath； for he was very weary； and here it was that he
was in the greatest danger； which yet； by God's providence； he
escaped； for as he was naked； and had but one servant that
followed him； to be with him while he was bathing in an inner
room； certain of the enemy； who were in their armor； and had fled
thither； out of fear； were then in the place； and as he was
bathing； the first of them came out with his naked sword drawn；
and went out at the doors； and after him a second； and a third；
armed in like manner； and were under such a consternation； that
they did no hurt to the king； and thought themselves to have come
off very well ill suffering no harm themselves in their getting
out of the house。 However； on the next day； he cut off the head
of Pappus； for he was already slain； and sent it to Pheroras； as
a punishment of what their brother had suffered by his means； for
he was the man that slew him with his own hand。
14。 When the rigor of winter was over； Herod removed his army；
and came near to Jerusalem； and pitched his camp hard by the
city。 Now this was the third year since he had been made king at
Rome； and as he removed his camp； and came near that part of the
wall where it could be most easily assaulted； he pitched that
camp before the temple； intending to make his attacks in the same
manner as did Pompey。 So he encompassed the place with three
bulwarks； and erected towers； and employed a great many hands
about the work； and cut down the trees that were round about the
city； and when he had appointed proper persons to oversee the
works； even while the army lay before the city； he himself went
to Samaria； to complete his marriage； and to take to wife the
daughter of Alexander； the son of Aristobulus； for he had
betrothed her already； as I have before related。
CHAPTER 16。
How Herod； When He Had Married Mariamne Took Jerusalem With The
Assistance Of Sosius By Force； And How The Government Of He
Asamoneans Was Put An End To
1。 After the wedding was over； came Sosius through Phoenicia；
having sent out his army before him over the midland parts。 He
also； who was their commander； came himself； with a great number
of horsemen and footmen。 The king also came himself from Samaria；
and brought with him no small army； besides that which was there
before； for they were about thirty thousand； and they all met
together at the walls of Jerusalem； and encamped at the north
wall of the city； being now an army of eleven legions； armed men
on foot； and six thousand horsemen； with other auxiliaries out of
Syria。 The generals were two： Sosius； sent by Antony to assist
Herod； and Herod on his own account； in order to take the
government from Antigonus； who was declared all enemy at Rome；
and that he might himself be king； according to the decree of the
Senate。
2。 Now the Jews that were enclosed within the walls of the city
fought against Herod with great alacrity and zeal （for the whole
nation was gathered together）； they also gave out many prophecies
about the temple； and many things agreeable to the people； as if
God would deliver them out of the dangers they were in； they had
also carried off what was out of the city； that they might not
leave any thing to afford sustenance either for men or for
beasts； and by private robberies they made the want of
necessaries greater。 When Herod understood this； he opposed
ambushes in the fittest places against their private robberies；
and he sent legions of armed men to bring its provisions； and
that from remote places； so that in a little time they had great
plenty of provisions。 Now the three bulwarks were easily erected；
because so many hands were continually at work upon it； for it
was summer time； and there was nothing to hinder them in raising
their works； neither from the air nor from the workmen； so they
brought their engines to bear； and shook the walls of the city；
and tried all manner of ways to get its； yet did not those within
discover any fear； but they also contrived not a few engines to
oppose their engines withal。 They also sallied out； and burnt not
only those engines that were not yet perfected； but those that
were； and when they came hand to hand； their attempts were not
less bold than those of the Romans； though they were behind them
in skill。 They also erected new works when the former were
ruined； and making mines underground； they met each other； and
fought there； and making use of brutish courage rather than of
prudent valor； they persisted in this war to the very last； and
this they did while a mighty army lay round about them； and while
they were distressed by famine and the want of necessaries； for
this happened to be a Sabbatic year。 The first that scaled the
walls were twenty chosen men； the next were Sosius's centurions；
for the first wall was taken in forty days； and the second in
fifteen more； when some of the cloisters that were about the
temple were burnt； which Herod gave out to have been burnt by
Antigonus； in order to expose him to the hatred of the Jews。 And
when the outer court of the temple and the lower city were taken；
the Jews fled into the inner court of the temple； and into the
upper city； but now fearing lest the Romans should hinder them
from offering their daily sacrifices to God； they sent an
embassage； and desired that they would only permit them to bring
in beasts for sacrifices； which Herod granted； hoping they were
going to yield； but when he saw that they did nothing of what he
supposed； but bitterly opposed him； in order to preserve the
kingdom to Antigonus； he made an assault upon the city； and took
it by storm； and now all parts were full of those that were
slain； by the rage of the Romans at the long duration of the
siege； and by the zeal of the Jews that were on Herod's side； who
were not willing to leave one of their adversaries alive； so they
were murdered continually in the narrow streets and in the houses
by crowds； and as they were flying to the temple for shelter； and
there was no pity taken of either infants or the aged； nor did
they spare so much as the weaker sex； nay； although the king sent
about； and besought them to spare the people； yet nobody
restrained their hand from slaughter； but； as if they were a
company of madmen； they fell upon persons of all ages； without
distinction； and then Antigonus； without regard to either his
past or present circumstances； came down from the citadel； and
fell down at the feet of Sosius； who took no pity of him； in the
change of his fortune； but insulted him beyond measure； and
called him Antigone ＇i。e。 a woman； and not a man；＇ yet did he not
treat him as if he were a woman； by letting him go at liberty；
but put him into bonds； and kept him in close custody。
3。 And now Herod having overcome his enemies； his care was to
govern those foreigners who had been his assistants； fo