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quietness during their wicked practices。 But when Herod came back
from Rome； he perceived that his dominions had greatly suffered
by them； and since he could not reach the robbers themselves；
because of the secure retreat they had in that country； and which
the Arabian government afforded them； and yet being very uneasy
at the injuries they had done him； he went all over Trachonitis；
and slew their relations； whereupon these robbers were more angry
than before； it being a law among them to be avenged on the
murderers of their relations by all possible means； so they
continued to tear and rend every thing under Herod's dominion
with impunity。 Then did he discourse about these robberies to
Saturninus and Volumnius； and required that they should be
punished； upon which occasion they still the more confirmed
themselves in their robberies； and became more numerous； and made
very great disturbances； laying waste the countries and villages
that belonged to Herod's kingdom； and killing those men whom they
caught； till these unjust proceedings came to be like a real war；
for the robbers were now become about a thousand； … at which
Herod was sore displeased； and required the robbers； as well as
the money which he had lent Obodas； by Sylleus； which was sixty
talents； and since the time of payment was now past； he desired
to have it paid him； but Sylleus； who had laid Obodas aside； and
managed all by himself； denied that the robbers were in Arabia；
and put off the payment of the money； about which there was a
hearing before Saturninus and Volumnius； who were then the
presidents of Syria。 （11） At last he； by their means； agreed；
that within thirty days' time Herod should be paid his money； and
that each of them should deliver up the other's subjects
reciprocally。 Now； as to Herod； there was not one of the other's
subjects found in his kingdom； either as doing any injustice； or
on any other account； but it was proved that the Arabians had the
robbers amongst them。
2。 When this day appointed for payment of the money was past；
without Sylleus's performing any part of his agreement； and he
was gone to Rome； Herod demanded the payment of the money； and
that the robbers that were in Arabia should be delivered up； and；
by the permission of Saturninus and Volumnius； executed the
judgment himself upon those that were refractory。 He took an army
that he had； and let it into Arabia； and in three days' time
marched seven mansions； and when he came to the garrison wherein
the robbers were； he made an assault upon them； and took them
all； and demolished the place； which was called Raepta； but did
no harm to any others。 But as the Arabians came to their
assistance； under Naceb their captain； there ensued a battle；
wherein a few of Herod's soldiers； and Naceb； the captain of the
Arabians； and about twenty of his soldiers； fell； while the rest
betook themselves to flight。 So when he had brought these to
punishment； he placed three thousand Idumeans in Trachonitis； and
thereby restrained the robbers that were there。 He also sent an
account to the captains that were about Phoenicia； and
demonstrated that he had done nothing but what he ought to do； in
punishing the refractory Arabians； which； upon an exact inquiry；
they found to be no more than what was true。
3。 However； messengers were hasted away to Sylleus to Rome； and
informed him what had been done； and； as is usual； aggravated
every thing。 Now Sylleus had already insinuated himself into the
knowledge of Caesar； and was then about the palace； and as soon
as he heard of these things； he changed his habit into black； and
went in； and told Caesar that Arabia was afflicted with war； and
that all his kingdom was in great confusion； upon Herod's laying
it waste with his army； and he said； with tears in his eyes； that
two thousand five hundred of the principal men among the Arabians
had been destroyed； and that their captain Nacebus； his familiar
friend and kinsman； was slain； and that the riches that were at
Raepta were carried off； and that Obodas was despised； whose
infirm state of body rendered him unfit for war； on which account
neither he； nor the Arabian army； were present。 When Sylleus said
so； and added invidiously； that he would not himself have come
out of the country； unless he had believed that Caesar would have
provided that they should all have peace one with another； and
that； had he been there； he would have taken care that the war
should not have been to Herod's advantage； Caesar was provoked
when this was said； and asked no more than this one question；
both of Herod's friends that were there； and of his own friends；
who were come from Syria； Whether Herod had led an army thither？
And when they were forced to confess so much； Caesar； without
staying to hear for what reason he did it； and how it was done；
grew very angry； and wrote to Herod sharply。 The sum of his
epistle was this； that whereas of old he had used him as his
friend； he should now use him as his subject。 Sylleus also wrote
an account of this to the Arabians； who were so elevated with it；
that they neither delivered up the robbers that had fled to them；
nor paid the money that was due； they retained those pastures
also which they had hired； and kept them without paying their
rent； and all this because the king of the Jews was now in a low
condition； by reason of Caesar's anger at him。 Those of
Trachonitis also made use of this opportunity； and rose up
against the Idumean garrison； and followed the same way of
robbing with the Arabians； who had pillaged their country； and
were more rigid in their unjust proceedings； not only in order to
get by it； but by way of revenge also。
4。 Now Herod was forced to bear all this； that confidence of his
being quite gone with which Caesar's favor used to inspire him；
for Caesar would not admit so much as an embassage from him to
'make an apology for him； and when they came again； he sent them
away without success。 So he was cast into sadness and fear； and
Sylleus's circumstances grieved him exceedingly； who was now
believed by Caesar； and was present at Rome； nay； sometimes
aspiring higher。 Now it came to pass that Obodas was dead； and
Aeneas； whose name was afterward changed to Aretas； （12） took the
government； for Sylleus endeavored by calumnies to get him turned
out of his principality； that he might himself take it； with
which design he gave much money to the courtiers； and promised
much money to Caesar； who indeed was angry that Aretas had not
sent to him first before he took the kingdom； yet did Aeneas send
an epistle and presents to Caesar； and a golden crown； of the
weight of many talents。 Now that epistle accused Sylleus as
having been a wicked servant； and having killed Obodas by poison；
and that while he was alive； he had governed him as he pleased；
and had also debauched the wives of the Arabians； and had
borrowed money； in order to obtain the dominion for himself： yet
did not Caesar give heed to these accusations； but sent his
ambassadors back； without receiving any of his presents。 But in
the mean time the affairs of Judea and Arabia became worse and
worse； partly because of the anarchy they were under； and partly
because； as bad as they were； nobody had power to govern them；
for of the two kings； the one was not yet confirmed in his
kingdom； and so had not authority sufficient to restrain the
evil…doers； and as for Herod； Caesar was immediately angry at him
for having avenged himself； and so he was compelled to bear all
the injuries that were offered him。 At length； when he saw no end
of the mischief which surrounded him； he resolved to send
ambassadors to Rome again； to see whether his friends had
prevailed to mitigate Caesar； and to address themselves to Caesar
himself； and the ambassador he sent thither was Nicolans of
Damascus。
CHAPTER 10。
How Eurycles Falsely Accused Herod's Sons； And How Their Father
Bound Them； And Wrote To Caesar About Them。 Of Sylleus And How He
Was Accused By Nicolaus。
1。 The disorders about Herod's family and children about this
time grew much worse； for it now appeared certain； nor was it
unforeseen before…hand； that fortune threatened the greatest and
most insupportable misfortunes possible to his kingdom。 Its
progress and augmentation at this time arose on the occasion
following： One Eurycles； a Lacedemonian； （a person of note there；
but a man of a perverse mind； and so cunning in his ways of
voluptuousness and flattery； as to indulge both； and yet seem to
indulge neither of them；） came in his travels to Herod； and made
him presents； but so that he received more presents from him。 He
also took such proper seasons for insinuating himself into his
friendship； that he became one of the most intimate of the king's
friends。 He had his lodging in Antipater's house； but he had not
only access； but free conversation； with Alexander； as pretending
to him that he was in great favor with Archclaus； the king of
Cappadocia； whence he pretended much respect to Glaphyra； and in
an occult manner cultivated a friendship with them all； but
always attending to what was said and done； that he might be
furnished with calumnies