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giving him hostages； and especially his son Artabanus。 Upon
Tiberius's writing thus to Vitellius； by the offer of great
presents of money； he persuaded both the king of Iberia and the
king of Albania to make no delay； but to fight against Artabanus；
and although they would not do it themselves； yet did they give
the Scythians a passage through their country； and opened the
Caspian gates to them； and brought them upon Artabanus。 So
Armenia was again taken from the Parthians； and the country of
Parthis was filled with war； and the principal of their men were
slain； and all things were in disorder among them： the king's son
also himself fell in these wars； together with。 many ten
thousands of his army。 Vitellius had also sent such great sums of
money to Artabanus's father's kinsmen and friends； that he had
almost procured him to be slain by the means of those bribes
which they had taken。 And when Artabanus perceived that the plot
laid against him was not to be avoided； because it was laid by
the principal men； and those a great many in number； and that it
would certainly take effect； … when he had estimated the number
of those that were truly faithful to him； as also of those who
were already corrupted； but were deceitful in the kindness they
professed to him； and were likely； upon trial； to go over to his
enemies； he made his escape to the upper provinces； where he
afterwards raised a great army out of the Dahae and Sacre； and
fought with his enemies； and retained his principality。
5。 When Tiberius had heard of these things； he desired to have a
league of friendship made between him and Artabanus； and when；
upon this invitation； he received the proposal kindly； Artabanus
and Vitellius went to Euphrates； and as a bridge was laid over
the river； they each of them came with their guards about them；
and met one another on the midst of the bridge。 And when they had
agreed upon the terms of peace Herod； the tetrarch erected a rich
tent on the midst of the passage； and made them a feast there。
Artabanus also； not long afterward； sent his son Darius as an
hostage； with many presents； among which there was a man seven
cubits tall； a Jew he was by birth； and his name was Eleazar；
who； for his tallness； was called a giant。 After which Vitellius
went to Antioch； and Artabanus to Babylon； but Herod ＇the
tetrarch＇ being desirous to give Caesar the first information
that they had obtained hostages； sent posts with letters； wherein
he had accurately described all the particulars； and had left
nothing for the consular Vitellius to inform him of。 But when
Vitellius's letters were sent； and Caesar had let him know that
he was acquainted with the affairs already； because Herod had
given him an account of them before； Vitellius was very much
troubled at it； and supposing that he had been thereby a greater
sufferer than he really was； he kept up a secret anger upon this
occasion； till he could be revenged on him； which he was after
Caius had taken the government。
6。 About this time it was that Philip； Herod's ' brother；
departed this life； in the twentieth year of the reign of
Tiberius； （14） after he had been tetrarch of Trachonitis and
Gaulanitis； and of the nation of the Bataneans also； thirty…seven
years。 He had showed himself a person of moderation and quietness
in the conduct of his life and government； he constantly lived in
that country which was subject to him； he used to make his
progress with a few chosen friends； his tribunal also； on which
he sat in judgment； followed him in his progress； and when any
one met him who wanted his assistance； he made no delay； but had
his tribunal set down immediately； wheresoever he happened to be；
and sat down upon it； and heard his complaint： he there ordered
the guilty that were convicted to be punished； and absolved those
that had been accused unjustly。 He died at Julias； and when he
was carried to that monument which he had already erected for
himself beforehand； he was buried with great pomp。 His
principality Tiberius took； （for he left no sons behind him；） and
added it to the province of Syria； but gave order that the
tributes which arose from it should be collected； and laid up in
his tetrachy。
CHAPTER 5。
Herod The Tetrarch Makes War With Aretas； The King Of Arabia； And
Is Beaten By Him As Also Concerning The Death Of John The
Baptist。 How Vitellius Went Up To Jerusalem； Together With Some
Account Of Agrippa And Of The Posterity Of Herod The Great。
1。 About this time Aretas （the king of Arabia Petres） and Herod
had a quarrel on the account following： Herod the tetrarch had；
married the daughter of Aretas； and had lived with her a great
while； but when he was once at Rome； he lodged with Herod； （15）
who was his brother indeed； but not by the same mother； for this
Herod was the son of the high priest Sireoh's daughter。 However；
he fell in love with Herodias； this last Herod's wife； who was
the daughter of Aristobulus their brother； and the sister of
Agrippa the Great。 This man ventured to talk to her about a
marriage between them； which address； when she admitted； an
agreement was made for her to change her habitation； and come to
him as soon as he should return from Rome： one article of this
marriage also was this； that he should divorce Aretas's daughter。
So Antipus； when he had made this agreement； sailed to Rome； but
when he had done there the business he went about； and was
returned again； his wife having discovered the agreement he had
made with Herodias； and having learned it before he had notice of
her knowledge of the whole design； she desired him to send her to
Macherus； which is a place in the borders of the dominions of
Aretas and Herod； without informing him of any of her intentions。
Accordingly Herod sent her thither； as thinking his wife had not
perceived any thing； now she had sent a good while before to
Macherus； which was subject to her father and so all things
necessary for her journey were made ready for her by the general
of Aretas's army； and by that means she soon came into Arabia；
under the conduct of the several generals； who carried her from
one to another successively； and she soon came to her father； and
told him of Herod's intentions。 So Aretas made this the first
occasion of his enmity between him and Herod； who had also some
quarrel with him about their limits at the country of Gamalitis。
So they raised armies on both sides； and prepared for war； and
sent their generals to fight instead of themselves； and when they
had joined battle； all Herod's army was destroyed by the
treachery of some fugitives； who； though they were of the
tetrarchy of Philip； joined with Aretas's army。。 So Herod wrote
about these affairs to Tiberius； who being very angry at the
attempt made by Aretas； wrote to Vitellius to make war upon him；
and either to take him alive； and bring him to him in bonds； or
to kill him； and send him his head。 This was the charge that
Tiberius gave to the president of Syria。
2。 Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod's
army came from God； and that very justly； as a punishment of what
he did against John； that was called the Baptist： for Herod slew
him； who was a good man； and commanded the Jews to exercise
virtue； both as to righteousness towards one another； and piety
towards God； and so to come to baptism； for that the washing
＇with water＇ would be acceptable to him； if they made use of it；
not in order to the putting away ＇or the remission＇ of some sins
＇only＇； but for the purification of the body； supposing still
that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by
righteousness。 Now when ＇many＇ others came in crowds about him；
for they were very greatly moved ＇or pleased＇ by hearing his
words； Herod； who feared lest the great influence John had over
the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a
rebellion； （for they seemed ready to do any thing he should
advise；） thought it best； by putting him to death； to prevent any
mischief he might cause； and not bring himself into difficulties；
by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be
too late。 Accordingly he was sent a prisoner； out of Herod's
suspicious temper； to Macherus； the castle I before mentioned；
and was there put to death。 Now the Jews had an opinion that the
destruction of this army was sent as a punishment upon Herod； and
a mark of God's displeasure to him。
3。 So Vitellius prepared to make war with Aretas； having with him
two legions of armed men； he also took with him all those of
light armature； and of the horsemen which belonged to them； and
were drawn out of those kingdoms which were under the Romans； and
made haste for Petra； and came to Ptolemais。 But as he was
marching very busily； and leading his army through Judea； the
principal men met him； and desired that he would not thus march
through their land； for that the laws of their country would not
permit them to overlook those images which were brought into it；
of which there were a great many in their ensigns； so he was
persuaded by what they said； and changed that resolution of his
which he had before taken in this matter。 Whereupon he ordered
t