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for this war； he sent to him； and demanded back those honorable
privileges which had been bestowed on him by his father； and
threatened； on his refusal； to make war upon him。 Upon hearing of
this； Izates was under no small trouble of mind； as thinking it
would be a reproach upon him to appear to resign those privileges
that had been bestowed upon him out of cowardice； yet because he
knew； that though the king of Parthia should receive back those
honors； yet would he not be quiet； he resolved to commit himself
to God； his Protector； in the present danger he was in of his
life； and as he esteemed him to be his principal assistant； he
intrusted his children and his wives to a very strong fortress；
and laid up his corn in his citadels； and set the hay and the
grass on fire。 And when he had thus put things in order； as well
as he could； he awaited the coming of the enemy。 And when the
king of Parthia was come； with a great army of footmen and
horsemen； which he did sooner than was expected； （for he marched
in great haste；） and had cast up a bank at the river that parted
Adiabene from Media； … Izates also pitched his camp not far off；
having with him six thousand horsemen。 But there came a messenger
to Izates； sent by the king of Parthia； who told him how large
his dominions were； as reaching from the river Euphrates to
Bactria； and enumerated that king's subjects； he also threatened
him that he should be punished； as a person ungrateful to his
lords； and said that the God whom he worshipped could not deliver
him out of the king's hands。 When the messenger had delivered
this his message； Izates replied that he knew the king of
Parthia's power was much greater than his own； but that he knew
also that God was much more powerful than all men。 And when he
had returned him this answer； he betook himself to make
supplication to God； and threw himself upon the ground； and put
ashes upon his head； in testimony of his confusion； and fasted；
together with his wives and children。 （7） Then he called upon
God； and said； 〃O Lord and Governor； if I have not in vain
committed myself to thy goodness； but have justly determined that
thou only art the Lord and principal of all beings； come now to
my assistance； and defend me from my enemies； not only on my own
account； but on account of their insolent behavior with regard to
thy power； while they have not feared to lift up their proud and
arrogant tongue against thee。〃 Thus did he lament and bemoan
himself； with tears in his eyes； whereupon God heard his prayer。
And immediately that very night Vologases received letters； the
contents of which were these； that a great band of Dahe and
Sacse； despising him； now he was gone so long a journey from
home； had made an expedition； and laid Parthis waste； so that he
＇was forced to＇ retire back； without doing any thing。 And thus it
was that Izates escaped the threatenings of the Parthians； by the
providence of God。
3。 It was not long ere Izates died； when he had completed
fifty…five years of his life； and had ruled his kingdom
twenty…four years。 He left behind him twenty…four sons and
twenty…four daughters。 However； he gave order that his brother
Monobazus should succeed in the government； thereby requiting
him； because； while he was himself absent after their father's
death； he had faithfully preserved the government for him。 But
when Helena； his mother； heard of her son's death； she was in
great heaviness； as was but natural； upon her loss of such a most
dutiful son； yet was it a comfort to her that she heard the
succession came to her eldest son。 Accordingly； she went to him
in haste； and when she was come into Adiabene； she did not long
outlive her son Izates。 But Monobazus sent her bones； as well as
those of Izates； his brother； to Jerusalem； and gave order that
they should be buried at the pyramids （8） which their mother had
erected； they were three in number； and distant no more than
three furlongs from the city Jerusalem。 But for the actions of
Monobazus the king； which he did during the rest of his life。 we
will relate them hereafter。…
CHAPTER 5。
Concerning Theudas And The Sons Of Judas The Galilean； As Also
What Calamity Fell Upon The Jews On The Day Of The Passover。
1。 Now it came to pass； while Fadus was procurator of Judea； that
a certain magician； whose name was Theudas； （9） persuaded a great
part of the people to take their effects with them； and follow
him to the river Jordan； for he told them he was a prophet； and
that he would； by his own command； divide the river； and afford
them an easy passage over it； and many were deluded by his words。
However； Fadus did not permit them to make any advantage of his
wild attempt； but sent a troop of horsemen out against them； who；
falling upon them unexpectedly； slew many of them； and took many
of them alive。 They also took Theudas alive； and cut off his
head； and carried it to Jerusalem。 This was what befell the Jews
in the time of Cuspius Fadus's government。
2。 Then came Tiberius Alexander as successor to Fadus； he was the
son of Alexander the alabarch of Alexandria； which Alexander was
a principal person among all his contemporaries； both for his
family and wealth： he was also more eminent for his piety than
this his son Alexander； for he did not continue in the religion
of his country。 Under these procurators that great famine
happened in Judea； in which queen Helena bought corn in Egypt at
a great expense； and distributed it to those that were in want；
as I have related already。 And besides this； the sons of Judas of
Galilee were now slain； I mean of that Judas who caused the
people to revolt； when Cyrenius came to take an account of the
estates of the Jews； as we have showed in a foregoing book。 The
names of those sons were James and Simon； whom Alexander
commanded to be crucified。 But now Herod； king of Chalcis；
removed Joseph； the son of Camydus； from the high priesthood； and
made Ananias； the son of Nebedeu； his successor。 And now it was
that Cumanus came as successor to Tiberius Alexander； as also
that Herod； brother of Agrippa the great king； departed this
life； in the eighth year of the reign of Claudius Caesar。 He left
behind him three sons； Aristobulus； whom he had by his first
wife； with Bernicianus； and Hyrcanus； both whom he had by Bernice
his brother's daughter。 But Claudius Caesar bestowed his
dominions on Agrippa； junior。
3。 Now while the Jewish affairs were under the administration of
Cureanus； there happened a great tumult at the city of Jerusalem；
and many of the Jews perished therein。 But I shall first explain
the occasion whence it was derived。 When that feast which is
called the passover was at hand； at which time our custom is to
use unleavened bread； and a great multitude was gathered together
from all parts to that feast； Cumanus was afraid lest some
attempt of innovation should then be made by them； so he ordered
that one regiment of the army should take their arms； and stand
in the temple cloisters； to repress any attempts of innovation；
if perchance any such should begin； and this was no more than
what the former procurators of Judea did at such festivals。 But
on the fourth day of the feast； a certain soldier let down his
breeches； and exposed his privy members to the multitude； which
put those that saw him into a furious rage； and made them cry out
that this impious action was not done to approach them； but God
himself； nay； some of them reproached Cumanus； and pretended that
the soldier was set on by him； which； when Cumanus heard； he was
also himself not a little provoked at such reproaches laid upon
him； yet did he exhort them to leave off such seditious attempts；
and not to raise a tumult at the festival。 But when he could not
induce them to be quiet for they still went on in their
reproaches to him； he gave order that the whole army should take
their entire armor； and come to Antonia； which was a fortress； as
we have said already； which overlooked the temple； but when the
multitude saw the soldiers there； they were affrighted at them；
and ran away hastily； but as the passages out were but narrow；
and as they thought their enemies followed them； they were
crowded together in their flight； and a great number were pressed
to death in those narrow passages； nor indeed was the number
fewer than twenty thousand that perished in this tumult。 So
instead of a festival； they had at last a mournful day of it； and
they all of them forgot their prayers and sacrifices； and betook
themselves to lamentation and weeping； so great an affliction did
the impudent obsceneness of a single soldier bring upon them。
（10）
4。 Now before this their first mourning was over； another
mischief befell them also； for some of those that raised the
foregoing tumult； when they were traveling along the public road；
about a hundred furlongs from the city； robbed Stephanus； a
servant of Caesar； as he was journeying； and plundered him of all
that he had with him； which things when Cureanus heard of； he
sent soldiers immediately； and ordered them to plunder the
neighboring villages； and to bring the most eminent persons among
them in bonds to him。 Now as this dev