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he may slay us； and by overbearing justice may himself escape
death。 Yet do not I make this complaint against Herod himself； he
is to be sure more concerned for himself than for the laws； but
my complaint is against yourselves； and your king； who gave him a
license so to do。 However； take you notice； that God is great；
and that this very man； whom you are going to absolve and
dismiss； for the sake of Hyrcanus； will one day punish both you
and your king himself also。〃 Nor did Sameas mistake in any part
of this prediction； for when Herod had received the kingdom； he
slew all the members of this Sanhedrim； and Hyrcanus himself
also； excepting Sameas； for he had a great honor for him on
account of his righteousness； and because； when the city was
afterward besieged by Herod and Sosius； he persuaded the people
to admit Herod into it； and told them that for their sins they
would not be able to escape his hands： … which things will be
related by us in their proper places。
5。 But when Hyrcanus saw that the members of the Sanhedrim were
ready to pronounce the sentence of death upon Herod； he put off
the trial to another day； and sent privately to Herod； and
advised him to fly out of the city； for that by this means he
might escape。 So he retired to Damascus； as though he fled from
the king； and when he had been with Sextus Caesar； and had put
his own affairs in a sure posture； he resolved to do thus； that
in case he were again summoned before the Sanhedrim to take his
trial； he would not obey that summons。 Hereupon the members of
the Sanhedrim had great indignation at this posture of affairs；
and endeavored to persuade Hyrcanus that all these things were
against him； which state of matters he was not ignorant of； but
his temper was so unmanly； and so foolish； that he was able to do
nothing at all。 But when Sextus had made Herod general of the
army of Celesyria； for he sold him that post for money； Hyrcanus
was in fear lest Herod should make war upon him； nor was the
effect of what he feared long in coming upon him； for Herod came
and brought an army along with him to fight with Hyrcanus； as
being angry at the trial he bad been summoned to undergo before
the Sanhedrim； but his father Antipater； and his brother
＇Phasaelus＇； met him； and hindered him from assaulting Jerusalem。
They also pacified his vehement temper； and persuaded him to do
no overt action； but only to affright them with threatenings； and
to proceed no further against one who had given him the dignity
he had： they also desired him not only to be angry that he was
summoned； and obliged to come to his trial； but to remember
withal how he was dismissed without condemnation； and how he
ought to give Hyrcanus thanks for the same； and that he was not
to regard only what was disagreeable to him； and be unthankful
for his deliverance。 So they desired him to consider； that since
it is God that turns the scales of war； there is great
uncertainty in the issue of battles； and that therefore he ought
of to expect the victory when he should fight with his king； and
him that had supported him； and bestowed many benefits upon him；
and had done nothing itself very severe to him； for that his
accusation； which was derived from evil counselors； and not from
himself； had rather the suspicion of some severity； than any
thing really severe in it。 Herod was persuaded by these
arguments； and believed that it was sufficient for his future
hopes to have made a show of his strength before the nation； and
done no more to it … and in this state were the affairs of Judea
at this time。
CHAPTER 10。
The Honors That Were Paid The Jews； And The Leagues That Were
Made By The Romans And Other Nations； With Them。
1。 Now when Caesar was come to Rome； he was ready to sail into
Africa to fight against Scipio and Cato； when Hyrcanus sent
ambassadors to him； and by them desired that he would ratify that
league of friendship and mutual alliance which was between them；
And it seems to me to be necessary here to give an account of all
the honors that the Romans and their emperor paid to our nation；
and of the leagues of mutual assistance they have made with it；
that all the rest of mankind may know what regard the kings of
Asia and Europe have had to us； and that they have been
abundantly satisfied of our courage and fidelity； for whereas
many will not believe what hath been written about us by the
Persians and Macedonians； because those writings are not every
where to be met with； nor do lie in public places； but among us
ourselves； and certain other barbarous nations； while there is no
contradiction to be made against the decrees of the Romans； for
they are laid up in the public places of the cities； and are
extant still in the capitol； and engraven upon pillars of brass；
nay； besides this； Julius Caesar made a pillar of brass for the
Jews at Alexandria； and declared publicly that they were citizens
of Alexandria。 Out of these evidences will I demonstrate what I
say； and will now set down the decrees made both by the senate
and by Julius Caesar； which relate to Hyrcanus and to our nation。
2。 〃Caius Julius Caesar； imperator and high priest； and dictator
the second time； to the magistrates； senate； and people of Sidon；
sendeth greeting。 If you be in health； it is well。 I also and the
army are well。 I have sent you a copy of that decree； registered
on the tables； which concerns Hyrcanus； the son of Alexander； the
high priest and ethnarch of the Jews； that it may be laid up
among the public records； and I will that it be openly proposed
in a table of brass； both in Greek and in Latin。 It is as
follows： I Julius Caesar； imperator the second time； and high
priest； have made this decree； with the approbation of the
senate。 Whereas Hyrcanus； the son of Alexander the Jew； hath
demonstrated his fidelity and diligence about our affairs； and
this both now and in former times； both in peace and in war； as
many of our generals have borne witness； and came to our
assistance in the last Alexandrian war； （17） with fifteen hundred
soldiers； and when he was sent by me to Mithridates； showed
himself superior in valor to all the rest of that army； … for
these reasons I will that Hyrcanus； the son of Alexander； and his
children； be ethnarchs of the Jews； and have the high priesthood
of the Jews for ever； according to the customs of their
forefathers； and that he and his sons be our confederates； and
that besides this； everyone of them be reckoned among our
particular friends。 I also ordain that he and his children retain
whatsoever privileges belong to the office of high priest； or
whatsoever favors have been hitherto granted them； and if at any
time hereafter there arise any questions about the Jewish
customs； I will that he determine the same。 And I think it not
proper that they should be obliged to find us winter quarters； or
that any money should be required of them。〃
3。 〃The decrees of Caius Caesar； consul； containing what hath
been granted and determined； are as follows： That Hyrcanus and
his children bear rule over the nation of the Jews； and have the
profits of the places to them bequeathed； and that he； as h