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Whereas those Jews who are fellow citizens； and live with us in
this city； have ever had great benefits heaped upon them by the
people； and have come now into the senate； and desired of the
people； that upon the restitution of their law and their liberty；
by the senate and people of Rome； they may assemble together；
according to their ancient legal custom； and that we will not
bring any suit against them about it； and that a place may be
given them where they may have their congregations； with their
wives and children； and may offer； as did their forefathers；
their prayers and sacrifices to God。 Now the senate and people
have decreed to permit them to assemble together on the days
formerly appointed； and to act according to their own laws； and
that such a place be set apart for them by the praetors； for the
building and inhabiting the same； as they shall esteem fit for
that purpose； and that those that take care of the provision for
the city； shall take care that such sorts of food as they esteem
fit for their eating may be imported into the city。〃
25。 The decree of the Ephesians。 〃When Menophilus was prytanis；
on the first day of the month Artemisius； this decree was made by
the people： Nicanor； the son of Euphemus； pronounced it； upon the
representation of the praetors。 Since the Jews that dwell in this
city have petitioned Marcus Julius Pompeius； the son of Brutus；
the proconsul； that they might be allowed to observe their
Sabbaths； and to act in all things according to the customs of
their forefathers； without impediment from any body； the praetor
hath granted their petition。 Accordingly； it was decreed by the
senate and people； that in this affair that concerned the Romans；
no one of them should be hindered from keeping the sabbath day；
nor be fined for so doing； but that they may be allowed to do all
things according to their own laws。〃
26。 Now there are many such decrees of the senate and imperators
of the Romans （20） and those different from these before us；
which have been made in favor of Hyrcanus； and of our nation； as
also； there have been more decrees of the cities； and rescripts
of the praetors； to such epistles as concerned our rights and
privileges； and certainly such as are not ill…disposed to what we
write may believe that they are all to this purpose； and that by
the specimens which we have inserted； for since we have produced
evident marks that may still be seen of the friendship we have
had with the Romans； and demonstrated that those marks are
engraven upon columns and tables of brass in the capitol； that
axe still in being； and preserved to this day； we have omitted to
set them all down； as needless and disagreeable； for I cannot
suppose any one so perverse as not to believe the friendship we
have had with the Romans； while they have demonstrated the same
by such a great number of their decrees relating to us； nor will
they doubt of our fidelity as to the rest of those decrees； since
we have shown the same in those we have produced； And thus have
we sufficiently explained that friendship and confederacy we at
those times had with the Romans。
CHAPTER 11。
How Marcus； Succeeded Sextus When He Had Been Slain By Bassus's
Treachery； And How； After The Death Of Caesar； Cassius Came Into
Syria； And Distressed Judea； As Also How Malichus Slew Antipater
And Was Himself Slain By Herod。
1。 Now it so fell out； that about this very time the affairs of
Syria were in great disorder； and this on the occasion following：
Cecilius Bassus； one of Pompey's party； laid a treacherous design
against Sextus Ceasar； and slew him； and then took his army； and
got the management of public affairs into his own hand； so there
arose a great war about Apamia； while Ceasar's generals came
against him with an army of horsemen and footmen； to these
Antipater also sent succors； and his sons with them； as calling
to mind the kindnesses they had received from Caesar； and on that
account he thought it but just to require punishment for him； and
to take vengeance on the man that had murdered him。 And as the
war was drawn out into a great length； Marcus （21） came from Rome
to take Sextus's government upon him。 But Caesar was slain by
Cassius and Brutus in the senate…house； after he had retained the
government three years and six months。 This fact however； is
related elsewhere。
2。 As the war that arose upon the death of Caesar was now begun；
and the principal men were all gone； some one way； and some
another； to raise armies； Cassius came from Rome into Syria； in
order to receive the ＇army that lay in the＇ camp at Apamia； and
having raised the siege； he brought over both Bassus and Marcus
to his party。 He then went over the cities； and got together
weapons and soldiers； and laid great taxes upon those cities； and
he chiefly oppressed Judea； and exacted of it seven hundred
talents： but Antipater； when he saw the state to be in so great
consternation and disorder； he divided the collection of that
sum； and appointed his two sons to gather it； and so that part of
it was to be exacted by Malichus； who was ill…disposed to him；
and part by others。 And because Herod did exact what is required
of him from Galilee before others； he was in the greatest favor
with Cassius； for he thought it a part of prudence to cultivate a
friendship with the Romans； and to gain their goodwill at the
expense of others； whereas the curators of the other cities； with
their citizens； were sold for slaves； and Cassius reduced four
cities into a state of slavery； the two most potent of which were
Gophna and Emmaus； and； besides these； Lydia and Thamna。 Nay；
Cassius was so very angry at Malichus； that he had killed him；
（for he assaulted him；） had not Hyrcanus； by the means of
Antipater； sent him a hundred talents of his own； and thereby
pacified his anger against him。
3。 But after Cassius was gone out of Judea； Malichus laid snares
for Antipater； as thinking that his death would…be the
preservation of Hyrcanus's government； but his design was not
unknown to Antipater； which when he perceived； he retired beyond
Jordan； and got together an army； partly of Arabs； and partly of
his own countrymen。 However； Malichus； being one of great
cunning； denied that he had laid any snares for him； and made his
defense with an oath； both to himself and his sons； and said that
while Phasaelus had a garrison in Jerusalem； and Herod had the
weapons of war in his custody； he could never have a thought of
any such thing。 So Antipater； perceiving the distress that
Malichus was in； was reconciled to him； and made an agreement
with him： this was when Marcus was president of Syria； who yet
perceiving that this Malichus was making a disturbance in Judea；
proceeded so far that he had almost killed him； but still； at the
intercession of Antipater； he saved him。
4。 However； Antipater little thought that by saving Malichus he
had saved his own murderer； for now Cassius and Marcus had got
together an army； and intrusted the entire care of it with Herod；
and made him general of the forces of Celesyria； and gave him a
fleet of ships； and an army of horsemen and footmen； and promised
hi