按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
kindness he had always showed him； as also to gratify Antony； who
was very zealous for Herod。 So a senate was convocated； and
Messala first； and then Atratinus； introduced Herod into it； and
enlarged upon the benefits they had received from his father； and
put them in mind of the good…will he had borne to the Romans。 At
the same time； they accused Antigonus； and declared him an enemy；
not only because of his former opposition to them； but that he
had now overlooked the Romans； and taken the government from the
Parthians。 Upon this the senate was irritated； and Antony
informed them further； that it was for their advantage in the
Parthian war that Herod should be king。 This seemed good to all
the senators； and so they made a decree accordingly。
5。 And this was the principal instance of Antony's affection for
Herod； that he not only procured him a kingdom which he did not
expect； （for he did not come with an intention to ask the kingdom
for himself； which he did not suppose the Romans would grant him；
who used to bestow it on some of the royal family； but intended
to desire it for his wife's brother； who was grandson by his
father to Aristobulus； and to Hyrcanus by his mother；） but that
he procured it for him so suddenly； that he obtained what he did
not expect； and departed out of Italy in so few days as seven in
all。 This young man ＇the grandson＇ Herod afterward took care to
have slain； as we shall show in its proper place。 But when the
senate was dissolved； Antony and Caesar went out of the senate
house with Herod between them； and with the consuls and other
magistrates before them； in order to offer sacrifices； and to lay
up their decrees in the capitol。 Antony also feasted Herod the
first day of his reign。 And thus did this man receive the
kingdom； having obtained it on the hundred and eighty…fourth
olympiad； when Caius Domitius Calvinus was consul the second
time； and Caius Asinius Pollio ＇the first time＇。
6。 All this while Antigonus besieged those that were in Masada；
who had plenty of all other necessaries； but were only in want of
water （27） insomuch that on this occasion Joseph； Herod's
brother； was contriving to run away from it； with two hundred of
his dependents； to the Arabians； for he had heard that Malchus
repented of the offenses he had been guilty of with regard to
Herod； but God； by sending rain in the night time； prevented his
going away； for their cisterns were thereby filled； and he was
under no necessity of running away on that account； but they were
now of good courage； and the more so； because the sending that
plenty of water which they had been in want of seemed a mark of
Divine Providence； so they made a sally； and fought hand to hand
with Antigonus's soldiers； （with some openly； with some
privately；） and destroyed a great number of them。 At the same
time Ventidius； the general of the Romans； was sent out of Syria；
to drive the Parthians out of it； and marched after them into
Judea； in pretense indeed to succor Joseph； but in reality the
whole affair was no more than a stratagem； in order to get money
of Antigonus； so they pitched their camp very near to Jerusalem；
and stripped Antigonus of a great deal of money； and then he
retired himself with the greater part of the army； but； that the
wickedness he had been guilty of might be found out； he left Silo
there； with a certain part of his soldiers； with whom also
Antigonus cultivated an acquaintance； that he might cause him no
disturbance； and was still in hopes that the Parthians would come
again and defend him。
CHAPTER 15。
How Herod Sailed Out Of Italy To Judea； And Fought With Antigonus
And What Other Things Happened In Judea About That Time。
1。 By this time Herod had sailed out of Italy to Ptolemais； and
had gotten together no small army； both of strangers and of his
own countrymen； and marched through Galilee against Antignus。
Silo also； and Ventidius； came and assisted him； being persuaded
by Dellius； who was sent by Antony to assist in bringing back
Herod。 Now for Ventidius； he was employed in composing the
disturbances that had been made in the cities by the means of the
Parthians； and for Silo； he was in Judea indeed； but corrupted by
Antigonus。 However； as Herod went along his army increased every
day； and all Galilee； with some small exception； joined him； but
as he was to those that were in Masada； （for he was obliged to
endeavor to save those that were in that fortress now they were
besieged； because they were his relations；） Joppa was a
hinderance to him； for it was necessary for him to take that
place first； it being a city at variance with him； that no strong
hold might be left in his enemies' hands behind him when he
should go to Jerusalem。 And when Silo made this a pretense for
rising up from Jerusalem； and was thereupon pursued by the Jews；
Herod fell upon them with a small body of men； and both put the
Jews to flight and saved Silo； when he was very poorly able to
defend himself； but when Herod had taken Joppa； he made haste to
set free those of his family that were in Masada。 Now of the
people of the country； some joined him because of the friendship
they had had with his father； and some because of the splendid
appearance he made； and others by way of requital for the
benefits they had received from both of them； but the greatest
number came to him in hopes of getting somewhat from him
afterward； if he were once firmly settled in the kingdom。
2。 Herod had now a strong army； and as he marched on； Antigonus
laid snares and ambushes in the passes and places most proper for
them； but in truth he thereby did little or no damage to the
enemy。 So Herod received those of his family out of Masada； and
the fortress Ressa； and then went on for Jerusalem。 The soldiery
also that was with Silo accompanied him all along； as did many of
the citizens； being afraid of his power； and as soon as he had
pitched his camp on the west side of the city； the soldiers that
were set to guard that part shot their arrows and threw their
darts at him； and when some sallied out in a crowd； and came to
fight hand to hand with the first ranks of Herod's army； he gave
orders that they should； in the first place； make proclamation
about the wall； that he came for the good of the people； and for
the preservation of the city； and not to bear any old grudge at
even his most open enemies； but ready to forget the offenses
which his greatest adversaries had done him。 But Antigonus； by
way of reply to what Herod had caused to be proclaimed； and this
before the Romans； and before Silo also； said that they would not
do justly； if they gave the kingdom to Herod； who was no more
than a private man； and an Idumean； i。e。 a half Jew； （28） whereas
they ought to bestow it on one of the royal family； as their
custom was； for that in case they at present bear an ill…will to
him； and had resolved to deprive him of the kingdom； as having
received it from the Parthians； yet were there many others of his
family that might by their law take it； and these such as had no
way offended the Romans； and being of the sacerdotal family； it
would be an unworthy thing to put them b