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and that he might himself be king； according to the decree of the
Senate。
2。 Now the Jews that were enclosed within the walls of the city
fought against Herod with great alacrity and zeal （for the whole
nation was gathered together）； they also gave out many prophecies
about the temple； and many things agreeable to the people； as if
God would deliver them out of the dangers they were in； they had
also carried off what was out of the city； that they might not
leave any thing to afford sustenance either for men or for
beasts； and by private robberies they made the want of
necessaries greater。 When Herod understood this； he opposed
ambushes in the fittest places against their private robberies；
and he sent legions of armed men to bring its provisions； and
that from remote places； so that in a little time they had great
plenty of provisions。 Now the three bulwarks were easily erected；
because so many hands were continually at work upon it； for it
was summer time； and there was nothing to hinder them in raising
their works； neither from the air nor from the workmen； so they
brought their engines to bear； and shook the walls of the city；
and tried all manner of ways to get its； yet did not those within
discover any fear； but they also contrived not a few engines to
oppose their engines withal。 They also sallied out； and burnt not
only those engines that were not yet perfected； but those that
were； and when they came hand to hand； their attempts were not
less bold than those of the Romans； though they were behind them
in skill。 They also erected new works when the former were
ruined； and making mines underground； they met each other； and
fought there； and making use of brutish courage rather than of
prudent valor； they persisted in this war to the very last； and
this they did while a mighty army lay round about them； and while
they were distressed by famine and the want of necessaries； for
this happened to be a Sabbatic year。 The first that scaled the
walls were twenty chosen men； the next were Sosius's centurions；
for the first wall was taken in forty days； and the second in
fifteen more； when some of the cloisters that were about the
temple were burnt； which Herod gave out to have been burnt by
Antigonus； in order to expose him to the hatred of the Jews。 And
when the outer court of the temple and the lower city were taken；
the Jews fled into the inner court of the temple； and into the
upper city； but now fearing lest the Romans should hinder them
from offering their daily sacrifices to God； they sent an
embassage； and desired that they would only permit them to bring
in beasts for sacrifices； which Herod granted； hoping they were
going to yield； but when he saw that they did nothing of what he
supposed； but bitterly opposed him； in order to preserve the
kingdom to Antigonus； he made an assault upon the city； and took
it by storm； and now all parts were full of those that were
slain； by the rage of the Romans at the long duration of the
siege； and by the zeal of the Jews that were on Herod's side； who
were not willing to leave one of their adversaries alive； so they
were murdered continually in the narrow streets and in the houses
by crowds； and as they were flying to the temple for shelter； and
there was no pity taken of either infants or the aged； nor did
they spare so much as the weaker sex； nay； although the king sent
about； and besought them to spare the people； yet nobody
restrained their hand from slaughter； but； as if they were a
company of madmen； they fell upon persons of all ages； without
distinction； and then Antigonus； without regard to either his
past or present circumstances； came down from the citadel； and
fell down at the feet of Sosius； who took no pity of him； in the
change of his fortune； but insulted him beyond measure； and
called him Antigone ＇i。e。 a woman； and not a man；＇ yet did he not
treat him as if he were a woman； by letting him go at liberty；
but put him into bonds； and kept him in close custody。
3。 And now Herod having overcome his enemies； his care was to
govern those foreigners who had been his assistants； for the
crowd of strangers rushed to see the temple； and the sacred
things in the temple； but the king； thinking a victory to be a
more severe affliction than a defeat； if any of those things
which it was not lawful to see should be seen by them； used
entreaties and threatenings； and even sometimes force itself； to
restrain them。 He also prohibited the ravage that was made in the
city； and many times asked Sosius whether the Romans would empty
the city both of money and men； and leave him king of a desert；
and told him that he esteemed the dominion over the whole
habitable earth as by no means an equivalent satisfaction for
such a murder of his citizens'； and when he said that this
plunder was justly to be permitted the soldiers for the siege
they had undergone； he replied； that he would give every one
their reward out of his own money； and by this means be redeemed
what remained of the city from destruction； and he performed what
he had promised him； for he gave a noble present to every
soldier； and a proportionable present to their commanders； but a
most royal present to Sosius himself； till they all went away
full of money。
4。 This destruction befell the city of Jerusalem when Marcus
Agrippa and Caninius Gallus were consuls of Rome （30） on the
hundred eighty and fifth olympiad； on the third month； on the
solemnity of the fast； as if a periodical revolution of
calamities had returned since that which befell the Jews under
Pompey； for the Jews were taken by him on the same day； and this
was after twenty…seven years' time。 So when Sosius had dedicated
a crown of gold to God； he marched away from Jerusalem； and
carried Antigonus with him in bonds to Antony； but Herod was
afraid lest Antigonus should be kept in prison ＇only＇ by Antony；
and that when he was carried to Rome by him； he might get his
cause to be heard by the senate； and might demonstrate； as he was
himself of the royal blood； and Herod but a private man； that
therefore it belonged to his sons however to have the kingdom； on
account of the family they were of； in case he had himself
offended the Romans by what he had done。 Out of Herod's fear of
this it was that he； by giving Antony a great deal of money；
endeavored to persuade him to have Antigonus slain； which if it
were once done； he should be free from that fear。 And thus did
the government of the Asamoneans cease； a hundred twenty and six
years after it was first set up。 This family was a splendid and
an illustrious one； both on account of the nobility of their
stock； and of the dignity of the high priesthood； as also for the
glorious actions their ancestors had performed for our nation；
but these men lost the government by their dissensions one with
another； and it came to Herod； the son of Antipater； who was of
no more than a vulgar family； and of no eminent extraction； but
one that was subject to other kings。 And this is what history
tells us was the end of the Asamonean family。
BOOK XV。
Containing The Interval Of Eighteen Years。
From The Death Of Antigonus To