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presents； as tokens of his respects to him； and being on other
occasions magnanimous； he esteemed him one of his dearest
friends。 He also made an agreement with him that he would go to
Rome； because he had written to Caesar about these affairs； so
they went together as far as Antioch； and there Herod made a
reconciliation between Archclaus and Titus； the president of
Syria； who had been greatly at variance； and so returned back to
Judea。
CHAPTER 11。
Concerning The Revolt Of The Trachonites； How Sylleus Accused
Herod Before Caesar； And How Herod； When Caesar Was Angry At Him；
Resolved To Send Nicolaus To Rome。
1。 When Herod had been at Rome； and was come back again； a war
arose between him and the Arabians； on the occasion following：
The inhabitants of Trachonitis； after Caesar had taken the
country away from Zenodorus； and added it to Herod； had not now
power to rob； but were forced to plough the land； and to live
quietly； which was a thing they did not like； and when they did
take that pains； the ground did not produce much fruit for them。
However； at the first the king would not permit them to rob； and
so they abstained from that unjust way of living upon their
neighbors； which procured Herod a great reputation for his care。
But when he was sailing to Rome； it was at that time when he went
to accuse his son Alexander； and to commit Antipater to Caesar's
protection； the Trachonites spread a report as if he were dead；
and revolted from his dominion； and betook themselves again to
their accustomed way of robbing their neighbors； at which time
the king's commanders subdued them during his absence； but about
forty of the principal robbers； being terrified by those that had
been taken； left the country； and retired into Arabia； Sylleus
entertaining them； after he had missed of marrying Salome； and
gave them a place of strength； in which they dwelt。 So they
overran not only Judea； but all Celesyria also； and carried off
the prey； while Sylleus afforded them places of protection and
quietness during their wicked practices。 But when Herod came back
from Rome； he perceived that his dominions had greatly suffered
by them； and since he could not reach the robbers themselves；
because of the secure retreat they had in that country； and which
the Arabian government afforded them； and yet being very uneasy
at the injuries they had done him； he went all over Trachonitis；
and slew their relations； whereupon these robbers were more angry
than before； it being a law among them to be avenged on the
murderers of their relations by all possible means； so they
continued to tear and rend every thing under Herod's dominion
with impunity。 Then did he discourse about these robberies to
Saturninus and Volumnius； and required that they should be
punished； upon which occasion they still the more confirmed
themselves in their robberies； and became more numerous； and made
very great disturbances； laying waste the countries and villages
that belonged to Herod's kingdom； and killing those men whom they
caught； till these unjust proceedings came to be like a real war；
for the robbers were now become about a thousand； … at which
Herod was sore displeased； and required the robbers； as well as
the money which he had lent Obodas； by Sylleus； which was sixty
talents； and since the time of payment was now past； he desired
to have it paid him； but Sylleus； who had laid Obodas aside； and
managed all by himself； denied that the robbers were in Arabia；
and put off the payment of the money； about which there was a
hearing before Saturninus and Volumnius； who were then the
presidents of Syria。 （11） At last he； by their means； agreed；
that within thirty days' time Herod should be paid his money； and
that each of them should deliver up the other's subjects
reciprocally。 Now； as to Herod； there was not one of the other's
subjects found in his kingdom； either as doing any injustice； or
on any other account； but it was proved that the Arabians had the
robbers amongst them。
2。 When this day appointed for payment of the money was past；
without Sylleus's performing any part of his agreement； and he
was gone to Rome； Herod demanded the payment of the money； and
that the robbers that were in Arabia should be delivered up； and；
by the permission of Saturninus and Volumnius； executed the
judgment himself upon those that were refractory。 He took an army
that he had； and let it into Arabia； and in three days' time
marched seven mansions； and when he came to the garrison wherein
the robbers were； he made an assault upon them； and took them
all； and demolished the place； which was called Raepta； but did
no harm to any others。 But as the Arabians came to their
assistance； under Naceb their captain； there ensued a battle；
wherein a few of Herod's soldiers； and Naceb； the captain of the
Arabians； and about twenty of his soldiers； fell； while the rest
betook themselves to flight。 So when he had brought these to
punishment； he placed three thousand Idumeans in Trachonitis； and
thereby restrained the robbers that were there。 He also sent an
account to the captains that were about Phoenicia； and
demonstrated that he had done nothing but what he ought to do； in
punishing the refractory Arabians； which； upon an exact inquiry；
they found to be no more than what was true。
3。 However； messengers were hasted away to Sylleus to Rome； and
informed him what had been done； and； as is usual； aggravated
every thing。 Now Sylleus had already insinuated himself into the
knowledge of Caesar； and was then about the palace； and as soon
as he heard of these things； he changed his habit into black； and
went in； and told Caesar that Arabia was afflicted with war； and
that all his kingdom was in great confusion； upon Herod's laying
it waste with his army； and he said； with tears in his eyes； that
two thousand five hundred of the principal men among the Arabians
had been destroyed； and that their captain Nacebus； his familiar
friend and kinsman； was slain； and that the riches that were at
Raepta were carried off； and that Obodas was despised； whose
infirm state of body rendered him unfit for war； on which account
neither he； nor the Arabian army； were present。 When Sylleus said
so； and added invidiously； that he would not himself have come
out of the country； unless he had believed that Caesar would have
provided that they should all have peace one with another； and
that； had he been there； he would have taken care that the war
should not have been to Herod's advantage； Caesar was provoked
when this was said； and asked no more than this one question；
both of Herod's friends that were there； and of his own friends；
who were come from Syria； Whether Herod had led an army thither？
And when they were forced to confess so much； Caesar； without
staying to hear for what reason he did it； and how it was done；
grew very angry； and wrote to Herod sharply。 The sum of his
epistle was this； that whereas of old he had used him as his
friend； he should now use him as his subject。 Sylleus also wrote
an account of this to the Arabians； who were so elevated with it；
that they neither delivered up the robbers that ha