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pelled him. Upon which Herod returned in triumph to Jerusalem, where he was magnificently received by Hircanus and the people; but especially by Hircanus, whose grand-daughter, Mariamne, he had married; though he had before married Dore, by whom he had his eldest son Antipater.

After the defeat of Cassius at Philippi, by Mark Antony and Octavius Cæsar, Antony marching into Asia, arrived in Bithynia, where he received the deputies of all those nations that had been of Cassius's faction. Amongst these were those of the Jews, who complained to Antony of Phasael and Herod, that Hircanus indeed had the name of sovereign, but that those two brothers had assumed the power. But the Jews were mistaken in their hopes of redress from Mark Antony, whom Herod had previously, by great presents, so engaged in his interest, that he would not so much as admit the Jews to confront Herod. But when Antony came to Ephesus, he readily entertained ambassadors from Hircanus, who sent him a crown of gold, and intreated him to give liberty to the Jews, whom Cassius had made slaves; which request he granted.

Those Jews who were enemies to Herod, did not desist upon Antony's first refusal to hear them, but sent a hundred of the most considerable among them to him at Daphne, near Antioch; but to no purpose, for Hircanus supported the two brothers: and this impeachment, instead of doing harm, proved advantageous to them; for after Antony had heard all that they alledged, he com stituted Phasael and Herod Tetrarchs, and gave them the government of Judea. This he confirmed by letters to the Jews and to oblige them to obey him, he detained fifteen of the hundred as hostages, whom he had put to death, but for Herod's intercession. However, the Jews continued their importunity, and in most pressing instances, which they sent by a thousand of their best men, begged relief; but Antony was deaf to their complaints, and resolved to support Herod, sending a peremptory order to the magistrates to assist Herod in the recovery of his government. Herod repaired to Jerusalem, and

meeting several of the Jews without the city, advised them to receive him, expostulating with them on the danger of disobeying him, and provoking the Roman general. But they, despising both his advice and threats, fell upon him and his attendants, killing some and wounding others. Antony hearing of these commotions, was so enraged, that he ordered the fifteen hostages to be put to death, and threatened a severe revenge against the

rest.

Herod's hopes, which were thus blasted in his attempt to recover the government, seemed to be utterly extinguished by another unfortunate affair. Antigonus, upon his defeat by Herod, fled to Parthia, where he was kindly received and protected: and after he had established an interest among the most considerable of that country, he promised them a thousand talents, and five hundred of the finest women, if they would invest him with the government of Judea. The Parthians closed with him, and the king sent his son Pacorus, and his general Barzapharnes with a powerful army to invade Judea. Dividing the army, Pacorus marched along the coast, and Barzapharnes through the inland country. Pacorus coming to Tyre, they refused him entrance; but those of Sidon and Ptolemais admitted him. Pacorus having Antigonus with him, the Jews that dwelt about mount Carmel joined them, as did many others in their march, so that their army was greatly increased by the time they came to Jerusalem; where the faction that hated Phasael and Herod declared for Antigonus. Herod made some faint efforts to keep the city, but was soon obliged to fly. The Parthians entering Jerusalem seized Hircanus and Phasael, and put them in irons. And now, Herod, considering himself in a country of enemies, and perceiving no hopes of safety but by a speedy flight, made the best of his way to Rome, taking his mother with him. In their hasty march, the chariot, in which his mother rode, was overset, and she in great danger of being killed. Herod, affrighted, partly at the danger in which he saw his mother, and partly at the approach of a pursuing enemy, would have stabbed himself; but his friends interposing, begged

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of him to have regard to his own life, for the sake both of his mother and of themselves, who must unavoidably fall into the enemy's hands, if he destroyed himself. Herod, at their persuasion, resumed his reason, and applying what remedies the time would permit to his mother, comforted his friends, and continued his flight to the castle of Massada. The number of those who accompani ed him in his flight was about nine thousand; so that though he was frequently attacked in his march, he came off victorious.

When he came to Ressa, a town of Idumea, his bro ther Joseph met him; where consulting what course to take, and considering that the castle of Massada, whither they intended to fly, was not capable of receiving so great a force as was with them, they concluded it would be most expedient to separate. Accordingly, furnishing them with provisions, they parted in small bodies. Then disposing of the women (who were eight hundred in all) and the best of their baggage in the castle of Massada, where there was plenty of water and provisions, Herod with his party marched to Arabia.

Antigonus being thus possessed of Judea, was very much concerned at the escape of the women, whom he intended to have delivered to the Parthians, with the money he had promised them: but that which gave him the greatest uneasiness, was his fear, that the Parthians would restore Hircanus; to prevent which, he caused Hircanus's cars to be cut off, to render him incapable of the Highpriesthood. Phasael, no longer able to support himself in his dishonourable circumstances, put an end to his life and sufferings by a voluntary death; for being in chains, he had not the liberty of his hands to dispatch himself; and therefore having no other opportunity, he beat out his brains against the stone wall. As for Hircanus, he continued prisoner with the Parthians.

Herod having arrived on the borders of Arabia, and not in the least doubting of succour from Malchus the king of that country, whom he had formerly very much obliged, sent to him to acquaint him with his condition, request

ing a supply of men and money; offering his brother Phasael's son (for he had not as yet heard of Phasael's death) for an hostage, till he paid him. Malchus fearing to disoblige the Parthians, who were near neighbours to him, dispatched messengers to Herod to forbid him en. tering his dominions. Herod was very much perplexed at this treatment, but could not help himself; therefore going thence he went to Egypt, where he was kindly received and entertained by Cleopatra. Afterwards, with much difficulty and danger in passing the seas, he landed at Brundusium in Italy, from whence he went directly to Rome; where he acquainted Antony with all that had happened in Judea, and with what difficulty he had made his escape from thence. Antony was touched with Herod's misfortunes; and considering the uncertainty of worldly affairs, which from the happiest condition are often reduced to the most miserable; and regarding the former friendship with his father, and the usefulness of Herod's active spirit, (at the same time not forgetting the many presents he made him to procure his favour) not only vigorously prosecuted his cause, but engaged Octavius Cæsar in his interest; who, partly for his father Antipater's sake, and partly to oblige Antony, who he knew was fond of Herod, resolved to forward his affairs as much as possible. These calling a senate, spoke largely in behalf of Herod, setting out his services to the Roman com monwealth in all emergencies; insomuch that the senate declared Herod king, and Antigonus an enemy to the people of Rome, for having accepted the government of Judea from the Parthians.

Whilst things went on thus successfully on Herod's behalf at Rome, his family, who were blocked up in the castle of Massada under the care of Joseph, Herod's brother, were hardly pressed by Antiogous; for being in great want of water, they were just upon the point of surrendering, Joseph intending with about two hundred of his nearest relations and friends to escape to Malchus king of Arabia, who had repented of his late neglect and unkindness to Herod. But Providence prevented that design; for a great shower of rain falling by night, all

their cisterns were filled with water, and they had no occasion for flight. The besieged upon this took courage; and the place being naturally strong, and well fortified by art, they seized the most favourable opportunities of falling on Antigonus's soldiers, sometimes by open sallies, and at other times by surprize, so that they cut off many of them.

In the mean time Ventidius, Antony's lieutenant, being by order of the senate sent to expel the Parthians from Syria, having accomplished that business, entered Judea, under pretence of succouring Joseph; but his real design was to extort money from Antigonus; after which he left Judea.

Herod returning from Italy to Ptolemais, soon collected together a considerable army, consisting of foreigners, as well as Jews; and to convince Herod that Antony was in earnest, Gellius was sent with orders to Ventidius and Silo, who commanded a party in Judea, to assist Herod in the recovery of his kingdom. As for Ventidius, though he was sent to drive the Parthians out of Syria, and to reduce the country to their obedience to Rome, he afterwards employed his forces in plundering; and Judea being Silo's province, by frequent bribes he inclined to favour Antigonus. But neither of them da ring to disobey these orders of Antony, they joined Herod; by which means Herod once more saw himself in a condition of taking a plenary revenge on all his enemies. Most of the Galileans joined him in his march: and Joppa lying between him and Massada, where his relations were shut up, he thought it expedient to take in that place, lest the enemy should from thence attack him. He soon made himself master of it, set his friends at liberty that were in Massada, and taking the castle of Ressa, marched directly to Jerusalem; where he encamped on the west side of the city. Antigonus had provided the place with all warlike munition, and a good garrison, which with darts and stones from the walls, and flying parties, frequently making excursions, very much infested Herod's army. Herod, hoping to make easy work of it, sent a herald about the walls to proclaim indemnity to all that

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