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the wars of the jews-第11部分

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CHAPTER 13。

The Parthians Bring Antigonus Back Into Judea; And Cast Hyrcanus And Phasaelus Into Prison。 The Flight Of Herod; And The Taking Of Jerusalem And What Hyrcanus And Phasaelus Suffered。

1。 Now two years afterward; when Barzapharnes; a governor among the Parthians; and Paeorus; the king's son; had possessed themselves of Syria; and when Lysanias had already succeeded upon the death of his father Ptolemy; the son of Menneus; in the government 'of Chalcis'; he prevailed with the governor; by a promise of a thousand talents; and five hundred women; to bring back Antigonus to his kingdom; and to turn Hyrcanus out of it。 Pacorus was by these means induced so to do; and marched along the sea…coast; while he ordered Barzapharnes to fall upon the Jews as he went along the Mediterranean part of the country; but of the maritime people; the Tyrians would not receive Pacorus; although those of Ptolemais and Sidon had received him; so he committed a troop of his horse to a certain cup…bearer belonging to the royal family; of his own name 'Pacorus'; and gave him orders to march into Judea; in order to learn the state of affairs among their enemies; and to help Antigonus when he should want his assistance。

2。 Now as these men were ravaging Carmel; many of the Jews ran together to Antigonus; and showed themselves ready to make an incursion into the country; so he sent them before into that place called Drymus; 'the woodland (18) ' to seize upon the place; whereupon a battle was fought between them; and they drove the enemy away; and pursued them; and ran after them as far as Jerusalem; and as their numbers increased; they proceeded as far as the king's palace; but as Hyrcanus and Phasaelus received them with a strong body of men; there happened a battle in the market…place; in which Herod's party beat the enemy; and shut them up in the temple; and set sixty men in the houses adjoining as a guard to them。 But the people that were tumultuous against the brethren came in; and burnt those men; while Herod; in his rage for killing them; attacked and slew many of the people; till one party made incursions on the other by turns; day by day; in the way of ambushes; and slaughters were made continually among them。

3。 Now when that festival which we call Pentecost was at hand; all the places about the temple; and the whole city; was full of a multitude of people that were come out of the country; and which were the greatest part of them armed also; at which time Phasaelus guarded the wall; and Herod; with a few; guarded the royal palace; and when he made an assault upon his enemies; as they were out of their ranks; on the north quarter of the city; he slew a very great number of them; and put them all to flight; and some of them he shut up within the city; and others within the outward rampart。 In the mean time; Antigonus desired that Pacorus might be admitted to be a reconciler between them; and Phasaelus was prevailed upon to admit the Parthian into the city with five hundred horse; and to treat him in an hospitable manner; who pretended that he came to quell the tumult; but in reality he came to assist Antigonus; however; he laid a plot for Phasaelus; and persuaded him to go as an ambassador to Barzapharnes; in order to put an end to the war; although Herod was very earnest with him to the contrary; and exhorted him to kill the plotter; but not expose himself to the snares he had laid for him; because the barbarians are naturally perfidious。 However; Pacorus went out and took Hyrcanus with him; that he might be the less suspected; he also (19) left some of the horsemen; called the Freemen; with Herod; and conducted Phasaelus with the rest。

4。 But now; when they were come to Galilee; they found that the people of that country had revolted; and were in arms; who came very cunningly to their leader; and besought him to conceal his treacherous intentions by an obliging behavior to them; accordingly; he at first made them presents; and afterward; as they went away; laid ambushes for them; and when they were come to one of the maritime cities called Ecdippon; they perceived that a plot was laid for them; for they were there informed of the promise of a thousand talents; and how Antigonus had devoted the greatest number of the women that were there with them; among the five hundred; to the Parthians; they also perceived that an ambush was always laid for them by the barbarians in the night time; they had also been seized on before this; unless they had waited for the seizure of Herod first at Jerusalem; because if he were once informed of this treachery of theirs; he would take care of himself; nor was this a mere report; but they saw the guards already not far off them。

5。 Nor would Phasaelus think of forsaking Hyrcanus and flying away; although Ophellius earnestly persuaded him to it; for this man had learned the whole scheme of the plot from Saramalla; the richest of all the Syrians。 But Phasaelus went up to the Parfilian governor; and reproached him to his face for laying this treacherous plot against them; and chiefly because he had done it for money; and he promised him that he would give him more money for their preservation; than Antigonus had promised to give for the kingdom。 But the sly Parthian endeavored to remove all this suspicion by apologies and by oaths; and then went 'to the other' Pacorus; immediately after which those Parthians who were left; and had it in charge; seized upon Phasaelus and Hyrcanus; who could do no more than curse their perfidiousness and their perjury。

6。 In the mean time; the cup…bearer was sent 'back'; and laid a plot how to seize upon Herod; by deluding him; and getting him out of the city; as he was commanded to do。 But Herod suspected the barbarians from the beginning; and having then received intelligence that a messenger; who was to bring him the letters that informed him of the treachery intended; had fallen among the enemy; he would not go out of the city; though Pacorus said very positively that he ought to go out; and meet the messengers that brought the letters; for that the enemy had not taken them; and that the contents of them were not accounts of any plots upon them; but of what Phasaelus had done; yet had he heard from others that his brother was seized; and Alexandra (20) the shrewdest woman in the world; Hyrcanus's daughter; begged of him that he would not go out; nor trust himself to those barbarians; who now were come to make an attempt upon him openly。

7。 Now as Pacorus and his friends were considering how they might bring their plot to bear privately; because it was not possible to circumvent a man of so great prudence by openly attacking him; Herod prevented them; and went off with the persons that were the most nearly related to him by night; and this without their enemies being apprized of it。 But as soon as the Parthians perceived it; they pursued after them; and as he gave orders for his mother; and sister; and the young woman who was betrothed to him; with her mother; and his youngest brother; to make the best of their way; he himself; with his servants; took all the care they could to keep off the barbarians; and when at every assault he had slain a great many of them; he came to the strong hold of Masada。

8。 Nay; he found by experience that the Jews fell more heavily upon him than did the Parthians; and created him troubles perpetually; and this ever since he was gotten sixty furlongs from the city; these sometimes brought it to a sort of a regular battle。 Now in the place where Herod beat them; and killed a great number of them; there he afterward built a citadel; in memory of the great actions he did there; and adorned it with the most costly palaces; and erected very strong fortifications; and called it; from his own name; Herodium。 Now as they were in their flight; many joined themselves to him every day; and at a place called Thressa of Idumea his brother Joseph met him; and advised him to ease himself of a great number of his followers; because Masada would not contain so great a multitude; which were above nine thousand。 Herod complied with this advice; and sent away the most cumbersome part of his retinue; that they might go into Idumea; and gave them provisions for their journey; but he got safe to the fortress with his nearest relations; and retained with him only the stoutest of his followers; and there it was that he left eight hundred of his men as a guard for the women; and provisions sufficient for a siege; but he made haste himself to Petra of Arabia。

9。 As for the Parthians in Jerusalem; they betook themselves to plundering; and fell upon the houses of those that were fled; and upon the king's palace; and spared nothing but Hyrcanus's money; which was not above three hundred talents。 They lighted on other men's money also; but not so much as they hoped for; for Herod having a long while had a suspicion of the perfidiousness of the barbarians; had taken care to have what was most splendid among his treasures conveyed into Idumea; as every one belonging to him had in like manner done also。 But the Parthians proceeded to that degree of injustice; as to fill all the country with war without denouncing it; and to demolish the city Marissa; and not only to set up Antigonus for king; but to deliver Phasaelus and Hyrcanus bound into his。 hands; in order to their being tormented by him。 Antigonus himself also bit off Hyrcanus's ears with his own teeth; as he fell down upon his knees to him; that so he might never be able upon any mutation of affairs to take the high priesthood again; for the high priests that officiated were to be complete; and without blemish。

10。 However; he failed in his purpose of abusing Phasaelus; by reason of his courage; for though he neither had the command of his sword nor of his hands; he prevented all abuses by dashing his head against a stone; so he demonstrated himself to be Herod's own brother; and Hyrcanus a most degenerate relation; and died with great bravery; and made the end of his life agreeable to the actions of it。 There is also another report about his end; viz。 that he recovered of that stroke; and that a surgeon; who was sent by Antigonus to heal him; filled the wound with poisonous ingredients; and so killed hi
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