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1. Hereupon Herod held himself ready to go against the king of
Arabia, because of his ingratitude to him, and because, after
all, he would do nothing that was just to him, although Herod
made the Roman war an occasion of delaying his own; for the
battle at Actium was now expected, which fell into the hundred
eighty and seventh olympiad, where Caesar and Antony were to
fight for the supreme power of the world; but Herod having
enjoyed a country that was very fruitful, and that now for a long
time, and having received great taxes, and raised great armies
therewith, got together a body of men, and carefully furnished
them with all necessaries, and designed them as auxiliaries for
Antony. But Antony said he had no want of his assistance; but he
commanded him to punish the king of Arabia; for he had heard both
from him, and from Cleopatra, how perfidious he was; for this was
what Cleopatra desired, who thought it for her own advantage that
these two kings should do one another as great mischief as
possible. Upon this message from Antony, Herod returned back, but
kept his army with him, in order to invade Arabia immediately. So
when his army of horsemen and footmen was ready, he marched to
Diospolis, whither the Arabians came also to meet them, for they
were not unapprized of this war that was coming upon them; and
after a great battle had been fought, the Jews had the victory.
But afterward there were gotten together another numerous army of
the Arabians, at Cana, which is a place of Celesyria. Herod was
informed of this beforehand; so he came marching against them
with the greatest part of the forces he had; and when he was come
near to Cana, he resolved to encamp himself; and he cast up a
bulwark, that he might take a proper season for attacking the
enemy; but as he was giving those orders, the multitude of the
Jews cried out that he should make no delay, but lead them
against the Arabians. They went with great spirit, as believing
they were in very good order; and those especially were so that
had been in the former battle, and had been conquerors, and had
not permitted their enemies so much as to come to a close fight
with them. And when they were so tumultuous, and showed such
great alacrity, the king resolved to make use of that zeal the
multitude then exhibited; and when he had assured them he would
not be behindhand with them in courage, he led them on, and stood
before them all in his armor, all the regiments following him in
their several ranks: whereupon a consternation fell upon the
Arabians; for when they perceived that the Jews were not to be
conquered, and were full of spirit, the greater part of them ran
away, and avoided fighting; and they had been quite destroyed,
had not Anthony fallen upon the Jews, and distressed them; for
this man was Cleopatra's general over the soldiers she had there,
and was at enmity with Herod, and very wistfully looked on to see
what the event of the battle would be. He had also resolved, that
in case the Arabians did any thing that was brave and successful,
he would lie still; but in case they were beaten, as it really
happened, he would attack the Jews with those forces he had of
his own, and with those that the country had gotten together for
him. So he fell upon the Jews unexpectedly, when they were
fatigued, and thought they had already vanquished the enemy, and
made a great slaughter of them; for as the Jews had spent their
courage upon their known enemies, and were about to enjoy
themselves in quietness after their victory, they were easily
beaten by these that attacked them afresh, and in particular
received a great loss in places where the horses could not be of
service, and which were very stony, and where those that attacked
them were better acquainted with the places than themselves. And
when the Jews had suffered this loss, the Arabians raised their
spirits after their defeat, and returning back again, slew those
that were already put to flight; and indeed all sorts of
slaughter were now frequent, and of those that escaped, a few
only returned into the camp. So king Herod, when he despaired of
the battle, rode up to them to bring them assistance; yet did he
not come time enough to do them any service, though he labored
hard to do it; but the Jewish camp was taken; so that the
Arabians had unexpectedly a most glorious success, having gained
that victory which of themselves they were no way likely to have
gained, and slaying a great part of the enemy's army: whence
afterward Herod could only act like a private robber, and make
excursions upon many parts of Arabia, and distress them by sudden
incursions, while he encamped among the mountains, and avoided by
any means to come to a pitched battle; yet did he greatly harass
the enemy by his assiduity, and the hard labor he took in this
matter. He also took great care of his own forces, and used all
the means he could to restore his affairs to their old state.
2. At this time it was that the fight happened at Actium, between
Octavius Caesar and Antony, in the seventh year of the reign of
Herod and then it was also that there was an earthquake in
Judea, such a one as had not happened at any other time, and
which earthquake brought a great destruction upon the cattle in
that country. About ten thousand men also perished by the fall of
houses; but the army, which lodged in the field, received no
damage by this sad accident. When the Arabians were informed of
this, and when those that hated the Jews, and pleased themselves
with aggravating the reports, told them of it, they raised their
spirits, as if their enemy's country was quite overthrown, and
the men were utterly destroyed, and thought there now remained
nothing that could oppose them. Accordingly, they took the Jewish
ambassadors, who came to them after all this had happened, to
make peace with them, and slew them, and came with great alacrity
against their army; but the Jews durst not withstand them, and
were so cast down by the calamities they were under, that they
took no care of their affairs, but gave up themselves to despair;
for they had no hope that they should be upon a level again with
them in battles, nor obtain any assistance elsewhere, while their
affairs at home were in such great distress also. When matters
were in this condition, the king persuaded the commanders by his
words, and tried to raise their spirits, which were quite sunk;
and first he endeavored to encourage and embolden some of the
better sort beforehand, and then ventured to make a speech to the
multitude, which he had before avoided to do, lest he should find
them uneasy thereat, because of the misfortunes which had
happened; so he made a consolatory speech to the multitude, in
the manner following:
3. "You are not unacquainted, my fellow soldiers, that we have
had, not long since, many accidents that have put a stop to what
we are about, and it is probable that even those that are most
distinguished above others for their courage can hardly keep up
their spirits in such circumstances; but since we cannot avoid
fighting, and nothing that hath happened is of such a nature but
it may by ourselves be recovered into a good state, and this by
one brave action only well performed, I have proposed to myself
both to give you some encouragement, and, at the same time, some
information; both which parts of my design will tend to this
point; that you may still continue in your own proper fortitude.
I will then, in the first place, demonstrate to you that this war
is a just one on our side, and that on this account it is a war
of necessity, and occasioned by the injustice of our adversaries;
for if you be once satisfied of this, it will be a real cause of
alacrity to you; after which I will further demonstrate, that the
misfortunes we are under are of no great consequence, and that we
have the greatest reason to hope for victory. I shall begin with
the first, and appeal to yourselves as witnesses to what I shall
say. You are not ignorant certainly of the wickedness of the
Arabians, which is to that degree as to appear incredible to all
other men, and to include somewhat that shows the grossest
barbarity and ignorance of God. The chief things wherein they
have affronted us have arisen from covetousness and envy; and
they have attacked us in an insidious manner, and on the sudden.
And what occasion is there for me to mention many instances of
such their procedure? When they were in danger of losing their
own government of themselves, and of being slaves to Cleopatra,
what others were they that freed them from that fear? for it was
the friendship. I had with Antony, and the kind disposition he
was in towards us, that hath been the occasion that even these
Arabians have not been utterly undone, Antony being unwilling to
undertake any thing which might be suspected by us of unkindness:
but when he had a mind to bestow some parts of each of our
dominions on Cleopatra, I also managed that matter so, that by
giving him presents of my own, I might obtain a security to both
nations, while I undertook myself to answer for the money, and
gave him two hundred talents, and became surety for those two
hundred more which were imposed upon the land that was subject to
this tribute; and this they have defrauded us of, although it was
not reasonable that Jews should pay tribute to any man living, or
allow part of their land to be taxable; but although that was to
be, yet ought we not to pay tribute for these Arabians, whom we
have ourselves preserved; nor is it fit that they, who have
professed (and that with great integrity and sense of our
kindness) that it is by our means that they keep their
principality, should injure us, and deprive us of what is our
due, and this while we have been still not their enemies, but
their friends. And whereas observation of covenants takes place
among the bitterest enemies, but among friends is absolutely
necessary, this is not observed among these men, who think gain
to be the best of all things, let it be by any means whatsoever,
and that injustice is no harm, if they may but get money by it:
is it therefore a question with you, whether the unjust are to be
punished or not? when God himself hath declared his mind that so
it ought to be, and hath commanded that we ever should hate
injuries and injustice, which is not only just, but necessary, in
wars between several nations; for these Arabians have done what
both the Greeks and barbarians own to be an instance of the
grossest wickedness, with regard to our ambassadors, which they
have beheaded, while the Greeks declare that such ambassadors are
sacred and inviolable. And for ourselves, we have learned
from God the most excellent of our doctrines, and the most holy
part of our law, by angels or ambassadors; for this name brings
God to the knowledge of mankind, and is sufficient to reconcile
enemies one to another. What wickedness then can be greater than
the slaughter of ambassadors, who come to treat about doing what
is right? And when such have been their actions, how is it
possible they can either live securely in common life, or be
successful in war? In my opinion, this is impossible; but perhaps
some will say, that what is holy, and what is righteous, is
indeed on our side, but that the Arabians are either more
courageous or more numerous than we are. Now, as to this, in the
first place, it is not fit for us to say so, for with whom is
what is righteous, with them is God himself; now where God is,
there is both multitude and courage. But to examine our own
circumstances a little, we were conquerors in the first battle;
and when we fought again, they were not able to oppose us, but
ran away, and could not endure our attacks or our courage; but
when we had conquered them, then came Athenion, and made war
against us without declaring it; and pray, is this an instance of
their manhood? or is it not a second instance of their wickedness
and treachery? Why are we therefore of less courage, on account
of that which ought to inspire us with stronger hopes? and why
are we terrified at these, who, when they fight upon the level,
are continually beaten, and when they seem to be conquerors, they
gain it by wickedness? and if we suppose that any one should deem
them to be men of real courage, will not he be excited by that
very consideration to do his utmost against them? for true valor
is not shown by fighting against weak persons, but in being able
to overcome the most hardy. But then if the distresses we are
ourselves under, and the miseries that have come by the
earthquake, hath aftrighted any one, let him consider, in the
first place, that this very thing will deceive the Arabians, by
their supposal that what hath befallen us is greater than it
really is. Moreover, it is not right that the same thing that
emboldens them should discourage us; for these men, you see, do
not derive their alacrity from any advantageous virtue of their
own, but from their hope, as to us, that we are quite cast down
by our misfortunes; but when we boldly march against them, we
shall soon pull down their insolent conceit of themselves, and
shall gain this by attacking them, that they will not be so
insolent when we come to the battle; for our distresses are not
so great, nor is what hath happened all indication of the anger
of God against us, as some imagine; for such things are
accidental, and adversities that come in the usual course of
things; and if we allow that this was done by the will of God, we
must allow that it is now over by his will also, and that he is
satisfied with what hath already happened; for had he been
willing to afflict us still more thereby, he had not changed his
mind so soon. And as for the war we are engaged in, he hath
himself demonstrated that he is willing it should go on, and that
he knows it to be a just war; for while some of the people in the
country have perished, all you who were in arms have suffered
nothing, but are all preserved alive; whereby God makes it plain
to us, that if you had universally, with your children and wives,
been in the army, it had come to pass that you had not undergone
any thing that would have much hurt you. Consider these things,
and, what is more than all the rest, that you have God at all
times for your Protector; and prosecute these men with a just
bravery, who, in point of friendship, are unjust, in their
battles perfidious, towards ambassadors impious, and always
inferior to you in valor."
4. When the Jews heard this speech, they were much raised in
their minds, and more disposed to fight than before. So Herod,
when he had offered the sacrifices appointed by the law made
haste, and took them, and led them against the Arabians; and in
order to that passed over Jordan, and pitched his camp near to
that of the enemy. He also thought fit to seize upon a certain
castle that lay in the midst of them, as hoping it would be for
his advantage, and would the sooner produce a battle; and that if
there were occasion for delay, he should by it have his camp
fortified; and as the Arabians had the same intentions upon that
place, a contest arose about it; at first they were but
skirmishes, after which there came more soldiers, and it proved a
sort of fight, and some fell on both sides, till those of the
Arabian side were beaten and retreated. This was no small
encouragement to the Jews immediately; and when Herod observed
that the enemy's army was disposed to any thing rather than to
come to an engagement, he ventured boldly to attempt the bulwark
itself, and to pull it to pieces, and so to get nearer to their
camp, in order to fight them; for when they were forced out of
their trenches, they went out in disorder, and had not the least
alacrity, or hope of victory; yet did they fight hand to hand,
because they were more in number than the Jews, and because they
were in such a disposition of war that they were under a
necessity of coming on boldly; so they came to a terrible battle,
while not a few fell on each side. However, at length the
Arabians fled; and so great a slaughter was made upon their being
routed, that they were not only killed by their enemies, but
became the authors of their own deaths also, and were trodden
down by the multitude, and the great current of people in
disorder, and were destroyed by their own armor; so five thousand
men lay dead upon the spot, while the rest of the multitude soon
ran within the bulwark for safety, but had no firm hope of
safety, by reason of their want of necessaries, and especially of
water. The Jews pursued them, but could not get in with them, but
sat round about the bulwark, and watched any assistance that
would get in to them, and prevented any there, that had a mind to
it, from running away.
5. When the Arabians were in these circumstances, they sent
ambassadors to Herod, in the first place, to propose terms of
accommodation, and after that to offer him, so pressing was their
thirst upon them, to undergo whatsoever he pleased, if he would
free them from their present distress; but he would admit of no
ambassadors, of no price of redemption, nor of any other moderate
terms whatever, being very desirous to revenge those unjust
actions which they had been guilty of towards his nation. So they
were necessitated by other motives, and particularly by their
thirst, to come out, and deliver themselves up to him, to be
carried away captives; and in five days' time the number of four
thousand were taken prisoners, while all the rest resolved to
make a sally upon their enemies, and to fight it out with them,
choosing rather, if so it must be, to die therein, than to perish
gradually and ingloriously. When they had taken this resolution,
they came out of their trenches, but could no way sustain the
fight, being too much disabled, both in mind and body, and having
not room to exert themselves, and thought it an advantage to be
killed, and a misery to survive; so at the first onset there fell
about seven thousand of them, after which stroke they let all the
courage they had put on before fall, and stood amazed at Herod's
warlike spirit under his own calamities; so for the future they
yielded, and made him ruler of their nation; whereupon he was
greatly elevated at so seasonable a success, and returned home,
taking great authority upon him, on account of so bold and
glorious an expedition as he had made.
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