From the Taking of Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes to the Death of Herod the Great - Flavius Josephus

Chapter 11
Herod Is Made Procurator of All Syria
1. There, was at this time a mighty war raised among the Romans upon
the sudden and treacherous slaughter of Caesar by Cassius and Brutus, after
he had held the government for three years and seven months. (1) Upon this
murder there were very great agitations, and the great men were mightily at
difference one with another, and every one betook himself to that party
where they had the greatest hopes of their own, of advancing themselves.
Accordingly, Cassius came into Syria, in order to receive the forces that were
at Apamia, where he procured a reconciliation between Bassus and Marcus,
and the legions which were at difference with him; so he raised the siege of
Apamia, and took upon him the command of the army, and went about
exacting tribute of the cities, and demanding their money to such a degree as
they were not able to bear.
2. So he gave command that the Jews should bring in seven hundred
talents; whereupon Antipater, out of his dread of Cassius's threats, parted the
raising of this sum among his sons, and among others of his acquaintance,
and to be done immediately; and among them he required one Malichus, who
was at enmity with him, to do his part also, which necessity forced him to do.
Now Herod, in the first place, mitigated the passion of Cassius, by bringing
his share out of Galilee, which was a hundred talents, on which account he
was in the highest favor with him; and when he reproached the rest for being
tardy, he was angry at the cities themselves; so he made slaves of Gophna
and Emmaus, and two others of less note; nay, he proceeded as if he would
kill Malichus, because he had not made greater haste in exacting his tribute;
but Antipater prevented the ruin of this man, and of the other cities, and got
into Cassius's favor by bringing in a hundred talents immediately. (2)
44