From the Taking of Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes to the Death of Herod the Great - Flavius Josephus
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
talents, and how Antigonus had devoted <strong>the</strong> greatest number <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> women<br />
that were <strong>the</strong>re with <strong>the</strong>m, among <strong>the</strong> five hundred, <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Parthians; <strong>the</strong>y<br />
also perceived that an ambush was always laid for <strong>the</strong>m <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> barbarians in<br />
<strong>the</strong> night time; <strong>the</strong>y had also been seized on before this, unless <strong>the</strong>y had<br />
waited for <strong>the</strong> seizure <strong>of</strong> <strong>Herod</strong> first at <strong>Jerusalem</strong>, because if he were once<br />
informed <strong>of</strong> this treachery <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>irs, he would take care <strong>of</strong> himself; nor was<br />
this a mere report, but <strong>the</strong>y saw <strong>the</strong> guards already not far <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong>m.<br />
5. Nor would Phasaelus think <strong>of</strong> forsaking Hyrcanus and flying away,<br />
although Ophellius earnestly persuaded him <strong>to</strong> it; for this man had learned<br />
<strong>the</strong> whole scheme <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> plot from Saramalla, <strong>the</strong> richest <strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong> Syrians.<br />
But Phasaelus went up <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Parfilian governor, and reproached him <strong>to</strong> his<br />
face for laying this treacherous plot against <strong>the</strong>m, and chiefly because he had<br />
done it for money; and he promised him that he would give him more money<br />
for <strong>the</strong>ir preservation, than Antigonus had promised <strong>to</strong> give for <strong>the</strong> kingdom.<br />
But <strong>the</strong> sly Parthian endeavored <strong>to</strong> remove all this suspicion <strong>by</strong> apologies<br />
and <strong>by</strong> oaths, and <strong>the</strong>n went [<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r] Pacorus; immediately after which<br />
those Parthians who were left, and had it in charge, seized upon Phasaelus<br />
and Hyrcanus, who could do no more than curse <strong>the</strong>ir perfidiousness and<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir perjury.<br />
6. In <strong>the</strong> mean time, <strong>the</strong> cup-bearer was sent [back], and laid a plot how<br />
<strong>to</strong> seize upon <strong>Herod</strong>, <strong>by</strong> deluding him, and getting him out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> city, as he<br />
was commanded <strong>to</strong> do. But <strong>Herod</strong> suspected <strong>the</strong> barbarians from <strong>the</strong><br />
beginning; and having <strong>the</strong>n received intelligence that a messenger, who was<br />
<strong>to</strong> bring him <strong>the</strong> letters that informed him <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> treachery intended, had<br />
fallen among <strong>the</strong> enemy, he would not go out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> city; though Pacorus<br />
said very positively that he ought <strong>to</strong> go out, and meet <strong>the</strong> messengers that<br />
brought <strong>the</strong> letters, for that <strong>the</strong> enemy had not taken <strong>the</strong>m, and that <strong>the</strong><br />
contents <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m were not accounts <strong>of</strong> any plots upon <strong>the</strong>m, but <strong>of</strong> what<br />
Phasaelus had done; yet had he heard from o<strong>the</strong>rs that his bro<strong>the</strong>r was seized;<br />
and Alexandra (3) <strong>the</strong> shrewdest woman in <strong>the</strong> world, Hyrcanus's daughter,<br />
53