From the Taking of Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes to the Death of Herod the Great - Flavius Josephus
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egged <strong>of</strong> him that he would not go out, nor trust himself <strong>to</strong> those barbarians,<br />
who now were come <strong>to</strong> make an attempt upon him openly.<br />
7. Now as Pacorus and his friends were considering how <strong>the</strong>y might<br />
bring <strong>the</strong>ir plot <strong>to</strong> bear privately, because it was not possible <strong>to</strong> circumvent a<br />
man <strong>of</strong> so great prudence <strong>by</strong> openly attacking him, <strong>Herod</strong> prevented <strong>the</strong>m,<br />
and went <strong>of</strong>f with <strong>the</strong> persons that were <strong>the</strong> most nearly related <strong>to</strong> him <strong>by</strong><br />
night, and this without <strong>the</strong>ir enemies being apprized <strong>of</strong> it. But as soon as <strong>the</strong><br />
Parthians perceived it, <strong>the</strong>y pursued after <strong>the</strong>m; and as he gave orders for his<br />
mo<strong>the</strong>r, and sister, and <strong>the</strong> young woman who was betro<strong>the</strong>d <strong>to</strong> him, with her<br />
mo<strong>the</strong>r, and his youngest bro<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>to</strong> make <strong>the</strong> best <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir way, he himself,<br />
with his servants, <strong>to</strong>ok all <strong>the</strong> care <strong>the</strong>y could <strong>to</strong> keep <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> barbarians; and<br />
when at every assault he had slain a great many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m, he came <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
strong hold <strong>of</strong> Masada.<br />
8. Nay, he found <strong>by</strong> experience that <strong>the</strong> Jews fell more heavily upon him<br />
than did <strong>the</strong> Parthians, and created him troubles perpetually, and this ever<br />
since he was gotten sixty furlongs from <strong>the</strong> city; <strong>the</strong>se sometimes brought it<br />
<strong>to</strong> a sort <strong>of</strong> a regular battle. Now in <strong>the</strong> place where <strong>Herod</strong> beat <strong>the</strong>m, and<br />
killed a great number <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m, <strong>the</strong>re he afterward built a citadel, in memory<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> great actions he did <strong>the</strong>re, and adorned it with <strong>the</strong> most costly palaces,<br />
and erected very strong fortifications, and called it, from his own name,<br />
<strong>Herod</strong>ium. Now as <strong>the</strong>y were in <strong>the</strong>ir flight, many joined <strong>the</strong>mselves <strong>to</strong> him<br />
every day; and at a place called Thressa <strong>of</strong> Idumea his bro<strong>the</strong>r Joseph met<br />
him, and advised him <strong>to</strong> ease himself <strong>of</strong> a great number <strong>of</strong> his followers,<br />
because Masada would not contain so great a multitude, which were above<br />
nine thousand. <strong>Herod</strong> complied with this advice, and sent away <strong>the</strong> most<br />
cumbersome part <strong>of</strong> his retinue, that <strong>the</strong>y might go in<strong>to</strong> Idumea, and gave<br />
<strong>the</strong>m provisions for <strong>the</strong>ir journey; but he got safe <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> fortress with his<br />
nearest relations, and retained with him only <strong>the</strong> s<strong>to</strong>utest <strong>of</strong> his followers;<br />
and <strong>the</strong>re it was that he left eight hundred <strong>of</strong> his men as a guard for <strong>the</strong><br />
women, and provisions sufficient for a siege; but he made haste himself <strong>to</strong><br />
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