From the Taking of Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes to the Death of Herod the Great - Flavius Josephus
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fa<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> seven children, whose children, <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r with <strong>the</strong>ir mo<strong>the</strong>r, desired<br />
him <strong>to</strong> give <strong>the</strong>m leave <strong>to</strong> go out, upon <strong>the</strong> assurance and right hand that was<br />
<strong>of</strong>fered <strong>the</strong>m, slew <strong>the</strong>m after <strong>the</strong> following manner: He ordered every one <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong>m <strong>to</strong> go out, while he s<strong>to</strong>od himself at <strong>the</strong> cave's mouth, and slew that son<br />
<strong>of</strong> his perpetually who went out. <strong>Herod</strong> was near enough <strong>to</strong> see this sight,<br />
and his bowels <strong>of</strong> compassion were moved at it, and he stretched out his<br />
right hand <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> old man, and besought him <strong>to</strong> spare his children; yet did not<br />
he relent at all upon what he said, but over and above reproached <strong>Herod</strong> on<br />
<strong>the</strong> lowness <strong>of</strong> his descent, and slew his wife as well as his children; and<br />
when he had thrown <strong>the</strong>ir dead bodies down <strong>the</strong> precipice, he at last threw<br />
himself down after <strong>the</strong>m.<br />
5. By this means <strong>Herod</strong> subdued <strong>the</strong>se caves, and <strong>the</strong> robbers that were<br />
in <strong>the</strong>m. He <strong>the</strong>n left <strong>the</strong>re a part <strong>of</strong> his army, as many as he thought<br />
sufficient <strong>to</strong> prevent any sedition, and made P<strong>to</strong>lemy <strong>the</strong>ir general, and<br />
returned <strong>to</strong> Samaria; he led also with him three thousand armed footmen, and<br />
six hundred horsemen, against Antigonus. Now here those that used <strong>to</strong> raise<br />
tumults in Galilee, having liberty so <strong>to</strong> do upon his departure, fell<br />
unexpectedly upon P<strong>to</strong>lemy, <strong>the</strong> general <strong>of</strong> his forces, and slew him; <strong>the</strong>y<br />
also laid <strong>the</strong> country waste, and <strong>the</strong>n retired <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> bogs, and <strong>to</strong> places not<br />
easily <strong>to</strong> be found. But when <strong>Herod</strong> was informed <strong>of</strong> this insurrection, he<br />
came <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> assistance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> country immediately, and destroyed a great<br />
number <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> seditions, and raised <strong>the</strong> sieges <strong>of</strong> all those fortresses <strong>the</strong>y had<br />
besieged; he also exacted <strong>the</strong> tribute <strong>of</strong> a hundred talents <strong>of</strong> his enemies, as a<br />
penalty for <strong>the</strong> mutations <strong>the</strong>y had made in <strong>the</strong> country.<br />
6. By this time (<strong>the</strong> Parthians being already driven out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> country,<br />
and Pacorus slain) Ventidius, <strong>by</strong> An<strong>to</strong>ny's command, sent a thousand<br />
horsemen, and two legions, as auxiliaries <strong>to</strong> <strong>Herod</strong>, against Antigonus. Now<br />
Antigonus besought Macheras, who was <strong>the</strong>ir general, <strong>by</strong> letter, <strong>to</strong> come <strong>to</strong><br />
his assistance, and made a great many mournful complaints about <strong>Herod</strong>'s<br />
violence, and about <strong>the</strong> injuries he did <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> kingdom; and promised <strong>to</strong> give<br />
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