The Jewish War

[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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When at Philippi Cassius had met his end, Caesar went back to Italy and Antony to Asia. Numerous cities sent deputations to Antony in Bithynia, and with them came influential Jews to accuse Phasael and Herod of obtaining control of affairs by force and leaving Hyrcanus a mere figurehead. To counter this propaganda Herod appeared on the scene, and by coaxing Antony with huge bribes so worked upon him that he would not let Herod's enemies say a word. Thus for the time being they were silenced. But later on a hundred Jewish officials arrived at Daphne near Antioch to appeal to Antony, now a slave to his passion for Cleopatra. They put forward the most highly esteemed and eloquent men among them to accuse the two brothers. Messala replied for the defense, backed by Hyrcanus because of the marriage-connection. Antony listened to both sides, and then asked Hyrcanus which party was the more fit to govern. When Hyrcanus recommended Herod and his associates, Antony was delighted (Years before he had been the guest of Herod's father, who had given him a right royal welcome when Gabinius and he were invading Judea.) So he appointed the two brothers tetrarchs, with the task of administering all Judea.

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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The delegates exploded with fury, and Antony arrested fifteen and locked them up, with the fixed intention of putting them to death; the rest he sent packing with a flea in their ear. The result was greater turmoil in Jerusalem. A second delegation ― a thousand strong ― was sent to Tyre, where Antony was resting on his way to Jerusalem. His reply to their clamor was to send out the governor of Tyre with instructions to execute all he could catch and to back up the authority of the men he had appointed tetrarchs. This procedure was forestalled by Herod, who went on to the beach with Hyrcanus and strongly advised them not to bring about their own destruction and land their country in war by senseless strife. This made them more furious still, so Antony dispatched a body of infantry, who killed or wounded many of them: Hyrcanus saw to it that the dead were buried and the wounded cared for. Even so the survivors would not keep quiet, but created such disorder in the City that Antony was actually goaded into executing the prisoners.

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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Two years later Barzapharnes, the Parthian satrap, serving under Pacorus the king's son, seized Syria. Lysanias, who had succeeded his late father, Ptolemy son of Mennaeus, by promising 1,000 talents and five hundred women, persuaded the satrap to bring back Antigonus and make him king, dethroning Hyrcanus. Pacorus accepted the bribe, and choosing the coastal route for himself, instructed Barzapharnes to drive through the interior. Of the seaside towns Tyre would not admit Pacorus, though Ptolemais and Sidon did so. Then to one of the royal cup-bearers who had the same name as himself he entrusted a detachment of cavalry, ordering him to gallop on into Judea, to reconnoitre the enemy position and give all necessary aid to Antigonus.

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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While troopers plundered Carmel, Jews flocked to Antigonus' standard, eager to take part in the invasion. He sent them ahead to seize a position called The Oaks. Here they clashed with the enemy, drove them back and chased them helter-skelter to Jerusalem, and having attracted strong support advanced to the Palace. Hyrcanus and Phasael met them with a powerful force and battle raged in the market-place. Routing the enemy, Herod's forces herded them into the Temple, and to keep watch on them posted sixty men in the houses nearby. These guards the party opposed to the brothers assailed and burnt to death; Herod, furious at their destruction, attacked and killed many of the citizens; and day after day they sallied out against each other in small groups and bloodshed continued without pause.

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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Now came the Feast of Pentecost, and all the vicinity of the Temple ― in fact the whole city ― was filled with people from the countryside, most of them armed. Phasael was guarding the wall, Herod, with a handful of men, the Palace. The latter sallied out against the disordered enemy in the northern suburb, inflicted very heavy casualties, routed them all, and herded some into the City, some into the Temple, and others into the entrenched camp outside. At this stage Antigonus requested the admission of Pacorus as mediator, and Phasael agreed to open the gates to the Parthian with an escort of 500 horse, and made him welcome. Pacorus had come avowedly to end the strife, but in reality to assist Antigonus; he cunningly persuaded Phasael to go and discuss with Barzapharnes ways of re-establishing peace, though Herod did his best to dissuade him and urged him to kill the schemer, not walk into his trap: one should never trust a foreigner's word. Phasael went, taking Hyrcanus with him. Pacorus, to silence suspicion, left with Herod some of the so-called Yeomen Cavalry, and with the rest escorted Phasael.

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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On reaching Galilee they found the inhabitants in a state of armed revolt. They had an interview with the satrap, a very subtle rogue who wrapped up his scheming in friendly protestations. He bestowed gifts upon them, and then as they departed set a trap for them. The nature of the plot dawned on them when they arrived at one of the seaside towns, called Ecdippon. There they heard of the promised 1,000 talents, and learnt that most of the 500 women dedicated by Antigonus to Parthian use were of their own race, and that they themselves were spied on by the foreign troops every night, and would have been kidnapped long-ago if the plotters had not been waiting to seize Herod in Jerusalem first, before news of what had happened to them put him on the look-out. This was no longer just a rumor: they could now see sentries not far away. But though Ophellius, who had learnt every detail of the plot from Saramalla, the richest Syrian of his generation, did his best to persuade Phasael to make his escape, nothing could induce him to desert Hyrcanus. He went straight to the satrap and told him plainly what he thought of the plot, and especially of his sinking so low for the sake of money; moreover, he himself was prepared to pay more for his life than Antigonus for his crown. The Parthian make a cunning and plausible reply, denying the suspicion on oath, and then went to Pacorus. In accordance with his orders some of the Parthians left behind at once kidnapped Phasael and Hyrcanus, who cursed them bitterly for their perjury and broken faith.

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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Meanwhile the cup-bearer who had been sent to kidnap Herod was trying to carry out the plot by enticing him outside the walls, as instructed. He, however, had from the beginning suspected the invaders, and, learning now that a letter notifying him of the plot had fallen into enemy hands, he refused to go outside, though Pacorus argued most convincingly that he ought to meet the bearers of the dispatch, which had not come into the enemy's possession and made no reference to a plot, but merely recorded Phasael's doings. But as it happened, Herod had previously learnt from another informant that his brother had been kidnapped; and he was visited by Hyrcanus' daughter Mariamme, the shrewdest of women, who implored him not to go outside or trust himself to the foreigners, now openly trying to bring him down. Pacorus and his staff were seeking some crooked means of carrying out their scheme, as it was impossible to get the better of so alert a man openly, when Herod forestalled them by setting out at night with those to whom he was most attached, in the hope of reaching Idumaea undetected. The Parthians, learning what had happened, went in pursuit. Herod made his mother and sisters, the girl he had promise to marry, with her mother, and the youngest of his brothers, go straight on, while he and his servants protected them by vigorous rearguard actions. Every time he attacked the enemy he inflicted heavy casualties, finally making a dash for Masada.

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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In his flight he had less trouble with the Parthians than with the Jews, who harried him all the way, and seven miles from the City began a pitched battle, which lasted quite a long time and ended in their utter defeat. Here later on Herod commemorated his victory by building a city graced with a palace on which no expense was spared, and defended by a citadel of enormous strength. This city he called Herodium, after himself. For the rest of his flight he was daily joined by large numbers, and at Thresa in Idumaea his brother Joseph met him and advised him to disburden himself of most of his followers, as Masada could never hold so large a number ― over 9,000. Herod agreed, and sent those who were of no use to him to various parts of Idumaea, providing them with food for their journey; then keeping the toughest fighters as well as his family and close friends, he arrived safely at the fortress. Leaving eight hundred men there to protect the women, with provisions sufficient for a siege, he hurried on Petra in Arabia.

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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The Parthians in Jerusalem turned to looting, breaking into the house of those who had fled and into the Palace, and sparing only Hyrcanus' money, which did not exceed three hundred talents. The total sum found fell short of their expectations, for Herod, long suspicious of Parthian trustworthiness, had already transferred the most valuable of his treasures to Idumaea, an example followed by all his friends. The looting finished, the Parthian conduct became so outrageous that they filled the whole country with war to the death, blotted out the city of Marisa, and after making Antigonus king, actually handed Phasael and Hyrcanus over to him in fetters to be tortured. When Hyrcanus fell down at his feet, Antigonus with his own teeth mutilated his ears, in order that he might never again resume the high priesthood in any circumstances; for a high priest must be physically perfect.

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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Phasael, however, was too quick for him; he bravely dashed his head against a rock, as he was not free to use sword or hand. Thus he showed himself a true brother of Herod and Hyrcanus a cowardly poltroon; he died like a hero, crowning his life's work with a fitting end. A rival version of the incident states that he revived after the first shock, but that a doctor sent by Antigonus 'to look after him' filled the wound with noxious drugs and finished him off. Whichever version is correct, all honor to him for his attempt. It is said that before he breathed his last he was told by some woman that Herod had escaped. 'Now,' he whispered, 'I shall die happy, as I'm leaving behind me a living man to avenge me.' So he died. The Parthians had missed their main target―the women―but put Antigonus at the head of affairs in Jerusalem and carried off Hyrcanus in fetters to Parthia.

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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Herod was driving on farther towards Arabia, thinking his brother was still alive and anxious to get some money from the king, as without it he could not hope to save Phasael by appealing to Parthian cupidity. He reckoned that if the Arab was too forgetful of his friendship with Herod's father and too close-fisted to make him a gift, he could borrow the ransom from him by leaving in pledge the son of the man to be ransomed. (He had his nephew with him, a boy of seven.) He was further prepared to give him 300 talents, putting forward Tyrian intermediaries. But fate had forestalled his earnest efforts; Phasael was dead, and Herod's brotherly affection was of no avail. Nor did he find any friendship now among the Arabs. Their king Malchus sent him orders to leave the country forthwith, on the pretext that the Parthians had formally demanded the expulsion of Herod from Arabia; in actual fact he had made up his mind to keep what he owed Antipater, and not to be shamed into repaying Antipater's generosity by any kindness to their children in their distress. He was abetted in his shameless behavior by men equally anxious to embezzle the money which Antipater had deposited with them ― the most powerful of his courtiers.

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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Meeting with the hostility of the Arabs for the very reason that had led him to expect their warmest friendship, Herod gave the messengers the answer suggested by his disappointment and turned back towards Egypt. The first night he bivouacked at one of the country's temples, after picking up men he had left behind. The next day he went on to Rhinocorura where the story of his brother's death reached him. With anxiety for what might happen now displaced by grief for what had happened already, he marched straight on. Belatedly regretting his behavior, the Arab king sent messengers to recall the man he had wronged. But Herod had already reached Pelusium, where he was refused passage by the sailors in the harbor, and so appealed to their superiors; they, impressed by his rank and reputation, conducted him to Alexandria. When he entered the city he received a splendid welcome from Cleopatra, who hoped to employ him as commander in a projected campaign; but he evaded the queen's pressing request, and fearing neither a voyage in midwinter nor the turmoil in Italy sailed for Rome.

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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In serious danger off Pamphylia he jettisoned the bulk of the cargo and with difficulty made Rhodes, which had suffered grievously in the war against Cassius. There he was received by his friends Ptolemy and Sapphinius. Shortage of money did not prevent his have a very large trireme built; in this he sailed with his friends to Brundisium. From there he hurried on to Rome, where he first applied to Anthony as the friend of his father, telling him of his own and his family's misfortunes, and how he had to leave his nearest and dearest besieged in a fortress while he endured a winter crossing to appeal for his assistance.

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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Antony was very grieved at the change in his fortunes; recalling Antipater's hospitality and filled with admiration for the heroic character before him, he decided on the spot that the man he had once made tetrarch should now be king of the Jews. If regard for Herod moved him, dislike of Antigonus moved him just as much; he considered him an agitator and an enemy of Rome. Caesar Herod found even more ready to help than Antony: the Egyptian campaigns which Antipater had shared with his father were fresh in his mind, as were his hospitality and unshakeable loyalty; and he could see Herod's appetite for action. He convened the Senate, to which Messala, supported by Atratinus, introduced Herod, and gave a full account of his father's services and his own loyalty to Rome, at the same time making it clear that Antigonus was their enemy, not only because he had quarreled with them before, but because he had now accepted the crown from the Parthians in defiance of the Romans. These revelations angered the Senate, and when Antony rose to suggest that the Parthian war was an added reason for making Herod king, they all voted in favor. The House adjourned, and Antony and Caesar went out with Herod between them, the consuls and other magistrates leading the way in order to offer sacrifice and to deposit the decree in the Capitol. This first day of Herod's reign Antony celebrated with a banquet.

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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All this time Antigonus was besieging Masada, whose defenders had plenty of supplies of every other kind but were short of water. In view of this, Joseph, Herod's brother, with two hundred of his men planned to make a dash for Arabia, being informed of Malchus' desire to make amends to Herod. He would actually have left the fortress had it not happened that on the night of his departure rain fell in torrents; the reservoirs were filled to the brim, and he had no further wish to escape. They began to make sorties against Antigonus' forces, and now engaging them in the open, now luring them into ambushes, destroyed large numbers. Of course they did not succeed every time; sometimes they were worsted and had to retreat.

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