the antiquities of the jews-1-第173章

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it　may　by　ourselves　be　recovered　into　a　good　state；　and　this　by
one　brave　action　only　well　performed；　I　have　proposed　to　myself
both　to　give　you　some　encouragement；　and；　at　the　same　time；　some
information；　both　which　parts　of　my　design　will　tend　to　this
point；　that　you　may　still　continue　in　your　own　proper　fortitude。
I　will　then；　in　the　first　place；　demonstrate　to　you　that　this　war
is　a　just　one　on　our　side；　and　that　on　this　account　it　is　a　war
of　necessity；　and　occasioned　by　the　injustice　of　our　adversaries；
for　if　you　be　once　satisfied　of　this；　it　will　be　a　real　cause　of
alacrity　to　you；　after　which　I　will　further　demonstrate；　that　the
misfortunes　we　are　under　are　of　no　great　consequence；　and　that　we
have　the　greatest　reason　to　hope　for　victory。　I　shall　begin　with
the　first；　and　appeal　to　yourselves　as　witnesses　to　what　I　shall
say。　You　are　not　ignorant　certainly　of　the　wickedness　of　the
Arabians；　which　is　to　that　degree　as　to　appear　incredible　to　all
other　men；　and　to　include　somewhat　that　shows　the　grossest
barbarity　and　ignorance　of　God。　The　chief　things　wherein　they
have　affronted　us　have　arisen　from　covetousness　and　envy；　and
they　have　attacked　us　in　an　insidious　manner；　and　on　the　sudden。
And　what　occasion　is　there　for　me　to　mention　many　instances　of
such　their　procedure？　When　they　were　in　danger　of　losing　their
own　government　of　themselves；　and　of　being　slaves　to　Cleopatra；
what　others　were　they　that　freed　them　from　that　fear？　for　it　was
the　friendship。　I　had　with　Antony；　and　the　kind　disposition　he
was　in　towards　us；　that　hath　been　the　occasion　that　even　these
Arabians　have　not　been　utterly　undone；　Antony　being　unwilling　to
undertake　any　thing　which　might　be　suspected　by　us　of　unkindness：
but　when　he　had　a　mind　to　bestow　some　parts　of　each　of　our
dominions　on　Cleopatra；　I　also　managed　that　matter　so；　that　by
giving　him　presents　of　my　own；　I　might　obtain　a　security　to　both
nations；　while　I　undertook　myself　to　answer　for　the　money；　and
gave　him　two　hundred　talents；　and　became　surety　for　those　two
hundred　more　which　were　imposed　upon　the　land　that　was　subject　to
this　tribute；　and　this　they　have　defrauded　us　of；　although　it　was
not　reasonable　that　Jews　should　pay　tribute　to　any　man　living；　or
allow　part　of　their　land　to　be　taxable；　but　although　that　was　to
be；　yet　ought　we　not　to　pay　tribute　for　these　Arabians；　whom　we
have　ourselves　preserved；　nor　is　it　fit　that　they；　who　have
professed　（and　that　with　great　integrity　and　sense　of　our
kindness）　that　it　is　by　our　means　that　they　keep　their
principality；　should　injure　us；　and　deprive　us　of　what　is　our
due；　and　this　while　we　have　been　still　not　their　enemies；　but
their　friends。　And　whereas　observation　of　covenants　takes　place
among　the　bitterest　enemies；　but　among　friends　is　absolutely
necessary；　this　is　not　observed　among　these　men；　who　think　gain
to　be　the　best　of　all　things；　let　it　be　by　any　means　whatsoever；
and　that　injustice　is　no　harm；　if　they　may　but　get　money　by　it：
is　it　therefore　a　question　with　you；　whether　the　unjust　are　to　be
punished　or　not？　when　God　himself　hath　declared　his　mind　that　so
it　ought　to　be；　and　hath　commanded　that　we　ever　should　hate
injuries　and　injustice；　which　is　not　only　just；　but　necessary；　in
wars　between　several　nations；　for　these　Arabians　have　done　what
both　the　Greeks　and　barbarians　own　to　be　an　instance　of　the
grossest　wickedness；　with　regard　to　our　ambassadors；　which　they
have　beheaded；　while　the　Greeks　declare　that　such　ambassadors　are
sacred　and　inviolable。　（9）　And　for　ourselves；　we　have　learned
from　God　the　most　excellent　of　our　doctrines；　and　the　most　holy
part　of　our　law；　by　angels　or　ambassadors；　for　this　name　brings
God　to　the　knowledge　of　mankind；　and　is　sufficient　to　reconcile
enemies　one　to　another。　What　wickedness　then　can　be　greater　than
the　slaughter　of　ambassadors；　who　come　to　treat　about　doing　what
is　right？　And　when　such　have　been　their　actions；　how　is　it
possible　they　can　either　live　securely　in　common　life；　or　be
successful　in　war？　In　my　opinion；　this　is　impossible；　but　perhaps
some　will　say；　that　what　is　holy；　and　what　is　righteous；　is
indeed　on　our　side；　but　that　the　Arabians　are　either　more
courageous　or　more　numerous　than　we　are。　Now；　as　to　this；　in　the
first　place；　it　is　not　fit　for　us　to　say　so；　for　with　whom　is
what　is　righteous；　with　them　is　God　himself；　now　where　God　is；
there　is　both　multitude　and　courage。　But　to　examine　our　own
circumstances　a　little；　we　were　conquerors　in　the　first　battle；
and　when　we　fought　again；　they　were　not　able　to　oppose　us；　but
ran　away；　and　could　not　endure　our　attacks　or　our　courage；　but
when　we　had　conquered　them；　then　came　Athenion；　and　made　war
against　us　without　declaring　it；　and　pray；　is　this　an　instance　of
their　manhood？　or　is　it　not　a　second　instance　of　their　wickedness
and　treachery？　Why　are　we　therefore　of　less　courage；　on　account
of　that　which　ought　to　inspire　us　with　stronger　hopes？　and　why
are　we　terrified　at　these；　who；　when　they　fight　upon　the　level；
are　continually　beaten；　and　when　they　seem　to　be　conquerors；　they
gain　it　by　wickedness？　and　if　we　suppose　that　any　one　should　deem
them　to　be　men　of　real　courage；　will　not　he　be　excited　by　that
very　consideration　to　do　his　utmost　against　them？　for　true　valor
is　not　shown　by　fighting　against　weak　persons；　but　in　being　able
to　overcome　the　most　hardy。　But　then　if　the　distresses　we　are
ourselves　under；　and　the　miseries　that　have　come　by　the
earthquake；　hath　aftrighted　any　one；　let　him　consider；　in　the
first　place；　that　this　very　thing　will　deceive　the　Arabians；　by
their　supposal　that　what　hath　befallen　us　is　greater　than　it
really　is。　Moreover；　it　is　not　right　that　the　same　thing　that
emboldens　them　should　discourage　us；　for　these　men；　you　see；　do
not　derive　their　alacrity　from　any　advantageous　virtue　of　their
own；　but　from　their　hope；　as　to　us；　that　we　are　quite　cast　down
by　our　misfortunes；　but　when　we　boldly　march　against　them；　we
shall　soon　pull　down　their　insolent　conceit　of　themselves；　and
shall　gain　this　by　attacking　them；　that　they　will　not　be　so
insolent　when　we　come　to　the　battle；　for　our　distresses　are　not
so　great；　nor　is　what　hath　happened　all　indication　of　the　anger
of　God　against　us；　as　some　imagine；　for　such　things　are
accidental；　and　adversities　that　come　in　the　usual　course　of
things；　and　if　we　allow　that　this　was　done　by　the　will　of　God；　we
must　allow　that　it　is　now　over　by　his　will　also；　and　that　he　is
satisfied　with　what　hath　already　happened；　for　had　he　been
willing　to　afflict　us　still　more　thereby；　he　had　not　changed　his
mind　so　soon。　And　as　for　the　war　we　are　engaged　in；　he　hath
himself　demonstrated　that　he　is　willing　it　should　go　on；　and　that
he　knows　it　to　be　a　just　war；　for　while　some　of　the　people　in　the
country　have　perished；　all　you　who　were　in　arms　have　suffered
nothing；　but　are　all　preserved　alive；　whereby　God　makes　it　plain
to　us；　that　if　you　had　universally；　with　your　children　and　wives；
been　in　the　army；　it　had　come　to　pass　that　you　had　not　undergone
any　thing　that　would　have　much　hurt　you。　Consider　these　things；
and；　what　is　more　than　all　the　rest；　that　you　have　God　at　all
times　for　your　Protector；　and　prosecute　these　men　with　a　just
bravery；　who；　in　point　of　friendship；　are　unjust；　in　their
battles　perfidious；　towards　ambassadors　impious；　and　always
inferior　to　you　in　valor。〃

4。　When　the　Jews　heard　this　speech；　they　were　much　raised　in
their　minds；　and　more　disposed　to　fight　than　before。　So　Herod；
when　he　had　offered　the　sacrifices　appointed　by　the　law　（10）　made
haste；　and　took　them；　and　led　them　against　the　Arabians；　and　in
order　to　that　passed　over　Jordan；　and　pitched　his　camp　near　to
that　of　the　enemy。　He　also　thought　fit　to　seize　upon　a　certain
castle　that　lay　in　the　midst　of　them；　as　hoping　it　would　be　for
his　advantage；　and　would　the　sooner　produce　a　battle；　and　that　if
there　were　occasion　for　delay；　he　should　by　it　have　his　camp
fortified；　and　as　the　Arabians　had　the　same　intentions　upon　that
place；　a　contest　arose　about　it；　at　first　they　were　but
skirmishes；　after　which　there　came　more　soldiers；　and　it　proved　a
sort　of　fight；　and　some　fell　on　both　sides；　till　those　of　the
Arabian　side　were　beaten　and　retreated。　This　was　no　small
encouragement　to　the　Jews　immediately；　and　when　Herod　observed
that　the　enemy's　army　was　disposed　to　any　thing　rather　than　to
come　to　an　engagement；　he　ventured　boldly　to　attempt　the　bulwark
itself；　and　to　pull　it　to　pieces；　and　so　to　get　nearer　to　their
camp；　in　order　to　fight　them；　for　when　they　were　forced　out　of
their　trenches；　they　went　out　in　disorder；　and　had　not　the　least
alacrity；　or　hope　of　victory；　yet　did　they　fight　hand　to　hand；
because　they　were　more　in　number　than　the　Jews；　and　because　they
were　in　such　a　disposition　of　war　that　they　were　under　a
necessity　of　coming　on　boldly；　so　they　came　to　a　terrible　battle；
while　not　a　few　fell　on　each　side。　However；　at　length　the
Arabians　fled；　and　so　great　a　slaughter　was　made　upon　their　being
routed；　that　they　were　not　only　killed　by　their　enemies；　but
became　the　authors　of　their　own　deaths　also；　and　were　trodden
down　by　the　multitude；　and　the　great　current　of　people　in
disorder；　and　were　destroyed　by　their　own　armor；　so　five　thousand
men　lay　dead　upon　the　spot；　while　the　rest　of　the　multitude　soon
ran　within　the　bulwark　for　safety；　but　had　no　firm　hope　of
safety；　by　reason　of　their　want　of　necessaries；　and　especially　of
water。　The　Jews　pursued　them；　but　could　not　get　in　with　them；　but
sat　round　about　the　bulwark；　and　watched　any　assistance　that
would　get　in　to　them；　and　prevented　any　there；　that　had　a　mind　to
it；　from　running　away。

5。　When　the　Arabians　were　in　these　circumstances；　they　sent
ambassadors　to　Herod；　in　the　first　place；　to　propose　terms　of
accommodation；　and　after　that　to　offer　him；　so　pressing　was　their
thirst　upon　them；　to　undergo　whatsoever　he　pleased；　if　he　would
free　them　from　their　present　distress；　but　he　would　admit　of　no
ambassadors；　of　no　price　of　redemption；　nor　of　any　other　moderate
terms　whatever；　being　very　desirous　to　revenge　those　unjust
actions　which　they　had　been　guilty　of　towards　his　nation。　So　they
were　necessitated　by　other　motives；　and　particularly　by　their
thirst；　to　come　out；　and　deliver　themselves　up　to　him；　to　be
carried　away　captives；　and　in　five　days'　time　the　number　of　four
thousand　were　taken　prisoners；　while　all　the　rest　resolved　to
make　a　sally　upon　their　enemies；　and　to　fight　it　out　with　them；
choosing　rather；　if　so　it　must　be；　to　die　therein；　than　to　perish
gradually　and　ingloriously。　When　they　had　taken　this　resolution；
they　came　out　of　their　trenches；　but　could　no　way　sustain　the
fight；　being　too　much　disabled；　both　in　mind　and　body；　and　having
not　room　to　exert　themselves；　and　thought　it　an　advantage　to　be
killed；　and　a　misery　to　survive；　so　at　the　first　onset　there　fell
about　seven　thousand　of　them；　after　which　stroke　they　let　all　the
courage　they　had　put　on　before　fall；　and　stood　amazed　at　Herod's
warlike　spirit　under　his　own　calamities；　so　for　the　future　they
yielded；　and　made　him　ruler　of　their　nation；　whereupon　he　was
greatly　elevated　at　so　seasonable　a　success；　and　returned　home；
taki