The Jewish War

[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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Finally some of Herod's storm-troopers ventured to scale the wall and leap into the City, followed by Sosius' centurions. First to be captured was the area around the Temple; then the army poured in and there was frightful carnage everywhere, as the Romans were furious at the length of the siege, and Herod's Jewish soldiers determined that not one opponent should survive. They were massacred by the thousand, crowded together in streets and houses or fleeing to the Sanctuary. No mercy was shown to infants or aged, or to defenseless women. Although the king sent round imploring them to discriminate, no one stayed his hand, but as if raging mad they vented their fury on every age alike. At this point Antigonus, paying no regard to his past or his present position, came down from his Palace and fell at Sosius' feet. The Roman, not in the least moved by his changed situation, laughed uproariously and called him Antigone [the feminine form of the name]. But he did not treat him like a woman and let him go free: he put him in fetters and kept him in custody.

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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Herod's first problem after mastering his enemies was to master also his foreign allies, for the alien masses were determined to see the Temple and the sacred things inside the Sanctuary. The king appealed to some, threatened others, and drove yet others back by force of arms, thinking victory more terrible than defeat if such people got a glimpse within the Veil. At the time he stopped all looting in the City, telling Sosius with the utmost emphasis that if the Romans stripped the City of money and men, they would leave him king of a desert, and that for the slaughter of so many citizens he would regard a worldwide empire as inadequate compensation. When Sosius insisted that after the strain of the siege it was only right to let the men pillage, Herod undertook to distribute rewards to the whole army out of his own pocket. Ransoming thus what was left of his mother-city, he kept his promises: he rewarded every soldier handsomely, and the officers in proportion, Sosius himself right royally, so that no one went short of money. Sosius dedicated a golden crown to God and then bade farewell to Jerusalem, taking Antigonus in fetters to Antony. The fallen ruler, clinging to life to the very end though hope was dead, died as such a coward deserved ― by the axe.

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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King Herod did not make the mistake of treating all the citizens alike: by bestowing honors on those who had taken his side he increased their devotion; the supporters of Antigonus he liquidated. As money was now tight, he turned all his personal treasures into cash and sent it to Antony and his staff. Even so he could not buy freedom from all trouble: Antony, ruined by his passion for Cleopatra, had become the complete slave of his desire, while Cleopatra had gone right through her own family till not a single relation was left alive, and thirsting now for the blood of strangers, was slandering the authorities in Syria and urging Antony to have them executed, thinking that in this way she would easily become mistress of all their possessions. She even extended her acquisitiveness to Jews and Arabs and worked in secret to get their kings, Herod and Malchus, put to death.

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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Antony was sober enough to realize that one part of her demands ― the killing of honest men and famous kings ― was utterly immoral; but he cut them to the heart by withdrawing his friendship. He sliced off large parts of their territory, including the palm-grove at Jericho in which the balsam is produced, and gave them to Cleopatra along with all the cities except Tyre and Sidon south of the river Eleutherus. Mistress now of this domain she escorted Anthony as far as the Euphrates on his way to fight the Parthians, and then came via Apamea and Damascus into Judaea. Herod placated her hostility with costly gifts, and leased back from her the lands broken off from his kingdom, at two hundred talents a year! Finally he escorted her all the way to Pelusium, showing her every attention. It was not long before Antony reappeared from Parthia, bringing a prisoner ― Artabazes the son of Tigranes ― as a present for Cleopatra, to whom, along with the money and all the booty, the unfortunate Parthian was immediately handed over.

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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When the war that ended at Actium broke out, Herod prepared to take the field with Antony, having settled all disturbances in Judea and captured Hyrcania, a fortress till then in the hands of Antigonus' sister. But he was prevented by Cleopatra's cunning from sharing Antony's dangers; as mentioned already, she was scheming against the kings, and now she persuaded Antony to entrust Herod with the war against the Arabs ― if he won she would become mistress of Arabia, if he lost, of Judaea, and she would be using one ruler to get rid of the other.

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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It was Herod, however, who benefited by her scheme. He began by plundering enemy country, then he got together a large force of cavalry and sent them into battle near the city of Dium, emerging victorious despite determined resistance. This defeat led to feverish activity among the Arabs, who gathered at Canatha in Coele Syria in enormous strength and awaited the Jews. There Herod arrived with his army, and endeavoring to conduct his campaign with great circumspection ordered a camp to be fortified. His soldiers, however, disregarded his commands, and elated by their earlier success attacked the Arabs, routed them at the first charge and followed in pursuit. But in the pursuit Herod was the victim of treachery, the inhabitants of Canatha being sent against him by Athenio, one of Cleopatra's generals who was permanently hostile. Their onslaught restored the morale of the Arabs, who turned about, and joining forces on rocky, difficult ground routed Herod's men, slaughtering them wholesale. Those who escaped from the battle sought shelter in Ormiza but their camp was surrounded and captured with all its defenders by the Arabs.

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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Soon after this disaster Herod brought up reinforcements, but he was too late. Responsibility for the tragedy rested with his undisciplined subordinates; if battle had not been joined prematurely, Athenio would have found no opportunity for treachery. Still, Herod got even with the Arabs later by repeatedly overrunning their country, so that they often had reason to remember ruefully their one victory. But while he was settling accounts with his enemies another disaster befell him, an act of God occurring in the seventh year of his reign, at the height of the Actian War. At the beginning of spring there was an earthquake that destroyed 30,000 people and innumerable cattle. The army escaped unhurt, as it was camping in the open. At once Arab confidence was stimulated by rumor, which always makes disasters seem worse than they are. Convinced that Judaea was one vast ruin, the land deserted and at their mercy, they descended on it, first offering as sacrificial victims the envoys who had just arrived from Judaea. This invasion completely demoralized the people ― their spirit was broken by the succession of overwhelming disasters; so Herod brought them together and tried by the following appeal to awaken the spirit of resistance.

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[John Reece]

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... Herod brought them together and tried by the following appeal to awaken the spirit of resistance:

It is surely quite unnecessary to take fright like this. To be upset by an act of God was natural enough; to be equally upset when men attack you shows a very poor spirit. I for one am so far from being alarmed because the enemy have come after the earthquake that I believe God sent it to trap the Arabs, and make them pay us the penalty for what they have done. It was not so much their own strength and skill as our accidental misfortunes that gave them confidence to come here ― and it is a poor hope that depends not on one's own ability but on other people's troubles! No one can count on either bad luck or good going on for ever ― everybody knows how fickle fortune is. You can see an example of that very near home. You won the first battle, they won the second; now they expect to win and are pretty certain to lose. Cocksure people are caught napping, while those who scent danger keep their eyes open; so your nervousness makes me feel all the safer. When you were overbold and went for the enemy against my wishes, Athenio seized his chance to catch us out; now that you hang back and seem down in the mouth, I am dead certain we shall win. That is how you should feel while waiting for something to happen: when it does happen, you must see red, and show these dirty louts that nothing God or man can do to us will ever damp the fighting spirit of Jews as long as they have breath in their bodies, and that no Jew will stand by while his property goes to an Arab who time and again has only just missed becoming his prisoner.

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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Again, you needn't turn a hair at the upheavals of the physical world, or imagine that the earthquake is a warning of another disaster to come. These elemental disturbances are quite natural and do us no harm beyond the immediate damage. Plague, famine, and earth tremors may perhaps be foreshadowed by some slighter indication, but the actual calamities are too big to go beyond their own limits. Do you think we could suffer more than we did in the earthquake, even if we lost the war? No; it is our enemies that have received the clearest warning of the coming crash, not from some natural occurrence or the action of someone else, but from their own guilty consciences. In defiance of international law they have brutally murdered our envoys; such are the victims they have sacrificed to get God on their side! But they will not escape His all-seeing eye and invisible right arm; they will soon pay us the penalty, if we show something of the spirit of our fathers and rouse ourselves to give these treaty-breakers what they deserve. Let every man take up arms to champion, not his wife, his children, or his threatened country, but our murdered envoys; they will be more inspiring leaders in the war than we who are alive can ever be. For my part, if you will obey my orders, I will be in the forefront of the battle; you know well enough that unless by some rash act you injure your own cause, your gallantry is irresistible.'

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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By this speech Herod put new spirit into his soldiers, and satisfied with their enthusiasm he sacrificed to God, immediately afterwards crossing the Jordan with his army. Pitching his camp near Philadelphia quite close to the enemy, he began skirmishing with them for the possession of a fort in No Man's Land, being anxious for an early trial of strength. It happened that the enemy had sent a party forward to seize the strongpoint; the king's men quickly drove them back and occupied the hill. Herod himself daily led out his forces, deployed them for battle, and challenged the Arabs. Not a man came forward to oppose him ― they were in a state of utter panic, and even more than the rank and file their general Elnthemus was incapacitated by terror ― so Herod advanced to their palisade and began to tear it down. At that they had to do something, and they came out to battle in disorder, infantry mixed with cavalry. In numbers they had the advantage of the Jews, but in enthusiasm they could not be compared, though desperation made even them show reckless courage. So as long as they stood their ground their losses were few, but when they turned tail many were killed by the Jews and many trampled to death by their friends. 5,000 fell in the rout; the remainder lost no time in crowding within their palisade. Surrounded and besieged by Herod, they would have fallen to an assault if the failure of their water-supply had not forced them to send envoys at once. These the king treated with contempt, and the offer of five hundred talents only made him intensify his attacks. Parched with thirst, the defenders came out en masse and voluntarily gave themselves up, so that in five days 4,000 were taken prisoner. Next day in desperation the reminder came out to give battle. Herod engaged them and killed about 7,000 more. By this overwhelming blow he settle his account with Arabia and humbled the pride of her people so triumphantly that the nation chose him as their Protector.

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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No sooner was that difficulty overcome than Herod's whole future was in the melting-pot because of his friendship with Antony, whom Caesar had defeated at Actium. Actually he occasioned more alarm than he felt; for Caesar was not sure that Antony was finished while his ally Herod remained. But the king determined to come to grips with his danger, and sailing to Rhodes where Caesar was at the time, sought an audience without his crown, in the dress and with the appearance of a commoner, but with the haughtiness of a king. He kept back nothing and spoke as man to man.

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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'It was Antony, Caesar, who set me on the throne, and I freely admit that to Antony I have rendered every possible service. Nor do I hesitate to say that you would certainly have found me fighting loyally at his side if the Arabs had not prevented it. As it was I sent him all the reinforcements I could and many thousand sacks of corn; and not even after his defeat at Actium did I desert my benefactor ― I gave him the best possible advice, as it was no use sending any more soldiers; I told him there was only one way of retrieving his disasters ― Cleopatra's death. If he would kill her I promised money, protecting walls, and an army, and my active participation in the war against you. But there it is! His ears were stopped by his insane passion for Cleopatra ― and by God who has given the victory to you. I am defeated with Antony and with his fall I lay aside my crown. I have come to you placing my hope of safety in my unblemished character, and believing that you will wish to know not whose friend, but what kind of friend I have been.'

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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Caesar replied: 'You are perfectly safe, and your throne is now more securely yours. You deserve to rule over many subjects after showing such loyalty to your friend. Try to be as faithful to those who enjoy better success; for my part, I see a dazzling prospect for such a bold spirit as yourself. It is a very good thing that Antony listened to Cleopatra and not to you: we have gained you through his folly. It seems I am already in your debt, as Quintus Didius writes to tell me you have sent a contingent to help him deal with the gladiators. I now therefore issue a decree that the throne is securely yours. Before long I shall endeavor to show you some further favor, so that you may not miss Antony.

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[John Reece]

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After addressing these gracious words to the king and setting the crown on his head, he published a decree announcing the award and expressing with the utmost generosity his high opinion of the beneficiary. After placating him with presents Herod interceded on behalf of Alexas, a friend of Antony, who had asked for mercy. But Caesar's anger brooked no opposition; he vigorously and bitterly condemned the petitioner, firmly rejecting Herod's appeal. Later, when Caesar traveled to Egypt via Syria, Herod welcomed him for the first time with all his kingly wealth, rode by his side when he inspected his army near Ptolemais, and gave a banquet for him and all his friends, finally providing a feast of good things for the rest of the army. As the troops were to march through the desert to Pelusium and back, he took care to supply water in abundance, and the army lacked nothing in the way of supplies. The thought naturally occurred to Caesar and his men that in view of his generosity Herod's kingdom was far too small. So when Caesar arrived in Egypt, and Cleopatra and Antony were now dead, he showered honors upon him, restored to his kingdom the area sliced off by Cleopatra, and added Gadera, Hippus, and Samaria, with the coastal towns Gaza, Anthedon, Joppa, and Strato's Tower. He further made him a present of four hundred Gauls, to be his bodyguard as they had formerly been Cleopatra's. Of all his liberality there was no more potent cause than the open-handedness of the recipient.

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[John Reece]

The Jewish War

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After the first Actiad Caesar added to Herod's kingdom Trachonitis, Batanaea that adjoined it, and Auranitis.This is how it came about. Zenodorus had leased the estate of Lysanias, and he never stopped sending bandits from Trachonitis to waylay the Damascenes. These sought the protection of Varro, governor of Syria, and begged him to bring their plight to the notice of Caesar; Caesar's response with to authorize the destruction of the nest of bandits. Varro therefore mobilized his forces, cleared the district of these rogues, and disposed Zenodorus; to prevent it from again becoming a base for raids on Damascus, Caesar later transferred it to Herod. When after an interval of ten years he paid a second visit to the province, he made him procurator of all Syria, with power to veto any decision of the other procurators; and when Zenodorus died he assigned to him also the whole area between Trachonitis and Galilee. What counted still more with Herod was that in Caesar's affections he was second only to Agrippa, in Agrippa's second only to Caesar. From then on he climbed to the very heights of prosperity, while his moral stature increased and his superb generosity was largely devoted to works of piety.

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