o Samaria, and resolved to go to Antony about these
affairs, and to inform him that he stood in no need of such helpers, who
did him more mischief than they did his enemies; and that he was able of
himself to beat Antigonus. But Macheras followed him, and desired that
he would not go to Antony; or if he was resolved to go, that he would
join his brother Joseph with them, and let them fight against Antigonus.
So he was reconciled to Macheras, upon his earnest entreaties.
Accordingly, he left Joseph there with his army, but charged him to run
no hazards, nor to quarrel with Macheras.

8. But for his own part, he made haste to Antony [who was then at
the siege of Samosata, a place upon Euphrates] with his troops, both
horsemen and footmen, to be auxiliaries to him. And when he came to
Antioch, and met there a great number of men gotten together that were
very desirous to go to Antony, but durst not venture to go, out of fear,
because the barbarians fell upon men on the road, and slew many, so he
encouraged them, and became their conductor upon the road. Now when
they were within two days' march of Samosata, the barbarians had laid an
ambush there to disturb those that came to Antony, and where the woods
made the passes narrow, as they led to the plains, there they laid not a
few of their horsemen, who were to lie still until those passengers were
gone by into the wide place. Now as soon as the first ranks were gone
by, [for Herod brought on the rear,] those that lay in ambush, who were
about five hundred, fell upon them on the sudden, and when they had put
the foremost to flight, the king came riding hard, with the forces that
were about him, and immediately drove back the enemy; by which means he
made the minds of his own men courageous, and imboldened them to go
on, insomuch that those who ran away before now returned back, and the
barbarians were slain on all sides. The king also went on killing them,
and recovered all the baggage, among which were a great number of beasts
for burden, and of slaves, and proceeded on in his march; and whereas
there were a great number of those in the woods that attacked them,
and were near the passage that led into the plain, he made a sally upon
these also with a strong body of men, and put them to flight, and slew
many of them, and thereby rendered the way safe for those that came
after; and these called Herod their savior and protector.

9. And when he was near to Samosata, Antony sen