Egypt, and
made presents, even beyond his ability, to both him and his friends, and
in general behaved himself with great magnanimity. He also desired that
Caesar would not put to death one Alexander, who had been a companion
of Antony; but Caesar had sworn to put him to death, and so he could
not obtain that his petition. And now he returned to Judea again with
greater honor and assurance than ever, and affrighted those that had
expectations to the contrary, as still acquiring from his very dangers
greater splendor than before, by the favor of God to him. So he prepared
for the reception of Caesar, as he was going out of Syria to invade
Egypt; and when he came, he entertained him at Ptolemais with all royal
magnificence. He also bestowed presents on the army, and brought them
provisions in abundance. He also proved to be one of Caesar's most
cordial friends, and put the army in array, and rode along with Caesar,
and had a hundred and fifty men, well appointed in all respects, after
a rich and sumptuous manner, for the better reception of him and his
friends. He also provided them with what they should want, as they
passed over the dry desert, insomuch that they lacked neither wine
nor water, which last the soldiers stood in the greatest need of; and
besides, he presented Caesar with eight hundred talents, and procured to
himself the good-will of them all, because he was assisting to them in
a much greater and more splendid degree than the kingdom he had obtained
could afford; by which means he more and more demonstrated to Caesar the
firmness of his friendship, and his readiness to assist him; and what
was of the greatest advantage to him was this, that his liberality came
at a seasonable time also. And when they returned again out of Egypt,
his assistances were no way inferior to the good offices he had formerly
done them.

CHAPTER 7. How Herod Slew Sohemus And Mariamne And Afterward Alexandra
And Costobarus, And His Most Intimate Friends, And At Last The Sons Of
Babbas Also.

1. However, when he came into his kingdom again, he found his house all
in disorder, and his wife Mariamne and her mother Alexandra very uneasy;
for as they supposed [what was easy to be supposed] that they were not
put into that fortress [Alexandrium] for the security of their persons,
but as into a garrison for their imprisonment, and that they had no
power over any thing, either of others or of their own affairs, they
were very une