with him. For Izates
so well knew the strength and good fortune of the Romans, that he took
Bardanes to attempt what was impossible to be done; and having besides
sent his sons, five in number, and they but young also, to learn
accurately the language of our nation, together with our learning, as
well as he had sent his mother to worship at our temple, as I have said
already, was the more backward to a compliance; and restrained Bardanes,
telling him perpetually of the great armies and famous actions of the
Romans, and thought thereby to terrify him, and desired thereby to
hinder him from that expedition. But the Parthian king was provoked at
this his behavior, and denounced war immediately against Izates. Yet
did he gain no advantage by this war, because God cut off all his hopes
therein; for the Parthians perceiving Bardanes's intentions, and how
he had determined to make war with the Romans, slew him, and gave his
kingdom to his brother Gotarzes. He also, in no long time, perished by
a plot made against him, and Vologases, his brother, succeeded him,
who committed two of his provinces to two of his brothers by the same
father; that of the Medes to the elder, Pacorus; and Armenia to the
younger, Tiridates.

CHAPTER 4. How Izates Was Betrayed By His Own Subjects, And Fought
Against By The Arabians And How Izates, By The Providence Of God, Was
Delivered Out Of Their Hands.

1. Now when the king's brother, Monobazus, and his other kindred, saw
how Izates, by his piety to God, was become greatly esteemed by all men,
they also had a desire to leave the religion of their country, and to
embrace the customs of the Jews; but that act of theirs was discovered
by Izates's subjects. Whereupon the grandees were much displeased, and
could not contain their anger at them; but had an intention, when they
should find a proper opportunity, to inflict a punishment upon them.
Accordingly, they wrote to Abia, king of the Arabians, and promised him
great sums of money, if he would make an expedition against their king;
and they further promised him, that, on the first onset, they would
desert their king, because they were desirous to punish him, by reason
of the hatred he had to their religious worship; then they obliged
themselves, by oaths, to be faithful to each other, and desired that he
would make haste in this design. The king of Arabia complied with their
desires, and brought a great army into the field, and marched agains