the country immediately, and
destroyed a great number of the seditions, and raised the sieges of all
those fortresses they had besieged; he also exacted the tribute of a
hundred talents of his enemies, as a penalty for the mutations they had
made in the country.

6. By this time [the Parthians being already driven out of the country,
and Pacorus slain] Ventidius, by Antony's command, sent a thousand
horsemen, and two legions, as auxiliaries to Herod, against Antigonus.
Now Antigonus besought Macheras, who was their general, by letter, to
come to his assistance, and made a great many mournful complaints about
Herod's violence, and about the injuries he did to the kingdom; and
promised to give him money for such his assistance; but he complied not
with his invitation to betray his trust, for he did not contemn him that
sent him, especially while Herod gave him more money [than the other
offered]. So he pretended friendship to Antigonus, but came as a spy to
discover his affairs; although he did not herein comply with Herod, who
dissuaded him from so doing. But Antigonus perceived what his intentions
were beforehand, and excluded him out of the city, and defended himself
against him as against an enemy, from the walls; till Macheras was
ashamed of what he had done, and retired to Emmaus to Herod; and as he
was in a rage at his disappointment, he slew all the Jews whom he met
with, without sparing those that were for Herod, but using them all as
if they were for Antigonus.

7. Hereupon Herod was very angry at him, and was going to fight against
Macheras as his enemy; but he restrained his indignation, and marched
to Antony to accuse Macheras of maladministration. But Macheras was made
sensible of his offenses, and followed after the king immediately,
and earnestly begged and obtained that he would be reconciled to him.
However, Herod did not desist from his resolution of going to Antony;
but when he heard that he was besieging Samosata [25] with a great army,
which is a strong city near to Euphrates, he made the greater haste;
as observing that this was a proper opportunity for showing at once his
courage, and for doing what would greatly oblige Antony. Indeed, when he
came, he soon made an end of that siege, and slew a great number of the
barbarians, and took from them a large prey; insomuch that Antony, who
admired his courage formerly, did now admire it still more. Accordingly,
he heaped many more honors upon him, and g