e trees that were round about the
city; and when he had appointed proper persons to oversee the works,
even while the army lay before the city, he himself went to Samaria, to
complete his marriage, and to take to wife the daughter of Alexander,
the son of Aristobulus; for he had betrothed her already, as I have
before related.

CHAPTER 16. How Herod, When He Had Married Mariamne Took Jerusalem
With The Assistance Of Sosius By Force; And How The Government Of He
Asamoneans Was Put An End To

1. After the wedding was over, came Sosius through Phoenicia, having
sent out his army before him over the midland parts. He also, who was
their commander, came himself, with a great number of horsemen and
footmen. The king also came himself from Samaria, and brought with him
no small army, besides that which was there before, for they were about
thirty thousand; and they all met together at the walls of Jerusalem,
and encamped at the north wall of the city, being now an army of eleven
legions, armed men on foot, and six thousand horsemen, with other
auxiliaries out of Syria. The generals were two: Sosius, sent by Antony
to assist Herod, and Herod on his own account, in order to take the
government from Antigonus, who was declared all enemy at Rome, and that
he might himself be king, according to the decree of the Senate.

2. Now the Jews that were enclosed within the walls of the city fought
against Herod with great alacrity and zeal [for the whole nation was
gathered together]; they also gave out many prophecies about the temple,
and many things agreeable to the people, as if God would deliver them
out of the dangers they were in; they had also carried off what was out
of the city, that they might not leave any thing to afford sustenance
either for men or for beasts; and by private robberies they made the
want of necessaries greater. When Herod understood this, he opposed
ambushes in the fittest places against their private robberies, and he
sent legions of armed men to bring its provisions, and that from remote
places, so that in a little time they had great plenty of provisions.
Now the three bulwarks were easily erected, because so many hands were
continually at work upon it; for it was summer time, and there was
nothing to hinder them in raising their works, neither from the air nor
from the workmen; so they brought their engines to bear, and shook the
walls of the city, and tried all manner of ways to get it; yet did