length the Arabians fled; and so great a slaughter was
made upon their being routed, that they were not only killed by their
enemies, but became the authors of their own deaths also, and were
trodden down by the multitude, and the great current of people in
disorder, and were destroyed by their own armor; so five thousand men
lay dead upon the spot, while the rest of the multitude soon ran within
the bulwark for safety, but had no firm hope of safety, by reason of
their want of necessaries, and especially of water. The Jews pursued
them, but could not get in with them, but sat round about the bulwark,
and watched any assistance that would get in to them, and prevented any
there, that had a mind to it, from running away.

5. When the Arabians were in these circumstances, they sent ambassadors
to Herod, in the first place, to propose terms of accommodation, and
after that to offer him, so pressing was their thirst upon them, to
undergo whatsoever he pleased, if he would free them from their
present distress; but he would admit of no ambassadors, of no price
of redemption, nor of any other moderate terms whatever, being very
desirous to revenge those unjust actions which they had been guilty
of towards his nation. So they were necessitated by other motives, and
particularly by their thirst, to come out, and deliver themselves up to
him, to be carried away captives; and in five days' time the number of
four thousand were taken prisoners, while all the rest resolved to make
a sally upon their enemies, and to fight it out with them, choosing
rather, if so it must be, to die therein, than to perish gradually and
ingloriously. When they had taken this resolution, they came out of
their trenches, but could no way sustain the fight, being too
much disabled, both in mind and body, and having not room to exert
themselves, and thought it an advantage to be killed, and a misery to
survive; so at the first onset there fell about seven thousand of them,
after which stroke they let all the courage they had put on before fall,
and stood amazed at Herod's warlike spirit under his own calamities;
so for the future they yielded, and made him ruler of their nation;
whereupon he was greatly elevated at so seasonable a success, and
returned home, taking great authority upon him, on account of so bold
and glorious an expedition as he had made.

CHAPTER 6. How Herod Slew Hyrcanus And Then Hasted Away To Caesar, And
Obtained The Kingdom Fr