he Jews, observed the
nature of this place, he was the first who built a citadel here,
which afterwards was demolished by Gabinius, when he made war against
Aristobulus. But when Herod came to be king, he thought the place to
be worthy of the utmost regard, and of being built upon in the firmest
manner, and this especially because it lay so near to Arabia; for it is
seated in a convenient place on that account, and hath a prospect toward
that country; he therefore surrounded a large space of ground with walls
and towers, and built a city there, out of which city there was a way
that led up to the very citadel itself on the top of the mountain; nay,
more than this, he built a wall round that top of the hill, and erected
towers at the corners, of a hundred and sixty cubits high; in the middle
of which place he built a palace, after a magnificent manner, wherein
were large and beautiful edifices. He also made a great many reservoirs
for the reception of water, that there might be plenty of it ready
for all uses, and those in the properest places that were afforded him
there. Thus did he, as it were, contend with the nature of the place,
that he might exceed its natural strength and security [which yet itself
rendered it hard to be taken] by those fortifications which were made by
the hands of men. Moreover, he put a large quantity of darts and other
machines of war into it, and contrived to get every thing thither that
might any way contribute to its inhabitants' security, under the longest
siege possible.

3. Now within this place there grew a sort of rue [10] that deserves our
wonder on account of its largeness, for it was no way inferior to any
fig tree whatsoever, either in height or in thickness; and the report
is, that it had lasted ever since the times of Herod, and would probably
have lasted much longer, had it not been cut down by those Jews who
took possession of the place afterward. But still in that valley which
encompasses the city on the north side there is a certain place called
Baaras, which produces a root of the same name with itself [11] its
color is like to that of flame, and towards the evenings it sends out a
certain ray like lightning. It is not easily taken by such as would
do it, but recedes from their hands, nor will yield itself to be taken
quietly, until either the urine of a woman, or her menstrual blood, be
poured upon it; nay, even then it is certain death to those that touch
it, unless any o