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At this time it was that the fight happened at Actium, between Octavius
Caesar and Antony, in the seventh year of the reign of Herod
1
and then it was also that there was an earthquake in Judea, such a one
as had not happened at any other time, and which earthquake brought a great
destruction upon the cattle in that country. About ten thousand men also
perished by the fall of houses; but the army, which lodged in the field,
received no damage by this sad accident. When the Arabians were informed
of this, and when those that hated the Jews, and pleased themselves with
aggravating the reports, told them of it, they raised their spirits, as
if their enemy's country was quite overthrown, and the men were utterly
destroyed, and thought there now remained nothing that could oppose them.
Accordingly, they took the Jewish ambassadors, who came to them after all
this had happened, to make peace with them, and slew them, and came with
great alacrity against their army; but the Jews durst not withstand them,
and were so cast down by the calamities they were under, that they took
no care of their affairs, but gave up themselves to despair; for they had
no hope that they should be upon a level again with them in battles, nor
obtain any assistance elsewhere, while their affairs at home were in such
great distress also. When matters were in this condition, the king persuaded
the commanders by his words, and tried to raise their spirits, which were
quite sunk; and first he endeavored to encourage and embolden some of the
better sort beforehand, and then ventured to make a speech to the multitude,
which he had before avoided to do, lest he should find them uneasy thereat,
because of the misfortunes which had happened; so he made a consolatory
speech to the multitude, in the manner following: