THE WARS OF THE JEWS
OR
THE HISTORY OF THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM
Book I: Chapter 6
WHEN HYRCANUS WHO WAS ALEXANDER’S HEIR, RECEDED
FROM HIS CLAIM TO THE CROWN ARISTOBULUS IS MADE KING;
AND AFTERWARD THE SAME HYRCANUS BY THE MEANS OF
ANTIPATER, IS BROUGHT BACK BY ABETAS. AT LAST POMPEY
IS MADE THE ARBITRATOR OF THE DISPUTE BETWEEN THE
BROTHERS. 1. NOW Hyrcanus was heir to the kingdom, and
to him did his mother commit it before she died; but
Aristobulus was superior to him in power and
magnanimity; and when there was a battle between them,
to decide the dispute about the kingdom, near Jericho,
the greatest part deserted Hyrcanus, and went over to
Aristobulus; but Hyrcanus, with those of his party who
staid with him, fled to Antonia, and got into his
power the hostages that might he for his preservation
(which were Aristobulus’s wife, with her children);
but they came to an agreement before things should
come to extremities, that Aristobulus should be king,
and Hyrcanus should resign that up, but retain all the
rest of his dignities, as being the king’s brother.
Hereupon they were reconciled to each other in the
temple, and embraced one another in a very kind
manner, while the people stood round about them; they
also changed their houses, while Aristobulus went to
the royal palace, and Hyrcanus retired to the house of
Aristobulus.
2. Now those other people which were at variance
with Aristobulus were afraid upon his unexpected
obtaining the government; and especially this
concerned Antipater 6 whom Aristobulus hated of old.
He was by birth an Idumean, and one of the principal
of that nation, on account of his ancestors and
riches, and other authority to him belonging: he also
persuaded Hyrcanus to fly to Aretas, the king of
Arabia, and to lay claim to the kingdom; as also he
persuaded Aretas to receive Hyrcanus, and to bring him
back to his kingdom: he also cast great reproaches
upon Aristobulus, as to his morals, and gave great
commendations to Hyrcanus, and exhorted Aretas to
receive him, and told him how becoming a filing it
would be for him, who ruled so great a kingdom, to
afford his assistance to such as are injured; alleging
that Hyrcanus was treated unjustly, by being
deprived of that dominion which belonged to him by
the prerogative of his birth. And when he had
predisposed them both to do what he would have them,
he took Hyrcanus by night, and ran away from the city,
and, continuing his flight with great swiftness, he
escaped to the place called Petra, which is the royal
seat of the king of Arabia, where he put Hyrcanus into
Aretas’s hand; and by discoursing much with him, and
gaining upon him with many presents, he prevailed with
him to give him an army that might restore him to his
kingdom. This army consisted of fifty thousand footmen
and horsemen, against which Aristobulus was not able
to make resistance, but was deserted in his first
onset, and was driven to Jerusalem; he also had been
taken at first by force, if Scaurus, the Roman
general, had not come and seasonably interposed
himself, and raised the siege. This Scaurus was sent
into Syria from Armenia by Pompey the Great, when he
fought against Tigranes; so Scaurus came to Damascus,
which had been lately taken by Metellus and Lollius,
and caused them to leave the place; and, upon his
hearing how the affairs of Judea stood, he made haste
thither as to a certain booty.
3. As soon, therefore, as he was come into the
country, there came ambassadors from both the
brothers, each of them desiring his assistance; but
Aristobulus’s three hundred talents had more weight
with him than the justice of the cause; which sum,
when Scaurus had received, he sent a herald to
Hyrcanus and the Arabians, and threatened them with
the resentment of the Romans and of Pompey, unless
they would raise the siege. So Aretas was terrified,
and retired out of Judea to Philadelphia, as did
Scaurus return to Damascus again; nor was Aristobulus
satisfied with escaping [out of his brother’s hands,]
but gathered all his forces together, and pursued his
enemies, and fought them at a place called Papyron,
and slew about six thousand of them, and, together
with them Antipater’s brother Phalion.
4. When Hyrcanus and Antipater were thus deprived
of their hopes from the Arabians, they transferred the
same to their adversaries; and because Pompey had
passed through Syria, and was come to Damascus, they
fled to him for assistance; and, without any bribes,
they made the same equitable pleas that they had used
to Aretas, and besought him to hate the violent
behavior of Aristobulus, and to bestow the kingdom on
him to whom it justly belonged, both on account of his
good character and on
account of his superiority in age. However, neither
was Aristobulus wanting to himself in this case, as
relying on the bribes that Scaurus had received: he
was also there himself, and adorned himself after a
manner the most agreeable to royalty that he was able.
But he soon thought it beneath him to come in such a
servile manner, and could not endure to serve his own
ends in a way so much more abject than he was used to;
so he departed from Diospolis.
5. At this his behavior Pompey had great
indignation; Hyrcanus also and his friends made great
intercessions to Pompey; so he took not only his Roman
forces, but many of his Syrian auxiliaries, and
marched against Aristobulus. But when he had passed by
Pella and Scythopolis, and was come to Corea, where
you enter into the country of Judea, when you go up to
it through the Mediterranean parts, he heard that
Aristobulus was fled to Alexandrium, which is a strong
hold fortified with the utmost magnificence, and
situated upon a high mountain; and he sent to him, and
commanded him to come down. Now his inclination was to
try his fortune in a battle, since he was called in
such an imperious manner, rather than to comply with
that call. However, he saw the multitude were in great
fear, and his friends exhorted him to consider what
the power of the Romans was, and how it was
irresistible; so he complied with their advice, and
came down to Pompey; and when he had made a long
apology for himself, and for the justness of his cause
in taking the government, he returned to the fortress.
And when his brother invited him again [to plead his
cause], he came down and spake about the justice of
it, and then went away without any hinderance from
Pompey; so he was between hope and fear. And when he
came down, it was to prevail with Pompey to allow him
the government entirely; and when he went up to the
citadel, it was that he might not appear to debase
himself too low. However, Pompey commanded him to give
up his fortified places, and forced him to write to
every one of their governors to yield them up; they
having had this charge given them, to obey no letters
but what were of his own hand-writing. Accordingly he
did what he was ordered to do; but had still an
indignation at what was done, and retired to
Jerusalem, and prepared to fight with Pompey.
6. But Pompey did not give him time to make any
preparations [for asiege], but followed him at his
heels; he was also obliged to make haste in
his attempt, by the death of Mithridates, of which
he was informed about Jericho. Now here is the most
fruitful country of Judea, which bears a vast number
of palm trees 7 besides the balsam tree, whose sprouts
they cut with sharp stones, and at the incisions they
gather the juice, which drops down like tears. So
Pompey pitched his camp in that place one night, and
then hasted away the next morning to Jerusalem; but
Aristobulus was so aftrighted at his approach, that he
came and met him by way of supplication. He also
promised him money, and that he would deliver up both
himself and the city into his disposal, and thereby
mitigated the anger of Pompey. Yet did not he perform
any of the conditions he had agreed to; for
Aristobulus’s party would not so much as admit
Gabinius into the city, who was sent to receive the
money that he had promised.
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