so. These reminded the queen of the great dangers they had gone through, and the great things they had done: whereby they had demonstrated the firmness of their fidelity to their master: insomuch that they had received the greatest marks of favour from him. And they begged of her, that she would not utterly blast their hopes, as it now happened, that when they had escaped the hazards that arose from their open enemies, they were to be cut off at home, by their private enemies, like brute beasts, without any assistance. They said also, that if their adversaries would be satisfied with those that had been slain already, they would take what had been done patiently, on account of their natural love to their governors: but if they must expect the same for the future also, they implored of her a dismission from her service. For they could not bear to think of attempting any method for their deliverance without her: but would rather die willingly, before the palace gate, in case she would not forgive them. And that it was a great shame, both for themselves, and for the queen, that when they were neglected by her, they should come under the lash of her husband's enemies. For that Aretas, the Arabian king, and the monarchs,* would give any reward if they could get such men as foreign auxiliaries; to whom their very names might perhaps be terrible. But if they could not obtain this their second request, and if she had determined to prefer the Pharisees before them, they still insisted that she would place them every one in her fortresses. For that if some fatal demon had a constant spite against Alexander's house, they would be willing to bear their part, and to live in a private station there.

As these men spake thus, and called upon Alexander's ghost for commiseration of those already slain, and those in danger of death; all the bystanders burst into tears. But Aristobulus chiefly manifested what were his sentiments; and used many reproachful expressions to his mother, saying, "Nay indeed the case is this; that they have been themselves the authors of their own calamities, who have permitted a woman, who against reason was mad with ambition, to reign over them, when there were sons in the flower of their age fitter for it." So Alexandra, not knowing what to do with any decency, committed the

fortresses to them, all but Hyrcania, Alexandrium, and Macherus, where her principal treasures were. After a little while also, she sent Aristobulus with an army to Damascus, against Ptolemy, who was called Menneus. But he did nothing considerable there, and so returned home.

About this time news was brought that Tigranes, king of Armenia, had made an irruption into Syria with five* hundred thousand soldiers; and was coming against Judea. This intelligence, as may well be supposed, terrified the queen and the nation. Accordingly they sent ambassadors to him with many valuable presents; as he was besieging Ptolemais. For Selene, who was also called Cleopatra, ruled then over Syria; having persuaded the inhabitants to exclude Tigranes. So the Jewish ambassadors interceded with him, and intreated him that he would determine nothing that was severe about their queen or nation. He commended them for the respects they paid him at so great a distance: and gave them good hopes of his favour. But as soon as Ptolemais was taken, news came to Tigranes, that Lucullus in his pursuit of Mithridates, could not overtake him: for he had fled into Iberia; and was laying waste Armenia, and besieging its cities. Now when Tigranes knew this, he returned home.

After this, when the queen was fallen into a dangerous distemper, Aristobulus resolved to attempt seizing upon the government. Accordingly he stole away secretly by night, with only one of his servants, and went to the fortresses, wherein his friends, that were such from the days of his father, were settled. For as he had been a great while displeased at his mother's conduct, so he was now much more afraid, lest, upon her death, their whole family should be under the power of the Pharisees. For he saw the inability of his brother, who was to succeed her in the government. Nor was any one conscious of what he was doing, but only his wife, whom he left at Jerusa

* The number of 500,000, or even 300,000 as one Greek copy, with the Latin copies, have it, for Tigrane's army, that came out of Armenia into Syriaand Judea; seems much too large. We have had already several such extravagant numbers in Josephus's present copies, which are not to be ascribed to him. Accordingly I incline to Dr. Hudson's emendation here, which supposes them but 40,000. An. 71.

lem, with their children. He first of all came to Agaba,* where was Galestes, one of the potent men before mentioned; and was received by him. When it was day Alexandra perceived that Aristobulus was fled; and for some time she supposed that his departure was not in order to make any innovation. But when messengers came one after another, with the news that he had secured the first place, the second, and all the places, (for as soon as one had begun, they all submitted to his disposal :) but the queen and the nation were in the greatest disorder. For they were aware, that it would not be long ere Aristobulus would be able to set himself firmly in the government: what they were principally afraid of was this, that he would inflict punishment upon them, from the mad treatment his house had had from them. So they resolved to take his wife and children into custody, and keep them in the fortress† that was over the temple. Now there was a great conflux of people that came to Aristobulus from all parts: insomuch that he had a kind of royal attendance about him. For in little more than fifteen days he got twenty-two strong places; which gave him the opportunity of raising an army from Libanus, and Trachonitis, and the monarchs. For men are easily led by the greater number, and easily submit to them. And besides this they supposed, that by affording him their assistance, when he could not expect it, as well as be should have the advantages that would come by his being king: because they had been the occasion of his gaining the kingdom. Now the elders of the Jews, and Hyrcanus with them, went unto the queen; and desired that she would give them her sentiments about the present posture of affairs. For that Aristobulus was in effect lord of almost all the kingdom; by possessing so many strong holds; and that it was absurd for them to take any counsel of themselves, how ill soever she were, while she was alive; and that the danger would be upon them in no long time. But she bade them do what they thought proper to be done: that they had many circumstances in their

• Or, Argob.

This fortress, castle, citadel, or tower, whither the wife and children of Aristobulus were now sent, and which overlooked the temple, could be no other than what Hyrcanus I. built, XVIII 4, and Herod the Great rebuilt, and called the tow. er of Antonia, XV. 11.

See of the War, Book I. chap. 20.

favour still remaining: a nation in good heart; an army; and money in their several treasuries: for that she had small concern about public affairs now, when the strength of her body already failed her.

Now a little while after she had said this to them, she died; when she had reigned nine* years, and had lived seventy-three. A woman she was who shewed no signs of weakness in her sex; for she was sagacious to the greatest degree in her ambition of governing; and demonstrated by her doings at once that her mind was fit for action, and that sometimes men themselves shew the little understanding they have by the frequent mistakes they make in point of government. For she always preferred the present to futurity, and preferred the power of an imperious dominion above all things: and in comparison of that had no regard to what was good, or what was right. However she brought the affairs of her house to such an unfortunate condition, that she was the occasion of the taking away that authority from it, and that in no long time afterward, which she had obtained by a vast number of hazards and misfortunes; and this out of a desire of what does not belong to a woman; and all by a compliance in her sentiments with those that bore ill will to their family; and by leaving the administration destitute And indeed her manageof a proper support of great men. ment, during her administration, while she was alive, was such, as filled the palace after her death with calamities and disturbance. However, although this had been her way of governing, she preserved the nation in peace. And this is the conclusion of the affairs of Alexandra.

"From an. 78 to an. 70 B C.

FROM THE DEATH OF QUEEN ALEXANDRA, TO THE DEATH OF

ANTIGONUS.

CHAP. I.

OF THE WAR BETWEEN ARISTOBULUS AND HYRCANUS; THEIR AGREEMENT RELATIVE TO THE KINGDOM; AND THE SUBSEQUENT FLIGHT OF HYRCANUS.

WE have related the affairs of queen Alexandra, and her death, in the foregoing book; and will now speak of what followed, and was connected with those histories: declaring before we proceed, that we have nothing so much at heart, as to omit* no facts either through ignorance or indolence. For we are treating upon the history and explication of such things, as the greatest part of our readers are unacquainted with, because of their distance from our times; and we aim to do it with a beauty of style so far as that is derived from proper words harmonically disposed; and from such ornaments of speech as may contribute to the pleasure of our readers: that they may entertain the knowledge of what we write with some degree of satis faction and pleasure. But the principal end that authors ought to aim at above all the rest, is to speak accurately, and to speak

* Reland observes here, very justly, how Josephus's declaration, that it was his great concern not only to write an agreeable, accurate, and a true history, but also distinctly not to omit any thing of consequence, either through ignorance, or indolence; implies, that he could not, consistently with that resolution, omit the mention of so famous a person as Jesus Christ.