on this wealth, maintained foreign troops. He likewise made a league of friendship and mutual assistance with Antiochus, and admitted him into the city, and furnished him with whatsoever his army wanted in great plenty, and marched along with him when he made an expedition against the Parthians. Of which Nicolaus of Damascus is a witness for us: who in his history writes thus, "When Antiochus had erected a trophy at the river Lycus, upon his conquest of Indates, the general of the Parthians, he stayed there two days. It was at the desire of Hyrcanus, the Jew: because it was such a festival derived to them from their forefathers, whereon the law of the Jews did not allow them to travel." And he did not speak falsely in saying so: for that festival, which we call Pentecost, did then fall out to be the next day to the sabbath. Nor is it lawful* for us to journey either on a sabbath day, or on a festival. But when Antiochus joined battle with Arsaces, king of Parthia, he lost a great part of his army; and was himself slain. And his brother Demetrius succeeded in the kingdom of Syria, by the permission of Arsaces; who freed him from his captivity, at the same time that Antiochus attacked Parthia.

a destroying enemy, this useless treasure still continued untouched. Nay, it supposes that when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed both the city and temple of Jerusalem; so that, for many years, they both lay in rubbish, this treasure in David's sepulchre lay, all the while, safe and secure under it; and that when Antiochus Epiphanes, in like manner, destroyed the city, and robbed the temple of all that he could find, this treasure still escaped his rapacious hands, nor was ever molested, till Hyrcanus, at this time, was forced to make bold with it: all which suppositions seem highly improbable, and beyond belief. There is this, however, to be said in the matter, that as there certainly was a bank or treasury in the temple, where money was laid up for the support of the poor, for the relief of widows and fatherless children, and for the maintenance of divine service: and where the great men, and rich men of the nation were used to deposit their wealth, for its better security; it is not improbable, that upon the account of the frequent invasions and depredations they were liable to, this treasure might be kept in some secret and subterraneous place, unknown to all, but such as were at the head of affairs; that Hyrcanus, being now under great difficulty to raise money, might borrow it out of this bank, till better times enabled him to repay it; and that Herod, when he plundered it quite, might trump up this plausible story, that it neither belonged to church, nor poor, nor any private person, but had been deposited there by David, and his successors, as a proper supply for the state in times of need. Prideaux's Connection, anno 135, and Universal History, lib. 2, c. 11. B.

* The Jews were not to march or journey on the sabbath, or on such a great festival as was equivalent to the sabbath, any farther than a sabbath day's journey, or 2000 cubits. See the note on XX. 8.

CHAP. IX.

ON THE EXPEDITION OF HYRCANUS AGAINST SYRIA; AND HIS CONCLUSION OF A LEAGUE WITH THE ROMANS.-ALSO OF THE DEATH OF KING DEMETRIUS AND ALEXANDer.

WHEN Hyrcanus heard of the death of Antiochus, he presently made an expedition against the† cities of Syria; hoping to find them destitute of fighting men, and of such as were able to defend them. However, it was not till the sixth month that he took Medaba, and that not without the great distress of his army. After this he took Samega, and the neighbouring places. And besides these, Shechem, and Gerizzim, and the nation of the Cutheans, who dwelt at the temple which resembled that temple which was at Jerusalem; and which Alexander permitted Sanballat, the general of his army, to build, for the sake of Manasseh, who was son-in-law to Jaddua, the high-priest; as we have formerly related. Which temple was now deserted, two|| hundred years after it was built. Hyrcanus also took Dora, and Marissa, cities of Idumea; and subdued all the Idumeans; and permitted them to stay in that country, if they would adopt the rite of circumcision, and make use of the laws of the Jews. And they were so desirous of living in the country of their forefathers, that they§ submitted. At which time therefore this befell them, that they were hereafter no other than Jews.

* An. 130.

Those within the limits of Judea.

See Book XI. chap 8.

It was exactly 202 years, viz. from an. 332 to an. 130 B. C.

§ This account of the Idumeans admitting circumcision, and the entire Jewish law, from this time, or from the days of Hyrcanus, is confirmed by their subsequent history. See XIV. 8. XV. 7. XVII. 12. Of the War, II, 3. IV. 4. This, in the opinion of Josephus, made them proselytes of Justice, or entire Jews; as here and elsewhere, XIV. 8. So Dio, XXXVII. page 41. However, Antigonus the enemy of Herod, though Herod were derived from such a proselyte of Justice for several generations, will allow him to be no more than a half Jew. XIV. 15. But still take out of Dean Prideaux, at the year 129, the words of Ammonius, which fully confirm this account of the Idumeans in Josephus. "The Jews," says he, "are such by nature, and from the beginning: while the Idumeans were not

But Hyrcanus, the high-priest, was desirous to renew that league of friendship they had with the Romans. Accordingly he sent* an ambassage to them. And when the senate had received their epistle, they made a league of friendship with them, after the manner following:

"Fanius, the son of Marcus, the prætor, gathered the senate together, on the eighth day before the ides of February, in the senate house: when Lucius Manlius, the son of Lucius, of the Mentine tribe, and Caius Sempronius, the son of Caius, of the Falernian tribe, were present. The occasion was that the ambassadors sent by the people† of the Jews, Simon the son of Dositheus, Apollonius the son of Alexander, and Diodorus the son of Jason, who were good and virtuous men, had somewhat to propose about that league of friendship and mutual assistance which subsisted between them and the Romans; and about other public affairs: who desired that Joppa, and the havens, and Gazara, and the springs of Jordan, and the several other cities and countries of theirs, which Antiochus had taken from them in the war, contrary to the decree of the senate, might be restored to them: and that it might be lawful for the king's troops to pass through their country, and the countries of those that are subject to them. And that what attempts An

Jews from the beginning, but Phoenicians and Syrians; but being afterward subdued by the Jews, and compelled to be circumcised, and to unite into one nation, and to be subject to the same laws, they were called Jews." Dio also says, as the Dean there quotes him, from Book XXXVI. page 37, "That country is called Judea, and the people Jews. And this name is given also to as many others as embrace their religion, though of other nations." But then upon what foundation so good a governor as Hyrcanus took upon him to compel these Idumeans either to become Jews or to leave their country, deserves great consideration. I suppose it was because they had long ago been driven out of the land of Edom, and had seized on and possessed the tribe of Simeon, and all the southern parts of the tribe of Judah; which was the peculiar inheritance of the worshippers of the true God, without idolatry: as the reader may learn from Reland, Palestin. part I. page 154, 305, and from Prideaux at the years 740 and 165. Nor do I remember that ever the like violence was used by him or his predecessors, with any country, which was not a part of that promised land: though the other kings after him intended it to all their conquests in or out of that promised land. See Prideaux at the year 106, and Antiq. XIII. 15.

* An. 128. 1

In this decree of the Roman senate, it seems, that these ambassadors were sent from the people of the Jews, as well as from their prince or high-priest, John Hyr

canns.

tiochus had made during that war, without the decree of the senate, might be made void; and that they would send ambassadors, who should take care that restitution be made them of what Antiochus had taken from them; and that they should make an estimate of the country that had been laid waste in the war; and that they would grant them letters of protection to the kings, and free people; in order to their quiet return home. It was therefore decreed, as to these points, to renew their league of friendship and mutual assistance with these good men, who were sent by a good and a friendly people."

But as to the letters desired, their answer was, that the senate would consult about that matter, when their own affairs would give them leave: and that they would endeavour for the time to come, that no like injury should be done them: and that their prætor Fanius, should give them money out of the public treasury, to bear their expenses home. And thus did Fanius dismiss the Jewish ambassadors, and gave them money out of the public treasury; and gave the decree of the senate to those that were to conduct them, and to take care that they should return home in safety.

And thus stood the affairs of Hyrcanus, the high-priest. But as for king Demetrius, who was inclined to make war against Hyrcanus, there was no opportunity for it; while both the Syrians, and the soldiers, bare ill will to him, because he was an ill man. But when they had sent ambassadors to Ptolemy Physcon, that he would send them one of the family of Seleucus, in order to take the kingdom; and he had sent them Alexander, who was called Zebina, with an army, and there had been a battle between them, Demetrius was defeated, and fled to Cleopatra, his wife, to Ptolemais; but his wife would not receive him. He went thence to Tyre, and was there caught; and when he had suffered much from his enemies, he was slain by them. So Alexander took the kingdom, and made a league with Hyrcanus. Yet when Alexander afterward fought with

* This clause, that Demetrius suffered much from his enemies before his death, is noted here by Dr. Hudson to disagree with the accounts of Trogus Pompeius in Justin; and with Porphyry. Whether Josephus or those authors were here impo sed upon cannot now be determined. But if this were a part of the Chronicles of John Hyrcanus, a most authentic and contemporary record, as it seems to be, there is no doubt but Josephus's account ought to be preferred.

Antiochus, the son of Demetrius, who was called Grypus, he was also defeated and slain.*

CHAP. X.

OF THE QUARREL BETWEEN ANTIOCHUS GRYPUS AND ANTIOCHUS CYZICENUS RESPECTINGg the kingDOM, HYRCANUS TAKES AND DEMOLISHES SAMARIA; AND AFTERWARD JOINS HIMSELF TO THE SECT OF THE SADDUCEES.

WHEN Antiochus had taken the kingdom, he was afraid to make war against Judea; because he heard that his brother by the same mother, who was also called Antiochus, was raising an army against him out of Cyzicum. So he stayed in his own land; and resolved to prepare himself for the attack he expected from his brother, who was called Cyzicenus; because he had been brought up in that city. He was the son of Antiochus, called Soter, who died in Parthia. He was the brother of Demetrius, the father of Grypus. For it had so happened, that one and the same Cleopatra was married to two, who were brethren: as we have related† elsewhere. But Antiochus Cyzicenus coming into Syria, continued many years at war with his brother. Now Hyrcanus lived all this while in peace. For after the death of Antiochus, he revolted‡ from the Macedonians; nor did he any longer pay them the least regard; either as their subject, or their friend: but his affairs were in a very improving and flourishing condition in the time of Alexander Zebina, and especially under these brethren. For the war which they had with one another gave Hyrcanus an opportunity of enjoying himself in Judea quietly; insomuch that he got an immense quantity of money. However, when Antiochus Cyzicenus distressed his land, he then openly shewed what he meant. And when he saw that Antiochus was destitute of Egyptian auxiliaries, and that both he and his brother were in

* An. 122

+ See chap. 7.

+ Dean Prideaux takes notice at the year 133, that Justin, in agreement with Jo. sephus, says, "The power of the Jews was now grown so great, that after this Antiochus, they would not have any Macedonian king over them; and that they set up a government of their own, and infested Syria with great wars."