CHAP. XV.

OF THE EXPEDITIONS OF ANTIOCHUS, CALLED DIONYSIUS; AND

OF ARETAS, AGAINST JUDEA.AND OF THE CONQUESTS AND DEATH OF ALEXANDER.

AFTER this, Antiochus, who was called Dionysius, and was Philip's brother, aspired to the dominion, and came to Damascus, and got the supreme power into his hands. But as he was making war against the Arabians, his brother Philip heard of it, and came to Damascus; where Milesius, who had been left governor of the citadel, and the Damascenes themselves delivered up the city to him. Yet because Philip was become ungrateful, and had bestowed upon him nothing of that in hopes whereof he had received him into the city; but had a mind to have it believed that it was rather delivered up out of fear, than by the kindness of Melesius; and because he had not rewarded him as he ought to have done, he became suspected by him; and so he was obliged to leave Damascus again. For Milesius caught him marching out into the Hippodrome,† and shut him up in it; and kept Damascus for Antiochus Eucerus ; who hearing how Philip's affairs stood, came back out of Arabia. He also made an expedition against Judea, with eight thousand armed footmen; and eight hundred horsemen. So Alexander, out of fear of his coming, dug a deep ditch, beginning at Chabarzaba, which is now called Antipatris, to the sea of Joppa, on which part only his army could be brought against him. He also raised a wall, and erected wooden towers, with intermediate redoubts for a hundred and fifty furlongs in length; and there expected the coming of Antiochus. But he soon burnt them all; and made his army pass by that way into Arabia. The Arabian king Aretas at first retreated; but afterward appeared suddenly with ten thousand

*

Spanheim takes nòtice that this Antiochus Dionysius, the brother of Philip and of Demetrius Eucerus, and of two others, was the fifth son of Antiochus Grypus: and that he is styled on the coins, Epiphanes Dionysius.

↑ The place for horse-races.

horsemen. Antiochus gave them the meeting, and fought desperately; but when he had gained the victory, and was bringing some auxiliaries to that part of his army that was in distress, he was slain. When Antiochus was fallen, his army fled to the village Cana: where the greatest part of them perished by famine.

After him Aretas* reigned over Colesyria: being called to the government by those that held Damascus; by reason of the hatred they bore to Ptolemy Menneus. He also made thence an expedition against Judea, and defeated Alexander, near a place called Adida: yet did he upon certain conditions retire out of Judea.

But Alexander marched† again to the city+ Dios, and took it; and then made an expedition against Essa, where was the best part of Zeno's treasures: and there he encompassed the place with three walls. And when he had taken the city he marched to Golan, and Seleucia. And when he had reduced them, he took that valley which is called the valley of Antiochus; as also the fortress Gamala. He also accused Demetrius, who was governor of those places, of many crimes; and turned him out. And after he had spent three years in this war, he returned to his own country: when the Jews joyfully received him, upon this his good success.

At this time the Jews were in possession of the following cities that had belonged to the Syrians, Idumeans, and Phœnicians. At the sea side Strato's Tower, Apollonia, Joppa, Jamnia, Ashdod, Gaza, Anthedon, Raphia, and Rhinocolura. In the middle of the country near to Idumea, Adera, and Marissa; near the country of Samaria, mount Carmel, and mount Tabor, Scythopolis, and Gedara. Of the country of Gaulonitis, Seleucia, and Gabala. In the country of Moab, Heshbon, and Medaba, Lemba, and Oronas, Gelithon, Zara, the valley of the Cilices, and Pella. The last of these they utterly de

* This Aretas was the first king of the Arabians, who took Damascus, and reigned there. Which name became afterwards common to such Arabian kings, both at Petra and at Damascus ; as we learn from Josephus in many places; and from St. Paul, 2 Cor. xi. 32. See the Note on XVI. 9.

1 An. 84 B. C.

* See Book XIV. chap. 1.

stroyed; because its inhabitants would not bear to change* their religious rites for those peculiar to the Jews. The Jews also possessed others of the principal cities of Syria, which had been destroyed.

After this, king Alexander, although he fell into a distemper by hard drinking, and had a quartan ague, which held him three years, yet would not leave off going out with his army, till he was quite exhausted with the labours he had undergone, and died in the bounds of Ragaba,† a fortress beyond Jordan. But when his queen saw that he was ready to die, and had no longer any hopes of surviving, she came to him weeping, and lamenting; and bewailed herself and her sons, on the desolate condition they should be left in: and said to him,

"To whom dost thou thus leave me, and my children: who are destitute of all other supports; and this when thou knowest how much ill will thy nation bears thee?"

He replied, that she need but follow what he would suggest to her, in order to retain the kingdom securely, with her children. That she should conceal his death from the soldiers, till she should have taken that place; that after this she should go in triumph, as upon a victory, to Jerusalem; and put some of her authority into the hands of the Pharisees: for that they would commend her for the honour she had done them; and would reconcile the nation to her. For he told her, that they had great authority among the Jews, both to do hurt to such as they hated, and to bring advantages to those to whom they were friendly disposed. For that they are then believed best of all by the multitude, when they speak any severe thing against others: though it be only out of envy at them. And he said, that it was by their means that he had incurred the displeasure of the nation, whom indeed he had injured. "Do

* We may here take notice. that whatever countries or cities the Asmoneans conquered from any of the neighbouring nations; or whatsoever countries or cities they gained from them, that had not belonged to them before; they after the days of Hyrcanus, compelled the inhabitants to leave their idolatry, and to receive the law of Moses, as proselytes of Justice; or else banished them into other lands. That excellent prince, John Hyrcanus, did it to the Idumeans, as I have noted on chap. 9, already, who lived then in the promised land; and this I suppose justly: but by what right the rest did it, even to countries or cities that were no part of that land, I do not know. This looks too like unjust persecution for religion. ↑ Or Argob.

thou, therefore," said he, " when thou art come to Jerusalem, send for the leading men among them, and shew them my body: and, with great appearance of sincerity, give them leave to use it as they please: whether they will dishonour me by refusing it burial, as having severely suffered by my means; or whether, in their anger, they will offer any other injury to that body. Promise them also, that thou wilt do nothing without them, in the affairs of the kingdom. If thou dost but act thus I shall have the honour of a more sumptuous funeral from them than thou couldst have made for me: and when it is in their power to abuse my dead body, they will do it no injury at all, and thou wilt rule in safety." So* when he had given his wife this advice, he died: after he had reigned twenty-sevent years, and lived forty-nine.

CHAP. XVI.

OF ALEXANDRA'S CONDUCT TOWARD THE PHARISEES; HER GOVERNMENT AND DEATH.

ALEXANDRA, having taken the fortress, acted as her husband had suggested; and spake to the Pharisees, and put all things into their power; both as to the dead body, and as to

* It seems by this dying advice of Alexander Janneus to his wife, that he had himself pursued the measures of his father Hyrcanus, and taken part with the Sadducees; who closely adhered to the written law; against the Pharisees, who had introduced their own traditions; see chap. 16. and that he now saw a political necessity of submitting to the Pharisees, and their traditions hereafter, if his widow and family wished to retain their monarchical government, or tyranny over the Jewish nation. Which sect yet, thus supported, were at last in a great measure ¿the ruin of the religion, government, and nation of the Jews: and brought them into so wicked a state, that the vengeance of God came upon them, to their utter excision. Just thus did Caiaphas politically advise the Jewish Sanhedrim; John xi. 50. "That it was expedient for them that one man should die for the people; and that the whole nation perish not." And this in consequence of their own political supposal, verse 48, that "If they let Jesus alone, with his miracles, all men would believe on him; and the Romans would come and take away both their place and nation." Which political crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth brought down the vengeance of God upon them; and occasioned those very Romans, of whom they seemed so much afraid, that to prevent it they put him to death, actually to come and take away both their place and nation, within 38 years afterwards. From an. 105 to an. 79 B. C.

the affairs of the kingdom: and thereby pacified their anger against Alexander, and made them bear good will and friendship to him. Accordingly they came among the multitude, and laid before them the actions of Alexander; and told them that they had lost a righteous king; and by the commendations they gave him, they brought them to grieve, and to be in heaviness for him: so that he had a funeral more splendid than had any of his predecessors. Alexander left behind him. two sons, Hyrcanus and Aristobulus; but committed the kingdom to Alexandra. Now as to these two sons, Hyrcanus was indeed unable to manage public affairs, and delighted rather in quiet life. But the younger, Aristobulus, was an active and a bold man. And Alexandra was beloved by the multitude, because she seemed displeased at the offences her husband had been guilty of.

So she made Hyrcanus high-priest, because he was the elder, but more particularly because he cared not to meddle with politics; and she permitted the Pharisees to do every thing, requiring the multitude to be obedient to them. She also restored those practices which the Pharisees had introduced, according to the traditions of their forefathers; and which her fatherin-law, Hyrcanus, had abrogated: so she had the name of the regent, but the Pharisees had the authority. For it was they who restored such as had been banished, and set such as were prisoners at liberty: and in short they differed nothing from lords. The queen, however, took care of the affairs of the kingdom, and got together a great body of mercenary soldiers, and increased her own army to such a degree, that she became terrible to the neighbouring tyrants; and took hostages of them. And the country was entirely at peace; excepting the Pharisees, for they disturbed the queen, and desired that she would kill those who persuaded Alexander to slay the eight hundred men.* After which they cut the throat of one of them, named Diogenes; and after him they did the same to several, one after another; till the men that were the most potent came into the palace, and Aristobulus with them: for he seemed to be displeased at what was done; and it appeared openly, that if he had an opportunity, he would not permit his mother to go on

An. 77.