truly; for the satisfaction of those that are otherwise unacquainted with such transactions, and are obliged to believe what these writers inform them of

Hyrcanus then began his high-priesthood on the third* year of the hundred and seventy-seventh Olympiad; when Quintus Hortensius and Quintus Metellus, who was called Metellus of Crete, were consuls at Rome: when presently Aristobulus began to make war against him. And as it came to a battle with Hyrcanus at Jericho, many of his soldiers deserted him, and went over to his brother. Upon this Hyrcanus fled into the citadel where Aristobulus's wife and children were imprisoned by their mother, as we have said† already; and attacked and overcame those adversaries that fled thither, and lay within the walls of the temple. So when he had sent a message to his brother about compromising the matters between them, he laid aside his enmity to him on these conditions: that Aristobulus should be king; and that he should live without intermeddling with public affairs, and quietly enjoy the estate he had acquired. When they agreed upon these terms in the temple, and had confirmed the agreement with oaths, and the giving one another their right‡ hands, and embracing one another, in the sight of the whole multitude, they departed: Aristobulus, to the palace; and Hyrcanus, as a private man, to the former house of Aristobulus.

But there was a certain friend of Hyrcanus's, an Idumean, called Antipater; who was very rich, and in his nature an active and seditious man, he was at enmity with Aristobulus, and had differences with him on account of his good will to Hyrcanus. Nicolaus of Damascus indeed says, that Antipater was of the stock of the principal Jews who came out of Babylon into Judea. But that assertion of his was to gratify Herod, who was his son: and who, by certain revolutions of fortune, came afterward to be king of the Jews; whose history we shall give you in its proper place hereafter. However, this Antipater was at first

* Langius well observes, that this beginning of Hyrcanus's reign is rightly stated by Josephus and implies, that he began before the middle of the 69th year before the Christian Era. De Annis Christi II. 18, page 336.

+ See Book XIII. chap. 16.

This is, I think, the first mention of confirming agreements by giving each other the right hand, in Josephus ; which, however, frequently occurs afterward.

called Antipas:* and that was his father's name also. Of whom they relate, that king Alexander and his wife made him general of all Idumea: and that he made a league of friendship with those Arabians, Gazites, and Ascalonites, that were of his own party, and had, by many and large presents, made them his fast friends. But now, this younger Antipater was suspicious of the powers of Aristobulus; and was afraid of some mischief he might do him, because of his hatred to him. So he stirred up the most powerful of the Jews, and talked against him to them privately; and said, it was unjust to overlook the conduct of Aristobulus; who had assumed the government unrighteously; and had ejected his brother, who was the elder, and ought to retain what belonged to him by the prerogative of his birth. And the same speeches he perpetually made to Hyrcanus: and told him that his own life would be in danger, unless he guarded himself, and got rid of Aristobulus. For, he said, that the friends of Aristobulus omitted no opportunity of advising him to kill him; as being then and not before sure to retain his principality. But Hyrcanus gave no credit to these words, as being of a gentle disposition, and one that did not easily admit of calumnies against other men. This temper of his not disposing him to meddle with public affairs, occasioned him to appear to spectators to be degenerate and unmanly: while Aristobulus was of a contrary temper; an active man, and one of a great and generous soul.

Since therefore Antipater† saw that Hyrcanus did not attend to what he said, he never ceased day by day to charge feigned crimes upon Aristobulus; and to calumniate him, before him, as if he had a mind to kill him. And so by urging him perpetually, he persuaded him to flee to Aretas, king of Arabia; and promised that if he would comply with his advice, he would also himself assist him, and go with him. When Hyrcanus

* That the famous Antipater's, or Antipas's father, was also Antipater or Antipas (which two may justly be esteemed one and the same name; the former with a Greek or Gentile; the latter with a Hebrew or Jewish termination :) Josephus here assures us. Though Eusebius indeed, Hist. Eccl. I. 6, says it was Herod, I am clearly of Dr. Hudson's and Noldius's minds; that we ought to follow Josephus rather than Eusebius in this matter. See Nold. de Vit. and Gest. Herod. § 1-6.

t An. 65.

heard this, he said, that it was for his advantage to flee away to Aretas. However he sent Antipater first to the king of Arabia, in order to receive assurances, that when he should come in the manner of a supplicant to him, he would not deliver him up to his enemies. So Antipater having received such assurances, returned to Jerusalem, and took Hyrcanus, and stole out of the city by night; and conducted him to the city called Petra; where the palace of Aretas was. And as he was a very familiar friend of that king's, he persuaded him to bring back Hyrcanus into Judea; and this persuasion he continued every day, without any remission. He also proposed to make him presents on that account. At length he prevailed with Aretas in his suit. Moreover Hyrcanus promised him, that when he had been brought thither, and had received his kingdom, he would restore that country, and those twelve cities which his father Alexander had taken from the Arabians, viz. Medaba, Naballo, Libias, Tharabassa, Agalla, Athone, Zoar, Orone, Marissa, Rudda, Lussa, and Oruba.

CHAP. II.

OF THE EXPEDITION OF ARETAS AND HYRCANUS AGAINST ARISTOBULUS; THEIR INVESTMENT OF JERUSALEM; THE INTERFERENCE OF SCAURUS, THE ROMAN GENERAL: AND THE DEATH OF ONIAS.

AFTER these promises had been given to Aretas, he made an expedition against Aristobulus, with an army of fifty thousand horse and foot; and defeated him in battle. And when, after that victory, many went over to Hyrcanus, as deserters, Aristobulus was left desolate, and fled to Jerusalem. Hereupon the king of Arabia took all his army, and made an assault on the temple, and besieged Aristobulus therein: the people still supporting Hyrcanus, and assisting him in the siege; while none but the priests continued with Aristobulus. So Aretas united the forces of the Arabians, and of the Jews together, and pressed on the siege vigorously. As this happened at the season when the feast of unleavened bread was celebrated, which we call the passover, the principal men among

the Jews left the country, and fled into Egypt. Now there was one, whose name was Onias; a righteous man, and beloved of God; who, in a certain drought, had prayed to God to put an end to the intense heat; and whose prayers God had heard, and had sent them rain.* This man had concealed himself, because he saw that this sedition would last a great while. However they brought him to the Jewish camp, and desired that as by his prayers he had once put an end to the drought, so he would in like manner make imprecations on Aristobulus, and those of his faction. And when, upon his refusal, and the excuses that he made, he was still by the multitude compelled to speak: he stood up in the midst of them, and said, "O God, the king of the whole world! since those that now stand with me are thy people; and those that are besieged are also thy priests; I beseech thee that thou wilt neither hearken to the prayers of those against these; nor bring to effect what these pray against those." But as soon as he had made this prayer, the wicked Jews who stood about him stoned him to death.

But God punished them immediately for this barbarity, and took vengeance upon them for the murder of Onias, in the following manner. While the priests and Aristobulus were besieged, it happened that the feast called the passover was come. At which it is our custom to offer a great number of sacrifices to God. But those who were with Aristobulus wanted sacrifices, and desired that their countrymen without would furnish them with such sacrifices; and assured them that they should have as much money for them as they should desire; and when they required them to pay a thousand drachmæ for each head of cattle, Aristobulus and the priests willingly undertook to pay for them accordingly. And those within lowered down the money over the walls, and gave it them. But when the others had received it, they did not deliver the sacrifices; but arrived at that height of wickedness, as to break the assurances they had given; and to be guilty of impiety towards God, by not furnishing those that wanted them with sacrifices. And when the

*This miraculous grant of rain in the time of dearth, related here by Josephus, on the prayers of this holy man, Onias, is confirmed in two places by the Jewish rabbins, after their awkward manner: as Reland informs us in his note on this place. One of which testimonies is here set down by him at large. To which I refer the inquisitive reader.

VOL. II.

lii

priests found they had been cheated, and that the agreements they had made were violated, they prayed to God, that he would avenge them on their countrymen. Nor did he delay that punishment: but sent a strong and vehement storm of wind that destroyed the fruits of the whole country, till a modius of wheat was sold for eleven drachmæ.

In the mean time Pompey sent Scaurus into Syria; while he was himself in Armenia, and making war with Tigranes. But when Scaurus was come to Damascus, and found that Lollius and Metellus had newly taken the city, he came himself hastily into Judea. And when he was come thither, ambassadors came to him, both from Aristobulus and Hyrcanus; and both desired he would assist them. And when both of them promised to give him money-Aristobulus four* hundred talents, and Hyrcanus no less ;-he accepted of Aristobulus's promise; for he was rich, and had a great soul; and desired to obtain nothing but what was moderate. Whereas the other was poor -and tenacious, and made incredible promises in hopes of greater advantages. For it was not the same thing to take a city that was exceeding strong and powerful, as it was to eject out of the country some fugitives, with a greater number of Nabateans who were no very warlike people. He therefore made an agreement with Aristobulus, for the reasons before mentioned; and took his money, and raised the siege; and ordered Aretas to depart, or else he should be declared an enemy to the RoSo Scaurus returned to Damascus again. And Aristobulus, with a great army made war with Aretas and Hyrcanus; and fought them at a place called Papyron, and beat them' in the battle, and slew about six thousand of the enemy; with whom fell Phalion also, the brother of Antipater.

mans.

* Or, three hundred. See Chap. 3.