wishes. He knew that while Jonathan was in the interest of Antiochus he could not possibly execute his design, and therefore, the first business was to curtail him of his power; but as he was sensible he could not do this by force, the only measure he had to fly to was stratagem. To this purpose he went to Basan, where, at his request, Jonathan met him with an army of 40,000 men. On his arrival, Tryphon made him many presents and compliments, directed the officers of his own army to obey Jonathan as himself, and proceeded, with great artifice, from one subtlety to another. At length he told Jonathan, that as the war was over, and Demetrius, from his low condition, was no longer able to trouble him, he might disband his army, keeping only a proper body guard, and attend him to Ptolemais, which place, with all the adjacent towns, he was resolved to put into his possession.

Attracted by these arguments and promises, Jonathan dismissed all his army except three thousand men, two of which he left in Galilee, and went with Tryphon to Ptolemais with the other thousand. As soon as he had entered the city, the inhabitants, who had received previous instructions from Tryphon how to act, immediately shut the gates, killed his thousand men, and made him prisoner.

Tryphon, having thus far succeeded in his design, dispatched a party of his army into Galilee, with orders to destroy the two thousand men which Jonathan had left in that part of the country. These, however, having received information of the manner in which Jonathan had been treated at Ptolemais, were prepared to receive them, and facing them in order to engage, so intimidated them that they thought proper to avoid a battle, and returned to Ptolemais without executing the business on which they were sent.

When the inhabitants of Jerusalem heard of the imprisonment of Jonathan (for whom they had the highest regard) and the massacre of their brethren, they were greatly afflicted, and universal lamentations prevailed throughout the city. While he was their leader they had no fears, but now he was gone, they were apprehensive of the utmost danger from their enemies, whose power

they now thought it was impossible for them to withstand. To dissipate these disagreeable apprehensions, and to remove that gloom which not only hung on the minds but the countenances of the people, Simon, having summoned them together for the purpose, addressed them in words to this effect:

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"It is unnecessary, friends and countrymen, for me to "say that my father, brothers and myself, have been al ways ready to expose ourselves for the common liberty: "the defence of law and religion has been the business of our family; nor am I so lost to the authority of example "as to think of preserving my life by the forfeit of my "honor. Seek not, therefore, for another commander, "since I am willing to lead you wherever great and glori"ous actions shall call us. I count not myself greater "than my brethren, nor value my life more than they did "theirs. Never shall it be said that I have departed from "the dignity of my family. I have no doubt but God " will, by my hands, avenge you of your enemies, deliver you, your wives and children, from those who oppress you, and secure the holy temple from defilement."

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This speech so animated the people, and dispelled their fears, that they unanimously exclaimed, "Simon "alone ought to succeed his brothers Judas and Jona"than let Simon be our general and we will obey his "commands." Simon, being thus elected leader of the Jews, the first step he took was, to order the walls of the city to be repaired and fortified; having done which he dispatched his friend Jonathan, the son of Absalom, to Joppa, to clear that town of its inhabitants, being fearful lest they should deliver it into the hands of Tryphon.

Soon after this Tryphon, at the head of a considerable army, marched into Judea, having with him Jonathan as his prisoner. Simon, being aware of his approach, headed his forces, and proceeded to meet him, which he did on a mountain that overlooked the plain near the city of Adida. As soon as Tryphon saw the Jewish army, and understood that Simon had been chosen their leader, he did not think proper to engage them, and therefore resolved, instead of force, to endeavor to obtain his ends by stratagem and deceit. To effect this he dispatched one of

his principal officers to Simon with a message to the following effect: "That he had seized Jonathan only be"cause he owed an hundred talents to the king; but that, "in case he would send the money and Jonathan's two "sons, to be hostages for their father's fidelity, he would "again set him at liberty."

Simon had not the least doubt of there being a deception intended by this message; but he thought, that if he refused the money as a ransom, or the sons as hostages, it might cost Jonathan his life, and that his death would consequently be imputed to him. He therefore summoned a council of the principal people, to whom he intimated his suspicion of treachery; but at the same time observed, that he thought it would be most proper to send both the young men and the money, as otherwise the people might think him indifferent with respect to his brother's safety. This being unanimously agreed to, the hostages and money were sent to Tryphon, who, instead of fulfilling his agreement by delivering up Jonathan, retained both him and his sons. He then marched with his army to different parts of the country, and would have ravaged and laid waste the principal places in his way, had it not been for Simon, who watched his motions so closely as to prevent his carrying his designs into execution.

At length Tryphon arrived with his army at Adora, a city of Idumea, where he received intelligence that the garrison of Acra were in great want of provisions, and that they earnestly requested he would immediately go to their assistance. In consequence of this, Tryphon ordered his horse to march early the next morning to Jerusalem; but so deep a snow fell in the night, that there was no possibility of his commands being executed. He, therefore, returned to Coelo Syria, and passed through Galaad, near the city of Bascama, where he basely caused Jonathan and his two sons to be put to death.

Tryphon, thinking there was not any thing now to obstruct his main design, proceeded to Antioch, where he had not been long before he caused young Antiochus to be privately murdered, giving it out that he lost his life by an accident which happened in his exercises. This report being credited, Tryphon, by his artifices and deceit,

so wrought on the minds of the people, that they unanimously chose him for their king, and immediately placed him on the Syrian throne.

In the mean time Simon was returned to Jerusalem, where hearing of his brother Jonathan's death, and that he was buried at Bascama in the land of Galaad, he sent for his remains, which he deposited in his father's sepulchre at Modin, and ordered a general mourning to be held on the occasion. He afterwards erected a stately monument over the sepulchre, the whole of which was of white marble polished, and curiously wrought with a variety of figures.*

When Simon heard of the death of Antiochus, and the treachery of the base usurper Tryphon, he sent to Demetrius, (who was then at Laodicea in Phrygia) a crown of gold, and ambassadors to treat with him on terms of peace and alliance. The king granted to Simon a confirmation of the High-Priesthood and principality, and to the people a release of all taxes, tolls and tributes, on condition that they would join with him against the usurper Tryphon. In consequence of this treaty, by which Simon was made sovereign prince of Judea, and the land freed from all foreign yoke, the Jews, from this time, instead of dating their instruments and contracts by the years of the Syrian kings (as hitherto they had done) dated them by the years of Simon and his successors.

Being thus fully invested with sovereign authority, and freed from all foreign wars, Simon took a progress through Judea, to inspect the most material parts, and to supply what was most wanted for the security of the whole. He

This edifice, being erected on an eminence, was conspicuous a considerable distance at sea; and, on that coast, was particularly noticed as a good sea-mark. Adjoining to the monument Simon placed seven pyramids, two for his father and mother, four for his brethren, and the seventh for himself, and then encompassed the whole with a stately portico supported by marble pillars, each of one entire piece, and on which were engraved ships, and arms, with other military ensigns. Josephus tells us, that the whole of this fabric was entire in his days, and that it was considered as a very curious and excellent piece of architecture. Eusebius likewise mentions it, and says that it was complete in his time, which was two hundred years after the death of Josephus.

repaired all those fortifications that were decayed, and erected new ones in such places as he thought necessary. He likewise reduced several cities possessed by the heathens in different parts, particularly Gazara, and Jamnia, and having routed the inhabitants, placed some of his own people in their stead. On his return he would have laid siege to the fortress of Acra, had not the garrison (from their great distress for want of provisions) readily surrendered the place. In consequence of this, Simon, wisely considering how much the city of Jerusalem had been injured by that citadel, pulled it down to the ground, that it might no longer be a retreat for the seditious and factious; and, to prevent its being rebuilt, he levelled the hill on which it was situated, so that there was now no eminence left about Jerusalem, except the Mount on which stood the temple.

In the mean time the base and perfidious Tryphon, having possessed himself of the throne of Syria, began to display that turpitude of heart by which he had been distinguished while in a private character. His point was no sooner gained than he threw off the mask, and proved that the name of Tryphon (which signifies a desolate wretch) was an epithet he justly merited. His disposition and conduct proved so disagreeable to the soldiers in particular, that they deserted in great numbers, and fled to Cleopatra, the wife of Demetrius,* who was at this time in retirement with her children in Seleucia, while Antiochus (the brother of Demetrius) was in an obscure situation in Crete.

* Demetrius was at this time a prisoner in Parthia. After retreating from the army of the Jews under Jonathan, he went into Mesopotamia, proposing to ravage that country, and reduce Babylon. His plan was to fix the seat of war in the upper provinces, the Greek and Macedonian inhabitants of which had invited him thither, with promises of obedience, and offers of assistance, against Arsaces, king of Parthia. Encouraged hereby, and thinking that after he had conquered the Parthians, it would be no difficult matter to drive Tryphon out of Syria, he accepted their offers, and marching into their country, was cheerfully received by a large army, at the head of which he attacked Arsaces, who totally routed him, took him prisoner, and destroyed the greater part of his forces.