CHAPTER
1
HOW JONATHAN TOOK THE GOVERNMENT AFTER HIS BROTHER JUDAS; AND HOW HE, TOGETHER
WITH HIS BROTHER SIMON, WAGED WAR AGAINST BACCHIDES
1. By what means the nation of the Jews recovered their freedom when they
had been brought into slavery by the Macedonians, and what struggles, and how
great battles, Judas, the general of their army, ran through till he was slain
as he was fighting for them, hath been related in the foregoing book; but after
he was dead, all the wicked, and those that transgressed the laws of their forefathers,
sprang up again in Judea, and grew upon them, and distressed them on every side.
A famine also assisted their wickedness, and afflicted the country, till not
a few, who by reason of their want of necessaries, and because they were not
able to bear up against the miseries that both the famine and their enemies
brought upon them, deserted their country, and went to the Macedonians. And
now Bacchides gathered those Jews together who had apostatised from the accustomed
way of living of their forefathers, and chose to live like their neighbors,
and committed the care of the country to them, who also caught the friends of
Judas, and those of his party, and delivered them up to Bacchides, who when
he had, in the first place, tortured and tormented them at his pleasure, he,
by that means, at length killed them. And when this calamity of the Jews was
become so great, as they had never had experience of the like since their return
out of Babylon, those that remained of the companions of Judas, seeing that
the nation was ready to be destroyed after a miserable manner, came to his brother
Jonathan, and desired him that he would imitate his brother, and that care which
he took of his countrymen, for whose liberty in general he died also; and that
he would not permit the nation to be without a governor, especially in those
destructive circumstances wherein it now was. And where Jonathan said that he
was ready to die for them, and esteemed no inferior to his brother, he was appointed
to be the general of the Jewish army.
2. When Bacchides heard this, and was afraid
that Jonathan might be very troublesome to the king and the Macedonians, as
Judas had been before him, he sought how he might slay him by treachery. But
this intention of his was not unknown to Jonathan, nor to his brother Simon;
but when these two were apprised of it, they took all their companions, and
presently fled into that wilderness which was nearest to the city; and when
they were come to a lake called Asphar, they abode there. But when Bacchides
was sensible that they were in a low state, and were in that place, he hasted
to fall upon them with all his forces, and pitching his camp beyond Jordan,
he recruited his army. But when Jonathan knew that Bacchides was coming upon
him, he sent his brother John, who was also called Gaddis, to the Nabatean Arabs,
that he might lodge his baggage with them until the battle with Bacchides should
be over, for they were the Jews' friends. And the sons of Ambri laid an ambush
for John from the city Medaba, and seized upon him, and upon those that were
with him, and plundered all that they had with them. They also slew John, and
all his companions. However, they were sufficiently punished for what they now
did by John's brethren, as we shall relate presently.
3. But when Bacchides knew that Jonathan
had pitched his camp among the lakes of Jordan, he observed when their Sabbath
day came, and then assaulted him, [as supposing that he would not fight because
of the law for resting on that day]: but he exhorted his companions [to fight];
and told them that their lives were at stake, since they were encompassed by
the river, and by their enemies, and had no way to escape, for that their enemies
pressed upon them from before, and the river was behind them. So after he had
prayed to God to give them the victory, he joined battle with the enemy, of
whom he overthrew many; and as he saw Bacchides coming up boldly to him, he
stretched out his right hand to smite him; but the other foreseeing and avoiding
the stroke, Jonathan with his companions leaped into the river, and swam over
it, and by that means escaped beyond Jordan while the enemies did not pass over
that river; but Bacchides returned presently to the citadel at Jerusalem, having
lost about two thousand of his army. He also fortified many cities of Judea,
whose walls had been demolished; Jericho, and Emmaus, and Bethoron, and Bethel,
and Timna, and Pharatho, and Tecoa, and Gazara, and built towers in every one
of these cities, and encompassed them with strong walls, that were very large
also, and put garrisons into them, that they might issue out of them, and do
mischief to the Jews. He also fortified the citadel at Jerusalem more than all
the rest. Moreover, he took the sons of the principal Jews as pledges, and shut
them up in the citadel, and in that manner guarded it.
4. About the same time one came to Jonathan,
and to his brother Simon, and told them that the sons of Ambri were celebrating
a marriage, and bringing the bride from the city Gabatha, who was the daughter
of one of the illustrious men among the Arabians, and that the damsel was to
be conducted with pomp, and splendor, and much riches: so Jonathan and Simon
thinking this appeared to be the fittest time for them to avenge the death of
their brother, and that they had forces sufficient for receiving satisfaction
from them for his death, they made haste to Medaba, and lay in wait among the
mountains for the coming of their enemies; and as soon as they saw them conducting
the virgin, and her bridegroom, and such a great company of their friends with
them as was to be expected at this wedding, they sallied out of their ambush
and slew them all, and took their ornaments and all the prey that then followed
them, and so returned, and received this satisfaction for their brother John
from the sons of Ambri; for as well those sons themselves, as their friends,
and wives, and children that followed them, perished, being in number about
four hundred.
5. However, Simon and Jonathan returned
to the lakes of the river, and abode there. But Bacchides, when he had secured
all Judea with his garrisons, returned to the king; and then it was that the
affairs of Judea were quiet for two years. But when the deserters and the wicked
saw that Jonathan and those that were with him lived in the country very quietly,
by reason of the peace, they sent to king Demetrius, and excited him to send
Bacchides to seize upon Jonathan, which they said was to be done without any
trouble, and in one night's time; and that if they fell upon them before they
were aware, they might slay them all. So the king sent Bacchides, who, when
he was come into Judea, wrote to all his friends, both Jews and auxiliaries,
that they should seize upon Jonathan, and bring him to him; and when, upon all
their endeavors, they were not able to seize upon Jonathan, for he was sensible
of the snares they laid for him, and very carefully guarded against them, Bacchides
was angry at these deserters, as having imposed upon him, and upon the king,
and slew fifty of their leaders: whereupon Jonathan, with his brother, and those
that were with him, retired to Bethagla, a village that lay in the wilderness,
out of his fear of Bacchides. He also built towers in it, and encompassed it
with walls, and took care that it should be safely guarded. Upon the hearing
of which Bacchides led his own army along with him, and besides took his Jewish
auxiliaries, and came against Jonathan, and made an assault upon his fortifications,
and besieged him many days; but Jonathan did not abate of his courage at the
zeal Bacchides used in the siege, but courageously opposed him. And while he
left his brother Simon in the city to fight with Bacchides, he went privately
out himself into the country, and got a great body of men together of his own
party, and fell upon Bacchides's camp in the night time, and destroyed a great
many of them. His brother Simon knew also of this his falling upon them, because
he perceived that the enemies were slain by him; so he sallied out upon them,
and burnt the engines which the Macedonians used, and made a great slaughter
of them. And when Bacchides saw himself encompassed with enemies, and some of
them before and some behind him, he fell into despair and trouble of mind, as
confounded at the unexpected ill success of this siege. However, he vented his
displeasure at these misfortunes upon those deserters who sent for him from
the king, as having deluded him. So he had a mind to finish this siege after
a decent manner, if it were possible for him so to do, and then to return home.
6. When Jonathan understood these his intentions,
he sent ambassadors to him about a league of friendship and mutual assistance,
and that they might restore those they had taken captive on both sides. So Bacchides
thought this a pretty decent way of retiring home, and made a league of friendship
with Jonathan, when they sware that they would not any more make war one against
another. Accordingly, he restored the captives, and took his own men with him,
and returned to the king at Antioch; and after this his departure, he never
came into Judea again. Then did Jonathan take the opportunity of this quiet
state of things, and went and lived in the city Michmash; and there governed
the multitude, and punished the wicked and ungodly, and by that means purged
the nation of them.
CHAPTER
2
HOW ALEXANDER [BALA], IN HIS WAR WITH DEMETRIUS, GRANTED JONATHAN MANY ADVANTAGES,
AND APPOINTED HIM TO BE HIGH PRIEST, AND PERSUADED HIM TO ASSIST HIM, ALTHOUGH
DEMETRIUS PROMISED HIM GREATER ADVANTAGES ON THE OTHER SIDE. CONCERNING THE
DEATH OF DEMETRIUS
1. Now in the hundred and sixtieth year, it fell out that Alexander, the
son of Antiochus Epiphanes,1 came up into Syria, and
took Ptolemais, the soldiers within having betrayed it to him; for they were
at enmity with Demetrius, on account of his insolence and difficulty of access;
for he shut himself up in a palace of his that had four towers which he had
built himself, not far from Antioch and admitted nobody. He was withal slothful
and negligent about the public affairs, whereby the hatred of his subjects was
the more kindled against him, as we have elsewhere already related. When therefore
Demetrius heard that Alexander was in Ptolemais, he took his whole army, and
led it against him; he also sent ambassadors to Jonathan about a league of mutual
assistance and friendship, for he resolved to be beforehand with Alexander,
lest the other should treat with him first, and gain assistance from him; and
this he did out of the fear he had lest Jonathan should remember how ill Demetrius
had formerly treated him, and should join with him in this war against him.
He therefore gave orders that Jonathan should be allowed to raise an army, and
should get armor made, and should receive back those hostages of the Jewish
nation whom Bacchides had shut up in the citadel of Jerusalem. When this good
fortune had befallen Jonathan, by the concession of Demetrius, he came to Jerusalem,
and read the king's letter in the audience of the people, and of those that
kept the citadel. When these were read, these wicked men and deserters, who
were in the citadel, were greatly afraid, upon the king's permission to Jonathan
to raise an army, and to receive back the hostages. So he delivered every one
of them to his own parents. And thus did Jonathan make his abode at Jerusalem,
renewing the city to a better state, and reforming the buildings as he pleased;
for he gave orders that the walls of the city should be rebuilt with square
stones, that it might be more secure from their enemies. And when those that
kept the garrisons that were in Judea saw this, they all left them, and fled
to Antioch, excepting those that were in the city Bethsura, and those that were
in the citadel of Jerusalem, for the greater part of these was of the wicked
Jews and deserters, and on that account these did not deliver up their garrisons.
2. When Alexander knew what promises Demetrius
had made Jonathan, and withal knew his courage, and what great things he had
done when he fought the Macedonians, and besides what hardships he had undergone
by the means of Demetrius, and of Bacchides, the general of Demetrius's army,
he told his friends that he could not at present find any one else that might
afford him better assistance than Jonathan, who was both courageous against
his enemies, and had a particular hatred against Demetrius, as having both suffered
many hard things from him, and acted many hard things against him. If therefore
they were of opinion that they should make him their friend against Demetrius,
it was more for their advantage to invite him to assist them now than at another
time. It being therefore determined by him and his friends to send to Jonathan,
he wrote to him this epistle: "King Alexander to his brother Jonathan, sendeth
greeting. We have long ago heard of thy courage and thy fidelity, and for that
reason have sent to thee, to make with thee a league of friendship and mutual
assistance. We therefore do ordain thee this day the high priest of the Jews,
and that thou beest called my friend. I have also sent thee, as presents, a
purple robe and a golden crown, and desire that, now thou art by us honored,
thou wilt in like manner respect us also."
3. When Jonathan had received this letter,
he put on the pontifical robe at the time of the feast of tabernacles,2
four years after the death of his brother Judas, for at that time no high priest
had been made. So he raised great forces, and had abundance of armor got ready.
This greatly grieved Demetrius when he heard of it, and made him blame himself
for his slowness, that he had not prevented Alexander, and got the good will
of Jonathan, but had given him time so to do. However, he also himself wrote
a letter to Jonathan, and to the people, the contents whereof are these: "King
Demetrius to Jonathan, and to the nation of the Jews, sendeth greeting. Since
you have preserved your friendship for us, and when you have been tempted by
our enemies, you have not joined yourselves to them, I both commend you for
this your fidelity, and exhort you to continue in the same disposition, for
which you shall be repaid, and receive rewards from us; for I will free you
from the greatest part of the tributes and taxes which you formerly paid to
the kings my predecessors, and to myself; and I do now set you free from those
tributes which you have ever paid; and besides, I forgive you the tax upon salt,
and the value of the crowns which you used to offer to me:3
and instead of the third part of the fruits [of the field], and the half of
the fruits of the trees, I relinquish my part of them from this day: and as
to the poll money, which ought to be given me for every head of the inhabitants
of Judea, and of the three toparchies that adjoin to Judea, Samaria, and Galilee,
and Perea, that I relinquish to you for this time, and for all time to come.
I will also that the city of Jerusalem be holy and inviolable, and free from
the tithe, and from the taxes, unto its utmost bounds. And I so far recede from
my title to the citadel, as to permit Jonathan your high priest to possess it,
that he may place such a garrison in it as he approves of for fidelity and good
will to himself, that they may keep it for us. I also make free all those Jews
who have been made captives and slaves in my kingdom. I also give order that
the beasts of the Jews be not pressed for our service; and let their Sabbaths,
and all their festivals, and three days before each of them, be free from any
imposition. In the same manner, I set free the Jews that are inhabitants of
my kingdom, and order that no injury be done them. I also give leave to such
of them as are willing to list themselves in my army, that they may do it, and
those as far as thirty thousand; which Jewish soldiers, wheresoever they go,
shall have the same pay that my own army hath; and some of them I will place
in my garrisons, and some as guards about mine own body, and as rulers over
those that are in my court. I give them leave also to use the laws of their
forefathers, and to observe them; and I will that they have power over the three
toparchies that are added to Judea; and it shall be in the power of the high
priest to take care that no one Jew shall have any other temple for worship
but only that at Jerusalem. I bequeath also, out of my own revenues, yearly,
for the expenses about the sacrifices, one hundred and fifty thousand [drachmae];
and what money is to spare, I will that it shall be your own. I also release
to you those ten thousand drachmae which the kings received from the temple,
because they appertain to the priests that minister in that temple. And whosoever
shall fly to the temple at Jerusalem, or to the places thereto belonging, or
who owe the king money, or are there on any other account, let them be set free,
and let their goods be in safety. I also give you leave to repair and rebuild
your temple, and that all be done at my expenses. I also allow you to build
the walls of your city, and to erect high towers, and that they be erected at
my charge. And if there be any fortified town that would be convenient for the
Jewish country to have very strong, let it be so built at my expenses."
4. This was what Demetrius promised and
granted to the Jews by this letter. But king Alexander raised a great army of
mercenary soldiers, and of those that deserted to him out of Syria, and made
an expedition against Demetrius. And when it was come to a battle, the left
wing of Demetrius put those who opposed them to flight, and pursued them a great
way, and slew many of them, and spoiled their camp; but the right wing, where
Demetrius happened to be, was beaten; and as for all the rest, they ran away.
But Demetrius fought courageously, and slew a great many of the enemy; but as
he was in the pursuit of the rest, his horse carried him into a deep bog, where
it was hard to get out, and there it happened, that upon his horse's falling
down, he could not escape being killed; for when his enemies saw what had befallen
him, they returned back, and encompassed Demetrius round, and they all threw
their darts at him; but he, being now on foot, fought bravely. But at length
he received so many wounds, that he was not able to bear up any longer, but
fell. And this is the end that Demetrius came to, when he had reigned eleven
years,4 as we have elsewhere related.
CHAPTER
3
THE FRIENDSHIP THAT WAS BETWEEN ONIAS AND PTOLEMY PHILOMETOR; AND HOW ONIAS
BUILT A TEMPLE IN EGYPT LIKE TO THAT AT JERUSALEM
1. But then the son of Onias the high priest, who was of the same name
with his father, and who fled to king Ptolemy, who was called Philometor, lived
now at Alexandria, as we have said already. When this Onias saw that Judea was
oppressed by the Macedonians and their kings, out of a desire to purchase to
himself a memorial and eternal fame he resolved to send to king Ptolemy and
queen Cleopatra, to ask leave of them that he might build a temple in Egypt
like to that at Jerusalem, and might ordain Levites and priests out of their
own stock. The chief reason why he was desirous so to do, was, that he relied
upon the prophet Isaiah, who lived above six hundred years before, and foretold
that there certainly was to be a temple built to Almighty God in Egypt by a
man that was a Jew. Onias was elevated with this prediction, and wrote the following
epistle to Ptolemy and Cleopatra: "Having done many and great things for you
in the affairs of the war, by the assistance of God, and that in Coelesyria
and Phoenicia, I came at length with the Jews to Leontopolis, and to other places
of your nation, where I found that the greatest part of your people had temples
in an improper manner, and that on this account they bare ill will one against
another, which happens to the Egyptians by reason of the multitude of their
temples, and the difference of opinions about Divine worship. Now I found a
very fit place in a castle that hath its name from the country Diana; this place
is full of materials of several sorts, and replenished with sacred animals;
I desire therefore that you will grant me leave to purge this holy place, which
belongs to no master, and is fallen down, and to build there a temple to Almighty
God, after the pattern of that in Jerusalem, and of the same dimensions, that
may be for the benefit of thyself, and thy wife and children, that those Jews
which dwell in Egypt may have a place whither they may come and meet together
in mutual harmony one with another, and be subservient to thy advantages; for
the prophet Isaiah foretold that 'there should be an altar in Egypt to the Lord
God';5 and many other such things did he prophesy
relating to that place."
2. And this was what Onias wrote to king
Ptolemy. Now any one may observe his piety, and that of his sister and wife
Cleopatra, by that epistle which they wrote in answer to it; for they laid the
blame and the transgression of the law upon the head of Onias. And this was
their reply: "King Ptolemy and queen Cleopatra to Onias, send greeting. We have
read thy petition, wherein thou desirest leave to be given thee to purge that
temple which is fallen down at Leontopolis, in the Nomus of Heliopolis, and
which is named from the country Bubastis; on which account we cannot but wonder
that it should be pleasing to God to have a temple erected in a place so unclean,
and so full of sacred animals. But since thou sayest that Isaiah the prophet
foretold this long ago, we give thee leave to do it, if it may be done according
to your law, and so that we may not appear to have at all offended God herein."
3. So Onias took the place, and built a
temple, and an altar to God, like indeed to that in Jerusalem, but smaller and
poorer. I do not think it proper for me now to describe its dimensions or its
vessels, which have been already described in my seventh book of the Wars of
the Jews. However, Onias found other Jews like to himself, together with priests
and Levites, that there performed Divine service. But we have said enough about
this temple.
4. Now it came to pass that the Alexandrian
Jews, and those Samaritans who paid their worship to the temple that was built
in the days of Alexander at Mount Gerizzim, did now make a sedition one against
another, and disputed about their temples before Ptolemy himself; the Jews saying
that, according to the laws of Moses, the temple was to be built at Jerusalem;
and the Samaritans saying that it was to be built at Gerizzim. They desired
therefore the king to sit with his friends, and hear the debates about these
matters, and punish those with death who were baffled. Now Sabbeus and Theodosius
managed the argument for the Samaritans, and Andronicus, the son of Messalamus,
for the people of Jerusalem; and they took an oath by God and the king to make
their demonstrations according to the law; and they desired of Ptolemy, that
whomsoever he should find that transgressed what they had sworn to, he would
put him to death. Accordingly, the king took several of his friends into the
council, and sat down, in order to hear what the pleaders said. Now the Jews
that were at Alexandria were in great concern for those men, whose lot it was
to contend for the temple at Jerusalem; for they took it very ill that any should
take away the reputation of that temple, which was so ancient and so celebrated
all over the habitable earth. Now when Sabbeus and Theodosius had given leave
to Andronicus to speak first, he began to demonstrate out of the law, and out
of the successions of the high priests, how they every one in succession from
his father had received that dignity, and ruled over the temple; and how all
the kings of Asia had honored that temple with their donations, and with the
most splendid gifts dedicated thereto. But as for that at Gerizzim, he made
no account of it, and regarded it as if it had never had a being. By this speech,
and other arguments, Andronicus persuaded the king to determine that the temple
at Jerusalem was built according to the laws of Moses,6
and to put Sabbeus and Theodosius to death. And these were the events that befell
the Jews at Alexandria in the days of Ptolemy Philometor.
CHAPTER
4
HOW ALEXANDER HONORED JONATHAN AFTER AN EXTRAORDINARY MANNER; AND HOW DEMETRIUS,
THE SON OF DEMETRIUS, OVERCAME ALEXANDER, AND MADE A LEAGUE OF FRIENDSHIP WITH
JONATHAN
1. Demetrius being thus slain in battle, as we have above related, Alexander
took the kingdom of Syria; and wrote to Ptolemy Philometor, and desired his
daughter in marriage; and said it was but just that he should be joined an affinity
to one that had now received the principality of his forefathers, and had been
promoted to it by God's providence, and had conquered Demetrius, and that was
on other accounts not unworthy of being related to him. Ptolemy received this
proposal of marriage gladly; and wrote him an answer, saluting him on account
of his having received the principality of his forefathers; and promising him
that he would give him his daughter in marriage; and assured him that he was
coming to meet him at Ptolemais, and desired that he would there meet him, for
that he would accompany her from Egypt so far, and would there marry his child
to him. When Ptolemy had written thus, he came suddenly to Ptolemais, and brought
his daughter Cleopatra along with him; and as he found Alexander there before
him, as he desired him to come, he gave him his child in marriage, and for her
portion gave her as much silver and gold as became such a king to give.
2. When the wedding was over, Alexander
wrote to Jonathan the high priest, and desired him to come to Ptolemais. So
when he came to these kings, and had made them magnificent presents, he was
honored by them both. Alexander compelled him also to put off his own garment,
and to take a purple garment, and made him sit with him on his throne; and commanded
his captains that they should go with him into the middle of the city, and proclaim,
that it was not permitted to any one to speak against him, or to give him any
disturbance. And when the captains had thus done, those that were prepared to
accuse Jonathan, and who bore him ill-will, when they saw the honor that was
done him by proclamation, and that by the king's order, ran away, and were afraid
lest some mischief should befall them. Nay, king Alexander was so very kind
to Jonathan, that he set him down as the principal of his friends.
3. But then, upon the hundred and sixty-fifth
year, Demetrius, the son of Demetrius, came from Crete with a great number of
mercenary soldiers, which Lasthenes, the Cretan, brought him, and sailed to
Cilicia. This thing cast Alexander into great concern and disorder when he heard
it; so he made haste immediately out of Phoenicia, and came to Antioch, that
he might put matters in a safe posture there before Demetrius should come. He
also left Apollonius Daus7 governor of Coelesyria,
who coming to Jamnia with a great army, sent to Jonathan the high priest, and
told him that it was not right that he alone should live at rest, and with authority,
and not be subject to the king; that this thing had made him a reproach among
all men, that he had not yet made him subject to the king. "Do not thou therefore
deceive thyself, and sit still among the mountains, and pretend to have forces
with thee; but if thou hast any dependence on thy strength, come down into the
plain, and let our armies be compared together, and the event of the battle
will demonstrate which of us is the most courageous. However, take notice, that
the most valiant men of every city are in my army, and that these are the very
men who have always beaten thy progenitors; but let us have the battle in such
a place of the country where we may fight with weapons, and not with stones,
and where there may be no place whither those that are beaten may fly."
4. With this Jonathan was irritated; and
choosing himself out ten thousand of his soldiers, he went out of Jerusalem
in haste, with his brother Simon, and came to Joppa, and pitched his camp on
the outside of the city, because the people of Joppa had shut their gates against
him, for they had a garrison in the city put there by Apollonius. But when Jonathan
was preparing to besiege them, they were afraid he would take them by force,
and so they opened the gates to him. But Apollonius, when he heard that Joppa
was taken by Jonathan, took three thousand horsemen, and eight thousand footmen
and came to Ashdod; and removing thence, he made his journey silently and slowly,
and going up to Joppa, he made as if he was retiring from the place, and so
drew Jonathan into the plain, as valuing himself highly upon his horsemen, and
having his hopes of victory principally in them. However, Jonathan sallied out,
and pursued Apollonius to Ashdod; but as soon as Apollonius perceived that his
enemy was in the plain, he came back and gave him battle. But Apollonius had
laid a thousand horsemen in ambush in a valley, that they might be seen by their
enemies as behind them; which when Jonathan perceived, he was under no consternation,
but ordering his army to stand in a square battle-array, he gave them a charge
to fall on the enemy on both sides, and set them to face those that attacked
them both before and behind; and while the fight lasted till the evening, he
gave part of his forces to his brother Simon, and ordered him to attack the
enemies; but for himself, he charged those that were with him to cover themselves
with their armor, and receive the darts of the horsemen, who did as they were
commanded; so that the enemy's horsemen, while they threw their darts till they
had no more left, did them no harm, for the darts that were thrown did not enter
into their bodies, being thrown upon the shields that were united and conjoined
together, the closeness of which easily overcame the force of the darts, and
they flew about without any effect. But when the enemy grew remiss in throwing
their darts from morning till late at night, Simon perceived their weariness,
and fell upon the body of men before him; and because his soldiers showed great
alacrity, he put the enemy to flight. And when the horsemen saw that the footmen
ran away, neither did they stay themselves, but they being very weary, by the
duration of the fight till the evening, and their hope from the footmen being
quite gone, they basely ran away, and in great confusion also, till they were
separated one from another, and scattered over all the plain. Upon which Jonathan
pursued them as far as Ashdod, and slew a great many of them, and compelled
the rest, in despair of escaping, to fly to the temple of Dagon, which was at
Ashdod; but Jonathan took the city on the first onset, and burnt it, and the
villages about it; nor did he abstain from the temple of Dagon itself, but burnt
it also, and destroyed those that had fled to it. Now the entire multitude of
the enemies that fell in the battle, and were consumed in the temple, were eight
thousand. When Jonathan therefore had overcome so great an army, he removed
from Ashdod, and came to Askelon; and when he had pitched his camp without the
city, the people of Askelon came out and met him, bringing him hospitable presents,
and honoring him; so he accepted of their kind intentions, and returned thence
to Jerusalem with a great deal of prey, which he brought thence when he conquered
his enemies. But when Alexander heard that Apollonius, the general of his army,
was beaten, he pretended to be glad of it, because he had fought with Jonathan
his friend and ally against his directions. Accordingly, he sent to Jonathan,
and gave testimony to his worth; and gave him honorary rewards, as a golden
button,8 which it is the custom to give the king's
kinsmen, and allowed him Ekron and its toparchy for his own inheritance.
5. About this time it was that king Ptolemy,
who was called Philometor, led an army, part by the sea, and part by land, and
came to Syria, to the assistance of Alexander, who was his son-in-law; and accordingly
all the cities received him willingly, as Alexander had commanded them to do,
and conducted him as far as Ashdod; where they all made loud complaints about
the temple of Dagon, which was burnt, and accused Jonathan of having laid it
waste, and destroyed the country adjoining with fire, and slain a great number
of them. Ptolemy heard these accusations, but said nothing. Jonathan also went
to meet Ptolemy as far as Joppa, and obtained from him hospitable presents,
and those glorious in their kinds, with all the marks of honor; and when he
had conducted him as far as the river called Eleutherus, he returned again to
Jerusalem.
6. But as Ptolemy was at Ptolemais, he was
very near to a most unexpected destruction; for a treacherous design was laid
for his life by Alexander, by the means of Ammonius, who was his friend; and
as the treachery was very plain, Ptolemy wrote to Alexander, and required of
him that he should bring Ammonius to condign punishment, informing him what
snares had been laid for him by Ammonius, and desiring that he might be accordingly
punished for it. But when Alexander did not comply with his demands, he perceived
that it was he himself who laid the design, and was very angry at him. Alexander
had also formerly been on very ill terms with the people of Antioch, for they
had suffered very much by his means; yet did Ammonius at length undergo the
punishment his insolent crimes had deserved, for he was killed in an opprobrious
manner, like a woman, while he endeavored to conceal himself in a feminine habit,
as we have elsewhere related.
7. Hereupon Ptolemy blamed himself for having
given his daughter in marriage to Alexander, and for the league he had made
with him to assist him against Demetrius; so he dissolved his relation to him,
and took his daughter away from him, and immediately sent to Demetrius, and
offered to make a league of mutual assistance and friendship with him, and agreed
with him to give him his daughter in marriage, and to restore him to the principality
of his fathers. Demetrius was well pleased with this embassage, and accepted
of his assistance, and of the marriage of his daughter. But Ptolemy had still
one more hard task to do, and that was to persuade the people of Antioch to
receive Demetrius, because they were greatly displeased at him, on account of
the injuries his father Demetrius had done them; yet did he bring this about;
for as the people of Antioch hated Alexander on Ammonius's account, as we have
shown already, they were easily prevailed with to cast him out of Antioch; who,
thus expelled out of Antioch, came into Cilicia. Ptolemy came then to Antioch,
and was made king by its inhabitants, and by the army; so that he was forced
to put on two diadems, the one of Asia, the other of Egypt: but being naturally
a good and a righteous man, and not desirous of what belonged to others, and
besides these dispositions, being also a wise man in reasoning about futurities,
he determined to avoid the envy of the Romans; so he called the people of Antioch
together to an assembly, and persuaded them to receive Demetrius; and assured
them that he would not be mindful of what they did to his father in case he
should be now obliged by them; and he undertook that he would himself be a good
monitor and governor to him, and promised that he would not permit him to attempt
any bad actions; but that, for his own part, he was contented with the kingdom
of Egypt. By which discourse he persuaded the people of Antioch to receive Demetrius.
8. But now Alexander made haste with a numerous
and great army, and came out of Cilicia into Syria, and burnt the country belonging
to Antioch, and pillaged it; whereupon Ptolemy, and his son-in-law Demetrius,
brought their army against him, (for he had already given him his daughter in
marriage,) and beat Alexander, and put him to flight; and accordingly he fled
into Arabia. Now it happened in the time of the battle that Ptolemy's horse,
upon hearing the noise of an elephant, cast him off his back, and threw him
on the ground; upon the sight of which accident, his enemies fell upon him,
and gave him many wounds upon his head, and brought him into danger of death;
for when his guards caught him up, he was so very ill, that for four days' time
he was not able either to understand or to speak. However, Zabdiel, a prince
among the Arabians, cut off Alexander's head, and sent it to Ptolemy, who recovering
of his wounds, and returning to his understanding, on the fifth day, heard at
once a most agreeable hearing, and saw a most agreeable sight, which were the
death and the head of Alexander; yet a little after this his joy for the death
of Alexander, with which he was so greatly satisfied, he also departed this
life. Now Alexander, who was called Balas, reigned over Asia five years, as
we have elsewhere related.
9. But when Demetrius, who was styled Nicator,9
had taken the kingdom, he was so wicked as to treat Ptolemy's soldiers very
hardly, neither remembering the league of mutual assistance that was between
them, nor that he was his son-in-law and kinsman, by Cleopatra's marriage to
him; so the soldiers fled from his wicked treatment to Alexandria; but Demetrius
kept his elephants. But Jonathan the high priest levied an army out of all Judea,
and attacked the citadel at Jerusalem, and besieged it. It was held by a garrison
of Macedonians, and by some of those wicked men who had deserted the customs
of their forefathers. These men at first despised the attempts of Jonathan for
taking the place, as depending on its strength; but some of those wicked men
went out by night, and came to Demetrius, and informed him that the citadel
was besieged; who was irritated with what he heard, and took his army, and came
from Antioch, against Jonathan. And when he was at Antioch, he wrote to him,
and commanded him to come to him quickly to Ptolemais: upon which Jonathan did
not intermit the siege of the citadel, but took with him the elders of the people,
and the priests, and carried with him gold, and silver, and garments, and a
great number of presents of friendship, and came to Demetrius, and presented
him with them, and thereby pacified the king's anger. So he was honored by him,
and received from him the confirmation of his high priesthood, as he had possessed
it by the grants of the kings his predecessors. And when the Jewish deserters
accused him, Demetrius was so far from giving credit to them, that when he petitioned
him that he would demand no more than three hundred talents for the tribute
of all Judea, and the three toparchies of Samaria, and Perea, and Galilee, he
complied with the proposal, and gave him a letter confirming all those grants;
whose contents were as follows: "King Demetrius to Jonathan his brother, and
to the nation of the Jews, sendeth greeting. We have sent you a copy of that
epistle which we have written to Lasthenes our kinsman, that you may know its
contents. 'King Demetrius to Lasthenes our father, sendeth greeting. I have
determined to return thanks, and to show favor to the nation of the Jews, which
hath observed the rules of justice in our concerns. Accordingly, I remit to
them the three prefectures, Apherima, and Lydda, and Ramatha, which have been
added to Judea out of Samaria, with their appurtenances; as also what the kings
my predecessors received from those that offered sacrifices in Jerusalem, and
what are due from the fruits of the earth, and of the trees, and what else belongs
to us; with the salt-pits, and the crowns that used to be presented to us. Nor
shall they be compelled to pay any of those taxes from this time to all futurity.
Take care therefore that a copy of this epistle be taken, and given to Jonathan,
and be set up in an eminent place of their holy temple.'" And these were the
contents of this writing. And now when Demetrius saw that there was peace every
where, and that there was no danger, nor fear of war, he disbanded the greatest
part of his army, and diminished their pay, and even retained in pay no others
than such foreigners as came up with him from Crete, and from the other islands.
However, this procured him ill-will and hatred from the soldiers; on whom he
bestowed nothing from this time, while the kings before him used to pay them
in time of peace as they did before, that they might have their good-will, and
that they might be very ready to undergo the difficulties of war, if any occasion
should require it.
CHAPTER
5
HOW TRYPHO, AFTER HE HAD BEATEN DEMETRIUS, DELIVERED THE KINGDOM TO ANTIOCHUS,
THE SON OF ALEXANDER, AND GAINED JONATHAN FOR HIS ASSISTANT; AND CONCERNING
THE ACTIONS AND EMBASSIES OF JONATHAN
1. Now there was a certain commander of Alexander's forces, an Apanemian
by birth, whose name was Diodotus, and was also called Trypho, took notice the
ill-will of the soldiers bare to Demetrius, and went to Malchus the Arabian,
who brought up Antiochus, the son of Alexander, and told him what ill-will the
army bare Demetrius, and persuaded him to give him Antiochus, because he would
make him king, and recover to him the kingdom of his father. Malchus at the
first opposed him in this attempt, because he could not believe him; but when
Trypho lay hard at him for a long time, he over-persuaded him to comply with
Trypho's intentions and entreaties. And this was the state Trypho was now in.
2. But Jonathan the high priest, being desirous
to get clear of those that were in the citadel of Jerusalem, and of the Jewish
deserters, and wicked men, as well as of those in all the garrisons in the country,
sent presents and ambassadors to Demetrius, and entreated him to take away his
soldiers out of the strong holds of Judea. Demetrius made answer, that after
the war, which he was now deeply engaged in, was over, he would not only grant
him that, but greater things than that also; and he desired he would send him
some assistance, and informed him that his army had deserted him. So Jonathan
chose out three thousand of his soldiers, and sent them to Demetrius.
3. Now the people of Antioch hated Demetrius,
both on account of what mischief he had himself done them, and because they
were his enemies also on account of his father Demetrius, who had greatly abused
them; so they watched some opportunity which they might lay hold on to fall
upon him. And when they were informed of the assistance that was coming to Demetrius
from Jonathan, and considered at the same time that he would raise a numerous
army, unless they prevented him, and seized upon him, they took their weapons
immediately, and encompassed his palace in the way of a siege, and seizing upon
all the ways of getting out, they sought to subdue their king. And when he saw
that the people of Antioch were become his bitter enemies and that they were
thus in arms, he took the mercenary soldiers which he had with them, and those
Jews who were sent by Jonathan, and assaulted the Antiochians; but he was overpowered
by them, for they were many ten thousands, and was beaten. But when the Jews
saw that the Antiochians were superior, they went up to the top of the palace,
and shot at them from thence; and because they were so remote from them by their
height, that they suffered nothing on their side, but did great execution on
the others, as fighting from such an elevation, they drove them out of the adjoining
houses, and immediately set them on fire, whereupon the flame spread itself
over the whole city, and burnt it all down. This happened by reason of the closeness
of the houses, and because they were generally built of wood. So the Antiochians,
when they were not able to help themselves, nor to stop the fire, were put to
flight. And as the Jews leaped from the top of one house to the top of another,
and pursued them after that manner, it thence happened that the pursuit was
so very surprising. But when the king saw that the Antiochians were busy in
saving their children and their wives, and so did not fight any longer, he fell
upon them in the narrow passages, and fought them, and slew a great many of
them, till at last they were forced to throw down their arms, and to deliver
themselves up to Demetrius. So he forgave them this their insolent behavior,
and put an end to the sedition; and when he had given rewards to the Jews out
of the rich spoils he had gotten, and had returned them thanks, as the cause
of his victory, he sent them away to Jerusalem to Jonathan, with an ample testimony
of the assistance they had afforded him. Yet did he prove an ill man to Jonathan
afterward, and broke the promises he had made; and he threatened that he would
make war upon him, unless he would pay all that tribute which the Jewish nation
owed to the first kings [of Syria]. And this he had done, if Trypho had not
hindered him, and diverted his preparations against Jonathan to a concern for
his own preservation; for he now returned out of Arabia into Syria, with the
child Antiochus, for he was yet in age but a youth, and put the diadem on his
head; and as the whole forces that had left Demetrius, because they had no pay,
came to his assistance, he made war upon Demetrius, and joining battle with
him, overcame him in the fight, and took from him both his elephants and the
city Antioch.
4. Demetrius, upon this defeat, retired
into Cilicia; but the child Antiochus sent ambassadors and an epistle to Jonathan,
and made him his friend and confederate, and confirmed to him the high priesthood,
and yielded up to him the four prefectures which had been added to Judea. Moreover,
he sent him vessels and cups of gold, and a purple garment, and gave him leave
to use them. He also presented him with a golden button, and styled him one
of his principal friends, and appointed his brother Simon to be the general
over the forces, from the Ladder of Tyre unto Egypt. So Jonathan was so pleased
with these grants made him by Antiochus, that he sent ambassadors to him and
to Trypho, and professed himself to be their friend and confederate, and said
he would join with him in a war against Demetrius, informing him that he had
made no proper returns for the kindness he had done him; for that when he had
received many marks of kindness from him, when he stood in great need of them,
he, for such good turns, had requited him with further injuries.
5. So Antiochus gave Jonathan leave to raise
himself a numerous army out of Syria and Phoenicia and to make war against Demetrius's
generals; whereupon he went in haste to the several cities which received him
splendidly indeed, but put no forces into his hands. And when he was come from
thence to Askelon, the inhabitants of Askelon came and brought him presents,
and met him in a splendid manner. He exhorted them, and every one of the cities
of Coelesyria, to forsake Demetrius, and to join with Antiochus; and, in assisting
him, to endeavor to punish Demetrius for what offenses he had been guilty of
against themselves; and told them there were many reasons for that their procedure,
if they had a mind so to do. And when he had persuaded those cities to promise
their assistance to Antiochus, he came to Gaza, in order to induce them also
to be friends to Antiochus; but he found the inhabitants of Gaza much more alienated
from him than he expected, for they had shut their gates against him; and although
they had deserted Demetrius, they had not resolved to join themselves to Antiochus.
This provoked Jonathan to besiege them, and to harass their country; for as
he set a part of his army round about Gaza itself, so with the rest he overran
their land, and spoiled it, and burnt what was in it. When the inhabitants of
Gaza saw themselves in this state of affliction, and that no assistance came
to them from Demetrius, that what distressed them was at hand, but what should
profit them was still at a great distance, and it was uncertain whether it would
come at all or not, they thought it would he prudent conduct to leave off any
longer continuance with them, and to cultivate friendship with the other; so
they sent to Jonathan, and professed they would be his friends, and afford him
assistance: for such is the temper of men, that before they have had the trial
of great afflictions, they do not understand what is for their advantage; but
when they find themselves under such afflictions, they then change their minds,
and what it had been better for them to have done before they had been at all
damaged, they choose to do, but not till after they have suffered such damages.
However, he made a league of friendship with them, and took from them hostages
for their performance of it, and sent these hostages to Jerusalem, while he
went himself over all the country, as far as Damascus.
6. But when he heard that the generals of
Demetrius's forces were come to the city Cadesh with a numerous army, (the place
lies between the land of the Tyrians and Galilee,) for they supposed they should
hereby draw him out of Syria, in order to preserve Galilee, and that he would
not overlook the Galileans, who were his own people, when war was made upon
them, he went to meet them, having left Simon in Judea, who raised as great
an army as he was able out of the country, and then sat down before Bethsura,
and besieged it, that being the strongest place in all Judea; and a garrison
of Demetrius's kept it, as we have already related. But as Simon was raising
banks, and bringing his engines of war against Bethsura, and was very earnest
about the siege of it, the garrison was afraid lest the place should be taken
of Simon by force, and they put to the sword; so they sent to Simon, and desired
the security of his oath, that they should come to no harm from him, and that
they would leave the place, and go away to Demetrius. Accordingly he gave them
his oath, and ejected them out of the city, and he put therein a garrison of
his own.
7. But Jonathan removed out of Galilee,
and from the waters which are called Gennesar, for there he was before encamped,
and came into the plain that is called Asor, without knowing that the enemy
was there. When therefore Demetrius's men knew a day beforehand that Jonathan
was coming against them, they laid an ambush in the mountain, who were to assault
him on the sudden, while they themselves met him with an army in the plain;
which army, when Jonathan saw ready to engage him, he also got ready his own
soldiers for the battle as well as he was able; but those that were laid in
ambush by Demetrius's generals being behind them, the Jews were afraid lest
they should be caught in the midst between two bodies, and perish; so they ran
away in haste, and indeed all the rest left Jonathan; but a few there were,
in number about fifty, who staid with him, and with them Mattathias, the son
of Absalom, and Judas, the son of Chapseus, who were commanders of the whole
army. These marched boldly, and like men desperate, against the enemy, and so
pushed them, that by their courage they daunted them, and with their weapons
in their hands they put them to flight. And when those soldiers of Jonathan
that had retired saw the enemy giving way, they got together after their flight,
and pursued them with great violence; and this did they as far as Cadesh, where
the camp of the enemy lay.
8. Jonathan having thus gotten a glorious
victory, and slain two thousand of the enemy, returned to Jerusalem. So when
he saw that all his affairs prospered according to his mind, by the providence
of God, he sent ambassadors to the Romans, being desirous of renewing that friendship
which their nation had with them formerly. He enjoined the same ambassadors,
that, as they came back, they should go to the Spartans, and put them in mind
of their friendship and kindred. So when the ambassadors came to Rome, they
went into their senate, and said what they were commanded by Jonathan the high
priest to say, how he had sent them to confirm their friendship. The senate
then confirmed what had been formerly decreed concerning their friendship with
the Jews, and gave them letters to carry to all the kings of Asia and Europe,
and to the governors of the cities, that they might safely conduct them to their
own country. Accordingly, as they returned, they came to Sparta, and delivered
the epistle which they had received of Jonathan to them; a copy of which here
follows: "Jonathan the high priest of the Jewish nation, and the senate, and
body of the people of the Jews, to the ephori, and senate, and people of the
Lacedemonians, send greeting. If you be well, and both your public and private
affairs be agreeable to your mind, it is according to our wishes. We are well
also. When in former times an epistle was brought to Onias, who was then our
high priest, from Areus, who at that time was your king, by Demoteles, concerning
the kindred that was between us and you, a copy of which is here subjoined,
we both joyfully received the epistle, and were well pleased with Demoteles
and Areus, although we did not need such a demonstration, because we were satisfied
about it from the sacred writings,10 yet did not we
think fit first to begin the claim of this relation to you, lest we should seem
too early in taking to ourselves the glory which is now given us by you. It
is a long time since this relation of ours to you hath been renewed; and when
we, upon holy and festival days, offer sacrifices to God, we pray to him for
your preservation and victory. As to ourselves, although we have had many wars
that have compassed us around, by reason of the covetousness of our neighbors,
yet did not we determine to be troublesome either to you, or to others that
were related to us; but since we have now overcome our enemies, and have occasion
to send Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, who are
both honorable men belonging to our senate, to the Romans, we gave them this
epistle to you also, that they might renew that friendship which is between
us. You will therefore do well yourselves to write to us, and send us an account
of what you stand in need of from us, since we are in all things disposed to
act according to your desires." So the Lacedemonians received the ambassadors
kindly, and made a decree for friendship and mutual assistance, and sent it
to them.
9. At this time there were three sects among
the Jews, who had different opinions concerning human actions; the one was called
the sect of the Pharisees, another the sect of the Sadducees, and the other
the sect of the Essens. Now for the Pharisees,11 they
say that some actions, but not all, are the work of fate, and some of them are
in our own power, and that they are liable to fate, but are not caused by fate.
But the sect of the Essens affirm, that fate governs all things, and that nothing
befalls men but what is according to its determination. And for the Sadducees,
they take away fate, and say there is no such thing, and that the events of
human affairs are not at its disposal; but they suppose that all our actions
are in our own power, so that we are ourselves the causes of what is good, and
receive what is evil from our own folly. However, I have given a more exact
account of these opinions in the second book of the Jewish War.
10. But now the generals of Demetrius being
willing to recover the defeat they had had, gathered a greater army together
than they had before, and came against Jonathan; but as soon as he was informed
of their coming, he went suddenly to meet them, to the country of Hamoth, for
he resolved to give them no opportunity of coming into Judea; so he pitched
his camp at fifty furlongs' distance from the enemy, and sent out spies to take
a view of their camp, and after what manner they were encamped. When his spies
had given him full information, and had seized upon some of them by night, who
told him the enemy would soon attack him, he, thus apprised beforehand, provided
for his security, and placed watchmen beyond his camp, and kept all his forces
armed all night; and he gave them a charge to be of good courage, and to have
their minds prepared to fight in the night time, if they should be obliged so
to do, lest their enemy's designs should seem concealed from them. But when
Demetrius's commanders were informed that Jonathan knew what they intended,
their counsels were disordered, and it alarmed them to find that the enemy had
discovered those their intentions; nor did they expect to overcome them any
other way, now they had failed in the snares they had laid for them; for should
they hazard an open battle, they did not think they should be a match for Jonathan's
army, so they resolved to fly; and having lighted many fires, that when the
enemy saw them they might suppose they were there still, they retired. When
Jonathan came to give them battle in the morning in their camp, and found it
deserted, and understood they were fled, he pursued them; yet he could not overtake
them, for they had already passed over the river Eleutherus, and were out of
danger. So when Jonathan was returned thence, he went into Arabia, and fought
against the Nabateans, and drove away a great deal of their prey, and took [many]
captives, and came to Damascus, and there sold off what he had taken. About
the same time it was that Simon his brother went over all Judea and Palestine,
as far as Askelon, and fortified the strong holds; and when he had made them
very strong, both in the edifices erected, and in the garrisons placed in them,
he came to Joppa; and when he had taken it, he brought a great garrison into
it, for he heard that the people of Joppa were disposed to deliver up the city
to Demetrius's generals.
11. When Simon and Jonathan had finished
these affairs, they returned to Jerusalem, where Jonathan gathered all the people
together, and took counsel to restore the walls of Jerusalem, and to rebuild
the wall that encompassed the temple, which had been thrown down, and to make
the places adjoining stronger by very high towers; and besides that, to build
another wall in the midst of the city, in order to exclude the market-place
from the garrison, which was in the citadel, and by that means to hinder them
from any plenty of provisions; and moreover, to make the fortresses that were
in the country much stronger and more defensible than they were before. And
when these things were approved of by the multitude, as rightly proposed, Jonathan
himself took care of the building that belonged to the city, and sent Simon
away to make the fortresses in the country more secure than formerly. But Demetrius
passed over [Euphrates], and came into Mesopotamia, as desirous to retain that
country still, as well as Babylon; and when he should have obtained the dominion
of the upper provinces, to lay a foundation for recovering his entire kingdom;
for those Greeks and Macedonians who dwelt there frequently sent ambassadors
to him, and promised, that if he would come to them, they would deliver themselves
up to him, and assist him in fighting against Arsaces,12
the king of the Parthians. So he was elevated with these hopes, and came hastily
to them, as having resolved, that if he had once overthrown the Parthians, and
gotten an army of his own, he would make war against Trypho, and eject him out
of Syria; and the people of that country received him with great alacrity. So
he raised forces, with which he fought against Arsaces, and lost all his army,
and was himself taken alive, as we have elsewhere related.
CHAPTER
6
HOW JONATHAN WAS SLAIN BY TREACHERY; AND HOW THEREUPON THE JEWS MADE SIMON THEIR
GENERAL AND HIGH PRIEST: WHAT COURAGEOUS ACTIONS HE ALSO PERFORMED, ESPECIALLY
AGAINST TRYPHO
1. Now when Trypho knew what had befallen Demetrius, he was no longer
firm to Antiochus, but contrived by subtlety to kill him, and then take possession
of his kingdom; but the fear that he was in of Jonathan was an obstacle to this
his design, for Jonathan was a friend to Antiochus, for which cause he resolved
first to take Jonathan out of the way, and then to set about his design relating
to Antiochus; but he judging it best to take him off by deceit and treachery,
came from Antioch to Bethshan, which by the Greeks is called Scythopolis, at
which place Jonathan met him with forty thousand chosen men, for he thought
that he came to fight him; but when he perceived that Jonathan was ready to
fight, he attempted to gain him by presents and kind treatment, and gave order
to his captains to obey him, and by these means was desirous to give assurance
of his good will, and to take away all suspicions out of his mind, that so he
might make him careless and inconsiderate, and might take him when he was unguarded.
He also advised him to dismiss his army, because there was no occasion for bringing
it with him when there was no war, but all was in peace. However, he desired
him to retain a few about him, and go with him to Ptolemais, for that he would
deliver the city up to him, and would bring all the fortresses that were in
the country under his dominion; and he told him that he came with those very
designs.
2. Yet did not Jonathan suspect any thing
at all by this his management, but believed that Trypho gave him this advice
out of kindness, and with a sincere design. Accordingly, he dismissed his army,
and retained no more than three thousand of them with him, and left two thousand
in Galilee; and he himself, with one thousand, came with Trypho to Ptolemais.
But when the people of Ptolemais had shut their gates, as it had been commanded
by Trypho to do, he took Jonathan alive, and slew all that were with him. He
also sent soldiers against those two thousand that were left in Galilee, in
order to destroy them; but those men having heard the report of what had happened
to Jonathan, they prevented the execution; and before those that were sent by
Trypho came, they covered themselves with their armor, and went away out of
the country. Now when those that were sent against them saw that they were ready
to fight for their lives, they gave them no disturbance, but returned back to
Trypho.
3. But when the people of Jerusalem heard
that Jonathan was taken, and that the soldiers who were with him were destroyed,
they deplored his sad fate; and there was earnest inquiry made about him by
every body, and a great and just fear fell upon them, and made them sad, lest,
now they were deprived of the courage and conduct of Jonathan, the nations about
them should bear them ill-will; and as they were before quiet on account of
Jonathan they should now rise up against them, and by making war with them,
should force them into the utmost dangers. And indeed what they suspected really
befell them; for when those nations heard of the death of Jonathan, they began
to make war with the Jews as now destitute of a governor and Trypho himself
got an army together, and had intention to go up to Judea, and make war against
its inhabitants. But when Simon saw that the people of Jerusalem were terrified
at the circumstances they were in, he desired to make a speech to them, and
thereby to render them more resolute in opposing Trypho when he should come
against them. He then called the people together into the temple, and thence
began thus to encourage them: "O my countrymen, you are not ignorant that our
father, myself, and my brethren, have ventured to hazard our lives, and that
willingly, for the recovery of your liberty; since I have therefore such plenty
of examples before me, and we of our family have determined with ourselves to
die for our laws, and our Divine worship, there shall no terror be so great
as to banish this resolution from our souls, nor to introduce in its place a
love of life, and a contempt of glory. Do you therefore follow me with alacrity
whithersoever I shall lead you, as not destitute of such a captain as is willing
to suffer, and to do the greatest things for you; for neither am I better than
my brethren that I should be sparing of my own life, nor so far worse than they
as to avoid and refuse what they thought the most honorable of all things,—I
mean, to undergo death for your laws, and for that worship of God which is peculiar
to you; I will therefore give such proper demonstrations as will show that I
am their own brother; and I am so bold as to expect that I shall avenge their
blood upon our enemies, and deliver you all with your wives and children from
the injuries they intend against you, and, with God's assistance, to preserve
your temple from destruction by them; for I see that these nations have you
in contempt, as being without a governor, and that they thence are encouraged
to make war against you."
4. By this speech of Simon he inspired the
multitude with courage; and as they had been before dispirited through fear,
they were now raised to a good hope of better things, insomuch that the whole
multitude of the people cried out all at once that Simon should be their leader;
and that instead of Judas and Jonathan his brethren, he should have the government
over them; and they promised that they would readily obey him in whatsoever
he should command them. So he got together immediately all his own soldiers
that were fit for war, and made haste in rebuilding the walls of the city, and
strengthening them by very high and strong towers, and sent a friend of his,
one Jonathan, the son of Absalom, to Joppa, and gave him order to eject the
inhabitants out of the city, for he was afraid lest they should deliver up the
city to Trypho; but he himself staid to secure Jerusalem.
5. But Trypho removed from Ptolemais with
a great army, and came into Judea, and brought Jonathan with him in bonds. Simon
also met him with his army at the city Adida, which is upon a hill, and beneath
it lie the plains of Judea. And when Trypho knew that Simon was by the Jews
made their governor, he sent to him, and would have imposed upon him by deceit
and treachery, and desired, if he would have his brother Jonathan released,
that he would send him a hundred talents of silver, and two of Jonathan's sons
as hostages, that when he shall be released, he may not make Judea revolt from
the king; for that at present he was kept in bonds on account of the money he
had borrowed of the king, and now owed it to him. But Simon was aware of the
craft of Trypho; and although he knew that if he gave him the money he should
lose it, and that Trypho would not set his brother free and withal should deliver
the sons of Jonathan to the enemy, yet because he was afraid that he should
have a calumny raised against him among the multitude as the cause of his brother's
death, if he neither gave the money, nor sent Jonathan's sons, he gathered his
army together, and told them what offers Trypho had made; and added this, that
the offers were ensnaring and treacherous, and yet that it was more eligible
to send the money and Jonathan's sons, than to be liable to the imputation of
not complying with Trypho's offers, and thereby refusing to save his brother.
Accordingly, Simon sent the sons of Jonathan and the money; but when Trypho
had received them, he did not keep his promise, nor set Jonathan free, but took
his army, and went about all the country, and resolved to go afterward to Jerusalem
by the way of Idumea, while Simon went over against him with his army, and all
along pitched his own camp over against his.
6. But when those that were in the citadel
had sent to Trypho, and besought him to make haste and come to them, and to
send them provisions, he prepared his cavalry as though he would be at Jerusalem
that very night; but so great a quantity of snow fell in the night, that it
covered the roads, and made them so deep, that there was no passing, especially
for the cavalry. This hindered him from coming to Jerusalem; whereupon Trypho
removed thence, and came into Coelesyria, and falling vehemently upon the land
of Gilead, he slew Jonathan there; and when he had given order for his burial,
he returned himself to Antioch. However, Simon sent some to the city Basca to
bring away his brother's bones, and buried them in their own city Modin; and
all the people made great lamentation over him. Simon also erected a very large
monument for his father and his brethren, of white and polished stone, and raised
it a great height, and so as to be seen a long way off, and made cloisters about
it, and set up pillars, which were of one stone apiece; a work it was wonderful
to see. Moreover, he built seven pyramids also for his parents and his brethren,
one for each of them, which were made very surprising, both for their largeness
and beauty, and which have been preserved to this day; and we know that it was
Simon who bestowed so much zeal about the burial of Jonathan, and the building
of these monuments for his relations. Now Jonathan died when he had been high
priest four years13 and had been also the governor
of his nation. And these were the circumstances that concerned his death.
7. But Simon, who was made high priest by
the multitude, on the very first year of his high priesthood set his people
free from their slavery under the Macedonians, and permitted them to pay tribute
to them no longer; which liberty and freedom from tribute they obtained after
a hundred and seventy years14 of the kingdom of the
Assyrians, which was after Seleucus, who was called Nicator, got the dominion
over Syria. Now the affection of the multitude towards Simon was so great, that
in their contracts one with another, and in their public records, they wrote,
"in the first year of Simon the benefactor and ethnarch of the Jews"; for under
him they were very happy, and overcame the enemies that were round about them;
for Simon overthrew the city Gazara, and Joppa, and Jamnia. He also took the
citadel of Jerusalem by siege, and cast it down to the ground, that it might
not be any more a place of refuge to their enemies when they took it, to do
them a mischief, as it had been till now. And when he had done this, he thought
it their best way, and most for their advantage, to level the very mountain
itself upon which the citadel happened to stand, that so the temple might be
higher than it. And indeed, when he had called the multitude to an assembly,
he persuaded them to have it so demolished, and this by putting them in mind
what miseries they had suffered by its garrison and the Jewish deserters, and
what miseries they might hereafter suffer in case any foreigner should obtain
the kingdom, and put a garrison into that citadel. This speech induced the multitude
to a compliance, because he exhorted them to do nothing but what was for their
own good: so they all set themselves to the work, and leveled the mountain,
and in that work spent both day and night without any intermission, which cost
them three whole years before it was removed, and brought to an entire level
with the plain of the rest of the city. After which the temple was the highest
of all the buildings, now the citadel, as well as the mountain whereon it stood,
were demolished. And these actions were thus performed under Simon.
CHAPTER
7
HOW SIMON CONFEDERATED HIMSELF WITH ANTIOCHUS PIUS, AND MADE WAR AGAINST TRYPHO,
AND, A LITTLE AFTERWARDS, AGAINST CENDEBEUS, THE GENERAL OF ANTIOCHUS'S ARMY;
AS ALSO HOW SIMON WAS MURDERED BY HIS SON-IN-LAW, PTOLEMY, AND THAT BY TREACHERY
1. 15 Now a little while after Demetrius had
been carried into captivity, Trypho his governor destroyed Antiochus,16
the son of Alexander, who was also called The God,17
and this when he had reigned four years, though he gave it out that he died
under the hands of the surgeons. He then sent his friends, and those that were
most intimate with him, to the soldiers, and promised that he would give them
a great deal of money if they would make him king. He intimated to them that
Demetrius was made a captive by the Parthians; and that Demetrius's brother
Antiochus, if he came to be king, would do them a great deal of mischief, in
way of revenge for their revolting from his brother. So the soldiers, in expectation
of the wealth they should get by bestowing the kingdom on Trypho, made him their
ruler. However, when Trypho had gained the management of affairs, he demonstrated
his disposition to be wicked; for while he was a private person, he cultivated
familiarity with the multitude, and pretended to great moderation, and so drew
them on artfully to whatsoever he pleased; but when he had once taken the kingdom,
he laid aside any further dissimulation, and was the true Trypho; which behavior
made his enemies superior to him; for the soldiery hated him, and revolted from
him to Cleopatra, the wife of Demetrius, who was then shut up in Seleucia with
her children. But as Antiochus, the brother of Demetrius who was called Soter,
was not admitted by any of the cities on account of Trypho, Cleopatra sent to
him, and invited him to marry her, and to take the kingdom. The reasons why
she made this invitation were these: that her friends persuaded her to it, and
that she was afraid for herself, in case some of the people of Seleucia should
deliver up the city to Trypho.
2. As Antiochus was now come to Seleucia,
and his forces increased every day, he marched to fight Trypho; and having beaten
him in the battle, he ejected him out of the Upper Syria into Phoenicia, and
pursued him thither, and besieged him in Dora which was a fortress hard to be
taken, whither he had fled. He also sent ambassadors to Simon the Jewish high
priest, about a league of friendship and mutual assistance; who readily accepted
of the invitation, and sent to Antiochus great sums of money and provisions
for those that besieged Dora, and thereby supplied them very plentifully, so
that for a little while he was looked upon as one of his most intimate friends;
but still Trypho fled from Dora to Apamia, where he was taken during the siege,
and put to death, when he had reigned three years.
3. However, Antiochus forgot the kind assistance
that Simon had afforded him in his necessity, by reason of his covetous and
wicked disposition, and committed an army of soldiers to his friend Cendebeus,
and sent him at once to ravage Judea, and to seize Simon. When Simon heard of
Antiochus's breaking his league with him, although he were now in years, yet,
provoked with the unjust treatment he had met with from Antiochus, and taking
a resolution brisker than his age could well bear, he went like a young man
to act as general of his army. He also sent his sons before among the most hardy
of his soldiers, and he himself marched on with his army another way, and laid
many of his men in ambushes in the narrow valleys between the mountains; nor
did he fail of success in any one of his attempts, but was too hard for his
enemies in every one of them. So he led the rest of his life in peace, and did
also himself make a league with the Romans.
4. Now he was the ruler of the Jews in all
eight years; but at a feast came to his end. It was caused by the treachery
of his son-in-law Ptolemy, who caught also his wife, and two of his sons, and
kept them in bonds. He also sent some to kill John the third son, whose name
was Hyrcanus; but the young man perceiving them coming, he avoided the danger
he was in from them,18 and made haste into the city
[Jerusalem], as relying on the good-will of the multitude, because of the benefits
they had received from his father, and because of the hatred the same multitude
bare to Ptolemy; so that when Ptolemy was endeavoring to enter the city by another
gate, they drove him away, as having already admitted Hyrcanus.
CHAPTER
8
HYRCANUS RECEIVES THE HIGH PRIESTHOOD, AND EJECTS PTOLEMY OUT OF THE COUNTRY;
ANTIOCHUS MAKES WAR AGAINST HYRCANUS, AND AFTERWARDS MAKES A LEAGUE WITH HIM
1. So Ptolemy retired to one of the fortresses that was above Jericho,
which was called Dagon. But Hyrcanus having taken the high priesthood that had
been his father's before, and in the first place propitiated God by sacrifices,
he then made an expedition against Ptolemy; and when he made his attacks upon
the place, in other points he was too hard for him, but was rendered weaker
than he, by the commiseration he had for his mother and brethren, and by that
only; for Ptolemy brought them upon the wall, and tormented them in the sight
of all, and threatened that he would throw them down headlong, unless Hyrcanus
would leave off the siege. And as he thought that so far as he relaxed as to
the siege and taking of the place, so much favor did he show to those that were
dearest to him by preventing their misery, his zeal about it was cooled. However,
his mother spread out her hands, and begged of him that he would not grow remiss
on her account, but indulge his indignation so much the more, and that he would
do his utmost to take the place quickly, in order to get their enemy under his
power, and then to avenge upon him what he had done to those that were dearest
to himself; for that death would be to her sweet, though with torment, if that
enemy of theirs might but be brought to punishment for his wicked dealings to
them. Now when his mother said so, he resolved to take the fortress immediately;
but when he saw her beaten, and torn to pieces, his courage failed him, and
he could not but sympathize with what his mother suffered, and was thereby overcome.
And as the siege was drawn out into length by this means, that year on which
the Jews used to rest came on; for the Jews observe this rest every seventh
year, as they do every seventh day; so that Ptolemy being for this cause released
from the war,19 he slew the brethren of Hyrcanus,
and his mother; and when he had so done, he fled to Zeno, who was called Cotylas,
who was then the tyrant of the city Philadelphia.
2. But Antiochus, being very uneasy at the
miseries that Simon had brought upon him, he invaded Judea in the fourth years'
of his reign, and the first year of the principality of Hyrcanus, in the hundred
and sixty-second Olympiad.20 And when he had burnt
the country, he shut up Hyrcanus in the city, which he encompassed round with
seven encampments; but did just nothing at the first, because of the strength
of the walls, and because of the valor of the besieged, although they were once
in want of water, which yet they were delivered from by a large shower of rain,
which fell at the setting of the Pleiades.21 However,
about the north part of the wall, where it happened the city was upon a level
with the outward ground, the king raised a hundred towers of three stories high,
and placed bodies of soldiers upon them; and as he made his attacks every day,
he cut a double ditch, deep and broad, and confined the inhabitants within it
as within a wall; but the besieged contrived to make frequent sallies out; and
if the enemy were not any where upon their guard, they fell upon them, and did
them a great deal of mischief; and if they perceived them, they then retired
into the city with ease. But because Hyrcanus discerned the inconvenience of
so great a number of men in the city, while the provisions were the sooner spent
by them, and yet, as is natural to suppose, those great numbers did nothing,
he separated the useless part, and excluded them out of the city, and retained
that part only which were in the flower of their age, and fit for war. However,
Antiochus would not let those that were excluded go away, who therefore wandering
about between the walls, and consuming away by famine, died miserably; but when
the feast of tabernacles was at hand, those that were within commiserated their
condition, and received them in again. And when Hyrcanus sent to Antiochus,
and desired there might be a truce for seven days, because of the festival,
be gave way to this piety towards God, and made that truce accordingly. And
besides that, he sent in a magnificent sacrifice, bulls with their horns gilded,22
with all sorts of sweet spices, and with cups of gold and silver. So those that
were at the gates received the sacrifices from those that brought them, and
led them to the temple, Antiochus the meanwhile feasting his army, which was
a quite different conduct from Antiochus Epiphanes, who, when he had taken the
city, offered swine upon the altar, and sprinkled the temple with the broth
of their flesh, in order to violate the laws of the Jews, and the religion they
derived from their forefathers; for which reason our nation made war with him,
and would never be reconciled to him; but for this Antiochus, all men called
him Antiochus the Pious, for the great zeal he had about religion.
3. Accordingly, Hyrcanus took this moderation
of his kindly; and when he understood how religious he was towards the Deity,
he sent an embassage to him, and desired that he would restore the settlements
they received from their forefathers. So he rejected the counsel of those that
would have him utterly destroy the nation23 by reason
of their way of living, which was to others unsociable, and did not regard what
they said. But being persuaded that all they did was out of a religious mind,
he answered the ambassadors, that if the besieged would deliver up their arms,
and pay tribute for Joppa, and the other cities which bordered upon Judea, and
admit a garrison of his, on these terms he would make war against them no longer.
But the Jews, although they were content with the other conditions, did not
agree to admit the garrison, because they could not associate with other people,
nor converse with them; yet were they willing, instead of the admission of the
garrison, to give him hostages, and five hundred talents of silver; of which
they paid down three hundred, and sent the hostages immediately, which king
Antiochus accepted. One of those hostages was Hyrcanus's brother. But still
he broke down the fortifications that encompassed the city. And upon these conditions
Antiochus broke up the siege, and departed.
4. ut Hyrcanus opened the sepulchre of David,
who excelled all other kings in riches, and took out of it three thousand talents.
He was also the first of the Jews that, relying on this wealth, maintained foreign
troops. There was also a league of friendship and mutual assistance made between
them; upon which Hyrcanus admitted him into the city, and furnished him with
whatsoever his army wanted in great plenty, and with great generosity, 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 staid there two days. It was 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 truly 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 the Sabbath day, or on a festival day.24
But when Antiochus joined battle with Arsaces, the 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, as we have formerly
related elsewhere.
CHAPTER
9
HOW, AFTER THE DEATH OF ANTIOCHUS, HYRCANUS MADE AN EXPEDITION AGAINST SYRIA,
AND MADE A LEAGUE WITH THE ROMANS; CONCERNING THE DEATH OF KING DEMETRIUS AND
ALEXANDER
1. But 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 greatest distress
of his army. After this he took Samega, and the neighboring 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 Jadua the high priest, as we have formerly related; which
temple was now deserted two hundred years after it was built. Hyrcanus took
also Dora and Marissa, cities of Idumea, and subdued all the Idumeans; and permitted
them to stay in that country, if they would circumcise their genitals, 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 to the use of circumcision,25
and of the rest of the Jewish ways of living; at which time therefore this befell
them, that they were hereafter no other than Jews.
2. But Hyrcanus the high priest was desirous
to renew that league of friendship they had with the Romans. Accordingly, he
sent an embassage 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 praetor, 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,26 Simon, the son of Dositheus,
and 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 not 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 Antiochus 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, and 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 endeavor, for the time to come, that no like injury should be done to
them; and that their praetor 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.
3. And thus stood the affairs of Hyrcanus
the high priest. But as for king Demetrius, who had a mind to make war against
Hyrcanus, there was no opportunity nor room 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, who was called Physcon, that he would send
them one of the family at 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 beaten in the fight, 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 before
his death, he was slain by them. So Alexander took the kingdom, and made a league
with Hyrcanus, who yet, when he afterward fought with Antiochus the son of Demetrius,
who was called Grypus, he was also beaten in the fight, and slain.
CHAPTER
10
HOW, UPON THE QUARREL BETWEEN ANTIOCHUS GRYPUS AND ANTIOCHUS CYZICENUS, ABOUT
THE KINGDOM, HYRCANUS TOOK SAMARIA, AND UTTERLY DEMOLISHED IT; AND HOW HYRCANUS
JOINED HIMSELF TO THE SECT OF THE SADDUCEES, AND LEFT THAT OF THE PHARISEES
1. 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 staid 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 that was 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,27
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 times of Alexander Zebina, and especially under these brethren, for the
war which they had with one another gave Hyrcanus the 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 showed
what he meant. And when he saw that Antiochus was destitute of Egyptian auxiliaries,
and that both he and his brother were in an ill condition in the struggles they
had one with another, he despised them both.
2. So he made an expedition against Samaria
which was a very strong city; of whose present name Sebaste, and its rebuilding
by Herod, we shall speak at a proper time; but he made his attack against it,
and besieged it with a great deal of pains; for he was greatly displeased with
the Samaritans for the injuries they had done to the people of Marissa, a colony
of the Jews, and confederate with them, and this in compliance to the kings
of Syria. When he had therefore drawn a ditch, and built a double wall round
the city, which was fourscore furlongs long, he set his sons Antigonus and Aristobulus
over the siege; which brought the Samaritans to that great distress by famine,
that they were forced to eat what used not to be eaten, and to call for Antiochus
Cyzicenus to help them, who came readily to their assistance, but was beaten
by Aristobulus; and when he was pursued as far as Scythopolis by the two brethren,
he got away. So they returned to Samaria, and shut them again within the wall,
till they were forced to send for the same Antiochus a second time to help them,
who procured about six thousand men from Ptolemy Lathyrus, which were sent them
without his mother's consent, who had then in a manner turned him out of his
government. With these Egyptians Antiochus did at first overrun and ravage the
country of Hyrcanus after the manner of a robber, for he durst not meet him
in the face to fight with him, as not having an army sufficient for that purpose,
but only from this supposal, that by thus harassing his land he should force
Hyrcanus to raise the siege of Samaria; but because he fell into snares, and
lost many of his soldiers therein, he went away to Tripoli, and committed the
prosecution of the war against the Jews to Callimander and Epicrates.
3. But as to Callimander, he attacked the
enemy too rashly, and was put to flight, and destroyed immediately; and as to
Epicrates, he was such a lover of money, that he openly betrayed Scythopolis,
and other places near it, to the Jews, but was not able to make them raise the
siege of Samaria. And when Hyrcanus had taken that city, which was not done
till after a year's siege, he was not contented with doing that only, but he
demolished it entirely, and brought rivulets to it to drown it, for he dug such
hollows as might let the water run under it; nay, he took away the very marks
that there had ever been such a city there. Now a very surprising thing is related
of this high priest Hyrcanus, how God came to discourse with him; for they say
that on the very same day on which his sons fought with Antiochus Cyzicenus,
he was alone in the temple, as high priest, offering incense, and heard a voice,
that his sons had just then overcome Antiochus. And this he openly declared
before all the multitude upon his coming out of the temple; and it accordingly
proved true; and in this posture were the affairs of Hyrcanus.
4. Now it happened at this time, that not
only those Jews who were at Jerusalem and in Judea were in prosperity, but also
those of them that were at Alexandria, and in Egypt and Cyprus; for Cleopatra
the queen was at variance with her son Ptolemy, who was called Lathyrus, and
appointed for her generals Chelcias and Ananias, the sons of that Onias who
built the temple in the prefecture of Heliopolis, like to that at Jerusalem,
as we have elsewhere related. Cleopatra intrusted these men with her army, and
did nothing without their advice, as Strabo of Cappadocia attests, when he saith
thus: "Now the greater part, both those that came to Cyprus with us, and those
that were sent afterward thither, revolted to Ptolemy immediately; only those
that were called Onias's party, being Jews, continued faithful, because their
countrymen Chelcias and Ananias were in chief favor with the queen." These are
the words of Strabo.
5. However, this prosperous state of affairs
moved the Jews to envy Hyrcanus; but they that were the worst disposed to him
were the Pharisees,28 who were one of the sects of
the Jews, as we have informed you already. These have so great a power over
the multitude, that when they say any thing against the king, or against the
high priest, they are presently believed. Now Hyrcanus was a disciple of theirs,
and greatly beloved by them. And when he once invited them to a feast, and entertained
them very kindly, when he saw them in a good humor, he began to say to them,
that they knew he was desirous to be a righteous man, and to do all things whereby
he might please God, which was the profession of the Pharisees also. However,
he desired, that if they observed him offending in any point, and going out
of the right way, they would call him back and correct him. On which occasion
they attested to his being entirely virtuous; with which commendation he was
well pleased. But still there was one of his guests there, whose name was Eleazar,29
a man of an ill temper, and delighting in seditious practices. This man said,
"Since thou desirest to know the truth, if thou wilt be righteous in earnest,
lay down the high priesthood, and content thyself with the civil government
of the people." And when he desired to know for what cause he ought to lay down
the high priesthood, the other replied, "We have heard it from old men, that
thy mother had been a captive under the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes." This
story was false, and Hyrcanus was provoked against him; and all the Pharisees
had a very great indignation against him.
6. Now there was one Jonathan, a very great
friend of Hyrcanus's, but of the sect of the Sadducees, whose notions are quite
contrary to those of the Pharisees. He told Hyrcanus that Eleazar had cast such
a reproach upon him, according to the common sentiments of all the Pharisees,
and that this would be made manifest if he would but ask them the question,
what punishment they thought this man deserved? for that he might depend upon
it, that the reproach was not laid on him with their approbation, if they were
for punishing him as his crime deserved. So the Pharisees made answer, that
he deserved stripes and bonds, but that it did not seem right to punish reproaches
with death. And indeed the Pharisees, even upon other occasions, are not apt
to be severe in punishments. At this gentle sentence, Hyrcanus was very angry,
and thought that this man reproached him by their approbation. It was this Jonathan
who chiefly irritated him, and influenced him so far, that he made him leave
the party of the Pharisees, and abolish the decrees they had imposed on the
people, and to punish those that observed them. From this source arose that
hatred which he and his sons met with from the multitude: but of these matters
we shall speak hereafter. What I would now explain is this, that the Pharisees
have delivered to the people a great many observances by succession from their
fathers, which are not written in the laws of Moses; and for that reason it
is that the Sadducees reject them, and say that we are to esteem those observances
to be obligatory which are in the written word, but are not to observe what
are derived from the tradition of our forefathers. And concerning these things
it is that great disputes and differences have arisen among them, while the
Sadducees are able to persuade none but the rich, and have not the populace
obsequious to them, but the Pharisees have the multitude on their side. But
about these two sects, and that of the Essens, I have treated accurately in
the second book of Jewish affairs.
7. But when Hyrcanus had put an end to this
sedition, he after that lived happily, and administered the government in the
best manner for thirty-one years, and then died,30
leaving behind him five sons. He was esteemed by God worthy of three of the
greatest privileges,—the government of his nation, the dignity of the high priesthood,
and prophecy; for God was with him, and enabled him to know futurities; and
to foretell this in particular, that, as to his two eldest sons, he foretold
that they would not long continue in the government of public affairs; whose
unhappy catastrophe will be worth our description, that we may thence learn
how very much they were inferior to their father's happiness.
CHAPTER
11
HOW ARISTOBULUS, WHEN HE HAD TAKEN THE GOVERNMENT, FIRST OF ALL PUT A DIADEM
ON HIS HEAD, AND WAS MOST BARBAROUSLY CRUEL TO HIS MOTHER AND HIS BRETHREN;
AND HOW, AFTER HE HAD SLAIN ANTIGONUS, HE HIMSELF DIED
1. Now when their father Hyrcanus was dead, the eldest son Aristobulus,
intending to change the government into a kingdom, for so he resolved to do,
first of all put a diadem on his head, four hundred eighty and one years and
three months after the people had been delivered from the Babylonish slavery,
and were returned to their own country again. This Aristobulus loved his next
brother Antigonus, and treated him as his equal; but the others he held in bonds.
He also cast his mother into prison, because she disputed the government with
him; for Hyrcanus had left her to be mistress of all. He also proceeded to that
degree of barbarity, as to kill her in prison with hunger; nay, he was alienated
from his brother Antigonus by calumnies, and added him to the rest whom he slew;
yet he seemed to have an affection for him, and made him above the rest a partner
with him in the kingdom. Those calumnies he at first did not give credit to,
partly because he loved him, and so did not give heed to what was said against
him, and partly because he thought the reproaches were derived from the envy
of the relaters. But when Antigonus was once returned from the army, and that
feast was then at hand when they make tabernacles to [the honor of God], it
happened that Aristobulus was fallen sick, and that Antigonus went up most splendidly
adorned, and with his soldiers about him in their armor, to the temple to celebrate
the feast, and to put up many prayers for the recovery of his brother, when
some wicked persons, who had a great mind to raise a difference between the
brethren, made use of this opportunity of the pompous appearance of Antigonus,
and of the great actions which he had done, and went to the king, and spitefully
aggravated the pompous show of his at the feast, and pretended that all these
circumstances were not like those of a private person; that these actions were
indications of an affectation of royal authority; and that his coming with a
strong body of men must be with an intention to kill him; and that his way of
reasoning was this: that it was a silly thing in him, while it was in his power
to reign himself, to look upon it as a great favor that he was honored with
a lower dignity by his brother.
2. Aristobulus yielded to these imputations,
but took care both that his brother should not suspect him, and that he himself
might not run the hazard of his own safety; so he ordered his guards to lie
in a certain place that was under ground, and dark; (he himself then lying sick
in the tower which was called Antonia;) and he commanded them, that in case
Antigonus came in to him unarmed, they should not touch any body, but if armed,
they should kill him; yet did he send to Antigonus, and desired that he would
come unarmed; but the queen, and those that joined with her in the plot against
Antigonus, persuaded the messenger to tell him the direct contrary: how his
brother had heard that he had made himself a fine suit of armor for war, and
desired him to come to him in that armor, that he might see how fine it was.
So Antigonus suspecting no treachery, but depending on the good-will of his
brother, came to Aristobulus armed, as he used to be, with his entire armor,
in order to show it to him; but when he was come to a place which was called
Strato's Tower, where the passage happened to be exceeding dark, the guards
slew him; which death of his demonstrates that nothing is stronger than envy
and calumny, and that nothing does more certainly divide the good-will and natural
affections of men than those passions. But here one may take occasion to wonder
at one Judas, who was of the sect of the Essens, and who never missed the truth
in his predictions; for this man, when he saw Antigonus passing by the temple,
cried out to his companions and friends, who abode with him as his scholars,
in order to learn the art of foretelling things to come,31
"That it was good for him to die now, since he had spoken falsely about Antigonus,
who is still alive, and I see him passing by, although he had foretold he should
die at the place called Strato's Tower that very day, while yet the place is
six hundred furlongs off, where he had foretold he should be slain; and still
this day is a great part of it already past, so that he was in danger of proving
a false prophet." As he was saying this, and that in a melancholy mood, the
news came that Antigonus was slain in a place under ground, which itself was
called also Strato's Tower, or of the same name with that Cesarea which is seated
at the sea. This event put the prophet into a great disorder.
3. But Aristobulus repented immediately
of this slaughter of his brother; on which account his disease increased upon
him, and he was disturbed in his mind, upon the guilt of such wickedness, insomuch
that his entrails were corrupted by his intolerable pain, and he vomited blood:
at which time one of the servants that attended upon him, and was carrying his
blood away, did, by Divine Providence, as I cannot but suppose, slip down, and
shed part of his blood at the very place where there were spots of Antigonus's
blood, there slain, still remaining; and when there was a cry made by the spectators,
as if the servant had on purpose shed the blood on that place, Aristobulus heard
it, and inquired what the matter was; and as they did not answer him, he was
the more earnest to know what it was, it being natural to men to suspect that
what is thus concealed is very bad: so upon his threatening, and forcing them
by terrors to speak, they at length told him the truth; whereupon he shed many
tears, in that disorder of mind which arose from his consciousness of what he
had done, and gave a deep groan, and said, "I am not therefore, I perceive,
to be concealed from God, in the impious and horrid crimes I have been guilty
of; but a sudden punishment is coming upon me for the shedding the blood of
my relations. And now, O thou most impudent body of mine, how long wilt thou
retain a soul that ought to die, in order to appease the ghosts of my brother
and my mother? Why dost thou not give it all up at once? And why do I deliver
up my blood drop by drop to those whom I have so wickedly murdered?" In saying
which last words he died, having reigned a year. He was called a lover of the
Grecians; and had conferred many benefits on his own country, and made war against
Iturea, and added a great part of it to Judea, and compelled the inhabitants,
if they would continue in that country, to be circumcised, and to live according
to the Jewish laws. He was naturally a man of candor, and of great modesty,
as Strabo bears witness, in the name of Timagenes; who says thus: "This man
was a person of candor, and very serviceable to the Jews; for he added a country
to them, and obtained a part of the nation of the Itureans for them, and bound
them to them by the bond of the circumcision of their genitals."
CHAPTER
12
HOW ALEXANDER, WHEN HE HAD TAKEN THE GOVERNMENT, MADE AN EXPEDITION AGAINST
PTOLEMAIS, AND THEN RAISED THE SIEGE, OUT OF FEAR OF PTOLEMY LATHYRUS; AND HOW
PTOLEMY MADE WAR AGAINST HIM, BECAUSE HE HAD SENT TO CLEOPATRA TO PERSUADE HER
TO MAKE WAR AGAINST PTOLEMY, AND YET PRETENDED TO BE IN FRIENDSHIP WITH HIM,
WHEN HE WENT TO BEAT THE JEWS IN THE BATTLE
1. When Aristobulus was dead, his wife Salome, who, by the Greeks, was
called Alexandra, let his brethren out of prison, (for Aristobulus had kept
them in bonds, as we have said already,) and made Alexander Janneus king, who
was the superior in age and in moderation. This child happened to be hated by
his father as soon as he was born, and could never be permitted to come into
his father's sight till he died. The occasion of which hatred is thus reported:
when Hyrcanus chiefly loved the two eldest of his sons, Antigonus and Aristobulus,
God appeared to him in his sleep, of whom he inquired which of his sons should
be his successor. Upon God's representing to him the countenance of Alexander,
he was grieved that he was to be the heir of all his goods, and suffered him
to be brought up in Galilee.32 However, God did not
deceive Hyrcanus; for after the death of Aristobulus, he certainly took the
kingdom; and one of his brethren, who affected the kingdom, he slew; and the
other, who chose to live a private and quiet life, he had in esteem.
2. When Alexander Janneus had settled the
government in the manner that he judged best, he made an expedition against
Ptolemais; and having overcome the men in battle, he shut them up in the city,
and sat round about it, and besieged it; for of the maritime cities there remained
only Ptolemais and Gaza to be conquered, besides Strato's Tower and Dora, which
were held by the tyrant Zoilus. Now while Antiochus Philometor, and Antiochus
who was called Cyzicenus, were making war one against another, and destroying
one another's armies, the people of Ptolemais could have no assistance from
them; but when they were distressed with this siege, Zoilus, who possessed Strato's
Tower and Dora, and maintained a legion of soldiers, and, on occasion of the
contest between the kings, affected tyranny himself, came and brought some small
assistance to the people of Ptolemais; nor indeed had the kings such a friendship
for them, as that they should hope for any advantage from them. Both those kings
were in the case of wrestlers, who finding themselves deficient in strength,
and yet being ashamed to yield, put off the fight by laziness, and by lying
still as long as they can. The only hope they had remaining was from the kings
of Egypt, and from Ptolemy Lathyrus, who now held Cyprus, and who came to Cyprus
when he was driven from the government of Egypt by Cleopatra his mother. So
the people of Ptolemais sent to this Ptolemy Lathyrus, and desired him to come
as a confederate, to deliver them, now they were in such danger, out of the
hands of Alexander. And as the ambassadors gave him hopes, that if he would
pass over into Syria, he would have the people of Gaza on the side of those
of Ptolemais; as also they said, that Zoilus, and besides these the Sidonians,
and many others, would assist them; so he was elevated at this, and got his
fleet ready as soon as possible.
3. But in this interval Demetrius, one that
was of abilities to persuade men to do as he would have them, and a leader of
the populace, made those of Ptolemais change their opinions; and said to them,
that it was better to run the hazard of being subject to the Jews, than to admit
of evident slavery by delivering themselves up to a master; and besides that,
to have not only a war at present, but to expect a much greater war from Egypt;
for that Cleopatra would not overlook an army raised by Ptolemy for himself
out of the neighborhood, but would come against them with a great army of her
own, and this because she was laboring to eject her son out of Cyprus also;
that as for Ptolemy, if he fail of his hopes, he can still retire to Cyprus,
but that they will be left in the greatest danger possible. Now Ptolemy, although
he had heard of the change that was made in the people of Ptolemais, yet did
he still go on with his voyage, and came to the country called Sycamine, and
there set his army on shore. This army of his, in the whole horse and foot together,
were about thirty thousand, with which he marched near to Ptolemais, and there
pitched his camp. But when the people of Ptolemais neither received his ambassadors,
nor would hear what they had to say, he was under a very great concern.
4. But when Zoilus and the people of Gaza
came to him, and desired his assistance, because their country was laid waste
by the Jews, and by Alexander, Alexander raised the siege, for fear of Ptolemy:
and when he had drawn off his army into his own country, he used a stratagem
afterwards, by privately inviting Cleopatra to come against Ptolemy, but publicly
pretending to desire a league of friendship and mutual assistance with him;
and promising to give him four hundred talents of silver, he desired that, by
way of requital, he would take off Zoilus the tyrant, and give his country to
the Jews. And then indeed Ptolemy, with pleasure, made such a league of friendship
with Alexander, and subdued Zoilus; but when he afterwards heard that he had
privily sent to Cleopatra his mother, he broke the league with him, which yet
he had confirmed with an oath, and fell upon him, and besieged Ptolemais, because
it would not receive him. However, leaving his generals, with some part of his
forces, to go on with the siege, he went himself immediately with the rest to
lay Judea waste; and when Alexander understood this to be Ptolemy's intention,
he also got together about fifty thousand soldiers out of his own country; nay,
as some writers have said, eighty thousand.33 He then
took his army, and went to meet Ptolemy; but Ptolemy fell upon Asochis, a city
of Galilee, and took it by force on the Sabbath day, and there he took about
ten thousand slaves, and a great deal of other prey.
5. He then tried to take Sepphoris, which
was a city not far from that which was destroyed, but lost many of his men;
yet did he then go to fight with Alexander. Alexander met him at the river Jordan,
near a certain place called Saphoth, [not far from the river Jordan,] and pitched
his camp near to the enemy. He had however eight thousand in the first rank,
which he styled Hecatontomachi, having shields of brass. Those in the first
rank of Ptolemy's soldiers also had shields covered with brass. But Ptolemy's
soldiers in other respects were inferior to those of Alexander, and therefore
were more fearful of running hazards; but Philostephanus, the camp-master, put
great courage into them, and ordered them to pass the river, which was between
their camps. Nor did Alexander think fit to hinder their passage over it; for
he thought, that if the enemy had once gotten the river on their back, that
he should the easier take them prisoners, when they could not flee out of the
battle: in the beginning of which, the acts on both sides, with their hands,
and with their alacrity, were alike, and a great slaughter was made by both
the armies; but Alexander was superior, till Philostephanus opportunely brought
up the auxiliaries, to help those that were giving way; but as there were no
auxiliaries to afford help to that part of the Jews that gave way, it fell out
that they fled, and those near them did no assist them, but fled along with
them. However, Ptolemy's soldiers acted quite otherwise; for they followed the
Jews, and killed them, till at length those that slew them pursued after them
when they had made them all run away, and slew them so long, that their weapons
of iron were blunted, and their hands quite tired with the slaughter; for the
report was, that thirty thousand men were then slain. Timagenes says they were
fifty thousand. As for the rest, they were part of them taken captives, and
the other part ran away to their own country.
6. After this victory, Ptolemy overran all
the country; and when night came on, he abode in certain villages of Judea,
which when he found full of women and children, he commanded his soldiers to
strangle them, and to cut them in pieces, and then to cast them into boiling
caldrons, and then to devour their limbs as sacrifices. This commandment was
given, that such as fled from the battle, and came to them, might suppose their
enemies were cannibals, and eat men's flesh, and might on that account be still
more terrified at them upon such a sight. And both Strabo and Nicolaus [of Damascus]
affirm, that they used these people after this manner, as I have already related.
Ptolemy also took Ptolemais by force, as we have declared elsewhere.
CHAPTER
13
HOW ALEXANDER, UPON THE LEAGUE OF MUTUAL DEFENCE WHICH CLEOPATRA HAD AGREED
WITH HIM, MADE AN EXPEDITION AGAINST COELESYRIA, AND UTTERLY OVERTHREW THE CITY
OF GAZA; AND HOW HE SLEW MANY TEN THOUSANDS OF JEWS THAT HAD REBELLED AGAINST
HIM; ALSO CONCERNING ANTIOCHUS GRYPUS, SELEUCUS, ANTIOCHUS CYZICENUS, AND ANTIOCHUS
PIUS, AND OTHERS
1. When Cleopatra saw that her son was grown great, and laid Judea waste,
without disturbance, and had gotten the city of Gaza under his power, she resolved
no longer to overlook what he did, when he was almost at her gates; and she
concluded, that now he was so much stronger than before, he would be very desirous
of the dominion over the Egyptians; but she immediately marched against him,
with a fleet at sea and an army of foot on land, and made Chelcias and Ananias
the Jews generals of her whole army, while she sent the greatest part of her
riches, her grandchildren, and her testament, to the people of Cos.34
Cleopatra also ordered her son Alexander to sail with a great fleet to Phoenicia;
and when that country had revolted, she came to Ptolemais; and because the people
of Ptolemais did not receive her, she besieged the city; but Ptolemy went out
of Syria, and made haste unto Egypt, supposing that he should find it destitute
of an army, and soon take it, though he failed of his hopes. At this time Chelcias,
one of Cleopatra's generals, happened to die in Coelesyria, as he was in pursuit
of Ptolemy.
2. When Cleopatra heard of her son's attempt,
and that his Egyptian expedition did not succeed according to his expectations,
she sent thither part of her army, and drove him out of that country; so when
he was returned out of Egypt again, he abode during the winter at Gaza, in which
time Cleopatra took the garrison that was in Ptolemais by siege, as well as
the city; and when Alexander came to her, he gave her presents, and such marks
of respect as were but proper, since under the miseries he endured by Ptolemy
he had no other refuge but her. Now there were some of her friends who persuaded
her to seize Alexander, and to overrun and take possession of the country, and
not to sit still and see such a multitude of brave Jews subject to one man.
But Ananias's counsel was contrary to theirs, who said that she would do an
unjust action if she deprived a man that was her ally of that authority which
belonged to him, and this a man who is related to us; "for (said he) I would
not have thee ignorant of this, that what in justice thou dost to him will make
all us that are Jews to be thy enemies." This desire of Ananias Cleopatra complied
with, and did no injury to Alexander, but made a league of mutual assistance
with him at Scythopolis, a city of Coelesyria.
3. So when Alexander was delivered from
the fear he was in of Ptolemy, he presently made an expedition against Coelesyria.
He also took Gadara, after a siege of ten months. He took also Amathus, a very
strong fortress belonging to the inhabitants above Jordan, where Theodorus,
the son of Zeno, had his chief treasure, and what he esteemed most precious.
This Zeno fell unexpectedly upon the Jews, and slew ten thousand of them, and
seiz