also proposed to make him presents on that account。 At length he
prevailed with Aretas in his suit。 Moreover； Hyrcanus promised
him； that when he had been brought thither； and had received his
kingdom； he would restore that country； and those twelve cities
which his father Alexander had taken from the Arabians； which
were these； Medaba； Naballo； Libias； Tharabasa； Agala； Athone；
Zoar； Orone； Marissa； Rudda； Lussa； and Oruba。
CHAPTER 2。
How Aretas And Hyrcanus Made An Expedition Against Aristobulus
And Besieged Jerusalem； And How Scaurus The Roman General Raised
The Siege。 Concerning The Death Of Onias。
1。 After these promises had been given to Aretas； he made an
expedition against Aristobulus with an army of fifty thousand
horse and foot； and beat him in the battle。 And when after that
victory many went over to Hyrcanus as deserters； Aristobulus was
left desolate； and fled to Jerusalem； upon which the king of
Arabia took all his army； and made an assault upon the temple；
and besieged Aristobulus therein； the people still supporting
Hyreanus； and assisting him in the siege； while none but the
priests continued with Aristobulus。 So Aretas united the forces
of the Arabians and of the Jews together； and pressed on the
siege vigorously。 As this happened at the time when the feast of
unleavened bread was celebrated； which we call the passover； the
principal men among the Jews left the country； and fled into
Egypt。 Now there was one； whose name was Onias； a righteous man
be was； and beloved of God； who； in a certain drought； had prayed
to God to put an end to the intense heat； and whose prayers God
had heard； and had sent them rain。 This man had hid himself；
because he saw that this sedition would last a great while。
However； they brought him to the Jewish camp； and desired； that
as by his prayers he had once put an end to the drought； so he
would in like manner make imprecations on Aristobulus and those
of his faction。 And when； upon his refusal； and the excuses that
he made； he was still by the multitude compelled to speak； he
stood up in the midst of them； and said； 〃O God； the King of the
whole world！ since those that stand now with me are thy people；
and those that are besieged are also thy priests； I beseech thee；
that thou wilt neither hearken to the prayers of those against
these； nor bring to effect what these pray against those。〃
Whereupon such wicked Jews as stood about him； as soon as he had
made this prayer； stoned him to death。
2。 But God punished them immediately for this their barbarity；
and took vengeance of them for the murder of Onias； in the manner
following： While the priests and Aristobulus were besieged； it
happened that the feast called the passover was come； at which it
is our custom to offer a great number of sacrifices to God； but
those that were with Aristobulus wanted sacrifices； and desired
that their countrymen without would furnish them with such
sacrifices； and assured them they should have as much money for
them as they should desire； and when they required them to pay a
thousand drachmae for each head of cattle； Aristobulus and the
priests willingly undertook to pay for them accordingly； and
those within let down the money over the walls； and gave it them。
But when the others had received it； they did not deliver the
sacrifices； but arrived at that height of wickedness as to break
the assurances they had given； and to be guilty of impiety
towards God； by not furnishing those that wanted them with
sacrifices。 And when the priests found they had been cheated； and
that the agreements they had made were violated； they prayed to
God that he would avenge them on their countrymen。 Nor did he
delay that their punishment； but sent a strong and vehement storm
of wind； that destroyed the fruits of the whole country； till a
modius of wheat was then bought for eleven drachmae。
3。 In the mean time Pompey sent Scaurus into Syria； while he was
himself in Armenia； and making war with Tigranes； but when
Scaurus was come to Damascus； and found that Lollins and Metellus
had newly taken the city； he came himself hastily into Judea。 And
when he was come thither； ambassadors came to him； both from
Aristobulus and Hyrcanus； and both desired he would assist them。
And when both of them promised to give him money； Aristobulus
four hundred talents； and Hyrcanus no less； he accepted of
Aristobulus's promise； for he was rich； and had a great soul； and
desired to obtain nothing but what was moderate； whereas the
other was poor； and tenacious； and made incredible promises in
hopes of greater advantages； for it was not the same thing to
take a city that was exceeding strong and powerful； as it was to
eject out of the country some fugitives； with a greater number of
Mabateans； who were no very warlike people。 He therefore made an
agreement with Aristobulus； for the reasons before mentioned； and
took his money； and raised the siege； and ordered Aretas to
depart； or else he should be declared an enemy to the Romans。 So
Scaurus returned to Damascus again； and Aristobulus； with a great
army； made war with Aretas and Hyrcanus； and fought them at a
place called Papyron； and beat them in the battle； and slew about
six thousand of the enemy； with whom fell Phalion also； the
brother of Antipater。
CHAPTER 3。
How Aristobulus And Hyrcanus Came To Pompey In Order To Argue Who
Ought To Have The Kingdom； And How Upon The Plight Of Aristobulus
To The Fortress Alexandrium Pompey Led His Army Against Him And
Ordered Him To Deliver Up The Fortresses Whereof He Was
Possessed。
1。 A Little afterward Pompey came to Damascus； and marched over
Celesyria； at which time there came ambassadors to him from all
Syria； and Egypt； and out of Judea also； for Aristobulus had sent
him a great present； which was a golden vine （3） of the value of
five hundred talents。 Now Strabo of Cappadocia mentions this
present in these words： 〃There came also an embassage out of
Egypt； and a crown of the value of four thousand pieces of gold；
and out of Judea there came another； whether you call it a vine
or a garden； they call the thing Terpole； the Delight。 However；
we ourselves saw that present reposited at Rome； in the temple of
Jupiter Capitolinus； with this inscription； 'The gift of
Alexander； the king of the Jews。' It was valued at five hundred
talents； and the report is； that Aristobulus； the governor of the
Jews； sent it。〃
2。 In a little time afterward came ambassadors again to him；
Antipater from Hyrcanus； and Nicodemus from Aristobulus； which
last also accused such as had taken bribes； first Gabinius； and
then Scaurus； … the one three hundred talents； and the other four
hundred； by which procedure he made these two his enemies；
besides those he had before。 And when Pompey had ordered those
that had controversies one with another to come to him in the
beginning of the spring； he brought his army out of their winter
quarters； and marched into the country of Damascus； and as he
went along he demolished the citadel that was at Apamia； which
Antiochus Cyzicenus had built； and took cognizance of the country
of Ptolemy Menneus； a wicked man； and not less so than Dionysius
of Tripoli； who had been beheaded； who was also his relation by
marriage； yet did he buy off the punishment of his crimes for a
thousand talents； with which money Pompey paid the soldiers their
wages。 He also conquered the place called Lysias； of which Silas
a Jew was tyrant。 And when he had passed over the cities of
Heliopolis and Chalcis； and got over the mountain which is on the
limit of Colesyria； he came from Pella to Damascus； and there it
was that he heard the causes of the Jews； and of their governors
Hyrcanus and Aristobulus； who were at difference one with
another； as also of the nation against them both； which did not
desire to be under kingly' government； because the form of
government they received from their forefathers was that of
subjection to the priests of that God whom they worshipped； and
＇they complained＇； that though these two were the posterity of
priests； yet did they seek to change the government of their
nation to another form； in order to enslave them。 Hyrcanus
complained； that although he were the elder brother； he was
deprived of the prerogative of his birth by Aristobulus； and that
he had but a small part of the country under him； Aristobulus
having taken away the rest from him by force。 He also accused
him； that the incursions which had been made into their
neighbors' countries； and the piracies that had been at sea； were
owing to him； and that the nation would not have revolted； unless
Aristobulus had been a man given to violence and disorder； and
there were no fewer than a thousand Jews； of the best esteem
among them； who confirmed this accusation； which confirmation was
procured by Antipater。 But Aristobulus alleged against him； that
it was Hyrcanus's own temper； which was inactive； and on that
account contemptible； which caused him to be deprived of the
government； and that for himself； he was necessitated to take it
upon him； for fear lest it should be transferred to others。 And
that as to his title ＇of king＇； it was no other than what his
father had taken ＇before him＇。 He also called for witnesses of
what he said some persons who were both young and insolent； whose
purple garments； fine heads of hair； and other ornaments； were
detested ＇by the court＇； and which they appeared in； not as
though they were to plead their cause in a court of justice； but
as if they were marching in a pompous procession。
3。 When Pompey had heard the causes of these two； and had
condemned Aristobulus for his violent procedure； he then spake
civilly to them； and sent them away； and told them； that when he
came again into their country； he would settle all their affairs；
after he had first taken a view of the affairs of the Nabateans。
In the mean time； he ordered them to be quiet； and treated
Aristobulus civilly； lest he should make the nation revolt； and
hinder his return； which yet Aristobulus did； for without
expecting any further determination； which Pompey had promised
them； he went to the city Delius； and thence marched into Ju