When Hyrcanus Who Was Alexander's Heir, Receded From His
Claim To The Crown Aristobulus Is Made King; And Afterward
The Same Hyrcanus By The Means Of Antipater, Is Brought Back
By Abetas. At Last Pompey Is Made The Arbitrator Of The
Dispute Between The Brothers.
1. Now Hyrcanus was heir to the kingdom, and to him did his mother
commit it before she died; but Aristobulus was superior to him in power
and magnanimity; and when there was a battle between them, to decide
the dispute about the kingdom, near Jericho, the greatest part deserted
Hyrcanus, and went over to Aristobulus; but Hyrcanus, with those of his
party who staid with him, fled to Antonia, and got into his power the
hostages that might be for his preservation [which were Aristobulus's
wife, with her children]; but they came to an agreement before things
should come to extremities, that Aristobulus should be king, and
Hyrcanus should resign that up, but retain all the rest of his
dignities, as being the king's brother. Hereupon they were reconciled
to each other in the temple, and embraced one another in a very kind
manner, while the people stood round about them; they also changed their
houses, while Aristobulus went to the royal palace, and Hyrcanus retired
to the house of Aristobulus.
2. Now those other people which were at variance with Aristobulus were
afraid upon his unexpected obtaining the government; and especially this
concerned Antipater 6 whom Aristobulus hated of old. He was by birth
an Idumean, and one of the principal of that nation, on account of his
ancestors and riches, and other authority to him belonging: he also
persuaded Hyrcanus to fly to Aretas, the king of Arabia, and to lay
claim to the kingdom; as also he persuaded Aretas to receive Hyrcanus,
and to bring him back to his kingdom: he also cast great reproaches upon
Aristobulus, as to his morals, and gave great commendations to Hyrcanus,
and exhorted Aretas to receive him, and told him how becoming a filing
it would be for him, who ruled so great a kingdom, to afford his
assistance to such as are injured; alleging that Hyrcanus was treated
unjustly, by being deprived of that dominion which belonged to him by
the prerogative of his birth. And when he had predisposed them both to
do what he would have them, he took Hyrcanus by night, and ran away from
the city, and, continuing his flight with great swiftness, he escaped to
the place called Petra, which is the royal seat of the king of Arabia,
where he put Hyrcanus into Aretas's hand; and by discoursing much with
him, and gaining upon him with many presents, he prevailed with him
to give him an army that might restore him to his kingdom. This
army consisted of fifty thousand footmen and horsemen, against which
Aristobulus was not able to make resistance, but was deserted in his
first onset, and was driven to Jerusalem; he also had been taken
at first by force, if Scaurus, the Roman general, had not come and
seasonably interposed himself, and raised the siege. This Scaurus was
sent into Syria from Armenia by Pompey the Great, when he fought against
Tigranes; so Scaurus came to Damascus, which had been lately taken by
Metellus and Lollius, and caused them to leave the place; and, upon his
hearing how the affairs of Judea stood, he made haste thither as to a
certain booty.
3. As soon, therefore, as he was come into the country, there
came ambassadors from both the brothers, each of them desiring his
assistance; but Aristobulus's three hundred talents had more weight with
him than the justice of the cause; which sum, when Scaurus had received,
he sent a herald to Hyrcanus and the Arabians, and threatened them with
the resentment of the Romans and of Pompey, unless they would raise
the siege. So Aretas was terrified, and retired out of Judea to
Philadelphia, as did Scaurus return to Damascus again; nor was
Aristobulus satisfied with escaping [out of his brother's hands,] but
gathered all his forces together, and pursued his enemies, and fought
them at a place called Papyron, and slew about six thousand of them,
and, together with them Antipater's brother Phalion.
4. When Hyrcanus and Antipater were thus deprived of their hopes from
the Arabians, they transferred the same to their adversaries; and
because Pompey had passed through Syria, and was come to Damascus, they
fled to him for assistance; and, without any bribes, they made the same
equitable pleas that they had used to Aretas, and besought him to hate
the violent behavior of Aristobulus, and to bestow the kingdom on him
to whom it justly belonged, both on account of his good character and
on account of his superiority in age. However, neither was Aristobulus
wanting to himself in this case, as relying on the bribes that Scaurus
had received: he was also there himself, and adorned himself after
a manner the most agreeable to royalty that he was able. But he soon
thought it beneath him to come in such a servile manner, and could not
endure to serve his own ends in a way so much more abject than he was
used to; so he departed from Diospolis.
5. At this his behavior Pompey had great indignation; Hyrcanus also and
his friends made great intercessions to Pompey; so he took not only his
Roman forces, but many of his Syrian auxiliaries, and marched against
Aristobulus. But when he had passed by Pella and Scythopolis, and was
come to Corea, where you enter into the country of Judea, when you go
up to it through the Mediterranean parts, he heard that Aristobulus was
fled to Alexandrium, which is a strong hold fortified with the utmost
magnificence, and situated upon a high mountain; and he sent to him, and
commanded him to come down. Now his inclination was to try his fortune
in a battle, since he was called in such an imperious manner, rather
than to comply with that call. However, he saw the multitude were in
great fear, and his friends exhorted him to consider what the power of
the Romans was, and how it was irresistible; so he complied with their
advice, and came down to Pompey; and when he had made a long apology for
himself, and for the justness of his cause in taking the government,
he returned to the fortress. And when his brother invited him again [to
plead his cause], he came down and spake about the justice of it, and
then went away without any hinderance from Pompey; so he was between
hope and fear. And when he came down, it was to prevail with Pompey to
allow him the government entirely; and when he went up to the citadel,
it was that he might not appear to debase himself too low. However,
Pompey commanded him to give up his fortified places, and forced him to
write to every one of their governors to yield them up; they having
had this charge given them, to obey no letters but what were of his
own hand-writing. Accordingly he did what he was ordered to do; but had
still an indignation at what was done, and retired to Jerusalem, and
prepared to fight with Pompey.
6. But Pompey did not give him time to make any preparations [for a
siege], but followed him at his heels; he was also obliged to make haste
in his attempt, by the death of Mithridates, of which he was informed
about Jericho. Now here is the most fruitful country of Judea, which
bears a vast number of palm trees 7 besides the balsam tree, whose
sprouts they cut with sharp stones, and at the incisions they gather the
juice, which drops down like tears. So Pompey pitched his camp in that
place one night, and then hasted away the next morning to Jerusalem; but
Aristobulus was so affrighted at his approach, that he came and met him
by way of supplication. He also promised him money, and that he would
deliver up both himself and the city into his disposal, and thereby
mitigated the anger of Pompey. Yet did not he perform any of the
conditions he had agreed to; for Aristobulus's party would not so much
as admit Gabinius into the city, who was sent to receive the money that
he had promised.