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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 he 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 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
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 aftrighted 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.
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