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And when he understood that he was not far from the city, he went
out in procession, with the priests and the multitude of the citizens.
The procession was venerable, and the manner of it different from that
of other nations. It reached to a place called Sapha, which name, translated
into Greek, signifies a prospect, for you have thence a prospect both of
Jerusalem and of the temple. And when the Phoenicians and the Chaldeans
that followed him thought they should have liberty to plunder the city,
and torment the high priest to death, which the king's displeasure fairly
promised them, the very reverse of it happened; for Alexander, when he
saw the multitude at a distance, in white garments, while the priests stood
clothed with fine linen, and the high priest in purple and scarlet clothing,
with his mitre on his head, having the golden plate whereon the name of
God was engraved, he approached by himself, and adored that name, and first
saluted the high priest. The Jews also did all together, with one voice,
salute Alexander, and encompass him about; whereupon the kings of Syria
and the rest were surprised at what Alexander had done, and supposed him
disordered in his mind. However, Parmenio alone went up to him, and asked
him how it came to pass that, when all others adored him, he should adore
the high priest of the Jews? To whom he replied, "I did not adore
him, but that God who hath honored him with his high priesthood; for I
saw this very person in a dream, in this very habit, when I was at Dios
in Macedonia, who, when I was considering with myself how I might obtain
the dominion of Asia, exhorted me to make no delay, but boldly to pass
over the sea thither, for that he would conduct my army, and would give
me the dominion over the Persians; whence it is that, having seen no other
in that habit, and now seeing this person in it, and remembering that vision,
and the exhortation which I had in my dream, I believe that I bring this
army under the Divine conduct, and shall therewith conquer Darius, and
destroy the power of the Persians, and that all things will succeed according
to what is in my own mind." And when he had said this to Parmenio,
and had given the high priest his right hand, the priests ran along by
him, and he came into the city. And when he went up into the temple, he
offered sacrifice to God, according to the high priest's direction, and
magnificently treated both the high priest and the priests. And when the
Book of Daniel was showed him
1
wherein Daniel declared that one of the Greeks should destroy the empire
of the Persians, he supposed that himself was the person intended. And
as he was then glad, he dismissed the multitude for the present; but the
next day he called them to him, and bid them ask what favors they pleased
of him; whereupon the high priest desired that they might enjoy the laws
of their forefathers, and might pay no tribute on the seventh year. He
granted all they desired. And when they entreared him that he would permit
the Jews in Babylon and Media to enjoy their own laws also, he willingly
promised to do hereafter what they desired. And when he said to the multitude,
that if any of them would enlist themselves in his army, on this condition,
that they should continue under the laws of their forefathers, and live
according to them, he was willing to take them with him, many were ready
to accompany him in his wars.