1
[
120]
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.
[
123]
Now those other people which were at variance with Aristobulus were
afraid upon his unexpected obtaining the government; and especially this
concerned Antipater
2
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.
[
128]
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.
[
131]
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.
[
133]
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.
[
138]
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
3
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.