---
title: "Jewish Antiquities · Ἰουδαϊκὴ ἀρχαιολογία"
author: "Josephus"
translator: "William Whiston"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Second Temple"
section: 63 of 96
url: https://scriptura.si/works/josephus-jewish-antiquities-greek/63/
cite: "Josephus, tr. William Whiston, Jewish Antiquities · Ἰουδαϊκὴ ἀρχαιολογία, section 63. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/josephus-jewish-antiquities-greek/63/"
---

# Jewish Antiquities · Ἰουδαϊκὴ ἀρχαιολογία

*Josephus, tr. William Whiston*

The history of the Jews from the Creation to the eve of the revolt, in twenty books, with the passages on John the Baptist and Jesus: Niese’s Greek beside Whiston’s English.

> Greek: ed. Benedikt Niese, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0526.tlg001, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: William Whiston, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0526.tlg001.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (books, chapters and sections), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## 63. Book XIII · sections 405–430

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/josephus-jewish-antiquities-greek/63/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/josephus-jewish-antiquities-greek/63/#p-N

[¶0] 405. SO Alexandra, when she had taken the fortress, acted as her husband had suggested to her, and spake to the Pharisees, and put all things into their power, both as to the dead body, and as to the affairs of the kingdom, and thereby pacified their anger against Alexander, and made them bear goodwill and friendship to him; who then came among the multitude, and made speeches to them, and laid before them the actions of Alexander, and told them that they had lost a righteous king; and by the commendation they gave him, they brought them to grieve, and to be in heaviness for him, so that he had a funeral more splendid than had any of the kings before him. Alexander left behind him two sons, Hyrcanus and Aristobulus, but committed the kingdom to Alexandra. Now, as to these two sons, Hyrcanus was indeed unable to manage public affairs, and delighted rather in a quiet life; but the younger, Aristobulus, was an active and a bold man; and for this woman herself, Alexandra, she was loved by the multitude, because she seemed displeased at the offenses her husband had been guilty of.

> Greek: 405. Ἡ δὲ Ἀλεξάνδρα τὸ φρούριον ἐξελοῦσα κατὰ τὰς τοῦ· ἀνδρὸς ὑποθήκας τοῖς τε Φαρισαίοις διελέχθη καὶ πάντα ἐπʼ ἐκείνοις θεμένη τά τε περὶ τοῦ νεκροῦ καὶ τῆς βασιλείας, τῆς μὲν ὀργῆς αὐτοὺς τῆς πρὸς Ἀλέξανδρον ἔπαυσεν, εὔνους δʼ ἐποίησεν καὶ φίλους. οἱ δʼ εἰς τὸ πλῆθος παρελθόντες ἐδημηγόρουν τὰς πράξεις τὰς Ἀλεξάνδρου διηγούμενοι, καὶ ὅτι δίκαιος αὐτοῖς ἀπόλοιτο βασιλεύς, καὶ τὸν δῆμον εἰς πένθος καὶ τὴν ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ κατήφειαν ἐξεκαλέσαντο τοῖς ἐπαίνοις, ὥστε καὶ λαμπρότερον ἤ τινα τῶν πρὸ αὐτοῦ βασιλέων αὐτὸν ἐκήδευσαν. δύο μέντοι γε υἱοὺς Ἀλέξανδρος κατέλιπεν Ὑρκανὸν καὶ Ἀριστόβουλον, τὴν δὲ βασιλείαν εἰς τὴν Ἀλεξάνδραν διέθετο. τῶν δὲ παίδων Ὑρκανὸς μὲν ἀσθενὴς ἦν πράγματα διοικεῖν καὶ βίον ἡσύχιον μᾶλλον ἠγαπηκώς, ὁ δὲ νεώτερος Ἀριστόβουλος δραστήριός τε ἦν καὶ θαρσαλέος. ἐστέργετο μὲν οὖν ὑπὸ τοῦ πλήθους ἡ γυνὴ διὰ τὸ δοκεῖν ἐφʼ οἷς ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς ἐξήμαρτεν δυσχεραίνειν.

[¶1] 408. So she made Hyrcanus high priest, because he was the elder, but much more because he cared not to meddle with politics, and permitted the Pharisees to do every thing; to whom also she ordered the multitude to be obedient. She also restored again those practices which the Pharisees had introduced, according to the traditions of their forefathers, and which her father-in-law, Hyrcanus, had abrogated. So she had indeed the name of the regent, but the Pharisees had the authority; for it was they who restored such as had been banished, and set such as were prisoners at liberty, and, to say all at once, they differed in nothing from lords. However, the queen also took care of the affairs of the kingdom, and got together a great body of mercenary soldiers, and increased her own army to such a degree, that she became terrible to the neighboring tyrants, and took hostages of them: and the country was entirely at peace, excepting the Pharisees; for they disturbed the queen, and desired that she would kill those who persuaded Alexander to slay the eight hundred men; after which they cut the throat of one of them, Diogenes; and after him they did the same to several, one after another, till the men that were the most potent came into the palace, and Aristobulus with them, for he seemed to be displeased at what was done; and it appeared openly, that if he had an opportunity, he would not permit his mother to go on so. These put the queen in mind what great dangers they had gone through, and great things they had done, whereby they had demonstrated the firmness of their fidelity to their master, insomuch that they had recieved the greatest marks of favor from him; and they begged of her, that she would not utterly blast their hopes, as it now happened, that when they had escaped the hazards that arose from their [open] enemies, they were to be cut off at home by their [private] enemies, like brute beasts, without any help whatsoever. They said also, that if their adversaries would be satisfied with those that had been slain already, they would take what had been done patiently, on account of their natural love to their governors; but if they must expect the same for the future also, they implored of her a dismission from her service; for they could not bear to think of attempting any method for their deliverance without her, but would rather die willingly before the palace gate, in case she would not forgive them. And that it was a great shame, both for themselves and for the queen, that when they were neglected by her, they should come under the lash of her husband’s enemies; for that Aretas, the Arabian king, and the monarchs, would give any reward, if they could get such men as foreign auxiliaries, to whom their very names, before their voices be heard, may perhaps be terrible; but if they could not obtain this their second request, and if she had determined to prefer the Pharisees before them, they still insisted that she would place them every one in her fortresses; for if some fatal demon hath a constant spite against Alexander’s house, they would be willing to bear their part, and to live in a private station there.

> Greek: 408. Ἡ δὲ ἀρχιερέα μὲν ἀπεδείκνυεν Ὑρκανὸν διὰ τὴν ἡλικίαν, πολὺ μέντοι πλέον διὰ τὸ ἄπραγμον αὐτοῦ, καὶ πάντα τοῖς Φαρισαίοις ἐπέτρεπεν ποιεῖν, οἷς καὶ τὸ πλῆθος ἐκέλευσεν πειθαρχεῖν καὶ εἴ τι δὲ καὶ τῶν νομίμων Ὑρκανὸς ὁ πενθερὸς αὐτῆς κατέλυσεν ὧν εἰσήνεγκαν οἱ Φαρισαῖοι κατὰ τὴν πατρῴαν παράδοσιν, τοῦτο πάλιν ἀποκατέστησεν. τὸ μὲν οὖν ὄνομα τῆς βασιλείας εἶχεν αὐτή, τὴν δὲ δύναμιν οἱ Φαρισαῖοι· καὶ γὰρ φυγάδας οὗτοι κατῆγον καὶ δεσμώτας ἔλυον καὶ καθάπαξ οὐδὲν δεσποτῶν διέφερον. ἐποιεῖτο μέντοι καὶ ἡ γυνὴ τῆς βασιλείας πρόνοιαν, καὶ πολὺ μισθοφορικὸν συνίστησιν, καὶ τὴν ἰδίαν δύναμιν ἀπέδειξεν διπλασίονα, ὡς καταπλῆξαι τοὺς πέριξ τυράννους καὶ λαβεῖν ὅμηρα αὐτῶν. ἠρέμει δʼ ἡ χώρα πᾶσα πάρεξ τῶν Φαρισαίων· οὗτοι γὰρ ἐπετάρασσον τὴν βασίλειαν πείθοντες, ὅπως κτείνειεν τοὺς Ἀλεξάνδρῳ παραινέσαντας ἀνελεῖν τοὺς ὀκτακοσίους. εἶτα αὐτοὶ τούτων ἕνα σφάττουσιν Διογένην καὶ μετʼ αὐτὸν ἄλλους ἐπʼ ἄλλοις, ἕως οὗ οἱ δυνατοὶ παρελθόντες εἰς τὸ βασίλειον καὶ μετʼ αὐτῶν Ἀριστόβουλος, ἐῴκει γὰρ τοῖς γινομένοις δυσανασχετῶν καὶ δῆλος ἦν, καθάπαξ εἰ ἀφορμῆς λάβοιτο, μὴ ἐπιτρέψων τῇ μητρί, ἀνεμίμνησκον ὅσα κατώρθωσαν τοσούτοις κινδύνοις, διʼ ὧν τὸ βέβαιον τῆς ἐν σφίσι πίστεως πρὸς τὸν δεσπότην ἐπεδείξαντο, ἀνθʼ ὧν ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ μεγίστων ἠξιώθησαν. καὶ ἐδέοντο μὴ ἄχρι τοῦ παντὸς ἔμπαλιν τρέψαι σφίσι τὰς ἐλπίδας· ἀποφυγόντας γὰρ τὸν ἐκ πολεμίων κίνδυνον ἐν τῇ οἰκείᾳ ὑπʼ ἐχθρῶν δίκην βοσκημάτων κόπτεσθαι μηδεμιᾶς τιμωρίας οὔσης. ἔλεγόν τε ὡς, εἰ μὲν ἀρκεσθεῖεν τοῖς ἀνῃρημένοις οἱ ἀντίδικοι, διὰ τὸ πρὸς τοὺς δεσπότας γνήσιον μετρίως οἴσειν τὰ ξυμβάντα, εἰ δʼ αὖ μέλλοιεν ταὐτὰ μετιέναι, ᾐτοῦντο μάλιστα μὲν δοθῆναι σφίσιν ἀπαλλαγήν· οὐδὲ γὰρ ἂν ὑπομεῖναι χωρὶς αὐτῆς πορίσασθαι τὸ σωτήριον, ἀλλʼ ἀσμενίζειν θνήσκοντες πρὸς τοῖς βασιλείοις, ὡς μὴ συγγνοῖεν ἀπιστίαν αὐτοῖς. αἶσχός τε εἶναι σφίσι τε καὶ τῇ βασιλευούσῃ, εἰ πρὸς αὐτῆς ἀμελούμενοι ὑπὸ τῶν ἐχθρῶν τοῦ ἀνδρὸς ἐκδεχθείησαν· ἀντὶ παντὸς γὰρ τιμήσεσθαι Ἀρέταν τε τὸν Ἄραβα καὶ τοὺς μονάρχους, εἰ ἀποξενολογήσειεν τοσούσδε ἄνδρας, οἷς ἦν τάχα που φρικῶδες αὐτῶν καὶ τοὔνομα τὸ πρὶν ἀκουσθῆναι. εἰ δὲ μή, τό γε δεύτερον, εἰ τοὺς Φαρισαίους αὐτῇ προτιμᾶν ἔγνωσται, κατατάξαι ἕκαστον αὐτῶν ἐν τοῖς φρουρίοις· εἰ γὰρ ὧδε δαίμων τις ἐπενεμέσησεν τῷ Ἀλεξάνδρου οἴκῳ, αὐτούς γε μὴν ἂν ἀποδεῖξαι καὶ ἐν ταπεινῷ σχήματι βιοτεύοντας.

[¶2] 416. As these men said thus, and called upon Alexander’s ghost for commiseration of those already slain, and those in danger of it, all the bystanders brake out into tears. But Aristobulus chiefly made manifest what were his sentiments, and used. many reproachful expressions to his mother, [saying,] “Nay, indeed, the case is this, that they have been themselves the authors of their own calamities, who have permitted a woman who, against reason, was mad with ambition, to reign over them, when there were sons in the flower of their age fitter for it.” So Alexandra, not knowing what to do with any decency, committed the fortresses to them, all but Hyrcania, and Alexandrium, and Macherus, where her principal treasures were. After a little while also, she sent her son Aristobulus with an army to Damascus against Ptolemy, who was called Menneus, who was such a bad neighbor to the city; but he did nothing considerable there, and so returned home.

> Greek: 416. Πολλὰ τοιαῦτα λεγόντων καὶ εἰς οἶκτον τῶν τεθνεώτων καὶ τῶν κινδυνευόντων τοὺς Ἀλεξάνδρου δαίμονας ἐπικαλουμένων, ἅπαντες οἱ περιεστῶτες ὥρμησαν εἰς δάκρυα, καὶ μάλιστα Ἀριστόβουλος ὅπως ἔχοι γνώμης ἐδήλου πολλὰ τὴν μητέρα κακίζων. ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἐκεῖνοι μὲν αὐτοὶ σφίσι τῶν συμφορῶν ἐγένοντο αἴτιοι, κατὰ φιλαρχίαν ἐκλελυσσηκυίᾳ γυναικὶ παρὰ τὸ εἰκὸς βασιλεύειν γενεᾶς ἐν ἀκμῇ οὔσης ἐπιτρέψαντες· ἡ δὲ οὐκ ἔχουσα ὅ τι πράξειε μετὰ τοῦ εὐπρεποῦς τὴν φυλακὴν τῶν χωρίων σφίσιν ἐπέτρεψεν, ὅτι μὴ Ὑρκανίας καὶ Ἀλεξανδρείου καὶ Μαχαιροῦντος, ἔνθα τὰ πλείστου ἄξια ἦν αὐτῇ. καὶ μετʼ οὐ πολὺ τὸν υἱὸν Ἀριστόβουλον μετὰ στρατιᾶς ἐξέπεμψεν ἐπὶ Δαμασκὸν κατὰ Πτολεμαίου τοῦ Μενναίου λεγομένου, ὃς βαρὺς ἦν τῇ πόλει γείτων. ἀλλʼ οἱ μὲν οὐδὲν ἐργασάμενοι σπουδῆς ἄξιον ὑπέστρεψαν.

[¶3] 419. About this time news was brought that Tigranes, the king of Armenia, had made an irruption into Syria with five hundred thousand soldiers, and was coming against Judea. This news, as may well be supposed, terrified the queen and the nation. Accordingly, they sent him many and very valuable presents, as also ambassadors, and that as he was besieging Ptolemais; for Selene the queen, the same that was also called Cleopatra, ruled then over Syria, who had persuaded the inhabitants to exclude Tigranes. So the Jewish ambassadors interceded with him, and entreated him that he would determine nothing that was severe about their queen or nation. He commended them for the respects they paid him at so great a distance, and gave them good hopes of his favor. But as soon as Ptolemais was taken, news came to Tigranes, that Lucullus, in his pursuit of Mithridates, could not light upon him, who was fled into Iberia, but was laying waste Armenia, and besieging its cities. Now when Tigranes knew this, he returned home.

> Greek: 419. Κατὰ δὲ τοῦτον τὸν καιρὸν ἀγγέλλεται Τιγράνης στρατοῦ μυριάσι τριάκοντα ἐμβεβληκὼς εἰς τὴν Συρίαν καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἀφιξόμενος. τοῦτο ὥσπερ εἰκὸς ἐφόβησε τὴν βασίλισσαν καὶ τὸ ἔθνος. δῶρα δὴ καὶ πολλὰ καὶ λόγου ἄξια πέμπουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ πρέσβεις πολιορκοῦντι Πτολεμαΐδα. βασίλισσα γὰρ Σελήνη ἡ καὶ Κλεοπάτρα καλουμένη τῶν ἐν τῇ Συρίᾳ κατέχειν, ἣ καὶ ἐνήγαγεν τοὺς ἐνοικοῦντας ἀποκλεῖσαι Τιγράνη νῦν ἐτύγχανεν καὶ ἐδέοντο χρηστὰ περὶ τῆς βασιλίσσης καὶ τοῦ ἔθνους συγγινώσκειν. ὁ δὲ ἀποδεξάμενος αὐτοὺς τῆς ἐκ διαστήματος θεραπείας ἐλπίδας ὑπέθετο χρηστάς. ἄρτι δὲ τῆς Πτολεμαΐδος ἑαλωκυίας ἀγγέλλεται Τιγράνῃ Λεύκολλον διώκοντα Μιθριδάτην ἐκείνου μὲν διαμαρτεῖν εἰς τοὺς Ἴβηρας ἀναφυγόντος, τὴν δὲ Ἀρμενίαν πορθήσαντα πολιορκεῖν Τιγράνης δὲ καὶ ταῦτʼ ἐπιγνοὺς ἀνεχώρει τὴν ἐπʼ οἴκου.

[¶4] 422. After this, when the queen was fallen into a dangerous distemper, Aristobulus resolved to attempt the seizing of the government; so he stole away secretly by night, with only one of his servants, and went to the fortresses, wherein his friends, that were such from the days of his father, were settled; for as he had been a great while displeased at his mother’s conduct, so he was now much more afraid, lest, upon her death, their whole family should be under the power of the Pharisees; for he saw the inability of his brother, who was to succeed in the government; nor was any one conscious of what he was doing but only his wife, whom he left at Jerusalem with their children. He first of all came to Agaba, where was Galestes, one of the potent men before mentioned, and was received by him. When it was day, the queen perceived that Aristobulus was fled; and for some time she supposed that his departure was not in order to make any innovation; but when messengers came one after another with the news that he had secured the first place, the second place, and all the places, for as soon as one had begun they all submitted to his disposal, then it was that the queen and the nation were in the greatest disorder, for they were aware that it would not be long ere Aristobulus would be able to settle himself firmly in the government. What they were principally afraid of was this, that he would inflict punishment upon them for the mad treatment his house had had from them. So they resolved to take his wife and children into custody, and keep them in the fortress that was over the temple. Now there was a mighty conflux of people that came to Aristobulus from all parts, insomuch that he had a kind of royal attendants about him; for in a little more than fifteen days he got twenty-two strong places, which gave him the opportunity of raising an army from Libanus and Trachonitis, and the monarchs; for men are easily led by the greater number, and easily submit to them. And besides this, that by affording him their assistance, when he could not expect it, they, as well as he, should have the advantages that would come by his being king, because they had been the occasion of his gaining the kingdom. Now the eiders of the Jews, and Hyrcanus with them, went in unto the queen, and desired that she would give them her sentiments about the present posture of affairs, for that Aristobulus was in effect lord of almost all the kingdom, by possessing of so many strong holds, and that it was absurd for them to take any counsel by themselves, how ill soever she were, whilst she was alive, and that the danger would be upon them in no long time. But she bid them do what they thought proper to be done; that they had many circumstances in their favor still remaining, a nation in good heart, an army, and money in their several treasuries; for that she had small concern about public affairs now, when the strength of her body already failed her.

> Greek: 422. Μετὰ δὲ τοῦτο τῆς βασιλίσσης εἰς νόσον χαλεπὴν ἐμπεσούσης δόξαν Ἀριστοβούλῳ τοῖς πράγμασιν ἐπιτίθεσθαι τῆς νυκτὸς ὑπεξελθὼν μεθʼ ἑνὸς τῶν θεραπόντων ᾔει ἐπὶ τὰ φρούρια, ἵνα οἱ πατρῷοι κατετάχθησαν αὐτῷ φίλοι. πάλαι γὰρ ἀχθόμενος οἷς ἔπραττεν ἡ μήτηρ πολὺ μᾶλλον ἔδεισε, μὴ ἀποθανούσης ἐπὶ τοῖς Φαρισαίοις τὸ πᾶν γένος αὐτοῖς ὑπάρξειεν· ἑώρα γὰρ τὸ ἀδύνατον τοῦ μέλλοντος διαδέχεσθαι τὴν ἀρχὴν ἀδελφοῦ. ξυνῄδει δὲ ἡ γυνὴ μόνη τῇ πράξει, ἣν κατέλιπεν αὐτόθι μετὰ τῆς γενεᾶς. καὶ πρῶτον ἀφικόμενος εἰς Ἄγαβα, ἔνθα Γαλαίστης ἦν τῶν δυνατῶν, ὑπεδέχθη πρὸς αὐτοῦ. μεθʼ ἡμέραν δὲ αἴσθησις γίνεται τῇ βασιλίσσῃ τῆς Ἀριστοβούλου φυγῆς, καὶ μέχρι τινὸς ᾤετο γεγονέναι τὴν ἀναχώρησιν οὐκ ἐπὶ νεωτερισμῷ· ὡς μέντοι ἧκον ἀπαγγέλλοντες ἄλλοι ἐπʼ ἄλλοις, ὅτι κατειλήφει τὸ πρῶτον χωρίον καὶ τὸ δεύτερον καὶ ξύμπαντα, εὐθὺς γὰρ ἑνὸς ἀρξαμένου πάντα ἠπείγετο πρὸς τὸ ἐκείνου βούλημα, τότε δὴ ἐν μεγίσταις ταραχαῖς ὑπῆρχεν ἥ τε βασίλισσα καὶ τὸ ἔθνος. ᾔδεισαν γὰρ οὐ πόρρω τοῦ δύνασθαι τὴν ἀρχὴν αὐτῷ κρατῦναι τὸν Ἀριστόβουλον ὄντα, ἐδεδίεσάν τε, μὴ ποινὴν εἰσπράξαιτο ὧν παρῴνησαν αὐτῷ τὸν οἶκον. δόξαν οὖν τήν τε γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ καὶ γενεὰν εἰς τὸ ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἱεροῦ φρούριον κατέθεσαν. Ἀριστοβούλῳ δὲ ὡς ἂν ἐκ πολλῶν συχνὰ ἀνήχθη, ἀφʼ ὧν ἤδη καὶ κόσμος βασίλειος περὶ αὐτὸν ἦν· σχεδὸν γὰρ ἐν ἡμέραις δεκαπέντε χωρίων ἐκράτησεν εἰκοσιδύο, ὅθεν ἀφορμὰς ἔχων στρατιὰν ἤθροιζεν ἀπὸ Λιβάνου καὶ Τράχωνος καὶ τῶν μονάρχων· οἱ γὰρ ἄνθρωποι τῷ πλείονι ὑπαγόμενοι ῥᾳδίως ὑπήκουον· ἄλλως δὲ νομίζοντες, εἰ δὴ ξυλλάβοιεν αὐτῷ, τῶν μὴ προσδοκωμένων οὐχ ἧσσον καρπώσεσθαι τὴν βασιλείαν ὡς αὐτοὶ τοῦ κρατῆσαι πρόφασις γενηθέντες. τῶν δὲ Ἰουδαίων οἱ πρεσβύτεροι καὶ Ὑρκανὸς ἐσῄεσαν ὡς τὴν βασίλισσαν καὶ ἐδέοντο ὑποθέσθαι γνώμην περὶ τῶν ἐνεστώτων· τὸν γὰρ Ἀριστόβουλον τῶν πάντων σχεδὸν ἤδη κυριεύειν, ὁπότε χωρίων τοσούτων κρατήσειεν· ἄτοπον δέ, εἰ καὶ τὰ μάλιστα κάμνοι, περιούσης αὐτῆς κατὰ σφᾶς βουλεύεσθαι· περιεστάναι δὲ τὸν κίνδυνον οὐ διὰ μακροῦ σφίσιν. ἡ δὲ αὐτοὺς ἐκέλευσε πράττειν ὅ τι δοκοῦσι χρήσιμον εἶναι· πολλὰς δʼ ἀφορμὰς αὐτοῖς λείπεσθαι, τὸ ἔθνος ἐρρωμένον καὶ τὴν δύναμιν καὶ τὰ ἐν τοῖς γαζοφυλακίοις χρήματα· αὐτῇ μὲν γὰρ μικρὸν ἔτι μέλειν τῶν πραγμάτων ὡς ἂν ὑπολείποντος ἤδη τοῦ σώματος.

[¶5] 430. Now a little while after she had said this to them, she died, when she had reigned nine years, and had in all lived seventy-three. A woman she was who showed no signs of the weakness of her sex, for she was sagacious to the greatest degree in her ambition of governing;

> Greek: 430. Ταῦτʼ εἰποῦσα μετʼ οὐ πολὺ ἐτελεύτησεν βασιλεύσασα ἔτη ἐννέα, τὰ δὲ σύμπαντα βιώσασα τρία καὶ ἑβδομήκοντα, γυνὴ τῷ ἀσθενεῖ τοῦ φύλου κατʼ οὐδὲν χρησαμένη· δεινὴ γὰρ εἰς τὸ φίλαρχον ἐν ταῖς μάλιστα γενομένη διήλεγξεν ἔργοις τό τε πρακτικὸν τῆς ἐν αὐτῇ γνώμης καὶ τὸ ἀσύνετον τῶν ἀεὶ πταιόντων περὶ τὰς δυναστείας ἀνδρῶν.
τὸ γὰρ παρὸν κρεῖττον ἀξιοῦσα τοῦ μέλλοντος καὶ πάντα δεύτερα τιθεμένη τοῦ ἐγκρατῶς ἄρχειν, οὔτε καλοῦ οὔτε δικαίου ἕνεκά γε τούτων ἐπεστρέφετο.

[¶6] and demonstrated by her doings at once, that her mind was fit for action, and that sometimes men themselves show the little understanding they have by the frequent mistakes they make in point of government;

> Greek: εἰς γοῦν τοῦτο τῷ οἴκῳ ἀτυχίας τὰ πράγματα περιέστησεν, ὥσθʼ ἣν μετὰ πλείστων κινδύνων καὶ ταλαιπωρίας περιεκτήσατο δυναστείαν ἐπιθυμίᾳ τῶν μὴ προσηκόντων γυναικὶ χρόνοις οὐ πολλοῖς ὕστερον ἀφαιρεθῆναι, τοῖς μὲν δυσμενῶς ἔχουσιν πρὸς τὸ γένος αὐτῶν τὴν αὐτὴν γνώμην προσθεῖσα, τὴν δὲ ἀρχὴν ἔρημον τῶν προκηδομένων ποιησαμένη.

[¶7] for she always preferred the present to futurity, and preferred the power of an imperious dominion above all things, and in comparison of that had no regard to what was good, or what was right.

> Greek: καὶ ξυμφορῶν δὲ ἐνέπλησε καὶ ταραχῆς ἐξ ὧν ζῶσα ἐπολιτεύσατο καὶ μετὰ τὴν τελευτὴν τὸ βασίλειον· οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καίπερ οὕτως ἄρξασα ἐν εἰρήνῃ καὶ ἀταραξίᾳ τὸ ἔθνος διεφύλαξεν. τὰ μὲν οὖν περὶ Ἀλεξάνδραν τὴν βασίλισσαν τοῦτο εἶχεν τὸ τέλος· ἔρχομαι δὲ λέξων τὰ τοῖς υἱέσιν αὐτῆς συμβεβηκότα Ἀριστοβούλῳ καὶ Ὑρκανῷ μετὰ τὴν ἐκείνης τελευτὴν ἐν τῇ μετὰ ταύτην μου βίβλῳ. Ὡς μετὰ τὸν Ἀλεξάνδρας θάνατον ὁ νεώτερος αὐτῆς τῶν παίδων Ἀριστόβουλος ἐπολέμησεν πρὸς Ὑρκανὸν τὸν ἀδελφὸν περὶ τῆς βασιλείας καὶ κρατήσας αὐτοῦ συνεδίωξεν εἰς τὴν ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις βᾶριν, ἔπειθ' ὡς συμβάντες ἔκριναν βασιλεύειν μὲν Ἀριστόβουλον, Ὑρκανὸν δὲ ἰδιωτεύειν.

[¶8] However, she brought the affairs of her house to such an unfortunate condition, that she was the occasion of the taking away that authority from it, and that in no long time afterward, which she had obtained by a vast number of hazards and misfortunes, and this out of a desire of what does not belong to a woman, and all by a compliance in her sentiments with those that bare ill-will to their family, and by leaving the administration destitute of a proper support of great men;

> Greek: περὶ Ἀντιπάτρου καὶ γένους αὐτοῦ καὶ τίνα τρόπον ἐκ μικρᾶς καὶ τῆς τυχούσης ἀφορμῆς εἰς λαμπρότητα καὶ δόξαν ἅμα τοῖς παισὶν προήχθη καὶ μέγεθος δυνάμεως, καὶ ὅτι πείσαντος Ὑρκανὸν Ἀντιπάτρου φυγεῖν ἐξ Ἱεροσολύμων πρὸς Ἀρέταν τὸν τῶν Ἀράβων βασιλέα ἱκέτευσεν ἐλθὼν καταγαγεῖν αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν γῆν τε πολλὴν δώσειν καὶ χρήματα ὑποσχόμενος.

[¶9] and, indeed, her management during her administration while she was alive, was such as filled the palace after her death with calamities and disturbance.

> Greek: ὡς Ἀρέτας προσδεξάμενος τὸν Ὑρκανὸν ἐστράτευσεν ἐπὶ τὸν Ἀριστόβουλον καὶ συμβαλὼν καὶ κρατήσας τῇ μάχῃ συνεδίωξεν ἐπὶ Ἱεροσόλυμα καὶ περικαθίσας τὸ στρατόπεδον ἐπολιόρκει τὴν πόλιν.
ὡς Σκαῦρον πέμψαντος ἀπὸ Ἀρμενίας εἰς Συρίαν Μάγνου Πομπηίου ἧκον πρὸς αὐτὸν ἀπό τε Ὑρκανοῦ καὶ Ἀριστοβούλου πρέσβεις περὶ συμμαχίας παρακαλοῦντες.

[¶10] However, although this had been her way of governing, she preserved the nation in peace.

> Greek: ὅτι Σκαῦρος τετρακοσίοις διαφθαρεὶς ταλάντοις Ἀριστοβούλῳ προσέθετο.
ὡς Ὑρκανὸς καὶ Ἀριστόβουλος περὶ τῆς βασιλείας ἐπὶ Πομπηίου δικαιολογοῦνται.

[¶11] And this is the conclusion of the affairs of, Alexandra.

> Greek: [ὡς Πομπηίου εἰς Δαμασκὸν ἐκ τῆς Ἀρμενίας ἐλθόντος Ἀριστόβουλος καὶ Ὑρκανὸς ἐπὶ αὐτὸν ἧκον περὶ τῆς βασιλείας δικαιολογούμενοι.]

[¶12] WE have related the affairs of queen Alexandra, and her death, in the foregoing book and will now speak of what followed, and was connected with those histories; declaring, before we proceed, that we have nothing so much at heart as this, that we may omit no facts, either through ignorance or laziness;

> Greek: *πομπηίου ὑπέρθεσις διαγνώσεσθαι φήσαντος περὶ ὧν ἀλλήλοις ἐνεκάλουν, ἐπειδὰν εἰς τὴν ἐκείνων χώραν παραγένηται, καὶ ὅτι συνεὶς Ἀριστόβουλος τίνα ἔχει διάνοιαν Πομπήιος ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς Ἰουδαίαν, καὶ ὡς ἀγανακτήσαντος αὐτοῦ καὶ στρατεύσαντος ἐπ' αὐτὸν εἰς Ἀλεξάνδρειον Ἀριστόβουλος ἀνεχώρησεν τὸ φρούριον ὀχυρὸν ὂν καὶ δυσκαταμάχητον.

[¶13] for we are upon the history and explication of such things as the greatest part are unacquainted withal, because of their distance from our times;

> Greek: ὡς Πομπήιος τοῦτο συνιδὼν στρατηγήματι χρησάμενος ἔπεισεν τὸν Ἀριστόβουλον καταλιπόντα τὸ φρούριον καταβῆναι πρὸς αὐτὸν ὡς βεβαιωσόμενον αὐτῷ τὴν ἡγεμονίαν, οἷς πεισθέντα καὶ πολλάκις δικαιολογησάμενον πρὸς τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἠνάγκασε τοῖς φουράρχοις τῇ αὐτοῦ χειρὶ γράψαι καὶ παραδοῦναι αὐτῷ τὰ φρούρια.
ὡς Ἀριστόβουλος τοῦτο ποιήσας διὰ φόβον ἔπειτα δυσχεράνας ἐπὶ τῷ μηδενὸς ὧν προσεδόκα παρὰ Πομπηίου τυγχάνειν ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα.

[¶14] and we aim to do it with a proper beauty of style, so far as that is derived from proper words harmonically disposed, and from such ornaments of speech also as may contribute to the pleasure of our readers, that they may entertain the knowledge of what we write with some agreeable satisfaction and pleasure.

> Greek: ὡς Πομπηίου κατὰ πόδας μετὰ τῆς στρατιᾶς παρακολουθήσαντος μετενόησεν Ἀριστόβουλος καὶ προελθὼν ἄχρι Ἱεριχοῦντος ἀπήντησεν αὐτῷ καὶ συγγνώμης τυχεῖν δεηθεὶς περὶ τῶν ἡμαρτημένων τήν τε πόλιν καὶ τὰ χρήματα παραδώσειν ὑπέσχετο, καὶ Πομπηίου πέμψαντος Γαβίνιον μετὰ ἐπιλέκτων στρατιωτῶν ἐπί τε τὴν τῆς πόλεως παράληψιν καὶ τῶν χρημάτων οἱ Ἱεροσολυμῖται τὸν Ἀριστόβουλον ὁρῶντες ἐν φυλακῇ καθεστῶτα τὰς πύλας ἀπέκλεισαν τοῖς Ῥωμαίοις.

[¶15] But the principal scope that authors ought to aim at above all the rest, is to speak accurately, and to speak truly, for the satisfaction of those that are otherwise unacquainted with such transactions, and obliged to believe what these writers inform them of.

> Greek: ὡς ἐπὶ τούτῳ παροξυνθεὶς Πομπήιος Ἀριστόβουλον μὲν ἔδησεν, προσαγαγὼν δὲ τὴν δύναμιν ἐπολιόρκει τὴν πόλιν, καὶ δέχονται μὲν αὐτὸν οἱ τὰ Ὑρκανοῦ φρονοῦντες εἰς τὴν πόλιν τὴν ἄνω, οἱ δὲ τὰ Ἀριστοβούλου φεύγουσιν εἰς τὸ ἱερόν.
ὡς αἱρεῖ κατὰ κράτος τὸ ἱερὸν καὶ τὴν κάτω πόλιν ὁ Πομπήιος τῷ τρίτῳ μηνί.
περὶ τῆς ἐπιεικείας αὐτοῦ καὶ θεοσεβείας, ὅτι μηδενὸς ἔψαυσεν τῶν ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ πολλῶν ὄντων τῶν ἐν αὐτῷ χρημάτων.

[¶16] Hyrcanus then began his high priesthood on the third year of the hundred and seventy-seventh olympiad, when Quintus Hortensius and Quintus Metellus, who was called Metellus of Crete, were consuls at Rome;

> Greek: ὅτι ταῦτα διαπραξάμενος καὶ τὴν Ἰουδαίαν ποιήσας φόροις ὑποτελῆ καὶ Ὑρκανὸν ἀποδείξας ἐθνάρχην Ἀριστόβουλον μὲν δέσμιον μετὰ τῆς γενεᾶς εἰς Ῥώμην ἀνήγαγεν, Σκαῦρον δὲ τῆς Συρίας ἐπίτροπον κατέλιπεν.

[¶17] when presently Aristobulus began to make war against him;

> Greek: ὅτι Σκαύρου στρατεύσαντος ἐπὶ Πέτραν βασίλειον οὖσαν τῶν Ἀράβων καὶ πολιορκοῦντος, ἐν ἐνδείᾳ τῶν στρατιωτῶν αὐτοῦ γενομένων Ἀντίπατρος πείθει τὸν Ἄραβα δόντα Σκαύρῳ τάλαντα τριακόσια συμμαχίαν πρὸς αὐτὸν ποιήσασθαι.

[¶18] and as it came to a battle with Hyrcanus at Jericho, many of his soldiers deserted him, and went over to his brother;

> Greek: ὡς Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ Ἀριστοβούλου παῖς φυγὼν Πομπήιον καὶ παραγενόμενος εἰς Ἰουδαίαν στρατιᾶς αὐτῷ πολλῆς γενομένης πόλεμον ἐξήνεγκεν πρὸς Ὑρκανὸν καὶ Ἀντίπατρον.
ὡς ὑπὸ Γαβινίου κρατηθεὶς τῇ μάχῃ καὶ κατακλεισθεὶς εἰς Ἀλεξάνδρειον τὸ φρούριον ἐπολιορκεῖτο.

[¶19] upon which Hyrcanus fled into the citadel, where Aristobulus’s wife and children were imprisoned by their mother, as we have said already, and attacked and overcame those his adversaries that had fled thither, and lay within the walls of the temple.

> Greek: ὡς Γαβίνιος πεισάσης τῆς μητρὸς τῆς Ἀλεξάνδρου παραδοῦναι αὐτόν τε καὶ τὸ φρούριον λαβὼν τὸν μὲν Ἀλέξανδρον ἀφῆκεν, ἔγραψεν δὲ καὶ τῇ συγκλήτῳ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ, οἳ ἦσαν μετὰ Ἀριστοβούλου τοῦ πατρὸς δεδεμένοι, λῦσαι καὶ ἀποπέμψαι πρὸς τὴν μητέρα, δηλῶν αὐτῆς τὸ πρὸς Ῥωμαίους πισὸν καὶ ὡς ἔστιν ἀξία ταύτης τῆς χάριτος τυγχάνειν.
ὡς μετὰ ταῦτα φυγόντα ἐκ Ῥώμης Ἀριστόβουλον εἰς Ἰουδαίαν λαβὼν Γαβίνιος αἰχμάλωτον πάλιν ἀνέπεμψεν εἰς Ῥώμην.

[¶20] So when he had sent a message to his brother about agreeing the matters between them, he laid aside his enmity to him on these conditions, that Aristobulus should be king, that he should live without intermeddling with public affairs, and quietly enjoy the estate he had acquired.

> Greek: Κράσσου κατὰ τὴν ἐπὶ Πάρθους στρατείαν εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν ἀνάβασις καὶ σύλησις τῶν ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ χρημάτων.
φυγὴ Πομπηίου εἰς Ἤπειρον καὶ Σκιπίωνος ὑπ' αὐτοῦ πεμφθέντος εἰς Συρίαν ἄφιξις ἐντολὴν ἔχοντος ἀποκτεῖναι Ἀλέξανδρον.

[¶21] When they had agreed upon these terms in the temple, and had confirmed the agreement with oaths, and the giving one an.

> Greek: ὅτι Καῖσαρ λύσας Ἀριστόβουλον οἷός τε ἦν πέμψαι μετὰ δύο ταγμάτων εἰς Ἰουδαίαν, ἔφθη δ' ὑπὸ τῶν τὰ Πομπηίου φρονούντων διαφθαρεὶς Ἀριστόβουλος φαρμάκῳ.
Καίσαρος ἐπ' Αἰγύπτου στρατεία, καὶ ὡς συνεμάχησαν αὐτῷ Ὑρκανός τε καὶ Ἀντίπατρος καὶ τοὺς Ἰουδαίους αὐτῷ συμμάχους ἐποίησαν.

[¶22] other their right hands, and embracing one another in the sight of the whole multitude, they departed; the one, Aristobulus, to the palace;

> Greek: Ἀντιπάτρου προθύμως ἀγωνισαμένου κατὰ τὴν μάχην ἀριστεία καὶ διὰ τοῦτο φιλία πρὸς Καίσαρα, καὶ ὡς Ὑρκανὸν Καῖσαρ ἐπὶ τῇ νίκῃ χαίρων ἐτίμησεν μεγάλως ἐπιτρέψας αὐτῷ τὰ τῆς πατρίδος ἀναστῆσαι τείχη.

[¶23] and Hyrcanus, as a private man, to the former house of Aristobulus.

> Greek: ὡς Ἀντιπάτρῳ τὴν τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἐπιτροπὴν ἐνεχείρισεν.
Καίσαρος ἐπιστολαὶ καὶ δόγματα συγκλήτου περὶ τῆς πρὸς Ἰουδαίους φιλίας.

[¶24] But there was a certain friend of Hyrcanus, an Idumean, called Antipater, who was very rich, and in his nature an active and a seditious man;

> Greek: ὅτι Ἀντίπατρος τοῖς παισὶν Ἡρώδῃ μὲν τὴν τῆς Γαλιλαίας πρόνοιαν Φασαήλῳ δ' ἐπέτρεψεν τὴν Ἱεροσολύμων.
ὡς Καῖσαρ Σέξστος δωροδοκηθεὶς ὑφ' Ἡρώδου ἡγεμόνος ὄντος ἐν Συρίᾳ μέγαν καὶ ἔνδοξον ἐποίησεν Ἡρώδην καταστήσας ἄρχοντα τῆς κοίλης Συρίας.

[¶25] who was at enmity with Aristobulus, and had differences with him on account of his good-will to Hyrcanus.

> Greek: ὡς Κάσσιος Καίσαρος ἀποθανόντος εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν ἀναβὰς τήν τε χώραν ἐκάκωσεν καὶ τάλαντα ὀκτακόσια παρ' αὐτῶν εἰσεπράξατο, πῶς τε Ἡρώδης ἐκ τῆς εἰσπράξεως τῶν χρημάτων σπουδαῖος ἔδοξεν Κασσίῳ.

[¶26] It is true that Nicolatls of Damascus says, that Antipater was of the stock of the principal Jews who came out of Babylon into Judea;

> Greek: Μαλίχου τελευτὴ τοῦ πρὸς Ἡρώδην στασιάσαντος Κασσίου κελεύσαντος.
θάνατος τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς Ἰουδαίας πρεσβευτῶν ὑπὸ Ἀντωνίου μετὰ τὴν ἐν Μακεδονίᾳ νίκην ἐν Συρίᾳ γενομένου καὶ ἀγανακτήσαντος ἐπὶ τῷ Ἡρώδου κατηγορῆσαι. ταῦτα δ' ἔπραξεν χρήμασι πείσαντος αὐτὸν τοῦ Ἡρώδου.

[¶27] but that assertion of his was to gratify Herod, who was his son, and who, by certain revolutions of fortune, came afterward to be king of the Jews, whose history we shall give you in its proper place hereafter.

> Greek: στρατεία Πάρθων εἰς Συρίαν, καθ' ἣν τὸν Ἀριστοβούλου υἱὸν Ἀντίγονον εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν κατήγαγον.
ὡς Ὑρκανὸν καὶ Φασάηλον τὸν ἀδελφὸν Ἡρώδου αἰχμαλώτους ἔλαβον.

[¶28] However, this Antipater was at first called Antipas, and that was his father’s name also;

> Greek: ὡς Ἡρώδης φεύγων ἐκεῖθεν εἰς τὴν Ἰταλίαν παραγενόμενος εἰς τὴν Ῥώμην καὶ δεηθεὶς Ἀντωνίου χρήματα πολλὰ ὑποσχόμενος ἀπεδείχθη ὑπό τε τῆς συγκλήτου καὶ Καίσαρος βασιλεὺς τῆς Ἰουδαίας.
ἔκπλους Ἡρώδου μετὰ ταῦτα ἀπὸ Ῥώμης εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν καὶ μάχη πρὸς Ἀντίγονον στρατιᾶς αὐτῷ Ῥωμαϊκῆς ἑπομένης καὶ ἡγεμόνος Σίλωνος.
ὡς Σίλωνος Ἱεροσόλυμα πολιορκήσαντος ὑπὸ Σοσσίου καὶ Ἡρώδου Ἀντίγονος διεφθάρη.

[¶29] of whom they relate this: That king Alexander and his wife made him general of all Idumea, and that he made a league of friendship with those Arabians, and Gazites, and Ascalonites, that were of his own party, and had, by many and large presents, made them his fast friends.

> Greek: περιέχει ἡ βίβλος χρόνον ἐτῶν λβ. Τῶν δὲ περὶ Ἀλεξάνδραν τὴν βασίλισσαν καὶ τὸν θάνατον αὐτῆς ἐν τῇ πρὸ ταύτης ἡμῖν βίβλῳ δεδηλωμένων τὰ τούτοις ἀκόλουθα καὶ προσεχῆ νῦν ἐροῦμεν, οὐκ ἄλλου τινὸς ἢ τοῦ μηδὲν παραλιπεῖν τῶν πραγμάτων ἢ διʼ ἄγνοιαν ἢ διὰ κάματον τῆς μνήμης προμηθούμενοι.

[¶30] But now this younger Antipater was suspicious of the power of Aristobulus, and was afraid of some mischief he might do him, because of his hatred to him;

> Greek: τὴν γὰρ ἱστορίαν καὶ τὴν μήνυσιν τῶν ἀγνοουμένων τοῖς πολλοῖς πραγμάτων διὰ τὴν ἀρχαιότητα δεῖ μὲν καὶ τὸ τῆς ἀπαγγελίας κάλλος, ὅσον δὴ τοῦτʼ ἔστιν ἔκ τε τῶν ὀνομάτων καὶ τῆς τούτων ἁρμονίας καὶ ὅσα πρὸς τούτοις συμβάλλεται κόσμον τῷ λόγῳ,

[¶31] so he stirred up the most powerful of the Jews, and talked against him to them privately; and said that it was unjust to overlook the conduct of Aristobulus, who had gotten the government unrighteously, and ejected his brother out of it, who was the elder, and ought to retain what belonged to him by prerogative of his birth. And the same speeches he perpetually made to Hyrcanus;

> Greek: τοῖς ἀναγνωσομένοις ἔχειν, ὡς ἂν μετὰ χάριτός τινος καὶ ἡδονῆς τὴν ἐμπειρίαν παραλαμβάνοιεν, πάντων δὲ μᾶλλον τῆς ἀκριβείας τοὺς συγγραφεῖς στοχάζεσθαι μηδὲν τοῦ τἀληθῆ λέγειν τοῖς περὶ ὧν οὐκ ἴσασιν αὐτοὶ πιστεύειν αὐτοῖς μέλλουσιν προτιμῶντας. Παραλαβόντος γὰρ τὴν βασιλείαν Ὑρκανοῦ τῷ τρίτῳ ἔτει τῆς ἑβδόμης καὶ ἑβδομηκοστῆς πρὸς ταῖς ἑκατὸν ὀλυμπιάδος, ὑπατεύοντος Ῥωμαίων Κυίντου Ὁρτησίου καὶ Κυίντου Μετέλλου, ὃς δὴ καὶ Κρητικὸς ἐπεκαλεῖτο, πόλεμον εὐθὺς ἐκφέρει πρὸς αὐτὸν Ἀριστόβουλος, καὶ τῆς μάχης αὐτῷ γενομένης πρὸς Ἱεριχοῦντι πολλοὶ τῶν στρατιωτῶν αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτομολοῦσιν.

[¶32] and told him that his own life would be in danger, unless he guarded himself, and got shut of Aristobulus;

> Greek: οὗ γενομένου φεύγει πρὸς τὴν ἀκρόπολιν Ὑρκανός, ἔνθα συνέβαινεν κατεῖρχθαι τὴν Ἀριστοβούλου γυναῖκα καὶ τοὺς παῖδας αὐτοῦ ὑπὸ τῆς μητρός, καθὼς προειρήκαμεν, καὶ τοὺς ἀντιστασιώτας δὲ καταφυγόντας εἰς τὸν τοῦ ἱεροῦ περίβολον αἱρεῖ προσβαλών.

[¶33] for he said that the friends of Aristobulus omitted no opportunity of advising him to kill him, as being then, and not before, sure to retain his principality.

> Greek: καὶ λόγους ποιησάμενος πρὸς τὸν ἀδελφὸν περὶ συμβάσεως καταλύεται τὴν ἔχθραν ἐπὶ τῷ βασιλεύειν μὲν Ἀριστόβουλον, αὐτὸν δὲ ζῆν ἀπραγμόνως καρπούμενον ἀδεῶς τὴν ὑπάρχουσαν αὐτῷ κτῆσιν.

[¶34] Hyrcanus gave no credit to these words of his, as being of a gentle disposition, and one that did not easily admit of calumnies against other men. This temper of his not disposing him to meddle with public affairs, and want of spirit, occasioned him to appear to spectators to be degenerous and unmanly; while.

> Greek: ταῦτα ἐπὶ τοῖς ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ συνθέμενοι καὶ ὅρκοις καὶ δεξιαῖς πιστωσάμενοι τὰς ὁμολογίας καὶ κατασπασάμενοι τοῦ πλήθους παντὸς ὁρῶντος ἀλλήλους ἀνεχώρησαν, ὁ μὲν εἰς τὰ βασίλεια, Ὑρκανὸς δʼ ὡς ἰδιώτης τυγχάνων εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν τὴν Ἀριστοβούλου. Φίλος δέ τις Ὑρκανοῦ Ἰδουμαῖος Ἀντίπατρος λεγόμενος, πολλῶν μὲν εὐπόρει χρημάτων, δραστήριος δὲ ὢν τὴν φύσιν καὶ στασιαστὴς ἀλλοτρίως εἶχεν πρὸς τὸν Ἀριστόβουλον καὶ διαφόρως διὰ τὴν πρὸς τὸν Ὑρκανὸν εὔνοιαν.

[¶35] Aristo-bulus was of a contrary temper, an active man, and one of a great and generous soul.

> Greek: Νικόλαος μέντοι φησὶν ὁ Δαμασκηνὸς τοῦτον εἶναι γένος ἐκ τῶν πρώτων Ἰουδαίων τῶν ἐκ Βαβυλῶνος εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν ἀφικομένων. ταῦτα δὲ λέγει χαριζόμενος Ἡρώδῃ τῷ παιδὶ αὐτοῦ βασιλεῖ τῶν Ἰουδαίων ἐκ τύχης τινὸς γενομένῳ, περὶ οὗ κατὰ καιρὸν δηλώσομεν.

[¶36] Since therefore Antipater saw that Hyrcanus did not attend to what he said, he never ceased, day by day, to charge reigned crimes upon Aristobulus, and to calumniate him before him, as if he had a mind to kill him; and so, by urging him perpetually, he advised him, and persuaded him to fly to Aretas, the king of Arabia;

> Greek: οὗτος τοίνυν ὁ Ἀντίπατρος Ἀντίπας τὸ πρῶτον ἐκαλεῖτο καὶ τῷ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ τοῦτο γὰρ ἦν τὸ ὄνομα, ὃν Ἀλεξάνδρου τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ τῆς γυναικὸς αὐτοῦ στρατηγὸν ἀποδειξάντων ὅλης τῆς Ἰδουμαίας ποιήσασθαι φιλίαν πρὸς τοὺς ὁμοροῦντας αὐτῷ Ἄραβας καὶ Γαζαίους καὶ Ἀσκαλωνίτας λέγουσιν πολλαῖς αὐτοὺς καὶ μεγάλαις ἐξιδιωσάμενον δωρεαῖς.

[¶37] and promised, that if he would comply with his advice, he would also himself assist him and go with him]. When Hyrcanus heard this, he said that it was for his advantage to fly away to Aretas.

> Greek: τὴν οὖν Ἀριστοβούλου δυναστείαν ὁ νεώτερος Ἀντίπατρος ὑφορώμενος καὶ δεδιώς, μή τι πάθῃ διὰ τὸ πρὸς αὐτὸν μῖσος, ἐπισυνιστᾷ κατʼ αὐτοῦ κρύφα διαλεγόμενος τῶν Ἰουδαίων τοὺς δυναστεύοντας, ἄδικον εἶναι λέγων περιορᾶν Ἀριστόβουλον ἀδίκως ἔχοντα τὴν ἀρχήν, καὶ τὸν μὲν ἀδελφὸν ταύτης ἐκβεβληκότα πρεσβύτερον ὄντα, κατέχοντα δʼ αὐτὴν οὖσαν ἐκείνου διὰ τὸ πρεσβεῖον.

[¶38] Now Arabia is a country that borders upon Judea. However, Hyrcanus sent Antipater first to the king of Arabia, in order to receive assurances from him, that when he should come in the manner of a supplicant to him, he would not deliver him up to his enemies.

> Greek: τούτους τε συνεχῶς πρὸς τὸν Ὑρκανὸν ποιούμενος διετέλει τοὺς λόγους, καὶ ὅτι κινδυνεύσει τῷ ζῆν, εἰ μὴ φυλάξαιτο ποιήσας αὑτὸν ἐκποδών· τοὺς γὰρ φίλους τοὺς Ἀριστοβούλου μηδένα παραλείπειν καιρὸν ἔλεγεν συμβουλεύοντας αὐτὸν ἀνελεῖν ὡς τότε βεβαίως ἕξοντα τὴν ἀρχήν.

[¶39] So Antipater having received such assurances, returned to Hyrcanus to Jerusalem. A while afterward he took Hyrcanus, and stole out of the city by night, and went a great journey, and came and brought him to the city called Petra, where the palace of Aretas was;

> Greek: τούτοις Ὑρκανὸς ἠπίστει τοῖς λόγοις φύσει χρηστὸς ὢν καὶ διαβολὴν διʼ ἐπιείκειαν οὐ προσιέμενος ῥᾳδίως. ἐποίει δʼ αὐτὸν τὸ ἄπραγμον καὶ τὸ παρειμένον τῆς διανοίας τοῖς ὁρῶσιν ἀγεννῆ καὶ ἄνανδρον δοκεῖν· τῆς δʼ ἐναντίας φύσεως ἦν Ἀριστόβουλος, δραστήριος καὶ διεγηγερμένος τὸ φρόνημα. Ἐπειδὴ τοίνυν ὁ Ἀντίπατρος οὐ προσέχοντα ἑώρα τοῖς λόγοις τὸν Ὑρκανόν, οὐ διέλιπεν ἑκάστης ἡμέρας πλαττόμενος καὶ διαβάλλων πρὸς αὐτὸν τὸν Ἀριστόβουλον ὡς ἀποκτεῖναι θέλοντα, καὶ μόλις ἐγκείμενος πείθει πρὸς Ἀρέταν αὐτῷ συμβουλεύσας φυγεῖν τὸν Ἀράβων βασιλέα· πεισθέντι γὰρ ἔσεσθαι καὶ αὐτὸς σύμμαχος ὑπισχνεῖτο.

[¶40] and as he was a very familiar friend of that king, he persuaded him to bring back Hyrcanus into Judea, and this persuasion he continued every day without any intermission.

> Greek: ὁ δὲ ταῦτʼ ἀκούων συμφέρειν ἦν ἐπὶ τῷ πρὸς τὸν Ἀρέταν ἀποδρᾶναι, ἔστιν δὲ ὅμορος τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ Ἀραβία, καὶ δὴ πέμπει πρῶτον Ὑρκανὸς πρὸς τὸν τῶν Ἀράβων βασιλέα τὸν Ἀντίπατρον ληψόμενον πίστεις, ὡς οὐκ ἐκδώσει τοῖς ἐχθροῖς ἱκέτην αὐτοῦ γενόμενον.

[¶41] He also proposed to make him presents on that account. At length he prevailed with Aretas in his suit.

> Greek: λαβὼν δὲ τὰς πίστεις ὁ Ἀντίπατρος ὑπέστρεψε πρὸς Ὑρκανὸν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα, καὶ μετʼ οὐ πολὺ παραλαβὼν αὐτὸν καὶ τῆς πόλεως ὑπεξελθὼν νύκτωρ καὶ πολλὴν ἀνύσας ὁδὸν ἧκεν ἄγων εἰς τὴν καλουμένην Πέτραν, ὅπου τὰ βασίλεια ἦν τῷ Ἀρέτᾳ.
μάλιστα δὲ ὢν φίλος τῷ βασιλεῖ κατάγειν τὸν Ὑρκανὸν εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν παρεκάλει· καὶ τοῦθʼ ἑκάστης ἡμέρας ποιῶν καὶ οὐκ ἀνιείς, ἀλλὰ καὶ δωρεὰς προϊέμενος, πείθει τὸν Ἀρέταν.

[¶42] 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.

> Greek: οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ Ὑρκανὸς ὑπέσχετο αὐτῷ καταχθεὶς καὶ τὴν βασιλείαν κομισάμενος ἀποδώσειν τήν τε χώραν καὶ τὰς δώδεκα πόλεις, ἃς Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ τῶν Ἀράβων ἀφείλετο. ἦσαν δʼ αὗται Μήδαβα, Λιββα, Ναβαλώθ, Ἀραβαθα, Γαλανθώνη, Ζωϊρα, Ὠρωναιδιγωβασιλισσαρυδδα, Αλουσα, Ωρυβδα.