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had slain his own brother Jesus in the temple; he came upon the
Jews immediately; and began in anger to say to them;〃 Have you
had the impudence to perpetrate a murder in your temple?〃 And as
he was aiming to go into the temple; they forbade him so to do;
but he said to them;〃 Am not I purer than he that was slain in
the temple?〃 And when he had said these words; he went into the
temple。 Accordingly; Bagoses made use of this pretense; and
punished the Jews seven years for the murder of Jesus。
2。 Now when John had departed this life; his son Jaddua succeeded
in the high priesthood。 He had a brother; whose name was
Manasseh。 :Now there was one Sanballat; who was sent by Darius;
the last king 'of Persia'; into Samaria。 He was a Cutheam by
birth; of which stock were the Samaritans also。 This man knew
that the city Jerusalem was a famous city; and that their kings
had given a great deal of trouble to the Assyrians; and the
people of Celesyria; so that he willingly gave his daughter;
whose name was Nicaso; in marriage to Manasseh; as thinking this
alliance by marriage would be a pledge and security that the
nation of the Jews should continue their good…will to him。
CHAPTER 8。
Concerning Sanballat And Manasseh; And The Temple Which They
Built On Mount Gerizzim; As Also How Alexander Made His Entry
Into The City Jerusalem; And What Benefits He Bestowed On The
Jews。
1。 About this time it was that Philip; king of Macedon; was
treacherously assaulted and slain at Egae by Pausanias; the son
of Cerastes; who was derived from the family of Oreste; and his
son Alexander succeeded him in the kingdom; who; passing over the
Hellespont; overcame the generals of Darius's army in a battle
fought at Granicum。 So he marched over Lydia; and subdued Ionia;
and overran Caria; and fell upon the places of Pamphylia; as has
been related elsewhere。
2。 But the elders of Jerusalem being very uneasy that the brother
of Jaddua the high priest; though married to a foreigner; should
be a partner with him in the high priesthood; quarreled with him;
for they esteemed this man's marriage a step to such as should be
desirous of transgressing about the marriage of 'strange' wives;
and that this would be the beginning of a mutual society with
foreigners; although the offense of some about marriages; and
their having married wives that were not of their own country;
had been an occasion of their former captivity; and of the
miseries they then underwent; so they commanded Manasseh to
divorce his wife; or not to approach the altar; the high priest
himself joining with the people in their indignation against his
brother; and driving him away from the altar。 Whereupon Manasseh
came to his father…in…law; Sanballat; and told him; that although
he loved his daughter Nicaso; yet was he not willing to be
deprived of his sacerdotal dignity on her account; which was the
principal dignity in their nation; and always continued in the
same family。 And then Sanballat promised him not only to preserve
to him the honor of his priesthood; but to procure for him the
power and dignity of a high priest; and would make him governor
of all the places he himself now ruled; if he would keep his
daughter for his wife。 He also told him further; that he would
build him a temple like that at Jerusalem; upon Mount Gerizzini;
which is the highest of all the mountains that are in Samaria;
and he promised that he would do this with the approbation of
Darius the king。 Manasseh was elevated with these promises; and
staid with Sanballat; upon a supposal that he should gain a high
priesthood; as bestowed on him by Darius; for it happened that
Sanballat was then in years。 But there was now a great
disturbance among the people of Jerusalem; because many of those
priests and Levites were entangled in such matches; for they all
revolted to Manasseh; and Sanballat afforded them money; and
divided among them land for tillage; and habitations also; and
all this in order every way to gratify his son…in…law。
3。 About this time it was that Darius heard how Alexander had
passed over the Hellespont; and had beaten his lieutenants in the
battle at Granicum; and was proceeding further; whereupon he
gathered together an army of horse and foot; and determined that
he would meet the Macedonians before they should assault and
conquer all Asia。 So he passed over the river Euphrates; and came
over Taurus; the Cilician mountain; and at Issus of Cilicia he
waited for the enemy; as ready there to give him battle。 Upon
which Sanballat was glad that Darius was come down; and told
Manasseh that he would suddenly perform his promises to him; and
this as soon as ever Darius should come back; after he had beaten
his enemies; for not he only; but all those that were in Asia
also; were persuaded that the Macedonians would not so much as
come to a battle with the Persians; on account of their
multitude。 But the event proved otherwise than they expected; for
the king joined battle with the Macedonians; and was beaten; and
lost a great part of his army。 His mother also; and his wife and
children; were taken captives; and he fled into Persia。 So
Alexander came into Syria; and took Damascus; and when he had
obtained Sidon; he besieged Tyre; when he sent all epistle to the
Jewish high priest; to send him some auxiliaries; and to supply
his army with provisions; and that what presents he formerly sent
to Darius; he would now send to him; and choose the friendship of
the Macedonians; and that he should never repent of so doing。 But
the high priest answered the messengers; that he had given his
oath to Darius not to bear arms against him; and he said that he
would not transgress this while Darius was in the land of the
living。 Upon hearing this answer; Alexander was very angry; and
though he determined not to leave Tyre; which was just ready to
be taken; yet as soon as he had taken it; he threatened that he
would make an expedition against the Jewish high priest; and
through him teach all men to whom they must keep their oaths。 So
when he had; with a good deal of pains during the siege; taken
Tyre; and had settled its affairs; he came to the city of Gaza;
and besieged both the city and him that was governor of the
garrison; whose name was Babemeses。
4。 But Sanballat thought he had now gotten a proper opportunity
to make his attempt; so he renounced Darius; and taking with him
seven thousand of his own subjects; he came to Alexander; and
finding him beginning the siege of Tyre; he said to him; that he
delivered up to him these men; who came out of places under his
dominion; and did gladly accept of him for his lord instead of
Darius。 So when Alexander had received him kindly; Sanballat
thereupon took courage; and spake to him about his present
affair。 He told him that he had a son…in…law; Manasseh; who was
brother to the high priest Jaddua; and that there were many
others of his own nation; now with him; that were desirous to
have a temple in the places subject to him; that it would be for
the king's advantage to have the strength of the Jews divided
into two parts; lest when the nation is of one mind; and united;
upon any attempt for innovation; it prove troublesome to kings;
as it had formerly proved to the kings of Assyria。 Whereupon
Alexander gave Sanballat leave so to do; who used the utmost
diligence; and built the temple; and made Manasseh the priest;
and deemed it a great reward that his daughter's children should
have that dignity; but when the seven months of the siege of Tyre
were over; and the two months of the siege of Gaza; Sanballat
died。 Now Alexander; when he had taken Gaza; made haste to go up
to Jerusalem; and Jaddua the high priest; when he heard that; was
in an agony; and under terror; as not knowing how he should meet
the Macedonians; since the king was displeased at his foregoing
disobedience。 He therefore ordained that the people should make
supplications; and should join with him in offering sacrifice to
God; whom he besought to protect that nation; and to deliver them
from the perils that were coming upon them; whereupon God warned
him in a dream; which came upon him after he had offered
sacrifice; that he should take courage; and adorn the city; and
open the gates; that the rest should appear in white garments;
but that he and the priests should meet the king in the habits
proper to their order; without the dread of any ill consequences;
which the providence of God would prevent。 Upon which; when he
rose from his sleep; he greatly rejoiced; and declared to all the
warning he had received from God。 According to which dream he
acted entirely; and so waited for the coming of the king。
5。 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