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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 （23） 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。
6。 So when Alexander had thus settled matters at Jerusalem； he
led his army into the neighboring cities； and when all the
inhabitants to whom he came received him with great kindness； the
Samaritans； who had then Shechem for their metropolis； （a city
situate at Mount Gerizzim； and inhabited by apostates of the
Jewish nation；） seeing that Alexander had so greatly honored the
Jews； determined to profess themselves Jews； for such is the
disposition of the Samaritans； as we have already elsewhere
declared； that when the Jews are in adversity； they deny that
they are of kin to them； and then they confess the truth； but
when they perceive that some good fortune hath befallen them；
they immediately pretend to have communion with them； saying that
they belong to them； and derive their genealogy from the
posterity of Joseph； Ephraim； and Manasseh。 Accordingly； they
made their address to the king with splendor； and showed great
alacrity in meeting him at a little distance from Jerusalem。 And
when Alexander had commended them； the Shechemites approached to
him； taking with them the troops that Sanballat had sent him； and
they desired that he would come to their city； and do honor to
their temple also； to whom he promised； that when he returned he
would come to them。 And when they petitioned that he would remit
the tribute of the seventh year to them； because they did but sow
thereon； he asked who they were that made such a petition； and
when they said that they were Hebrews； but had the name of
Sidonians； living at Shechem； he asked them again whether they
were Jews； and when they said they were not Jews； 〃It was to the
Jews；〃 said he； 〃that I granted that privilege； however； when I
return； and am thoroughly informed by you of this matter； I will
do what I shall think proper。〃 And in this manner he took leave
of the Shechenlites； but ordered that the troops of Sanballat
should follow him into Egypt； because there he designed to give
them lands； which he did a little after in Thebais； when he
ordered them to guard that country。
7。 Now when Alexander was dead； the government was parted among
his successors； but the temple upon Mount Gerizzim remained。 And
if any one were accused by those of Jerusalem of having eaten
things common （24） or of having broken the sabbath； or of any
other crime of the like nature； he fled away to the Shechemites；
and said that he was accused unjustly。 About this time it was
that Jaddua the high priest died； and Onias his son took the high
priesthood。 This was the state of the affairs of the people of
Jerusalem at this time。
BOOK XII。
Containing The Interval Of A Hundred And Seventy Years。
From The Death Of Alexander The Great To The Death Of Judas
Maccabeus。
CHAPTER 1。
How Ptolemy The Son Of Lagus Took Jerusalem And Judea By Deceit
And Treachery； And Carried Many Thence； And Planted Them In
Egypt。
1。 Now when Alexander； king of Macedon； had put an end to the
dominion of the Persians； and had settled the affairs in Judea
after the forementioned manner； he ended his life。 And as his
government fell among many； Antigonus obtained Asia； Seleucus
Babylon； and of the other nations which were there； Lysimachus
governed the Hellespont； and Cassander possessed Macedonia； as
did Ptolemy the son of Lagus seize upon Egypt。 And while these
princes ambitiously strove one against another； every one for his
own principality； it came to pass that there were continual wars；
and those lasting wars too； and the cities were sufferers； and
lost a great many of their inhabitants in these times of
distress； insomuch that all Syria； by the means of Ptolemy the
son of Lagus； underwent the reverse of that denomination of
Savior； which he then had。 He also seized upon Jerusalem； and for
that end made use of deceit and treachery； for as he came into
the city on a sabbath day； as if he would offer sacrifices （1）
he； without any trouble； gained the city； while the Jews did not
oppose him； for they did not suspect him to be their enemy； and
he gained it thus； because they were free from suspicion of him；
and because on that day they were at rest and quietness； and when
he had gained it； he ruled over it in a cruel manner。 Nay；
Agatharchides of Cnidus； who wrote the acts of Alexander's
successors； reproaches us with superstition； as if we； by it； had
lost our liberty； where he says thus： 〃There is a nation called
the nation of the Jews； who inhabit a city strong and great；
named Jerusalem。 These men took no care； but let it come into the
hands of Ptolemy； as not willing to take arms； and thereby they
submitted to be under a hard master； by reason of their
unseasonable superstition。〃 This is what Agatharchides relates of
our nation。 But when Ptolemy had taken a great many captives；
both from the mountainous parts of Judea； and from the places
about Jerusalem and Samaria； and the places near Mount Gerizzim；
he led them all into Egypt； （2） and settled them there。 And as he
knew that the people of Jerusalem were most faithful in the
observation of oaths and covenants； and this from the answer they
made to Alexander； when he sent an embassage to them； after he
had beaten Darius in battle； so he distributed many of them into
garrisons； and at Alexandria gave them equal privileges of
citizens with the Macedonians themselves； and required of them to
take their oaths； that they would keep their fidelity to the
posterity of those who committed these places to their care。 Nay；
there were not a few other Jews who； of their own accord； went
into Egypt； as invited by the goodness of the soil； and by the
liberality of Ptolemy。 However； there were disoders among their
posterity； with relation to the Samaritans； on account of their
resolution to preserve that conduct of life which was delivered
to them by their forefathers； and they thereupon contended one
with another； while those of Jerusalem said that their temple was
holy； and resolved to send their sacrifices thither； but the
Samaritans were resolved that they should be sent to Mount
Gerizzim。
CHAPTER 2。
How Ptolemy Philadelphus Procured The Laws Of The Jews To Be
Tr