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born to taste of the sacrifice； before he had been at the temple
and sacrificed to God。 According to which way of reasoning he did
not himself come to him in expectation of the present he was to
make to him； as to one who had been his father's benefactor； and
that he had punished the slave for disobeying his commands； for
that it mattered not Whether a master was little or great： so
that unless we punish such as these； thou thyself mayst also
expect to be despised by thy subjects。〃 Upon hearing this his
answer he fell a laughing； and wondered at the great soul of the
child。
9。 When Arion was apprized that this was the king's disposition；
and that he had no way to help himself； he gave the child a
thousand talents； and was let out of prison。 So after three days
were over； Hyrcanus came and saluted the king and queen。 They saw
him with pleasure； and feasted him in an obliging manner； out of
the respect they bare to his father。 So he came to the merchants
privately； and bought a hundred boys； that had learning； and were
in the flower of their ages； each at a talent apiece； as also he
bought a hundred maidens； each at the same price as the other。
And when he was invited to feast with the king among the
principal men in the country； he sat down the lowest of them all；
because he was little regarded； as a child in age still； and this
by those who placed every one according to their dignity。 Now
when all those that sat with him had laid the bones Of the
several parts on a heap before Hyrcanus； （for they had themselves
taken away the flesh belonging to them；） till the table where he
sat was filled full with them； Trypho； who was the king's jester；
and was appointed for jokes and laughter at festivals； was now
asked by the guests that sat at the table ＇to expose him to
laughter＇。 So he stood by the king； and said； 〃Dost thou not see；
my lord； the bones that lie by Hyrcanus？ by this similitude thou
mayst conjecture that his father made all Syria as bare as he
hath made these bones。〃 And the king laughing at what Trypho
said； and asking of Hyrcanus； How he came to have so many bones
before him？ he replied；〃 Very rightfully； my lord； for they are
dogs that eat the flesh and the bones together； as these thy
guests have done； （looking in the mean time at those guests；） for
there is nothing before them； but they are men that eat the
flesh； and cast away the hones； as I； who am also a man； have now
done。〃 Upon which the king admired at his answer； which was so
wisely made； and bid them all make an acclamation； as a mark of
their approbation of his jest； which was truly a facetious one。
On the next day Hyrcanus went to every one of the king's friends；
and of the men powerful at court； and saluted them； but still
inquired of the servants what present they would make the king on
his son's birthday； and when some said that they would give
twelve talents； and that others of greater dignity would every
one give according to the quantity of their riches； he pretended
to every one of them to be grieved that he was not able to bring
so large a present； for that he had no more than five talents。
And when the servants heard what he said； they told their
masters； and they rejoiced in the prospect that Joseph would be
disapproved； and would make the king angry； by the smallness of
his present。 When the day came； the others； even those that
brought the most； offered the king not above twenty talents； but
Hyrcanus gave to every one of the hundred boys and hundred
maidens that he had bought a talent apiece； for them to carry；
and introduced them； the boys to the king； and the maidens to
Cleopatra； every body wondering at the unexpected richness of the
presents； even the king and queen themselves。 He also presented
those that attended about the king with gifts to the value of a
great number of talents； that he might escape the danger he was
in from them； for to these it was that Hyrcanus's brethren had
written to destroy him。 Now Ptolemy admired at the young man's
magnanimity； and commanded him to ask what gift he pleased。 But
he desired nothing else to be done for him by the king than to
write to his father and brethren about him。 So when the king had
paid him very great respects； and had given him very large gifts；
and had written to his father and his brethren； and all his
commanders and officers； about him； he sent him away。 But when
his brethren heard that Hyrcanus had received such favors from
the king； and was returning home with great honor； they went out
to meet him； and to destroy him； and that with the privity of
their father； for he was angry at him for the ＇large＇ sum of
money that he bestowed for presents； and so had no concern for
his preservation。 However； Joseph concealed the anger he had at
his son； out of fear of the king。 And when Hyrcanus's brethren
came to fight him； he slew many others of those that were with
them； as also two of his brethren themselves； but the rest of
them escaped to Jerusalem to their father。 But when Hyrcanus came
to the city； where nobody would receive him； he was afraid for
himself； and retired beyond the river Jordan； and there abode；
but obliging the barbarians to pay their taxes。
10。 At this time Seleucus； who was called Soter； reigned over
Asia； being the son of Antiochus the Great。 And ＇now＇ Hyrcanus's
father； Joseph； died。 He was a good man； and of great
magnanimity； and brought the Jews out of a state of poverty and
meanness； to one that was more splendid。 He retained the farm of
the taxes of Syria； and Phoenicia； and Samaria twenty…two years。
His uncle also； Onias； died ＇about this time＇； and left the high
priesthood to his son Simeon。 And when he was dead； Onias his son
succeeded him in that dignity。 To him it was that Areus； king of
the Lacedemonians； sent an embassage； with an epistle； the copy
whereof here follows：
〃Areus； King Of The Lacedemonians； To Onias； Sendeth Greeting。
〃We have met with a certain writing； whereby we have discovered
that both the Jews and the Lacedemonians are of one stock； and
are derived from the kindred of Abraham （14） It is but just
therefore that you； who are our brethren； should send to us about
any of your concerns as you please。 We will also do the same
thing； and esteem your concerns as our own； and will look upon
our concerns as in common with yours。 Demoteles； who brings you
this letter； will bring your answer back to us。 This letter is
four…square； and the seal is an eagle； with a dragon in his
claws。〃
11。 And these were the contents of the epistle which was sent
from the king of the Lacedemonians。 But； upon the death of
Joseph； the people grew seditious； on account of his sons。 For
whereas the elders made war against Hyrcanus； who was the
youngest of Joseph's sons； the multitude was divided； but the
greater part joined with the elders in this war； as did Simon the
high priest； by reason he was of kin to them。 However； Hyrcanus
determined not to return to Jerusalem any more； but seated
himself beyond Jordan； and was at perpetual war with the
Arabians； and slew many of them； and took many of them captives。
He also erected a strong castle； and built it entirely of white
stone to the very roof； and had animals of a prodigious magnitude
engraven upon it。 He also drew round it a great and deep canal of
water。 He also made caves of many furlongs in length； by
hollowing a rock that was over against him； and then he made
large rooms in it； some for feasting； and some for sleeping and
living in。 He introduced also a vast quantity of waters which ran
along it； and which were very delightful and ornamental in the
court。 But still he made the entrances at the mouth of the caves
so narrow； that no more than one person could enter by them at
once。 And the reason why he built them after that manner was a
good one； it was for his own preservation； lest he should be
besieged by his brethren； and run the hazard of being caught by
them。 Moreover； he built courts of greater magnitude than
ordinary； which he adorned with vastly large gardens。 And when he
had brought the place to this state； he named it Tyre。 This place
is between Arabia and Judea； beyond Jordan； not far from the
country of Heshbon。 And he ruled over those parts for seven
years； even all the time that Seleucus was king of Syria。 But
when he was dead； his brother Antiochus； who was called
Epiphanes； took the kingdom。 Ptolemy also； the king of Egypt；
died； who was besides called Epiphanes。 He left two sons； and
both young in age； the elder of which was called Philometer； and
the youngest Physcon。 As for Hyrcanus； when he saw that Antiochus
had a great army； and feared lest he should be caught by him； and
brought to punishment for what he had done to the Arabians； he
ended his life； and slew himself with his own hand； while
Antiochus seized upon all his substance。
CHAPTER 5。
How； Upon The Quarrels One Against Another About The High
Priesthood Antiochus Made An Expedition Against Jerusalem； Took
The City And Pillaged The Temples。 And Distressed The Jews' As
Also How Many Of The Jews Forsook The Laws Of Their Country； And
How The Samaritans Followed The Customs Of The Greeks And