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them the least regard； either as their subject or their friend；
but his affairs were in a very improving and flourishing
condition in the times of Alexander Zebina； and especially under
these brethren； for the war which they had with one another gave
Hyrcanus the opportunity of enjoying himself in Judea quietly；
insomuch that he got an immense quantity of money。 How ever； when
Antiochus Cyzicenus distressed his land； he then openly showed
what he meant。 And when he saw that Antiochus was destitute of
Egyptian auxiliaries； and that both he and his brother were in an
ill condition in the struggles they had one with another； he
despised them both。
2。 So he made an expedition against Samaria which was a very
strong city； of whose present name Sebaste； and its rebuilding by
Herod； we shall speak at a proper time； but he made his attack
against it； and besieged it with a great deal of pains； for he
was greatly displeased with the Samaritans for the injuries they
had done to the people of Merissa； a colony of the Jews； and
confederate with them； and this in compliance to the kings of
Syria。 When he had therefore drawn a ditch； and built a double
wall round the city； which was fourscore furlongs long； he set
his sons Antigonus and Arisrobulna over the siege； which brought
the Samaritans to that great distress by famine； that they were
forced to eat what used not to be eaten； and to call for
Antiochus Cyzicenus to help them； who came readily to their
assistance； but was beaten by Aristobulus； and when he was
pursued as far as Scythopolis by the two brethren； he got away。
So they returned to Samaria； and shut them again within the wall；
till they were forced to send for the same Antiochus a second
time to help them； who procured about six thousand men from
Ptolemy Lathyrus； which were sent them without his mother's
consent； who had then in a manner turned him out of his
government。 With these Egyptians Antiochus did at first overrun
and ravage the country of Hyrcanus after the manner of a robber；
for he durst not meet him in the face to fight with him； as not
having an army sufficient for that purpose； but only from this
supposal； that by thus harassing his land he should force
Hyrcanus to raise the siege of Samaria； but because he fell into
snares； and lost many of his soldiers therein； he went away to
Tripoli； and committed the prosecution of the war against the
Jews to Callimander and Epicrates。
3。 But as to Callimander； he attacked the enemy too rashly； and
was put to flight； and destroyed immediately； and as to
Epicrates； he was such a lover of money； that he openly betrayed
Scythopolis； and other places near it； to the Jews； but was not
able to make them raise the siege of Samaria。 And when Hyrcanus
had taken that city； which was not done till after a year's
siege； he was not contented with doing that only； but he
demolished it entirely； and brought rivulets to it to drown it；
for he dug such hollows as might let the water run under it； nay；
he took away the very marks that there had ever been such a city
there。 Now a very surprising thing is related of this high priest
Hyrcanus； how God came to discourse with him； for they say that
on the very same day on which his sons fought with Antiochus
Cyzicenus； he was alone in the temple； as high priest； offering
incense； and heard a voice； that his sons had just then overcome
Antiochus。 And this he openly declared before all the multitude
upon his coming out of the temple； and it accordingly proved
true； and in this posture were the affairs of Hyrcanus。
4。 Now it happened at this time； that not only those Jews who
were at Jerusalem and in Judea were in prosperity； but also those
of them that were at Alexandria； and in Egypt and Cyprus； for
Cleopatra the queen was at variance with her son Ptolemy； who was
called Lathyrus； and appointed for her generals Chelcias and
Ananias； the sons of that Onias who built the temple in the
prefecture of Heliopolis； like to that at Jerusalem； as we have
elsewhere related。 Cleopatra intrusted these men with her army；
and did nothing without their advice； as Strabo of Cappadocia
attests； when he saith thus； 〃Now the greater part； both those
that came to Cyprus with us； and those that were sent afterward
thither； revolted to Ptolemy immediately； only those that were
called Onias's party； being Jews； continued faithful； because
their countrymen Chelcias and Ananias were in chief favor with
the queen。〃 These are the words of Strabo。
5。 However； this prosperous state of affairs moved the Jews to
envy Hyrcanus； but they that were the worst disposed to him were
the Pharisees； （28） who were one of the sects of the Jews； as we
have informed you already。 These have so great a power over the
multitude； that when they say any thing against the king； or
against the high priest； they are presently believed。 Now
Hyrcanus was a disciple of theirs； and greatly beloved by them。
And when he once invited them to a feast； and entertained them
very kindly； when he saw them in a good humor； he began to say to
them； that they knew he was desirous to be a righteous man； and
to do all things whereby he might please God； which was the
profession of the Pharisees also。 However； he desired； that if
they observed him offending in any point； and going out of the
right way； they would call him back and correct him。 On which
occasion they attested to his being entirely virtuous； with which
commendation he was well pleased。 But still there was one of his
guests there； whose name was Eleazar； a man of an ill temper； and
delighting in seditious practices。 This man said；〃 Since thou
desirest to know the truth； if thou wilt be righteous in earnest；
lay down the high priesthood； and content thyself with the civil
government of the people；〃 And when he desired to know for what
cause he ought to lay down the high priesthood； the other
replied； 〃We have heard it from old men； that thy mother had been
a captive under the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes。 （29）〃 This
story was false； and Hyrcanus was provoked against him； and all
the Pharisees had a very great indignation against him。
6。 Now there was one Jonathan； a very great friend of Hyrcanus's；
but of the sect of the Sadducees； whose notions are quite
contrary to those of the Pharisees。 He told Hyrcanus that Eleazar
had cast such a reproach upon him； according to the common
sentiments of all the Pharisees； and that this would be made
manifest if he would but ask them the question； What punishment
they thought this man deserved？ for that he might depend upon it；
that the reproach was not laid on him with their approbation； if
they were for punishing him as his crime deserved。 So the
Pharisees made answer； that he deserved stripes and bonds； but
that it did not seem right to punish reproaches with death。 And
indeed the Pharisees； even upon other occasions； are not apt to
be severe in punishments。 At this gentle sentence； Hyrcanus was
very angry； and thought that this man reproached him by their
approbation。 It was this Jonathan who chiefly irritated him； and
influenced him so far； that he made him leave the party of the
Pharisees； and abolish the decrees they had imposed on the
people； and to punish those that observed them。 From this source
arose that hatred which he and his sons met with from the
multitude： but of these matters we shall speak hereafter。 What I
would now explain is this； that the Pharisees have delivered to
the people a great many observances by succession from their
fathers； which are not written in the laws of Moses； and for that
reason it is that the Sadducees reject them； and say that we are
to esteem those observances to be obligatory which are in the
written word； but are not to observe what are derived from the
tradition of our forefathers。 And concerning these things it is
that great disputes and differences have arisen among them； while
the Sadducees are able to persuade none but the rich； and have
not the populace obsequious to them； but the Pharisees have the
multitude on their side。 But about these two sects； and that of
the Essens； I have treated accurately in the second book of
Jewish affairs。
7。 But when Hyrcanus had put an end to this sedition； he after
that lived happily； and administered the government in the best
manner for thirty…one years； and then died； （30） leaving behind
him five sons。 He was esteemed by God worthy of three of the
greatest privileges； … the government of his nation； the dignity
of the high priesthood； and prophecy； for God was with him； and
enabled him to know futurities； and to foretell this in
particular； that； as to his two eldest sons； he foretold that
they would not long continue in the government of public affairs；
whose unhappy catastrophe will be worth our description； that we
may thence learn how very much they were inferior to their
father's happiness。
CHAPTER 11。
How Aristobulus； When He Had Taken The Government First Of All
Put A Diadem On His Head； And Was Most Barbarously Cruel To His
Mother And His Brethren； And How； After He Had Slain Antigonus；
He Himself Died。
1。 Now when their father Hyrcanus was dead； the eldest son
Aris