按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
that authority which belonged to him； and this a man who is
related to us； 〃for （said he） I would not have thee ignorant of
this； that what in。 justice thou dost to him will make all us
that are Jews to be thy enemies。 This desire of Ananias Cleopatra
complied with； and did no injury to Alexander； but made a league
of mutual assistance with him at Scythopolis； a city of
Celesyria。
3。 So when Alexander was delivered from the fear he was in of
Ptolemy； he presently made an expedition against Coelesyria。 He
also took Gadara； after a siege of ten months。 He took also
Areathus； a very strong fortress belonging to the inhabitants
above Jordan； where Theodorus； the son of Zeno； had his chief
treasure； and what he esteemed most precious。 This Zeno fell
unexpectedly upon the Jews； and slew ten thousand of them； and
seized upon Alexander's baggage。 Yet did not this misfortune
terrify Alexander； but he made an expedition upon the maritime
parts of the country； Raphia and Anthedon； （the name of which
king Herod afterwards changed to Agrippias；） and took even that
by force。 But when Alexander saw that Ptolemy was retired from
Gaza to Cyprus； and his mother Cleopatra was returned to Egypt；
he grew angry at the people of Gaza； because they had invited
Ptolemy to assist them； and besieged their city； and ravaged
their country。 But as Apollodotus； the general of the army of
Gaza； fell upon the camp of the Jews by night； with two thousand
foreign and ten thousand of his own forces； while the night
lasted； those of Gaza prevailed； because the enemy was made to
believe that it was Ptolemy who attacked them； but when day was
come on； and that mistake was corrected； and the Jews knew the
truth of the matter； they came back again； and fell upon those of
Gaza； and slew of them about a thousand。 But as those of Gaza
stoutly resisted them； and would not yield for either their want
of any thing； nor for the great multitude that were slain； （for
they would rather suffer any hardship whatever than come under
the power of their enemies；） Aretas； king of the Arabians； a
person then very illustrious； encouraged them to go on with
alacrity； and promised them that he would come to their
assistance； but it happened that before he came Apollodotus was
slain； for his brother Lysimachus envying him for the great
reputation he had gained among the citizens； slew him； and got
the army together； and delivered up the city to Alexander； who；
when he came in at first； lay quiet； but afterward set his army
upon the inhabitants of Gaza； and gave them leave to punish them；
so some went one way； and some went another； and slew the
inhabitants of Gaza； yet were not they of cowardly hearts； but
opposed those that came to slay them； and slew as many of the
Jews； and some of them； when they saw themselves deserted； burnt
their own houses； that the enemy might get none of their spoils；
nay； some of them； with their own hands； slew their children and
their wives； having no other way but this of avoiding slavery for
them； but the senators； who were in all five hundred； fled to
Apollo's temple； （for this attack happened to be made as they
were sitting；） whom Alexander slew； and when he had utterly
overthrown their city； he returned to Jerusalem； having spent a
year in that siege。
4。 About this very time Antiochus； who was called Grypus； died
（35） His death was caused by Heracleon's treachery； when he had
lived forty…five years； and had reigned twenty…nine。 （36） His son
Seleucus succeeded him in the kingdom； and made war with
Antiochus； his father's brother； who was called Antiochus
Cyzicenus； and beat him； and took him prisoner； and slew him。 But
after a while Antiochus； the son of Cyzicenus； who was called
Pius； came to Aradus； and put the diadem on his own head； and
made war with Seleucus； and beat him； and drove him out of all
Syria。 But when he fled out of Syria； he came to Mopsuestia
again； and levied money upon them； but the people of Mopsuestin
had indignation at what he did； and burnt down his palace； and
slew him； together with his friends。 But when Antiochus； the son
of Cyzicenus； was king of Syria； Antiochus； （37） the brother of
Seleucus； made war upon him； and was overcome； and destroyed； he
and his army。 After him； his brother Philip put on the diadem；
and reigned over some part of Syria； but Ptolemy Lathyrus sent
for his fourth brother Demetrius； who was called Eucerus； from
Cnidus； and made him king of Damascus。 Both these brothers did
Antiochus vehemently oppose； but presently died； for when he was
come as an auxiliary to Laodice； queen of the Gileadites； （38）
when she was making war against the Parthians； and he was
fighting courageously； he fell； while Demetrius and Philip
governed Syria； as hath been elsewhere related。
5。 As to Alexander； his own people were seditious against him；
for at a festival which was then celebrated； when he stood upon
the altar； and was going to sacrifice； the nation rose upon him；
and pelted him with citrons ＇which they then had in their hands；
because＇ the law of the Jews required that at the feast of
tabernacles every one should have branches of the palm tree and
citron tree； which thing we have elsewhere related。 They also
reviled him； as derived from a captive； and so unworthy of his
dignity and of sacrificing。 At this he was in a rage； and slew of
them about six thousand。 He also built a partition…wall of wood
round the altar and the temple； as far as that partition within
which it was only lawful for the priests to enter； and by this
means he obstructed the multitude from coming at him。 He also
maintained foreigners of Pisidie and Cilicia； for as to the
Syrians； he was at war with them； and so made no use of them。 He
also overcame the Arabians； such as the Moabites and Gileadites；
and made them bring tribute。 Moreover； he demolished Amathus；
while Theodorus （39） durst not fight with him； but as he had
joined battle with Obedas； king of the Arabians； and fell into an
ambush in the places that were rugged and difficult to be
traveled over； he was thrown down into a deep valley； by the
multitude of the camels at Gadurn； a village of Gilead； and
hardly escaped with his life。 From thence he fled to Jerusalem；
where； besides his other ill success； the nation insulted him；
and he fought against them for six years； and slew no fewer than
fifty thousand of them。 And when he desired that they would
desist from their ill…will to him； they hated him so much the
more； on account of what had already happened； and when he had
asked them what he ought to do； they all cried out； that he ought
to kill himself。 They also sent to Demetrius Eucerus； and desired
him to make a league of mutual defense with them。
CHAPTER 14。
How Demetrius Eucerus Overcame Alexander And Yet In A Little Time
Retired Out Of The Country For Fear； As Also How Alexander Slew
Many Of The Jews And Thereby Got Clear Of His Troubles。
Concerning The Death Of Demetrius。
1。 So Demetrius came with an army； and took those that invited
him； and pitched his camp near the city Shechem； upon which
Alexander； with his six thousand two hundred mercenaries； and
about twenty thousand Jews； who were of his party； went against
Demetrius； who had three thousand horsemen； and forty thousand
footmen。 Now there were great endeavors used on both sides； …
Demetrius trying to bring off the mercenaries that were with
Alexander； because they were Greeks； and Alexander trying to
bring off the Jews that were with Demetrius。 However； when
neither of them could persuade them so to do； they came to a
battle； and Demetrius was the conqueror； in which all Alexander's
mercenaries were killed； when they had given demonstration of
their fidelity and courage。 A great number of Demetrius's
soldiers were slain also。
2。 Now as Alexander fled to the mountains； six thousand of the
Jews hereupon came together ＇from Demetrius＇ to him out of pity
at the change of his fortune； upon which Demetrius was afraid；
and retired out of the country； after which the Jews fought
against Alexander； and being beaten； were slain in great numbers
in the several battles which they had； and when he had shut up
the most powerful of them in the city Bethome； he besieged them
therein； and when he had taken the city； and gotten the men into
his power； he brought them to Jerusalem； and did one of the most
barbarous actions in the world to them； for as he was feasting
with his concubines； in the sight of all the city； he ordered
about eight hundred of them to be crucified； and while they were
living； he ordered the throats of their children and wives to be
cut before their eyes。 This was indeed by way of revenge for the
injuries they had done him； which punishment yet was of an
inhuman nature； though we suppose that he had been never so much
distressed； as indeed he had been； by his wars with them； for he
had by their means come to the last degree of hazard； both of his
life and of his kingdom； while they were not satisfied by
themselves only to fight against him； but introduced foreigners
also for the same purpose； nay； at length they reduced him to
that degree of necessity； that he was forced to