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that degree of necessity； that he was forced to deliver back to
the king of Arabia the land of Moab and Gilead； which he had
subdued； and the places that were in them； that they might not
join with them in the war against him； as they had done ten
thousand other things that tended to affront and reproach him。
However； this barbarity seems to have been without any necessity；
on which account he bare the name of a Thracian among the Jews
（40） whereupon the soldiers that had fought against him； being
about eight thousand in number； ran away by night； and continued
fugitives all the time that Alexander lived； who being now freed
from any further disturbance from them； reigned the rest of his
time in the utmost tranquillity。
3。 But when Demetrius was departed out of Judea； he went to
Berea； and besieged his brother Philip； having with him ten
thousand footmen； and a thousand horsemen。 However Strato； the
tyrant of Berea； the confederate of Philip； called in Zizon； the
ruler of the Arabian tribes； and Mithridates Sinax； the ruler of
the Parthians； who coming with a great number of forces； and
besieging Demetrius in his encampment； into which they had driven
them with their arrows； they compelled those that were with him
by thirst to deliver up themselves。 So they took a great many
spoils out of that country； and Demetrius himself； whom they sent
to Mithridates； who was then king of Parthis； but as to those
whom they took captives of the people of Antioch； they restored
them to the Antiochinus without any reward。 Now Mithridates； the
king of Parthis； had Demetrius in great honor； till Demetrius
ended his life by sickness。 So Philip； presently after the fight
was over； came to Antioch； and took it； and reigned over Syria。
CHAPTER 15。
How Antiochus； Who Was Called Dionysus； And After Him Aretas Made
Expeditions Into Judea； As Also How Alexander Took Many Cities
And Then Returned To Jerusalem； And After A Sickness Of Three
Years Died； And What Counsel He Gave To Alexandra。
1。 After this； Antiochus； who was called Dionysus； （41） and was
Philip's brother； aspired to the dominion； and carne to Damascus；
and got the power into his hands； and there he reigned； but as he
was making war against the Arabians； his brother Philip heard of
it； and came to Damascus； where Milesius； who had been left
governor of the citadel； and the Damascens themselves； delivered
up the city to him； yet because Philip was become ungrateful to
him； and had bestowed upon him nothing of that in hopes whereof
he had received him into the city； but had a mind to have it
believed that it was rather delivered up out of fear than by the
kindness of Milesius； and because he had not rewarded him as he
ought to have done； he became suspected by him； and so he was
obliged to leave Damascus again； for Milesius caught him marching
out into the Hippodrome； and shut him up in it； and kept Damascus
for Antiochus ＇Eucerus＇； who hearing how Philip's affairs stood；
came back out of Arabia。 He also came immediately； and made an
expedition against Judea； with eight thousand armed footmen； and
eight hundred horsemen。 So Alexander； out of fear of his coming；
dug a deep ditch； beginning at Chabarzaba； which is now called
Antipatris； to the sea of Joppa； on which part only his army
could be brought against him。 He also raised a wall； and erected
wooden towers； and intermediate redoubts； for one hundred and
fifty furlongs in length； and there expected the coming of
Antiochus； but he soon burnt them all； and made his army pass by
that way into Arabia。 The Arabian king ＇Aretas＇ at first
retreated； but afterward appeared on the sudden with ten thousand
horsemen。 Antiochus gave them the meeting； and fought
desperately； and indeed when he had gotten the victory； and was
bringing some auxiliaries to that part of his army that was in
distress； he was slain。 When Antiochus was fallen； his army fled
to the village Cana； where the greatest part of them perished by
famine。
2。 After him （42） Arems reigned over Celesyria； being called to
the government by those that held Damascus； by reason of the
hatred they bare to Ptolemy Menneus。 He also made thence an
expedition against Judea； and beat Alexander in battle； near a
place called Adida； yet did he； upon certain conditions agreed on
between them； retire out of Judea。
3。 But Alexander marched again to the city Dios； and took it； and
then made an expedition against Essa； where was the best part of
Zeno's treasures； and there he encompassed the place with three
walls； and when he had taken the city by fighting； he marched to
Golan and Seleucia； and when he had taken these cities； he；
besides them； took that valley which is called The Valley of
Antiochus； as also the fortress of Gamala。 He also accused
Demetrius； who was governor of those places； of many crimes； and
turned him out； and after he had spent three years in this war；
he returned to his own country； when the Jews joyfully received
him upon this his good success。
4。 Now at this time the Jews were in possession of the following
cities that had belonged to the Syrians； and Idumeans； and
Phoenicians： At the sea…side； Strato's Tower； Apollonia； Joppa；
Jamhis； Ashdod； Gaza； Anthedon； Raphia； and Rhinocolura； in the
middle of the country； near to Idumea； Adorn； and Marissa； near
the country of Samaria； Mount Carmel； and Mount Tabor；
Scythopolis； and Gadara； of the country of Gaulonitis； Seleucia
and Gabala； in the country of Moab； Heshbon； and Medaba； Lemba；
and Oronas； Gelithon； Zorn； the valley of the Cilices； and Pollo；
which last they utterly destroyed； because its inhabitants would
not bear to change their religious rites for those peculiar to
the Jews。 （43） The Jews also possessed others of the principal
cities of Syria； which had been destroyed。
5。 After this； king Alexander； although he fell into a distemper
by hard drinking； and had a quartan ague； which held him three
years； yet would not leave off going out with his army； till he
was quite spent with the labors he had undergone； and died in the
bounds of Ragaba； a fortress beyond Jordan。 But when his queen
saw that he was ready to die； and had no longer any hopes of
surviving； she came to him weeping and lamenting； and bewailed
herself and her sons on the desolate condition they should be
left in； and said to him； 〃To whom dost thou thus leave me and my
children； who are destitute of all other supports； and this when
thou knowest how much ill…will thy nation bears thee？〃 But he
gave her the following advice： That she need but follow what he
would suggest to her； in order to retain the kingdom securely；
with her children： that she should conceal his death from the
soldiers till she should have taken that place； after this she
should go in triumph； as upon a victory； to Jerusalem； and put
some of her authority into the hands of the Pharisees； for that
they would commend her for the honor she had done them； and would
reconcile the nation to her for he told her they had great
authority among the Jews； both to do hurt to such as they hated；
and to bring advantages to those to whom they were friendly
disposed； for that they are then believed best of all by the
multitude when they speak any severe thing against others； though
it be only out of envy at them。 And he said that it was by their
means that he had incurred the displeasure of the nation； whom
indeed he had injured。 〃Do thou； therefore；〃 said he； 〃when thou
art come to Jerusalem； send for the leading men among them； and
show them my body； and with great appearance of sincerity； give
them leave to use it as they themselves please； whether they will
dishonor the dead body by refusing it burial； as having severely
suffered by my means； or whether in their anger they will offer
any other injury to that body。 Promise them also that thou wilt
do nothing without them in the affairs of the kingdom。 If thou
dost but say this to them； I shall have the honor of a more
glorious Funeral from them than thou couldst have made for me；
and when it is in their power to abuse my dead body； they will do
it no injury at all； and thou wilt rule in safety。〃 （44） So when
he had given his wife this advice； he died； after he had reigned
twenty…seven years； and lived fifty years within one。
CHAPTER 16。
How Alexandra By Gaining The Good…Will Of The Pharisees； Retained
The Kingdom Nine Years； And Then； Having Done Many Glorious
Actions Died。
1。 So Alexandra； when she had taken the fortress； acted as her
husband had suggested to her； and spake to the Pharisees； and put
all things into their power； both as to the dead body； and as to
the affairs of the kingdom； and thereby pacified their anger
against Alexander； and made them bear goodwill and friendship to
him； who then came among the multitude； and made speeches to
them； and laid before them the actions of Alexander； and told
them that they had lost a righteous king； and by the commendation
they gave him； they brought them to grieve； and to be in
heaviness for him； so that he had a funeral more splendid than
had any of the kings before him。 Alexander left behind him two
sons； Hyrcanus and Aristobulus； but committed