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had any of the kings before him。 Alexander left behind him two
sons； Hyrcanus and Aristobulus； but committed the kingdom to
Alexandra。 Now； as to these two sons； Hyrcanus was indeed unable
to manage public affairs； and delighted rather in a quiet life；
but the younger； Aristobulus； was an active and a bold man； and
for this woman herself； Alexandra； she was loved by the
multitude； because she seemed displeased at the offenses her
husband had been guilty of。
2。 So she made Hyrcanus high priest； because he was the elder；
but much more because he cared not to meddle with politics； and
permitted the Pharisees to do every thing； to whom also she
ordered the multitude to be obedient。 She also restored again
those practices which the Pharisees had introduced； according to
the traditions of their forefathers； and which her father…in…law；
Hyrcanus； had abrogated。 So she had indeed the name of the
regent； but the Pharisees had the authority； for it was they who
restored such as had been banished； and set such as were
prisoners at liberty； and； to say all at once； they differed in
nothing from lords。 However； the queen also took care of the
affairs of the kingdom； and got together a great body of
mercenary soldiers； and increased her own army to such a degree；
that she became terrible to the neighboring tyrants； and took
hostages of them： and the country was entirely at peace；
excepting the Pharisees； for they disturbed the queen； and
desired that she would kill those who persuaded Alexander to slay
the eight hundred men； after which they cut the throat of one of
them； Diogenes； and after him they did the same to several； one
after another； till the men that were the most potent came into
the palace； and Aristobulus with them； for he seemed to be
displeased at what was done； and it appeared openly； that if he
had an opportunity； he would not permit his mother to go on so。
These put the queen in mind what great dangers they had gone
through； and great things they had done； whereby they had
demonstrated the firmness of their fidelity to their master；
insomuch that they had recieved the greatest marks of favor from
him； and they begged of her； that she would not utterly blast
their hopes； as it now happened； that when they had escaped the
hazards that arose from their ＇open＇ enemies； they were to be cut
off at home by their ＇private＇ enemies； like brute beasts；
without any help whatsoever。 They said also； that if their
adversaries would be satisfied with those that had been slain
already； they would take what had been done patiently； on account
of their natural love to their governors； but if they must expect
the same for the future also； they implored of her a dismission
from her service； for they could not bear to think of attempting
any method for their deliverance without her； but would rather
die willingly before the palace gate； in case she would not
forgive them。 And that it was a great shame； both for themselves
and for the queen； that when they were neglected by her； they
should come under the lash of her husband's enemies； for that
Aretas； the Arabian king； and the monarchs； would give any
reward； if they could get such men as foreign auxiliaries； to
whom their very names； before their voices be heard； may perhaps
be terrible； but if they could not obtain this their second
request； and if she had determined to prefer the Pharisees before
them； they still insisted that she would place them every one in
her fortresses； for if some fatal demon hath a constant spite
against Alexander's house； they would be willing to bear their
part； and to live in a private station there。
3。 As these men said thus； and called upon Alexander's ghost for
commiseration of those already slain； and those in danger of it；
all the bystanders brake out into tears。 But Aristobulus chiefly
made manifest what were his sentiments； and used。 many
reproachful expressions to his mother； ＇saying；＇ 〃Nay； indeed；
the case is this； that they have been themselves the authors of
their own calamities； who have permitted a woman who； against
reason； was mad with ambition； to reign over them； when there
were sons in the flower of their age fitter for it。〃 So
Alexandra； not knowing what to do with any decency； committed the
fortresses to them； all but Hyrcania； and Alexandrium； and
Macherus； where her principal treasures were。 After a little
while also； she sent her son Aristobulus with an army to Damascus
against Ptolemy； who was called Menneus； who was such a bad
neighbor to the city； but he did nothing considerable there； and
so returned home。
4。 About this time news was brought that Tigranes； the king of
Armenia； had made an irruption into Syria with five hundred
thousand soldiers； （45） and was coming against Judea。 This news；
as may well be supposed； terrified the queen and the nation。
Accordingly； they sent him many and very valuable presents； as
also ambassadors； and that as he was besieging Ptolemais； for
Selene the queen； the same that was also called Cleopatra； ruled
then over Syria； who had persuaded the inhabitants to exclude
Tigranes。 So the Jewish ambassadors interceded with him； and
entreated him that he would determine nothing that was severe
about their queen or nation。 He commended them for the respects
they paid him at so great a distance； and gave them good hopes of
his favor。 But as soon as Ptolemais was taken； news came to
Tigranes； that Lucullus； in his pursuit of Mithridates； could not
light upon him； who was fled into Iberia； but was laying waste
Armenia； and besieging its cities。 Now when Tigranes knew this；
he returned home。
5。 After this； when the queen was fallen into a dangerous
distemper； Aristobulus resolved to attempt the seizing of the
government； so he stole away secretly by night； with only one of
his servants； and went to the fortresses； wherein his friends；
that were such from the days of his father； were settled； for as
he had been a great while displeased at his mother's conduct； so
he was now much more afraid； lest； upon her death； their whole
family should be under the power of the Pharisees； for he saw the
inability of his brother； who was to succeed in the government；
nor was any one conscious of what he was doing but only his wife；
whom he left at Jerusalem with their children。 He first of all
came to Agaba； where was Galestes； one of the potent men before
mentioned； and was received by him。 When it was day； the queen
perceived that Aristobulus was fled； and for some time she
supposed that his departure was not in order to make any
innovation； but when messengers came one after another with the
news that he had secured the first place； the second place； and
all the places； for as soon as one had begun they all submitted
to his disposal； then it was that the queen and the nation were
in the greatest disorder； for they were aware that it would not
be long ere Aristobulus would be able to settle himself firmly in
the government。 What they were principally afraid of was this；
that he would inflict punishment upon them for the mad treatment
his house had had from them。 So they resolved to take his wife
and children into custody； and keep them in the fortress that was
over the temple。 （46） Now there was a mighty conflux of people
that came to Aristobulus from all parts； insomuch that he had a
kind of royal attendants about him； for in a little more than
fifteen days he got twenty…two strong places； which gave him the
opportunity of raising an army from Libanus and Trachonitis； and
the monarchs； for men are easily led by the greater number； and
easily submit to them。 And besides this； that by affording him
their assistance； when he could not expect it； they； as well as
he； should have the advantages that would come by his being king；
because they had been the occasion of his gaining the kingdom。
Now the eiders of the Jews； and Hyrcanus with them； went in unto
the queen； and desired that she would give them her sentiments
about the present posture of affairs； for that Aristobulus was in
effect lord of almost all the kingdom； by possessing of so many
strong holds； and that it was absurd for them to take any counsel
by themselves； how ill soever she were； whilst she was alive； and
that the danger would be upon them in no long time。 But she bid
them do what they thought proper to be done； that they had many
circumstances in their favor still remaining； a nation in good
heart； an army； and money in their several treasuries； for that
she had small concern about public affairs now； when the strength
of her body already failed her。
6。 Now a little while after she had said this to them； she died；
when she had reigned nine years； and had in all lived
seventy…three。 A woman she was who showed no signs of the
weakness of her sex； for she was sagacious to the greatest degree
in her ambition of governing； and demonstrated by her doings at
once； that her mind was fit for action； and that sometimes men
themselves show the little understanding they have by the
frequent mistakes they make in point of government； for she
always preferred the present to futurity； and preferred the power
of an imperious dominion ab