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freedom； and joined them to the province of Syria。
5。 Now the occasions of this misery which came upon Jerusalem
were Hyrcanus and Aristobulus； by raising a sedition one against
the other； for now we lost our liberty； and became subject to the
Romans； and were deprived of that country which we had gained by
our arms from the Syrians； and were compelled to restore it to
the Syrians。 Moreover； the Romans exacted of us； in a little
time； above ten thousand talents； and the royal authority； which
was a dignity formerly bestowed on those that were high priests；
by the right of their family； became the property of private men。
But of these matters we shall treat in their proper places。 Now
Pompey committed Celesyria； as far as the river Euphrates and
Egypt； to Scaurus； with two Roman legions； and then went away to
Cilicia； and made haste to Rome。 He also carried bound along with
him Aristobulus and his children； for he had two daughters； and
as many sons； the one of which ran away； but the younger；
Antigonus； was carried to Rome； together with his sisters。
CHAPTER 5。
How Scaurus Made A League Of Mutual Assistance With Aretas； And
What Gabinius Did In Judea； After He Had Conquered Alexander； The
Son Of Aristobulus。
1。 Scaurus made now an expedition against Petrea； in Arabia； and
set on fire all the places round about it； because of the great
difficulty of access to it。 And as his army was pinched by
famine； Antipater furnished him with corn out of Judea； and with
whatever else he wanted； and this at the command of Hyrcanus。 And
when he was sent to Aretas； as an ambassador by Scaurus； because
he had lived with him formerly； he persuaded Aretas to give
Scaurus a sum of money； to prevent the burning of his country；
and undertook to be his surety for three hundred talents。 So
Scaurus； upon these terms； ceased to make war any longer； which
was done as much at Scaurus's desire； as at the desire of Aretas。
2。 Some time after this； when Alexander； the son of Aristobulus；
made an incursion into Judea； Gabinius came from Rome into Syria；
as commander of the Roman forces。 He did many considerable
actions； and particularly made war with Alexander； since Hyrcanus
was not yet able to oppose his power； but was already attempting
to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem； which Pompey had overthrown；
although the Romans which were there restrained him from that his
design。 However； Alexander went over all the country round about；
and armed many of the Jews； and suddenly got together ten
thousand armed footmen； and fifteen hundred horsemen； and
fortified Alexandrium； a fortress near to Corem； and Macherus；
near the mountains of Arabia。 Gabinius therefore came upon him；
having sent Marcus Antonius； with other commanders； before。 These
armed such Romans as followed them； and； together with them； such
Jews as were subject to them； whose leaders were Pitholaus and
Malichus； and they took with them also their friends that were
with Antipater； and met Alexander； while Gabinius himself
followed with his legion。 Hereupon Alexander retired to the
neighborhood of Jerusalem； where they fell upon one another； and
it came to a pitched battle； in which the Romans slew of their
enemies about three thousand； and took a like number alive。
3。 At which time Gabinius （10） came to Alexandrium； and invited
those that were in it to deliver it up on certain conditions； and
promised that then their former offenses should be forgiven。 But
as a great number of the enemy had pitched their camp before the
fortress； whom the Romans attacked； Marcus Antonius fought
bravely； and slew a great number； and seemed to come off with the
greatest honor。 So Gabinius left part of his army there； in order
to take the place； and he himself went into other parts of Judea；
and gave order to rebuild all the cities that he met with that
had been demolished； at which time were rebuilt Samaria； Ashdod；
Scythopolis； Anthedon； Raphia； and Dora； Marissa also； and Gaza；
and not a few others besides。 And as the men acted according to
Gabinius's command； it came to pass； that at this time these
cities were securely inhabited； which had been desolate for a
long time。
4。 When Gabinius had done thus in the country； he returned to
Alexandrium； and when he urged on the siege of the place；
Alexander sent an embassage to him； desiring that he would pardon
his former offenses； he also delivered up the fortresses；
Hyrcania and Macherus； and at last Alexandrium itself which
fortresses Gabinius demolished。 But when Alexander's mother； who
was of the side of the Romans； as having her husband and other
children at Rome； came to him； he granted her whatsoever she
asked； and when he had settled matters with her； he brought
Hyrcanus to Jerusalem； and committed the care of the temple to
him。 And when he had ordained five councils； he distributed the
nation into the same number of parts。 So these councils governed
the people； the first was at Jerusalem； the second at Gadara； the
third at Amathus； the fourth at Jericho； and the fifth at
Sepphoris in Galilee。 So the Jews were now freed from monarchic
authority； and were governed by an aristocracy。
CHAPTER 6。
How Gabinius Caught Aristobulus After He Had Fled From Rome； And
Sent Him Back To Rome Again； And Now The Same Gabinius As He
Returned Out Of Egypt Overcame Alexander And The Nabateans In
Battle。
1。 Now Aristobulus ran away from Rome to Judea； and set about the
rebuilding of Alexandrium； which had been newly demolished。
Hereupon Gabinius sent soldiers against him； add for their
commanders Sisenna； and Antonius； and Servilius； in order to
hinder him from getting possession of the country； and to take
him again。 And indeed many of the Jews ran to Aristobulus； on
account of his former glory； as also because they should be glad
of an innovation。 Now there was one Pitholaus； a lieutenant at
Jerusalem； who deserted to him with a thousand men； although a
great number of those that came to him were unarmed； and when
Aristobulus had resolved to go to Macherus； he dismissed those
people； because they were unarmed； for they could not be useful
to him in what actions he was going about； but he took with him
eight thousand that were armed； and marched on； and as the Romans
fell upon them severely； the Jews fought valiantly； but were
beaten in the battle； and when they had fought with alacrity； but
were overborne by the enemy； they were put to flight； of whom
were slain about five thousand； and the rest being dispersed；
tried； as well as they were able； to save themselves。 However；
Aristobulus had with him still above a thousand； and with them he
fled to Macherus； and fortified the place； and though he had had
ill success； he still had good hope of his affairs； but when he
had struggled against the siege for two days' time； and had
received many wounds； he was brought as a captive to Gabinius；
with his son Antigonus； who also fled with him from Rome。 And
this was the fortune of Aristobulus； who was sent back again to
Rome； and was there retained in bonds； having been both king and
high priest for three years and six months； and was indeed an
eminent person； and one of a great soul。 However； the senate let
his children go； upon Gabinius's writing to them that he had
promised their mother so much when she delivered up the
fortresses to him； and accordingly they then returned into Judea。
2。 Now when Gabinius was making an expedition against the
Parthians； and had already passed over Euphrates； he changed his
mind； and resolved to return into Egypt； in order to restore
Ptolemy to his kingdom。 （11） This hath also been related
elsewhere。 However； Antipater supplied his army； which he sent
against Archelaus； with corn； and weapons； and money。 He also
made those Jews who were above Pelusium his friends and
confederates； and had been the guardians of the passes that led
into Egypt。 But when he came back out of Egypt； he found Syria in
disorder； with seditions and troubles； for Alexander； the son of
Aristobulus； having seized on the government a second time by
force； made many of the Jews revolt to him； and so he marched
over the country with a great army； and slew all the Romans he
could light upon； and proceeded to besiege the mountain called
Gerizzim； whither they had retreated。
3。 But when Gabinius found Syria in such a state； he sent
Antipater； who was a prudent man； to those that were seditious；
to try whether he could cure them of their madness； and persuade
them to return to a better mind； and when he came to them； he
brought many of them to a sound mind； and induced them to do what
they ought to do； but he could not restrain Alexander； for he had
an army of thirty thousand Jews； and met Gabinius； and joining
battle with him； was beaten； and lost ten thousand of his men
about Mount Tabor。
4。 So Gabinius settled the affairs which belonged to the city
Jerusalem； as was agreeable to Antipater's inclination； and went
against the Nabateans； and overcame them in battle。 He also sent
away in a friendly manner Mithridates and Orsanes； who were
Parthian deserters； and came to him； though the report went
abroad that they had run away from him。