1.117
In the mean time, Alexandra fell sick, and Aristobulus, her younger
son, took hold of this opportunity, with his domestics, of which he had
a great many, who were all of them his friends, on account of the warmth
of their youth, and got possession of all the fortresses. He also used
the sums of money he found in them to get together a number of mercenary
soldiers, and made himself king; and besides this, upon Hyrcanus's complaint
to his mother, she compassionated his case, and put Aristobulus's wife
and sons under restraint in Antonia, which was a fortress that joined to
the north part of the temple. It was, as I have already said, of old called
the Citadel; but afterwards got the name of Antonia, when Antony was [lord
of the East], just as the other cities, Sebaste and Agrippias, had their
names changed, and these given them from Sebastus and Agrippa. But Alexandra
died before she could punish Aristobulus for his disinheriting his brother,
after she had reigned nine years.
note
1.120
NOW Hyrcanus was heir to the kingdom, and to him did his mother commit
it before she died; but Aristobulus was superior to him in power and magnanimity;
and when there was a battle between them, to decide the dispute about the
kingdom, near Jericho, the greatest part deserted Hyrcanus, and went over
to Aristobulus; but Hyrcanus, with those of his party who staid with him,
fled to Antonia, and got into his power the hostages that might he for
his preservation (which were Aristobulus's wife, with her children); but
they came to an agreement before things should come to extremities, that
Aristobulus should be king, and Hyrcanus should resign that up, but retain
all the rest of his dignities, as being the king's brother. Hereupon they
were reconciled to each other in the temple, and embraced one another in
a very kind manner, while the people stood round about them; they also
changed their houses, while Aristobulus went to the royal palace, and Hyrcanus
retired to the house of Aristobulus.
1.123
Now those other people which were at variance with Aristobulus were
afraid upon his unexpected obtaining the government; and especially this
concerned Antipater note
whom Aristobulus hated of old. He was by birth an Idumean, and one of the
principal of that nation, on account of his ancestors and riches, and other
authority to him belonging: he also persuaded Hyrcanus to fly to Aretas,
the king of Arabia, and to lay claim to the kingdom; as also he persuaded
Aretas to receive Hyrcanus, and to bring him back to his kingdom: he also
cast great reproaches upon Aristobulus, as to his morals, and gave great
commendations to Hyrcanus, and exhorted Aretas to receive him, and told
him how becoming a filing it would be for him, who ruled so great a kingdom,
to afford his assistance to such as are injured; alleging that Hyrcanus
was treated unjustly, by being deprived of that dominion which belonged
to him by the prerogative of his birth. And when he had predisposed them
both to do what he would have them, he took Hyrcanus by night, and ran
away from the city, and, continuing his flight with great swiftness, he
escaped to the place called Petra, which is the royal seat of the king
of Arabia, where he put Hyrcanus into Aretas's hand; and by discoursing
much with him, and gaining upon him with many presents, he prevailed with
him to give him an army that might restore him to his kingdom. This army
consisted of fifty thousand footmen and horsemen, against which Aristobulus
was not able to make resistance, but was deserted in his first onset, and
was driven to Jerusalem; he also had been taken at first by force, if Scaurus,
the Roman general, had not come and seasonably interposed himself, and
raised the siege. This Scaurus was sent into Syria from Armenia by Pompey
the Great, when he fought against Tigranes; so Scaurus came to Damascus,
which had been lately taken by Metellus and Lollius, and caused them to
leave the place; and, upon his hearing how the affairs of Judea stood,
he made haste thither as to a certain booty.
1.128
As soon, therefore, as he was come into the country, there came ambassadors
from both the brothers, each of them desiring his assistance; but Aristobulus's
three hundred talents had more weight with him than the justice of the
cause; which sum, when Scaurus had received, he sent a herald to Hyrcanus
and the Arabians, and threatened them with the resentment of the Romans
and of Pompey, unless they would raise the siege. So Aretas was terrified,
and retired out of Judea to Philadelphia, as did Scaurus return to Damascus
again; nor was Aristobulus satisfied with escaping [out of his brother's
hands,] but gathered all his forces together, and pursued his enemies,
and fought them at a place called Papyron, and slew about six thousand
of them, and, together with them Antipater's brother Phalion.
