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.
1.131
When Hyrcanus and Antipater were thus deprived of their hopes from
the Arabians, they transferred the same to their adversaries; and because
Pompey had passed through Syria, and was come to Damascus, they fled to
him for assistance; and, without any bribes, they made the same equitable
pleas that they had used to Aretas, and besought him to hate the violent
behavior of Aristobulus, and to bestow the kingdom on him to whom it justly
belonged, both on account of his good character and on account of his superiority
in age. However, neither was Aristobulus wanting to himself in this case,
as relying on the bribes that Scaurus had received: he was also there himself,
and adorned himself after a manner the most agreeable to royalty that he
was able. But he soon thought it beneath him to come in such a servile
manner, and could not endure to serve his own ends in a way so much more
abject than he was used to; so he departed from Diospolis.
1.133
At this his behavior Pompey had great indignation; Hyrcanus also
and his friends made great intercessions to Pompey; so he took not only
his Roman forces, but many of his Syrian auxiliaries, and marched against
Aristobulus. But when he had passed by Pella and Scythopolis, and was come
to Corea, where you enter into the country of Judea, when you go up to
it through the Mediterranean parts, he heard that Aristobulus was fled
to Alexandrium, which is a strong hold fortified with the utmost magnificence,
and situated upon a high mountain; and he sent to him, and commanded him
to come down. Now his inclination was to try his fortune in a battle, since
he was called in such an imperious manner, rather than to comply with that
call. However, he saw the multitude were in great fear, and his friends
exhorted him to consider what the power of the Romans was, and how it was
irresistible; so he complied with their advice, and came down to Pompey;
and when he had made a long apology for himself, and for the justness of
his cause in taking the government, he returned to the fortress. And when
his brother invited him again [to plead his cause], he came down and spake
about the justice of it, and then went away without any hinderance from
Pompey; so he was between hope and fear. And when he came down, it was
to prevail with Pompey to allow him the government entirely; and when he
went up to the citadel, it was that he might not appear to debase himself
too low. However, Pompey commanded him to give up his fortified places,
and forced him to write to every one of their governors to yield them up;
they having had this charge given them, to obey no letters but what were
of his own hand-writing. Accordingly he did what he was ordered to do;
but had still an indignation at what was done, and retired to Jerusalem,
and prepared to fight with Pompey.
1.138
But Pompey did not give him time to make any preparations [for a
siege], but followed him at his heels; he was also obliged to make haste
in his attempt, by the death of Mithridates, of which he was informed about
Jericho. Now here is the most fruitful country of Judea, which bears a
vast number of palm trees note
besides the balsam tree, whose sprouts they cut with sharp stones, and
at the incisions they gather the juice, which drops down like tears. So
Pompey pitched his camp in that place one night, and then hasted away the
next morning to Jerusalem; but Aristobulus was so aftrighted at his approach,
that he came and met him by way of supplication. He also promised him money,
and that he would deliver up both himself and the city into his disposal,
and thereby mitigated the anger of Pompey. Yet did not he perform any of
the conditions he had agreed to; for Aristobulus's party would not so much
as admit Gabinius into the city, who was sent to receive the money that
he had promised.
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