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第213章

the antiquities of the jews-1-第213章

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or a garden; they call the thing Terpole; the Delight。 However;
we ourselves saw that present reposited at Rome; in the temple of
Jupiter Capitolinus; with this inscription; 'The gift of
Alexander; the king of the Jews。' It was valued at five hundred
talents; and the report is; that Aristobulus; the governor of the
Jews; sent it。〃

2。 In a little time afterward came ambassadors again to him;
Antipater from Hyrcanus; and Nicodemus from Aristobulus; which
last also accused such as had taken bribes; first Gabinius; and
then Scaurus; … the one three hundred talents; and the other four
hundred; by which procedure he made these two his enemies;
besides those he had before。 And when Pompey had ordered those
that had controversies one with another to come to him in the
beginning of the spring; he brought his army out of their winter
quarters; and marched into the country of Damascus; and as he
went along he demolished the citadel that was at Apamia; which
Antiochus Cyzicenus had built; and took cognizance of the country
of Ptolemy Menneus; a wicked man; and not less so than Dionysius
of Tripoli; who had been beheaded; who was also his relation by
marriage; yet did he buy off the punishment of his crimes for a
thousand talents; with which money Pompey paid the soldiers their
wages。 He also conquered the place called Lysias; of which Silas
a Jew was tyrant。 And when he had passed over the cities of
Heliopolis and Chalcis; and got over the mountain which is on the
limit of Colesyria; he came from Pella to Damascus; and there it
was that he heard the causes of the Jews; and of their governors
Hyrcanus and Aristobulus; who were at difference one with
another; as also of the nation against them both; which did not
desire to be under kingly' government; because the form of
government they received from their forefathers was that of
subjection to the priests of that God whom they worshipped; and
'they complained'; that though these two were the posterity of
priests; yet did they seek to change the government of their
nation to another form; in order to enslave them。 Hyrcanus
complained; that although he were the elder brother; he was
deprived of the prerogative of his birth by Aristobulus; and that
he had but a small part of the country under him; Aristobulus
having taken away the rest from him by force。 He also accused
him; that the incursions which had been made into their
neighbors' countries; and the piracies that had been at sea; were
owing to him; and that the nation would not have revolted; unless
Aristobulus had been a man given to violence and disorder; and
there were no fewer than a thousand Jews; of the best esteem
among them; who confirmed this accusation; which confirmation was
procured by Antipater。 But Aristobulus alleged against him; that
it was Hyrcanus's own temper; which was inactive; and on that
account contemptible; which caused him to be deprived of the
government; and that for himself; he was necessitated to take it
upon him; for fear lest it should be transferred to others。 And
that as to his title 'of king'; it was no other than what his
father had taken 'before him'。 He also called for witnesses of
what he said some persons who were both young and insolent; whose
purple garments; fine heads of hair; and other ornaments; were
detested 'by the court'; and which they appeared in; not as
though they were to plead their cause in a court of justice; but
as if they were marching in a pompous procession。

3。 When Pompey had heard the causes of these two; and had
condemned Aristobulus for his violent procedure; he then spake
civilly to them; and sent them away; and told them; that when he
came again into their country; he would settle all their affairs;
after he had first taken a view of the affairs of the Nabateans。
In the mean time; he ordered them to be quiet; and treated
Aristobulus civilly; lest he should make the nation revolt; and
hinder his return; which yet Aristobulus did; for without
expecting any further determination; which Pompey had promised
them; he went to the city Delius; and thence marched into Judea。

4。 At this behavior Pompey was angry; and taking with him that
army which he was leading against the Nabateans; and the
auxiliaries that came from Damascus; and the other parts of
Syria; with the other Roman legions which he had with him; he
made an expedition against Aristobulus; but as he passed by Pella
and Scythopolis; he came to Corem; which is the first entrance
into Judea when one passes over the midland countries; where he
came to a most beautiful fortress that was built on the top of a
mountain called Alexandrium; whither Aristobulus had fled; and
thence Pompey sent his commands to him; that he should come to
him。 Accordingly; at the persuasions of many that he would not
make war with the Romans; he came down; and when he had disputed
with his brother about the right to the government; he went up
again to the citadel; as Pompey gave him leave to do; and this he
did two or three times; as flattering himself with the hopes of
having the kingdom granted him; so that he still pretended he
would obey Pompey in whatsoever he commanded; although at the
same time he retired to his fortress; that he might not depress
himself too low; and that he might be prepared for a war; in case
it should prove as he feared; that Pompey would transfer the
government to Hyrcanus。 But when Pompey enjoined Aristobulus to
deliver up the fortresses he held; and to send an injunction to
their governors under his own hand for that purpose; for they had
been forbidden to deliver them up upon any other commands; he
submitted indeed to do so; but still he retired in displeasure to
Jerusalem; and made preparation for war。 A little after this;
certain persons came out of Pontus; and informed Pompey; as he
was on the way; and conducting his army against Aristobulus; that
Mithridates was dead; and was slain by his son Pharmaces。

CHAPTER 4。

How Pompey When The Citizens Of Jerusalem Shut Their Gates
Against Him Besieged The City And Took It By Force; As Also What
Other Things He Did In Judea。

1。 Now when Pompey had pitched his camp at Jericho; (where the
palm tree grows;
and that balsam which is an ointment of all the most precious;
which upon any incision made in the wood with a sharp stone;
distills out thence like a juice;) (4) he marched in the morning
to Jerusalem。 Hereupon Aristobulus repented of what he was doing;
and came to Pompey; had 'promised to' give him money; and
received him into Jerusalem; and desired that he would leave off
the war; and do what he pleased peaceably。 So Pompey; upon his
entreaty; forgave him; and sent Gabinius; and soldiers with him;
to receive the money and the city: yet was no part of this
performed; but Gabinius came back; being both excluded out of the
city; and receiving none of the money promised; because
Aristobulus's soldiers would not permit the agreements to be
executed。 At this Pompey was very angry; and put Aristobulus into
prison; and came himself to the city; which was strong on every
side; excepting the north; which was not so well fortified; for
there was a broad and deep ditch that encompassed the city (5)
and included within it the temple; which was itself encompassed
about with a very strong stone wall。

2。 Now there was a sedition of the men that were within the city;
who did not agree what was to be done in their present
circumstances; while some thought it best to deliver up the city
to Pompey; but Aristobulus's party exhorted them to shut the
gates; because he was kept in prison。 Now these prevented the
others; and seized upon the temple; and cut off the bridge which
reached from it to the city; and prepared themselves to abide a
siege; but the others admitted Pompey's army in; and delivered up
both the city and the king's palace to him。 So Pompey sent his
lieutenant Piso with an army; and placed garrisons both in the
city and in the palace; to secure them; and fortified the houses
that joined to the temple; and all those which were more distant
and without it。 And in the first place; he offered terms of
accommodation to those within; but when they wo

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