they derived from their forefathers； for which reason our nation
made war with him； and would never be reconciled to him； but for
this Antiochus； all men called him Antiochus the Pious； for the
great zeal he had about religion。
3。 Accordingly； Hyrcanus took this moderation of his kindly； and
when he understood how religious he was towards the Deity； he
sent an embassage to him； and desired that he would restore the
settlements they received from their forefathers。 So he rejected
the counsel of those that would have him utterly destroy the
nation； （23） by reason of their way of living； which was to
others unsociable； and did not regard what they said。 But being
persuaded that all they did was out of a religious mind； he
answered the ambassadors； that if the besieged would deliver up
their arms； and pay tribute for Joppa； and the other cities which
bordered upon Judea； and admit a garrison of his； on these terms
he would make war against them no longer。 But the Jews； although
they were content with the other conditions； did not agree to
admit the garrison； because they could not associate with other
people； nor converse with them； yet were they willing； instead of
the admission of the garrison； to give him hostages； and five
hundred talents of silver； of which they paid down three hundred；
and sent the hostages immediately； which king Antiochus accepted。
One of those hostages was Hyrcanus's brother。 But still he broke
down the fortifications that encompassed the city。 And upon these
conditions Antiochus broke up the siege； and departed。
4。 But Hyrcanus opened the sepulcher of David； who excelled all
other kings in riches； and took out of it three thousand talents。
He was also the first of the Jews that； relying on this wealth；
maintained foreign troops。 There was also a league of friendship
and mutual assistance made between them； upon which Hyrcanus
admitted him into the city； and furnished him with whatsoever his
army wanted in great plenty； and with great generosity； and
marched along with him when he made an expedition against the
Parthians； of which Nicolaus of Damascus is a witness for us； who
in his history writes thus： 〃When Antiochus had erected a trophy
at the river Lycus； upon his conquest of Indates； the general of
the Parthians； he staid there two days。 It was at the desire of
Lyrcanus the Jew； because it was such a festival derived to them
from their forefathers； whereon the law of the Jews did not allow
them to travel。〃 And truly he did not speak falsely in saying so；
for that festival； which we call Pentecost； did then fall out to
be the next day to the Sabbath。 Nor is it lawful for us to
journey； either on the Sabbath day； or on a festival day （24） But
when Antiochus joined battle with Arsaces； the king of Parthin；
he lost a great part of his army； and was himself slain； and his
brother Demetrius succeeded in the kingdom of Syria； by the
permission of Arsaces； who freed him from his captivity at the
same time that Antiochus attacked Parthin； as we have formerly
related elsewhere。
CHAPTER 9。
How； After The Death Of Antiochus； Hyrcanus Made An Expedition
Against Syria； And Made A League With The Romans。 Concerning The
Death Of King Demetrius And Alexander。
1。 But when Hyrcanus heard of the death of Antiochus； he
presently made an expedition against the cities of Syria； hoping
to find them destitute of fighting men； and of such as were able
to defend them。 However； it was not till the sixth month that he
took Medaba； and that not without the greatest distress of his
army。 After this he took Samega； and the neighboring places； and
besides these； Shechem and Gerizzim； and the nation of the
Cutheans； who dwelt at the temple which resembled that temple
which was at Jerusalem； and which Alexander permitted Sanballat；
the general of his army； to build for the sake of Manasseh； who
was son…in…law to Jaddua the high priest； as we have formerly
related； which temple was now deserted two hundred years after it
was built。 Hyrcanus took also Dora and Marissa； cities of Idumea；
and subdued all the Idumeans； and permitted them to stay in that
country； if they would circumcise their genitals； and make use of
the laws of the Jews； and they were so desirous of living in the
country of their forefathers； that they submitted to the use of
circumcision； （25） and of the rest of the Jewish ways of living；
at which time therefore this befell them； that they were
hereafter no other than Jews。
2。 But Hyrcanus the high priest was desirous to renew that league
of friendship they had with the Romans。 Accordingly； he sent an
embassage to them； and when the senate had received their
epistle； they made a league of friendship with them； after the
manner following： 〃Fanius； the son of Marcus； the praetor；
gathered the senate together on the eighth day before the Ides of
February； in the senate…house； when Lucius Manlius； the son of
Lucius； of the Mentine tribe； and Caius Sempronius； the son of
Caius； of the Falernian tribe； were present。 The occasion was；
that the ambassadors sent by the people of the Jews （26） Simon；
the son of Dositheus； and Apollonius； the son of Alexander； and
Diodorus； the son of Jason； who were good and virtuous men； had
somewhat to propose about that league of friendship and mutual
assistance which subsisted between them and the Romans； and about
other public affairs； who desired that Joppa； and the havens； and
Gazara； and the springs ＇of Jordan＇； and the several other cities
and countries of theirs； which Antiochus had taken from them in
the war； contrary to the decree of the senate； might be restored
to them； and that it might not be lawful for the king's troops to
pass through their country； and the countries of those that are
subject to them； and that what attempts Antiochus had made during
that war； without the decree of the senate； might be made void；
and that they would send ambassadors； who should take care that
restitution be made them of what Antiochus had taken from them；
and that they should make an estimate of the country that had
been laid waste in the war； and that they would grant them
letters of protection to the kings and free people； in order to
their quiet return home。 It was therefore decreed； as to these
points； to renew their league of friendship and mutual assistance
with these good men； and who were sent by a good and a friendly
people。〃 But as to the letters desired； their answer was； that
the senate would consult about that matter when their own affairs
would give them leave； and that they would endeavor； for the time
to come； that no like injury should be done to them； and that
their praetor Fanius should give them money out of the public
treasury to bear their expenses home。 And thus did Fanius dismiss
the Jewish ambassadors； and gave them money out of the public
treasury； and gave the decree of the senate to those that were to
conduct them； and to take care that they should return home in
safety。
3。 And thus stood the affairs of Hyrcanus the high priest。 But as
for king Demetrius； who had a mind to make war against Hyrcanus；
there was no opportunity nor room for it； while both the Syrians
and the soldiers bare ill…will to him； because he was an ill man。
But when they had sent ambassadors to Ptolemy； who was called
Physcon； that he would send them one of the family at Seleueus；
in order to take the kingdom； and he had sent them Alexander； who
was called Zebina； with an army； and there had been a battle
between them； Demetrius was beaten in the fight； and fled to
Cleopatra his wife； to Ptolemais； but his wife would not receive
him。 He went thence to Tyre； and was there caught； and when he
had suffered much from his enemies before his death； he was slain
by them。 So Alexander took the kingdom； and made a league with
Hyrcanus； who yet； when he afterward fought with Antiochus the
son of Demetrius； who was called Grypus； was also beaten in the
fight； and slain。
CHAPTER 10。
How Upon The Quarrel Between Antiochus Grypus And AntiocHus
Cyzicenus About The Kingdom Hyrcanus Tooksamaria； And Utterly
Demolished It； And How Hyrcaus Joined Himself To The Sect Of The
Sadducees； And Left That Of The Pharisees。
1。 When Antiochus had taken the kingdom； he was afraid to make
war against Judea； because he heard that his brother by the same
mother； who was also called Antiochus； was raising an army
against him out of Cyzicum； so he staid in his own land； and
resolved to prepare himself for the attack he expected from his
brother； who was called Cyzicenus； because he had been brought up
in that city。 He was the son of Antiochus that was called Soter；
who died in Parthia。 He was the brother of Demetrius； the father
of Grypus； for it had so happened； that one and the same
Cleopatra was married to two who were brethren； as we have
related elsewhere。 But Antiochus Cyzicenus coming into Syria；
continued many years at war with his brother。 Now Hyrcanus lived
all this while in peace； for after the death of Antlochus； he
revolted from the Macedonians； （27） nor did he any longer pay
them the least regard； either as their subject or their friend；
but his affairs were in a very improving and flourishing
condition in the times of Alexander Zebina； and especially under
these brethren； for the war which they had with one another gave
Hyrcanus the opportunity of enjoying himself in Judea quietly；
insomuch that he got an immense quantity of money。 How ever； when
Antiochus Cyzicenus distressed his land； he then openly showed
what he meant。 And when he saw that Antiochus was destitute of
Egyptian auxiliaries； and that both he and his brother were in an
ill condition in the struggles they had one with another； he
despised them both。
2。 So he made an expedition against Samaria which was a very
strong city； of whose present name Sebaste； and its rebuilding by
Herod； we shall speak at a proper time； but he made his attack
against it； and besieged it with a great deal of pains； for he
was greatly displeased with the Samaritans for the injuries they
had done to the people of Merissa； a colony of the Jews； and
confederate with them； and this in compliance to the kings of
Sy