and give his country to the Jews。 And then indeed Ptolemy； with
pleasure； made such a league of friendship with Alexander； and
subdued Zoilus； but when he afterwards heard that he had privily
sent to Cleopatra his mother； he broke the league with him； which
yet he had confirmed with an oath； and fell upon him； and
besieged Ptolemais； because it would not receive him。 However；
leaving his generals； with some part of his forces； to go on with
the siege； he went himself immediately with the rest to lay Judea
waste； and when Alexander understood this to be Ptolemy's
intention； he also got together about fifty thousand soldiers out
of his own country； nay； as some writers have said； eighty
thousand （33） He then took his army； and went to meet Ptolemy；
but Ptolemy fell upon Asochis； a city of Galilee； and took it by
force on the sabbath day； and there he took about ten thousand
slaves； and a great deal of other prey。
5。 He then tried to take Sepphoris； which was a city not far from
that which was destroyed； but lost many of his men； yet did he
then go to fight with Alexander； which Alexander met him at the
river Jordan； near a certain place called Saphoth； ＇not far from
the river Jordan；＇ and pitched his camp near to the enemy。 He had
however eight thousand in the first rank； which he styled
Hecatontomachi； having shields of brass。 Those in the first rank
of Ptolemy's soldiers also had shields covered with brass。 But
Ptolemy's soldiers in other respects were inferior to those of
Alexander； and therefore were more fearful of running hazards；
but Philostephanus； the camp…master； put great courage into them；
and ordered them to pass the river； which was between their
camps。 Nor did Alexander think fit to hinder their passage over
it； for he thought； that if the enemy had once gotten the river
on their back； that he should the easier take them prisoners；
when they could not flee out of the battle： in the beginning of
which； the acts on both sides； with their hands； and with their
alacrity； were alike； and a great slaughter was made by both the
armies； but Alexander was superior； till Philostephanus
opportunely brought up the auxiliaries； to help those that were
giving way； but as there were no auxiliaries to afford help to
that part of the Jews that gave way； it fell out that they fled；
and those near them did no assist them； but fled along with them。
However； Ptolemy's soldiers acted quite otherwise； for they
followed the Jews； and killed them； till at length those that
slew them pursued after them when they had made them all run
away； and slew them so long； that their weapons of iron were
blunted； and their hands quite tired with the slaughter； for the
report was； that thirty thousand men were then slain。 Timagenes
says they were fifty thousand。 As for the rest； they were part of
them taken captives； and the other part ran away to their own
country。
6。 After this victory； Ptolemy overran all the country； and when
night came on； he abode in certain villages of Judea； which when
he found full of women and children； he commanded his soldiers to
strangle them； and to cut them in pieces； and then to cast them
into boiling caldrons； and then to devour their limbs as
sacrifices。 This commandment was given； that such as fled from
the battle； and came to them； might suppose their enemies were
cannibals； and eat men's flesh； and might on that account be
still more terrified at them upon such a sight。 And both Strabo
and Nicholaus ＇of Damascus＇ affirm； that they used these people
after this manner； as I have already related。 Ptolemy also took
Ptolemais by force； as we have declared elsewhere。
CHAPTER 13。
How Alexander； upon the League of Mutual Defense Which Cleopatra
Had Agreed with Him； Made an Expedition Against Coelesyria； and
Utterly Overthrew the City of Gaza； and How He Slew Many Ten
Thousands of Jews That Rebelled Against Him。 Also Concerning
Antiochus Grypus； Seleucus Antiochus Cyziceius； and Antiochus
Pius； and Others。
1。 When Cleopatra saw that her son was grown great； and laid
Judea waste； without disturbance； and had gotten the city of Gaza
under his power； she resolved no longer to overlook what he did；
when he was almost at her gates； and she concluded； that now he
was so much stronger than before； he would be very desirous of
the dominion over the Egyptians； but she immediately marched
against him； with a fleet at sea and an army of foot on land； and
made Chelcias and Ananias the Jews generals of her whole army；
while she sent the greatest part of her riches； her
grandchildren； and her testament； to the people of Cos （34）
Cleopatra also ordered her son Alexander to sail with a great
fleet to Phoenicia； and when that country had revolted； she came
to Ptolemais； and because the people of Ptolemais did not receive
her； she besieged the city； but Ptolemy went out of Syria； and
made haste unto Egypt； supposing that he should find it destitute
of an army； and soon take it； though he failed of his hopes。 At
this time Chelcias； one of Cleopatra's generals； happened to die
in Celesyria； as he was in pursuit of Ptolemy。
2。 When Cleopatra heard of her son's attempt； and that his
Egyptian expedition did not succeed according to his
expectations； she sent thither part of her army； and drove him
out of that country； so when he was returned out of Egypt again；
he abode during the winter at Gaza； in which time Cleopatra took
the garrison that was in Ptolemais by siege； as well as the city；
and when Alexander came to her； he gave her presents； and such
marks of respect as were but proper； since under the miseries he
endured by Ptolemy he had no other refuge but her。 Now there were
some of her friends who persuaded her to seize Alexander； and to
overrun and take possession of the country； and not to sit still
and see such a multitude of brave Jews subject to one man。 But
Ananias's counsel was contrary to theirs； who said that she would
do an unjust action if she deprived a man that was her ally of
that authority which belonged to him； and this a man who is
related to us； 〃for （said he） I would not have thee ignorant of
this； that what in。 justice thou dost to him will make all us
that are Jews to be thy enemies。 This desire of Ananias Cleopatra
complied with； and did no injury to Alexander； but made a league
of mutual assistance with him at Scythopolis； a city of
Celesyria。
3。 So when Alexander was delivered from the fear he was in of
Ptolemy； he presently made an expedition against Coelesyria。 He
also took Gadara； after a siege of ten months。 He took also
Areathus； a very strong fortress belonging to the inhabitants
above Jordan； where Theodorus； the son of Zeno； had his chief
treasure； and what he esteemed most precious。 This Zeno fell
unexpectedly upon the Jews； and slew ten thousand of them； and
seized upon Alexander's baggage。 Yet did not this misfortune
terrify Alexander； but he made an expedition upon the maritime
parts of the country； Raphia and Anthedon； （the name of which
king Herod afterwards changed to Agrippias；） and took even that
by force。 But when Alexander saw that Ptolemy was retired from
Gaza to Cyprus； and his mother Cleopatra was returned to Egypt；
he grew angry at the people of Gaza； because they had invited
Ptolemy to assist them； and besieged their city； and ravaged
their country。 But as Apollodotus； the general of the army of
Gaza； fell upon the camp of the Jews by night； with two thousand
foreign and ten thousand of his own forces； while the night
lasted； those of Gaza prevailed； because the enemy was made to
believe that it was Ptolemy who attacked them； but when day was
come on； and that mistake was corrected； and the Jews knew the
truth of the matter； they came back again； and fell upon those of
Gaza； and slew of them about a thousand。 But as those of Gaza
stoutly resisted them； and would not yield for either their want
of any thing； nor for the great multitude that were slain； （for
they would rather suffer any hardship whatever than come under
the power of their enemies；） Aretas； king of the Arabians； a
person then very illustrious； encouraged them to go on with
alacrity； and promised them that he would come to their
assistance； but it happened that before he came Apollodotus was
slain； for his brother Lysimachus envying him for the great
reputation he had gained among the citizens； slew him； and got
the army together； and delivered up the city to Alexander； who；
when he came in at first； lay quiet； but afterward set his army
upon the inhabitants of Gaza； and gave them leave to punish them；
so some went one way； and some went another； and slew the
inhabitants of Gaza； yet were not they of cowardly hearts； but
opposed those that came to slay them； and slew as many of the
Jews； and some of them； when they saw themselves deserted； burnt
their own houses； that the enemy might get none of their spoils；
nay； some of them； with their own hands； slew their children and
their wives； having no other way but this of avoiding slavery for
them； but the senators； who were in all five hundred； fled to
Apollo's temple； （for this attack happened to be made as they
were sitting；） whom Alexander slew； and when he had utterly
overthrown their city； he returned to Jerusalem； having spent a
year in that siege。
4。 About this very time Antiochus； who was called Grypus； died
（35） His death was caused by Heracleon's treachery； when he had
lived forty…five years； and had reigned twenty…nine。 （36） His son
Seleucus succeeded him in the kingdom； and made war with
Antiochus； his father's brother； who was called Antiochus
Cyzicenus； and beat him； and took him prisoner； and slew him。 But
after a while Antiochus； the son of Cyzicenus； who was called
Pius； came to Aradus； and put the diadem on his own head； and
made war with Seleucus； and beat him； and drove him out of all
Syria。 But when he fled out of Syria； he came to Mopsuestia
again； and levied money upon them； but the people of Mopsuestin
had indignation at what he did； and burnt down his palace； and
slew him； together with his friends。 But when Antiochus； the son
of Cyzicenus； was king of Syria； Antiochus； （37） the brother of
Seleuc