slew him； together with his friends。 But when Antiochus； the son
of Cyzicenus； was king of Syria； Antiochus； （37） the brother of
Seleucus； made war upon him； and was overcome； and destroyed； he
and his army。 After him； his brother Philip put on the diadem；
and reigned over some part of Syria； but Ptolemy Lathyrus sent
for his fourth brother Demetrius； who was called Eucerus； from
Cnidus； and made him king of Damascus。 Both these brothers did
Antiochus vehemently oppose； but presently died； for when he was
come as an auxiliary to Laodice； queen of the Gileadites； （38）
when she was making war against the Parthians； and he was
fighting courageously； he fell； while Demetrius and Philip
governed Syria； as hath been elsewhere related。
5。 As to Alexander； his own people were seditious against him；
for at a festival which was then celebrated； when he stood upon
the altar； and was going to sacrifice； the nation rose upon him；
and pelted him with citrons ＇which they then had in their hands；
because＇ the law of the Jews required that at the feast of
tabernacles every one should have branches of the palm tree and
citron tree； which thing we have elsewhere related。 They also
reviled him； as derived from a captive； and so unworthy of his
dignity and of sacrificing。 At this he was in a rage； and slew of
them about six thousand。 He also built a partition…wall of wood
round the altar and the temple； as far as that partition within
which it was only lawful for the priests to enter； and by this
means he obstructed the multitude from coming at him。 He also
maintained foreigners of Pisidie and Cilicia； for as to the
Syrians； he was at war with them； and so made no use of them。 He
also overcame the Arabians； such as the Moabites and Gileadites；
and made them bring tribute。 Moreover； he demolished Amathus；
while Theodorus （39） durst not fight with him； but as he had
joined battle with Obedas； king of the Arabians； and fell into an
ambush in the places that were rugged and difficult to be
traveled over； he was thrown down into a deep valley； by the
multitude of the camels at Gadurn； a village of Gilead； and
hardly escaped with his life。 From thence he fled to Jerusalem；
where； besides his other ill success； the nation insulted him；
and he fought against them for six years； and slew no fewer than
fifty thousand of them。 And when he desired that they would
desist from their ill…will to him； they hated him so much the
more； on account of what had already happened； and when he had
asked them what he ought to do； they all cried out； that he ought
to kill himself。 They also sent to Demetrius Eucerus； and desired
him to make a league of mutual defense with them。
CHAPTER 14。
How Demetrius Eucerus Overcame Alexander And Yet In A Little Time
Retired Out Of The Country For Fear； As Also How Alexander Slew
Many Of The Jews And Thereby Got Clear Of His Troubles。
Concerning The Death Of Demetrius。
1。 So Demetrius came with an army； and took those that invited
him； and pitched his camp near the city Shechem； upon which
Alexander； with his six thousand two hundred mercenaries； and
about twenty thousand Jews； who were of his party； went against
Demetrius； who had three thousand horsemen； and forty thousand
footmen。 Now there were great endeavors used on both sides； …
Demetrius trying to bring off the mercenaries that were with
Alexander； because they were Greeks； and Alexander trying to
bring off the Jews that were with Demetrius。 However； when
neither of them could persuade them so to do； they came to a
battle； and Demetrius was the conqueror； in which all Alexander's
mercenaries were killed； when they had given demonstration of
their fidelity and courage。 A great number of Demetrius's
soldiers were slain also。
2。 Now as Alexander fled to the mountains； six thousand of the
Jews hereupon came together ＇from Demetrius＇ to him out of pity
at the change of his fortune； upon which Demetrius was afraid；
and retired out of the country； after which the Jews fought
against Alexander； and being beaten； were slain in great numbers
in the several battles which they had； and when he had shut up
the most powerful of them in the city Bethome； he besieged them
therein； and when he had taken the city； and gotten the men into
his power； he brought them to Jerusalem； and did one of the most
barbarous actions in the world to them； for as he was feasting
with his concubines； in the sight of all the city； he ordered
about eight hundred of them to be crucified； and while they were
living； he ordered the throats of their children and wives to be
cut before their eyes。 This was indeed by way of revenge for the
injuries they had done him； which punishment yet was of an
inhuman nature； though we suppose that he had been never so much
distressed； as indeed he had been； by his wars with them； for he
had by their means come to the last degree of hazard； both of his
life and of his kingdom； while they were not satisfied by
themselves only to fight against him； but introduced foreigners
also for the same purpose； nay； at length they reduced him to
that degree of necessity； that he was forced to deliver back to
the king of Arabia the land of Moab and Gilead； which he had
subdued； and the places that were in them； that they might not
join with them in the war against him； as they had done ten
thousand other things that tended to affront and reproach him。
However； this barbarity seems to have been without any necessity；
on which account he bare the name of a Thracian among the Jews
（40） whereupon the soldiers that had fought against him； being
about eight thousand in number； ran away by night； and continued
fugitives all the time that Alexander lived； who being now freed
from any further disturbance from them； reigned the rest of his
time in the utmost tranquillity。
3。 But when Demetrius was departed out of Judea； he went to
Berea； and besieged his brother Philip； having with him ten
thousand footmen； and a thousand horsemen。 However Strato； the
tyrant of Berea； the confederate of Philip； called in Zizon； the
ruler of the Arabian tribes； and Mithridates Sinax； the ruler of
the Parthians； who coming with a great number of forces； and
besieging Demetrius in his encampment； into which they had driven
them with their arrows； they compelled those that were with him
by thirst to deliver up themselves。 So they took a great many
spoils out of that country； and Demetrius himself； whom they sent
to Mithridates； who was then king of Parthis； but as to those
whom they took captives of the people of Antioch； they restored
them to the Antiochinus without any reward。 Now Mithridates； the
king of Parthis； had Demetrius in great honor； till Demetrius
ended his life by sickness。 So Philip； presently after the fight
was over； came to Antioch； and took it； and reigned over Syria。
CHAPTER 15。
How Antiochus； Who Was Called Dionysus； And After Him Aretas Made
Expeditions Into Judea； As Also How Alexander Took Many Cities
And Then Returned To Jerusalem； And After A Sickness Of Three
Years Died； And What Counsel He Gave To Alexandra。
1。 After this； Antiochus； who was called Dionysus； （41） and was
Philip's brother； aspired to the dominion； and carne to Damascus；
and got the power into his hands； and there he reigned； but as he
was making war against the Arabians； his brother Philip heard of
it； and came to Damascus； where Milesius； who had been left
governor of the citadel； and the Damascens themselves； delivered
up the city to him； yet because Philip was become ungrateful to
him； and had bestowed upon him nothing of that in hopes whereof
he had received him into the city； but had a mind to have it
believed that it was rather delivered up out of fear than by the
kindness of Milesius； and because he had not rewarded him as he
ought to have done； he became suspected by him； and so he was
obliged to leave Damascus again； for Milesius caught him marching
out into the Hippodrome； and shut him up in it； and kept Damascus
for Antiochus ＇Eucerus＇； who hearing how Philip's affairs stood；
came back out of Arabia。 He also came immediately； and made an
expedition against Judea； with eight thousand armed footmen； and
eight hundred horsemen。 So Alexander； out of fear of his coming；
dug a deep ditch； beginning at Chabarzaba； which is now called
Antipatris； to the sea of Joppa； on which part only his army
could be brought against him。 He also raised a wall； and erected
wooden towers； and intermediate redoubts； for one hundred and
fifty furlongs in length； and there expected the coming of
Antiochus； but he soon burnt them all； and made his army pass by
that way into Arabia。 The Arabian king ＇Aretas＇ at first
retreated； but afterward appeared on the sudden with ten thousand
horsemen。 Antiochus gave them the meeting； and fought
desperately； and indeed when he had gotten the victory； and was
bringing some auxiliaries to that part of his army that was in
distress； he was slain。 When Antiochus was fallen； his army fled
to the village Cana； where the greatest part of them perished by
famine。
2。 After him （42） Arems reigned over Celesyria； being called to
the government by those that held Damascus； by reason of the
hatred they bare to Ptolemy Menneus。 He also made thence an
expedition against Judea； and beat Alexander in battle； near a
place called Adida； yet did he； upon certain conditions agreed on
between them； retire out of Judea。
3。 But Alexander marched again to the city Dios； and took it； and
then made an expedition against Essa； where was the best part of
Zeno's treasures； and there he encompassed the place with three
walls； and when he had taken the city by fighting； he marched to
Golan and Seleucia； and when he had taken these cities； he；
besides them； took that valley which is called The Valley of
Antiochus； as also the fortress of Gamala。 He also accused
Demetrius； who was governor of those places； of many crimes； and
turned him out； and after he had spent three years in this war；
he returned to his own country； when the Jews joyfully received
him upon this his good success。
4。 Now at this time the Jews were in possession of the following
cities that had belonged to