family should be under the power of the Pharisees； for he saw the
inability of his brother； who was to succeed in the government；
nor was any one conscious of what he was doing but only his wife；
whom he left at Jerusalem with their children。 He first of all
came to Agaba； where was Galestes； one of the potent men before
mentioned； and was received by him。 When it was day； the queen
perceived that Aristobulus was fled； and for some time she
supposed that his departure was not in order to make any
innovation； but when messengers came one after another with the
news that he had secured the first place； the second place； and
all the places； for as soon as one had begun they all submitted
to his disposal； then it was that the queen and the nation were
in the greatest disorder； for they were aware that it would not
be long ere Aristobulus would be able to settle himself firmly in
the government。 What they were principally afraid of was this；
that he would inflict punishment upon them for the mad treatment
his house had had from them。 So they resolved to take his wife
and children into custody； and keep them in the fortress that was
over the temple。 （46） Now there was a mighty conflux of people
that came to Aristobulus from all parts； insomuch that he had a
kind of royal attendants about him； for in a little more than
fifteen days he got twenty…two strong places； which gave him the
opportunity of raising an army from Libanus and Trachonitis； and
the monarchs； for men are easily led by the greater number； and
easily submit to them。 And besides this； that by affording him
their assistance； when he could not expect it； they； as well as
he； should have the advantages that would come by his being king；
because they had been the occasion of his gaining the kingdom。
Now the eiders of the Jews； and Hyrcanus with them； went in unto
the queen； and desired that she would give them her sentiments
about the present posture of affairs； for that Aristobulus was in
effect lord of almost all the kingdom； by possessing of so many
strong holds； and that it was absurd for them to take any counsel
by themselves； how ill soever she were； whilst she was alive； and
that the danger would be upon them in no long time。 But she bid
them do what they thought proper to be done； that they had many
circumstances in their favor still remaining； a nation in good
heart； an army； and money in their several treasuries； for that
she had small concern about public affairs now； when the strength
of her body already failed her。
6。 Now a little while after she had said this to them； she died；
when she had reigned nine years； and had in all lived
seventy…three。 A woman she was who showed no signs of the
weakness of her sex； for she was sagacious to the greatest degree
in her ambition of governing； and demonstrated by her doings at
once； that her mind was fit for action； and that sometimes men
themselves show the little understanding they have by the
frequent mistakes they make in point of government； for she
always preferred the present to futurity； and preferred the power
of an imperious dominion above all things； and in comparison of
that had no regard to what was good； or what was right。 However；
she brought the affairs of her house to such an unfortunate
condition； that she was the occasion of the taking away that
authority from it； and that in no long time afterward； which she
had obtained by a vast number of hazards and misfortunes； and
this out of a desire of what does not belong to a woman； and all
by a compliance in her sentiments with those that bare ill…will
to their family； and by leaving the administration destitute of a
proper support of great men； and； indeed； her management during
her administration while she was alive； was such as filled the
palace after her death with calamities and disturbance。 However；
although this had been her way of governing； she preserved the
nation in peace。 And this is the conclusion of the affairs of；
Alexandra。
BOOK XIV。
Containing The Interval Of Thirty…Two Years。
From The Death Of Queen Alexandra To The Death Of Antigonus。
CHAPTER 1。
The War Between Aristobulus And Hyrcanus About The Kingdom； And
How They Made Anagreement That Aristobulus Should Be King； And
Hyrcanus Live A Private Life； As Also How Hyrcanus A Little
Afterward Was Persuaded By Antipater To Fly To Aretas。
1。 We have related the affairs of queen Alexandra； and her death；
in the foregoing book and will now speak of what followed； and
was connected with those histories； declaring； before we proceed；
that we have nothing so much at heart as this； that we may omit
no facts； either through ignorance or laziness； （1） for we are
upon the history and explication of such things as the greatest
part are unacquainted withal； because of their distance from our
times； and we aim to do it with a proper beauty of style； so far
as that is derived from proper words harmonically disposed； and
from such ornaments of speech also as may contribute to the
pleasure of our readers； that they may entertain the knowledge of
what we write with some agreeable satisfaction and pleasure。 But
the principal scope that authors ought to aim at above all the
rest； is to speak accurately； and to speak truly； for the
satisfaction of those that are otherwise unacquainted with such
transactions； and obliged to believe what these writers inform
them of。
2。 Hyrcanus then began his high priesthood on the third year of
the hundred and seventy…seventh olympiad； when Quintus Hortensius
and Quintus Metellus； who was called Metellus of Crete； were
consuls at Rome； when presently Aristobulus began to make war
against him； and as it came to a battle with Hyrcanus at Jericho；
many of his soldiers deserted him； and went over to his brother；
upon which Hyrcanus fled into the citadel； where Aristobulus's
wife and children were imprisoned by their mother； as we have
said already； and attacked and overcame those his adversaries
that had fled thither； and lay within the walls of the temple。 So
when he had sent a message to his brother about agreeing the
matters between them； he laid aside his enmity to him on these
conditions； that Aristobulus should be king； that he should live
without intermeddling with public affairs； and quietly enjoy the
estate he had acquired。 When they had agreed upon these terms in
the temple； and had confirmed the agreement with oaths； and the
giving one an。 other their right hands； and embracing one another
in the sight of the whole multitude； they departed； the one；
Aristobulus； to the palace； and Hyrcanus； as a private man； to
the former house of Aristobulus。
3。 But there was a certain friend of Hyrcanus； an Idumean； called
Antipater； who was very rich； and in his nature an active and a
seditious man； who was at enmity with Aristobulus； and had
differences with him on account of his good…will to Hyrcanus。 It
is true that Nicolatls of Damascus says； that Antipater was of
the stock of the principal Jews who came out of Babylon into
Judea； but that assertion of his was to gratify Herod； who was
his son； and who； by certain revolutions of fortune； came
afterward to be king of the Jews； whose history we shall give you
in its proper place hereafter。 However； this Antipater was at
first called Antipas； （2） and that was his father's name also； of
whom they relate this： That king Alexander and his wife made him
general of all Idumea； and that he made a league of friendship
with those Arabians； and Gazites； and Ascalonites； that were of
his own party； and had； by many and large presents； made them his
fast friends。 But now this younger Antipater was suspicious of
the power of Aristobulus； and was afraid of some mischief he
might do him； because of his hatred to him； so he stirred up the
most powerful of the Jews； and talked against him to them
privately； and said that it was unjust to overlook the conduct of
Aristobulus； who had gotten the government unrighteously； and
ejected his brother out of it； who was the elder； and ought to
retain what belonged to him by prerogative of his birth。 And the
same speeches he perpetually made to Hyrcanus； and told him that
his own life would be in danger； unless he guarded himself； and
got shut of Aristobulus； for he said that the friends of
Aristobulus omitted no opportunity of advising him to kill him；
as being then； and not before； sure to retain his principality。
Hyrcanus gave no credit to these words of his； as being of a
gentle disposition； and one that did not easily admit of
calumnies against other men。 This temper of his not disposing him
to meddle with public affairs； and want of spirit； occasioned him
to appear to spectators to be degenerous and unmanly； while。
Aristo…bulus was of a contrary temper； an active man； and one of
a great and generous soul。
4。 Since therefore Antipater saw that Hyrcanus did not attend to
what he said； he never ceased； day by day； to charge reigned
crimes upon Aristobulus； and to calumniate him before him； as if
he had a mind to kill him； and so； by urging him perpetually； he
advised him； and persuaded him to fly to Aretas； the king of
Arabia； and promised； that if he would comply with his advice； he
would also himself assist him and go with him＇。 When Hyrcanus
heard this； he said that it was for his advantage to fly away to
Aretas。 Now Arabia is a country that borders upon Judea。 However；
Hyrcanus sent Antipater first to the king of Arabia； in order to
receive assurances from him； that when he should come in the
manner of a supplicant to him； he would not deliver him up to his
enemies。 So Antipater having received such assurances； returned
to Hyrcanus to Jerusalem。 A while afterward he took Hyrcanus； and
stole out of the city by night； and went a great journey； and
came and brought him to the city called Petra； where the palace
of Aretas was； and as he was a very familiar friend of that king；
he persuaded him to bring back Hyrcanus into Judea； and this
persuasion he continued every day without any intermission。 He
also proposed to make him presents on that account。 At length he
prevailed with Aretas in his suit。 Moreover； Hyrcanus promised
him； that when he ha