按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
what miseries they had suffered by its garrison and the Jewish
deserters； and what miseries they might hereafter suffer in case
any foreigner should obtain the kingdom； and put a garrison into
that citadel。 This speech induced the multitude to a compliance；
because he exhorted them to do nothing but what was for their own
good： so they all set themselves to the work； and leveled the
mountain； and in that work spent both day and night without any
intermission； which cost them three whole years before it was
removed； and brought to an entire level with the plain of the
rest of the city。 After which the temple was the highest of all
the buildings； now the citadel； as well as the mountain whereon
it stood； were demolished。 And these actions were thus performed
under Simon。
CHAPTER 7。
How Simon Confederated Himself With Antiochus Pius； And Made War
Against Trypho； And A Little Afterward； Against Cendebeus； The
General Of Antiochus's Army； As Also How Simon Was Murdered By
His Son…In…Law Ptolemy； And That By Treachery。
1。 （15） Now a little while after Demetrius had been carried into
captivity； Trypho his governor destroyed Antiochus； （16） the son
of Alexander； who was also called The God； （17） and this when he
had reigned four years； though he gave it out that he died under
the hands of the surgeons。 He then sent his friends； and those
that were most intimate with him； to the soldiers； and promised
that he would give them a great deal of money if they would make
him king。 He intimated to them that Demetrius was made a captive
by the Parthians； and that Demetrius's brother Atitiochus； if he
came to be king； would do them a great deal of mischief； in way
of revenge for their revolting from his brother。 So the soldiers；
in expectation of the wealth they should get by bestowing the
kingdom on Trypho； made him their ruler。 However； when Trypho had
gained the management of affairs； he demonstrated his disposition
to be wicked； for while he was a private person； he cultivated
familiarity with the multitude； and pretended to great
moderation； and so drew them on artfully to whatsoever he
pleased； but when he had once taken the kingdom； he laid aside
any further dissimulation； and was the true Trypho； which
behavior made his enemies superior to him； for the soldiery hated
him； and revolted from him to Cleopatra； the wife of Demetrius；
who was then shut up in Seleucia with her children。 But as
Antiochus； the brother of Demetrius who was called Soter； was not
admitted by any of the cities on account of Trypho； Cleopatra
sent to him； and invited him to marry her； and to take the
kingdom。 The reasons why she made this invitation were these：
That her friends persuaded her to it； and that she was afraid for
herself； in case some of the people of Seleucia should deliver up
the city to Trypho。
2。 As Antlochuswas now come to Seleucia； and his forces increased
every day； he marched to fight Trypho； and having beaten him in
the battle； he ejected him out of the Upper Syria into Phoenicia；
and pursued him thither； and besieged him in Dora which was a
fortress hard to be taken； whither he had fled。 He also sent
ambassadors to Simon the Jewish high priest； about a league of
friendship and mutual assistance； who readily accepted of the
invitation； and sent to Antiochus great sums of money and
provisions for those that besieged Dora； and thereby supplied
them very plentifully； so that for a little while he was looked
upon as one of his most intimate friends； but still Trypho fled
from Dora to Apamia； where he was taken during the siege； and put
to death； when he had reigned three years。
3。 However； Antiochus forgot the kind assistance that Simon had
afforded him in his necessity； by reason of his covetous and
wicked disposition； and committed an army of soldiers to his
friend Cendebeus； and sent him at once to ravage Judea； and to
seize Simon。 When Simon heard of Antiochus's breaking his league
with him； although he were now in years； yet； provoked with the
unjust treatment he had met with from Antiochus； and taking a
resolution brisker than his age could well bear； he went like a
young man to act as general of his army。 He also sent his sons
before among the most hardy of his soldiers； and he himself
marched on with his army another way； and laid many of his men in
ambushes in the narrow valleys between the mountains； nor did he
fail of success in any one of his attempts； but was too hard for
his enemies in every one of them。 So he led the rest of his life
in peace； and did also himself make a league with the Romans。
4。 Now he was the ruler of the Jews in all eight years； but at a
feast came to his end。 It was caused by the treachery of his
son…in…law Ptolemy； who caught also his wife； and two of his
sons； and kept them in bonds。 He also sent some to kill John the
third son； whose name was Hyrcanus； but the young man perceiving
them coming； he avoided the danger he was in from them； （18） and
made haste into the city ＇Jerusalem＇； as relying on the good…will
of the multitude； because of the benefits they had received from
his father； and because of the hatred the same multitude bare to
Ptolemy； so that when Ptolemy was endeavoring to enter the city
by another gate； they drove him away； as having already admitted
Hyrcanus。
CHAPTER 8。
Hyrcanus Receives The High Priesthood； And Ejects Ptolemy Out Of
The Country。 Antiochus Makes War Against Hyrcanus And Afterwards
Makes A League With Him。
1。 So Ptolemy retired to one of the fortresses that was above
Jericho； which was called Dagon。 But Hyrcanus having taken the
high priesthood that had been his father's before； and in the
first place propitiated God by sacrifices； he then made an
expedition against Ptolemy； and when he made his attacks upon the
place； in other points he was too hard for him； but was rendered
weaker than he； by the commiseration he had for his mother and
brethren； and by that only； for Ptolemy brought them upon the
wall； and tormented them in the sight of all； and threatened that
he would throw them down headlong； unless Hyrcanus would leave
off the siege。 And as he thought that so far as he relaxed as to
the siege and taking of the place； so much favor did he show to
those that were dearest to him by preventing their misery； his
zeal about it was cooled。 However； his mother spread out her
hands； and begged of him that he would not grow remiss on her
account； but indulge his indignation so much the more； and that
he would do his utmost to take the place quickly； in order to get
their enemy under his power； and then to avenge upon him what he
had done to those that were dearest to himself； for that death
would be to her sweet； though with torment； if that enemy of
theirs might but be brought to punishment for his wicked dealings
to them。 Now when his mother said so； he resolved to take the
fortress immediately； but when he saw her beaten； and torn to
pieces； his courage failed him； and he could not but sympathize
with what his mother suffered； and was thereby overcome。 And as
the siege was drawn out into length by this means； that year on
which the Jews used to rest ca