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Ptolemy Lathyrus； And How Ptolemy Made War Against Him； Because
He Had Sent To Cleopatra To Persuade Her To Make War Against
Ptolemy； And Yet Pretended To Be In Friendship With Him； When He
Beat The Jews In The Battle。
1。 When Aristobulus was dead； his wife Salome； who； by the
Greeks； was called Alexandra； let his brethren out of prison；
（for Aristobulus had kept them in bonds； as we have said
already；） and made Alexander Janneus king； who was the superior
in age and in moderation。 This child happened to be hated by his
father as soon as he was born； and could never be permitted to
come into his father's sight till he died。 （32） The occasion of
which hatred is thus reported： when Hyrcanus chiefly loved the
two eldest of his sons； Antigonus and Aristobutus； God appeared
to him in his sleep； of whom he inquired which of his sons should
be his successor。 Upon God's representing to him the countenance
of Alexander； he was grieved that he was to be the heir of all
his goods； and suffered him to be brought up in Galilee However；
God did not deceive Hyrcanus； for after the death of Aristobulus；
he certainly took the kingdom； and one of his brethren； who
affected the kingdom； he slew； and the other； who chose to live a
private and quiet life； he had in esteem。
2。 When Alexander Janneus had settled the government in the
manner that he judged best； he made an expedition against
Ptolemais； and having overcome the men in battle； he shut them up
in the city； and sat round about it； and besieged it； for of the
maritime cities there remained only Ptolemais and Gaza to be
conquered； besides Strato's Tower and Dora； which were held by
the tyrant Zoilus。 Now while Antiochus Philometor； and Antiochus
who was called Cyzicenus； were making war one against another；
and destroying one another's armies； the people of Ptolemais
could have no assistance from them； but when they were distressed
with this siege； Zoilus； who possessed Strato's Tower and Dora；
and maintained a legion of soldiers； and； on occasion of the
contest between the kings； affected tyranny himself； came and
brought some small assistance to the people of Ptolemais； nor
indeed had the kings such a friendship for them； as that they
should hope for any advantage from them。 Both those kings were in
the case of wrestlers； who finding themselves deficient in。
strength； and yet being ashamed to yield； put off the fight by
laziness； and by lying still as long as they can。 The only hope
they had remaining was from the kings of Egypt； and from Ptolemy
Lathyrus； who now held Cyprus； and who came to Cyprus when he was
driven from the government of Egypt by Cleopatra his mother。 So
the people of Ptolemais sent to this Ptolemy Lathyrus； and
desired him to come as a confederate； to deliver them； now they
were in such danger； out of the hands of Alexander。 And as the
ambassadors gave him hopes； that if he would pass over into
Syria； he would have the people of Gaza on the side of those of
Ptolemais； as also they said； that Zoilus； and besides these the
Sidonians； and many others； would assist them； so he was elevated
at this； and got his fleet ready as soon as possible。
3。 But in this interval Demenetus； one that was of abilities to
persuade men to do as he would have them； and a leader of the
populace； made those of Ptolemais change their opinions； and said
to them； that it was better to run the hazard of being subject to
the Jews； than to admit of evident slavery by delivering
themselves up to a master； and besides that； to have not only a
war at present； but to expect a much greater war from Egypt； for
that Cleopatra would not overlook an army raised by Ptolemy for
himself out of the neighborhood； but would come against them with
a great army of her own； and this because she was laboring to
eject her son out of Cyprus also； that as for Ptolemy； if he fail
of his hopes； he can still retire to Cyprus； but that they will
be left in the greatest danger possible。 Now Ptolemy； although he
had heard of the change that was made in the people of Ptolemais；
yet did he still go on with his voyage； and came to the country
called Sycamine； and there set his army on shore。 This army of
his； in the whole horse and foot together； were about thirty
thousand； with which he marched near to Ptolemais； and there
pitched his camp。 But when the people of Ptolemais neither
received his ambassadors； nor would hear what they had to say； he
was under a very great concern。
4。 But when Zoilus and the people of Gaza came to him； and
desired his assistance； because their country was laid waste by
the Jews； and by Alexander； Alexander raised the siege； for fear
of Ptolemy： and when he had drawn off his army into his own
country； he used a stratagem afterwards； by privately inviting
Cleopatra to come against Ptolemy； but publicly pretending to
desire a league of friendship and mutual assistance with him； and
promising to give him four hundred talents of silver； he desired
that； by way of requital； he would take off Zoilus the tyrant；
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 Philost