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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 had been brought thither； and had received his
kingdom； he would restore that country； and those twelve cities
which his father Alexander had taken from the Arabians； which
were these； Medaba； Naballo； Libias； Tharabasa； Agala； Athone；
Zoar； Orone； Marissa； Rudda； Lussa； and Oruba。
CHAPTER 2。
How Aretas And Hyrcanus Made An Expedition Against Aristobulus
And Besieged Jerusalem； And How Scaurus The Roman General Raised
The Siege。 Concerning The Death Of Onias。
1。 After these promises had been given to Aretas； he made an
expedition against Aristobulus with an army of fifty thousand
horse and foot； and beat him in the battle。 And when after that
victory many went over to Hyrcanus as deserters； Aristobulus was
left desolate； and fled to Jerusalem； upon which the king of
Arabia took all his army； and made an assault upon the temple；
and besieged Aristobulus therein； the people still supporting
Hyreanus； and assisting him in the siege； while none but the
priests continued with Aristobulus。 So Aretas united the forces
of the Arabians and of the Jews together； and pressed on the
siege vigorously。 As this happened at the time when the feast of
unleavened bread was celebrated； which we call the passover； the
principal men among the Jews left the country； and fled into
Egypt。 Now there was one； whose name was Onias； a righteous man
be was； and beloved of God； who； in a certain drought； had prayed
to God to put an end to the intense heat； and whose prayers God
had heard； and had sent them rain。 This man had hid himself；
because he saw that this sedition would last a great while。
However； they brought him to the Jewish camp； and desired； that
as by his prayers he had once put an end to the drought； so he
would in like manner make imprecations on Aristobulus and those
of his faction。 And when； upon his refusal； and the excuses that
he made； he was still by the multitude compelled to speak； he
stood up in the midst of them； and said； 〃O God； the King of the
whole world！ since those that stand now with me are thy people；
and those that are besieged are also thy priests； I beseech thee；
that thou wilt neither hearken to the prayers of those against
these； nor bring to effect what these pray against those。〃
Whereupon such wicked Jews as stood about him； as soon as he had
made this prayer； stoned him to death。
2。 But God punished them immediately for this their barbarity；
and took vengeance of them for the murder of Onias； in the manner
following： While the priests and Aristobulus were besieged； it
happened that the feast called the passover was come； at which it
is our custom to offer a great number of sacrifices to God； but
those that were with Aristobulus wanted sacrifices； and desired
that their countrymen without would furnish them with such
sacrifices； and assured them they should have as much money for
them as they should desire； and when they required them to pay a
thousand drachmae for each head of cattle； Aristobulus and the
priests willingly undertook to pay for them accordingly； and
those within let down the money over the walls； and gave it them。
But when the others had received it； they did not deliver the
sacrifices； but arrived at that height of wickedness as to break
the assurances they had given； and to be guilty of impiety
towards God； by not furnishing those that wanted them with
sacrifices。 And when the priests found they had been cheated； and
that the agreements they had made were violated； they prayed to
God that he would avenge them on their countrymen。 Nor did he
delay that their punishment； but sent a strong and vehement storm
of wind； that destroyed the fruits of the whole country； till a
modius of wheat was then bought for eleven drachmae。
3。 In the mean time Pompey sent Scaurus into Syria； while he was
himself in Armenia； and making war with Tigranes； but when
Scaurus was come to Damascus； and found that Lollins and Metellus
had newly taken the city； he came himself hastily into Judea。 And
when he was com