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having the kingdom granted him； so that he still pretended he
would obey Pompey in whatsoever he commanded； although at the
same time he retired to his fortress； that he might not depress
himself too low； and that he might be prepared for a war； in case
it should prove as he feared； that Pompey would transfer the
government to Hyrcanus。 But when Pompey enjoined Aristobulus to
deliver up the fortresses he held； and to send an injunction to
their governors under his own hand for that purpose； for they had
been forbidden to deliver them up upon any other commands； he
submitted indeed to do so； but still he retired in displeasure to
Jerusalem； and made preparation for war。 A little after this；
certain persons came out of Pontus； and informed Pompey； as he
was on the way； and conducting his army against Aristobulus； that
Mithridates was dead； and was slain by his son Pharmaces。
CHAPTER 4。
How Pompey When The Citizens Of Jerusalem Shut Their Gates
Against Him Besieged The City And Took It By Force； As Also What
Other Things He Did In Judea。
1。 Now when Pompey had pitched his camp at Jericho； （where the
palm tree grows；
and that balsam which is an ointment of all the most precious；
which upon any incision made in the wood with a sharp stone；
distills out thence like a juice；） （4） he marched in the morning
to Jerusalem。 Hereupon Aristobulus repented of what he was doing；
and came to Pompey； had ＇promised to＇ give him money； and
received him into Jerusalem； and desired that he would leave off
the war； and do what he pleased peaceably。 So Pompey； upon his
entreaty； forgave him； and sent Gabinius； and soldiers with him；
to receive the money and the city： yet was no part of this
performed； but Gabinius came back； being both excluded out of the
city； and receiving none of the money promised； because
Aristobulus's soldiers would not permit the agreements to be
executed。 At this Pompey was very angry； and put Aristobulus into
prison； and came himself to the city； which was strong on every
side； excepting the north； which was not so well fortified； for
there was a broad and deep ditch that encompassed the city （5）
and included within it the temple； which was itself encompassed
about with a very strong stone wall。
2。 Now there was a sedition of the men that were within the city；
who did not agree what was to be done in their present
circumstances； while some thought it best to deliver up the city
to Pompey； but Aristobulus's party exhorted them to shut the
gates； because he was kept in prison。 Now these prevented the
others； and seized upon the temple； and cut off the bridge which
reached from it to the city； and prepared themselves to abide a
siege； but the others admitted Pompey's army in； and delivered up
both the city and the king's palace to him。 So Pompey sent his
lieutenant Piso with an army； and placed garrisons both in the
city and in the palace； to secure them； and fortified the houses
that joined to the temple； and all those which were more distant
and without it。 And in the first place； he offered terms of
accommodation to those within； but when they would not comply
with what was desired； he encompassed all the places thereabout
with a wall； wherein Hyrcanus did gladly assist him on all
occasions； but Pompey pitched his camp within ＇the wall＇； on the
north part of the temple； where it was most practicable； but even
on that side there were great towers； and a ditch had been dug；
and a deep valley begirt it round about； for on the parts towards
the city were precipices； and the bridge on which Pompey had
gotten in was broken down。 However； a bank was raised； day by
day； with a great deal of labor； while the Romans cut down
materials for it from the places round about。 And when this bank
was sufficiently raised； and the ditch filled up； though but
poorly； by reason of its immense depth； he brought his mechanical
engines and battering…rams from Tyre； and placing them on the
bank； he battered the temple with the stones that were thrown
against it。 And had it not been our practice； from the days of
our forefathers； to rest on the seventh day； this bank could
never have been perfected； by reason of the opposition the Jews
would have made； for though our law gives us leave then to defend
ourselves against those that begin to fight with us and assault
us； yet does it not permit us to meddle with our enemies while
they do any thing else。
3。 Which thing when the Romans understood； on those days which we
call Sabbaths they threw nothing at the Jews； nor came to any
pitched battle with them； but raised up their earthen banks； and
brought their engines into such forwardness； that they might do
execution the next day。 And any one may hence learn how very
great piety we exercise towards God； and the observance of his
laws； since the priests were not at all hindered from their
sacred ministrations by their fear during this siege； but did
still twice a…day； in the morning and about the ninth hour； offer
their sacrifices on the altar； nor did they omit those
sacrifices； if any melancholy accident happened by the stones
that were thrown among them； for although the city was taken on
the third month； on the day of the fast； （6） upon the hundred and
seventy…ninth olympiad； when Caius Antonius and Marcus Tullius
Cicero were consuls； and the enemy then fell upon them； and cut
the throats of those that were in the temple； yet could not those
that offered the sacrifices be compelled to run away； neither by
the fear they were in of their own lives； nor by the number that
were already slain； as thinking it better to suffer whatever came
upon them； at their very altars； than to omit any thing that
their laws required of them。 And that this is not a mere brag； or
an encomium to manifest a degree of our piety that was false； but
is the real truth； I appeal to those that have written of the
acts of Pompey； and； among them； to Strabo and Nicolaus ＇of
Damascus＇； and besides these two； Titus Livius； the writer of the
Roman History； who will bear witness to this thing。 （7）
4。 But when the battering…engine was brought near； the greatest
of the towers was shaken by it； and fell down； and broke down a
part of the fortifications； so the enemy poured in apace； and
Cornelius Faustus； the son of Sylla； with his soldiers； first of
all ascended the wall； and next to him Furius the centurion； with
those that followed on the other part； while Fabius； who was also
a centurion； ascended it in the middle； with a great body of men
after him。 But now all was full of slaughter； some of the Jews
being slain by the Romans； and some by one another； nay； some
there were who threw themselves down the precipices； or put fire
to their houses； and burnt them； as not able to bear the miseries
they were under。 Of the Jews there fell twelve thousand； but of
the Romans very few。 Absalom； who was at once both uncle and
father…in…law to Aristobulus； was taken captive； and no small
enormities were committed about the temple itself； which； in
former ages； had been inaccessible； and seen by none； for Pompey
went into it； and not a few of those that were with him also； and
saw a