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Sepphoris in Galilee。 So the Jews were now freed from monarchic
authority； and were governed by an aristocracy。
CHAPTER 6。
How Gabinius Caught Aristobulus After He Had Fled From Rome； And
Sent Him Back To Rome Again； And Now The Same Gabinius As He
Returned Out Of Egypt Overcame Alexander And The Nabateans In
Battle。
1。 Now Aristobulus ran away from Rome to Judea； and set about the
rebuilding of Alexandrium； which had been newly demolished。
Hereupon Gabinius sent soldiers against him； add for their
commanders Sisenna； and Antonius； and Servilius； in order to
hinder him from getting possession of the country； and to take
him again。 And indeed many of the Jews ran to Aristobulus； on
account of his former glory； as also because they should be glad
of an innovation。 Now there was one Pitholaus； a lieutenant at
Jerusalem； who deserted to him with a thousand men； although a
great number of those that came to him were unarmed； and when
Aristobulus had resolved to go to Macherus； he dismissed those
people； because they were unarmed； for they could not be useful
to him in what actions he was going about； but he took with him
eight thousand that were armed； and marched on； and as the Romans
fell upon them severely； the Jews fought valiantly； but were
beaten in the battle； and when they had fought with alacrity； but
were overborne by the enemy； they were put to flight； of whom
were slain about five thousand； and the rest being dispersed；
tried； as well as they were able； to save themselves。 However；
Aristobulus had with him still above a thousand； and with them he
fled to Macherus； and fortified the place； and though he had had
ill success； he still had good hope of his affairs； but when he
had struggled against the siege for two days' time； and had
received many wounds； he was brought as a captive to Gabinius；
with his son Antigonus； who also fled with him from Rome。 And
this was the fortune of Aristobulus； who was sent back again to
Rome； and was there retained in bonds； having been both king and
high priest for three years and six months； and was indeed an
eminent person； and one of a great soul。 However； the senate let
his children go； upon Gabinius's writing to them that he had
promised their mother so much when she delivered up the
fortresses to him； and accordingly they then returned into Judea。
2。 Now when Gabinius was making an expedition against the
Parthians； and had already passed over Euphrates； he changed his
mind； and resolved to return into Egypt； in order to restore
Ptolemy to his kingdom。 （11） This hath also been related
elsewhere。 However； Antipater supplied his army； which he sent
against Archelaus； with corn； and weapons； and money。 He also
made those Jews who were above Pelusium his friends and
confederates； and had been the guardians of the passes that led
into Egypt。 But when he came back out of Egypt； he found Syria in
disorder； with seditions and troubles； for Alexander； the son of
Aristobulus； having seized on the government a second time by
force； made many of the Jews revolt to him； and so he marched
over the country with a great army； and slew all the Romans he
could light upon； and proceeded to besiege the mountain called
Gerizzim； whither they had retreated。
3。 But when Gabinius found Syria in such a state； he sent
Antipater； who was a prudent man； to those that were seditious；
to try whether he could cure them of their madness； and persuade
them to return to a better mind； and when he came to them； he
brought many of them to a sound mind； and induced them to do what
they ought to do； but he could not restrain Alexander； for he had
an army of thirty thousand Jews； and met Gabinius； and joining
battle with him； was beaten； and lost ten thousand of his men
about Mount Tabor。
4。 So Gabinius settled the affairs which belonged to the city
Jerusalem； as was agreeable to Antipater's inclination； and went
against the Nabateans； and overcame them in battle。 He also sent
away in a friendly manner Mithridates and Orsanes； who were
Parthian deserters； and came to him； though the report went
abroad that they had run away from him。 And when Gabinius had
performed great and glorious actions； in his management of the
affairs of war； he returned to Rome； and delivered the government
to Crassus。 Now Nicolaus of Damascus； and Strabo of Cappadocia；
both describe the expeditions of Pompey and Gabinius against the
Jews； while neither of them say anything new which is not in the
other。
CHAPTER 7。
How Crassus Came Into Judea； And Pillaged The Temple； And Then
Marched Against The Parthians And Perished； With His Army。 Also
How Cassius Obtained Syria； And Put A Stop To The Parthians And
Then Went Up To Judea。
1。 Now Crassus； as he was going upon his expedition against the
Parthians； came into Judea； and carried off the money that was in
the temple； which Pompey had left； being two thousand talents；
and was disposed to spoil it of all the gold belonging to it；
which was eight thousand talents。 He also took a beam； which was
made of solid beaten gold； of the weight of three hundred minae；
each of which weighed two pounds and a half。 It was the priest
who was guardian of the sacred treasures； and whose name was
Eleazar； that gave him this beam； not out of a wicked design； for
he was a good and a righteous man； but being intrusted with the
custody of the veils belonging to the temple； which were of
admirable beauty； and of very costly workmanship； and hung down
from this beam； when lie saw that Crassus was busy in gathering
money； and was in fear for the entire ornaments of the temple； he
gave him this beam of gold as a ransom for the whole； but this
not till he had given his oath that he would remove nothing else
out of the temple； but be satisfied with this only； which he
should give him； being worth many ten thousand ＇shekels＇。 Now
this beam was contained in a wooden beam that was hollow； but was
known to no others； but Eleazar alone knew it； yet did Crassus
take away this beam； upon the condition of touching nothing else
that belonged to the temple； and then brake his oath； and carried
away all the gold that was in the temple。
2。 And let no one wonder that there was so much wealth in our
temple； since all the Jews throughout the habitable earth； and
those that worshipped God； nay； even those of Asia and Europe；
sent their contributions to it； and this from very ancient times。
Nor is the largeness of these sums without its attestation； nor
is that greatness owing to our vanity； as raising it without
ground to so great a height； but there are many witnesses to it；
and particularly Strabo of Cappadocia； who says thus：
〃Mithridates sent to Cos； and took the money which queen
Cleopatra had deposited there； as also eight hundred talents
belonging to the Jews。〃 Now we have no public money but only what
appertains to God； and it is evident that the Asian Jews removed
this money out of fear of Mithridates； for it is not probable
that those of Judea； who had a strong city and temple； should
send their money to Cos； nor is it likely that the Jews who are
inhabitants of Alexandria should do so neither； since the