The struggle for political control of Judea between the
weak-willed Hyrcanus and his impetuous brother Aristobulus
had begun during the reign of their mother, Salome Alexandra,
and became even fiercer once Hyrcanus took the throne in
67 B.C.E.
Hyrcanus
then began his reign. . . Immediately, Aristobulus began
to make war against him, and in battle with Hyrcanus at
Jericho, many of Hyrcanus' soldiers deserted him and went
over to Aristobulus. . . . So after he had sent a message
to his brother about coming to an agreement regarding the
matters between them, he laid aside his enmity to him on
these conditions: that Aristobulus should be king, and that
he (Hyrcanus) should live without meddling in public affairs
and quietly enjoy the estate he had acquired. When they
had agreed upon these terms in the Temple and had confirmed
the agreement with oaths and giving one another their right
hands and embracing one another in the sight of the whole
multitude, they departed, the one, Aristobulus, to the palace,
and Hyrcanus, as a private man, to the former house of Aristobulus.
Hyrcanus was persuaded to resume the struggle against his
brother by a powerful Idumean named Antipater. Both brothers
appealed to the Roman general Pompey, to whom they sent
generous bribes.
When
Pompey had ordered those that had controversies with one
another to come to him at the beginning of the spring, he
brought his army out of their winter quarters and marched
into the country of Damascus. . . . It was there that he
heard the causes of the Jews and of their leaders Hyrcanus
and Aristobulus, who had differences with one with another.
. . . Hyrcanus complained that although he was the elder
brother, he was deprived of the prerogative of his birth
by Aristobulus and that he had but a small part of the country
under him, Aristobulus having taken away the rest by force.
He also charged that the incursions which had been made
into their neighbors' countries and the piracies that had
taken place at sea, were owing to Aristobulus, and that
the nation had revolted because Aristobulus was given to
violence and disorder. No fewer than a thousand Jews, the
most reputable among them provided by Antipater,
confirmed this accusation. For his part, Aristobulus alleged
that Hyrcanus's inactive temperament made him contemptible
and resulted in his being deprived of the government; and
that he, Aristobulus, had only taken it for himself lest
it be transferred to others; and that as to his title [of
king], it was no other than what his father had taken [before
him]. . . .
When Pompey had heard the claims of these two, he condemned
Aristobulus for his violent actions. He then spoke civilly
to them and sent them away, and told them that when he came
again into their country, he would settle all their affairs
after he had first taken a view of the affairs of the Nabateans.
In the meantime, he ordered them to keep the peace, and
treated Aristobulus civilly lest he should make the nation
revolt and hinder his return. . .
Pompey later sided openly with Hyrcanus, but Aristobulus
refused to yield. Pompey arrested Aristobulus and sent Roman
forces against Jerusalem, storming the city and besieging
Aristobulus's remaining supporters, who took up positions
within the Temple precincts. Pompey's troops ultimately
seized the Temple Mount.
.
. . No small sins were committed about the Temple itself,
which in former ages had been inaccessible and seen by none.
For Pompey and some of his men went into it and saw everything
that lawful only for the high priests to see. In the Temple
were the golden table, the holy candlestick, and the libation
vessels, and a great quantity of spices. Besides these there
were among the treasures two thousand talents of sacred
money. Yet Pompey touched nothing on account of his regard
for religion, and in this respect he acted in a manner worthy
of his virtue.
The next day he gave an order to those who had charge of
the Temple to cleanse it and to bring what offerings the
law required to God, and he restored the high priesthood
to Hyrcanus, both because he had been useful to him in other
respects and because he had hindered the Jews from giving
Aristobulus assistance in his war against him. He also beheaded
those who had been the authors of that war, and bestowed
proper rewards on Faustus and on those others who had mounted
the wall with such alacrity. He made Jerusalem tributary
to the Romans, and took away those cities of Celesyria
which the
inhabitants of Judea had subdued, and put them under
the rule of the
Roman governor, and confined the whole nation, which
had elevated itself so high before, within its own boundaries.
. . .
