the antiquities of the jews-1-第167部分
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slew him; together with his friends。 But when Antiochus; the son
of Cyzicenus; was king of Syria; Antiochus; (37) the brother of
Seleucus; made war upon him; and was overcome; and destroyed; he
and his army。 After him; his brother Philip put on the diadem;
and reigned over some part of Syria; but Ptolemy Lathyrus sent
for his fourth brother Demetrius; who was called Eucerus; from
Cnidus; and made him king of Damascus。 Both these brothers did
Antiochus vehemently oppose; but presently died; for when he was
come as an auxiliary to Laodice; queen of the Gileadites; (38)
when she was making war against the Parthians; and he was
fighting courageously; he fell; while Demetrius and Philip
governed Syria; as hath been elsewhere related。
5。 As to Alexander; his own people were seditious against him;
for at a festival which was then celebrated; when he stood upon
the altar; and was going to sacrifice; the nation rose upon him;
and pelted him with citrons 'which they then had in their hands;
because' the law of the Jews required that at the feast of
tabernacles every one should have branches of the palm tree and
citron tree; which thing we have elsewhere related。 They also
reviled him; as derived from a captive; and so unworthy of his
dignity and of sacrificing。 At this he was in a rage; and slew of
them about six thousand。 He also built a partition…wall of wood
round the altar and the temple; as far as that partition within
which it was only lawful for the priests to enter; and by this
means he obstructed the multitude from coming at him。 He also
maintained foreigners of Pisidie and Cilicia; for as to the
Syrians; he was at war with them; and so made no use of them。 He
also overcame the Arabians; such as the Moabites and Gileadites;
and made them bring tribute。 Moreover; he demolished Amathus;
while Theodorus (39) durst not fight with him; but as he had
joined battle with Obedas; king of the Arabians; and fell into an
ambush in the places that were rugged and difficult to be
traveled over; he was thrown down into a deep valley; by the
multitude of the camels at Gadurn; a village of Gilead; and
hardly escaped with his life。 From thence he fled to Jerusalem;
where; besides his other ill success; the nation insulted him;
and he fought against them for six years; and slew no fewer than
fifty thousand of them。 And when he desired that they would
desist from their ill…will to him; they hated him so much the
more; on account of what had already happened; and when he had
asked them what he ought to do; they all cried out; that he ought
to kill himself。 They also sent to Demetrius Eucerus; and desired
him to make a league of mutual defense with them。
CHAPTER 14。
How Demetrius Eucerus Overcame Alexander And Yet In A Little Time
Retired Out Of The Country For Fear; As Also How Alexander Slew
Many Of The Jews And Thereby Got Clear Of His Troubles。
Concerning The Death Of Demetrius。
1。 So Demetrius came with an army; and took those that invited
him; and pitched his camp near the city Shechem; upon which
Alexander; with his six thousand two hundred mercenaries; and
about twenty thousand Jews; who were of his party; went against
Demetrius; who had three thousand horsemen; and forty thousand
footmen。 Now there were great endeavors used on both sides; …
Demetrius trying to bring off the mercenaries that were with
Alexander; because they were Greeks; and Alexander trying to
bring off the Jews that were with Demetrius。 However; when
neither of them could persuade them so to do; they came to a
battle; and Demetrius was the conqueror; in which all Alexander's
mercenaries were killed; when they had given demonstration of
their fidelity and courage。 A great number of Demetrius's
soldiers were slain also。
2。 Now as Alexander fled to the mountains; six thousand of the
Jews hereupon came together 'from Demetrius' to him out of pity
at the change of his fortune; upon which Demetrius was afraid;
and retired out of the country; after which the Jews fought
against Alexander; and being beaten; were slain in great numbers
in the several battles which they had; and when he had shut up
the most powerful of them in the city Bethome; he besieged them
therein; and when he had taken the city; and gotten the men into
his power; he brought them to Jerusalem; and did one of the most
barbarous actions in the world to them; for as he was feasting
with his concubines; in the sight of all the city; he ordered
about eight hundred of them to be crucified; and while they were
living; he ordered the throats of their children and wives to be
cut before their eyes。 This was indeed by way of revenge for the
injuries they had done him; which punishment yet was of an
inhuman nature; though we suppose that he had been never so much
distressed; as indeed he had been; by his wars with them; for he
had by their means come to the last degree of hazard; both of his
life and of his kingdom; while they were not satisfied by
themselves only to fight against him; but introduced foreigners
also for the same purpose; nay; at length they reduced him to
that degree of necessity; that he was forced to deliver back to
the king of Arabia the land of Moab and Gilead; which he had
subdued; and the places that were in them; that they might not
join with them in the war against him; as they had done ten
thousand other things that tended to affront and reproach him。
However; this barbarity seems to have been without any necessity;
on which account he bare the name of a Thracian among the Jews
(40) whereupon the soldiers that had fought against him; being
about eight thousand in number; ran away by night; and continued
fugitives all the time that Alexander lived; who being now freed
from any further disturbance from them; reigned the rest of his
time in the utmost tranquillity。
3。 But when Demetrius was departed out of Judea; he went to
Berea; and besieged his brother Philip; having with him ten
thousand footmen; and a thousand horsemen。 However Strato; the
tyrant of Berea; the confederate of Philip; called in Zizon; the
ruler of the Arabian tribes; and Mithridates Sinax; the ruler of
the Parthians; who coming with a great number of forces; and
besieging Demetrius in his encampment; into which they had driven
them with their arrows; they compelled those that were with him
by thirst to deliver up themselves。 So they took a great many
spoils out of that country; and Demetrius himself; whom they sent
to Mithridates; who was then king of Parthis; but as to those
whom they took captives of the people of Antioch; they restored
them to the Antiochinus without any reward。 Now Mithridates; the
king of Parthis; had Demetrius in great honor; till Demetrius
ended his life by sickness。 So Philip; presently after the fight
was over; came to Antioch; and took it; and reigned over Syria。
CHAPTER 15。
How Antiochus; Who Was Called Dionysus; And After Him Aretas Made
Expeditions Into Judea; As Also How Alexander Took Many Cities
And Then Returned To Jerusalem; And After A Sickness Of Three
Years Died; And What Counsel He Gave To Alexandra。
1。 After this; Antiochus; who was called Dionysus; (41) and was
Philip's brother; aspired to the dominion; and carne to Damascus;
and got the power into his hands; and there he reigned; but as he
was making war against the Arabians; his brother Philip heard of
it; and came to Damascus; where Milesius; who had been left
governor of the citadel; and the Damascens themselves; delivered
up the city to him; yet because Philip was become ungrateful to
him; and had bestowed upon him nothing of that in hopes whereof
he had received him into the city; but had a mind to have it
believed that it was rather delivered up out of fear than by the
kindness of Milesius; and because he had not rewarded him as he
ought to have done; he became suspected by him; and so he was
obliged to leave Damascus again; for Milesius caught him marching
out into the Hippodrome; and shut him up in it; and kept Damascus
for Antiochus 'Eucerus'; who hearing how Philip's affairs stood;
came back out of Arabia。 He also came immediately; and made an
expedition against Judea; with eight thousand armed footmen; and
eight hundred horsemen。 So Alexander; out of fear of his coming;
dug a deep ditch; beginning at Chabarzaba; which is now called
Antipatris; to the sea of Joppa; on which part only his army
could be brought against him。 He also raised a wall; and erected
wooden towers; and intermediate redoubts; for one hundred and
fifty furlongs in length; and there expected the coming of
Antiochus; but he soon burnt them all; and made his army pass by
that way into Arabia。 The Arabian king 'Aretas' at first
retreated; but afterward appeared on the sudden with ten thousand
horsemen。 Antiochus gave them the meeting; and fought
desperately; and indeed when he had gotten the victory; and was
bringing some auxiliaries to that part of his army that was in
distress; he was slain。 When Antiochus was fallen; his army fled
to the village Cana; where the greatest part of them perished by
famine。
2。 After him (42) Arems reigned over Celesyria; being called to
the government by those that held Damascus; by reason of the
hatred they bare to Ptolemy Menneus。 He also made thence an
expedition against Judea; and beat Alexander in battle; near a
place called Adida; yet did he; upon certain conditions agreed on
between them; retire out of Judea。
3。 But Alexander marched again to the city Dios; and took it; and
then made an expedition against Essa; where was the best part of
Zeno's treasures; and there he encompassed the place with three
walls; and when he had taken the city by fighting; he marched to
Golan and Seleucia; and when he had taken these cities; he;
besides them; took that valley which is called The Valley of
Antiochus; as also the fortress of Gamala。 He also accused
Demetrius; who was governor of those places; of many crimes; and
turned him out; and after he had spent three years in this war;
he returned to his own country; when the Jews joyfully received
him upon this his good success。
4。 Now at this time the Jews were in possession of the following
cities that had belonged to