Pompey and the End of Jewish Independence</font> <style type="text/css">  </style> </head> <body background="Wall2.JPG"> <center> <p><font size=+3 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Gnaeus Pompey and the End of<br> Jewish Independence</font> <font size=+3 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(67-51 BCE)</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="+1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br> </font></p> <table width="795" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td><center> <p align="left"><font size=-1 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">1. <a href="#H1">Brief Account of Events Said to Have Occurred</a><br> 2. <a href="#H2">Primary Sources</a><br> </font><font size="-1"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> </font></font></font></font></font><font size=-1 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">2.1. <a href="#H21">Josephus, Antiquities 14.1.2-7.3; 4-122</a><br> </font><font size="-1"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> </font></font></font></font></font><font size=-1 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">2.2. <a href="#H22">Josephus, War 1.6.1-8.9; 120-82</a><br> 3. <a href="#H3">More Detailed Account of Events Said to Have Occurred with Citation of Sources</a><br> 4. <a href="#H4">Questions</a></font></p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="center"><img src="rule08b.gif" width="468" height="22"></p> <p align="left"><br> </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left"><font size=+1 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a name="H1"></a>1. Brief Account of Events Said to Have Occurred</font> </p> <div align="left"> <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Jewish and Roman histories begin to intersect at this point, so that one cannot discuss Jewish history without discussing Roman history (the reverse is not as true, of course). When Salome died in 67 BCE, there arose a conflict between Hyrcanus II and his brother Aristobolus II over who would succeed their mother as both High Priest and king; these two were leaders of <u>de facto</u> poltical parties compete with militias within the Jewish state. Aristobolus II declared war on Hyrcanus II, and in a decisive battle many of the soldiers supporting Hyrcanus II deserted to Aristobolus II. Hyrcanus II agreed that his brother Aristobolus II would be High Priest and king. But the matter did not end there. Antipater, an Idumean who was appointed governor of Idumea by Alexander Jannaeus, took up the cause of Hyrcanus II and with the military support of the Nabatean king Aretas—who had lost much territory to the Jews—marched to Jerusalem, laid siege to the city and demanded that Hyrcanus II be reinstated as High Priest and be appointed king. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Meanwhile, Pompey had made his appearance in Asia, owing to rebellion by Mithridates VI Eupator, the king of Pontus. Earlier, in 89 BCE, Mithridates invaded parts of Asia massacring all the Roman inhabitants of the province. (Asia became a province four years after the death of Attalus III in 133 BCE, who willed his kingdom centered in Pergamum to Rome; the Romans combined this territorial bequest with territory taken from the Seleucid kingdom [Antiochus III in 189 BCE] to form one administrative unity, the province of Asia.) In response, the Roman senate sent the consul Lucius Cornelius Sulla with five legions to fight against Mithridates; he defeated him, forced him to retreat to his original position and imposed indemnity on him (First Mithridatic War between 88-84 BCE). A second war was fought <img src="Images/pompeym1.gif" width="118" height="128" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="right">successfully by the Romans from 83-82 BCE. A third war broke out when Nicomedes III, the king of Bithynia (to the east of Pontus) bequeathed his kingdom to Romans, who organized it into a province; Mithridates VI Eupator, the king of Pontus, however, also coveted the territory, and began a campaign to take control of the former kingdom of Bithynia.To counter this threat, the Roman senate gave Pompey the authority to attack Mithridates. Pompey defeated Mithridates in 66 BCE (Third Mithridatic War 74-63 BCE). While in Asia, Pompey heard from one of his generals, (Marcus Aemilius) Scaurus, who had been sent to Syria, of the dispute going on in Jerusalem between Hyrcanus II and Aristobolus II and their respective supporters. Scaurus began to travel to Judea to capitalize on this crisis; hearing that the Roman general on his way to Judea, both Aristobolus II and Hyrcanus II sent emissaries to him to gain his support for their causes. This was the beginning of the end of the Hasmonean dynasty and Jewish independence.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In 65 BCE Scaurus temporarily decided in favor of Aristobolus II, and ordered Aretas to withdrew, which he did. In the meantime, Pompey conquered Syria, the last of the Seleucid kingdom, and Syria was made into a Roman province with a proconsul; the rest of the Seleucid kingdom by this time had dissolved. In 63 BCE, Pompey met with Aristobolus II and Hyrcanus II in Damascus to hear their respective cases for being appointed king and High Priest. (A third delegation of Jews requested that the monarchy be abolished, but Pompey did not take it too seriously.) Pompey asked both to stay in Damascus and to wait on his decision. Aristobolus II, however, left Damascus without Pompey's permission, so that Pompey justifiably suspected Aristobolus II to be disloyal to him and the Romans. So with his army he pursued Aristobolus II, who eventually surrendered near Jericho. In the meantime, the people of Jerusalem shut the gates of the city against Gabinius, the proconsul of Syria, who had been sent to Jerusalem by Pompey to get money that Aristobolus II had promised and to take possession of the city. Pompey marched on the city, having taken Aristobolus II as a prisoner, and the gates were opened to him by the followers of Hyrcanus II. The supporters of Aristobolus II took refuge in the Temple mount in the lower city. Pompey besieged the Temple, and within three months broke through the walls and killed about 12,000 Jews. The borders of the Jewish state were greatly reduced; what remained was Judea, Idumea, Perea and Galilee</font> </p> <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Pompey installed Hyrcanus II as High Priest, but did not give him the title of king. He took Aristobolus II and many Jewish prisoners of war to to Rome, where they settled In 57 BCE, Alexander, the son of Aristobolus II, who escaped from captivity on the way to Rome, attempted to seize power, but was defeated by Gabinius, proconsul of Syria. In 57 BCE also, Hyrcanus II was stripped of all political power, and Gabinius the proconsul of Syria divided the Jewish state into five regions, each under his immediate control. This was the end of an independent Jewish state. In 56-55 BCE, Aristobolus II and his son Antigonus, who had escaped from Rome, tried in vain to take power of the former Jewish state.<br> </font> <p><table width="90%" border="1" align="center" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" bordercolorlight="#C84220"> <tr> <td><p><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In addition to the work of Nicolas of Damascus, Josephus frequently quotes from and alludes to the Strabo's works. Strabo was born in 64 or 63 BCE to a prominent family in Amasia the capital of Pontus. His family had been allies of the Romans and Pompey during the Third Mithridatic War. His first major work called <em>Historical Sketches</em>, published in 20 BCE, in which he narrated the history of the world known to him from the time of Rome's conquest of Greece (the years 145-31 BCE), has not survived, except in quotations in other works by Strabo himself and other ancient authors. But Strabo's other major work, a seventeen-volume work by known as <em>Geographical Descriptions (Geographica</em>), written after 14 CE, has survived largely in tact. In this work, he provides descriptions of places and the history of the peoples who inhabited them, including the Jews (<em>Geog</em>. 16.2). Josephus does not identify on which of Strabo's works he is dependent for his own work<em> Antiquities</em>, but by a process of elimination it is clear that he is using Strabo's <em>Historical Sketches</em>.</font></p> </td> </tr> </table></p> <p> </p></div> </center> <ul> <li><a href="Images/Petra.htm"><font size="4" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">T</font></a><font size="4"><a href="Images/Petra.htm"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">he Nabataean City of Petra </font></a></font></li> </ul> <p> <br> <font size=+1 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a name="H2"></a>2. Primary Sources</font> <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a name="H21"></a>2.1. Reading: Josephus, <a href="Ant14.htm#1"><em>Antiquities</em> 14.1.2-7.3; 4-122</a> (Translated by W. Whiston) </font> <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a name="H22"></a>2.2. Reading: Josephus, <b><a href="War.htm#4"><em>War</em> 1.6.1-8.9; 120-82</a></b> (Translated by W. Whiston) <br> </font><br> <p> <div align="center"> <p> <table width="90%" border="1" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="4" bordercolorlight="#C84220"> <tr> <td> <p><img src="Pompey2.jpg" width="180" height="239" hspace="7" align="left"><br> </p> <p><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, born in 106 BCE, supported the victorious patrician Cornelius Sulla in the civil war against the supporters of the populist Gaius Marius (84-78 BCE). After re-conquering Spain, Pompey returned to Italy to help M. Licinius Crassus end the slave revolt led by the gladiator Spartacus (71 BCE). He was then elected as consul of Rome in 70 BCE. Before he replaced Lucullus as general in charge of waging war against Mithridates, Pompey was assigned the task in ridding the Mediterranean of pirates, which he succeeded in dong in 67 BCE. </font></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <p> <table width="90%" border="1" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="4" bordercolorlight="#C84220" align="center"> <tr> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In an extremely fragmentary text that appears to be a record of the proper rotation of priests based on a six-year cycle, there are references to historical events around the time of the appearance of the Romans in Palestine (4Q322, 323, 324, 324a, 324b, 324c) (<em>4Q324Calendrical Doc C-a</em>-f). Unfortunately, because these texts are so fragmentary, the events referred to are unknown. What does remain are the names of important Jewish historical figures from this time: "Shelamsiôn" (<u>šlmtzywn</u>) = Salome Alexandra (4Q322 2.4; 4Q224b 1.2); "Hyrcanos" (<u>hrqnws</u>) (4Q322 2.6) and "the High Priest... Yochanan" (<u>kwhn gdwl</u>...<u>ywchnn</u>) (4Q224b 1.1) = John Hyrcanus I or John Hyrcanus II. In addition, the phrase "Aemilius killed" (<u>hrg</u> <u>'mlyws</u>) occurs, which no doubt is a reference to the fact that Marcus Aemilius Scaurus killed Jews either as a general under Pompey or a proconsul of Syria (4Q324a 2.4, 8).</font></td> </tr> </table> <ul> <br> <br> <li><a href="Images/Hasmon.htm"><font size="4" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Diagram of the Hasmonean Dynasty<b> </b></font></a> </li> </ul> <p align="left"><font size=+2><br> </font><font size=+1 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a name="H3"></a>3. More Detailed Account of Events Said to Have Occurred with Citation of Sources</font> <br> <br> <font size=+1> </font><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(*=significant apparent disagreement in sources)</font> <table WIDTH="100%" BORDER cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" bordercolorlight="#C84220" COLS=3 > <tr> <td WIDTH="10%"> <center> <font size=-1 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>Date BCE</strong></font> </center></td> <td> <center> <font size=-1 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>Events</strong></font> </center></td> <td WIDTH="25%"> <center> <font size=-1 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>Sources</strong></font> </center></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">67</font></b></td> <td><p><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">After his mother Salome Alexandra's death, Aristobolus II, being the more ambitious of the two brothers, declares war on his brother, Hyrcanus II and his supporters who are defeated in battle near Jericho; many of the soldiers of Hyrcanus II defect to his brother. No doubt the Pharisees support Hyrcanus II in this conflict, whereas the Sadducees support Aristobolus II. Hyrcanus II takes refuge in the citadel (the Baris, later renamed the Antonia) where the wife Aristobolus II and his children are being held (see <em>Ant</em>. 13.16.5; 426). Holding them as hostages, Hyrcanus II negotiates an agreement with his brother that he would become a private citizen and Aristobolus would become king and High Priest.</font></p> </td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><em>Ant</em>. 14.1.2; 4-7; <em>War</em> 1.6.1; 120-22; see <em>Ant</em>. 14.3.2; 41; 14.6.1; 97; 20.10.4; 243-44<br> *Josephus gives the date in Olympian (third year of the 177 Olympiad) and consular years, which would place the dates of Aristobolus' victory over his brother in 69 BCE. </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">c. 67-65</font></b></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">An enemy of Aristobolus II, Antipater, an Idumean who was appointed governor of Idumea by Alexander Jannaeus, convinces Hyrcanus II that his life is in danger as long as his brother is in power. Besides, he points out that Aristobolus II is not the rightful heir to the throne, being the younger brother. (His real motives are fear of Aristobolus II and a desire to preserve his own political power.) Antipater advises Hyrcanus II to flee to Aretas III, the Nabataean king at Petra, who can protect him and make good on his claim to the throne. In exchange for his support, Aretas III is promised the restoration of twelve cities that were taken from the Nabataeans by Alexander Jannaeus. </font></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><em>Ant</em>. 14.1.3-4; 8-18; <em>War</em> 1.6.2; 123-26 <br> *Finding a political motive in this assertion, Josephus corrects the statement of Nicolas of Damascus that Antipater's family were Jews who had settled in Palestine from Babylon.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">66-65</font></b></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The Third Mithridatic War between Rome and the Mithridates VI Eupator, king of Pontus, breaks out when Nicomedes III, the king of Bithynia (to the east of Pontus) bequeathed his kingdom to Romans; Mithridates plans to expand his own kingdom by the incorporation of Bithynia. To counter this threat, the Roman senate gives Gaius Pompeius Magnus (Pompey) the authority to attack Mithridates VI Eupator, the king of Pontus. (Pompey replaces Lucullus.) Pompey defeats Mithridates in 66 BCE (Third Mithridatic War 74-63 BCE), and also forces the surrender of Tigranes, the Armenian king. Pompey makes Syria into a Roman province at this time (Seleucid rule came to an end with the invasion of Tigranes, who lost control of Syria to Lucullus.) </font></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><em>Ant</em>. 14.2.3; 29; <em>War</em> 1.6.2; 127; see Appian, <em>Mithr</em>. 97-119; Diod. 37.53; Plutarch, <em>Pomp</em>. 32-39</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">65</font></b></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">With the backing of Aretas, Hyrcanus II (and Antipater) defeat Aristobolus II, who is then forced to retreat to Jerusalem, many of the supporters of Aristobolus II defect to Hyrcanus II and he and his allies lay siege to the city. A certain Onias (known as Choni in <em>m. Ta'an</em>. 3:8), known as a righteous man (who once successfully prayed for rain) is asked is asked to put a curse on Aristobolus II and his supporters. He refuses to take sides in the dispute between the brothers and is stoned to death. The supporters of Hyrcanus II agree to sell Passover lambs to the besieged in Jerusalem at an exorbitant price, but renege on their agreement and keep the money already given to them for the lambs.</font></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><em>Ant</em>. 14.2.1-2; 19-28<br> *Josephus confusingly provides two different reasons for divine retribution in the form of the destruction of crops: the murder of Onias (14.1.2; 25) and the violation of the oath to provide Passover lambs (14.1.2; 28).<br> </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">65</font></b></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">While at war with Tigranes, Pompey sends (Marcus Aemilius) Scaurus, one of his generals, to Damascus in Syria, where he discovers that Lollius and Metellus have conquered the city. Hearing of the dispute going on in Jerusalem between Hyrcanus II and Aristobolus II, Scaurus begins to travel to Judea to capitalize on this internal crisis. Both Hyrcanus II and Aristobolus II send delegations to him in an effort to win his favor. Aristobolus II offers Scaurus a bribe of 400 talents for his support, as does Hyrcanus II. Scaurus temporarily decides in favor of Aristobolus II, because he believes that he is most able to pay the promised sum and because the situation of Aristobolus II as besieged is stronger, since Jerusalem is heavily fortified. Scaurus orders Aretas to withdraw, which he does; Aristobolus II successfully engages Aretas and Hyrcanus II in battle near Papyron, after Scaurus has returned to Damascus. Phallion, the brother of Antipater, dies in the conflict. </font></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><em>Ant</em>. 14.2.3; 29-33; <em>War</em> 1.6.3; 128-30</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">64-63</font></b></td> <td> <p><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Pompey arrives in Syria and winters in Aspis in 64; Antipater, representing Hyrcanus II, and Nicodemus, on behalf of Aristobolus II, come to visit Pompey in Aspis to present their respective cases. Nicodemus accuses Scaurus and Gabinius of corruption, for it is alleged that each took money from him, which is not good for his cause. In the spring of 63, Pompey marches towards the region of Damascus, forcing into submission those who still resist Roman rule and destroying fortresses. Pompey sends for Aristobolus II and Hyrcanus II to come to him and meet with him in Damascus. While in Pompey is in Damascus, Aristobolus II sends him a golden vine or garden worth 500 talents. </font><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Antipater brings to Damascus more than a thousand men, called "notable Jews," who are supporters of Hyrcanus II. At this time, Pompey hears the petitions of Aristobolus II and Hyrcanus II. Hyrcanus II accuses Aristobolus II of raids against neighboring peoples and being involved in piracy, whereas Aristobolus II accuses Hyrcanus II of being unfit for rule. Pompey also hears and dismisses a delegation of Jews who do not want a king at all, but rule by the High Priest. Pompey defers a judgment, asking the two brothers and their supporters to keep the peace until he returns from a campaign against the Nabateans. (Diodorus provides his readers with an account of the Jews, which is based on the work of Hecataeus of Abdera, who wrote a history of Egypt [<em>Aegyptiaca</em>] during the time of Ptolemy I [40.3].)</font></p></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><em>Ant</em>. 14.3.1-3; 34-47; <em>War</em> 1.6.4; 131-3; see Diod. 40.2; Dio Cassius 37.7 <br> *Josephus seems to have a duplicate accounts of Pompey's coming to Damascus (<em>Ant</em>. 14.3.1; 34; <em>Ant</em>. 14.3.2; 38-40).</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">63</font></b></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Aristobolus II does not comply with Pompey's directives; he leaves Damascus, goes to Dium and then on to Judea. Instead of attacking the Nabataeans as planned, Pompey pursues Aristobolus II. Aristobolus II and his supporters take refuge in the fortress at Alexandreion. Pompey commands Aristobolus II to surrender the fortress; Aristobolus II complies and withdraws to Jerusalem, where he prepares for war against Pompey. Pompey moves his army into Judea and encamps near Jericho. (At this time, he receives the good news that Mithridates IV has died.) Aristobolus II relents, and comes to Pompey as he is advancing on the city from Jericho; he surrenders and promises Pompey money and free access to Jerusalem. Pompey sends Gabinius to the city to collect on the promises, but he is refused admittance. The soldiers of Aristobolus II refuse to comply with the agreement made with Pompey, whereupon Pompey places Aristobolus II under arrest. </font></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><em>Ant</em>. 14.3.3-4.1; 47-57; <em>War</em> 1.6.4-6; 132-40</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">63</font></b></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Pompey advances on Jerusalem, and is given admittance by the supporters of Hyrcanus II. The supporters of Aristobolus II take refuge in the Temple. The Romans lay siege to the Temple, attempting to break through the wall from the north. After about three months the Romans and some Jews who are supporters of Hyrcanus II, breach the wall and overpower those who have taken refuge within the Temple. (The fact that the Jews would not fight on the Sabbath makes it easier for the Romans to build their siege ramp, for they worked unopposed one day per week.) Priests at work in the Temple are slain, but those still alive continue in their sacred duties. Pompey and some of his men enter the sanctuary and look into the holy place and the holy of holies. Pompey, however, takes nothing from the Temple, including money in the treasury. </font></td> <td> <p><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><em>Ant</em>. 14.4.1-4; 57-73; <em>War</em> 1.7.1-6; 141-53; <em>Pss. Sol</em>. 2, 8, 17; see Dio Cassius 37.16.1-4; Strabo, 16.2.40 (762-63); Livy, <em>Epit</em>. 102; Appian, <em>Syr</em>. 50; <em>Mithr</em>. 106; Tacitus, <em>Hist</em>. 5.9</font></p> <p> </p> <p> </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">63</font></b></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Pompey appoints Hyrcanus II as High Priest, but gives him no royal title, and he frees many cities in Coele-Syria and elsewhere from Jewish control and annexed them to the new Roman province of Syria. Pompey executes those responsible for the war, and he imposes tribute on the Jews. Scaurus is appointed governor (proconsul) of the Roman province of Syria, and Hyrcanus II as ruler of Judea (<u>prostasia tou ethnou</u>) is to be responsible to him (<em>Ant</em>. 20.10.4; 244. Aristobolus II and his children as taken as prisoners by Pompey to Cilicia and then to Rome. One son, Alexander, escaped while being transported to Rome. (Appian records that Aristobolus II is part of a contingent of prisoners of war and hostages who march before Pompey's chariot in a triumphal procession in Rome in 61 BCE [<em>Mithr</em>. 117; see Plutarch, <em>Pompey</em>, 45]; Appian wrongly says that Pompey has Aristobolus II executed afterwards.) Josephus includes a censurious remark about Hyrcanus II and Aristobolus II' responsibility for the loss of Jewish independence (<em>Ant</em>. 4.4.5; 77-78).</font></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><em>Ant</em>. 14.4.4-5; 74-79; <em>War</em> 1.7.6-7.7; 153-58; see Appian, <em>Syr</em>. 51</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">62</font></b></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Scaurus wages war against Aretas in Petra, and requires that Hyrcanus II and Antipater send food to the army when the Romans run short of provisions. Antipater negotiates terms with Aretas, 300 talents in exchange for the cessation of hostilities.</font></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><em>Ant</em>. 14.5.1; 80-81; <em>War</em> 1.8.1; 159</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">57</font></b></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Alexander, son of Aristobolus II, who has escaped from Roman custody, returns to Judea, gathers an army and attempts to usurp power from the Roman-supported Hyrcanus II. Gabinius, then proconsul of Syria, responds by sending Marcus Antonius with a division of the army followed by the main army; the Romans are supported by Jewish soldiers allied with Hyrcanus II and Antipater. Alexander is defeated in battle, and takes refuge in the fortress of Alexandreion. Gabinius tours the country with part of his army, restoring order and rebuilding cities devastated in the conflict; eventually he forces the surrender of Alexander and the fortresses under his control, which Gabinius destroys. Gabinius reorganizes politically the territory ruled by Hyrcanus II into five administrative units (Jerusalem, Gazara, Amathus, Jericho, and Sepphoris) under the control of councils (<u>sunedria</u>) consisting of local aristocracies and responsible to him as proconsul of Syria. Hyrcanus II is still High Priest with responsibility of the Temple.</font></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><em>Ant</em>. 14.5.2-4; 82-91; <em>War</em> 1.8.2-5; 160-70 <br> *Josephus overlooks the fact that there were two governors between Scaurus and Gabinius (Marcius Philippus and Lentulus Marcellinus). <br> *In <em>Ant</em>. and <em>War</em>, one of the capitals of the five administrative units is said to be Gadara, but it should be Gazara.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">56</font></b></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Aristobolus II and his son Antigonus escape from Rome, and attempt another conquest of Judea, but fail. Aristobolus II is taken back to Rome as a prisoner, but his wife and children are allowed to stay in Judea.</font></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><em>Ant</em>. 14.6.1; 92-97; <em>War</em> 1.8.6; 171-74; see Dio Cassius, 39.56.6</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">55</font></b></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">While campaigning against the Parthians, supplied by Hyrcanus II and Antipater, Gabinius and his forces withdraw in order to reinstate Ptolemy XI Auletes as king of Egypt. (Such an act is illegal for a proconsul, according to Roman law, but Pompey has ordered him to do so, and he has received a bribe from Ptolemy.) While in Egypt, Alexander, son of Aristobolus II, makes another abortive attempt to seize power. He and his army march through the country killing Romans. Gabinius sends Antipater to convince the Jews to desist from their rebellion, and largely succeeds. Alexander, however, with an army of 30,000 Jews does not, and is defeated by Gabinius near Mt. Tabor.</font></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><em>Ant</em>. 14.6.2-3; 98-102; <em>War</em> 1.8.7; 175-78; see Dio Cassius 29.56-58; Cicero, <em>In Pison</em>. 48-50; Plutarch, <em>Ant</em>. 3; Appian, <em>Syr</em>. 51</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">54-51</font></b></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">M. Lucinius Crassus replaces Gabinius as proconsul of Syria. In order to pay for a military campaign against the Parthians, he plunders the Temple of 2,000 talents, and even strips the gold from the sanctuary, worth 8,000 talents. Crassus' army is wiped out by the Parthians, and he is killed. C. Cassius Longinus, the quaestor of Crassus, assumes control in Syria. He repels the Parthians and in support of Antipater suppresses an insurrection in Judea, led by a certain Peitholaus, whom Cassius kills upon the advice of Antipater. (In <em>Ant</em>. 14.7.2; 110-118, Josephus includes an account of the Jews from Strabo.) Josephus provides some information about the background of Antipater, an Idumean who married Cypros, a woman from a distinguished Arab family. Antipater had four sons, Phasael, Herod, Joseph and Pheroras, and a daughter, Salome <font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(<em>Ant</em>. 14.7.3; 121-22</font>).</font></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><em>Ant</em>. 14.7.1, 3; 105-109; 119-22; <em>War</em> 1.8.8-9; 179-82; see Dio Cassius 40.28-29; Livy, <em>Epit</em>. 108; Justin 42.4; Cicero, <em>ad. Att</em>. 5.20.1-7; <em>ad. Fam</em>. 2.10; <em>Phil</em>. 11.14/35</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>54</strong></font></td> <td><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In connection with Crassus' plundering of the Temple, Josephus explains that there is so much wealth in the Temple because there are so many Jews and "worshippers of God" (gentiles) who have been giving money to the Temple. He then quotes Strabo twice to the effect that there are many Jews who live outside of Palestine in various cites who have disposable income.</font></td> <td><em><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Ant</font></em><font size="-1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">. 14.7.2; 110-18</font></td> </tr> </table> <p> <p><font size=+1 face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a name="H4"></a>4. Questions</font> <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">4.1. Are there any indications of the sources used in the two accounts of this period of Jewish history. See <em>Ant</em>. 14.1.3; 9 ("Nicolas of Damascus says..."); 14.3.1; 35-36 (Now Strabo of Cappadocia mentions this present in these words..."; 14.4.3; 68 ("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"; 14.6.4; 104 ("Now Nicolas of Damascus, and Strabo of Cappadocia, both describe the expeditions of Pompey and Gabinius against the Jews"); 14.7.2; 110-18 ("but there are many witnesses to it, and particularly Strabo of Cappadocia, who says thus..." / "And Strabo himself bears witness to the same thing in another place")? </font> <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">4.2. Does Josephus' religious biases—especially his Pharisaic view of history—influence his account of this period (see his interpretation of the siege of Hyrcanus in <em>Ant</em>. 14.2.1-2; 19-28)? In particular, do you agree with Josephus' ethical cause-effect interpretation of historical events in his discussion of the death of Onias (<em>Ant</em>. 14.2.2; 25-28)? Should historical reconstruction be done in this manner?</font> <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">4.3. Does Josephus' pro-Roman bias influence his account of the loss of Jewish sovereignty: "Now the occasions of this misery which came upon Jerusalem were Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus, by raising a sedition one against the other; for now we lost our liberty, and became subject to the Romans..." (<em>Ant</em>. 14.4.4; 77-78)? Is his pro-Roman and therefore anti-Hasmonean bias his own or did he take it over from his sources? How would a historian with an anti-Roman bias have interpreted these events?</font> <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">4.4. Are you satisfied that Josephus' accounts are an accurate reflection of Jewish political history of this period? Are his accounts complete? If not, what is missing?</font><font size="4"> </font> <p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br> <img src="ball15.gif" width="29" height="29"> <a href="TestF3.htm"><font color="#C84220">Back to Index Page</font></a> </font><br> <br> </td> </tr> </table> <center> <p align="left"> </p> </center> <center> <p><strong> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">  </SCRIPT> </strong></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p></p> </center> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> <p> <p align="left"> </p> </center> </body> </html>