B. C: Alcimus dies soon after obtaining possession of the high priesthood 160 The Romans threaten Demetrius with war, if he continue to molest the Jews ib. Bacchides is defeated by Jonathan 158 Jonathan owned by Demetrius as his lieutenant in Judea 153 Repairs and fortifies Jerusalem ib. Alexander Balas, a pretender to the Syrian crown, appoints Jonathan high priest, and sends him a gold crown and a purple robe ib. Jonathan assumes the priesthood, and declares for Alexander ib. The priesthood continued in the family of the Asmoneans until Demetrius slain in battle by Alexander Balas, who soon after confers great honours on Jonathan Demetrius, son of Demetrius Soter, invades Syria. Apollonius, one of his generals, defeated by Jonathan Alexander Balas, defeated by Ptolemy Philometer, flies to the Arabs, who murder him Carthage destroyed by Scipio Africanus, jun. Corinth plundered and destroyed by Luc. Mummius Demetrius seeks an alliance with Jonathan; but after receiving considerable services from him, violates all his promises Antiochus Theos, son of Balas, being placed on the throne of Syria, by Tryphon, Jonathan espouses his cause, and defeats the forces of Demetrius 150 148 146 ib. ib. 145 144 Tryphon, governor of Antioch, basely seizes the person of Jonathan, and puts him to death: Simon succeeds him ib. Tryphon destroys Antiochus Theos and usurps the crown of Syria Simon solicits the friendship of Demetrius, who constitutes him sovereign and high priest of Judea; in these ib. offices he is afterwards confirmed, both by his own countrymen and by the Romans The castle in Jerusalem, so long held by the Syrians, is surrendered to the Jews, who demolish it B. C. 143 142 Demetrius taken prisoner by the Parthians 141 Antiochus Sidetes, or the hunter, second son of Demetrius Soter, assumes the crown of Syria 140 139 Defeats Tryphon, who is afterwards slain at Apamia Antiochus makes war on Simon, but is defeated by his two sons, Judas and John Simon, with two of his sons, Judas and Mattathias, being treacherously murdered by his son-in-law Ptolemy, John Hyrcanus succeeds him ib. 135 Antiochus besieges Jerusalem, and Hyrcanus capitulates ib. Antiochus slain in the Parthian war 130 Demetrius, who had effected his escape from Parthia, reassumes the crown ib. Hyrcanus, taking advantage of the distractions of the Syrian monarchy, establishes the independence of the Jews ib. Takes Shechem, and destroys the temple on Mount Gerizim Reduces the Edomites, and incorporates them with his The Samaritans, between whom and the Jews so much animosity ib. 129 123 109 B. C. Hyrcanus leaves the Pharisees and joins the Sadducees 108 Dies, and is succeeded by his son Aristobulus, who assumes a diadem and the title of king Cicero, and Pompey the Great, born 107 ib. Aristobulus starves his mother to death, because she had been entrusted by Hyrcanus with a share in the administration; and shuts up three of his brothers in prison ib. Conquers the Itureans, a neighbouring people, and incorporates them with the Jews Causes his brother Antigonus to be murdered Salome gives the three brothers of Aristobulus their liberty; and Alexander Jannæus, the eldest, ascends the throne Ptolemy Lathyrus, king of Cyprus, defeats Alexander with the loss of 30,000 men 106 ib. ib. ib. 104 Cæsar born in the month Quirinalis, afterwards called July in honour of him 300 Alexander captures and destroys Gaza 97 The Jews, uniting against Alexander, insult him in the temple; on which he falls upon them with the soldiers and slays 6,000 men Alexander gains some victories over the Arabians Is snared by them in an ambush, and most of his army slain 92 The Jews revolt against him: this begins a civil war which lasts six years Civil war at Rome, between Marius and Sylla, begins Alexander, after many sanguinary conflicts, being at length victorious, conducts 800 prisoners to Jerusalem, and crucifies them all in one day. While they are hanging on the cross, he slays their wives and children before their eyes ib. 88 86 Is defeated at Addida, by Aretas, king of Damascus 85 ment of their country on Tigranes, king of Armenia 83 Alexander, after an absence of three years, in which he had overcome many of his enemies, returns in triumph to Jerusalem B. C. 82 Gives himself up to debauchery, and contracts a disease which terminates his life, after a reign of twenty-seven years. He is succeeded by his wife Alexandra 79 Alexandra appoints Hyrcanus, her eldest son, high priest 78 The Pharisees, whose favour is courted by Alexandra, take vengeance upon their enemies 77 The adverse party headed by Aristobulus, younger son of Alexandra, take possession of the garrisons, by the queen's permission, and set their enemies at defiance Alexandra dies, and Aristobulus seizes the crown and priesthood from Hyrcanus Antipater, an Idumean, father of Herod, espousing the cause of Hyrcanus, invites to his aid Aretas king of Arabia Petrea, by whom Aristobulus is defeated Hyrcanus and Aristobulus refer their dispute to Pompey, and plead their respective causes before him in person. Pompey, however, postpones his decision; and Aristobulus puts Judea in a state of defence Cicero detects the conspiracy of Cataline Pompey displeased with Aristobulus goes to Jerusalem. The temple being shut against him, he lays siege to it, and after three months, carries it by storm. Twelve thousand Jews were slain in this conflict ib. Pompey leaves unmolested all the treasures of the temple, but is led by curiosity to enter the most holy place It merits special notice, that Pompey's prosperity ended with this Pompey demolishes the walls of Jerusalem; restores Hyrcanus to the priesthood, and then departs for Rome, taking Aristobulus, his sons Alexander and Antigonus, and two of his daughters, with him, to grace his triumph. On the way Alexander makes his escape ib. ib. Octavius Cæsar born Hyrcanus assists Aretas, king of Arabia Petræa, in his war against Scaurus governor of Syria The first triumvirate at Rome, under Cæsar, Pompey, and Crassus B. C. 63 62 60 Alexander, son of Aristobulus, seizes several strong places in Judea; but Gabinius, the Roman governor of Syria, defeats him, and shuts him up in the castle of Alexandrium, where he at length surrenders and is pardoned 57 Gabinius abolishes the monarchy of Judea, and appoints five independent councils at Jerusalem, Jericho, Gadara, Amathus, and Sephoris, making each place the head of a province Aristobulus and his son Antigonus, having escaped from Rome, assemble an army and begin to repair the dilapidated castles; but being attacked and defeated by the Romans, they are again made prisoners and sent back to that city. At the request of Gabinius, however, the senate set Antigonus at liberty ib. ib. Gabinius having gone to Egypt with Mark Anthony, Alexander raises an army in his absence, puts all the Romans that fall into his hands to death, and besieges a body of them in mount Gerizim. Gabinius, however, returns to Syria, and defeats Alexander at mount Tabor 56 Cæsar invades Britain Syria assigned to Crassus. This avaricious Roman plunders the Jewish temple of all its valuables, estimated to be worth ten thousand talents, to enable him to prosecute a war against Parthia 55 54 Crassus and a great part of his army cut off by the 53 and 52 The civil war between Pompey and Cæsar breaks out 50 |