15 147 16 148 Judas Maccabreus. 3 10 Mattathias being dead, Judas is made captain of the Jews in his stead. He vanquisheth Apollonius and Seron. Antiochus went into the east. Nicanor and Timotheus, two of his captains, vanquished by Judas. 11 Judas vanquisheth Lysias; recovers Jerusalem and the sanctuary; restores the daily worship; institutes the feast of the dedication, and fortifieth Bethsura against the Edomites. 17 149 1 Antiochus Epiphanes being dead in the east, is succeeded by Antiochus Eupator his son, under the tuition of Lysias. Judas vanquisheth the Edomites and Ammonites; overthrows and slays Timotheus, and relieves the Jews in Gilead. Ant. Eupator. Demetrius Soter. 2 Judas vanquisheth Lysias the second time, overthrows another Timotheus 2 Nicanor vanquished and slain by Judas, and all his army cut off to a man. 3 Alcymus dying, Bacchides returns, and the Jews thereon enjoy peace for two years. 4 Demetrius drives Ariarathes king of Cappadocia out of his kingdom, and makes Holophernes king in his stead. Eumenes king of Pergamus dies, and is succeeded by Attalus his brother. 6 158 3 23 155 5 157 24 156 156 155 25 157 26 158 789 4560 4356 7 27 159 Bacchides came again into Judea; being worsted by Jonathan and Simon at the siege of Bethbasi, makes peace with the Jews, and returns. 6 Ariarathes is restored by Attalus, and Holophernes flees to Antioch. 7 Physcon obtains a decree from the senate of Rome against his brother. 8 By virtue whereof he lands with an army in Cyprus, is there vanquished and taken prisoner; but is restored to Libya and Cyrene by the kindness of his brother. 9 Demetrius giving himself wholly up to sloth and luxury, and neglecting the 10 He being owned by the Romans, lands at Ptolemais, and great numbers re- 12 Andriscus, another impostor, sets up in Macedon, pretending to be the son 1 Demetrius vanquished and slain in battle; whereon Alexander, being settled in the kingdom of Syria, marries Cleopatra, the daughter of king Ptolemy. 2 Onias, the son of Onias, builds a temple in Egypt like that at Jerusalein. A sedition at Alexandria between the Jews and the Samaritans. 3 Demetrius, the son of Demetrius, lands in Cilicia for the recovery of his father's kingdom. Apollonius, one of his generals, vanquished by Jonathan in Phoenicia. 4 Hipparchus of Nicæa in Bithynia, the famous astronomer, flourisheth. 5 Ptolemy comes to the assistance of Alexander, finding a plot laid for his life, is alienated from him, and joins with Demetrius. Alexander being vanquished, flees into Arabia, and is there slain, and Ptolemy dies of his wounds. 1 Physcon succeeds in Egypt, and reigns cruelly. Demetrius doth the same in Syria; the Antiochans mutiny against him, are quelled by three thousand Jews sent to Demetrius's assistance. Jonathan besiegeth the fortress at Jerusalem, but cannot take it. 2 Tryphon brings Antiochus the infant son of Alexander into Syria, and claims for him his father's crown. Multitudes revolt to him. Jonathan declares against Demetrius, and twice defeats his generals; is treacherously murdered by Tryphon. 3 Simon succeeds Jonathan. Tryphon having made away Antiochus, declares himself king. Simon defeats his designs upon Judea, and declaring for Demetrius, hath a grant from him of the sovereignty of Judea. 4 Simon takes the fortress of Jerusalem, utterly demolishes it, and digs down the hill on which it stood. 5 Demetrius goes into the east, and is there taken prisoner by the Parthians. The sovereignty of Judea confirmed to Simon and his posterity by the unanimous consent of all the people of the Jews in a general congregation met at Jerusalem. 4 140 4 6 1731 Queen Cleopatra, on Demetrius's being taken prisoner, sent to Antiochus Sidetes, the brother of the captive king, and offers to him herself in marriage, and the crown of Syria with her. 2 Antiochus accepting of the offer, lands in Syria, marries Cleopatra, and having vanquished Tryphon, takes him and puts him to death. Cendebæus is sent by him against Simon, and is vanquished by Judas and John, Simon's sons. Attalus, king of Pergamus, being dead, is succeeded by Attalus, the heirs. Jesus, the son of Sirach, translates out of Hebrew into Greek the book called Ecclesiasticus, written by Jesus his grandfather. Antiochus Sidetes marcheth into the east against the Parthians, and at first gets several victories over them. Antiochus Sidetes is vanquished and slain in the east. Demetrius Hyrcanus conquers the Edomites, and makes them all embrace the Physcon sets up Alexander Zebina, an impostor, against Demetrius, to Demetrius, vanquished by Zebina in battle, flees to Tyre, and is there slain. Zebina thereon becomes king of Syria. A great plague in Libya, Cyrene, and adjacent countries, caused by a multitude of locusts. Seleucus, the eldest son of Demetrius, succeeding his father, is slain Antiochus Grypus, second son of Demetrius, is set up to be king of Antiochus Grypus vanquisheth Zebina, and recovers all Syria. Zebina In this year was made the famous Opimian wine. Cleopatra, preparing poison for her son Grypus, was forced to drink it herself, and so died. Ptolemy Physcon, king of Egypt, dies. Ptolemy Lathyrus succeeds, in conjunction with Cleopatra his mother in Egypt and Cyprus; and Apion, a bastard son, in Libya and Cyrene 10 1 Antiochus Cyzicenus, son of Antiochus Sidetes, by Cleopatra, and half-brother of Grypus, seizeth part of the Syrian kingdom. 23 4 200 11 Ptolemy Lathyrus sive Soter. 25 5 201 2 Grypus gets a victory against Cyzicenus. Alexander, the second 202 13 Antiochus Cyzicenus. 4 Grypus returned from Aspendus, and recovered part of his former dominions; henceforth Grypus reigned at Antioch, and Cyzicenus at Damascus. 203 14 5 Aristobulus and Antigonus, sons of Hyrcanus, besiege Samaria. Cy. zicenus, coming to its relief, is vanquished by the two brothers. 28 6 108 7 107 29 6 Cyzicenus, having received six thousand auxiliaries from Egypt, again attempts the relief of Samaria, but without success. Samaria is taken and demolished: hereon Hyrcanus makes himself master of all Judea, Samaria, and Galilee. 7 Hyrcanus breaks with the Pharisees, and goes over to the sect of the Sadducees. 8 Hyrcanus dies, and is succeeded by Aristobulus his eldest son, who first of his family wore the diadem, and took the name of king. Lathyrus expelled Egypt, reigns in Cyprus, and Alexander in Egypt. Kings of 9 Aristobulus conquers Ituræa, slays his brother Antigonus, dies, and is succeeded by Alexander Jannæus his brother. Pompey and Cicero born at Rome. 25 10 Alexander Jannæus besiegeth Ptolemais. Lathyrus passing from Cy. 17 213 24 18 214 16 19 215 20 216 26 27 10 21 217 1 10 35 95 11 22 218 94 35 Seleucus. 2 12 23 219 3 13 24 220 17 Jannæus besiegeth Gaza, which is vigorously defended. 18 Jannæus takes Gaza, puts the inhabitants to the sword, and razeth the place to the ground. Grypus treacherously murdered by one of his own domestics, is succeeded by Seleucus his eldest son. 19 Ptolemy Apion, king of Lybia and Cyrene, dies, and leaves the Roman people his heirs. Cyzicenus, on the death of Grypus, seizeth Antioch. Seleucus makes head against him. 20 Tigranes begins to reign in Armenia. The Jews mutiny against Alexander Jannæus in the temple at the feast of tabernacles, where on he slew of them six thousand persons. 21 Janneus made the inhabitants of Gilead and the land of Moab to become subject to him. Seleucus having vanquished Cyzicenus, took him prisoner, and put him to death. 1 Antiochus Eusebes, the son of Cyzicenus, vanquisheth Seleucus, and forceth him to flee to Mopsuestia, where he is slain. Philip his brother succeeds him, is vanquished by Eusebes at the River Orontes, but again recruits. 2 Eusebes marries Selene the widow of Grypus, is vanquished by Philip, and flees into Parthia. Demetrius, a fourth son of Grypus, seizeth Damascus. Jannæus vanquished by Obodas, an Arabian king, with the loss of almost all his army. 21 Hereby the Jews, being encouraged to rebel, begun a war against him, which lasted six years. Mithridates begun those hostilities upon the allies of the Romans, which produced the Mithridatic war. 19 30 226 6 20 20 16 21 31 227 32 228 Demetrius Eucharus, Antiochus Dionysius. 2 Mithridates marries his daughter Cleopatra to Tigranes king of Armenia; whereon Mithridates draws him into confederacy against the Romans, and seizes Cappadocia and Bithynia. 3 Mithridates vanquisheth three Roman armies, and seizeth all Lesser Asia. Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, murdered by Alexander her son; whereon Lathyrus is recalled. The Jews, by the help of Demetrius Eucherus, vanquish Alexander. 4 Demetrius being vanquished by his brother Philip, and sent captive into Parthia, Alexander recovers strength against the Jews. Mithridates passeth his army into Greece, there to make war against the Romans. 1 Demetrius Eucharus dies in Parthia. Eusebes returns into Syria, and again recovers some part of that country. Antiochus Dionysius, the youngest son of Grypus, seizeth Damascus. Alexander Jannæus gains a decisive victory over his rebel subjects. 2 Alexander Jannæus having taken Bethome, in which the remains of the rebel party were shut up, crucifies eight hundred of them, and thereby puts an end to that war. Sylla, the Roman general, gets three victories over the forces of Mithridates, and drives them out of Greece. 3 Mithridates forced to make peace with the Romans on their own terms, and Sylla thereon returns to Italy. Philip takes Damascus. Dionysius again recovers it, but is afterward slain in Arabia, and Aretas king of Arabia Petræa is made king of Damascus. He van. quisheth Jannæus in battle, but afterward gives him peace. VOL. II.-55 33 229 35 231 3 Tigranes. 9 Alexander Jannæus recovers many places that had revolted from him dur 34 230 1 The Syrians, weary of the wars caused among them by the Seleucidæ, ex- 36 232 4 Alexander, the son of that Alexander who slew his mother, marries Berenice, and in her right becomes king of Egypt; but a few days after slew her, and reigned as in his own right fifteen years. 5 Alexander Jannæus, after having been afflicted with a quartan ague three years, dies of it, and is succeeded by Alexandra, his wife, who reconciles the Pharisees to her, and by that means reigns peaceably to the end of her life. 6 Alexandra being settled on the throne, makes Hyrcanus her eldest son high priest, and puts the ministration of the government in the hands of the Pharisees. Tigranes, having built Tigranocerta, depopulates many cities in Lesser Asia, Assyria, and other circumjacent countries, by carrying the inhabitants thence to people it. 7 The Pharisees having gotten the management of all affairs under Queen Alexandra, grievously oppressed all that were of the party opposite to them. 8 Nicomedes, king of Bithynia, dying, leaves the Romans his heirs, who thereon reduce that kingdom into the form of a province under them; and at this time do the same with Libya and Cyrene, formerly left them in the same manner by Ptolemy Apion, the last king of those countries 9 Mithridates seizeth Paphlagonia, and draws the other provinces of Leaser Asia into revolt from the Romans, whereon began the third Mithridatic war. 10 M. Cotta and L. Lucullus are sent against Mithridates. Cotta bad Bithy- 12 The Jews which were of the party of Alexander, are placed in the forts and 13 Lucullus vanquisheth Mithridates, and forceth him to flee out of Pontus into Armenia. Aristobulus being sent by his mother against Ptolemy, prince of Chalcis, seizeth Damascus. 14 Selene enlarging herself in Syria, Tigranes comes with an army against her, shuts her up in Ptolemais, and having there taken her prisoner, puts her to death. Lucullus declares war against Tigranes, takes Synope and Amisus, and marcheth into Armenia. Alexandra, queen of Judea, dies. Hyrcanus her eldest son seizing the crown, is forced to quit it, after three months, to Aristobulas, his younger brother. 15 Lucullus vanquisheth Tigranes in Armenia, and takes Tigranocerta, but neglecting to pursue the advantage of it, lost the opportunity of ending the war, which displeased the Romans, and lost his interest with them both in the camp and city. 16 Tigranes, with the assistance of Mithridates, gets another army into the field, and is again beaten by Lucullus, whereon Lucullus would have marched to Artaxata, the metropolis of Arminia, but being hindered by his soldiers refusing to follow him so far north, he marched back, and passing Mount Taurus, winters at Nisibis, in Mesopotamia, where his army mu tiny against him. 17 Of which Mithridates taking the advantage, recovers several places in Pontus, and distresseth the Romans, left there to keep the country; whereon Lucullus with difficulty prevails with his mutinous army to march to their relief, but before their arrival, Triarins was beaten with the loss of seven thousand men. After this, Lucullus's army would no more obey him. 18 Pompey sent from Rome to succeed Lucullus, receiveth from him the army, On his return into Syria in the ensuing spring, Hyrcanus and Aristobulus, On Pompey's coming to Damascus, Hyrcanus and Aristobulus appear before him, each to make good their pretensions. Pompey promiseth to come to Jerusalem, there to decide the matter. Aristobulus, suspecting sentence would go against him, provides for war; whereon Pompey enters Judea, makes Aristobulus his prisoner, takes Jerusalem, and restores Hyrcanus; returns into Pontus, and makes peace with Pharnaces. Augustus Cæsar is born. Scaurus being made the first president of Syria, invades Arabia Petræa. By Pompey, Crassus, and Julius Cæsar, confederate together for the supporting Gabinius, being consul this year, obtains Syria for his province. Cato is Berenice, queen of Egypt, marries Seleucus Cybiosactes, the last of the Seleucian family; but, disliking him for his ill behaviour, puts him to death, and marries Archelaus, high priest of Comana in Pontus. Alexander, the son of Aristobulus, and after him Aristobulus himself, having made their escape from the Roman fetters, each in their turn raise new troubles in Judea. Gabinius vanquisheth them both, and sets up a new form of government in the land. Orodes, having murdered Phrahates his father, succeeds him in the king. Gabinius, on having notice hereof, enters Egypt with all his forces; van- Cassius defeats an army of the Parthians that invaded Syria, marches into |