the antiquities of the jews-1-第180节
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1。 (15) Now a little while after Demetrius had been carried into
captivity; Trypho his governor destroyed Antiochus; (16) the son
of Alexander; who was also called The God; (17) and this when he
had reigned four years; though he gave it out that he died under
the hands of the surgeons。 He then sent his friends; and those
that were most intimate with him; to the soldiers; and promised
that he would give them a great deal of money if they would make
him king。 He intimated to them that Demetrius was made a captive
by the Parthians; and that Demetrius's brother Atitiochus; if he
came to be king; would do them a great deal of mischief; in way
of revenge for their revolting from his brother。 So the soldiers;
in expectation of the wealth they should get by bestowing the
kingdom on Trypho; made him their ruler。 However; when Trypho had
gained the management of affairs; he demonstrated his disposition
to be wicked; for while he was a private person; he cultivated
familiarity with the multitude; and pretended to great
moderation; and so drew them on artfully to whatsoever he
pleased; but when he had once taken the kingdom; he laid aside
any further dissimulation; and was the true Trypho; which
behavior made his enemies superior to him; for the soldiery hated
him; and revolted from him to Cleopatra; the wife of Demetrius;
who was then shut up in Seleucia with her children。 But as
Antiochus; the brother of Demetrius who was called Soter; was not
admitted by any of the cities on account of Trypho; Cleopatra
sent to him; and invited him to marry her; and to take the
kingdom。 The reasons why she made this invitation were these:
That her friends persuaded her to it; and that she was afraid for
herself; in case some of the people of Seleucia should deliver up
the city to Trypho。
2。 As Antlochuswas now come to Seleucia; and his forces increased
every day; he marched to fight Trypho; and having beaten him in
the battle; he ejected him out of the Upper Syria into Phoenicia;
and pursued him thither; and besieged him in Dora which was a
fortress hard to be taken; whither he had fled。 He also sent
ambassadors to Simon the Jewish high priest; about a league of
friendship and mutual assistance; who readily accepted of the
invitation; and sent to Antiochus great sums of money and
provisions for those that besieged Dora; and thereby supplied
them very plentifully; so that for a little while he was looked
upon as one of his most intimate friends; but still Trypho fled
from Dora to Apamia; where he was taken during the siege; and put
to death; when he had reigned three years。
3。 However; Antiochus forgot the kind assistance that Simon had
afforded him in his necessity; by reason of his covetous and
wicked disposition; and committed an army of soldiers to his
friend Cendebeus; and sent him at once to ravage Judea; and to
seize Simon。 When Simon heard of Antiochus's breaking his league
with him; although he were now in years; yet; provoked with the
unjust treatment he had met with from Antiochus; and taking a
resolution brisker than his age could well bear; he went like a
young man to act as general of his army。 He also sent his sons
before among the most hardy of his soldiers; and he himself
marched on with his army another way; and laid many of his men in
ambushes in the narrow valleys between the mountains; nor did he
fail of success in any one of his attempts; but was too hard for
his enemies in every one of them。 So he led the rest of his life
in peace; and did also himself make a league with the Romans。
4。 Now he was the ruler of the Jews in all eight years; but at a
feast came to his end。 It was caused by the treachery of his
son…in…law Ptolemy; who caught also his wife; and two of his
sons; and kept them in bonds。 He also sent some to kill John the
third son; whose name was Hyrcanus; but the young man perceiving
them coming; he avoided the danger he was in from them; (18) and
made haste into the city 'Jerusalem'; as relying on the good…will
of the multitude; because of the benefits they had received from
his father; and because of the hatred the same multitude bare to
Ptolemy; so that when Ptolemy was endeavoring to enter the city
by another gate; they drove him away; as having already admitted
Hyrcanus。
CHAPTER 8。
Hyrcanus Receives The High Priesthood; And Ejects Ptolemy Out Of
The Country。 Antiochus Makes War Against Hyrcanus And Afterwards
Makes A League With Him。
1。 So Ptolemy retired to one of the fortresses that was above
Jericho; which was called Dagon。 But Hyrcanus having taken the
high priesthood that had been his father's before; and in the
first place propitiated God by sacrifices; he then made an
expedition against Ptolemy; and when he made his attacks upon the
place; in other points he was too hard for him; but was rendered
weaker than he; by the commiseration he had for his mother and
brethren; and by that only; for Ptolemy brought them upon the
wall; and tormented them in the sight of all; and threatened that
he would throw them down headlong; unless Hyrcanus would leave
off the siege。 And as he thought that so far as he relaxed as to
the siege and taking of the place; so much favor did he show to
those that were dearest to him by preventing their misery; his
zeal about it was cooled。 However; his mother spread out her
hands; and begged of him that he would not grow remiss on her
account; but indulge his indignation so much the more; and that
he would do his utmost to take the place quickly; in order to get
their enemy under his power; and then to avenge upon him what he
had done to those that were dearest to himself; for that death
would be to her sweet; though with torment; if that enemy of
theirs might but be brought to punishment for his wicked dealings
to them。 Now when his mother said so; he resolved to take the
fortress immediately; but when he saw her beaten; and torn to
pieces; his courage failed him; and he could not but sympathize
with what his mother suffered; and was thereby overcome。 And as
the siege was drawn out into length by this means; that year on
which the Jews used to rest came on; for the Jews observe this
rest every seventh year; as they do every seventh day; so that
Ptolemy being for this cause released from the war; (19) he slew
the brethren of Hyrcanus; and his mother; and when he had so
done; he fled to Zeno; who was called Cotylas; who was then the
tyrant of the city Philadelphia。
2。 But Antiochus; being very uneasy at the miseries that Simon
had brought upon him; he invaded Judea in the fourth years' of
his reign; and the first year of the principality of Hyrcanus; in
the hundred and sixty…second olympiad。 (20) And when he had burnt
the country; he shut up Hyrcanus in the city; which he
encompassed round with seven encampments; but did just nothing at
the first; because of the strength of the walls; and because of
the valor of the besieged; although they were once in want of
water; which yet they were delivered from by a large shower of
rain; which fell at the setting of the Pleiades (21) However;
about the north part of the wall; where it happened the city was
upon a level with the outward ground; the king raised a hundred
towers of three stories high; and placed bodies of soldiers upon
them; and as he made his attacks every day; he cut a double
ditch; deep and broad; and confined the inhabitants within it as
within a wall; but the besieged contrived to make frequent
sallies out; and if the enemy were not any where upon their
guard; they fell upon them; and did them a great deal of
mischief; and if they perceived them; they then retired into the
city with ease。 But because Hyrcanus discerned the inconvenience
of so great a number of men in the city; while the provisions
were the sooner spent by them; and yet; as is natural to suppose;
those great numbers did nothing; he separated the useless part;
and excluded them out of the city; and retained that part only
which were in the flower of their age; and fit for war。 However;
Antiochus would not let those that were excluded go away; who
therefore wandering about between the wails; and consuming away
by famine; died miserably; but when the feast of tabernacles was
at hand; those that were within commiserated their condition; and
received them in again。 And when Hyrcanus sent to Antiochus; and
desired there might be a truce for seven days; because of the
festival; be gave way to this piety towards God; and made that
truce accordingly。 And besides that; he sent in a magnificent
sacrifice; bulls with their horns gilded; with all sorts of sweet
spices; and with cups of gold and silver。 So those that were at
the gates received the sacrifices from those that brought them;
and led them to the temple; Antiochus the mean while feasting his
army; which was a quite different conduct from Antiochus
Epiphanes; who; when he had taken the city; offered swine upon
the altar; and sprinkled the temple with the broth of their
flesh; in order to violate the laws of the Jews; and the religion
they derived from their forefathers; for which reason our nation
made war with him; and would never be reconciled to him; but for
this Anti