From the Taking of Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes to the Death of Herod the Great - Flavius Josephus
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Hyrcanus was treated unjustly, <strong>by</strong> being deprived <strong>of</strong> that dominion which<br />
belonged <strong>to</strong> him <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> prerogative <strong>of</strong> his birth. And when he had<br />
predisposed <strong>the</strong>m both <strong>to</strong> do what he would have <strong>the</strong>m, he <strong>to</strong>ok Hyrcanus <strong>by</strong><br />
night, and ran away from <strong>the</strong> city, and, continuing his flight with great<br />
swiftness, he escaped <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> place called Petra, which is <strong>the</strong> royal seat <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
king <strong>of</strong> Arabia, where he put Hyrcanus in<strong>to</strong> Aretas's hand; and <strong>by</strong><br />
discoursing much with him, and gaining upon him with many presents, he<br />
prevailed with him <strong>to</strong> give him an army that might res<strong>to</strong>re him <strong>to</strong> his<br />
kingdom. This army consisted <strong>of</strong> fifty thousand footmen and horsemen,<br />
against which Aris<strong>to</strong>bulus was not able <strong>to</strong> make resistance, but was deserted<br />
in his first onset, and was driven <strong>to</strong> <strong>Jerusalem</strong>; he also had been taken at first<br />
<strong>by</strong> force, if Scaurus, <strong>the</strong> Roman general, had not come and seasonably<br />
interposed himself, and raised <strong>the</strong> siege. This Scaurus was sent in<strong>to</strong> Syria<br />
from Armenia <strong>by</strong> Pompey <strong>the</strong> <strong>Great</strong>, when he fought against Tigranes; so<br />
Scaurus came <strong>to</strong> Damascus, which had been lately taken <strong>by</strong> Metellus and<br />
Lollius, and caused <strong>the</strong>m <strong>to</strong> leave <strong>the</strong> place; and, upon his hearing how <strong>the</strong><br />
affairs <strong>of</strong> Judea s<strong>to</strong>od, he made haste thi<strong>the</strong>r as <strong>to</strong> a certain booty.<br />
3. As soon, <strong>the</strong>refore, as he was come in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> country, <strong>the</strong>re came<br />
ambassadors from both <strong>the</strong> bro<strong>the</strong>rs, each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m desiring his assistance; but<br />
Aris<strong>to</strong>bulus's three hundred talents had more weight with him than <strong>the</strong> justice<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> cause; which sum, when Scaurus had received, he sent a herald <strong>to</strong><br />
Hyrcanus and <strong>the</strong> Arabians, and threatened <strong>the</strong>m with <strong>the</strong> resentment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Romans and <strong>of</strong> Pompey, unless <strong>the</strong>y would raise <strong>the</strong> siege. So Aretas was<br />
terrified, and retired out <strong>of</strong> Judea <strong>to</strong> Philadelphia, as did Scaurus return <strong>to</strong><br />
Damascus again; nor was Aris<strong>to</strong>bulus satisfied with escaping [out <strong>of</strong> his<br />
bro<strong>the</strong>r's hands,] but ga<strong>the</strong>red all his forces <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r, and pursued his<br />
enemies, and fought <strong>the</strong>m at a place called Papyron, and slew about six<br />
thousand <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m, and, <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r with <strong>the</strong>m Antipater's bro<strong>the</strong>r Phalion.<br />
4. When Hyrcanus and Antipater were thus deprived <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir hopes from<br />
<strong>the</strong> Arabians, <strong>the</strong>y transferred <strong>the</strong> same <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir adversaries; and because<br />
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