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 w