the
Parthians, he staid there two days. It was at the desire of Lyrcanus
the Jew, because it was such a festival derived to them from their
forefathers, whereon the law of the Jews did not allow them to travel."
And truly he did not speak falsely in saying so; for that festival,
which we call Pentecost, did then fall out to be the next day to the
Sabbath. Nor is it lawful for us to journey, either on the Sabbath day,
or on a festival day [24] But when Antiochus joined battle with Arsaces,
the king of Parthin, he lost a great part of his army, and was himself
slain; and his brother Demetrius succeeded in the kingdom of Syria, by
the permission of Arsaces, who freed him from his captivity at the
same time that Antiochus attacked Parthin, as we have formerly related
elsewhere.

CHAPTER 9. How, After The Death Of Antiochus, Hyrcanus Made An
Expedition Against Syria, And Made A League With The Romans. Concerning
The Death Of King Demetrius And Alexander.

1. But when Hyrcanus heard of the death of Antiochus, he presently made
an expedition against the cities of Syria, hoping to find them destitute
of fighting men, and of such as were able to defend them. However, it
was not till the sixth month that he took Medaba, and that not without
the greatest distress of his army. After this he took Samega, and the
neighboring places; and besides these, Shechem and Gerizzim, and the
nation of the Cutheans, who dwelt at the temple which resembled that
temple which was at Jerusalem, and which Alexander permitted Sanballat,
the general of his army, to build for the sake of Manasseh, who was
son-in-law to Jaddua the high priest, as we have formerly related; which
temple was now deserted two hundred years after it was built. Hyrcanus
took also Dora and Marissa, cities of Idumea, and subdued all the
Idumeans; and permitted them to stay in that country, if they would
circumcise their genitals, and make use of the laws of the Jews; and
they were so desirous of living in the country of their forefathers,
that they submitted to the use of circumcision, [25] and of the rest
of the Jewish ways of living; at which time therefore this befell them,
that they were hereafter no other than Jews.

2. But Hyrcanus the high priest was desirous to renew that league of
friendship they had with the Romans. Accordingly, he sent an embassage
to them; and when the senate had received their epistle, they made a
league of friendship with them, after th