ts, yet did they seek to change the government
of their nation to another form, in order to enslave them. Hyrcanus
complained, that although he were the elder brother, he was deprived of
the prerogative of his birth by Aristobulus, and that he had but a small
part of the country under him, Aristobulus having taken away the rest
from him by force. He also accused him, that the incursions which had
been made into their neighbors' countries, and the piracies that had
been at sea, were owing to him; and that the nation would not have
revolted, unless Aristobulus had been a man given to violence and
disorder; and there were no fewer than a thousand Jews, of the best
esteem among them, who confirmed this accusation; which confirmation was
procured by Antipater. But Aristobulus alleged against him, that it
was Hyrcanus's own temper, which was inactive, and on that account
contemptible, which caused him to be deprived of the government; and
that for himself, he was necessitated to take it upon him, for fear lest
it should be transferred to others. And that as to his title [of king],
it was no other than what his father had taken [before him]. He also
called for witnesses of what he said some persons who were both young
and insolent; whose purple garments, fine heads of hair, and other
ornaments, were detested [by the court], and which they appeared in, not
as though they were to plead their cause in a court of justice, but as
if they were marching in a pompous procession.

3. When Pompey had heard the causes of these two, and had condemned
Aristobulus for his violent procedure, he then spake civilly to them,
and sent them away; and told them, that when he came again into their
country, he would settle all their affairs, after he had first taken a
view of the affairs of the Nabateans. In the mean time, he ordered them
to be quiet; and treated Aristobulus civilly, lest he should make the
nation revolt, and hinder his return; which yet Aristobulus did; for
without expecting any further determination, which Pompey had promised
them, he went to the city Delius, and thence marched into Judea.

4. At this behavior Pompey was angry; and taking with him that army
which he was leading against the Nabateans, and the auxiliaries that
came from Damascus, and the other parts of Syria, with the other
Roman legions which he had with him, he made an expedition against
Aristobulus; but as he passed by Pella and Scythopolis, he came to
Corem, wh