Of the Jews there fell twelve thousand, but of the
Romans very few. Absalom, who was at once both uncle and father-in-law
to Aristobulus, was taken captive; and no small enormities were
committed about the temple itself, which, in former ages, had been
inaccessible, and seen by none; for Pompey went into it, and not a few
of those that were with him also, and saw all that which it was unlawful
for any other men to see but only for the high priests. There were in
that temple the golden table, the holy candlestick, and the pouring
vessels, and a great quantity of spices; and besides these there were
among the treasures two thousand talents of sacred money: yet did Pompey
touch nothing of all this, [8] on account of his regard to religion; and
in this point also he acted in a manner that was worthy of his virtue.
The next day he gave order to those that had the charge of the temple
to cleanse it, and to bring what offerings the law required to God;
and restored the high priesthood to Hyrcanus, both because he had been
useful to him in other respects, and because he hindered the Jews in the
country from giving Aristobulus any assistance in his war against
him. He also cut off those that had been the authors of that war; and
bestowed proper rewards on Faustus, and those others that mounted the
wall with such alacrity; and he made Jerusalem tributary to the Romans,
and took away those cities of Celesyria which the inhabitants of Judea
had subdued, and put them under the government of the Roman president,
and confined the whole nation, which had elevated itself so high before,
within its own bounds. Moreover, he rebuilt Gadara, [9] which had been
demolished a little before, to gratify Demetrius of Gadara, who was his
freedman, and restored the rest of the cities, Hippos, and Scythopolis,
and Pella, and Dios, and Samaria, as also Marissa, and Ashdod, and
Jamnia, and Arethusa, to their own inhabitants: these were in the inland
parts. Besides those that had been demolished, and also of the maritime
cities, Gaza, and Joppa, and Dora, and Strato's Tower; which last Herod
rebuilt after a glorious manner, and adorned with havens and temples,
and changed its name to Caesarea. All these Pompey left in a state of
freedom, and joined them to the province of Syria.

5. Now the occasions of this misery which came upon Jerusalem were
Hyrcanus and Aristobulus, by raising a sedition one against the other;
for now we lost our liberty, and becam