e subject to the Romans, and
were deprived of that country which we had gained by our arms from the
Syrians, and were compelled to restore it to the Syrians. Moreover, the
Romans exacted of us, in a little time, above ten thousand talents; and
the royal authority, which was a dignity formerly bestowed on those that
were high priests, by the right of their family, became the property of
private men. But of these matters we shall treat in their proper places.
Now Pompey committed Celesyria, as far as the river Euphrates and Egypt,
to Scaurus, with two Roman legions, and then went away to Cilicia, and
made haste to Rome. He also carried bound along with him Aristobulus
and his children; for he had two daughters, and as many sons; the one
of which ran away, but the younger, Antigonus, was carried to Rome,
together with his sisters.

CHAPTER 5. How Scaurus Made A League Of Mutual Assistance With Aretas;
And What Gabinius Did In Judea, After He Had Conquered Alexander, The
Son Of Aristobulus.

1. Scaurus made now an expedition against Petrea, in Arabia, and set on
fire all the places round about it, because of the great difficulty of
access to it. And as his army was pinched by famine, Antipater furnished
him with corn out of Judea, and with whatever else he wanted, and
this at the command of Hyrcanus. And when he was sent to Aretas, as
an ambassador by Scaurus, because he had lived with him formerly, he
persuaded Aretas to give Scaurus a sum of money, to prevent the burning
of his country, and undertook to be his surety for three hundred
talents. So Scaurus, upon these terms, ceased to make war any longer;
which was done as much at Scaurus's desire, as at the desire of Aretas.

2. Some time after this, when Alexander, the son of Aristobulus, made an
incursion into Judea, Gabinius came from Rome into Syria, as commander
of the Roman forces. He did many considerable actions; and particularly
made war with Alexander, since Hyrcanus was not yet able to oppose his
power, but was already attempting to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem,
which Pompey had overthrown, although the Romans which were there
restrained him from that his design. However, Alexander went over all
the country round about, and armed many of the Jews, and suddenly got
together ten thousand armed footmen, and fifteen hundred horsemen, and
fortified Alexandrium, a fortress near to Corem, and Macherus, near
the mountains of Arabia. Gabinius therefore came up