from the border of Syria to Egypt, on condition that the two brothers should declare for him; which they were very ready to do, on account of the perfidious conduct of Demetrius, who had neither withdrawn the garrison from Jerusalem, nor released the country from tribute, according to his promise. The brothers, therefore, raised a large army in Palestine and Cœlo Syria, and Jonathan, leaving Simon in Judea, went to Galilee, where he was very near being taken prisoner, by being drawn into an ambush: but his men rallying, after being put to flight, rescued their leader, and gained the victory. Bethsura, which had a strong garrison, was reduced, to the great comfort of the surrounding inhabitants; who had been long annoyed by the heathen soldiers.

CHAPTER XIX.

JONATHAN RENEWS HIS LEAGUE WITH THE ROMANS. AND LACEDEMONIANS-HE AND SIMON CALL A GREAT COUNCIL OF THE NATION--TRYPHON TREACHEROUSLY MURDERS JONATHAN--SIMON

SUCCEEDS HIM ERECTS A FAMOUS MONUMENT FOR HIS BROTHERS-SEIZES AND DEMOLISHES THE STRONG FORTRESS AT JERUSALEM-DEMETRIUS GOES AGAINST THE PARTHIANS, BUT IS UNSUCCESSFUL, AND FALLS INTO THEIR HANDSHIS LIFE IS SPARED BY MITHRIDATES, WHO GIVES HIM HIS DAUGHTER IN MARRIAGE-CLEOPATRA MARRIES ANTIOCHUS SIDETES, WHO INVADES SYRIA, AND OVERCOMES AND SLAYS TRYPHONSIMON SENDS AN EMBASSY TO ROME TO OBTAIN THEIR CONFIRMATION OF HIS AUTHORITY-ANTIOCHUS SEEKS THE DESTRUCTION OF SIMONBEASTLY CHARACTER OF PTOLEMY PHYSCON AND ATTALUS-SIMON TREACHEROUSLY MURDERED AT

JERICHO.

442. JONATHAN, being now relieved from all disquietude at home sent ambassadors to Rome, to renew the treaty, which had been concluded with Judas. They were kindly and honorably received, and obtained all that they wished. The ambassadors, agreeably to their orders, on their return, renewed the former league with the Lacedomonians, and other allies of the Jews in Greece.

443. The general of Demetrius, who had been de

feated in Galilee by Jonathan, returned with a greater force, but was again obliged to fly; and the two brothers brought the whole country under subjection to Antiochus.

444. When the country was freed from invading foes, Jonathan and Simon convened the great council of the nation, to consult about repairing and fortifying Jerusalem, and other strong places, in Judea. At this meeting, it was agreed, that the walls of the city should be repaired, and a new one erected between the town and the castle, so as to prevent all intercourse between the garrison and the inhabitants; by which means it was hoped, that for want of supplies, they would, before long, be under the necessity of surrendering.

445. Tryphon, who had brought back the young king, supposed that the time was now come, for him to execute his nefarious scheme of putting him to death, and seizing the crown for himself. But foreseeing that Jonathan would never countenance such villainy, he resolved to remove him out of the way, in the first place. He, therefore, marched into Judea, with a strong force, but found Jonathan prepared to meet him, at the head of forty thousand men. He therefore assumed the appearance of friendship, and informed Jonathan, that the purpose of his coming was, to put Ptolemais into his hands; and so deceived him by his specious pretexts, that he was induced to send away all his men, except one thousand. With these he went to Ptolemais, to receive the city, which Tryphon had sworn to surrender to him; but no sooner was he within the walls, than be ordered the gates to be shut; and resolved to put Jonathan and all his men to the sword.

446. The Jews, greatly intimidated, and distressed, by the loss of their leader, appointed Simon to be their captain; who soon collected a formidable force, and marched to meet Tryphon, then on his way to besiege Jerusalem, and relieve the garrison. To Simon he pretended, that his only reason for seizing Jonathan, was, because he owed the king a debt, which, if he would pay, his brother should be released. Simon saw through the deception, but lest any censure should light upon himself, for not ransoming his brother, he raised the money and sent it to him. But this wicked wretch, instead of complying with his promise, put Jonathan to death. Thinking that the only obstacle to the accomplishment of his ambitious purpose was now removed, he finished by making way with Antiochus.

447. As soon as Simon heard of his brother's death, he sent and brought away his bones from Bascama, and buried them at Modin, in the sepulchre of his father; over which, he built a splendid monument of marble. Near this monument, he erected seven pyramids, one for his father, another for his mother, four for his brothers, and the seventh for himself..

448. The architecture of this monument, is said to have been very excellent, and as it was erected on an eminence near the sea-coast, it served as a light house to mariners. Josephus, says, that it was entire in his time, and considered an admirable piece of architecture. Eusebius, who lived two hundred years later, informs us, that it was still standing when he wrote.

449. Tryphon, now very anxious to conciliate the Romans, sent them as a present, a golden image of victory, valued at ten thousand pieces of gold; hoping to be recognized as king of Syria. The Roman

Senate accepted the present; but ordered the name of Antiochus, whom Tryphon had murdered, to be inscribed on the image, as if it had been received from him.

450. Simon, also, sent ambassadors to Rome, after his brother's death, who were received with distinguished honor; and had all their former grants and promises renewed. The same ambassadors renewed their leagues with the other allies of the Jews, who lay in their way home.

451. The Jews who had joined the young king, in opposition to Demetrius, now felt disposed to return to his aid against Tryphon the usurper, who had perfidiously inflicted on them so deep an injury. Simon, therefore, sent an embassy to Demetrius, with a crown of gold. This aid was so much needed by Demetrius, and so seasonable, that he not only confirmed Simon in the priesthood, and renewed all former grants, with an amnesty for all acts done against his government; but actually confirmed the sovereignity of the country on Simon, by which means the land was freed from a foreign yoke. The Jews, therefore, from this time, instead of dating their contracts, by the years of the Syrian kings, dated them by the years of Simon and his successors. Simon now made a progress through the land, reducing such fortresses as were garrisoned by the heathens, and fortifying those places, which served for the defence of the country. He made Bethsura a depository of the munitions of war; and Joppa, the seaport of Jerusalem, being the nearest place on the Mediterranean. Gazara. which had revolted on the death of Jonathan, he reduced, driving off the heathen. garrison, and building a house there for himself.

452. In the year 142 B. C., the strong fortress at