of several strong places, beyond his own borders, as Medaba, Samega, and several others. From this time, Judea was no more subject to the kings of Syria.

480. Hyrcanus destroyed the Samaritan temple, which was built by Sanballat, on Mount Gerizim. The Samaritans, however, still offered sacrifices on an altar there, as they have continued to do, unto this day.

481. In the year 129 B. C., Hyrcanus, having conquered the Idumeans, gave them their choice, to leave the country, or to embrace the Jewish religion: they chose the latter, and became incorporated with the Jewish church and nation.

482. The Parthians, in the war with the Syrians, having called in the aid of the Scythians, these were so much pleased with the country, that as soon as the war was over, they began to seize upon it for themselves. And now Phraates was guilty of a second folly; for having taken, in the late victory, a multitude of Grecian mercenaries, he put arms into their hands, and employed them against the Scythians. But these vetrean soldiers, resenting the cruel treatment received from the Parthians, went generally over to the Scythians; and having with them ravaged the country, then returned home.

483. Hyrcanus, next, sent an embassy to Rome, to renew the treaty made with his father Simon, to which the Roman Senate readily consented. And as Antiochus Sidetes, had made war upon the Jews, contrary to the provisions of that treaty, and had exacted from them a heavy tribute, for Gazara and Joppa, and by besieging Jerusalem, had forced them to a disadvantageous peace, it was now resolved, that those cities should be restored to them, free from all tribute; and

that the Syrians should be accountable for all damages which they might have incurred, while in their possession. And, moreover, it was ordered, that the expenses of the Jewish ambassadors should be paid out of the public treasury.

484. A war having broken out in Egypt, betweeen Cleopatra, the wife of Philometor, and Physcon, the latter was, for a while, driven from Egypt, and took refuge in Cyprus; but collecting an army, he afterwards defeated the forces of Cleopatra; on which, she sent to Demetrius, now restored to the throne of Syria, to come to her aid: promising him the possession of the kingdom.

485. Demetrius readily complied with this invitation, and invaded Egypt; but while he was absent, a revolt was raised against him at Antioch, on account of his tyrannical behavior. Cleopatra, being now disappointed in her expectation of aid from Demetrius, whose affairs required his presence at home, took all her treasures, and putting them into a ship, sailed to Ptolemais, where her daughter Cleopatra resided. This daughter had first married Alexander Balas, the king of Syria, and afterwards Demetrius, in her father's life time; but when Demetrius was taken prisoner, in Parthia, she was married to his brother Antiochus; and after his death, returned again to the bed of Demetrius.

486. Ptolemy, now returned to the throne of Egypt; and out of resentment for the hostile conduct of Demetrius, raised up a youth called Alexander Zebina, who he pretended was the son of Alexander Balas; and sent him into Syria, where his pretensions were countenanced by many, out of hatred to Demetrius.

In a short time, he was strong enough to meet Demetrius in the field. A battle was fought near Damascus, in which Demetrius, being defeated, fled to Cleopatra, at Ptolemais. But she being not fully reconciled to him for marrying Rhodoguna, the Parthian, refused to admit him into the city; on which, he was obliged to fly to Tyre, where he was slain.

487. Zebina now reigned over the greater part of Syria; Cleopatra being permitted to hold in her possession, a certain part. John Hyrcanus, who was a politic man, formed a close alliance with Zebina, by which means he enlarged and strengthened his territory.

488. In the year 125 B. C., a vast swarm of locusts came into Africa, and destroyed all the verdure and fruits of the earth, wherever they came; and being driven into the sea by the wind, on the coast of Lybia and Cyrene, and carried on shore by the tide, they occasioned such a plague in those regions, as carried off, according to report, above eight hundred thousand persons.

489. Seleucus, the son of Cleopatra, queen of Syria, being now twenty years of age, aspired to the crown of Persia, with which his mother was so much displeased, that she murdered him with her own hands; but finding, that she needed some one to bear the royal title, whose claim would be respected, she sent to Athens, for Antiochus, her other son, who was then pursuing his education, intending that his power should be merely nominal, as she was ambitious to rule the country herself. This young man, who was not more than twenty years of age, was declared, on his arrival, king of Syria. To distinguish him from others of the

same name, he has been called Grypus; though Josephus calls him Philometor; and the name Epiphanes is on his coins.

590. Zebina, not discovering a disposition to hold Syria as a dependent of the crown of Egypt, according to the wishes of Physcon, who had set him up, he was not permitted by the latter to retain the quiet possession of his power; for he, entering into an agreement with Cleopatra, married his daughter Tryphona to Grypus her son, and sent an army into Syria. Zebina being overthrown in battle, fled to Antioch, where, being detected in an attempt to rob the temple of Jupiter, he was expelled from the city; and wandering about for a while, was at length put to death.

CHAPTER XXL

REMARKABLE SEASON-CLEOPATRA DIES BY A POTION PREPARED FOR HER SON-DISTURBANCES IN SYRIA-JOHN HYRCANUS GOES ON PROSPEROUSLY-IS OPPOSED BY THE PHARISEESORIGIN OF THIS SECT-HYRCANUS JOINS THE SADDUCEES-HIS DEATH-THE CASTLE OF BARIS.

491. THE year 121 B. C., (L. Opimius and I. Fab. Maximus being consuls at Rome,) was distinguished for the excellency of its seasons, and value of its productions. The wine made this year, was so excellent, that some of it was kept for two hundred years, and is celebrated by the poets, under the name of the Opimian wine.

492. The next year, 120 B. C., Grypus having attained to manhood, began to exercise the power of a king, as he had before assumed the name; on which, Cleopatra was so much displeased, that she resolved to dispatch him, as she had done his brother; and, accordingly, prepared a poisonous potion, which he made her drink herself. Nor did it fail of its effect; for in a little time, this ambitious and wicked woman was a corpse, by the draught which she had prepared for her

own son.

493. In the year 117 B. C., Ptolemy Physcon having reigned twenty-nine years after the death of his brother, died at Alexandria. His vile character has already