ruled by kings; that they had long been accustomed to obey only the high-priest, who, without any other title, administered justice according to the laws and constitutions transmitted down to them from their forefathers: that the two brothers were indeed of the sacerdotal line; but that they had changed the form of the government for a new one, which would enslave them, if not remedied.

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Hyrcanus complained that Aristobulus had unjustly deprived him of his birthright, by usurping everything, and leaving him only a small estate for his subsistence.

"Pompey heard enough to discern that the conduct of Aristobulus was violent and unjust: but he would not, however, pronounce immediately upon it, lest Aristobulus, out of resentment, should oppose his designs against Arabia, which he had much at heart he therefore politely dismissed the two brothers; and told them, that at his return from reducing Aretas and his Arabians, he should pass through Judea, and that he would then regulate their affairs, and settle everything.

Aristobulus, who fully penetrated Pompey's sentiments, set out suddenly for Damascus, without paying him the least instance of respect, returned into Judea, armed his subjects and prepared for a vigorous defence. By this conduct, he made Pompey his mortal enemy.

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"Aristobulus, incensed at the violence which had been offered him, as soon as he was released, made all haste to Jerusalem, and prepared everything for the war. His resolutions to keep the crown made him the sport of two different passions, hope and

fear. When he saw the least appearance that Pompey would decide in his favor, he made use of all the arts of complaisance to incline him to it. When, on the contrary, he had the least reason to suspect that he would decide against him, he observed a directly opposite conduct. This was the cause of the contrariety visible in the different steps he took throughout this affair.

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Pompey followed him close. The first place where he encamped, in his way to Jerusalem, was Jericho; there he received the news of Mithridates' death.

Pom

"He continued his march towards Jerusalem. When he approached, Aristobulus, who began to repent of what he had done, came out to meet him, and endeavored to bring him to an accommodation, by promising an entire submission, and a great sum of money to prevent the war. pey accepted his offers, and sent Gabinius, at the head of a detachment, to receive the money: but when that lieutenant-general arrived at Jerusalem, he found the gates shut against him; and, instead of receiving the money, he was told from the top of the walls, that the city would not stand to the agreement. Pompey thereupon, not being willing that they should deceive him with impunity, ordered Aristobulus, whom he had kept with him, to be put in irons, and advanced with his whole army against Jerusalem. The city was extremely strong by its situation and the works which had been made; and had it not been for the dissensions that prevailed within it, was capable of making a long defence.

"Aristobulus's party was for defending the place;

especially when they saw that Pompey kept their king prisoner. But the adherents of Hyrcanus were determined to open the gates to that general. And as the latter were much the greater number, the other party retired to the mountain of the temple, to defend it, and caused the bridges of the ditch and valley which surrounded it to be broken down. Pompey, to whom the city immediately opened its gates, resolved to besiege the temple. The place held out three whole months, and would have done so three more, and perhaps obliged the Romans to abandon their enterprise, but for the superstitious rigor with which the besieged observed the sabbath. They believed, indeed, that they might defend themselves when attacked, but not that they might prevent the works of the enemy or make any for themselves. The Romans knew how to take advantage of this inaction upon the sabbath-days. They did not attack the Jews upon them, but filled up the fosses, made their approaches, and fixed their engines without opposition. They threw down at length a great tower, which carried along with it so great a part of the wall, that the breach was large enough for an assault. The place was carried sword in hand, and a terrible slaughter ensued, in which more than 12,000 persons were killed.

"During the whole tumult, the cries, and disorder of this slaughter, history observes that the priests, who were at that time employed in divine service, continued it with surprising calmness, notwithstanding the rage of their enemies, and their grief to see their friends and relations massacred before their eyes. Many of them saw their

own blood mingle with that of the sacrifices they were offering, and the sword of the enemy make themselves the victims of their duty; happy and worthy of being envied, if they had been as faithful to the spirit as the letter of it!

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Pompey, with many of his superior officers, entered the temple, and not only into the sanctuary, but into the holy of holies, into which, by the law, the high-priest alone was permitted to enter once a year, upon the solemn day of expiation. This was what most keenly afflicted the Jews, and enraged that people so bitterly against the Romans."-Rollin, vol. VII., pp. 288-291.

This for the first time placed Jerusalem, by conquest, in the hands of that power who "consumed" the "glorious land." For Pompey, having put an end to the war, demolished the walls of Jerusalem, and dismembered several cities from the kingdom of Judea and added them to Syria, and imposed tribute on the Jews.

Verse 17: He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her; but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him."

Having previously conquered Macedon and Thrace, and now also Syria and Judea, only Egypt remained of all the empire of Alexander, before the Romans would be left in possession of universal empire.

"To enter with the strength of his whole kingdom;" "or rather," says Bp. Newton, "he shall also set his face to enter by force, the whole kingdom." The whole kingdom of Alexander, which

the possession of Egypt would give him; that being all that remained unconquered by Rome.

After the death of Ptolemy Auletes, which happened B. C. 51, having left his crown and kingdom to his eldest son and daughter, and ordered by his will that they should marry together, and govern jointly; and because they were both young, he left them under the guardianship of the Romans, Pompey, the Roman general, was appointed by the people the young king's guardian.

Not long after, a quarrel having broken out between Julias Cæsar and Pompey, the great battle of Pharsalia was fought between the two generals. Cæsar was victorious, and Pompey fled to Egypt, where he was basely murdered by the order of Ptolemy, whose guardian he had been appointed. Cæsar followed him into Egypt, and found him dead. He went to Egypt with a small army, 800 horse and 3,200 foot; but confiding in his reputation and success at Pharsalia, he made no scruple of landing at Alexandria with what few men he had. But Egypt was in commotion from intestine wars, Ptolemy and Cleopatra having fallen out, and Cleopatra was deprived of her share in the government. Cæsar took cognizance of the quarrel, and undertook its settlement. The troubles of Egypt every day increasing, Cæsar found his small number of troops to be insufficient; and being unable to leave Egypt, on account of the north winds which blew at that season, sent immediately for all the troops he had in Asia, to march thither as soon as possible. The Egyptians were finally incensed and took arms against him, by the haughtiness with which he ordered both Ptolemy and Cleopatra to appear before him,