On the part of Aristobulus, the total incapacity of Hyrcanus was strongly pressed; his own pretensions to power were limited to that enjoyed by his father, Alexander

But Pompey had a greater object in view than the settlement of Judæa-the subjugation of Arabia, with the seizure of Petra and its trade. He dismissed both parties with great civility, particularly Aristobulus, who had the power of impeding his designs. Aristobulus, suspecting the goodness of his own cause, endeavoured to put the country in a state of defence; but Pompey, on his return from Arabia, began to assume a higher tone. He collected his forces and marched directly into Judæa. He found Aristobulus shut up in a strong citadel, on a rock called Alexandrion. Aristobulus attempted to negotiate: twice he descended from his place of security to hold a conference with Pompey: the third time Pompey forced him to sign written orders for the surrender of all his fortresses. The bold and enterprising spirit of Aristobulus could not brook the disgrace of submission; too high-minded to yield, too weak to resist, his conduct shows a degree of irresolution and vacillation which it is more just to attribute to the difficulty of his situation, than to want of vigour in his character. He fled to Jerusalem and prepared for resistance. Pompey advanced to Jericho, where the Romans were struck with admiration at the beautiful palm-groves and gardens of balsam-shrubs, which, originally the growth of Arabia, flourished in that district with great luxuriance: their produce had become an important article of trade. As he approached Jerusalem, Aristobulus, who found the city too much divided to make effectual resistance, met him, and offered a large sum of money and the surrender of the capital. Gabinius was sent forward to take possession of the city, but the bolder party, meantime, had gained the ascendency, and he found the gates closed, and the walls manned. Indignant at this apparent treachery, Pompey threw the king into chains, and advanced in person on Jerusalem. The party of Hyrcanus were superior in the city, and immediately received the invader with open arms. The

soldiery of Aristobulus took possession of the temple, and, with the priesthood, cut off all the bridges and causeways which communicated with the town, and prepared for an obstinate defence.

The hill of the temple, precipitous on three sides, was impregnable, except from the north. On that side Pompey made his approaches, where, nevertheless, there was a rapid descent, flanked by lofty towers. Notwithstanding the arrival of military engines from Tyre, this holy citadel held out for three months, and was only lost through the superstitious observance of the sabbath. The Maccabean relaxation of this law only provided for actual self-defence; the Romans soon perceived that they might carry on their works without disturbance on that day. They regularly, therefore, suspended their assault, but employed the time in drawing the engines near the walls, filling up the trenches, and in other labours, which they carried on without the least impediment.

At the end of the three months one of the battering engines threw down the largest of the towers: Cornelius Faustus, a son of Sylla, mounted the breach, and, after an obstinate resistance and great loss of life, the Romans remained masters of the temple. During the assault, the priests had been employed in the daily sacrifice:. unmoved by the terror and confusion and carnage around, they calmly continued their office; many of them were slain; many of the more zealous defenders of the temple threw themselves headlong down the precipices.

The conduct of the Roman general excited at once the horror and admiration of the Jews. He entered the temple, surveyed every part, and even penetrated and profaned with his heathen presence, the Holy of Holies, into which the high priest entered only once a year. Great was his astonishment to find this mysterious sanctuary entirely empty, with no statue, or form or symbol of the Deity to whom it was consecrated. In the other parts he found immense riches-the golden table and candlesticks, a great store of precious frankincense, and two thousand talents in the treasury.

Ali

chese, with generosity not less noble because it was politic, he left untouched-commanded the temple to be purified from the carnage of his soldiers, nominated Hyrcanus to the priesthood, though without the royal diadem: then, having appointed the stipulated tribute which the country was to pay, demolished the walls of the city, and limited the dominions of Hyrcanus to Judæa, he departed, carrying with him Aristobulus, his two sons and two daughters, as prisoners, to Rome. Alexander, the elder son, on the journey made his escape; but the Jewish king and his other son adorned the splendid triumph of the conqueror. The magnanimity of Pompey, in respecting the treasures of the temple, could not obliterate the deeper impression of hatred excited by his profanation of the sacred precincts. The Jews beheld with satisfaction the decline of Pompey's fortune, which commenced from this period, and attributed it entirely to his sacrilegious impiety. Throughout the world they embraced the party of Cæsar, fortunate, inasmuch as the course they followed from blind passion, conduced eventually to their real interests, and obtained them important privileges and protection from the imperial house.