CHAPTER XIX". 513 This time, and being largely bribed by Aristobulus, they forced Aretas to raise the siege : whereupon Aristobulus, pursued and routed him in battle, and slew multitudes of Hyrcanus's party. 41. Q. In what manner was this contest carried on after- wards ? A; The two brothers, Hyrcanns and Aristobulus, first by their ambassadors, and afterward in person, pleaded their cause before Pompey, the general of the Romans, who was now at Damascus; while, at the same time the people declared against both ; for that they pretended they were not to be governed by kings, but by the priests of God. 42. Q. How was the controversy decided ? A. Pompey not giving a speedy determination, and Aristobulus suspecting the event, he retired and prepared for war: -whereupon Pompey seized Aristóbulus in one of his castles, confined him to prison, and laid siege to Jerusalem, and being received into the city by Hyrcanus's party, besieged also the temple and the castle Boris, and took it in threemonths time. 43. Q. How came the Romans to take so strong aplace sa soon ? A. Though theJews had learned from the beginning of the Maccabean wars, to defend themselves when attacked on the sabbath ; yet being not actually assaulted, they permitted the Romans to build up their works and engines on the sabbath, without disturbing them, whereby the tower or castle, and with it the temple were taken. 44.' Q. On what day was the temple taken ? A. On the very day which the Jews kept_as a solemn fast for the taking of Jerusalem, and the temple of Nebuchadnezzar : and it-is re- markable that the priests who were at the altar continued their devotions, and their rites of worship, till they perished by the hands of their enemy. 45. Q. What blood andplunder ensued in the temple ? A. Twelve thousand Jews were slain on this occasion, partly by Pompey's army, and partly by their own brethren, of theparty of Hyrcanus. But when Pompey entered the sanctuary, he for- bore to touch any of the sacred vessels thereof; or the two thou- sand talents which were laid up there for sacred uses heordered the temple tó be cleansed, and sacrifice to be offered there, ac- cording to their own laws. Note, Though Pompey was so moderate in his victory yet in a little time after, Crassus another Roman general, in his march through the country, seized and took away these two thousand talents, and the golden vessels of the temple, and rich hangings of inestimable worth ; but the vengeance of hea- ven seemed to follow him bis counsels in bis wars, from this time forward, were tinder perpetual disappointment ; he was slain in a war with the Parthians ; his head was out off, and
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