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[408]
So she made Hyrcanus high priest, because he was the elder, but much
more because he cared not to meddle with politics, and permitted the Pharisees
to do every thing; to whom also she ordered the multitude to be obedient.
She also restored again those practices which the Pharisees had introduced,
according to the traditions of their forefathers, and which her father-in-law,
Hyrcanus, had abrogated. So she had indeed the name of the regent, but
the Pharisees had the authority; for it was they who restored such as had
been banished, and set such as were prisoners at liberty, and, to say all
at once, they differed in nothing from lords. However, the queen also took
care of the affairs of the kingdom, and got together a great body of mercenary
soldiers, and increased her own army to such a degree, that she became
terrible to the neighboring tyrants, and took hostages of them: and the
country was entirely at peace, excepting the Pharisees; for they disturbed
the queen, and desired that she would kill those who persuaded Alexander
to slay the eight hundred men; after which they cut the throat of one of
them, Diogenes; and after him they did the same to several, one after another,
till the men that were the most potent came into the palace, and Aristobulus
with them, for he seemed to be displeased at what was done; and it appeared
openly, that if he had an opportunity, he would not permit his mother to
go on so. These put the queen in mind what great dangers they had gone
through, and great things they had done, whereby they had demonstrated
the firmness of their fidelity to their master, insomuch that they had
recieved the greatest marks of favor from him; and they begged of her,
that she would not utterly blast their hopes, as it now happened, that
when they had escaped the hazards that arose from their [open] enemies,
they were to be cut off at home by their [private] enemies, like brute
beasts, without any help whatsoever. They said also, that if their adversaries
would be satisfied with those that had been slain already, they would take
what had been done patiently, on account of their natural love to their
governors; but if they must expect the same for the future also, they implored
of her a dismission from her service; for they could not bear to think
of attempting any method for their deliverance without her, but would rather
die willingly before the palace gate, in case she would not forgive them.
And that it was a great shame, both for themselves and for the queen, that
when they were neglected by her, they should come under the lash of her
husband's enemies; for that Aretas, the Arabian king, and the monarchs,
would give any reward, if they could get such men as foreign auxiliaries,
to whom their very names, before their voices be heard, may perhaps be
terrible; but if they could not obtain this their second request, and if
she had determined to prefer the Pharisees before them, they still insisted
that she would place them every one in her fortresses; for if some fatal
demon hath a constant spite against Alexander's house, they would be willing
to bear their part, and to live in a private station there.
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