And not only to declare herself willing to be governed In all public matters by their counsel, but also to give up the corpse of her husband, to be disposed of according to their will. By these means Alexander assured her she would obtain an honourable burial for him; and secure the future safety of herself and her children. And in this he was not mistaken: for the queen, obeying his injunctions in all respects, gave such satisfaction to the Pharisees, that forgetting their former hatred to Alexander, they solemnized his funeral with great magnificence; and reconciled the people to the remembrance of him by expatiating on his military achievements, which had brought such an accession of power and glory to the nation. It is almost superfluous to offer any remarks on the character of this prince, in whose actions cruelty, revenge, and tyranny were so conspicuous. As the high. priest of the Jews, he disgraced his sacred title by a conduct every way opposed to the pure and holy laws of God, and by an unwarrantable ambition. Not leading his people forth to oppose the enemies of the sanctuary, as became the captain of the Lord's inheritance; but making war like a mere temporal prince, to enlarge his dominions, and promote his own glory. Under such a high priest, it is not surprising that impiety and vice made rapid inroads on the nation. For though he did not countenance the traditions by which the Pharisees had corrupted themselves and the people, it is evident "that he took no pains, either by his authority or example, to enforce or recommend the law of God, as set forth in the sacred scriptures.

LETTER XLII.

WHEN Alexandra had quietly obtained possession of the government, she made her eldest son Hyrcanus high priest; and according to her promise committed the management of public affairs to the Pharisees. The first thing they did was to revoke the decree of John Hyrcanus, by which their traditions had been abolished; and having removed this restraint, they went on to in culcate and augment them, till the light of scripture was obscured by them, and the law of God neglected for them. The Pharisees' next object was to strengthen their party by releasing all that had been imprisoned, and recalling such as had been exiled during the civil war. When this was done they proceeded to take revenge on those who had espoused the part of Alexan der putting to death as many of them as they thought fit. The queen was greatly distressed at these proceedings, but she had no power to prevent them; because the Pharisees had the people entirely at their command, by the influence they had obtained over them. And though she had a military force sufficient to keep her neighbours in awe, she had seen too much of the misery incurred by civil war, to attempt any thing by coercive measures. Things went on in this way till the seventh year of her reign; when the oppressed party assembled, and went in a body to the queen, headed by her younger son Aristobulus. They remonstrated against the injus tice of suffering them to be persecuted for their fidelity to the late king, and their attachment to the interests. of her family; and besought her to put a stop to all

farther proceedings against them; or, if this could not be done; either to grant them permission to leave the country, or disperse them in the garrisons of the kingdom, where they would be secure from the assaults of their enemies. The queen, unable to prevail on the Pharisees to remit their persecutions, and unwilling to lose so many faithful subjects, by permitting them to leave the country, accorded their last demand; and placed them in the garrisons, where they would not only be in a condition to resist their enemies, but also to serve her as faithful friends, in any emergency. In the ninth year of Alexandra, when Tigranes king of Armenia was besieging Ptolemais, she sent an embassy with rich presents to him, desiring his friendship; for he had such a force with him as made her apprehensive for the safety of her dominions. Tigranes accepted her presents, and granted her desire; but her kingdom would not have been more safe on that account, had not other cir→ cumstances influenced his conduct. The Romans were at this time making such rapid progress in Pontus and Cappadocia, that he was compelled to leave Syria, and return into Armenia; without thinking of new conquests, till he had ensured the safety of his actual possessions. Not long after this, in the same year, Alexandra fell sick, and died at the age of seventy-three;" leaving the kingdom to her eldest son Hyrcanus. His brother Aristobulus, however, who had always determined on seizing the crown at his mother's death, no sooner found that her recovery was hopeless, than he secretly quitted Jerusalem, and repairing to his father's adherents, who were dispersed in the several garrisons, made such interest with them, that twenty-two fortresses were quickly given up to him. When he had thus

strengthened himself, the army was ready to declare for him; and the people, wearied by the tyranny of the Pharisees, regarded him as their deliverer from oppression so that his influence was continually augmenting. The Pharisees, greatly disturbed at his progress, repaired with Hyrcanus to the dying queen; and having informed her of what was passing, begged to know what was to be done. Alexandra replied that she was no longer in a condition to regard such affairs; therefore must leave the matter to their decision. They decided on supporting Hyrcanus, who favoured their party; and when, after his mother's death he took possession of the throne, they did all in their power to maintain him in it. When Aristobulus first quitted Jerusalem, they had seized his wife and children as hostages. But this no way deterring him, they raised an army against him, and came to an engagement near Jericho. This encounter was decisive: for most of their troops went over to Aristobulus; and Hyrcanus, fleeing to Jerusalem, shut himself up in the castle of Baris; where, finding himself abandoned by most of his subjects, he soon came to terms with his brother; and agreed to resign both the kingdom and high priesthood to him. Hyrcanus had held these dignities only three months; and he resigned them the more willingly, as being of an indolent disposition, he preferred a private life under the protection of his brother.

The friends of Hyrcanus however were not so well satisfied with these arrangements, which tended to counteract their schemes of aggrandisement. The chief person among these was Antipater, an Idumean of noble birth; who, having been educated in the court of Alexander, and the queen his successor, had ingratiated

himself with their eldest son, in the hope of enjoying his favour when he should ascend the throne. All his prospects were at once obscured by the success of Aristobulus, but his artful enterprising spirit did not allow him to relinquish them. For he determined to effect the restoration of Hyrcanus; and for this purpose applied to Aretas, king of Arabia, for an army: at the same time using every method in his power to bring the Jews at home into a compliance with his measures. When Antipater had advanced thus far he had only to obtain the consent of Hyrcanus to the execution of his plan. But this perhaps was the most difficult part of his undertaking: for that prince being of a quiet indolent disposition, had no wish to reign; and would not make any effort to regain his kingdom. At length, however, being persuaded that his life was threatened by Aristobulus, he consented to flee for safety to Aretas, who according to agreement, took him back to Judea with an army of fifty thousand men. These being joined by the Jews of Hyrcanus's party, obtained a victory over Aristobulus; and having obliged him to take refuge in the mountain of the temple, besieged him there. This took place just at the time of the Passover; and the besieged wishing to celebrate that sacred ordinance, applied to their countrymen to furnish them with lambs for sacrifice, which the latter agreeing to, the purchase money was let down from the wall. But the besiegers having got the money, refused to let them have the lambs. Such was the growing impiety of these people, who in this instance might have profited by the example of Antiochus Sidetes, and other heathen commanders. Their vices kept pace also with their impiety for they were guilty of a most flagrant act of