IV. ALEXANDER, the Son of Aristobulus and Alexandra, and Grandson of Alexander Jannæus, whom we have been speaking of. After Pompey had taken Jerusalem from Aristobulus, this Prince, with Alexander and Antigonus his Sons, and two of his Daughters, were carried in captivity to Rome. Young Alexander found means to escape by the way, and being returned to In the Year of the World 3947. before J. C. 53. before the vulg. Æra 57.Judæa, he raised an army of ten thousand foot, and fifteen hundred horsed, with which he performed many gallant actions, and seized the Fortresses of Alexandrium and Machærus, where he design-ed to fortify himself. But Gabinius, General of the Roman Troops which were in the Country, allow’d him no leisure to do this; for he drove him from the mountains, beat him near Jerusalem, killed three thousand of his Men, and made a great many prisoners. After which Gabinius laid siege to the Fortress of Alexandrium, where Alexandra, the Mother of Alexander, was in person. She went out of this Castle, and accommodated matters between her Son Alexander and Gabinius, upon condition that Alexander should surrender the Castles of Alexandrium, Hircanium, and Machærus, which Gabinius demolished in the year 3947.
Alexander observing Gabinius to be employed in Egypt, while Sisenna, whom he had left in Judea with an Authority to command there in his absence, was not in a condition to make head against the robbers, that ravaged all parts of the province: Alexander, I say, taking the advantage of this opportunity,In the Year of the World 3949.1 stirred up new commotions in the Land, had recourse to arms again, and found means to form an army considerable enough to scour all the country. Wheresoever he met with any Romans, he sacrificed them to his resentment. They who escaped from him, fortified themselves on Mount Gerizim, whither he went and besieged them. Here it was that Gabinius found him at his return from Egypt.
Gabinius being apprehensive of engaging with the great number of troops which were with Alexander, sent Antipater to him with offers of a general pardon, provided they laid down their arms. This proposal had the desired success, many of them forsook Alexander, and retired to their own houses. But there were still thirty thousand men remaining with him, and with these he resolved to give Gabinius battel. The two Armies met at the foot of Mount Tabor, where, after a very obstinate action, Alexander was overcome, with the loss of ten thousand men. The rest were dispersed by flight.
Alexander began again under the government In the Year of the World 3952.of Crassus to embroil affairs; but Cassius, after the unhappy expedition against the Parthians, obliged him under certain Conditions to continue quiet,2 and marched to the Euphrates to oppose the passage of the Parthians.
In the Year of the World 3955.During the quarrels between Cæsar and Pompey, Alexander and Aristobulus his father took Cæsar’s part, who sent Aristobulus back into Judæa with two legions, in order to support his interests there.3 But they who were of Pompey’s party found means to poison him by the way. Nevertheless Alexander his son levied troops to join with those of Aristobulus; whereof Pompey having intelligence, sent directions to Scipio, who was then in Syria, to dispatch him. Alexander was therefore apprehended and carried to Antioch, where he was arraigned in form, and condemned to lose his Head; which Sentence was accordingly executed in the year of the World 3935, before J. C. 65, before the vulgar
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