Antigonus (III)

III. ANTIGONUS, Son of Aristobulus, who was Brother to Hircanus and Alexandra. Pompey having taken Jerusalem¹, and In the Year of the World 3943, before J. C. 57, before the vulgar Æra 61. In the Year of the World 3948. before J. C. 52. before the vulg. Æra 56.seized on Aristobulus and his two Sons, Alexander and Antigonus, Alexander by the way found means to escape. But Aristobulus and Antigonus his Son, were carried away Prisoners to Rome. They made their escape, and returned into Judæa five or six years after. There they endeavoured to re-establish their affairs by the assistance of their friends: but they were defeated and taken by Gabinius², who sent them once more to Rome. Aristobulus continued there: but Alexander and Antigonus his Sons were sent back into Judæa, because Gabinius had signified that he had made this promise to their Mother.

In the year of the World 3955. before J. C. 45. before the vulgar Æra 49. Cæsar sent Aristobulus and his Son Antigonus back into Judæa, that he might bring over this Province to his party, and raise an insurrection there against Pompey³: but Aristobulus was poisoned by those of Pompey’s party. His eldest Son Alexander was beheaded at Antioch by Scipio; and Antigonus seeing himself shut out of Judæa by Antipater and his Sons, had recourse to Cæsar, and laid before him the misfortunes which his Father and his Brother had un dergone on his account⁴. But Cæsar had more regard to Antipater’s reasons, and rejected In the Year of the World 3957. In the Year of the World 3963. In the Year of the World 3964.the petition of Antigonus. About six years after, Antigonus being assisted with troops by his Father-in-law, Ptolemy the Son of Mennæus, made an irruption into Judæa, but was repulsed with loss by Herod the Son of Antipater, who at that time was only a private person⁵.

The year following, Antigonus having promised to give the Parthians a thousand talents of Silver, and five hundred Women, upon condition that they would establish him in the Kingdom of Judæa, in the room of his Uncle Hircanus, and put Herod and his relations to death; Pacorus the King of Parthia’s Son entred Judæa, and advanced as far as Jerusalem. Herod and his Brother Phasael, after a vigorous resistance, retired to the Temple, and were besieged by an army consisting of Parthians and Jews in the interest of Antigonus, who had joined them. Hircanus and Phasael having imprudently relied upon the Parthians word, were seized on; Phasael killed himself; and Hircanus had his ears cut off, to prevent his ever exercising the High-Priesthood; the law excluding all those from this Office who had any such bodily defects. Lev. xxi. 17, 18.Herod was obliged to retire to Idumæa, with his relations. Thus Antigonus was established King of Judæa, and High-Priest, by the Parthians, who afterwards returned into their own Country, carrying the High-Priest Hircanus with them.

In the mean time Herod, being gone to Rome, left his Mother and his Wife with his Brother Joseph in the Castle of Massada, where they were besieged by Antigonus. But Herod, by the credit of Antony and Cæsar, having obtained the title of King of Judæa⁶, Antigonus was declared by the Senate an enemy to the Commonwealth. In the year 3965.Herod returned speedily into Judæa, and with the succours he received from Ventidius and Silo, marched immediately to Massada, in order to deliver his relations, who were shut up in this castle; after this was effected, he laid siege to Jerusalem. But Silo, who had been corrupted by Antigonus, refused to continue the siege any longer; the Roman army went into winter quarters, and Antigonus himself received them into some of his Cities. Some time after, Herod going to reinforce Mark Antony, who was then employed in the siege of Samosata, was honourably received by him, and when the war was ended, was sent back into Judæa. Then Antony gave orders to Sosius, Governour of Syria and Cilicia, to assist Herod with all his forces against Antigonus.

In the Year of the World 3966. before J. C. 34. before the vulgar Æra 38. In the Year of the World 3967. before J. C. 33. before the vulgar Æra 37.He returned therefore into Judæa, and overcame Antigonus in a set battle; and if he had not been hindred from pursuing his victory by the rigour of the season, he might have taken Jerusalem, and finished the war. The year following Sosius having joined Herod with his troops, they marched together to besiege Antigonus in Jerusalem. The City endured the siege for five whole months⁷, after which the lower City and the outward part of the Temple were taken. Antigonus and the Jews in his interest continued Masters of the upper City, and the inward parts of the Temple. Herod attacked those quarters of the City, which still held out for Antigonus, with so much vigour that at last he took them upon the first day of the year 4677, according to the Julian period. After this Antigonus seeing no more hope of safety, descended from the Tower where he was, and threw himself at Sosius’s feet, who insulted him for his mean spirit, calling him Antigona, instead of Antigonus.⁸ He ordered him to be put in chains, and guarded strictly. After he had pacified all things in Jerusalem, he departed from thence, carrying Antigonus with him to Antioch, where was Mark Antony; who designed to keep Antigonus for the ornament of his triumph, when he returned to Rome; but Herod fearing lest Antigonus might set forth too effectually his rights and pretensions to the Kingdom of Judæa, and might find protection from the Senate, so wrought upon Antony by great sums of money, as to prevail with him to put Antigonus to death. This unhappy Prince therefore had his head cut off at Antioch⁹, in the year of the World 3967. before J. C. 33. before the vulgar Æra 37.

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