Demetrius (IV)

IV. DEMETRIUS, surnamed Eucærus or Eukairus, the son of Antiochus Gryphus, is not mentioned in the sacred Writings; but Josephus speaks of him, and says he made war against Alexander Jannæus King of the Jews. Alexander JannæusJoseph. Antiq. l. 13. c. 21. was so odious to the Jews, his subjects, that having one day asked them what they would have him do to satisfy them, they answer’d, that the most obliging thing he could do to them, would be to go and hang himself; at the same time they sent to Demetrius Eucærus, desiring troops from him to be employ’d against their own King. Demetrius came with forty thousand foot and three thousand horse, and incamped at Sichem. Alexander marched against him at the head of twenty thousand Jews of his party, and six thousand foreign soldiers. The battle was fought, Alexander was conquered, and obliged to fly to the neighbouring mountains. Whereupon the Jews compassionating the misfortune of their King, resorted to him from all parts, so that in a little time he had a body of six thousand men. Demetrius fearing lest their number should increase, thought it convenient to retire. Eucærus was established in the kingdom by Ptolemy Lathyrus, in the year of the World 3912. He was taken and delivered to the Parthians some years after. Mithridates, King of Parthia, treated him in an honourable manner, and Demetrius died of some indisposition in this Prince’s Antiq. l. 13. c. 22; p. 461.court.

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