GABINIUS. The Roman history mentions several persons of this name. He, of whom we now propose to speak, was called Aulus Gabinius. He had a considerable employment in Pompey’s army, and was sent In the Year of the World 3940, before J.C. 60, before the Vulg. Æra 64. Antiq. l. 14. c. 6, 7, & seq.by this General to Jerusalem, in order to receive the money which Antigonus had promised Pompey. But Antigonus not keeping his word, Gabinius was obliged to return without doing any thing. Hereupon Pompey coming to besiege Jerusalem, took the City and Temple, and sent Antigonus prisoner to Rome with his children. Alexander, the son of Aristobulus, having made his escape, De Bello, l. 1. c. 5. ad finem.returned into Judæa, got some troops together, and began to disturb the Province. But Gabinius being made Consul, and coming into Syria in the room of Scaurus in the year of the World 3946, before Jesus Christ 54, before the Vulgar Æra 58, marched against him, beat him, and compelled him to shut himself up in the castle of Alexandrium. After this, Gabinius running over Antiq. l. 14. c. 10. & de Bello, l. 1. c. 6.Judæa, repaired several Cities which had been destroy’d during the preceding wars, such as Samaria, Azotus, Scythopolis, Anthedon, Apollonia, Jamnia, Raphia, Dora, Marissa, Gaza, and some others.
In the mean time, the Romans besieged Alexander in Alexandrium, and Gabinius having pacified the Province, and repaired the several Cities lately named, returned to the siege of Alexandrium. Alexander seeing himself pressed very close, desired peace, and obtained it, upon condition of surrendring the fortresses in his power; which Gabinius ordered all to be razed to the ground, by the advice of Alexander’s mother, who was afraid lest these places might furnish her son with new occasions of Petav. de doctr. temporum, l. 2. c. 26.rebelling against the Romans.
Lastly, Gabinius restored Hircanus at Jerusalem, confirmed to him the dignity of the High-Priesthood, settled Governours and Judges in the Province, for the government of the people, so that Judæa from a Monarchy became an Aristocracy. There were Courts of Justice at Jerusalem, Gadara, (or at Dora) Amathus, Jericho, and Sephoris: that so the people finding Judges in all quarters of the country, who were to take cognizance of their differences, might not be obliged to go far from the place of their habitation. There are some learned men, who are of opinion, that the Joseph. Antiq. l. 14. c. 11. & de Bello, l. 1. c. 6.establishment of the Sanhedrim owed its original to Gabinius.
Josephus affirms, that Gabinius sent Aristobulus and his sons, with a letter to the Senate, wherein he said, that he had promised the mother of the young princes, the sons of Aristobulus, that they should immediately be sent back again into Judæa, which was punctually executed; the Senate keeping Aristobulus still in bonds, but sending back his sons Alexander and Antigonus into Judæa. Some time after, Gabinius marched against the Parthians: but when he was come as far as their frontiers, and had already passed the Euphrates, he received money from Ptolemy Auletes, King of Egypt, and giving over his first design, carried his army into Egypt, to the assistance of this Prince, against whom Vide Joseph. Antiq. l. 14. c. 10. & de Bello, l. 1. c. 6.the people of Alexandria had rebelled.
In the year of the World 3949, before Jesus Christ 51, before the Vulgar Æra 55, Crassus was sent into Syria in the room of Gabinius, who upon his return to Rome, was warmly prosecuted by the Syrians for oppressing them; and Cicero, who looked upon him as the principal author of his banishment, displayed all the vehemence of his rhetorick against him: so that it was thought a great piece of good fortune, that he got off with exile. He continued under this sentence till Julius Cæsar recalled him. He returned to Syria as Triumvir, about the year of the World 3963, and shewed great friendship there to Phasael and Herod, in consideration of the services which he had received from Antipater sixteen years before, when he made war in Judæa.