I. HIRCANUS, John Hircanus, the son of Simon Maccabæus. It is believed that he was called Hircanus, according to the Memoirs which are printed in Arabic at the end of M. le Jeay’s Polyglot, by reason of the victory obtained by him over Hircanus, whom the books of the Maccabees1 and Josephus2 call Cendebeus. Josephus the son of Gorion3 says, that Simon’s eldest son was called Hircanus, and that after his death, the same name was given to John his second. Eusebius4, Sulpicius Severus5, and others were of opinion, that he had the name of Hircanus from a victory obtained over the Hircanians, perhaps in the expedition, wherein he accompanied Antiochus Sidetes beyond the Euphrates: all which is very uncertain. It is very sure, that the name of Hircanus was not at that time unknown, or new Vide 2 Macc. iii. 11. & Joseph. Antiq. l. 12. c. 4.among the Hebrews.
The High-Priest Simon, who was also Prince of the Jews, made his son John Hircanus Governour of the frontiers of 1 Macc. xiii. 54. In the year of the World 3865, before J. C. 135, before the Vulgar Æra 139. 1 Macc. xv. 38, 39, 40. 1 Macc. xv. 1, 2, &c. In the year of the World 3866, before J. C. 134, before the Vulgar Æra 138. In the year of the World 3869, before J. C. 131, before the Vulgar Æra 135. Joseph. Antiq. l. 13. c. 14. and the fourth of the Maccabees. 1 Macc. xvi. 11, &c. 4 Macc. & Joseph. Antiq. l. 13. c. 16. In the year of the World 3869, before J. C. 131, before the Vulgar Æra 135. Antiq. l. 13. c. 16. 4 Macc. ii. Antiq. l. 13. c. 19.Judæa upon the Sea-coast. Hircanus’s quarters were generally at Gazara; and King Antiochus Sidetes coming to besiege Dora, whither Tryphon had escaped, sent Cendebeus, one of his Generals, against the Jews, with orders to seize on Gazara, and reduce the Jews to obedience. John Hircanus immediately gave notice of this to his father Simon, who was at Jerusalem. Hereupon Simon sending his two sons John Hircanus and Judas, gave them twenty thousand horse and foot, and sent them against Cendebeus. As soon as the two armies were in fight, and the sacred Trumpets were sounded in the Jewish army, Cendebeus fled with all his forces. John and Judas pursued them, and killed great numbers of them.
Some time after6, Simon having been unhappily killed in a treacherous manner by Ptolemy his son-in-law7, John Hircanus and Judas had seasonable notice of it, to prevent the snares which he had laid for them, and hinder him from making himself master of Jerusalem. They went and besieged him in the castle of Docus, near Jericho, where he had assassinated Simon; but Ptolemy commanding the mother and two brothers of John and Simon to be scourged, when they intended to assault the place, compassion and tenderness hindered them from pressing the siege closely, and the Sabbatical year coming on, they withdrew; and Ptolemy escaped to Philadelphia: this is Josephus’s relation. But some learned Criticks look upon this whole recital to be fabulous.
But however this may be, it is certain, that after the death of Simon, John Hircanus was acknowledged Prince and High-Priest of his Nation. And King Antiochus Sidetes having been informed, that Simon was no longer at the head of the Jewish affairs, prepared to march against Jerusalem. He laid siege to it, and incamped near the north part of the city, which was the only place, at which it was accessible. Hircanus made a vigorous defence, and in a sally, drove the enemy to a good distance from the city, and ruined the towers and works.
The Feast of Tabernacles coming on, Hircanus sent to the King, desiring a suspension of arms till the solemnity was over. Antiochus granted it, and sent even Sacrifices and rich Presents. This liberality ingaged Hircanus to make proposals of peace to him. The propositions were agreed to. Antiochus came into the city, and Hircanus gave him a great sum of money. Josephus says, that the King ordered the battlements of the walls to be pulled down, and obliged the Jews to pay him certain tributes. It is said, that Hircanus upon this occasion ordered David’s tomb to be searched narrowly, and that he took out great riches from thence. See what we have said concerning David’s tomb, at the end of the Article relating to this Prince.
Three years after the return of Antiochus Sidetes into his own country, he resolved to make war with Phraates King of Parthia. He invited Hircanus to go with him. a The In the year of the World 3873, before J. C. 127, before the Vulgar Æra 131. a 4 Macc. Joseph. Antiq. l. 13. alii.beginnings of this war were very successful to Antiochus; he worsted the Parthians three times, and took Babylon: but his troops having rendred themselves odious and insupportable by their excesses, the people rose, and put the King’s forces to the sword, which lay dispersed in winter-quarters. It is observed, that during this war the King’s army was obliged to stay two days in one place, by reason of the Jews, who required to rest upon the Sabbath-day. Hircanus seeing the defeat of Antiochus’s army, returned into Syria, and took Alep, Medaba, 4 Macc. ii. Nicol. Damasc. apud Joseph. Antiq. l. 15. c. 16. In the year of the World 3875, before J. C. 125, before the Vulgar Æra 129. b Antiq. l. 13. c. 17.Samega, Sichem, and Gerizim, came back very happily to Jerusalem, shook off the Syrian yoke, and recovered an intire liberty.
The year following, he made war with the Idumæans, conquered them, obliged them to receive circumcision, and other Jewish ceremonies; b the use whereof they continued till after the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Romans c. He afterwards deputed Ambassadors to Rome, to renew the Alliance with the Roman people d: and some years e after, he undertook the siege of Samaria, the conduct whereof he trusted to his sons Antigonus and Aristobulus, who gave great proofs in this war of their valour and prudence. Samaria was taken after about a year’s siege. Hircanus ordered the city to be demolished f, c 4 Macc. ii. d Antiq. l. 13. c. 17. & 4 Macc. ii. In the year of the World 3877, before J. C. 123, before the Vulgar Æra 127. e In the year of the World 3894, before J. C. 106, before the Vulgar Æra 110. f Antiq. l. 13. c. 18. & 4 Macc. iv. Joseph. Antiq. l. 13. c. 18.and it was not repaired till long after, under Gabinius. Hircanus died in the year of the World 3898, before Jesus Christ 102, before the Vulgar Æra 106, after having governed the Commonwealth of the Jews for nine and twenty years. Aristobulus his son succeeded him. Josephus says, that John Hircanus received the Spirit of Prophecy from God.
After the reduction of Samaria, he was master of all Judæa, Samaria, Galilee, and several frontier places, and thereby became one of the most powerful Princes thereabouts; no one of his neighbours durst any more attack him, and the rest of his days he passed in perfect repose, as to affairs abroad, but at home he met with some trouble from the Pharisees. This Sect had acquired such a reputation, as gave them a great ascendant over the people. Hircanus had endeavoured by all sorts of means to bring them over to his interest; he had been brought up among them, had always professed himself to be of their Sect, and upon all occasions gave them proofs of his benevolence.
He one day invited the Leaders of them to a magnificent entertainment, and when the banquet was over, desired them to tell him, if he had done any thing in the conduct of his life which was contrary to Justice or Religion, according to the Maxims received and taught among them. As soon as he had ended his discourse, all began to praise his Administration, and give him the commendations due to a brave Man, and a just and worthy Governour. Hircanus received with joy these applauses from the Pharisees, which he believed he had merited by his behaviour.
But when the rest had ceased speaking, Eleazar, who hitherto had said nothing, rose up, and directing his discourse to Hircanus, said, Since you desire to have the truth freely told you, if you would shew yourself a just man, resign the High-Priesthood, and content yourself with the Civil Government of the Nation. Hircanus asked what reasons he had for giving this advice? Because, replied he, we know upon the testimony of some among us, who are advanced in years, that your mother was a captive, and that, as the son of a strange woman, you are by the Law incapable of possessing this office.
Josephus assures us, that the fact was false, and that all who were present extremely blamed him, who had affirmed it, and declared their indignation in strong terms against him. Hircanus was so incensed at it, that he resolved to be revenged in a most signal manner. Jonathan, his intimate friend and a zealous Sadducee, taking the advantage of the disposition he was then in, animated him vigorously against the party of the Pharisees, and persuaded him to desert it, and embrace that of the Sadducees. The measures which he took for effecting his design, were these: he intimated to Hircanus, that this was no sally of Eleazar’s, but an act concerted by the whole Cabal, whereof Eleazar was but the organ; and for his further conviction, he had nothing more to do, than to consult them how to punish the false accuser; that if he would please to make the experiment, he would find, by their regard to the criminal, that they were all his accomplices.
Hircanus followed his advice, and consulted the chief leaders of the Pharisees, with relation to the penalty which he deserved, who had thus slandered the Prince and High-Priest of his Nation; expecting, without doubt, that they would condemn him to death. But their answer was, that calumny was no capital crime, and that all the punishment it merited could be only whipping and imprisonment. This gentleness in a case of so grievous a nature, persuaded Hircanus that all Jonathan had intimated to him was true, and he became a mortal enemy to the whole Sect of Pharisees, and forbad the observance of such commands as were founded only on their pretended Traditions; inflicted penalties on those who acted contrary to his orders, and entirely forsook their party, to embrace that of the Sadducees.
Hircanus did not long survive this storm, for he died the year following, after having enjoyed the High-Priesthood nine and twenty years. Josephus says, that he was favoured with the gift of prophecy, and foretold, that his two eldest sons Aristobulus and Antigonus should not long outlive him, and that the succession should fall to Alexander his third son. He knew likewise by revelation the very moment wherein Antiochus of Cyzicus became victorious over his two sons who were then at war with him, though he was two days journey from the place where the battle was fought.
Antiq. l. 18. c. 6.The castle called Baris is likewise said to have been built by him, which was afterwards made use of as a Palace for the Asmonæan Princes, as long as the sovereignty over the Jews continued in their hands. This Palace was built upon a steep rock fifty cubits high, without the inclosure of the Temple-square, and upon the same mountain. It was square, and two furlongs about. Here the Pontifical Robes were kept, which the High-Priest wore in great solemnities. Here too Herod the Great afterwards built the tower Antonia. See above BARIS.
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