Pompey

POMPEY. Cneius Pompeius, surnamed the Great, one of the most celebrated Captains that the Roman Commonwealth ever had. His Name indeed is not to be found in the Scriptures, but Josephus speaks of him often, nor can we be dispensed with from saying, in a Word, how he behaved towards the Nation of the Jews. Having finished the War against Tigranes, in the Year of the World 3938, and that against several other People in 3939, he sent Scaurus¹ into Judea, who arriving at Damascus, and being informed of the Troubles of Judea occasion’d by the two Brothers Hircanus and Aristobulus; he came thither in great Haste, thinking to make great Advantage of their Division. No sooner had he enter’d into this Province, but he received Ambassadors from both, each of them desiring his Friendship and Protection. But Aristobulus having presented him with Three hundred Talents, he declared for him, and sent Word to Hyrcanus and Aretas, who kept Aristobulus besieged in Jerusalem, that if they did not desist from this Undertaking, he should use them as Enemies to the Romans. So that Aristobulus was thus deliver’d from the Danger that threatned him.

Some time after Pompey himself came to Damascus; Hyrcanus and Antipater came to wait on him, and complain’d of the Proceedings of Scaurus, who had suffer’d himself to be corrupted by Aristobulus’s Money; and they intreated him to fix Hyrcanus upon the Throne of Judea, which belonged to him by Birth. The Beginning of the next Year,² Pompey having again heard the mutual Complaints of Hyrcanus and Aristobulus, and also of the Jews, who complained against them both, he sent them back in Peace, saying, he would soon come into Judea, and then he would decide their Controversy. But Aristobulus withdrawing himself, instead of staying for Pompey’s Determination, he fortify’d himself, and put himself into a Posture of opposing him, if he should pretend to dethrone him.

After Pompey had finished his War against Mithridates, he marched into Judea,³ where Hyrcanus and Aristobulus came before him, and pleaded their Cause, each maintaining their several Pretensions in his Presence. Afterwards Pompey having order’d Aristobulus to surrender his Fortresses into his Hands; he obey’d, though not without Difficulty, and at the same time withdrew to Jerusalem, to prepare for the Event. Pompey would not give him time to fortify himself, but follow’d him close; and when he came near the City, Aristobulus fearing to engage himself in a War against the Romans, came out to meet him, promised him to put the City into his Hands, with a great Sum of Money, and beseeched him not to come to an open Breach with him. Pompey forgave him what was pass’d, and sent Gabinius to receive the Money, and to take Possession of the City. But Aristobulus’s Soldiers shut the Gates against him, so that he was forc’d to return without performing his Commission.

This Procedure provoked Pompey, who thereupon secured Aristobulus, and kept him in Bonds; and then marched against Jerusalem. He first made Proposals of Peace to the Besieged, but finding they rejected them, he began to form the Siege of the City. He encamped on the North Side of the Temple, which was the weakest Part of the City. The Roman Soldiery being used to Labour and Fatigues, soon raised Terrasses whereon to place their Machines, and to batter the Walls. But the Jews defended themselves with so much Courage, and made so many Sallies against the Besiegers, that if the Sabbath-day had not interrupted their Opposition, the Romans could never have compleated their Approaches. The Romans therefore perceiving that on this Day they made no Attacks, but contented themselves to be upon the Defensive, they made no Attack against them, but only carry’d on their Works.

When they were finish’d, they began to batter the Towers and Walls of the Temple with Machines they had brought with them from Tyre. One thing gave great Cause of Admiration to Pompey, that during the whole Siege, as if they had been in a profound Peace, the Jews did not forbear to offer Morning and Evening their accustom’d Sacrifices to God, not suffering any Prospect of Danger to interrupt them. The third Month of the Siege the Breach being found practicable, the Romans in great Numbers pour’d into the Temple, where they made a dreadful Slaughter of the Priests, and of all such as had taken Refuge there. Cornelius Faustus, the Son of Sylla, was the first that enter’d the Breach. This was the first Year of the Hundred and seventy-ninth Olympiad, a Day of Fasting among the Jews, in Memory of the Volume of Jeremiah, which was burnt by King Jehoiakim, the Twenty-eighth Day of this third Month of the Civil Year, which is called Casleu, and which answers partly to our Month of November, and partly to December, in the Year of the World 3941, before Christ 59, and before the vulgar Era 63.

Pompey being enter’d into the Temple, there saw such Things as were not allow’d to be seen, but only by the Priests alone. In the inward Part of the Temple he found the Golden Table, the Candlestick, with the Vessels and Censers, and a great Quantity of Incense. And besides this there was about Two thousand Talents of Silver in the Treasuries of the Temple. But he meddled with nothing of all this, and when he had given Orders to have the Temple clear’d of the dead Bodies that were there in great Number, the Day following he caus’d Sacrifices to be offer’d to God. After this he restor’d Hyrcanus to the High Priesthood, and to the Govern ment of his Nation; but he forbad him to wear the Diadem. or to assume the Title of King. As to Aristobulus, he kept him in Bonds, and carry’d him to Rome with two of his Daughters, and all the Sons he had. Concerning the War, the Reader may consult Josephus Antiq. l. 14. c. 8. and Usher on the Year of the World 3941, where he relates not only what he finds in Josephus concerning this War, but also what prophane Authors have said about it. The rest of the Life of Pompey has no Relation to our Design. When this great Man was conquer’d by Julius Cæsar at Pharsalia, he came into Egypt, where he was basely put to death by the Officers of the young Ptolemy, the last King of Egypt, in the Year of the World 3956, before Christ 44, before the vulgar Era 48.

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