See St. Jerome upon Daniel Ch. xi.III. PTOLEMY EUERGETES, or the Benefactor, Son of Ptolemy Philadelphus, ascended the Throne of Egypt in the Year of the World 3758, before Christ 242, before the vulgar Era 246. His Father Ptolemy Philadelphus, for a long time having had War with Antiochus Theus, at last made Peace with him, and gave him his Daughter Berenice in Marriage,1 and in the mean while his Wife Laodice was alive, by whom he had had two Children. This Marriage was celebrated with extraordinary Magnificence, and Philadelphus gave his Daughter so much Gold and Silver to her Portion, that she was thence call’d Phernophoros, or the Dowry-bringer. But this Alliance did not prove happy. Antiochus was poisoned by his Wife Laodice, who likewise gave Orders, that Berenice and the young Son she had by Antiochus, should be killed also. In Appian. Syriac. p. 130. Hieronym. in Dan. xi. Joseph. contra Ap. l. 2. p. 1064.the mean time Philadelphus died, and Euergetes being informed of the Danger his Sister was in, who had betaken herself to the Asylum of Daphne, made haste into Syria with an Army to her Assistance: But he came too late, for Berenice and her Son were assassinated. But such a Number of the Cities of the Kingdom of Syria submitted themselves to the Government of Euergetes, that he thereupon found himself the most powerful King of the East. Josephus says, That when this Prince came to Jerusalem, he there offered Sacrifices to the Lord, as a Thanksgiving for the many Successes he had received from him. Concerning this, See Dan. x. 5, 6. and St. Jerome upon this Passage of Daniel.
Galen. Comment. 2. in Hipp. l. 3. Epid.Euergetes did not less distinguish himself for his Love of Books and Learned Men, than his Father had done. Galen assures us, that this Prince caused exact Copies to be taken of all the Books that came to his Knowledge, and which deserved any Consideration. No sooner did any Ship arrive at Alexandria, but he caused all the Books therein to be brought to him, of which he took Copies and returned them to the Owners, setting up the Originals in his Library. Having once borrowed of the Athenians the Works of Euripides, Sophocles, and Eschylus, with a Promise of returning them again as soon as Copies should be taken of them, and for Security of this, having given them a Pledge of fifteen Talents, which makes at least Two thousand Five hundred Pounds Sterling; he kept the Originals himself, and sent them back the Copies very neatly and faithfully transcribed, with permission also of keeping the fifteen Talents, which he had sent as a Pledge. Under the Reign of Euergetes, Onias II. was High-priest of the Jews, a a Man of no Integrity, and who thought of nothing but heaping Riches together. He refusing to pay the King of Egypt the Sum of twenty Talents, which was due to him by way of Tribute, this Prince had taken a Resolution of sending Troops into Judea, to ravage the whole Country. But Joseph Son of Tobias, Nephew to the High-priest Onias, coming to Alexandria, he gave such Satisfaction to the King, and so far insinuated himself into his Favour, that he obtained the Farm of all the Tributes of Cele-syria, Phenicia, Samaria, and Judea, procured Two thousand Soldiers to be granted him, in order to levy the Tributes, amassed great Sums for his own Use, and paid besides Sixteen thousand Talents to the King instead of eight that he had before, and continued in this Employment for Twenty Years.
Ptolemy Euergetes died after he had reign’d five and twenty Years.2 Tacitus says, that under his Reign was seen in Egypt, Tacit. Annal. l. 6.the Bird call’d Phœnix, which appear’d in the Country, accompany’d by many other Birds, which flocked to it, because of the Novelty of the Sight. Polybius says, that Polyb. l. 2. p. 155. Justin. l. 29. c. 1.Euergetes died of a Distemper; but Justin affirms he was put to death by his Son and Successor Ptolemy Philopator.
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