Ptolemy Lathurus (VIII)

VIII. PTOLEMY LATHURUS, Son of Ptolemy Physcon and Cleopatra, began to reign in the Year of the World 3888. He sent about six thousand Men of his Army to Antiocus Cyzicenus, who came to the Assistance of the Samaritans, when they were besieged by John Hyrcanus Prince and High-Priest of the Jews. But Antiochus was obliged to retire, and the Egyptian Troops were defeated or dispersed in several different Encounters; so that this Assistance served the Samaritans in no stead, and Hyrcanus became Master of the City, after a Year’s Siege.¹

Lathurus did not long enjoy the Kingdom of Egypt. Cleopatra his Mother was weary of having a Partner in the Government, and animated the People of Alexandria against him,² compelling him to withdraw to Cyprus. While he was in this Country, the Inhabitants of Ptolemais sent to ask his Assistance against Alexander Janneus King of the Jews, who kept them, as it were, besieged. Lathurus put to Sea with his Army: But the People of Ptolemais altering their Resolution, sent to thank him, and to prevent his coming. Yet Lathurus continued his Course, and disembarquing his Men at Sycaminum, near Ptolemais, Alexander Janneus drew off his Troops from before Ptolemais, and sent secretly to Cleopatra, to desire Assistance against Lathurus. In the mean time, he pretended to accommodate Matters with him, offer’d him very advantageous Proposals, with a Promise of four-hundred Talents of Silver, if he would deliver him up those Places that Zoilus had Possession of in that Country.

But Lathurus perceiving that Alexander Janneus held secret Correspondence with his Mother Cleopatra against him, he broke with him, and did him all the Mischief he could. Coming into Judea with Part of his Troops, while the rest of his Army lay before Ptolemais, Alexander Janneus march’d against him with a powerful Army, and gave him Battle near Azoph upon Jordan. The Victory, for some time, was in Suspence; but at last Lathurus broke through the Jewish Army, put it to flight, and pursued it as long as his Troops had Strength to follow and kill those that fled. ‘Tis said, That, on this Occasion, were kill’d about thirty thousand Jews; and others say, fifty thousand³. We are assured, that when Lathurus had retired, towards Evening, into some of the Villages of the Jews, and finding only Women and Children, he order’d his Soldiers to cut them in Pieces, and to boil them in Kettles; that when their Husbands or Fathers should return, they might see the Slaughter, and think that their Enemies fed upon human Flesh, and might therefore be in greater Terror of them.

Cleopatra, Lathurus’s Mother, being alarm’d with the Progress of her Son’s Arms in Palestine,⁴ where, without Resistance, he made Havock of all before him, and where he had taken the City of Gaza, which is in a manner the Gate of Egypt; she sent out an Army by Land, and provided a Fleet at Sea, to stop him in his Career. She gave the Command of her Land Army to two Jews, Chelcias and Ananias, both of ‘em Sons of Onias, who founded the Temple Onion in Egypt. The Queen sent her Son Alexander Joseph. Ant. l. 13. c. 18, 21.with her Fleet into Phenicia, where having landed his Army, several Cities surrender’d to him: But Ptolemais shut her Gates against him. Chelcias, one of her Generals by Land, died in Cele-syria. Lathurus hasted into Egypt, thinking to find it unprovided of Troops, but he was deceived in his Expectation. He there found more Resistance than he thought for, and the Queen his Mother sending some Forces against him, he was obliged to withdraw out of Egypt.⁵ Thus⁶ he return’d to Gaza, where he pass’d the Winter. See the Article CLEOPATRA

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