Ptolemy Philometor (VI)

VI. PTOLEMY PHILOMETOR, Son of Ptolemy Epiphanes and Cleopatra, reign’d thirty-five Years; from the Year of the World 3824 to 3859, before Christ 141, before the vulgar Era 145. Judea being then not in Subjection to the Kings of Egypt, the general Affairs of the Jews had but little Relation to those of this Prince. But the Affairs of Antiochus Epiphanes King of Syria, of whom we have already given an Account, were much involv’d with those of the Hebrews. ‘Twas under the Government of Philometor that the Temple call’d Onion was built in Egypt,¹ the History of which may be seen under the Titles ONION and ONIAS IV.

Lib. 2. cont. App. p. 1064.Josephus informs us, that Ptolemy Philometor and his Queen Cleopatra had so much Confidence in the Jews of Egypt, that they trusted them with the Care of the Kingdom; and that Dositheus and Onias, both Jews, were the Generals of their Armies; and that when the City of Alexandria rose up in Arms, in Favour of Ptolemy Physcon against Cleopatra, the Jews stood by her, and kept the City to its Duty. But this did not happen ‘till after the Death of Philometor,² as we shall see in the following Article. Under the Reign of³ of Philometor arose in Egypt the Peripatetick Philosopher Aristobulus, a Jew by Nation, Clem. Alex.Strom. l. 1.who is mention’d by Clemens Alexandrinus and Eusebius,⁴ who have preserv’d some Fragments of him.

About the same time⁵ there arose at Alexandria a great Dispute between the Jews and Samaritans. The Jews maintain’d, that the Temple of Jerusalem was the only Place where God had appointed to be worshipped, according to the Law of Moses; and the Samaritans on the contrary pretended it was the Temple on Mount Gerizim. This Controversy was pleaded with great Earnestness before King Philometor and his Counsellors; and each Party engaged themselves by an Oath, in the Name of God and of the King, to produce no other Proofs but out of their own Law, and besought the King to put to death such of the Advocates of each Party, that should act contrary to this Oath. The King and his Council having heard the Reasons on both Sides, decided the Cause in Favour of the Jews, and condemned to death Sabas and Theodosius, the Advocates of the Samaritans.

Jos. Antiq. l. 13. c. 6.Jonathan Maccabeus, who flourish’d at this Time, espoused the Party of Alexander Balas King of Syria, Son-in-law to Philometor, against Demetrius; and had valiantly 1 Macc. x. 67, 69.maintain’d the War against Apollonius, whom Demetrius Nicanor, Son of Demetrius Soter, had sent into Palestine with a great Body of Troops. Jonathan, assisted by Simon his Brother, fought with him and beat him, kill’d a great Number of his Men, took and burnt Azoth and the Temple of Dagon, to which Apollonius and his People had retir’d, and then return’d in Triumph to Jerusalem. Two⁶ Years after⁷ Philometor went into Syria, on Pretence to assist his Son-in-law Alexander Balas against Demetrius, but really to make himself Master of his Dominions, and passed thro’ Palestine. The People of Azoth shew’d him their City and Temple destroy’d, with Heaps of Bones of the Dead which they had piled up by the Way-side, enlarging upon the Calamities that Jonathan had made them suffer. But the King did not seem to take any Notice of it, and Jonathan coming to join him at Joppa, with a magnificent Attendance, the King gave him a very favourable Reception. Jonathan accompany’d him as far as the River Eleutherus, after which he return’d to Jerusalem.

Philometor being received as a Friend into all the Cities of the Dominions of Balas, he made his Entry into Antioch, where 1 Macc. xi. 13. Just. l. 35. c. 2.being acknowledged as King, he placed two Diadems upon his Head. He died the Year following⁸ in the Hands of his Physicians, who thought to have effected upon him the Operation of the Trepan,⁹ in order to cure him of a mortal Wound he had received in his Head, in a Battle he won from Alexander Balas King of Syria.

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