tiochus Epiphanes, who, when he had
taken the city, offered swine upon the altar, and sprinkled the temple
with the broth of their flesh, in order to violate the laws of the Jews,
and the religion they derived from their forefathers; for which reason
our nation made war with him, and would never be reconciled to him;
but for this Antiochus, all men called him Antiochus the Pious, for the
great zeal he had about religion.

3. Accordingly, Hyrcanus took this moderation of his kindly; and when he
understood how religious he was towards the Deity, he sent an embassage
to him, and desired that he would restore the settlements they received
from their forefathers. So he rejected the counsel of those that would
have him utterly destroy the nation, [23] by reason of their way of
living, which was to others unsociable, and did not regard what they
said. But being persuaded that all they did was out of a religious mind,
he answered the ambassadors, that if the besieged would deliver up their
arms, and pay tribute for Joppa, and the other cities which bordered
upon Judea, and admit a garrison of his, on these terms he would make
war against them no longer. But the Jews, although they were content
with the other conditions, did not agree to admit the garrison, because
they could not associate with other people, nor converse with them; yet
were they willing, instead of the admission of the garrison, to give him
hostages, and five hundred talents of silver; of which they paid down
three hundred, and sent the hostages immediately, which king Antiochus
accepted. One of those hostages was Hyrcanus's brother. But still he
broke down the fortifications that encompassed the city. And upon these
conditions Antiochus broke up the siege, and departed.

4. But Hyrcanus opened the sepulcher of David, who excelled all other
kings in riches, and took out of it three thousand talents. He was also
the first of the Jews that, relying on this wealth, maintained foreign
troops. There was also a league of friendship and mutual assistance
made between them; upon which Hyrcanus admitted him into the city, and
furnished him with whatsoever his army wanted in great plenty, and with
great generosity, and marched along with him when he made an expedition
against the Parthians; of which Nicolaus of Damascus is a witness for
us; who in his history writes thus: "When Antiochus had erected a trophy
at the river Lycus, upon his conquest of Indates, the general of