ad ever been such a city there. Now a very
surprising thing is related of this high priest Hyrcanus, how God came
to discourse with him; for they say that on the very same day on which
his sons fought with Antiochus Cyzicenus, he was alone in the temple, as
high priest, offering incense, and heard a voice, that his sons had
just then overcome Antiochus. And this he openly declared before all the
multitude upon his coming out of the temple; and it accordingly proved
true; and in this posture were the affairs of Hyrcanus.

4. Now it happened at this time, that not only those Jews who were at
Jerusalem and in Judea were in prosperity, but also those of them that
were at Alexandria, and in Egypt and Cyprus; for Cleopatra the queen was
at variance with her son Ptolemy, who was called Lathyrus, and appointed
for her generals Chelcias and Ananias, the sons of that Onias who built
the temple in the prefecture of Heliopolis, like to that at Jerusalem,
as we have elsewhere related. Cleopatra intrusted these men with her
army, and did nothing without their advice, as Strabo of Cappadocia
attests, when he saith thus, "Now the greater part, both those that came
to Cyprus with us, and those that were sent afterward thither, revolted
to Ptolemy immediately; only those that were called Onias's party, being
Jews, continued faithful, because their countrymen Chelcias and Ananias
were in chief favor with the queen." These are the words of Strabo.

5. However, this prosperous state of affairs moved the Jews to envy
Hyrcanus; but they that were the worst disposed to him were the
Pharisees, [28] who were one of the sects of the Jews, as we have
informed you already. These have so great a power over the multitude,
that when they say any thing against the king, or against the high
priest, they are presently believed. Now Hyrcanus was a disciple of
theirs, and greatly beloved by them. And when he once invited them to
a feast, and entertained them very kindly, when he saw them in a good
humor, he began to say to them, that they knew he was desirous to be a
righteous man, and to do all things whereby he might please God, which
was the profession of the Pharisees also. However, he desired, that if
they observed him offending in any point, and going out of the right
way, they would call him back and correct him. On which occasion they
attested to his being entirely virtuous; with which commendation he was
well pleased. But still there was one of hi