n Cleopatra saw that her son was grown great, and laid Judea
waste, without disturbance, and had gotten the city of Gaza under his
power, she resolved no longer to overlook what he did, when he was
almost at her gates; and she concluded, that now he was so much
stronger than before, he would be very desirous of the dominion over the
Egyptians; but she immediately marched against him, with a fleet at
sea and an army of foot on land, and made Chelcias and Ananias the Jews
generals of her whole army, while she sent the greatest part of her
riches, her grandchildren, and her testament, to the people of Cos [34]
Cleopatra also ordered her son Alexander to sail with a great fleet to
Phoenicia; and when that country had revolted, she came to Ptolemais;
and because the people of Ptolemais did not receive her, she besieged
the city; but Ptolemy went out of Syria, and made haste unto Egypt,
supposing that he should find it destitute of an army, and soon take it,
though he failed of his hopes. At this time Chelcias, one of Cleopatra's
generals, happened to die in Celesyria, as he was in pursuit of Ptolemy.

2. When Cleopatra heard of her son's attempt, and that his Egyptian
expedition did not succeed according to his expectations, she sent
thither part of her army, and drove him out of that country; so when he
was returned out of Egypt again, he abode during the winter at Gaza, in
which time Cleopatra took the garrison that was in Ptolemais by siege,
as well as the city; and when Alexander came to her, he gave her
presents, and such marks of respect as were but proper, since under the
miseries he endured by Ptolemy he had no other refuge but her. Now there
were some of her friends who persuaded her to seize Alexander, and to
overrun and take possession of the country, and not to sit still and see
such a multitude of brave Jews subject to one man. But Ananias's counsel
was contrary to theirs, who said that she would do an unjust action if
she deprived a man that was her ally of that authority which belonged
to him, and this a man who is related to us; "for [said he] I would not
have thee ignorant of this, that what in justice thou dost to him will
make all us that are Jews to be thy enemies." This desire of Ananias
Cleopatra complied with, and did no injury to Alexander, but made
a league of mutual assistance with him at Scythopolis, a city of
Celesyria.

3. So when Alexander was delivered from the fear he was in of Ptolemy,
he pr