lus; for he said that the friends of Aristobulus omitted no
opportunity of advising him to kill him, as being then, and not before,
sure to retain his principality. Hyrcanus gave no credit to these words
of his, as being of a gentle disposition, and one that did not easily
admit of calumnies against other men. This temper of his not disposing
him to meddle with public affairs, and want of spirit, occasioned him to
appear to spectators to be degenerous and unmanly; while. Aristo-bulus
was of a contrary temper, an active man, and one of a great and generous
soul.

4. Since therefore Antipater saw that Hyrcanus did not attend to what
he said, he never ceased, day by day, to charge reigned crimes upon
Aristobulus, and to calumniate him before him, as if he had a mind
to kill him; and so, by urging him perpetually, he advised him, and
persuaded him to fly to Aretas, the king of Arabia; and promised, that
if he would comply with his advice, he would also himself assist him
and go with him. When Hyrcanus heard this, he said that it was for his
advantage to fly away to Aretas. Now Arabia is a country that borders
upon Judea. However, Hyrcanus sent Antipater first to the king of
Arabia, in order to receive assurances from him, that when he should
come in the manner of a supplicant to him, he would not deliver him up
to his enemies. So Antipater having received such assurances, returned
to Hyrcanus to Jerusalem. A while afterward he took Hyrcanus, and stole
out of the city by night, and went a great journey, and came and brought
him to the city called Petra, where the palace of Aretas was; and as he
was a very familiar friend of that king, he persuaded him to bring back
Hyrcanus into Judea, and this persuasion he continued every day without
any intermission. He also proposed to make him presents on that account.
At length he prevailed with Aretas in his suit. Moreover, Hyrcanus
promised him, that when he had been brought thither, and had received
his kingdom, he would restore that country, and those twelve cities
which his father Alexander had taken from the Arabians, which were
these, Medaba, Naballo, Libias, Tharabasa, Agala, Athone, Zoar, Orone,
Marissa, Rudda, Lussa, and Oruba.

CHAPTER 2. How Aretas And Hyrcanus Made An Expedition Against
Aristobulus And Besieged Jerusalem; And How Scaurus The Roman General
Raised The Siege. Concerning The Death Of Onias.

1. After these promises had been given to Aretas, he made a