CHAPTER 6. How Gabinius Caught Aristobulus After He Had Fled From
Rome, And Sent Him Back To Rome Again; And Now The Same Gabinius As He
Returned Out Of Egypt Overcame Alexander And The Nabateans In Battle.

1. Now Aristobulus ran away from Rome to Judea, and set about the
rebuilding of Alexandrium, which had been newly demolished. Hereupon
Gabinius sent soldiers against him, add for their commanders Sisenna,
and Antonius, and Servilius, in order to hinder him from getting
possession of the country, and to take him again. And indeed many of the
Jews ran to Aristobulus, on account of his former glory, as also because
they should be glad of an innovation. Now there was one Pitholaus,
a lieutenant at Jerusalem, who deserted to him with a thousand men,
although a great number of those that came to him were unarmed; and when
Aristobulus had resolved to go to Macherus, he dismissed those people,
because they were unarmed; for they could not be useful to him in what
actions he was going about; but he took with him eight thousand that
were armed, and marched on; and as the Romans fell upon them severely,
the Jews fought valiantly, but were beaten in the battle; and when they
had fought with alacrity, but were overborne by the enemy, they were put
to flight; of whom were slain about five thousand, and the rest being
dispersed, tried, as well as they were able, to save themselves.
However, Aristobulus had with him still above a thousand, and with them
he fled to Macherus, and fortified the place; and though he had had
ill success, he still had good hope of his affairs; but when he had
struggled against the siege for two days' time, and had received many
wounds, he was brought as a captive to Gabinius, with his son
Antigonus, who also fled with him from Rome. And this was the fortune of
Aristobulus, who was sent back again to Rome, and was there retained
in bonds, having been both king and high priest for three years and
six months; and was indeed an eminent person, and one of a great soul.
However, the senate let his children go, upon Gabinius's writing to
them that he had promised their mother so much when she delivered up the
fortresses to him; and accordingly they then returned into Judea.

2. Now when Gabinius was making an expedition against the Parthians, and
had already passed over Euphrates, he changed his mind, and resolved to
return into Egypt, in order to restore Ptolemy to his kingdom. [11] This
hath also