y Hebron, and took it; wherein he got
possession of a great deal of prey, and plundered it of a vast quantity
of fruit. Now the people of the country say that it is an ancienter
city, not only than any in that country, but than Memphis in Egypt, and
accordingly its age is reckoned at two thousand and three hundred
years. They also relate that it had been the habitation of Abram, the
progenitor of the Jews, after he had removed out of Mesopotamia; and
they say that his posterity descended from thence into Egypt, whose
monuments are to this very time showed in that small city; the fabric of
which monuments are of the most excellent marble, and wrought after the
most elegant manner. There is also there showed, at the distance of six
furlongs from the city, a very large turpentine tree [17] and the report
goes, that this tree has continued ever since the creation of the world.
Thence did Simon make his progress over all Idumen, and did not only
ravage the cities and villages, but lay waste the whole country; for,
besides those that were completely armed, he had forty thousand men that
followed him, insomuch that he had not provisions enough to suffice such
a multitude. Now, besides this want of provisions that he was in, he
was of a barbarous disposition, and bore great anger at this nation, by
which means it came to pass that Idumea was greatly depopulated; and as
one may see all the woods behind despoiled of their leaves by locusts,
after they have been there, so was there nothing left behind Simon's
army but a desert. Some places they burnt down, some they utterly
demolished, and whatsoever grew in the country, they either trod it
down or fed upon it, and by their marches they made the ground that was
cultivated harder and more untractable than that which was barren. In
short, there was no sign remaining of those places that had been laid
waste, that ever they had had a being.

8. This success of Simon excited the zealots afresh; and though they
were afraid to fight him openly in a fair battle, yet did they lay
ambushes in the passes, and seized upon his wife, with a considerable
number of her attendants; whereupon they came back to the city
rejoicing, as if they had taken Simon himself captive, and were
in present expectation that he would lay down his arms, and make
supplication to them for his wife; but instead of indulging any merciful
affection, he grew very angry at them for seizing his beloved wife; so
he came to