whom he had privately sent his children for security. But here, in a few days, he was murdered by those in whom he most confided. Such was the end of this successful impostor, after a reign of five years.

The head of Alexander was brought by his murderers to Ptolemy, who was greatly delighted at the sight of it; but his joy was short-lived, for in a few days afterwards, he himself received a wound which caused his death, after a reign of thirty-five years.

SECTION XVIII.

CARTHAGE AND CORINTH DESTROYED IN THE SAME YEAR-HISTORY OF POLYBIUS-CLEOPATRA MARRIES PHYSCON, WHO MURDERS HER SON BY HER FORMER HUSBAND SYRIA IN A DISTURBED STATE-TYRANNICAL CONDUCT OF DEMETRIUS-TRYPHON CONSPIRES AGAINST HIM AND OVERCOMES IIIM-THEOS IS MADE KING, WHO GRANTS GREAT PRIVILEGES TO JONATHAN AND SIMON.

THE year 147 B. C. was not only famous for the death of the kings of Egypt and Syria, within a few days of each other, but also for the destruction of the two famous cities, Carthage and Corinth. The former by Scipio Africanus, the latter by L. Mummius. In the burning of Corinth, all the brass was melted down, and mingled with other metals, which formed the famous Corinthian brass of the ancients. With this year ends the history of Polybius, which he wrote in forty books; extending from the beginning of the second Punic war to the end of the third. Of these, only five are now extant; which are written with so much spirit and correctness, that they serve to increase our regret for the loss of all the rest. Polybius was a native of Megapolis in Arcadia, the son of Lycortas, the famous supporter of the Achæan league. Being overcome by the Romans, a thousand of the principal youth were carried to Rome as hostages, of whom Polybius was one. It was here that he wrote his history.

Ptolemy Philometor being dead, his wife, Cleopatra-who was also his sister-wished to secure the succession to her son, then an infant; but Ptolemy Physcon, king of Cyrene, the brother of Philometor, now laid in his claim. On this occasion, Onias and Dositheus surrounded the queen with an army of Jews; but the Romans interposing, to prevent a civil war, proposed that Physcon should marry his brother's widow, and that after his death, the son of Cleopatra should succeed to the throne. This was agreed to; but on the very day of the nuptials, this unprincipled and unfeeling wretch murdered the son of his brother, in his mother's arms. The affairs of Syria were

also in a disturbed state, under Demetrius, who was a young and inexperienced man, and of an unhappy disposition.

Jonathan, finding all quiet in Judea, resolved to reduce the fortress of Jerusalem. But as soon as he commenced the siege, complaints were made against him to Demetrius, who coming to Ptolemais, summoned Jonathan to appear before him. He accordingly came down, attended by some of the priests and chief people of Jerusalem, and bringing with him valuable presents for the king. And he so managed, as to obtain the favour of Demetrius, who not only confirmed him in his priesthood, but admitted him to a chief place among his friends, and bestowed on him several cities which had formerly belonged to the Samaritans.

Demetrius conducted himself in a very tyrannical manner at Antioch, so that the inhabitants became greatly disaffected towards him; and on one occasion rose in arms, and would have destroyed him, had it not been for a body of Jewish soldiers, whom Jonathan sent to his aid, in consideration of a promise, that the garrison should be removed from the fortress in Jerusalem, which he was unable to reduce, either by violence. or stratagem. These Jewish soldiers fell upon the inhabitants of Antioch; and, it is said, slew no less than a hundred thousand of them. Thus retaliating the massacres of the Syrians in the streets of Jerusalem, in former days.

A man called Tryphon, observing how odious Demetrius had become to his subjects by his tyranny, formed the design of placing one of Alexander's sons on the throne; or rather, as is commonly supposed, of availing himself of his name and claims, to ascend the throne. With this view, he went to Zabdiel the guardian of Alexander's children, and prevailed on him to commit Antiochus the son of Alexander into his hands, and brought the boy immediately to Syria, and proclaimed him king. On this, the soldiers who had been disbanded by Demetrius, and many others, flocked to his standard. He was soon in a condition to march against Demetrius, whom he vanquished in battle, driving him into Seleucia, and taking all his elephants. The result of this victory was, that Antioch fell into his hands; and he was placed on the throne. The people gave him the name of Theos, or divine.

The new king, anxious to secure Jonathan in his interest, immediately sent an embassy to him, with a confirmation of all the grants which he had received from former sovereigns, with the privilege of wearing purple, and the golden buckle. Simon was at the same time made commander of all the king's forces from the border of Syria to Egypt, on condition that the two brothers should declare for him; which they were very ready

to do, on account of the perfidious conduct of Demetrius, who had neither withdrawn the garrison from Jerusalem, nor released the country from tribute, according to his promise. The brothers, therefore, raised a large army in Palestine and Colo-Syria, and Jonathan, leaving Simon in Judea, went to Galilee, where he was very near being taken prisoner, by being drawn into an ambush: but his men rallying, after being put to flight, rescued their leader, and gained the victory. Bethsura, which had a strong garrison, was reduced, to the great comfort of the surrounding inhabitants, who had been long annoyed by the heathen soldiers.

SECTION XIX.

JONATHAN RENEWS HIS LEAGUE WITH THE ROMANS AND LACEDEMONIANS-HE AND SIMON CALL A GREAT COUNCIL OF THE NATION-TRYPHON TREACHEROUSLY MURDERS JONATHAN-SIMON SUCCEEDS HIM-ERECTS A FAMOUS MONUMENT FOR HIS BROTHERS-DEMOLISHES THE STRONG FORTRESS AT JERUSALEM-DEMETRIUS GOES AGAINST THE PARTHIANS, AND FALLS INTO THEIR HANDS-HIS LIFE IS SPARED BY MITHRIDATES, WHO GIVES HIM HIS DAUGHTER IN MARRIAGE-CLEOPATRA MARRIES ANTIOCHUS SIDETES, WHO INVADES SYRIA, AND OVERCOMES AND SLAYS TRYPHON-SIMON SENDS AN EMBASSY TO ROME TO OBTAIN THEIR CONFIRMATION OF HIS AUTHORITY-ANTIOCHUS SEEKS THE DESTRUCTION OF SIMON-BEASTLY CHARACTER OF PTOLEMY PHYSCON AND ATTALUS-SIMON TREACHEROUSLY MURDERED AT JERICHO.

JONATHAN being now relieved from all disquietude at home, sent ambassadors to Rome to renew the treaty which had been concluded with Judas. They were kindly and honourably received, and obtained all that they wished. The ambassadors, agreeably to their orders, on their return renewed the former league with the Lacedemonians, and other allies of the Jews in Greece. The general of Demetrius, who had been defeated in Galilee by Jonathan, returned with a greater force, but was again obliged to fly; and the two brothers brought the whole country under subjection to Antiochus.

When the country was freed from invading foes, Jonathan and Simon convened the great council of the nation to consult about repairing and fortifying Jerusalem, and other strong places in Judea. At this meeting it was agreed that the walls of the city should be repaired, and a new wall erected between the town and the castle, so as to prevent all intercourse between the garrison and the inhabitants; by which means it was hoped, that for want of supplies, they would before long be under the necessity of surrendering.

Tryphon, who had brought back the young king, supposed that the time was now come to execute his nefarious scheme of putting him to death, and seizing the crown for himself. But foreseeing that Jonathan would never countenance such villany,

he resolved to remove him out of the way, in the first place. He therefore marched into Judea with a strong force, but found Jonathan prepared to meet him at the head of forty thousand men. He therefore assumed the appearance of friendship, and informed Jonathan that the purpose of his coming was to put Ptolemais into his hands; and so deceived him by his specious pretexts, that he was induced to send away all his men except one thousand. With these he went to Ptolemais, to receive the city, which Tryphon had sworn to surrender to him; but no sooner was he within the walls, than he ordered the gates to be shut, and resolved to put Jonathan and his all men to the sword. The Jews, greatly intimidated and distressed by the loss of their leader, appointed Simon to be their captain; who soon collected a formidable force, and marched to meet Tryphon, then on his way to besiege Jerusalem, and relieve the garrison. To Simon he pretended that his only reason for seizing Jonathan was because he owed the king a debt, which, if he would pay, his brother should be released. Simon saw through the deception, but lest any censure should light upon himself for not ransoming his brother, he raised the money and sent it to him. But this wicked wretch, instead of complying with his promise, put Jonathan to death. Thinking that the only obsta cle to the accomplishment of his ambitious purpose was now removed, he finished by making way with Antiochus.

As soon as Simon heard of his brother's death, he sent and brought away his bones from Bascama, and buried them at Modin, in the sepulchre of his father; over which he built a splendid monument of marble. Near this monument he erected seven pyramids, one for his father, another for his mother, four for his brothers, and the seventh for himself. The architecture of this monument is said to have been very excellent, and as it was erected on an eminence near the seacoast, it served as a light-house to mariners. Josephus says that it was entire in his time, and considered an admirable piece of architecture. Eusebius, who lived two hundred years later, informs us that it was still standing when he wrote.

Tryphon, now very anxious to conciliate the Romans, sent them as a present, a golden image of victory, valued at ten thousand pieces of gold; hoping to be recognized as king of Syria. The Roman Senate accepted the present; but ordered the name of Antiochus, whom Tryphon had murdered, to be inscribed on the image, as if it had been received from him. Simon, also, sent ambassadors to Rome, after his brother's death, who were received with distinguished honour; and had all their former grants and promises renewed. The same ambassadors renewed their leagues with the other allies of the Jews, who lay in their way home.

The Jews who had joined the young king, in opposition to Demetrius, now felt disposed to return to his aid against Tryphon the usurper, who had perfidiously inflicted on them so deep an injury. Simon, therefore, sent an embassy to Demetrius, with a crown of gold. This aid was so much needed by Demetrius and so seasonable, that he not only confirmed. Simon in the priesthood, and renewed all former grants, with an amnesty for all acts done against his government; but actually conferred the sovereignity of the country on Simon, by which means the land was freed from a foreign yoke. The Jews, therefore, from this time, instead of dating their concontracts by the years of the Syrian kings, dated them by the years of Simon and his successors. Simon now made a progress through the land, reducing such fortresses as were garrisoned by the heathens, and fortifying those places which served for the defence of the country. He made Bethsura a despository of the munitions of war; and Joppa, the seaport of Jerusalem, it being the nearest place on the Mediterranean. Gazara, which had revolted on the death of Jonathan, he reduced, driving off the heathen garrison, and building a house there for himself.

In the year 142 B. C. the strong fortress at Jerusalem which overlooked the temple, was reduced to the necessity of surrendering for the want of provisions and other necessaries, by which means the inhabitants were delivered from a great and long continued grievance. That they might never again be subjected to a similar annoyance, Simon not only demolished the fortress, but proposed to the inhabitants of Jerusalem to take away the hill itself on which it had been built. This proposal met with universal acceptance; and for three years they were engaged in this herculean labour. Simon, also, renewed and strengthened the fortifications of the temple; and built for himself and his attendants, a house within the circuit of the outer wall, which probably occupied the site where the tower called Antonia was afterwards erected. John, the son of Simon, afterwards called Hyrcanus, being a valiant man, and skilled in military matters, his father made him general of all the forces of Judea, and sent him to live at Gazara, as being a frontier town; and also, that he might be near Joppa, to superintend the works, which he was erecting there to render it a commodious place for commerce.

Demetrius found, this year, 141 B. C., a new ememy rising up against him in the east. The Parthians had extended their conquests from the Euphrates to the Indus; his friends in the eastern provinces therefore invited him to come over and secure his territory from the grasp of usurpers. In compliance with this invitation, Demetrius passed the Euphrates, leaving