the nation would run to Alexander, left the country and went his way.  The rest of the Jewish multitude, however, did not lay aside their quarrels with Alexander when the auxiliaries were gone, but had perpetual war with them until he had slain the greater part of them.  Then such a terror seized the people that eight thousand of his opponents fled away the following night out of all Judea and did not return until Alexander died.

[Sidenote:  Jos.  War, I, 4:8c, d] Alexander also subdued Golan, Seleucia, and what was called the Valley of Antiochus; besides which he took the strong fortress of Gamala.  Then he returned into Judea after he had spent three years on this expedition.  Now he was gladly received by the nation because of his success.  So when he was at rest from war, he fell ill and died, terminating his troubles after he had reigned twenty-seven years.

[Sidenote:  Jos.  War, I, 5:1] Now Alexander left the kingdom to Alexandra, his wife, and trusted the Jews would readily submit to her, for in opposing his habitual violation of their laws she gained the good-will of the people.  Nor was he mistaken in his hopes, for this woman retained the rulership because of her reputation for piety.  For she chiefly studied the ancient customs of her country and cast those men out of the government who offended against their holy laws.  And as she had two sons by Alexander, she made the older, Hyrcanus, high priest, on account of his age and also on account of his inactive temperament.

[Sidenote:  Jos.  War, I, 5:2, 3a, b] And the Pharisees joined themselves to her in the government and Alexandra henceforth hearkened to them to a great degree.  But these Pharisees artfully insinuated themselves into her favor little by little and presently became the real administrators of public affairs.  They banished and recalled whom they pleased.  While she governed the people, the Pharisees governed her.  Accordingly, they slew Diogenes, a person of prominence, because he had been a friend of Alexander; they also urged Alexandra to put the rest of those to death who had stirred up Alexander against them.  But the chief of those who were in danger fled to Aristobulus.  He persuaded his mother to spare the men on account of their rank, but to expel them from the city.  So when they were given their freedom, they were dispersed over all the country.

[Sidenote:  Jos.  War, I, 5:4-6:1b] In the meantime Alexandra fell sick and Aristobulus, her younger son, seized this opportunity to get possession of all the fortresses.  He also used the sums of money he found in them to gather together a number of mercenaries and to set himself up as king.  But Alexandra, after she had lived nine years, died before she could punish Aristobulus.  Hyrcanus was heir to the kingdom and to him his mother intrusted it while she was living.  But Aristobulus was superior to him in ability and spirits, and when there was a battle between them near Jericho to decide the dispute about the kingdom, the majority deserted Hyrcanus and went over to Aristobulus.  But they came to an agreement that Aristobulus should be the king, and that Hyrcanus should resign, but retain all the rest of his dignities.