against Rome.  The first rebellion was in 57 B.C. and was led by Alexander.  He was ultimately driven by the Roman general to Alexandria, the fortress that overlooks the middle-Jordan Valley, and was finally forced to surrender.  The three great fortresses, Alexandria, Machaerus, and Hyrcanium, were thrown down, and the Jewish state was divided into five districts.  Each of these was under a local council consisting of the leading citizens.  These reported directly to the Roman proconsul.  To neutralize still further the Jewish national spirit, the Hellenic cities in and about Palestine were restored, given a large measure of independence, and placed directly under the control of Rome’s representative in the East.

The second rebellion followed quickly and was led by Aristobulus.  He was soon obliged, however, to take refuge in the fortress of Machaerus, east of the Dead Sea, where he was captured and sent back again as a captive to Rome.  The third rebellion was led by Alexander.  It was more formidable, and in the end more disastrous, for the Jews were signally defeated in a battle near Mount Tabor.  The only permanent results of these uprisings were the intensifying of Jewish hatred of Roman rule and the increasing of Rome’s suspicion of this rebellious people.  It was this suspicion that made it possible for the high-priestly party at a later time to force the Roman governor Pilate to put to death one whom he recognized to be an inoffensive Galilean peasant simply because he was accused of having assumed the historic title, King of the Jews.

II.  Antipater’s Policy.  Through the troublesome first quarter-century of Roman rule Antipater and his family prospered because they were able at every turn in the political fortunes of Syria to make themselves increasingly useful to Rome.  At many critical periods he was able to save the Jews from calamity and to secure for them valuable privileges.  There is a certain basis for Josephus’s over-enthusiastic assertion that he was “a man distinguished for his piety, justice, and love of his country” (Jos.  Ant.  XIV, 11:4c).

Although Hyrcanus was but a tool in Antipater’s hands, he never attempted to depose him, and apparently always treated him with respect.  To steer successfully through the stormy period during which Rome made the transition from the republican to the monarchical form of government was a difficult task.  When Crassus came as the representative of the First Triumvirate, Antipater’s gifts and tact were not sufficient to prevent the Roman from plundering the treasures of the temple.

Fortunately for the peace of Judea, during the civil war that followed between Pompey and Caesar, the deposed Jewish king Aristobulus and his son Alexander were both put to death.  After the decisive battle of Pharsalia in 48 B.C.  Antipater quickly espoused the cause of Caesar, and performed valuable services for him at a time when the great Roman was threatened by overwhelming forces.  By his influence with