in a very kind manner, while the people stood round about them;
they also changed their houses, while Aristobulus went to the
royal palace, and Hyrcanus retired to the house of Aristobulus.
2. Now those other people which were at variance with Aristobulus
were afraid upon his unexpected obtaining the government; and
especially this concerned Antipater (6) whom Aristobulus hated of
old. He was by birth an Idumean, and one of the principal of that
nation, on account of his ancestors and riches, and other
authority to him belonging: he also persuaded Hyrcanus to fly to
Aretas, the king of Arabia, and to lay claim to the kingdom; as
also he persuaded Aretas to receive Hyrcanus, and to bring him
back to his kingdom: he also cast great reproaches upon
Aristobulus, as to his morals, and gave great commendations to
Hyrcanus, and exhorted Aretas to receive him, and told him how
becoming a filing it would be for him, who ruled so great a
kingdom, to afford his assistance to such as are injured;
alleging that Hyrcanus was treated unjustly, by being deprived of
that dominion which belonged to him by the prerogative of his
birth. And when he had predisposed them both to do what he would
have them, he took Hyrcanus by night, and ran away from the city,
and, continuing his flight with great swiftness, he escaped to
the place called Petra, which is the royal seat of the king of
Arabia, where he put Hyrcanus into Aretas's hand; and by
discoursing much with him, and gaining upon him with many
presents, he prevailed with him to give him an army that might
restore him to his kingdom. This army consisted of fifty thousand
footmen and horsemen, against which Aristobulus was not able to
make resistance, but was deserted in his first onset, and was
driven to Jerusalem; he also had been taken at first by force, if
Scaurus, the Roman general, had not come and seasonably