and Sacrifices to be offered there according to their own Laws.

Note, Though Pompey was fo moderate in his Victory, yet in a little Time after, Craffus, another Roman General, in his March through the Country, feized and took away those two thousand Talents, and the golden Vessels of the Temple, and rich Hangings of ineftimable Worth: But the Vengeance of Heaven feemed to follow him; his Counfels in his Wars, from this Time forward, were under perpetual Difappointment; he was flain in a War with the Parthians: His Head was cut off, and melted Gold was poured down his Throat by Way of Infult over his infatiable Covetousness.

46 Q. What was the final Effect of this Victory of the Romans?"

A. Pompey demolished the Wall of Jerufalem, put to Death fome of the chief Supporters of Ariftobulus, restored Hyrcanus to the High-Priesthood, and made him alfo Governor, but under Tribute to the Romans, and reduced his Dominions to narrower Bounds: Then he carried Ariftobulus, with his Children Prisoners to Rome; except his eldest Son, who efcaped.

Note, From this Quarrel between Hyrcanus the fecond, and Ariftobulus, the Ruin of Jerufalem and Judea must be dated; the final Lofs of the Liberty of the Jesus, and the Tranflation of the Sovereign Authority to the Romans, which had till then defcended with the Priesthood, and been poffeffed by the Jews, though often under fome Tribute to Heathen Princes.

47Q. Did Ariftobulus, or his Sons, ever attempt the Recovery of their Power and Government?

A. Being efcaped from Prifon, they made feveral vigorous Attempts, but without Success

48 Q. What Changes did Jerufalem pafs under through thefe Times?

A Gabinius, a Roman General, marching through Judea, in a little Time made a great Change in the Government, leffened the Power of Hyrcanu yet further, altered the Conftitution of the Sanhedrim.or Jewish Senate; but all was reftored again shortly af terward by Julius Cæfar: For, at Hyrcanus's Request, he gave him Leave to rebuild the Walls of Jerufalem, and by a Decree from the Senate of Rome, the anci ent Friendship with the Jews was renewed.vn cim. 49 Q. Where was Antipater all this while, who had excited Hyrcanus to recover the Government of Judea?

A. He did many Services for Cafar, in his Wars in the neighbouring Countries; whereupon he was made his Lieutenant in Judea, under Hyrcanas, who was confirmed by Cafar in the Government and High-Priesthood And, at the fame Time, Antipa ter procured Phafael, his eldeft Son, to be made Go vernor of the City of Jerufalem; and Herod, his fecond Son, Governor of Judea.

Note, This Hered grew up to high Power afterward; le was called Herod the Great, and was King of Judea when our Saviour was born.

Kohat became of Antipater at laft?

4. He was poifoned by one Malichus, a Rival, who envied his Greatnefs and Power in Fudeas Bat This Death was revenged by his Son Herod, who was permitted by the Roman General to procure Makabus to be murdered,

51 Q. What further Troubles did the Jews meet with about this Time?

Some Part or other of their Nation were continually subject to Plunders, fometimes from the

Roman

Roman: Generals, for not paying the Tribute demanded, or on fome other Pretences; fometimes by the Parthians, who affisted Antigonus, Son of the late King Ariftobulus, to recover Jerufalem and Judea, in Oppofition to the united Forces of Phafael, and Herod, and Hyreanusol; utland butt ww

2552QDid Antigonus ever recover this Govern3 ment?

-The Parthian General Pacerus, who was at War with the Romans, did by meer Treachery get into his Cuftody both Hyrcanus and Phafael, feized Jerufalem, and rifled it, made Antigonus Governor of Judea, and delivered up Hyrcanus and Phafael to him in Chains; but Herod made his Efcape.

53 Q What became of Phafael and Hyrcanus?

Phafael beat out his own Brains in Prifon; Hyrcanus's Ears were cut off, that being maimed he might be no longer a High-Prieft; Lev. xxi. 17. and he was fent afar off among the Parthians, that he might raise no Disturbances against Antigonus. -54 Q Whither did Herod take bis Flight?

A. After a little Time he went to Rome to reprefent all thefe Tranfactions, and he made his Com plaints with great and unexpected Succefs; for F4"Lius Cæfar being flain in the Roman Senate, Mark Antony and Octavius (who was afterwards Auguffus Cafar) governed all Things there, and they agreed to make Herod King of Judea, with the Confent of the Senate, hoping it would be for their Intereft in the Parthian War.2

I

SECT. VIII. Of the Government of HEROD the Great, and his Pofterity over the JEWS.

1 Q. WHAT did Herod do on his receiving this new Dignity?

A. He returning to Judea, firft relieved his Mother, who was put in Prifon by Antigonus, he made himfelf Mafter of Galilee, he destroyed fome, large Bands of Robbers which intefted the Country thereabout, fheltering themselves in Mountains, and the Caves of fleep and craggy Rocks,

2 Q. What Artifice did he use in order to attack them?

A. By reafont of their dwelling in fuch hollow Caves in Precipices, there was no fealing them from below; and therefore to ferret them out of their Dens, he made large open Chefts, and filled them with Soldiers, which he let down into the Entrances of those Caves by Chains from Engines which he had fixed above, and thus he deftroyed great Numbers of them.

Note, This Country was often annoyed with the Remains of these Plunderers in the Reign of Herod; but he treated them without Mercy, and all the Country that fheltered them with great Rigor, till be restored Peace to Galikel 1900 101 93 b'

3.Q. Where was his next March?

A. Into Judea againft Antigonus, and after feveral Battles with various Succefs on both Sides, at last, by the Affiftance of the Roman Legions, he befieged Antigonus in Jerufalem.

4 Q. Did not Herod himself attend this Siege ?. I A. Yes, but while the Preparations were making for it he went to Samaria, and there married Mariamne, a Lady of the Family of the Maccabees or Afmoneans, the Grand-Daughter of Hyrcanus the Second, a Woman of great Beauty and Virtue, and admirable Qualifications, hoping the Jews would more readily receive him for their King by this Alliance and having done this, he returned to the Siege. 5 Q. Did he carry this Place at laft?

A. He took Jerufalem by Storm, after fix Months hard and bloody Service in the Siege, at which the Romans being enraged, ravaged the City with Blood and Plunder, notwithstanding all that Herod could do to prevent it; and having taken King Antigonus there, and fent him to Antioch, Herod perfuaded Mark Antony by a large Bribe to put him to Death.

Note, Here ended the Reign of the Afmovsans or Mac cabees, after that Race had held the Government one hundred and twenty Years. During a great Part of this Time, as well as before, the various Changes of these Jewish Governors, or the Interruption by Heathen Conquerors filled the Country of Judea with innumerable Calamities and Defolations, of which Jerufalem itself had a very large Share, nor did they ceafe in the following Years.

6Q. How did Herod begin his Reign?

A. As he was forced to make his Way to the Kingdom through much Blood, fo he established himfelf by the fame Means, putting to Death feveral of the Partizans of Antigonus, and among them all the Counsellors of the great Sanhedrim, except Pollia, who is called Hillel, and Sameas, who is called Shammai; for both of them had encouraged the City to receive Herod; though it was not out of