Pompey Enters Jerusalem

Josephus

The Jewish War 1.141–158

ca. 75

Furious at this,1 Pompey kept Aristobulus in custody and advanced up to the city to review the possible means of assault. He could now see the strength of the walls which made them virtually impregnable, the fearsome ravine in front of them, and, also enclosed by the ravine, the temple, which was itself so strongly fortified that if the city were…

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With Aristobulus in custody, Pompey besieged Jerusalem and ultimately entered the Temple and the inner sanctuary, the holy of holies, although Josephus maintains that he did not violate the Temple’s sanctity. Josephus also indicates that Judaea was stripped of territories previously conquered by the Hasmoneans, as Pompey liberated many of these cities and returned them to Syrian rule. Pompey placed his military tribune, Scaurus, along with two legions in charge of the entire region that spanned the province of Syria, together with Judaea, Egypt, and the Euphrates. While Aristobulus and his children were on the way to Rome as Pompey’s captives, Alexander, one of Aristobulus’ sons, escaped.

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Creator Bio

Josephus

37–100

Flavius Josephus was born into a prominent Jewish priestly family and served as a general stationed in the Galilee during the First Jewish Revolt (66–73 CE). He was captured by the Romans and eventually integrated into the Flavian imperial aristocracy, who commissioned him to compose chronicles of the Jewish–Roman war and the history of the Jews. Josephus’ works, all written in Greek, include The Jewish War, Jewish Antiquities, Against Apion, and his autobiography, Life of Josephus. These writings provide important insights into the Judaisms of the Second Temple period and include one of the few surviving accounts of the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE.

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