Battle between Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II

A man should not teach his son Greek. Our rabbis taught: When the Hasmonean kings laid siege to each other, Hyrcanus was outside [of the city of Jerusalem] and Aristobulus was inside [the city]. Every day [those inside the city] would lower a basket of dinars [to those laying siege to the city], and they would take up [animals for] the daily sacrifice, [which was provided by those outside the city in exchange]. There was one elder there [inside the city] who was familiar with Greek wisdom; he spoke in a foreign tongue to those [outside the city] using Greek wisdom and said to them: As long as [those inside the city] are continuing their Temple service, they will not be given over into your hands. The next day, [those inside the city] lowered down their basket full of dinars and [began] taking up a pig [given by those outside the city, in order to prevent the daily Temple service]. When the pig was raised halfway up the wall, it stuck out its nails [into the wall], and the land of Israel shook [across] four hundred parasangs. At that time they said: Cursed is the man who raises pigs and cursed is the man who teaches his son Greek wisdom.

Translated by Matthew Goldstone.