Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II
Meanwhile Alexandra fell ill, and her younger son Aristobulus seized the opportunity. With all his many friends—all won over to his cause by his dashing nature—he took control of all the fortresses, used the money found there to gather a force of mercenaries, and declared himself king. His mother sympathized with Hyrcanus’ complaints at this turn…
Josephus relates that after Alexandra’s death, Hyrcanus accepted Aristobulus’ victory and conceded the kingship to him in exchange for an honored position as the king’s brother. Despite this apparent truce, the conflict between the brothers would continue, due in part to the involvement of the Idumean leader Antipater I, father of Herod the Great, who was an enemy of Aristobulus and supporter of Hyrcanus. Both Hyrcanus and Aristobulus appealed to Pompey, then in the process of making Syria a province of the Roman Empire. Pompey ultimately sided with Hyrcanus and, after besieging Jerusalem and defeating Aristobulus, installed Hyrcanus as high priest. This was the first direct Roman intervention in Judan affairs and ushered in the Roman period.
Related Guide
The Rise and Decline of the Hasmonean Dynasty
After the Hasmonean Revolt, Jonathan and Simon establish a short-lived independent Judean kingdom, eventually brought down by a succession crisis and Roman intervention.
