Civil War over Hasmonean Succession

Josephus relates that after Hyrcanus II conceded kingship over Judaea to his younger brother, Aristobulus II, the Idumean leader Antipater I, who despised Aristobulus, persuaded Hyrcanus to fight back and take his rightful place on the throne. After unsuccessfully seeking the help of their Arab allies, Hyrcanus and Aristobulus each turned to Pompey’s representative M. Aemilius Scaurus for support. Pompey, who was engaged in a protracted conflict with the Anatolian ruler Mithridates VI involving large parts of the Near East, ultimately intervened in the ongoing Judean political conflict, taking Hyrcanus’ side. He recognized Hyrcanus as high priest and ethnarch, not king, of a significantly reduced territory centered on Judaea and Idumaea, and he set out to attack Aristobulus. (Jewish Antiquities 14 provides the primary account of the Hasmonean civil war.)

Pursued by Pompey, Aristobulus retreated to Jerusalem and began preparing for war, but Pompey’s rapid advance left him no time. He finally went out to meet Pompey, surrendered the city, offered himself as prisoner, and promised the Romans money. But when the Roman general Gabinius went to Jerusalem to collect the money, Aristobulus’ supporters refused to allow him in.