A General Martyrology, Chapter 2
CHAP. II. The Persecution of the Church from Nehemiah to Antiochus his time.
AFter the death of Eliashib the High-Priest, Judas his sonne succeeded, and after him John his sonne, which John had a brother called Jesus, who was much favoured by Bagoses, Generall of Artaxerxes, who promised him the Priesthood, which made him take occasion to quarrel with his brother John, The Jews persecuted by Bagoses.who thereby was so much provoked against him, that he slew him in the Temple; Bagoses being informed hereof, came with his Army to Jerusalem, and kept the Jews in bondage seven years, making them tributaries, so that before they could offer their daily sacrifice, they were compelled to pay for every Lamb, fifty Drachmes. After the death of John, Jaddus his sonne succeeded in the priesthood, in whose time Alexander the Great passed over the Hellespont, and having overcome the Lieutenant of Darius, he conquered many countries in Asia minor, intending suddenly to come upon Jerusalem. Jaddus being informed of his intention, was sore afraid; he therefore offered sacrifice,Prayer in times of danger. and commanded the people to make their prayers unto God, for direction and protection in this common danger: and when he heard that Alexander approached, he caused the Priests and people to put on white garments, and himself, attired in his Priestly robes, went before them; when Alexander espied them, he himself marched before the rest of his company, and coming to the High-Priest, he fell down on his face before him: then did all the Jews circle him in round about, and with one voice saluted him. Alexanders chief Commanders were wonderfully astonished at this deportment of the King, and thought he was out of his wits: and Parmenio stepping to him, asked him what he meant thus to adore the High-Priest of the Jews, when as all other men adored him; Alexander answered, I doe not adore him, but that God whom the High-Priest worshipeth; for in my sleep I saw him in such an habit when I was in Macedonia, consulting with my self how I might conquer Asia; and he bad me to make no delay, assuring me that he would both guide me and my Army, and would deliver the Empire of the Persians into my hands: Then gave he the High-Priest his hand, and went with him to the City, and comming to the Temple, he offered sacrifice according to the direction of the High-Priest; then did Jaddus shew him Daniels Prophecy, wherein his victories over the Persians, and his Monarchy were foretold, which much rejoyced Alexander: then did he command the Jews to ask some favours at his hands; the High-Priest requested onelyonly that they might live after the Ordinances of their forefathers, and that every seventh year they might be exempted from taxes and tributes, which he fully granted: they besought him likewise that the Jews which were in Media and Babilon, might be permitted to live after their own Laws, which he willingly promised, and so departed: this was about the year of the world 3632. and before Christs nativity 332.
After the death of Alexander, his Kingdom was divided amongst his Captains, amongst whom Ptolemy the son of Lagus held Egypt, who falling out with Antigonus that held Asia minor, there grew great wars between them, wherein Ptolemy won from him all Syria, and going to Jerusalem on a Sabbath day under pretence to offer sacrifice, the Jews suspecting nothing, he surprised the City, carrying away many of the Jews into captivity into Egypt: but after his death, his son Ptolemy Philadelphus at his owne cost redeemed an hundred and twenty thousand of them, paying twelve Crowns apeece for each of them, and sent them back into their owne countrey: He sent also by them fifty talents of gold for the temple, and obtained of Eleazer the High Priest, the Law of the Jews, and 72 Interpreters (out of every Tribe some) who translated it into Greek in 72 daies: and having finished their work, Ptolemy returned them with great rewards for themselves, and with many rich presents to Eleazer.
Antiochus and Ptolemy being at war each against other, the Jews suffered much by them, Mach. 1.
Collected out of Josephus.