Aristobulus II

Aristobulus II (/ˌærɪstəˈbjuːləs/, Ancient Greek: Ἀριστόβουλος Aristóboulos) was High Priest of Israel and king of Judea from 66 BCE to 63 BCE, during the Hasmonean period in Jewish history.

Aristobulus II
King and High Priest of Judaea
Aristobulus II, from Guillaume Rouillé's Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum
King of Judaea
Reign	c. 66 – 63 BCE
Predecessor	Hyrcanus II
Successor	Antigonus II Mattathias
High Priest of Judaea
Reign	c. 66 – 63 BCE
Predecessor	Hyrcanus II
Successor	Hyrcanus II
Died	c. 49 BCE
Issue	Antigonus II Mattathias Alexander of Judaea
Dynasty	Hasmonean
Father	Alexander Jannaeus
Mother	Salome Alexandra
Religion	Judaism

Hasmonean Kingdom under Aristobulus II

Family

Aristobulus was the younger of two sons born to Alexander Jannaeus, King and High Priest, and Salome Alexandra. After Alexander died in 76 BCE, his widow succeeded to the throne as queen of Judea. She installed her elder son Hyrcanus II as High Priest in 73 BCE.^[1] When Salome died in 67 BCE, Hyrcanus succeeded to the kingship as well.

Aristobulus shared his late father's views on religion and politics. He entertained designs upon the throne, even during the life of his mother. He courted the nobles and the military by constituting himself the patron of the Sadducees and bringing their cause before the queen. The fortresses which the queen had placed at the disposal of the Sadducees, ostensibly for their defense against the Pharisees, constituted in reality one of the preparatory moves of Aristobulus for his usurpation of the throne. The queen sought to direct his military zeal outside Judea and sent him against Ptolemy Mennaeus. After this undertaking had failed, Aristobulus resumed his political intrigues within Judea. He left Jerusalem secretly and betook himself to his friends, who controlled the largest number of fortifications, intending to make war against his mother. But the 73-year-old queen suddenly died in 67 BCE, so Aristobulus immediately directed his forces against his brother Hyrcanus, the legitimate heir to the throne.^[2]

Rebellion

Main article: Hasmonean Civil War

Hyrcanus advanced against Aristobulus at the head of his forces. When the brothers met in battle near Jericho, many of Hyrcanus' soldiers defected, joining forces with Aristobulus, thereby giving the latter the victory. Hyrcanus took refuge in the citadel of Jerusalem; but Aristobulus' capture of the Temple compelled Hyrcanus to surrender. A peace was then concluded, according to the terms of which Hyrcanus was to renounce the throne and the office of High Priest, but was to enjoy the revenues of the latter office.^[3]

This agreement did not last for long, as Antipater the Idumaean convinced Hyrcanus that Aristobulus was planning his death and to take refuge with Aretas III, King of the Nabataeans. The Nabataeans advanced toward Jerusalem with an army of 50,000 men and besieged the city for several months during the rebellion.

Roman intervention

During this civil war, the Roman general Pompey defeated the Kingdoms of Pontus and the Seleucids. He sent his deputy Marcus Aemilius Scaurus to take possession of Seleucid Syria.

As the Hasmoneans were allies of the Romans, both brothers appealed to Scaurus, each endeavoring by gifts and promises to win him over to his side. Scaurus, moved by a gift of 400 talents, decided in favor of Aristobulus and ordered Aretas to withdraw his army. During his retreat, the Nabateans suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Aristobulus.

When Pompey arrived in Syria in 63 BCE, both brothers and a third party that desired the removal of the entire dynasty, sent their delegates to Pompey, who however delayed the decision. He favoured Hyrcanus II over Aristobulus II, deeming the elder, weaker brother a more reliable ally of the Roman Empire.

Pompey defeated the Jewish armies in multiple battles, and took the fortresses of Judea. Aristobulus and his sons Alexander and Antigonus were captured in 63 BCE. Aristobulos, suspicious of Pompey, entrenched himself in the fortress of Alexandrium, but when the Romans defeated his army again, he surrendered and undertook to deliver Jerusalem over to them. However, since many of his followers were unwilling to open the gates, the Romans besieged and captured the city by force, badly damaging city and temple. Hyrcanus was restored as High Priest, but deprived of political authority.

Aristobulus II escaped in 57 BCE, instigating rebellion against Rome in Judea, until he was finally holed up by Aulus Gabinius, consul of the Roman province of Syria, in Machaerus. Mark Antony, commander of the cavalry under Gabinius, led several men to scale Aristobulus' fortifications and subdue his forces.^[4]

Death

Taken prisoner, Aristobulus was released by Julius Caesar in 49 BCE in order to turn Judea against Pompey. He was on his way to Judaea with his son Alexander, when "he was taken off by poison given him by those of Pompey's party".^[5] His son Alexander was beheaded by the Roman commander Scipio at Antioch.^[6]

Aftermath

His son Antigonus led a rebellion against Rome, with help from the Parthians, and became king and high priest in 40 BCE, but was defeated and killed by the Romans in 37 BCE.

See also

• Hasmonean coinage
• Siege of Jerusalem (disambiguation), list of sieges for, and battles of, Jerusalem