ROMAN EMPIRE. This article having more particularly to treat of Roman history during its connection with that of Palestine, more fulness will be found in the account especially devoted to that country, than in the present remarks upon the earlier and later history of the Roman Empire.
The first mention of Rome in the Bible is in Maccab. where it is stated that there arose a wicked root, Antiochus, surnamed Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had been an hostage at Rome.' About the year B.c. 161, when Judas Maccabus heard of the defeat of Philip, Perseus, and Antiochus, and of the great fame of the Romans, he sent an embassy to them to solicit an alliance, and to obtain protection against the Syrian government (i Maccab. viii. 1, seq. ; cf. 2 Maccab. xi. 34 ; Joseph. Antiq. xii. to. 6 ; Justin xxxvi. 3). The ambassadors were graciously re ceived, and Demetrius ordered to desist from harassing the Jews ; but before the answer arrived Judas was slain, having valiantly engaged the whole army of Bacchides sent by Demetrius into Judaea (1 Maccab. ix. 1-18 ; Joseph. Antiq.
xii. 1). In B.C. 143, Jonathan renew-ed the alliance with the Romans (i Maccab. xii. 1-4, 16 ; Joseph. Antiq. 5. 8), the embassy being admitted before the senate (ro pouXeonjinov), and on his death, the same year, his brother Simon, who succeeded him, sent also to Rome to again seek a renewal of friendship. The Romans readily acceded to his request, and the valiant deeds of Simon and his predecessors were engraved on tables of brass. Shortly afterwards, Simon sent Numenius to Rome with a great shield of gold, of a thousand pounds weight, to confirm the league with them. The senate at once consented to its re-establishment, and recognised him as high-priest and prince of Judma. The tables of brass on which the league was written were set up in the temple (i Maccab. xiv. 17, seq. ; cf. Joseph. Antiq.
xiii. 7. 3). Lucius, the consul of the Romans, wrote to several kings and nations requesting them to assist the Jews (1 Maccab. xv. 16-23 [Lucius]. Hyrcanus, the successor of Maccabus, again sent in B.C. 129 an embassy to Rome, which was favourably received, confirming the alliance already concluded (Joseph. Antiq. 9. 2). In the year B.C. 66, Pompey arrived in the East to take command of the Roman armies, and sent his general Scaurus to Syria. While at Damascus,
the latter received an offer of 400 talents from Aristobulus and Hyrcanus, who were both fight ing for the kingdom, each one wishing to be aided. Scaurus accepted the offer of Aristobulus, and ordered Aretas, who was assisting Hyrcanus, to withdraw his forces, or he would be declared an enemy to the Romans (Joseph. Antig. xiv. 2. 3). The following year Pompey came into Syria, and deprived Antiochus XIII. (Asiaticus) of his king dom, reducing it to a Roman province. Ambas sadors were sent to Pompey from the rival princes, and in B.C. 64, when Pompey returned again to Damascus from Asia Minor, their respective causes were heard by him. Notwithstanding the prejudices of the people in favour of Aristobulus, Pompey, perceiving the weakness of character and imbecility of Hyrcanus, seemed to incline towards the latter, knowing that it was better to have a weak man under the Roman control. He, however, left the matter undecided, and Aristobulus, seeing that his case was lost, withdrew to make preparations for defence ( Joseph. A9tliq. xiv. 2. 3). Pompey then occupied himself in reducing the forces of Aretas, and afterwards marched against Aristobulus, who fled to Jerusalem. Aristobulus, on his approach, met hint, and offered him a large sum of money, and Pompey sent Gabinius to receive it ; but on his arrival at Jerusalem he found the gates closed.
Aristobulus was then thrown into prison, and Pompey marched to Jerusalem. Hyrcanus opened the gates to him, whilst the party of Aristobulus, including the priests, shut themselves up in the temple, and withstood a siege of three months. Pompey, observing that the Jews did not work on the seventh day, gained material advantage, and at last took the place by assault, killing, according to Josephus, as many as 12,000 persons, even desecrating the temple by entering the Holy of Holies (cf. Tac. Hist. v. 9), though he did not touch any of the treasures. Hyrcanus was then appointed high-priest and governor of the country, but was forbidden to wear a diadem (cf. Joseph. Antiq. xx. io). Tribute was also exacted of him, and Pompey took Aristobulus and his two sons, Alexander and Antigonus, prisoners to Rome, from whence they subsequently escaped (Joseph. Antiq. xiv. 3. 2 ; 4. 2, 3, 4 ; Bell. jud. i. 7. 6 ; Strabo, xvi. p. 763).