sake of logical consistency.  35 On the other hand, the Pharisaic party knew how to flatter

the queen, by introducing a series of ordinances which protected the rights of married

women and rendered divorce more difficult.36 The only ordinance of Simeon ben

Shetach, which deserves permanent record, is that which enjoined regular school

attendance by all children, although it may have been primarily intended to place the

education of the country in the hands of the Pharisees. The general discontent caused by

the tyranny of the Pharisees must have rallied most of the higher classes to the party of

the Sadducees. It led at last to remonstrance with the queen, and was probably the first

occasion of that revolt of Aristobulus, the younger son of Salome, which darkened the

last days of her reign.

Salome died (in the beginning of 69 b.c.) before the measures proposed against

Aristobulus could be carried out. Although Hyrcanus II. now united the royal office with

the Pontificate, his claims were disputed by his brother Aristobulus II., who conquered,

and obliged his brother to abdicate in his favour his twofold dignity. To cement their

reconciliation, Alexander the son of Aristobulus married Alexandra the daughter of

Hycranus. They little thought how ill- fated that union would prove. For already another

power was intriguing to interpose in Jewish affairs, with which it was henceforth to be

identified. Alexander Hannai had appointed one Antipas, or Antipater - of whose origin

the most divergent accounts are given37 - to the governorship of Idumæa. He was

succeeded by a son of the same name. The dissension between the two Asmonæans

seemed to offer the opportunity for realising his ambitious schemes. Of course, he took

the part of the weak Hyrcanus as against the warlike Aristobulus, and persuaded the

former that he was in danger of his life. Ultimately he prevailed on him to fly to Aretas,

King of Arabia, who, in consideration of liberal promises, undertook to reinstate

Hycranus in the government. The Arab army proved successful, and was joined by a

large proportion of the troops of Aristobulus, who was not shut up within the fortified

Temple-buildings. To add to the horrors of war, a long famine desolated the land. It was

during its prevalence that O nias, reputed for his omnipotence in prayer, achieved what

procured for him the designation 'hammeaggel' - the 'circle drawer.'38 When his prayer for

rain remained unanswered, he drew a circle around him, declaring his determination not

to leave it till the Almighty had granted rain, and that not in drops, nor yet in desolating

floods (which successively happened), but in copious, refreshing showers. It could serve

no good purpose to reproduce the realistic manner in which this supposed power of the

Rabbi with God is described (Taan. 23 a). But it were difficult to say whether this is more

repugnant to feelings of reverence, or the reported reproof of Simeon ben Shetach, who

forbore to pronounce the ban upon him because he was like a spoilt child who might ask

anything of his father, and would obtain it. But this supposed power ultimately proved

fatal to Onias during the siege of Jerusalem by Hyrcanus and Aretas.39 Refusing to

intercede either for one or the other of the rival brothers, he was stoned to death (Ant. xiv.

2. 1).