The Jewish Historian Flavius Josephus: A Biographical Investigation

But how then is one to explain Hyrcanus’ return and his promise to give back the Dodecapolis? –
H. Holtzmann (212) was therefore logical when – now going beyond Antiquities 18 – he has not
Hyrcanus, but Antipater promising to give back the Dodecapolis. But this has neither been
transmitted [by tradition] nor is it factually even possible.
By contrast, I [shall] establish the following main features based on the groundwork
that we have produced: Hyrcanus only gave way to force when he renounced his regnancy
[142] and had to content himself with his position as the king’s brother (War 121). Therefore it
goes without saying that he was anxious to regain the throne that he had defended in battle, as
soon as an opportunity to do so presented itself. Here the Idumean Antipater intervened; his
father had acquired the command over all Idumea from Alexander, and in this capacity [he]
entered into friendship with the Arabians, etc.; he himself had remained loyal to the legitimate
ruler Hyrcanus, but for that very reason he stood in opposition to Aristobulus who now had
gained the rulership and threatened him himself. [Antipater] seems to have already lost his
position in Idumea, – because he cannot place sufficient forces at Hyrcanus’ disposal there –
but his father’s friendship with the Arabians was to pay off now. Through his intermediation
an agreement is negotiated between Aretas and Hyrcanus: Hyrcanus was to flee in secret to
Aretas, acquire an army from him and win back his rule with this; as payment Aretas was
promised the return of the Dodecapolis. For the time being, it was enough for Antipater that his
enemy had been ousted from the throne; he would entertain further aspirations once
Hyrcanus again exercised the rulership to which he had been helped [by Antipater].
3. The siege of Jerusalem
War 126b - 130 = Ant. 19 - 33
Aretas forces Aristobulus to Jerusalem and lays siege to the city; in the meantime
Scaurus appears in the land; both brothers bring their issues before him and Scaurus decides in
favour of Aristobulus. He forces Aretas to give up the siege of Jerusalem; Aristobulus goes after
his opponent who is withdrawing and deals him a crushing blow at Papyron.
For Antiquities 19 – Aretas’ victory over Aristobulus – the source is provided in the War,
but again this source has been expanded, namely by the insertion of the legend of Onias, the
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