Page:Jewish Encyclopedia Volume 2.pdf/133

95 THE JEWISH ENCYCLOPEDIA

95

Jews were compelled to transgress the Jewish ceremonial laws. Bibliography Harris and Robinson, in Texts and Studies, i. Raabe, in Texte und Untersucliungen, ix. 1 (German 1 the





translation of the Syriac version) ; Seeberg, in Zahn's Forschungen, v. 159 et seq.; contains a German translation ol the reconstructed Greek original ; D. M. Kali, English translation, in Ante-Nicene Fathers, ix. 259 et seq.: Harnack, in BeaUncyklopddie fUr Protestantisclie Theol. 3d edition, ii. 46 ; see also Otto, Corpus Apologetorum, ix. 342.

L. G.

k.

PELLA

ARISTO

OF (in the Decapolis) : Christian controversialist who wrote against Judaism in the second century (135-170). He is the author of a '' Dialogue Between Jason and Papiscus. The former is supposed to be a Jewish Christian, the latter an Alexandrian Jew. So overcome is the latter by his antagonist's arguments, that in the end he becomes a con vert to Christianity. This dialogue was a favorite in the third century " was known to almost everybody in the year 500 " (Harnack, " Texte und Untersuchungen," i. 3 et seq.); and still existed in the sev-

A



Aristeas

Aristooulus

ger from his family, he imprisoned three of his Then he ascended the throne, and became the first Jewish king after the Babylonian exile—an interval of nearly five hundred years. Aristobulus was not content with the mere title of king, but endeavored, in the brief period of his reign, to prove himself worthy of his position. He made war on Iturea, subjugated a large portion of the people, strove to convert them to Judaism, and forced circumcision upon them. This fact, which Josephus derives from Timogenes, a heathen writer, admits of no doubt, although it is not known exactly what territory of the Itureans was conquered for brothers.

Judea by Aristobulus. Successful as was his

public, career, Aristobulus

was extremely unfortunate

in his family relations.

Being of feeble health, he gradually came under the complete control of a clique, at the head of which stood Alexandra Salome, the queen. Through its machinations, he was led to suspect his favorite

brother,

cen-

enth

tury, but

Antigonus

—whom he

it

now

has

I.

had

completely disappeared. Al-

en

-

s t

ed

with

a

t r

u

share in

though

the govern-

this dia-

ment,

and

logue

whom

h

treated

al-

is

preserved in

great

most as a Obverse: Olive wreath, round (S'Trd'fi lam Sn; jm High Priest, and the Confederation of the Jews"). middle a poppy-head.

in composi-

"Al-

(After

Madden, " HiBtory

mw)

-i

Theophili Christiani," it is imto form a correct idea of its contents. It probably contained the information, attributed to Aristo by Eusebius, that by the prohibition of Hadrian the Jews were not permitted to touch the soil of Jerusalem (" Historia Ecclesiastica,"

monis Judaei

et

any one

It is also interesting to notice that Jerome claims to have read in the dialogue, that in the Hebrew text, Gen. i. 1, these words are to be found "Through His son, God created heaven and earth" ("QusestionesHebraeicffiLibri Genesis, "i. 1, and commentary to Gal. iii. 13). This alleged Hebrew text, as Ginzberg explains, is nothing but an exegetical mistranslation of the first word in the Targum iv. 6).

"with wisdom

(fllMrn,

"

= Adyoc).

Harnack, as above ; Zahn, Forschungen, pp. 308 et seq.; Corssen, Altercatio Slmonis et Theophili; Harnack, Geschichte AltchrMl. Lit. (1893), i. 72 et seq.; and Ginzberg, Die Haggada h. d. Kirchenvdiern, p. 3 ; compare

Bibliography

Otto, T.



Corpus Apotoqetorwm,

ix.

349 et seq.

L. G.

ARISTOBTJXTJS I. (called Judah in Hebrew): King of Judea, eldest son of John Hyrcanus born about 140 B.C. died 104. He succeeded his father in the office of high priest, while his mother (or, according to Wellhausen, his stepmother) was, by the will of his father, to rule as queen. Immediately after the death of his father, Aristobulus threw his mother into prison, where she was starved to death and to secure himself against further dan;





-aniSi SjjnDn iini

Reverse:

of Jewish Coinage.")

tercatio Si-

possible for

—

Copper Coins of Judas Aristobulus.

part in the similar Lattion,

e

Two

'Judas cornua-copiae in the (

coregent o f designs

against him,

and

was

finally

induced to order his execution, though unwitAfter this deed Aristotingly, it is claimed. bulus is said to have been seized with such bitter remorse at having caused the death of his mother and brother, that he Palace Intrigues, broke down completely and died of grief, 104 B.C. If the account of Josephus concerning the family history be true, Aristobulus is the darkest figure in the Hasmonean dynasty but not much credence can be attached to this portion of his narrative, by reason of the amount of legend It must be observed that has gathered about it. that it was out of regard for the Pharisees that he used only Hebrew inscriptions upon his coinage, and caused himself to be represented upon it as a high priest, because according to the Pharisees only a member of the house of David could legitimately hold the throne. Although strongly inclined toward Hellenism himself, he was careful, even in such comparatively small matters, not to offend the Pharisees; it is therefore highly improbable that he should have risked their certain antagonism by the

murders imputed to him. See articles Alexandra Salome and Antigonus, Son of John Hvecanus. Josephus, Ant. xiii. 11 ; Eusebius, Historia Ecclesiastica, Eng. ed., v. 353, 385, 386 ; Gr&tz, Gesch. der JuHitzig, Gesch. des Jildischen Volkes, 102-105 den, 2d ed., ii. G. pp. ii. 473-475; Sehttrer, Gesch. i. 216-219; Wellhausen, I. J. compare Niese, in Hermes, 1893, pp. chronology, For 276. 275, 216 et seq. ; and for coins, Madden, Coins of the Jews, pp. 81-83.

Bibliography

g.

L. G.