Page:Selections. Translated by H. St. J. Thackeray (1919).djvu/53

  Gabinius completes Pompey's work in the settlement of the province of Syria. After this Gabinius reinstated Hyrcanus in Jerusalem and committed to him the custody of the Temple. The civil administration he reconstituted under the form of an aristocracy. He divided the whole nation into five unions; one of these he attached to Jerusalem, another to Gadara, the third had Amathus as its centre of government, the fourth was allotted to Jericho, the fifth to Sepphoris, a city of Galilee. The Jews welcomed their release from the rule of an individual and were from that time forward governed by an aristocracy.—B. J. I. 8. 5 (169 f.). (10) Settlement under Julius Cæsar

In due course Cæsar concluded the war and set sail for Syria. There he confirmed the appointment of Hyrcanus to the high priesthood, while he bestowed high honours on Antipater—the privilege of Roman citizenship with exemption from taxation everywhere

Cæsar then appointed Hyrcanus high priest and Antipater civil governor, allowing him to select his own title. Antipater leaving the decision to him, Cæsar made him viceroy of Judæa. He further permitted Hyrcanus, at his request, to rebuild the walls of the capital, which had lain in ruins since their demolition by Pompey. He sent instructions to the consuls at Rome that a record of these decisions should be placed in the Capitol.—Ant. XIV. 8. 3, 5 (137, 143 f.).). "He appointed five councils (or "assemblies," [Greek: synedria]) and distributed the nation into as many portions."—Ant. (parallel passage).]).]