Gabinius

Family: Roman · Role: Roman officer · First appears: Book I, Chapter 6

In Book I, Chapter 6, Aristobulus promised money and the surrender of himself and Jerusalem to Pompey, but his supporters refused Gabinius entry to collect it: “Aristobulus's party would not so much as admit Gabinius into the city, who was sent to receive the money that he had promised.” In Book I, Chapter 8, Gabinius, sent as successor to Scaurus in Syria, sent an army under Siscuria, Marcus Antonius, and Servilius against Aristobulus and Alexander (son of Aristobulus). Alexander was defeated near Jerusalem and retreated to Alexandrium; after sending ambassadors to seek forgiveness, he surrendered his remaining fortresses, which Gabinius demolished.

After this, Gabinius brought Hyrcanus to Jerusalem, entrusted him with the care of the temple, and established aristocratic government in place of monarchy. He sent Antipater to quiet revolters, captured Aristobulus at Machaerus with his son Antigonus (son of Aristobulus), and had them taken back to Rome. At Mount Tabor, he defeated Alexander’s revolt, killing ten thousand Jewish rebels. Later, while marching against the Parthians, he was hindered by Ptolemy, whom he brought back into Egypt; Crassus then came as his successor in Syria.