Pompey Enters Jerusalem

With Aristobulus in custody, Pompey besieged Jerusalem and ultimately entered the Temple and the inner sanctuary, the holy of holies, although Josephus maintains that he did not violate the Temple’s sanctity. Josephus also indicates that Judaea was stripped of territories previously conquered by the Hasmoneans, as Pompey liberated many of these cities and returned them to Syrian rule. Pompey placed his military tribune, Scaurus, along with two legions in charge of the entire region that spanned the province of Syria, together with Judaea, Egypt, and the Euphrates. While Aristobulus and his children were on the way to Rome as Pompey’s captives, Alexander, one of Aristobulus’ sons, escaped.