ABSTRACT
. Whether, on his death-bed, Jannæus counselled his wife, Alexandra, to seek constantly the favor of the Pharisees (Ant. xiii. 15, 5), or to fear neither them nor their opponents, but to fear the hypocrites who pretend to be Pharisees (Talmud), it is certain that from the time of her accession until her death (78–69 B. c.), the Pharisees had control. As Josephus states, “while she governed other people, the Pharisees governed her” (J. W. i. 5, 2). The policy of the previous régime was, in every possible particular, reversed. All exiles were welcomed home, prison doors were opened, and the places of responsibility and honor were given to those who had so recently been cast out. Simon ben Shetach came back to gain and exercise an influence greater than he had ever known, and, if we may rely upon the traditions, he invited Judah ben Tabbai from Egypt to come to Jerusalem and assist him in the great work of re-establishing, improving, and widening the power of the law. The high-priesthood had been given to the indolent and incompetent Hyrcanus, eldest son of Jannæus, while the younger son, Aristobulus, because of his shrewd, energetic, and ambitious nature had been studiously kept out of power. As long as the Pharisees did not meddle with foreign affairs, they had their own way. Alexandra maintained a large body of mercenary troops and thereby inspired respect abroad. She had, however, little use for them, for with the exception of an ineffective expedition against Damascus, nothing of a warlike nature was undertaken during her reign.
