Antiquities of the Jews, fit the thirtieth

The Jews, it appears, did not want (XIV.3.41) to be ruled by kings:( Read more... )

More information on to what extent one could break Shabbos in national self-defence, referring to Pompey's erection of a bank of earth to install siege engines on (XIV.4.63): ( Read more... )

The passage continues by telling us how the priests would rather die than not carry out the sacrifices:( Read more... )

Pompey is infamous in Jewish history for entering the Holy of Holies, where according to Jewish law only the High Priest may set foot, and even then only once a year, on Yom Kippur.

What's not so well known is what happened next (XIV.4.72):

There were in that temple the golden table, the holy candlestick, and the pouring vessels, and a great quantity of spices; and besides these there were among the treasures two thousand talents of sacred money: yet did Pompey touch nothing of all this, on account of his regard to religion; and in this point also he acted in a manner that was worthy of his virtue. The next day he gave order to those that had the charge of the temple to cleanse it, and to bring what offerings the law required to God; and restored the high priesthood to Hyrcanus

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Josephus notes