over into Judaean affairs. Caesar, supreme in Rome, saw imprisoned Aristobulus as an instrument he could use against Pompey’s preeminence in the now-Roman-dominated Middle East. He arranged for him to return to his homeland once more, this time with an escort of two legions. This sometime king of the Jews was to seize Judaea on Caesar’s behalf and eliminate his brother Hyrcanus who owed his continuing position as ethnarch and high priest to Pompey. But while preparing for his campaign, Aristobulus