Editing Alexander Jannaeus (section)

=== Battle of Asophon ===
Ptolemy and Alexander engaged in battle at Asophon near the [[Jordan River]]. Estimated to have fifty to eighty thousand soldiers, Alexander's army consisted of both [[Jews]] and [[Paganism|pagans]]. At the head of his armed forces were his elite pagan mercenaries. They were specialised in [[Ancient Greek warfare|Greek-style]] [[phalanx]]. One of Ptolemy's commanders, Philostephanus, began the first attack by crossing the river that divided both forces.{{sfn|Atkinson|2012|pp=132 & 133}}

The Hasmoneans had the advantage. Philostephanus held back a certain amount of his forces whom he sent to recover lost ground. Perceiving them as vast reinforcements, Alexander's army fled. Some of his retreating forces tried to push back, but quickly dispersed as Ptolemy's forces pursued Alexander's fleeing army. Thirty to fifty thousand Hasmonean soldiers died.{{sfn|Atkinson|2012|pp=132 & 133}}

Ptolemy's forces at Ptolemais succeeded in capturing the city. He then continued to conquer much of the Hasmonean kingdom, occupying the entirety of northern Judea, the coast, and territories east of the Jordan River. While doing so, he pillaged villages and ordered his soldiers to cannibalise women and children to create psychological fear towards his enemies. At the time, Salome Alexandra was notified of Cleopatra's approach to Judea.{{sfn|Atkinson|2012|pp=133 & 134}}