Editing Alexander Jannaeus (section)

== Judean Civil War ==
=== War with Obodas I ===
The [[Judean Civil War]] initially began after the [[Hasmonean conquest of Gaza|conquest of Gaza]] around 99&nbsp;BCE. Due to Jannaeus's victory at Gaza, the Nabataean kingdom no longer had direct access to the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. Alexander soon captured Gadara, which together with the loss of Gaza caused the Nabataeans to lose their main trade routes leading to [[Ancient Rome|Rome]] and [[Ancient City of Damascus|Damascus]]. After losing Gadara, the Nabataean king [[Obodas I]] launched an attack against Alexander in a steep valley at Gadara, where Alexander barely managed to escape. After his defeat in the [[Battle of Gadara]], Jannaeus returned to Jerusalem, and was met with fierce Jewish opposition.{{sfn|Eshel|2008|pp=117 & 118}}

=== Feast of Tabernacles ===
During the Jewish holiday [[Sukkot]], Alexander Jannaeus, while officiating as the [[High Priest of Israel|High Priest]] at the Temple in Jerusalem, demonstrated his displeasure against the Pharisees by refusing to perform the water [[libation]] ceremony properly: instead of pouring it on the altar, he poured it on his feet. The crowd responded with shock at his mockery and showed their displeasure by pelting him with [[etrog]]im ([[citron]]s).{{sfn|Kaiser|1998|p=482}} They made the situation worse by insulting him. They called him a descendant of a [[Slavery|captive woman]] and unsuitable to hold office and to sacrifice. Outraged, he killed six thousand people. Alexander also had wooden barriers built around the altar and the temple preventing people from going near him. Only the priests were permitted to enter.{{sfn|Eshel|2008|pp=118}} This incident during the Feast of Tabernacles was a major factor leading up to the Judean Civil War.{{sfn|Kaiser|1998|p=482}}

=== War with Demetrius III and conclusion of the Civil War ===
[[File:WillemSwiddeAlexanderJannaeus.jpg|thumb|Alexander Jannaeus feasting during the crucifixion of the Pharisees, engraving by [[Willem Swidde]], 17th century]]

After Jannaeus succeeded early in the war, the rebels asked for Seleucid assistance. Judean insurgents joined forces with [[Demetrius III Eucaerus]] to fight against Jannaeus. Alexander had gathered six thousand two hundred mercenaries and twenty thousand Jews for battle. Demetrius had forty thousand soldiers and three thousand horses. There were attempts from both sides to persuade each other to abandon positions, but were unsuccessful. The Seleucid forces defeated Jannaeus at [[Shechem]], and all of Alexander's mercenaries were killed in battle.{{sfn|Whiston|1895|p=332}}

This defeat forced Alexander to take refuge in the mountains. In sympathy towards Jannaeus, six thousand Judean rebels ultimately returned to him. In fear of this news, Demetrius withdrew. War between Jannaeus and the rebels who returned to him continued. They fought until Alexander achieved victory. Most of the rebels died in battle, while the remaining rebels fled to the city of Bethoma until they were defeated.{{sfn|Whiston|1895|p=332}}

Jannaeus had brought the surviving rebels back to Jerusalem where he had eight hundred Jews, primarily Pharisees, crucified. Before their deaths, Alexander had the rebels' wives and children executed before their eyes as Jannaeus ate with his concubines. Alexander later returned the land he had seized in [[Moab]] and [[Gilead#Places|Galaaditis]] from the Nabataeans in order to have them end their support for the Jewish rebels. The remaining rebels who numbered eight thousand, fled by night in fear of Alexander. Afterward, all rebel hostility ceased and Alexander's reign continued undisturbed.{{sfn|Whiston|1895|p=332}}

=== Final campaigns ===
From 83 to 80 BCE, Alexander continued campaigning in the east. The Nabataean king [[Aretas III]] managed to defeat Alexander in battle. However, Alexander continued expanding the Hasmonean kingdom into [[Transjordan (region)|Transjordan]]. In [[Gaulanitis]], he captured the cities of [[Golan]], [[Seleucia Samulias|Seleucia]], and [[Gamla|Gamala]]. In [[Gilead#Places|Galaaditis]], the cities of [[Pella, Jordan|Pella]], [[Dium (Coele-Syria)|Dium]], and [[Jerash|Gerasa]]. Alexander had Pella destroyed because its inhabitants refused to [[Judaization|Judaize]].{{sfn|Whiston|1895|p=333}}

He is believed to have expanded and fortified the [[Hasmonean royal winter palaces|Hasmonean palace]] near [[Jericho]].{{sfn|Eshel|2008|p=75}}