empire ; with which he was so much delighted that he readily
granted to the Jews the boon of retaining the laws of their Certain privi-
. . _ leges granted forefathers; he granted them also immunity from taxes every to the Jews,
seventh year, when they neither sow nor reap.1
The animated and highly-wrought picture of the Jewish
historian has been doubted, but Alexander was unlikely to
leave such an important city unnoticed in his rear; and from
his subsequent relations with the Jews, it may be inferred that
some understanding with them was established, either personally
or by one of his officers.
The only place southward of Jerusalem .which could impede Advance to
future operations was Gaza, a city commanding the high road
to Egypt, and then governed by Batis. Notwithstanding the
successes of Alexander, to which all other rulers seemed ready
to succumb, this faithful eunuch, with the assistance of a body
of Arabs whom he had engaged for this service, determined to
defend his post for Darius. A fortress situated between Phoenicia
and Egypt, and having a small port on the coast, at
the distance of a short league, was of vital consequence to
Alexander; but the difficulties to be overcome required all the
energies of this great commander. He had not to contend, as
recently, with an arm of the sea, and a powerful fleet, but the
extent of the city, and the unusual height of its walls, which
were raised on the crest of ground about sixty feet above the
plain,8 gave considerable strength to the place, independently of
its position; which, though not in the ocean, was in other
respects effectively an island. It is not surprising, therefore, its peculiar
that some of the engineers considered it impracticable to master p°s' °n’
such walls by force; but Alexander observed that the difficulties
were small compared with the importance of the undertaking
;s and he proceeded to give orders to commence what
proved almost the greatest achievement which he was ever
destined to accomplish.
On the southern side of the city a prodigious mound was
commenced, and as the surrounding desert denied the ordinary
1 Joseph. Ant., lib. X I., cap. iv., v., viii.
a Biblical Researches, &c., by E. Robinson, D.D., vol. I I ., pp. 374, 375.
3 Arrian, lib. I I ., cap. xxvi.