Scopas's Campaign in Judea and Submission to Antiochus — Polybius, The Histories Book 16 (16.39.1–16.39.5), Greek & English

§16.39.1

μαρτυρεῖ τούτοις ἡμῶν τοῖς λόγοις Πολύβιος ὁ Μεγαλοπολίτης· ἐν γὰρ τῇ ἑξκαιδεκάτῃ τῶν ἱστοριῶν αὐτοῦ φησιν οὕτως· "ὁ δὲ τοῦ Πτολεμαίου στρατηγὸς Σκόπας ὁρμήσας εἰς τοὺς ἄνω τόπους κατεστρέψατο ἐν τῷ χειμῶνι τὸ Ἰουδαίων ἔθνος." —

Polybius of Megalopolis bears witness to these words of ours; for in the sixteenth book of his Histories he speaks as follows: “And Scopas, the general of Ptolemy, having set out for the upper regions, subdued the nation of the Jews during the winter.” —

§16.39.2

τῆς δὲ πολιορκίας ῥεμβώδους¹ γενομένης ὁ μὲν Σκόπας ἠδόξει καὶ διεβέβλητο νεανικῶς. — λέγει δὲ ἐν τῇ αὐτῇ βίβλῳ ὡς " τοῦ Σκόπα νικηθέντος ὑπʼ Ἀντιόχου τὴν μὲν Βατανέαν καὶ Σαμάρειαν καὶ Ἄβιλα καὶ Γάδαρα παρέλαβεν Ἀντίοχος·

But as the siege became prolonged and indecisive, Scopas fell into disrepute and was violently calumniated. — And he says in the same book that: “ when Scopas was defeated by Antiochus, Antiochus took possession of Batanea, Samaria, Abila, and Gadara.

§16.39.4

μετʼ ὀλίγον δὲ προσεχώρησαν αὐτῷ καὶ τῶν Ἰουδαίων οἱ περὶ τὸ ἱερὸν τὸ προσαγορευόμενον Ἱεροσόλυμα κατοικοῦντες.

And shortly after, those of the Jews who dwelt around the temple called Jerusalem also went over to him.

§16.39.5

ὑπὲρ οὗ² καὶ πλείω λέγειν ἔχοντες,³ καὶ μάλιστα περὶ τῆς γενομένης περὶ τὸ ἱερὸν ἐπιφανείας, εἰς ἕτερον καιρὸν ὑπερθησόμεθα τὴν διήγησιν."

concerning which temple, although we have more to say, and especially regarding the divine manifestation that occurred around it, we shall defer the narrative to another occasion.”

Syntax notes3 items

16.39.2ῥεμβώδους
The adjective ῥεμβώδης (literally "wandering" or "unstable") is used here to describe a siege (πολιορκία) that was indecisive, erratic, or dragging on without success.
16.39.5ὑπὲρ οὗ
The relative pronoun οὗ (genitive) takes the preceding neuter noun τὸ ἱερὸν ("the temple") as its antecedent. Together with the preposition ὑπέρ, it means "concerning which."
16.39.5ἔχοντες
The present participle ἔχοντες agrees with the unexpressed plural subject ("we") and, governing the infinitive λέγειν, means "having [the ability/means] to say." It is interpreted here with a concessive force ("although we have more to say").

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-10-09)

2026-10-09 Collated with the printed edition — source 1

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:16.39.1-16.39.5