This king, who could not be at peace, spent his last days in fighting the Arabians, who were just beginning to be Judea's most dangerous neighbor. But he inherited from his Maccabean ancestors love of arms without inheriting their military genius. This meant much wanton waste of life and some reverses. How vain this purpose of spending blood and substance in extending his territorial sway and making it nominally Jewish by force of arms, while fomenting religious antagonism at home--always destructive of religion itself. He left an even bigger State than his father, John Hyrcanus. Judea now meant the whole seacoast (with the exception of Ascalon) from Mount Carmel to Egypt and reached far east of the Jordan. Queen Salome Alexandra. The throne went by will to Alexander Janneus' widow, who, it will be remembered, was also the widow of his elder brother, Aristobulus. Upon her eldest son, Hyrcanus, Queen Salome bestowed the high priesthood. Her sympathies, however, were entirely with the Pharisees. The exiles came back and political prisoners were released. The land enjoyed a pleasing contrast under her pious and gentle sway. All the Pharisaic ordinances, abolished by the late king, were reinstituted. Indeed, all religious interests were placed in their hands. It was a prosperous, peaceful reign, and was later looked back upon as a blessed day. In the stormy days that were to follow, it might well seem in retrospect, a golden age. [Illustration: COIN OF THE TIME OF ALEXANDRA.] The "Pairs." We have seen that the priesthood and Temple were no longer the religious centres around which the people rallied. The Jews had outgrown the age of priestism, although the splendid ritual of the sacrificial altar still continued. The religious guides and teachers were the scribes, learned in the Law, who for sometime had been presiding in couples. Hence they are called the "Pairs." The first of each pair held the office of _Nasi_, Prince or President of the Sanhedrin, and the second that of _Ab Beth Din_, Father of the Court or Vice-President. Here are their names with some of the most famous sayings attributed to them: _Jose ben Joezer_--Let thy house be a meeting place for the wise. Cover thyself with the dust of their feet and quench thy thirst with their words. _Jose ben Jochanan_--Let thy house be opened wide and let the needy be thy household. _Joshua ben Perachia_--Procure for thyself an instructor, possess thyself of a worthy associate, and judge every man in the scale of merit. _Mattai the Arbelite_--Associate not with the wicked and flatter not thyself that thou canst evade punishment. _Jehudah ben Tabbai_--Constitute not thyself dictator to the Judges. _Simon ben Shetach_--Be guarded in thy words; perchance from them men may learn to lie. _Shemaiah_--Love labor and hate pomp and suffer thyself to remain unknown to the head of the State.