Alexander the Great Meeting the High Priest of Jerusalem

When he was at the Siege of Tyre, Alexander the Great demanded the high priest of Jerusalem provide auxiliaries and provisions and pay to him the tribute which he had previously been paid to the Persians. The high priest answered that he had taken an oath to Darius and could not bear arms against him. Alexander angerly responded that after he had taken Tyre, he would attack Jerusalem and teach them to whom they should keep oaths. Josephus’ account follows:

Now Alexander, when he had taken Gaza, made haste to go up to Jerusalem. And Jaddus, the high Priest, when he heard that, was in an agony, and under terror...He therefore ordained, that the people should make supplications, and should join with him in offering sacrifice to God; whom he besought to protect that nation...Whereupon God warned him in a dream, which came upon him after he had offered sacrifice, that “He should take courage, and adorn the city, and open the gates; that the rest should appear in white garments; but that he and the priests should meet the king in the habits proper to their order, without the dread of any ill consequences; which the providence of God would prevent.” Upon which, when he arose from sleep, he greatly rejoiced, and declared to all, the warning he had received from God. According to which warning, in his dream, he acted entirely: And so waited for the coming of the king. And when he understood, that he was not far from the city, he went out in procession, with the priests, and the multitude of the citizens...Alexander, when he saw the multitude at a distance, in white garments; while the priests stood clothed with fine linen; and the high priest in purple and scarlet clothing, with his miter on his head, having the golden plate, whereon the name of GOD was engraved; he approached by himself, and adored that name, and first saluted the high priest. The Jews also did altogether, with one voice, salute Alexander, and encompass him about: Whereupon the Kings of Syria, and the Rest, were surprised at what Alexander had done...Parmenio alone went up to him, and asked him, how it came to pass, that when all others adored him, he should adore the high priest of the Jews? To whom he replied, “I did not adore him, but that God who has honored him with his high priesthood. For I saw this very person, in a dream, in this very habit, when I was in Dio of Macedonia: Who, when I was considering with myself how I might obtain the dominion of Asia, exhorted me to make no delay, but boldly to pass over the sea thither; for that he would conduct my army, and would give me the dominion over the Persians. Whence it is, that having seen no other in that habit, and now seeing this Person in it; and remembering that vision and exhortation which I had in my dream, I believe that I bring this Army under the divine conduct, and shall therewith conquer Darius, and destroy the power of the Persians: And that all things will succeed according to what is in my own mind.” And when he had said this to Parmenio, and had given the high priest his right Hand; the priests ran along by him, and he came into the city. And when he went up into the Temple, he offered sacrifice to God, according to the high priest’s direction; and magnificently treated both the high priest and the priests.