That is, Palestine (see on ch. 8:9). According to the view that the Romans are introduced in v. 14, the conquest of Palestine here described is believed to be that of Pompey, who, in 63 B.C., intervened in a dispute between the two brothers, Hyrcanus and Aristobulus, rivals to the throne of Judea. The defenders shut themselves behind the Temple defenses and for three months held out against the Romans. It was on this occasion that, according to Josephus (Antiquities xiv. 4. 4), Pompey lifted the veil and gazed upon the holy of holies, now empty, of course, for the ark had been hidden since the Exile (see on Jer. 37:10).