for the foresaid women that are not deuoured by the furie of war For they come vnto these women not fearing the companie of strangers amongst whom they li◅e yea this is an euident token of the priests integritie that euerie priest during the reuolution of two thousand yeers are registred togither with the names of their fathers and if any one doe erre or falsifie any of the things beforesaid he is then interdicted from the altar and from exercising any priestly function So that in the writings of such men all things must of necessitie be true and as they ought to be for that neither all men are permitted to write nor yet any dissonance and disagreement is found in their writings For such things as past in auncient times quite beyond the memorie of men were onely written by our Prophets who had the knowledge thereof by inspiration from God himselfe but other things of latter time are onely recorded by those who liued in the age wherein the things they writ of were done The bookes amongst vs containing the histories of all ages are neither infinit nor one repugnant to another for all our Chronicle is contained in two and twentie bookes to which bookes it is impietie to denie credit Fiue of these bookes were written by Moses comprehending Genealogies and the beginning of mankind and such notable euents as hapned euen from the beginning of the world vntill his death which is little lesse then three thousand yeeres After the death of Moses vntill the time wherein Artaxerxes liued who was king of the Persians and sonne to Xerxes the Prophets of our nation euerie one writ the historie of his time wherein he liued so that of these mens writings we haue thirteene bookes the foure other bookes which make vp the number alreadie mentioned are knowne to containe holy Hymnes dedicated vnto God and wholsome precepts for mans life and conuersation All things which from Artaxerxes vntill our time haue hapned are also set downe in writing yet the bookes wherein they are registred do not deserue so much credit as the former of auncient times for that there was no certaine successor of Prophets in this age Moreouer it is euident that to the former works we giue as great credite as to the things we our selues write and notwithstanding they haue been so long written yet in all that time no man durst presume either to alter or to blot out any thing therein contained For all Iewes euen from their cradle do beleeue these bookes to be sacred holy and diuine and therefore do giue all credite possible vnto them and so would willingly suffer death rather then to doe the contrarie Many captiues also of our nation haue alreadie been cruelly tormented and diuers waies put to death in open theaters only for that they would not cōmit any thing either in word or deed against their lawes nor violate the writings of their forefathers Now who amongst the Greekes did euer sustaine the like nay they are so farre from doing it that none can be found amongst them who would any losse in his goods or fortunes thereby to preserue all the writings of their nation from perdition and the reason hereof is that euerie one esteemeth the veritie of their Histories to depend vpon the will of the writer And this they do also of their most ancient Historiographers and not without cause for they euery day see men of their owne times writing Histories of matters past long before in former ages wherin neither themselues were present neither yet vouchsafe they to credit the writings of such as were then eye witnesses thereof yea some amongst them haue diuulged Histories of such things as of late befell our nation when themselues neuer haue beene in the place where such matters past as they did write of warre nor haue liued in any neighbour place vvhere they might haue probable report how matters past but onely making a few centones or broken newes they most impudently arrogate vnto therr patcht stuffe the name of a Historie I my selfe haue composed a most true Historie of those vvars and of enerie particuler thing there done as well I might hauing beene present in all those affaires For I was captaine of the Galileans amongst our nation so long as any resistance could be made againg the Romans and then it so fell out that I was taken by the Romans and being prisoner vnto Titus and Vespasian they caused me to be an eye witnesse of all things that past First in bonds and fetters afterward freed from them I was brought from Alexandria with Titus vvhen he went to the siege of Ierusalem So that nothing could then passe whereof I had not notice For beholding the Roman armie I committed to writing all things with all possible diligence My selfe also did onely manage all matters disclosed vnto the Romans by such as yeelded themselues for that I only did perfectly vnderstand them Lastly being at Rome and hauing now leasure all buisines being past I vsed the helpe of some for the puritie of the Greeke tongue and so I published a historie of all that had hapned in the foresaid wars which Historie of mine is so true that I feare not to call Vespasian and Titus Emperors in those wars to witnesse for them I first gaue a copie of that booke to them afterwards to many noble Romans who also were present in those warres I solde also many of them to our owne nation to such as vnderstood the greeke language amongst whom were Iulius Archilaus Herode the honest and the most worthie king Agrippa who all doe testifie that my historie containeth nothing but truth Who would not haue beene silent if in any thing either for ignorance or flatterie I had chaunged or omitted any particuler yet notwithstanding all this some ill disposed persons endeuour to discredit my historie as though they were disputing pro and contra amongst children in schooles being sometime on a sodaine too for a feined accusation and otherwise to feine a slaunderous and sodaine detraction neuer considering that he who promiseth other men a true relation of matters past must either be priuie vnto them by his owne knowledge as hauing beene present in the affaires or else haue that which he speaketh from other mens mouthes by report of them who know them both which I haue done For I gathered my other bookes of Antiquitie out of holy Scripture being my selfe a Priest and skilfull in our law and the historie of our wars I haue written my selfe being an agent in many matters therein contained and an eye witnesse of the rest so that nothing was said or done whereof I had not notice How then can any man excuse them from impudencie and malice who labour against me to proue my relation false They perhaps alledge that they haue read the commentarie containing the Emperours acts yet for all this they were not present in any action repugnant to that
had not such successe as he hoped for he came to Rome and brought Ionathas and the rest bound with him thinking that no more inquirie would be made of the false accusations inuented by himselfe But Vespasian suspecting the matter made diligent inquirie to know the truth and finding these crimes iniuriously imposed vpon those men at Titus intreatie he acquited them and punished Ionathas according to his desert who being first whipped was afterward burned aliue And Catullus at that time by reason of the mildnesse of the Emperours had nothing said vnto him but not long after he fell into a grieuous disease and was cruelly tormented not onely in bodie but also in mind For he was greatly terrified and still imagined to see the ghostes of them whom hee had so vniustly slaine readie to kill him so that hee cried out and not able to containe himselfe lept out of his bed as though hee had beene tortured with torments and fire And this disease dayly increasing on his guts and bowels rotting and issuing out of him at last he died in this manner leauing behind him an euident argument that the diuine iustice doth punish impious malefactors And this is the end of the Historie which we promised to bee set downe with all fidelitie for them that are desirous to know the euent of the warres betweene the Iewes and the Romanes And as for our stile we leaue it to the iudgement of the Reader but touching the veritie of the Historie it is such as no man neede to doubt of for I doe affirme that to bee the onely scope which I aymed at in this whole worke The end of the seuenth and last Booke of Flauius Iosephus of the Warres of the Iewes THE FIRST BOOKE OF FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS THE SONNE OF MATTHIAS WRITTEN AGAINST APION AS TOVCHING THE ANTIQVITIE OF THE IEWES ISuppose O thou worthiest amongst worthie men Epaphroditus that I haue sufficiently testified vnto them who shall reade those bookes which I haue written as touching the autentique historie of the Iewes that our nation is most auncient and that they haue had their originall from themselues and haue from the first beginning inhabited that Countrie whereof they are now possessed at this present To which effect I haue gathered out of our sacred writings and published in the Greeke tongue a Historie containing the occurrences of fiue thousand yeeres And for that I see their are diuers who being too much addicted and seduced by the scandalous blasphemies and reports which some of those who are Iewdly affected towards vs haue published against vs haue misconceited and misbeleeued that which I haue written of our antiquitie and labour to approue our nation to bee moderne because none of the most auncient and most renowmed Historio graphers among the Grecians haue thought our auncestors worthie to bee enrowled in their writings I haue for these causes held it a part of my dutie to write som short treatise hereupon both to reproue the euill intent and affected lying of those our calumners as also to correct their ignorance by teaching those who are desirous to know the truth what the originall of our motion is For proofe whereof I will reduce no other testimonie then those who from antiquitie haue beene iudged worthie of credite among the Greekes laying open before their eyes that they who haue slaunderously and falsely written against vs are conuicted by their owne mouthes I will also enforce my selfe to expresse the causes wherein verie few Grecians haue made mention of vs in their Histories and moreouer I will make it knowne to those that are ignorant either in effect or in pretence who they haue beene that omitted not our Historie First of all therefore I doe not a little maruaile at those who in respect of antiquitie suppose that the truth ought onely to be gathered from the Greekes and that they iustly may claime the honour and knowledge of faithfull writing whereat they neither vouchsafe either vs or any others the credite or truth in that wee set downe although I am able to proue that all things haue fallen out quite contrarie For which cause it behoueth vs not to looke vnto mens various opinions but to examine that which is right and gather the same by the effects For all that whatsoeuer is set downe by the Greekes is new and of late memorie and hath beene brought to execution in a maner but yesterday I meane the foundations of Cities the inuentions of Arts and the descriptions of Lawes and the latest practise amongst them hath beene and is the diligent trauaile in Historie But among the Aegyptians Chaldeis and Phoenicians for I presume not to compare my countrimen with them as they themselues confesse the memorie of their writings is most ancient and infallible For all these nations dwell in such countries as are not subiect to the corruption of aire and haue carefully prouided that none of those things that haue been done by them should sleepe in obscuritie but should be kept in memorie in the publike writings of the learnedest men Whereas innumerable corruptions haue crept in among the Greeks by which the memorie of things forepassed is defaced But they alwaies who haue established new estates haue each of them supposed in their owne behalfe that whosoeuer was of theirs he was the first of the world Yet notwithstanding they haue had the knowledge of the nature of letters verie late and haue attained the same with verie great difficultie For they that speake of the most auncient vse of the same doe boast and glorifie themselues that they haue receiued the knowledge thereof from the Phoenicians and Cadmus Yet notwithstanding there is not any one of them that can shew any record of that time either in their temple or in their publike registers whereas after there arose a great doubt and question whether those letters were in vse during their time who sithence haue for the space of many yeeres continued the siege before Troy And in sooth their opinion who affirme that they were ignorant of the vse of those letters which are at this present allowed and accustomed amongst vs is not to be refused For it is most manifest that there is not any writing extant among the Greekes that is more auncient then Homers poesie which as it is most manifest hath bin in allowance and continuance since the time of the siege of Troy and yet it is reported that he left no part of that his poesie in writing which was composed of diuers songs and onely sung by roate by which meanes it came to passe that there are so many contradictions in the same And as touching those who haue vndertaken to write histories among them I meane Cadmus the Milesian and Acusilaus the Argiue and after him if there were any others they were not aliue but verie little time before the passage of the Persians into Greece Furthermore they who among the Greekes were the
no good-will vnto them by whom they were driuen out of their Countrie they had had some iust occasion so to doe But to vndertake warre against all the world and depriue themselues from all friendship and helpe of morâ—…all men doth not shew their â—…ottishnesse but the foolishnes of him who doth thus belie them Who most impudently affirmeth that their Citie tooke the name of Church spoyling and afterward changed it For what cause forsooth did they change the name thereof marry for that the former name was ignominious to their posteritie But the Gentleman vnderstood not that Ierusalem signifieth otherwise in our language then it doth in the Greeke And therfore what should I stand to inueigh against a lie so impudently told But my booke hath now beene long enough making a new beginning and therefore I will endeuour to finish the residue of this worke THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIE OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS AGAINST APION OF ALEXANDRIA AND DEDICATED TO EPAPHRODITVS THrice Honoured and beloued Epaphroditus I haue in my former bookes so farre forth as I was warranted by truth both protested and approued the Antiquitie of our nation out of the writings of the Phaenicians Chaldies and Egiptians and for the further confirmation thereof I haue produced the testimonie of diuers Greeke Authors Furthermore I haue opposed my selfe against Manethon and Cheremon and diuers others At this time likewise I will vndertake to contradict all the rest of those writers that haue published any thing against vs for in respect of Apion who pretendeth himselfe to bee learned I grow halfe suspicious whether it be a matter answerable to my discretion and iudgement to vouchsafe him any replie at all For as touching the one part of that which he hath written it seemeth to be one and the same with that which the rest haue written and as touching the other it is verie cold and barren The greater part thereof is farced with follies and detractions and betrayeth his ignorance approuing him to bee a man both loose in conditions and turbulent in his life And for as much as diuers men are so disfurnished of iudgement that they rather suffer themselues to bee wonne by these follies then to bee wearied and wrought by that which is written with better consideration vainely doating on detractions and growing discontent to giue eare to other mens well deserued praises I haue thought it necessarie to examine such a mans labours the rather for that he hath written against vs as if he intended to accuse vs before a Tribunal and conuict vs by a publike triall For I see that it is an ordinarie course for the most part of men to hug and take heartie pleasure when as hee that beginneth to blame an other man is himselfe conuicted and found guiltie of those defaults which he imputeth and obiecteth against another Truely it is no easie matter to lay open the ambiguous and doubtfull speeches which Apion vseth neither to vnderstand perfectly what he intendeth to expresse But like a man that is grieuously distracted and confused in his foolish lying he groweth almost to that point to recapitulate that which hath bene heretofore set out serched for as touching the departure of our forefathers out of Aegypt and afterwards he falleth to accuse the Iewes that inhabited Alexandria and thirdly he intermixeth his blameful blasphemies against the ceremonies accustomed in our temple and depraueth our lawes and ordinances likewise Now that our predecessors haue not taken their originall out of Aegypt neither haue beene driuen from thence for any infirmitie or deformitie of their bodies or for any wound vlcer or pollution I suppose that I haue not onely sufficiently approued the same but also produced far more then was requisite I wil therfore briefly report and repeat that which Apion alleageth For in the third booke of his Egyptian historie he writ thus Moses as I haue heard it spoken by the most auncient Egyptians was borne at Heliopolis who being instructed in the fashions of his Countrie conuerted such prayers which were wont to be said in open places and abroad and caused them to bee practised and accustomed in priuate Cloysters such as were within the Citie and ordained that in praying they should turne themselues towards the rising Sunne For such is the situation of the Citie Heliopolis and instead of Obelisques or Pyramides he erected certaine pillers vnder which there were certaine ingrauen Basens one which the shadow hapning to fall the place wherein they stood being discouered and in open ayre they obserued the same course that the Sunne doth in the firmament See here what eloquence this learned man vsed Now as touching this lie of his their need no words to refute the same since it is clearly refelled by the effects For when Moses built that first tabernacle in honour of God he had no such intent nor fashioned any such forme neither ordained his successours to do the like and after this when as Salomon builded the temple in Ierusalem he neuer thought of any such curiositie as Apion forgeth He saith that he hath been informed by those of antiquitie that Moses was a Heliopolitan for you must vnderstand that Apion himselfe was young and beleeued the relation of the aged sort of his acquaintance which conuersed familiarly with him yet cannot this learned Gramarian iustifie where Homer was borne neither from what countrey Pythagoras came although in respect they liued but yesterday and as touching Moses who liued so many ages and so great a number of yeeres before them he decideth the matter so easily and giueth credit to the reports of antiquitie so slightly that it appeareth most manifestly that he is but a liar As touching the time wherin he saith that Moses led awaie the blinde Leprous and lame this diligent author accordeth verie vvillingly with that which he himselfe hath said For Minethon saith that the Iewes departed out of Aegypt about the raigne of Tethmosis three hundreth ninetie six yeeres before Danaus fled out of Greece Lisimachus he saith that this thing hapned during king Bocchoris time that is to say one thousand and seuen hundreth yeers before that time Molon also and some others haue alleadged their opinions But Apion who pretendeth to be a man of more credit then the rest hath precisely and exactly set downe the time auerring that our departure was about the seuentâ—… Olimpiade nay more in the first yeere thereof wherein as he saith Carthage was builded by the Phoenicians Now hath he only and purposely made mention of Carthage in this place supposing it to be an infallible argument of the truth of his allegation yet conceiteth he not that he maketh a rodde for his owne taile and draweth an argument against himselfe by which himselfe may be conuinced For if we may giue credit to the Phoenician Croniclers as touching this Colonie it appeareth by them that king Hiram liued more then one hundreth and
flieth with his wife into Cilicia Epiphanes flieth to Vologesus the king of Parthia Antiochus taken The yeare of the world 4037. after Christs birth 75. Antiochus reconciled to Caesar. The Alans enter Media to spoile the same Armenia wasted The yeare of the world 4038. after Christs birth 76 The time among the Iewes which was most fruitful in all manner of impiety Iohn Giscala The yeere of the world 4038. after Christs birth 76. Simon sonne of Giora The Idumaeans The Zealous The end of the Iewes answerable to their liues Silua the captaine of the Romans besiegeth Massada The scituation of Massada The iourney by the rock called the Snake The top more fruitfull and fatter soile the the plaine Herods pallace The yeere of the world 4038. after Christs birth 76. A â—…ower to the Westside Great store of prouision in the Castle Fruit for a hundreth yeeres kept vncorrupt Herode suspecting a double perill builded this place for a refuge There was but one place about Massada to raise a mount to batter one The Citie battered with a large Ramme and by Siluas appointment Firebrands daâ—…â—…ed against the walâ—… The North wind diuerting the flame turneth it vpon the Romanâ—… The yeare of the world 4038. after Christs birth 76. Eleazars Oration to his companions Eleazar conteâ—… Gods wrâ—…t â—…o bee kâ—…led against tâ—…e people The punish 〈◊〉 â—…ese 〈◊〉 which 〈◊〉 â—…es â—…n 〈◊〉 attempâ—… agâ—…inst the â—…es 〈◊〉 graue 〈◊〉 â—…en lâ—… 〈◊〉 maintained Eleazars Oraâ—…n as touchâ—…g the immor talitie of the soule The yeare of the world 4038. after Christs birth 76. A soule tied in a mortal body The power of the soule Sleepe the argument of the immortalniâ—… of the soule The professors of wisedome among the indians burne themselues An exhortation to contemn death drawne from the time and place Example taken from the Iews that were staine in Caesâ—…a The Calamitie of the Iewes in Scithopoliâ—… The yeare of the world 4038. after Christs birth 76. Eighteen thousand Iews slain in Syria and threescore thousand in Aegypt The calamitie of those Iewes who were taken by the Romans Ierusalem the Metropolitane citie razed froÌ„ the foundations We are borne to die and the most strongest cannot auoid the same Eleazar telleth the Iewes of the Romans tyrannie It is a happines among the Iewes to die free The yeare of the world 4â—…38 after Christs birth 76. The Iewes gathering all their goods togither cast theÌ„ into the fire Ten chosen by lot to kill the rest of the Iewes The Romans expect the fight The Romans admire at the Iewes fortitude and obstinate contempt of death The murtherers authors of new calamitie The Iewes assemble and consult about the murtherers The yeere of the world 4038. after Christs birth 76. Diuers sorts of torments and tortures inflicted on them who reâ—…use Caesars soueraintie Onias by Ptoâ—…es consent buildeth a citie and temple in Egypt Onias temple built in Egypt Lupus shutteth the Iewes out of the temple The yeare of the world 4038. after Christs birth 76 A part of Ionathans companions were taken and slaine the rest kept captiue aliue and brought to Catullus Three thousand Iewes slaine by Catullus Ioseph by Catullus perswasion is accused by Ionathas Ionathas being first beaten is burnt aliue The conclusion of the seuen bookes of the warres of the Iewes The historie of the antiquitie containeth the euents of fiue thousand yeers The causes that moued him to write this book All things among the Greekes are moderne but such things as were done among the Egyp tians Chaldies and Phaenicians are of happie memorie and venerable antiquitie Innumerable corruptions inuaded Greece The Phoenicians and Cadmus the first inuentors of letters Among the Greekes there is not any writing more ancient then Homers poem Thucidides writ a most exact historie of his time The causes of discord among the Iewes Another cause of their discord recorded by the Graecian Historiographers The signe of a true historie A custome which the priests obserued The priests amongst the Iewes are euerie one registred with the name of their fathers and this custome hath continued 2000 yeers Two and twentie bookes of holy writ The Iewes and Greeks are compared together Some others haue written of the wars of the Iewes Ioseph was present in all the wars of the Iewes Ioseph did write the historie of the Iewes wars being at Rome Ioseph sold his bookes to many Some do derogate from Iosephs historie Two things which Ioseph entendeth The Iewes careto bring vp their â—…heildreÌ„ The ancient Iewes had no need to trafficke with the Graecians The Romans were lately knowne to the Greekes Certaine Historiographers report Spaine to be onely one citie Arguments to proue the Iewes of more antiquitie then the Greeks Manethon an Egyptian writer Saltis subdued the Egyptians Kings shepheards Sethosis king of Egypt made his brother Ar mais Gouernour of his Countrie Where upon Egypt tooke his name Manethon sheweth the Iewes comming into Egypt and their departure Salomon built a â—…emple in 〈◊〉 143. yeeres and eight months before the Tyrians builded Carthage The friendship of the Tyrian king and oâ—… king Salomon Problemes of Hiramus and Salomon The testimony of Menander the Ephesian The Genealogie of king Hiramus Carthage built in Affricke by Dido Pigmalions sister Berosus the Historiographer a Chaldean Nabulassarus father to Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon and Chaldea Nabuchodonosor conquered the rebels Nabuchodonosor succeedeth in his fathers kingdome Nabuchodonosor builded a pallace Semiramis did not build Babylon The king of Babylon excelled Hercules in strength and noble valorous deeds The wals of Babylon built of bricke and bytumen Cyrus expelled Nabodâ—…us from Babylon The testimony of the Phoenicians touching the Iewes Antiquitie Nabuchodonozor besieged Tyre The Chaldaeis and Tyrians agree with the Iewes historie Hermippus writings and testimony of Pythagoras Theophrastus Corban the gift of God Herodotus the Halicarnassian touching the Iewes circumcision Chaerilus an ancient Poet his testimonie of the Iewes Asphaltites the lake The testimony of Clearchus disciple of Aristotle touching the Iewes Hecataeus Abderita brought vp with king Alexander A thousand fiue hundreth priests receiue the Iewes tenths The Iewes constancy against Alexander The largnes of Iurie Fiftie stounds are almost sixe Germaine miles The Priests do dwell in the Temple and drink no wine Agatarchides his testimonie of the Iewes The Iewes Sabaoth Why certaine writers omit to speake of the Iewes The last part against certain detractions â—…aunders The cause of malice betweene the Egyptians and Iewes The Egyptians Idolatrie Manethon an Egyption Historiographer Manethons fabulous reports of the Egyptian Lepers Osarsiphus captâ—…ine of Auaâ—…is The warre of the banished against the Aegyptians The Aegyptian king fled into Aethiopia and was by the Aethiopian king courteously entertained Osarsiphus was afterwards called Moses Manethons lies are confuted Manethons words repeated A conâ—…utation of Manethons words alleadged The Epiloge that the Iewet came not of the Egyptians An answere vnto Manethous slanders touching
Aristobulus 3. Hyrcaâ—…us The race of Herod Antipater Herod the great Archelaus the great Agrippa the son of Agrippa The names of such as were high Priests from the time of their departure out of Egypt vntill the building of the temple which was made by Salomon Aaron Eleazâ—… Phinees Abiâ—…a Busqui Oses Heli Achitob Achimelech Ab aâ—… haâ—… Sadoc Achimaas Azarias From the building of the temple vntill the Captiuâ—…tie of Babylon Ioraâ—… Ioses Axioram Sudeas Ioathan Urias Nerias Odeas Sellum Helcias From their returne out of Babylon vntill the Machabees time Sarâ—…ia Iosedech Iosâ—… Ioacim Eliasib Eleazar Manasses Onias 2. Simon 2. Onias 3. Ioiada Ionathaâ—… Iadus Onias 1. Simon 1. Iason Onias 4. Lysimachus Alcimus High Priests since the Machabees time vntill the last destruction and ouerthrow of that Citie and nation Simon Bâ—…thus Ioseph 1. Ioseph 2. Ioazar Eleazar Iosuah the son of Sias Ioazar Aâ—…us 〈◊〉 Theophâ—… Sâ—… Mattathias Elion Ioseph 3. Ananias Ismael Ioseph Annas Eleazar Simon Ioseph Caiphas Ionathan Iosuah the son of Daâ—…eus Iosuah the son of Gâ—…liel Matthias Phinees or Paâ—…s Kingâ—… of Israel otherwise called kings of the ten tribes or of Samaria Ieroboam 1. Nadab Baasa Ela Zamri Amri Achab Ioram Iehu Ioachaâ—… Ioas Ieroboam 2. Zacharie Manahem Pecha the son of Manahem Pecha the son of Romelia Oseas Kings of Assyria and Babylon Phulhelechus Phulassar Salmanassar Sennacherib Assaradon Berodach Benmerodach Nabuchodonosor 1. Nabuchodonosor the great Euilmerodach Neriglossorar Labosardach Baltassar Kings of Persia. Cyrus Cambyses Smerdes Magus Darius the son of Hystaspis Zerxes the son of Darius Artabanus the tyrant Artaxerxes w t a long hand Zerxes Sogdianus Darius the bastard Artaxerxes Mnemoâ—… Artaxerxes Ochus Arsames Darius the son of Arsames Kings of Syria after the death of Alexander the great Seleucus Nicanor Antiochus Soter Antiochus surnamed God Seleucus Callinicus Seleucus Cerauâ—…s Antiochus the great Seleucus Philopator Antiochus Epiphanes Antiochus Eupator Demetrius Soter Alexander Epiphanes Demetrius Nicâ—…nor Antiochus Sedetes Demetrius Nicanor Alexander Zebina Antiochus Gryphus Antiochus Cyzicenâ—… Seleucus Gryphius Antiochus Pius The kings of Egypt after the death of Alexander the great Ptolomey Soter Philadelphus Euergetes Philopator Epiphanes Philometor Euergetes Phiscon Lathyrus Alexander Auletes Cleopatra Kings of the Tyrians Abibalus Hiram Belastartus Abdastartus Astartus Astarimus Phelletes Ithoballus Badezor Mettâ—… Pigmâ—…lion For the better vnderstanding of the Coines and measures whereof there is some mention made in this Historie obserue I pray you that which followeth Sath was a measure containing about some seuen pintes French The Epha contained three Saths The Core or Homer contained ten Ephas that is to say thirtie Saths and was the same measure both in drie and liquid things The Log contained a French pinte in measure The Hin contained twelue Logs The Bath contained as much as the Epha The Cad was a kinde of pitcher containing such a quantitie as a young maiden might well carrie The common Sicle contained the waight of foure ounces whether it were of gold siluer or of any other mettall The sacred or holy Sicle waied halfe an ounce of any mettall whatsoeuer The common Sicle of siluer was valued at about some shilling of our money The holy Siâ—…e of siluer was valued at about some two shâ—…llings The common Drachme was the eight part of an ounce The sacred Diachme was the fouâ—…th part of an ounce The Pound waied twelue ounces The ordinarie Taleâ—… contained fiftie foure pounds eight ounces and a quarter of Troy waight in any mettall yet was it not currant money but a masse made vp after the manner of an ingot The sacred Talent contained one hundreth pounds Furthermore note this for your better knowledge that when as Iosephus quoteth the Olympiades without any specification of the yeeres therein contained he orderly comprehendeth the space of foure yeers compleat Furthermore where the Latin word Stadium hath diuers Significations amongst both Greekes and Latins as the 〈◊〉 betweene Pâ—…ie and Diodorus Siculus may well testifie and for that diuers of our English translators haue somenmes called it a Stade other whiâ—…e a Stound and otherwhiles improperly a Fuâ—…long I pray you in reading this Historie wheras any of these words occurre suppose them for one and the same measure of ground and according to the Greekes account which I suppose Iosephus most respected in this Historie conclude it to be either of 600. foote as the Olympique that is of 120. paces or as the Pyrâ—…hique which contained 1000. foote that is 200. paces As for the furlong either multiply him 8. times to make him a Stade or as an ouersight in the printing let it passe with the Errata The names of those Authors which are alleadged in this Historie A Acusilaus Agatharcidâ—…s Alexander Andrew Apioâ—… Apollonius Molo Apollodorus Ariphanes Aristaeus Aristotle B Berosus C Cadmus Castor Chaeremon Chaerilus Clearcus Conon D Demetrius Phalereus Dius E Ephorus Euhemerus Eupolenâ—…us H Hecataeus Hellanicus Hermippus Hermogenes Herodotus Hesiodus Hestiaeus Hierâ—…m of Egypt Homer Hyâ—…rochides I Isidorâ—… L Titus Liuius Lysimachus M Manethon Menander Mnaseas Mochus N Nicholas of Damas. P Pherecydes Philon Philostratuâ—… Polybiâ—… Polycratet Posidonius Pythagoras S Strabo T Thales Theodotus Theophilus Theopompus Theophrastus Thucydides Timaeus Z Zopyrion Francis Patritius de Regno lib. 2. cap. 10. Historiarum cognitio Regibus Ducibus Imperatoribus et omnibus principibus perquam necessaria habenda est quam Cicero appellat testem temporum vitae Magistram veram memoriae et veritatis nunciam GEntle reader let it stand with thy patience I beseech thee to correct those errors that shall occurre in this historie as fauourablie as wee haue ouerslipt them vnwillinglie and count it no lesse virtue in thee to wincke at them with discretion as for mee to let them passe thorowe ouer-sight if thou doe this hope better for thy sufferance shall make me circumspect if not according to that in Plautus Quod dedi non datum vellem quod reliquum est non dabo Errata Fol. 4. line 3. for who read which f. 21. l. 14. for sâ—…aightes read straightes Ibidem l. 50. for Sara read Rebecca f. 37. l. 42. for thou read you f. coâ—… l. 45. for thou read you f. 134. l. 51. for deliuer them from those read deliuer those f. 261. l. 40. for Babylon read Ierusalem f. 274. l. 39. for be began read begâ—…n f. 279.l 38. for compassion read composition f. 299. l. 57 read for ould ould yeares ould yeares f. 361. l. 36. read for Iâ—…dea Iudaea f. â—…80 l. 40. for 15 read 50. f. 63â—… l. 1. for aide read warre THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE MOST AVNCIENT HISTORIE OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY IOSEPH THE SONNE OF MATTHIAS A most excellent Preface containing the causes which induced the Author to write this Historie together with the contents and intents of the same CHAP. I. THEY that indeuour themselues to write Histories seeme not in my opinion to haue one and the same intent and
encountred with a vision in which he wrastled with an apparition and hee became victor Now this vision spake vnto him exhorting him to reioice at that which had hapned vnto him assuring him that he had not atchieued an easie matter but that he had surmuonted an Angell of God which was a signe of great good which should befortune him and that his posteritie should be inuincible and that neuer man whatsoeuer he were should ouercome him commanding him to call his name Israel that is to say according to the Hebrewes a resister of an Angell These things were foretold vnto Iacob vpon his request who perceiuing also that hee was an Angel of God prayed him to informe him of that which should happen vnto him which the vision did and afterwards vanished Iacob tooke great pleasure thereat and called the place Phanuel that is to say the face of God and for that in w◅astling he had hurt his broad nerue he afterwards abstained from eating of the same and by reason thereof our nation doe neuer feede thereon Now when he had intelligence that his brother neerely approched him he commanded his wiues that they should march forward euery one with their handmaidens to the end that they might from a farre behold the fight of the men if so be that his brother should assaile them But himselfe he hūbled in reuerencing his brother who drew neere vnto him without intent of circumuention and Esau saluted him and enquired of him as touching the companies of women and children and after he vnderstood how all went he was desirous to lead them to his father But Iacob excused himselfe by reason of the wearines of his cattell and Esau retired to Sa◅r where he made his aboade and had imposed that name on that countrey by reason of his thicke haire Iacob also retired himselfe to a place which at this day also is called the Tents and from thence into Sichem a citie of the Chanaanites Now at such time as the Sichemites celebrated their feast Dina which was Iacobs only daughter went into the Citie to see the brauerie of the women of that countrey But Sichem the sonne of king Emmor rauished her and deflowred her and being surprised with her loue he besought his father that he might take her to wife who listning there unto went vnto Iacob praying him to ioine Dina his daughter in lawfull marriage with his sonne Sichem Iacob nor daring to contradict him by reason of his authoritie and qualitie and on the other side not thinking it to be either a thing lawfull or conuenient to match his daughter with a stranger required at his hands a time of deliberation to consult thereupon Hereon the king departed hoping that Iacob would listen to the mariage But Iacob hauing discouered vnto his sonnes the rauishment of their sister and the request of Emmor desired them to deliberate amongst themselues what thing was to be done ◅n the matter whereupon some held their peace not knowing what to say but Simeon and Leui the brothers of the same wombe with their sister complotted togither this practise In as much as it was a festiuall and that the Sichemites intended nought but pleasure and banquetting they issued by night vpon their first guards and killed them that were a bed and from thence entring into the Citie they killed all the males and with them the king and his son but to the women they offered no violence Which being executed without the knowledge of their father they brought their sister backe againe Iacob was verie much astonished at this accident so strangely executed and was wroth with his children but God appeared vnto him and comforted him and commanded him that he should purifie his tents and accomplish those sacrifices which he had vowed to performe at such time when first he went into Mesopotamia and the vision appeared vnto him Whilest then he cleansed those which followed him he found the Gods of Laban which beside his knowledge Rachel had stolne and hid them in Sichem in the earth vnder an Oake Afterwards departing from thence he sacrificed in Bethel where he had seene the vision at such time as he first of all tooke his iourney into Mesopotamia and as he trauailed in the land of Ephrata Rachel died in child-bed and was buried there and she onely hath not enioyed the honour which is done in Hebron to those of her parentage After he had made great lamentation he named the child which she bare at that time Beniamin by reason of the dolours which hapned vnto his mother These are all the children of Iacob twelue males and one daughter of whom eight were begotten on his lawfull wiues sixe of Lea and two of Rachel and on their chamber-maides foure two of each of them whose names I haue heretofore recorded From thence went Iacob to Hebron a Citie of Chanaan where Isaac made his aboade and they liued but a small time together because Rachel was dead and departed from him CHAP. XX. Isaac dieth and is buried in Hebron ISaac died a little time after the arriuall of his sonne and was buried with his wife by his sonne in Hebron among their fathers This Isaac was a man beloued of God and guided by his especiall prouidence After the decease of Abraham he liued a long time and after he had passed his life in all vertue for the space of 185. yeares he deceased THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 2. booke 1 How Esau and Iacob Isaacs sonnes deuided their habitations and how Idumaea fell to Esaus lot and Chanaan to Iacobs 2 How Ioseph the yongest of Iacobs sonnes by reason of his dreames which foretold his future felicitie incurred his brothers enuie 3 How Ioseph was sould by his brethren into Egypt and grew in great authoritie in that countrey and how at length he had his brothers vnder his power 4 How Iacob with all his progenie came vnto his sonne 5 Of the affliction of the Hebrewes in Egypt for the space of 400. yeares 6 How vnder the conduct of Moses they forsooke Egypt 7 How the redde sea diuided it selfe and gaue the Hebrewes a passage at such time as they fled out of Egypt CHAP. I. How Esau and Iacob Isaacs sonnes deuided their inheritance and how Idumaea fell to Esaues lot and Chanaan to Iacobs BVT when Isaac was dead the sonnes deuided their habitations among themselues and were neither of them content with that which they inherited by their father but Esau leauing the Citie of Hebron to his brother went and dwelt in Seir and was Lord of the countrey of Idumaea which he named by his name for it was surnamed Edom for the occasion which followeth He being verie yong returned one day sore wearied trauailed and hungrie from hunting and finding his brother dressing for himselfe a messe of lentill pottage which were verie red in colour and
neuer beene heard of amongst men they all of them during the whole night sung hymnes and songs of reioyce Moses likewise composed an Ode in Hexameter verse contayning the prayses of God and a thanksgiuing for the fauour he had done vnto them All these things haue I particularly declared according as I haue found them written in holy scriptures Neither ought any man to maruell at this so wonderfull a discourse that thorow the sea there should a passage be found to saue so manie persons in times past and they rude and simple whether it were done by the will of God or that it chaunced of it selfe since not long time agoe God so thinking it good the sea of Pamphilia deuided it selfe to giue way to Alexander King of Macedons souldiours hauing no other passage to destroy the empire of the Persians The next day the Aegyptians armes transported by the force of the streame were cast a shore into the armie of the Hebrewes which when Moses perceiued that it was done by the prouidence of God to the intent they might not be disarmed he gathered them together and furnished the Hebrewes therewith who afterwardes led them to the mountaine of Sinai to sacrifice vnto God and he offered him thankesgiuing for their deliuerance in the behalfe of the people according as he himselfe had before time commaunded him THE THIRD BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 3. booke 1 How Moses conducted the people out of Egypt to the mountaine of Sinai 2 Of the slaughter of the Amalechites and their confederates and of the pray which the Israelites attained thereby 3 Raguels counsaile vnto his sonne in law Moses 4 Moses ascending the mountaine of Sinai bringeth downe the Tables of the ten commaundements which he had receiued at Gods hands to the people 5 Of the Tabernacle made by Moses in the desart resembling a portable Temple 6 Of the Arke wherein Moses inclosed the Tables of the Law 7 Of the golden Table and Candlesticke and of the Altars of the Tabernacle 8 Of the apparrell both of the high Priests and the inferiors 9 Of Aarons Priesthood and of that which was ordained as touching the foastes and Sacrifices 10 The Lawes of Sacrifices and Purifications 11 The lawes and customes of warre 12 Sedition against Moses by reason of the want of victualles and the punishment of the seditious 13 Of the spies who hauing seene and searched the countrey of Chanaan and returning backe againe to the Israelites amated them with feare CHAP. I. How Moses conducted the people out of Egypt to the Mountaine of Sinai THis new and vnexpected deliuerance of the Hebrewes from their daunger was not alittle obscured by the wearines and tediousnes of their iourney which they indured in their trauell towards the mountaine of Sinai by reason that the countrey was desart and inhabitable destitute of victuals and wholy depriued of waters and not onely barren of that which serued for the sustenance of men but also euery waies destitute of pasturage and prouision for cattell for it was not onely drie and vtterly destitute of water but also depriued of all meanes to nourish and increase fruit Now they were inforced to prosecute their way thorow this countrey by reason they could not otherwise chuse so that they were constrained to beare with them the water which they had drawne before such time as they entered the desart according as their Captaine and Conductor had commaunded â—…hem which being spent they digged pits out of which they drew water with great difficultie by reason of the sterilitie of the countrey and further the water which they found in those places was bitter and no waies fit to drinke and that which was worse very little in quantitie Trauailing onwards of their iourney after this manner they arriued about the euening in a certaine place which by reason the waters thereabout were brackish they called Mara that is to say bittemesse there wearied with their trauell and their prouision failing them they began to be trauailed with necessitie so that they resolued to stay in that place and the rather in that they found a certaine pit there which although it were insufficient to satisfie so great an army yet for that they found it in that countrey it yeelded them no little consolation For they were giuen to vnderstand that if they trauelled onwards they should find no water and as touching the water of that pit it was so bitter and vnfit for their drinking that it neyther was agreeable with mens taste nor supportable by their verie cattell likewise Whereupon Moses seeing them so discomforted neither knowing in what sort to satisfie them in that he had not to deale with an opposite armie or enemy to the end to inforce and to repell them with valor and for that he manifestly perceiued that not onely a troupe of valiant men but also a multitude of women and children were like to perish he was verie sore perplexed not knowing what to doe and on himselfe he heaped the calamitie of them all as if himselfe onely were to beare the heauie burthen of their misery For all of them had their recourse vnto him and to no man else the women besought for their children the husbands intreated for their wiues beseeching him to take compassion of their desolations and to furnish them with some meanes to escape their miserie He addressed himselfe therefore in most humble manner to beseech almightie God that it might please him to conuert the euill qualitie of the water and to make it potable which grace and fauour he no sooner obtained but he tooke the end of his staffe and cast it at his feete and afterwards brake it in the midst and cleft it long-waies and cast it into the pit giuing the Hebrewes to vnderstand that God had heard their prayers and that he had promised them to giue them that water they desired if so be they would obey him and with alacritie and diligence performe that which should be commanded them And when they were inquisitiue of that which they ought to do to the intent the water might be changed he enioyned euerie one of them that was of best strength and abilitie amongst them to draw water giuing them to vnderstand that so soone as they had drawne out great store of water from the pit the rest that should remaine would be verie good and conuenient to be drunke wherein they trauelled in such sort that the water agitated and purified by often drawing became potable and refected the wearie multitude Hereupon dislodging from that place they came to Helim a countrey that a farre off seemed verie pleasant by reason that it was planted with Palme trees but the neerer they approched it the more tedious they found it for there were no more then seuentie palme trees in that place and they not verie tall or well growne by reason of the
them in the conquest of the countrey and that neyther the greatnes of the mountaines nor the depth of the riuers could hinder them that like valiant men were prepared to attempt especially God being their guide and readie to fight for them in that battell March forward therefore said they and laying aside all feare and being assured of the diuine succors follow vs with a bold courage whither soeuer we lead you With these words laboured they to appease the insulting multitude In the meane while Moses and Aaron falling prostrate on their faces besought God not for their owne safetie but that it would please him to restore the despairing multitude to a better mind who were troubled with so many present and instant necessities Whereupon sodainly a cloud appeared on the Tabernacle and gaue testimonie that God was there present which when Moses perceiued drawing his spirits vnto him he pressed into the presence of the multitude and told them how God was incited and whetted to take punishment of the outrage which they had committed against him yet not so seuerely as the iniquitie of their sinnes deserued but in that discipline which fathers are accustomed to vse for the instruction of their children For at such time as he stood before God in the Tabernacle and besought him with teares for the safetie of the multitude God had recounted vnto him how many benefits and fauours they had receiued from him and how vngratefull they shewed themselues towards him and that at the present being transported with the feare of the spies they had esteemed their reports more true then his promises Notwithstanding all which that he would not vtterly consume them all nor exterminate their whole race whom he had honoured aboue all the nations of the earth but that he would not grant them the grace to conquer the land of Chanaan neyther make them partakers thereof but would bring to passe that they should liue in the desart without house or Citie for the space of fortie yeares for punishment of their transgression Yet hath he promised said he to giue the countrey to your successors whom he will make Lords of their goods and heires of those possessions which you haue enuied your selues After that Moses had discoursed these things after this manner according to the ordinance of God the people were in great sorrow and calamitie and besought Moses that he would appease Gods wrath conceiued against them beseeching him that forgetting their faults that were past in the desart he would make them Lords of their enemies Cities Moses answered them that God was not incited against thē according to the maner of humane weaknes but that he had giuen a iust sentence against them In this place it is not to be supposed that Moses who was but a man onely did appease so many multitudes of displeased men but that God assisted him and brought to passe that the people were conquered with his words hauing by diuers disobediences and by the calamities whereinto they were fallen knowne that obedience was both good and commendable Furthermore for that Moses was admirable for his vertue and the force proceeding from his faith of whom not onely they haue spoken who liued in his time but euen at this day there is not any one amongst the Hebrewes who as if Moses were now here present to chastice him if he ran astray would not obey the ordinances made by him although he might make breach of them in secret There are besides diuers great and euident signes of the more then humane vertue which was in him and amongst the rest this was not the least that certaine straungers trauailing out of the Regions beyond Euphrates a foure months iourney to their great charges and with no lesse perill to honour our Temple and offer sacrifice yet could they not obtaine licence or permission to offer in that by our lawes it was not lawfull for them to doe it and some other without sacrificing other some the sacrifice halfe finished the rest not permitted to enter the Temple haue returned backe againe to their owne homes without finishing their purposes chosing rather to obey Moses law then their owne vvils yet being reproued therein by none but their owne consciences So much did the opinion once conceiued of this man preuaile that he is esteemed more then a man who is supposed to haue receiued lawes from God and to haue deliuered them to men Of late also not long before the warres of the Iewes during the Empire of Claudius and Ismael being high priest amongst vs when as so great a famine oppressed our nation that an Assar was sold for foure drams and there was brought to the feasts of Azymes the quantitie of seuentie Cores which make thirtie Sicilian and fortie Athenian Medin ni which are two bushels of ours almost some of the priests were not so bold as to eate one graine of Barley notwithstanding the countrey was in that extremitie fearing the law and Gods displeasure extended alwaies against sinnes concealed For which cause vve ought not to wonder at that which happened at that time considering that the writings left by Moses are in such force euen at this day that they themselues who hate vs confesse that he that hath instituted our gouernment is God by the meanes and ministerie of Moses and his vertue But of these things let euery man thinke as it pleaseth him THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 4 booke 1 The fight of the Hebrewes with the Chanaanites and their ouerthrow by them without Moses knowledge 2 The sedition raysed by Chore against Moses and his brother for the Priesthood 3 How the authors of the sedition were slaine by Gods iudgement and the Priesthood confirmed to Aaron and his sonnes 4 What chanced to the Hebrewes in the desart for the space of 38. yeares 5 How Moses ouercame Schon and Og Kings of the Amorites and ouerthrewe their armies 6 Of the prophet Balaam 7 The victorie of the Hebrewes against the Madianites and how the countrey of the Amorites was granted by Moses to two and a halfe of the Tribes 8 Moses lawes and how he was taken out of the world CHAP. I. The fight of the Hebrewes with the Chanaanites and their ouerthrow by them without Moses knowledge WHilest thus the Hebrewes passed their life in great penurie and perplexitie in the desart groning vnder the burthen of their grieuous afflictions there was nothing that more distracted and distempered them than this that God had forbidden them to hazard or enter battell against the Chanaanites neither would they now any longer giue eare vnto Moses who perswaded them to peace but waxed confident in themselues that both without his conduct and counsails they might easily obtaine victorie ouer their enemies and accused him likewise as if he sought after no other thing but that they being daily
the enemie Which I speake not therefore vnto you to vpbâ—…aid you therewith for I would not leaue you afflicted with the remembrance hereof at the houre of my death who euen at that time entertained the iniurie with a quiet mind but to the end that being by mee admonished you should henceforward bee wiser in those things which hereafter shall concerne you and least you should grow contumelious against your gouernours being made proude with the affluence of your riches which you shall enioy at such time as you haue ouerpassed Iordan and conquered Chanaan Otherwise if made more insolent by these blessings you fall into contumacie and contempt of vertue Gods fauour will neuer bee extended towards you whom if by your sinnes you shall incense against your selues you shall both lose the land which you haue conquered by your courage by being shamefully oppressed by your enemies and beeing dispersed ouer the face of the whole earth you shall fill both the land and sea with your seruitude which if it should come to passe then were it too late to repent you that you haue not obserued the lawes of your nation Wherefore to the intent to auoid this danger and for feare you violate the same suffer not any of your enemies after your victorie is once gotten to liue and think it more conducible for your affaires for feare least liuing with them and entangled in the like studies delights you corrupt and depraue your countrie lawes and institutions Moreouer I command you to destroy their woods their altars and temples as many soeuer as you shall meet with and so to race them both with fire and flame as there may not remaine anie token or memorie of them anie more For so shall you more safely maintaine your estates But least through ignorance of better things your nature be depraued by the worser by Gods commandement I haue written you lawes and a forme of administration both of the common weale and your priuate estates from which if you shall no wayes diuert or wander you shall proue the most fortunate people of the earth When he had spoken these things he deliuered them a booke containing in writing their lawes and customes of good life which when they had heard and receiued they melted in teares and now lamented they both for the losse of their Captaine as also for that they remembred them how many perils he had suffered and how diligently he had procured their safetie and securitie they grew carefull of the time to come for that they were not like to recouer so good a Prince and they suspected likewise that God would not hereafter be so fauourable vnto them in that they had not a Moses to pray for them Besides they repented them of those things which through furie they committed against him in the desart and were grieuously sorie so that all the people breaking out into teares would admit no consolation But Moses recomforted them and prayed them to giue ouer weeping encouraged them to receiue their lawes and so for this time dissolued the assembly But now before I addresse my self to manifest the rest I haue thought it meete to insert in this place the lawes of this lawgiuer worthy both his maiestie and vertue whereby the Reader may know what our lawes haue beene euen from the first time and institution of our common weale For all those things are extant which this man wrote for that wee neede not faine or affixe anie thing in way of ornament we haue onely renewed the order and those lawes which he scatteringly set downe according as he receiued them from God we haue generally digested into their places whereof I thought good to admonish the Reader for feare least herafter anie of our Tribes comming to the view hereof should rashly accuse me for that I had not scarce faithfully deliuered the writings institutions of Moses Now will I reckon vp those lawes in especiall which appertaine to the publike institution and rites of our Nation but those things that concerne priuate customes and contracts either betwixt our selues or forraine nations I haue deferred to bee discoursed of in that commentarie wherein by Gods assistance I intend to debate of our maners and method in sacred causes After that you haue gotten the land of Canaan built your cities and haue begun in securitie to reape the fruit thereof in obseruation of these commandements you shall gratifie God highly and establish your atchieued felicitie Let there be one sacred citie in the region of Canaan situate in a famous fertile place which God shal make choise of for himself and his Prophets In the same let there be one onely Temple built and one Altar erected of rough and vnpolished stones such as are gathered here and there which shall be conueniently placed and finished with decencie as touching the outward ornament and let not the ascent of the same be made by degrees but let the earth be easily and fitly raised But in anie other Citie let there neither be Altar nor Temple for God is one and the Hebrew nation is one Whosoeuer shall blaspheme God let him be stoned to death and hanged for a day and bee afterwards ignominiously and obscurely buried Let all the Hebrewes from their seuerall prouinces assemble themselues thrise in the yeare in the sacred Citie and Temple that they may giue thankes vnto God for the benefites they haue receiued and that they may by their prayers demerit his graces in future time and that by their conuersation and mutuall entertainments they may increase their beneuolence and loue the one towards the other For it is behoouefull that they should know one another who are of the same stocke and are delighted in the same studies And this very fitly falleth out by their meetings after this kind of maner whilest both the countenance and discourse as yet taketh deepe roote in mens minds as contrariwise they that neuer meet it behooueth them to be strangers the one vnto the other Besides let the tenth part of the fruits besides them that are due to the Priests and Leuites which you are accustomed to sell in your markets being reduced into readie money be spent on sacrifices and banquets in the sacred Citie For it is requisite to celebrate feasts in Gods honour of the fruits of the earth which we haue receiued from his hands Let no sacrifice be made of the hire of an harlot for neither doth any thing delight God which is annexed with iniurie neither is there greater vncleannes then the shamefull and vnlawfull mixture of our bodies Likewise if any man take reward for couering a bitch whether she be for the chase or for the flocke it is not lawfull to make sacrifice vnto God thereof Let no man speake ill of those gods which other countries and Cities suppose to be gods Let no man spoile any straunge Temple nor take that which is dedicated
him whom you your selues haue chosen surpassing all the rest in valour For whereas there are diuers commanders it falleth out that that which ought necessarily and readily to be executed is hindered and commonly the issue is vnfortunate where there are diuers commanders Let your army be generally leuied of men that are strong in body and hardie in courage and sequester from your armie him that is fearefull least such men hapning to flie when they ought to fight do giue your enemies the aduantage Let them also be free from warre who hauing built them a new house haue not enioyed the same for a yeares space as also he that hath planted a vineyard and hath not gathered the fruit thereof and besides these he that hath wedded a wife and hath not as yet brought her home to his house least being transported with the desire of these things and reseruing themselues to their forsaken pleasures in the behalfe of their wiues they fight but faintly and coldly But when you haue brought your army into the field take heed you commit no outrage and when you shall assault any Cities if you fortune to haue any need of matter to make engins of grub not the land neither see you cut downe the fruitfull trees but spare them remembring you that they are planted for the good of men and that if they could speake they would accuse you alledging that without cause of warre they are ill intreated against all right and that if they had the power to depart from thence they would dislodge and remoue into another countrey But when the battell is ended and the day is yours kill all those enemies that resisted you in the skirmish the rest reserue as your tributaries except the people of the land of Chanaan for they with all their families are to be ruinated Beware also but especially in warre that neither a woman vse a mans apparrell neither a man a womans raiment These are the lawes which Moses left He gaue them likewise certaine institutions which he had written fortie yeares before that time whereof we will speake in an other treatise Some few daies after for he assembled the people sixe daies one after the other he gaue them his blessing and pronounced his maledictions against those which should not liue according to his lawes but should transgresse the determinations thereof He red also vnto them a Poeme of sixe measures which he had enregistred in the holy booke contayning a prediction of things to come according to which all things haue and doe fall out without varying any waies from the truth and veritie These volumes and the Arke gaue he vnto the Priests in which he also placed the ten commaundements written in the two tables He committed also vnto them the custodie of the Tabernacle He likewise exhorted the people that at such time as by force they had conquered the promised countrey and were planted therein they should not forget the iniurie which the Amalechites had done vnto them but that they should lead forth their army against them and take vengeance of the wrongs they had done them at such time as they were in the desart And commaunded them that as soone as they had taken the countrey of Chanaan they should exterminate and extinguish all the people He willed them also to erect an Altar toward the rising of the sunne not farre from the citie of Sichem betweene two mountaines the one Garizim on the right hand and the other called Gebal on the left and that distributing the people into two parts sixe tribes in euery part they should plant them on the mountaines And he commaunded that the Leuites and Priests should be with them to the intent that they first of all that were vpon the mountaine of Garizim should beseech God that he would multiply his blessings vpon them that should be zealous of his seruice and carefull of the conseruation of his lawes without diuerting from that which Moses had commaunded The sixe other also were appointed to answere the like and when as likewise these six last had praied the sixe first were to answere them and confirme that which they had pronounced This done they pronounced maledictions against the transgressors each one answering other in ratification of that which had beene spoken He reduced also vnder writing these blessings and curses to the intent that the memorie thereof might neuer be suppressed or extinguished by time which he also being neere vnto his death caused to be written in the Altar on the one side thereof in that part which extended it selfe toward the place where the people stood at such time as they sacrificed and offered burnt offerings Since which day there were no more sacrafices offered in that place because it was contrarie to law Thus did Moses establish and these the Hebrewe nation obserue continually and vnuiolably euen vnto this day On the next morrow he reassembled all the people themselues their wiues and children he likewise commaunded that the slaues should be there present binding them by an oth that they should maintaine keepe the lawes and that diligently tying themselues to the will of God they should not so much esteeme either their kinred or meanes of perils or any other cause whatsoeuer as that thereby they should be driuen to neglect their lawes or depart from the ordinances thereof but whether it were any one of their kinred or any Citie whatsoeuer that would seeke to alter and disturbe the same or striue to weaken the estate thereof that both in particular and in publike they should expose themselues and endeuour to punish them and if they should fortune to take such a Citie that they should race and vtterly deface the same and if it were possible not to leaue one stone vpon another but to destroy the foundation But if they were too feeble to take such a reuenge yet that they should make it knowen that they were not consenting to their impietie Hereunto the whole people subscribed and sealed it with an oth He afterwards told them how the people should know when the sacrifice were agreeable vnto God and how they ought to march out to battell taking a signe of the stones of which I haue forespoken Iosuah likewise during the life and in the presence of Moses foreprophecied whatsoeuer he intended to performe for the profit of the people either abroad in the administration of warre or home in prescribing lawes and preparing them to an order of life which was newly prescribed them he told them that by instructions from God he foreprophecied that if they violated their countrey religion they should not escape their destruction for that both their country should be filled with forraine armes and their Cities sackt and their Temple burnt that they themselues should be sold vnder the speare that they should serue a nation which would not be moued or touched with commiseration of their afflictions and miseries and that
at length they should too lately and vnprofitably repent them of their errour yet that God their establisher should restore Cities to the Citizens and a Temple to his people And that it should come to passe that they should not lose this only one time but also very many times Then did Moses also exhort Iesus that he should lead his army against the Chanaanits promising him that God would be assistant in his actions prophecying besides much good hap vnto the people Since that saith he I go vnto mine ancestors and that God hath prefixed this day and time of my departure I protest before you that liuing as yet and standing in your presence I giue him thanks for the care and prouidence which he hath hitherto had of your affaires not onely in propulsing your aduersaries but also in largely imparting his blessings vnto you and for that he hath alwaies fauourably helpt me whilst I indeuoured by my labour and care to reduce your fortunes to a better state And that which is more it is he that hath giuen both the entrance and the issue making vse of me but as his committee and seruant in all that good which he would should be done vnto his people For all which things I haue thought it requisite that in departing from you I should blesse the power of God who in time to come shall haue the care and charge of you And to acquit my selfe of that debt I leaue you this in remembrance which is that you ought to serue and honour him and reuerence the ordinances which he hath giuen you whereby continuing his fauours towards you he will grant you grace to conserue and keepe this excellent gift Truly that law-maker that were no more then a man would be greatly displeased and highly discontented with those men who should violate his ordinances and should set them at noughts doe not you therefore tempt God who is prouoked vnto anger when those lawes which he himselfe hath established and giuen you shall be contemned and neglected Whilest Moses pronounced these his last words and discoursed vnto the tribes their seuerall destinies the whole multitude brake into teares and the women beating their breasts shewed and expressed the sorrow they had conceiued at his death The children likewise lamented making it knowne that they could not be masters of their owne sorrow because that in their tender yeares they had vnderstood the vertue and famous acts of Moses and betwixt the elder and younger sort there was as it were a conflict who should weepe more bitterly for the one vnderstanding of how worthie a gouernour they were depriued lamented the time to come and the other were perplexed because they should then forsake him before they had sufficiently tasted and made triall how great his vertue was But how great the compassion and complaint of the people was a man may make coniecture by this that then befell the Prophet For although he were assuredly perswaded that a man was not to lament vpon the instant of his death in that it chanced vnto him both according to the will of God and the law of nature yet he beholding the affection of the people could not temperate and restraine himselfe from teares And whilest he was borne thither where he vanished out of their sight all of them followed him wetting their faces and bosomes with flowing teares Then did Moses beckening with his hand warne them from a farre off that they should stand stil and keep their places exhorted them that were neerest him by word of mouth that they should not follow nor prosecute him any further with teares for feare least they should make his departure tragicall and lamentable Onely the Senate led him forth and Eleazar the high Priest and the chiefetaine Iesus And when he was arriued vpon the mountaine called Abarim which is verie hie and scituate neere vnto Iericho and from whence he might discouer the greater part of the land of Chanaan he dismissed the elders and whilest with mutuall embraces he tooke his last leaue of Eleazar and Iesus and discoursed with them a cloud sodainly enuironed him and he was taken away into a certaine valley but in the scripture he writeth that he died fearing least for the excellencie of his vertue they might report that he was rauished and taken away by God The whole time of his life was one hundreth and twentie yeares the third part whereof he spent in gouernment one month onely exempted He died the last month of the yeare the first day of that month which the Macedonians call Dystrus and our countrimen Adar Of all men the wisest that euer was and who in execution of his good counsels had no man to equall him Moreouer in eloquence he was incomparable and in dexteritie and grace to intertaine and perswade the people he had no second and so were his affections alwaies leuelled and limited by his wisedome that he seemed vtterly to want them and that onely he knew the names of those passions which he perceiued to be too actiue in other men In his gouernment he was matchlesse in his prophecies peerlesse so that all the orations that he made seemed to be Oracles For which cause the whole multitude mourned for him during the terme of thirtie daies neither were the Hebrewes euer seased with so extreme griefe as they were at that time when the Prophet died neither did he onely leaue behind him a present desire of him but a great estimation amongst all men who haue euer chanced to read and examine his writings whilst by them they make estimate of his vertues And these are those things which I thought good to be spoken of the death of Moses THE FIFTH BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 5. booke 1 How Iesus Generall of the Hebrewes hauing ouercome and slaine the Chanaanites deuided their land amongst the Tribes by Lot 2 How after the death of the Generall the Israelites neglecting the ordinances of their forefathers fell into extreme calamities and thorow a ciuill warre that was raised amongst them there were but 300. of the tribe of Beniamin left aliue 3 How for their impietie the people of Israel were deliuered by God into captiuitie under the Assyrians 4 Their libertie by Cenizus 5 How the people once more were ouercome by the Moabites and exempt from seruitude by Iodes otherwise called Ehud 6 How they were brought vnder the subiection of the Chanaanites and restored to their libertie by Barac 7 How the Amalechites hauing entred the countrey of the Israelites and conquered them possessed and spoyled the same for the space of seuen yeares 8 How Gedeon deliuered the people 9 How some successors of Gedeon waged warre against the neighbour nations round about them 10 Of Sampsons strength and what mischiefes he did in Palestine 11 How the sonnes of Eli the Prophet were slaine in battell by
fall vpon the Israelites that there is not any tongue that may expresse the same or man that may beleeue it The sonnes of Eli shall die and the Priesthood shall be transported into the family of Eleazar For Eli hath more loued his children then my seruice and more then was expedient for them Eli inforced the Prophet by imprecations to declare vnto him that which he had heard But Samuel for feare he should discomfort him would not disclose the same vnto him which made him the more assured of the intended and imminent death of his sonnes And because that which Samuel prophecied in effect proued true his reputation increased daily more and more In that time the Philistines leading out their armie against the Israelites incamped neere vnto the Citie of Amphec and for that the Hebrewes were negligent to withstand them they passed further into the countries thereabout so that in fighting with their enemies the Philistines at last got the vpper hand and slew the Hebrewes and had them in chace for the space of foure miles pursuing the rest of those that fled euen vnto their owne tents Whereupon the Hebrewes grew iealous and affraid of their whole estate and therefore sent they to the councell of the Elders and the high Priest praying them to bring the Arke of God with them to the end that hauing it in presence with them they might strike the battell and ouercome their enemies But they bethought them not that he that had pronounced the sentence of their calamitie against them was greater then the Arke which was made for him The Arke then was brought and the sonnes of Eli attended it whom their father had expresly commaunded that if it so fell out that the Arke were taken they should neuer more come before his presence except they would die Now Phinees executed the office of the high Priest by the permission of his father by reason he was verie aged The Hebrewes because of the presence of the Arke conceiued very great hope and assurance that they should haue the vpper hand of their enemies The Philistines likewise were sore amazed fearing the presence of the same but the issues were not answerable according to the one or the others expectation For when they ioyned battell the victorie which the Hebrewes hoped should be theirs fell vnto the Philistines the losse which the Philistines feared fell vpon the Hebrewes who at last perceiued that they had reposed their confidence on the Arke all in vaine For as soone as their enemies and they fought pell mell with them they turned their backs and lost about thirtie thousand men amongst whom the sonnes of the high Priest were slaine and the Arke was taken and carried away by the enemie CHAP. XII Eli vnderstanding of the losse of his sonnes fell from his seate and died AS soone as the newes of this ouerthrow was brought into Silo and that it was certainly knowne that the Arke was taken for a young Beniamite who was at the execution was come to bring tidings thereof all the Citie was filled with sorrow and Eli the high Priest who sate in one of the gates on a high throne vnderstanding the lamentation and iudging that some desaster had befallen his people sent to seeke out this young messenger by whom he was aduertised of that which had hapned This accident of his sonnes and the army he bare with great moderation because that before that time he had vnderstood by God what should happen for those aduersities which are least suspected do more grieuously oppresse vs at such time as they happen But when he knew that the Arke was surprised and in the enemies hands by reason that it hapned beyond his expectation he was in such sort attainted with griefe that he suffered himselfe to fall from his throne vpon the ground where he died he liued ninetie and eight yeares in all and had spent fortie of them in the gouernment of the people The same day died the wife of Phinees the sonne of Eli who had no more power to liue when she vnderstood of the misfortune of her husband for she was with child at such time as the message of this his death was brought vnto her and she brought forth a sonne in the seuenth month which liued and was called Ichabod which signifieth ignominie by reason of the infamie receiued at that time by the armie Eli was the first that gouerned among the successours of Ithamar one of the sonnes of Aaron for before that time the house of Eleazar was possessed of the Priesthood the sonne receiuing it from his father Eli transferred it to Phinees after him Abiezar his sonne occupied the place and left it to his sonne Boci whose sonne called Ozes receiued it after whom Eli of whom we speake at this present tooke the same whose posteritie retained that dignitie till the time of the raigne of Salomon for at that time the posteritie of Eleazar were reinstalled THE SIXTH BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 6. booke 1 How the Palestines compelled by pestilence and famine sent the Arke of God backe againe vnto the Hebrewes 2 The victorie of the Hebrewes vnder the conduct of Samuel 3 How Samuel when his strength failed him thorow age committed the administration of the affaires to his sonnes 4 How the people being offended with the manners of Samuels sonnes required a King that might rule ouer them 5 Saul by Gods commaundement was annointed King 6 Sauls victorie against the Ammonites 7 The Palestines assailing the Hebrewes are ouercome by them in battell 8 The victorie of Saul against the Amalechites 9 Samuel translateth the Royall dignitie vnto Dauid 10 The expedition of the Palestines against the Hebrewes 11 Dauids single fight with Golias and the slaughter of the Palestines that succeeded 12 Saul admiring Dauids fortitude giueth him his daughter in marriage 13 How the King sought Dauids death 14 How Dauid oftentimes hardly escaped from the kings treasons yet hauing him twice in his power how he would not hurt him 15 The Hebrewes are ouercome in a great battell by the Palestines wherein Saul the king and his sonnes fighting valiantly are slaine CHAP. I. How the Palestines compelled by pestilence and famine sent backe the Arke of couenant vnto the Hebrewes AFter that the Philistines had gotten the victorie ouer the Hebrewes and taken the sacred Arke as we haue before this declared they brought it with other their spoiles vnto the City of Azot and placed it in maner of a trophee in the Temple of Dagon their Idoll But on the next day after when earely in the morning they came and entred into the Temple to adore their god they found him fallen from that base or pillar that sustained him and lay along vpon the ground his face vpward before the Arke whereat being fore moued they tooke and fastned him in his former place
of them perished being loaden with sleep gorged with wine They likewise that were compleatly armed intending to make resistance were as easily slaine as they that lay naked vpon the earth Thus Dauids men abode with him from the first hower of the morning till the euening doing nought else but kill murther that that only foure hundreth of the Amalechites escaped who likewise fled being mounted on their Dromodaries So recouered he all that which the enemie had ransackt and amongst other things he released both his own wiues those of his companions Wherupon they returned to the place where they had left the other two hundreth which might not follow them because they were appointed to guard the baggage To these the abouesaid foure hundreth would not grant a part of the booty and profit because they had not as they said followed the enimie with them but shewed themselues slacke in the pursuit alledging that they ought to content themselues with the recouerie of their wiues But Dauid said that the sentence which was pronounced by them was both euill and vniust for since God had granted them the grace to defeat their enemies all of them merited to haue part in the profit which ought equally to be deuided amongst them both amongst those that had fought and amongst those likewise that staied behiâ—…d to guard the baggage And from that day forward this ordinance hath beene held firmely amongst them that they that keepe the baggage should haue equall part and portion of the pray with those that should goe out to the battell But when Dauid was returned to Siceleg he sent vnto all his familiars and friends of the tribe of Iuda a seuerall part of the spoyle In this manner was Siceleg sacked and burned and thus were the Amalechites discomfited But the Philistines assailed and fought a bloudie battell with Saul and his followers wherein the Philistines had the vpper hand and slew a great number of their enemies Saul king of Israell with his sonnes fought therin verie valiantly and with stout hearts seeing that all their honour consisted in that onely point to die nobly and to hazard themselues against all camisadoes of their enemies For since the Philistines bent all their forces against them they saw no meanes of recouerie so that encompassed by them they died in the middest of them and yet before their death slewe a great number of the Philistines There were there present Sauls three sonnes Ionathan Aminadab and Melchi who being defeated all the Hebrewe armie turned their backes so that being instantly pursued by the enemie there fell a great disorder confusion and slaughter amongst them Saul fled also although he had about him a strong squadron of men And although the Philistines marshalled foorth against him a multitude of archers that shot many dartes and arrowes at him yet were they all but a verie fewe repulsed and although he had fought verie brauely hauing receiued on him diuers wounds yet being vnable to support the paine and griefe of his woundes and trauailed with shortnesse of breath he commanded his esquier to drawe his sword and to thrust it thorow his body before he should be surprised aliue by his enemies which his esquire refused to doe not daring to lay hands vpon his master For which cause Saul drew his owne sword and setled the point to his breast and cast himselfe thereon but vnable to force it home enough nor make it by goaring himselfe thereon to pierce quite thorow him he looked backe and perceiued a yoong man hard beside him of whom he demaunded what he was and hearing that hee was an Amalechite he requested him that since himselfe was vnable to pierce himselfe with his owne hands that he would leaue vpon him and make the sword passe thorow him and bring him to that death which he so earnestly desired which he did and hauing taken from him the gold which he had about his armes and the royall crowne likewise he fled away The Esquire seeing Saul dead sodainly slew himselfe Not one of all the kings guard escaped but all of them were slaine neere vnto the mountaine Gelboa When they that inhabited the valley on the other side of Iordan and in the plaine had intelligence that Saul and his sonnes were dead and with them a great number of their nation was slaine they abandoned their Cities and fled to others that were more defenced The Philistines finding these Cities destitute of inhabitants encamped therein The next day whilest the Philistines spoyled the dead they found the bodies of Saul and his sons which they spoyled beheaded sending their heads round about the countrey to make it knowne that their enemies were defeated They offered vp their armes also in the temple of Astaroth and as for their bodies they hung them on the wals of the Citie of Bethsan at this day called Scythopolis When they of Iabes a Citie of Galaad vnderstood how the Philistines had thus cut off the heads of Saul and his sonnes they were sore moued and thought it became them not to be so carelesse of them but that they should be rescued For which cause the most valiant and hardie amongst them for that Citie bringeth vp men both valiant in heart and strong in body departed and marched all night long so as they attained Bethsan and approching neere the wals tooke downe the body of Saul and his sonnes and carried them vnto Iabes without any resistance of the enemy in that they durst not attempt the rescue These Iabesians lamented ouer their dead bodies and made publike lamentations and buried them in the fairest place of their countrey which place is called Arar They mourned after this manner weeping both men and women and children and beating their breasts and lamenting the king and his sonnes and tasting neither meat nor drinke This was the end of Saul according as Samuel had foretold him because he had disobeyed God in his war against the Amalechites and for that he had slaine the race of Achimelech and Achimelech himselfe also and destroyed the Citie of the Priests He raigned during the life of Samuel for the space of eighteene yeares and twentie two yeares after his death Thus finished Saul his life THE SEVENTH BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 7. booke 1 Dauid is created king of one tribe in Hebron ouer the rest Sauls sonne obtaineth the soueraignty 2 Isboseth is slaine by the treacherie of his domesticall seruants and the whole kingdome commeth vnto Dauid 3 Dauid hauing surprised the Citie and cittadell of Ierusalem driueth the Chananites from thence and causeth the Iewes to inhabit the same 4 Dauid assayled by the Philistines obtaineth a famous victorie against them neere vnto Ierusalem 5 Dauid ouercomming the neighbouring nations imposeth tributes on them 6 They of Damasco are ouercome by Dauid 7 How Dauid ouercame the Mesopotamians 8 How
from the siege as we haue declared in an other place And againe a long time after this Herod also opened an other Cabinet from whence he tooke out a great summe And as touching the tombes of Princes no man defaced them because they were most magnificently builded for feare least they should be esteemed destroyers of monuments But for the present it sufficeth that I haue certified thus much THE EIGHTH BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 8. booke 1 How Salomon obtaining the kingdome expelled his enemies 2 Of the riches prudence and wisedome of Salomon and how first of all he builded the Temple in Ierusalem 3 How Salomon being dead the people reuolted from Roboam his sonne and made Hieroboam king of the ten tribes 4 How Susac king of the Aegyptians sacking Ierusalem caried away the riches of that Citie into Aegypt 5 The warre of Hieroboam against Abiam Roboams sonne and the slaughter of his armie and how Basanes the rooter out of Hieroboams posteritie occupied the kingdome 6 The irruption of the Aethipians into the land of the Hebrewes vnder Asa and the ouerthrow of their armie 7 Basans stocke being wholy rooted out amongst the Israelites Zamri ruled in Israel with his sonne Achab. 8 Adad king of Damasco and Syria encamping and fighting two seuerall times against Achab is ouerthrowne 9 Of Iosaphat king of Ierusalem 10 Achab being prouoked to warre by the Sryans is ouercome and slaine in the battell CHAP. I. How Salomon obtaining the kingdome expulsed his enemies WE haue declared in the former Booke what Dauid was how great his vertue hath beene what profits and benefits those of his nation receiued by him what warres and battels he worthily exployted and how happily at last through extremitie of age he departed out of this life But after that Salomon his sonne being at that time verie young had obtained the kingdome and was placed in his fathers throne according as Dauid had determined and the diuine power had decreed the whole people according to the common course in the election of newe Princes with happie acclamations wished him perpetuall felicitie in all his affaires and after his well gouerned estate and royaltie long many prosperous yeares But Adonias who during his fathers life time thought to possesse and seaze himselfe of the royall estate came vnto the kings mother and with all humilitie reuerence saluted her To whom Bethsabe said that if there were anything wherin she might sted him he should manifest it vnto her and that she would grant it him willingly Whereupon he began to say that it was a thing verie well knowen that the kingdome appertained vnto him both in regard of his age as also in respect of the fauour and good liking of the people but since that it had beene transferred vnto Salomon hir sonne by the will of God he was content therewith and would be his seruant being verie glad of the fortunate successe of his affaires He therefore besought her that she would solicite Salomon in his behalfe and perswade him to giue him Abisace to wife who had slept with Dauid for that he had not had any carnall company with her by reason of his age and that as yet she was fully possessed of her virginitie Bethsabe promised him to further his suit to the vtmost of hir power and willingly to employ her selfe toward the accomplishing of the marriage both for that the king was willing to gratifie her in whatsoeuer she should desire as also for that she would instantly intreat him so that he departed from her with assured hope of good successe in respect of his marriage Hereupon presently did Bethsabe addresse her selfe to the king intending to certifie him both what Adonias had requested and what she had granted When tidings came to Salomon that his mother came to visit him he went out to meete her and embraced her afterwards conducting her into the place where the royall treasure was he sate him downe and commaunded his seruants to place a seat on his right hand for his mother who setled by him spake vnto him after this manner My sonne vouchsafe me one fauour that I shall request at thy hands and send me not hence discontended and confused thorow thy refusall Salomon answered her that she should commaund him by reason that dutie tied him to the satisfaction and fauour of his mothers suites reprouing her for that insinuation she had vsed by reason that thereby she euidently expressed that she was not thorowly assured to obtaine her demaund but that she feared the refusall and repulse in the same she therefore required him to giue the Damsell Abisace for wife to Adonias his brother The King displeased at this her suit dismissed his mother alledging that Adonias hammered hie thoughts in his head that he wōdred that in requiring Abisace to wife he had not requested Salomō likewise to giue him place in the kingdome for Adonias was elder than he and had more mightie friends then he had namely the generall Ioab and the high Priest Abiathar For which cause he incontinently sent Banaia captaine of his guard to kill Adonias his brother Then calling vnto him the high Priest Abiathar The paines said he that thou hast endured by accompanying my father Dauid and attending and bearing the Arke with him make thee escape from death yet notwithstanding for that thou hast beene an assistant to Adonias and followed his faction I condemne thee to depart from my presence charging thee not to see my face any more but to retire thy selfe to thine owne house and there to liue in thy countrey vntill thou hast ended thy daies for hauing in this sort neglected me it is not conuenient that thou shouldest be in honour with me For this cause was the house of Ithamar depriued of the priestly dignitie according as God had foreprophecied to Eli one of the auncestors of Abiathar and translated to the race of Phinees and established in Sadoc Those of the race of Phinees who led a priuate life all that time that the Priesthood remained in the familie of Ithamar wherof Eli was the first were these Boccias the sonne of Ioseph Ioatham the sonne of Boccias Maraeoth the sonne of Ioatham Aropha the sonne of Maraeoth Achitob the sonne of Aropha Sadoc the sonne Achitob who was the first high Priest vnder king Dauid Ioab hauing tidings of the death of Adonias was seazed with sodaine and extreme feare for he loued him more than king Salomon and by reason of that friendship which he bare vnto him he iustly and vpon good grounds apprehended his owne danger and in this respect he fled vnto the altar hoping in that place to be secured in regard of that reuerēce which the king bare vnto God But when Ioabs resolution was made knowne vnto the king he sent Banaia vnto him with commission to bring him from the
to ascribe alwaies more credit vnto them then to the vaine plausible speech of such as currie fauour and no lesse to respect them then things of infinit profit since by them we are diuinely admonished what we ought to take heed of It behooueth vs also to consider what force the ordinance of God is of by examining those things which befell Achab. For it is impossible to auoid the preordinance of God notwithstanding that men flatter and nourish themselues with vaine hopes which inueigle them so far that finally they are ouertaken in the snares thereof For this carelesse inconsideration was fatall to King Achab in that he beleeued not his death which was foretold him but being deceiued by the flattering perswasions of false Prophets ranne headlong vpon his owne danger and death After him succeeded his sonne Ochozias THE NINTH BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 9. booke 1 Ioram Achabs sonne ouercommeth the Moabites in battell 2 Ioram King of Ierusalem obtaining the crowne killeth his brothers and his fathers friends 3 Iorams army is ouerthrowne by his enemies and his sonnes are slaine only one excepted at length he himselfe dieth a miserable death 4 The king of Damasco warreth against the king of Israel 5 Ioram with all his posteritie is slaine by Iehu Ochosias king of Ierusalem is slaine also 6 Iehu raigneth amongst the Israelites in Samaria and his posteritie after him till the fourth generation 7 Athalia raigneth fiue yeeres in Ierusalem and after she is slaine by the hie priest Ioas Ochosias sonne is proclaimed king 8 Azael King of Damasco gathereth an army first against the Israelites and afterwards against Ierusalem 9 Amasias King of Ierusalem maketh warre against the Idumeans and Amalechites and obtaineth the victorie 10 Amasias making warre against Ioas king of the Israelites is ouercome 11 Ozias ouercommeth the nations round about him 12 Rasin or Rabe king of Damasco vexeth the inhabitants of Ierusalem with warre Achaz their king is compelled to call the king of Assyria to assist him 13 The King of Assyria taketh Damasco by force and slaieth the king and translateth the people into Media and planteth other Colonies in the same 14 Salmanazar taking the king of Israel captiue translateth ten of the 12. Tribes into Media and causeth the Cuthaeans to inhabite their region CHAP. I. Ioram Achabs sonne ouercommeth the Moabites in battell AS soone as King Iosaphat was returned backe againe to Ierusalem from the warre wherein he had giuen succour to Achab against Adad the King of Syria as we haue heretofore declared the Prophet Iehu in his returne came forth and met him and reproued him because he had giuen Achab who had been a man both impious and wicked his assistance assuring him that God was displeased with that his confederacie yet notwithstanding that he of his goodnesse had deliuered him from his enemies although contrarie vnto his duetie he had demeaned himselfe vniustly After this admonition Iosaphat began to celebrate sacrifices and to offer vp thankesgiuings and peace offrings vnto God Which done he rode in progresse and circuit round about those countries that were vnder his dominion giuing order that the people should be instructed in those ordinances which were deliuered from God by the hands of Moses and exhorted his subiects to the practise of pietie contained in the same Hee planted iudges likewise in euery city commanding them to execute iustice vnto the people without respect of any thing but only iustice He charged them likewise that they should not be corrupted with rewards or seduced by dignitie riches or nobilitie but that they should doe iustice indifferently vnto all men knowing that God seeth all things how secretly soeuer they be carried or contriued Hauing in this sort ordered euery thing in each Citie of the two Tribes he returned againe into Ierusalem where he likewise chose iudges from amongst the Priests and Leuites and the Elders among the people exhorting them in all things to giue vpright and exact iudgement And if they of other cities had any causes of greater consequence which should bee referred to their finall determination he charged them with earnest industrie to decide them with as vpright and iust measure as might be for that it was very conuenient that the most exact and accomplished sentences should be deliuered in that Citie where as God had his temple and the King made his ordinarie aboad Ouer all these he placed his two friends Amasias the Priest and Zabadias of the Tribe of Iuda After this manner did the King dispose of his estate About this very time the Moabites and Ammonites and with them their confederates a great number of Arabians assaulted and assembled themselues against him and encamped themselues neere vnto Engaddi a Citie scituate neere vnto the lake Asphaltites and distant from Ierusalem some three hundreth stounds in which place flourish those goodly and holesome Palme-trees whence distilleth the pure and perfect liquor of balme When Iosaphat had intelligence that the enemies had past the lake and were already farre entred into his countrey he was affraid and assembled the people of Ierusalem in the temple and standing vpright and turning his face toward the propitiatorie he besought and requested God that he would giue him power and force to ouercome his enemies For such had been the forme of their supplication who in times past builded the temple namely that it might please him to fight for that Citie and oppose himselfe against those that durst attempt or assault that place to the intent to dispossesse them of that country which he himselfe had giuen them in possession and in pronouncing this prayer he wept and all the people likewise both men women and children made their requests vnto God Presently vpon this a certaine Prophet called Iaziel arose vp in the midst of the congregation and cried out and certified both the people and the King that God had heard their praiers and promised them to fight for them against their enemies enioyning them the next day to sally out in armes and go make head against their aduersaries whom they should incounter in the mountaine scituate betwixt Ierusalem and Engaddi in a place called the hillock of Sis which place in Hebrew signifieth Eminency willing them not to fight against them but onely to arrest in that place and see how God would fight and make warre for them When the Prophet had spoken these words the king and all the people prostrated themselues vpon their faces giuing thankes vnto God and adoring meane while the Leuites sung continuall hymnes with instruments and voices About the beginning of the day the king departed into the desart that is vnder the Citie of Thecoa aduising the people to beleeue all that which the prophet had said vnto them and not to arrange themselues in battell ray he commanded the Priests to march before
the seruice of God By which meanes it came to passe that the people brought all kinde of fruit to the priests and Leuites which the king put vp in certaine storehouses which he had built to be distributed to euerie one of them their wiues and children and by this means they returned againe to their former puritie in religion After the King had disposed all things in this sort he made warre vpon the Philistines and ouercame them and seased all their Cities betweene Gaza and Geth About this time the king of Assyria sent vnto him and threatned him that if he would not pay him those tributes which his father before him had paid vnto him he would destroy all his countrey Neuerthelesse Ezechias set light by his threats assuring himselfe in that pietie and zeale he bore towards God and in the Prophet Esay by whom he was exactly instructed as touching all those things that were to succeed And for this present it shall suffice that we haue spoken thus much of this king CHAP. XIIII Salmanasar slayeth the king of Israel and leadeth the Israelites captiue into the countrey of Media WHen tydings was brought to Salmanasar King of Assyria that the king of Israel had priuily sent vnto Soan king of Aegypt to request his assistance in warre against the Assyrian he was sore displeased and drew forth his army against Samaria in the seuenth yeere of the raigne of Oseas But the King of Israel withstood his entrance into the Citie by which meanes he was besieged therein for three yeeres space and finally Samaria was taken by force in the ninth yeere of Oseas and the seuenth of Ezechias raigne At which time all the kingdome of Israel was destroied and all the people transported into the countries of Media and Persia and amongst the rest king Oseas was taken prisoner The King of Assyria caused certaine nations of a countrey which by reason it abutted vpon a certaine riuer in Persia called by that name was called Chut to remoue their habitation and to dwell in Samaria and inhabite the countrey of Israel As for the ten Tribes of Israel they were transported out of their countrey nine hundreth fortie seuen yeeres since their predecessors departing out of Aegypt possessed the countrey of Chanaan eight hundreth yeeres after the gouernment of Iosuah and two hundreth and forty yeares seuen moneths and seuen daies since they reuolted from Roboam Dauids nephew to giue the kingdome to Ieroboam This was the end of the Israelites who transgressed the lawes and disobeyed the Prophets who foretold them of that calamitie which should happen vnto them except they repented them of their impieties The sedition that they moued against Roboam establishing his seruant for their king was the originall of their mischiefes For Ieroboam committing impietie against God and they imitating his wickednesse preuailed so much as the maiestie of God grew displeased with them so that he punished them according as they deserued But the King of Assyria rauaged and spoiled all Syria and Phaenicia with his army his name is found written in the Chronicles of the Tyrians for he made warre against the Tyrians at such time as Elulat raigned in Tyre whereof Menander maketh mention who wrote the historie of Tyre and hath translated their Pantarches into the Greeke toong The King Elulat said he raigned six and thirtie yeeres and pursued the Chuteans that were reuolted from him by sea and made them subiect Against whom the King of Assyria sent forth his army and inuaded all Phaenicia and afterwards hauing couenanted a peace with them he returned backe againe The Cities of Sidon Arce and Paletyr and diuers other cities reuolted from the Tyrians and submitted themselues to the king of Assyria For this cause and for that they of Tyre did not obey him he drew his army forth once more against them and he was furnished by the Phaenicians with sixtie ships and eight hundreth rowers The Tyrians charging these ships with twelue of their vessels ouerthrew the nauy of the Assyrians and tooke about fiue hundreth men prisoners which act of theirs wonderfully increased their honour But the king of Assyria returning backe againe planted a garrison vpon the riuer and fortified the fountaine heads to the intent the Tyrians might draw no water which act of his continuing for the space of fiue yeeres they were inforced to find dig new fountaines to sustaine themselues These things are written in the registers of the Tyrians themselues as also the exploits of the king of Assyria against them But these Chuteans new inhabitants of Samaria for to this day their name remaineth there as hauing bin brought from the Region of Chut which is in Persia where there is a riuer of that name for that they were of fiue nations they brought with them each of them the god whom they honoured in their nation to the number of fiue gods whom they serued after the manner of their countrey Whereupon the true and supreme God was grieuously displeased and prouoked against them for a plague fell amongst them that consumed them in such sort that they could finde no remedie vntill such time as they had notice that it behooued them to adore the great God and that therein consisted their safetie They therefore sent vnto the king of Assyria requiring him to send them Priests from amongst the Israelites whom he had led away prisoners in war Which done they learning the law and the manner of Gods seruice by them began verie diligently to obserue both by which meanes the plague ceased sodainly And now euen vnto this day continue they in the same Religion and are called by the Hebrewes Chuteans and Samaritanes by the Greekes These as often as they finde the Iewes in prosperitie call them their cousins according to the varietie and changes of time but if they perceiue their fortunes to be on the declining hand then abiure they consanguinitie and renounce any lawfull parentage or amitie and say that they were planted in the countrey and drawne thither from a forraine nation But in time and place conuenient we shall speake of them more amply THE TENTH BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 10. booke 1 Senacharib King of Assyria besiegeth Ezechias in Ierusalem 2 Ezechias hauing liued for a certaine time in peace dieth and leaueth his sonne Manasses to succeed him 3 The Kings of the Chaldees and he of Babylon warre against Manasses and ledde him away prisoner 4 The historie of King Iosias 5 Iosias death in battell who hindered the King of Aegypt from leading his army against the Babylonians and the euent thereof 6 The army of Nabuchodonosor commeth into Syria 7 Nabuchodonosor putteth Ioacim to death and maketh Ioachin King 8 Nabuchodonosor changeth his purpose besiegeth Ioachim and is reconciled vnder composition 9 Sedechias is appointed king ouer Ierusalem 10 Ierusalem is
that their auncestors had transgressed the lawes of Moses they should be in danger to be dispossessed of their countrey and abandoned by all men should at length perish miserably When the prophetesse had heard the kings commandement she willed those that were sent vnto her to returne vnto the king and to certifie him from her that God had giuen a sentence against them which might not be reuoked by any praiers whatsoeuer namely that since they had transgressed the law of Moses the people should perish and should be cast out of their countrey and depriued of al their goods that they had and for that they haue not grown to amendment in so long time notwithstanding the prophets had exhorted them to repentance and had foretold the punishment of their impieties which should happen vnto them to the end that they might beleeue that God is God and that he faileth not in any thing that he hath foretold by his prophets Furthermore she said that he forbore as yet to send these afflictions vpon them for Iosias sake who was a vertuous man but that after his decease God would poure his intended punishments vpon the people This prophecie of the woman they signified vnto the king who sent into all parts and assembled the people in Ierusalem commanding the Priests and Leuites and generally all men without distinction of age or person to be present in that conuention Now when they were assembled he first of all caused the sacred bookes to be read and afterwards standing aloft vpon his throne he caused all the people to sweare and promise that they would serue God and keepe Moses lawes Whereupon all of them did willingly approoue whatsoeuer he said promising to doe that whereunto they were exhorted And therewithall offering vp present sacrifices vnto God they besought him to shew himselfe fauourable and mercifull towards them The king likewise commanded the hie priest that if there were any necessarie in the temple which were made by his predecessors in honour of Idols and strange Gods he should cast it out And after that a great quantitie was found therein all of it was gathered togither and burnt and the ashes afterwards were scattered here and there And as touching the Priests that appertained to Idols that were not of the race of Aaron he put them to death When these things were thus executed in Ierusalem he came afterwards to the plaine countrey and all that which Ieroboam had erected there in honour of Idols he vtterly defaced it and the bones of the false Prophets were burnt vpon the altar that Ieroboam had builded This had the prophet foretold that came to Ieroboam at such time as he offered sacrifice and told him in the presence of all the people all that which should happen namely that one of Dauids posteritie called Iosias should doe these abouenamed things which prophecie tooke effect three hundreth sixtie and one yeere after After this King Iosias transported himselfe to the Israelites who had auoided the captiuitie and seruitude of the Assyrians and perswaded them to forsake their impieties and the seruices they had performed to strange Gods and to honour the soueraigne and true God of their fathers and to cleaue vnto him He made a search also thorow euerie house borough and citie fearing least as yet there should be any Idol hidden Hee likewise sought out the chariots that were made by his auncestors in honour of the sunne and all that which was adored whatsoeuer it were and vtterly abolished the same After hee had in this sort purged the countrey he assembled all the people in Ierusalem where he celebrated the feast of vnleauened bread and the solemnitie of Easter Towards the performance whereof he gaue the people young kiddes and lambes to the number of thirtie thousand and three thousand bullocks for burnt offrings and the chiefe amongst the Leuites distributed amongst the other Leuites fiue hundreth lambs and fiue hundreth bullocks Hauing therefore such an abundance of beasts they sacrificed according to the law of Moses the priests taking charge thereof and confirming the rest of the people by their example Neither was there euer such a solemnitie kept by the Hebrewes since the time of Samuel the Prophet because all things were done according to the lawes and auncient customes which were obserued in the time of their fathers After this Iosias liued in peace riches honour and estimation amongst all men and thus finished his life CHAP. V. Diuers exploits of Nechao NEchao King of Aegypt hauing gathered great forces conducted his army towards the floud Euphrates to warre against the Medes and Babylonians who had destroied the empire of Assyria for Nechao affected the gouernment of all Asia Now when he drew neere vnto the Citie of Mende which was vnder Iosias subiection King Iosias denied him passage and would not suffer his army to march thorow his countrey For which cause Nechao sent a Herauld vnto him to let him vnderstand that it was not against him that he made warre but that he bent his course towards Euphrates for which cause he wished him in no sort to hinder his intended iourney least thereby he should be constrained to make warre vpon him But Iosias respected not this demaund of his but resolued himselfe to hinder his passage thorow his countrey And truely I suppose that the destinies pricked him forward to this arrogance to the end he might haue some occasion to doe something against Nechao For whilest he disposed his army and rode from one band to an other being mounted vpon his chariot he was strooken with an arrow that was shot by a certaine Aegyptian which cooled and tempered the spleene he had in warre For feeling himselfe sorely ouerpressed with paine by reason of his wound he commanded his army to retire and returned himselfe to Ierusalem where he died of his wound and was buried with his fathers with great magnificence after he had liued nine and thirtie yeeres and raigned thirtie and one For him the people mourned with great heauinesse lamenting and sorrowing for many daies The Prophet Ieremy also made a deploration ouer him in lamentable verse which is as yet extant euen in these daies This Prophet left in writing those euils that should afterwards happen vnto the citie and the captiuitie wherewith we are entangled at this present and the surprisall of Babylon Neither hath he alone foretold the same but the Prophet Ezechiel hath likewise done the like who first left two bookes written of the same argument These two Prophets were of the race of the Priests But Ieremy kept in Ierusalem from the fourteenth yeere of the raigne of Iosias vntill the destruction of the Citie and temple as in time and place conuenient we will declare setting downe those occurrences that hapned to this Prophet After the death of Iosias heretofore mentioned his sonne Ioaz succeeded him in the kindome at such time as he was
entrance of my history I haue answered those obiections so that I haue openly protested that I will onely faithfully translate the Hebrew Histories into the Greeke tongue according to my promise relate that which is contained therin without adding any thing of mine owne or concealing ought of an other mans After that Nabuchodonosor had raigned fortie three yeares he died he was a man of execution and more happie then any of his predecessors Berosus maketh mention of his actes in the third booke of his Chaldaique historie where he speaketh thus His father Nabuchodonosor hauing notice that the gouernour whom he had appointed ouer Aegypt the neighbouring parts of Coelosyria Phaenicia was reuolted from him being at that time in himselfe vnable to endure the troubles of warre committed a part of his forces vnto his son Nabuchodonosor who was in the flower of his age and sent him forth against him who encountring the rebell and fighting with him ouercame him and brought the countrey vnder his subiection Meane while Nabuchodonosor the father died of a sicknes in Babylon after he had raigned one and twentie yâ—…ares Nabuchodonosor the sonne hauing notice of his fathers death gaue order to the affaires of Aegypt and the rest of the countrey and committing the care and transportation of the Iewes Syrians Aegyptians and Phaenicians to his friends to bring them to Babylon with his army and carriage he with a fewe men made hastie iourneies thorow the desaâ—…t And when he had taken the administration of the kingdome vpon him which in his absence was in the hands of the Chaldees and by their chieftaine was reserued vntil his returne vnto his vse he became Lord of all his fathers Empire When his prisoners were arriued he assigned them conuenient dwelling places in the countrey of Babylon and with the spoiles of the warre he magnificently repaired and decked the Temple of Bel other places He enlarged the olde Citie and repaired beautified it with other buildings by meanes wherof they that would besiege the same were hindred from cutting off of the currant of the riuer to the preiudice of the inhabitants He enuironed it inwardly with a treble wall and outwardly with as migâ—…tie and as many enclosures and made all of burnt bricke The wals were magnificently builded the gates brauely adorned in maner of temples He caused a pallace to be builded neere vnto his fathers auncient pallace the magnificenâ—… and ornament wherof I am too weake witted to expresse onely this thing most memorable 〈◊〉 â—…ue thought good to note downe that these huge great and pompous buildings were finished in fifteene daies In this pallace he had vaultes raised so high that in outward appearance they seemed to bee mountaines on which all sorts of trees were planted He deuised and prepared also a goodly garden and called it the hanging garden because his wife hauing beene brought vp in the countrey of Media desired to haue a place conformable to that of her birth Megasthenes in the fourth booke of his Indian Historie maketh mention of this garden in that place where he inforced himselfe to proue that this King surpassed Hercules in valour and execution of worthie actions For he said that Nabuchodonosor ouercame the chiefe Citie of Libya and a great part of Spaine Diocles in the second booke of his Persian Historie and Philostratus in his Phaeâ—…ician and Indian Historie make mention of this King saying that he ouercame the Citie of Tyre at the end of thirteene yeeres at such time as Ithobal raigned ouer the Tyrians This is the summe of all that which the Historiographers write as touching this King CHAP. XI Nabuchodonosors successors the destruction of Babylon by Cyrus King of Persia. AFter Nabuchodonosors death his sonne Euilmerodach obtained the kingdome who incontinently deliuered Iechonias king of Ierusalem out of prison and held him in the number of his most esteemed friends and gaue him presents and committed the gouernment of the pallace of Babylon into his hands For his father had not kept his promise with Iechonias when he surrendred himselfe his wife children and friends into his hands in the behalfe of his countrey and to the intent that the Citie of Ierusalem should not be rased by those that besieged it as we haue heretofore declared Euilmerodach died in the eighteenth yeere of his raigne and Niglisar his sonne obtained the kingdome which hee possessed fortie veeres and afterwards died After him the succession of the kingdome came vnto his sonne called Labosardach which continued in him but for the space of nine moneths and after his death it came vnto Balthasar who by the Babylonians was called Naboandel Against him Cyrus king of Persia and Darius king of Media made warre and at such time as he was besieged in Babylon there hapned a meruailous and prodigious spectacle Balthasar sate vpon a certaine festiuall in a royall chamber where he was serued with great store of vessell fit for his maiestie and royaltie and with him at the banquet there sate his concubines and most intirest friends At which time to shew his magnificence he caused those vessels to be brought out of the temple of his God which Nabuchodonosor his predecessor fearing to employ to his owne vse had stoared vp in his Idols temple But Balthasar was so puffed with pride that he dranke out of them and employed them to his vses Now so came it to passe that whilest he quaffed and blasphemed the name of God he sawe a hand issuing from a wall which wrote in the same certaine syllables by which vision being somewhat terrified he assembled his Magitians and Chaldees and all that sort of people who amongst those barbarous nations made profession to interprete prodigies and dreames to the intent they might signifie vnto him the meaning and vnderstanding of that writing Now when these Magitians had told him that they could in no sort sound or vnderstand the same the king was sore vexed and toubled at this vnexpected vision whereupon he caused it to be proclaimed thorow his countrey that whosoeuer should read that writing and declare the meaning thereof he would giue him a golden chaine and a purple robe such as the king of Chaldees wore and besides all this the third part of his Empire After this proclamation the Magitians assembled togither with greater concourse and were farre more diligent and inquisitiue to finde out the signification of the writing but they were no lesse grounded therein then they were at the first Meane while the kings grandmother seeing him wholy amated in minde began to comfort him and to tell him that there was a certaine man amongst the prisoners of Iuda led thither at such time as Nabuchodonosor destroied Babylon whose name was Daniel a man wise and expert in searching out of things that were impossible and only knowne vnto God who euidently expounded that which Nabuchodonosor required at such time as no other man
to be drowned by the winds and chariots that haue no driuers to conduct them to be at one against another euen so should it perish and should ruinate it selfe by such an irregular motion By these things therefore that Daniel hath foretold I iudge that they are farre estraunged from the truth that affirme that God hath no care of humaine affaires for if wee see that all things happen casually then happen they not according to his prophecie But I haue written hereof according as I haue found and red and if any one will thinke otherwise let him continue his opinion as long as him list THE XI BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 11. booke 1 Syrus King of Persia dismisseth the Iewes from Babylon and permitteth them to returne into their countrey and contributeth towards the raparation of the Temple 2 The Kings gouernours hinder the building of the Temple 3 Cambyses commaundeth the Iewes that they should not build the Temple 4 Darius Hystaspis sonne buildeth a Temple for the Iewes 5 The bountie of Xerxes Darius sonne towards the Hebrew nation 6 How during Ataxerxes raigne the whole nation of the Iewes were almost extinguished thorow Amans trecherie 7 Bagoses Generall of Ataxerxes the youngers armie doth much iniurie to the Iewes 8 How bountifull Alexander of Macedon was vnto the Iewes CHAP. I. Cyrus King of Persia dismisseth the Iewes from Babylon and permitteth them to returne into their countrey and contributeth towards the building of the Temple THe first yeare of the raigne of Cyrus which was the seuentith after that our nation was translated from Iudaea to Babylon God had compassion of the captiuitie calamitie of his poore afilicted people euen as he had foretold them before the destruction of the Citie that after they had serued Nabuchodonosor and his posteritie for seuentie yeares he would againe restore them to their countrey wherein they were borne where they should build a Temple and enioy their former felicitie so brought he it to passe For he awakened the spirit of Cyrus and made him write his letters thorowout all Asia to this effect Thus saith the King Cyrus Since the Almightie God hath made me king of the whole world I am perswaded that it is he whom the Iewish nation doe adore for he hath declared my name by his Prophets before I was borne and hath said that I shall build his Temple in Ierusalem which is in the countrey of Iudaea Now Cyrus knew these things by reading of a booke of prophecie written by Isay two hundreth ten yeares before his time For he saith that God did secretly reueale these things vnto him speaking to this effect I will that Cyrus whō I haue declared King ouer many nations shall send my people backe into their countrey of Iudaea and shall build my Temple These things did Isay foretell one hundreth and fortie yeares before the ruine of the Temple Cyrus in reading these things being rauished in admiration of the Maiestie of God was surprised with an affection and zeale to finish that which was written He therefore called for all the men of greatest reckoning among the Iewes that were in Babylon and told them that he gaue them licence to returne into their countrey and to repaire the Citie of Ierusalem and erect the Temple of God promising them that he himselfe would assist them And to that effect he wrote vnto his gouernours and princes of those countries that confined vpon Iudaea charging them to contribute both gold and siluer toward the building of the temple and to furnish them with cattell for the sacrifice After that Cyrus had certified the Israelites of this his intent the Princes of the two tribes of Iuda and Beniamin with all the Leuites and Priests departed thence and repaired to Ierusalem Nathelesse diuers of the Iewes remained in Babylon in that they were loath to abandon those possessions they had gotten As soone as they came vnto the Kings friends they affoorded them both fauour and aide and furnished them with necessarie matter to build the temple some of them with gold other some with siluer and the rest with a certaine number of oxen and horses Thus paied they their vowes vnto God and offered the sacrifices according to the ancient custome as if the Citie had bin new builded againe and the ancient seruice of God but newly awakened Cyrus sent them backe also those vessels consecrated to God 〈◊〉 king Nabuchodonosor had sent into Babylon after he had spoiled the temple and deliuered them to Mithridates his treasurer commaunding him to carry and commit them to Abassars hands who should haue the custodie thereof vntill the temple were builded to the end that at such time as it were compleat he might deliuer them to the priests princes of the people to be restored again to the seruice of the Temple He sent letters also to the gouernours of Syria to this effect Cyrus King of Sisine and Sarabasane health I haue permitted those Iewes that inhabit my countrey to returne into their natiue countrey and to reedifie their Citie and erect the temple of God in Ierusalem in the same place where it stood before I haue also sent my treasurer Mithridates and Zorobabel the Prince of the Iewes with expresse charge and authoritie to lay the foundations of the same and to build it sixtie cubits in height and as many in bredth making three Isles of hewen stone and an other of such timber as the countrey affoordeth the Altar likewise whereupon they may offer sacrifice vnto God and my pleasure is that the charge of all these things come out of my cofers I haue also sent backe those vessels which Nabuchodonosor took out of the temple and haue deliuered them to the treasurer Mithridates and to Zorobabel the Prince of the Iewes to be conueyed to Ierusalem and restored to the temple of God the number whereof I haue heereunder subscribed Fiftie lauers of gold and foure hundreth of siluer fiftie pots of gold and foure hundreth of siluer fiftie golden sieues and fiue hundreth of siluer thirtie Ewers of gold and three hundreth of siluer thirtie great viols of gold and two thousand foure hundreth of siluer and besides all these one thousand other great vessels I release them also of the tribute which their predecessors were accustomed to pay namely the leuy of cattell wine and oyle and of two hundreth fiue thousand fiue hundreth drachmes and two thousand fiue hundreth measures of wheate yeelding fine flower Commanding these necessarie furnitures to be deliuered them out of the Tributes of Samaria and the Priests shall offer vp these sacrifices in Ierusalem according to the ordinance of Moses and during their sacrifice they shall make praiers vnto God for the preseruation of the king and his house to the end that the Empire of the Persians may be still permanent And my will is
and the sonnes of Asaph arose and with trumpets praised God according as Dauid first of all had set downe the manner of his seruice The priests and Leuites with the elders of the tribes calling vnto their minds how great and precious the first temple was and beholding that which was builded vpon the present farre inferiour to the precedent perceiuing how much the ancient wealth dignitie of the temple was abased they were confosed thereat and being vnable to ouercome their passion they burst out into lamentations and teares But the people were contented with that which they beheld and without any estimate or mention of the former temple they tormented not themselues in comparing the one with the other neither thought they vpon the difference and bignesse betwixt the present and that which stood in times past yet notwithstanding the elders lamented and the priestes complained that the new erected temple was farre lesse then the former yet the noise of the trumpets drowned their laments and the ioyfull applauses of the people their mournings The Samaritanes hearing the noise of the trumpets ranne out to know the cause thereof in that they were lewdly affected towards the tribes of Iuda Beniamin vnderstanding that the Iewes which were returned from Babylon had reedified the temple they addressed themselues to Zorobabel and Iesus and to the chiefe gouernours of the families requiring them that it might be lawfull for them to repaire the temple with them and to haue part in the building thereof For said they we honour God no lesse then you we pray vnto him and adore him we conforme our selues to your customes euer since the time that Salmanazar King of Assyria remoued vs out of Chuthea and Media hither To these demaunds of theirs Zorobabel and Iesus the high priest and the gouernours of the tribes answered that it was impossible for them to admit their assistance in the building of the temple for that they had receiued their first commandement from Cyrus to performe the same and afterwards from Darius notwithstanding they gaue them licence to adore therein offering them that the temple should be common to both if they pleased yea and accessible to all other nations that would repaire thither to adore God The Chutheans for so were the Samaritanes called hearing this answere were sore offended and perswaded the other nations of Syria to requite their princes who continued their authoritie since the time of Cyrus and afterwards ruled in Cambyses time to hinder the building of the temple and to delay the Iewes who were so intent and busie in their worke Whereupon Sisin gouernour in Syria and Phaenicia and Sarabazan accompanied with others came vnto Ierusalem and demannded of the chieftaines of the Iewes by whose permission they builded the temple which rather seemed to be a fort then a temple and for what cause they fortified their Citie with gates and so strong walles Zorohabel and Iesus the high Priest answered that they were the seruants of the liuing God and that their temple had beene built by one of their kings who was opulent and surpassed all other in vertue that after it had continued long time in venerable estimation by reason their fathers had committed impietie against God Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon and Chaldaea hauing taken the Citie by force destroyed the same and after he had spoyled the citie he burned it and transported the people captiue into Babylon But after that Cyrus king of Persia had obtained the kingdome of Babylon he commanded by his expresse letters sealed with his royall seale that they should reedifie the temple and ordained that all that which Nabuchodonosor carried from thence as well gifts as vessels should be deliuered to Zorobabel and the treasurer Mithridates to be conuaied to Ierusalem and be placed againe in the temple as soone as it should be builded And he commanded also that it should be presently reedified willing Abassar to repaire to Ierusalem and giue order for all that which was requisite who resorting thither as soone as he had receiued Cyrus letters did speedily lay the foundations anew From that time forward vntill this present it hath been continued but the subtiltie and malignitie of their enemy had wrought so much that as yet it remained imperfect If therefore it please you and you thinke it good signifie that you heare by your letters to Darius to the end that examining the registers of the kings he may find that we are not faultie in any thing of that which we haue said When Zorobabel and Iesus had answered to this effect Sisin and they that accompanied him thought not good to hinder the building vntill such time as they had certified Darius hereof for which cause they wrote vnto him presently Hereupon the Iewes were much discomforted and troubled fearing least the king should change his minde in respect of the building of Ierusalem and the temple But two Prophets Aggeus and Zacharie who were amongst them began to perswade them willing them to feare no desaster from the Persians because God had assured them for which cause the people gaue credit to the Prophets and diligently intended their building and intermitted no one day When the Samaritanes had in this sort written to Darius and accused the Iewes vnto him for fortifying their Citie and reedifying their temple and how it seemed to be rather a fort then some sacred place and had further alleadged that it would be no profit vnto him and moreouer had produced Cambyses letters by which they were forbidden to build the temple he vnderstood that the reestablishment of Ierusalem stood not with the securitie of his state But when he had read Sisins letters and his associates he commanded that the Panchartes and Chronicles of the kings should be searched how the matter hath past and there was found in Ecbatane a Citie of the Medes in a tower a certaine booke in which these things were written The first yeere of the raigne of Cyrus commandement was giuen to build the temple of Ierusalem and the altar therein It was likewise decreed that the height of the temple should be sixtie cubits and the breadth as many three stories of hewed stone and one storie of the wood of that countrey and it was ordained that the expence of that building should be deducted out of the kings reuenewes Moreouer he commanded that restitution should be made vnto the inhabitants of Ierusalem of those vessels that were taken away by Nabuchodonosor and carried away to Babylon And the commission to effect all these things was giuen to Abassar gouernour of Syria and Phoenicia and his companions to the end that they might depart from these places and the Iewes might bee permitted to build therein Furthermore he ordained that the charge of this pile and building should be gathered out of the tributes of his countries and that they should furnish the Iewes with bulles weathers lambes goates flower oyle
The next day assembling the Iewes he commanded them to demaund certaine fauours at his hands whereupon the high priest answered that he required the exercises of the ordinances of their forefathers and that euerie seuenth yeere they might be exempted from tributes Which was granted them fully They besought him likewise that by his permission the Iewes that were in the countries of Babylon and Media might liue according to their lawes And he promised them willingly to doe all that which they desired He made proclamation also among the people that if any one of them would beare armes with him in liuing according to the custome of their nation he was ready to receiue them with him and diuers tooke pleasure to serue vnder him in the warres After that Alexander had in this sort demeaned himselfe in Ierusalem he marched with his arm against the neighbouring Cities and wheresoeuer he went he was receiued with great affection But the Samaritanes whose Metropolitane Citie at that time was Sichem scituate neere vnto the mountaine of Garizim in which there dwelt diuers Iewes also that were reuolted from their nation seeing how magnificently Alexander had entertained the Iewes they resolued to demeane themselues like Iewes For such is the nature of Samaritanes as we haue declared heretofore that when the Iewes are in affliction they deny all acquaintance with them wherein they confesse the truth but when they perceiue any beame of good aduenture shining vpon them sodainly they vaunt of their alliance saying they are neere akin and of the race of Ephraim and Manasses the sonnes of Ioseph They came therefore to the kings presence and met him neere vnto Ierusalem with great magnificence and demonstration of singular affection towards him And after that Alexander had entertained them they of Sichem approched neere vnto him being accompanied with those men of war that Sanaballath had sent vnto the king beseeching him that he would visit their Citie and honour their temple with his presence whereupon he promised that at his returne hee would visit them They required him also that hee would acquite them of the tribute of the seuenth yeere because they did not sowe in the same He asked them who they were that made that request They answered him that they were Hebrewes but that they were called Sichemites by the Sidonians He asked them againe if they were Iewes and they said they were not Well said he I haue made this grant vnto the Iewes when as therefore I shall returne if I be more particularly informed I shall doe that which shall be held requisite Thus dismissed he the Sichemites but he commanded Sanaballaths men of warre to follow him into Aegypt promising in that place to impart possessions vnto them by lot which afterwards he did enioyning them to liue in garrison in the Citie of Thebais to make good that countrey After Alexanders death his Empire was deuided amongst his successors the temple builded neere vnto the mount Garizim remained intire And if any one were accused in Ierusalē for eating vnlawful meats or for transgressing the Saboth or for any such like fault he fled vnto the Sichemites saying that he was accused vniustly In that time deceased the hie priest Iaddus and Onias his sonne succeeded him This was the estate of them of Ierusalem at that time THE XII BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 12. booke 1 Ptolomey the sonne of Lagus is made lord of Ierusalem and the rest of Iudaea by a stratageme and leadeth diuers Iewes with him prisoners into Aegypt 2 Ptolomey Philadelphus translateth the lawes of the Iewes into the Greeke tongue and dismissing diuers captiues of that nation he dedicateth many presents in the temple of God 3 In what estimation the Iewes were with the Kings of Asia and how the freedome of those Cities they built was granted them 4 Ioseph the sonne of Tobias driueth away the Iewes imminent calamitie by reason of his friendship with king Ptolomey 5 The frienship and societie betweene the Lacedemonians and Onias the high Priest of the Iewes 6 The Iewes distracted by seditions call Antiochus to their assistance 7 How Antiochus leading his army to Ierusalem and possessing the Citie spoiled the Temple 8 Antiochus forbidding the Iewes to vse the lawes of their forefathers only the sonne of Asmonaeus called Matthias contemned the king and put his captaines to flight 9 Matthias being dead Iudas his sonne succeeded him 10 Appollonius a captaine of Antiochus is ouercome in Iewry and slaine 11 The ouerthrow and death of Lysias and Gorgias sent out against the Iewes 12 How deuiding their armies Simon ouercame the Tyrians and Ptolemaidans and Iudas the Ammonites 13 The death of Antiochus Epiphanes among the Persians 14 Antiochus Eupator ouerthrowing the army of the Iewes besiegeth Iudas in the temple 15 Antiochus giuing ouer his siege plighteth a league of friendship with Iudas 16 Bacchides a captaine belonging to Demetrius being sent with his army against the Iewes returneth backe to the King without the dispatch of his businesse 17 Nicanor elected captaine after Bacchides and sent out against the Iewes is slaine with his whole army 18 Bacchides sent out once more against the Iewes ouercommeth them 19 How Iudas being ouercome in battell is slaine CHAP. I. Ptolomey the sonne of Lagus ouercommeth and surpriseth both Ierusalem and Iudaea by a stratageme and leadeth away diuers of the Iewes prisoners into Aegypt ALexander King of Macedon hauing ouercome the Persians and established the estate of the Iewes according as it hath beene spoken he departed this life Wherupon his dominions and kingdomes fell into diuers mens hands Antigonus was lord of Asia Seleucus of Babylon and the bordering nations Lysimachus had Hellespont Cassander Macedon and Ptolomey the sonne of Lagus held Aegypt Now when as these men were at discord amongst themselues whilest each of them affected the soueraigntie fought the one with the other diuers great and continuall warres grew to head which afflicted many Cities whereby it came to passe that many of the inhabitants thereof died in fight and all Syria likewise vnder Ptolomey the sonne of Lagus who beyond his merit was called Soter that is as much to say as a Sauiour liued in little safetie He it was that seazed Ierusalem by a stratageme and pollicie for he entred the Citie vpon a Saboth day vnder pretext to offer sacrifice and whilest the Iewes suspected nothing but spent the day in idlenesse and quiet he surprised the Citie without resist and ouerpressed the Citizens with hatefull captiuitie Agatharchides the Cnidian who wrote the actes of Alexanders successors witnesseth no lesse reproching vs of superstition as if intending thereby that by that meanes we lost our Citie He writeth to this effect There is a certaine nation which are called Iewes who inhabite a citie which is called Ierusalem both strong and mighty They suffered it to
fall into Ptolomeies hands because they would not stand vpon their guard and thorow their importunate superstition they permitted themselues to be subdued by a tyrant conqueror See here what Agatharchides saith in this place of our nation But Ptolomey leading away with him diuers prisoners of the better quarters of Iudaea and the places neere vnto Ierusalem of Samaria and mount Garizim sent them into Aegypt to inhabite there and being assured that those of Ierusalem were most firme in maintaining their oaths and promises according as it appeared by their answere made to Alexander when as after the discomfiture of Darius he sent Embassadors vnto them he put diuers of them into his garrisons giuing them the same priuiledges in the city of Alexandria which the Macedonians had After he had receiued their oath that they should be faithfull vnto his successors in memorie of the great trust and fauours he had bestowed on them many of the other Iewes likewise of their owne accord went into Aegypt partly allured thereunto by the plenty of the countrey partly by the liberality of Ptolomey towards their nation Yet were there continuall seditions betwixt their posteritie and the Samaritanes for that they would keepe and maintaine the customes and ordinances of their forefathers whereupon diuers wars arose amongst them For they of Ierusalem said that their temple was the true sanctuarie of God and would that the offrings and sacrifices should be sent thither the Samaritanes contrariwise commanded them to be brought to the mount Garizim CHAP. II. Ptolomey Philadelphus causeth the lawes of the Iewes to be translated into the Greeke tongue and dismissing many captiue Iewes dedicateth many presents in the temple of God AFter him Philadelphus succeeded in the kingdom of Aegypt and held it for nine thirty yeers space He it was that translated the law into the Greeke tongue and deliuered the Iewes from that seruitude wherein they were enthralled in Aegypt to the number of sixscore thousand vpon the occasion that ensueth Demetrius Phalereus master of the kings librarie endeuoured to his vttermost to gather vp all sorts of bookes that were in the world and bought all that which was agreeable to the kings intent who aboue all things was curious to assemble diuersitie of bookes He being one day demaunded by the king how many thousands of volumes he had already gathered he answered him that he had already assembled about some two hundreth thousand volumes but that shortly he would gather to the number of fiue hundreth thousand Besides he certified him that he had been lately aduertised that there were diuers volumes among the Iewes wherein many things as touching their lawes and pollicies were written which were worthy of note and deserued to be put in so memorable and famous a librarie as his was which being written and set downe in the Hebrew tongue were very laborious and difficult to those that should attempt to translate them into the Greeke tongue For their characters seeme to haue some reference to the Syriacke and their pronunciation likewise not much dissonant from the same and notwithstanding they haue their phrase proper and peculiar vnto themselues For which cause there was no impediment but that they might be translated for the king defraying the charge might easily cause it to be done to the end that being faithfully translated they might be afterwards placed in his librarie Hereupon the king praising Demetrius care in collecting and gathering bookes wrote vnto the high Priest of the Iewes commanding that this translation might be finished In the meane time a certaine man called Aristaeus who was intirely beloued and befriended by the king by reason of his modestie and had diuers times before that present resolued with himselfe to sollicite the King to dismisse all the Iewes that were in his kingdome supposing that at that instant he had fit opportunitie offered him to make his request he spake vnto Sosibius the Tarentine and Andrew the chiefe captains of the kings guard beseeching them to fauour him in that which he intended to moue the king in Hauing therefore sounded the affections of these noble men he addressed himselfe vnto the king and spake vnto him after this manner Since my soueraigne it behooueth vs not to deceiue our selues by dissimulation but it necessarily importeth vs to discouer the truth whereas we haue concluded with our selues not onely to transcript but also to translate the lawes of the Iewes the rather to performe some acceptable seruice to your grace what honest pretext is there left for vs to attaine thereunto as long as there are so great a number of Iewes kept in thraldome in thy kingdome You shall therefore doe a worke answerable to the greatnes of your courage and benignitie if you deliuer them from their miserie considering that he who gaue them their lawes is God who gouerneth your kingdome as by diligent inquisition I haue certainly apprehended for both they and wee adore one God creator of all things whom we call by the name of Iupiter forasmuch as he maintaineth our life and the liues of all men For that honour therefore which you owe vnto God send backe these people into their countrey and permit them to inhabite the same who amongst al men are most singularly affected to their religion Neither hath your Grace occasion to suspect that I offer these supplications and praiers vnto you in their fauour and for their profit because I am either allied or descended of any of their tribes But whereas there is but one God who is the maker of all men and I my selfe am assured that he taketh pleasure in those men that addict themselues to beneficence this is the onely cause that induceth me to make this request vnto you When Aristaeus had ended this discourse of his the king beholding him with a cheereful and pleasant countenance asked him how many thousands he thought they were whose liberty he required Andrew being hard at hand answered that there were more then one hundreth and twentie thousand Wherupon the king replied is this demaund Aristaeus a matter of small consequence which thou requirest Sosibius and the other assistants answered that this reacknowledgement which he made vnto God who had giuen him the kingdome was worthie the greatnes of his courage so that reioycing at this their content he charged them at such time as they deliuered the men of warre their pay they should ouer and aboue the same pay euery one of them that had prisoners with them sixe score drachmes and as touching the request made by them he promised them to dispatch his letters pattents in most ample manner to bring a happie issue to Aristaeus suite or rather to satisfie the will of God which was especially to be respected Whereunto conforming himselfe he sent out his proclamation certifying thereby that he not onely set them at libertie who had beene brought thither by his father or those of his army who attended him but
them also who before time had beene in his kingdome or that sithence likewise had beene brought thither and notwithstanding it was told him that the money that would be required for their ransome would amount to more then foure hundreth talents yet ceased he not to confirme that which he had promised But that it may more plainely appeare how great his royal magnificence was I haue thought good to insert in this place the copie of his edict which he sent abroad to this effect Whosoeuer of you that in my fathers seruice by bearing armes vnder him haue made any roades into Syria and Phaenicia and after the conquest of Iudaea haue taken any prisoners and brought them to our Cities and countries with an intent to sell them all they also who haue heretofore detained any or at this present haue any such captiues in their possession they are to set them at libertie that liue vnder their thraldome receiuing for the ransome of euery person six score drachmes namely the men of warre at such time as their wages shall be paid them as for the rest they shall receiue their money out of the kings treasury For I am of that opinion that contrarie to my fathers mind and against all right they haue beene taken prisoners and that their coūtry hath bin in this sort euilly intreated by the insolēcy of the soldiers who haue thought to make their profit and merchandize by them in transferring them into Aegypt Hauing therefore an especiall respect of iustice and intending to shew mercy to those who are wrongfully oppressed I commaund that all those Iewes who are detained in seruitude be discharged and that they who held them captiue receiue the ransome published by vs so as no deceit or fraud be vsed therein And to the end that our ordinance be exactly and fully fulfilled our will is that this edict of ours be publikely proclaimed three daies after it shall come vnto your hands and that those who hold such prisoners in their possession declare how many prisoners they hold For we suppose that in so doing it shall redound to our profit Moreouer it shall be lawfull for any man that will to accuse the contemners of this decree and our pleasure is that such as contradict the same shall haue their goods confiscate to the Kings vses When this edict of the Kings published to this effect was proclaimed abroad and that onely point was omitted that concerned those that before time had beene afterward the second time were led away prisoners in whose behalfe he had giuen no direction he shewed himselfe most bountifull in like manner toward these And gaue order that the number and tallie should be speedily gathered and the money distributed to the cōmittees tresurers appertaining to him Which being speedily performed in the space of seuen daies all the kings ordinance was accomplished and there was laid out for the ransomes of them all to the summe of more then foure hundreth and sixtie talents For the masters exacted sixescore drachmes for the children also grounding themselues vpon the kings edict by which it was ordained that for euerie person they should haue that summe extending the same euen vnto the children These things being thus magnificently exployted according to the kings commaund he gaue Demetrius in charge to make a decree as touching the translation of the bookes of the Iewes For the king did nothing rashly but administred all things with great wisedome and circumspection and for that cause the copie of Demetrius suggestion and the letters sent to this effect are orderly registred and recorded in writing The number likewise of the presents that were sent and by whom they were offered so that who soeuer shall behold the same he shall incontinently iudge by the curious workmanship the high perfection of the workman and by the excellencies of the pieces he shall incontinently know by whom each of them was fashioned The copie of the aduice and suggestion made by Demetrius is this Demetrius to the great king Health Most mightie Prince since you haue committed the trust vnto me to find out those bookes that are deficient in your librarie and to search for such volumes as hitherto haue beene hid from my sight to the end that I might gather them and perfect them and that those which are lost might be restored with all the diligence that thereunto belongeth after that I had vsed herein all the care that in me was possible I giue you to vnderstand that amongst others we want the books of the lawes of the Iewes For in that they are written in Characters and Hebrew words we haue had no notice thereof where through they haue beene more negligently handled then was behoouefull for that vntill this day it hath neuer hapned that any Princes thought hath extended so farre It therefore behooueth thee to haue them exactly interpreted for since that those lawes proceeded frō God himself it is most certaine that of all other lawes in the world they are the wisest and incorruptest For which cause Hecataeus the Abderite saith that neither Poets nor Historians haue made any mention of them neither of those who haue beene policied and gouerned vnder the same because in themselues they are pure and are not to be declared by impure lips May it therefore please your Maiestie to write vnto the high Priest of the Iewes commaunding him to send you sixe Auncients of euerie tribe such as he shall know to be most expert in their law by whom we may cleerely apprehend the sense contained in those bookes to the end that hauing the faithfull interpretation of those things that are contained therein we may collect and gather them together to the full satisfaction of your Maiesties desire When the king had in this sort beene both aduised and suggested he wrote vnto Eleazar the high Priest of the Iewes as touching this matter giuing him likewise to vnderstand of that libertie by him granted vnto the Iewes that were in his kingdome He sent him also fiftie talents of gold to make cups ewers and vessels with an infinite number of precious stones commaunding his coferers who had the charge of his Iewels to suffer the workmen to choose what stones they best liked Furthermore he willed that a hundreth talents should be giuen for the sacrifices and oblations and other vses of the temple But after that I haue declared what was the copie of the letter sent vnto Eleazar the high Priest and the manner howe hee obtained that sacerdotall dignitie I will set downe both the rich presents and their curious workemanshippe After the death of Onias the high Priest his sonne Simon surnamed the Iust succeeded him in his place who for that cause was so called by reason of the piety which he shewed toward God the good affection which he bare vnto his countrimen This Simon dying leauing behind him one onely son of yong tender yeres who was called Onias his
he kept those by him whom Eleazar had sent vnto him who comming to his presence accompanied with those presents which the high priest had deliuered them to present vnto him with the originall wherein the lawe was written with golden letters he asked them where their bookes were and they discouering and opening them shewed them vnto him After the king had seene them he was very much astonished to see the membranes parchments so delicate and to behold the whole forme thereof so perfectly conioyned that it was impossible to discouer the seams and he told them that he gaue them thanks for that they were come vnto him more great thanks vnto him that had sent them and the greatest and most especiall thanks vnto God who was the author of these lawes Whereupon the Elders and those that assisted them cried out altogither and wished that all good hap might befall the king who thorow the excessiue ioy that he conceiued burst out into teares For naturally extreame ioy and most grieuous sadnesse haue like effects After he had commanded that these books should be committed to their trust who were deputed to that office at length he saluted the Elders telling them that it was very behoouefull for him first of all to debate with them vpon the matter to which intent he had sent for them and afterwards to giue them intertainment in a word he confessed vnto them that their accesse was so gratefull vnto him that he promised them so long time as he liued he would euery yeere renew and honour the memorie of the same and by good hap it was the very same day wherin he ouercame Antigonus by sea His pleasure was also that they should be his guests and he caused diuers goodly lodgings to be assigned them vnder the Castle Nicanor likewise who had the charge to entertaine strangers commanded Dorotheus who was ordinarily emploied in the same to prepare for euery one of them such things as were necessary for their diet and entertainment For so was it ordained by the king that in euery Citie that had any particularity in their manner of life there should be a commissary appointed to prouide for forrainers that arriued in that place to the intent they might be intreated according to their customes intending thereby that their entertainment should be the more agreeable vnto them and that they might be the lesse tired with forraine nouelties This custome of his was put in practise at this time by Dorotheus care and exact diligence who in his owne person disposed all that which was necessarie for that hospitality He prepared two places to banquet in in two seuerall parts according as the king had commaunded him so that some of them might sit on either side of him and the rest might be placed neere vnto his table omitting nothing of that which concerned either their honour or kind enteruiew When they were in this sort placed the king commanded Dorotheus to entertaine them in like manner as he was wont to doe those who repaired vnto his court from Iudaea Hereupon he dismissed the Aegyptian priest and other that were woont to make the ordinary praiers which done he commaunded that one of the elders called Eliseus who in like sort was a Priest to blesse the table whereupon he standing vpright in the midst of them all besought God to blesse both the king his subiects with all happines Whereupon there arose an applause and acclamation of all men intermixed with ioyfull delight which being ceased they fell to their banquet and made good cheere with that which was set before them When the king had held his peace so long as he thought conuenient he began at last to play the Philosopher asking of euery one of thē certaine questions in Phisicke praying them to decide and discusse the same and when as each of them in order had verie pertinently answered to the question that was propounded vnto them the King tooke great pleasure therein and for twelue daies space he continued this feast Who so desireth to know the questions that were proposed vnto them in particular let him read the booke which Aristaeus hath written to that effect In a word the king was not onely astonished at their answeres but the Philosopher Menedemus also who hauing affirmed that all things were administred by diuine prouidence and that it appeared what the vertue and excellencie of this discourse was this questioning debate was finished But the king protested in their presence that their accesse had infinitely contented and instructed him in that by their meanes he had obtained the good hap to be enformed by them how to goueme his kingdome Whereupon he commaunded that each of them should haue three talents giuen him and that they might bee conuaied to their lodgings Some foure daies after Demetrius tooke them with him and led them ouer that trench of the sea that containeth seuen furlongs and that bridge which coupleth the Island with the continent and towards the northermost end thereof he assigned them a lodging remote from all noice and fit for contemplation to which place after he had brought them he besought them that since they had all those things that were necessarie for the interpretation of their lawes they would intend the same without any discontinuance of the worke vntill they had brought it to perfection and they for their parts imployed all their labour and diligence that was in them possible to the end the interpretation might be exact intending onely and continually this labour from the morning vntill three houres after noone after which time they imployed the rest of the day in their refections and to that end they were furnished in all aboundance with all sorts of victuals Ouer and besides Dorotheus presented them with a part of diuers dishes which were prepared for the King for so had his Maiestie commaunded it Thus euerie morning entred they the Kings pallace and after they had saluted him they retired themselues to their accustomed place and after they had washed their hands in the sea water and were purified they set them downe in that manner to proceed and prosecute their translation Now when the law was fully interpreted and the worke was fully finished in the space of seuentie and two daies Demetrius assembled all the Iewes in that place where the law had beene translated and caused it to be read ouer in the presence of the interpreters themselues Which done the assembly approoued the exposition of the interpreters and praised Demetrius by whose suggestions and inuention they enioyed so great a good They requested likewise that this exposition should be perused and ouerred by the Nobles and gouernours After this both the Priest the Elders of the interpreters and the magistrates of the people required that since this translation was so happily atchieued it might remaine vnaltered so that no iot thereof might be chaunged Which resolution being allowed by all men it was ordered that if
betweene the Romanes and the Iewes CHAP. XVIII Bacchides is sent once againe into Iudaea and obtaineth a victory WHen as Nicanors death and the discomfiture of his army was reported to Demetrius he sent a new army into Iudaea vnder the conduct of Bacchides who departing from Antioch and repairing to Iudaea encamped in Arbela a city of Galilee where hauing inforced conquered and taken a great number of those that were retired into caues he departed from thence and repaired in all haste to Ierusalem And vnderstanding that Iudas was encamped in the village of Berzeth he marched out against him with twentie thousand footmen and two thousand horsemen Now Iudas had not on his side in all aboue two thousand men who perceiuing the multitude of Bacchides soldiers were afraid so that some of them forsaking their camp fled away by which meanes there remained no more with Iudas but eight hundreth men Seeing himselfe therefore abandoned by so many of his men and pressed by his enemies who gaue him neither truce nor time to reassemble his forces he resolued to fight with those eight hundreth which he had whom he exhorted to be of good courage and to fight valiantly but they answered that they were insufficient to make head against so huge an army and counsailed him to retire and to stand on his guard for that time vntill he had gathered forces that might be able to confront the enemy But Iudas replied to this effect God forbid said he that the sunne should see me turne my backe vpon mine enemies And if by this meanes I meete with my death and that I must needes spend ◅y last bloud in this battell I will neuer soile so many notable actions so worthily atchieued nor staine so much glorie obtained with so great vertue by one ignominious flight And hauing in this sort exhorted the small remnant of those souldiers that were with him he commanded them that without any apprehension of danger they should bend themselues altogither against the enemy CHAP. XIX Iudas ouercome in the battell dieth BVt Bacchides drew out his army and arranged them in battell placing the horsemen on both the wings his light armed souldiers and archers in the front of the army and after these a strong band called the Macedonian Phalanx and he himselfe led the right wing of the battell And in this array he approched Iudas campe and caused the trumpets to be sounded commanding all his souldiers to giue a great shoute to charge their enemies Iudas did the like and encountred Bacchides so that on both sides there was a most cruell conflict which continued vntill the sunne-set And when as Iudas perceiued that Bacchides and the flower of his army fought in the right wing he chose out a certaine number of his most resolute followers and drew towards that quarter and setting vpon them he brake their squadron and afterwards thrusting into the midst of them he forced them to flie and pursued them as farre as the mount Aza They of the left wing perceiuing the flight of those in the right went after Iudas and enclosed him on the backpart He being vnable to flie and seeing himselfe enclosed by his enemies resolued with his souldiers to fight it out When as therefore he had slaine a great number of his enemies and being enfeebled more through wearinesse then by the woundes receiued of them he fell to the ground and was himselfe at last slaine likewise adding this honourable manner of death to his former notable and valiant exploites His souldiers seeing him dead and hauing no gouernour of respect left amongst them after the losse of so valiant a captaine betooke them all to flight Simon and Ionathan his brothers vpon intreatie recouered his body and carried it to Modim a place where his father was buried there was he interred by all the people who wept for him diuers daies and honoured him publikely according to the custome of their countrey Such was Iudas end who was a valiant man a great warriour and verie respectiue of the commandements of his father Matthias hauing done and suffered all that he might for the libertie of his countrey Being therefore after this manner adorned with vertue he hath left behinde him a perpetuall renowne of his worthy actes and an honourable memorie of himselfe obtained by the libertie in which hee reestablished his nation retyring them from the seruitude of the Macedonians who died also after he had discharged the office of the high priest for the space of three yeeres THE XIII BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 13. booke 1 Ionathan after his brother Iudas death succeedeth him in the gouernment 2 Ionathan hauing wearied Bacchides by warre compelleth him to draw to a league and to depart away with his army 3 Alexander the sonne of Antiochus Epiphanes maketh warre vpon King Demetrius 4 Demetrius sendeth an embassador to Ionathan with presents perswading him to be of his faction 5 Alexander by greater proffers then Demetrius did offer and by offering the high Priests place to Ionathan draweth him to fauour his faction 6 Of the temple of God builded by Onias 7 How Alexander after the death of Demetrius highly honoured Ionathan 8 Demetrius the sonne of Demetrius ouercomming Alexander possesseth the kingdome and plighteth friendship with Ionathan 9 Tryphon Apamenus after he had ouercome Demetrius reserueth the kingdome for Antiochus Alexanders sonne who receiueth Ionathan into fauour 10 Demetrius being ouercome by the Parthians Tryphon breaketh his couenant of peace and laying hold on Ionathan traiterously killeth him and afterwards assaulteth Simon his brother 11 How the nation of the Iews cōmitted both the priesthood the gouernment of the army to Simon 12 Simon driuing Tryphon into Dora besiegeth him and entreth friendship with Antiochus surnamed Pius 13 A debate arising betweene Antiochus and Simon Cendebaeus the kings captaine is driuen out of the countrey 14 How Simon was traiterously slaine at a banquet by Ptolomey his father in law 15 How Prolomies endeuours being made frustrate Hircanus obtained the gouernment 16 How Antiochus surnamed the Iust leading an army against Hircanus for three hundreth talents is both reconciled and tied in league of friendshippe 17 Hircanus expedition into Syria 18 How Antiochus Cyzicenus assisting the Samaritanes is both conquered and enforced to flie 19 Aristobulus was the first that set the Diademe on his head 20 The actes of Alexander King of the Iewes 21 The victorie of Ptolomey Lathurus against Alexander 22 Demetrius Eucaerus ouercommeth Alexander in battell 23 The expedition of Antiochus Dionysius into Iewry 24 Alexander being dead his wife Alexandra succeeded him in the kingdome CHAP. I. Ionathan after the decease of his brother Iudas succeedeth him in the gouernment WE haue declared in our former booke how the nation of the Iewes after they had been vnder the subiection of the Macedonians recouered their liberty we
that the gouernment which she enioyed during her life time was after her death distracted with infinite troubles and calamities wherewith her family was replenished And notwithstanding her regiment after this manner yet during her life time she kept the kingdome in peace And thus died Alexandra THE XIIII BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 14. booke 1 How after the death of Alexandra her youngest sonne Aristobulus made warre against his brother Hircanus for the kingdome who obtaining the victorie compelled Hircanus to flie into a castle in Ierusalem And how after it was agreed and concluded between them that Aristobulus should be king and Hircanus liue as a priuate man without dignitie 2 Of the race of Antipater and how he purchaseth renowme great power and authoritie both to himselfe and his children and of the flight of Hircanus to Aretas king of Arabia 3 Aristobulus being vanquished is pursued as farre as Ierusalem 4 Hircanus and Aristobulus send Embassadours to Scaurus to request his aid and succour 5 Aristobulus and Hircanus present themselues before Pompey to debate their titles touching the kingdome 6 Pompey is seazed of the fortresses by a warlike stratageme 7 They of Ierusalem shut their gates against the Romans 8 Pompey taketh the Temple and lower part of the citie by force 9 Scaurus maketh warre against Aretas and by the perswasion sollicitation of Antipater maketh aleague with him 10 Alexander being ouercome by Gabinius retireth himselfe into a castle where he is shut vp and besieged 11 Aristobulus escaping out of prison flieth from Rome who being taken againe in Iudaea by Gabinius is sent backe prisoner to Rome 12 Crassus warring against the Parthians passeth through Iewrie and spoyleth the Treasurie of the Temple 13 Pompey retireth into Epirus and Scipio commeth into Syria 14 Caesars voyage into Egypt wherein the Iewes do him faithfull seruice 15 Antipaters valiant acts and the amitie betwixt him and Caesar. 16 Caesars letters and the Senates decree as touching the friendship betwixt the Iewes and Romans 17 Antipater committeth the gouernment of Galilee to his sonne Herod and that of Ierusalem to Phasaelus his other sonne and how Sextus Caesar aduāced Herode to great honour and dignitie 18 Cassius afflicteth Iurie and exacteth eight hundreth talents 19 Malichus poisoneth Antipater 20 Herode putteth Malichus to death by Cassius commandement 21 Antigonus the sonne of Aristobulus seeking to recouer his fathers kingdome by the aide of the King of Tyre is discomfited and driuen out of Iudaea by Herod 22 Herod meeting Antonius in Bithynia winneth his fauour with a great summe of money to the intent he should giue no ◅are to his accusers 23 Antonius arriuing in the prouince of Syria establisheth Herode and Phasaelus for Tetrarches 24 The Parthians make warre in Syria to restore Antigonus the sonne of Aristobulus to the kingdome 25 The Parthians take Hircanus and Phasaelus prisoners and lead them away 26 Herode at Rome is declared King of Iury by the Senate 27 Herode returneth from Rome and fighteth against Antigonus 28 Antigonus is discomfited by Sosius and Herode CHAP. I. How after the Contention betweene the two brethren touching the kingdome it was agreed that Aristobulus should be king and Hircanus liue as a priuate man WE haue alreadie intreated in our former Booke both of the actes and death of Queene Alexandra it now remaineth at this present to prosecute and continue the sequell of our History to the end that we neither omit any thing thorow ignorance or burie ought in forgetfulnes For they that make profession to write Histories and to recite such things as are obserued by antiquitie ought not onely studiously to conforme their stile but also to beautifie the same with the ornaments of eloquence to the intent the reader may conuerse in their writings with the more delectation But aboue all things they must haue an especiall care so exactly to set downe the truth that they who know not how these things came to passe may be the more duely and fitly informed When as therefore Hircanus had taken vpon him the high Priesthood in the third yeere of the hundreth seuentie and seuenth Olympiade and in the yeere that Q. Hortensius and Q. Metellus called the Cretensian were consuls at Rome Aristobulus sodainly vndertooke the warre against Hircanus and fought with him neere vnto Iericho where a great number of Hircanus followers submitted themselues of their owne accord to Aristobulus Thorow which accident Hircanus was inforced to fly to the fortresse of the higher citie wherein Alexandra Aristobulus mother had imprisoned both his wife and children as before this it is specified The rest of his faction for feare of his brother who had gotten the victory retired themselues within the enclosure of the temple where they were besieged and taken After this a peace was intreated of betwixt both the brethren and their different was accorded in this manner that Hircanus should passe the remnant of his life without entermedling with affaires of estate but should onely intend his security and peace and Aristobulus should commaund the kingdome This league was ratified betweene them in the temple and confirmed with othes coniunction of hands and embraces in the sight of all the people which being finished Aristobulus retired himselfe into the pallace and Hircanus to Aristobulus lodging to lead a priuate and quiet life CHAP. II. Of the race of Antipater and how he is aduanced to high estate and how Hircanus flieth to Aretas King of Arabia BVt acertaine friend of Hircanus by nation an Idumaean and by name Antipater being wel monied and by nature both factious and industrious and thorow ambition but badly affected toward Aristobulus the rather for that he affected Hircanus faction began to stir much trouble True it is that Nicholas Damascene writeth of this man that he was descended from the noblest amongst those Iewes who returned from out of Babylon into Iury but this he did of set purpose to gratifie Herode Antipaters sonne who by a casualtie became afterwards King of the Iewes as we will expresse hereafter in time and place conuenient This Antipater was at the first called Antipas according to his fathers name who as it is reported was made gouernour of all Idumaea by king Alexander and his wife and afterwards made a league with the Arabians Gazeans and Ascalonites corrupting them and insinuating himselfe into their fauours by diuers great presents bestowed vpon them This young Antipater considering with himselfe what Aristobulus power was and fearing least some mischiefe might be fall him thorow the hatred the young king had conceiued against him he communicated with certaine of the greatest reckoning amongst the lewes and secretly and cunningly incensed them against Aristobulus telling them that they had done amisse both to see and suffer Aristobulus to detaine the kingdome vniustly in his hands and to dispossesse
present attended him came downe from the tower and humbled himselfe on his knees before Sosius feet who hauing no compassion of the change of that estate wherein he saw him outragiously scorned him calling him Madame Antigona yet left he him not without guard after the manner of a woman but fast bounde for his further assurance But Herode was busied in deuising how he might moderate his associates and strangers after he had had the vpper hand ouer his enemies For the strangers swarmed into the Citie by heapes and not onely into the Temple but also into the Sanctuarie Hee therefore exhorted some and threatned other some and restrained the rest by force of armes and he was more troubled at that present in being a conquerour then if he had been conquered for that those things that were not lawfull to be seene were beheld by prophane men He preuented likewise the spoile of the Citie as much as in him lay beseeching Sosius most instantly to preserue it to the vtmost asking him if the Romans would leaue him king of a desart after they had voided the Citie of men and goods Alleadging furthermore that he esteemed the gouernment of the whole world of no valew in regard of the life of one of his Citizens Sosius answered that it was reason that the pillage should be giuen to the souldier who had borne the hazard of the siege whereunto Herode answered that he would satisfie euerie man out of his owne treasurie and by this meanes he raunsomed the rest of the Citie by fulfilling those his promises For he gaue many mightie gifts vnto euerie one of the souldiers and by proportion vnto the captaines but aboue all hee royally rewarded Sosius so that euerie one of them departed very rich in siluer This calamitie hapned in the Citie of Ierusalem in the yeere wherein Marcus Agrippa and Canidius Gallus were Consuls which was in the hundreth fourescore and fift Olympiade in the third moneth on the daies wherein the solemne fast was celebrated as if this affliction had iumpt togither in one issue and instant with that of Pompeies for on the same day had the same Citie been taken twentie and seuen yeeres before Sosius offered a crowne of gold vnto God and afterwards departed from Ierusalem leading Antigonus prisoner with him vnto Anthony But Herode fearing least if Antigonus should be kept by Anthony and sent to Rome he should debate his title with him before the Senate by protest that he was descended of the royall line whereas Herode was but a Plebeian and common person and that although hee had offended the Romans and thereby might not deserue to be king yet at least his children who were of the princely line were not to be denyed their title Herode I say fearing these things wrought so much by force of his money with Anthony that he caused him to put Antigonus to death so that at that time Herode was truely deliuered from all feare Thus ended the estate of the Asmoneans after sixe score and sixe yeeres This family was famous both for their nobilitie as also by reason of their Sacerdotall dignitie and for the noble actions and exploites which their auncestors had atchieued for our nation but they lost their authoritie thorow their mutuall factions which soueraigntie was deriued to Herode Antipaters sonne who was ignoble by birth and of meane friends who were subiects and vassals to kings See heere what we haue receiued from our auncestors as touching the ende of the race of the Asmoneans THE XV. BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 15. booke 1 Ierusalem being ouercome by Sosius and Herode Antigonus is beheaded by Anthonies commandement Herode maketh away the chiefest friends of Antigonus 2 How Hircanus being dismissed by the Parthians returneth to Herode 3 Herode after he had made Aristobulus his wife Mariammes brother high priest practiseth and worketh his death 4 Cleopatra thirsting after the kingdomes of Iewry and Arabia laboureth to beg a part of them at Anthonies hands 5 The arriuall of Queene Cleopatra in Iudaea 6 Herode maketh warre against Aretas at such time as Anthony was ouerthrowne by Caesar in the Actianwarre 7 Of the earthquake in Iewry 8 Herodes oration to his army 9 Herode intending to repaire vnto Caesar doth of necessitie kill Hircanus 10 How Herode obtained the continuance of his kingdome of Iudaea at Caesars hands 11 Herode maketh away Mariamme thorow false calumniations of her enemies 12 Of the famine that afflicted the land of Iewry 13 The building of Caesarea 14 Herode buildeth a new temple in Ierusalem CHAP. I. Ierusalem being taken by Sosius and Herode Antigonus is beheaded by Anthonies command Herode maketh away all his chiefest friendes IN the former booke I haue declared how Sosius and Herode tooke the Citie of Ierusalem by force with it Antigonus prisoner now wil we also declare that which hath subsequently followed For after that Herode had obtained the absolute gouernment ouer the whole land of Iudaea he aduanced all those among the common people who fauoured his proceedings as for those who were opposed against him there passed not a day wherein some one or other of them suffered not punishment But amongst the rest Pollio the Pharisee and Sameas his disciple were highly honoured by him For during the time of the siege of Ierusalem they counselled the inhabitants to receiue entertaine Herod for which cause he respected them accordingly This Pollio in times past when Herode was found guiltie of death foretolde Hircanus and the rest of the Iudges in way of exprobration that being absolued by them he should one day inflict punishment on them all Which prediction God in processe of time approoued by the euent no sooner therefore became he master of Ierusalem but he gathered togither all the rich houshold stuffe that was in the pallace and furthermore hauing spoiled the rich men of their goods and by this means leuied a great summe of gold and siluer he sent great presents to Anthony and his friends Moreouer he condemned fiue and fortie of Antigonus principall and noblest fauourites to death setting streight watch about their doores that none of them might be carried out vnder colour of being dead The dead bodies likewise were troden vnder foote and all the gold siluer or iewels that was to be found amongst them was carried to the king and conuerted to his vse so that there was no end of these miseries For the couetousnesse of the conquerour whose greedy and thirsting desire could hardly be quenched said hold on whatsoeuer was theirs And for that it was the seuenth yeere it necessarily came to passe that the land was left vnmanured for we are forbidden to sowe in this yeere Anthony hauing taken Antigonus prisoner resolued to keepe him in prison vntill the time of his triumph But after he had receiued tidings that the
so many sacrifices as that scarcely they may be comprehended in number for that their multitude exceedeth their estimate About the verie time of the celebration of this feast in honour of the reedification of the Temple the kings day of coronation fell out which he was woont to solemnize euerie yeere with great ioye and for this twofolde occasion the solemnitie and ioy was farre more sumptuous and compleate The king also caused a conduit of water to be made and conuaied by pipes vnder ground drawing it from the Castle Antonia vnto the Orientall gate of the temple neere to which he builded an other Tower also to the end that by the conduits hee might ascend priuily vnto the Temple if happely the people should practise any insurrections against his roialtie It is reported that during the building of this temple it neuer rained by day time but onely by night to the intent the worke might not be interrupted and our predecessors haue testified no lesse vnto vs. Neither is this thing vncredible if we attentiuely consider those other effects of Gods prouidence Hitherto concerning the reedification of the Temple THE XVI BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 16. booke 1 How Alexander and Aristobulus returning vnto Herode their father were calumniated by Salomes and Pheroras meanes 2 How Herode gaue Alexander and Aristobulus wiues 3 How Herode sailed vnto Agrippa 4 The Iewes of Ionia accused the men of that countrey before Agrippa for indeuouring to take away their priuiledges granted vnto them by the Romans 5 How Herode returned into Iudaea 6 Of the discord in Herodes house betweene him and his sonnes 7 How Antipater being at Rome Herode brought Alexander and his brother and accused them before Caesar. 8 Of the defence of Alexander and how he was reconciled vnto his father 9 How Herode did celebrate euery fiue yeeres certaine sportes for hauing finished Caesarea 10 The Embassage of the Cyrenian and Asian Iewes vnto Caesar. 11 How Herode needing money entred into Dauids Sepulchre 12 How Archelaus king of Cappadocia did reconcile Alexander vnto his father 13 How the Trachonites reuolted 14 Of Herodes expedition into Arabia 15 How Syllaeus accused Herode vnto Caesar. 16 Of Euryclis his calumniations against Herodes sonnes 17 How Herodes sonnes were condemned in a councell at Berytus CHAP. I. How Alexander and Aristobulus being returned vnto their father were assailed and calumniated by Salome and Pheroras AMongst the rest of the affaires of the common wealth the king thought it behooued him to redresse and hinder priuate iniuries both in the Citie and country for the which purpose he made a new law vnlike to the former that it should be lawfull for such as were wall-breakers to be sold for slaues out of the limits of his kingdome which law did not seeme so much to intend the punishment of malefactors as the dissolution of his own countrey customs For to serue forraine nations who liued not after the manner of the Iewes and to doe whatsoeuer they commanded them was more preiudiciall vnto religion then vnto the parties conuicted of that fact Wherefore it was sufficiently already in the olde auncient lawes prouided for the punishment of such people to wit that a theefe should restore four times as much as he stole which if he was not able to doe that then he was to be solde not vnto strangers nor into perpetuall bondage but onely for seuen yeeres at which time he should againe be set free So that the common people did interpret this new lawe to set downe an vniust punishment and rather to sauour of tyrannie then of princely dignitie and to be enacted not without contempte of their auncient lawes so that for this cause all men spoke verie ill of the king At the same time Herode sayled into Italy to salute Caesar and to see his children liuing at Rome Where Caesar receiuing him verie curteously permitted him to take his sons home with him as being now sufficiently instructed in the liberall artes Who returning into their country were ioyfully receiued of all their countrimen both for that they were of comely stature and of curteous conditions and in their very behauiour did shew that they came of kingly linage Which things mooued Salome and the rest by whose false accusations their mother Mariamme was oppressed to enuy them fearing their puissance and verily perswading themselues that they would be reuengers of their mothers iniuries So taking hereby occasion they began also falsly to accuse them as misliking their father who had caused their mother to be slaine and as though they had an auersion from him whose hands was imbrued in their mothers bloud For they well perceiued that by such calumniations they might draw them into hatred and auert their fathers good will from them Yet did they not carrie these their inuentions to the kings eares but contented themselues to brute them abroad amongst the common people which so in the end comming to his hearing would cause in him such enmitie and hatred against his sonnes as that it would ouercome in him all naturall affection CHAP. II. How Herode gaue wiues vnto Alexander and Aristobulus BVt the king as yet mistrusting nothing moued with a fatherly care ouer them had them in such estimation as reason did require and for that they were now come vnto mans estate he married them both and vnto Aristobulus he gaue Bernice the daughter of Salome and vnto Alexander Graphyra the daughter of Archelaus king of Cappadocia Which done vnderstanding that Marcus Agrippa was returned out of Italy into Asia he went vnto him thither and inuited him into his kingdome requesting him to accept of his friends entertainment Which Agrippa yeelding vnto Herode omitted nothing that might delight him for he receiued him in his Cities newly built shewing him the faire houses and goodly edifices entertaining him and the rest of his friends and followers with all sorts of delights pompe magnificence as well at Sebaste as at the hauen of Caesarea and in the Castles he built to wit Alexandrium Herodium and Hircania He also brought him to Ietusalem where all the people met him apparelled in such goodly and braue attire as they were accustomed to adorne themselues withall when as they celebrated their festiuals and with many ioyfull acclamations receiued and saluted him Agrippa offered a hundreth head of fat oxen to God and feasted all the people and although he would willingly haue made a longer abode there yet winter drawing nigh fearing tempestuous weather he was forced to saile away with all speed into Ionia both he and his friends being honoured with very great presents CHAP. III. How Herode sayled vnto Agrippa HErode hauing past the winter at home and hearing that Agrippa was now with an army minded to go to Bosphorus the spring time being now at hand he sayled vnto him againe and
before the people and the people throwing any thing that came to their hands at them they slew them euery one And Alexander and Aristobulus were caried vnto Sebaste there by their fathers command were strangled and their bodies buried by night in the castle Alexandrium where their grandfather by the mothers side and many of their progenitors lay buried But perhaps some will nothing maruaile that a hatred so long a breeding should in the end so preuaile that it ouercame naturall affection But one may iustly doubt whether the fault were in the yong men who exasperated by a hard father so long time fell into such hatred of him or whether it is to be imputed vnto his vnkindnes immoderate desire of honour rule who could not abide any to be his equal but rather chusing to do all at his owne pleasure Or rather vnto fortune whose power the wisest liuing is not able to resist Wherefore I am perswaded that fortune hath predestinated all humane actions so that they must haue a necessary euent And this ineuitable force we cal fate or fatal destinie for that there is nothing which it effecteth not But it sufficeth briefly to haue touched this high matter which is of it selfe very difficult which attributeth some thing vnto our actions and examineth the causes of the varietie of our actions which speculation is alreadie comprised in the two volumes of our law Furthermore as touching the yong mens fault we may accuse their youthly arrogancy the free kingly pride which was in them who did giue too great eare vnto their fathers accusers for that they were vniust serchers into his life actions and that they maliciously suspected him could not rule their tongues but hereby gaue double occasion vnto their aduersaries and matter vnto those tale bearers that sought to get the kings fauor But their fathers shamefull fault cānot be excused who suffered himselfe so to be ouerruled with passion that he put thē to death that were begotten of his own body without any proof or argumēt of the crimes laid vnto their charge yea two yong men of excellent feature of body not only beloued of their owne nation but also of strangers not slouthfull in hunting cōmendable in military affaires eloquent in ciuil discourses For in all these things they were excellent especially Alexander the eldest of them It had bin enough for him suppose he had condemned them either to haue kept thē in perpetual prison or to haue banished them into some far country seeing that he was assured of the Roman power vnder whose protectiō he neither needed to haue feared inuasion nor secret treason against him For so soone to put them to death only to satisfie his owne furious will what other thing doth it betoken but only an impious liberty casting off all fatherly humanity kindnes especially seeing that he was aged whose yeeres could neither plead ignorance not that he was deceiued For neither was he the more excused by the delay he vsed nay it had beene a lesse offence if amazed with some sudden newes he had beene incited vnto so hainous an offence but after so long delay deliberation at last to effect such a matter betokeneth a bloudie mind obdurate in wickednes as he well shewed himselfe afterward to haue not sparing the rest whō before time he held most deere who although they were lesse to be pitied in that they iustly suffered yet was it an argument of his like cruelty in that he abstained not from their deaths also but we will speake hereof hereafter THE XVII BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 17. booke 1 Of Antipaters malice who was Herodes sonne 2 Of Zamaris the Babylonian Iew. 3 Of Antipaters treacherous practises against Herode his father 4 How Herode sent Antipater vnto Caesar. 5 Of Pheroras death 6 How Pheroras wife was accused for intending to poyson the king and how Herode knew Antipaters practises against him 7 How Antipater was condemned to die and imprisoned 8 Of Herodes sicknesse and the sedition amongst the Iewes 9 Of Antipaters death 10 Of Herodes death his testament and funerall 11 How the people began a sedition against Archelaus 12 Of the sedition of the Iewes against Sabinus and how Varus punished the authors thereof 13 How Caesar ratified Herodes testament 14 Of the false Alexander 15 How Archelaus being againe accused was banished vnto Vienna CHAP. I. Of Antipaters malice who was Herodes sonne AFTER that Antipater had made away his brothers thorow the extreme impietie and vnbridled furie wherewith Herode their father was incensed and whetted against them yet incontinently obtained he not that which vndoubtedly he hoped for For being deliuered and discharged of that feare he conceiued least his brethren should be partakers with him in the kingdome he found it a difficult and dangerous matter for himselfe to finde the meanes how he might obtaine the kingdome so strange and hainous a hatred had all the nation conceiued against him On the other side in shewing himselfe proud and loftie he more and more whetted and encreased that hatred which the souldiers had fore conceiued against him in whom notwithstanding the securitie of the kingdome consisted if it should fortune so to fall out that the people should attempt any alteration All which mischiefes were begotten by his owne sinnes and the vnnaturall murther of his brothers Naithelesse he gouerned the kingdome with his father liuing in no lesse authoritie then himselfe Herode also reposed more confidence in him euen in those things for which he was worthie to lose his head For the king conceiued that in confirmation of his good affection towards him Antipater had accused his brethren as vnder resolution to continue his father in securitie and not for any hatred he bore as well vnto them as to his father though indeed he hated them for his fathers sake being transported with furie But all these were but as it were many subtill stratagemes to insinuate himselfe into Herodes counsailes and sauours and these did he craftily make vse of to cut off the occasion least any should preuent or accuse him of that which he pretended to doe and that Herode might be depriued of all meanes and manner of reliefe if so be Antipater should bend his forces against him For the treason he complotted against his brothers proceeded from the hatred he bare vnto his father but at that time was he the more egged on to prosecute his intended purposes without any delay or procrastination For if Herode should happen to die it was a matter most assured that the kingdome should be his and should his life conti◅ any longer time and the practise Antipater went about should be discouered seeing himselfe inuironed with these dangers he should be inforced to make his father his enemy For which cause he vsed verie
slaine by his father she was married the second time to Iubaking of Mauritania and he also being dead she liuing with her father in Cappadocia was married to Archelaus who put away Mariamme his wife for the loue he bare vnto Glaphyra She liuing with Archelaus was encountred with such a dreame She thought that she sawe Alexander fast by her who cherishing and embracing her checked her saying Glaphyra Thou approouest the truth of that prouerbe which saith Women haue no loyaltie For hauing giuen me thy faith and maried with me at such time as thou wert a virgin and borne children by me thou hast forgotten and neglected my loue thorow the desire thou hast had to be married the second time Neither hast thou contented to haue done me this wrong but hast taken vnto thee likewise a third husband lewdly and impudently intruding thy selfe into my family and being married with Archelaus thou art content to admit my brother for thy husband This notwithstanding I will not forget the loue that I haue borne there but will deliuer thee from him who hath done thee this reproch by retaining thee for mine owne as heretofore thou hast been After that she had told this vision to certaine women that were her familiars she died verie shortly after Which accident I haue thought good to register in this place in that I was to intreat of those kings and otherwise the matter seemeth to be a signall example containing a most certaine argument of the immortalitie of soules and Gods prouidence And if any one deeme these things incredible let him reserue his opinion to himselfe and no waies contradict those who by such euents are incited to the study of vertue Now when the gouernment of Archelaus was annexed to Syria Cirenius who had been Consul was sent by Caesar to taxe Syria and to dispose of Archelaus house THE XVIII BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 18. booke 1 Cyrenius is sent by Caesar into Syria and Iudaea to taxe the people Coponius is made gouernour of Iudaea Iudas the Galilean raiseth vp new troubles 2 What and how many Sects there were among the Iewes 3 The Tetrarches Herode and Philip build Cities in honour of Caesar. 4 The sedition of the Iewes against Pontius Pilate 5 That which hapned to the Iewes that were dwelling at Rome in Pilates time 6 Of Vitellius his arriuall in Ierusalem and how he receiued commission from Tiberius Caesar to make warre against Aretas after he had receiued hostages of Artabanus 7 Herode the Tetrarches warre against king Aretas and his ouerthrow 8 Agrippaes voiage to Tiberius where he is accused and shut in prison He is deliuered after the death of Tiberius by Caius his successor 9 How Herode the Tetrarch was banished 10 The sedition of the Iewes and Greekes at Alexandria 11 Caius sendeth Petronius into Iudaea to make warre against the Iewes if so be they refused to receiue his statue 12 That which hapned to the Iewes that were at Babylon and of the two brethren Asinaeus and Anilaeus CHAP. I. Cyrenius is sent by Caesar into Syria Cyrenius the Roman Senator hauing executed all degrees offices and dignities vntill such time as he obtained the Consulship a man of great reckoning and estimation was sent into Syria by Caesars direction to doe iustice among the people and to sesse and taxe each mans goods with him was sent Coponius a captaine of a companie of horsemen who was appointed to haue the commaundement of all Iewrie Cyrenius therefore came into Iudaea which was already annexed vnto Syria to taxe the goods of the inhabitants thereof and to confiscate Archelaus substance And although at the first the Iewes thought but hardly of this description yet notwithstanding without contradiction they submitted themselues being perswaded thereunto by the counsell of the high priest Ioazar the sonne of Boëthus by whose aduice they suffered themselues to be taxed without contradiction But after this there arose a certaine Iewe called Iudas the Gaulanite borne in the towne of Gamala who hauing a certaine man called Sadoc the Pharisee confederate with him laboured to stirre vp the people to rebellion Alleadging that the description was no other thing but a manifest confession of their seruitude exhorting all the nation to maintaine their libertie and putting them in hope that they thereby should happely establish their estates and enioy their goods with securitie and besides this obtaine both honour and glorie in prosecution of such an enterprise Moreouer that God would not affoord them a more assured way to settle their fortunes then by this meanes namely if they would employ themselues in the execution of their desseignes and if hauing conceiued in their mindes hautie and noble attempts they forbore not to finish the same notwithstanding the execution cost them their liues These speeches of theirs were entertained by the people with great pleasure and by the same they were the more confirmed hartned to rebellion So that there was no kind of euil which these men set not abroach yea the whole nation was replenished with such miseries that it is impossible to recount them for the wars therein continued with such furie that it was impossible to restraine the violence thereof so that they neither spared friends nor respected enemies but were wholy giuen ouer to the spoile There raigned nothing but robberies and murthers of noble personages who entertained one an other vnder pretence to establish the estate of the common weale but in effect for their priuate profit sake wherby the cities were replenished with seditions murthers in which the inhabitants slaughtered one another after a strange manner of furie and desire they had not to spare any that was of their contrarie faction They were afflicted with forraine enemies and famine yet none of these could pacifie their furie but that they furiously raced Cities shed innocent bloud till at length the horrible mischiefe tooke such a head that they consumed the temple of God and burned all the beautifull buildings So dangerous a thing is it to change the customes and manners of a countrey For Iudas and Sadoc hauing introduced and raised a fourth sect and tying the Sectaries to their commaund filled the whole common weale for the present with many troubles and produced the rootes of these mischiefes which afterward branched abroad from this vnaccustomed sect For which cause I thinke it not amisse to discourse briefely of these sectaries opinions whereby so many euils haue fallen vpon our nation CHAP. II. How many and what sects there were among the Iewes THere were three sects among the Iewes of long continuance and antiquitie that of the Esseans that of the Sadduces and that of those who were called Pharisees Of these haue we spoken in our second booke of the warres of the Iewes and yet now I thinke it not amisse to speake somewhat
conferre with Anilaeus They hauing suruaied the place wherein Anilaeus kept assailed both himselfe and his followers by night and slew all those they encountred with without resist and among the rest Anilaeus When the Babylonians sawe that they were deliuered from the oppression of Anilaeus who till that time had been as it were a bridle vnto them to restraine and curbe the hatred they conceiued against the Iewes with whom they had oftentimes been at oddes by reason of the contrarietie of their religions whereby it grew that they oftentimes fell at debate vpon each opportunitie wherein they met At that time therefore that Anilaeus men were discomfited the Babylonians set vpon the Iewes on all sides who seeing themselues in danger by reason of the insolence of the Babylonians against whom they were too weake to make resist and on the other side vnable to liue amongst them they went and dwelt at Seleucia a Citie famous in regard of Seleucus the sonne of Nicanor who builded it In that Citie dwelt diuers Macedons diuers Greekes and a great number of Syrians The Iewes fled thither and soiourned there about some fiue yeeres without any molestation but in the sixt yeere when the plague grew rise in Babylon the Iewes that remained there vvere enforced to seeke them some newe habitation and that remooue of theirs into the Citie of Seleucia was the cause likewise of their further mischiefe as I will make manifest The Greeks who dwell in Seleucia are ordinarily at debate with the Syrians haue alwaies the vpper hand but after that the Iewes came to inhabite in that place in a certaine sedition that arose among them the Syrians had the vpper hand by the meanes of the Iewes who ioyned their forces with theirs who of themselues were valiant and good souldiers The Greeks who had been repulsed in this tumult seeing they had but one onely meanes left them to maintaine their former honour but to breake that league of friendship which was betweene the Syrians and the Iewes deuised in priuate each one with those Syrians with whom they were acquainted promising to liue in peace and amitie with them whereunto they condiscended willingly For the chiefest of these two nations concluded the peace which presently after followed to the end that on both parts they should ioyne in hatred against the Iewes So that altogither charging them at vnawares they slew more then fiftie thousand of them and all of them were slaine except some few who thorow the mercie of their friends and warâ—…ntize of their neighbours were suffered to escape These retired themselues to Ctesiphon a Citie of Greece that was not farre from Seleucia where the king soiourneth euerie yeere and keepeth the greatest part of his mooueables hoping in that place thorow the reuerence of the king they might remaine in more safetie and securitie All the nation of the Iewes that vvere in these quarters stood in great feare For the Babylonians and the Seleucians vvith all the Assyrians of that countrey accorded among themselues to make a generall warre against the Iewes vvhereby it came to passe that they assembled themselues at Nearda Nisibis trusting themselues to the strength of these fortresses which were inhabited also by men who were expert in armes See here what the estate of those Iewes was who remained in Babylon THE XIX BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 19. booke 1 How Caius was slaine by Cheraeas 2 How Claudius obtained the Empire 3 Dissension betwixt the Senate and the people 4 How Claudius aduaunced Agrippa to his fathers Kingdome and his edicts in fauour of the Iewes 5 Agrippas returne into Iudaea 6 Petronius Epistle to Doritas in the behalfe of the Iewes 7 Agrippas actions vntill the time of his death CHAP. I. How Caius was slaine by Cheraeas CAius did not onely expresse and manifest his furie towards those Iewes that dwelt in Ierusalem and in other neighbouring places but also thorow all the countries both by land and sea which were subiect to the Romane Empire filling the whole world with an infinite number of mischiefes yea such and so hainous as the like hereof hitheâ—…to haue neuer beene heard of But Rome in especiall felt the force of his furie which partooke no lesse calamity and misery then any other citie but especially the Senators Patricians and noble men were plagued They also that were called Romane knights who in wealth and dignitie were next vnto the Senators for that out of their number such men were chosen who were to supply the Senat were vexed with intolerable iniuries For with ignominies they were detracted with banishments and confiscations weakned by slaughters wholy exterminated He likewise vsurped the name of a God commaunding his subiects to dignifie him with more then humane honours and ascending the Capitol which amongst all the temples in Rome is most religiously honoured he was so bold as to salute Iupiter and to call him brother Many such impieties committed he by which he expressed that his vnbridled and boundles madnes did neuer forsake him Amongst his other madde prankes that he plaied this is worthie of memorie for on a time thinking it to be too much trouble for him to crosse the sea between Puteol a citie in Campania and Misenum an other towne seated by the sea shore in a galley and otherwaies esteeming it a thing correspondent to his greatnes who was Emperour to exact that superioritie on the sea which was answerable to his soueraignty on the land betwixt one cape of the sea vnto another for the space of thirtie furlongs or stades betwixt which the gulph had his course he caused a bridge to be built on which he commaunded himselfe to be drawen in a chariot as if that way were aunswerable to the dignitie of his deitie He left not one temple of Greece whatsoeuer that he spoiled not of those excellent pictures or imagery that was therein Giuing a commission that all statues and whatsoeuer ornaments or gifts presents that were dedicated in any temple should be brought vnto him saying that such things as were admirable should be reserued for a place of admiration such as was the citie of Rome with these spoyles of the temples decked he his pallace and gardens and generally all his houses and pallaces that he had in Italy He was so impudent also as to giue direction that Iupiter Olympius statue which the Greekes had in great estimation and Phideas the Athenian caruer had made should be transported to Rome But Memmius Regulus to whom he had directed this commission executed it not because the masons informed him that without spoyling it they could not remoue it from the place It is reported also that he was hindered from this execution by such prodigies as are almost incredible which he certified Caius of giuing him to vnderstand what the occasion was that had moued
After this they gaue an entrance to those most grieuous mischiefes and calamities that befell the Iewes for they spred the seed of that warre which was awakened vnder Florus gouernment And for that cause after that Vespasian had obtained the victorie as it shall be hereafter declared he caused them to depart out of that prouince and made them seeke their habitation elsewhere THE XX. BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 20. booke 1 The dissension betweene the Philadelphians and the Iewes and of the Ephode which was the sacerdotall stole 2 How Helena Queene of Adiabena and her sonnes embraced the religion of the Iewes 3 The Gouernour Tiberius Alexander punisheth the sonnes of Iudas of Galtlee 4 How agreat number of Iewes were slaine about the temple 5 The sedition of the Iewes against the Samaritanes 6 The actions of Foelix president of Iudaea 7 The gouernment of Porcius Festus in Iudaea and of certaine murtherers 8 Albinus gouernment 9 How Florus who succeeded Albinus inforced so many iniuries against the Iewes that they were constrained to fall to armes CHAP. I. The dissension betweene the Philadelphians and the Iewes and of the Ephode which was the sacerdotall stole AFTER King Agrippas decease as we haue heretofore declared in our former booke the Emperour Claudius sent Cassius Longinus to succeede Marsus in the gouernment of Syria whom he displaced of that honor in memorie of Agrippa who during his life time had oftentimes required by his letters that he should not suffer Marsus to gouerne the estate of Syria As soone as Cuspius Fadus came into Iewrie to take charge of that countrey which he was to gouerne vnder Caesar he found the Iewes that dwelt on the other side of Iordan in an vprore who had taken armes against the Philadelphians about the limits of a certaine village called Mia which was stored with valiant men at armes Now had those who inhabite beyond Iordan armed themselues in this manner without the consent of their gouernors had slain a great number of the Philadelphians Which when Fadus vnderstood he was sore displeased for that they had not reserued the cause to his hearing and opened their griefes they had conceiued against the Philadelphians but were so bolde of their owne authoritie and without feare to betake themselues to their weapons Hauing therfore apprehended some three of them who had been principals and authors of the sedition he commaunded them to prison and executed one of them called Annibas and banished the other two whose names were Amaram and Eleazar Anon after this Tholomaeus the Archthiefe was also taken and brought vnto him who commaunded him to be executed in that he had done many robberies in Idumaea and Arabia and by this meanes all the countrey of Iudaea was cleered of all theeues by the care and prouidence of Fadus After this he sent for the high priests and the gouernours of Ierusalem commanding them according to the Emperours direction that they should deliuer vp into the Castle of Antonia the long and sacred robe which the high priest onely was accustomed to weare to the end that it might be at the Romans disposition as in times past it had been This commaund of his they durst not contradict yet notwithstanding they required Fadus and Longinus who at that time was come to Ierusalem with a great power for feare the Iewes by reason of this iniunction should grow to rebellion first that it might be lawfull for them to send their Embassadours vnto Caesar to beseech him that the sacred robe might remaine in their custodie Secondly that it might please them to expect the answere which Caesar would returne vpon this their request Fadus gaue them this answere that he permitted them to send their Embassadours to Rome prouided that before hand they deliuered him their children for hostages Which when they had readily performed the Embassadors were sent away Now when they came to Rome the younger Agrippa who was his sonne that lately died knowing the cause of their comming and being ordinarily accustomed to attend vpon Caesar according as we haue heretofore declared besought Caesar that he would grant the Iewes their request as touching the sacred Robe and that it might please him to signifie no lesse vnto Fadus On this his petition Claudius gaue the Embassadours audience and tolde them that he fauoured their suit willing them to be thankfull to Agrippa vpon whose suit he respected them and allowed of their demaunds and besides this answere he deliuered them a letter to this effect Claudius Caesar Germanicus Conseruer of the people Consul created the fift time Emperour the fourth time Father of the countrey the tenth time to the Magistrates of Ierusalem the Senate people and all the nation of the Iewes Health Being required by our welbeloued Agrippa whom I both haue and at this present doe bring vp with me and whom I know to be most deuout I haue heard your Embassadours who were admitted to my presence by his meanes and haue receiued their thankes for the benefits I haue bestowed on your nation I haue also willingly inclined to that instant and expresse request you haue made vnto me and it is my pleasure the sacred Robe of the high priest and the holy Miter remaine in your custodie in such manner as our most deere and right honoured ftiend Vitellius heretofore ordained To which demaund of yours I vouchsafe my allowance first in regard of mine owne pietie and for that I desire that euerie one should serue God according to his own religion next for that I am resolued that in so doing I shall gratifie king Herod yong Aristobulus whose pietie towards me I am priuie to and whose good affection towards you I can witnesse with whom I haue had diuers occasions of friendship both in regard of their vertue as for the honour that I beare vnto them I haue also written to this effect to Cuspius Fadus mine Agent The names of those who haue receiued my letters are Cornelius the sonne of Ceron Trypon the sonne of Theudion Dorotheus the sonne of Nathanael and Iohn the sonne of Iohn Giuen the eight and twentith of Iune in the yeere wherein Rufus and Pompeius Syluanus were Consuls At that same time Herode who was Agrippas brother that lately deceased to whose hands in times past the gouernment of Chalcis had been committed required the Emperour Claudius to grant him the power ouer the temple and the sacred vestments and necessaries and the authoritie of choosing the high priest All which he obtained and from that time forward vntill the end of the warre of the Iewes this power remained in all his successours According to this authoritie Herode deposed Canthara from the priesthood and gaue the succession thereof to Ioseph the sonne of Canëus CHAP. II. How Helena Queene of Adiabena and her sonnes embraced the religion of the Iewes AT that
speake any more He that constrained vs to raise our swords against the Romans was Florus who made his account that it was better for them to die all at once in great troupes then to perish by little and little In briefe the warre began the second yeere of the gouernment of Florus in that prouince which was the twelfth yeere of Neros Empire But they that desire to know exactly all that which we haue beene constrained both to doe and suffer may peruse my bookes as touching the Warres of the Iewes For which cause in this place I will end this ancient historie after which I haue begun to describe the historie of the Warre This auncient historie containeth all that which hath been reported to be done since the first creation of man vntill the twelfth yeere of Neros Empire omitting nothing that hath befallen the Iewes as well in Aegypt as in Syria and Palestine All that likewise which we haue beene enforced to suffer vnder the Assyrians and Babylonians as also our estate vnder the Persians and Macedons and finally vnder the Romans All this as I suppose I haue compiled and gathered togither with carefull diligence and I haue enforced my selfe to recite the number of those who haue been high priest for the space of two thousand yeeres I haue also collected the succession of kings their actions and gouernments with the power of their monarchies according as it is amply described in holy scriptures as also I haue promised in the beginning of my historie Furthermore I dare boldly say that whatsoeuer I haue set downe is so assured that there is no man either Iew or of what nation soeuer yea although he should haue employed the vttermost of his power could more exactly communicate the same vnto the Greekes then I haue done For in their confessions and opinions who are of our nation I haue such knowledge in that which concerneth our doctrine as I surpasse them all And as touching the Grecian disciplines I haue studied and learnt the toung although I cannot boast of the familiar and fit pronunciation of the same for that I haue liued in the countrey For amongst vs we make but slender reckoning of those who are exercised in diuers tongues for that this study is accounted prophane by vs and common not only vnto free persons but also vnto slaues and they onely are esteemed to haue profited in wisedome who fully know the contents of the lawe and who can expound the holy scriptures For this cause although diuers haue trauailed in this exercise of writing histories yet are there scarcely two or three of them that haue written successefully and haue receiued the fruits of their labours And it may be that it shall not be misthought of if I freely speake somewhat of my progenie and life considering that there are men at this day liuing who can approue or reproue me in that I set downe And in this place will I make an end of mine ancient historie which I haue reduced into twentie bookes containing sixtie thousand verses And if God grant me life I will shortly entreat of our warres and the euents of the same that haue hapned hitherto which is the thirteenth yeere of Domitianus Caesars Empire and the fiftie sixe yeere of mine age Moreouer I am resolued to discouer in foure bookes the diuers opinions of the sects of the Iewes as touching God and his essence and our lawes according to which certaine things are permitted vs and othersome are forbidden The end of the Antiquities of the Iewes THE LIFE OF FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS THE SONNE OF MATTHIAS WRITTEN BY HIMSELFE KNOW therfore that I am not basely but nobly descended being both on the father and mothers side deriued from the line of the priests for as much as some are accustomed to draw the ground of their nobility the one from this man the other from that so among our nation the marke of true nobilitie is to deriue a mans petegree from the priesthood Touching my selfe I am not only lineally issued from the priests but I draw my original from them who amongst the foure twenty ranks or families of priests iustly chalenge the superioritie Moreouer by my mothers side I am of the bloud royall For the heires of the Asmoneans from whom she is descended haue for a long time exercised the priesthood and princely power among our nation I wil likewise make it knowne how my predecessors haue succeeded the one after the other My great grandfathers father was Simon surnamed Psellus that is the stutterer who liued at such time as Hircanus the high priest the first of that name and the sonne of Simon the high priest was in office This Simon Psellus had nine sonnes the one of these was Matthias surnamed Aphlias This Matthias tooke to wife the daughter of the high priest Ionathan by whom he had one sonne who was Matthias surnamed Curtus who was borne in the first yeere of Hircanus priesthood Matthias begat Ioseph the ninth yeere of Alexandras gouernment and of Ioseph came Matthias the tenth yeere of the raigne of Archelaus and Matthias begat me the first yeere of the Empire of Caius Caesar. I likewise haue three sonnes mine eldest is Hircanus who was borne in the fourth my next Iustus who was borne in the seuenth and Agrippa my last was borne in the ninth yeere of Vespasians Empire This genealogie of mine do I in this manner propose according as I haue found it written in the publike registers to put them to silence who shal pretend to reproue or detract the same My father Matthias was not onely famous for his expresse nobilitie but hath also beene praised by reason of his iustice and authoritie in Ierusalem which is the mother citie of all the rest in our countrey My bringing vp during my tender yeeres was with Matthias who was my brother by the same father and mother with whom I happily profited in all kind of sciences hauing a good memorie and a quick apprehending spirit so that being as yet a child of fourteene yeers of age I was praised by al men in regard of the good affection I bare to learning and the priests noblest citizens alwaies assembled about me to receiue certaine exact instructions from me in any thing that concerned our ordinances About the age of sixteene yeeres my desire was to haue a search and insight into the sects of our nation which as I haue said are three the first of the Pharisees which is the chiefest The second of the Sadduces And the third of the Esseans For I truly thought with my selfe that I might easily choose the better of the three at such time as I had beene exercised and acquainted with them all for which cause with great abstinence and no lesse labour I passed thorow them all and not content with this experience after I had heard that a certaine man called Banus liued in the desart clothing himselfe with that which
the trees brought forth and feeding on no other kind of meat but that which they willingly yeelded him washing himselfe oftentimes by day and night in cold water to keepe himselfe chast I began to imitate his course of life and after I had liued with him for the space of three yeeres and satisfied my desires at last I returned into the citie At the age of nineteene yeeres I began to intermeddle with publike affaires following the sect of the Pharisees which very neerely resembleth that sect among the Graecians who are called Stoicks After I was sixe and twentie yeeres olde it was my fortune to repaire to Rome vpon this occasion that ensueth During such time as Foelix gouerned Iudaea there were certaine priests my familiars men of much honour more vertue who vpon some slight occasion were bound and sent to Rome by his commaundement to aunswere to that which was obiected against them in Caesars presence Whereupon I being desirous to labour for their liberty hauing especiall intelligence that notwithstanding the torments wherewith they were martyred they buried not in forgetfulnes that pietie which they ought to God but liued on figs and nuts and for this cause I departed for Rome and was encountred with many great and grieuous hazards by sea For the ship wherein I sailed was wrackt in the midst of the Adriatike sea and there were about sixe hundreth of vs that swamme all night long and vpon the day spring by Gods prouidence a Cyrenian ship came in sight and both I and certaine others to the number of fourescore out swimming the rest were taken vp into it and saued After I had in this sort escaped I came to Dicaearchia which the Italians call at this day Puteol and grew acquainted with Aliturus a Iew borne who was a plaier and in good reputation with Nero by whose meanes insinuating my selfe into Poppeas knowledge whovvas Caesars wife I determined to beseech her to procure those Priestes liberties with all expedition which done I by her means recouered their present liberty and being gratified likewise by her with many great gifts I returned into my countrey There found I the commonweale too much addicted to factions and troubles and diuers too prone and readie to rebell and forget their alleageance to the Romanes I enforced my selfe to represse the seditious and exhorted them to chaunge their opinions representing before their eies the qualitie of those against whom they enterprised their warre with whom they neither might compare in experience of warre neither in good fortune for this cause I aduised them not to hazard and ouerthrow their countrey by their rashnesse and rage and with it their posterities and themselues To this effect spake I vnto them instantly intreated them to forsake their vntamed resolution for that I foresaw that the end of this warre would redound to our vtter ruine but I preuailed nothing with them For the furie of desperate dissolute men preuailed aboue reason for which cause fearing least by continuall inforcing of one thing I should grow into hatred and suspition among thē as if I fauored their enemies fearing likewise least if they should lay hold on me they should put me to death seeing that the fort of Antonia was alreadie seazed vpon by the seditious I retired my selfe into the inward part of the tēple In processe of time after Manahem the chiefest among the theeues vvere put to death I came out again from the temple and conuersed with the priests and chiefest Pharisees vvho were surprised with great feare And grieuously vvere vve disma◅ed when we saw the people in armes being vncertaine what to do wanting the meanes to pacifie these mutinies and apparantly perceiuing their manifest daunger both I and the Pharisees told them our opinion vvas answerable to theirs counsailed them to containe themselues in peace and not to prouoke the enemie For our hope was that Gessius vvould with al expedition draw out great forces and chastice those peacebreakers But as soone as he arriued and had fought vvith them he vvas ouercome and a great number of his men vvere slaine whereupon grew the vtter ruine of our vvhole nation For such as desired the vvarre vvere puffed vp vvith that victory and conceiued an assured hope that in the end they should ouercome the Romans Besides that this ensuing occasion presented it selfe The inhabitants of the cities that bordered vpon Syria laid hands on those Iewes that dwelt amongst them and slue both them their wiues and children without any iust cause or crime committed by them For they had not conspired any waies or intended to reuolt from the Romanes or to vse any hostilitie or any secret conspiracie against any of those with vvhom they were conuersant But among all the rest the citizens of Scythopolis exceeded all other in impietie and wickednes For being besieged without by certaine of the Iewes they inforced those Iewes that inhabited amongst them to take armes and to charge those of their owne nation vvhich is both prohibited and vnlawfull by our lawes vvho fighting against them discomfited them but after this ouerthrow they in such ◅ort falsified and forgot their faith that they had giuen to their associates and fellow citizens that they slue euerie mothers sonne of them to the number of many thousands The like misfortune also fell vpon those Iewes that inhabited Damasco But of this we haue more amply spoken in those our bookes vvhich vve haue vvritten of the warres of the Iewes and at this present I make mention hereof intending to signifie and certainly perswade the readers that the warre which vvas vvaged vvith the Romanes proceeded not of a resolute intent and purpose but for the most part of an inforced necessitie After that Gessius vvas ouercome as we haue heretofore declared the chiefest men of Ierusalem perceiuing that the theeues making a partie among the seditious and vvere strongly and plentifully armed and prouided they began to feare least if they should be found disarmed they should sodainly be ouerthrowne by their enemies as in effect it fell out afterwards and hearing that all Galilee was not as yet wholy reuolted from t◅ Romans but that a part thereof as yet entertained the peace they sent me with two other priests Ioazar and Iudas who were both vertuous and honourable men to perswade the mutinons to lay by their armes and to let them know that it was more behoouefull for the good of the nation that such men as were in authoritie and reputation should haue the keeping thereof The resolution that was taken by them was that they had them alwaies ready vpon all occasions but that they expected vntill they were certified what the Romans intended to doe With this commission and such like instructions I repaired into Galilee where I found the Sephorites were in no small hazard in respect of their countrey for that they of Galilee had resolued to forrage the same in
an office of kindnes from a friend For by giuing we bewray our well wishing and by receiuing we proportion and continue frendship vpon this ground I praie you build the good entertainment of my present and nourish this good custome in me which was vsuall both amongst Grecians and Latins I meane my translation which if it please you I haue my wish As for my maligners I expect no worse from them then Iason the Thassalian who being assailed and wounded by an enemie who had an intent to kill him had an impostumation opened that saued his life their stabbe and stroke of disgrace shall cure and heale the hidden and neglected infirmities of my minde and notwithstanding I shall both Genio ingenio liue to loue you and lament their want of char◅ie Thus heartelie commending me I hastilie take my leaue being tied prentize of late to other mens importunities Your louing Friend Tho. Lodge THE FIRST OF THOSE SEVEN BOOKES WHICH WERE WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS THE SONNE OF MATTHIAS AS TOVCHING THE WARRE AND DESTRVCTION OF THE IEWES THE PRAEFACE In which the Author taxeth diuers Historiographers of vntruth and declareth his intent and specifieth the principall points of this Historie FOr as much as the warre which was enterprised betwixt the Iewes and Romans hath amongst all other beene the greatest that either hath beene attempted in our age or heard of in any other either between citie or citie or nation against nation there haue beene some who rather building their discourse on the vaine and improbable report of others then their owne iudgements haue according to the manner of orators made a historie of their hearsay and haue filled their discourses not only with vanitie but also with cōtradiction Others there were who for that they were eie witnesses or actors of the same haue according to their own fancies preferred many lies either to flatter the Romanes or exercise their hatred against the Iewes forging somewhiles accusations otherwhiles breaking out into praises without any obseruation of historicall veri◅e For this cause I Ioseph the sonne of Matthias by birth an Hebrew and a citizen and priest of Ierusalem who in the beginning of these wars bare armes against the Romanes and afterwards being therunto forced by necessitie was present at all those things which were attempted and prosecuted in those warres haue thought good to discourse in the Greeke tongue in fauour of all those who acknowledge the soueraigntie of the Romane Empire all that which heretofore in my owne language I haue imparted to those Barbarians that inhabit the East For at such time as I haue alreadie spoken as these most bitter and busie warres tooke their beginning the Romans were at ciuill warres among themselues and as touching the Iewes who were in yeeres valiant and in wits turbulent they being both strong in power and rich in money did so insolently abuse the time that being animated by the greatnes of those seditions and troubles haue somewhiles swamme in hope sometimes sweltered in feare of possessing or losing certaine soueraignties in the East For the Iewes hope was that all those of their nation euen they who inhabited the parts beyond Euphrates would haue both followed them in their rebellion and seconded their follies with their forces Moreouer at that time the Frenchmen who bordered vpon the Romans suffered them not to liue in peace and the Germanes also began to take armes Finally after the death of Nero seditions raigned euery where so that by reason of the oportunitie of these times many men went about to make themselues kings and the souldiers whetted on with the couetous desire of gaine desired nothing more then trouble and alteration For which cause I thinke it a matter both worthy reproofe and ill beseeming my reputation if in so waightie affaires I should suffer the truth to be smothered in incertainties and should permit the Parthians Babylonians and the furthest distant Arabians and those of our nation inhabiting beyond Euphrates togither with the Adiabenites to obtain the true knowledge of those euents by mine industrie whilest the Grecians diuers of those who haue not born armes with the Romans being distracted with factions deceiued by adulation should be ignorant hereof Yet some of these there be who notwithstanding their false informations stick not to write histories not only void of all truth but also no waies answerable to their subiect which they vndertake For whilest they labour to dignifie and extoll the Romans they altogither suppresse the fame and fortunes of the Iewes yet cannot I coniecture by what meanes they maie be held great who triumph in the conquest of men so obscure and abiect Nay whilest they thus extol the Romans valour in conquering the Iewes they nothing at all respect the continuance of the wars nor the multitude of the Roman souldiers nor the honour of their captaines whose titles are much embased if they hauing laboured so much to conquer Ierusalem should haue any thing derogated from the honour and prosperitie of their attempts For mine owne part I am not resolued to contradict those who shall enhance the glorie and noble actions of the Romans neiher to extol and dignifie the deserts of mine owne nation but my resolution is in all truth and sinceritie to set downe each occurrent without respect or partialitie towards either part In performance whereof I will fashion my discourse according to the matter I entreat of and as my griefe and sorrow shall inuite me to lament the miseries of my countrey For the ciuill dissension that dismembred the same was the cause that brought it to confusion and those tyrants that raigned amongst vs were such who forcibly drew the Romans with sword and sire to seeke the desolation of our holy temple The truth whereof Titus Caesar himselfe can iustifie who destroied the same and who during all those warres still pitied the people for that they as he well perceiued were kept in awe by ◅he seditious And who oftentimes of his owne accord deferred the surprisall of the Citie purposely protracting the siege to the intent that in the meane time the authors of the sedition and bloudie wars might haue leasure to repent and submit themselues Now if any man thinke that I write this as one that exclaimeth against the tyrants and their the eueries or that in bewailing the miseries of my lost countrey I accuse their villanies and thereby transgresse the limits of a historie let it be imputed to my griefe and so pardoned For amongst all the Cities that were euer gouerned by the Romans our Citie onely attained to the top of felicitie which now alas is brought into extreame miserie captiuitie and desolation Nay if all the misfortunes calamities which the world from the beginning hath seene be compared with the infelicitie and fall of the Iewes they are slight and of no moment And to increase our sorrow no forrainers but our owne familiar friends and
temple All which I wil recount without any dissimulation or swaruing from the truth of historie After this I will relate what cruelty the tyrants vsed against their own countrimen what humanitie the Romans shewed towards strangers and how oftentimes Titus who desired the safetie both of the Citie and Temple prouoked and inuited the seditious to mutual amitie Furthermore I wil report how the people of the Iewes after these many and grieuous wounds which they both suffered and suncke vnder sometimes by warre otherwhiles by sedition and many times by hunger were at length ouerthrowne to their vtter confusion Neither wil I omit the slaughter of such as reuolted neither the punishment inflicted on those that were captiue but I will set downe how the temple was burned against Caesars will and what an infinit masse of sacred treasure was deuoured by the fire But to shut vp the historie I will annex the surprisall of the Citie and what signes and wonders hapned before the same the captiuitie also of the tyrants themsel◅es and the number of those that were led away into captiuitie and what miserie euerie one of them end◅red how the Romans continuing their wars vtterly raced the fortresses of their captiues finally how Titus in trauailing thorow the whole countrey established a for me of gouernment therein and afterward returning into Italy triumphed with much honour All these things haue I comprehended in seuen bookes indeuouring as much as in me lieth to flie and auoide all occasion of reproofe and reprehension from those men who knew these affaires and were actors in the warres All which I haue done for their sakes who rather affect truth then follow their pleasure and according to that order and for me I haue proposed I will begin and prosecute my stile and Historie THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE WARRES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 1. booke 1 The destruction of Ierusalem by Antiochus 2 The succession of Princes from Ionathan vntill Aristobulus time 3 Of Aristobulus Antigonus Iudas Essaeus Alexander Theodore and Demetrius 4 Of the warre attempted betweene Alexander Antiochus and Aretas and of Alexandra and Hircanus 5 Of the warre betweene Hircanus and the Arabians and of the Expugnation of Ierusalem 6 Of the warre of Alexander with Hircanus and Aristobulus 7 Of the death of Aristobulus and the warre of Antipater against Mithridates 8 How Antipater was accused before Caesar and how Hircanus was high priest and Herod beg◅ to make warre 9 Of the dissension of the Romans after Caesars death and of Malichus his deceits 10 How Herod was accused and set free 11 Of the warre of the Parthians against the Iewes and of Herods flight and fortune 12 Of Herods warre for the recouering of Ierusalem after his returne from Rome and how he warred against the theeues 13 Of Iosephus death brother to Herod and how Ierusalem was besieged by the s◅e Herod and how Antigonus was slaine 14 Of the treacherous practises of Cleopatra against Herod and of his warre against the Arabians and of a great earthquake 15 How Herode was confirmed in the peaceable possession of the kingdome of Iudaea by Augustus Caesar. 16 Of the Cities and monuments repaired and builded by Herod and of his felicitie and liberalitie towards strangers 17 Of the discord betwixt Herod and his two sonnes Alexander and Aristobulus 18 Of Antipaters conspiracie against his father Herod 19 How Herod should haue been poisoned and how the treason was discouered 20 How Antipaters practises against Herod were knowne and punished 21 Of the golden Eagle and of Antipater and Herods death CHAP. I. How Ierusalem was destroied by Antiochus AT such time as Antioch◅ surnamed Epiphanes made warre against Sextus Pompeius for the whole gouernment of Syria there arose a sedition among the Iewes wherein euerie one indeuoured himselfe to haue the soueraignty ouer others and those of chiefest authoritie and nobilitie amongst the rest disdained to submit themselues to such as were their equals At that time a certaine man called Onias who was one of the high priests hauing gotten the vpper hand did driue the sonnes of To◅ias out of the Citie who flying to Antiochus for refuge besought him in all humilitie that he would leade his forces into Iudaea offering themselues to be his guides in that expedition and voiage Antiochus who long before that time desired such an occasion easily condescended to their requests leuying a great army entred their countrey and tooke the citie by force and ◅ue the most part of them who fauou◅ed Ptolomy and giuing his souldiers libertie to sacke the cit◅e he himselfe spoiled the temple also and for the space of three yeres and sixe moneths forbad al sacrifices and ceremonies which before time were accustomed and vsed in that place Whereupon Onias the high Priest fled vnto Ptolomey and hauing obtained a grant of a peece of ground from him within the liberties and precinct of Heliopolis he built a towne and temple in that place resembling the citie and sanctuarie in Ierusalem But neither was Antiochus satisfied with the vnexpected surprise of the citie nor with the pillage slaughter of the citizens but was so far transported by his passions incensed with the remembrance of those euils which he sustained during the siege of the citie that he compelled t◅ Iewes to forsake the customes of their country cōmanding them from that time forward to vs◅ no more circumcision of their children but that they should immolate swine vpon the Altar which when al of them iointly refused to obey the most constant among them were for that cause put to death Bacchides being made chiefe of the garrisons by the appointment of Antiochus what with his innated cruelty the impious commandement that was left him omitted no occasion to further his wicked impietie insomuch as he particularly tormented such as were of noble birth and qualitie so that each day for the most part he represented vnto them the fresh face and memorie of the desolation of their citie till all of them at the last being prouoked and whe◅d on through the grieuousnes of that which both themselues and others indured addressed themselues with confidence to prosecute the◅ reuenge A◅ length Matthias the sonne of Asmoneus one of the Priests who was borne in a village called Modin accompanied with his fiue sonnes and his owne household armed with swords slue Bacchides and fearing the power and multitude of the enemies garrisons speedily retired himselfe into the mountaines Thither resorted diuers of the people vnto him for which cause he waxing more confident and couragious came downe from the mountaines and ouercomming the captaines of Antiochus droue them out of the borders of Iudaea At such time therefore as through his happie successe he became potent and was by common consent of the people for that he had deliuered them from the subiection of straungers made their
kingdome and railed against such as he had no power ouer Antipater increased this mischiefe more and more and gathering togither a great company of his friends he omitted no kind of calumniation The king likewise was terrified by the rumours tales of pickthanks that he thought alwaies that he saw Alexander before him with a drawen sword For which cause he sodainly tooke him and cast him in prison and tortured his friends many of which died in torments because they would not confesse more then in conscience was true others not able to endure the torments were forced to confesse that Alexander and his brother Aristobulus thought to haue wrought treason against their father that they expected their time till he went a hunting resolued in themselues that hauing killed him they would presently flie to Rome Although these and such like calumniations were nowaies probable yet extremitie of paine forced men extempore to inuent them and the king willingly beleeued them as it were comforting himselfe thereby in that he might not be thought to haue imprisoned his sonne vn◅stly Alexander perceluing that it was vnpossible for him to abolish his fathers suspition thought it better to yeeld hi◅selfe guiltio and so wrote foure bookes against his aduersaries and confessed the treason affirming that he had many partakers therein namely Pheroras Salome who were the chiefe auouching that before that time he had had the vse of her body in the night time and how though he himselfe was vnwilling yet she forced him thereunto Now the bookes came vnto Herods hands which charged the greatest amongst the nobilitie with most hainous matters Archelaus fearing his son in law and daughter to be in great danger speedily came into Iudaea and ingeniously appeased the kings wrath for so soone as he came vnto Herod he cried where is that wicked son in law of mine or where may I see the face of that wre◅h that goeth about to murther his father that I may teare him in peeces with mine own hands marrie my daughter anew to a better husband for although she be not priuie to his cou◅sell yet is she defiled for that she was wife to such a man Nay I admire thy patience who art in such daunger and sufferest Alexander yet to liue for I came thus hastily out of Cappadocia thinking he had beene put to death to talke with thee concerning my daughter whom I maried to him for thy sake and honour Wherefore now let vs take counsell what to do with them both and seeing thouart too father like and not able to punish thy sonne thy ◅echerous sonne let vs chaunge roumes and let me be in t◅y place to reuenge thee with such like inuections he deceiued Herode though otherwise firme in his purpose Then Herode shewed him the bookes that Alexander had writ and reading euery chapter with deliberation Archelaus tooke occasion fit for his purpose and by little and little laid al the fault on Pheroras and those that were accused in the booke And perceiuing the king to giue eare vnto him let vs quoth he consider whether the young man was not circumuented by the trechery of so many lewde persens and not thou by the yong man for there appeares no cause why he should fall into such wickednes who now enioyed the kingdome and hoped to succeed thee therein had he not beene perswaded thereto by other men who seeing him a young man entised him vnto such naughtines For we see that through such men not onely young men but also olde men and most noble families yea and whole kingdomes are ruinated Herode vpon these speeches began somewhat to relent so that he appeased his wrath toward Alexāder encreased it towards Pheroras for he was as it were the subiect of the whole booke Who perceiuing the king so to trust vnto Archelaus friendship that he was lead by him to do what he pleased leauing Alexander he in humble manner came to Archelaus seeking impudently for succour at his hands of whom he had not deserued any fauour Archelaus answered him that he knew no waies to obtaine his pardon who was guiltie of so hainous crimes and conuicted manifestly to haue practised high treason against the kings owne person and to be the cause of all these miseries that had now befallen the young man except that he would lay aside all subtle dealing and denying of his fact and confesse the crimes wherof he was accused and so in humble wise go vnto his brother who loued him dearely and craue pardon promising him that if he would so do he would do him what good he could Hereupon Pheroras obeyed Archelaus his counsell and putting on a blacke attire he in pitifull maner and with teares prostrated himselfe at Herodes feete and crauing pardon obtained it confessing himselfe to be a most wicked and vile person and to be guiltie of al that which was obiected against him and that the cause which moued him to do al those things was the franticke and madde fits he fell into for the loue of that woman Now when Pheroras became his owne accuser a witnesse against himselfe then Archelaus endeuored to mitigate Herodes wrath towards him and excuse his faultes with fit examples for he alleaged that his brother attempted greater matters against him whom notwithstanding for natures cause he pardoned adding that in euery kingdome as in mightie bodies alwaies some part began to swell which notwithstanding was not presently to be cut off but to be cured by easie means Archelaus vsing many speeches vnto Herod to this purpose at last quite appeased his wrath toward Pheroras still counterfaiting himselfe to be angrie with Alexander affirming that he would take his daughter away with him till at last he forced Herode of his owne accord to entreat for the yong man requesting him again to despouse his daughter vnto him Archelaus after much entreatie answered that he was willing the king should bestow his daughter vpō any saue Alexander for he greatly esteemed the law of affinity Herod replied that if he did not diuorce his daughter from Alexander he should thinke that he bestowed his sonne vpon him for they had no children and his daughter was dearely loued of the young man so that if he would permit her to stay still there for her sake he would pardon all Alexanders offences Heereto Archelaus with much ado agreed and so was reconciled vnto his sonne in law and he vnto his father Yet Herode affirmed that he must needs be sent to Rome to speake with Caesar for he had written the whole matter vnto Caesar. Thus Archelaus craftily deliuered his sonne in law from daunger and after this reconciliation was made they spent the time in feasting and mirth Vpon Archelaus departure Herode gaue him seuentie talents and a throne of pure gold adorned with precious stones and Eunuches and a concubine named Pannychis and rewarded euery one of his
souldiers in warlike order did follow their Captaines and leaders and 500. seruants and libertines carried perfumes And thus the corps was carried the space of two hundreth furlongs into the Castle named Herodion where as himselfe had appointed it was interred And this was the end of king Herode THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE WARRES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 2. booke 1 Of Herods successour Archelaus how he entred into the Temple and the mutinie that arose for the reuenge of those that were executed for taking away the golden Eagle 2 Of the fight and massacre in Ierusalem betweene the Iewes and Sabinians 3 Of Varus his deeds concerning the Iewes that were crucified 4 How the Iewes had an Ethnarcha constituted ouer them 5 Of the false supposed Alexander and how he was taken 6 Of the death of Archelaus 7 Of Simon the Galilean and the three sects of the Iewes 8 Of Pilates gouernment 9 Of the pride of Caius and of Petronius the President 10 Of the raigne of Claudius the Emperour and the raigne and death of Agrippa 11 Of diuers tumults in Iudaea and Samaria 12 Of the tamults in Iudaea vnder Foelix 13 Of Albiuns and Florus Presidents of Iudaea 14 Of Florus crueltie towards the Iewes of Caesarea and Ierusalem 15 Of another opperession of those of Ierusalem through Florus his meanes 16 Of Politianus the Tribune and Agrippa his oration to the Iewes wherein he exhorted them to obey the Romans 17 Of the beginning of the rebellion of the Iewes against the Romans 18 Of the murther of Ananias the high Priest Manahemus and the Roman souldiers 19 Of a great slaughter of the Iewes in Caesarea and throughout all Syria 20 Of another grieuous slaughter of the Iewes 21 Of the massacre of the Iewes at Alexandria 22 Of the massacre of the Iewes by Cestius 23 Of the battell of Cestius against Ierusalem 24 Of the besieging of Ierusalem by Cestius and the massacre there 25 Of the crueltie of them of Damascus towards the Iewes and of Iosephus his practises in Gablee 26 Of Iosephus his dangers and euasion and the malice of Iohn Giscaleus 27 How Iosephus recouered Tiberias and Sephoris 28 How the citizens of Ierusalem prepared themselues to warre and of Simon Gioras tyrannie CHAP. I. Of Herods successour Archelaus and how he entred into the Temple and the mutinie that arose for the reuenge of those that were executed for taking downe the golden Eagle ARchelaus being appointed successor in the kingdom of Herod late dead necessitie constrained him to go to Rome which iourney gaue occasion of new broyles For after that for seuen dayes space hee had celebrated his fathers funerals and largely feasted the people for this is a custome amongst the Iewes which bringeth manie of them to pouertie yet he that doth not so is reputed impious he went vnto the Temple attired in a white garment where he was with great ioy receiued of the people and he himselfe sitting in a tribunall seat a throne of gold did verie curteously admit the people to his presence and thanked them for their diligent care vsed in his fathers funerals and for that they exhibited honour vnto him as though he were alreadie king Yet he said that he would not take vpon him the authoritie nor name of a king till such time as his succession was approued by Caesar who by his fathers testament was Lord and maister of all and for that cause he withstood the souldiers at Iericho when they would haue crowned him But he promised that if he were confirmed king by those who were in authoritie he would largely recompence both the souldiers and the people for their good will and that he fully purposed to be better vnto them then his father was The multitude hereat greatly reioyced and made present triall of his mind and purpose for some cried out requesting that the tribute might be no more exacted Others desired that the yearly paiments might cease Others requested to giue all prisoners libertie Archelaus in fauour of the people graunted all their requests then offering sacrifices he banquetted with his friends when sodainly after the noone time of the day a great multitude desirous of alteration the common lamentation for the kings death being ceased began a priuate mourning bewailing their mischance whom Herod had put to death for pulling down the golden Eagle from off the porch of the Temple This sorrow was not secret but the whole citie did resound with laments for them that were thought to haue lost their liues for the temple and their countrie lawes They also cried that reuenge was to be taken vpon them whom Herod for that fact rewarded with money And that first of all he who by Herod was constituted high Priest was to bee reiected and another more holy and deuout to be put in his place Archelaus although he was hereby moued to reuenge yet because he was presently to take such a iourny abstained frō it fearing least that if he brought the multitude into hatred of him they might hinder him Wherfore he sought rather by admonishing them then by force to reclaime those that were seditious and sent the Gouernour of the souldiers to request them to bee pacified But the authours of that sedition so soone as he came to the temple before he spake one word threw stones at him and in like manner they vsed others sent after him to appease them for Archelaus dispatched many messengers vnto thē whom they spitefully intreated making a shew that if they had beene more in number they would not haue beene appeased Therefore when the feast of vnleauened bread drew nigh which the Iewes call Easter wherein an infinite number of sacrifices were appointed an innumerable multitude of people came out of all villages thereabout for deuotion sake to that solemnitie and they who so lamented the death of the Sophisters remained in the Temple seeking by all meanes to nourish their sedition Which Archelaus fearing sent a band of souldiers and a Tribune with them to take the chiefe of the seditious before such time as they had drawne vnto them the multitude of the people against whom the whole number being stirred vp slewe a great many of them with stones and the Tribune himselfe being sore hurt had much ado to escape And when they had so done they presently went and offered sacrifice as though that no hurt had beene done But Archelaus perswaded himselfe that the multitude would not be appeased without slaughter wherefore he sent vnto them the whole armie the footmen into the citie and the horsmen into the field who inuading the seditious people as they were sacrificing slew of them almost three thousand and scattered the residue into the mountaines neere adioyning There were also criers who followed Archelaus and proclaimed by vertue of his commaund that euerie one should depart home to his house so euerie one
of the Iewes THE THIRD BOOKE OF THE WARRES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 3. booke 1 Of the comming of Vespasian generall of the Romans into Iudaea and of the two massacres of the Iewes and how the Sephorites yeelded themselues to Vespasian 2 The description of Galilee Samaria and Iudaea 3 Of the helpe sent v◅to them of Sepphoris and of the militarie discipline amongst the Romans 4 How Placidus assaulted Iotapata 5 How Vespasian inuaded Galilaea and at his onely presence how the Galileans fled 6 How Gadara was taken 7 How Iotapata was besieged and of the situation and batterie thereof 8 Of the siege of Iotapata by Vespasian and of Iosephs diligence and of the excursions of the Iewes against the Romans 9 How Vespasian did beate the wals of Iotapata with a Ram and other warlike engines 10 How Iotapata was againe assaulted 11 How Traian and Titus tooke Iapha 12 How Cerealis ouercame the Samaritans 13 How Iotapata was taken 14 How Ioseph being taken saued his owne life 15 How Ioppe was taken againe 16 How Tyberias was yeelded 17 How Tarichea was besieged 18 Of the lake called Genesar and the fountaines of Iordan 19 How Tarichea was deliuered CHAP. I. Of Vespasians comming into Iudaea and of the two massacres of the Iewes AFTER that Nero vnderstood of his euill successe against the Iewes he was seazed with feare and astonishment yet he dissembled it as much as necessitie would permit him In the meane while he set a good face on the matter and made as though he were of more courage saying that that which happened was rather by the fault of his generall then by the valour of their aduersaries thinking that it behooued him who was emperour not to shew himselfe mooued with a little bad newes and the greatnesse of his Empire shewed he had a mind which yeelded to no misfortune Yet it appeared by the vexation of his spirit that he was much moued in great care vnto whom he should cōmit the charge of the East which rebelled who both would conquer the Iewes and chastife the inhabitants about them that bare the same minde as they did At last he found Vespasian whom he thought only meet for that purpose a man who from his infancie had been trained vp in warres euen vntill he was gray headed who had appeased the people of the West helped them being troubled by the Germans and recouered it for the Romans as also he did Britannie which was vnknowne before and for that cause made his father Claudius triumph without taking any paines for it Nero considered all these and his prudence grounded in olde age with his experience who also had sonnes in the flower of their age to be pledges for his fidelitie that represented their fathers wisedome God as it should seeme euen then disposing something of the whole common wealth Nero sent him to gouerne the armies in Syria greatly encouraging him with faire speeches and promises as at that time neede required Thus he departed out of Achaia where he was with Nero and he commanded Titus his son to leade the fift and tenth legions from Alexandria and he himselfe crossing ouer to Hellespont went after by land into Syria where he assembled all the Roman forces and all the helpe of the kings adioyning that were confederates But the Iewes after Cestius vnfortunate successe became proud of their victorie and could not containe themselues but like men tossed at fortunes pleasure they still gaue more occasion of warre and gathering all their warlike forces togither they went to Ascalon which is an olde Citie seuen hundreth and twentie furlongs distant from Ierusalem which the Iewes alwaies hated for which cause also they first assaulted it The Gouernors in this expedition were three men excellent aboue the rest for strength and wisedome to wit Niger of Peraea Silas the Babylonian and Iohn the Essean Now the Citie of Ascalon had verie strong wals but few men to defend it for it had onely one company of footmen and one band of horsemen whom Antonius gouerned The Iewes made such haste as though they had dwelt hard by Antonius perswading himselfe that they would assault him caused his horsmen to i◅ue foorth of the Citie and neither fearing the multitude nor the malice of his aduersaries he valiantly aboad the first assault of the enemies and beate them backe that attempted to assault the wall So the Iewes who were vnkilfull hauing to doe with them that were expert and they being on foote fighting against horsemen without order against those that were in good order being light◅y armed against their aduersaries who were well prouided were easily repulsed Finally they were more led by rage and wrath then by good counsell and they against whom they fo◅ght were obedient and would doe nothing without the commandement of their leader For their first rankes being broken they were forced by the horsemen to turne their backs and turning themselues to their owne companie who turned toward the wall became as it were enemies to themselues So that euerie one seeking to auoide the horsemen they were all dispersed about the field which was in euerie place for the aduantage of the horsemen This greatly helped the Romans to kill so many Iewes for they that fled were easily ouertaken by the Romans and killed and others compassing diuers of the Iewes about slew them with dartes so that the Iewes were in as great desperation for all their huge multitude as if they had been alone The Iewes indeuouring to ouercome their misfortunes were ashamed to flie and so fled not hastily hoping that fortune would change But the Romans not wearied in that which they did with great dexteritie continued the fight the most part of the day so that there were slaine of the Iewes ten thousand and two of their leaders Iohn and Silas The rest many being wounded followed their Generall Niger who fled into a little towne of Idumaea named Salis many of the Romans also were wounded in that fight But the Iewes were not daunted with this misfortune but the griefe thereof much encreased their courage neither were they dismaied with the former losse of so many men within so short time but rather calling to minde their great victorie they had before were drawne to vndergo yet another mishap Shortly after before the mens wounds were healed they gathered togither all their forces and went againe to Ascalon in greater number and furie but with the same successe and skill in warlike affaires which they had before For Antonius hauing warning which way they meant to come placed an ambush in the waye and the horsemen setting vpon them at vnawares they killed aboue eight thousand of them before they could prepare themselues to fight and all the rest fled and Niger with them shewing as he fled many arguments of a valiant minde and for that the enemies
seruice of the rest that were all strong young men he sent six thousand vnto Nero at Isthmos neere Corinth The rest of the multitude he sould in number thirtie thousand and foure hundreth beside others that he gaue vnto Agrippa for he permitted him to do what he would with those that were of his kingdome But Agrippa sould also those who were giuen him The rest of them were fugitiues and seditious persons of Trachon Gaulanitis and Hippenis and many of Gadara whose contempt of peace iustly procured these warres They were taken the sixt of the Ides of September THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE WARRES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 4. booke 1 How Gamala was besieged 2 How Placidus tooke Itaburium 3 How Gamala was destroyed 5 How Titus tooke Giscala 5 Of the beginning of the destruction of Ierusalem 6 Of the comming of the Idumaeans vnto Ierusalem and of their deeds 7 Of the Massacre of the Iewes by the Idumaeans CHAP. I. How Gamala was besieged AFter that Tarichea was conquered all those that from the time that Iotapata was surprised til this instant had reuolted from the Romans did now againe vnite themselues vnto them so that the Romans had now gotten into their hands all Castles and townes Giscala only excepted and Itaburium a mountaine so called With these two rebelled Gamala a towne ouer against Tarichea and situated vpon the lake belonging to the kingdome of Agrippa and also Sogane and Seleucia and these two last were both belonging vnto Gaulanitis and Sogane appertained to the higher part called Gaulana and Gamala vnto the lower Seleucia vnto the lake Semechonitis which is thirtie furlongs in breadth and threescore large whose marishes reach euen vnto Daphne which Countrie is verie pleasant of it selfe and famous for that it entertaineth the streame called little Iordan and at the foote of the golden mountaine deriueth it into great Iordan Agrippa in the beginning of the rebellion vnited Sogane and Seleucia vnto himselfe but Gamala by reason of the situation apt to resist did not yeeld vnto him for it is farre stronger then Iotapata For from an exceeding high mountaine there descendeth a hill verie difficult for any to passe rising high in the middest and then descendeth lower and lower both before and behind so that it representeth the figure of a Camel which the Hebrewes call Gamal and so thereof it tooke the name though the Inhabitants doe not keepe that exact signification Before it and on either side there are deepe vallies into the which a man can hardly descend onely it may be taken and assaulted on that side where it ioyneth vnto the mountaine which also the Inhabitants haue made inaccessible by cutting out there a deep ditch In that place the Citie was verie well inhabited on the descent of the hill and towards the South part it stood on so steepe a hill that it seemed as though it would haue fallen euerie houre and the South hill serued the Inhabitants in steed of a Castle being vnwalled for it was an exceeding high rocke and reached downe euen vnto the bottome of the valley in the towne and at the wals thereof there was a fountaine Although this Citie were of his owne nature inuincible yet Ioseph compassing it with a wall and with ditches and mines made it more strong Wherefore the Inhabitants of this place put farre more confidence in their wals then they of Iotapata did yet were they fewer in number and not so warlike people as they but for the situation of the Citie they esteemed themselues more then their enemies for the Citie was full of men that fled thither by reason of the strength of the place so that for seuen moneths they resisted them that were sent by Agrippa to besiege them Vespasian departed from Ammaus and pitched his Tents before Tyberias and so went vnto Gamala Ammaus is interpreted hot waters for there is a fountaine of hot water which cureth many diseases and the Citie was so situate that he could not besiege 〈◊〉 round about wherefore he placed men to keepe watch in such places as it was passible and obteined the highest mountaine where his souldiers pitching their Tents lastly intrenched themselues On the East part of the Citie in the most eminent place there was a Castle where the fifteenth and fifth legions laboured against the towne and the â—…th legion filled vp the ditches and vallies King Agrippa went vnto the wals and spake vnto them that defended them willing them to yeeld vnto the Romanes but one of them with a sling stroke him on the right arme and hurt him his familiar friends came about him to defend him Then the Romans for anger that the king was hurt and for feare of such mischances to themselues made them earnest to assault the towne perswading themselues that they would vse strangers and their enemies hardly if it lay in their lot seeing they had so euill entreated one of their owne nation for perswading them vnto that was profitable for them Hauing quickly intrenched themselues by reason of the multitude that laboured in that businesse and by reason that they were accustomed vnto such like worke they began to place the engine against the towne wals Chares and Ioseph were two of the most potent men in the towne they therefore animated and armed their Citizens and brought them vnto the wals who trembled for feare And although they well perceiued that the Citie could not long hold out seeing they wanted water and many other things necessarie to withstand a siege yet notwithstanding they exhorted the townes men to be valiant and so brought them vnto the wals and a while they resisted notwithstanding the shot but at last they were therewith so terrified that leauing the wals they fled into the Citie Then the Romans did batter the wals with Ramms in three seuerall places and where the wall fell there they issued in with trumpets and a great noyse and cries and fought with the townes-men who in the first conflict so valiantly resisted them that they permitted them not to enter any further into the towne at last being ouercome both in strength and number they all fled into the highest part of the Citie and from thence they turned againe vpon the Romanes who pursued them and draue them downe into the vallies and killed many and diuers in that streight passage were troden to death by their fellowes The Romans seeing that they neither could flie nor resist their enemies aboue their heads fled into their houses which adioyned vnto the plaine and so filled them that being ouercharged they fell downe and lighted vpon other houses beneath them which did beare them downe also and they likewise others situated beneath them Many of the Romanes this way perished for being amazed and not knowing what to do they fled into other houses notwithstanding they did see them shak and
vp and downe first from one watch and then to another yet that night hee did not so not for slouthfulnesse but because that the destinies had so decreed that thereby both he and the watchmen should perish For about midnight the storme increasing the watchmen fell into a sound sleepe Then the Zelous determined to file the barres and bolts of the gates in sunder to effect this they tooke the instruments which were consecrated to the temple this attempt was much furthered by the huge wind and thunder which made such a noyse that they could not bee heard so issuing out of the Temple they went priuily to the wals and opened that gate neere vnto which the Idumaeans lay and suspecting that Ananus would make some resistance they first of all drew their swords and then together with the Idumaeans came in and if at that time they had assaulted the Citie they had without any let or hinderance destroyed all the people therein so great was their rage at that time But first of all they hastned to asist their fellowes whome they left besieged and requested the Idumaeans not to leaue them in danger for whose succour they were come nor permit them to incurre greater domage for hauing first surprised the watchmen it would be more easie for them to assault the Citie which if they did not but first set vpon the Citizens they would presently assemble together and oppose themselues against them and not permit them to ascend vp vnto the Temple The Idumaeans consented vnto this and so they passed thorough the Citie into the Temple And the Zelous remaining in the Temple carefully expected their comming at whose arriual they tooke courage and ioyning with the Idumaeans came out of the inner Temple and set vpon the watch and some being slaine who were fast a sleepe the rest were awaked by the cries of others and so betooke themselues to their armes to defend thēselues being yet amazed And at first thinking that they were only the Zelous that gaue the assault hoped onely by their multitude to suppresse them but seeing others without the Temple also aslailing them they perceiued that the Idumaeans were broken in so the greater part of them being dismaide laide downe their weapons and cried and onely a few of them young men well armed and of good courage encountred with the Idumaeans and for a good space defended their idle fellowes others went and aduertised the Inhabitants what was done yet none durst come to helpe them because they now knew that the Idumaeans were got in but euerie one lamented their hard fortune and the women made great lamentation when any of the watchmen fell into danger The Zelous also answered their cries with the like and then the tempest and thunder made all more dreadfull The Idumaeans spared none because that they were naturally cruell and fierce to shed bloud and angrie that they were so beaten with the tempest they vsed them most cruelly by whose meanes they were shut out of the Citie sparing neither those who requested fauour nor them who made resistance for they slew many euen as they were intreating them to remember that they were of their owne bloud and requesting them to spare them for reuerence of their Temple There was no way to flie nor any hope of escape being driuen vp into a narrow roome they hurt themselues more then the enemies did by crowding and treading vpon one another for there was no place to flie nor their enemies ceased not to kill them Being in this desperate estate not knowing how to doe they cast themselues head-long downe into the Citie and so died a more miserable death in my mind then they that died by the enemies sword The next day there was found slaine eight thousand and fiue hundreth and all the vtter Temple flowed with bloud Yet this massacre sufficed not the Idumaeans rage but turning themselues against the Citie they robbed and spoyled all houses and killed all they met making no account of the death of the rest of the multitude They made diligent search for the Priests and many laide violent hands vpon them and killed them and standing vpon their dead corps sometime they vpbrayded Ananus with the peoples fauour towards him sometime Iesus with the words he spake vpon the wall vnto them and were so impious as that they cast away their dead bodies vnburied notwithstanding that the Iewes in this point are so religious that after sunne set they take downe the dead bodies of malefactors who by sentence haue beene adiudged vnto the crosse and burie them I thinke I doe not greatly misse the marke if I affirme Ananus his death to haue beene the destruction of the Citie and from that time foorth the walles of Ierusalem to haue beene ouerthrowne and the common wealth of the Iewes to haue perished in that day when they behelde their priest and Gouernour slaine euen in the middest of the Citie He was a man that led a laudable and most iust life and being in great dignitie honour and reputation yet would he not exalt himselfe aboue any one were he neuer so base He was a man who thirsted after libertie and bare the rule and gouernment of the common wealth He continually preferred the publike commoditie before his owne priuate gaine being alwaies desirous of peace for he foresaw that the Romans could not be withstood and that if the Iewes did not quickly accord with them their ruine was at hand briefly I say that had Ananus liued they had yeelded with him vnto the Romans For he was an eloquent Orator and could perswade admirably whereby he had now gained vnto his side those that hindred him and caused the warres whom if they had had for their captaine against the Romans it had not been so easie for the Romans to haue conquered them With him was ioyned Iesus inferiour to Ananus yet excelling all the rest So that I thinke Almightie God hauing decreed the totall ruine of the Citie being now violated and filled with iniquitie and meaning by fire as it were to purifie the holy temple which was now defiled and prophaned he first tooke away the defenders thereof and those that loued them most deerely So they who a little before were cloathed in sacred apparell and reuerenced of all those that from the furthest parts of the world came to Ierusalem now lay murthered and naked in the open streetes left as it were a pray to be torne in pieces with dogges or wilde beastes who earst were the authors of pietie and religion I thinke that Vertue it selfe wept to see wickednesse so preuaile THE FIFTH BOOKE OF THE WARRES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 5. booke 1 Of another massacre and of the returne of the Idumaeans and the crueltie of the Zelous 2 Of the ciuill discord amongst the Iewes 3 Of the yeelding of Gadara and the massacre there
was able without their assistance to subdue all the rest but Vitellius was not able with their helpe to keepe that he had speaking much to this effect he perswaded them to all that which he would haue done And so he with his whole armie ioyned with Antonius The same night the souldiers repenting themselues of that they had done and also fearing that Vitellius should get the vpper hand who sent them against Antonius drew their swords and would haue slaine Caecinna And had done it had not the Tribunes come and entreated them to the contra◅e wherefore they did not kill him but kept him bound meaning to send him to Vitellius as a traitor Primus Antonius hearing this came with his armie and assaulted them who were reuolted from him and they a while resisted yet at last forced to retire they fled vnto Cremona And Primus accompanied with horsemen preuented their courses and so slew the most of them before the citie and afterward setting vpon the rest gaue his souldiers the spoile of it wherein many merchants of other countries and many townsmen were slaine and all Vitellius his armie thirtie thousand and two hundreth men and Antonius lost in that battell foure thousand fiue hundreth of those whom he brought with him out of Moesia And deliuering Caecinna from prison he sent him to beare newes hereof to Vespasian who comming vnto him was praised for his fact greatly honoured aboue his expectation in reward of his treason Sabinus who was at Rome hearing that Antonius was at hand greatly reioyced and tooke courage and gathering togither the companies of the watchmen in the night time he tooke the Capitoll and in the morning many of the nobles came ioyned with him and Domitianus his brothers son who was a great cause and helpe to obtaine the victorie Vitellius little esteemed Primus but he was angr◅e against Sabinus those that had reuolted with him as it were naturally thirsting after the bloud of the nobilitie he set all the armie he brought out of Germany with him to assault the Capitol where many valiant deeds were shewed on both parts and at last the Germains being most in number got the Capitoll hill And Domitian with many braue noblemen as it were by the prouidence of God escaped safe the rest of the multitude were there slaine And Sabinus was caried to Vitellius and there by his commandement put to death the souldiers taking away al the gifts and treasure in the temple set it on fire The day after came Antonius and Vitellius his souldiers met him and fighting in three seuerall places of the citie they were all slaine Then Vitellius came drunke out of his pallace and being full gorged with delicate meat he was drawn through the midst of the people and after many contumelies slaine hauing raigned eight moneths and fiue daies who if he had liued longer I thinke verily the Empire had not beene sufficient to haue maintained this gluttony There were slaine aboue fiftie thousand of other people And this was done the third day of October The day after Mutianus with his armie came and entred into Rome and repressed the souldiers of Antonius who still sought about in euerie place for Vitellius souldiers and many other of his fauorits and slew whom they thought good not examining any matter by reason of their fury and bringing out Domitian he declared vnto the people that he was to gouerne the citie till his father came The people being deliuered from feare proclaimed Vespasian Emperour and made feasts and triumphs both vnder one for his establishing in the Empire and for ioy that Vitellius was deposed CHAP. XIIII How Titus was sent by his father against the Iewes WHen Vespasian came to Alexandria newes were brought vnto him what was done at Rome And Embassadours came vnto him from all parts of the world to congratulate him And although next after Rome this citie was the greatest in the world yet was it scarcely able to receiue the people that came thither vnto him Vespasian now being established Emperour of all the world the commonwealth of the Romans being contrarie to his expectation freed from troubles he now began to thinke vpon the reliques of Iudaea And so he himselfe winter being ended prepared to go to Rome and in the meane time he hastened to dispose of all things at Alexandria Moreouer he sent his sonne Titus with certain chosen men to destroy Ierusalē Who departed from Alexandria vnto Nicopolis by land which is distant from it twenty furlongs there he did ship his men so sailed along the riuer Nilus by Medensia vnto Thmuin there landing his men he came to the citie called Tanis And the second place he rested in was the citie Heraclea the third Peleusiū there resting refreshing his souldiers two daies space the third day he passed the borders of Peleusium and hauing gone one daies iourney through the wildernes he pitched his tents at the temple of Iupiter Cassian the next day at Ostracine where there is no water but all that the inhabitants do vse they bring from other places After that he rested at Rhinocolura and from thence in foure daies he came to Raphia where beginne the borders of Syria the fift day he lodged at Gaza from thence to Ascalon and so to Iamnia Ioppe from whence he went to Caesarea purposing to gather the rest of the souldiers there THE SIXTH BOOKE OF THE WARRES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 6. booke 1 Of the three seditions in Ierusalem 2 How Titus went vnto Ierusalem to see their strength and how he was in daunger 3 How the Iewes did issue out vpon the Romans pitching their Tents 4 Of the fight within the Citie vpon the feast of unleauened bread 5 Of the deceite the Iewes vsed against the Romane souldiers 6 The description of Ierusalem 7 The Iewes refuse to yeeld and assault the Romans 8 Of the fall of the tower and how two of the wals were wonne 9 How Castor the Iew did floute the Romans 10 How the Romans did twise get the second wall 11 Of the mounts raised against the third wall and a long Oration of Ioseph perswading the Iewes to yeeld and of the famine within the Citie 12 Of the Iewes that were crucified and how the towers were burnt 13 How the Romans in three dayes space built a wall about Ierusalem 14 Of the famine in Ierusalem and how they built another tower or mount 15 Of the massacre of the Iewes both within and without the Citie 16 Of the sacrilege about the Temple and the dead bodies that were cast out of the Citie and of the famine CHAP. I. Of the three sorts of seditions in Ierusalem TItus being thus come out of Aegypt by the desert into Syria hee departed from thence vnto Caesarea for there hee purposed to set his armie
were dead in all the citie 600000. poore folks which were cast out of the gates the others that died were innumerable that when so many died that they were not able to burie thē that then they gathered their bodies togither in the greatest houses adioyning and there shut them vp And that a bushel of corn was solde for a talent which is six hundreth crowns and that after the Citie was compassed with a wal that now they could not go out to gather any more hearbs many were driuen to that necessitie that they raked sinkes and priuies to finde olde dung of Oxen to eate and so the dung that was loathsome to behold was their meate The Romans hearing this were mooued to compassion yet the seditious within the Citie who beheld this miserable sight were nothing mooued nor repented not but suffered them to be brought to that calamitie for their hearts were so blinded by the prouidence of God that they could not see what hanged ouer their heads and ouer the Citie THE SEVENTH BOOKE OF THE WARRES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 7. booke 1 Of the breach made in the wals how the mounts were fired how Sabinus assaulted the wal 2 How the Romans assaulted Anto◅a and were ◅pulsed by the Iewes 3 Of the exceeding valour of Iulian a Roman souldier 4 Iosephs speech perswading the Iewes to yeeld their Citie and how the Iewes fled vnto the Romans 5 Of another battaile the Rampiers being againe builded and of the excursions of the Iewes 6 How the Romans were by the deuice of the Iewes consumed with fire 7 Of the famine amongst the Iewes 8 Of a woman that for hunger did seethe her own sonne 9 How the wall was taken and the Temple burnt 10 How the Temple was set on fire against Titus his will 11 Of the Priests the treasure house and the porch 12 Of the signes and tokens which appeared before the destruction of the Citie 13 Of Titus his rule and gouernment and how the priests were staine 14 Of the pray of the seditious and the burning of the inner part of the Citie 15 How the higher part of the Citie was assaulted and how some of the Iewes fled vnto Titus 16 How the rest of the Citie was taken 17 Of the number of the captiues and them that were slaine 18 A briefe histor◅e of the Citie of Ierusalem 19 How the souldiers were rewarded 20 Of Vespasians sailing how Simon was taken of the spectacles shewes made vpon Vespasian birth-day 21 Of the calamitie of the Iewes amongst the Antiochians 22 How Vespasian at his returne was receiued by the Romans 23 Of Domitians actes against the Germans and Frenchmen 24 Of the riuer Sabbaticus and of the famous triumph of Vespasian and Titus 25 How Herodium and Machaera were taken by Bassus 26 Of the Iewes that were slaine by Bassus and how Iudaea was sold. 27 Of the death of King Antiochus and how the Alans brake into Armenia 28 How Massada the strongest Castle of all was taken and destroyed 29 Of the death of the Sicarians that fled into Alexandria and Thebes 30 How the Temple which Onias built at Alexandria was shut vp 31 Of the Massacre of the Iewes at Cyrene CHAP. I. Of the breach made in the wals and how the mounts were burned and how Sabinus assaulted the wall THE miserie of Ierusalem euery day encreased the seditious being by reason of their miserie more more incited against the people for now the famine was not only amongst the people but amongst them also And it was a miserable sight to see the multitude of dead bodies heaped togither in the Citie from which came a pestilent infectious smel so that it hindred the soldiers from making excursions For they were forced to tread vpon dead bodies as though they were to march along a field couered with dead carcasses Hauing now embrued their hands in the bloud of their countrimen they prepared to resist and fight with their enemies and as it seemeth to me hereby vpbraiding God in that he so deferred to punish them For the greatest part of them did now fight more earnestly then before not for hope of safetie but as despairing of all The Romans though much troubled to get wood to build withall yet did they in one and twentie daies finish their mounts hauing cut downe all the woods neere the citie by nintie furlongs It was miserable to behold that countrey and place before all beset with trees and fertile plants now to lie plaine like a desart all cut downe neither was there any straunger that before time had seene Iudaea and the beautifull suburbs of Ierusalem who now beholding it could abstaine from teares or not lament the woful change so farre different from the former For now this warre extinguished vtterly all signes of beauty neither could one comming sodainly now know the place which he well knew before When the mounts were ended both the Romans and the Iewes greatly feared the Iewes for that except they were destroyed their citie would be presently taken the Romans for that if these were ouerthrowne they knew not how to erect more wanting matter and now their bodies were wearied with labour and their minds with many griefes and molestations But the Romans were more grieued at the calamitie of the citie then the citizens within for the Iewes notwithstanding these miseries did neuerthelesse stoutly defend their wals but the courages of the Romans failed whē they saw that the Iewes policy made their mounts vnprofitable that the strength of the wals resisted their engines that the Iewes boldnesse ouercame their strength in sight and especially seeing that the Iewes hauing endured such calamitie famine and miserie were still more couragious then before so that they deemed their strength not to be ouercome and that their minds were inuincible who were hardened and encouraged by miserie For who were able to abide their forces in prosperitie who by aduersitie were incited to vertue Wherefore the Romans made a stronger watch about their mounts But Iohns followers who were in the Castle Antonia fearing what might ensue if the wall were battered preuented it in what they could before the Rams were set vp and taking firebrands in their hands they assaulted the mount but deceiued with a vaine hope they retired themselues For first of all they seemed to disagree amongst themselues so that they came from their wals one after another and some space betweene euery one so that they came softly and fearefully and briefely not after the manner of the Iewes for they wanted courage rashnes and a flocking togither at once which is proper vnto all that nation and so came more soberly and with lesse courage then they were wont They did also finde the Romans more couragious then of late who so defended their mounts with their bodies and weapons that it was not
first that introduced Philosophie and the knowledge of celestiall and diuine things that is to say Pherecydes the Svrian Pythagoras and Thales these all of them confesse with one accord that being instructed by the Aegiptians and Chaldeis they haue published some few writings which are supposed to be the most auncient that are among the Greekes and it is hardly beleeued also that they were written by them What reason therefore haue the Greeks to be so proud as if there were none but themselues only who knew the affaires of antiquitie and could exactly expresse their truth and veritie Or who cannot easily coniecture by their owne writers themselues that their writings were onely vpon hearesay and supposition and that their stile was onely tied to their vaine coniectures Hence commeth it to passe that in their bookes they cauell and reproue one another make no conscience to maintaine and write contradictions in one and the same things But it may be said that I taske my selfe to a fruitlesse labour if I should go about to informe those who are better experienced then my selfe in how many points Hellanicus differeth from Acusilaus as touching the Genealogie in how many places Acusilaus hath corrected Herodotus or how Ephorus hath approoued that Hellanicus was a liar in the greater part of that which he reciteth Ephorus hath been reprooued by Timaeus and in generall all them haue taxed Herodotus Neither hath Timaeus vouchsafed to accord with Antiochus or Philistus or Callias in the histories of Sicâ—…ly Neither haue they who haue written the histories of Athens or those who haue entreated of the Argoliques followed others What neede I recken vp those who in particular haue entreated of Cities or of succinct and short matters whereas in the description of the Persian warre and those exploits that were performed therein those of greatest authoritie are most at oddes Thucidides is accused by some for a liar in diuers places notwithstanding that he seemeth to haue described the historie of his time most exactly But the causes of this discord are diuers and it may be that they who shall narrowly prie into them shall find more For mine owne part those two which I shall here set downe in my opinion are of greatest weight The first and in my iudgement the chiefest is that amongst the Greekes from the beginning we haue not been industrious to keepe publike registers of such matters as hapned in any time or place which hath made them erre and giuen those a priuiledge to lie who afterwards would looke to write any thing of such matters as were acted long since Neither are the other Greekes onely to be touched with this negligence for not making account of such registers but amongst the Athenians also who are reputed to be glorious for the antiquitie of their countrey and who are exercised in sciences there is no mention of them For it is said that the most auncient and publike writings which they haue are those capitall lawes which were set downe by their lawmaker Draco who liued but a little time before Pisistratus tyrannie What neede wee speake of the Arcades who vaunt themselues of their antiquities For they haue learned the vse of letters with verie great difficultie and sometime after this whereas therefore there was not any writing published before that time which might instruct those that would learne or reprehend those that published vntruths from thence is it that so many differences haue happened among Historiographers A second cause is for that they who addicted themselues to compose histories did not busie themselues about the inquisition of the truth notwithstanding that each of them did ordinarily promise no lesse but they laboured to expresse how 〈◊〉 they were and fixed their whole study theron as the onely means wherby they hoped to obtaine reputation aboue the rest Some of them therefore addicted their stiles to â—…ables othersome by flattering praises thought to currie fauour with kings and Cities The rest inforced their studies to accusations by obtaining the worke of the writer thereof under trust to get the more credit thereby In effect they haue followed that coursd in composing their hitorie that was â—…uerie way different from the true nature thereof For the assured signe of a perfect and true historie is whereas all men accord both in word and writing iâ—… soâ—…ing down the same thing and they who haue written diuersly made men beleeue that they were the â—…est amongst aâ—… thâ—… rest We ought therefore to grant the superioritie to the Grecians in all that which concenâ—…h eloquence and the ornament of language but not in that which appertaineth to antiquitie or truth of Historie and especially when the question is that each man writ as touching his owne nation Seeing therfore that both the Aegyptians and Babylonians long time since vsed all diligence in writing in so much as their priests were hereunto enioyned who did most curiously entreat of all such points the same also did the Chaldeis amongst the Babylonians and the Phoenicians also inhabiting amongst the Greekes vsed lawes both concerning priuate and publike affaires which because all men confesse it I will omiâ—…to speake of I let passe also to recount what care our nation had of this point no doubt greater then those nations aboue mentioned had charging our high priests and prophets to execute this office which custome hath been obscrued euen vntill this our age yea and if I may presume so farre will be obserued in all succeeding ages as by the scope of my speech ensuing I will endeuour to make manifest For our nation did not onely depute this office to the most iust men amongst them in the beginning and vnto such as were alwaise ready to appease the heauie displeasure and wrath of God kindled against them but they also prouided to preserue the line and dissent of priests from all impuritie and from being intermingled with others For no man amongst vs can be a priest who is not borne of a woman descended from the priests line neither in this case is any respect made either of riches or honours but the partie who claimeth the dignitie of priesthood must by many witnesses proue his Genealogie and that he is descended from priests This custome is not onely of force in Iewrie our owne countrey but wheresoeuer else any of our nation inhabite as in Aegypt and Babylon and in any other place where continually the priests in their marriages haue this respect not to marrie with any woman that is not of their owne line and they send vnto Ierusalem the name and petigree of the woman whom they haue married and all testimonie hereof which they can deduce from her auncestors Now if warres molest our nation as often they haue in the time of Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes of Pompey the great Quintilius Varo and especially in this our age then those priests who suruiue make new Genealogies and pedigrees out of our holy writ
most wittie as also hee did in many things else and euen vntill this day many of their Epistles sent one vnto another are kept amongst the Tyrians And that I doe not feare the authoritie amongst the Tyrians I will proue by the testimonie of Dius a man who by common consent hath faithfully written the Phaenician Historie wherein he writeth as followeth After the death of Abibalus Hiramus his sonne reigned in his steade who increased the number of his Easterne Cities and inlarged Ierusalem hee also ioyned the Temple of Iupiter Olimpius situate in an Iland vnto it filling vp the water with earth and adorned it with golden gifts After this ascending into Libanus he cut downe the wood to build Temples and that the king of Ierusalem named Salomon sent vnto him certaine riddles to be expounded and he againe the like vnto him couenanting together that he who could not tel the meaning of one an others riddles should pay vnto the other a some of money and that Hiramus confessing he could not expound Salomons riddles did pay vnto him much money Lastly that one Abdemonus a Tyrian did expound the said riddles and writ more vnto Salomon which if Salomon could not interpret hee should pay vnto Hircanus a sum of mony this testimonie Dius beareth vs concerning the foresaid matter But I will now recount the words of Menander an Ephesian who hath registred the acts of al kings both at home and abroad endeuouring to make a true historie out of the writings of enerie country This man writing of the Tyrian kings and comming to Hiramus he saith thus of him Abibalus dying there succeeded in the kingdome his son Hiramus who liued 34. yeers this king with a rampier conioyned Eurichorus and erected there a pillar of gold in Iupiters temple and went into the woods and cut downe the Cedars of Libanus to make couerings for the temples of which pulling downe the olde he erected new and dedicated the temple of Hercules and Astartus but that to Hercules in the moneth of Peritius and then the other to Astartus when he wâ—…an army went against the Tyrians who did not pay him tribute whom when he had subdued he returned againe At this time also liued Abdemonus a seruant vnto the king who was wont to expound the parables which king Salomon of Ierusalem sent vnto king Hiramus now how long it was from this kings time till the building of Carthage we may thus calculate After the death of Hiramus his sonne Beleastartus succeeded him who liued fortie and three yeeres and raigned â—…en after him his sonne Abdastartus who liued twentie yeeres and raigned nine but this king was treacherously slaine by the foure sonnes of his nurse the eldest of whom raigned twelue yeeres Next whom Astartus the sonne of Beleastartus who liued fortie and foure yeeres and raigned twelue after him ruled his brother Astarimus who liued fiftie and foure yeeres and sate in the kingdome nine then he was slaine of his brother Phelletes who raigned eight moneths and liued fiftie yeeres and was slaine by a priest of Astarta named Ithobalus who liued three score and eight and raigned thirtie two yeeres him succeeded his sonne Badezorus who liued fortie fiue yeeres and raigned six yeeres to him succeeded his sonne Mettinus who liued thirtie two yeeres and raigned nine After him Pigmalion who liued fiftie sixe yeeres and raigned fortie in the seuenth yeere of whose raigne his sister Dido builded a Citie in Africa and named it Carthage so that from the time of king Hiramus vnto the building of Carthage is by this computation a hundreth fiftie fiue yeeres and two moneths and for as much as the temple of Ierusalem was built in the twelfth yeere of Hiramus his raigne the computation of the time since that yeere vntill the building of Carthage is 143. yeeres and 8. moneths What need we alleadge more seeing this testimonie of the Phoenicians The truth is now sufficiently made manifest for our auncestors must needs haue come into this countrey we inhabite before such time as they built a temple in it as I haue also made manifest in my bookes of Antiquitie collected out of our holy Scripture I will now speake of that which the Chaldeis writ of vs in their histories which do much agree in all other matters with those of our nation And first let Berosus be my witnesse who was a Chaldean borne yet a man famous and knowne vnto all that loue learning for he in the Grecian tongue did write Astronomie and the Chaldeis Philosophie Berosus imitating the most auncient histories writeth of the diluge and how mankinde was therein extinguished and he in all things imitateth Moses He also speaketh of the Arke wherein our forefather was preserued and affirmeth that it was carried vnto the tops of the mountaines in Armenia after this he prosecuteth the Genealogie of all that raigned from Noe vntil Nabulassarus king of the Babylonians and Chaldeans He likewise setteth down how long euerie one raigned and in prosecuting the deeds of this king he recounteth how he sent his sonne Nabuchodonosor into Aegypt and to our countrey with great power who finding them rebels subdued them and burnt the temple at Ierusalem and so departed carrying with him all our nation into Babylon whereupon our Citie was desolate seuentie yeeres vntill the raigne of Cyrus king of the Persians Moreouer he affirmeth that the Babylonian kept Aegypt Syria Phoenicia and Arabia exacting more of his subiects then euer any king of Babylon or Chaldea had done before his time And the words of Berosus must needs be to this effect Nabulassarus his father hearing that his substitute in Aegypt Caelesyria and Phoenicia had rebelled he himselfe not being able to take such paines committed these affaires vnto his sonne Nabuchodonosor and gaue vnto him a part of his army for that he was in the â—…ower of his age and sent him against him and Nabuchodonosor fighting with the said Champion ouerthrew him and subdued the countrey which of olde belonged vnto them and at the same time his father Nabulassarus fell sick in Babylon and died hauing raigned twentie nine yeeres But Nabuchodonosor long after vnderstanding his fathers death he disposed of Aegypt and other prouinces as he thought good and taking the captiues of Iudaea Phoenicia and the Syrians that liued in Aegypt he committed them to certaine of his friends to be brouglit with other carriage and his army to Babylon and so he himselfe accompanied with a verie few to his iourney to Babylon through the desart and finding that the Chaldeis ruled all and that their nobilitie reserued the kingdome for him he was made king and commanded houses to be built for the captiues that were comming in the most conuenient places of Babylon and he of the spoile beautified the temple of Belus and other places most richly and built a new citie without the wall of the olde and prouiding least hereafter the
a tumult begun in Syria He also recordeth the greatnesse of our countrey and the fertilitie thereof they inhabite quoth he a countrey that hath almost thirtie hundreth thousand acres of most fertile ground for Iurie is of this largenesse that in time past we inhabited a large and very great citie which was verie populous he speaketh also of the building of our temple in this manner The Iewes haue many other townes and villages in euerie prouince but they haue one most strong citie the compasse of whose wals is fiftie stounds and in it inhabite a hundred and fiftie thousand men and this citie they called Ierusalem in the midst of it is a building of stone with foure porches a hundreth cubits about it hath also double gates wherein is a foure squared Altar made of vnhewen stones ioyned together and it is twentie cubites square euerie way and ten cubites high and about it is a most huge building where in is an Altar and a Candlesticke both of gold weighing two talents and there is kept a continuall light night and day which neuer goeth forth therein is no Image nor gift notrees nor wood growing there nor any thing of this sort Therein inhabite Priests both night and day celebrating certaine purifications and they drinke no wine in the Temple Moreouer he shewed how our nation warred vnder Alexanders successors and he reporteth that which he heard of a certaine Iew in the armie and I will set downe the Authors owne words As I went quoth he to the red Sea a certaine Iewe one of the horsemen that conducted vs named Mosollamus who was a couragious man and one who excelled all archers else both Greeks and other nations This Iewe euerie one hasting on forward of his iourney and being willed by a southsayer to stand he asked for what cause the multitude staied and went not forward presently the Southsayer shewed him a bird which hee diligently viewed and told the Iewe that if that bird did stand still in the place that then it was expedient for them to stand and if the bird did mount vp and flie that then they ought to march on forward but if it flew towards the place from whence they came that then it was wisedome to retire The Iewe hereat was silent yet drawing his bow hee shot an arrow and killed the bird whereat the Southsayer and certaine other were offended and cursed him But he taking the vnhappie bird in his hand said vnto them Are yee so mad as to thinke that this bird not hauing the foresight to preserue her selfe from this death is able to direct vs in the successe of our iourney Had this bird foreknowne future euents shee would haue eschewed this place for dread that Mosollamus a Iewe should haue strucken her with an arrow But wee will now leaue the testimonie of Hecataeus for euerie one that list may reade his booke and there vnderstand this more at large I will not omit the testimonie of Agatarchides a man of no euill in his owne opinion yet indeed one who hath vsed detraction to our owne nation This man speaking of Stratonice how leauing her husband Demetrius shee came into Syria and how Seleucus would not marrie her as shee hoped who hauing an armie at Babylon warred against Antioch and had taken the Citie and that shee fled into Seleucia where as she might haue made a more speedie escape by water but that shee was forwarned in a sleepe so to do that she was there taken and died c. Agatarchides hauing vsed this Preface and inueighed against Stratonices superstition he vseth an example of our nation in this manner The people that are called Iewes inhabite a most strong Citie which they call Ierusalem these people are wont to rest vpon the seuenth day and doe neither beare armes nor till their grounds nor doe anie other businesse vpon that day but their custome is to remaine in their Temple and there with stretched out armes continue in praier till night And so vpon a time they perseuering in that foolerie whilest they should haue defended their Citie Ptolomaeus Lagus entered it with many people and a great armie who greatly tyrannized ouer them and so they found by experience that the solemnitie appointed by their law was preiudiciall vnto them such like Churches as this did teach them and all nations else to flie vnto dreames which their law teacheth neuer considering that humane pollicie cannot preuaile against that which must necessarily happen Agatarchides thought this which he reporteth of vs to be ridiculous but they who weigh it with indifferencie shall perceiue that it is great commendation to our nation who rather suffer their Countrie and our saftie to be lost and endamaged then to violate the lawes of God I thinke I am thus able to shew that many writers omitted to make mention of our nation not for that they knew vs not but for enuie For Ierome who writ a booke of succession in the same time that Hecataeus liued who was a friend vnto King Antigonus and being president of Syria neuer mentioneth vs in all his Historie notwithstanding he was brought vp almost in our Countrie But Haecataeus writ a booke of vs so different are the minds of men for one of them thought our nation worthie to bee diligently recorded the other through malice was hindred from speaking the truth yet the Histories of the Chaldies Aegyptians and Phaenicians may suffice to proue our antiquitie together with the Greeke writers for besides those before mentioned Theophrastus also Theodotus Manaseas Ariphanes Hermogenes Euemeus Conon Zopyrion and many others no doubt for I haue not perused all mens bookes haue manifestly restified of vs. For many of the foresaid men were blinded with errors as not hauing gread our holy Scriptures yet they all ioyntly testifie our antiquitie for which I now alleadge them Truely Demetrius Phalereus Philon the elder and Eupolemus did not much erre from the truth and therefore reason it is that they should be borne with alâ—… for they were not so skilful as to search our writings with so much curiositie Being come thus farre it resteth that I now present one point more wherof I made mention in the beginning of this booke to wit that I declare the detractions and slaunderous reports of diuers concerning our nation to be false and voide of truth and I will vse the testimonie of those writers who record that the lying Historiographers at such time as they committed to writing the foresaid detractions did also euen against themselues register such like slaunders as they did against vs. And I doubt not but that all those who are conuersant in Histories can testifie that the like hath beene done by most writers for certaine priuate hatred or such like respects For some of the Gentiles haue attempted to deface the honour and reputation of the most renowmed Cities and to defame the manners of their Inhabitants Thus did Theopompus
presently assembling togither the people of Aegypt and consulting with the princes of his countrey he sent all holy beasts and all that the priests esteemed before him giuing the priests especiall charge to hide their Idols and he commended his sonne Sethones who also by his father Rampses was called Ramesses being but fiue yeeres olde vnto the custodie of a friend of his and then accompanied with three hundred fighting men he met his enemies but would not fight with them fearing least he should fight against the pleasure of the gods and so he retired himselfe vnto Memphis and taking Apis and the rest of the Aegyptian gods hee with all his troupes of Aegyptians tooke shippe and fled into Aethiopia For the king of Aethiopia vpon curtesie obeied him and for this cause he entertained him his followers prouided all necessaries for them for that fatall thirteen yeers banishment and this was done in Aethiopia In the meane time the inhabitants of Ierusalem came downe into the country with the vncleane Aegyptians and did so tyrannize ouer the inhabitants that all their beholders iudged their victorie to be full of crueltie for not contented to fire the cities and townes and to commit all manner of sacriledge and to destroy the Idols of the gods they did also most cruelly teare in pieces the sacred beasts and forced the priests and prophets to lay violent hands vpon them and kill them after which deed they draue them out of the countrey naked It is therefore reported that a Heliopolitan priest Osarsiphus by name made lawes for them and statutes to gouerne them This priest was called Osarsiphus taking his name from the God of Heliopolis called Osiris who being now thus conuersant with this people changed his name and called himselfe Moses Thus the Aegyptians report of the Iewes and many things els which for breuitie sake I omit Manethon furthermore writeth that afterward Amenophis the king came with a great power out of Aethiopia and his son Rampses with him accōpanied with a great army and that ioining battell with the shepheards and polluted persons he gaue them an ouerthrow and pursued them vnto the borders of Syria And this is Manethons report but for as much as he writeth olde wiues tales dotages and lies I will by manifest reason conuince him first distinguishing that whereof I am to speake hereafter He of his owne accord granteth and confesseth that our auncestors at first were not Aegyptians but strangers that came thither from another place and conquered the countrey and againe departed from thence I will now out of his owne writings endeuour to shew that the weake people of Aegypt were not mixed with vs and that Moses who indeed was our conducter out of Aegypt and liued many ages before was no Lepar He therfore first of all setteth downe a ridiculous cause of this forementioned faction which was that king Amenophis was desirous to see the gods Which gods trow yee he could already see the Oxe the Goate the Crocodile and the Munkey but the God of heauen how could he see And why had Amenophis this desire forsooth because a certaine king one of his predecessors had seene them he therefore knowing by him what things they were and how he came to the sight of them needed no new deuice to accomplish his desire but perhaps the foresaid prophet was a man of great wisedome by whom the king had confidence to attaine his desire but if so he had been how chanceth it that he was so vnwise he could not perceiue that it was an impossible thing to satisfie the kings desire for that which he promised was not brought to passe Or what reason mooued him to thinke that the gates were inuisible because of Lepars and weake people The gods are offended with mens impieties not with the defects of their bodies And how was it possible that at one instant so many thousand Lepars and infirme persons should be gathered togither or wherein did not the king obay the Prophet he commaunded that the Lepars and infirme persons should be exiled the countrey and the king did not banish them the countrey but sent them to hew stones as though he had needed workemen and not purposed to cleanse the countrey from Lepars Lastly he saith that the Prophet foreseeing that Aegypt was to suffer and fearing the wrath of the gods he killed himselfe and left his minde in a booke written vnto the king How chanced it then that the prophet did not at first foresee his own death and so opposed himselfe vnto the kings desire to see the gods or wherefore did he feare such calamities as were not to fall in his life or what great miserie hanged ouer his head which might worthily cause him to kill himselfe to preuent it But let vs heare that which followeth more sottish then all the rest The king quoth he hearing this and stroken with feare did not for all this expell those Lepars he ought to haue exiled but at their request gaue them as he saith a Citie wherein before time the shepheards did inhabite called Auaris whereinto they being come they made a priest of Heliopolis their prince who deuised lawes for them commaunding them neither to adore the gods nor to abstaine from offering violence to such beasts as amongst the Aegyptians are sacred but that they should kill and spoile all things that they should marrie with none but such as were their confederates that he bound the people with an oath to keepe those lawes and that they fortified Auaris to fight against the king Adding moreouer that he sent to Ierusalem for helpe promising to yeeld Auaris vnto them being a place sometime possessed by their ancestors and that they from that place leading their forces might easily subdue all Aegypt he then saith that the Aegyptian king Amenophis came against them with three hundreth thousand and yet for that he would not striue againct the decree of the gods he fled into Aethiopia and carried with him Apis and other holy beasts and that the inhabitants of Ierusalem comming downe inuaded the land fired the townes and Cities slew their nobles vsed all sort of crueltie possible and that the priests name who made lawes and statutes for them to liue vnder was one of Heliopolis Osarsiphus by name deriuing the same from Osiris the god of Heliopolis and that this man changing his name was afterward called Moses Moreouer that Amenophis hauing liued in banishment thirtie yeeres came with a strong power out of Aethiopia and fighting with the shepheards and polluted he slew many of them and put the rest to flight pursuing them vnto the borders of Syria Manethon remembreth not that heere againe he telleth a verie vnskilfull tale for although the Lepars and impotent persons were offended with the king for appointing them to hew stones yet is it to be thought that they receiuing their owne desire at the kings hands to wit a Citie to dwell in
by many ages For our lawes established amongst vs haue beene imitated of all other nations For though the first Greekes did colourably obserue lawes yet all their Philosophers did imitate ours and our opinions of God and in humilitie taught others communion of life and conuersation yea the common people did long since imitate our pietie neither is there any nation either Greekes or Barbarians who haue not after some manner obserued a Sabaoth as we do and fasting daies and candlestickes with light all which they learned of vs yea many do also obserue our customes concerning their meats and our vnitie and concord wherein we excell all other nations our communitie also and industrie in arts and labours and sufferance for our lawes And which is most to be admired our law not hauing any to force vs to obserue it hath so obliged our hearts that as God is of all the world honoured without compulsion so are our lawes amongst vs all we not forced therevnto And whosoeuer doth diligently consider his owne nation and family shall find that which I haue reported to be true I will now generally reprehend the voluntarie malice of all men for either they meane that we hauing these good lawes do yet little esteeme them and follow worse or if they do not so meane let theÌ„ hold their malitious tongue from any further calumniatiation For I doe not take vpon me the defence of this cause for that I beare any hatred to any man but for that I and all Iewes do honour and reuerence our lawmaker and beleeue that whatsoeuer he prophecied proceeded from God yea although our selues did not know the goodnesse of our lawes yet the multitude of them that imitate them were a sufficient motiue to enduce vs thereunto But I haue at large and with all sinceritie discoursed our lawes and commonwealth in my bookes of our antiquitie And I now againe haue made mention of them neither in contumely of other nations nor in praise of our own but only to reproue such as haue most maliciously and impudently belied vs contrarie to the knowne truth And I thinke I haue alreadie fully performed thâ—… which I promised For I haue shewed our nation contrarie to their affirmations to be most ancient which I haue proued by the testimonie of many ancient writers who in their works haue mentioned vs. Our aduersaries affirme vs to haue come of Aegyptians I haue shewed that our forefathers came into Aegypt out of some other place They alledge that we were expelled Aegypt for their miserie in that they were infected with disease I haue proued that they came from thence to their owne countrey by meanes of their owne prowesse and force of their owne accord Others labour to defame our lawmaker as a wicked person whose vertue many of ancient times so long time as hath beene since him do witnesse It is not needful to speake more largely of our lawes for they by themselues appeare pious and good such as do not inuite or incite vs to the hatred of other nations but rather to communion and friendshp being both enemies to iniquitie and commaunders of iustice banishers of luxuriousnes and teachers of frugalitie and labour forbidding all wars enterprised for auarice and preparing the people to shew fortitude in them and for them inflicting ineuitable punishment vpon their transgressors not easily to be deceiued by gloasings speeches and executing in action all that they in word commaund yea amongst vs the execution of them obseruation is more readie then the words of them I therefore confidently affirme that we do teach more pious and vertuous manners then other nations doe For what can be better then inuiolate pietie What more iust then to obey the law what more profitable and commodious then to be at vnitie and peace amongst ourselues and neither to forsake one another in calamity nor iniurie one another in prosperitie to contemne and dispise death in time of warre and in peace to labour and till our grounds to vse other arts and works and alwaies to thinke and beleeue that God beholdeth all our actions and ruleth and disposeth all things If this be either written or reserued by any one before this time we are then to thanke them as being their schollers but if they are knowne neuer before to haue beene extant then we are knowne to be the first authors and inuentors of it Let therefore all Apions and Moions go and all others that with them are conuicted of lying and slaundering And this bookeis written to the Epaphroditus who louest the truth and to others who by thee wil or are desirous to know the same DESIDERIVS ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS TO THE MOST VERTVOVS AND LEARNED FATHER HELIAS MARCEVS THE MACHABAETAN RVLER OF THE RENOWMED COLLEDGE OF THE MACHABAES I Haue not grudged vertuous Father to dedicate vnto thee a dayes labour wherein I haue perused and what in me lyeth amended the booke which Ioseph writ of the seuen Machabees brethren And would it had lyen in my power more aboundantly to haue answered your expectation I haue now for that I counted the Greeke copie by the Latine coniectured the Greeke and altered some things yet but verie few Ioseph doth not falfely boast himselfe to haue attained to the excellencie of the Greeke tongue and this booke will sufficiently witnesse the same wherein he shewed both great vanitie and Emphasis in so much as hee seemeth to haue handled that famous worke with eloquent stile and ornament of discourse Saint Ierome for this cause entitleth this booke great eloquence Suidas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out of them both wee amend the corrupted title cal it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is of the rule of reason for the scope of this booke tendeth all to proue that reason is of no force in man except it beare soueraigntie ouer all our inordinate appetites This is most euidently proued by the bookes of the Machabees in the Scripture which books the Iewes doe not receiue as Canonicall yet doe they account it amongst their sacred writ I cannot but congratulate this worthy Colledge which though famous for many other things yet is more happie for that it is so blessed as to inioy so worthie and vnspeakable a treasure Or rather all Colonia Agrippina that happie and fortunate Citie yet in nothing more happie then for that it alone doth in her bosome shrine so many so sacred and excellent pledges of pietie yet should it be more happie if it could expresse their vertues whose sacred reliques it so religiously keepeth and imitate their manners whose bodies it possesseth to wit if in sinceritie of religion it imitated the pietie of three Kings and the sacred puritie of the eleuen Virgins if it resembled the most valiant yong men the Machabes and the inuincible courage of that woman whose valorous constancie no miserie could conquer And this best portion and part of her felicitie this worthie Citie might bestow vpon
her selfe yea and double the same Doe thou goe forward in that which thou hast in hand to wit in spreading the praise of those Martyrs making that vertuous example more commendable and your Citie more famous Farewell FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS OF THE RVLE OF REASON A MOST ELOQVENT BOOKE CORRECTED BY DESIDERIVS ERASMVS MOST LIVELY SETTING DOWNE THE MARTYRDOME OF THE MACHABEES I Am vpon the instant request of Polybius of Megalopolis to commit to writing the constant suffering of the Machabees worthie all admiration not in a Rhetoricall and pleasing stile but rather after our owne Countrie fashion thereby to exhort our nation patience in their calamities But first of all it is necessary for vs to speake something of reason and assigne vnto it the power vertue to deliberate For he who hath once fully determined to suffer all miserie for Gods sake is in my opinion alreadie a Martyr it is therefore a great merite once to haue so determined and therefore as is aboue said reason beareth the rule of all inferiour passions and then if destinie denie vs opportunitie to suffer yet haue we suffered all because we purposed to suffer all Who so therefore wil renownee the world and aspire onely to celestiall things hee must first exercise sobrietie banish gluttonie with his page lasciuiousnesse and all other such like vices as may possesse and captiue the mind hee must likewise mount-vp vnto the top of vertues towre that after he may from thence warre against the vices of this body feare and griefe the first whereof assaulteth vs when wee begin and the last when we haue begunne There are many examples of the valiant souldiers of God which I would vse but that the ornaments sprung from the wombe of one woman may suffice me which shee brought forth not at one birth but with the same pietie and zeale And first I will speake of Eleazer the cause and example of their passion and then I wil relate what tortures and torments their mother indured yet cannot man but onely God determine who amongst them was first and who last in this noble agonie They therefore being all setled in one opinion resembling one an other more in mind then they did in body duely considered the frailtie of this life and therefore neither delighted in the flatteries of this world nor any alluring inchauntments thereof They shewed themselues not to esteeme of torments fetters nor no other sort of tortures imposed vpon them and to returne to our first saying they premeditated patience to indure whatsoeuer the iudges crueltie could deuise I will there in what I may prayse the fortitude of these brethren or rather I will with all truth rehearse the most worthie agonie of these holy men which deserueth all commendations and setting all adulation a part prosecute with a bare Historicall narration the manner of their martyrdome But before I begin to declare the death of nobilitie I will a little entreate of reason which as I haue affirmed is no smal motiue to martyrdome Reason it is that maketh vs obserue fasts and vse abstinence it is reason that maketh vs despise money and by it wee are taught not to account of dignities and honours which all men generally ayme at yea reasons gift it is that we doe resist the heat of lustfull desires Hence commeth it that hauing once ouercome such things as the flesh delighteth in we find our selues a little able to resist we also learne to despise paines torments and so resolue to suffer all things that shall be imposed vpon vs. Which that it may more plainly appeare let vs search out the cause of this order and we shall finde wisedome to be the cause hereof For no man can determine and distinguish good from euill that is not endued with wisedome this wisedome is alwaies accompanied with iustice and iustice is still ioyned with vertue and vertue and temperance cannot be seperated so that this wisedome consisteth vpon foure parts Besides these there are two things that either do cause or hinder passion to wit paine and pleasure one of the which we doe alwaies refuse and the other we alwaies desire yet where pleasure ariseth and is presently by reasons rule put away the minde is there strengthened and paine compared with glorie is through hope of a greater reward contemned before it come and being come our minde is ashamed not to suffer that which it was before resolued to doe for reason therefore is the guide of all our actions and by it we despise torments and detest vice which like a skilfull â—…usbandman pruneth and cutteth away superfluous branches and killeth the heate of all corrupt and hurtfull humors onely leauing that to remaine in vse which may someway be profitable vnto vs. Thus reason purifieth vs by passion encouraging to suffer and in our suffering and agonie strengthening vs. Who is not desirous to eate of the flesh of wilde beasts and fishes And who lusteth not to eate of feathered soules nay doe not the daintie dishes gotten either in Sea or land inuite vs to eate of them What then causeth vs to abstaine from them that all men desire them yet no man eateth them Euen in this thing the minde is taught to ouercome it selfe in delightfull obiects and so to bridle all pleasure that when occasion of martyrdome is offered the minde setting aside all vanities will not for a little pleasure forget his accustomed vertue For this cause was Ioseph iustly praised in that he was not ouercome by lust which raigneth in a youthfull body this reason so worketh with sound aduise and mature counsell that it againe recouereth lost friendship and getteth new and suffereth no crueltie to be committed Of this we haue also the example of Moses who had he not iust occasion to be angrie against Dathan and Abiram reason no doubt would haue caused him to haue smothered all griefe of minde Did not our father Iacob with great vehemencie reproue his sonnes Simon and Leui that without reason they had vsed such crueltie saying cursed be your anger which anger and wrath of theirs had it been bridled with reason neither had they been cursed nor the other had perished For this cause God the maker of mankinde when he fashioned vs and our manners hauing finished all lineaments of the body he now placed the minde to be in it and to rule it leauing it certaine precepts to obserue and keepe to wit temperance and to embrace and follow that which is good and cleaue vnto iustice and rule and bridle all passions in the body subiect vnto it and obserue the precepts of God But some will aske me wherefore we offer to commit wickednesse seeing that reason ruleth our passion But it is a ridiculous thing to thinke that reason so ruleth for reasons rule cannot hinder the appetite from desire but onely correct desire and so preuaile that it suffer with patience the losse or abstinence from such things as
the people 165. f. of Artaxerxes 277. a b. of Ptolemey 294. g. of Archelaus 451. c. of Herode 469. c. Barak appointed generall 115. b. putteth Sisara to flight ibid. c d. flew Iabin and gouerned Israel fortie yeeres 115. e. f. Bareas one of the fiue kings of Assyria 13. c. Baruch Ieremies secretarie 252. c. dismissed 256. h. Barzapharnes seased vpon Syria 575. a. instateth Antigonus ibidem Barzillais excuse to Dauid 180. l. Battaile between Iosuah the Chananites 105. b. betweene the Beniamites and Israelites 111. e. betweene Saul and the Philistinâ—…s 157. e f. betweene Ioab and Absalom 177. f. Battell of Herod 390. i k. Battell betweene the Romans and Iewes 455. e f. Batterie of Iotapata 653. c d e. of Ierusalem 709. b. 710. g. Bathes 752. l. Bathes of Calliroes 449. 605. e. Bathuel sonne of Nathor 12. g. fâ—…ther â—…f Rebecca and Laban ibid. g. Beame of gold 358. h. Bearing of armes inhibited 136. i. Beasts venemous a plague of Egypt 48. 〈◊〉 Beautie of superiour bodies 6. h. Beautie of bodie not to be respected 141. b. Beautie of Saâ—… 13. 〈◊〉 of Rachel 23. b. of Ioseph 31. a. of Dauid and his brethren 141. a b c. of Bethsabe 169. d. Bâ—…d of Iron 83. c. Beginning of the warre of the Iewes 624. h. Behauiour of Rachel toward Iacob 23. b. Bellies of the Iewes ripped for gold 723 d. Beneficence of Xerxes 272. l. m. Benefits of God recited 54. i. k. l. Benefits of Herode 588. i. k. l. Beniaâ—…in Iacobs sonne by Rachel 27. e goeth into Egypt 3â—… g. what hapned to him there 36. m. attached and imprisoned 37. a b. Beniamites expert in shooting 111. e. ouerthrew the other tribes twice ibid. d. e. 25. thousand slaine and why 112. g. onely sixe hundreth escape ibid. g. take them wiues by force ibid. l. m. Berenice her request to Florus 625. e. Berosus a Chaldaean writer 771. d. Berosus 12. k. his testimonie of Abraham ibid. of Senacherib 246. k. of Nabuchodonosor 260. i. Bersabe the pit of swearing 16. b. Beseleel a workemaster of the Tabernacle 60. l. 66. i. Bethel what it signifies 23. a. Bethsabe defiled by Dauid 169. d. bare him a sonne 170. l. brought forth Salomon 171. e. certifieth Dauid of Adonias c. 186. k. Birth-day of Vespasian celebrated 744. a. of Pâ—…rao 33. b. Birthright of Esau sold 28. 〈◊〉 Birth of Moseâ—… 42 k. l. Birth of Sampson 121. c. Bâ—…nesse of thâ—… watâ—…rs 53. d e. chaunged ibid. 〈◊〉 Bâ—…phemie againsâ—… God 90. l. Blasphemer of God to be stoned ibid. l. Blaspheming of Goliah 142. h i k. Blessings of God vpon the Israelites 54. h i k. Blessing of Isaac on Iacob 22. g. h. of Iacob on his sons 40 l. m. Blessing of Moses to the Israelâ—…es 97. f. Blindnes of the eneâ—… and how 226. h. 227. d. Blindnes of the Iewes 7â—…2 h. 738. i. Bloud royall destroied 223. f. Bodies celestiall their beautie and order 6. h. Bodie of Iacob translated into Hebron 40. m. of â—…is sonnes brought thither also 41. a. Bodies of Saul and his sonnes hung vp 158. i. Boldnesse of the Iewes 711. c. Bondage of the Israelites see seruitude Bones of Ioseph translated 41. b. 50. g. Booke of Moses lawes 90. h. when to be read 96. b. holy book 98. a. found and read 249. a b. Bookes of holy writ how many 766. m. Booke of Ieremie 251. c. burnt ibid. d. Boos friend to Naomie and Ruth 124. h. exhorts his kinsman to marrie Ruth ibid. m. espouseth Ruth 125. a. begetteth Obed ibid. a. Bootie of Oxen and Camels 154. i. of sheepe c. 686. m. Borders of Galilee 646. k. l. of Iudaea 647. b. of the possession of the nine tribes and an halfe 106. h. c. Borrowed things must be repaied 95. c d. Botches a plague of Aegypt 48. m. Bounds of land not to be remooued 92. i. Bounds of the nine tribes and halfes possessions 106. h c. Bounds of Aegypt 694. i. Boules or ewers 197. b. Bountie requited 203. c. Bountie of Ezechias 243. a b. Bountie of Alexander to the Iewes 286. i. Bountie of Herod to all men 588. i k l. of Caesar to Archelaus 609. f. of Titus 714. h. Brazen Altar 197. a. vessels pertaining to the same 197 a. Brazen gate of the temple openeth of it selfe 738. k. Breach of Gods law losse of his fauour 690. i k. Breach of oath 245. b c. 358. h. of faith 352. h. Breadth of the Arke of Noah 6. l m. Bread of proposition or shew bread 70. g. Brethren Cain and Abel 5. a. Brethren of Ioseph hate him and complot his death 28. l. 29. f e. sell him ibid c. and 30. h i. perswade their father that he was deuoured of beasts ibid l. repent of the euill they did to Ioseph 35. c. returne out of Aegypt ibid. d. go thither againe 36. g h. staied in their iourney and accused of theft ibid. k l. died 41. a. 7. Brethren tormented put to death 806. g. 807. b. 808. g c. Briberie of Elies sonnes 12â—… b. of Antonius 381. d. of Ventidius 374. m. 578. h. of Silo ibid. 578. l. of Antipater 597. e. f. Brothers of Abraham 11. f. of Ioseph 28. k. of Antipater 591. d. see brethren Brothers bewaile their mother 592. k. excuse themselues ibid. k. l. Broile at Caesareâ—… 5â—…3 a. at Ierusalem 610. h. Bâ—…ilding of the temple 195. c. inhibited 266. i. permitted 268. m. 269. a. Bulwarkes builded by the Romans 719. d. Buriall of Sara 19. a. of Abraham 20. l. of Isaac 27. d. of Iacob 40. m. of Samuel 151. f. of Iadon 208. i. of Herod 45 â—…Word d c. Burning of the temple 255. c. 463. b. 736. h. Burthen required to be eased 206. g. Bush of fire about Moses 46. g. Bushell of corne sold for a talent 724. k. Businesse of Moses 57. f. Butlers dreame expoâ—…ded 32. l. Buâ—…cherie of the theeues 522. i k. C Caecinna perswadeth the souldiers to reuolt 695. e f. apprehended 696. g. freâ—…d and honoured ibid. h. Caerealis conquereth the Samaritans 657. b c. Caeâ—… confirmeth Hyrcanus in the priesthood 360. h. departeth out of Syria 361. d. his testimonie of the Iewes 363. e. slaine 572. l. 366. h. deliuereth Aristobulus 570. g. Caesar slaieth Cassius 368. k. Herods friend 374. i. ouercommeth Antonius 393. 〈◊〉 confirmeth Herod in the kingdome 396. h. giueth him 800. talents ibid. k. Lord of Aegypt 397. e. enlargeth Herods dominions ibid. 406. h. 407. d. 586. i k. made Pheroras Teâ—…arch 407. d. gaue Herod reâ—…nues 420. g. offended with Herod 430. g. alloweth Herod to punish malefactors 433. d. maketh Archelaus king 455. a. confirmeth Herods â—…estament 459. d. â—…als a councell 609. b. makes Archelaus an Ethnarke 613. a. Caesarea built by Herod 405. c d. was called Stratons tower 588. g. a great Citie 661. i. Cain Adams first sonne 5. a. slew his brother ibid. b. nor bettered by Gods chastisement ibid. d. builded a Citie 5.
ibid. b. desolated 726. g. Iudas Machabaeus 306. i. slaieth Apollonius and discomsiteth the Syrians ibid. k. m. his oration to his souldiers 307. twise discomfiteth Lysias 308. g h k. purged the Temple 308. l. 309. a. warreth with the neighbouring nations 309. c. b. succoureth the Iewes in Galaad 309. f. 310. g. his admirable victorie ibid. k. besiegeth the Castle in Ierusalem 312. c. and why ibid. his league with Antiochus 313. a. slaieth Alcimus partakers 374. h. putteth Nicanâ—…o flight 315. a. couenanteth peace with the Romans 315. c. abandoned of his men ibid. f. is slaine 316. i. 560. g. Iudas the Essean a Prophet 340. h 562. l. Iudas the Archtheefe 456. i. Iudas Galilaeus sect 464. g. Iudge corrupted with money 368. k l. Iudges â—…ualities 91. d. their office 223. c d. placed in euerie citie of Iuda ibid. c. Iudgement Teat in seuerâ—…ll cities 130. k. Iulian his valour and death 729. a b c. Iulius Ant. for the Iewes 422. k. Iupiter Enyelius reliques 9. e. Iustice is Gods power 91. e. Iustice of God 244. mâ—… leaues nothing vnpunished 601. 2. Iustice oppressed 130. l. Iustice neglected 566. h. Iustice of the Esseans 616. g. Iustification of Samuel 135. c. Iustus incitoth the people to rebellion 531. c d. reproued 549. b. his countrey Tiberias ibid. accused 553. c. condemned to death 550. i. his booke when published 150. k. desireth to commaund Galilee 552. i. Izates king of Adiabenaâ—… 514. i. learneth the service of God ibid. disswaded from circuâ—…cision 515. a b. writeth 〈◊〉 the Parthians c. 516. i. calleth vpon God 517. f. deliuereth the kingdome to his brother 518. 〈◊〉 h. dieth ibid. K Keeper of the prisons entreatie of Ioseph 3â—… i. Kind of liuing most miserable 717. c d. Kindnes of Agrippa 544. g. kinds of sacrifice two 68. h. i. Kindnes pretended 601. f. Kindnes of Herode 603. a. sat Kine and leane what they signifie 33. d e f. 〈◊〉 King desited 130 m. Kings field 14. i. 33. e f. 5. Kings of the Madianites slaine 87. e. of a King to be elected what things are required 92. h. i. the Kings of Canaan warre against the Hebrewes 105. a. they and their whole 〈◊〉 put to the sword ibid. b. 31. Kings ouercome by the Hebrewes 105. c. Kings of Egypt why called Pharaohs 201. f. 102. g. Kings of Alexandria called Ptolomies 202. g. King of Moab sacrificeth his sonne 226. i. King inioyned by oath to serue God 234. l. Kingdome of Salomon rent 204. m. 205. d. a Kingdome how continued 141. c. Kingdome promised to Iehues posteritie 233. e. Kingdome of Herode deuided 459. d. Kingdome not giuen but the honours thereof 591. b. Kingdome of Agrippa 620. k. Kinred 20. i. 23. e. Kinsman 25. c. Knowledge of celestiall bodies 6. h. Knowledge of good and euill 4. i. L Laban Bethuels sonne 21. g. consenteth to Rebeccaes mariage 20. k. entertaineth lacob 23. d c. appointeth him master of his shepheards ibid. f. deceiueth him 24. h. 25. d. pursueth after him 25. a. maketh a couenant with him ibid. b e f. his goods 24. m. 25. e. Labour of the Esseans 615. d. of the Roman souldiers 648. g. ceaslesse 721. a b. Ladder of Iacob 22. k. l. Ladies at variance 598. m. Lake Asphaltites 13. f. described 687. c. the propertie therof ib. Lake of Genezar 665. a. Lakes Asphaltites and Teberias 687. e f. Lamech his wiues and issue 5. f. Lamech Methusalas sonne 6. m. 7. a. Lamentation of Esau and why 22. l. Lamentation of Iacob 30. l of the Hebrewes 99. c. Lamentation of thirtie daies 94. l. m. Lamentation for Abner 16â—… i. for Aristobulus 381. l. Land of the Amorites possessed 83. b. Land markes not to be remoued 92. i. Land of Canaan deuided by Lots 106. h. c. Land of Sodome where 688. m. Lap of Sauls garment 151. b. Largesse of Titus to his souldiers 746. g. Largenesse of Iurie 774. l. Lauer how sustained 196. k. round lauers ibid. m. a Law most cruell 41. c. Lawes made by Moses 90. i. Lawes of adulterie and iealoufie 71. b. of the seuenth yeere 71. c f. of the fathers forsaken 86. h. of the plough 92. k. of like for like 96. i. of violence ibid. h. of warre 72. h. i. 97. c d. against wal-breakers 412. l. against forsakers of their places 720. h. Lawes of the Iewes of great antiquitie 798. f. Lawmakets of the Gentiles 797. d. Lawes of the Gentiles 798. g. Lea Labans daughter 24. g. substituted in Rachels place ibid h hare to Iacob foure sons ibid. i. k. League of Isaac with Abimelech 21. c. of Dauid with Hiram 164. i. of him with Salomon 195. a. of Hyreanus with the Romans 336. i k. Learning of Daniel 258. g. of Ioseph 529. d. Legacies of Herode 450. k l. Legions of the Romans 647. e. 699. c d. Lending vpon vsurie vnlawfull 9â—… c. Length of the Arke of Noah 6 l. m. Length of the Temple 195. c. Lenitie of Saul 135. a. Lenitie of Magistrates 139. f. Leapers driuen out of the Citie 70. k. l. 229. b. 239. f. 240. g. Leprosie of Ozias 239. f. Letters of Dauid 170. g. of Senacherib 246. g. of Artaxerxes for the securitie of the Iewes 282. i. of Ptolemy 290. m of Eleazar 291. b. of Demetrius 326. k. Leui sonne of Iacob 24. i. slew the Sicheâ—…ites 27. a. his sons 39. f. Leuites wife 110. h i. abused dieth c. 111. a. b. tribe of Leui sacred to God 70. h. Leuites sing hymnes 224. g. numbred 187. e. Liberalitie of the enchantresse 155. c. of Herod 588. k. of Helena 515. e f. of Izates ibid. Liberue of the Israelites 50. g. l. restored 113. c. Libertie of speech 220. h i. 585. e d. Libertie a precions thing 499. b. Liberties granted to the Iewes 784. i k l m. Librarie of Ptol. Philadelphus 288. k. Lice a plague of Aegypt 48. k Lic of Posidoâ—…us c. confuted 786. l. Liâ—… of Appion concerning our oath 789. b. Life of Moses 791. a. b. Life of subiects like to their princes 209. b c. Light created 3. d. called day ib. d. Lightnings horrible when 59. a. Lightnings on the enemies 130. g. Limits of the nine tribes and halfes possession 106. h c. Limits of a kingdome enlarged 238. k. Line of Achab rooted out 233. a. Line of Ioseph 529. b. Linnen and woollen garment 91. b. Logion or rational of the high priest 64. h. Longinus breaketh into the Iewes army 711. 〈◊〉 Losse of the Arke 126. l. and why ib. Losse of Sauls kingdome foretolde 140. i. and why ib. of the Empire of Asia 239. a. Losse of the Generall dismaies the souldiers 222. h. Lot sonne of Aram 11. f. had choise of the land 13. c. led away captiue ibid. f. rescued 14. h. receiueth Angels 15. e f. fled to Zoar 16. g. committed incest ib. h. Lots wife 16. g. Lots cast 103. d. 106. h c. 133. c. 238. l m.
the Magistrates The yeare of the world 2493. before Christes Natiuity 1471. The Israelites are commanded to kil their enemies and destroy their idols Moses deliuereth the Iâ—…raelites a booke wherein their lawes and maner of life was written â—…awes made by Moses Ruâ—…finus ch 7. The excuse of the Writer of this Historie why he innouated the order of the lawes Item the Israelites shall liue in the land of Canaan A sacred citie and Temple in Canaan Blasphemie against God Leuit. 4. Deut. 16. Thrise in the yeare the Hebrewes ought to meete The yeare of the world 2493. before Chriâ—…s Naâ—…tie 1571. Tenths Deâ—… 18. The hire of a harlot Other gods Deut. 22. Linnen and woollen Deut. 11. The booke of the law is to be read on the feaâ—…t of the Tabernacles Children shall learne the law Deut. 6. Thâ—… signes of the law The seuen Pâ—…dents Honour to the Magistrate The office of Iudges Iustice is Gods power Deut. 19. The punishment of a falle witnesse Deut. 21. Of homicide committed The yeare of the world 2493. before Christs birth 1471. Aristocracie the best kind of gouernment Deus 17 Of the election of a king Deus 19. The bounds of lands are not to be remoued Leuiâ—… 25. The plants that are not of foure yeares grouth are prohibited Vines to 〈◊〉 planted The law of the plough Som gleanings are to be left for the poore in the field The yeare of the world 2493. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1571. Deâ—… 25. Oxen â—…eading or gâ—…inding Trauelleâ—…s aâ—…e not to be dâ—…uen away from ripe fruits Thirtie ninâ—… stripes The tenth for the pooâ—…e The first fruits Deuâ—… 26. Of marriage Free men ought not to marry seruaÌ„ts The marriage of an harlot The penaltie of a woman married for a virgin and not found so Deuâ—… 24. The yeare of the world 2493. before Christes Natiuity 1471. Deut 21. The first begotten should hold his right The punishment of adulterie or rather rauishing Deut. 22. The deflouring of a virgin Leuit. 25. The wife of the dead brother married Marriage with a bondman Deut. 21. The lamentation mour ning of thirtie daies Deut. 21. Disobedience 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The yeare of the world 2493. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1571. Enemies to be buried Deut. 23. That which is borrowed must be paid Deut. 24. A pledge Theft An Hebrew slaue is to be set at liberty after seuen yeares Goods that are sound The yeare of the world 2493. before Christes Natiuity 1471. Deut. 22 The law of violence Poyson Talions law Of an Oxe striking with his horne Deut. 21. A pit Deut. 24. In the same place Hire Children are not to be punished for their parents offences The yeare of the world 2493. before Christs Natiuitie 1471. Eunuches The lawes of warre Deut. 20. Heraulds to be sent Fruitfull trees are not to be cut downe The Chanaanites are wholy to be extinguished Deut 30. 31. 32 33. 34. Moses song and blessing The yeare of the world 2493 before Christs birth 1471. The Amalechites to be punished Deut. 29. Moses bindeth the Hebrewes by an oth to keepe the law Moses exhorteth Iosuah The yeare of the world 2493. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1471. Deut 31. Deut. 33. 34. The Hebrewes lamentation at Moses death Moses when he died was 120 yeares old Amongst the Hebrewes Adar is the 12. month but amongst vs it is called March Moses was a good gouernour and a great prophet The yeare of the world 2494. before Christes Natiuity 1470. Iesus sendeth spies into Iericho Iesus calleth to memory reckoneth vp what the tribes of Gad. Ruben and Manasses had promised Moses Num 13. The spies suruay Iericho The yeare of the world 2494. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1470. Rachab hideth the spies Iosuh 3. Iesus passeth Iordan with his armie Iosuah 4. 3 The yeare of the world 2494. before Christs birth 1470. Iesus buildeth an Altar on the other side of Iordan The Israelites celebrate Easter enioy the fruites of the earth and cease to feede on Manna Iosuah 6. Iesus with his army walketh about the citie Iesus commaÌ„deth that none but Rahab and hirs should be saued The wals of Iericho fall downe of themselues Iericho is takeÌ„ the men slain the citie destroyed and burnt Rahab and hers reserued The yeare of the world 2494. before Christs birth 1470. Ios. 7. 8. Achar hideth certaine parts of the pray contrary to Gods commandement Galgal signifieth liberty Iosuah 5. The Israelites are put to flight by the Ainites Iosuahs praier vnto God Gods answere to losuahs praier Achar found out by Lot and punished Ainan sackt and burnt The pray distributed amongst the people The yeare of the world 2494. before Christs Natiuitie 1470. Iosua 9. The Gabeonites send Embassors to Iesus The Gabeonites oration to the Hebrewes Iesus maketh a couenant with the Gabeonits The Gabeonites are appointed to publike ministeries Iosuah 10. The king of Ierusalem moueth warre against the Gabeonites Iesus driueth them of Ierusalem to flight The Sun stood still Fiue kings slaine Iosuah 11. The yeare of the world 2494. before Christs Natiuitie 1470. The kings of the Chanaanites moue warre against the Hebrewes The huge army of the Chanaanites All the kings of the Chanaanites slain Iosuah spoyleth the whole land of Chanaan Iosuah deuideth his armie into parts The yeare of the world 2499. before the birth of Christ. 1465. Hedio Ruffinus ch 3. Ios. 13. 14. 18. Iosuah commandeth the deuiding of the countrey counselleth that the two tribes and a halfe should be dismissed Iosuah sendeth certaine men to measure and deuide the land The yeare of the world 2499. before Christs Natiuitie 1465. Iosuah 9. Iosuah deuideth the Region of ChanaaÌ„to thenine tribes and the halfe tribe of Manasses Iosua 16. 17. 18 Supra lib. 4. chap. 7. Num. 32. Iosuah 13. Iesus seuerally commaundeth euerl tribe to root out the race of the Chanaanites The eities of refuge Num. 35. Deut 4. Iosuah 20. The distribution of the pray Iosuahs oration to those that dwelt on the other side of lordan and had serued with the rest The yeare of the world 2499. before Christs birth 1465. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 4. Iosuah 22 The Israelites after they had past ouer lordan builded an Altar on the banke thereof The embassage of the ten tribes to the rest of the Israelites Phinees oration to the Rubonites The yeare of the world 2499. before Christes Natiuity 1565. The Rubenites answer Iosuah dwelt in Sichama Iosuahs exhortation at his death to the magistrates and Elders amongst the Hebrewes Iosuh 23. 24. Iosuahs death Eleazars death The yeare of the world 24â—… before the Natiuitie of Christ. 14â—…5 Iudg. 1. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 5. al. 2. Ten thousand Chanaanites flame and Adoni-Bezec taken The yeare of the world 2525. before the birth of Christ. 1439. Ios. 11. Iethroes posteritie who was the father of Moses possested of lands The Israelites ouercame 〈◊〉 the Chanaanites at one time The Ephraimites recouer Bethel by
Moses Moses was not a leper Moses tooke his name of Moy which in the Egyptian tongue signifieth water Against Chaeremon the historiographer Messenes son of Amenophis Manethons historie and Chaeremons compared together The difference betweene Manethons and Chaeremons historie Lysimachus is reproued for lying According to Lysimachus yeâ—…abbed and leprous Iewes were to be conueied into the wildernes and cast into the sea When the Iews got Iudaea and built Ierusalem Lysimus his opinion confuted Nothing is to be said against an impudent liâ—… Apion wrote something verie coldly Apion concerning Moses and the Iewes Apions fiction concerning the temple and Moses is 〈◊〉 The computatioÌ„ of the time is different among the Historiographerâ—… The friendship betweene Hiram and Salomon whereof we made mention in the first booke against Apion in the beginning The Egyptians doe call a disease about the priuie parts Sabatosis Apions fiction of the six daies iourney is confuted Apion denieth his countrey and origen Apion raileth against the Iewes as therby rewarding the Alexandrians The sea coast of Alexandria The liberties and priuiledges granted vnto the Iewes Alexander 1 Ptolomaeus Lagus 2 Ptolomaeus Philadelphus The seuentie interpreters 3. Ptolomaeus Euergetes 4. Ptolomaeus Philometor 5. Ptolomaeus Physcon ceased to to persecute the Iewes Of Cleopatra the last queene of Alexandria Anthonie the husband of Cleopatra The Iewes haue beene alwaies trustie to their princes The Egyptians do worship beasts not agreeable to mans nature The discord of the Iewes and the Alexandrians in religion The cause of discord betweene the Iewes and Alexandrians Apions fiction touching the Iewes being authors oâ—… sedition at Alexandria is confuted The Romans magnanimitie towards the Iewes The Iewes may haue no Images How Emperours and magistrates ought to be honored The lye of Possidonius and Apollonius concerning the Iewesis confuted An answere to the objection of the Asses head Who are accounted Asses amongst the Iewes and other wisemen Certaine Histo riographers endeuour to couer and hide Antiochus hiâ—… periutie and sacriledge That the Iewes ought once a yeare to sacrifice a Grecian The description of the Temple porches What was in the temple Foure Tribes of Priests and of euerie tribe more then fiue thousand men Another fable deuised by Apion of Zabidus Dora is a Citie of Phaenicia and not of Idumaea The gates of the temple Apions lie concerning the oath is confuted Apion vpbraided the Iewes with captiuitie Dauids and Salomons power Apion praiseth himselfe Why the Iewes doe sacrifice coÌ„mon beasts and do not eat swines flesh The Egyptian priests circumcised and eate no swines flesh Apions death The defence of Moses against Apolonius and Lysimachus Wherein Apolonius accuseth the Iewes The louers of order common lawes are excellent in meeknesse and vertue Moses more ancient then all other law-makers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This word law is not in Homer The life of Moses Moses maketh God his guide and counceller The Origen of lawes amongst the Greeks The opinion of the wisest Greeks coÌ„cerning God Moses compared with other lawmakers Two methods of moralitie and discipline Moses commaunded all the Iewes to come heare the law The concord of the Iewes in religion What sort of people are to be made priests Of God and of the diuine prouidence The workes of God The sacrifices of the old testament Purifications vsed in sacrifice Of marriage The punishment for him that doth rauish a virgine The purification for the bodie Of the funerals of the dead The honour due to parents Against these and vsurie How we ought to vse our enemies A repetition of the precepts of the law The reward of such as keepe the law The continuance of the lawes amongst the Iewes Plato admired amongst the Greekes Lycurgus the law-maker amongst the Lacedemonians The Iewes compared with the Lacedemonians The streit laws of the lewes Moses forbiddeth to deride and blaspheme false gods only for the name of God impured vnto them The number of Gods amongst the gentle infinit The fable of Iupiter and Pallas Iupiter What is the cause of such error concerning God Poets and pain ters cause the multitude of gods Plato decreed that no poet should be permitted in a comon wealth The Lacedemonians did expell al strangers The AtheniaÌ„s manners Socrates a citizen of Athens Anaxagoras A talent is 600 crownes The Scithians The Persians manners The Iewes coÌ„stancy in their lawes Against the lawmakers of the Gentiles The iniustice of lawmakers The Iewes strict obseruation of the law The Iewes lawes are of great antiquitie The lawes of the Gentiles The Epilogue of this booke The cause why Ioseph writ these bookes against Apion A briefe rehearsall of all that is aboue said The intention of the Iewes lawes The origen of the Iewes lawes Reason hath dominion ouer our passions The death of the seuen brethren and their mother The description of reason and wisedome Griefe and paine cause or hinder passion Reason resembleth a skilfull gardener An instance of Iosephs chastitie An instance of Dauids chirst Samuel 2. 28. Dauid in his thirst refused to drinke the water he so desired Seleucus and Nicanor Simon a traitor to his countrey Appolonius captaine of Syria came with an army to Ierusalem Angels vpon horses shining with fierie brightnesse Onias by prayers obtained Appolonius his life Antiochus his rage against the Iewes Eleazar is brought vnto Antiochus 〈◊〉 Macch. 6. Antiochus his exhortation to Eleazar Eleazars answere to Antiochus Eleazar constancie Eleazar cruelly whipped Eleazars last words in the fire Reasons victorie A similitude taken from the rocke Eleazars praise Antiochus caused seueÌ„ noble young men of the Hebrews and their mother to bee brought to Antioch 2. Macch. 7. The kings exhortation to the seuen brethren The young mens constancie The seuen brethren reply vnto Antiochus Antiochus coÌ„manded Macchabeus to bee racked The death of the elder brother The second brother bought Machir the third brother is brought Iudas the fourth brother is brought The death of the fourth brother Achas The fifth brother presecnted himselfe to torments before he was called The valour of the sixt brother The sixt brother sharpely reproueth Antiochus Iacob the seuenth brother brought to torments All men are borne and must die alike The death of the youngest brother Reason mistres of our affection A similitude of the waues The seuen brethren exhort one another to suffer death manfully True brotherhood A pledge and signe of brotherly amitie The mothers griefe The mother suffered seuen torments before she was tormented A similitude from the Deluge The mothers speech exhorting her seuen sons to suffer A golden saying of the mother of her seuen children The mother followed her sonnes in torments The light of the iust 1. Cor. 15. Antiochus leuied an armie of footemen from amongst the Hebrewes Antiochus dyed stinking exceedingly 2. Mach. 9. An Epitome of the life of the seuen sonnes and their mother The ioy of the blessed in euerlasting life