was requisite for necessity or pleasure 12. Adam asketh pardon might have hapned of it self unto you by my only providence without any travel or care on your parts which if you had well used your life would have been very lovely and very happy Adam's punishment but you have scorned this mine Ordinance and broken my Commandments 13. Eves punishment For in that thou art silent at this time it proceedeth N not of respect but of evil of which thou findest thy self culpable Adam excuseth his sin as well as he could 17 18. The Seed of the Woman that is Christ shall bruise the Serpent's head and prayed God not to be incensed against him laying the fault of that which had hapned upon his Wife alledging that he had offended by reason he was deceived by her and the Woman accused the Serpent But God for his punishment because he had suffer'd himself to be overcome by the counsel of a Woman declared that the earth thenceforward never more of its own accord should bring forth fruit but only when they till'd it with the sweat of their countenance Gen. 3. 14 15. nor should it always yield all that was expected from it The Serpent's punishment And as touching Eve he chastised her with Child-bearing and throes in Travel for that being her self deceived by the Serpent she had drawn her Husband by the same means into extreme misery He took also from the Serpent his speech and O was displeased with him * Joseph's ignorance in understanding this place of Scripture by reason of the malice he had conceived against Adam and he put venom on his tongue declaring him an enemy both to Man and Woman whom A he commanded to bruise the head of the Serpent as well for that all the evil which chanced unto Men 14. proceeded from his head as also in that being assaulted in that part he is most easily put to death The year of the World 1. before Christ's Nativity 3963. Moreover having deprived him of his feet he condemned him to slide and trail himself along the earth After God had ordained them to suffer these punishments he drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden of delights into nanother place CHAP. II. Cain kills his Brother Abel God banishes him for it His Posterity is as wicked as himself The virtues of Seth the other Son of Adam B BUt Adam and Eve had two male-children Hedio Ruffinus cap. 2. the first whereof was called Cain which signifies acquisition and the second was called Abel which signifies mourning they had also three Daughters Gen. 4. v 1 2. These Brothers were of very different inclinations Of Cain and Abel Brethren Abel the younger honoured justice and supposing that God was present in all his actions he always and wholy fixed his thoughts on virtue and his exercise was keeping of sheep But Cain being a wicked Man 2. The year of the World 70. before Christ's Nativity 894. and addicted to unsatiable desire of profit was he that first found out the use of the Plough He killed his Brother for the cause which ensueth Having concluded among themselves to sacrifice unto God Cain offered the fruits of his labour and planting Abel presented milk and the firstlings of his fold which sacrifice of his was more acceptable to God in that it rather consisted of things produced of themselves by the order of nature 3. The sacrifice of Cain and Abel than that which Cains covetousness C had forcibly in a manner extorted from nature Hereupon Cain being enrag'd because his Brother Abel was more honoured by God than himself slew his Brother and having hidden his body out of sight 4. Weak reason in Josephus he thought the murder would be concealed But God well knowing the fact appeared to Cain and questioned him concerning his Brother what was become of him 5 6 7. Cain slew his Brother Abel for that for some days he had not seen him whereas before they had been always together Cain being troubled and ignorant what answer to make unto God said at first that he wondred what was the cause his Brother was so long absent 8. The talk betwixt God and Cain but afterwards being troubled that God continued the question and more closely press'd him he said he was not his Brothers keeper nor bound to take care of his affairs 9. 10 11 12. Then God reproved and convicted Cain of murthering his Brother D and ask'd him how he dar'd deny the knowledge of his brothers death where as he himself had slain him Notwithstanding God forbare to inflict upon him the punishment deserved for this murther by reason that Cain offer'd sacrifice and made request unto God that it would please him to remit somewhat of the severity of his justice against him Yet did God curse him and threaten to punish his Posterity to the seventh Generation Cain's banishment Then did he drive him and his Wife out of that Countrey whereat Cain being affrighted for fear of being encountred and devour'd by some Savage Beasts God commanded him to suspect no dangerous event for that cause 14. assuring him that he might safely travel thorow all Regions 15. without being either assaulted or seized by Savage Beasts and having set his mark upon him by which he E might be known he commanded him to depart the Countrey After that Cain accompanied with his Wife had travelled thorow divers Regions he made his abode at Nais 16. Cain is not bettered by Gods chastisements and in that place had several Children But he made not use of this chastisement for his better amendment but rather became worse and worse for he abandoned himself to all sensual pleasures making it his sport to outrage those with whom he conversed filling his house with riches gotten by rapine and violence and gathering together other wicked and debauch'd Men he taught them to commit all sorts of crimes and impieties he destroy'd that simplicity which Men before that time had used in their mutual societies Measures and Waights found out by Cain by the inventions of Measures and Weights the ignorance whereof was the cause that the life of Man was estranged from deceit but instead F and place of free and plain sincerity Enos the first City he introduced fraud and deceit He it was that first bounded the fields and built the first City and made a Wall and a rampire enforcing his Followers to dwell therein This City he named Enos by the name of Enos his first begotten Son Jared was the Son of Enos of Jared issued Malaleel whose Son was Methusala 1â— 18 20. who begot Lamech who had 77 Children by his two Wives Sella and Ada amongst whom Jobel the Son of Ada was the first that made Tents and took delight to lead a pastoral life contenting himself with the same Jubal his
were drowned Nota. but that they themselves by their own wickedness had procured those punishments due upon themselves Hedi Ruffinus cap. 8. Man is the author of his death not God For had he desired that they should be extinguished he would not have brought them into the World For better it is not to grant life than to destroy those to whom it is given But said God through their contempt of my service and graces Gods covenant with Noah they have inforced me to destroy them with the rigor of this vengeance hereafter I will not so severely pursue and punish their iniquities K in my displeasure The year of the World 2007 before Christ's Nativiâ—y 1949. especially for thy sake And if hereafter at any time I shall send any tempest fear not how great and hideous soever the storms be for there shall be no more Deluge of water upon the earth In the mean time I command you to keep your hands innocent from murther and all man-slaughter and to punish those that commit wickedness The Rainbow the sign of atonement between God and Noah Gen. 9. 11 12 14. 15. I leave the use of all other living Creatures to your sustenance or service in as much as I have made you Lords over them all as well those that breathe upon the face of the earth as those that swim in the waters and such as inhabit and flie in the air but you shall not eat any blood in as much as therein consisteth the soul and life of living Creatures Hedio Ruffinus cap. 8. And I declare unto you that I will forbare to draw the shafts of my displeasure against Men And I will give you the Rainbow for a sign of the L promise which I make to you Noahs age 950. years Noah lived after the Deluge 350 years and having spent all the rest of his life in happiness he died after he had lived in the world nine hundred and fifty years Neither is there cause why any Man comparing this our present age and the shortness thereof with the long life of the Antients should think that false which I have said neither followeth it that because our present life extendeth not to such a term and continuance of years therefore they of the former World attained not the age and long life which we publish of them For they being beloved of God and newly created by him using also a kind of nutriment agreeing with their natures and proper to prolong their lives it is no absurd thing to suppose that their lives were of that continuance M Why they in timâ—s past lived longer than we do considering that God gave them long life to the end that they should teach virtue and should conveniently practice those things which they had invented the Sciences of Astronomy and Geometry the demonstrations whereof they never had attained except they had lived at the least six hundred years For the great year is accomplished by that number of years The great year whereof all they bear me witness who either Greeks or Barbarians have written antient Histories For both Manethon who hath written the History of Egypt and Berosus who registred the acts and affairs of the Chaldeans together with Mochus Hestiaeus Hierom of Egypt who writ those of the Phoenicians and others accord with me in that which I have said Hesiodus also Hecataeus Hellanicus and Acusilas Ephorus and Nicolaus do declare that they of the first World lived one thousand years Notwithstanding N let every man judge of these things Gen. 9. 18 19. as best liketh him CHAP. IV. Of the Tower of Babylon and the change of Tongues NOah had three Sons Thâ— year of the World 1790 before Christ's Nativity 2174. Sem Japhet and Cham born one hundred years before the Deluge Gen. 10. per totum These first descended from the Mountains into the Plains and there made their habitation which when other Men perceived who for fear of the Deluge had fled the Plains Nâ—ah's three Sons and for that cause were loth to forsake the Mountains they gathered courage God commanded the posterity of Noah to inhabit the â—â—â—th and persuaded themselves to do the like and the Plain where they dwelt was called Sâ—â—â—ar And whereas they were commanded by God that by reason of the O increase and multitude of Men they should send Colonies to inhabit divers Countries of the World to the end no quarrels might grow betwixt them but A contrariwise in labouring and tilling a great quantity of ground they might gather great store of fruits they were so ignorant that they disobeyed God and falling into great calamities suffered the punishment of their offence Now God seeing their number continually increase he commanded them again to divide themselves into Colonies But they forgetting that the Goods which they possessed proceeded from him and his bounty and presuming that their force was the only cause of their abundance did not obey him Ver. 8 9. but rather suspected that God sought to betray them to the end that being thus divided he might the more easily destroy them Nimrod the Grandson of Cham one of Noah's Sons incited them in this sort to mock and contemn God He put them in the head that they should not believe that their prosperity proceeded from God but that they ought to attribute B it to their own valor which furnish'd them with so much riches so that in a little space he reduced their estate to a tyranny supposing by this onely means that he might make Men revolt against God if he might persuade them to submit themselves to his Government Chap. 11. 2 3 4. giving them to understand that if God should once more threaten a Deluge he would protect them against him and to that end build a Tower to whose top the water should not reach and also revenge the death of their Predecessors The stupid People gave ear to these persuasions of Nimrod supposing it to be pusillanimity in themselves if they should obey God For which cause they began to build the Tower with their uttermost industry neither was there any one idle in all that work yea so great was the number of Labourers that in a little time the work was raised to a height beyond all expectation C The thickness of it was so great that it obscured the height and it was built of burnt Brick 〈◊〉 and cimented and joined with a bituminous morter to the end that it might become the stronger God seeing their madness yet condemned them not to a general extermination by reason that they had made no profit by their example The confusion of Tongues who perished in the first Deluge but made them mutiny the one against another by changing of their tongue Ver. 6 7 8. so that by reason of their diversity of language they could not understand one another The place
married Chetura by whom he had six Children strong in travel and excellent in wisdom namely Zembranes Jazar Mâ—dar Madian Lusobac and Sus The original of Troglodytes who likewise had Sons Sus had Sabacan and Dadanes Of Dadanes issued Latusimus H Asâ—urus Luures The Children of Madin were Epha Ophres Anochus Ebidas Eldas All these Children and their successors according to Abrahams advice gathered and established the Colonies which possessed the Countrey of the Troglodytes and all the Countrey of Arabia the Happy whose confines extend even unto the Red Sea Some report that this Ophres conducted an Army into Libya and possessed the same and that his successors making their abode in that Countrey called it by the name of Africa Libya called Africa Alexander Polyhistor Which opinion is confirmed by Alexander Polyhistor who writeth after this manner Cleodemus the Prophet who is also called Malchus and writ the History of the Jews after the example of Moses their Lawgiver saith that of Chetura there were divers Children born unto Abraham and he nameth three by their names to wit Apher I Surim and Japher and that of Surim the Syrians took their name of the two others Apher and Japher the City of Afra and the Countrey of Africa take their names That they warred under the conduct of Hercules in Libya against Antaeus and how Hercules having taken Ophra his Daughter to his Wife begot of her Dedor who was Father to Sophon from whom those Barbarians that are called Sophaces have taken their name Now Abraham thinking fit to provide a Wife for Isaac his Son who was almost forty years old Hedio Ruffinus chap. 4. sent the eldest Servant of his Family to demand in Marriage Rebecca the Daughter of Bathuel who was the Son of Nachor his Brother for Isaac and bound him to the performance thereof with an oath by causing him to lay his hand under his thigh Or 24. 1 2 3 4. He sent also rare presents unto them Isaac marrieth Rebecca such as were seldom seen in those parts The Servant K departing The manner of swearing among the anâ—ient Jews 10. was long upon the way because that in Winter-time it is troublesome to travel thorow Mesopotamia by reason of the deep bogs and in Summer for want of Water besides the robberies of the Countrey which Strangers and Travellers can hardly escape except they stand upon their Guard and have convoy At length he arrived at a City called Carras and being in the Suburbs of the same The year of the World 2809. before Christs Nativity 1875. he beheld divers young Maidens that went to fetch Water at which sight he pray'd to God that if the Marriage were pleasing in his sight he might find Rebecca amongst them for whose cause Abraham had sent him thither to require her in Marriage for his Son and that he might know her by this sign 12. 13 14. that asking all the rest for Water they should refuse him and she only satisfie him With these thoughts he approached the Well and L desired those Virgins to give him to drink which they denied saying that they could not get Water but with great labour 15 16 17 18. which they must bear unto their houses and not lavishly bestow on others whereupon one amongst them reproving the rest for that discourtesie which they used towards the stranger saying that they had never been conversant amongst Men that refused to give him Water that requested it she gave him Drink with great kindness This made him conceive a good hope of all his business yet being further desirous to know the event of the matter he praised the courtesie of Rebecca who had not refused to travel in her own person to satisfie his necessity asking her of what Parents she was terming them happy that had such a Daughter praying God that it might please him to grant them the good hap to M marry her to their contentment and match her with a Man of honest reputation by whom she might be fruitful of good and virtuous Children Rebecca made no difficulty to tell him the names of her Parents 22. 23. the better to gratifie him neither concealed she her own The year of the World 2809. before the Nativity of Christ 1875. but answered in this sort I am called said she Rebecca my Father was named Bathuel and is long since dead Laban is my Brother who together with my Mother hath care of all our Family Which when he understood he rejoyced at all that had hapned unto him and was comforted with those things which he heard perceiving manifestly how God had prospered his journey Whereupon drawing out a jewel with certain other ornaments Rebecca grows acquainted with Abrahams Servant such as Virgins take delight to wear he offered them unto the Maid telling her that he gave her these presents in requital of the kindness N she had offered him in satisfying his thirst for that she amongst so many other Virgins had onely shewed her self affable and gracious desiring also that he might be entertained in her Brothers house by reason that Night deprived him of the means of travelling any further and that he was charged with certain jewels of great price which in no place as he said might be in more safety than in their custody whom in effect he had found so courteous and honest assuring her that the vertue which appeared in her gave him sufficient testimony both of the courtesie of her Mother and Brother who would not as he supposed take it in ill part if he were entertained and lastly that he would in no wayes be chargeable unto them but would pay for his lodging and expences O To this Rebecca answered that he had reason to conceive a good opinion of her Parents humanity but yet he did in some sort prejudice them in suspecting their liberality A assuring him that his entertainment should in no sort be Mercenary but voluntary and free The talk which Abrahams Servant had with Rebecca and according to their affection Yet first said she I will certifie my Brother Laban hereof and afterwards conduct you to our house which done she led him into their Tent commanding her Brother Laban's Servants to take care of his Camels and for himself 30 31 32 33. he was entertained at her Brother Laban's Table When Supper was past 34 35 37. he spake both to the Brother and Mother of the Virgin after this manner Abraham the Son of Thares is your cousin For said he addressing to the Mother Nachor the grandfather of your Children was Abraham's Brother by one and the same Father and Mother He now sendeth me unto you desiring you to give this Virgin for Wife to his only Son and Heir of all his substance The year of the World 2124. before Christs Nativity 1840. whom although he might B have matcht with the richest of
answered E that they knew him well and that he was a Man of that reputation that his name could not be concealed that his Daughter was accustomed to feed her flock with them and that they wondered that she was not yet arrived of whom said they thou mayest perfectly understand all that thou desirest to know Whilest thus they pass'd the time in talk the Maiden drew near accompanied with her shepherds whom one of the company informed that Jacob was inquisitive after her Father who rejoycing after the manner of young Maidens asked him what he was and whence he came and what affair had brought him thither wishing she had the means to supply whatsoever his necessities required v. 9 ad 12. Jacob being mov'd not so much by the courtesie and Kindred as by her beauty Jacob's talk with Rachel Rachels excellent Beauty which was very extraordinary said unto her If thou art the Daughter of Laban F there is a greater and more ancient conjunction betwixt us than either thine or my birth for Abraham Aran and Nachor were Thares Sons Bathuel thy Grand father was Nachors Son Isaac my Father was the Son of Abraham and Sara the Daughter of Aran. There is yet a nearer and dearer relation between us for Rebecca my Mother is Sister unto Laban thy Father born of one Father and Mother so that we are Cousins and therefore am I come at this present to salute you and renew that ancient love which our alliance requireth at our hands But she remembring all those things which her Father was wont to report and discourse of Rebecca and knowing that her Parents were desirous to hear some news from her wept for joy and embracing the young Man said unto him Thou bringest a most desired and great pleasure to my Father and all his G family who never forgets thy Mother but oftentimes makes mention of her and would esteem it a great felicity to hear tidings from her Then she desired him to follow her to her Father lest any longer he might be deprived of so desired a pleasure This said she brought him to Laban where being acknowledged by his Uncle he both H by that means lived securely amongst his Friends v. 12. ad 23. Jacob 's talk with Laban and brought him great contentment by his unexpected access unto them Some dayes after Laban told him that he took so much contentment in his presence The year of the World 103. before Christs Nativity 1771 that he could not express it in words and desired him to manifest the cause that had induced him to leave his Father and Mother in their old age when they had most need of him and he promised him all assistance and favour in whatsoever case he had to make use of him Whereupon Jacob discoursed unto him the whole matter that Isaac had two Sons Esau and himself that his Brother because by his Mothers contrivance he had defrauded him of his Fathers Blessing sought to kill him as the ravisher of that principality from him that was destinated unto him by God and the intercepter of his Fathers other intentions that this with his mothers command I was the cause why he came thither as to his nearest relation by the Mothers side adding that next after God he hoped to find his greatest assistance and help in him his Uncle Whereupon Laban promising to him whatsoever humanity he could desire as well in respect of their common ancestors as for the love he bare unto his Mother towards whom although she were absent he would express his good affection in shewing himself well affected towards him that was there present he told him then that he would give him the charge of his flock and make him Master over all his shepherds and that when he thought good to return back again to his Friends he should depart with such rewards and honours as might well beseem a Friend so nearly allyed unto him v. 23 ad 26. Jacob for recomâ—ence requireth Rachel for his Wife Which when Jacob understood he answered That he would willingly K endure any sort of labour in Labans service and that his devoir towards him would be a delight to himself but that in lieu of his labours he required Rachel to Wife who deserved his esteem for her vertue and particularly for her goodness wherewith she had brought him thither declaring that the love which he bare unto her was the cause why he used those speeches The year of the World 2103. before the Nativity of Christ 1771. Laban being greatly delighted and contented with this his discourse granted him his consent to the Marriage telling him that he could not have wisht for a better Son-in-Law but with condition that he should sojourn a while with him for that he was no ways minded to send his Daughter among the Canaanites and that it repented him that by reason of Marriage his Sister had been carried into so far a Countrey Jacob accepted the condition and covenanted to abide L with him for seven years saying that he was glad to have found an occasion of making appear to him by his care and good service that he was not unworthy of his alliance When the time which was covenanted between them was expired 22. Jacob instead of Rachel lyeth with Leah and Jacob expected the contented possession of his love as was promised him Laban prepared a nuptial feast and when night drew on and Jacob least suspected he brought his Daughter Leah less fair in face 23. and elder in years and lay'd her in his Bed Jacob deceived by the darkness and for that he had drunk liberally lay with her but the day after discovering the deceit he complained hereof to Laban who asked him pardon alledging that he had not brought in Leah with intent to deceive him 27 ad 35 but that the custom of the Countrey which forbids to Marry the younger before the elder compelled him thereunto yet that the M same should no ways hinder but that he should Marry Rachel too on condition to serve him yet seven years more Herewith Jacob was pacified and suffered himself to be perswaded out of the love which he bear to Rachel and when the other seven years were expired he Married Rachel Now these Sisters had two Maid Servants which their Father had given them Lea's Maid was called Zelpha and Rachel's Bala they were no Slaves but only Subjects Leah liv'd in great grief to see that Jacob bare greater affection to her Sister than to her self bethinking her oftentimes that if she could have Children she should be better esteemed and loved by her husband for which cause she continually besought Almighty God that it would please him to give her issue whereupon it happened that God gave her a Son and Jacobs affection was turned towards N her for which cause she called him Ruben that is to say the Son of Vision because she had
Egypt they abstained from his slaughter Hedio Ruffinus cap. 10. al. 7. Being therefore thus born and brought up when he increased in years he evidently by his virtue made it known unto the Egyptians that he was O born to abase their pride and to exalt the Hebrews by this occasion which ensueth The Ethiopians who confine upon Egypt having spoiled and destroyed the Countrey round A about them spoiled and made pillage of all the Goods of the Egyptians who incensed against them for the wrongs and injuries which they had done levied an Army intending to revenge them of that disgrace which their Enemies had offered them but in the Battel they were all put to flight so that many of them were slain and the rest shamefully flying Ver. 11. returned with ignominy worse than death into their own Countrey The Ethiopians proud with this good fortune The Egyptians war against the Ethiopians instantly pursued them and supposing it a cowardly part not to take the benefit of their present good fortune and conceiving an assured hope of conquering Egypt they enter'd the Countrey and generally wasted the same and having tasted of the sweetness of pillage without any temper or moderation in their Victory they were encouraged to attempt greater matters And whereas B they perceived that having wasted all the Neighbor-regions no man durst sally out to encounter them in Arms they marched forward toward Memphis even to the Sea arriving near no City that had the heart or durst make head against them By which calamities the Egyptians being much oppressed they send one to ask counsel of the Oracle by what means they might redress their miseries and when an answer was given them That they should choose an Hebrew to assist them in the Wars the King commanded his daughter to give them Moses who together with the Empire might govern the whole Army She taking an Oath of the King that no injury or violence should be offered him delivered him into his hands esteeming it to be a great good fortune for Moses that he was called to the succor of her Countrey and on the other side blaming the Priests C who were not ashamed to demand his aid and assistance The Egyptians require Moses to be their Captain whom they had adjudged to be slain as their common Enemy But Moses exhorted by Thermuthis and the King willingly took the charge upon him Whereat the Priests of both Nations were very joyful for the Egyptians hoped that when by his virtue and valor he had overcome their Enemies they afterwards might more easily dispatch and murther him by some treason and sinister means Moses marcheth against the Ethiopians and the Hebrews conceived an hope that they might get out of Egypt by reason that Moses was the General of the Army Moses therefore making haste before such time as the Enemies had any notice that he was dislodged he levied his Army and conducted them not along the banks of the River but through the main Land wherein he made manifest his most admirable prudence For the journey by Land being very D dangerous by reason of the multitude of Serpents which the Countrey thereabouts breeds of all sorts and some of that kind that the like thereof are not seen in any other place all different in malignity and horrible form and some winged ones who not only offend those that they encounter on the earth very privily but also towre very high in the Air and hover about to hurt those that are not aware of them he for the security of his Army and to the end he might march without any inconvenience invented this marvellous and admirable stratagem He caused two Paniers of Sedge to be made in form of Coffers and filled them with certain Birds called Ibis who are mortal Enemies to Serpents and before whom the Serpents flee and sometimes in flying from them like Harts they are laid hold of and swallowed by them Otherwise these Birds are managed E and made tame and are not harmful to any but to Serpents of whom I will now cease to write any further because the Greeks do already know what kind of Bird it is When therefore he arrived in the Countrey of Serpents The victory which Moses and the Egyptians had against the Ethiopians he let flie his Ibis against the venomous Beasts and made use of them to encounter the other And having marched in this sort he surprized the Ethiopians before they suspected him and suddenly charging them he overcame them in Battel spoiling them of the hope they had to conquer Egypt and entring the Towns of Ethiopia he razed them and made a great slaughter of the Inhabitants The Egyptian Army having tasted this happy success under the conduct of Moses omitted not the pursuit especially for that they saw that the Ethiopians were well nigh conquered Saba their chief City besieged or rather wholly destroyed and in the end having driven them F even to Saba the chief City of Ethiopia which Cambyses called Meroe for the love which he bore unto his sister who was so called they besieged them The City was strong and very hard to be assailed by reason of the River Nilus which environs it round about on the other side the Rivers of Astapus and Astaobora flow in so fiercely that they could neither break the course of the water nor wade over the stream for the City is built in an Island environed with a strong wall round about having great Ramparts betwixt the Rivers and the walls built to resist the inundations of the waters by reason whereof that the City could be very hardly taken although the opposite Army had found means to pass the water Now when Moses was much troubled that his Army profited nothing Tharbis the King of Ethiops daughter requireth love and marriage at Moses handsâ— by reason that the Enemy durst not encounter them in open field G behold what a chance hapned Tharbis the daughter of the King of Ethiopia beholding Moses as he approached with his Army near the walls of the City and seeing how valiantly he fought and behaved himself and wondring at the Exploits and Enterprises which he made The year of the World 2400. before Christ's Nativity 1564. which was the cause that the Egyptians almost despairing of their H estates and liberty were grown desperate and how the Ethiopians not long before esteemed the Conquerors and happy in their warlike exploits and fortunate executions were in the greatest extremity of danger she was surprized with love of him and for that this passion augmented more and more in her she sent to him seven of her most faithful houshold servants to offer him her love Which he accepted on condition that she should deliver the City into his hands promising her by a solemn Oath That when he was Master thereof he would take her to Wife without falsifying or breach of his promise
of these as they can 〈◊〉 let the Benjamites lay hold of without reproof neither being inhibited nor encouraged by us and if their Fathers shall be displeased therewith and shall require revenge we will say that they are in the fault who have negligently kept their Daughters and that we ought not too much to whet our wrath against the Benjamites for that we had too much already used the same toward them Ver. 20. ad fin This advice was approved by all and it was decreed The Benjamites are permitted to ravish them Wives That it was lawful for the Benjamites to seize and violently take to themselves Wives amongst them Now when the Feast was at hand the 200 Benjamites of K whom we have spoken came two by two and three by three and lay in ambush near the City amongst the Vines and other Thickets and close places in which they might hide themselves to surprize the Damsels who suspecting nothing securely and pleasantly wantoned on their way but the young men breaking from the ambush laid hold of them being scattered and divided here and there and after they had married them they departed home to labour their Land and began to study anew how to recover their former prosperity Thus the Tribe of Benjamin which was well nigh utterly exterminated was preserved by the wisdom of the Israelites and it flourished and increased in a little time as well in number of men as in all other things The like accident hapned to the Tribe of Dan Hedio Ruffin cap. 7. al. 4. which fell into the like mischief for this L cause which ensueth The Israelites about this time having forgotten the exercise of Arms Judg. 18. 2 c. and being onely occupied in Tilling their Land The Tribe of Dan oppressed by the Canaanites the Canaanites in contempt of them raised Forces not for that they were afraid for their own Estates but to the intent that defeating the Hebrews with some memorable overthrow they might more securely inhabit their Cities for the future They brought into the Field a great number of Footmen and Chariots and they drew Aschalon and Acharon two Cities within the lot of Judah into thier Confederacy and divers other Cities of the Champion Countrey so that the Tribe of Dan was driven into the Mountains having no place in the Champion where they might peaceably inhabit and for that they were neither able to recover their Lands from M the enemy nor had sufficient habitation for their number of Men they sent five Men of their Tribe into the Champion Countrey to see if they could find any place that were fit and convenient for them to establish and fix their Colonies These Men Travelled a days journey not far from the Mountain of Libranus and lower than the sources of Jordan bordering upon the great Plain of the City of Sidon In which place having observed that the Land was good and fertile in all sorts of fruits they made their report to their People who Travelling thither with their Army built a City in that place called Dan by the name of the son of Jacob so called and of their own Tribe Many adversities befell the Israelites from that time forwards They of Dan seek out a place to inhabit both by reason they were unexercised in Travel and for that they contemned Piety For having once forsaken the N observation of the Ordinances they abandon'd themselves to Pleasures living according to their own appetites so that they polluted themselves with those Vices which were most usual amongst the Canaanites O A CHAP. III The year of the World 2586. before Christ's Nativity 1438. How the people of Israel by reason of their wickedness were by God delivered to the servitude of the Assyrians FOr this cause the wrath of God was kindled against them Judg. 31. 2 3 4. in such sort that he abandon'd them and through their luxury they soon lost the felicity which they had gotten by infinite pains The Israelites oppressed by Schisart For Schisart King of the Assyrians levied and an Army against them killed a great number of their men in fight and either by force or composition took divers of their Cities and brought them under his subjection Many also willingly submitted B themselves to him through fear and payed great tribute enduring all kind of outrage for the space of eight years after which they were delivered by these means following CHAP. IV. Their liberty restored by Cenez A Certain man of the Tribe of Juda called Cenez a man of understanding and courage was advertised by a voice from Heaven Ibidem c. 3. v. 9 10 11. that he should not permit the Israelites to be reduced into so extreme necessity without taking care for them but adventure himself to set them at liberty Cenizus or as the holo Scripture speaks his Son Athaniel rigned eight years Upon which calling to him some few whom he knew C generous enough to fear no danger when a yoke so insupportable was to be shaken of They began with outting the throats of the Assyrian Garison which Schisart had placed over them This first success caus'd the number of his followers to increase a little more and more so that in a little time they seemed sufficient to equal the enemy in open field whereupon encountring him in one battel they overcame him and recovered their liberty and the rest of the scattered and confused Army retired toward Euphrates After Cenez had by this action given proof of his valour he received the government at the peoples hands and exercised the office of Judge forty years and died CHAP. V. D How the people were made subject to the Moabites and how by Jodes they were exempt from servitude AFter his death the government being void the affairs of the Israelites began again to fall to ruine Hedio Ruffinus chap. 8. and the rather for that they neither yielded due honour to God Judg. 3. 12 ad 15. or obedience to the Laws whence it came to pass that Eglon King of the Moabites seeing the disorder of their policy made war against them Eglon King of the Moabites conquereth the Israelites and defeated them many times And for that he was a Prince of greater puissance than any of his Predecessors he weakened their Forces so that he constrained them to pay tribute This man removing his Court to Jericho and proud of his Victories omitted no E means whereby he might vex and molest the people so that they lived for the space of 18. years in great misery But God being moved with compassion of their calamities delivered them from their intolerable thraldom after this manner Jodes the Son of Gera of the Tribe of Benjamin a young man endow'd with Valour of mind and strength of body to attempt any worthy action dwelt at Jericho Jodes or Ehud insinuated himself into Eglons
was not delivered from his suspicion but desired him to relate to him all that he had signified to his Wife The Angel answered that it sufficed that she knew it whereupon he asked him what he was to the end that when his Son should be born he might give him presents and thanks The Angel answered that he had no need thereof by reason that he had not brought the good news of the birth of his I Son for any necessity that he had Manoah entreated him to stay and receive some token of kindness but he would not consent Finally being instantly pressed to abide and receive some gift Manoah kill'd a Kid and commanded his Wife to roast it And when all things were in readiness the Angel commanded them to lay the Bread and Flesh upon a Rock without dishes which being done he touched the Flesh with a wand which he had in his hand and suddenly a flaming fire consumed both the Bread and Flesh and the Angel was seen to ascend up into Heaven in the Smoke as it were in a Chariot Manoah was in great fear lest some inconvenience should happen unto him because they had seen God but his Wife comforted him assuring that God had appeared to them for their good Shortly after she became big with child and observed K all that had been commanded her v. 24. and when the Infant was born Samsons birth she called his name Samson which is as much as to say strong who soon grew to be of excellent beauty both of mind and body wearing his Hair unshorn and using sobriety in his diet whereby he gave some signs of what had been foretold concerning him It hapned on a day that there was a solemnity celebrated in Thamna a City of the Philistines whither Samson resorted with his Father and Mother and being surprised with love of one of the Damsels of that place he desired his Father and Mother that this maid might be given him in marriage which they refused alledging that she was not of the same Lineage Judg. 14. 5 6. and that God would provide him a match to the good and profit of his Nation Samson teareth a Lion in peices with his hands but in the end he prevailed so much that he espoused the Maiden L Now as he ordinarily walked to her Parents it happened one day that being disarmed he met with a Lion upon the way whom he grasped and strangled with his hands and having slain him he cast the body of the Beast into a Wood not far distant from the high way Another day returning in like sort to the Damsel he found a swarm of Bees which made their honey in the breast of the same Beast Samson marrieth one of the Daughters of the Philistines and he took three hony-combs which he carried with other presents to his intended Wife After this lie invited the Thamnites to the celebration of his marriage who for that they feared his strength under colour of doing him honour chose out thirty strong and valiant young men v. 1 2 3. to be seemingly his companions but in effect his Guardians to the end he might not attempt any commotion in the midst of the festivity Samson said M to his companions I will propose a question to you which if you can resolve I will give each of you a fine Linnen Shirt v. 12 13 14. and other vestments They being very desirous both to be reputed wise Samson propoundeth a riddle to the Thamnites and to gain the reward proposed pressed him to propound his question which he did in these terms He that devoureth all hath been himself the food of others and how terrible soever he was this food hath been no less sweet and agreeable They employ'd three dayes to find out the sense thereof but they could not and therefore they desired Samson's Spouse to get the secret from her Husband and disclose the same to them which if she refused they threatned to burn her to death Samson at the first notwithstanding her flatteries and sollicitations denied to tell it her at last she urged him so instantly and shed so many tears telling him that if he N did not expound the question to her she would take it for a certain sign that he hated her that at last he told her he had slain a Lion and how in him he had found the three honey-Combs which he brought to her v. 18. and not distrusting either fraud or guile he related the whole story to her Samsons Wife discovereth the riddle to the Thamnites and she afterwards reported the same to those that had employed her in the discovery When the seventh day was come and the question was to be decided the young men assembled themselves together about Sun-set and said There is nothing more terrible than a Lion nor any thing more pleasant to taste than honey v. 19 20. Whereunto Samson replied Samson killeth certain Ascalonites and his Wife marrieth with another you should adde that there is not any thing more dangerous than a woman for she it is that hath betray'd me and reported my words to you Notwithstanding all this he delivered that which he had promised them out of the booty O which he had taken from certain Ascalonites whom he encountred upon the way But he would not pardon his Wife and the woman seeing her self despised married A one of his friends The year of the World 2791 before Christ's Nativity 1173. who had in his behalf first sollicited the marriage Samson being more incensed by this injury resolved to revenge himself both on her and the whole Nation For which cause in the Summer time when the Corn was ready to be reapt he took three hundred Foxes to whose tayls having fastned flaming Torches he drove them into the Philistines fields of Corn Judg. 15. 4 5 c. consuming by this means all their hope of Harvest The Philistines understanding that Samson had done this and conceiving the reason that induced him to it Samson burned the Philistines fruit sent a party of Soldiers to Thamna and burnt this woman alive with all her kindred as the cause of the loss that had hapned to them After Samson had slain divers Philistines in the Countrey he went and dwelt at Etam which is a strong Rock in the Tribe of Juda. For which cause the Philistines assailed that Tribe who B represented to them that there was no reason why they should suffer for those offences which were committed by Samson and especially since they payed them tribute The Philistines replied that unless they would be maintainers of his act of unjustice they must deliver Samson unto them They desirous that the Philistines might have no cause of quarrel against them came to the Rock to the number of 3000 men and there blamed Samson for those actions which he had done against the Philistines because they were a
whose vertue and the peoples observance towards him was expressed in this that they celebrated his funeral 1 Sam. 25. 1. with great pomp and when they had performed his rites they buried him in Ramath his Countrey and lamented his death many dayes not only as a common loss but as if each one of them had in particular been allied to him For he was a man naturally framed to all justice and Goodness and for these his vertues most acceptable to God He governed the people after the death of Eli the High Priest first in his own person Nabals flocks saved by David v. 6. for the space of twelve years and afterwards during the Reign of Saul eighteen years But in those places where David at that time remained there was a certain Ziphian in a Town called Emma a man very rich and owner of much cattel named Nabal for he had a Troop of three thousand Sheep and a Herd of a thousand M Goats David forbid his people to meddle with any of his goods for any necessity or pretext whatsoever because that to violate and take another mans goods was a wicked thing and contrary to Gods commandment He instructed them in this sort imagining with himself that he gratified a good man and such an one as deserved to be in like sort favoured but Nabal was a rude and churlish person and very mischievous yet had he a Wife that was good wise and fair v. 7. ad 12. To this Nabal did David send ten of his Servants about the time of his Sheep-shearing Davids Embassage to Nabal to require relief and his currâ—â—â— answer both to salute him and to wish him all sort of prosperity for many years and also to desire him that he would impart to him something for the sustenance of his company since his Shepherds could inform him that having long remained in the desart they had N been so far from doing his flocks any harm that they had rather seemed their Shepherds and keepers He added that whatsoever courtesie he should shew to David he should bestow it on a mindful and thankful personage Thus spake the Messengers to Nabal but he answered them very discourteously and rudely demanding of them what that David was and being informed that he was the Son of Jesse what said he a fugitive who hids himself for fear of falling into his Masters hands is become audacious and imperious v. 13 ad 17. David David â—allieth out against Nabal with 400 Armed men was grievously displeased at these words and commanded four hundred of his men to take their Weapons and follow him and two hundred to keep the Baggage for at that time he had six hundred and in this equipage he marched forward against O Nabal swearing that that very night he would utterly exterminate and root out all his Race and destroy his riches Neither was he only displeased that Nabal was ingrateful A towards them The year of the World 1889. before Christ's Nativity 1075. without respect of that humanity which they had shewed towards him and his but also that without any cause of injury offered he had injured and outraged him in words In the mean while certain Shepherds that tended Nabal 's Cattel told their Mistress that David having sent to her Husband to desire some small courtesie had not only obtained nothing but also received insupportable injuries whereas till that day he had suffered his flocks to be untouched telling her that that insolency of their Lord might breed them all much mischief A ver 18 ad 25. Which when Abigail heard for so was the Woman called she loaded divers Asses with all sorts of Presents Abigail Nabals Wife appeaseth David with Presents without giving any notice to her Husband who was so drunk that he was insensible and went towards David B who as he descended the straights of the Mountain marching towards Nabal accompanied with 400 Men met her As soon as Abigail perceived him she leaped from her Horse and falling on her face prostrated herself before him beseeching him to pass by Nabals words Ver. 35. knowing that Nabals nature was answerable to his name for in the Hebrew tongue Nabal signifieth a Fool. Nabal signifieth Folly she excused her self likewise saying That she saw none of them that were sent to her Husband For which cause said she I beseech thee to pardon us and to consider what cause thou hast to give God thanks that by my means he hath hindered thee from polluting thy hands in innocent blood for if thou remain pure and innocent from bloodshed thou wilt engage him to punish thy enemies and to bring upon their heads that destruction which was ready to fall upon that of Nabal I confess that thy anger against him is C just but be pleas'd to moderate it for my sake who have no share in his fault since Goodness and Clemency are virtues worthy of a Man whom God designs one day for a Kingdom accept of these small Presents which I offer thee David accepting her Presents gave her an answer after this manner Woman said he God of his goodness hath this day brought thee hither otherwise thou hadst not liv'd or seen the next morning For I have sworn that this night I would overthrow thy house and leave none alive of that ungrateful Mans family who hath so contumeliously abused both me and mine but now God hath put thee in mind wisely to prevent and pacifie my wrath As for Nabal Ver. 36 37 38. although at this present he be exempted by thy means from punishment yet shall he not escape Davids Prophecy of Nabal but he shall perish some other way This said he dismissed Abigail who D returning to her house and finding her Husband amidst his Companions laden with Wine told him nothing at that time of that which had hapned but the next day recounting to him what was pass'd he was so much terrified by the greatness of the danger that he dyed within ten dayes Ver. 38 39. Which when David understood he said that he was deservedly punished by God Nabal conceiveth so much sorrow and fear for his immodesty against David that he dieth Apoplecticâ—â— because his own wickedness was the cause of his punishment giving thanks unto God that he had not dipped his hands in blood and by this example he learnt that no wicked Man can escape Gods judgment and that humane affairs depend not on Chance as if neglected by God but that the good are rewarded and the wicked punished according to their wickedness He afterwards sent Messengers to Nabals Wife and caused her to come unto him to the intent he might E marry her An example of Gods Providence that no sin can escape unpunished She answered the Messengers That she thought herself unworthy to lie at his feet notwithstanding she repaired to him with a good equipage and was
Sauls Grandchild came out to meet him cloathed in mean apparel having E his Hair hanging down in a neglected and sorrowful manner For since the time that David fled and forsook the City he had been so afflicted that he neither had trimmed his Hair nor changed or cleansed his garment supposing this calamity to touch him as nearly as it did the King A v. 24 ad 33. and he was the rather grieved that Siba his steward had unjustly detracted from him Mophibosheth purgeth himself of Siba's slanders and accused him to the King After he had prostrated himself and adored the King David asked him For what cause he forsook him in his troubles and offered not himself to accompany him in his flight Who answered That it was the wickedness of Siba who was the cause thereof for he said he being commanded to prepare my necessaries for that journey neglected the execution thereof contemning both me and it as if I had been some abject slave otherwise had I had the use of my feet and the means to have waited F on thee in thy journey I had never endured to have forsaken thee Neither was he contented to hinder me from performing my duty and to give your Majesty a testimony of my affection and loyalty but furthermore he hath maliciously incensed your Majesty against me yet know I well that your wisdom will not give credit to his detractions both for that you are just as also for that GOD and Truth which you onely aspire to are onely beloved by you For whereas during my Grandfathers dayes you were alwayes conversant amongst the greatest dangers and persecuted by him and whereas all our posterity by that means deserved to be utterly extinguished yet have you used moderation and meekness in forgetting those indignities when it was in your power to revenge them And notwithstanding all these things you have entertained me like your Friend feasted me at your Table and dignified me with no less Honours than if I had G been one of your nearest Kinsmen When David heard these things he thought neither good to punish Mephibosheth not to examine whether Siba had wrongfully accused him but after he had certified him that he had given Siba all his Goods yet did he pardon him and promise him the restitution of half his possessions Whereunto Mephibosheth H replied Let Siba possess the whole it only sufficeth me that I see your Maiesty restored again to your Kingdom After this David invited Berzillai the Galaadite a virtuous man and of great authority and by whose bounty during the time of his War he was assisted David pardoneth Mephibosheth and restoreth him to the half of his possessions and who had attended him as far as Jordan to accompany him unto Jerusalem promising him to make no less account of him than of his Father and assuring him that he would allow him all things that were suitable to his age and quality But he being desirous to live in private besought his Majesty to dismiss him from the Court because as he said his age was so great as it made him unfit for pleasures v. 31 ad 37. considering that he had attained to the age of fourscore years Berâ—illai excuseth himself and will not resort to Jerusalem alledging that it beter became him to think of I death and his departure out of this World For which cause he besought David to favour him so much as that he might govern himself according to his own desire because that by reason of his age he neither knew how to savour meat nor drink besides for that his hearing was lost so that he could not distinguish or discern the sound of instruments wherein they who converse in Kings Courts do most usually take such delight To this David replied since said he thou dost so earnestly request me to give thee leave to depart from me I dismiss thee but leave thou thy Son Achimaas with me that I may express that kindness unto him which thou hast deserved Hereupon Berzillai left his Son with him and taking leave of the King with prayer that God would grant him the fulness of his desires he returned to his own house v. 41 42 43. But David went unto Gilgal K having already the half of the people with him The Tribe of Judas accusation and excuse for that without the knowledg of the other Tribes they had gone out to meet the King and the whole Tribe of Juda. Thither resorted then unto him the chief governors of that countrey attended by a great multitude of people complaining unto the Tribe of Juda for that unwitting to the rest they had resorted to him when as by a mutual consent they should all of them have met him together But the Princes of the Tribe of Juda requested them in no sort to misinterpret their prevention of them For that by reason of their alliance and being of the same Tribe with the King they were obliged to shew him a more particular respect neither for that diligence of theirs received they any reward 2 Sam. 20. 1 ad 8. whereby they that came after should think themselves prejudiced Siba a seditious person incenseth the people to rebel against the King This answer of theirs the Princes of the Tribes took not in good part but spake thus unto their brethren We wonder said they L that you only challenge the King to be your kinsman as if he were not to be accounted an Ally unto us all whom God hath equally placed to be Governour over us all when as therefore the whole people consisteth of eleven parts you only are but one besides we are your elders so that you have not dealt uprightly Davids concubines whom Absalon had deflowred are sequestred from â—im in that you have secretly sought out the King without giving us notice of your design Whilst the Governours after this manner debated the matter a certain wicked seditious person called Siba the Son of Bochri of the Tribe of Benjamin standing up in the midst of the people began to cry out with a loud voice and exclaim after this manner We have no part with David nor inheritance with the Son of Jessâ—e This said he sounded a Trumpet and proclaimed War against the King so that all men followed him and forsook David Only the tribe of Juda remained with M him and established him in the Royal Throne in Jerusalem upon his first coming thither he removed his Concubines which his Son Absalon had known out of his Palace and never after that time had any company with them After this he declared Amasa General of the Army and placed him in the same degree which Joab had near unto the Person of the King commanding him that he should assemble what forces he could out of the Tribe of Juda and that within three dayes he should return unto him to the end that having delivered him both the
which hapned to the Israelites according to the prophecy of Elizeus which he foretold unto Azael at such time as he prophecied unto him that he should reign over the Syrians and them of Damascus after that he had murthered his master Ioachas being in this extremity had his recourse to God in prayer and supplication beseeching him that it might please him to deliver him from the hands of Azael and not suffer him to be under subjection and thraldom unto him God that regardeth the penitent as if they had been innocent and that gently chastiseth those whom he might utterly exterminate if he so pleased gave him assurance against the War and danger so that the Countrey having obtained peace recovered her former state and prosperity When Ioachas was dead his Son succeeded him in the G government and began to reign over the Israelites in Samaria in the 37 year of Joas King of Juda. For this King of Israel was called Joas as well as he that reigned in H Jerusalem The year of the World 3089 before Christ's Nativity 875. he governed the Kingdom sixteen years He was a good man and was not like unto Ioachas his Father About this time Elizeus the Prophet was very old and fell sick the King of Israel came to visit him and finding him in the extremity and past hope of recovery he began to weep and lament calling him his Father and his armour because that during his life he had never occasion to use the sword against the Enemy Joas King of Israel and Samaria but that by means of his predictions he had alwayes the upper hand of them without fighting that now he departed this life and left him disarmed to the mercy of the Syrians and other his enemies so that he was not secure of liberty nor life but that he rather wished to die with him than live in those dangers Elizeus being moved with these complaints Elizeus foretelleth that Joas should overcome the Syrians thrice comforted the King that lamented in this I sort and commanding him to draw his Bow that he brought with him for the King had bent the same Elizeus said unto him 2 King 13. 20 21. Draw and he shot three Arrowes and gave over at the fourth Oh said Elizeus if thou hadst shot more Arrows thou hadst utterly ruined the Kingdom of the Syrians Elizeus death and the raising of a dead man to life that was cast into his Tombe and since thou hast contented thy self with shooting thrice only thou shalt overthrow the Syrians in three battels which thou shalt fight against them and shalt recover the Countrey they have taken from thy Father After the King understood these things he departed and not long after the Prophet died who was renowned for his justice and beloved of God who shewed miraculous and incredible works by his prophecies and such as the Hebrews ought to keep in perpetual remembrance and was buried magnificently according as it behoved a man who was so highly favoured K by God It chanced about that time 2 Chron. 25. 18 ad 25. that certain thieves having cast the body of a man that was murthered by them Joas trâ—bble victory upon the body of the Prophet where he lay buried the dead body returned to life Which made it appear that God had given him a power of working miracles not only in his life time but also after his death After the death of Azael King of Syria Adad his Son obtained the Kingdom against whom Joas King of Israel made War and having overcome him three times he recovered all that Countrey and those Cities and Towns that Azael his Father had conquered before him All which came to pass according as Elizeus had prophecied After that Joas was dead the Kingdom fell to Jeroboam his Son L CHAP. X. Amasias making War against Joas King of Israel is overcome THe tenth year of the reign of Joas King of Israel Hedio Ruffiâ—â—s chap. 9. Amasias reigned over the Tribe of Juda in Jerusalem his mother was called Judah and was a Citizen of Jerusalem Amasias King of Jerusalem He was very careful to maintaine justice notwithstanding he was very young 2 King 14 1 2. And having taken upon him the Government of the Kingdom he resolved with himself that he ought first of all to revenge the death of his father Joas who was traiterously slain by his friends he therefore laid hands on them and put them M all to the sword yet extended he not his displeasure to their children but conformed his actions according to the Laws of Moses 2 King 14. which faith that it is not lawful to punish their children for their Fathers offences Deut. 24. 16. He afterwards levied an Army of the Tribes of Juda and Benjamin and chose such as were in the flower of their years and about twenty years of age the number of which amounted to three hundred thousand men whom he divided into Centuries He sent also to the King of Israel and hired an hundred thousand of his armed men for an hundred talents of Silver because he intended to make War upon the Amalechites Idumaeans and Gabelites Now whilest he made this preparation and was in a readiness to undertake this exploit a certain Prophet counseled him to dismiss the Israelites that he had with him because they were wicked men N signifying unto him from God that if he were followed by them in that War he should be overcome and on the other side that he should have the upper hand over his Enemies if he fought with a few men according to Gods direction Hereupon the King was moved because he had already paid the Israelites their wages but the Prophet ceased not to exhort him to do that which was pleasing in Gods sight The dismission of the Isâ—aelites who would give him silver in abundance Hereupon he dismissed them telling them that he freely gave them their pay and he with the forces of his owne Kingdom marched out against those Nations 2 Chron. 25. 11 12 13. and fought with them and overcame them and slew ten thousand of them and took no less number of Prisoners whom he afterwards caused to be led to a high Rock that bounded upon Arabia Amasias vâ—ctory over the â—malechites and from thence cast them down headlong and O from all these Nations he recovered a great booty and brought home much riches Whilest Amasias stood upon these terms the Israelites that had taken wages of him and were cashiered by him conceived a displeasure against him supposing themselves to be injured by him The year of the World 3106. before Christ's Nativity 858. as if he had dismissed them for want of courage For which A cause they invaded his Country and spoiled it as far as Bethsemer and carried away a great quantity of Cattel and slew three thousand men But the victory
should commit no such like offence For that his first action was not allowable Some of them also went to meet Albinus being on his way to Alexandria Ananus accused before Albinus to inform him that it was unlawful for Ananus to assemble the Council without his Licence Albinus perswaded by these words wrote a cholerick Letter to Ananus Jesus the Son of Damnaeus possesseth Ananus's place wherein he threatned to punish him And for the same cause King Agrippa dispossessed him of the Priesthood after he had held the same for the space of three months and in his stead he established Jesus the Son of Damnaeus After that Albinus was arrived in Jerusalem he employed all his care and study to pacifie the E Countrey by executing divers of the Thieves But the High Priest Ananias daily encreased in honour and credit and purchased the good will of the Citizens Some forcibly gather the Tenths of the Priests by his liberality and great gifts But he had some mischievous Servants about him who conversed with those that were most intemperate and audâ—cious who repaired from Barn to Barn and took up many Tithes that belonged to the Priests and beat those that refused to render them The Priests used no less violence than their servants having no man that might restrain them whereby it came to pass that the Priests who were formerly maintained by the tenth died at that time for want of Victuals And the Thieves renewing their entrance into the City by night during the Feast that was celebrated at that time The Thieves apprehend Ananias's Kindred and Servants took the Secretary of Captain Eleazar F alive who was Ananias's Son who was the High Priest And having bound him led him out of the City sending Ananias word that they would deliver his Secretary if he would prevail so much with Albinus as to deliver them their ten Companions then Prisoners who were taken by him To the performance whereof Ananias perswaded Albinus by manifest reasons Caesarea Philippi new builded by Agrippa and called Neronias And by obtaining his demand encreased and begat a number of miseries For the Thieves used all the cunning means they could devise in apprehending some one of Ananias's house and when they had taken any one of them alive they would not deliver him except before they might have one of their own delivered So that encreasing both in courage and number they became more and more insolent to afflict the Countrey G At that time King Agrippa enlarged the City of Caesarea The Berithians receive much kindness at Agrippa's hands surnamed Philippi and in honour of Nero called it Neronias He builded also to his great charge a Theatre in favour of the Berytians He distributed Oyl and Corn for every one of the people and adorned all the City with most antick and fine Portraitures upon the Porches The year of the world 4026. after Christs Nativity 64. In H short he transported into that City almost all the Ornaments of the rest of the Kingdom For which cause his Subjects began to hate him seeing he deprived them of their rare Ornaments to adorn one strange City Jesus the Son of Gamaliel succeeded in the Priesthood which the King had given him and taken away from Jesus the Son of Damnaeus who resigned him his place against his will Whereupon there arose a discord between them Ananias Costobarus and Saul prepared to spoil the weaker for having assembled their resolutest followers they came from bitter words to blows and stones But amongst all the rest Ananias was the richest in wealth and by his bounty reconciled the more unto him Costobarus also and Saul gathered each of them a Band of Rascals and desperate men These two were of the Blood-Royal and by reason of their affinity and alliance with Agrippa they were well beloved I For which cause they were insolent and violent oppressing always the weaker sort From this time forward the estate of our City grew desperate encreasing daily more and more in wickedness When Albinus understood that Gessius Florus came to succeed him Hedio Ruffinus chap. 17. alias cap. 22. desiring that they of Jerusalem should acknowledge some of his good deeds he called before him all those Prisoners that were notoriously guilty of Murther Albinus executeth the hainous Malefactors and caused them to be executed As for those that were imprisoned upon any small or slight cause upon payment of their Fines he delivered them and in so doing the Prison was cleansed of Malefactors and from that time the Countrey remained full of Thieves and Robbers The Levites Agrippa giveth them of the Tribe of Levi leave to wear the Linnen Garments who were ordained to sing Hymns to God solicited the King to assemble K the Council and thereby to permit them to wear the Linnen Robe which the Priests were accustomed to use telling him that such an Ordinance would dignifie his Estate very much in that he would be always famous in memory of this new Establishment Agrippa permitteth the Ministers of the Temple to sing the Sacred Hymns This Suit of theirs was easily granted for the King after he had consulted with those who were his Assistants suffered the Levites that sung the Hymns to lay aside their ordinary Robe and to apparel themselves in Linnen as best liked them He permitted also that another part of the Levites who intended the service of the Temple should learn to sing the Hymns and Psalms as they had required All which he did contrary to the Ordinances of the Countrey which being broken there was nothing else to be expected but Punishment L At that time the building of the Temple was finished The people of the Jews beseech the King that it may be lawful for them to repair the Porch And the people perceiving that more than eighteen thousand Work-men should be idle and deprived of Wages whereupon they were accustomed to live by the building of the Temple on the other side being loath to reserve their money through the fear they had of the Romans to provide for those Workmen in the entertainment of whom they resolved to employ their Treasure for if any one of them wrought but one hour of the day he was suddenly paid his wages they requested the King that it would please him to repair the Eastern Gate on the outward part of the Temple scituate in a Descent the Walls whereof were in height four hundred Cubits made of square Stones of white Marble from the top to the bottom and every stone twenty foot long and six M foot thick This Work was first builded by King Solomon who was the first that builded our Temple But Agrippa to whom Claudius Caesar had given the Commission of building of the Temple thinking with himself that it was very easie to break it down but very hard to build it up and that to re-edifie the Porch
their swords The Jews as if they had agreed together fell all down at once and offered their naked necks to the stroke of the sword crying out that they would rather lose their lives than suffer their Religion to be prophaned E Then Pilate admiring the constancy of the people in their Religion presently commanded the said Ensigns to be taken out of the City of Jerusalem After this he caused another tumult among them for they have a sacred Treasure called Corban The year of the World 3998. after Christ's Nativity 39. which Pilate resolv'd to make use of to bring water into the City four hundred furlongs off for this cause the people murmured so that when Pilate came to Jerusalem they flocked about his Tribunal to make their complaint Pilate foreseeing a tumult caused Soldiers secretly armed to mingle themselves among the people in private apparrel Pilate beateth the seditious with clubs and commanded them not to use their swords but to beat those with clubs whom they saw make such clamours And when he had thus plotted F the matter sitting in his Tribunal he gave a sign unto the Soldiers and presently the Jews were beaten and many of them partly with blows and partly trodden upon by the multitude The year of the World 4001. after Christ's Nativity 36. died miserably The multitude amazed at the calamity of those that were slain held their tongues For this cause Agrippa Son of Aristobulus whom Herod the King his Father put to death Agrippa Aristobulus's Son hateth Tiberius and insinuateth himself into Caius Caligula's friendship went to Rome and accused him to Caesar Tiberius not admitting his accusation he remained still at Rome and sought the favour of other great men there and especially he courted Caius the Son of Germanicus he being yet a private person and upon a certain day having invited him to a banquet he stretched forth his hands and openly pray'd Almighty God in stead of Tiberius Caesar he might see him Lord of all the world Tiberius having notice hereof by one of his familiar friends caused Agrippa to be imprisoned where G he endured hard and strait imprisonment till the death of Tiberius which was six months after Tiberius reigned 22 years six months and 3 days After he was dead having reigned two and twenty years six months and three days Caius Caesar who succeeded him in the Empire freed him from prison The year of the World 4001. after Christ's Nativity 39. and gave him the Tetrarchy of Philip who was newly deceased and the title H of King When Agrippa came into his Kingdom Herod the Tetrarch began to envy his estate and Herodias his wife still urged him forward in hope that he should be made a King also for said she thou wantest that dignity only through slothfulness because thou wouldest not go to Caesar Caius Caesar giveth the Tetrarchy to Agrippa 〈◊〉 's Son and maketh him a King for if Agrippa be made a King being before but a private man how canst thou doubt to be made a King who art already a Tetrarch Herod herewith perswaded went to Caius Caesar who greatly reproached his ambition insomuch as he fled into Spain for Agrippa had followed him to Rome to accuse him before Caesar and Caius gave him Herod's Tetrarchy And so Herod remained in Spain with his wife till his death Ant. l. 18. 〈◊〉 Herod and his wife remain in Spain I CHAP. IX The Emperour Caius orders Petronius Governour of Syria to constrain the Jews by arms to receive his Statue into the Temple The year of the World 4002. after Christ's Nativity 40. Petronius forbears to do it The death of Caius saves him from punishment CAius Caesar so abused his Authority Ant. lib. 18. c 15. that he would be thought to be a god and so called Caius Caesar calleth and reputeth himself a God Also he put many Noble men of his Country to death by his cruelty which he likewise extended even to Judaea for he sent Petronius with an K army to Jerusalem commanding him to set his Statues in the Temple and if the Jews refused to receive them The fear the Jews had of Petronius's Army that those who withstood him should be put to the sword and the rest led away captive Almighty God did otherwise dispose this proud commandment But Petronius accompanied with three Legions and many assistants out of Syria came with all speed from Antioch to Judaea many of the Jews would not believe any war towards notwithstanding that they heard a general report thereof and they that believed it could not bethink themselves of any means to resist Suddenly all were in a great fear for the Army was now come to Ptolemais The description of Ptolemais which City is situate by the Sea-shoar in Galilee in a fair Field and on the East-side it is compassed with Mountains distant from it threescore furlongs L which belong to Galilee on the South-side it is invested with Mount Carmel which is distant an hundred and twenty furlongs on the North-side it is environed with an exceeding high Mountain which the Inhabitants call the Tyrians Ladder this Mountain is an hundred paces distant from the City Two miles from this City there is a River running by called Pelus a very little one near which is the admirable Sepulchre of Memnon Sand like Glass near Memnon's Sepulchre which is a hundred cubits high and of a concave form In this place is seen a sort of Sand as transparent as Glass which many ships carry away for Balast but though they empty the place of it yet that place is presently after covered with the like sand again For there are winds which as it were on purpose carry this sand from the higher places round about it thither and this M sand being put into the furnace is presently changed into Chrystal or Glass And that which in my opinion is more to be wondred at is that the sand being so turned into Glass if afterward any part thereof be cast upon the brink of this place it is again turned into ordinary sand And this is the nature of that place Now the Jews with their wives and children gathered themselves together in the field where the City Ptolemais is situate and humbly besought Petronius not to violate their Country-laws but to have compassion on them Petronius seeing the multitude that humbly sued to him and how earnestly they sought his favour left Caesar's statues at Ptolemais and himself went from thence to Galilee and at Tiberias called all the Jews and Nobility together Petronius certifieth the Jews of the Romans power and Caesar's threats he represents to them the power of the N Romans and how dreadful Caesar's threatnings ought to be to them adding moreover that the Jews supplication was indeed a contumely seeing all Nations under the dominion of the Romans the Jews only excepted had
to fix the seat of his Dominion over the people He chose for his Guard a good number of his followers Foelix overthroweth the Egyptian Foelix foreseeing his intent met him with his Legions of Romans and a great number of other Jews and fighting against him the Egyptian being defeated fled and many that were with him were taken and committed to Prison and the rest of the multitude dispersed themselves into their Countrey These N being thus repressed The Thieves and Magicians work much mischief to many men another part as it happeneth in a sick body began to rise For some Magicians and Thieves being gathered together exhorted the people to shake off the Roman Yoke and threatned present death to those that continued to suffer so shameful a Servitude so that they forced them who were contented with their subjection to the Romans The year of the World 4020. after Christ's Nativity 58. to disobey them These people being dispersed all over the Countrey robbed and sacked rich men's houses killed them and fired the Villages so that all Judaea was in extream fear of them and every day their cruelty encreased At this time arose another tumult at Caesarea Ant lib. 10. cap. 13. between the Jews that dwelt there and the Syrians The Jews challenged the City to be theirs because it was founded by O Herod who was a Jew But the Syrians denying not that the builder of the City was a Jew yet affirmed that it ought to pass for a Greek City for said they the A Founder would not have placed in it Shrines and Statues if he had meant that it should have belonged to the Jews Hereupon there arose a great controversie among the Jews and Syrians so that the matter came to blows and every day those that were the hardiest of both parts fought together For the wiser sort of the Jews could not restrain those of their Nation from being seditious A Fight between the Jews and Syrians about Caesarea and the Greeks scorned to give place to the Jews The Jews surpassed them in Riches and strength of body and the Grecians trusted to the help of the Roman Soldiers for a great many of the Roman Army being levied in Syria were ready to assist the Syrians because of Kindred and Consanguinity Sedition and Slaughter among the Jews The Officers that commanded them endeavoured to appease the Tumult and took those that were most seditious and beat them and cast them into Prison B But the punishment of those that were apprehended terrified not the rest on the contrary they were hereby more tumultuous Foelix finding them at blows as he passed into the great Market-place commanded the Jews who had the advantage to retire and because they obeyed not he sent for Soldiers who slew them and plundered their Goods The Sedition being still on foot he sent some of the Nobility on either Part The year of the World 4024. after Christ's Nativity 62. to Nero to plead their Cause before him Festus succeeded Foelix who vigorously persecuted them that troubled the Countrey and destroyed many Thieves C CHAP. XIII Of Albinus and Florus Presidents of Judaea ALbinus Ant. lib. 20. cap 15. who succeeded Festus followed not his steps for there was no mischief so great Albinus President of Judaea full of all wickedness which he was not guilty of For he not only took away by force men's Goods from them under colour of Justice and at his own pleasure exacted a greater Tribute but also freed and let loose any one whom either the Magistrates of the City took or his Predecessors had left in Prison so that their Friends would give a piece of money and they only who were not able to give money were imprisoned D as most hainous Offenders The Seditious bribe Albinus to wink at their Robberies At this time they in Jerusalem that desired alteration began to take courage and those that were rich among them feed Albinus with money to have his Protection and the common people that loved not to be in quiet were much pleased with Albinus's Government and each of the most wicked had a Troop of Thieves after him But Albinus himself was over them all as chief of the Thieves whom he used as his Guard to rob the meaner sort They whose houses were sacked and spoiled were glad to hold their peace and they who yet had esscaped were glad to be very officious towards those who deserved death for fear they should suffer it In general no men could trust one another Every one trembled under the Rule of so many Tyrants And all these mischiefs were the Seeds of the Servitude E which after befel this miserable City Notwithstanding that Albinus was of such behaviour The year of the World 4028. after Christ's Nativity 66. yet Gessius Florus who succeeded him so behaved himself that in comparison of him Albinus might have been thought a good Governour For Albinus did all things secretly and craftily but Gessius committed any iniquity how great soever so openly as though he gloried in mischief Ant. lib 20. cap. 16. and behaved himself not as a Ruler of the Countrey but as a hangman sent to execute Malefactors omitting no manner of Theft nor any means whereby he might afflict the people Gessius Florus succeeded Albinus and proved worse than Albinus Where he ought to have shewed pity there he was a Tyrant and where he ought to have been ashamed there he shewed himself shameless No man ever could invent more means to betray the truth and devise more subtil ways to do F harm than he for it sufficed him not for his own gain to abuse men one by one at his pleasure The Covetousness of Florus spoileth whole Cities but he wasted and spoiled whole Cities at once and destroyed the people in great multitudes He was not ashamed by the publick voice of a Cryer to proclaim it thorough the whole Countrey lawful for any one that would to rob and steal so that they would bring him a part of their Booty In brief his Avarice was such that the Countrey was almost left desolate people forsaking their own native home and fleeing into strange Lands And all the time that Cestius Gallus was Governour of Syria no man durst go to him to make any complaint against Florus But when at the Feast of Unleavened Bread Gallus came to Jerusalem there met him a multitude of the Jews above three hundred thousand all beseeching him to help and succour their G afflicted Countrey and banish Florus who was the very Pest of their Nation Yet Florus was so impudent that being with Gallus and hearing these Out-cries against him he was no whit moved but laughed at it Cestius for that time appeased the people promising that hereafter he would make Florus more gentle unto them and H so returned to Antioch Florus conducted him to Caesarea and justified
but God deliver'd me from them all Moreover I received in gift from Vespasian an ample possession in Judaea and about the â—â—me time I forsook my Wife because her manners pleased me not although she was the Mother of my three Children of whom two are deceased and the third called Hircanus is yet alive After this I married a Wife that was born in Candy Joseph's third Wife by Nation a Jew and by Birth Noble and one of the greatest Reputation amongst the Inhabitants endow'd with as laudable manners as any other Woman M whatsoever Bâ— her I had two Sons Justus who was the eldest and Simon who was also sirnamed Agrippa Thus far touching my domestical affairs To which I must add that I have always continu'd to be honour'd with the good-will of the Emperors For after Vespasian's death Titus who succeeded him in the Empire continued the same favor which his Father had shew'd me For although I was oftentimes accused yet were not my Adversaries believ'd Domitian who succeeded him augmented my Honors For he punish'd those Jews that accused me and gave order that the Eunuch and slave whom I kept to teach my Son The perpetual favor of the Caesars towards Joseph and by whom I was accus'd should be punished He granted me exemption also from all the Tributes of Judaea which is one of the greatest Honors that a Man can receive And as for Domitia the Emperor's Wife she always continued N her good affection towards me Behold here the short Recital of my whole Life whereby let each Man conjecture of my Manners As for you O thrice excellent Epaphroditus after I have dedicated to you the Continuation of my Antiquities I will forbear to say more thereof A MAP OF THE HOLY LAND delineated for the better understanding of the HISTORY OF IOSEPHUS By P. du Val the King's Geographer 1675. R White sculp THE HOLY LAND described according to the NEW TESTAMENT to shew the places remarkable for the residences and journeys of our SAVIOUR A Scale of Leagues each consisting of 3000 Geometrical Paces A THE HISTORY OF THE B JEWS C The Preface of Josephus THey who apply themselves to write History have not all one and the same intent and motive but oftentimes very different causes of their labours For some are led to this study by a desire to shew their Eloquence and to gain Reputation Others do it to oblige the persons whose actions they relate and they strive to the uttermost to please them Others engage upon it because having born a part in the Events which they describe they are willing that the Publick should have knowledge of the same Lastly D others employ themselves this way for that they cannot suffer that things worthy to be known by all the world should remain buried in silence Now of these forenamed causes the two last are these that incited me to write For on the one side in regard I was an Actor in the War against the Romans and a Witness of the Actions which pass'd therein and also know what were the several Events thereof I conceiv'd my self oblig'd and in a manner forc'd to write the History of the same to the end to manifest the unfaithfulness of those who having written concerning this Subject before me have disguis'd and perverted the Truth And on the other side I have reason to believe that the Greeks will be well pleas'd with this Work because it will afford them an Account of the Antiquity of our Nation and the Form of our Common-wealth Translated out of Hebrew into their own Tongue When I began the History of the E foresaid War I purposed to lay open to the World How and whence the Jews had their first original What alterations in Fortune they had fall'n into By what Lawmaker they had been instructed in Piety and incited to the exercise of Virtue What Wars they sustained through several Ages and finally How against their will they became engaged in this last against the Romans But for that this Subject was too ample and copious to be treated only in passing I thought fit to make a separate Work after it and accordingly set upon this Treatise Afterwards as it usually hapneth to those that attempt matters of great difficulty I fell into a certain slothfulness which made me very backward to resolve upon the Translation of so long a History into a Foreign Language Yet some there were who inflamed with a desire of knowledge animated me to this action and especially Epaphroditus a man enamor'd of all Learning F and particularly History which is not to be wonder'd at since himself hath had very considerable Employments and experienc'd several Accidents of Fortune in all which he hath shewed a marvellous magnanimity of courage with an unmoveable resolution to follow Virtue Being thus persuaded by him who is accustomed to encourage those whom he perceives dispos'd to perform things profitable and honest and which is more being ashamed in my self that I should rather take delight to follow idleness than addict my self to so laudable an exercise I resum'd my Work and with so much the greater cheerfulness when I consider'd with my self that our Ancestors never made any difficulty to communicate matters of this nature to strangers and that the most famous among the Greeks have been curious to understand what passes amongst us For Ptolomy King of Egypt the second of the Name highly affectioned G to good Letters and desirous to store and gather Books at incredible charge caus'd our Laws and Customs and manners of living to be Translated into the Greek Tongue And our High Priest Eleazar who was not second in virtue to any other whatsoever thought not fit to deny this satisfaction to that Prince as he would without doubt have done had it not been the H ordinary course of our Ancestors not to conceal from other men such things as are good and laudable For which cause I have held it a matter no ways undecent for me to follow the goodness and generosity of that worthy High Priest and the rather for that even at this day I suppose many are no less well affected to good Letters than that great King Yet the Copy of all the Holy Scripture was not given him but those Translators who were sent unto him to Alexandria did only communicate that unto him which belongs to our Law But the things that are found written in the Sacred Books of Holy Scripture are innumerable being the History of five thousand years in which divers extraordinary Events and Revolutions sundry great Wars and many glorious Actions done by excellent Captains are described In sum if any one have a desire to read this History he shall principally learn and observe That all things fall out I happily and beyond their expectation to those men who observe the Will of God and are afraid to transgress his Commandments and that God hath prepared for such
deliver it to the Enemies to ransack and burn it and the F City shall be destroyed by the hands of the Enemies and their miseries shall be so notorious through the world and to such extremity shall they be driven as it shall hardly be believed so as their neighbours round about them hearing of their calamities shall be astonished and shall seek out the cause why the Hebrews are thus hated by God who beforetime have been so advanced by him in riches and honors and they shall be informed by those that survive that those calamities are brought upon them by their sins and the transgressions which they have committed against the ordinances of their forefathers These things that were declared unto him in a dream 1 King 7. 1. are registred in the sacred Letters Seven years after the Temple had been thus built as it hath been heretofore declared he began the building of his Palace Hedio Ruffâ—â—us cap. 5. which he scarcely finished in thirteen years G space Solomons 〈◊〉 finished 〈◊〉 thirteen years for he was not so intent and earnest in building thereof as he was in the structure of the Temple For although the temple was very great and of incredible and marvellous magnificence yet so it is that God for whom it was made assisting the workmen it was A thorowly finished within the term of the years aforesaid But the Royal Palaces being far less than the Temple were built more slowly because the stuff had not been prepared so long time before nor with so great diligence and the rather because the Palaces that were were not for God but for Kings notwithstanding this House was built very magnificently according as the wealth of the Countrey and the power of the Hebrew King required But it will not be amiss if I declare all the order and disposition of the same House that by the description thereof the Reader may be informed of its capaciousness It was a great and goodly Fabrick sustained by divers Pillars prepared to receive and contain much People at the time of their assemblies wherein they treated of affairs Ver. 8. and held pleas It was an hundred cubits in length and in breadth B fifty The Hall and in height thirty supported by sixteen square pillars covered with Corinthian work The Tribunal with stairs and carved gates which contributed no less to its beauty than its security In the midst of this space and hard by the Temple there was another Pavilion thirty cubits square Ver. 8. sustained with strong pillars within which there was another magnificent Tribunal The Queens house and other Palaces of pleasure on which the King sate to give judgment unto which there was adjoined another Palace prepared for the Queen All the Chambers as well those that were ordinarily in use Ver. 9. c. as those for recreation after he had retired himself from publick affairs were adorned with planks of carved Cedar The ornaments of Solomons Palace and were built partly of stone ten cubits square partly of curious marble and very rarely and cunningly wrought by the most C curious and exact Masons Chambers of pleasure with houshold-stuff of gold And that which made it more beautiful were three panes of Tapistry and the fourth admirable for the artificial engravings for the Workmen had made therein Trees and Plants of divers sorts shadowed with their branches and leafs hanging in such sort that to behold them a Man would have thought that they shook the workmanship was so exquisite and curious that covered the stone The rest as far as the roof was enchased and flourished with divers Antiques and Pictures Furthermore he built other places of pleasure with very long porches to beautifie the Palace amongst which there was one most magnificent to make Banquets and Feasts in which was throughout adorned with gold 1 Kings 10. and all the necessaries for entertainment were of gold It would be difficult to give an exact account of the variety the capaciousness D and magnificence of these structures whereof some were of a greater and some of a lesser bulk some under ground and others raised to a great height the pleasant Arbors likewise and the Gardens which were so fashioned that they afforded a pleasant prospect to the eye as well as refreshment from the heat All the building was made of white Marble Solomons Throne made of Ivory of Cedar of Gold and of Silver the floors and walls were figured with diversity of flowers and of precious stones inchased in gold after the manner of the Temple of God 3 Reg. 5. which shined with such like ornaments There was likewise erected a very large Throne made in form of a Tribunal with six steps of pure Ivory on each side of which there stood two Lyons and the like number were placed above About the place where the King sate there were several Arms stretched out which seemed to E succor or protect him and he sate upon an Oxe looking backwards this Throne was all covered with gold Solomon built all this that hath been spoken of in the space of twenty years being furnished by Hiram King of the Tyrians for these his buildings with great sums of gold and far greater of silver besides a quantity of Cedar and Pine-trees Solomon also remunerated him and gave him great Presents and sent him every year abundance of Corn Wine and Oyl as we have heretofore declared whereof he stood in great need by reason that his Countrey was an Island And besides that he gave him twenty Cities in Galilee Ver. 11 12. not far distant from Tyre Hiram having visited them and not well-pleased with them Solomons gratuity to Hiram for the benefits he received sent unto Solomon to certifie him thereof that he had no use for his Cities and F from that time forward they were called the Countrey of Chabel which is as much as to say in the Phoenician tongue unpleasant Hiram likewise sent unto Solomon certain mysteries 1 Kings 9. and difficult questions requiring him to explicate them and solve those doubts and difficulties that occurred in his demands 1 Kings 5. Solomon being a Man of ripe judgment and understanding explained them all with a great deal of perspicuity Solomon interpreteth certain hidden questions sent unto him by Hiram Menander the Historiographer maketh mention of Hiram and Solomon Of these two Kings Menander who Translated the Antiquities of the Tyrians out of the Phoenician Tongue into Greek maketh mention after this manner After the decease of Abibale Hiram his son succeeded him in the Kingdom who lived Fifty and three years and reigned Thirty and four He annexed the Field which is called the great Field unto the Island and consecrated a golden pillar in Jupiters temple He also caused a great quantity of wood to be hewed G down in the mountain Libanus to make covers and
advice given by Demetrius is this O Demetrius to the great King Health A Most mighty Prince since you have committed the trust unto me to find out such Books as are wanting to your Library Demetrius exhortatory Letter to Ptolomy touching his Library and to search for such Volumes as hitherto have been hid from my sight to the end that I might gather them together after that I had used herein all the care that was possible I have found that amongst others we want the Books of the Laws of the Jews For they being written in Hebrew Characters we have no notice thereof nor have we taken the pains to inquire after them because your Majesty hath not as yet thought fit to desire them But I think it necessary that your Majesty should have them procured and that they be faithfully B Translated because those Laws proceeded from God himself and it is most certain that of all other Laws in the World they are the wisest and incorruptest For which cause Hecateus the Abderite saith That neither Poets nor Historians have made any mention of them nor of those that have been governed under the same because in themselves they are pure and are not to be published by the mouth of the profane May it therefore please your Majesty to write unto the High-Priest of the Jews commanding him to send you six of every Tribe such as he shall know to be most expert in their Law by whom we may clearly apprehend the sence contained in those Books to the end that having the faithful interpretation of those things that are contained therein we may collect and gather them together to the satisfaction of your Majesty When the King had in this manner been advised he wrote unto Eleazar the High-Priest C of the Jews The Kings liberality towards the Jews touching this matter letting him know what liberty was by him granted unto the Jews that were in his kingdom He sent him also 50 Talents of gold to make cups ewers and vessels with an infinite number of precious stones commanding his Cofferers who had the charge of his Jewels to suffer the Workmen to choose what stones they liked best Furthermore he appointed that a hundred Talents should be given for the sacrifices and oblations and other uses of the Temple But after that I have declared what was the Copy of the Letter sent unto Eleazar the High-Priest and the manner how he obtained that Sacerdotal dignity I will give an account of the rich Presents and their curious Workmanship After the death of Onias the High-Priest his son Simon sirnamed the Just succeeded D in his place who for that cause was so called by reason of the piety which he shewed toward God and good affection which he bare unto his Countreymen This Simon dying and leaving behind him one onely son of young and tender years who was called Onias his brother which was this Eleazar of whom we speak at this present took upon him the Priesthood and to him wrote Ptolomy in such manner as is hereafter expressed King Ptolomy to the High-Priest Eleazar Health Whereas divers Jews dwelt in my kingdom whom my father had honoured though during the Reign of the Persians they were sent thither as Prisoners and made some of them E Captains in his Wars Ptolomy's Epistle to Eleazar for Interpreteâ—s to translate the Bible allowing them honourable wages and conditions To others born in his time in Egypt he hath committed his Forts and Garisons which made them much honoured and feared among the Egyptians Since my coming to the Government I have behaved my self graciously towards all men and especially toward those of your Nation of whom I have delivered more than 100000 out of Captivity paying their ransom out of mine own Coffers I have likewise listed some of those that were of age in the companies and bands of my men of War I have received some into my Court whom I took to be faithful and loyal and in my opinion well worthy of such preferment supposing this to be the most acceptable Present that I could offer up unto God for his Providence in advancing me to the Kingdom And being desirous not only to gratifie them but also all those Jews that are in the whole world I have determined to cause F your Law to be Translated out of Hebrew into Greek that I might put it in my Library You shall therefore do well if you choose out six discreet and learned men of every Tribe amongst you and send them unto me such as by reason of their age shall be well instructed in your Laws and sufficiently enabled to expound the same And I doubt not but that the work succeeding as I hope it will I shall thereby gain great glory Wherefore I send unto you Andrew the chiefest Captain of my Guard and Aristeus also whom we especially honour to confer with you by whom I have sent you 100 Talents of silver as the first-fruits of those gifts and sacrifices which we intend to offer in the Temple You will do us an especial favor if you signifie your mind unto us by your Letters G As soon as Eleazar had received the Kings Letters he returned him an answer full of respect as followeth A The High Priest Eleazar to King Ptolomey health If your self your Queen Arsinoe and your children be in health we do very much rejoyce thereat We have received your Princely Letters with no small joy and have read and considered the contents thereof we have also published them in the presence of all the People and have declared unto them your piety towards God and have shewed them those vesselles which you sent us twenty of Gold and thirty of silver with five vessells and a Table which you have sent us as Presents We have likewise shewed them those hundred talents which Andrew and Aristeus vertuous and excellently learned men Eleazars Letters in answer to Ptolomey and honoured by you amongst your B dearest friends have brought unto us to be employed in sacrifices and other uses in the Temple Know therefore that whatsoever you are pleased to command we will readily observe that we may acknowledge the benefits which you have divers wayes bestowed upon our Nation We have therefore daily offered sacrifice for you your Queen Arsinoe your children and friends the people likewise have prayed that God would send you happy success in whatsoever you desire that your Kingdom may be continued in peace and that the translation of our Law may be accomplished at your desire for our own satisfaction To that intent we have chosen six Elders out of every Tribe whom we send unto you together with the original of our Law Our request is that according to your accustomed piety and justice you return us both our Laws and these interpreters in safety as soon as they have answered your expectation Fare C you well This is the answer
Demetrius fighteth with Alexander had the upper hand who led with him 3000 Horsemen and 40000 Footmen Both on the one and the other side there fell out many subtil stratagems the one of them striving on the one side to inveigle and withdraw the foreign Soldiers who were Grecians and the other inforcing himself to reconcile those Jews that were of Demetrius's followers to his faction Alexander in this fight loseth all his hired Soldiers but neither the one noâ— other prevailed at all by these devices so that at length they were driven to decide their quarrel by the sword in which encounter Demetriâ—s had the upper hand For all the strangers that were on Alexanders side were every one E hewed in pieces after they had made sufficient proof both of their fidelity and valour There fell also many of Demetrius's Soldiers But after that Alexander had fled unto the mountains Six thousand men resort unto Alexander divers Jews to the number of 6000 in commiseration of his desperate estate and through the fear they had of Demetriâ—â— resorted unto him which when the Conqueror heard Alexander being assailed by the Jews besieged the mightiest of them in Bethom he retired himself After this the Jews made VVar against Alexander and in divers losses which they received there fell a great number of them in divers combats At length after he had 〈◊〉 up the best amongst them in the City of Bethom he besieged them and after he had taken the City and brought them under his subjection he carried them to Jerusalem where he committed an unspeakable and cruel murther Alexander crucifieth 800 Jews and murthereth their wives and children in their presence For whil'st he banquetted with his Concubines in the sight of them all he F commanded 800 of them or thereabout to be crucified and before their eyes whil'st they yet lived he caused their wives and childrens Threats to be cut All which he did to be revenged of those wrongs which he had received but he exceeded the bounds of Humanity herein notwithstanding they had rebelled against him and reduc'd him into a most pitiful estate and put him in danger both of his life and kingdom For being not content to assail and make VVar upon him with their Forces they drew strangers also into his Countrey against him and at length they overpower'd him so that he was constrained to yield up into the King of Arabians hands the Countries and Cities that he had conquered from the Moâ—bites and Galaadites for fear they should join with the Jews and make War against him Alexander sirnamed Thracidas besides other innumerable injuries and outrages which they G committed against him All this cannot hinder but that he ought to be abhorred for his cruelty so that he was justly called Thracidas that is to say as cruel as Thracian and H this Title continued amongst the Jews The year of the World 3887. before Christ's Nativity 77. The Soldiers of the contrary party who amounted to the number of 8000 fled by night into strong and sure holds and as long as Alexander lived they were in exile But at last he was deliver'd of all these Troubles he lived in quiet and governed his kingdom peaceably all the rest of his life-time But Demetrius marching from Judea to Beroea besieged his brother Philip with 10000 Foot and 1000 Horse But Straton Lord of Beroea allied to Philip called Zizus Duke of the Arabians and Mithridates Sinaces Governor of the Parthians unto his help who repairing unto him with great Forces besieged Demetrius in his own Trenches in which they so inclosed him by continual shooting of Darts and want of Water that they constrained him Demetrius besiegeth his brother Philip in Beroea and those that were with him to submit themselves to I their mercy When they had spoilt the whole Countrey and had seized on Demetrius they sent him prisoner to Mithridates who at that time was King of Parthia And as for the Antiochians as many of them as were found in the Camp were suffered to be gone with the safety of their lives and baggage and to return to Antioch But Mithridates King of Parthia honour'd Demetrius by all means possible until he was surprized with a sickness whereof he died Immediately after the battel Philip came into Antioch and having obtained the kingdom ruled over Syria CHAP. XXIII K Divers Wars of the Kings of Syria Alexander King of the Jews takes many places His death and his advice to his Queen Alexandra to insinuate her self in the favor of the Pharisees for to gain the love of the People AFter this Antiochus called Dionysius who was Philip's brother came into Damascus to make himself Master of it Hedio Ruffinus cap. 21. which he did quickly in his brothers absence who was gone against the Arabians Antiochus King of Damascus When his brother Philip who had an Army in a readiness to invade the Arabians had tydings hereof he came to Damascus with great speed and made him surrender up the City Antiochus thrust out of his kingdom by his brother both by the means of Milesius whom Antiochus had left Governor in the Castle and also by the consent of the Citizens themselves L But Philip shewed himself ungrateful towards Milesius performing nothing of that which he had promis'd him at the recovery of the City that the World might think that the fear of his power and not Milesius's favor was the cause of the surrender of Damascus Which act of his made Milesius suspect him and was the cause that he lost the City again For departing from thence to exercise himself at Tilt Milesius lockt the gates against him and kept the City for Antiochus Who having intelligence of that which had befallen Philip Caâ—pâ—â—asa called Antipatris returned out of Arabia and at that very instant led his Army into Judea in which were 800 Foot and 800 Horse Alexander fearing his approach made a deep Trench from Caparsabe Antioâ—hus's death and the Famine amongst his Army which is called at this day Antipatris as far as the Sea of Joppa which was the only streight whereby he might be assailed and made M a Wall fortified with wooden Towers with their Courts of Guard distant the one from the other 150 Furlongs to keep back Antiochus But he fired all his fortifications and made his Army pass into Arabia thorow this streight The King of Arabia retired upon the first assault but afterwards he presently came into the field with 10000 Horsemen whom Antiochus charged very valiantly and in the onset lost his life yet with victory whil'st he sought to succor a company of his men that were hard put to it After Antiochus's death his Army retired to the borough of Cana where divers of them dyed for hunger After him Aretas reigned in Coelosyria who was called unto that kingdom by those that held Damascus
purgeth her self before the King and is reconciled and pacified his choller For he was so transported with the love that he bare unto his wife that he believed she had sufficiently purged her self of those slanders that had been forged against her yielding her most hearty thanks for her honest affection towards him and declaring unto her openly the great esteem D and love that he bare unto her At length as it often falleth out amongst Lovers they fell to tears and embraced each other with great affection for that she gave him no credit he endeavoured the more to draw her to belief Whereupon Mariamne said unto him It is not the act of a Lover to have commanded that if any thing should befall thee otherwise than well with Antony I should presently be put to death notwithstanding I have no wayes offended thee No sooner were these words out of her mouth but the King entred in a strange passion and giving over his embraces he cryed out with a loud voice and tore his hair saying That he had a most evident proof that Joseph had committed adultery with her for that he would not have discovered those things which he had spoken to him in secret except they had greatly trusted one another And in this emotion or rage E of jealousie he hardly contained himself from killing his wife Herod commandeth that Joseph should be slain and imprisoneth Alexandra But the force of love overcame him so much that he bridled his rage notwithstanding it was grievous and irksome unto him Yet he gave order that Joseph should be killed without either audience or justification of his innocency and as touching Alexandra who was the cause of all these troubles he kept her Prisoner About the same time there hapned troubles and revolutions in Syria for Cleopatra continually sollicited and importuned Antony Hedio Ruffinus chap. 9. and whetted on his displeasure against all perswading him to remove them from their Governments and bestow the same on her self And for that Antony loved her extremely she was in great estimation and credit with him and being in her own nature inclined to covetousness she abstained from no F kind of corrupt dealing and wickedness Cleopatra very covetous For knowing that the Kingdom should descend unto her brother Cleopatra murthered her brother and sister she caused him to be poysoned when as he was but fifteen years old as for her sister Arsinoe she caused her to be slain by Antony's means being at her prayers in the Temple of Diana in Ephesus Moreover in what place soever she understood that there was any hope to get money whether it were in robbing of Temples or in breaking open of Sepulchres she would be possessed thereof neither was there any religious place so sacred from whence she took not away the Ornaments There was not any thing so prophane and prohibited which she laid not hands on to satisfie her unbribled avarice Neither was the whole World sufficient enough to content this stately Lady who was so much a slave to her own desires and her disordinate appetite that G all the riches in the World were not able to satisfie the same For this cause she constantly importuned Antonius to take from others to be liberal towards her and therefore H entring into Syria with him The year of the World 932. before Christ's Nativity 32. she presently contriv'd how she might get it into her possession For she caused Lysanias Ptolomeys son to be put to death objecting against him that he had private intelligence with the Parthians She begged Jewry also at Antonius's hands and required him besides that to dispossess the Kings of Arabia He was so possessed by this Woman Cleopatra contriveth Lysanias's death that he seemed not only to be bewitched with her words but also inchanted by her poysons to obey her in whatsoever she thought fit yet he was ashamed to commit so manifest injusties lest being so far over-ruled by her he should happen to offend in matters of more consequence Antonius giveth Cleopatra a portion deducted out of Jewry and Arabia Lest therefore either by denying her he should disoblige her or by condescending to her demands he should seem to be the wickedest man alive he deducted a several portion of both their dominions and presented her with the same He gave her likewise those Cities that are scituate between the floud Elutherius and Egypt except Tyre and Sidon which he knew to be free Cities of long continuance although by earnest sollicitation she thought to seize these also CHAP. V. Cleopatra goeth into Judea and used all her endeavors but in vain to make Herod fall in love with her Antonius having conquered Armenia giveth her great Presents K AFter that Cleopatra had obtained all these things Cleopatra cometh to Herod who instateth her in that part of Arabia and those revenues of Jericho that were given her and had accompanied Antonius as far as Euphrates who at that time went to make War in Armenia she returned back again and by the way visited Apamea and Damasco and at last took her progress into Jewry where King Herod met with her and assured that portion which had been given unto her in Arabia with all the revenues of Jericho unto her This Countrey bringeth forth that balm which of all other ointments is the most precious and onely groweth in that place An intemperate woman given to lust and also the finest Palm-trees in the World Being arrived in that place and grown inwardly familiar with Herod she sought to allure and draw him to her lust being of her self naturally addicted to such pleasures and intemperance or rather as it seemeth most likely she laid this foundation to intrap him under colour to L revenge her self of some injury by that means But in effect she generally manifested that she had a passionate love for Herod but he was not so kindly bent towards Cleopatra knowing how badly she was inclined towards all men and at that time he conceived the greater hatred against her Herod goeth about to put Cleopatra to death and is dissuaded by his friends because by that intemperance of hers she pretended to destroy him and although that from the beginning he had rejected her sollicitations yet he resolved to be reveng'd of her if so be by these her subtil undermindings she should continue her policies to betray him He asked counsel of all his friends whether having her in his possession he should put her to death For in so doing all those should be delivered from divers evils whom either in time past she had molested or hereafter she should bring in trouble Moreover that it should be profitable for M Antonius also whom without all doubt she would forsake if any occasion or necessity should enforce him to make tryal of her friendship But whilst he debated and discoursed upon this resolution his friends disswaded him
were all the actors of that murther punished with their whole families and notwithstanding all this the common people was no wayes daunted but were ready to defend their laws except they were restrained by some greater power Herod fortisieth two castles within Jerusalem Antonia Samaria or Sebaste Which when the King perceived he resisted their endeavors with all diligence lest through these alterations in affairs the people should be drawn to an open rebellion Whereas therefore he had two strong Castles within the City one wherein his palace was another called Antonia that adjoyned near unto the Temple fortified by him he thought good to strengthen a third called Samaria the name whereof he changed and called it Sebaste which was distant from Jerusalem some dayes journey to C contain those of the common sort that were abroad under his obedience and very fit to bridle any uproars that might be raised in the City and Countrey Stratons Tower or Caesarea And for the whole Nation he builded a Fort Gabala which in times past was called Straton and afterwards he named it Caesarea Hâ—rod planteth garrisons in the fortresses to withstand conspiracies He builded also a Fort in Galilee which was called Gabala in a large Plain where by turns he kept his horsemen Besides these he builded the Fort of Esthmonites in the Countrey of Peraea on the other side Jordan Now when he had fitly disposed all these Castles through his whole Countrey for the security and safety of his Kingdom the matter of rebellion was taken from the common people who upon every light cause are subject to commotions in that he had prepared a remedy against all privy conspiracies by planting such forces always near at hand who D might prevent and pacifie all alterations at their beginning After this betaking himself to encompass Samaria with a wall he brought to pass that divers of those who had born arms with him against his enemies and divers of the people likewise that dwelt round about came to inhabit it both in regard of the Temple which he intended to build in that place as also for that he fortified the same for his own security although that formerly it was not in the number of famous Cities He therefore changed the name thereof and called it Sebaste and distributed the lands that confined the City among the inhabitants of the same which was by natâ—re a fruitful countrey to the intent that within a little space they might inrich themselves He invironed the City also with a strong wall being assisted by the natural strength and steepness of the place and besides the whole circuit E he included so much ground that it was no wayes inferiour to any of the famous Cities for it contained the circuit of twenty furlongs or stadia's And in the midst thereof there was a sacred place containing a furlong a half wonderfully adorned in which there was a Temple builded famous both for be uty and bigness And as for the other parts of the City he adorned them with all sorts of ornaments And seeing how nearly it concerned him to provide for the security of his person in this walled City he erected a Fortress for himself And as for the beauty thereof his intent was that it should remain for a monument to posterity of his magnificence and liberality CHAP. XII F Judaea is afflicted with many miseries but especially with a violent Plague and a terrible Famine Herods wonderful care and liberality to remedy it He recovereth by this means the love of the people whom he supplieth with abundance of all things He buildeth a stately Palace in Jerusalem He marrieth with the Daughter of Simon whom he createth High-Priest Another brave Castle is built by him in the same place where he had formerly routed the Jews THat very year Hedio Râ—â—â—inus chap. 11. al. 10. which was the thirteenth year of Herods reign very great calamities hapned in that countrey either through Gods displeasure or for that the revolution of time would have it so 〈…〉 For first of all there were such continual droughts that by reason thereof the earth grew barren and produced not those fruits which of it self it was accustomed to bear And after G this the ordinary course of mens diets being altered by reason of the want of corn the want of food was accompanied with a bâ—dâ—ly sickness for that by custom these two plagues do ordinarily entertain one another for this made the plague and sickness more vehement H for that the sick in this great penury could neither have care of themselves The year of the World 3942. before the Nativity of Christ 22. as was expedient nor get convenient nourishment for preservation of life so that many died daily and those also that remained alive were in despair because they could not relieve their want and necessities what diligence soever they used For which cause after the old fruits of that year were wholly consumed and all the rest of their store was utterly spent there appeared not any means whereupon they might hope namely for that the misery increased more than was expected yea and extended it self beyond that year so that they had nothing remaining by them and the seed that was sowed at that time mouldred away and the earth for all their labours afforded them no encrease The necessity therefore being I thus great constrained men to search out many new inventions to maintain their life and the King likewise was in no less perplexity in that he was deprived of those ordinary revenues which he received by the fruits of the earth and the rather for that he had spent his money in repairing his Cities according as before this we have declared all things were wasted by divers calamities so that a man could conceive no hope of remedy Besides this the people hated their King for that it is their custom ordinarily to accuse their Governors as if they were the authors of all their evils Yet did the King bethink himself how he might remedy these inconveniences but he hardly could find the means for their neighbors could not sell them victuals because they were no less afflicted than themselves and although he might have recovered some little for a great sum of money K yet he wanted it also to defray the charges Herod maketh 〈◊〉 of all his rich ornaments and houshold stuffe of gold and silver and buyeth corn notwithstanding in that he knew that it behoved him to employ his uttermost endeavors for a general remedy to such a violent oppression he melted down all those movables he had either of Gold or Silver within his Palace and spared nothing either for the matter the excellency or the fashion no not so much as the vessels wherein he was ordinarily served This money was sent into Egypt where at that time under Caesar Petronius held the government This man being Herod's friend in that
and Faith which was renowned thorough the whole world For which cause he would not judge his Decree to be inconsiderately past who left his Succession to his well deserving Son and referred all things to his trust For that it was unlikely that he should err in the choice of his Successour who had so discreetly submitted all things to Caesar's judgment After this manner Nicholaus also finished his discourse Hereupon Caesar courteously raised Archelaus Caesar pronounceth Archelaus to be worthy of the Kingdom who lay prostrate and humbled before his feet telling him that he was most worthy to be King by giving an apparent Testimony that he was constant in his resolutions pretending that he would do nothing but that which should be answerable to Herod 's Testament and Archelaus 's profit and seeing the young man was confirmed in some good hope with this his promise Hedio Ruffinus chap. 14. he determined nothing N more for that time but dismissing the Council he debated with himself whether he should ratifie the Kingdom to Archelaus only or divide it amongst Herod 's Kindred especially since they all had need of his assistance O A CHAP. XII A great Rebellion in Judea whilest Archelaus was at Rome Varus Governour of Syria stoppeth it Philip Archealus's Brother goeth also to Rome in hopes to obtain one part of the Kingdom The Jews send Ambassadours to Augustus to free them from their obedience to Kings and to re-unite them to Syria They complain to him against Archelaus and abhor the memory of Herod B BUt before Caesar had determined any thing certainly in this behalf Marthalce Archelaus's Mother dieth Marthalce Archelaus's Mother died of a Sickness and Varus the President of the Jews in Syria had sent Letters Varus pacifieth the Seditions at Jerusalem which assured the Emperour of the Rebellion of the Jews For after Archelaus's departure all the Nation was in an Uproar To pacifie which Varus resorted thither and punished the Authors of the same and after he had appeased all things he returned to Antioch leaving a Regiment of Soldiers in Jerusalem to restrain the factious Innovations amongst the Jews yet he prevailed nothing by his policy Alias cap. 15 For as soon as Varus was gone Sabinus who was Overseer of Caesar's Affairs remaining in that place Sabinus's Avarice raiseth a great Sedition in Jerusalem at the Feast of Pentecost grievously burthened the Jews trusting to that power that was left him and supposing that he was already enabled to withstand the multitude C For he armed divers Souldiers and made use of them to oppress the Jews and to provoke them to Sedition For he took upon him to surprise their Fortresses and by force to make search after the King's Treasures for his private Lucre and Covetousness sake When therefore the Feast of Whitsuntide was come which is one of our Festivals divers thousands from all parts repaired to Jerusalem not only for Religion's sake but also for despite and hatred they had conceived against those Violencies and Injuries which Sabinus had offered them And not only were those of Judaea grievously offended but divers also resorted out of Galilee and Idumaea from Jericho and the Cities situate on the other side Jordan desiring all of them to be revenged on Sabinus And dividing their Camp into three Bands after this manner one part of D them took up the Hippodrome and of the other two the one seized the Southern Quarter of the Temple and the other the Eastern and the third which were in the Hippodrome were planted to the Westward where the King's Palace stood and thus prepared they all things that were necessary to set upon the Romans whom they had besieged on all sides At that time Sabinus fearing their number and resolution who were resolved either to die or overcome sent present Letters unto Varus requiring him with all expedition to send him a supply because the Regiment that was left by him was in great danger and must needs utterly perish without his speedy rescue As for himself he withdrew into the Tower and Dungeon of the Castle Phaselus which was a Fortress so called in honour of Herod's Brother who was killed by the Parthians E and from the top thereof made a sign to the Romans that they should salley out upon the Jews being afraid to trust himself to his own Friends expecting that the rest should expose their lives to danger in maintenance of his safety which his extream Covetousness had endangered A most blooddy Battel fought betwixt the Romans and Jews near unto the Temple and their lives also The Romans having made this Sally there arose a desperate skirmish wherein the Romans divers ways had the upper hand yet the Jews were no ways discomforted notwithstanding they had lost many men but wheeled about so long till at last they seized the outward Galleries and those that encompassed the Temple and in that place there was a hot Assault for they flung down stones with their hands and slings and there were certain Archers mixed among them who having recovered a place of advantage grievously gauled the Romans which F were below in that they had no means to avoid their shot but were so exposed thereunto that their Enemies had the better And with this disadvantage the Romans fought a long time till at length being enraged to see their enemies have such an advantage they secretly fired the Galleries and Porches without any discovery of those that were therein which Fire brought thither by many and fed with such matter as would speedily flame immediately took hold of the Roof because the Roof was covered with Pitch and Wax gilded over so that these great and excellent Buildings were burnt down to nothing in a moment Divers Jews are slain and burned in the Roof of the Porches and they that were resorted thither were all of them consumed before they were aware For some of them fell with the Roof of the Galleries others shot at and killed by those that stood round about others G despairing of their lives and amazed at the mischief either cast themselves into the fire or killed themselves with their own Swords and all those that retired in hopes to save themselves by that way they ascended were encountred by the Romans who killed them all because they were disarmed though furiously desperate so that not one H of them that ascended the Porches escaped with his life Afterwards the Romans thrusting forward one another by those ways where the fire was least entred the Treasure house where the sacred money was kept by which means a great part thereof was stoln away by the Soldiers A great part of the sacred treasure taken away by the Soldiers and Sabinus to all mens knowledge carried away four hundred Talents But the Jews being afflicted with a double calamity first of all with the loss of their Friends in that fight and
and took pleasure to obey Izates whom his Father deservedly and to all their contents and the desire of the common people had preferred above the rest of his Brethren alledging moreover that they would put his Brethren and Kinsmen to death before his coming to the end that he might enjoy the Kingdom B with all security for by their deaths all the fear that might grow by their hatred and envie might be extinguished Hereunto the Queen answered that she gave them thanks for the favour they bare unto her and her Son Izates notwithstanding she required them to suspend their judgments touching the death of his Brethren until such time as Izates himself should give his consent thereunto They seeing they might not obtain the liberty to put them to death were of opinion that they should be kept prisoners until his coming to the end that they might do him no harm in his absence and that moreover until his coming there might one be appointed to govern the State whom she should esteem most trusty and faithful unto him Whereunto Helena condescended and made his elder Brother Monobazus C King and set the Diadem on his head and gave him his Fathers Seal-ring with that Robe which they call Sampsera exhorting him to govern the Kingdom until his Brothers arrival Izates having certain notice of his Fathers death resorted thither speedily and receiving his Brother Monobazus willing surrender took upon him the Government of the Kingdom Whilest Izates was in the Fortress of Spasinus Izates and his mother Helena learn the true service of God according to the manner of the Jews a certain Merchant who was a Jew called Ananias having access to the Kings wives taught them the manner how to serve God according to the Religion of the Jews and Ananias by their means growing acquainted with Izates taught him the like and accompanied him into Adiabena being drawn thereunto by his earnest intreaties when Izates resorted thither upon his D Fathers sending for It chanced also that Helena was in like manner instructed by another Jew and retained the Rites and Religion of the Jews After that Izates came into his Kingdom and knew that his Brethren and Kinsfolk were imprisoned he was much grieved Conceiving therefore with himself that it would be a great impiety in him to suffer them to be put to death or kept in prison and that on the other side it were a dangerous matter for him if being at liberty they should remember the evil they had endured Izates sendeth his Brothers to Claudius Caesar and Artabanus for this cause he sent some of them to Rome for Hostages with their Children unto the Emperour Claudius and the rest unto Artabanus King of Parthia Afterwards when he was thoroughly assured that his Mother was wholly addicted to the Religion of the Jews Izates is disswaded by Helena his Mother and Ananias from circumcision he endeavoured the more to E shew himself zealous therein and supposing that he could not be a perfect Jew except he were circumcised he prepared himself to be circumcised Which when his Mother understood she endeavoured to her uttermost to hinder his resolution assuring him that in so doing he should bring himself in great danger for that in being King he would draw himself into the dislike of his Subjects if they should have notice that he was addicted to a new Religion and to strange Ceremonies and that they would not endure that being a Jew he should be their King so she for a while by her disswasion restrained him from his desire But the King required of Ananias who according with Helena in the course of her dislike threatned Izates that if he would not obey his Mother he would forsake him and depart from him for that he feared F lest if the matter should be publickly known he should suffer some punishment as being the only Author and Instructer of the King in undecent matters that otherwise he might serve God although he were not circumcised since he had resolved to live according to the institution and Laws of the Jews and that God would pardon him for in this true Religion consisteth more than in circumcision of the body though he were not actually circumcised since the necessity and fear of his Subjects over-ruled him By which words the King for that time was perswaded to proceed no further But a little after for he was not wholly altered in that affection which he had another Jew called Eleazar Eleazar perswadeth 〈◊〉 to be circumcised coming from Galilee and accounted a Learned man in the Doctrine of our Religion perswaded him to be circumcised For coming G one day unto him to salute him he found him reading of the Books of Moses and said unto him O King contrary to your knowledge you offend the Law and God likewise for it sufficeth you not that you understand the same but the chiefest matter you are tied unto is to do that which the Law commandeth how long therefore H will you remain uncircumcised And if as yet you have not perused the Law as touching this point read it now to the end you may know what great impiety it is to omit it After the King had heard this he would no longer defer his Circumcision for which cause withdrawing himself into another chamber he called a Surgeon unto him who acted that which he required and afterwards calling his Mother and Master Ananias unto him he told them what had past whereupon they grew strangely amazed fearing the King should be in danger to lose his Kingdom if this action of his should come to light for that his Subjects would not endure that such a man that followed a contrary Religion should be their King They feared also lest they themselves should be in danger They that rely on God and put their confidence in him do always reap the reward of their Piety forasmuch as the cause of all this matter would be imputed I to them But God by his Providence prevented lest any of those things which they feared should come to pass for he delivered Izates himself and his Children likewise out of many dangers yielding them his assistance in their doubtful and desperate conditions declaring in effect that those that only put their trust in him and depend upon his Providence are never deprived of the fruit of their Piety But of these things we will speak hereafter When Helena the Kings Mother perceived that the state of the Kingdom was in peace Helena the Queen of Adiabena resorteth to Jerusalem and that by all mens opinion both home-bred and strangers her Son was reputed happy by the good will of God she was seized with a desire to go and visit the City of Jerusalem and adore God in the Temple which was so much renowned K through the whole world Aliàs cap. 6. and offer Sacrifice of Thanksgiving therein for which cause she besought her
Historiographers of untruth and declareth his intent and specifieth the principal points of this History THe War of the Jews against the Romans The duty of an Historiographer and how things that are past should be written was of all other the greatest that ever was attempted in our Age or heard of in D any other either between City and City or Nation against Nation Yet there have been some persons who rather building their discourse on the vain and false reports of others than their own knowledge have written the History of it by hear-say and filled their discourse not only with Vanity but also with Contradiction Others there are who though Witnesses or Actors in the same nevertheless have according to their own fancy related many falshoods either out of flattery to the Romans or hatred against the Jews Whose Writings are full of nothing but Accusations of the one and Praises of the other without observation of Historical E Verity Joseph himself had a hand in the Wars of the Jews For this cause I Joseph the Son of Matthias by Birth an Hebrew a Citizen and Priest of Jerusalem who in the beginning of those Wars bore Arms against the Romans and afterwards being thereunto forced by necessity was present at all those things which were attempted and prosecuted in those Wars have thought good to write in the Greek Tongue in favour of all those who acknowledge the Sovereignty of the Roman Empire all that which heretofore in my own Language I have written to inform other Nations When these great Wars began the Romans were at Civil Wars among themselves And the younger and more turbulent sort of Jews trusting to their Riches and Courage excited so great troubles in the East to make use of this opportunity that whole Nations were in apprehension to be brought into subjection to them because F they had confederated with those of their Nation that inhabited the parts beyond Euphrates to revolt all together Moreover at that time the Gauls who bordered upon the Romans suffered them not to live in peace And the Germans also began to take Arms. After Nero's time all things full of trouble In a word after the death of Nero Seditions reigned every where so that by reason of the opportunity of these times many went about to make themselves Kings And the Soldiers lead with the hope of gain desired nothing more than trouble and alteration Now because these matters were important the trouble I had to see the truth disguised made me take care to inform exactly the Parthians Babylonians Joseph had written this History in the Hebrew Tongue before and the farthest distant Arabians and those of our Nation inhabiting beyond Euphrates together with the Adiabenites of the true cause of this War of all that G passed in it and how it was ended lest those who were not present in it should be ignorant thereof and deceived by flattering and fabulous Historians Yet some of these there be who besides their false informations stick not to write Histories not only void of all H truth but also no ways answerable to the Subject which they undertake For whereas they labour to extol the Romans The Glory of the Romans is diminished if you derogate from their labours at the Siege of Jerusalem and debase the Jews I cannot understand how they can be held great who triumph in the Conquest of men so obscure and abject Nay whilst they thus extol the Romans valour in conquering the Jews they consider not the continuance of the War nor the multitude of the Roman Forces nor the honour of their Captains whose Glory is much impaired if they lessen that of the ressistance by which the valour of the Jews render'd the execution of the Enterprise so difficult For my own part I am not resolved to contradict those who shall enhance the Glory and Noble Actions of the Romans nor to extol and cry up the Deserts of my own Nation but my resolution is in all truth and sincerity to set down each Occurrent without I respect or partiality towards either part In performance whereof I will order my discourse according to the matter I treat of and as my grief and sorrow shall invite me to lament the miseries of my Countrey For the Civil Dissension that dismember'd the same was the cause that brought it to confusion And those Tyrants that reigned amongst us were such who forcibly drew the Romans with Sword and Fire to effect the Desolation of our Holy Temple Titus his Piety towards the Jews The truth whereof Titus Caesar himself can justifie who destroyed the same who during all those Wars still pitied the people for that they as he well perceived were kept in awe by the Seditious And oftentimes of his own accord he deferred the taking of the City and purposely protracted the Siege to the intent that in the mean time the Authors of the Seditions K might have leisure to repent and submit themselves Now if any man think that I write this as one that exclaimeth against the Tyrants and their Depredations or that in bewailing the miseries of my lost Countrey I accuse their Villanies too passionately and thereby transgress the limits of a History let it be imputed to my grief and so pardoned For amongst all the Cities that ever were conquered by the Romans our City only attained to the top of felicity but now alas 't is brought into extreme Misery All Calamities that hapned since the beginning of the World being compared with those the Jews suffered are of no moment Captivity and Desolation Nay if all the Misfortunes and Calamities which the World from the beginning hath seen be compared with the infelicity and fall of the Jews they are slight and inconsiderable And to encrease our sorrow 't is not to Foreigners but to our own Countrey-men L that we are to attribute the cause of our miseries Wherefore if any man too severe and Stoical reprehend this my Lamentation let him consider only the deeds I recount in the History which I write and pass over the Lamentations and sorrows of me The Grecian Historiographers overpass the Wars of the Jews with silence who am the Historiographer I confess I have often blamed and perhaps with reason the most eloquent Grecians that although these our most miserable and memorable Wars hapned in their days in respect whereof all other former troubles are obscure and of no reckoning they have restrained their Tongues and Pens to the end they might carp at those with greater liberty who undertake the publishing thereof whom though in Learning and Eloquence they exceed yet they have the advantage M of having managed Publick Affairs These Censurers of others write the Histories of the Assyrians and Medes as if the ancient Writers had ill reported the same though indeed they come as far behind those ancient Authors in their manner of writing as they
this most wicked and ingrateful of all men and is it now to be endured that he is so impudent as to dare to open his mouth in hope to colour all again with craft and deceit Beware Varus that he deceive you not for I know this beast and I even now see by his feigned tears how probable a tale he will tell This fellow once warned me that whilst Alexander lived I should beware of him and not put every one in trust with my person This is he who was wont to go before me into my bed-chamber and look about in every corner lest any should have lien in wait to have attempted any treason against me This is he who watched by me in my sleep and in whom I thought my self secure who comforted me when I mourned for them that were put to death This is he K who gave me good or ill characters of his Brethren when they were alive This was my defender and champion O Varus when I remember his crafts and subtilties and all his counterfeitings I wonder that I am yet alive and how I escaped the hand of such a traitor And seeing that fortune stirs up those of mine own house against me and that those that I most esteem are my greatest enemies I will bewail my hard fortune alone and not one that hath thirsted after my blood shall escape although proof be brought against every one of my children â— Thus his heart being surcharged with sorrow he was forced to break off his speech and presently he commanded Nicolas one of his friends to report all the proofs and evidences All this while Antipater lay prostrate at his Fathers feet Antipater's answer and excuse but now lifting up his L head he address'd to him and said You Sir your self made my Apology For how can he pass for a Parricide who as your self confess always watcht to preserve you from all dangers Which if you say I did feignedly is it probable that I would be so circumspect in other affairs and at other times and now in so weighty a matter play the part of a sensless man How could I think that such a design though kept secret from men could be hidden from God who seeth all things Was I ignorant what befel my Brethren whom God so punish'd for their wicked conspiracy against you Or what should cause me to aim at their life The hope of the Kingdom I possess'd it already Or a suspicion of your hatred towards me I knew you loved me passionately Or any fear which I had of you On the contrary I rendred you formidable to others by the care I took of your preservation M Was it want of money Nothing less for who might spend more than I Truly if I had been the wickedest person in the World or the cruellest beast upon earth yet I should have relented being overcome by the benefits of so loving a Father seing as your self said you recall'd and prefer'd me before so many Sons and being yet alive you proclaim'd me King and made me a spectacle to all men to envie through the benefits you bestowed upon me O wretch that I am O unhappy time of my absence out of my Countrie what an opportunity hath it given to malicious and calumniating people Yet O Father it was for your sake and about your affairs that I went to Rome to the end that Syllaeus might not triumph over your old age Antipater calleth Rome and Caesar to witness Rome can witness my piety and Caesar the Prince of the whole world who often called me a lover of my Father Receive here O Father his Letters far more N credible than those feigned calumniations against me let these plead my cause let these testifie my affection towards you remember how unwilling I was to go to Rome knowing I had here in this Country many secret enemies Thus you unwarily have been the cause of my ruine by forcing me to that voyage which has afforded envy time to frame accusations against me but now I will come to the proof of these matters Behold here I am who notwithstanding a Parricide yet never suffered any misfortune by sea or land is not this a sufficient argument of my innocency But I will not insist upon this proof of my innocence since I know that God hath permitted you to condem me already in your heart Only I conjure you give not credit to depositions extorted by torments let me be burned inflict all torments upon me spare not my body For if I am a Parricide I ought not to die without O all sort of torment Antipater accompanied these words with so many tears that he moved all that were present and Varus also to compassion but Herod only abstained A from weeping for his anger against his unnatural Son fix'd his mind upon the proof of his Crime And presently Nicolaus at the King's commandment made a long speech concerning Antipater ' s malice and artifices which he laid so open that he extinguish'd all pity in the minds of the hearers He ascrib'd all the mischief which had befallen that Kingdom unto him Nicolaus at the King's command beginneth a most heinous an bitter accusation against Antipater and especially the death of his two Brethren who through his calumniations were made away affirming also that he used treacherous practices against those yet alive fearing lest they should succeed in the Kingdom for he who had prepared poyson for his Father would much less spare his Brethren And then coming to the proof of his intent to poyson his Father he declared in order all the evidences thereof aggravating his offence by the B corrupting of Pheroras who by Antipater was drawn in to purpose the murther of his Brother and King Nicolaus's peroration and how he had also corrupted the King's dearest friends and so filled the whole Court with wickedness When he had accused him of many other things and brought proof thereof he ended his speech Then Varus commanded Antipater to make answer to these things The poyson tried upon a condemned man and seeing that he continued lying on the ground and said nothing more but God was witness of his innocency he called for the poyson and gave it one who was condemned to die who having drunk thereof presently died Then Varus talked apart with Herod and what was done there in that Council he writ unto Caesar and the next day he departed And when Herod had put Antipater in prison he sent messengers C unto Caesar to inform him of his hard fortune and calamity After this it was discoverd that Antipater design'd the death of Salome For one of Antiphilus servants came from Rome and brought Letters from Acme who was one of Julia's maids which she writ to the King telling him that she found a Letter of Salomes among Julia's which for good will she had sent him These Letters which she affirmed to be Salomes
have presumed to have counselled you in any thing For it is in vain to give G counsel of such things as are expedient where all the Auditors are already determined to follow that which is contrary to the counsel given them But for that some are ignorant what misery War produces because by reason of their young years they have not known it others are moved with a rash and unadvised desire of liberty and others are drawn by H avarice and hope of gain in combustions I thought good to assemble you all together and declare unto you what means are to be used to restrain such people that the good may the better know how to resist and overcome the practices of the wicked But let no man murmur Agrippa striveth to make the common sort flexible and attentive if he hear that which displeaseth him and I will tell you nothing but that which seemeth expedient for you For they that are so bent to rebellion that they will not be recalled may for all my words continue in the same mind still And I will speak nothing at all except you will all keep silence I know many seek to aggravate the injuries that are done by the Rulers of this Country and highly commend and extol liberty yet before I begin to declare unto you the difference between you and those against whom ye purpose to make war I must first divide and separate two things which you think inseparable I For if you seek only to get satisfaction upon those that have injur'd you why do ye so extol liberty or if you think it not tolerable to obey any other these complaints against your Rulers are superfluous for although they were never so mild still would subjection be intolerable Call all things to mind and consider what a small cause of war is given you And first of all weigh with your selves the crimes and offences of your Rulers It behoveth to honour the Magistrate and not to provoke him by injury for you ought to shew your selves humble and dutiful to those that are in authority and not exasperate and provoke them to wrath by reproachful speeches For in reviling them for small offences you incite against you those whom you so revile and whereas before they only did you a little injury and with some shame now being moved by your resistance they will openly set upon you and destroy you There is nothing that so restraineth K cruelty as patience so that oft-times the patience of them who have suffered injury makes them that did the injury ashamed thereof Be it so that they which are sent into the Provinces and appointed by the Romans for your Governours Agrippa excuseth Caesar and the Romans are grievous to you yet all the Romans do not oppress you nor Caesar against whom you must take arms For they command no cruel Governours to come to you nor can they who are in the furthest part of the West easily know what is done in the East or indeed be exactly informed thereof And truly it is a thing most against reason to take arms for so small a cause especially when they against whom you take arms know nothing of the matter But there is reason to hope Depulsion of the Jews liberty which they so vehemently seek that these matters you now complain of will not be always so For there will not be always the same Governour and it is credible that they who succeed this will L be more gentle and courteous But if once you begin to make war it is not easie to end or sustain it without great calamities And let them who so thirst after liberty diligently advise with themselves that they do not bring upon their necks a greater bondage Slavery is a cruel thing and it seemeth a lawful cause to make War to avoid being brought into it yet he that is already in bondage and revolteth is rather a rebellious slave than one who loveth liberty You should therefore have endeavoured to resist the Romans when first Pompey entred this Land but then our ancestors and their Kings far exceeding you in riches strength of body and courage were not able to withstand a small part of the Roman forces and do you who are their successors and far weaker than they having succeeded them in subjection think that you are able to resist all the whole power of the M Romans The Athenians The example of the Athenians and others who obey the Roman Empire who sometime to preserve the liberty of Greece feared not to set their own City on fire and with a small fleet defeated that proud Xerxes whom they forced to flee with one ship though he had such a navy that the seas had scarce room for one ship to sail by another and all Europe was not able to receive his army and got that famous victory over Asia The Lacedemonians near the little Isle of Salamina yet now are subject to the Romans and that City the Queen of all Greece is now ruled by the commands it receives from Italy The Macedonians The Lacedemonians also after they had gotten such a victory at the Thermopyles and under their General Agesilaus sacked Asia acknowledge now the Romans for their Lords The Macedonians also who had before their eyes the valour of Philip N and Alexander The comparison of the Romans force with the Jews weakness and promised themselves the Empire of the whole world now patiently bear this change and obey them whom fortune hath made their masters Many other Nations who for their power and strength have far more cause than you to seek their liberty yet patiently endure to serve the Romans But you only think it a disgrace to obey them The Romans have brought the whole world under their government and have sought another world beyond the Ocean sea who are Lords of the whole World And where are the armies that you trust in or your navy to make you masters of the Romans Seas Where are your treasures to effect what you intend Think you that you are to war against the Egyptians or Arabians and do you not consider the bounds of the Romans Empire Do you not consider your own inability Know you not that your neighbour-nations have often by force taken your City and that the forces of the Romans have passed thorow the whole world unconquered and O as it were searching for something geater than the world Their dominion towards the East is extended beyond Euphrates and towards the North beyond Ister and towards A East is extended beyond Euphrates and towards the North beyond Ister and towards the South beyond the Wilderness of Libya and towards the West beyond Gades they have found another World beyond the Ocean and with an army entred Britain where never any came before Are you richer than the Gauls stronger than the Germans wiser than the Greeks are you more in number than
the Description of Jericho AT this time came news of the troubles in Gallia Troubles in France and how that Vindex together N with the Nobility of that Country had revolted from Nero whereof we have made mention in another place This news caused Vespasian to be more earnest to end the Wars of the Jews for even then he foresaw the Civil War that ensued and the danger of the whole Empire and he thought that if he could before the beginning of those troubles end the Wars in the East part of the World that then Italy was not in so much danger But Winter hindring him he in the mean time placed Garisons in all Towns and Villages about the whole Country and appointed Officers in every City and repaired many places which he had before destroyed And first of all he with his whole Army that was at Caesarea marcht to Antipatris and having setled the Estate of that City after his abode there two dayes the third day O he departed spoiling and burning all the Country as also all the Country about A of Thamnia the Toparchy and so went to Lydda and Jamnia But seeing that those two places submitted themselves unto him he left there such Inhabitants as he thought good and went thence to Ammaus and placing himself in the way to Jerusalem he there entrenched his Camp and leaving the fifth Legion there with the rest he went into the Toparchy of Bethlepton Vespasian visiteth all Judea firing it and all places thereabout as also the Borders of Idumea but he reserved certain Castles in fit places and fortified them And having taken two Towns in the midst of Idumea to wit Begabri and Caphartopha he slew there above ten thousand men and took almost a thousand and driving out the rest of the Inhabitants he left a great part of his Army there who made Incursions and wasted all the High Places thereabout with the rest he returned to Jamnia and B from thence by Samaria and Neapolis called by the Inhabitants Nabortha The second day of June he came to Corea and pitching his Tent there the next day he came to Jericho where one of his Captains named Trajan met him with the Souldiers he brought from beyond Jordan which place he had conquered But before the Romans came Vespasian cometh to Jericho many fled from Jericho into the high Country over against Jerusalem and many that stayed behind were there slain So he found the City desolate being scituate in a Plain under a great barren Mountain which is of a huge length for it reacheth on the North side to the Borders of Sythopolis and on the South to the Borders of Sodom and the Lake of Asphaltites It is Rocky and not inhabited because it beareth no fruit Over against this near Jordan is situate another Mountain beginning on the C North-side at Julias and reaching to Bacra on the South which is the Limits of Petra a City of Arabia In this place is that Mountain which is called the Mountain of Iron reaching to the Country of the Moabites The Country between these two Mountains is called the Great Field reaching from the Village Gennabara to the Lake of Asphaltites The great Field being in length two hundred and thirty Furlongs and in breadth a hundred and twenty in the midst it is divided by the River Jordan These are also two Lakes of contrary natures Asphaltites and Tiberias for one of them is Salt and hath no Fish but that of Tiberias sweet and abounds with Fish Two Lakes Asphaltites and the Tiberian Lake This Plain in Summer time is burnt with the heat of the Sun and the Air is infected in all places thereabouts save only about Jordan and this D is the cause that the Palm-trees that grow about the River side do flourish most and are more fertil than the rest Near Jericho there is a large great Fountain which plentifully watereth the fields thereabout and riseth with a great stream out of the ground near the old City which Joshua the Son of Nâ—â— General of the Hebrews took by War the first of all that he took in the Land of Canaan It is reported that in the beginning the Waters of this Fountain destroy'd all Fruits of the Earth and also made Women be delivered before their time A large Fountain neer Jericho and infected all places with diseases and the plague but afterward by Elisha the successour of Elias was made sweet and good for conception which happened in this manner That admirable person being once courteously entertained by the Inhabitants of Jericho did thus reward them and E all the Country for that their kindness and going unto the Fountain he cast a Pitcher full of Salt into the Water and lifting up his hands to Heaven and tempering with this Fountain-Water certain sweet Waters he prayed God to amend the ill qualities thereof A miracle wrought by Elias and to make it slow with more sweet Streams which both might cause plenty of Fruits and also of Children to the Inhabitants and that the Water might have the vertue to make Women Fruitful so long as they persisted in piety These prayers had the Power to alter the Fountain and from that time this Fountain which before was the cause of Famine and Sterility became the cause of Plenty and Fertility And so it watereth the ground that where a little of it cometh it doth more good than all other waters which lie long upon it F and so they that water their grounds but a little with it receive much Fruit and they that water their Grounds with it much do not receive them in that measure yet it watereth a greater compass of ground than other Fountains and in length it runneth through a Plain seventy Furlongs long Fruitful and pleasant Gardens about Jericho and twenty broad Here are most pleasant and goodly Orchards and many sorts of Palm-trees growing by brooks sides which are divers in the taste of their Fruits the fattest whereof being pressed yield a juice like Honey nothing inferiour to other Honey yet there is great store of Honey in the Country and the juice of Balm which is more precious than all other Fruits whatsoever Here grow also Cypress-Trees and Myrabolans so that one may justly say that this part of the Earth hath something Divine where G what Fruit soever is most dear and precious is in most abundance Also in all other Fruits it surpasseth all Countries in the World for all things multiply and increase sooner there The cause hereof I judge to be these pleasant Waters and the H warm nourishing Air which gently inviteth all things to spring up and then encreaseth them as the moisture causeth all things to take firm root and also defendeth them from drought in Summer time when the Country is vexed with such intollerable heats that all things are scorched so that nothing then will grow yet if
May there was seen a Vision beyond all belief and perhaps that which D I am to recount might seem a Fable if some were not now alive that beheld it and if that Calamity worthy to be so foretold had not ensued Before the Sun-rise were seen in the Air all over the Country Chariots full of armed men in battel aray passing along in the Clouds The fifth armed Chariots men seen in the air and begirting the City And upon the Feast day called Pentecost at night the Priests going into the Inner Temple to offer their wonted Sacrifice at first felt the place to move and tremble and afterward they heard a voice which said Let us depart hence The sixth a voice in the inward Temple And that which was most wonderful of all one Jesus the Son of Ananus an ordinary Pesant four years before the War begun when the City flourished in Peace and Riches The seventh Jesus a Countryman's cry and death coming to the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles in the Temple at Jerusalem suddenly began to cry out thus A Voice from the East a Voice from the West E a Voice from the four Winds a Voice against Jerusalem and the Temple a Voice against Men and Women newly married a Voice against all this People And thus crying night and day he went about all the streets of the City Some of the best quality not able to suffer words of so ill presage caused him to be taken and severely scourged which he endured without speaking the least word to defend himself or to complain of so hard treatment but he continued repeating the same words The Magistrates then thinking as indeed it was that the man spake thus through some divine motion led him to Albinus General of the Romans where being beaten till his bones appeared he never entreated nor wept but as well as he could with a mournful voice he cryed Wo wo to Jerusalem Albinus asked him what he was and whence and wherefore he said so F but he made him no answer Yet he ceased not to bewail the misery of Jerusalem till Albinus thinking him to be out of his wits suffered him to depart After which till the time of War this man was never seen to speak to any one but still without ceasing he cryed Wo wo to Jerusalem Neither did he ever Curse any one though every day some one or other did beat him nor did he ever thank any one that offered him meat All that he spake to any man was this heavy Prophecy He went crying as is said chiefly upon holy-dayes Jesus for seven years and five months cried about the City doing so continually for the space of seven years and five months and his voice never waxed hoarse nor weary till in the time of the Siege beholding what he foretold them he ceased and then once again upon the Walls going about the City A stone from an Engine killeth Jesus with a loud voice he cryed Wo wo to the City Temple and People and lastly G he said Wo also to my self Which words were no sooner uttered but a Stone shot out of an Engine smote him and so he yielded up the Ghost lamenting them all If any one diligently consider all these things he will find that God hath a care of H mankind and doth foreshew betime what is most expedient for them and that they through their own madness voluntarily perish in their wickedness For the Jews when the Castle Antonia was taken made the Temple four-square notwithstanding that it was written in the holy Scripture that the City and Temple should be taken when the Temple was made four-square But that which chiefly incited them to this War was a doubtful Prophecy likewise found in the holy Scriptures That at the same time one in their Dominions should be Monarch of the whole World And many wise men were deceived in their Interpretation The Jews interpreting the signs to their own good liâ—king are their Countries 〈◊〉 and the cause of their own calamity making account that he should be one of their own Nation but indeed thereby was foretold Vespasian's Empire But men cannot prevent Destiny though they foresee it Thus the Jews interpreted some of the Signs I as they pleased and at others they laughed till by the ruine of their Country and their own woful overthrow their error was discovered to them CHAP. XIII How Titus was made Emperour and of the Death of the Priests AFter the Seditious were fled into the City whilst all the Temple and places there K about were still on fire the Romans placing their Engines over against the East-gate of the Temple and there offering sacrifice to God with great shouts they declared Titus Emperor Gold was sold for half price The Romans got much Spoil and Booty so that they sold Gold in Syria for half the value And among those Priests that kept on the Wall a Child being thirsty desired drink of the Roman Watchmen saying that he was thirsty They pitying both his years and his need gave him their hands that he should have no harm and then he came down and drunk and filled a bottle which he brought with him and when he had done he ran up again to his fellows and none of the watchmen were able to overtake him The craft of a Boy and they could only upbraid him with falshood But he answered That he had done nothing but that which he and they intended for they did not give him their L hands to secure him to remain with them but only to come down and take water which he had done The Roman watchmen greatly admired the subtilty of one that was but a Child The fifth day The Priests â—â—ave pardon but Titus commands them to be led to execution the Priests being almost famished came down and the watchmen carried them to Titus whom they besought to grant them their lives But he answered them That the time of pardon was past seeing that was destroyed for the sake of which he might have pardoned them and that it was meet that the Priests should perish with the Temple and so he commanded them to be put to death Then the Tyrants with their followers being on every side beset by the Romans The Seditious summon Titus to a Parley and having no way to flee they being thus beleagured round requested to speak with Titus who out of his natural gentleness yielded to their request his friends also perswading him thereto that at least he might M save the City judging indeed that now the Seditious had already their minds and so he went to the West part of the Inner Temple for there was a Gate built above a Gallery and a Bridge that joyned the Temple and City together which was then between Titus and the Tyrants Many Souldiers on both parts flocked about their Generals the Jews about Simon and John hoping
where he came welcomed him very joyfully and that especially Rome had entertained him with great pomp and triumph he was eased of the care he had before and very joyful for his Fathers welfare and good fortune For all the people of Italy reverenc'd Vespasian though absent as though he had been present with them desiring to see his arrival whose coming they so heartily wished for The Senate remembring what calamities had befaln the City in the change of Princes desired to receive their Emperour honorable for his old age and martial renown whose presence alone would be to his subjects advantage and safety And the vulgar sort also troubled before with civil Wars long expected his arrival assuring themselves thereby D to have an end of their calamity and to recover again their wonted affluence Especially he was expected by the Souldiers who knowing his skill in martial affairs by that which himself had already done and finding their other Emperours ignorant and unskilful much wished his coming in hope thereby to be delivered from the disgrace wherein they lived and to be both honoured and preserved from danger The Nobility seeing him so beloved of all men The Romans issue out to meet with Vespasian could no longer wait his coming but went and met him at some distance from the City and accompanied him and no man stayed his coming but in whole multitudes they went to meet him they were so desirous to see him so that more went to meet him then stayed at home When news was brought that he approached near the City and how friendly and E courteously he had entertained all men the people with their Wives and Children stayed in the way he came to salute him and wheresoever he came with joyful applauses and acclamations they shouted calling him their Conserver and Benefactor and he who alone was worthy to be the Roman Emperour and the whole City was as it had been a Temple all hung with Garlands and full of sweet odours and perfumes and the multitude of the people being such that he could scarcely get into the Palace Vespasian celebrateth grâ—â—latory Sacrifice for his safe 〈◊〉 he offered Sacrifice to his houshold gods for his safe return and all the people were feasted by their Tribes Kindred and Neighbours and made vows to their Gods that Vespasian might long continue their Emperour and his Son aâ—ter him and that the Empire might never depart from his lineage The City of Rome having F thus received Vespasian it was soon after blessed with all happiness and prosperity G CHAP. XIII H The exploits of Domitian against the Germans and French SOme time before Vespasian went to Alexandria and whilst Titus besieged the City of Jerusalem a great part of Germany was revolted with whom the French that bordered upon them The causes of the revolt of the Germans and French from the Romans were confederated renouncing their allegiance in hope to free themselves from the Yoke and Government of the Romans The first motive that caused the Germans to revolt and to war against the Romans was their temerity I and rash nature prone to fight having but very little hope of success together with the hatred of the Romans who they knew alone could by force bring them into subjection and they were chiefly thereunto encouraged by the present opportunity For seeing the Empire greatly afflicted with civil Wars by reason of the often changing of Emperours and knowing that all the World under their dominion was now in suspence they thought that by reason of their troubles and Civil Wars fit opportunity was offered them to recover their freedom and they were hereunto perswaded by Cassius and Civilis two of the most potent amongst them who long before desired alteration and now finding opportunity shewed what minds they bare Whereupon taking courage they made tryal what the common people thought of this point and the greatest part of K them manifestly condescended hereunto and perhaps the rest were not unwilling At this time as it were by Gods providence Vespasian sent Letters to Petilius Cerialis who before had been Governour of Germany and declared him Consul Cerealis compelleth the Germans to subjection commanding him to go into Britain and take the Rule of the Country He forthwith obeyed Vespasians command and hearing that the Germans had revolted he went against them they having now levied an Army and gave them a great overthrow killing many of them and forcing them to return to their obedience to the Romans Notwithstanding if he had not come thither not long after they had assuredly been punished for their offence For so soon as news of their Rebellion was brought to Rome Caesar Domitianus Domitianus Titus Brother Vespasian's Son who although very young understood matters of L War beyond his age hearing of it and being led by the courage which was hereditary to him undertook the Expedition to go and conquer them The Barbarians terrified with the report of his coming submitted to him thereby gaining this that without bloodshed they were brought under subjection as before And all things in Gallia being well disposed of so that it was not easie for them although they would to rebel any more Domitian returned again to Rome having gain'd great Credit to his Age and Country The Sythians Rebellion against the Romans At the same time also the Scythians rebelled and assembling in great multitudes passed over the River Ister and with great violence and cruelty coming unexpected slew many Roman Garisons whom they found in strong holds and Fonteius Agrippa M Lieutenant-General who had been Consul meeting them gave them Battel and was slain which done they went all over the Countries adjoyning wasting robbing and spoiling them When Vespasian heard thereof and how Mâ—esia was all wasted he sent Rubrius Gallus to chastise them he having slain many of them in fight forced the rest to retire into their own Country This General having thus ended that War provided to prevent them if hereafter they attempted the like for he built far stronger Forts than were before so that the Enemy could no way pass out of their own Country by which means the Wars in Mâ—esia were quickly ended N O A CHAP. XXIV The year of the World 4036. after the Nativity of Christ 74. Of the River Sabbaticus and the Famous triumph of Vespasian and Titus TItus having some while remained at Berytus as is before said returned from thence Titus celebrateth many sumptuous pastimes in all the Cities of Syria and shewed many spectacles in all the Cities of Syria where he came reserving for that purpose the Jews that were Captives to let all men understand their B overthrow in his Journey he beheld a River worth the mentioning it runneth in the midst between Arcas and Raphaneas two Cities of the Kingdom of Agrippa and hath a miraculous nature for when it floweth it is very full
in all those affairs For I was D Captian of the Galileans amongst our Nation so long as any resistance could be made against the Romans and then it so fell out that I was taken by the Romans and being Prisoner to Titus and Vespasian they caused me to be an eye-witness of all things that past First In bonds and fretters and afterwards freed from them I was brought from Alexandria with Titus when he went to the Seige of Jerusalem So that nothing could then pass whereof I had not notice For beholding the Roman Army I committed to writing all things with all possible diligence My self did only manage all matters disclosed to the Romans by such as yielded themselves Joseph writ the History of the Jews wars being at Rome for that I only did perfectly understand them Lastly Being at Rome and having leisure after all business was past I used the help of some Friends for the skill of the Greek tongue and so I published a E History of all that had hapened in the foresaid War which History of mine is so true that I fear not to call Vespasian and Titus the chief Commanders in that War to witness for them I first gave a Copy of that Book to them and afterwards to many noble Romans who also were present in the War I sold also many of them to our own Nation to such as understood the Greek language amongst whom were Julius Archelaus Herod Some do derogate from Josephs History a Man of great vertue and to the most worthy King Agrippa who all do testify that my History containeth nothing but truth and who would not have been silent if either for ignorance or flattery I had changed or omitted any particular Yet notwithstanding all this some ill disposed Persons endeavour to discredit my History as though they were disputing pro and contra amongst children in schools never considering F that he who promiseth other men a true Relation of things past must either be privy to them by his own knowledg as having been present in the affairs or else have that which he speaketh from other mens mouths by report of those who know them both which I have done For I gathered my other Books of Antiquity out of holy Scripture being my self a Priest and skilful in our Law and the History of our War I have written my self being an Agent in many matters therein contained and an eye-wirness of the rest so that nothing was said or done whereof I had not notice How then can any one excuse them from impudency and malice who labour against me to prove my Relation false Perhaps they alledge that they have read the Commentaries of Vespasian and Titus yet for all this they were not present in any action repugnant G to that which my History recounteth Thus as I thought necessary I have made a digression to shew how they are able to H perform their word who discrediting my History promise to set down the truth in writing I have also sufficiently as I think demonstrated that the registring of things is more ancient amongst other Nations than amongst the Greeks I will now first of all dispute against those who labour to prove our Nation of no Antiquity because as they say no Greek Writer maketh any mention of it Two things which Joseph intendeth This done I will bring forth proof and testimony of the Antiquity thereof out of other Writers and so I will shew that their malice who seek to discredit our Nation First therefore our Nation neither inhabiteth a Country bordering upon the Sea nor are we delighted in merchandise nor for this cause wearied with pilgrimages from place to place The Jews care to bring up their Children But our Cities lye far from the Sea in a most fertile soil which we cultivate with all industry and our I whole endeavours are how to get food for our Children The ancient Jews had no need to traffick with the Grecians and to keep our country Laws and to leave to our posterity the knowledg of Piety in which work we think all our Age ought to be employed Beside all this we have a form of living different from all other Nations All which concurring together we had no need to traffick with the Greeks as the Egyptians and the Phoenicians do who give themselves to bargaining and merchandise only for the covetousness of money Neither were our Ancestors delighted in thefts and robberies nor did our Fathers make war upon any Nation for desire of larger possessions nowithstanding our Country was furnished with many thousands of strong warlike men Wherefore the Phoenicians sailing to the Greeks to traffick with them they were thus made known to them and by them the Egyptians K and all other Nations sailing upon the Seas brought Merchandise into Greece The Medes also and Persians were known to them after such time as they reigned over Asia and the Persians brought war even into Europe Moreover the Greeks knew the Thracians because they were their Neighbours and the Scythians by sailing to Pontus and finally all that were disposed to write knew all the Nations bordering either upon the Eastern and Western Seas but such as dwelt far from the Sea-coast were long time unknown as also appears in Europe For neither Thucidides nor Herodotus nor any other of that time make any mention of Rome notwithstanding that so long since it was mighty and made so great Wars because it was but lately that the Greeks heard of it The Romans were lately known to the Greeks Yea their most exact Writers L and particularly Ephorus were so ignorant of the French and Spaniards that they thought the Spaniards to be a People only denominated from one City Certain Historiographers report Spain to be only one City wherein they inhabited whereas the whole World now knoweth them to inhabit a vast Country and a great part of the Western World Likewise the said Greek Writers relate the manners of the foresaid People to be such as neither are nor were ever used among them And the only cause why they were ignorant of the Truth was the distance of place and these Writers would seem to tell something which others of former time had not spoken of No marvel therefore though our Nation was unknown and none of them in their Writings made any mention of us being both so far from the Sea and living after a different manner M Suppose therefore I should deny the Greeks to be of any antiquity and to prove my assertion should conclude their Nation to be modern because our Histories make no mention of them Arguments to prove the Jews of more antiquity than the Greeks would they not laugh at this reason and use the Testimony of their neighbour Nations to prove their Antiquity I therefore may argue in like manner and use the Testimony of the Egyptians and Phoenicians whose Record the Greeks cannot
O felicity in lying for he neither told what Nation those three hundred and fourscore thousand were nor yet how a hundred and fourscore thousand of them perished neither were they slain in the fight or fled unto Ramesses and which is most to be admired one cannot gather out of his words whom he calleth Jews or whether he attribute this name unto the two hundred and fifty thousand Lepers or unto the three hundred and fourscore thousand which were at Pelusium But it is folly to oppose my self against them who have sufficiently contradicted themselves for had other men controlled their Writings they had been the more to be born withal Lysimachus is reproved for lying Lysimachus was another of the same Stamp and one that not only seconds but surpasses them in their Lyes in so much that we need no more than the M extravigance of his Story to prove his hatred to our Nation He tells us that in the reign of Bocchâ—r King of Egypt the Jews that were Leprous or otherwise infected resorted in such numbers to the Temples to beg the charity of the people that they communicated their distempers to the Egyptians According to Lysimachus the scabbed and Leprous Jews were to be conveighed into the Wilderness and caâ—â— into the Sea Bocchor consulted the Oracle of Ammon and received this answer that he should purifie the Temples and send into the desart all those sick and infectious people upon whom the Sun could shine no longer without regret and that by so doing the Earth should recover its primitive fertility That hereupon the said Prince by advice of his Priests assembled all those diseased persons delivered them into the hands of certain Souldiers who lap'd some of them in lead and threw them into the Sea conducting the rest into the wilderness and leaving N them there to be destroyed by Famine That in that distress the poor people consulted together made great fires kept strong Guards all night and fasted very solemnly thereby to make their Gods more propitious and that a certain person called Moses advised them to remove the next day and march on till they found better quarters to trust no man to give no man good Counsel that ask'd them to ruine the Temples and Altars where ever they came and that this Counsel having been approved they passed the Wilderness and after much trouble and frequent distresses arrived in a Country that was inhabited where they gave the first instances of their crulelty by abusing the Natives and robbing their Temples in which course they continued till they came at length to Judea where they built a City and called it Jâ—rosula which is O as much as to say the â—poil of holy things but that growing afterwards more Potent A they changed that name as too infamous and called it Jerusalem and themselves inhabitants of Jerusalem This fellow found not that King which the two former speak of but he joyned a more new name and leaving the Dream and the Prophet goeth to Ammon for an answer touching the scabbed and Lepers he saith that a multitude was gathered together at the Temples Lysinius his opinion confuted but he leaveth it uncertain whether the Jews only were infected with this Disease for he saith the people of the Jews or whether they were strangers and such as were born in that Country If they were Jews why doest thou call them Egyptians If they were strangers why dost thou not tell of whence they were Or how came it to pass the King having drowned so many of them in the Sea and left B the rest in the Wilderness that still so many should be left how did they pass the Wilderness and get the Country we now inhabit and build a City and a Temple famous through all parts of the World Thou shouldest not only have told the name of our Law-maker but also what Country-man he was and of what Parents and what moved him in his journey to make such laws against the gods and against men For if they were Egyptians they would not so easily have forgotten the Religion wherein they were brought up or of what place else soever they were they had some laws or other which they had been accustomed to keep If they had vowed to have born no good will unto them by whom they were driven out of their Country they had some just occasion so to do But to undertake War against all the World and deprive themselves C of all friendship and help of mortal men doth not shew their sottishness so much as the foolishness of him who belies them who most impudently affirmeth that their City took the name of Church-spoiling and afterward changed it For what cause forsooth did they change the name thereof Nothing is to be said against an impudent lye marry for that the former name was ignominious to their posterity But the Gentleman underdood not that Jerusalem signifieth otherwise in Hebrew than in Greek And therefore what should I stand to inveigh against a lie so impudently told But this book having been long enough I will begin another in which I shall endeavour to acquaint my self of what I have undertaken D E F G The SECOND BOOK H OF THE ANTIQVITY of the JEVVS Written by I FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS Against APPION of ALEXANDRIA And dedicated to EPAPHRODITUS K THrice honoured and beloved Epaphroditus I have in my former Books so far forth as I was warranted by truth proved the Antiquity of our Nation out of the Writings of the Phoenicians Chaldees and Egyptians And for the further confirmation thereof I have produced the Testimony of divers Greek Authors Furthermore I have opposed my self against Manethon and Cheremon and divers others It remains now that I convince those who defied me more particularly and gives an L answer to Appion Appion wrote something very coldly though indeed I am scarce satisfied that he deserves it For as touching part of what he hath written it seemeth to be one the same with that which the rest have written And as touching the rest it is very cold and barren The greatest part thereof is stuffed with follies and detractions and betrayeth his ignorance shewing him to be a Man both loose in condition and turbulent in his life And forasmuch as divers men are so weak in their judgments that they rather suffer themselves to be won by these follies than to be wrought upon by that which is written with better consideration vainly doting on detractions and growing discontent to give ear to other mens well deserved praises I have thought it necessary to examine his Labours the rather for that he hath written against us as if he intended to accuse us before a M Tribunal and convict us by publick trial For I see that it is an ordinary course for the most part of men to hug and take pleasure though perhaps he that beginneth to blame another