displeasure if the matter were discover'd whereby both he and the Child should be made away and Gods promises should be frustrate he chose rather wholly to commit the safety of his son to F his Providence supposing that if the Boy were hidden which notwithstanding would be hard to effect yet it would be troublesom unto him to live in continual peril both of his own and his sons safety moreover he thought that God would provide some means of preservation to the intent that nothing of that which he had foretold might be proved false Having taken this resolution they prepared and made a Cradle of Sedge after the manner of a Couch so great that it was sufficient to lay the Child in at ease and having pitched it on every side lest the water should pierce the same they put the Child in to it and suffering him to float along the stream committed him to the mercy of God Ver. 3. Whil'st in this manner it was born down by the stream Mariam the sister of the young Infant Moses cast into the floud by her Mothers command went along the Bank on the other side of G the River observing whither at length the Basket would be carried and where it should arrive At that time God manifestly declared That nothing is atchieved by mans wisdom but that all things are brought to pass by his admirable Providence and that they who for their profit The year of the World 2376. before Christ's Nativity 1588. and particular security seek the ruine and destruction of others H with never so much subtilty care and diligence yet are oftentimes deceiv'd in their expectations And that they that submit their wills unto Gods Will are secured from all wrongs by such means as were never thought on as may most manifestly be perceived by this Child Thermuthis Ver. 5. the King's daughter walking alone the River side espied this Basket carried away by the course of the stream Thermuthis Pharaohs daughter causeth Moses to be taken out of the River and presently commanded certain Swimmers to fetch it to Land and bring it before her who executing her Command she opened the Basket and beheld the Child who in that he was fair and well featured did greatly delight her Thus God so loved and favoured Moses that he caused him both to be nourished and brought up by them who for fear lest he should be born had decreed to I destroy all the rest of the Race of the Hebrews Thermuthis therefore commanded them to fetch her a Nurse who might give the Child suck who refusing the same as all other Nurses did that were sent for to suckle him Mariam as if by good fortune and not of set purpose she had light into their company began to speak thus unto Thermuthis In vain said she O Princess doest thou strive to give this Babe suck by any but an Hebrew Nurse for he will not accept it for if thou call unto thee a Nurse of the same Nation and agreeable with his nature doubtless he will take the nipple This Speech of hers being both heard and plausibly accepted the Princess commanded her to bring her an Hebrew woman that gave suck which she diligently performing returned and brought her Mother with her whom none of the assistants knew and who presenting her breast unto the Child K he willingly took the dug Moses whence he received his name so that upon the Princess command the suckling of the Child was wholly committed unto her By reason of this accident and for that he was cast into the River he was called Moses for the Egyptians call water Mo and saved Yses so this name composed of these two words was imposed on this Child who afterwards without exceptions became the wisest Man among the Hebrews according as God had foretold Moses the 7th after Abraham He was the seventh after Abraham for he was Amrams son and Amram son unto Cathis and he to Levi and Levi to Jacob who was the son of Isaac who was the son of Abraham He had a judgment riper than his age for even amongst his childish delights he shewed himself more discreet than all his equals and whatsoever he did it gave testimony that at such time as he should attain to Mans estate he would be L capable of great things When he was but 3 years old God adorned and endowed him with an admirable beauty He was so fair and amiable that there was not any how austere and inhumane soever but in beholding him would be astonished Yea divers who met him as he was carried through the streets turned themselves about to behold him and intermitted their other affairs Ver. 10. onely to look upon him for the admirable beauty of this Infant Moses the adopted son of Thermuthis daughter unto Pharaoh did ravish all those that saw him Whence it came to pass that Thermuthis in that she had no other Issue adopted him for her Heir and carrying him to the King her Father she presented him to him saying That she was careful of a Successor by reason God had not vouchsafed him to have any Issue for saith she I have brought up this Infant no less excellent in wit than divine in beauty having received him miraculously from the M River Nilus and I have decreed to adopt him my Child and to establish him as Successor to thee in thy Kingdom This said she delivered the Infant into her Fathers arms who after he had embraced and hugged him at his breast to give his daughter the more content he put his Diadem upon the Childs head but Moses pulling it from his head after a childish manner cast it on the ground and spurned it with his feet which act of his was supposed ominous to the Realm and dangerous for the King Whereupon the sacred Secretary who had foretold that his Nativity would be the destruction of the Egyptians willed them to kill the Child crying out with a loud voyce to the King after this manner O King this Child by whose death God promiseth us security hath already confirmed the presage insulting over thy Kingdom and spurning thy Diadem Take from the Egyptians N that fear which they have conceived of him by his death and from the Hebrews that hope which they build on his courage and life Ver. 10. But Thermuthis hastily conveyed him thence and the King was not overforward to lay hands on him Moses delivered from death by reason that God disposed all things in this manner in that he had a care of Moses preservation He was therefore very carefully brought up and by reason of him the Hebrews in general were replenished with good hope but by the Egyptians his education both was suspected and grudged at yet by reason that if the Lad should have been slain there was not any one either akin or adopted that could pretend to the succession of the Crown of
He also commanded him as he hung to be pricked with awls that so the heat might pierce into the holes they made in his flesh Whilst thus he was tormented much blood like froth gathered about his head and face and he then spake in this manner O noble fight O valiant War O strife between piety and impiety These men have past their Agonies whose Crown of Martyrdom is the punishment of their persecutors I do most willingly B follow my brethren that as by blood I am conjoyned unto them so by death I may not be separated from them Devise O Tyrant some new Torment for these I have already overcome O master of cruelty Enemy of piety persecuter of justice we six Brethren have conquered the Kings power and what his Kingdom or the whole world could afford Thy fire is cold and heateth not The sixth brother sharply reproves Antiochus and the Kings weapons are bended and blunted in our bodies our God giveth us more courage to suffer than thou hast to punish and so the precept of God remaineth firm in us And as he thus spake one took hold of his tongue with a hot pair of tongs and so with the same torments that his brethren had suffered being fryed in a pan he gave up the Ghost C Six of the Brethren being now dead by diversity of torments only one of the seven remained alive with his mother named Jacob younger in year but not in constancy of mind than the rest of his brethren He presenting himself before the Tyrant moved him to compassion both for that he was left alone and the last of his brethren and also that he was to perish wherefore he called the child unto him and into a place where no instruments of torments were Jacob the seventh brother brought to torments and taking him by the hand he said thus unto him hoping to win him by fair speeches By thy brethrens calamity thou now well hast learned what is prepared for thee if thou disobey me deliver thy self therefore from these torments and I will give thee what honour my kingdom can afford thou shalt be a Magistrate and General of my Army and one of my Counsellors D But perceiving himself not to prevail he caused the young man's Mother to be called unto him who coming and standing near her Son the Tyrant said thus unto her Where are now O worthy woman all thy Children Behold of such a number if thou please the destiny affords thee one advise therefore thy Child and mollifie his obstinate mind by wholsom counsel The Mother having heard what the King said made her reverence to the King which done that the King might not understand her she spake in Hebrew to her Child as followeth Pitty thy Mother O son and comfort thy sorrowfull Mother who bare thee nine months in my E womb and gave thee suck three years and with great industry have brought thee up to this age I pray thee dear son consider the Heaven and Earth and all that in them is and know that God created them all of nothing who also of nothing created Mankind Fear not this Ethnick's pains and torments but imitate thy brethren and contemn death that in the day of mercy I may receive thee and thy brethen again in Heaven As his mother thus admonished him he in the Hebrew tongue requested to be unbound for that he had a secret to disclose to the King who being unfettered he presently ran to the torments prepared for there was a Frying-pan red hot that was prepared for such as were to suffer unto the which the Child coming remembring his brethren and beholding also the King he said unto him Cruel tyrant I now know thee not only to have been cruel against my brethren but even cruelty it self Wretch that thou F art who gave thee this purple and who exalted thee to this Kingdom and dignity even he whom thou in us dost persecute whose servants and worshippers thou killest and tormentest for which thy wickedness thy self shall suffer eternal fire and torments which shall have no end Thou art of higher dignity and authority in this world than other men yet he that made other men made thee also of the same nature that they are for all men are born and must die alike He that kills another sheweth that he himself may be killed thou tearest and tormentest thy own picture and image in vain thou in thy fury killest him whom not long since God created like thy self and according to the same law thou thinkest all lawful which thy Kingly power can command thou pullest out our tongues and tearest our bodies with flesh-books and consumest with fire but they who have already suffered this have received everlasting G joy for their reward and thou shalt answer for all the punishments inflicted upon them Think not that I expect any favour at thy hands I will follow my brethren and remain constant H in our Law The Tyrant hearing this was wroth and caused him to be tormented but his Mother in his torment comforted him and with her kind hands held his head when with violence of the tortures blood issued out of his mouth nose and privy parts the tormentors not ceasing till life in him was almost spent but they by Gods appointment gave over and so he took strength again to endure more than any of his brethren had done at last his Hands and Arms being cut off he lifted up his Eyes to Heaven and cryed O Adonai O Sabaor be mercifull unto me and receive me into the company of my brethren The death of the youngest brother let thy wrath now cease and grant them mercy who by us do make intercession to thee Having said thus his tongue being pulled out he of his own accord went into the fiery I Frying pan and so to the great admiration of Antiochus died Behold how evident it is that reason can rule our affections seeing that Children hereby shewed more constancy Reason Mistress of our affection than the Tyrant could shew cruelty For it was reason's force that wrought in them that determination to suffer all torments rather than to forsake the way of Salvation These constant young men do fitly resemble inexpugnable Towers and them who after a great tempest and shipwrak do safely enter the harbour of Salvation A similitude of the waves who guiding their course amidst the boysâ—etous waves at last obtain the wished shore For every one of them strengthened the other by advice and good counsel The seven brethren exhort one another to suffer death manfully and none of them was so effeminate as to decline his Martyrdom None used delay herein but K one followed anothers example Let us therefore dy for our Law and imitate the three Children whom the Asyrians fury condemned to the fiery Furnace whose patience spread their fame even unto Heaven Whilst thus one of them exhorted the other
also the description of Jerusalem of the Towers Hippicos Phazael and Mariamne of the Castle Antonia of the Temple of the High Priest and of sundry other remarkable things the Siege of that great City form'd by Titus the incredible Works and prodigious Exploits of Valor done on both sides the grievous famine wherewith the City was afflicted and the strange Cruelties of the Factious The sixth Book represents the horrid miseries whereinto Jerusalem was reduc'd the continuation of the Siege with the same ardor as before and how after many Fights Titus having forc'd the first and second wall of the City took and ruin'd the Castle of Antonia and assaulted the Temple which was burnt notwithstanding all this Prince could do to prevent it and how at last he became Master of all the rest In the seventh and last of these Books 't is shew'd how Titus caus'd Jerusalem to be destroy'd saving only the Towers Hippicos Phazael and Mariamne In what manner he commended and rewarded his Army what Spectacles he gave to the Nations of Syria what horrible Persecutions were exercis'd upon the Jews in several Cities with what incredible joy the Emperor Vespasian and Titus who was declar'd Caesar were receiv'd into Rome what a magnificent Triumph they made how the Castles of Herodion Macheron and Massada the only places remaining to the Jews in Judea were taken and how those that defended this last all kill'd themselves with their Wives and Children This 〈◊〉 in general what this History of the Jewish War against the Romans contains And there are 〈◊〉 ornaments wherewith this great person has not enrich'd it He has omitted no occasion of embellishing it by elegant descriptions of Provinces Lakes Rivers Fountains Mountains several Rarities and Buildings whose magnificence would seem fabulous if what he relates thereof could be call'd in doubt when we see no person found that has dar'd to contradict him though the excellence of his History rais'd no small envy against him It may be said with truth that whether he speaks of the Romans Military Discipline or whether he represents Battels Tempests Shipwracks a Famine or a Triumph every thing is so lively set forth that he charms the attention of his Readers And I fear not to add that no other not excepting even Tacitus himself has excell'd more in Orations they are so noble strong and persuasive alwayes restrain'd within their own subject and proportion'd both to the persons to speak and to those that are spoken unto Moreover can the judgment and faithfulness of this Historian be too much commended for the moderation which he uses between the praises deserv'd by the Romans for finishing so great a War and those due to the Jews for having withstood the same although vanquish'd at last with invincible courage so that neither his gratitude for the obligations he had to Vespasian and Titus nor his love for his Countrey biass'd him contrary to justice more on the one side than the other But that which I account most estimable in him is that he never fails upon any occasion to praise Virtue to reprehend Vice and to make excellent reflections upon the admirable Providence of God and upon the fear which we ought to have of his dreadful judgments It may be boldly affirm'd That never was seen a greater example thereof than the ruine of that ungrateful Nation of that proud City and of that venerable Temple since although the Romans were Masters of the World and that this Siege was the work of one of the greatest Princes they glory to have had for Emperors the power of this victorious people and the heroical valor of Titus would have in vain undertaken this design if God had not chosen them to be the executioners of his Justice The blood of his Son shed the most horrid of all crimes was the onely true cause of the ruine of that unhappy City The heavy hand of God upon that wretched people caus'd that how terrible soever the War was that assaulted them without it was yet much more dreadful within by the cruelty of those unnatural Jews who more like Devils than Men destroy'd by the Sword and the Famine of which they were the Authors 1100000 persons and reduc'd the remainder to that pass that they could hope for no safety but from their Enemies by casting themselves into the arms of the Romans Such prodigious effects of vengeance for the death of a God might pass for incredible with those who have not the happiness to be enlightned with the light of the Gospel if they were not related by a Man of that very same Nation as considerable as Josephus was for his Birth for his quality of Priest and for his Virtue And methinks 't is visible that God minding to make use of his testimony to authorize such important truths preserv'd him by a miracle when after the taking of Josaphat of forty which were retir'd with him into a Cave the lot being cast so often to know who should be slain first he only and one other remain'd alive This shews that this Historian is to be consider'd with a different respect from all others since whereas they relate only humane Events although dependent on the orders of the Supreme Providence it appears that God cast his eye upon him to make him subservient to the greatest of his designs For we must not only consider the destruction of the Jews as the most dreadful effect that ever was of Gods justice and as the most dismal image of the vengeance which he will exercise at the last day against the Reprobate we must also behold it as one of the most illustrious proofs which it hath pleas'd him to give Men of the Divinity of his Son inasmuch as this prodigious Event had been foretold by our Saviour in precise and intelligible terms He had said to his Disciples shewing them the Temple of Jerusalem That all those goodly buildings should be so destroy'd that there should not be left one stone upon another S. Matth. 24. ver 2. S. Mark 13. ver 2. S. Luke 19. v. 44. And also That when they should see Jerusalem encompass'd with Armies they should know that its desolation was at hand S. Luke 21. ver 20. He had mention'd particularly the dreadful circumstances of this desolation He had said to them Woe to those that shall be with child or give suck in those dayes for there shall be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people And they shall fall by the edge of the sword and shall be led away captive into all Nations and Jerusalem shall be troden down by the Gentiles S. Luke 21. ver 23 24. And lastly he had declar'd that the accomplishment of these Prophesies was ready to come to pass That the time was drawing nigh that their house should be left unto them desolate and that even such as were then living should see it Verily I say unto you All these things shall come upon this generation
and to acquit my self of that debt I leave you this in remembrance which is that you ought to serve and honour him and reverence the Ordinances which he hath given you whereby continuing his favour towards you he will grant you grace to preserve and keep this excellent gift Truly a Law-giver that were no more than a man would be greatly displeased with F those who should violate his Ordinances and set them at nought do not you therefore tempt God who is provoked unto anger when those Laws which he himself hath established and given you shall be contemned and neglected Whilst Moses pronounced these his last words and fore-told to the Tribes their several destinies Deut. 34. 8. and wish'd them a thousand blessings The Hebrews lamentation at Moses death the whole Multitude brake into tears and the women beating their Breasts shewed the sorrow they resented for his death The Children likewise lamented because that in their tender years they had understood the virtue and famous acts of Moses and betwixt the elder and younger sort there was as it were a conflict who should weep most bitterly for the one understanding of how worthy a Governor they were deprived lamented the time to come and the G other were perplexed because they should then lose him they before had sufficiently tasted and made tryal how great his virtue was But how great the compassion and complaint of the people was may be conjectured by this that then befell the Prophet For although he were assuredly persuaded that a man is not to lament at the instant of his H death because it happens to him both according to the Will of God and the Law of Nature yet beholding the affection of the People he could not restrain himself from tears After which he walkt towards the place where he was to dye and they all followed him weeping Then did Moses beckning with his hand warn them from afar off that they should stand still and keep their places and he desir'd them that were nearest him by word of mouth not to afflict him any longer by following him with so many testimonies of affection Accordingly to obey him they stood still and all together bewailed their calamity in so great and so general a loss only the Senators xEleazar the High Priest and the chief Captain Joshua accompanied him And when he was arrived on the Mountain called Abarim which is very high and scituate near Jericho I from whence he might discover the greater part of the Land of Canaan he dismissed the Elders and whil'st with mutual embraces he took his last leave of Eleazar and Joshua and discoursed with them a Cloud suddenly environed him and he was carried away into a certain Valley but the Holy Books which he left us say that he dyed fearing lest for the excellency of his virtue they might report that he was taken up into Heaven The whole time of his Life was 120 years the third part whereof wanting a month he spent in government of this great People Moses when he dyed was 120 years old Amongst the Hebrews Adar is the 12 month but amongst us it is called March He dyed the last month of the year and the first day of that month which the Macedonians call Dystros and our Countreymen Adar He was of all Men that ever liv'd the wisest and who in execution of his good counsels had no man to equal him Moreover in eloquence he was incomparable and K in dexterity and grace to entertain and persuade the People he had no second and so were his passions always govern'd by his wisdom that he seemed utterly to want them and only to know the names of those passions of which he saw the effects in other men Ver. 10. His skill in War may give him a rank amongst the greatest Captains Moses was a good Governor and a great Prophet and no man ever had the gift of Prophecy in so high a degree for his words seem'd so many Oracles and that as inspir'd to him by God himself The People mourned for him 30 days nor were they ever seized with so extreme grief as they were at this time when the Prophet dyed neither did he only leave behind him a present desire of him but a great estimation amongst all men who have ever chanced to read and examine his Writings and by them estimated his virtues And these are the things which I thought good to say of the L death of Moses M N O A The Fifth Book of the Antiquities of the JEWS Written by FLAVIVS JOSEPHV'S The Contents of the Chapters of the Fifth Book 1. How Joshua General of the Hebrews having overcome and slain the Canaanites divided their Land amongst the Tribes by lot 2. How after the death of the General the Israelites neglecting the Ordinances of their Forefathers fell into extreme Calamities and through a Civil War that was raised B amongst them there were but 600 of the Tribe of Benjamin left alive 3. How for their impiety the People of Israel were delivered by God into Captivity under the Assyrians 4. Their Liberty by Cenez 5. How the People were once more overcome by the Moabites and exempt from servitude by Jodes otherwise called Ehud 6. How they were brought under the subjection of the Canaanites and restored to their liberty by Barac 7. How the Amalekites having entred the Countrey of the Israelites and conquered them possessed and spoiled the same for the space of seven years C 8. How Gideon delivered the People 9. How some Successors of Gideon waged War against the Neighbor Nations round about them 10. Of Samsâ—â—'s strength and what mischiefs he did in Palestine 11. How the Sons of Eli the Prophet were slain in Battel by the Palestines 12. How Eli hearing of the death of his Sons and the loss of the Ark fell down from his Seat and dyed CHAP. I. D How Joshua General of the Hebrews having overcome and slain the Canaanites divided their Land amongst the Tribes by lot Josh 2. AFter Moses was taken from amongst Men in the manner which I have declared the last duties were paid to him The year of the World 2494. before Christ's Nativity 1470. and the time of mourning was pass'd Joshua commanded the People to prepare themselves and to march forward to Battel He sent Spies likewise to Jericho who might both sound their minds Joshua sendeth Spies into Jericho and discover their Forces Soon after he dislodged and encamped in the open field intending with all expedition to pass the River of Jordan as soon as any opportunity offered it self Josh 2. 1 2 3. Then assembled he the Princes of the Tribes of Reuben E and Gad Joshua calleth to memory and reckoneth up what the Tribes of Gad Reuben and Manasses had promised Moses and of the half Tribe of Manasses for to this half Tribe the Countrey of the
necessary to declare the occasions whereon at that present the debate was grounded to the end that the Readers may understand the difficulty of the thing in question and that if they happen at any time to be concerned in such affairs they might by his example learn to discover the truth Two Women of loose life and conversation came unto him one of the which who seemed to have suffered the injury began after this manner D I Two women accuse one another for exchange of their children O King said she and this Woman dwell together in one Chamber but so it fortuned that both of us on one day and at the same hour bare each of us a son some three dayes after we were delivered this Woman lying by her Infant had in sleep overlaid it and stifled it and hath taken my Child from between my knees and laid it by her and put the dead Child whilest I slept A v. 16 ad fin into my bosome Now on the morrow when I thought to give mine Infant suck I found not mine own but perceived that her Child lay dead by me for I knew it because I had exactly marked it This my Child I have demanded at her hands and because I could not recover it I have made my Address unto your Majesty for in that we were alone and she is obstinate and feareth not to be convicted by any she persisteth in her denial of the same After the King had heard her request he enquired of the other if she had any thing E to answer to this accusation But she denying the act and averring that the Child which remained alive was hers and that the dead one appertained to the other and besides that since no Man appeared that might determine the controversie but all that stood by were amazed at the obscurity and difficulty of the debate the King at last found out this expedient of discovering the truth He commanded that both the Children should be brought before him Ver. 24 25. as well the living as the dead and calling one of his Guard unto him Solomon commandeth both the children to be divided into two parts he commanded him with his naked Sword to cut both the Children into two parts to the intent that both of them might take the half of the living and the other half of the dead Child This sentence of his at first seemed so ridiculous that it was exploded by all that stood by In the mean time the true Mother began to cry out and desire that F the matter might not pass so far but rather that they should give the whole Child that was alive unto the other for that it sufficed her so she might see him alive though he might be supposed to be anothers The other willingly consented to the division of the Infant and moreover required that the true Mother should be punished But the King conjecturing by the discourse both of the one Ver. 27. and of the other Solomon by the speech and gesture of the women discovereth the true mother which was the true Parent adjudged the Infant unto her that opposed his death for that in equity she was the true Mother and condemned the wickedness of the other who had murthered her own Child and laboured as much as in her lay to procure the death of her companions innocent Infant All the people took this judgment for an assured proof and sign of the Kings prudence and wisdom and from that time forwards they respected and honoured him as G one that was endowed with a divine spirit The Chieftains and Governors under him thorow all the Kingdom were these Vri governed the Countrey of Ephraim wherein was comprised the rule of Bethlehem Aminadab commanded over the quarter of Dura and the Sea-coast and had espoused the daughter of Solomâ—n The great Plain was subjected H to Benaia the son of Achila who governed likewise all the Countrey that extended towards Jordan Gaber commanded the Galaadites and Gaulonites as far as the Mountain Libanus and had under him sixty great Cities and Forts Achinadab governed all Galilee as far as Sadon Solomons governors and captains and had espoused also one of Solomons daughters called Basima Banacat presided over the Maâ—â—time Countrey near to the City of Arce Saphat commanded the Mountains Itabyr and Carmel 1 Reg. 4. 1 ad 21. and the Land of Galilee as far as Jordan Sonbeia governed the whole Land of the Benjamites Tabar had all the government on the other side of Jordan and was elected Governor-general over them all Thus about this time did the Hebrews wonderfully increase in riches and particularly the Tribe of Juda by reason that the people addicted themselves wholly to the tilling and manuring of their I Lands The happy peace of the Israelites in Solomons time For they were assured of their peace and not distracted by any warlike tumults and besides that fruitfully enjoying a most desired liberty they especially intended this thing onely to increase their private estates The King also had other Governors who ruled the Syrians and commanded other strange Nations which are extended from Euphrates as far as Egypt who gathered the Tribute of those Nations for the King These Barbarians every day furnished the King for his own Table Ver. 23. and the maintenance of his Houshold Solomons daily expences with thirty measures of fine flour and sixty of the courser ten fat Oxen and twenty grass Beeves with an hundred fat Lambs All which things besides Venison and Buffalles taken in chase Birds and Fish were furnished daily by the Barbarians to serve the Kings Houshold Ver. 26. He had likewise a great number of Chariots so that he had forty K thousand Mangers wherein his Horses fed Solomons chariot and horsemen and besides these he had twelve thousand Horsemen half whereof kept alwayes about the King in Jerusalem the rest were billetted in divers Villages belonging to the King Solomons prudence and wisdom and remained there And they that had the charge to furnish the Kings expences provided likewise necessary provender for the Horses conveying it to what place soever the King took his progress But so great was the wisdom and prudence which God had bestowed upon Solomon that he surpassed all his Progenitors and the Egyptians likewise who are esteemed the wisest of all Men were far behind him Solomons method in conjuration whereby he cast out devils For he excelled all those that in that time were in the greatest account amongst the Hebrews whose names I will not omit these were Ethan Eman Chaâ—â— and Dodan all four the sons of Machol He composed also 5000 Books of Odes and Songs L and 3000 Books of Parables and Similitudes beginning from the Hyssop unto the Cedar The like did he of all living creatures that feed on the earth swim in the waters or flie in the air for none of their
and hated Ptolomey the son of Mennaeus Aretas led his Army into Jewry N and got a victory against Alexander near to Addida which done he retired out of Judea Aretas King of Câ—oelosyria upon a composition made between them Moreover once more Alexander marched towards the City of Dion and took it And afterwards he led his Army against Essa where Zeno had hoarded up his chiefest riches Certain Cities taken by Alexander and before he assailed the Fortress he invironed the place with three huge Walls which he built round about it and having taken it by force he marched to Gaulana and Seleucia which having overcome he made himself Master of a valley called the valley of Antiochus with the Fortress of Gamala And objecting many crimes against Demetrius the Lord of those places he dispossessed him of his government Then after he had made War for the space of three whole years he returned into his Countrey where the Jews entertained him willingly O by reason of the happy exploits which he had atchieved About the same time the Jews were already possessed of the Cities of Syria Idumaea and Phoenicia of the Tower of Straton Apollonia Joppa Jamnia Azor Gaza Anthedon Raphia Rhinocura all which were near unto the Sea and in the firm land on the one A side of Idumaea as Adora Marissa and all Samaria the Mounts Carmel and Itabyr and herewith Scythopolis Gadara Gaulanitis Seleucia Gabala and of Moab Essebon Medaba Lemba Orona Telithon and Zara Antonia of Cilicia and Pella This last City was destroy'd by them The Jews are Lords of the Cities of the Syrians Idumaeans and Phaenicians because the Inhabitants would not promise to be converted to the Religion of the Jews with divers others of the principal Cities of Syria also which were conquer'd by them After this King Alexander fell sick by the means of a surfeit and drunkenness and for the space of three years he was sick of a Quartane Ague Nevertheless he continued alwayes in the Camp Pella destroyed and razed until such time that being wearied with toyle he died on the B borders of the Countrey of the Gerasens Alexander's sickness as he besieged Regaba which is a Castle situate on the other side of Jordan The Queen perceiving that he was at deaths door and that there remained neither hope of life nor recovery she began to weep and lament and to beat her breasts because both she and her children were likely now to be left desolate and in these words she bemoaned her self unto him To whom wilt thou leave both me and thy children in the state wherein we are Or why should we survive or live one after another considering that thou assuredly knowest that the hearts of thy people are averse from us Hereupon the King comforted her and gave her this counsel That if she would assure the Kingdom both unto her self and her children she should behave her self according to his direction Alexander instructeth his wife how she should reign securely which was first to conceal his death and not to suffer his Soldiers to have notice thereof until she had taken this Castle Which done he advised her to repair to Jerusalem C in pomp and triumph and that being there she should bestow some authority upon the Pharisees The authority of the Pharisees among the people who would sound her praise and obtain her the peoples favor For said he these kind of men are in great esteem and credit with the people and can do much hurt unto those they hate and benefit them very mightily towards whom they are well affected For the people easily believeth them when they find fault with any man notwithstanding it be of envy and that himself also had incur'd the displeasure of the people for their sakes in that he had offended them When as therefore said he thou shalt arrive in Jerusalem send thou for the chiefest amongst them and pray them to come unto thee and after you have shewed them my dead body use the most plausible speech that you can and give them permission to dispose of my body as they D please whether it be their pleasure to interdict and deny me funeral in that they have received many indignities by me or whether to be revenged they will offer any ignominy to my body and promise you them that you will do nothing in the administration or government of the Kingdom but by thier advice If in this sort you frame both your manners and discourse towards them it will come to pass that I shall be buried by them with great magnificence which otherwise I could not be by any other means because they will offer no outrage to my body no although you should permit them and besides that you shall neigâ— in more assurance and quiet Having given his Wife these advertisements Alexander's death he gave up the ghost after he had reigned 27 years and lived 49. CHAP. XXIV E King Alexander leaveth two sons Hircanus who was High-Priest and Aristobulus their mother Queen Alexandra gaineth the favor of the People through the Pharisees means having given them great authority she consents through their persuasion to put the most faithful of the King her husbands servants to death and to please the rest of them she giveth them the Government of the most considerable places Tygranes King of Armenias invasion into Syria Aristobulus endeavoureth to make himself King The death of Queen Alexandra AFter that Alexander had taken the Castle of Ragaba she conferreth with the Pharisees F Alexander's funeral according to her Husbands counsel and committed unto their discretion not only that which concerned her Husbands funerals but also the government of the kingdom whereby she not only appeased the displeasure which formerly they had conceived against Alexander but also obtained their good will and friendship They came and declaimed amongst the people making an oration of the actions and deeds of Alexander lamenting everywhere that they had lost a good King Hedio Ruffinus cap. 22. and by praising him they incited the people to great grief and lamentation Hircanus and Aristobulus Alexander's sons so that they buried him with more magnificence than any King that reigned before him This Alexander left two sons behind him the one called Hircanus the other Aristobulus and by his Testament committed the government G of the kingdom to Alexandra his Wife For Hircanus was uncapable to manage affairs and rather delighted in peace and quiet and Aristobulus who was the younger H was both active and fit for government The year of the World 3890. before Christ's Nativity 74. The people were well affected towards Alexandra because she had manifestly expressed how greatly she misliked her Husbands misgovernment She appointed Hircanus High-Priest both in regard of his age as also for that by nature he was addicted to peace and quiet and committed all things to the
it came to pass that none of them offended but each one resolute in his Religion took example of the virtue courage and constancy of their fore-father Isaac who understanding that it was God's will that he should be Sacrificed refused not to submit his body to his Fathers Sword Let us said they yield our Souls to him of whom we receied both Soul and Body It is a small matter for us to suffer loss of these members seeing that we shall in lieu of them receive everlasting bliss Abraham Isaac and Jacob do joyfully expect us as L Co-heirs of their Kingdom let us glorifie that womb wherein we were for ten months space let none of us be more coward than the other nor none of us degenerate from the other True brotherhood we that were all begotten of one Father and sucked of one milk must in all things resemble one another we had one teacher and one law inviolate And in this golden bond of concord were these brethren linked together and none of them mourned to see the other tormented but all rejoyced at the others death O Children whose dignity surpasseth the Royalty of Kings and Princes whose glory and virtue is unspeakable None of you were terrified with fear but you so hastened to your deaths as though you had been to go to bliss and felicity you were truly brethren who even by death were linked together A pledge and sign of brotherly amity God hath greatly in you magnified our Nation in you M shewed us all an example of fortitude whom therefore I think he caused to be so many in number as were the days wherein he created the World so that these seven brethren may resemble the seven days wherein all things were made And why should we so admire this fortitude in these young men when a woman armed her self with contempt of death Who indeed is not to be called a Mother but to be honoured with a higher title than humane frailty can afford who bare into this World so many triumphs For the Mother seeing her Children dead was with a kind and godly zeal inflamed also to suffer The mothers grief and no marvel seeing that the very brute beasts if they perceive violence offered to their young do expose themselves to perils in their defence and protect them with their wings teeth and tallons yea and every one that is any way able to N make resistance opposeth herself to the Enemy to defend her young And not only brute Beasts do this but even Bees do defend their young and their honey threatning their Stings to them that offer to tast thereof and more esteeming the good of their young than their own lives But this zealous mother directed by the Spirit of God and the dictates of reason incouragd her Children to dy and being to dy after them chose rather to be a spectator of their death than otherwise When all her family had suffered she as the last and glory of them all came to execution despising the Tyrants threats offering her motherly brest to those torments which her Children had suffered O blessed stock and blessed increase of the self same womb Why should I not affirm that in all lineaments and feature of O the body you are like your mother and if this be a commendation in them that beside A features of the body receive nothing of their Mother I will say more of you that you are like your mother in Fortitude Vertue and Religion and that you so in all things resemble her that you are every way equal unto her save only herein that she with her Eyes beheld the immanity of your torments and was afterward as constant in her own Martyrdom as you in yours She therefore herein excelled you that she suffered seven torments before she came to suffer in her own person The mother suffereth seven torments before she was tormented feared in every one of them lest she should be overcome But O thou example of all women I cannot tell whether thou barest these Children in thy womb or createdst them who couldst with dry Eyes look upon them whilst they were torn in pieces yea I say little affirming that thou B patiently didst behold those sights for even thou thy self didst exhort them thereunto thou rejoycedst to see one of them torn in pieces with Flesh-hooks the other to be racked upon the Wheel the third to be bound and beaten thou joyfully admiredst the others burning and exhortedst the rest not to be terrified here with and although whilst thou beheld'st their torments thy grief was greater than that which thou hadst in Child-birth yet didst thou bear a lightsome and chearful countenance as though it had been one triumphing While they were a killing thou didst laugh and seeing only one of all thy Children left hereat thou didst nothing relent Can I describe how every one perished seeing thou their mother didst laugh at their deaths and when their sinews were cut in two their heads flaid their tongues pulled forth by the Roots their C hands broken their bodies in the fire and cast upon Iron plates red-hot and upon Wheels and their ribs pulled in sunder and many other torments for which we want names Never was any Swan which if you will believe antiquity Sings sweetest before her death comparble to the Funeral notes of thy dying Children And you blessed ofspring were not overcome by that Syren's enchantments but to honour God scrupled not to leave your Mother without Children And she being as pious brave on her side chose rather to want you for a time than to incur eternal damnation wishing rather that the bodies of her Children should be tormented than their Souls Well she knew that nothing was more frail and infirm than our bodies which though persecution be wanting are often killed with Agues and other Maladies Who is D ignorant that shipwrack is incident to Sailers disasters to them that travel sudden death to those that live at ease sudden casualty by fire and by the hands of Theives and a thousand other ways to dispatch our lives Seeing then that our mortal bodies are subject to so many miseries to bring us to our end who would not make choice of a quick dispatch A similitude from the Deluge whereby we lose goods of this World and gain life everlasting O thou most reverend of all women the credit of thy Nation and honour of our Religion who like the Ark of Noe didst persist inviolate amongst such stormy Waves for as the Arke withstood the force of the deluge and being built strongly with firm boards did not suffer any thing within it to perish so thou sufferedst not the Tyrant to overcome the holy Ghost which thou hadst received in thy heart Behold of what force and efficacy Reason is which oftentimes maketh men inferiour E to women For neither was Daniel so tortured at the sight of the Lions nor