The strife between the High Priests and the Priests to seize the Tenths that were due unto the Priests whereby it came to pass that some poor Priests died for want so much did the violence of the Seditious at that time prevail ahove all right CHAP. VII I Festus succeeds Foelix in the Government of Judaea The Inhabitants of Caesarea obtain of Nero to have the Jews Freedom recalled King Agrippa causeth an Apartment to be built from whence all that was done about the Temple might be seen the people of Jerusalem cause a high Wall to be built to hinder it by the Emperour's Authority AFter that Portius Festus had been sent by Nero to succeed Foelix in the Government K of Judaea Alias 19. the chiefest of those Jews that inhabited Caesarea Foelix accused repaired to Rome to accuse Foelix and without all doubt he had been punished for the injuries he had committed against the Jews if Nero had not pardoned him upon his Brother Palas's submission and entreaty who importuned him and was at that time in great reputation with him Hedio Rufffinus cap. 14. Furthermore two of the chiefest amongst the Syrians wrought Berillus who had sometimes been Nero's Master and at that time was Secretary of Estate in the Greek Tongue by mighty Bribes to beg of Nero the revocation of the Right and Title which the Jews enjoyed in the Government and Administration of the Commonweal For which cause Berillus solicited the Emperour and obtained a Letter from him which was the cause of those mischiefs that afterwards happened in our Nation for the Jews of Caesarea understanding what Commission the Syrians had gotten L were so much the more encouraged to make War Therefore The Cut-throats among the Jews as soon as Festus was arrived in Judaea he found the Countrey grievously afflicted with Robberies and the whole Countrey was ruined with Fire and Sword The Thieves likewise at that time encreased mightily they used short Swords after the manner of a Persian Cymetre and crooked like the Roman Faulchion with which they killed divers For thrusting themselves into the press of the people that came in great multitudes on the Festival days to celebrate God's service they killed those very easily whom they pleased and oftentimes repairing to their enemies Villages Festus discomfiteth a great deceiver with all his followers they spoiled and burnt them But Festus sent divers Forces M both of Horse and Foot against certain Jews that were seduced by an Enchanter who had promised them to free them from all their troubles if they would follow him into the Desart they killed both the deceiver and the deceived that followed him At that time King Agrippa erected a stately Building within the Palace at Jerusalem Hedio Ruffinus chap. 15. near unto the Porch alias chap. 10. This Palace in times past appertained to the Asmoneans and was scituate in a high place with a fine Prospect from whence they might with pleasure behold the City of Jerusalem wherein the King took great delight and beheld from thence that which was done in the Temple The chiefest men of Jerusalem stop up the Prospect of Agrippa's house The chiefest men of Jerusalem seeing this Building were very much displeased for neither doth our Custom or Law permit that any one should look on that which is done in the Temple and especially N forbiddeth that any man should behold the Sacrifices and Oblations They therefore builded a high Wall upon the Gallery which was within the Temple on the West side which did not only hinder the sight of the Royal Chamber but also that of the Gallery without the Temple on the West side where the Romans kept Guard near unto the Temple on the Festival days Herewith was King Agrippa highly displeased and the Governour Festus far more than he who commanded them to pull down the Wall But they besought him that he would give them Licence to send their Ambassadours to Nero to this intent alledging that it was impossible for them to live if any part of their Temple should be beaten down Which being granted them they sent ten of their chiefest Nobility and with them Ismael the High O Priest and Chelcias the Treasurer of the Temple unto Nero who no sooner heard their suit but he pardoned them not only for that they had done but he commanded A that the building should remain as it was All which he did in favour of his Wife Poppea who was entreated by the Jews she being a devout Princess to sue for them She therefore commanded the ten Ambassadours to return and kept Chelcias and Ismael for Pledges with her The King understanding how all things had past gave the High Priesthood to Joseph Joseph Cabi the Son of Simon made High Priest surnamed Cabi which was the Son of Simon who in times past had been High Priest CHAP. VIII B Albinus succeeds Festus in the Government of Judaea and King Agrippa giveth and taketh away often the High Priesthood Ananus the High Priest causeth Saint James to be put to death Agrippa enlargeth the City of Caesarea and calleth it Neronias The Favours he granted to the Levites The List of the High Priests since Aaron CAesar being advertised of Festus's death Albinus Governour of Judaea sent Albinus to govern Judaea But King Agrippa commanded Joseph to lead a private life and advanced in his stead a certain man called Ananus Ananus the Son of Ananus High Priest the Son of Ananus who was reported to have been most happy for he had five Sons all which supplied the place of the High Priest after himself C had long time before them enjoyed it the like whereof hath never happened to any of our Priests Hedio Ruffinus chap 16. The younger Ananus who as we said was advanced to this place was a rash and head-strong man that followed the Sect of the Saducees who as we have already declared were amongst all other the Jews Alias 21. the most severe in executing Justice Ananus had five Sons that succeeded him in the Priesthood Whereas therefore Ananus was of this disposition he thought that he had a fit occasion offered him to do what he pleased after Festus's death and whilst Albinus was as yet upon his way He therefore ascended and sat down in the Tribunal assisted by the Judges and caused James the Brother of JESUS who was called CHRIST The year of the World 4025. after Christ's Nativity 63. to appear before him with certain others and accused them for transgressing the Law and Blasphemy against God and caused him to be stoned to death They D that were men of upright Conscience within the City and diligent observers of the Law were very much displeased with this Act and sent secretly to the King beseeching him to prohibit Ananus James the Brother of our Lord stoned that hereafter he
their separation which was no less grievous unto them v. 41 42 43. than death it self Finally since there was no remedy exhorting one another to have in perpetual remembrance their faith and friendship they departed the one from the other C. 21. v. 1 2 ad 6. David flying from the persecution of Saul David cometh to Naban or Nob to Abimelech the High Priest retired to the City of Nob to Abimelech the Priest who wondred to see him come alone to him without either friend or Servant and desired to know the cause why he thus wandred without any attendance David told him that the King had sent him about some secret order which might not be communicated to him although he were desirous to know it and as touching my Servants C said he I have commanded them to attend me at a place appointed He further desired him v. 7 8 9 10. that he would give him such things as were necessary for his journey and some Arms David receiving Goliaths sword flieth to Geth to Achis King of the Philistines either Sword or Javelin Now in this place was present one of Sauls Servants called Doeg a Syrian by Nation and the Master of the Kings Mules The Priest answered him that he had no Arms by him except Goliaths Sword which he himself had hanged in the Tabernacle and dedicated to God at such time as he slew the Philistine David having gotten it fled out of the Countrey of the Hebrews and went to Gath a Countrey of the Philistines where Achis was King There being known by the Kings Servants he was discovered to be that David v. 11 12 13. that had slain so many thousand Philistines David counterfeits madness to escape the fury of Achis David fearing to be put to death by him and to fall into the same danger which he had escaped D by flying from Saul counterfeited himself mad so that he let the spittle issue out of his mouth and he counterfeited in all things so cunningly that he made the King of Gath believe that he was frantick 1. Sam. 22. v. 1 2. Whereupon the King was angry with his Servants that they had brought him a mad-man and commanded them forthwith to drive him out of his countrey Having in this sort escaped out of the Countrey of Gath he went to the Tribe of Juda where hiding himself in the Cave of Adullam he sent to his Brothers to let them understand that he was there They came to him with all their relations and divers others that either were in need or stood in fear of Saul resorted unto him offering to perform whatsoever he should command them they amounted in all to the number of four hundred David therefore being thus assured by the succours E and forces that came to him v. 3 4. dislodged from thence and went to the King of the Moabites David repairing to the Moabites committeth his Father and Mother to his protection beseeching him that he and those that accompanied him might remain in that Countrey till such time as he understood what would be the issue of his affairs The King vouchsafed him this favour and treated them very well all the time they were in his Countrey David went not out of it till he received instructions from the Prophet Samuel to abandon the Desart and return to the Tribe of Juda which he obeyed and coming to the City of Saron David commeth to Saron Saul feareth David made his abode there But when Saul understood that David had been seen with a number of men he fell into an extraordinary fear and trouble of mind for knowing both the conduct and courage of the man he thought that he would attempt no action that was not great and such as might endanger his Kingdom F For which cause assembling his Friends and Captains and those of his own Tribe in Gaba where he kept his Royal Court and which stands upon a little Hill called Arvon and accompanied with his Guards v. 7 8. and the Officers of his house he spake to them from his throne Sauls oration to his Captains friends and estates against David after this manner I cannot believe that you have forgotten the benefits wherewith I have enriched you and the honours to which I have advanced you But I would know of you whether you hope or expect greater from the Son of Jesse for I am not ignorant of the affection which you bear him and that my own Son hath inspired the same into you I know that Jonathan and he are united without my consent in a very strict alliance that they have confirmed the same by oath and that Jonathan assists David against me with all his power Yet are none of you concerned at these things but in great quiet you expect what will be the event of them G When the King had spoken thus and none of the assistants answered a word Doeg the Syrian Master of the Kings Mules rose up and said That he had seen David in the City of Nob whither he went to the High Priest Abimelech to ask counsel of him touching his affairs and that he had received from him such things as were needful to his journey H and Goliaths Sword and how he was safely conducted towards the place whither he pretended to go Hereupon Saul sent for the High Priest and all his kindred and spake thus unto them What wrong or displeasure have I done thee that thou hast entertained the Son of Jesse v. 9. and given him Victuals and Arms to him I say that seeketh but the means to possess himself of my Kingdom Doeg telleth Saul how he saw David in Nob with Abimelech what answer hast thou made him touching those demands he propounded to thee concerning his future fortunes canst thou be ignorant that he fled from me and what hatred he bears against both me and my family The High Priest denied none of these things but freely confessed that he had delivered him such things as were reported v. 10 11 12 13. but not with an intent to gratifie David but the King for I entertained him said he not as your Enemy Saul reproveth Abimelech for furnishing David with Victuals and Arms. but as your faithful Servant and one of the principal I Officers of your Army and which is more as your Son-in-law For who would have thought that one dignified with so much honour by you should be your Enemy nay rather who would not esteem him for your favourite and neerest friend And whereas he asked counsel of me touching Gods will v. 14. this is not the first time I have answered him but I have formerly done it often Abimelechs Apology to Sauls accusation of Treason And when he said he was sent by you about some speedy and secret business if I should have refused him those supplies which he required at my hands I might have
been judged to have done an injury to your Majesty Wherefore you ought not to think evil of me or that if David at this time hath some ill design against you v. 15 16 17. that by reason of the courtesie I have shewed him The unjust slaughter of Abimelech with his whole Family I either favour him or maintain him to your prejudice Notwithstanding all these just allegations Saul could not be induced to believe him but imagined that it K was fear that made Abimelech speak in this manner so that he commanded certain armed men that were about him to put both him and all his family to the sword But when they excused themselves because it was no less than Sacriledge to violate by violent death Nob the City of the Priests is burnt and all the inhabitants slain such persons as were consecrated unto God Saul commanded Doeg the Syrian to commit the slaughter who accordingly with certain other sacrilegious and impious men murthered Abimelech and all his Race who were in number three hundred thirty and five Sup. li. 5. ca. 11. He further sent to Nob the City of the Priests and put all of them to the sword sparing neither woman nor child and consumed the whole City with fire only one Son of Abimelech escaped 1 King 2. 3. who was called Abiathar All which came to pass according as God had foretold to the High Priest Eli that by reason of the transgression L of his two Sons his posterity should be extinguished This cruel and detestable act perpetrated by King Saul in shedding the blood of all the Sacerdotal Race v. 18 19. without either compassion of Infants or reverence of old age A manifest exemplification of that proverb Honours change manners and his destroying of that City which God had chosen to be the residence of the Priests and Prophets manifestly shews how far the pravity of the mind of man may proceed For so long as men are low and limited by a private estate because they neither dare nor can give scope to their wicked inclinations they seem good and just and make shew of great love of justice and of a sence of pity Note diligently and are persuaded that God is present in all our actions and discerneth all our cogitations But no sooner do they attain to Power and Empire but they lay aside their former fair semblances they take upon them as it were a new part and another personage becoming M audacious and insolent and contemners of both Divine and Humane Laws And though the height of their sâution exposing even their least actions to the view of all the World ought to make them comport themselves irreprehensibly yet as if they thought that God shut his eyes or feared them they will needs have him approve and men account just all that their Fear Hatred or Imprudence suggests to them without troubling themselves what will be the issue So that after having rewarded great services with great honours they are not contented to deprive those that had so justly merited them upon false reports and calumnies but they also take away their lives not considering how deservedly they oppress but only giving credit without proof to rash and scandalous detractions executing and satiating their rage not on those they ought to punish but on those that may most easily be destroyed A manifest example whereof appears N in Saul the Son of Cis who after the Government of the Nobility and that of the Judges having been established the first King of the Hebrews slew three hundred Priests and Prophets only for that he suspected Abimelech and after he had slain them destroyed their City with fire v. 20. 21. and as much as in him lay deprived the High Temple of God of Priests Abiathar escaping from Sauls hands telleth David of the slaughter of Abimelech his Father and of the Priests sacred Ministers and after so hideous a slaughter neither spared their Countrey nor any of their off-spring But Abiathar Abimelechs Son who only escaped of all his family flying to David declared to him both the overthrow of his family and the death of his Father David answered him that he expected no less than that which hapned at such time as he espied Doeg there who as his mind gave him would not fail to calumniate Abimelech to Saul yet he was extreamly sorrowful for the misfortune that hapned O to his friend by his means and therefore prayed him to remain with him because he could not be concealed or secured in any place better than with himself A About the same time David understanding that the Philistines made an inroad into the Countrey of Ceila and wasted the same he determined to assault them if after the Prophet had asked counsel of God he should be by the Oracle animated to it which accordingly falling out he sallied out accompained by his friends and set upon the Philistines and made a great slaughter of them and recovered a very rich prey and gave safeguard to the Ceilans till they had safely gathered in and housed all their Corn and fruit The rumor of this his exploit was presently brought to Saul for this great action was not shut up within the limits of the place where it was performed David defendeth Cilla against the incursions of the Philistines but the renown thereof was dispersed every where and both the Action and the Author thereof were highly commended Saul was very joyful to hear that David was in Ceila B imagining that God had delivered him into his hands by leading him to shut up himself in a City inclosed with Walls 1 Sam. 23. 1 2 3 ad 7. Gates and Barrs whereupon he suddenly gave commandement to his Soldiers to march against Ceila v. 7 8. and besiege the same and not to raise the Siege till David were either taken or slain Saul seeketh to besiege David in Cilla But David having intelligence hereof and advertised by God that if he stayed among the Ceilans v. 9. 10 11 12. they would deliver him into the hands of Saul took with him his four hundred men David admonished by God flieth from his danger and withdrew himself from the City into the Desart and encamped on a hill called Engaddi Whereof the King being advertized forbore to send out an Army against him From thence David departed into the territories of Ziph where Jonathan v. 13 14. Sauls Son David came with his Army to Caena or Ziphia where Jonathan cometh unto him comforteth him and reneweth his covenant met him and after embraces exhorted him to be of good courage C and to conceive assured hope of future good fortune and not to give place to his present miseries because he should one day obtain the Kingdom and have the whole State of the Hebrews subject to him but that such things were not wont to happen till after
house in Jerusalem Now when F the King had taken the City he joyned the Cittadel unto it and having walled them abouâ How Jerusalem was called Solyma and what mention Homer made thereof the gave the government thereof to Joab This King was the first that drove the Jebusites out of Jerusalem and called the same by his name For from the time of Abraham our forefather it was called Solyma neither want there some that infer that Homer under that name intendeth Jerusalem For in the Hebrew tongue Solyma is as much as to say The years since Joshuas conquest to this time 515. Orphant a Jebusite friend to David Security All the time since the war made by Joshuah against the Canaanites and since the division of the Countrey during all which time the Israelites could not drive the Canaanites out of Jerusalem until David took the same by force were five hundred and fifteen years But I must not forget one Orphan a rich man amongst the Jebusites who because he was well affected towards the Hebrews was not put to death G at the taking of Jerusalem 2 Kings 24. but was much honoured by the King David espoused other Wives besides those which he had Davids Sons born in Jerusalem and took many Concubines by them he had eleven Sons whose names are these which follow Amnael Seba Nathan Soloman Jaber Eliel Phalna Ennapha Jenaah Eliphal and a Daughter called Thamar Nine of these were H begotten of his Wives and the two last were the Sons of Concubines But Thamar was Absalons Sister by the same Father and Mother CHAP. IV. David assailed by the Philistines obtaineth a great victory aaginst them near Jerusalem NOw when the Philistines knew that the Hebrews had created David King they led forth their Army against him towards Jerusalem 2 Sam. 5. 18. ad finem where encamping themselves in I the valley of the Giants which is a place not far from the City they in that place expected the encounter Hedio Ruffinus cap. 4. But the King of the Hebrews who was wont to do nothing inconsiderately commanded the High Priest to ask counsel of God what success the War should have who after he had informed him that God favored their designes he presently drew out his Army against the Enemy and giving the battel he suddenly assailed the Enemies The Philistines moving War against David are partly slain or put to flight slaying many of them he put the rest to flight But let no man suspect that the Army of the Philistines was either small in number or weak in courage which at that time assailed the Hebrews because they were easily overcome without their performing any memorable action For all Syria Phenicia and the other Warlike Nations beyond them were confederates with them The Philistines invaded the Hebrews with a mighty army gathered out of sundry nations in this War which was the cause that notwithstanding they were so many times overcome and lost many thousands of men that they desisted K not to assail the Hebrews with greater force having been defeated in the battel beforementioned yet they reinforced their Army and encamped in the same place Whereupon David again required of God what the issue of this battel should be and the High Priest told him that he should encamp in the Forrest called Tears because it was not far off from the Enemies Camp and that he should not depart from thence neither make any attempt upon them before the trees should shake without any agitation of the wind Whereupon as soon as the trees shook and the time which God had appointed was come without any delay he marched out with an assurance of returning victorious For the squadrons of the Enemy were disordered The Philistines flight and incontinently betook themselves L to flight being pursued unto the City of Gerar which is a frontire-town of their Countrey their Camp was plundred and in it were found great riches and amongst other things their gods which broken to pieces by the Israelites The battel being ended it seemed good unto David by the counsel of the Elders and Colonels over thousands that all the flower of their youth should be assembled from all the parts of the Countrey 2 Sam. 6. 1 ad 5. every one according to his Tribe Davids commands as touching the transportation of the Ark. And that the Priests and Levites should rapair to Cariathiarim and bring from the Ark of God and convey it to Jerusalem to the end that when it should be there the service of God might for the future be celebrated in that place and other sacrifices and honours agreeable to the divine Majesty be performed Which if Saul had religiously observed M he had not fallen into those misfortunes which at the same time deprived him of his Crown and his life Now when all the people were assembled according as it was appointed the King himself also assisted at the removal of the Ark which being carried by the Priests out of Aminidabs house they laid it upon a new Wain drawn by Oxen and commited the conduct of it to their Brethren and their Children The King marched foremost and after him all his people praising God and singing Psalms and Hymns to the sound of the Trumpets and Cymbals v. 6 7 8 9. and several sorts of Instruments Oza stretching out his hand to stay the Ark is suddenly strucken dead and in this manner conducted they the Ark into Jerusalem But when they were come to the threshing floor of Childon Oza died thorow the wrath of God for the Oxen stumbling that drew the Chariot and the Ark tottering he stretched out his hand to hold it up but being no Priest God struck him dead because he presumed to touch N the Ark. The King and the people were much troubled at the death of Oza and the place where he died is called to this day v. 10 11. Oza's Striking David fearing lest if he should carry the Ark with him into the City David placeth the ark in Obed-Edoms house who prospereth there-through in all felicity the like misfortune might attend him that had befallen Oza who died because he only stretched out his hand he carried it not with him into the City but commanded that it should be left in the possession of one called Obed by descent a Levite a good and vertuous man where it remained for three months space during which time his house was blessed with all worldly happiness The King being informed of the success of Obed v. 12. who of a poor man was suddenly become very rich so that all men had their eyes upon him The Ark transported into Davids house and placed in a Tabernacle and some envied him he assured himself that no inconvenience would befall him if he should take the Ark to Jerusalem It was carried O by the Priests and seven quires of
Ruffinus chap 15. that notwithstanding the many coverings and clothes they laid upon him C yet could he not be warmed it was the advice of his Physitians that one of the fairest Virgins that was in the Countrey should be chosen to lie with the King 1 King 1. 1 2 3 4. because by this means she might warm his chill limbs and comfort his decaying heat David groweth old and numb Whereupon after search made they found out a Damsel called Abisag which surpassed all other in beauty Abisag waâmeth him who slept with him and warmed him for by reason of his age he was unable to have the use of a woman But of this Virgin hereafter we shall make furthermention The fourth Son of David was a goodly tall young man v. 5. called Adonias the Son of Aegistha Adonias affecteth the Kingdom who resembling Absalon in complection and ambition designed to make himself King and amongst his ordinary discourses which he used to his friends he said that the succession to the Crown belonged of right unto him To this intent he D prepared many Chariots and Horses and fifty men to attend him for his Guard His Father certified of these his proceedings reprooved him not nor crossed his designs nor demanded any account of his actions Joab the General and the High priest Abiathar were ingaged on his side and stood firm to his interest but they that opposed him were the High Priest Sadoc and the Prophet Nathan and Benaia the Captain of the Guard with Simei Davids friend besides all other the Valiant men at Arms. Whereas therefore Adonias made a banquet without the City and in the Suburbs near unto the Fountain of the Park-Royal he invited all his Brethren unto the same except Solomon and took with him Joab and Abiathar v. 11 ad 29. with the Governours of the Tribe of Juda but as touching Sadoc Bethsaba by Nathans persuasion certifieth David of Adonias usurpation the Prophet Nathan Benaia and the rest of the contrary party he called them not E unto the banquet This did the Prophet Nathan tell to Bethsabe Solomons mother certifying her that Adonias was made King without the knowledge of David advising her both to have care of her own security and the state and Majesty of her Son who by reason of Adonias usurpation was like to be supplanted wishing her in person to certifie the King thereof and further promising that while she debated these things with the King he would come in the mean while and confirm that which he had said Bethsabe being thus perswaded by Nathan came unto the King and humbling herself before him and afterwards desiring leave to speak unto him she informed him of all those things that had hapned according as she had been advised by the Prophet particularly giving him an account of the banquet which Adonias had made and what guests he had F invited namely Abiathar and Joab with the rest of his Sons except Solomon and his particular friends urging this furthermore that the people expected who it should be whom David would nominate to succeed him for which cause she earnestly besought David that he would provide that he who should succeed him in the Government should neither seek her blood nor the death of her Son Solomon Whilest Bethsabe discoursed after this manner the King had notice that Nathan attended to speak with him Whereupon David commanded that he should be called in and as soon as he was entered he asked the King if that day he had appointed Adonias to govern and succeed in the kingdom after him for that said he he hath made a sumptuous feast whereunto he hath invited all thy Sons but Solomon thither also hath he called Joab where after the great cheer and banqueting G they have proclaimed and cryed Long live the King Adonias Furthermore said he he hath neither invited me nor the High-Priest Sadoc nor the Captain of the Guard Banaiaâ It therefore behooveth thee to let us know if this be done by thy approbation and allowance As soon as Nathan had made an end of his speech The year of the World 2931. before Christ's Nativity 1033. David comanded that Bethsabe should H be called in who had retired out of the Kings chamber at such time as the Prophet entered in As soon as Bethsabe re-entred the chamber David said unto her I swear unto thee by the great God that thy Son Solomon shall raign after me according as before this time I have already sworn unto thee and he it is that shall sit upon my throne yea even this present day v. 30. Upon these words Bethsabe humbled herself and besought God to grant the King long life The kingdom is confirmed to Solomon by an oaâh Whereupon he called for Sadoc the high Priest and Banaia the Captain of the Guard and appointed them to take the Prophet Nathan with them and all the men at Arms that attended him in Court charging them to mount his Son Solomon upon his Royal Mule upon which only the King was wont to ride and to conduct him out of the City near unto the Fountain of Gehon in which place after they had I anointed him with holy oyle he willed them to proclaim Solomon King commanding the High Priest Sadoc and the Prophet Nathan to see his will performed charging those that followed him throw the City with sound of Trumpet and a loud voyce to cry out that Solomon was seted for ever in his fathers throne to the intent that all the people might understand that by his Fathers consent he was declared King And calling Solomon unto him v. 33 ad 40. he gave him instructions by which he might with justice and integrity govern the Tribe of Juda and the rest of the Israelites Solomon is annointed King and placed in his Fathers Throne After this Banaia besought God that it would please him to be favourable unto Solomon and with all expedition Solomon was mounted upon the Kings Mule and conducted out of the City near unto the fountain where after he had been anointed with oyle they brought him back again into K the City with great joy and applause wishing him a long and prosperous government then reconducting him to the Kings Palace they placed him on his Throne and the people generally gave themselves over to feasting and mirth and to sport and rejoyce with dances and instruments of musick so that by reason of the multitude of instruments not only the air resounded but the earth also seemed in a manner to be moved therewith So that Adonias and they that banqueted with him hearing the noise were all of them troubled and Joab in particular said that those tunes and trumpettings did no wayes please him Whilest thus they sate at the banquet v. 40 41 ad 50. and every man thorow pensivenesse forbore to eat being distracted thorow variety of thoughts Jonathan
all things how secretly soever they be carried or contrived Having in this sort ordered every thing in each City of the two Tribes he returned again to Jerusalem where he likewise chose Judges from amongst the Priests F and Levites and the Elders among the people exhorting them in all things to give upright and just judgement And if they of other Cities had any causes of greater consequence which should be referred to their final determination he charged them industriously to decide them for that it was very convenient that the most uncorrupt sentences should be delivered in that City where God had his Temple and the King made his ordinary abode Over all these he placed his two friends Amasias the Priest and Zabadias of the Tribe of Juda. After this manner did the King order his affairs About this time the Moabites and Ammonites with their confederates 2 Chron. 20. 1 2 a great number of Arabians assaulted and assembled themselves against him The Moabites and Ammonits War against Jehosaphat and incamped themselves G near unto Engaddi a City situate near unto the Lake Asphaltites and distant from Jerusalem three hundred furlongs in which place flourished those goodly and wholesome H Palme-trees whence distilleth the pure and perfect Balme When Jehosaphat had intelligence that the Enemies had past the Lake and were already far entred into his Countrey he was afraid and assembled the people of Jerusalem in the Temple and standing up and turning his face toward the Propitiatory he besought and requested God that he would give him power to overcome his Enemies For such had been the form of their supplication v. 5. ad 13. who in times past built the Temple namely that it might please him to fight for that City Jehosaphats prayer in the Temple of Jerusalem for victory and oppose himself against those that durst attempt or assault that place to dispossess them of that Countrey which he himself had given them in possession and in pronouncing this prayer he wept and all the people likewise both men women and children made their request unto God Presently upon this a certain Prophet I called Jaziel arose up in the midst of the Congregation and cryed out and assured the people and the King that God had heard their prayers and promised them to fight for them against their enemies v. 14 15 c. enjoyning them the next day to sally out in Armes Jaziel the Prophet assureth them of victory and to make head against their adversaries whom they should encounter in the mountain situate betwixt Jerusalem and Engaddi in a place called the hillock of Sis which place in Hebrew signifieth Eminency willing them not to fight against them but only to stay in that place and see how would God fight for them When the Prophet had spoken these words v. 16 17. the King and all the people prostrated themselves upon their faces giving thanks unto God The manner and weapons whereby Jehosaphat overcame his Enemies in the mean while the Levites sung Hymnes with instruments and voyces About the begining of the day the King departed into the desart that is under the City K of Thecoa advising the people to believe all that which the Prophet had said unto them and not to range themselves in battel-array he commanded the Priests to march before them with their Trumpets and the Levites that they should âing Hymnes of thanksgiving unto God as if their Countrey were already delivered from their enemies This advice of the Kings pleased them all so that they performed whatsoever he counselled them But God sent a great terror and disorder among the Barbarians so that supposing themselves to be enemies one against the other v. 22 ad 24. they slew one another in such sort The Ammoniâes and their confederates kill one another that of so great an hoast there was not one that escaped But Jehosaphat looking down into the vally wherein the enemies had pitcht their tents and seeing it full of dead men rejoyced greatly at the unexpected succours that God had sent him who L had given them the victory not by the dint of their own swords but by his providence and power only He therefore permitted his Army to pillage the enemies Camp and to spoil the dead The spoiles of the Ammonites and so great was the multitude of them that were slain that they could scarcely take the spoils of them in three dayes space On the fourth day the people assembled together in a valley where they blessed God for the succours he had sent them by reason whereof the place was called the valley of Benediction From thence the King led back his Army into Jerusalem and for divers dayes he spent the time in offering sacrifices and making feasts v. 25. 26. After this discomfiture of his enemies was published amongst foreign Nations they were all of them afraid The âame and praise of Jehosaphat in every place supposing that God did manifestly express his power and extend his favour towards him And from that time forward M Jehosaphat lived in great glory He likewise was a friend to the King of Israel that reigned at that time Hedio Ruffinus chap. 2. who was Achabs Son with whom he adventured in a voyage by Sea intending to traffique with certain Merchants of Tarsis Ochozias Acabs Son King of Israel but he received great loss for his ships were cast away because they were so large that they could not easily be governed and for this cause he had never more mind to exercise Navigation 2 King 1. 1 2 3 c. Hitherto have we spoken of Jehosaphat King of Jerusalem But as touching Ochozias Achab's Son who reigned over Israel and resided at Samaria he was a wicked man and resembled his father and mother every way in his impieties and was nothing inferiour to Jeroboam in wickedness who first fell from God and made the Israelites revolt from him The tenth year of his Reign the King of the N Moabites rebelled against him and denied to pay him those tributes which he was wont to pay unto Achab his Father But it came to pass that as Ochozias ascended the stairs of his Palace v. 2 3 c. he fell down from the top thereof and being indisposed by the fall he sent to Accaron unto the god called Myiodes Ochozias having a grievous fall seeketh to be informed of a false Oracle and is reproved by Elias or the Flie to enquire whether he should recover of that sickness or no. But the God of the Hebrews appeared to Elias the Prophet and commanded him to go and meet those Messengers that were sent by Ochozias and to ask them if the people of the Israelites had not a God that the King sent to forreign gods to enquire of his health and to charge them to return and declare unto their King That he should
them that they mocked them and esteemed them to be mad and spit upon those Prophets that exhorted them to piety and foretold them the evils they should suffer if they served not the true God and finally they laid hold on them and put them to the sword And not contenting themselves with this presumption they attempted yet far worser things and never gave over until that God for a punishment of their impiety subjected them to their enemies 2 Chron. 29. as shall appear hereafter But divers of the Tribes of Manasses Zabulon and Issachar The Word of God is never without fruit respecting the good counsels of the Prophets submitted themselves to the service of God and repaired all together to Jerusalem to King Ezechias to honour G God As soon as they were arrived there Ezechias went up into the Temple accompanied with the Governors and all the People and offered there seven Bulls seven Rams H and as many Goats The year of the World 3618. before Christ's Nativity 746. and after that he and all the Governors had laid their hands upon the heads of the Sacrifice they deliver'd them to the Priest according as it appertained to them and they sacrificed and made burnt-offerings of them The Levites also assisting round about with Instruments of Musick sung Hymns and Songs unto God according as they had been taught by the ordinance of David Ezechias's sacrifice The other Priests had Trumpets which they used in consort to the tune of their Hymns Which done the King and all the People cast themselves prostrate upon the ground 2 Chron. 29. ââ 20 21. and adored God and afterwards sacrificed seven Oxen an 100 Sheep and 200 Lambs The King likewise bestowed 600 Oxen and 3000 sheep upon the People to feast withall And when the Priests had joyfully perform'd all things according to the custom contain'd in the Law I the King sate down and eat with the People and gave thanks unto God And when the feast of unleavened bread was come they eat the Passeover and during the seven other dayes Ver. 30 31. they offer'd up their other Sacrifices The King gave in way of gratuity unto the People besides that which had been offer'd 2000 Oxen Reformation of Gods service and 7000 Sheep The Governors did the like and gave the People a 1000 Bulls and 1400 Sheep and thus was the feast solemnized which had not been so magnificently and devoutly celebrated since Solomon's time When the solemnity of this feast was past they journeyed and went thorow the Countrey and purifi'd it They purged the City likewise of all Idols and the King ordained that the daily Sacrifices should be made according to the Law upon his charge He enacted also That the People should pay the Tenths to the Priests and Levites K with the first-fruits to the intent they might wholly intend piety and never estrange themselves from the service of God By which means it came to pass that the People brought all kind of fruit to the Priests and Levites The King overcometh the Philistines which the King put up in certain store-houses which he had built to be distributed to every one of them their Wives and Children and by this means they returned again to their former purity in Religion After the King had disposed all things in this sort 2 Kings 19. he made War upon the Philistines Ezechias forsaketh the service of the King of Assyria and overcame them and seized all their Cities between Gaza and Geth About this time the King of Assyria sent unto him and threatned him That if he would not pay those Tributes which his father before him had paid unto him he would destroy all his Countrey Nevertheless Ezechias set light by his threats assuring himself in that piety and zeal he bore L towards God and in the Prophet Esay by whom he was exactly instructed touching all those things that were to succeed CHAP. XIV Salmanasar slayeth the King of Israel and leadeth the Israelites captive into the Countrey of Media WHen tydings was brought to Salmanasar King of Assyria that the King of Israel had privily sent unto Soan Hedio Ruffinus cap. 5. King of Egypt to request his assistance against the M Assyrians he was sore displeased and drew forth his Army against Samaria in the seventh year of the Reign of Oseas But the King of Israel withstood his entrance into the City by which means he was besieged therein for three years space and finally Samaria was taken by force 2 Kings 17 24. in the ninth year of Oseas and the seventh of Ezechias's Reign At which time all the Kingdom of Israel was destroy'd and all the People transported into the Countries of Media and Persia and amongst the rest King Oseas was taken Prisoner The King of Assyria caused certain Nations of a Countrey called Chut so stiled from a River of that name to remove their habitation and to dwell in Samaria and inhabit the Countrey of Israel As for the ten Tribes of Israel they were transported out of their Countrey 947 years The Israelites removed from their possessions are translated into the Region of the Chuthites since their Predecessors departing out of Egypt possessed N the Countrey of Canaan 800 years after the government of Joshua and 240 years seven months and seven dayes since they revolted from Roboam Davids Nephew to give the Kingdom to Jeroboam This was the end of the Israelites who transgressed the Laws and disobeyed the Prophets who foretold them of that calamity which should happen unto them except they repented them of their impieties The sedition that they rais'd against Roboam in taking his servant for their King was the original of their mischiefs For Jeroboam committing impiety against God and they imitating his wickedness caused God to be displeas'd with them so that he punish'd them according as they deserved But the King of Assyria ravaged and spoiled all Syria and Phoenicia with his Army and his name is found written in the Chronicles of the Tyrians for he made War against the Tyrians O at such time as Eulaleus reigned in Tyre whereof Menander maketh mention who wrote the History of Tyre which hath been Translated into the Greek Tongue The King Eluleus saith he reigned 36 years The year of the World 3224. before Christ's Nativity 740. and pursued the Chutheans that were revolted from A him by Sea and made them subject Against whom the King of Assyria sent forth his Army and invaded all Phoenicia and afterwards having made a Peace with them he returned back again into the Cities of Sydon Arce and old Tyre and divers other Cities revolted from the Tyrians and submitted themselves to the King of Assyria For this cause The Tyrians Chronicles touching the Wars of Salmanaâar against the Tyrians written by Menander and for that they of Tyre did not obey him he drew his Army
with breach of his promise and contempt of his Majesty Furthermore he reproached him for his ingratitude in that having received the Royalty from his hands which he had G taken from Joachin to bestow on him he had notwithstanding employed all his Forces against his Benefactor H But said he that great God that hateth thy Treachery The year of the World 3356. before Christ's Nativity 6â8 hath delivered thee into my hands and when he had spoken these words he caused Zedechias Friends and Children to be slain before his eyes with all his other prisoners afterwards commanding his eyes to be plucked out he led him to Babylon All which happened unto him according as the Prophets Jeremy and Ezekiel had foretold him V. 5. 6. 7. namely that he should be surprized and brought before the King of Babylon Zedechias hath his eyes pulled out and his Children slain before his face and should speak with him face to face and should see him with his eyes for so had Jeremy prophecied but being made blind and conducted to Babylon he should not see the City of Babylon according as Ezekiel had foretold All which may sufficiently express to those that know not the nature of God how divers and admirable his judgements be in disposing all things in good order and pre-signifying those things that are to come even as I in this place there appeareth a most signal example of humane error and incredulity How many and how long the Kings reigned that were of David's Line by which it was not lawful for them to avoid their future calamity nor shun their unalterable destiny Thus was the Race of the Kings extinguished that descended from David who were in number One and twenty that Reigned after him All of them together governed Five hundred and fourteen years V. 9. ad 18. six months and ten days adding thereunto the twenty years of the first King Saul The Temple the Palace and the City spoiled and burnt who was of another Tribe After this the Babylonian sent Nabuzaradan General of his Army unto Jerusalem to spoil the Temple giving him in charge to burn both it and the Kings Palace and to raze and level the City with the ground and afterwards to transport the People unto Babylon Nabuzaradan arrived there the eleventh year of the Reign of Zedechias and spoiled the Temple and carried away the Vessels that were consecrated K to Gods service both those of Gold as also those of Silver he took likewise the great Laver that was given by Solomon the Columns and Pillars of Brass with their Chapters likewise and the Tables and Candlesticks of Gold and after he had born away all things he burned the Temple the first day of the 5th month of the eleventh year of Zedechias Reign which was the eighteenth of Nabuchodonosor's He burned also the Kings Royal Palace and razed the City This Temple was burned 470 years six moneths and ten days after the foundation thereof and in the year 1062. six months and ten days after the departure of the people out of Egypt and 1950 years six months and ten days after the Deluge from the Creation of Adam V. 18. ad 22. until the ruin of the Temple there were three thousand five hundred and thirteen years six moneths and ten days The captivity of Babylon Thus have we set down the number of the years and L expressed in what time every thing hath been performed The General for the King of Babylon having destroyed the City and transported the People took prisoner the High Priest Sareas and his Collegue the Priest Saphan with the Governors and Keepers of the Temple which were three the Eunuch also which had the charge over the rest and seven of Zedechias friends and his Secretary besides sixty other Governors all which together with the Vessels which he had pillaged he sent to Reblatha a City of Syria unto the King of Babylon who commanded in that place that the High Priest and Governours should be beheaded as for the rest of the prisoners and Zedechias the King he carried them with him to Babylon he sent also in Bonds with the rest Josadoch the Son of Sareas the High Priest whom he had put to death in Reblatha M as we have before related And since we have reckoned up the race of the Kings that swayed the Scepter of Juda and given an account how long they Reigned it will not be unnecessary to recite the names of the High Priests The high Priests in Jerusalem and to report who they have been that have administred the Priesthood under the Kings Sadoc was the first High Priest of the Temple built by Solomon After him his Son Achimas succeeded in that Honour and after Achimas Azaras after whom succeeded Joram and after Joram Joschua after Joschua Axioram who had for his successor Phideas to Phideas succeeded Sudeas to Sudeas Julus to Julus Jotham to Jotham Vrias to Vrias Nerias to Nerias Odeas to Odeas Saldum to Saldum Elcias to Elcias Sareas to Sareas Josadoch who was carried away prisoner into Babylon all which have succeeded in the Priesthood by lineal descent N Jer. 52. 10. 11. When Nebuchodonosor was come to Babylon he shut up Zedechias in prison where he kept him until he died Zedechias death and after his death he honoured him with a Royal Tomb. He likewise offered the Vessels that he had taken out of the Temple of Jerusalem unto his gods Hedio Ruffinus chap. 11. and caused the people to inhabit the Countrey of Babylon delivering the High Priest from his Bonds The General Nabuzaradan that led the people away captive left the poorer sort in the Countrey of Judea and those also that voluntarily yielded themselves unto him over whom he appointed Godolias the Son of Aicam Governour a man that was both upright and noble commanding them to till the Land and to pay their assigned Tribute to the King C. 40. v 4. He delivered the Prophet Jeremy also out of prison Godolias Captain of the Fugitives persuading him to repair with him to the King of Babylon telling him that he had O received express commandment from the King to furnish him with all things necessary for that journey but if he were not contented to repair to Babylon he should declare unto him in what place he would make his abode to the intent he might certify the King thereof But the Prophet would not follow him or sojourn in any other place desiring rather to live amidst the ruins of his Countrey and among the pitious Reliques of his poor Nation When the General Nabuzaradan understood his resolution he gave charge to the Governour Godolias whom he left in Judea to have care of him Jeremy set at liberty by the Babylonian and richly offered and presented and to furnish him with all that which he wanted and after he had gratified him
Temple of God 3. In what estimation the Jews were with the Kings of Asia and how the freedome of those Cities which they built was granted them 4. Joseph the Son of Tobias driveth away the Jews imminent calamity by reason of his friendship with King Ptolomey 5. The friendship and society between the Lacedaemonians and Onias the High Priest of the Jews 6. The Jews distracted by seditions call Antiochus to their assistance 7. How Antiochus leading his Army to Jerusalem and taking the City spoyled the Temple K 8. Antiochus forbiddeth the Jews to use the Laws of their forefathers the Son of Asmonaeus called Matthias contemned the King and put his Captains to flight 9. Mathias being dead Judas his Son succeeded him 10. Apollonius a Captain of Antiochus is overcome in Jewry and slain 11. The overthrow and death of Lysias and Gorgias sent out against the Jews 12. How dividing their Armys Simon overcame the Tyrants and Ptolomaidans and Judas the Ammonites 13. The death of Antiochus Epiphanes among the Persians 14. Antiochus Eupator overthrowing the Army of the Jews besieged Judas in the Temple 15. Antiochus giving over his siege plighteth a league of friendship with Judas L 16. Bacchides a Captain belonging to Demetrius being sent with his Army against the Jews returneth back to the King without success 17. Nicanor elected Captain after Bacchides and sent out against the Jews is slain with his whole Army 18 Bacchides sent out once more against the Jews overcometh them 19. How Judas being overcome in battle is slain CHAP. I. After the death of Alexander the Great his Army is divided amongst his Captains M Ptolomey one of the chife of them makes himself Master of Jerusalem by surprise sends several Colonies of Jews into Egypt and puts great confidence in them continual Wars betwixt the Inhabitants of Jerusalem and the Samaritans ALexander King of Macedon having overcome the Persians and establisht the state of the Jews according as hath been related departed this life The death of Alexander and the Wars of his succssors Whereupon his Dominions and Kingdoms fell into divers mens hands Antigonus made himself Governor of Asia Seleucus of Babylon and the bordering Nations Jerusalem surprized by policy and the Jews lead way captive Lysimachus had the Hellespont Cassander Macedon and N Ptolomey the Son of Lagus held Egypt Now when these men were at discord amongst themselves whilest each of them affected the soveraignty and fought the one against the other they raised divers great and bloody Wars which ruined many Cities and destroyed great numbers of their Inhabitants Syria had sufficient experience of all these miseries under the Government of Ptolomey the Son of Lagus surnamed Soter a Title which he little deserved He it was that seized on Jerusalem by a stratagem for he entred the City upon a Sabbath day under pretext to offer sacrifice and whilst the Jews suspected nothing but spent the day in ease and idleness he surprised the City without resistance and made the Citizens captives Agatharchides the Cnidian who wrote the Acts of Alexanders successors testifieth the same reproaching us of superstition as if by that means we lost our City O He writeth to this effect There is a certain Nation which are called Jews who inhabit a City which is call'd Jerusalem both strong and mighty They suffered it to fall into Ptolomeys hands because they would not stand upon their guard and through their unseasonable superstition they permitted themselves to be subdued by a Tyrant conquerour The year of the World 3634. before Christ's Nativity 321. See A here what Agatharchides saith in this place of our Nation But Ptolomey leading away with him divers prisoners from the better quarters of Judaea and the places near unto Jerusalem of Samaria and mount Garzim sent them into Egypt to inhabit there and being assured that those of Jerusalem were most firm in maintaining their oaths and promises according as it appeared by their answer made to Alexander when after the discomfiture of Darius he sent Ambassadors unto them he put divers of them into his Garrisons giving them the same priviledges in the City of Alexandria which the Macedonians had After he had received their oath that they should be faithful unto him and his successours in memory of the great trust and favours he had bestowed on them many of the other Jews likewise of their own accord went into Egypt partly B allured thereunto by the plenty of the countrey Sedition betwixt the Jews and Samaritans as touching the Temple partly by the liberality of Ptolomey towards their Nation Yet were there continual quarels betwixt their posterity and the Samaritans because they would keep and maintain the customes and ordinances of their forefathers whereupon divers wars arose amongst them For they of Jerusalem said that their Temple was the true Sanctuary of God and would have the offerings and sacrifices sent thither the Samaritans on the other side commanded them to be brought to the mount Garazim CHAP. II. Ptolomey Philadelphus caused the Laws of the Jews to be translated into C the Greek tongue and dismissing many Captive Jews dedicateth many presents to the Temple of God AFter the death of Ptolomeus Soter his Son Ptolomeus Philadelphus succeeded in the Kingdom of Egyptt Hedio Ruffinus chap. 2. and held it for nine and thirty years space he it was that translated the law into the Greek tongue and delivered the Jews from that servitude wherein they were inthralled in Egypt to the number of sixscore thousand upon this occasion ãâã library of Ptolomey Phyladelphus Demetrius Phalereus Master of the Kings Library endeavoured to make a collection of all sorts of Books that were in the world and brought all which he thought would be agreeable to the King who was very curious in his collection of Books D The Kings demanding one day how many thousands of Volumes he had already gathered he answered him that he had already gott about two hundred thousand Volums but that shortly he hoped to have to the number of five hundred thousand Besides he told him that he had been lately informed that there ware divers Volumes among the Jews wherein many things touching their Laws and policies were written which were worthy to be known and deserved a place in so memorable and famous a Liberary but that it would be very difficult to translate them into the Greek tongue for their characters seem to have some relation to the Syriack and their pronunciation likewise is not much different from it notwithstanding they have their phrase proper and peculiar unto themselves But nevertheless he believed it might be done since his Majesty would E not think much of any charge the King approved of this proposal and wrote unto the High Priest of the Jews to help him to these books In the mean time a certaân man called Aristaeus who was intirely beloved by
the ground and cause of the War that ensued For they rejected those Sacrifices that were wont to be offered in the name of the Emperour And although the High Priests and People of Account requested them not to omit that Custom of sacrificing for their Kings and Governours yet they refused so to do trusting greatly to their Faction All those of the City that desired alteration were of this mind and especially Eleazar who at that time was General as is before said Wherefore all the chief men High Priests and Principal of the Pharisees assembled themselves and perceiving into how great danger those Rebels brought the City they determined to make tryal of the courage of the seditious people Wherefore they assembled them together before the Brazen Gate which was in the inner part of E the Temple towards the East And first of all they greatly complained of their rash and unadvised Rebellion and that they sought to stir up so great a War against their Countrey inveighing against the cause that moved them thereto as being without reason Telling them that their Ancestors for the most part adorned the Temple with the Gifts of Gentiles never refusing the Offerings of Strangers and not only not refused their Offerings for that were an impious fact but also placed in the Temple the Gifts that they sent which were yet to be seen And that it was strange that now only they thought to provoke the Romans to War by making new Laws And besides other danger also to make the City guilty of a great Crime in matter of Religion as though it were such wherein none might offer Sacrifice but F Jews Against those who refuse Forreign Sacrifices nor any but they adore God If we should make such a Law against any private person he had just cause to accuse us of Inhumanity But now the Romans are despised and Caesar himself accounted prophane and it was to be feared that if the Jews disdained to accept of Caesar's Offerings Caesar would hinder them from offering any And the City of Jerusalem would presently be accounted as an enemy to the Empire None of the Seditious gave ear to those that were in Authority unless they presently accepted Caesar's Sacrifice and before such time as they heard these news against whom this outrage was attempted Having thus spoken they brought forth the most learned amongst the Priests to recount from time to time how their Ancestors had always accepted of the Sacrifices of Strangers But none of the Mutineers gave ear to any thing that was said Ambassadors sent to Florus and Agrippa against the Seditious and the Levites came G not to serve at the Altar as now preparing for War When the Nobility saw that they could not appease this Sedition and that they themselves should first feel the Romans power they devised all means to pacifie the Tumult and sent some Deputies to Florus the chief whereof was Simon the Son of Ananias others also were sent to H Agrippa of which the chief were Saul Antipas and Costobarus who were all a kinn to the King requesting them both to come with an Army to the City and suppress the Sedition which was raised before it went further Florus was glad of these tidings and desiring nothing more than War War in Jerusalem between the Seditious and those that favoured Peace gave no answer to the Deputies But Agrippa willing to spare both parts as well the Good as the Rebels and to preserve Judaea to the Romans and the Temple to the Jews thought it not meet for him to busie himself in such affairs but sent three thousand Horse to aid the people against the Rebels Which Horse were of Auranitis Batanaea and Trachonitis and he made Darius their Captain and Philip Son of Joakim General of all the Army These coming into the City the Nobility with the High Priests and the rest of the people that desired Peace I received this succour in good part and quartered them in the higher part of the City for the Rebels kept the lower part and the Temple The War began instantly with Darts and Slings and shooting of Arrows and sometimes they encounter'd one another hand to hand The Seditious were more valiant but the King's Soldiers were more skilful in War and chiefly endeavoured to get the Temple and expel out of it those who thus prophaned it The Rebels with Eleazar endeavoured besides that which they had already to get also into their hands the higher part of the City Wherefore during the space of seven days there continued a great Conflict betwixt them and either part kept what they had When the Celebration of the Feast called Xylophoria was come Xylophoria a Feast wherein every one carrieth Wood to the Temple to keep a K fire continually upon the Altar the Rebels would not suffer their enemies to do their Devotion Now many of the Sicarii or Thieves who carried short Poyniards under their Coats went amongst the weaker multitude and boldly followed their old practice By which The King's Soldiers are overcome those of the King's side were forced to leave the higher part of the City which the Rebels presently entring set the Palaces of Ananias Agrippa and Bernice on fire and forthwith went to the place where all Charters were kept purposing there to burn all Bounds and Obligations of Debtors thereby to defraud the Creditors and so to joyn all the Debtors to their Faction and stir up all the poor people against the rich The Keepers of these publick Writings fleeing the seditious persons set all on L fire And so having destroyed those Records which were in a manner the publick Estate of the City they addressed themselves against such as refused their Proceedings Some of the High Priests and Nobles hid themselves in Vaults others fleeing with the King's Soldiers into the higher Palace locked up the doors after them amongst whom was Ananias the High Priest and Ezechias his Brother and they who as is before spoken were sent Deputies to Agrippa And so the Seditious were satisfied that day with the Victory and firing of the houses aforesaid The next day The Jews take Antonia and burn it which was the fifteenth of August they assaulted the Castle Antonia having besieged it two days they took all that guarded it and killed them and placed in it a Garrison of their own company This done they went to the King's Palace whither M Agrippa's Soldiers were fled and dividing their Company into four parts they began to pull down the Walls none of them that were within durst come out for fear of the multitude but went up to the Turrets of the Palace and killed all those that offered to come up and many of the Thieves under the Walls with things that they cast down This Conflict continued day and night for the Rebels thought that those within could not hold out long for want of Victuals and they within
on fire and a profound silence in every place they could not conjecture what was the cause of it and at last they made a cry at once as though they had been beating the Walls with a Ram thereby to see if they could make any Enemies come out The Women in the Vaults heard this cry and coming forth declared N to the Romans all that had hapned The Romans admire the Jews fortitude and obstinate contempt of death The Romans did not easily believe their words by reason the greatness of the fact seemed incredible but they endeavoured to quench the fire and passing forward they came to the Palace where they beheld all the dead bodies yet they did not insult over them as Enemies but admired that so many should be so obstinately minded to despise death O A CHAP. XXIX Of the Death of the Sicarians that had fled to Alexandria and Thebes AFter that the Castle of Massada was thus taken The murtherers authors of new calamity the General of the Romans leaving a Garrison there went to Caesarea because there was no Enemy left in all the Country But not only Judea was destroyed through the continuance of the War but many of that Nation though far distant from it tasted of its troubles for it so fell B out that afterwards many Jews perished in Egypt at Alexandria Those Sicarians who had escaped thither were not content to be safe and free from danger but there also they attempted alteration and to recover their Liberty against the Romans esteeming themselves nothing inferiour to them and that only God was their Lord. And some of the nobler race of the Jews seeking to withstand this Enterprize were by these Sicarians slain which was no sooner done but they incited the People to revolt The better sort of the Jews seeing this The Jews assemble and consult abâut the murtherers and that they could not repress them without danger they assembled all the Jews together and declared to them the temerity of these Sicarians accusing them as the Authors of all the misery that had befallen the Jews C and that if they thought it sufficient to force them to fly yet they were not certain of their lives because the design being known to the Romans they would punish them for it though no partakers of their wickedness Wherefore they admonished the multitude to beware lest they drew themselves into the same danger wherein the Sicarians were and to provide for their own safety by delivering such people to the Romans The Jews were perswaded by these speeches and foreseeing the danger that might ensue they furiously assaulted the Sicarians and took of them six hundred and shortly after those who fled into Egypt and Thebes were taken and brought back again whose hard-hearted obstinacy was so great that none can without admiration hear of it For notwithstanding that all torments and tortures Divers sorts of torments and tortures inflicted on them who refuse Caesars Sovereignty that could be devised were inflicted up-them D only to force them to confess that Caesar was their Lord yet not one of them would say so or make any shew thereof but all persevered in their former opinion as though the Body tormented had been dead and not alive Moreover the incredible obstinacy of their Children was most to be admired for not one of them could be constrained to call Caesar Lord. So much did their Resolution overcome the Torments inflicted upon their Bodies E CHAP. XXX How the Temple of Onias at Alexandria was shut up AT That time Lupus was Governour of Alexandria and with all speed by Letters gave Caesar notice of these troubles The Emperour seeing that it was necessary to beware of the Jews who were naturally inclined to sedition and unquietness fearing also that they would once again gather themselves together and cause some to joyn with them he commanded Lupus to destroy the Temple which they had in the City F Onion Onias by Ptolomââs consent buildeth a City and Temple in Egypt which was built and so named upon this occasion Onias the Son of Simon one of the high Priests being driven out of Jerusalem when Antiochus King of Syria wared against the Jews he came to Alexandria and was courteously entertained by Ptolomaeus who was then also Enemy to Antiochus affirming that he would draw into his Country the People of the Jews if he would agree to that which he required The King according to all that could be granted he requested him to permit him to build a Temple in some place of his Country wherein he might worship God according to the custom of their Country for so the Jews would hate Antiochus the more who had destroyed their Temple at Jerusalem and be friendly to him and many of them would flie to him for Religion's sake Ptolomaeus agreed so to do and gave him a piece of ground for that purpose a hundred G and fourscore furlongs from Memphis Onias Temple built in Egypt in that place which was called the Country of Heliopolis where Onias building a Castle erected also a Temple not equal to that of Jerusalem The year of the World 4036. after the Nativity of Christ 74. but yet with a Tower like that of Jerusalem with very great stones H and threescore Cubits long and he built an Altar after the fashion of that of his Country and adorned it with all manner of gifts save only a Canclestick which had in stead thereof a Lamp to give light which he caused to be hung before the Altar in a golden Chain and he invironed all the Temple with a wall made of Brick and the Gates he made of Stone and the King granted to it great revenues of money and ground to the intent that the Priests might have plenty of all things which they required But Onias did not this with a good Conscience but for that he was at variance with the Jews of Jerusalem who had forced him to flie and he perswaded himself that by the building of this Temple he might withdraw all men from Jerusalem thither and I of this there was a Prophecy nine hundred and seventy years before and Isaias had foretold that a certain Jew should build a Temple in Egypt Thus that Temple was built and Lupus having received the Emperors Letters went to the Temple Lupus ãâã the Jews out of the Temple and taking away certain gifts from it he shut it up and after him Paulinus who succeeded in his stead left not one gift there for he threatned the Priests if they did not bring forth all and permitted not any that came thither to sacrifice to come near it but shutting up the Gate thereof he left no sign of divine Service there and from the time it was built till the time it was shut up were three hundred thirty and three yeares K CHAP. XXXI Of the Massacre of the Jews at Cyrene THE
he adds certain Fables forgetting himself that he reported the Shepherds departure out of Egypt to Jerusalem to have been almost five hundred and eighteen years before his time For it was in the fourth year of the reign of Thermosis when they departed out of Egypt and his Successors continued in the Government three hundred and ninety three years till the time of the two Brethren Sethon M and Hermeus the first of which was called Egyptian the other Danaus who supplanted Sethon and reign'd alone fifty nine years after whom his eldest Son Ramses reign'd threescore and six years Having therefore confessed our Ancestors to have departed out of Egypt so many years before at length he addeth Amenophis to the number of their Kings He tells us that the said Prince as Orus one of his Predecessours had done before had an ardent desire to have a sight of the Gods and that a Priest of their Law named Amenophis as he was and Son of Papius whose wisdom in prediction was so admirable that he seem'd to be inspir'd told him his desire should be accomplished if he would drive out of his Kingdom all such as were Leprous and any other way infected The King according to his directions assembled N of them to the number of Eighty thousand and sent them with other Egyptians to work in the Quarries on the East-side of the Nile among whom there were certain Priests who were likewise infected Manethon adds That the Priest Amenophis apprehending lest the Gods should punish him for having given the King that counsel the King for having followed it so strictly and finding by divination that to recompence the sufferings of those poor People they would conquer and govern in Egypt for the space of thirteen years he was afraid to tell it to the King himself but having committed his Revelation to writing he kill'd himself to the great terrour of the King This done he speaks as followeth So the King being requested for their quietness and defence to assign them a City to inhabit appointed unto them a desolate place O called Avaris which had been the Shepherds City this City the ancient Divines call A Triphon but they having got the possession of this place fit for Rebellion made choice of one of the Priests of Heliopolis to be their Captain Osarsiâhus Captain of Avaris whose name was Osarsiphus and bound themselves with an Oath to obey him in all things and he presently made a Law That they should neither worship the Gods of the Egyptians nor abstain from those Beasts which the Egyptians count holy and that they should marry with none but such as they judged to be their Friends and of their own perswasion Having ordained this and many things else contrary to the Religion of the Egyptians he commanded them to build a Wall about the City to fortify it well and prepare to make War upon King Amenophis Having taken some others of the Priesthood into his Cabal they sent Ambassadors to Jerusalem to the Shepherds which were driven out of Egypt by King Themusis to inform them of what had passed and request B them to a Confederacy The war of the banished against the Egyptians and that uniting their forces they might jointly make War upon Egypt He promised to receive them into Avaris which had been of old the possession of their Ancessors and supply them with what ever was necessary and assured them their opportunity was such that without great difficulty they might conquer that Kingdome That the Inhabitants of Jerusalem embracing the motion rais'd an Army and advanced to Avaris with 200000 men That Amenophis King of Egypt hearing of their invasion and remembring what Amenophis the Son of the Priest Papius had left in writing was in great fear and presently assembling together the people of Egypt and consulting with the Princes of his Country he sent away all the holy Beasts and all that the Priests esteemed giving C them especial charge to hide their Idols He put his Son Sethon who also by his Father Rampses was called Rhamesses and but five years old into the custody of a Friend of his The Egyptian King fled into Ethiopia and was by the Ethiopian King courteously entertained and then with three hundred thousand fighting men he marched against his Enemies but would not fight with them lest he should fight against the pleasure of the Gods and so he retired himself to Memphis and taking Apis and the rest of the Egyptian Gods along with him he and his Troops of Egyptians took Ship and fled into Aethiopia That the King of Aethiopia having a great honour for him received him very nobly assigning his People Towns and Villages for their residence and subsistence during their thirteen years exile keeping constant Guards upon his Frontiers for the D security of Amenophis That in the mean time the Auxiliaries from Jerusalem did much more mischief than those who had invited them That there was nothing of cruelty or impiety that they scrupled or omitted That not contenting themselves with the demolishment and burning of Towns they added sacriledg to their sins brake their Idols in pieces slew their consecrated Cattel forced the Priests and Prophets to kill their own Beasts Osarsiphus was afterwards call'd Moses and drave them naked out of their Country when they had done To which he adds That they had for their Law-giver a Priest of Heliopolis call'd Osarsiph from Osiris which was the God that was worshipped in that City and that that Priest having chang'd his Religion chang'd likewise his Name and called himself Moses E Thus the Egyptians report of the Jews and many things else which for brevity sake I omit Manethon further writeth that afterward Amenophis the King came with a great power out oâ Aethiopia and his Son Rampses with him accompanied with a great Army and that joyning Battel with the Shepherds and polluted persons he gave them an overthrow and pursued them unto the Borders of Syria And this is Manethon's report but forasmuch as he writeth old wives tales dotages and lies I will by manifest reason convince him First distinguishing that whereof I am to speak hereafter He of his own accord granteth and confesseth that our Ancestors at first were not Egyptians Manethon's lies are confuted but Strangers that came thither from another place and conquered the Country and again departed from thence I will now out of his own F writings endeavour to shew that the weak people of Egypt were not mixed with us and that Moses who indeed was our Conductor out of Egypt and lived many ages before was no âeper He therefore first of all setteth down a ridiculous cause of this forementioned fiction which was that King Amenophis was desirous to see the Gods What Gods do you think He could already see the Ox the Goat the Crocodile and the Munky but the God of Heaven how could he see And
himself leave no room to doubt of his experience in Affairs Lastly His Life written by himself join'd with his History of the Jewish Wars make him sufficiently known And as for his manner of writing I think it needless to commend it since this Work manifests it so excellent everywhere particularly in the Nineteenth Book where he relates the Actions and Death of the Emperor Caligula which no Roman Author has done so accurately I think I may say without fear that there is not in Tacitus any History which surpasses that eloquent and judicious Narration I know some will wonder that after having mention'd the greatest Miracles he diminishes the belief of them by saying That he leaves every man at liberty to have such opinion thereof as he thinks fit But in my judgment he does it onely on this account That having compos'd this History chiefly for the Greeks and Romans as 't is easie to gather by his writing the same in Greek and not in Hebrew he fear'd their incredulity would render it suspected to them if he affirm'd positively the truth of things which seem'd to them impossible But whatever Reason induc'd him to use that Caution I pretend not to defend him either in those places or any others where he is not conformable to the Bible This alone is the Divine Fountain of written Truths which cannot be sought elsewhere without hazard of Error and one cannot excuse himself from condemning whatever is found contrary thereunto I do it with all my heart and there is no person but ought to do it in order to read this excellent History with satisfaction and without scruple Neither yet do I pretend to justifie this Author in some places where he speaks of the several sorts of Government nor as to some other particular sentiments which no body is oblig'd to follow Nor do I engage my self in any matter of Criticism the contests whereof I leave to such as are exercis'd in that sort of study If in some places as amongst others in the description of the Tabernacle and of the Table of Shew-bread some difference be found between this Translation and the Greek the cause thereof is that those passages are so corrupted in the Greek Text that all I could do was to bring them into the condition wherein they are II. Of the History of the Jewish War against the Romans c. If the History of the Jews advances its Author into the rank of the best Historians 't is plain that in that of their War against the Romans he has surpass'd himself Several reasons have concurr'd to render this History a Master-piece the greatness of the Subject the sentiments excited in his breast by the ruine of his Countrey and the share he had in the most considerable Events of that bloody War For what other Subjects can equal this great Siege which manifested to all the Earth that one City alone would have been the Rock of the Roman Glory had not God for punishment of its sins overthrown it by the storms of his wrath What sentiments of Grief can be more lively than those of a Jew and of a Priest who saw subverted the Laws of his own Nation whereof no other was ever so jealous and that magnificent Temple the object of his devotion and of his zeal reduc'd to ashes And what greater interest can an Historian have in his Work than to be oblig'd to bring into it the principal Actions of his own Life and to labour for his own Glory by an unflattering advancement of that of the Conquerors and by acquitting himself at the same time of what he ow'd to the generosity of those two excellent Princes Vespasian and Titus to whom the honour of having finish'd this great War was due But for asmuch as there are so many remarkable Occurrences in this History I think to do the Readers a pleasure in presenting them here with an Abstract thereof from which general Idea they may afterwards proceed to the particulars depending thereupon It is divided into seven Books The first Book and the second to the twenty eighth Chapter are an abridgment of the Jewish History from Antiochus Epiphanes King of Syria who spoiled the Temple and went about to abolish Religion to Florus Governor of Judea whose avarice and cruelty were the chief occasion of that War which they maintain'd against the Romans This abridgment is so delightful that Josephus seems to have design'd to shew that he could like excellent Painters represent the same objects in different manners with so much art that it should be hard to know to which to give the preference For whereas these Histories are sometimes interrupted by the Narration of things hapned at the same time they are here written in a continu'd series and give the Readers the pleasure to behold in one Table what they saw before separately in several From the twenty eighth Chapter of the second Book to the end Josephus relates what pass'd in consequence of the troubles rais'd by Florus till the defeat of the Roman Army commanded by Cestius Gallus Governor of Syria In the beginning of the third Book Josephus shews the consternation of the Emperor Nero upon this ill success of his Arms which was likely to be follow'd with a revolt of all the East and how casting his eyes on all sides he found only Vespasian fit to bear the weight of so important a War and accordingly gave him the conduct thereof He relates afterwards in what manner this great Captain accompany'd with Titus his son enter'd into Galilee whereof our Author himself was Governor and besieg'd him in Jotapat where after the greatest resistance imaginable he was taken and led Prisoner to Vespasian and how Titus took divers other places and perform'd actions of incredible valor The fourth Book brings in Vespasian conquering the rest of Galilee the Jews beginning to tumultuate in Jerusalem the Factious who took the name of Zealots becoming Masters of the Temple under the conduct of John of Giscala Ananus the High-Priest stirring up the people to besiege them there the Idumaeans coming to their assistance exercising horrible cruelties and afterwards retiring Vespasian taking sundry places in Judea blocking up Jerusalem in order to besiege it and forbearing that design by reason of the troubles risen in the Empire before and after the death of the Emperors Nero Golba and Otho Simon son of Gioras another Head of the Factious receiv'd by the people into Jerusalem Vitellius who had seiz'd upon the Empire after Otho's death rendring himself odious and contemptible for his cruelty and debauchery the Army commanded by Vespasian declaring him Emperor And lastly Vitellius assassinated at Rome after the defeat of his Forces by Antonius Primus who had embrac'd Vespasian's party The fifth Book relates how a third Faction of which Eleazar was Head was form'd in Jerusalem That afterwards those three Factions were again reduc'd to two and in what manner they made War one against another It contains
Philip the Son of Jacim departed from the Fort of Gamala upon this occasion As soon as he understood that Varus was revolted from King Agrippa and that Modius Equus who was his Friend was sent to succeed him he certified him of his estate by his Letters Agrippa's kindness and humanity towards Philip. which when he had received he highly rejoyced at Philip's safety and sent those Letters to the King and Queen who lived at Berytus Whereupon the King understanding C the false rumor that ran touching Philip that he was the Chieftain of the Jews Army who undertook the War against the Romans sent certain Horsemen to Philip to bring him to his presence before whom he no sooner arrived but he embraced him very kindly and shewed him to the Roman Captains telling them that that was Philip of whom it was commonly reported Hedio Gadara that he was in Rebellion against the Romans After which he sent him with a party of Horsemen in all diligence to the Fort of Gamala to draw his houshold servants from thence and re-establish the Babylonians in Batanaea and travel to his uttermost power that the Subjects might be continued in obedience and peace After Philip had received this commandment from the King he hasted to perform the same D But one Joseph a pretended Physitian or Treacle-seller One Joseph stirred up a sedition in Gamala gathering together a sort of bold young Men and inciting the Nobility of Gamala persuaded the People to fall from the King and take Arms for recovery of their former liberty Having thus drawn many to his party he fell to killing of all those that durst contradict him Amongst these died Cares Jesus his Kinsman and the Sister of Justus the Tiberian as we have heretofore declared After this they requested me by Letters that I would send them aid and Labourers to build Walls for their Town To both which Requests of theirs I easily condescended About this time the Countrey of Gaâlonitis as far as the Borough of Solyma rebelled against Agrippa I also inclosed with Walls Seleucia and Sogon which were two strong places unaccessible Many Jews revolt from the Romans and fortified by Nature I did the like also by Jemnia E Ameritha and Charabe a Borough of higher Galilee although they were scituated among the Rocks I fortified in like sort Taricheas also and Tiberias and Sephoris Cities of Galilee and the Cave of the Arbalians Bersobe Selamen Jotapa Capharath Comosogona Nepapha and the Mountain Itabyrim In which places I stor'd up great plenty of Corn and laid up much of Armor and Munition for defence Mean-while John laboureth to supplant Joseph in his Government John the Son of Levi increased his hatred daily more and more towards me being greatly grieved to see my prosperity and whereas he was fully resolved to rid me of my Life after he had encompassed his Countrey Giscala with Walls he sent Simon his Brother with an hundred Soldiers to Jerusalem to Simon the Son of Gamaliel desiring him to labour the matter in such sort with the City that my Authority might be F disannulled and that John by common consent might be ordained Governor of Galilee in my place This Simon was born in Jerusalem Noble in Birth and in Sect a Pharisee which Sect of all other is most strictly observant in the Laws of our Countrey a Man of excellent wisdom who by his counsel was able to repair the decaying Ruines of his Countrey and who of long time had made use of John's friendship because he was at that time mine Enemy This Man sollicited by the intercession of his Friends persuaded the High Priest Ananus and Jesus the Son of Gamala and other of his Faction to stop my increasing honors before I attain'd to a higher degree of power For it should be very advantagious for them also if I were removed from the Government of Galilee Further he told Ananus G and the rest Simon 's counsel against Joseph that they were not to delay the matter lest upon discovery of their counsel I should attack the City with an Army Ananus the High Priest replied That is could not easily be done for that divers Priests and Governors of the People bare witness for me that I behaved my self honestly in that Government and that it was ill done to H bring an Accusation against a Man who could not be charged with any Misdemeanor When Simon heard what Ananus said he pray'd him and the rest at least to speak nothing thereof nor to make his motion known for he himself would undertake the execution of it And calling unto him the Brother of John he charged him to tell his Brother that the way to accomplish his design was to send Presents to Ananus For said he they will work so much with him that they will make him change his opinion In the end Simon obtained that which he long time sought after For Ananus and his Adherents being corrupted with Money accorded to remove me from the Government of Galilee without the consent or allowance of any other of the Citizens For which cause they thought good to send certain persons Noble in Birth and no ways inferior to one I another in Learning whereof two were of the common sort and Pharisees the one called Jonathas Simons second counsel against Joseph the other Ananias the third was Jozarus of the Tribe of Levi who was also a Pharisee and of the race of the Priests To these they joined Simon who was also descended of the High Priests and the youngest of them all These they commanded to call together a Council of the Galileans and demand of them why they loved me so well If they answered that it was because I was of Jerusalem they should say that Jerusalem was their Countrey likewise But if they said it was because of my knowledge in the Law they were willed to say that they understood the same as well as I. If they said it was in regard I was a Priest that they loved me Ambassadors with Soldiers sent to Joseph they should likewise averr that two of them were Priests Being thus instructed and receiving forty thousand silver K drachms of the Publick treasure with their Fellow and Collegue Jonathan they set forwards And for that at the very same time a certain man called Jesus of Galilee was come to Jerusalem with a band of six hundred Soldiers they sent for him and hired him and gave him three Months pay commanding him to follow Jonathan and his Companions and to do as they should command them and to these they adjoined three hundred Citizens whom they hired with Rewards With this preparation the Legates set forward being accompanied with Simon John's Brother who had one hundred Soldiers with him with Commission from those that sent them that if I willingly laid down Arms they should send me alive to Jerusalem and if I resisted by
Law of every seventh year and then also when they should possess the Land of Canaan He gave rest unto the earth every seventh year so that it was neither tilled nor planted in like manner as he had commanded them to rest from their labours on the seventh day of the week and he ordained that the fruits which the earth of it self brought forth should be common to all those that would make use thereof as well to those of the Countrey as Strangers without any forbidding or reservation He likewise decreed that the same should be done after seven times seven years and that the year following which is the fiftieth year The year of Jubile and which the Hebrews call Jubile i. e. Liberty M the debtors should be acquitted by their creditors and the Bond-Men made free meaning those that having offended against some Law had been punished with servitude Levit. 25. â v. 8. ad 14. and not put to death and to those who from the beginning had been possessors of Lands the same were restored in this manner following The Jubile being at hand which word signifieth Liberty both he that sold and he that bought the Land met together and cast up the account of the profits and expences that had been reaped and bestowed on the Land and if it were found that the profits exceeded the expences he that sold the Land repossessed it but if the charges exceeded the value of the profits he payed the surplusage to the buyer and retained the Land to himself And if the profits and expences were equal the restitution was made to him that had the antient inheritance N He ratified likewise the same Law in houses that were bought in Villages or Cities For if he that sold counted down the money he had received before the year were finished he compelled the purchaser to restore him his house but if he stayed till the year were fully finished the possession and free purchase remained unto him that bought it Moses received all these Laws from God upon the Mountain of Sinai and he gave them in writing to the Hebrews that they might observe the same CHAP. XI The Laws and Customs of War Hedio Ruffinus chap. 15. all 12. AFter that these Laws had been after this manner provided Numb 1. 2 3. Moses addressed himself to O the affairs and Laws of war foreseeing those which his People were to undergo Moses numbreth up the People He therefore commanded the Princes of the Tribes the Tribe of Levi onely excepted A to take a precise view and muster of those Men that were able to bear Arms for the Levites were Sacred and exempt from those Functions and the search being made there were found 603650 fighting Men betwixt the years of twenty and fifty But in the place of Levi he put the Tribe of Manasses the son of Joseph and Ephraiâ in the place of his father Joseph according as Jacob had entreated Joseph to give him his sons that he might adopt them as hath been before declared When they pitched the Tabernacle it was planted in the midst of the Camp guarded and defended with the Tribes which were encamped three by three on every side The disposition of the Army There were certain ways or paths likewise laid out between them and a Market-place and Shops for all sorts of Merchandize disposed by order and Workmen and Artizans of all Occupations travelling in their shops B so that to look upon it it resembled a City The Priests first were placed next the Tabernacle and after them the Levites for there was a view also made of them accounting all the Males exceeding the age of 30 days and they were found to be 23880. During all the time that the Cloud before mention'd cover'd the Tabernacle A cloud on the Tabernacle as a token of God's presence the People remain'd always in the same places and if it departed from the same then remov'd they likewise Moses invented also a certain kind of Trumpet made of silver Numb 9. 15. after this manner In length it was almost a Cubit and it was like the narrow whistle of a Fife but a little thicker it had but one hole at which it was to be blown and the end thereof was like a little Bell Numb 10. 2. in form of an ordinary Trumpet They call it in the Hebrew Tongue Asofra There C were two of them Two trumpets made of silver whereof the one serv'd to call the People to Publick Assemblies and the other to summon the Princes of the Tribes when they were to consult about Affairs of State and if both of them were sounded then all in general gather'd together When the Tabernacle was remov'd this manner was observ'd As soon as the first Charge was sounded they that were incamped toward the East dislodged at the second Charge they to the Southward disincamped then was the Tabernacle unpitched and carried in the midst six of the Tribes marching before and six after the Levites were all about the Tabernacle And when they sounded the third time the three Tribes toward the West removed and at the fourth sounding those on the North follow'd them They made use also of all these Trumpets in the Divines Service both on D the Sabbath and other days Then also was the first Passeover celebrated by our Forefathers with solemn offerings after their departure out of Egypt they being in the Desart CHAP. XII Sedition against Moses through the scarcity of Victuals and the punishment of the Rebellious NOT long after this Hedio Ruffinus cap. 16. they remov'd their Camp from the Mountain of Sinai and after certain encampings of which we will speak they came to a place which is call'd Iseremoth Numb 11. 1 2. There the People once more began to murmur and to revive their E Seditions Sedition against Moses and lay the fault of their laborious Pilgrimage upon Moses charging him That by his persuasion they had left a fertile Countrey and now not only were destitute of the plenty thereof but also in stead of hoped felicity forc'd to wander here and there in extreme misery so that they had not so much as water to drink and that if Manna likewise should fail them they must all inevitably perish for want of sustenance Hereunto added they divers Contumelies which were every where cast upon him though a man of so great desert and consequence Mean while there arose one amongst the People who admonishing them of the forepass'd benefits receiv'd by the hands of Moses counsell'd them to be of good courage assuring them that at that time they should not be frustrate either of that hope or help which they expected at God's hands But the F People were the rather incensed by these words and more and more whetted their spleens against the Prophet who seeing them so desperate exhorted them to be of a good courage
alledged that Moses having given this maim unto the People by the loss of so many Noble Men who as they said perished onely for the zeal they bear to God's Service not onely had done them open wrong but which was more had assured the Priesthood to his Brother after such a manner that henceforward no Man durst pretend to the same seeing how miserably those others were punisht by a violent death Moreover the Kinsmen of those that were slain sollicited and stirred the People praying them to restrain the Pride and overgreat power of Moses in that it lay in their power easily to perform the same But Moses perceiving that the People were incensed and fearing lest once more they should fall upon some Innovation whereby some O great mischief might succeed he assembled them together and gave audience to their accusations and without replying any wayes for fear he might the more A incense them he onely commanded the heads of the Tribes to bring every one a rod whereon the name of each Tribe should be written promising that the Priesthood should remain with them in whose rod God should shew any sign Which proposal being allowed by all both they and Aaron brought their rods with their inscriptions and Aaron had written on his the name of the Tribe of Levi. Aaron's Rod fructifieâh These Moses laid in the Tabernacle and the next morning brought them forth every one which were easily known by the People to be the same which the Princes of the Tribes had brought by the marks which they had made upon them and they saw that all theirs remained in the same form which the day before they retained when Moses took them but out of Aaron's rod there grew Branches and Buds and which is more to be wondred B at it bare ripe Almonds because it was of the Wood of the Almond-Tree The People amazed at the strangeness of this spectacle changed their hatred against Moses and Aaron into admiration of the judgment which God gave in their favour and forbare any more to repugn against God or to oppose themselves against Aaron's Priesthood v. 8. Thus three times confirmed by the approbation of God Hedio Ruffinus chap. 3 4 by all Mens consent he remain'd High-Priest and the People of the Hebrews turmoyled with long seditions Numb 18. at last by this means became setled peace in and quietness v. 8. ad 20. But after Moses had made the Tribe of Levi which was dedicated to God's service free and exempt from warfare Lev 14. 18 23. for fear lest they should employ themselves in providing necesâaries for their maintenance The revenues of the Priests and so grow negligent in the service of God he ordained that C after the Land of Canaan should be conquered Forty eight of the best Cities with their Lands within two Miles compass should be given to the Levites Moreover he commanded that the tenths of all the yearly fruit that was gathered by the whole People should be given to the Levites and Priests which hath been ever since inviolably observed Now must I declare what things are proper to the Priests Of the forty eight Cities which were granted to the Levites he commanded them to give thirteen to the Priests and the tenth part of the Tythes Besides he ordained that the People should offer to God the first-fruits of whatsoever the earth yieldeth and that the first-born of four-footed Beasts allow'd for sacrifice if a male should de delivered to the Priests to sacrifice to the end they might be nourished with all their Family in D the sacred City of Jerusalem and that for those which the Law forbids to eat there should be paid by the owners in lieu of a firstling a Sicle and an half and for the first-born of a Man five Sicles He allotted them likewise the first-fruits of Sheep-shearing and those that bak'd Bread of new Corn were to give them Cakes But when they who are called Nazarites because they let their Hair grow and taste no Wine have accomplisht their vow Numb 6. 1 ad 13. and come to present themselves in the Temple to cause their Hair to be cut Of the Nazarites the Beasts which they offer in sacrifice belong to the Priests And as for those that have consecrated themselves to the service of God when they desire to be dismissed from that ministery whereunto by voluntary vow they bound themselves they must pay money to the Priests a Woman thirty Sicles a Man E fifty and those that have not so much money refer themselves to the discretion of the Priests And when any Man kills a Beast to eat in private and not to offer to God he ought to give the Priests the fat Gut the Breast and the right Shoulder This is the allowance which Moses assign'd to the Priests besides what the People offer for sins as we declared in the precedent Book and whatsoever is contributed by the People to the order of the Priests Numb 20. 14 ad 21. he commanded that both their Wives Children and Servants should be made partakers of the same Moses Embassage to the Idumaans except those things which are offered for sins of which onely the Men which are imploy'd in divine service may eat and that in the Tabernacle and the very same day that such sacrifices are offered After all these constitutions were made by Moses and the mutiny appeased he removed the F Camp to the borders of Idumaea where he sent Ambassadors to the King thereof desiring him to grant them free passage on condition to give him what assurance he would demand that no violence or injury should be offered to his Countrey and that he would pay for whatsoever victual or water either he or his Army should receive But the King setting light by the Ambassage denied them passage and with a well furnished Army marched forth against Moses to withstand him if contrary to his will he should attempt to pass thorow his Countrey C. 20. v. 1 Moses asked counsel of God who forbad him to begin the War first Mariam Moses sister dieth and commanded him to retire back again into the Desart Numb 19. per totum At that time died his Sister Mary the fortieth year after their departure out of Egypt The manner of Purification and the first Moon of the month Xantique she was Magnificently enterred G at the common charge on a certain Mountain called Sein And after the People had mourned for her thirty days Moses purified them after this manner The High-Priest kill'd near the Camp in a very clean place a young red Heifer without blemish which had never yet born the yoke and dipping his finger in the blood thereof he H seven times besprinkled the Tabernacle The year of the World 2493 before Christ's Nativity 1473. and then put into the fire the whole Heifer with the Skin and
passages of their Country by which they thought their Enemy might break in preparing themselves to repell them with force and valor Yet no sooner did Phinees with his Forces charge them Cap. 3. 8. ad 18. but upon the first encounter so great a multitude of the Madianites was slain Five Kings of the Madianites slain that the number of the Carcasses could hardly be reckoned Neither were their Kings saved from the Sword these were Och Sur Robeas Vbes and Rechem from whom the chiefest City of the Arabians deriveth its name Otherwise Aâââeme or Arca. and at this day retaineth O the same and is call'd Receme and by the Grecians Petra The Hebrews having thus put their Enemies to flight ravaged the Region and carried away with them great A spoils The year of the World 2493. before Christ's Nativity 1471. and killing all the Inhabitants thereof both Men and Women they onely spared the Virgins according to the command Phinees had received from Moses who returning home with his Army in safety brought with him a memorable and glorious prey of Oxen 52067 of Asses 60000 of gold and silver Vessels an incredible number which the Madianites were wont to use for their domestick occasions A great prey gotten from the Madianites so great was their great Riches and Luxury There were also led Captives about 30000 Virgins But Moses dividing the prey gave the fiftieth part thereof to Eleazar and the Priests and to the Levites another fiftieth Num. 27. 18. the remainder he distributed amongst the People who after this Battel lived in great security Deut. 3. 22. having gotten Riches by their Valor Moses appointed Joshua for his Successor and Peace also to enjoy the same Now for that Moses was well stricken in years he appointed Joshua to B succeed him in the Offices both of a Prophet a Prince and a Governor for God had so commanded that he should make choice of him to be his Successor in the principality for he was most expert in all divine and humane knowledge Numb 32. 1 5 c. being therein instructed by his Master Moses The Tribes of Reuben Gad and the half of Manasses require the land of the Amorites About that time the two Tribes of Gad and Reuben with the half Tribe of Manasses being abundantly stored with Cattel and all other manner of Riches by common consent requested Moses to give and assign to them in particular the Country of the Amorites which not long since they had conquered by the Sword for that it was full of rich Pastures But he suspecting that through fear they sought to withdraw themselves from the War with the Canaanites under pretext of care of their Cattel sharply reproved them saying that they were fearful and that their desire was to possess C that Land which was conquered by the Valor of the whole People to the end they might lead their lives in idleness and pleasure and not to bear Arms with the rest of the Host to help them to posses the Land beyond Jordan which God had promised them by overcoming those Nations which he commanded them to account for their Enemies These Tribes lest he should seem to be deservedly incensed against them answered that neither through fear they fled danger neither through sloth shunned labour but onely design'd to leave their prey in commodious places to the end they might be more fit to follow the War saying that they were ready if so be they might receive Cities for the defence and receipt of their Wives Children and Substance to follow the rest of the Army whithersoever they were conducted and to adventure their lives with them D for the common interest Moses satisfi'd with their reason in the presence of Eleazar the High Priest and Joshua with the rest of the Magistrates granted them the Land of the Amorites with this condition that together with the rest of the People they should march against their common Enemies Numb 35. 34 c. till the War were accomplished according to their desire accordingly having received that which they demanded they built them walled Cities Deut. 4. 43. and left their Children Josh 20. 8 9. Wives and Substance in the same Moses also built ten Cities in that Region which are to be reckoned in the number of those 48 abovemention'd in three whereof he appointed Sanctuaries The Cities of refuge and places of refuge which they only might take benefit of who fled thither for Casual Homicide and he appointed them their term of Exile till the time of the death of the High Priest under whom the E Manslaughter was committed at which time they might safely return into their Countrey And during the time of their Exile it was lawful for any of the Kin to take revenge upon the Offender by killing him only at such time as he was found without the City of Refuge which right he gave onely to those that were akin but not to others Now the Cities of Refuge were these in the Confines of Arabia Bosora in the Region of Galadena Numb 36. 1 2. Arimanum in the Countrey of Bazan Gaul Moses also ordained that after the Conquest of Canaan The daughters of Salpades have their inheritance in their fathers place three more Cities of the Levites should be appointed to that end that they might give refuge and habitation to such sort of Offenders At that time when one of the Magistrates called Salphates of the Tribe of Manasses was dead and had onely left Daughters behind him the Governors of the Tribe came unto Moses F and asked his counsel The history of Deuteronomy Whether they should inherit the Lands of their Father Moses answered them Ruffin cap. 5. That if they married within their Tribe they should inherit but if they made choice to marry themselves into another Tribe Hedio cap. 8. then they should lose their Patrimony in their own Deut. 41 c. ad 43. and for this cause made he this Ordinance to the end that every Tribe should continually possess its proper inheritance But whereas now there remained but 30 days only to fulfill the number of 40 years since their departure out of Egypt Moses summoning an Assembly in that place near to Jordan where now the City of Abila is scituate environed with fields beset with Palm-trees as soon as he saw the People ready to hear him spake unto them after this manner G CHAP. VIII H Moses Laws and how he was taken out of this world from the company of Men Deut. 4. MY dear friends Moses oration unto the people before his death and companions in my long Travels with whom I have run through so many dangers since it is thought requisite by God and mine age amounting to the number of one hundred and twenty years requireth no less that I must depart out of this life and
for them These thoughts produc'd in them a repentance of those things which through fury they had committed against him in the Desart so that all the People breaking out into tears would admit no consolation Laws made by Moses But Moses comforted them and desiring them to give over weeping encouraged them to observe faithfully the Laws of God Ruffin chap. 7. and so for this time the assembly dissolved The excuse of the writer of the History why he innovated the order of the Laws But before I proceed I C have thought fit to declare in this place what these Laws were to the end the Reader may know how worthy they are of the virtue of so great a Lawgiver as Moses and see what our customs have been even from the first institution of our Commonwealth For all those things are extant which this Man wrote so that we need not faign or affix any thing by way of ornament we have onely changed the order and those Laws which he scatteringly set down according as he received them from God we have generally digested into their places whereof I thought good to admonish the Reader for fear lest hereafter any of our Tribes coming to the view hereof should rashly accuse me of not having faithfully delivered the Writings and Justitutions of Moses First will I reckon up those Laws particularly which appertain to the publick institution D and policy of our Nation but those that concern private customs and contracts either betwixt our selves or foregin Nations I have deferred to be discoursed of in that commentary wherein by Gods assistance I intend to speak of our manners and of the reasons of those Laws After you have conquered the Land of Canaan Item the Israelites shall live in the Land of Canaan and built your Cities you shall in security reap the fruit of the Victory if by observation of these following Commandments you shall render your selves well pleasing to God Let there be one sacred City in the region of Canaan A sacred City and Temple in Canaan situate in a commodious and fertile place which God shall make choice of in the same let there be one only Temple built and one Altar erected of rough and unpolished stones but chosen with such care that when they shall E be joyn'd together they shall appear decent and agreable to the sight let not the Ascent of the same be made by steps but let the earth be easily and fitly raised But in any other City let there be neither Altar nor Temple For God is one and the Hebrew Nation is one Whosoever shall blaspheme God let him be stoned to death hanged on a Gibbet for a day Blasphemy against God and afterwards ignominiously and obscurely buried Deut. 4. Let all the Hebrews Levit. 16. 1 10 13. from their several Provinces assemble themselves thrice in the year in the sacred City and Temple Thrice in the year the Hebrewes ought to meet that they may give thanks to God for the benefits they have received and by their prayers implore his future assistance and that by their conversation and mutual entertainments they may increase their benevolence and F love one towards another For it is reasonable that they should know one another who are of the same stock and are govern'd by the same Laws For which purpose nothing is so fit as their meetings after this kind of manner which both by the sight and conversation cause deeper impression in the memory as contrariwise they that never see one another pass for strangers one to the other Besides let the tenth part of the fruits besides them that are due to the Priests and Levites which you are accustomed to sell in your Markets being reduced into ready money be spent on Sacrifices and Banquets in the sacred City For it is just to celebrate feasts to Gods honour Tenths of the fruits of the earth which we have received from his hands The hire of a Harlot G Let no Sacrifice be made of the Hire of an Harlot Deut. 23. 18. for neither doth any thing delight God which is gotten by ill wayes Micha 1. 7. or is there greater uncleanness than the shameful and unlawful mixture of our bodies Likewise if any man take reward for covering a bitch whether she be for the H chase or for the flock it is not lawful to make sacrifice unto God thereof Let no man speak ill of those gods which other Countries reverence Let no Man spoil any strange Temple nor take that which is dedicated to any god Let no man wear a Garment woven of Linnen and Woollen for it belongeth onely to the Priests Every seventh year Other gods when the People shall be assembled together in the sacred City to sacrifice at the feast of Tabernacles Deut. 1. the High Priest from a high Pulpit from whence he may be heard by the whole multitude shall read the whole Law publickly Linnen and Woollen so that neither Women nor Children shall be kept from hearing the same not yet slaves and bondmen Deut. 22. 11. For it is good that they retain the perpetual memory thereof alwayes imprinted in their minds Deut. 11. for so shall they sin the less The book of the Law is to be read on the feast of the Tabernacles in that they understand I what is decreed in the Law And the Laws likewise will be of more force in the conscience when they themselves shall hear the punishments which they threaten and with which those that dare to violate them shall be chastis'd so that the will to perform the Law shall never be inwardly extinguished and besides the remembrance will live in them how many plagues they incur by contempt thereof Let children especialy learn these Laws than which discipline there is not any more profitable for them nor more conducible to their felicity For which reason twice a day in the morning and in the evening they shall be minded for what benefits they are bound to God Deut. 11. 19. and how he deliver'd us out of the bondage of Egypt For it is a thing in nature reasonable Children shall learn the Law to give thanks to God as well in acknowledgement of the Goods K which we have before time received Deut. 6. 6 7 as in expectation of his future mercies The chief of these things also are to be written over our doors and worn on our arms and those things which declare his power and benificence are to be born about written on the head and arms The signs of the Law that the remembrance of Gods goodness towards his People may continually be renew'd In every City let there be chosen seven Governours such as are approved in Virtue and able for Justice The seven Presidents Let each one of these Magistrates have two Ministers of the Tribe of Levi. Honour to
the Magistrate Let those that are appointed Judges in the Cities be held in high reputation so that in their presence no man presume either to utter contumelies or injurious speeches for so shall it come to pass that men accustomed to reverence good men shall also exercise themselves in piety and reverence L towards God Whatsoever seemeth good to the Judges to decree let that be held inviolable except it be apparent that they are corrupted with money or that they be manifestly convicted of wrong judgement They ought likewise to judge without respect of interest or dignity The office of Judges and prefer justice before all other things for it is contumelious to God Justice is Gods power to suppose that he is weaker than they for whose sake they wrest the Law contrary to justice which is the power of God He therefore that giveth judgement in favour and partiality to great men maketh them greater than God himself And if the Judges cannot determine of the matter in question as it oftentimes falls out let them refer the cause to the Holy City and there shall the High Priest and the Prophet with the assistance of the Senate determine that M which shall be convenient The testimony of one witness shall not be received Deut. 19. 16 17 18. but of three or at least of two whose testimony shall be made good by the examination of their behaviour and life As for women it is not lawful for them to bear any witness by reason of the levity and temerity of that sex Neither is it lawful for a bond-man to bring in testimony by reason of his degenerate and ignoble mind for it is to be suspected that either for lucre sake or for fear he will depose an untrue testimony And if any false witness shall be convicted of perjury The punishment of a false Witness let him be subject to that penalty which he should have endured that should have been cast by his false accusation If manslaughter be committed in any place and the Offender cannot be found out and it N appear not likely Of Homicide committed that the man was slain out of malice let there be a diligent and careful inquisition made with rewards propos'd to the discoverer but if no probabilities or conjectures can be gathered then let the Magistrates of the Cities adjoining to the place where the slaughter is committed and the Elders of the same assemble together and measure from the place where the dead body lieth and let the township that is found to be nearest and the inhabitants thereof buy a Heifer which they shall bring into a place unlaboured and unplanted where the Priests and the Levites having cut the nerves of the Neck shall wash their hands and lay them upon the head of the said Heifer and protest with a loud voyce that they and the Magistrates with them are not defiled with that homicide that they did it not nor were they present when it O was perpetrated and they shall call and pray to God to avert his anger and not to permit that any such misfortune ever fall out in that Countrey A Aristocracy is without doubt a very good kind of Government because it puts the authority into the hands of more honest and good men take therefore heed that you desire no other form of policy but retain and continue the same having no other superiours but the Laws which God gives you For it sufficeth you that God is pleas'd to be your Governour Yet notwithstanding Aristocracy the best kind of Government if you shall chance to desire to have a King see that ye elect one of your own Nation who in all things may be studious to procure justice and all other virtues Deut. 17 15. attributing more to God and the Laws than to his own wisdom and conduct Let him not undertake any thing without the advice of the High Priest and the Elders Of the election of a King Let him not have divers Wives neither let him delight to get great B Treasures or multitude of Horses lest thereby he become so insolent as to raise his power and will above the Laws and if you see him affected to these things beware lest he grow more puissant than is expedient for you Deut. 19. 14. It is not lawful for any man to remove the Land-marks either of his own Land The bounds of Lands are not to be removed or any other mans whatsoever for by them is peace preserved But they ought to remain for ever firm and immovable as if God himself had placed them since such an alteration may give occasion to great contests and those whose avarice cannot suffer that bounds be set to their greediness are easily led to contemn and violate the Laws If a man plant a piece of Ground Levit. 25 3. and the Trees fructifie before the fourth year C the first fruits thereof shall not be offered to God The plants that are not of four years growth are prohibited neither shall any man eat thereof by reason that they are abortive fruits and that which is contrary to nature is neither fit to be offer'd to God nor convenient for the use of man But all that fruit that shall grow in the fourth year for then is the time that the Trees should bear shall be gathered and brought into the holy City together with the tenth of all other fruits and they shall be eaten during the Feast which the owner thereof maketh to his Friends and with Orphans and Widows but in the fifth year it shall be lawful for him to gather the fruit for himself Sow not a Field that is planted with Vines for it sufficeth that it nourisheth one sort of plants Vines to be planted so that it needeth not to be laboured and manured with the Plough D The Land is to be Ploughed with Oxen and no other sort of Beasts yoked with them The Law of the Plough but the tillage must always be performed by Beasts of the same kind The seeds also ought to be clean and without any mixture Deut. 22. 10. so that two or three sorts ought not to be sowed together for nature alloweth not a commixion of things that are different It is not lawful also to cover the female with the male of another kind lest this example should draw men to abominable mixtures and to a contempt of that sex which is appropriate to them for it often falls out that from small beginnings effects proceed of great and dangerous consequence Levit. 19. 10. For which reason nothing ought to be admitted Deut. 24. 21 22. by the imitation whereof there may chance to grow a corrupting of good E manners whence it is that the Laws regulate even the lightest things to the end to retain every one within his duty Some Gleanings are to be left for the Poor in the
could speak they would accuse you that without cause they are ill treated against all right and that if they had the power to depart from thence they would transplant themselves into L another Countrey But when the Battel is ended and the day is yours kill all those Enemies that resisted you in the Fight Deut. 20. 15 16 17. the rest reserve as your tributaries except the people of the Land of Canaan The Canaanites are wholly to be extinguished for they with all their Families are to be exterminated Beware also but especially in War that neither a Woman use a Mans apparel nor a Man that of a Womans These are the Laws which Moses left Deut. 30. 31 32 33 34. He gave them likewise certain Institutions which he had written forty years before whereof we will speak in another Treatise Some few dayes after for he assembled the people six days together he gave them his blessing and pronounced his maledictions against those which should not live according M to his Laws but should transgress the determinations thereof He read also unto them a Canticle of six measures which he had registred in the holy book containing a prediction of things to come according to which all things have and do fall out without varying any ways from the truth These Volumes and the Ark he gave to the Priests in which he also placed the ten Commandments written in the two Tables Deut. 25. 19. He committed also unto them the custody of the Tabernacle He likewise exhorted the people that when by force they had conquered the promised Countrey The Amalechites to be punished and were planted therein they should not forget the injury which the Amalechites had done them but that they should lead forth their Army against them and take vengeance of the wrongs they had done them at such time as they were in the Desart And N he commanded them that as soon as they had taken the Countrey of Canaan they should exterminate and extinguish all the people He commanded them also to erect an Altar towards the East not far from the City of Sichem between the two Mountains Garizim on the right hand and the other called Gebal on the left and that distributing the people into two parts six Tribes in every part they should place them on these Mountains And he commanded that the Levites and Priests should be with them and that they that were upon the Mountain of Garizim should pray to God to multiply his blessings upon them that are zealous of his service and careful of the conservation of his Laws which had been given them by Moses The six other also were appointed to answer them and when these six O last had prayed the six first were to answer them and confirm that which they had pronounced This done they pronounced maledictions against the transgressors each one A answering the other in ratification of that which had been spoken He reduced also into writing these blessings and curses to the intent that the memory thereof might never be suppressed or extinguished by time which he also being near his death caused to be written on the Altar on the two sides thereof and permitted the people to come near it onely that day and there to offer burnt offerings which is forbidden to them by the Law These ordinances did Moses establish and these the Hebrew Nation observe inviolably even unto this day On the next morning he re-assembled all the people with their Wives and Children he likewise commanded Deut. 29 1 ad 10. the slaves should be present binding them by an oath to maintain and keep the Laws Moses bindeth the Hebrews by an oath to keep the Law and that diligently tying themselves to the will of God they B should not so much esteem either their kindred or means or perils or any other cause whatsoever as thereby to be driven to neglect the Laws or depart from the ordinances thereof but whether any one of their kindred or any City whatsoever should seek to alter and disturb the same or strive to weaken the authority thereof that both in particular and publick they should expose themselves and endeavour to punish them and if they should fortune to take such a City they should raze and utterly deface the same and if it were possible not leave one stone upon another but destroy the foundation But if they were too feeble to take such a revenge yet that they should make it known that they were not consenting to their impiety Hereunto the whole multitude consented and promis'd with an oath He afterwards told them how the people should C know when the Sacrifices were agreeable unto God and how they ought to march out to Battel taking a sign from the stones of the High Priest's Rational of which I have fore-spoken Josua likewise during the life and in the presence of Moses Prophesied whatsoever he intended to perform for the profit of the people either abroad in the administration of War or at home in prescribing Laws and preparing them to that order of life which was newly prescribed them he told them that by instructions from God he Prophesied that if they violated their Countrey Religion they should not escape destruction their Countrey should be filled with Foreign Arms their Cities Sackt their Temple Burnt and themselves sold under the Spear and that they should serve a D Nation Deut. 33. 23. which would not be moved or touched with commiseration of their afflictions and miseries and at length they should too late and unprofitably repent of their error yet that God their establisher would restore the Cities to the ancient Citizens and the Temple to his people Deut. 34. 9. And that this should come to pass not onely once but also many times Moses exhorteth Josua Then did Moses also appoint Josua to lead his Army against the Canaanites promising him that God would be assisting to his actions and wishing all sort of happiness to the people Seeing that saith he I go unto mine Ancestors and God hath prefixed this day for my departure it is very just that living as yet and standing in your presence I give him thanks for the care and providence which he hath hitherto had of your affairs not onely in delivering E you from so many evils but also in largely imparting his blessings unto you and for that he hath alwayes favourably helpt me whilest I endeavoured by my labour and care to reduce your fortunes to a better state Deut. 3. 13. 23. for it is he which hath given both the beginning and the accomplishment Deut. 34. 9. making use of me but as his Minister and Servant in all that good which hath been done to his people For all which things I have thought requisite in departing from you to bless the goodness of God who in time to come shall have the care and charge of you
Amorites which was the seventh part of Canaan was given for an habitation and remembring them of the care which Moses had taken of them even to his death he exhorted them to perform with joy what they had promis'd him as they were oblig'd both in acknowledgement of the affection which he had testifi'd to them and for the common advantage They shew'd themselves ready and willing to perform that which he commanded them Numb 13. and they furnish'd 50000 Men. After this departing from the City of Abila The Spies survey Jericho he drew towards Jordan and marched forward some 60 Furlongs When he was encamped the Spies returned again and presenting themselves unto him certifi'd him of the whole estate of the Canaanites For being unknown and unsuspected upon the first F arrival they observed and viewed the walls and strength of the City at their pleasure searching which of them were more or less defended and which of the gates were easiest or hardest to assault neither did any that met them offer any offence unto them for whil'st they thus pryed into and viewed every place the Citizens rather interpreted their diligence to be the curiosity of strangers than suspected that they intended any hostile stratagem About the shutting in of the Evening they retired themselves into a certain Hostry that joined to the walls whither they had been directed to take their repast and whil'st after Supper they consulted about their return the King advertis'd that certain Spies sent out of the Hebrews Camp had survey'd the City and taken up their Lodging in Rahabs house with intent to conceal themselves till they might get opportunity G to depart sent Officeâ to apprehend them to the end that being brought before him he might by Torture extort from them the cause and reason why they came into his City But Rahab having gotten some private intelligence of it hid the Spies under certain Packs of Linnen which she dryed near the walls and told them that were sent by H the King that certain strangers a little before Sun-set had supt in her house but that they were departed and if they were suspected by the King as persons that intended any detriment to the City they might with little labour and persuit be overtaken in their way vers 4 6. They hearing the woman speak after this manner and imagining no subtlety or deceit in her Rahab hideth the Spies returned back without searching the Hostry and went in pursuit and search after them every way tracking every path where they might be suspected to travel towards Jordan But having no tidings of them they desisted any further to pursue them No sooner was the Tumult appeased but Rahab call'd forth the Spies and told them the dangers to which she had exposed her self for their security for had she been convinced to have concealed them both she and all her family had miserably I perished She therefore desired them to sware to her that when they should take Jericho and kill all the inhabitants with the Sword as God had told her they should they would save the life of her and her family as she had saved theirs This said she dismissed them to the end they might return home again After they had with many thanks protested and swore to her to acknowledge her kindness not in words but in deeds and had advis'd her that when she should perceive the City ready to be surprized she should retire all her substance and all those that appertained unto her into her house and that before the door thereof she should hang a Red Cloath to the intent that the General perceiving the same might inhibit the Souldiers from pillaging and spoyling her house for said they we will give him notice K hereof by reason of that willing forwardness that hath been in thee to save our lives and if by misfortune any of thy Friends dye in the Combat do not impute the fault unto us and we beseech God by whom we have sworn that he bâ not displeased against any of us but only against such as falsifie their oaths Having after this manner made the Covenant Jos 3. 1 2 3. they were let down with a rope from the wall and when they were arrived in safety among their Nation Joshua passeth Jordan with his Army they recounted unto them all that had hapned since their arrival in the City Joshua hereupon declared unto Eleazar the High Priest and the rest of the Elders what oath his Spies had made to Rahab and all of them ratified the same But the General was pensive and troubled for that he knew not which way to pass the River of Jordan by reason that for the present it was very deep L and without Bridges For before that time there was not any Bridge built thereon and if they would have built one the Enemy would have interrupted them besides that there were not any places convenient to stay in But God made him a promise that he would make the waters fall and give them passage Joshua therefore waited with his Army two dayes and then he passed over the River in this manner The Priests marched first with the Ark after them went the Levites bearing the Tabernacle and those vessels which were destinated for Sacrifice Jos 4. 1 2 3. then followed the whole multitude distinguished in their Tribes having inclosed within their Battels the Women and Children whereby they might be the more secure from the force of the stream But when the Priests had entred and found the River passable and the water decreased and M that the Current thereof was not so violent but that in the bottom there was good footing so that it was fordable then all of them without fear passed over finding all things assuredly performed unto them which God had promised unto them but the Priests kept in the midst of the Channel until the multitude were past over Josh 4. v. 5. ad finem and were in security Joshua buildeth an Altar on the other side of Jordan and when every one had gotten to the other Bank the Priests came out permitting the River to flow according to its free and ordinary course which presently flowing grew to that greatness and swiftness which it had at first Now when the Hebrews had marched fifty Furlongs Josh 5. 10 11 12. they encamped about ten Furlongs from Jericho But Josua built an Altar of twelve stones which every one of the Princes of the Tribes had gathered out of the Channel of Jordan The Israelites celebrate Easter enjoy the fruits of the earth and cease to feed on Manna by his order to the end it might be a N Monument of the prodigious restraint of the River and on the fame he sacrificed to God and the solemnity of the passover was celebrated in that place and at this time the Army was in as great a plenty as ever it had been
in necessity for they reap'd the Corn of the Canaanites which at that time was ripe and carried away much other prey In the same season likewise their nourishment of Manna failed them whereon they had fed for the space of forty years And whereas the Israelites did all these things with security and freely and the Canaanites never sallied out against them but dismay'd with fear kept themselves up within their walls Joshua resolved to besiege them in their Cities so that on the first day of the Feast the Priests bearing the Ark and guarded on every side with Troops of Armed Men Josh 6. 3. drew near Jericho sounding seven Horns thereby O to animate the Soldiers to behave themselves manfully Joshua with his Army walketh about the City and they walked about the walls being attended by the Senate neither did they any other thing but Blow their A Horns and so returned back into their Camp Which when they had done for the space of six dayes on the seventh Joshua assembled the Army and all the people bringing them joyful news of the City which that day should be taken without labour the walls falling down of their own accord and without mans hand and yielding them free passage and entrance into the City and he encouraged them to kill all those whom they met Cap. 6. vers 21 22 23. and not to give over the slaughter of their enemies although they were weary nor to be moved with compassion Joshua commandeth that none but Rahab and hers should be saved nor allured from the slaughter and execution by desire of prey or to permit the enemy in any sort to flye but that they should extinguish and root out all that had life reserving nothing for prey or private profit He commanded likewise that all the gold and silver that was found should be brought into one place B to offer to God as the first fruits and in thanksgiving for his assistance and that only Rahab with her Kindred should be spared by reason of the oath which the Spies had sworn unto her vers 10. This said he advanced his Army towards the City then did they once more walk round about the City The walls of Jericho fall down of themselves the Ark marching before them and encouraging them to Valour by the sound of their Cornets And after they had environed the walls seven times and had a little reposed themselves the walls fell though the Hebrews had forced no Engine nor used any other violence against them So that they entering into the City slew all those that were therein who were already discomforted by the sudden and unexpected overthrow of their walls vers 24 25. and thorow their sudden fear made unapt to fight Jericho is taken the men slain and the City destroyed and burnt so that they were slain in their streets finding neither refuge nor C relief to succour them and so great was the slaughter that they neither spared Women nor Children but filled the City with dead Carcasses which at length being set on fire served for a Funeral flame to consume them Rahab and hers reserved and with like fury they ravaged and burnt the houses of the Countrey only Rahab and her houshold who kept themselves within her house were saved by the Spies and being brought to Joshuah's presence he gave her thanks for saving his Spies and promised her that he would reward her courtesies and soon after he gave her possessions and ever held her in great honour All of the City which the fire spared the sword consumed And Joshua pronounced Curses against those who should afterward endeavour to erect that which he had ruined namely that he that should lay the first foundation should be deprived of his first begotten Son D and he that should finish the work might lose his youngest Son and it hath pleased God that this imprecation hath not been frustrate as hereafter shall be shewen At the surprize and sack of this City there was gathered an infinite quantity of Gold Silver and Brass and none but one man brake the Edict or sought any prey or lucre for himself These spoils Joshua delivered to the Priests to be laid up in the Treasury and after this manner was the City of Jericho destroyed But Achar the Son of Zebedias of the Tribe of Judah having got the Kings Coat embroidered with Gold and an Ingot of Gold of two hundred Sicles in weight Joshua 7. v. 1. and thinking in him self that it were not just that the profit he had got by the hazard of his life Achar hideth certain parts of the prey contrary to Gods Commandment should be taken from him and presented to God who had no need thereof he digged a deep Pit in his Tent and buried E his spoils therein thinking by this means to defraud God as well as his Companions At that time their Tents were pitched in a place called Gilgal which signifieth Enfranchized because being delivered from the affliction of Egypt and the penury of the Desart they thought they had nothing more to fear Gilgal signifieth liberty But some few dayes after the destruction of Jericho Joshua 7. 5. Joshua sent out three thousand Armed men against Ain a City situate a little above Jericho who encountering with the Ainites in Battel The Israelites are put to flight by the Aâinites and by them put to flight lost thirty six of their company The news of which disaster being brought to the Camp the Israelites were seized with exceeding grief not onely for the men they had lost which were all of them valiant men and worthy of honour but also by reason of the despair they conceived of their future success For whereas F they had persuaded themselves that they were already Masters of the field and that their Army should be alwayes Victorious according as God had promised them they saw on the contrary that this success had raised the hearts of their adversaries so that cloathing themselves with sackcloth they spent three dayes in tears and lamentations without tasting any meat Josuah's prayer unto God so grievously were they afflicted with the defeat that had hapned Joshua seeing the Army dejected after this manner falling on his face to the earth addressed himself to God Joshua 7. 6 7 8 9. saying We have not been induced by our own temerity to attempt the conquest of this Land by force but we have been hereunto encouraged by thy Servant Moses to whom thou hast promised by divers signs that thou wouldest give us this Countrey to inhabit in and that our Army should have always the victory in battel and of these thy G promises we have oftentimes experienced the event But now beyond all expectation having received an overthrow and lost some of our Soldiers being terrified by this accident and suspicious of thy promises to Moses we both abstain from War
City and the Elders and Magistrates and as many of the People as might commodiously be present and spake unto them First he called unto their remembrance the many benefits which God had bestowed upon them by means whereof from a poor and afflicted condition they had attained great riches and glory Then he exhorted them to observe his Commandments most Religiously to the end God might continue his merciful hand over them since they knew that his favour could be kept to them N by no other means but by their obedience He further told them that he thought himself oblig'd before he departed out of this life to admonish them of their duty Last of all Josh 24. 39. he desired them to accept well of that his good admonition and to be perpetually mindful of the same Joshuah's death As he ended these words he gave up the Ghost and dyed in the 110 year of his age whereof he spent 40 as Minister under Moses their chief Magistrate and after his death governed the Commonwealth 25 years A Man of incomparable prudence and eloquence wise and diligent in matters of Government and equally capable of the most important affairs of Peace and War in a word the most excellent Captain Governor of his time Ver. 33. He was buried in a City called Thamna belonging to the Tribe of Ephraim Eleazar's death About the same time likewise dyed Eleazar the High O Priest leaving the Priesthood to Phinees's Son his Sepulchre is seen at this day in the City Gabatha After their deaths Phinees being demanded by the People what God's A pleasure was The year of the World 2525. before Christ's Nativity 1439. and to whose charge the Wars against the Canaanites should be committed answered them that God commanded to give the Government to the Tribe of Judah which choosing that of Simeon for their Associates undertook the War with this condition that when they had utterly rooted out the remnant of the Canaanites out of their own Tribe Judg. 1. they should likewise employ themselves to extinguish all the Reliques of that Race amongst the other Tribes CHAP. II. How the Israelites after the death of their Emperor forgetting the Religion of their Forefathers fell into extreme Calamities and how through a Civil War raised amongst B them there were only 600 of the Tribe of Benjamin left alive BUt the Canaanites whose estate at that time was very potent expected them with a great Host about the City of Bezec Hedio Ruffinus cap. 5. al. 2. having their Army conducted by the King of that place Judg. 1. 1 2 ad 5. called Adoni-Bezec which name signifieth Lord of the Bezecenities for Adoni in the Hebrew Tongue is Lord and these Men promised themselves the Victory by reason that Joshua was deceased Ten thousand Canaanites slain and Adoni-Bezec taken ver 6 7. Against these the two Tribes of Judah and Simâon fought very valiantly and slaying 10000 of them in the pursuit they took Adoni-Bezec Captive who having his hands and feet cut off acknowledged the divine justice for he confessed that he had used 72 Kings before times after the same manner In this condition C they conducted him near Jerusalem where departing out of this life they buried him Then they over-run the Countrey sacking and taking the Cities and after they had divers of them in their possession they besieged Jerusalem and entring the lower City they put all the Inhabitants to the Sword But the higher Town was very hard to be assaulted by reason of the Fortresses and strength of the Walls and the naturally strong situation of the place which was the cause that they rais'd their Camp to go and besiege Hebron which they took and slew all that were therein Amongst whom there were some of the Race of the Gyants whose stature was so prodigious their aspect so terrible and their voice so dreadful that it can scarce be believ'd their Bones are still to be seen at this day This City being very considerable was given to the Levites with 2000 D Cubits of Land round about the rest of the Countrey was freely given to Caleb according as Moses had commanded he having been one of those Spies which Moses sent to view the Land of Canaan Jethro's posterity who was the Father of Moses possessed of Lands They gave lands and possessions likewise to the posterity of Jethro the Madianite who was Father-in-law to Moses for that they had forsaken their own Territories and join'd themselves to the Israelites and been with them in the Desart The Tribes of Judah and Simeon took those Cities of the mountainous Countrey of Canaan and also those that were in the Plain near the Sea-coast namely Ascalon and Azoth But they could not take Gaza and Accaron for those Cities being in the Plain and defended with a great number of Chariots repelled those that assaulted the same to their disadvantage So these two Tribes having had good success in Wars retired E to their Cities to enjoy in peace the spoils which they had taken As for the Benjamites Ver. 16. to whom Jerusalem appertained The Israelites overcame not the Canaanites at one time they received the Inhabitants thereof as their Tributaries so that all being in peace and the one ceasing from slaughter and the other assured from danger they employed themselves in manuring the Countrey The rest of the Tribes did the like conforming themselves according to the example of the Benjamites Av. 22. ad 26. and contenting themselves to receive their Tributes they suffered the Canaanites to live in peace The Ephraimites recover Bethel by a stratagem The Tribe of Ephraim having long besieged the City of Bethel could not see such an end of their design as the length of time and the Travels they had taken in the Siege required and although they were very much toyled and wearied with the same yet they continued the Siege At last one of the Inhabitants F who was carrying Provisions thither fell into their hands whom they promis'd that if he would let them into the City they would save him and grant life and liberty likewise to all his Family He was persuaded and by his means they became Masters of the place he and his were spared but all the rest of the Inhabitants were put to the Sword From that time forwards the Israelites ceas'd to make War and employed themselves in Tillage of their Lands and husbanding their Fruits and being grown rich they followed the delights and pleasures of the World in such sort as they became dissolute and had no regard either of their ancient Discipline or the Laws of their Forefathers Whereupon God was highly incensed against them Hedio Ruffinus cap. 6. âl 3. and he gave them to understand that contrary to his Command they had spared the Canaanites and that those Canaanites in G time to come Judg. 2. 1 ad
taken they should never more come into his presence Now Phinces executed the office of the High Priest by the permission of his Father by reason he was very aged The Hebrews upon the arrival of the Ark conceived great hope that they should have the upper hand of their Enemies v. 5. ad 11. The Philistines likewise were dismayed fearing the presence of the same v. 11. 12. c. but the event was not answerable to the one or to the others expectation Ophni and Phinees with thirty thousand are slain and the Ark is surprised by the Enemy For when they joyned battel the victory which the Hebrews hoped N would be theirs fell to the Philistines and the loss which the Philistines feared fell upon the Hebrews who at last perceived that they had reposed their confidence on the Arke in vain For as soon as their Enemies gave them the first charge they turned their backs and lost about thirty thousand men amongst whom were the two Sons of the High Priest and the Ark was taken and carried away by the Enemy O A CHAP. XII The year of the World 2871. before Christ's Nativity 1093. Eli understanding the loss of his Sons fell from his Seat and dyed AS soon as the news of this overthrow was brought to Silo 1 Sam. 4. 13 ad 18. and it was certainly known that the Ark was taken Eli understandeth of the loss of his sons and the surprizal of the Ark. for a young Benjamite who had escap'd out of the Battel came to bring tydings thereof all the City was filled with sorrow and Eli the High Priest who sate in one of the gates on a high Throne understanding the lamentation and judging that some disaster had befallen his People sent to seek out this young B Messenger by whom he was advertis'd of that which had hapned This accident of his Sons and the Army he heard with great moderation because that before that time God had told him what should happen Ver. 18. and those adversities which are foreseen do less afflict us when they happen But when he knew that the Ark was taken Eli hearing of the loss of the Ark dyed and in the Enemies hands a Calamity so beyond his expectation in such sort augmented his grief that he suffered himself to fall from his Throne upon the ground where he dyed he lived 98 years in all and spent 40 of them in the Government of the People The same day dyed the Wife of Phinees the Son of Eli soon after she understood the misfortune of her Husband Ver. 19 20 21. for she was with Child when the message of his death was brought to her Phinees wiâe bare Ichabod and dyed and she was deliver'd of a Son in the seventh month which lived and C was called Ichabod which signifieth ignominy by reason of the Infamy received at that time by the Army Eli was the first that governed among the Successors of Ithamar one of the Sons of Aaron The genealogy and progeny of Eli the High Priest for before that time the house of Eleazar was possessed of the Priesthood the Son receiving it from his Father Eleazar left it to Phinees after him Abiezer his Son enjoy'd the place and left it to his Son Boci whose Son called Ozes receiv'd it after whom Eli of whom we speak at this present took the same whose Posterity retain'd that dignity till the time of the Reign of Solomon when the Posterity of Eleazar were restored to it D E F G The Sixth Book of the Antiquities of the JEWS The year of the World 2850. before Christ's Nativity 1114. H Written by FLAVIVS JOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the Sixth Book 1. How the Philistines compelled by Pestilence and Famine sent the Ark of God back again unto the Hebrews 2. The Victory of the Hebrews under the Conduct of Samuel 3. How Samuel when his strength failed him through age committed the administration of I Affairs to his Sons 4. How the People being offended with the manners of Samuels Sons required a King that might rule over them 5. Saul by Gods Commandment anointed King 6. Sauls Victory against the Ammonites 7. The Philistines assailing the Hebrews are over come by them in Battel 8. The Victory of Saul against the Amalekites 9. Samuel translateth the Royal Dignity unto David 10. The Expedition of the Philistines against the Hebrews 11. Davids single Fight with Goliath and the slaughter of the Philistines that follow'd K 12. Saul admiring Davids fortitude giveth him his Daughter in marriage 13. How the King sought Davids death 14. How David oftentimes hardly escaped the Kings malice yet having him twice in his power he would not hurt him 15. The Hebrews are overcome in a great Battel by the Philistines wherein Saul the King and his Sons fighting valiantly are slain CHAP. I. How the Philistines compelled by Pestilence and Famine sent back the Ark of the L Covenant unto the Hebrews AFter the Philistines had got the Victory over the Hebrews 1 Sam. 5. 1 ad 6. and taken the sacred Ark Hedio Ruffiâus cap. 1. as we have before declared they brought it with their other spoils to the City of Azot and plac'd it in manner of a Trophee in the Temple of Dagon their Idol The sacred Ark is carried into the Temple of Dagon But the next day after when early in the Morning they entred into the Temple to adore their god they found him fallen from that Base or Pillar that sustained him and lying along the ground his face upward They of Azot are horribly plagued for taking away the Ark. before the Ark whereat being much moved they took him up and fastened him in his former place and when they came often thither and always found him prostrate M and as it were adoring before the Ark a great fear and perturbation invaded the whole People Mice devour the fruit of the Countrey of Azot At length a grievous Plague not only ranged in the City of Azot but also seized on all the Inhabitants of the Countrey For the People being suddenly taken with the Flux dyed in great Torment and some of them vomited up their Bowels being corrupted and corroded with the disease Besides this the whole Land swarmed with Mice which destroying all things neither spared the Corn nor any other Fruit. The Azotians being afflicted with these Calamities and unable longer to endure the same understood that the Ark was the cause thereof and that neither the Victory or the taking of the same had any ways procured their advantage They therefore sent to the Ascalonites desiring them to receive the Ark into their City who willingly condescending N to their Embassage and Demand received the Ark and were presently plagued with the same sicknesses which the Azotians had suffered For together with the Ark the
Women and Children beating their Breasts and lamenting for the King and his sons and tasting neither meat nor drink Ver. 11 12 13. This was the end of Saul according as Samuel had foretold him because he disobeyed God in his War against the Amalekites The Citizens of Jabes rescue the bodies of Saul and his sons and both bury and lament them and because he had slain Abimelech and all the Sacerdotal Race and destroyed the City of the Priests He Reigned during the life of Samuel the space of 18 years and 22 years after his death K L M N O A The Seventh Book of the Antiquities of the JEWS Written by FLAVIVS JOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the Seventh Book 1. David is created King of one Tribe in Hebron over the rest Saul's Son obtaineth the Sovereignty 2. Ishboseth is slain by the treachery of his Servants and the whole Kingdom cometh unto B David 3. David having surprized the City and Citadel of Jerusalem driveth the Canaanites from thence and causeth the Jews to inhabit it 4. David assailed by the Philistines obtaineth a famous victory against them near unto Jerusalem 5. David overcometh the neighbouring Nations and imposeth tribute on them 6. They of Damascus are overcome by David 7. David overcomes the Mesopotamians 8. How through the intestine Wars of his family David was driven out of his Kingdom by his Son C 9. Absolon marching out with his Army against his Father is overthrown 10. The happy estate of David restored again unto his Kingdom 11. David in his life-time anointeth his Son Solomon King 12. The death of David and what he left his Son towards the building of the Temple CHAP. I. David is created King of one Tribe in Hebron over the rest Saul's Son obtaineth the Sovereignty D THis Battel was fought on the same day that David returned Conqueror to Siceleg after he had subdued the Amalekites But about three days after his return he that slew Saul and had escaped from the Battel having his garment rent and ashes upon his head came and cast himself prostrate before David and being asked from whence he came he answered from the Battel of the Israelites and certified David of the unhappy event 2 Sam. 1. v. 1 ad 12. telling him that many thousands of the Hebrews were slain and that Saul himself and his Sons were fallen in the conflict He likewise related how he himself retreated amongst the Hebrews An Amalechite certifieth David of Sauls death and in testimony thereof presenteth his bracelets and Crown when the King fled confessing that he had slain him that he might not fall alive into the hands of his enemy For said he Saul E having cast himself upon the point of his sword was so weak by reason of the agony of his wounds that he could not dispatch himself Thereupon he produced the bracelets and the Royal Crown which he took from him David perceiving no cause whereby he should doubt of his death whereof he had most evident and infallible testimonies rent his garments v. 12 and spent the day in weeping and lamenting with his companions but he was the more grieved for the loss of his dear friend Jonathan David lamenteth Saul and Jonathans death whom he acknowledged to be the preserver of his life And so affectionate shewed he himself towards Saul that although he had oftentimes been in danger to have been slain by him yet was he much troubled at his death v. 13 14 15. and not only so David commandeth the Amalâchite to be slain that killed Saul but he likewise put to death him that slew him telling him that he himself had accused himself for slaying the King and shown himself F by that parricide to be a true Amalekite He composed likewise Lamentations and Epitaphs in the praise of Saul and Jonathan which are yet extant After that he had thus honoured the King and performed his Lamentations and Obsequies he asked counsel of God by the Prophet 2 Sâm 2. 1 ad 7. What City of the Tribe of Juda he would give him to inhabit in David by Gods commandment cometh and dwelleth in Hebron and is declared King of the Tribe of Juda. who answered him That he would give him Hebron For which cause he forsook Siceleg and came and dwelt in Hebron and brought thither his Wives and his Army All the people of the Tribe resorted thither unto him and proclaimed him King where understanding how the Jabesins had buried Saul and his Sons he sent Ambassadors unto them both to praise and approve their actions assuring them that he allowed their act and would recompense that kindness which they had shewed to the dead giving them likewise G to understand David praiseth the Jebafines for burying Saul and his Sons that the Tribe of Juda had chosen him for their King But Abner the Son of Ner General of Sauls Army a man of great courage and a noble disposition understanding that Saul and Jonathan and his two other Brothers were dead came into the Camp The year of the World 2891. before Christ's Nativity 1873. and bringing with him the only Son of Saul that was left whose name was H Isboseth he passed to the other side of Jordan and proclaimed him King He appointed likewise for his Royal seat and place of residence a certain Countrey called in Hebrew Machare that is to say the Camp From thence he went with a select band of soldiers with a resolution to encounter those of the Tribe of Juda because they had chosen David for their Kings Against him marched out Joab the Son of Suri and of Sarvia Davids Sister General of his Army to encounter him accompanied with his Brothers Abisai and Azael v. 8 ad 12. and all Davids soldiers and arriving near a Fountain in Gabaa he drew up his Army in that place Abner the Son of Ner crowned Jeshboseth Sauls Son Abner proposing that before they joyned Battel they should try some of the soldiers of each party it was agreed between them that twelve of either side should be chosen out to decide the quarell Abner leadeth out his Army against the Tribe of Juda. These men marched out into a I certain place betwixt both Armyes and having darted their Javelins the one against the other came at last to their Swords and one taking his enemy by the hair they all of them slew one another v. 13. upon the place Hereupon the Armyes met and after a cruel Battel Abner with his followers were discomfited Joab with all Davids Army issueth out to meet him and flyng in great haste were pursued by Joab who incouraged his soldiers to follow them close without suffering any of them to escape But amongst the rest Joabs Brothers were hot upon the Chase and the youngest of them called Azael v. 15. gave special testimony of his
austerity to apply himself to the favor and good liking of the multitude for that by this his affability he might the more easily draw their hearts unto him because that by a natural inclination Subjects take delight in those Kings that are courteous who with a certain decent familiarity Ver. 8 ad 11. entertain themselves amongst them But Rehoboam rejected this counsel of theirs which was both good and profitable in all occasions Rehoboam rejecteth the advice of the Elders and followeth the counsel of the younger but especially upon the first entrance into a Kingdom and that not without Gods providence since contrary to all reason he neglected the right course and followed the perverse so that calling unto him certain young men of his own humor and disposition he told them what the Elders had counselled him and willed them to discover their opinion in that matter F but neither their age nor Gods permission suffered them to know that which was expedient For which cause they counselled him to answer the people That his little finger was more great than the loins of his father and that if they had experimented and endured grievances under him that he would be far more rigorous and that if his father had chastised them with the stroke of the Rod that they should expect to be punished by him with a severer chastisement The King delighted herewith supposed the answer to be agreeable to the dignity of his Empire When therefore the people were assembled on the third day to hear his resolution and all of them were in suspence expecting and desirous to hear him speak from whom they hoped nought else but sweetness Rehoboam contemning the counsel of his friends proposed unto himself that of the young Men. All which G hapned by the Will of God to the end that that which Achias had prophesied might be fulfilled H They touched by these his answers no less than if they had been wounded with a sword were much displeased and no less moved than if they had already felt the mischief that was threatned so that they began all of them to cry with a loud voice that from that time forward they had nothing to do with Davids alliance neither with his succession Ver. 18 c. telling him that they would only leave the Temple his father had built unto his charge and threatning him to abandon him The Israelites moved with their repulse revolt from Reâoboam Furthermore they were so heinously incensed that Rehoboam having sent unto them Adoram the Superintendent of the Tribes to pacifie their wrath and to persuade them to pardon his youth if he had spoken any thing lightly and unrespectively unto them they could not endure to hear him speak but slew and well-nigh overwhelmed him with stones Which when Rehoboam I perceived supposing that it was himself who in the person of his Officer was put to death and stoned by the people he feared lest in effect his life and the fortune of his Kingdom should fall into the like disaster Whereupon he took his Chariot and fled to Jerusalem where the Tribe of Juda and that of Benjamin by their common suffrages made him King Ver. 21 22. But as touching the rest of the people Rehoboam intending to make War on those Tribes that revolted is inhibited from that day forward they revolted from the Successors of David and proclaimed Jeroboam King of their estates Rehoboam the son of Solomon being sore displeased herewith assembled the two Tribes with an intent to muster One hundred and fourscore thousand chosen Men to make War on Jeroboam and his people and to inforce them by War to acknowledge him for their Sovereign But God restrained him by the means of a Prophet who forbade him to make K War saying That it became not those of the same Nation to contend one against another and the rather for that this their revolt had hapned by the Will of God by which means and persuasion he dismissed his Army But first of all I will rehearse that which Jeroboam King of Israel did and afterwards declare the acts of Rehoboam King of the two Tribes and thus shall the course of the History continue in order After that Jeroboam had setled his Court in the City of Sichem The Court and Palace of Jeroboam he made his ordinary abode in that place except that sometimes he sojourned in the City of Phanuel Not long after this the feast of Tabernacles being at hand Jeroboam supposing that if he permitted the people to go up and worship God in Jerusalem and solemnize the feast in that place they might either repent themselves of the revolt or that by the magnificence of L the Ceremonies used in the worship of God in the Temple and service that was celebrated therein Ver. 26 27 28. they might be persuaded to forsake him Why Jeroboams Calves were made and submit themselves to their first King and by that means he might be drawn into danger of his life to prevent the danger of such a mischief took this course He caused two golden Calves to be cast and built two several Temples the one in Bethel and the other in Dan which is scituate near to the source of little Jordan in which he placed these Calves and afterwards assembling the ten Tribes that were under his subjection he spake unto them in manner following My Friends and Countreymen I know that you are not ignorant how God is in all places and that there cannot be any place wherein he assisteth not nor time wherein he heareth and beholdeth M them not that serve him with true affection For which cause I think it not convenient that you go up unto Jerusalem which is a City at enmity with us neither that you make so long a journey to perform your devotion Jeroboam persuadeth the pâople to Idolatry for it was a man that built that Temple even as I have consecrated two golden Calves the one in Bethel and the other in Dan to the end that every one of you that inhabit near unto those Cities may go thither and worship God Neither shall you want Priests and Levites for I will elect some such among you to the intent that you may have no more need of the Tribe of Levi or the Sons of Aaron Whosoever therefore amongst you would be a Priest let him offer Calves and Muttons unto God after the same manner that Aaron did when he was first appointed to be a Priest By such like Speeches seduced he the people and caused them to fall from their Forefathers N Religion and transgress the Ordinances of their Countrey and this was the beginning of all those mischiefs that afterwards fell upon the Hebrews by which means being overcome in War The neglect of Gods service is the cause of all evil they fell into captivity and were made subject to strangers whereof we will treat
further hereafter Now when the feast of Tabernacles which hapned in the seventh month was at hand he himself intended to celebrate in Bethel after the same manner as the two other Tribes had feasted in Jerusalem and erected an Altar before the Calf and was himself the High Priest ascending up to the Altar being assisted by the Priest Now at such time as he was about to sacrifice and to offer up burnt-offerings in the sight of the people there came a Prophet and stood by him called Jadon sent from O Jerusalem by the commandment of God who standing up in the midst of the people and in the hearing of the King turned himself towards the Altar and spake after this manner Thou Altar thou Altar thus saith the Lord there shall a man rise of the Tribe of David called Josias he shall kill upon thee the false Prophets of his time and shall burn the bones A of the deceivers and seducers upon thee And to the intent that each man may believe that this Prophecy is true it shall be confirmed by a Prodigy This Altar shall suddenly break and the fat of the Sacrifices that are laid thereon shall be poured on the ground Jeroboam displeased with these words of the Prophet 1 Reg. 13. 1 2 3. stretched out his hand commanding them to lay hold on him But the hand that he stretched out became instantly wither'd so that he could no more draw it back again to himself The Prophecy against the Altar in Bethel but held it hanging down astonished and mortified On the other side the Altar cleft in twain and all that was thereon fell down according as the Prophet had foretold The Prophecy is confirmed by a miracle The King perceiving that the man had a true and divine spirit of Prophecy besought him to pray unto God that his hand B might be restored to him again in its full strength and vigor Ver. 4. and he prayed and his hand was restored Jeroboams withered âand restored wherewith Jeroboam being well-pleased invited the Prophet to dine with him But Jadon answer'd him and said That he neither might enter into his house nor taste any bread or water within the City because God had prohibited him furthermore he told him That it was not lawful for him to return the same way that he came But the King admiring at the continency of the man Hedio Ruffinus cap. 9. began the more seriously to suspect his estate and conjecturing by those things which he had both seen and heard he divined the assured disaster of his estate and fortunes There dwelt in that City a certain false Prophet whom Jeroboam held in great honour in that he soothed him up in whatsoever was best pleasing to his ears This man lay at that time sick upon his Bed being feeble through age and when he was informed by his son that there was a Prophet come from C Jerusalem and what wonders he had wrought and how Jeroboam by his prayers recovered again his withered hand he fearing lest the King should make more account of this stranger than of himself commanded his sons presently to saddle his Ass and to have him in a readiness against his departure Which when they had performed he mounted thereon and went after the Prophet whom he overtook where he rested himself under a thick shadowy Oak and upon the first encounter saluted him and afterwards expostulated why he had not visited him Ver. 7 ad 10. neither accepted of that hospitality which he willingly would have afforded him The Prophet is brought back by the subtilty and fââud of the false Prophet Jadon answer'd him That God had forbidden him and charged him not to taste any kind of sustenance in any mans house that dwelt within the City Truly said the other with me thou mightest eat for I also am a Prophet and honour the same D God that thou doest and now also come I unto thee by his commandment to conduct thee back again unto my house and to entertain thee with a friendly dinner These words of the false Prophet made Jadon credulous so that he turned back again with him But as they sate at their Banquet and were making merry together God appeared unto Jadon and said unto him That since he had broken his commandment he should suffer punishment for the same and withall expressed unto him the manner which was That in his return homewards he should be torn in pieces by a Lyon Ver. 19 ad 23. and that he should not be buried in the monument of his fathers This thing hapned in my opinion by the Will of God The disobedience of the Prophet his punishment and burial to the intent that Jeroboam should not respect Jadons words who had been found a lyar As therefore Jadon returned back to Jerusalem a Lyon met him on the way and tore him in pieces from his Ass E and slew him yet offered he no violence to the Ass that bare him which he preserved with the body of the Prophet standing fast by the same until such time as certain passengers beholding the spectacle brought news thereof into the Town unto the false Prophet who sent his sons to bring back the body which by their assistance he honourably buried charging them that after his death they should bury his body by him assuring them that all that which he had prophesied against that City against the Altar the Priests and false Prophets was very true And as touching himself he commanded that after his decease they should bury him by him because that being buried with him there might no difference be made betwixt their bones Jadons Prophecy is detracted to Jeroboam by the false Prophet and his Tomb might be honoured When therefore he had interred the Prophet and given his son these things in charge being other F ways a most wicked and impious man he addressed himself to Jeroboam and said unto him Why art thou troubled at the words of this mad man The King told him all that which had hapned about the Altar and his hand and assured him that he accounted him a true and divine Prophet and one sent by God But the false Prophet began most maliciously to weaken his belief and disguise the truth of that which hapned by his persuasive words For he told him that what had hapned to his hand was only occasioned through weariness and the pains he had taken in bearing the Sacrifices and after that he had a little rested that it came into his own natural state again and that the Altar being newly built and divers great Sacrifices laid thereupon it cleft in twain and fell down through the weight of what was laid on it Consequently he declared unto him the death of him that had foretold these signs that were to come and how G he had been slain by a Lyon for which cause he persuaded him to think
that he in no sort was a Prophet nor had the spirit of Prophesie A By such like allegations he made the King believe that which he said and having wholly withdrawn his thoughts from God and good works and the observation of Gods laws he drew him to all wickedness and impiety by which act of his he displeased God and offended his laws and sought daily after no other thing than to invent some new and cursed wickedness that was far more heinous than all that which before time he had attempted This is all that at this time we have to write concerning Jeroboam Touching Rehoboam Solomons son who was King of the two Tribes as we have before declared he built these great and strong Cities Hedio Ruffinus cap. 10. Bethleem Itama Thecos Bethsor Socoth Rehoboams defenced Cities Odolam Epan Maresa Zipha Adoraiâ Lachis Saraim Elon and Hebron within the Confines of Juda. He built also other great Cities in the Countrey of the Benjamites B which he walled 2 Chron. 11. 5. and placed Garisons and Governors in every one of them and great store of Corn Wine and Oyl and generally in every City he made a great store-house with all sorts of provision 2 Chro. 11. 13. and victuals The godly Israelites return to Rehoboam with a great number of targets and launces To him the Priests and Levites joined themselves who were dispersed thorow Israel who came and dwelt in Jerusalem For they could not endure to be obliged to adore those Calves that Jeroboam had erected Ver. 18 19 20. and during the term of three years Rehoboams Wiâes and Children they increased the Kingdom of Rehoboam who being married to one of his own Line had three children and was afterwards married also to Maacha the daughter of Thamar daughter to Absalon who was of his Parentage likewise of whom he begat his son called Abiah He had also divers other children by other women but above all the rest he loved Maacha C most intirely He had eighteen wives married unto him according to the law and thirty concubines he had eight and twenty sons and threescore daughters and declared for his successor in the Kingdom Abiah the son of Maacha and committed all his Treasures and strong Forts unto his hands But Men most usually are corrupted by the flatteries of fortune as appeareth by this King For Rehoboam seeing his Kingdom thus increased bent himself to all unjust and impious actions and contemned the service of God the people also conformed themselves to his impieties For the life of the subject is oftentimes perverted by reason of the corrupt and dissolute life of their Princes and those that are inferiors beholding the riot of their superiors will easily be withdrawn from all modesty and follow those vices they profess as if they had been their professed D virtues Regis ad exemplum totââ componitur orbis for should they do the contrary they would seem to mislike the actions of their Princes And thus it hapned under the Government of Rehoboam where the Subjects addicted themselves to all manner of impiety for they would not make profession of honesty for fear of offending their Prince in appearing to be more virtuous than he CHAP. IV. Susac King of Egypt after the spoil of Jerusalem carrieth away the riches of that City into Egypt E BUT God sent Susac King of Egypt to take vengeance for that wickedness 1 Chron. 12. â which was committed against his Majesty by Rehoboam Alias cap. 5. whose actions Herodotus wrongfully ascribeth to Sesostris Susac invadeth Judea with great Forces For this Susac in the fifth year of Rehoboam's Reign assembled a huge Army of many thousands and brought them out against Rehoboam wherein it is reported that he had twelve hundred Chariots threescore thousand horsemen and four hundred thousand fooâmen The greater part of these were Lybians and Ethiopians breaking therefore into the Hebrews Countrey with this power without stroke he seized the strongest places of the Kingdom of Rehoboam Ver. 2. ad 8. and fortified them and at last came and encamped before Jerusalem Jerusalem besieged But Rehoboam and his Associates seeing themselves begirt on every side by Susac's Army Sâmâââs the Prophet reprehendeth the Jews of their impiety Samâââs comforteth the people at last had recourse unto prayer yet could F he not move God to favor him with victory For the Prophet Samoeas threatned and told him That God would abandon both him and his in like manner as they had forsaken him and his service Which when they heard they suddenly lost their courage and seeing no means to escape they all of them began to confess that God had justly forsaken them because they had offended against him and perverted all his Laws But God seeing them thus disposed and making confession of their sins said unto the Prophet That he would not utterly destroy them yet notwithstanding that he would deliver them into the hands of the Egyptians to the end that they might learn whether it were more difficult to serve God or men When therefore King Susac had without bloodshed or resistance taken the City Ver. 9 10 c. and was received into the same by Rehoboam Jerusalem and the Temple are spoiled he kept not those Covenants that were made betwixt G them but spoiled the Temple and took away with him those Treasures that were dedicated unto God and the service of the King taking from thence innumerable thousands of gold and silver not leaving any thing behind him He carried away also those Targets and Bucklers of gold which were made by King Solomon neither left he behind A him the quiver of gold The year of the World 2975. before Christ's Nativity 989. which was offered by David and received by him of the King of Sophena which done he retired back again unto his own Countrey Of this expedition Herodotus of Halicarnassus maketh mention who differeth only in the name of the King and saith that he assailed divers Nations and subdued Palestina and Syria and took many men prisoners without any resistance What Herodotus wrote of this expedition whereby it is manifest that he meaneth no less than that our Nation hath been overcome by the Egyptians For he saith that in their gates who yielded themselves up unto him without making opposition as an eternal Reproach of their Cowardize and Luxury he erected Pillars which were figured with the secret parts of a woman For King Rehoboam was the only Prince that ever yielded up the City without opposition It is said that the Ethiopians have learnt of the B Egyptians the use of circumcision of the Prepuce For the Phoenicians and Syrians that are in Palestine confess that they have learnt it of the Egyptians But it is very manifest that no other are circumcised in Palestina or Syria but our selves But let each one speak of
which he intended As soon as he came to Babylon he took divers of his Countreymen with him who willingly follow'd him and went with him unto Jerusalem in the 25 year of the Reign of Xerxes and after G he had deliver'd his Letters to Sadeas and the other Governors he assembled the people of Jerusalem and standing up in the midst of them he spake unto the whole Congregation H to this effect The year of the World 3519. before Christ's Nativity 445. You men of Jury there is none of you but know what care God Almighty hath been pleased to take of our Forefathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob in regard of their piety and love to justice and he doth still make it evident that he will not abandon us in that I have obeained favour of the King and permission by his assistance to rebuild the Walls of our City and finish the rest of the Temple I therefore pray you who are assuredly persuaded of the envy and hatred the neighbouring Nations bear unto you Nehemias having gotten licence and authority to build the walls of Jerusalem inciteth the people thereunto who hearing that we are intent upon our building will overpress us and labour by all means possible to hinder us first to relie upon Gods Providence who will oppose himself against the hatred which they bear us and afterwards to intermit neither day nor night in prosecution of the building but with all care continue the work in that the opportunity doth require our diligence After he had spoken I to this effect he gave order that the Governors should take the measure of the Wall and distribute the task among the people Nehem. 2. v. 1. ad 11. according to the Burroughs and Towns and to every mans ability and after he had promised to employ both himself and all his family therein he dismissed the Assembly Hereupon the Jews incited by his authority addressed themselves to the work and then it was that they first began to give the name of Jews to those of our Nation who returned from the Captivity and to the Countrey the name of Judea because it had been heretofore inhabited by those of the Tribe of Juda. The Ammonites Moabites Samaritans and all the Inhabitants of Coelosyria understanding that the walls were raised with such haste and diligence Nehem. 4. 1. ad 15. were much troubled and resolved K with themselves to lie in ambush and to hinder them in the prosecution of their work so that they slew divers Jews and sought the means likewise to murther Nehemias himself and having hired certain strangers with money to commit the fact they âay in wait for him V. 16. ad fin They endeavour'd also to terrifie the Jews with vain reports The ardent care in building the walls of Jerusalem and by spreading certain rumors that divers Nations intended to make War against them by which reports being much troubled they desisted for a time from the prosecution of their building Yet none of these things could weaken Nehemia's diligence or resolution but that keeping a guard round about him he diligently prosecuted his design setting light by all occurrents so great was his affection to accomplish the work And therefore he carefully stood upon his guard not that he fear'd death but because he was persuaded L that his Fellow-Citizens would abate of their courage and resolution if he continued not with them to animate them to the prosecution of so holy an enterprize He commanded likewise that the Workmen while they wrought should have their Arms near them so that both Masons and Labourers carried their Swords Moreover he gave order that they should have their Targets by them and he placed certain Trumpetters some 500 foot distant the one from the other charging them that as soon as they discover'd the Enemy from any part they should incontinently sound the alarum and give notice unto the people to arm themselves and prepare for the fight for fear they should be surprized and found unprovided He himself also walked the round about the City by night The walls of Jerusalem finished with an indefatigable courage and without either eating or M sleeping but only for necessity sake and this labour endured he for the space of two years and three months for the Wall of Jerusalem was built again in that time in the 28 year of the Reign of Xerxes and in the ninth month After the City was fortified Nehemias and the people offered Sacrifices unto God Provision for the Priests and spent eight dayes in feasting When the rumor was spread abroad that this building was finished the Inhabitants of Syria were sore displeased But Nehemias perceiving that the City was weakly manned besought the Priests and Levites to forsake their dwellings without the City and to come and dwell within and to that intent he built them houses upon his own charge He ordained likewise that they that intended their Husbandry should bring the Tenths of their fruits unto Jerusalem to the intent that the Priests and Levites by enjoying their continual N maintenance 1 Esdras 10. might omit no time in the service of God The death of Nehemias wherein he was readily obey'd By this means the City of Jerusalem was very well peopled After that Nehemias had honourably accomplish'd divers other worthy actions deserving praise he died in a good old age He was a man so good so just and highly affectionate towards his Countrey and one to whom they are so much obliged for the benefits which they have receiv'd that his memory will remain for ever among the Jews O CHAP. VI. The year of the World 3543. before Christ's Nativity 421. A Artaxerxes succeeds his father Xerxes in the Kingdom of Persia he repudiates Queen Vashti his Wife and espouseth Esther the Neece of Mardocheus A man persuades Artaxerxes to banish all the Jews and to apprehend Mardocheus but he is hanged and Mardocheus established in his place AFter the death of Xerxes Hedio Ruffinus cap. 6. the Kingdom fell to Cyrus his son who by the Grecians was call'd Artaxerxes Under his government all the race of the Jews both Men Women and Children were in danger to be utterly exterminated the cause whereof I B will hereafter declare But first of all I must speak somewhat of the King and declare how it came to pass Esther 1 2. that he married an Hebrew Woman of the Blood Royal by whose means as it is said our Nation was preserv'd After that Artaxerxes had taken the Kingdom upon him and establish'd Governors over 127 Provinces from India as far as Aethiopia in the third year of his Reign he entertain'd and feasted all his Friends with great magnificence the Nations of Persia likewise with their Governors for 180 days He feasted after this for the space of seven days the Ambassadors of all Nations in the City of Susa after this manner
incensed against his brother as well as the People drave him in like manner from the Sacrifice For which cause Manasses addressing himself to his Father-in-law Sanaballath told him Manasses under hope of greater fortunes retaineth the foreign wife he had That although he loved his daughter Nicasis very intirely yet would he not condescend for her sake to be deprived of the Priesthood which was the greatest dignity that could be among their Nation and which had ever continued in his race Whereupon Sanaballath answer'd and promis'd him That he O would not only continue him in the Priesthood but also would give him the power and dignity of the High-Priesthood and make him Governor of all places that he commanded provided the Marriage solemnized betwixt his daughter and him The year of the World 3630. before Christ's Nativity 334. were continued He furthermore assured A him That he would build a Temple resembling that in Jerusalem upon the Mountain of Garzim which was the highest in all the Countrey permitting him to do the same with Darius 's consent Manasses puffed up by these promises remaineth with Sanaballath and grew in hopes that he should obtain the Priesthood by Darius's means for Sanaballath was very old The Apostasie of the Priests Whereas divers others both Priests and common People among the Israelites were intangled in such Marriages there arose no small commotion in Jerusalem For all they of this condition retired themselves to Manasses whom Sanaballath furnished with money and lands to till and houses to inhabit to favour the ambition of his Son-in-law At the same time Darius understanding that Alexander having passed the Hellespont had B overcome those Governors Hedio Ruffinus cap. 8. whom he had placed near unto the River Granicus and that he passed further spoiling his Countrey he gathered together his Horsemen and Footmen resolving to make head against the Macedonians before they should gain all Asia he therefore passed Euphrates and Mount Taurus in Cilicia to encounter his enemies Sanaballath joyful at Darius's approach incontinently told Manasses that he would fulfill his promise as soon as Darius should return from the conquest of his enemies For not only he but also all the Asians persuaded themselves most assuredly that the Macedonians would not abide the battel against the Persians Alexander's victory against Darius by reason of their great multitude but it fell out altogether contrary to their expectation For the Persian encountering with the Macedonians was overcome and after he had lost the greater part of his Army and C left his Mother Wife and Children Prisoners he himself fled into Persia Alexander arriving in Syria seized on Damascus took Sidon and besieged Tyre and by his letters sending unto Jaddus the High-Priest of the Jews he required him to send him some supplies and to sell his Army victuals for their money assuring him That if he desired the friendship of the Macedonians he would give him that tribute which he paid to Darius and he should have no cause to repent of the choice which he should make The High-Priest answered Alexanders Messenger That he had sworn unto Darius never to bear Arms against him during his life-time against which oath of his he could not act Which when Alexander heard he was displeased but resolved notwithstanding to continue the siege at Tyre until such time as it should be taken yet threatned he that as soon as he had taken it he would lead D forth his Army against the High-Priest to the end that all Men might know to whom they ought to keep their faith For which cause sparing no labour he overcame Tyre and after he had given order for the settlement thereof he came unto Gaza and took it with Bahemeses the Captain of the Garison that held it But Sanaballath finding a fit opportunity to make himself great forsook Darius and followed Alexander leading with him eight thousand of his Subjects and coming to him at the beginning of the siege of Tyre he offered to surrender to him all those places wherein he commanded acknowledging him for his Lord more willingly than he had Darius Alexander received him graciously whereupon Sanaballath informed him of his condition and let him understand that Manasses who was brother to Jaddus the High-Priest of the Jews was his Son-in-law E who with divers of the same Nation were desirous to build them a Temple in the Countries under his dominion assuring the King of much profit thereby because in so doing the force of the Jews would be dismembred into two parts and they could not conspire together to make any new insurrection or trouble as in times past they had done during the Government of the Kings of Asiria When Sanaballath had permission from Alexander to build his Temple with the greatest speed he might he finished the same Manasses enjoyeth his desire and made Manasses the High-Priest thereof supposing that it was the greatest advantage that might happen to his daughters children Seven months after the surrender of Tyre and two after the taking of Gaza Sanaballath died Alexander also razed Gaza and prepared himself to come suddenly upon Jerusalem F Which when the High-Priest Jaddus understood he was much grieved and afraid not knowing how to gain the favour of the Macedonians and on the other side knowing that the King was displeased with him because heretofore he had disobeyed him He commanded the people to make their prayers unto God and he in his own person offered sacrifice beseeching God that it would please him to be a shield of defence and succor to their Nation and to deliver them from those imminent dangers wherewith they were threatned But the next night following whil'st he slept God appeared unto him and commanded him to be of good courage and that as soon as he had gone about the Wall he should open the Gates boldly and command the rest of the people to attire themselves in white and that accompanied with them he should march forwards G in those Priestly ornaments which were appointed by the Law to the end that in H this equipage they might go and meet with Alexander without any apprehension of future evil because he would protect them As soon as he awaked from his sleep he was very joyful and related this Revelation from God and performing that which had been commanded him he expected in this manner the approach of the King and when he knew that he was not far off from the City he marched forth to meet him accompanied with the Priests Alexander intending to besiege Jerusalem meeteth with the High-Priest and people in white and is honorably received by them and doââ them honor in memory of his vision that appeared unto him in the like habit and a multitude of other people giving him a most Royal entertainment and far different from that of other Nations near unto a place called Sapha which word signifieth
a Watch by reason that from that place a man may discover the City and Temple of Jerusalem The Phoenicians and Chaldeans that were in Alexanders Army grounding their hopes upon his displeasure doubted not but that he would give I them leave to sack the City and to hew the High-Priest in pieces but it fell out quite contrary for Alexander espying the People from afar in white Rayments and the Priests going before them in their Rochets and the High-Priest attired in a Robe of Purple broidered with Gold having his Mitre on his head and his plate of Gold wherein the Name of God was written Alexander himself marched forward before the rest of his company and fell prostrate on his face before that Name saluting first of all the High Priest and at the same instant all the Jews together saluted the King with one voice and encompassed him round about The Kings of Syria and the rest that saw that which hapned were wonderfully astonished and thought that the King was out of his wits Parmenio only drew near unto him and ask'd him what he meant to adore the Priest of the K Jews whereas all other men adored him To whom he answer'd I do not adore him but that God whom the Priest worshippeth for in my sleep I saw him in such a habit as I see him in at this present at such time as I was in Dio a City of Macedonia and whilest I consulted with my self by what means I might attain to the conquest of Asia he counselled me to make no delay but to march forward boldly assuring me that it would be he that would guide both me and mine Army and would deliver the Empire of the Persians into my hands Since that time I have not seen any one attired after the same manner and at this present beholding this man and calling to mind the vision and exhortation that he gave me in my sleep I hope that mine Army being conducted by divine providence I shall overcome Darius and discomfit the Persians and that my designs shall have a happy issue L When he had thus answer'd Parmenio Alexander's sacrifice in the Temple the confirmation of his conquest by Daniel's prophecy his bounty to the Jews he gave the High-Priest his hand and went with him into the City being conducted by the Priests after this when he came into the Temple he offered sacrifice according to the High-Priests direction whom he honoured likewise with very great reverence And when Jaddus shewed him the Prophecy of Daniel wherein he declared that a certain man of the Nation of the Greeks should destroy the Empire of the Persians and that in his opinion he was the man Alexander was very joyful and dismissed the multitude that attended him for that time The next day assembling the Jews he commanded them to let him know what favors they desired at his hands Whereupon the High-Priest answer'd That he desired that they might be permitted to live according to the Laws and Customs of their Forefathers and that every seventh year they M might be exempted from tributes Which was granted them fully They besought him likewise That by his permission the Jews that were in the Countries of Babylon and Media might live according to their laws And he promis'd them willingly to do all that which they desired He made Proclamation also among the People That if any one of them would bear Arms under him and live according to the custom of their Nation he was ready to receive them whereupon divers listed themselves under him in the Wars After that Alexander had thus behaved himself at Jerusalem he marched with his Army against the neighbouring Cities and wheresoever he went he was received with great affection But the Samaritans whose Metropolitan City at that time was Sichem scituate near unto the Mountain of Garizim in which there dwelt divers Jews also that were N revolted from their Nation seeing how favourably Alexander had received those of Jerusalem they resolved to profess themselves to be Jews For such is the nature of the Samaritans as we have declared heretofore that when the Jews are in affliction they renounce all alliance with them wherein they confess the truth But when they perceive our Affairs to be in prosperous condition The Samaritans be kinsmen to the Jews in prosperity strangers in adversity they endeavour to persuade the World that we are both sprung from the same original and are descended of the race of Ephraim and Manasses the sons of Joseph They came therefore to the Kings presence and met him near unto Jerusalem with great magnificence and demonstration of singular affection towards him And after that Alexander had entertained them they of Sichem approached near unto him being accompanied with those Men of War that Sanaballath had sent O unto the King beseeching him That he would visit their City and honour their Temple with his presence whereupon he promised That at his return he would visit them They required him also The year of the World 3632. before Christ's Nativity 332. That he would acquit them of the Tribute of the seventh year because they did A not sowe in the same He ask'd them Who they were that made that request They answer'd him That they were Hebrews but that they were called Sichemites by the Sidonians He ask'd them again If they were Jews And they said They were not Well said he I have made this grant unto the Jews The Temple on the Mount of Garizim when therefore I shall return and be more particularly informed I shall do that which shall be requisite Thus dismissed he the Sichemites but he commanded Sanaballaths Men of War to follow him into Egypt Onias son of Jaddus High-Priest promising in that place to give them possessions by lot which afterwards he did enjoining them to live in Garison in the City of Thebais to make good that Countrey After Alexander's death his Empire was divided amongst his Successors and the Temple built near unto Mount B Garizim remained entire And if any one were accused in Jerusalem for eating unlawful meats or for breaking the Sabbath or for any such like fault he fled unto the Sichemites saying That he was accused unjustly In that time deceased the High-Priest Jaddus and Onias his son succeeded him This was the state of the Inhabitants of Jerusalem at that time C D E F G H The Twelfth Book of the Antiquities of the JEWS The year of the World 3643. before Christ's Nativity 321. Written by FLAVIVS JOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the Twelfth Book 1. Ptolomey the Son of Lagus is made Governour of Jerusalem and the rest of Judaea by a stratagem and leadeth divers Jews with him Prisoners into Egypt I 2. Ptolomey Philadelphus translateth the Laws of the Jews into the Greek tongue and dismissing divers Captives of that Nation he dedicateth many presents to the
The year of the World 3804. before Christ's Nativity 160. but to make War notwithstanding some of the People gave eat A unto the peaceable Proclamation of Bacchides and supposing that there was no ill design in Alcim who was their Countreyman they submitted themselves unto his government And having received an oath from them both that neither they nor any of their followers Bacchides killeth divers that trust his oath should any wayes be endamaged by them they committed themselves to their protection But Bacchides setting light by his oath slew 60 of them and by this breach of his faith towards these he caused others who intended to submit themselves to forsake and flee from his government Bacchides useth great tyranny in Bethzeth As soon as therefore he had removed his Army from Jerusalem he came unto the village of Bethzeth and there apprehending many of those which had fled and some others among the People he slew them all commanding B all those that lived in the Countrey to obey Alcim Alcim useth popularity and familiarity to win the peoples hearts and killeth all such as were of Judas's faction to whom he left in that place for the guard of his person a part of his Army and that done he returned unto Antioch to King Demetrius In the mean while Alcim intending to secure his government and supposing that it would be so much the better confirmed if he could obtain the good will of the People he used all kind of plausible and familiar speech unto them and conversing with every man pleasantly and graciously he joined in a short time great Forces to those which he had before Judas resisteth Alcims power amongst whom there were many fugitives and ungodly men by whose help and assistance he marched through the Countrey killing all those whom he found to be of Judas's faction Judas perceiving that Alcim having gather'd great Forces had already slain divers of the most worthymen and such as feared God he prepared himself also to over-run the Countrey and slew as many of Alcim's party as he could C meet with At length finding that he alone was unable to stand against Judas he thought fit to seek after the assistance of Demetrius Alcim accuseth Judas to Demetrius For which cause he repair'd to Antioch and incensed Demetrius exceedingly against Judas accusing him for offering many injuries unto him protesting that he should suffer many more except he were prevented and punished by a good Army sent out against him CHAP. XVII Demetrius at the instance of Alcim sends Nicanor with a great Army against Judas Machabeus whom he endeavors to surprize They come to a Battel and Nicanor is slain D The death of Alcim by a most remarkable piece of Divine vengeance Judas is made High-Priest in his place and enters in an alliance with the Romans DEmetrius imagining Hedio Ruffinus cap. 16. That if Judas should increase in power it would be some prejudice to his state sent Nicanor his most faithful friend to make War against him who was one of them who accompanied him in his flight from Rome Demetrius sendeth Nicanor against Judas And having furnish'd him with a sufficient Army and able to make head against Judas he commanded him to spare no one of that Nation Nicanor dissembling with Judas labor'd to surprize him When Nicanor came to Jerusalem he would not proclaim an open War against Judas but design'd to surprize him by some subtilty to this intent he sent him a peaceable message telling him That he knew no reason why he should engage E himself in the dangers of a tedious War since he was ready to assure him with an oath that he would offer him no injury and that he came thither with his friends only to express the good affection of the King Demetrius towards him and his kindness to the Nation of the Jews Judas and his brethren believed this delusion of Nicanor and suspecting no harm they gave credit to him and entertain'd both him and his Army When therefore Nicanor had saluted Judas he conferred with him and in the mean while gave a sign unto his Soldiers to lay hands on him who perceiving his Treason brake from him and fled unto his Soldiers When Nicanor saw that his intentions were discover'd he resolved to make open War upon Judas and to give him battel near unto a borough called Caphar-salama in which place obtaining the victory he constrain'd Judas to retreat into the Fortress at Jerusalem F On a certain day when Nicanor came down from the Fortress and went towards the Temple at Jerusalem Nicanor threatneth the people that except they yield up Judas he will destroy the Temple certain of the Priests and Elders went out to meet him and after they had done their reverence they shew'd him those Sacrifices which as they said they intended to offer unto God for the Kings prosperity and health But he blaspheming threatned them That if the people did not deliver Judas into his hands he would destroy the Temple upon his return and with these menaces he departed out of the City Which when the Priests heard they wept bitterly and intreated God That it might please him to defend his sacred Temple together with those which called on his Name therein from the violence and outrage of their Enemies Nicanor departed from Jerusalem and came unto Bethoron and encamped there where G he received great supplies of Soldiers which came unto him out of Syria Now Judas was encamped in another village called Adas about 30 Furlongs distant from Bethoron H having with him at the most not above 100 men Notwithstanding he exhorted his Soldiers not to be afraid of the multitude of their enemies nor so much to consider against how many they were to fight as against whom and for what recompence to the intent they might altogether couragiously set upon the enemy at such time as he should lead them forth to battel Judas and his followers put Nicanor and his Soldiers to flight Whereupon assailing Nicanor there arose a dangerous conflict between them wherein Judas had the better for he slew a great number of the enemy and finally Nicanor himself fighting couragiously was slain and as soon as he fell his Army betook themselves to flight For having lost their Captain they dispersed themselves and cast away their weapons Judas speedily pursuing them made a great slaughter and by sound of Trumpet certifi'd those of the neighbouring villages That I he had discomfited the enemy Whereupon the Inhabitants betook themselves to their weapons and meeting with those that fled they slew them so that not one escaped from this battel although the Syrian Army consisted of 9000 Men. This victory hapned on the 13 day of the month Adar Adar March as our Countreymen call it and the Macedonians Distre And hereof each year there is a solemn feast and memorial observed From
Murtherers commit other Murthers even in the Temple Robbers and False Prophets are punished Aliàs cap. 16. A great debate betwixt the Jews and the other Inhabitants of Caesarea Felix punisheth the thieves and Magicians and other seducers of the people King Agrippa establisheth Ishmael High Priest Violences committed by the High Priests BUt the affairs of Judea grew daily worse and worse For the Country was stored again with Thieves and inchanters who deceived the common People Felix apprehended O many of them daily Eleazar the son of Dinaeus sent to Rome and caused them to be executed He took Eleazar also the Son of Dinaeus who was Captain of those Outlaws and Thieves that ranged A in the Countrey Foelix had given him his word that he should no ways be endangered whereupon he came and submitted himself and was presently fettered and sent to Rome Whereas the Governour hated extreamly Jonathan the High Priest because he used to find fault with him for his mis-behaviours lest he should be blamed for him because it was through his means that the Emperour had made him Governnour Foelix conspireth against Jonathan he resolved to make an end of him there being nothing more unsufferable to the wicked than to be rebuked To compass his design he bribed a man called Dora who was born in Jerusalem and was one of those in whom Jonathan reposed his greatest trust to bring in certain Thieves to murther Jonathan who willingly listened to his demands and desirous to gratifie the Governour by this means that ensueth B brought that to effect which he had intended There were certain Thieves that came up to Jerusalem under colour of Devotion who carrying their Swords close hidden under their Garments accosted Jonathan and killed him Now for that this Murther was let slip and not punished from that day forward the Thieves resorted boldly to solemn Feasts having their weapons hidden under their garments and thronging in among the people killed some of those who were their Adversaries and others to pleasure those who had hired them with ready money to rid them of those they mis-liked And they did so not only up and down the City but in the Temple likewise where they killed some who little suspected that any impiety should be committed in that place For my own part I think that God hath destroyed our City in C detestation of that Impiety and for that he accounted the Temple impure he hath sent us the Romans who have set it on fire to purge the City and make us slaves with our Wives and Children intending thereby to teach us Wisdom by our own miseries Thus was the City filled with these Thefts and Murthers And as for the Enchanters and Deceivers The deceitful Magician they perswaded the common people to follow them into the Desart promising them to shew them signs and miracles done by the Power of God whereunto divers gave ear and at last suffered the penalty of their folly For Foelix recalling them back again punished them At the same time there came a certain man from Egypt Hedio Ruffinus chap. 12. to Jerusalem who termed himself a Prophet who incited the common people to follow him to the Mount called D Olivet alias cap. 17. scituate not far off from Jerusalem A false Prophet draweth the Jews to the Mount Olivet and only distant some five furlongs from thence telling them that from thence he would make them see the Walls of the City fall unto the ground by which way he promised to give them entry Which being reported to Foelix he caused the Soldiers to arm themselves and departing out of Jerusalem with great store of Horse and Foot he set upon them and killed four hundred of them and took too hundred alive as for the Egyptian he escaped out of the skirmish and no man knew what became of him The Thieves also incited the people anew to make War against the Romans telling them that they ought not to yield them obedience and they burned and spoiled divers of those Burroughs which opposed themselves against them It chanced also that the Jews that inhabited Caesarea E Hedio Ruffinus cap. 13. mutined against the Syrians that were in the same City in that they strove to have an equal Authority in the Government of the State as well as they Alias 18. The Jews pretended the Title of Superiority A broil in Caesarea between the Syrians and the Jews because that Herod who was a Jew had builded the City of Caesarea on the other side the Syrians owned the Jews sayings to be true but they replied also that Caesarea was formerly called the Tower of Straton and that at that time there was not one Jew that inhabited the same Which when the Governours of that Countrey heard The year of the world 4020. after Christs Nativity 58. they laid hands on the Authors of this Sedition as well of the one as of the other party and gave them the Bastindo pacifying by this means the trouble for a little space For the Jews once more being puffed up with their Riches and contemning the Syrians injuriously reviled and provoked them On F the other side the Syrians being weaker in substance but as great in heart by reason the greatest number of those that bare Arms with the Romans were Caesareans and Sebastens at some times brake out into opprobrious speeches against the Jews and at length the quarrel grew to that heat that they cast stones at one another so that on both sides divers of them were both killed and hurt yet the Jews had the upper hand Foelix perceiving that this debate might breed a War came in between them requiring the Jews to desist from further violence and commanding his Soldiers to beat down those who would refuse to obey him by which means a great number were killed and divers taken Prisoners Moreover he gave his Soldiers liberty to spoil and rob divers very rich houses The other Jews who besides their Authority were renowned G for their moderation fearing lest the like misery should befall them besought Foelix to sound a retreat and to call in his Soldiers and to spare that which as yet remained being sore grieved at that which had happened to which Foelix condescended At the same time King Agrippa gave the Priesthood to Ishmael the Son of H Phabeus There arose also a dissention betwixt the High Priests and the other Priests and Governours of Jerusalem and each Faction walked forth accompanied with a Troop of proud and mutinous persons who decided their debates with bitter words and flinging of stones Ismael the son of Phabeus High Priest so that no man might pacifie them For all things were so out of order as if there had been no Magistrates in the City and the impudency and audaciousness of the High Priests permitted so much that they sent their Servants to the Barns
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 audâcious 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
it would cost much time and expence he denied their request permitting them nevertheless to pave their City with broad Stone Matthias the Son of Theophilus High Priest He took the Priesthood from Jesus the Son of Gamaliel and gave it to Matthias the Son of Theophilus in whose time the Wars betwixt the Romans and the Jews began But I think it not amiss Hedio Ruffinus chap. 18. but very answerable to the course of this present History N to speak of the High Priests The Succession and number of the High Priests among the Jews and to shew how they had their beginning and to whom this honour may be lawfully communicated and how many they were in number until the end of the War The first of them was Aaron Moses's Brother after whose death his Children succeeded him and from that time forward the honour hath continued with their Successors For it is a Law observed by our Ancestors that no man should be admitted to the Priesthood There were eighty three High Priests in all except he be of Aaron's Posterity for albeit he were a King if so be that he were of another Line it was impossible for him to obtain the Priesthood All the Priests after Aaron who as we have said was the first until Phanasus whom the Seditious created Priest in the time of the War have been in number eighty three whereof thirteen have executed the Office from the time that O Moses erected God's Tabernacle in the Desart until such time as arriving in Judaea King Solomon builded a Temple to God For in the beginning the High Priesthood continued A with the Possessors for term of life but afterwards although the Priests were yet alive yet were there other Successors put in their rooms These thirteen were of Aaron's Posterity and obtained this degree in succession the one after the other Their first Government was Aristocracy which is the Government of the Nobility afterwards a Monarchy and at last a Royal Government The number of years wherein these thirteen flourished were six hundred and twelve years from the day that our Fathers departed out of Egypt under the conduct of Moses until the building of the Temple in Jerusalem by King Solomon After these thirteen High Priests there were eighteen others who after Solomon's time succeeded one after another until the time that Nabuchodonozor King of Babylon B having encamped before the City took it and burned the Temple and transported our Nation into Babylon and led away the High Priest Josedech Prisoner The time of the Priesthood and continuance of these eighteen was four hundred sixty years six months and ten days so long as the Jews have had the Royal Government After the surprizal of Jerusalem by the Babylonians until such time as Cyrus King of Persia dismissed the Jews and gave them leave to return from Babylon into their own Countrey with permission to re-edifie their Temple there are seventy two years and at that time the Captives being returned Jesus the Son of Josedech took upon him the High Priesthood who with those of his Posterity to the number of fifteen have governed in a Democracy or Popular Government until the time of Antiochus surnamed C Eupator for the space of four hundred and fourteen years This Antiochus was the first who with his General Lysias displaced Onias surnamed Menelaus of his Priesthood commanding him to be killed at Berith and after he had driven his Son out of the Succession he established Jacim High Priest who notwithstanding was of Aaron's Race but not of his Family For this cause Onias the Son of Onias and Nephew to the deceased Onias retired himself into Egypt Where growing familiar with Ptolomey Philometor and Cleopatra his Wife he perswaded them to build a Temple in the Confines of Heliopolis not unlike to that of Jerusalem and to create a High Priest in the same of which Temple in Egypt we have made very oftentimes mention After that Jacim had held the Priestood for the space of three years he died without D Successor so the City remained seven years without a High Priest Again the Asmoneans recovered the Government of their Nation and after they had made War against the Macedonians they established Jonathan High Priest who exercised the Office seven years but afterwards he was killed in an Ambush and Treason conspired against him by Tryphon as we have declared elsewhere After him Simon his Brother undertook the Priesthood who was not long after killed treacherously by his Son-in-Law at a Banquet After him succeeded his Son Hircanus who enjoying this Dignity for the space of thirty one years died when he was very old leaving behind him Judas surnamed Aristobulus who dying left his Brother Alexander his Heir both of the Kingdom and High Priesthood After that Aristobulus had obtained the E Royal Government he enjoyed both Dignities one whole year For this Judas surnamed Aristobulus was the first that set the Diadem on his head causing himself to be called a King the which Alexander did continue for he also joyned the Kingdom with the High Priesthood and reigned twenty seven years And feeling himself draw near to his death he left in Alexandras his Wife's hands to dispose of the Priesthood as she pleased She therefore bestowed it on Hircanus and as for the Kingdom she kept it in her own hands nine years and afterwards died Her Son Hircanus was High Priest for so long time For after Alexandra's death his Brother Aristobulus made War against him and having overcome him he took the Kingdom from him and not only seized on the Crown but the Priesthood After he had reigned three F years and as many months Pompey repaired to Jerusalem and took it perforce and laying hold of Aristobulus sent him bound unto Rome with his Children After which he restored the Priesthood once more to Hircanus committing the Government of the Nation unto his hands forbidding him in the mean space to wear the Diadem Besides the first nine years Hircanus governed twenty and four But Barzapharnes and Pacorus Princes of the Parthians passed Euphrates and made war against Hircanus and took him alive Prisoner and made Antigonus Aristobulus's Son King But after he had governed three years and three months Sosius and Herod took him alive perforce and Antonius sent him to Antioch where he was beheaded After that Herod was created King by the Romans there was never any High Priest created of G the Posterity of the Asmoneans for he gave the High Priesthood to certain men of obscure and base extraction who were of the Order of Priests Aristobulus only excepted This Aristobulus was Hircanus's Nephew who was a Prisoner among the Parthians and having given him the Priesthood he married Mariamne his Sister to the intent H to continue himself in the good liking of the people in remembrance of Hircanus But afterwards fearing lest all of them should turn to Aristobulus's
do in the design they had in writing For such as in times past published any worthy History endeavoured to write that which they themselves had seen and they were Eye-witnesses of those Affairs they committed to writing they more effectually performed all that they promised because they accounted it an act of dishonesty to report and publish Lyes in stead of History And truly in my opinion that man is worthy commendation who striveth by his studious endeavours to Register not only the Occurrences of times past but also those memorable events that have happened in N his own days And he only and truly is to be accounted industrious not that altereth and pruneth at his pleasure another man's Works but he that of himself compileth an History whereof no man hath before written For my own part being a stranger I have spared no labour and expence to declare the truth of these events in the ears of the Greeks and Romans For as touching their own learned men their mouths are always open where their own interest publick or private is concerned but if they come to a History Who may rightly be called a Historiographer wherein they should both tell truth and with great labour enquire of those things that are past here the travel is too tedious the bit is in their teeth so that they leave the matter to their performance who are uncapable and unapt both in stile and study to register the Actions of Princes and great O Captains whereby it appears that the Grecians make as little account of the truth of History as we esteem and seek it A Now to discover unto you the Original of the Jews what their Estate hath been in times past and after what manner they departed out of Egypt to shew what Countreys they conquered and what Colonies they planted were in my judgment both impertinent and to little purpose considering that divers of mine own Nation have before my time written an exact History of the actions of our Ancestors yea many Greeks also have translated these men's Writings into their own Tongue without much deviating from the truth I will therefore begin my History in that time where these Writers and our own Prophets have ended theirs and set down at large all those Wars that happened in my time As for those things that precede B my particular knowledge I will only touch them briefly and in a word or two First I will relate how Antiochus Antiochus Epiphanes the first Author and Fountain of the Wars of the Jews surnamed Epiphanes took the City of Jerusalem and possessed the same for the space of three years and six months and how he was driven out of that Countrey at last by the Asmoneans After this I will set down the Dissentions that happened amongst Antiochus's Successors for the Kingdom and how by this means they drew Pompey and the Romans into their Affairs The Epitome of the Wars of the Jews How Herod likewise the Son of Antipater being assisted by Sosius put an end to the Rule of the Asmonean Princes And how in Augustus Caesar's time after the death of Herod and during the Government of Quintilius Varus a Sedition was raised among the people And how in the twelfth year of Nero's Reign the War began What C likewise happened in Cestius's time and what Warlike Exploits the Jews performed in their first Attempts and Revolts how they strengthened the Cities and Forts about them and how Nero hearing of the great Overthrow which his Army received under Cestius their General and fearing lest he should lose all made Titus Vespasian General of his Army who being attended by his eldest Son came into Judaea accompanied with as great a number of Romans as he could possibly gather how a great number of his Allies were defeated in Galilee what Cities they took in that Province either by Assault or by Composition Besides all these things I will express what Order and Discipline the Romans observe in their Wars and how they are accustomed to exercise their Soldiers I will describe also the places and nature D of the Countrey of Galilee and Judaea together with the Mountains Lakes and Fountains thereof with all the Properties of the same not forgetting those miseries which the Captive Cities suffered and how they were surprized All which together with all those evils and miseries which during those troubles befell my self I will discourse with all truth and diligence the rather because I publish them to many who are no ways ignorant of them After this The signs and changes after Nero's death I will set down how upon the declining and downfall of the Jews Nero died and how at such time as Vespasian had undertaken the Expedition to Jerusalem he was recalled from it to receive the Imperial Dignity and how when E he returned into Egypt to establish that Province the Jews began to mutiny among themselves how many Tyrants arose among them who hatched much civil discord and debate in their Government Moreover how Titus departing out of Egypt came the second time into Judaea and ranged over the Countrey and how and where he levied and encamped his Armies How and how often the City was vexed by Seditions especially at such time as he himself was present What Onsets he gave Titus besiegeth Jerusalem and how many Mounts he raised in begirting the City with a triple Wall The strength and Provision of the City The manners and Sacrifices of the Jews The Scituation and Plat-form of the Temple and the Altars therein The Rites and Ceremonies used on Festival days The seven Purifications and the Offices of the Priests The Garments also of the High F Priest and the Holy Sanctuary of the Temple All which I will recount without any dissimulation or swerving from the truth of History After this I will relate what cruelty the Tyrants used towards their own Countrey-men The Humanity of the Romans towards the Jews what Humanity the Romans shewed to strangers and how often Titus who desired to save both the City and Temple exhorted the Seditious to mutual Amity Furthermore I will report how the people of the Jews after the many and grievous Calamities which they suffered in the Siege by War Sedition and Hunger were at length reduced into servitude after the taking of that great and potent City Neither will I omit the slaughter of such as deserted their Nation neither the punishment inflicted on those that were Captive The burning of the Temple and the overthrow of the City I will set down how the Temple was burnt against Caesar's Will and G what an infinite Mass of Sacred Treasure was consumed by the Fire and what signs and wonders happened before the same The Captivity also of the Tyrants themselves and the number of those that were led away into Captivity and what miseries they H endured How the Romans continuing their Wars utterly ruined the
Temple he purified it and compassed it with a Wall and made new Vessels for the M Service of God and placed them there because those that had been formerly consecrated there were prophaned He built likewise another Altar and began to renew the accustomed Sacrifice and observe the Rites of Religion Scarce was the City brought to its former Estate Antiochus dieth and leaveth the Kingdom to his Son Antiochus who gathereth a huge power and invadeth Jewry but Antiochus died leaving behind him Antiochus Eupator his Son and Heir not only of his Kingdom but also of his hatred against the Jews Who having gathered together fifty thousand Foot and almost five thousand Horse and fourscore Elephants entred by the Mountains into Judaea and took a Town called Bethsara near which Judas met him in a place called Bethzacary where the passage was something strait And before they joyned Battel Eleazar Judas's Brother seeing one Elephant higher than the rest bearing a N great Tower on his Back Ant. lib. 12. c. 14 15. and adorned with Golden Furniture thought Antiochus had been there âleazar dieth being slain by an Elephant and ran from his Company breaking the Ranks of the Enemies till he came to the Elephant but he could not reach him whom he deemed to be the King he was so highly mounted all he could do was to wound the Elephant in the belly with his Sword till the Beast fell upon him and pressed him to death which act of his had no other success but this that by attempting so great a matter he gave testimony that he preferred Glory before his life Eleazar preferreth honour before life For he that rid on this Elephant was but a private person and although Antiochus had been there Eleazar had atchieved nothing more in this valiant attempt but yet he adventured his life in hope to perform some great exploit This act of his was a presage unto his Brother Judas of the event O of that days Battel for the Jews fought stoutly and a long time but yet Antiochus's Army being both more in number and more fortunate obtained the Victory and A Judas after the loss of many of his company fled to the Gophonites with those of his side who escaped Antiochus advanced afterwards to Jerusalem from whence after some stay he departed for want of Provisions leaving a sufficient Garrison there as for the rest of his Army he led them for their Winter-quarters into Syria But notwithstanding the King's departure Antiochus departing from Jerusalem leaveth a sufficient Garrison there Judas rested not but encouraged by many of his Nation who daily came to him and gathering also together those who escaped out of the former Battel he fought with the Forces of Antiochus at a village named Adasa where after many proofs of his valour in assaulting and slaughtering a great number of his enemies he himself at length was slain and within a few days after his Brother John also was betrayed Ant. l. 12. c 18 and slain by their treacheries who favoured B Antiochus Judas sighteth with Antiochus Captains and is slain Ant. l 13 c. 1. CHAP. II. The Succession of Princes from Jonathan to Aristobulus AFter Judas succeeded his Brother Jonathan in the dignity of Prince of the Jews The year of the World 3805. before Christ's Nativity 157. He carefully studied the peace and security of his people and fortified himself by the friendship of the Romans and was reconciled to Antiochus his Son yet did C not all these things procure his safety For Tryphon who was tutor to the young Antiochus laying wait for him Jonathan taken by Tryphon's subtilty is slain and seeking to spoil him of his friends took Jonathan at such a time as he came with a small company to Antiochus who was at Ptolemais and binding him led an Army against Judaea from whence being repulsed by Simon Jonathan's Ant. l. 15. c. â Brother in displeasure and revenge thereof he slew Jonathan But Simon valiantly bestirring himself in the Conduct of the affairs of the Common-wealth The year of the World 3813. before Christ's Nativity 149. took Zara Joppe and Jamnia which were bordering Towns and overcoming the Garrison of Accaron he destroyed the City and assisted Antiochus against Tryphon who besieged Dora before that expedition which he made against the Medes Simon encountreth with Cendebeus and overcometh him Yet would not the greedy mind of the King be satisfied notwithstanding D Simon had thus faithfully served and assisted him to the ruine and death of Tryphon but in a short time after he sent Cendebeus the General of the Army to harass and spoil Judea and to take Simon Prisoner But Simon though very aged acted both youthfully and valiantly Ant. l 13 c. 14. and sent his Sons before with the most resolute men he had against Antiochus Simon by the tâeachery of his Son-in-law Ptolâmaeus is taken and slain and himself with the residue of his Army assaulted another quarter of the enemies Camp and having laid many ambushes in the mountains he obtained a great victory After which he was made High Priest and delivered the Jews from the subjection of the Macedonians under which they had been two hundred and seventy years John otherwise called Hircanus the Son of Simon Finally by the treachery of Ptolemy his Son-in-law he was murthered at a Banquet who imprisoning his Wife and two Sons sent certain men E to kill his third Son John otherwise called Hircanus But the young man understanding the design fled to Jerusalem accompanied with a great multitude for he greatly hoped that the people would remember his Father's prowess especially because Ptolemy's iniquity was hated of all men Ptolemy also hasted to enter the City at another gate but he was speedily repulsed by the people who had already received Hircanus For which cause he presently retired himself into a Castle named Dagon situate beyond Jericho After that Hircanus had obtained the office of High Priest The year of the World 3831. before Christ's Nativity 131. which was left him by his Father and had offered Sacrifices to God he led forth his forces with all speed to besiege Ptolemy hoping to deliver his mother and brethren that were detained F Prisoners there by him His tenderness of nature was the only obstacle that hinder'd him from forcing the Castle Hircanus obtaineth the honour of the High-Priestâood which his father had ãâ¦ã cruelty agââât Hircanus's Mother For when Ptolemy perceived himself to be in danger he brought Hircanus's Mother and Brethren upon the walls and beat them where he might behold them in their torments threatning to cast them down from the wall except Hircanus would presently depart How great soever the indignation of Hircanus was it was forc'd to give place to the affection he had for persons so dear to him and to his compassion of seeing them suffer
her Mother and youngest Brother to keep on their journey Herod more hotly pursued by the Jews than the Parthians and he with his Servants warily assaulted the Parthians and having in divers assaults C killed a great number of them he hasted towards the Castle of Massada and in his retreat sustained more harm by the Jews than by the Parthians who as they had been always troublesome so now within three score furlongs from the Town they set upon him Herod's Victory The Battel was long but Herod obtained the Victory killed a great many of them and in remembrance of the action built on that place a most stately Palace Herodion and a strong Castle which from his own name he called Herodion In this retreat many joyned with him But when he came to Thersa a Town of Idumaea his Brother Joseph met him and perswaded him to lessen the number of his followers because Massada could not receive such a multitude for the number amounted to above nine thousand Massada Herod according to his counsel dismissed those that were unfit for D his turn and sent them into Idumaea giving them necessaries for their journey As for those that were chosen men and fit for his purpose he retained them with him and so he was received into the Castle where leaving eight hundred Soldiers to defend the women Petra a City of Arabia and Provision sufficient for those that were within he himself went to Petra a City of Arabia In the mean time the Parthians at Jerusalem began to sack the houses of them that were fled The year of the World 3925. before Christ's Nativity 37. and the King's Palace they only abstained from Hircanus's money which amounted to more than three hundred Talents As for other men's Goods they found not so much as they expected for Herod long before suspecting the infidelity of the Parthians had sent all his Riches and Jewels into Idumaea as his followers also had E done When the Parthians had taken the spoil they were so impious that they left no place of the whole Countrey free from Pillage They destroyed the City of Marsa and bound Phasaelus and Hircanus and delivered them in Chains to Antigonus who presently cut off Hircanus's ears Antigonus cutteth off Hircanus's ears to the end that if by some alteration he chanced hereafter to get loose he might be no more High Priest for by our Law none may offer Sacrifice that wants any member of his body But Phasaelus his fortitude prevented the cruelty of Antigonus for having neither Weapon nor his hands at liberty he beat out his own brains against a stone and died demonstrating himself by that act to be the true Brother of Herod and not a Poltron like Hircanus Yet some report that Antigonus sent a Chirurgeon under pretence to cure the wound who filled the same with venomous F Medicines Phasaelus's words before he died and so killed him It is reported likewise that understanding before his death by means of a certain woman that Herod was escaped he spake these words Now I shall die without regret since I leave behind me one that will take vengeance of my enemies The Parthians established Antigonus King and so he died Although the Parthians had not yet received the five hundred women promised them which was the chief thing they looked for yet they established Antigonus in Jerusalem and led Hircanus Prisoner into Parthia But Herod with all speed hasted into Arabia as if his Brother had been yet alive to the intent to borrow money of the King of Arabia with which alone he hoped that the cruelty of those barbarous Parthians might be mitigated towards Phasaelus For his opinion was that although the Arabian had now forgot his Father's Friendship and G were hard-hearted yet at least he would lend him money seeing it was to redeem his Brother whose Son he meant to leave as a Pledge for it For Herod took with him a Son of his Brother 's into Arabia that was seven years old and purposed to give 300 Talents for his Ransom and had made the Tyrians intercessors for him to the Parthians H But Fortune prevented his endeavours so that his love and care for his Brother prevailed nothing He found also that the Arabians renounc'd the League of Amity for Malichus their King sent to him as he was yet in the way charging him with all speed to depart out of his Dominions pretending that the Parthians had sent Ambassadours to him to request him to drive him out of his Countrey but indeed the cause was that his ingratitude suffered him not to pay that which Antipater had deserved or requite his Sons now comfortless for those good turns that he had received at their Father's hands And those who counselled him to this were such as offered to forswear those Summs which Antipater had put them in trust with who were the chiefest men about him Herod perceiveth the Arabians to be his enemies Herod perceiving the Arabians to be his foes for that which I he thought would procure him friendship answered the Messenger according as his resentment moved him and took his journey towards Egypt and the first night he lodged in a Countrey Temple to the intent that those of his company that were behind him might overtake him The next day coming to Rhinoslura his Brother's death was told him after he had paid what he could not refuse to the first sentiments of so violent a sorrow he went forward In the mean time the King of Arabia though too late repented himself of that which he had done to Herod and sent Messengers after him to desire him to return but they could not overtake him he had marched so fast When Herod was come to Pelusium the Mariners of the City would not receive him into their Vessels for which K cause he in person went to the Governours who reverencing the Fame and Dignity of the man conducted him to Alexandria whither he no sooner came but Cleopatra received him very honourably intending to make him General of her Army which she was preparing at that time Herod in great dangers repaireth to Rome But he neither regarding the offers of the Queen nor yet discouraged by the hard Winter Season nor the dangers of the Seas took his journey towards Rome and being in great danger of Shipwrack near Pamphilia both he and the rest of the Passengers were forced to cast away the most part of their lading with much ado he arrived safe at Rhodes which had been much ruined in the War against Cassius there he was entertained by two of his friends Ptolomey and Sapinas and although his money grew scant yet there he built a great Galley with three Ranks of L Oars and in it being accompanied with his friends he sailed to Brundusium and from thence went straight to Rome Herod repairing to Rome hath conference with Antonius
upon the Samaritans lest thereby they moved the Romans to destroy Jerusalem but to be merciful to their Countrey the Temple their Wives and Children and not at once hazard D all Conspiracy in Robbery and overthrow their whole Countrey and Nation in revenging the death of one Galilean The Jews hereby were pacified and departed At the same time there were many that made it their Trade to rob and steal as most commonly people by long peace grow insolent so that they robbed in every part of the Countrey and the strongest and most audacious oppressed those that were weaker Hereupon the Samaritans went to Tyre to pray Numidius Quadratus Governour of Syria to revenge them of those that so robbed and spoiled their Countrey The chief men of the Jews went thither also and Jonathas the Son of Ananus who was High Priest defended the Jews against the Samaritans Accusation affirming the Samaritans to have been cause of that tumult by killing the Galilean and that Cumanus was cause of the rest of their E calamities who refused to punish the murtherers Quadratus for that time sent away both Parties promising them that when he came into their Countrey he would diligently enquire of the matter And coming from thence to Caesarea he crucified all those whom Cumanus had made Prisoners Quadratus Governour of Syria heareth the Samaritans and Jews And departing from thence to Lydda he heard the Samaritans complaints and sent for eighteen men whom he understood for certain to have been in that broil and beheaded them and sent the two High-Priests Jonathas and Ananias Quadratus giveth Sentence betwixt the Jews and Samaritans and his Son Ananus with some of the most considerable Jews to Caesar and also the chief of the Samaritans He likewise commanded Cumanus and Celer the Tribune to go to Rome and justifie themselves to Claudius for that which they had done in that Countrey F This done he went from Lydda to Jerusalem and finding there the multitude celebrating the Feast of Unleavened Bread without any tumult or disorder he returned to Antioch Claudius's Sentence against some Samaritans Cumanus and Celer Caesar at Rome hearing the Allegations of Cumanus and the Samaritans Agrippa was also there earnestly defending the Cause of the Jews as also Cumanus was assisted by many Potentates he pronounced sentence against the Samaritans and commanded three of their chief Nobility to be put to death and banished Cumanus and sent Celer the Tribune bound to Jerusalem that the Jews might draw him about the City and then cut off his head This done he sent Faelix Brother to Pallas to govern Judaea Samaria and Galilee And he preferred Agrippa from Chalcis to a greater Kingdom making him King of that Province whereof Philip had been Tetrarch to G wit Claudius dies and Nero succeeds him Trachonitis Batanaea and Gaulanitis adding thereunto the Kingdom of Lysania and the Tetrarchy whereof Varus had been Governour Claudius having reigned thirteen years eight months and thirty days departed this life leaving Nero to succeed him The year of the world 4014. after Christ's Nativity 52. whom by the perswasions of his Wife Agrippina he adopted to the Empire though H he had a lawful Son of his own named Britannicus by his former Wife Messalina and a Daughter called Octavia whom he married to Nero He had also another Daughter by Agrippina named Antonia How Nero abused his Wealth and Felicity and how he slew his Brother Nero killeth his Brother his Mother and Wife Mother and his Wife and afterwards raged against all his Kinddred and how in a mad vein he became a Player on a Stage because it requireth a long Narration I will speak nothing thereof CHAP. XII I Of the Tumult in Judaea under Felix BUt I think my self to relate particularly the Actions of this Emperour towards the Jews The year of the World 4018. after Christ's Nativity 56. He made Aristobulus Herod's Son King of the lesser Armenia and added to Agrippa's Kingdom four Cities and the Territories belonging unto them Two of them Abila and Julias were in the Countrey of Peraea the other Tarichaea and Tiberias Ant lib. 20. cap. 11. were in Galilee And he made Felix Governour over the rest of Judaea This Felix took Eleazar Captain of the Thieves after he had robbed and spoiled the Countrey twenty years Foelix surpriseth Eleazar the Captain of the Thieves and many others and sends them bound to Rome and many more with him and sent them bound to Caesar and he crucified a great number of them who either were Thieves and his Confederates or K else had assisted him The Countrey was no sooner cleansed from these but presently another sort of Thieves arose in Jerusalem called Sicarii from their short Swords who at high Noon in the midst of the City killed many in every place and especially at the celebrating of Holy Feasts they mixed themselves with the multitude having short Swords under their coats and therewith killed those to whom they bare any grudge Another sort of Thieves who at noon days went about the City to murther men and when men fell down dead they amongst the rest cried out of the murther By this deceitful means they were a long time unsuspected and unknown And first of all they killed Jonathan the High Priest and after him every day some were slain and the City was put in no less fear than if it had been in a time of War for each man every moment expected death and cast a diligent eye upon those that came L near him Jonathan the High Priest with many others slain and no man trusted his familiar friends and yet were they murthered whilst they were looking about them to escape danger So cunningly did these Thieves cover and conceal their actions Moreover there arose another sort of mischievous people Ant. lib. 20. cap. 12. who did not so much harm with their hands as the first but with their impious counsel more and did no less trouble the quiet Estate of the City than did the Thieves These people being Vagabonds and Juglers desiring alteration under pretence of Religion made the people frantick for they led them into the Wilderness affirming that there God would shew them tokens of his purpose to set them at liberty Foelix perceiving that these Assemblies tended to Rebellion sent an Army of Horse and Foot against these people and killed many of them M But a certain Egyptian An Egyptian Prophet gathereth well nigh thirty thousand men a false Prophet occasioned a far greater Massacre among the Jews than this for being a Magician he came into the Countrey and calling himself a Prophet he gathered unto him almost thirty thousand Jews who were by his Magick Arts seduced and leading them from the Wilderness to Mount Olivet he determined from thence to go to Jerusalem and to drive thence the Forces of the Romans and there
so great a multitude if there were some rash and foolish young men and that it was C impossible to discern all that offended seeing every one was now penitent for that which was done and at least for fear would deny it and that if he intended to maintain the quietness of the Nation and preserve the City still to the Romans he then must rather pardon a few seditious for so many good mens sake than revenge himself of a few wicked persons by the hurt and molestation of so many that thought no harm ãâ¦ã of ãâã Soldiers Hereat Florus's Choler was increased and presently he commanded the Soldiers to plunder the Market-place which was the higher part of the City where things were sold and put all they met or found to the sword The Soldiers who were desirous of gain having now authority from their Ruler did not only sack the place they were sent to but also all the houses and murthered the Inhabitants D All streets and gates were filled with them that sought to flee and the dead bodies of them that fell into the Soldiers hands no sort of spoyling was omitted They also apprehended many of the Nobility and brought them to Florus and he causing them to be whipt Florus's Soldiers kill 630 Jews in one day afterward hanged them There were slain on that day of men women and Children for they spared not the infants six hundred and thirty So horried an action appeared so much the more insupportable to the Jews in regard it was a new sort of cruelty which the Romans had never exercised Florus then doing that which none before durst ever presume to do for he caused Knights before the Tribunal-seat to be whipped and after hanged who though they were Jews born yet had received that dignity from the Romans E CHAP. XV. Of another oppression of the Citizens of Jerusalem by Florus AT this time King Agrippa was gone to Alexandria Bernice requireth Florus to pacifie his displeasure against the Jews to see Alexander whom Nero had sent to be ruler over Egypt His Sister Bernice in the mean while remained in Jerusalem and seeing the cruelty of the Soldiers she was much grieved and often F sent the Lieutenant of her horsemen and her own guard to Florus requesting him to abstain from the slaughter of the Citizens But he neither regarding the multitude of them that were slain nor the dignity of her that entreated but only his private gain and what he could gather by oppression and rapine denied her request so that the rage of the Soldiers extended it self also against the Queen The fury of ãâã Soldiers against Bernice For they did not only before her face beat and kill all that came in their way but they had also killed her had she not fled into the Palace where she watcht all night keeping a guard about her in fear that the Soldiers would break in upon her She came to Jerusalem to fulfil her vow to God for it is the custom that if any be afflicted with grievous sickness or be in any other distress they must abide in prayer thirty days before they offer sacrifice and abstain from wine and shave their hair which G custom Queen Bernice then observing went also barefoot to Florus his Tribunal-seat to entreat him but he not only contemned but also put her in danger of her life This was done the sixteenth day of May. The day after the multitude gathered together in the upper part of the City in the Market-place and with great cries complain H that so many were slain and especially used contumelious words against Florus which the Nobility and high Priests fearing death apprehending beseeched them to abstain from such words as had already caused that calamity in the City and not to provoke Florus to greater indignation The people exclaim against Florus And so the multitude was pacified for their sakes who entreated and hoped that hereafter Florus would desist from such cruelty Florus when he saw the multitude quieted was sorry and that he might again provoke them he assembled together the Nobility and high Priests telling them that it would be an argument that the people did not seek alteration any more Florus reneweth the discontents of the people if they would go in courteous manner and meet the Soldiers which were coming from Caesarea Florus's subtilty and treason whereof there were two Legions Having thus assembled the Jews together to I go meet the Soldiers he also sent and commanded the Centurions not to salute the Jews who came to meet them and if therefore the Jews were offended and gave any hard speeches they should fall upon them with their weapons The high Priests assembling themselves together in the Temple desired them to go and solemnly meet and entertain the Soldiers for fear of a greater inconvenience Notwithstanding this counsel those that were seditious refused to do as they were requested and others for grief of them that were slain took part with the seditious Then all the Priests and Levites brought forth the holy vessels and ornaments of the Temple The exhortation of the Priests and Princes to the people and with Harps songs and musical instruments came before the multitude and on their knees conjur'd them by the care that they ought to have of K the honour and preservation of the Temple not to provoke the Romans through contumelious words lest they should sack the Temple There might you have seen the chief of the Priests with ashes upon their heads and their cloaths rent so that their naked breasts were perceived calling every Nobleman by his name and speaking to all the multitude requesting them not for a small offence to betray their whole Country to them who still gaped after the destruction thereof For what thanks shall ye have from the Romans for your former salutations if now in hope of amendment of your miseries you go not forth to meet them contrariwise if you would go to them in solemn manner then you take from Florus all occasion of violence and save your Country from ruine and your selves from further calamities L Adding that it was a great shame that such a multitude should be led away with a few seditious persons and that it was more fit that so many should force those few seditious people to obey them and joyn with them in opinion With these perswasions they mollified the obstinacy of the Jews and also perswaded many of the seditious people some with threats and some with reverence of themselves to be pacified And so they going before all the people followed and went out to meet the Roman Soldiers At their coming near them they saluted them who answering nothing again those of the Jews that were seditious began to rail against Florus The event sheweth Florus's intent and counsel by whose order this was done whom presently the Soldiers apprehending beat them with clubs
Antipas who was also besieged by them in the Kings Palace he would not flee with the rest and so was killed by the Rebels Divers of the noblest Jews forsake the City as if they had been in a ship ready to sink But Cestius sent Saul and the rest of his Company into Achaia unto Nero to inform him of the cause of E his retreat and to shew how Florus had caused all these wars for so he hoped that Nero would turn his anger against Florus and free him from danger Then the people of Damascus understanding the defeat of the Romans devised how to destroy the Jews which inhabited amongst them and they thought it was easie to be accomplished for that the Jews were already assembled in the common places of exercise for fear of some such matter yet they mistrusted their own Wives who all except a few The Damascenes kill 10000 Jews in one hour were Jews in Religion Wherefore they took great heed to conceal their intent from them and so assaulting the Jews in a narrow place and unarm'd they put them all to the sword to the number of ten thousand After the Rebels that had pursued Cestius were returned to Jerusalem Joseph the Son of Corion and Ananus the high Priest appointed to Govern the City they laboured to joyn all to them that F favoured the Romans either by force or by flattery and assembling themselves in the Temple they determined to chuse a great number of Captains to carry on the War Joseph the Son of Corion and Ananus the high Priest were appointed Rulers of the City and especially to see the Walls thereof repaired Eleazar the Son of Simon was put into no authority notwithstanding that he had in his custody great prey and spoil taken from the Romans and Cestius his money and a great part of the publick treasure because they perceived he aspired to a Tyranny and had his greatest Confidents about him as his Guards yet in time Eleazar by money and craft perswaded the people to obey him in all things They also chose other Captains to be sent into Idumea who were Jesus the Son of Sapphas and Eleazar the Son of the new G high Priest and they commanded Niger who was born beyond Jordan to obey these Captains who was therefore called Peraites and was then Governour of Idumea they neglected not to do the like by other Regions for Joseph the Son of Simon was sent to Jericho and Manasses beyond the River and John the Essean to Tamna every H one to assume the Government of his Country as a Toparchy Lydda Joppe and Amaus were annexed to John the Essean and John the Son of Ananias was appointed Governour of Gophnitis and Acrabatena Joseph the Son of Matthias was made Ruler over both Galilees Joseph the Historiographer Governour of both Galilees unto which was joyned Gamala the strongest City in all that Country Each of these Governours discharged his place according to his wisdom and dexterity When Joseph came to Galilee which was committed to his protection his first care was to get the good will of the Inhabitants knowing that it might much profit him although in other matters he should offend considering that he should have I the most considerable persons his friends if he made them pertakers of his Authority He chose seventy of the most ancient wise men amongst them Joseph maketh 70 Elders Rulers in Galilee and appointeth seven in every City to determine the causes of less weight and made them Rulers over all Galilee and elected seven Judges over the lesser Towns to judge inferiour matters but he reserved all great affairs and Criminal Causes to his own hearing Moreover having ordained a form of Justice that those seventy should follow he took counsel how to provide for his security abroad And being assured that the Romans would come into Galilee he compassed those places with strong Walls that were fit for his purpose to wit Jotapata Bersabea Selamis Perecho Japha and Sigoph Tarichea and Tiberias Joseph fortifieth the convenient Cities with Walls Moreover he fortified the Hill Itaburin and the Caves near the Lake of Genesareth which is in lower Galilee and in high Galilee Petra which is also called Acheberon and Seph Jamnith and Mero in Gaulanitis also Seleucia and Soganes K and Gamala he only permitted them of Sephoris to build their own Walls because he perceived them to be rich and prone to War of themselves Likewise John the Son of Levias at Joseph's command built the Walls of Giscala himself alone but in all other places that were fortified Joseph put to his helping hand and directed how they should be done He listed an hundred thousand men who were all young persons and fit for the War and he armed them with old Armour which he had gathered from all parts of the Country And considering that that which made the Roman Army invincible was that they were all obedient to their Officers and well disciplin'd and that he could not exercise them in martial discipline by reason of his other occasions he thought good at least to teach them to be obedient And L calling to mind that the multitude of Rulers made obedience he ordained many Captains and constituted divers sorts of Soldiers as the Romans used to do making some Governours of ten others over a hundred and others over a thousand and appointed likewise Rulers over them He taught them also how to give the sign of War Joseph instructeth the Galileans in War and how to sound the trumpet both to call to combat and to retire how to march in length and cast in a ring and how to succour those that were most in danger and in short he taught them whatsoever might either encourage them or make them active Joseph teacheth the Galileans how they should obey in the Wars but especially he exercised them in good Discipline imitating in particular the order of the Romans and often telling them that they were to fight with men who for strength of body and courage surpassed all nations of the World Also M he told them that hereby he should perceive whether they would be obedient in War if now they abstained from such things as were usual to Soldiers to wit robbing and spoiling their Country-men crafty and deceitful dealing and spoiling those with whom they conversed for their own gain for those Wars had always best success where the Soldiers carried good Consciences and those that were bad should not only have men Every one of the Cities of Galilee send the half of their multitude to warfare the rest they keep to provide them Victuals but God also for their enemy After this manner he daily exhorted them and now he had got together as many men as he desired for their number was 60000 Foot and 250 Horse besides 4500 strangers whom he hired and to whom he chiefly trusted and 600 chosen men to
men to Sedition but all the wiser sort foresaw what was like to ensue and already mourned for the loss of the City In this case were they of Jerusalem Intestine discord in Jewry yet before this Sedition in the City the Country People began to be at discord among themselves For Titus departed from Giscala to Casarea and Vespasian went from Caesarea to Jamnia and Azotus and took them both and leaving there Garrisons he returned to Caesarea bringing with him a great multitude I of those that had yielded to him The Jews târn their weapons against themselves All the Cities had Civil discords among themselves so that when the Romans did not set upon them one part of the Jews in every City fought against another and there was a great dissention between those that desired peace and the Seditious People At fiirst this Discord began only in private houses but in the end those of one mind united and began in Companies to Rebel openly Thus every place was troubled with civil discord and every where rash young men who desired War prevailed against grave and wise old men who foreseeing the calamity like to ensue desired Peace At first the Inhabitants one by one robb'd and spoil'd what they could The Thieves trooping together in Jerusalem spoil the Country but at last in whole Troops they joyned together and robb'd openly and wasted all the Country about and in their Robberies they K shewed such cruelty that the harm and injury they did to their own Country-men was equal to the miseries which befel them by the Romans and they who by these miscreants were spoiled wish'd rather to have fallen into the Romans hands But the Garisons in these Cities either because they were loth to trouble themselves or else for that they cared not for their Country-men did nothing or very little succour them that fell into these Thieves hands At last the Thieves assembled themselves together from all places and joyning Companies brake into Jerusalem This City had no Governour and according to the ancient Custom of their Ancestors was open to all that came thither that were their Country-men and so much more willingly at that time because they thought they that came thither came of good will to help them which L was afterward the only cause that the City was destroyed and of the more civil dissention For a great multitude of people unapt to fight being there consumed the Victuals that would have sufficed for the fighting men and besides the War they brought upon it Famine and Civil dissention Then other Thieves came out of the fields thereabout and joyning themselves with those that were within the City omitted no kind of Villany Rapins and spoils committed by day for not content to rob and spoil they also attempted to commit Murders not only privily or in the night upon mean men but even in the day time they publickly set upon those of the chiefest quality For first of all they took Antipas who was of the blood Royal The Nobility of the City are taken and slain by the Thieves a man so eminent amongst them that the publick Treasure was committed to his charge and put him in Prison and after him they took Sepha a M worthy man Son to Raguel and Levias both of them of the Kings Houshold and after them all that seemed to bear any sway or Authority amongst the People Great fear fell upon the Inhabitants and every one provided to save himself as though the City were already surprized by the Enemies But these people were not content thus to have imprisoned these great men they thought it not safe for themselves any longer to keep them alive for many went daily to visit them who were able to revenge their injuries and moreover they feared that the People would make head against them being moved with their Insolencies Wherefore they determined to kill them and to effect their purpose they sent one John a cruel Murderer who was the Son of Dorâas he accompanied with ten more all having swords went to the Prison and slew as many N as they found there To excuse this cruel fact of theirs they alledged That all they who were slain in Prison had conference with the Romans concerning the betraying of the City into their hands and that for this Cause they had slain them as Traytors to their Country They also boasted that this Fact of theirs had preserved the City The Thieves at their pleasure make a high Priest and that therefore they had deserved well by it The People were brought to such slavery and terrour that the choosing the High Priest was in their hands to elect whom they pleased so much was their Insolence increased Thus they not respecting the Families A high Priest chosen by them contrary to the ancient Custom out of which it was only lawful to choose the high Priest they elected Strangers and base persons to that sacred Dignity and such as would be partakers of their Villanies and Impieties for they who not deserving it attained to such dignity O were bâund in all things to the Will of those by whom they were so exalted They A also devised many lies to set those that were in Authority at variance one with another thereby as it were to hold them occupied who were able to resist their Enterprizes till from shedding the blood of the Citizens they proceeded to commit impiety against God himself and with profane and impure feet to enter into the Sanctuary Then the People were incited against them by the perswasion of Ananus who was one of the Priests and the most ancient and wisest of them all who perhaps had saved the City had he escaped the hands of these Miscreants But they used the Temple as a Castle and defence for themselves against the People and made the Sanctuary a place for them to exercise Tyranny in And that which increased the sorrow of the Citizens was that amidst these Calamities their Religion was also contumeliously abused for these B Thieves to try of what strength and courage the People were and their own Forces elected by Lot a high Priest contrary to their Law which as we have already said requireth that the Office of high Priest be by Succession This deed of theirs they coloured with an ancient Custom alledging that in time past the high Priest was chosen by Lot but indeed this their fact was a violation of the most firm Custom that was amongst the People and was only a device to get all Government into their hands by establishing Magistrates at their pleasure Then calling one of the holy Tribes Phanes a Country Clown made a high Priest named Eniachin they cast Lots and the Lot fell upon one whereby their iniquity was discovered This man whose Lot it was to C be high Priest was named Phanias who was the Son of Samuel a man not only unworthy of
that Dignity but who had been so ill brought up that he never knew what the high Priest meant This Phanias was born in a Village called Apthasis Him against his will they fetcht out of the field and as it had been in a Stage-Play they graced him with the Sacerdotal habit and gave him instructions how he should behave himself as though so great impiety had been but a sport The rest of the Priests beholding a far off the holy Laws thus scorned scarcely contained themselves from tears and groaned for sorrow that their sacred Dignities were so abused The People could no longer endure this their Tyranny but every one bethought himself how to suppress these Tyrants The best Citizens exhort the people to revenge And those that were most earnest herein were Gorion Josephs Son D and Simeon the Son of Gamaliel who first went about the City in private and afterwards in a publick Assembly exhorted the People to be revenged upon those Tyrants who took from them their Liberty and to address themselves to purge the holy Temple from such vile and unclean Persons Likewise the best disposed among the Priests to wit Jesus the Son of Gamala and Ananus the Son of Ananus often in publick Sermons reprehended and upbraided the People with their sloth that they made no more haste to destroy those Zealous for so those wretches termed themselves as though they had been devout promoters of God's Glory and not impious malefactors The people being all assembled together grieved to see the holy place so made a Den of Thieves and such Robberies and Murthers committed openly yet did they E not go about revenge thinking themselves too weak to deal with these Zealots as indeed they were Whereupon the high Priest Ananus stood up among them and having often turned his Eyes to the Temple The Zealous the most wretched occasion of these violences and beheld it with tears in his Eyes Oh said he How far better were it for me to die than live to see the House of God thus filled with Impiety and the Sanctuary wherein none should come but the high Priest prophaned with the wicked feet of impious persons clothed in Priests apparel and bearing the greatest Authority Why do I yet live Ananus sharp invective against the Zealous and to be gray-headed abstain from dying a glorious death Nay rather I alone will go against these Murderers and as though I were in a Wilderness where there were no man besides my self I alone will go and offer my soul in the presence of God For what doth it avail me to live amongst a People that have no feeling of their own calamity and which F seeketh not to redress their own present miseries For you being robbed and spoiled bear all patiently and being beaten you hold your peace and there is none amongst you that dare openly mourn for them that are most cruelly murthered Ananus twitteth the Jews with their fear O tyrannous Government But why should I exclaim against the Tyrants Do not you your selves make them great and nourish their power and authority by your patience Do not you by despising those who were before in authority being but a few make all these who are many in number Tyrants over your selves Have not you by keeping your selves quiet whilst they are armed drawn their swords upon your own heads and whereas it behoved you to resist their enterprises when first they injured your Kindred The cruelty of the Thieves you by suffering have made them Thieves because at first you made no account when they destroyed Houses and whole Families And this was the cause that at last G the Rulers and chief Men themselvâs were set upon and none would succour them when they were drawn thorow the midst of the City and these Murtherers butchered them in Prison whom you thus betrayed I will not recount what men they were and of what birth but I say they being neither accused nor condemned nor having any man to hear them they were H most cruelly murthered as we have seen for they were before our faces led to be slain and yet no man opened his mouth nor lift up his hand And will you also endure will you suffer the holy Sanctuary to be prophaned before your Eyes will you having so emboldened these miscreants as ye see now your selves stand in fear of them assure your selves they would if they could devise how commit greater impiety than this is They keep against you the strongest place in the whole City The Temple the strongest Fortress of that City called indeed a Temple but now a Fortress or Castle of defence What do you now think such a Tyranny being established over you and your Enemies being even upon you what do you deliberate to do Do you expect the Romans to come and help you to save the Temple and sacred places as if our City were at that pass that our very Enemies could not but pity us Will you not rise and as the very brute Beasts do I revenge your selves upon them that have thus wounded you Why doth not every one of you call to mind the Massacre of his friends and what Calamity he himself hath suffered and so encourage your selves to be revenged For ought I can see you have all lost that sacred and sweet and natural desire of Liberty and now we imbrace Bondage as though we had learned to be Bondmen even from our Ancestors But they endured many and hard Wars to live in Liberty and yielded not to the Power of the Egyptians or Medes because they would not be at their command What need is there to recount to you the Wars of your Predecessors to what end do we enterprise this War against the Romans be it commodious for us Wars are intended for liberty to our disadvantage if not to obtain our Liberty And we who cannot indure to be subject to the Lords of the whole World suffer those of our own Nation to tyrannize over us It may be K adverse Fortune to be once overcome by strangers but to be slaves to the basest of our own Nation argueth that we have no spark of Generosity in us and that we bear base and servile minds And seeing I have made mention of the Romans I will not stick to declare to you that which now cometh to my mind to wit that if we be taken by them which God forbid yet shall we suffer no greater misery at their hands than now we do under these base Tyrants And how can you abstain from tears beholding this Temple enriched by the gifts of the Romans robbed and spoyled by them of our own Nation this being our Mother-City and to see those men murthered whom the Romans although they had conquered us would not have touched The comparison of the Romans and Jews and their properties The Romans never durst pass beyond the limits of prophane places nor ever violated
them whom they had just reason to fear at revengers of their impieties Wherefore if you make any account of these mens prayers vouchsafe laying your Weapons aside to come into our City like Friends and be your selves Judges between us and them whom you come to help .. Jesus requireth the Idumeans to judge the discrences between the Zealots and them And consider what favour we shew them who permit them to plead their own causes before you they being guilty of so hainous crimes and having put to death persons of such account never accused nor permitted to speak for themselves yet this favour we will grant them for your sake But if you continue your indignation against us and refuse this offer to be our Judges then let us entreat you that L leaving both parts you would neither imbrue your hands in our blood nor lend your aid to those miscreants against your Mother-City And if you suspect any of us to be Confederates with the Romans you may keep all the passages and then seek to defend your Metropolis when you have proof of any such matter as is alledged against us and punish the Authors of that Treason when you have convicted them The enemies cannot prevent you because you are already planted so near the City The end of Jesus Oration to the Idumeans If you like none of these marvel not that we shut our gates against you coming in an armed and hostile manner But the Idumeans being angry were not moved hereby and so much the more for that entrance into the City was denied them and their Generals were exceedingly displeased thinking it shameful to lay down their Arms at the command of others who had no Authority over them K Then one of the Captains named Simon Simons answer to Jesus the Son of Cathla having with much ado gotten his Souldiers to be silent stood up in a place where the High Priests might hear him and said That he now did not wonder that those who maintained Liberty were besieged in the Temple since they of the City now shut their Gates against them the City being common and free for all the Nation and that perhaps they were ready to open the City Gates to receive the Romans That they spake to the Idumeans from a Tower and commanded them to cast down their Arms The Idumaeans are displeased because the City gates were lockt against them which they had taken only for the Liberty of the City when they durst not trust their own Nation to keep the same and yet would have them Judges of the discord and that accusing others for killing some not convicted they themselves would condemn M all our whole Nation by the ignominy they did to their Country-men against whom they had now shut the City gates which were open to all strangers to enter into for Religion-sake Did we make haste saith he towards you to fight against our own Nation when we came only to preserve your Liberty The reproaches the Idumaeans object against the high Priest and Citizens But this is as true as that they whom you thus besiege have wronged you and as the accusation you forge against them But your keeping in hold those that are the defenders of the Common-wealth shutting the City gates against Men of your own Blood you impose upon us contumelious commands Who can any longer endure this your mockery that perceiveth how contradictory your allegations are For who can justly accuse those that ye keep shut up in the Temple because they presumed to punish Traytors whom you grace with the title of Noble and Innocent because they were your Confederates Only in N this they are blame-worthy that they did not begin with you first but left alive such members of that Conspiracy Except also you will say that the Idâmeans shut you out of your City you your selves not permitting us to come and offer Sacrifice But though they were too merciful yet we the Idumeans will preserve the House of God and will fight for the common good of our Country and will be revenged both of the Enemies that are without the City and the Traytors within And here will we remain before the City till either the Romans come and deliver you or till you change your minds and bethink your selves what advantage it is to have Liberty O A CHAP. VII Of the Massacre of the Jews by the Idumeans ALL the Idumeans assented with a loud cry to these speeches of Simon And Jesus departed sorrowful seeing that the Idumeans would agree to no reason and that thereby their City should suffer a double War For the Idumeans were no less disquieted who took the matter in great disdain that they were not permitted to enter into B the City and also because they thought the Zealots so strong as they had believed and they themselves were ashamed that they could not help them so that many repented that they were come thither The Idumeans pitch their Tabernacles near the Walls Yet would they not for shame return nothing being done by them and so rashly placing their Tabernacles near the City walls they determined to stay there But that night there arose a most furious Tempest for there was a great stormy Wind A huge Storm and an exceeding great Rain mixt with fearful Thunder and horrible Lightning and an Earthquake with strange Noises so that all men thought this motion of the Earth would overturn the whole order of Nature or at least portend some great Calamity The Idumeans and Townsmen were both of one mind For they thought that God was angry with them for bearing Arms against their Metropolis C and perswaded themselves that they could not escape death if they continued in their purpose Ananus and his followers perswaded themselves that they had now overcome them without War and that God had fought for them against the Idumeans But they were false Prophets and what they judged would befall their Enemies fell upon themselves In the mean while the Idumeans lay as close together as they could and covered their heads with their Shields by which means the Rain did them not so much harm The Zealots consult to break open the Gates to assail the Watch and let in the Idumeans The Zealots were concern'd for the Idumeans more than for themselves and devised which way they might succour them The boldest amongst them advised the rest by force to set upon the Guard and so to get into the City and open the Gates to the Idumeans that were come to help them for it was easie to surprize the Watch by D reason that many of them were unarmed and unfit for War and the Citizens could not easily be assembled together seeing every man because of the Tempest kept his house And though there were danger in the attempt yet were it better to endure all mischiefs that might ensue than to permit such an Army shamefully to perish
who came at their request to help them But the wiser sort disswaded the rest from this seeing both a stronger Watch placed to keep them in and the City Walls diligently guarded because of the Idumeans and moreover they could not think that Ananus was careless but went up and down first from one Watch and then to another yet this night he did not so The watchmen are oppressed with sleep not for slothfulness but because that the Destinies had so decreed that thereby both he and the Watchmen should perish For about midnight the storm E increasing the Watchmen fell into a deep sleep Then the Zealots determined to file the Bars and Bolts of the Gates asunder to effect which they took the Instruments which were consecrated to the Temple and this attempt was much furthered by the great Wind and Thunder which made such a noise that they could not be heard So issuing out of the Temple they went privily to the Walls The Idumeans by the means of the Zealots enter by night and opened that Gate near which the Idumeans lay and suspecting that Ananus would make some resistance they first of all drew their Swords and then together with the Idumeans came in and if at that time they had assaulted the City they had without any let or hindrance destroyed all the People therein so great was their rage at that time But first of all they hastened to assist their fellows whom they left besieged F and requested the Idumeans not to leave them in danger for whose succour they were come nor permit them to incur greater damage for having first surprised the Watchmen it would be more easie for them to assault the City which if they did not but first set upon the Citizens The Idumeans joyâ themsâlâes with the Zealots in the Temple they would presently assemble together and oppose themselves against them and not permit them to ascend up into the Temple The Idumeans consented to this and so they passed thorow the City into the Temple and the Zealots remaining in the Temple impatiently expected their coming at whose arrival they took Courage and joyning with the Idumeans came out of the inner Temple and set upon the Watch and some being slain who were fast asleep the rest were awak'd by the cries of others and so betook themselves to their Arms to defend G themselves being yet amazed And at first thinking that they were only the Zealots that gave the Alarm they hoped only by their multitude to suppress them but seeing others without the Temple also assailing them they judg'd that the Idumeans were broken H in so the greater part of them being dismayd laid down their Weapons and cryed out and only a few of them young men well armed and of good courage encountred with the Idumeans and for a good space defended their idle fellows others went and advertised the Inhabitants what was done yet none durst come to help them because they now knew that the Idumeans were got in but every one lamented their hard fortune and the Women made great lamentation when the Watchmen were slain The Zealots also answered their cries with the like The immanity of the Idumeans and Zealots against the Citizens of Jerusalem and the Tempest and Thunder made all more dreadful The Idumeans spared none because they were naturally cruel and fierce to shed blood and angry that they were so beaten with the Tempest they used them most cruelly by whose means they were shut out of the City sparing neither I those who requested favour nor those who made resistance for they slew many as they were intreating them to remember that they were of their own blood and requesting them to spare them for reverence of the Temple There was no way to flie nor any hope of escape and being driven up in a narrow room they hurt themselves more than the Enemies did by crouding and treading one upon another for there was no place to flie and their Enemies ceased not to kill them Being in this desperate estate not knowing what to do they cast themselves headlong into the City and so died a more miserable death than those that died by the Enemies sword The next day there was found slain eight thousand and five hundred and all the outer Temple flowed with blood Yet this Massacre sufficed not the Idumeans rage but turning themselves K against the City they robbed and spoiled all Houses and kill'd all they met making no account of the lives of the multitude Ananus and Jesus the high Priest executed They made diligent search for the Priests and many laid violent hands upon them and killed them and standing upon their dead bodies sometime they upbraided Ananus with the Peoples favour towards him sometime Jesus with the words he spake upon the Wall to them and they were so impious that they cast away their dead Bodies unburied notwithstanding the Jews in this point are so religious that after Sun-set they take down the dead bodies of Malefactors who by sentence have been adjudged to the Cross and bury them I think I shall not greatly miss the mark if I affirm Ananus his death to have been the beginning of the destruction of the City Ananus death the first cause of the destruction of the City that the Walls of Jerusalem were overthrown L and the Common-wealth of the Jews perished in that day when this their High Priest and Governour was so cruelly massacred in the midst of the City The praise of Ananus the high Priest He was of a laudable and just Life and though Great in Dignity Birth and Reputation yet would he not exalt himself above any one were he never so base He was a man who thirsted to preserve Liberty to his Country and Authority to the Common-wealth He continually preferred the Publick Interest before his own Private Gain and was alwayes desirous of Peace because he foresaw that the Romans could not be withstood and that if the Jews did not quickly accord with them their Ruine was inevitable and I doubt not but if Ananus had lived he had succeeded in his design For he was an eloquent Orator and could perswade admirably and he had already reduced to extremity M those false Zelots who caused the War and if the Jews had had him for their Captain against the Romans it had not been so easie for the Romans to have Conquered them He was seconded by Jesus who next him excelled all the rest But I think Almighty God having decreed the total ruine of the City which was now polluâed and filled with Iniquity and meaning by fire as it were to purifie the holy Temple which was prophaned he first took up the Defenders thereof and those that loved it most dearly So they who a little before were cloathed with the sacred apparel and reverenced of all that from the furthest parts of the World came to Jerusalem
now lay murthered and naked in the open streets left as it were a prey to be torn in pieces by Doggs and wild Beasts Was Virtue ever more insolently outraged And could she N without shedding Tears behold Vice thus triumph over her A The FIFTH BOOK Of the WARS of the JEVVS B Written by Flavius Josephus The Contents of the Chapters of the Fifth Book 1 OF another Massacre and of the Return of the Idumeans and the Cruelty of the Zealots 2 Of the Civil Discord amongst the Jews 3 Of the Yielding of Gadara and the Massacre there C 4 How certain Towns were Taken and the Description of Jericho 5 Of the Lake called Asphaltites 6 How Gerasa was Destroyed the Death of Nero Galba and Otho 7 Of Simon of Gerasa Author of a new Conspircy 8 Of Galba Otho Vitellius and Vespasian 9 Of Simon 's Acts against the Zealots 10 How Vespasian was chosen Emperour 11 The Description of Aegypt and Pharus 12 How Vespasian Redeemed Joseph from Captivity 13 Of Vitellus his Death and Manners D 14 How Titus was sent against the Jews by his Father CHAP. I. Of another Massacre and of the Return of the Idumeans and the Cruelty of the Zealots SUch was the end of Ananus and Jesus After whose death the Idumeans and E the Zealots massacred the People as though they had been a flock of pernitious Beasts and very few escaped the Butchery The Nobility and chief sort of men were put in Prison The cruelty of the Idumeans and the Zealots in hope that by deferring their death some of them would become partakers with them Yet none was hereby moved but every one desired to die rather than impiously to joyn with these Wretches against their own Country Whereupon they were most cruelly whipped before they were put to Death their Bodies being made as it were one sore place by Whipping and Stripes and when they could not endure these Torments any longer they were killed Who so was taken in the day time was in the night carried to Prison and those that died in Prison and Torments they cast their dead Bodies out F that they might have place to imprison others in their room The People were so terrified that none durst weep openly for his Friend nor bury the dead Body of his Kinsman yea those that were in Prison durst not openly weep but secretly looking about them lest any of their Enemies should see them For whosoever mourned for any that was afflicted was presently himself used in the same manner as he had been for whom he lamented Yet sometimes some in the night scraped up a little earth with their hands and therewithal covered the dead body of their Friend and some bolder than the rest did the like in the day-time 12000 of the Nobility executed And in this general slaughter were twelve thousand young Noblemen slain in this manner After which being hated for these Massacres they mocked and flouted the Magistrates and made no account of their Judgments So that when they determined to put to death Zachary the Son of Baruch one of the chief of G the City because he was an Enemy to their wickedness and loved the virtuous and one that was rich by whose death they hoped not only to have the spoil of his goods but also to be rid of one who might be able to resist their bad purposes they called seventy of H the best amongst the common People together as it were in Judgment with a pretended Authority and before them they accused Zacharie that he had betrayed the Common-wealth to the Romans and for that intent had sent to Vespasian but they neither shewed any evidence or proof thereof but only affirmed it to be so and therefore would have credit given to their words When Zacharie perceived that under pretence of being called to Judgement Zacharie condemned to death by the Zealots he was unjustly cast into Prison though he had no hope of Life yet he spared not to speak freely his mind and began to scorn the rage and pretence of his Enemies and purged himself of the crimes whereof he was accused and converting his speech against his Accusers he laid open all their Iniquities and much lamented the miseries and troubles I of the City In the mean-while the Zealots gnashed their teeth and could scarcely contain themselves from drawing their Swords and were desirous that their pretended Accusation and Judgment might be ended He also requested them who by these Miscreants were appointed his Judges Seventy Judges absolve acquit Zacharie to remember Justice notwithstanding the danger they might incur by it The seventy Judges all pronounced that he was to be absolved and freed as guiltless and rather chose to die than to cause his death who was Innocent This Sentence being pronounced the Zealots began to shout and cry with a loud voice and they all were angry at the Judges Zacharie slain in the midst of the Temple who did not understand to what end that counterfeit K Authority was given them Then two of the boldest amongst them set upon Zacharie and killed him in the midst of the Temple and insulted over him saying Thou hast now our Sentence and Absolution far more certain than the other was And presently they cast him down from the Temple into the Valley below and then contumeliously with the Hilts of their Swords they beat the Judges out of the Temple yet they did not kill them to the end that being dispersed thorow the whole City they might tell the People as Messengers from them of their miserable condition The Idumeans were now sorrowful for their coming One of the Zealots discovereth their cruelty and barbarous dealing to the Idumeans for they misliked these proceedings and being assembled together one of the Zealots secretly told them all that their Faction had done from the beginning that it was true the Idumeans had taken Arms L because they were informed that the Metropolitan City was by the Priests betray'd to the Romans but they might perceive there was no proof nor sign of any such matter and that indeed the Zealots who pretended themselves Defenders of the Liberty of the City were indeed Enemies and had exercised Tyranny over the Citizens even from the beginning And though they had associated themselves with such wicked persons and made themselves partakers of so many Murthers yet they ought now to cease from such wickedness and not assist men so impious to destroy their Country and Religion For though they took it in bad part that the City Gates were shut upon them yet now they were sufficiently revenged of those that were the cause thereof That Ananus himself was slain and almost all the People in one night whereof M many of them ere long would repent and that they might now themselves perceive the cruelty of those who requested their aid to be more than barbarous had not
time to invade Strangers CHAP. VII Of Simon of Gerasa Author of a new Conspiracy E IN the mean time a new War broke out at Jerusalem among the Jews For there was one Simon the Son of Giora born in Gerasa young in years and inferiour to John in subtilty Simon of Gerasa resorteth to the Thieves who now already had gotten the dominion over the City yet in Vigor and Boldness exceeded John This Simon having been for this cause also driven out of the Country of Acrabatena where he was Governour by the means of Ananus the high Priest Simon assembleth all robbers in the mountanous places came to the Thieves that seized upon Massada At his first coming he was so suspected by the Thieves that they only permitted him and the Women that came with him to dwell in the lower part of the Castle and they themselves kept the higher part yet afterwards his manners and behaviour was such that they put confidence in him and he became their Captain always when they went to spoil and rob any part of F of the Country about Massada After which he did all that he could to persweade them to attempt greater matters for being desirous of rule after he heard that Ananus was dead he departed into the high Places of the Country and with the voice as of a Crier proclaimed that all Bond-slaves that would follow him should have their Liberty and all others should be richly rewarded by which means he gathered together all the wicked and desperate People in the Country And having now a considerable Army he robbed and spoiled all the Towns and Villages thereabout and his number daily encreasing he also presumed to come into the plain Countries so that now Cities stood in awe of him and many considerable persons fearing him for his strength and prosperous success joyned with him So that his Army did not only consist of Thieves and G Slaves but many People of the Country came to him reverencing him as their Prince and King and they made Excursions into the Toparchy of Acrabatena and into the greater Idumea For he had fortified a Town called Nain wall'd about which he used H for his Retreat And in the Valley called Pharan he made many Caves and found many already made and in these Caves he kept his Treasure and the Booties he got also all Fruits of the Earth that he robbed and stole there he laid up in store as also Ammunition for many Companies The Fight between Simon and the Zealots And now no man doubted but that being thus furnished with Men and Ammunition he would go to Jerusalem The Zealots fearing this and desirous to prevent him who they saw every day encreased his number and grew more potent against them they armed many of their Company and went out to meet him Simon was not daunted at this but boldly encountred them and gave them so sharp a Battle that he slew many of them in fight and forced the rest to retire themselves into the Town yet not having men sufficient he would not besiege the I Town but first of all he purposed to subdue Idumea and so accompanied with 20000 armed men he hasted towards the borders thereof The Princes of Idumea understanding this presently assembled five and twenty thousand armed men and leaving at home sufficient Garisons to defend their Country against the Sicarii who held the Fortress of Massada they accompanied with these Forces went out and expected Simons coming into the borders of their Country where having met him they joyned battle and fought a whole day yet it appeared not which part got the Victory Then Simon returned to Nain and the Idumeans home Not long after Simon with a greater Army than before assaulted the borders of their Country and pitching his Tents in a Village called Thecue he sent one of his Companions L named Eleazar to them that kept the Castle Herodium not far from that place to sollicite them to yield it to him The Garison there presently received him into the Castle not knowing the cause of his coming But so soon as he began to perswade them to Treason they drew their Swords to kill him and he not having any place to flie to cast himself from off the Castle Wall into the Valley underneath and so died The Idumeans something fearing Simons Forces Eleazar Simon 's fellow casteth himself headlong into the trench and presently dieth James of Idumea the Betrayer of his Country before they would offer him Battle thought best to espie what number of men he had to effect which business one Jacob a Captain among them offered himself meaning indeed to betray his Country to Simon So departing from Olurus where the Idumean Forces were assembled he went to Simon and promised him to betray his Country to him receiving of him an Oath that for reward K of this deed he should be alwayes next in dignity to Simon himself and so he presently promised to help subdue all Idumea For this cause he was welcome to Simon and feasted liberally and had great Promises if he performed that which he offered and then returned to the Idumeans and fained that Simons Army was far greater than indeed it was And so terrifying the Governours of his Country and the People he by little and little perswaded them to receive Simon and without any more fight to yield to him the Sovereign Authority over them Jacob studying to bring this his purpose to pass privily sent Messengers to Simon willing him to come with his Forces and promising him to dissipate the Idumeans for M him which he also did For when Simons Army drew near he first of all got upon his Horse and together with his Associates that were partakers of his Treason fled to the Enemy Then fear fell on the Idumeans and every one without any more ado fled home Thus Simon against his own expectation entred Idumea without blood-shed Simon beyond all expectation enters Idumea without blood-shed and first of all assaulting a little Village called Chebron he took it and in it an exceeding great Booty a great quantity of Corn and many Fruits all which he carried away The Inhabitants report that this Chebron is not only more ancient than all Cities of that Land Hebron an ancient City where Abrahams house was but also than Memphis in Aegypt for they affirm it to have been built two thousand three hundred years since They also say that this was the place where Abraham N the Father of the Jews dwelt after he forsook Mesopotamia and that his Posterity departed from hence to Aegypt Indeed there are yet seen Monuments in the City richly wrought in fine Marble Six Furlongs from the Town there is an exceeding great Turpentine Tree A Turpentine Tree that hath continued ever since the Creation of the World which they affirm to have endured ever since the Creation of the World until this day
was slain by the Tyrant without and there was no way to flie to the Romans Furthermore The discord between the Zealots and the Idumeans the Army of John began to be divided for all the Idumeans separated themselves from the other People and there rose a mutiny against the Tyrant partly L through envy of his Power partly through hatred of his Cruelty And so assaulting him they slew many of the Zealots and compelled the rest to fly into the Kings house built by Grapta The flight of the Zealots with the Idumeans into the Temple Father of Izat King of Adiabena The Idumeans also broke in thither with them and drave them from thence into the Temple and seized upon Johns Treasure for John lived in the Palace and had carried thither all his Spoils Then those Zealots that were dispersed in the City came to those that were in the Temple and John purposed to send them against the Townsmen and the Idumeans But they feared not so much their Forces although they knew them to be the better Warriors as they did lest now being desperate they should steal out of the Temple in the night and so slay them and fire the City Wherefore assembling themselves they deliberated with M the Priests how to avoid their assaults but it pleased God to turn their own Counsel to their destruction and that they should provide a Remedy of safety far worse than Death it self For to depose John they devised to introduce Simon and as it were to intreat another to Tyrannize over them This counsel was thought best and Matthias the Priest was sent to Simon of whom before they stood in great fear to request him to come into the City With him also came such as had fled from Jerusalem for fear of the Zealots intreating him in like manner because they desired to return to their Wives and Families So he entred into the City proudly promising them to be their Deliverer Simon enters the City with a great Army and all the People made Acclamations as he entered into the City that he was their Preserver Simon being now within the City presently deliberated N with those about him to establish his Dominion thinking as well those that called him into the City as those against whom he was called his Enemies John and the Zealots with him finding no way to come out of the Temple and having lost all that he had in the City for Simon and his Followers at their entrance took all that belonged to him began now to despair of his safety And Simon being assisted by the Citizens assaulted the Temple Simon assaults the Temple wherein the Zealots kept and the Zealots placing themselves upon the Porches and in Towers of Defence made resistance and hurt many of Simons followers For the Zealots were upon the higher ground on the right hand and so had the advantage against Simon And although by reason of the place wherein they were they prevailed against Simon yet they raised four high Towers that from hence they might shoot O Darts and Arrows against Simons Men. One of these Towers they built upon the East A side of the Temple another on the North the third upon a place opposite to the lower part of the Town and a fourth Tower they built on the top of the place called Pastophorium where one of the Priests used to stand before Sun-set to signifie to the People with the sound of the Trumpet the beginning of the Sabbath and to declare to them the other holy dayes The Office of the Priests to signifie the beginning of the seventh day by the sound of a Trumpet and in what dayes they might go about their business In these Towers they placed all kind of Engines to cast Stones and Men with Slings Then Simon perceiving many of his Souldiers languish was more remiss in his business yet when his number increased he came nearer for a-far off many of his men were slain with the Shot of those Engines B CHAP. X. How Vespasian was Elected Emperor AT this time Rome also suffered the Evils of Civil War Vitellius Encamps his Army in Rome for Vitellius was now arrived out of Germany with his Army bringing besides them an infinite multitude with him so that his Army was so great that the places appointed for quartering his Souldiers could not contain it insomuch that his Army occupied all the whole City C and every House was filled with Souldiers And they beholding the Romans wealth greater than ever they saw any and admiring their abundance of Gold and Silver not able to contain themselves began to rob and kill every one that sought to hinder them And this was the estate of the affairs in Italy Vespasian having wasted all about Jerâsalem returned to Caesarea where he understood the troubles at Rome and how Vitellius was Emperour Vespasian knew both how to govern and how to obey Hereat though he knew as well to obey as to be obeyed yet he was moved with indignation and disdained to call him Lord who had invaded the Empire being destitute of a Ruler And much grieved hereat he could not conceal his grief nor follow the Wars against Strangers whilst his own Country was so endangered But the distance between him and Rome did as much repress him as anger incited him to D seek revenge for he considered that Fortune might cause many alterations before he could get to Rome The Captains consult with the Souldiers openly of a change especially it being Winter and so he sought to bridle his wrath which yet daily increased But his Officers and Souldiers began openly to consult of a Change and with Indignation exclaimed against the Souldiers at Rome who lived in pleasure and never heard so much as the report of War and notwithstanding took upon them to create whom they pleased Emperour and in hope of gain disposed of the Common-wealth at their own pleasure whereas they on the contrary after so many labours and dangers still continued in Arms till they became old and gray-headed and suffered the Authority due to themselves to be enjoyed by others when notwithstanding they had amongst them one who deserved the Empire more than any other and E what recompence could they ever after make him Or what occasion could they find hereafter to shew themselves grateful to him for the benefits from him received if they now omitted this occasion Vespasian's shamefastness and modesty And they thought that Vespasian was so much more worthy of the Empire than Vitellius by how much they who created Vitellius Emperor were in very many respects much inferiour to themselves For said they we have endured no less toyl than those that came out of Germany neither are we less Valiant than ââey who bring a Tyrant with them out of Germany And that no body would resist Vespasian For the Senate and the People of Rome would not rather endure
Corinthian Brass far surpassing in beauty the other that were covered with Silver and Gold In every Gate there were two doors each one thirty Cubits high and fifteen Cubits broad and after the entrance where they were made larger every one had on each side Seats thirty Cubits long and large like a Tower and fourty Cubits high each one supported with two Pillars twelve Cubits thick All the other Gates were M of the like greatness but that which was covered with Corinthian Brass which was the entrance into the place allotted for the Women and opened into the East Gate of the Temple doubtless was bigger than the rest for it was fifty Cubits high the Gates whereof were fourty Cubits and was more richly adorned than the rest for the cover of Gold and Silver was thicker than it was in the rest which Alexander Tiberius his Father had melted to cover all the nine Gates And there were fifteen Stairs that went from the Wall that separated the Women unto the great Gate of the Temple for these Stairs were shorter by five steps than those that went to the other Gates The Temple it self was situated in the midst of all to wit the holy Sanctuary The Sacred Sanctuary and had twelve Stairs to go unto it The Front whereof was in N height and breadth a hundred Cubits and behind it was fourty Cubits and before it was as it were two shoulders on each side rising up in height twenty Cubits The first Gate hereof was seventy Cubits high and twenty five wide and had no door for it signified that Heaven was spread over all and might be seen in every place and all the foreparts were guilded with Gold and all the first building did appear and might be seen without and all that was within and about the Gate glistered with Gold The inner part thereof was divided into two Rooms whereof only the first Room might be seen which was in height fourscore and ten Cubits and in length fourty and in breadth twenty The inner Gate was as is already said all guilded with Gold and all the Wall about it and above it it had a Golden Vine whereon O were hanging Clusters of Grapes of Gold every Cluster being as long as a man is A high And because it was ceeled above the inner Temple did seem to be lower than it was without and it had Golden Gates fifty five Cubits high and sixteen Cubits broad The Hangings were also of the same length being a Babylonian Vail wrought with Violet and Purple Silk and Scarlet admirable to behold the permixtion of which colours had a mystical meaning The Babylonians Vail of admirable workmanship bearing as it were the signification of the whole World For the Scarlet seemed to express the Fire the Silk the Earth the Violet the Air and the Purple the Sea partly in their colours resembling them partly also as having their beginning from them The signification of the Vail for the Purple is ingendred in the Sea and the Silk is produced by the Earth In this Tapestry work was curiously wrought and deciphered all the Speculations of the Heavens only the Celestial Signs excepted Being B entred within you come into a lower place of the Temple which was sixty Cubits high and as many in length and 20 in breadth Which place was divided into two parts whereof first contained fourty Cubits Three admirable works The Candlestick the Table and Censer having in it three most admirable things famous throughout the World to wit a Candlestick a Table and the Altar of Incense Upon the Candelstick seven Lamps were placed signifying the seven Planets for so many did there come all out of one stem of the Candelstick Upon the Table were standing twelve loaves of Bread signifying the twelve Celestial Signs and Revolution of the Year By the Altar of Incense out of which proceedeth thirteen Odours coming partly from the Sea which is unhabitable and partly from the Earth which is inhabited is signified that all things are in the hands of God and owe him C obedience The inner part of the Temple contained 20 Cubits which also was separated from the other part by a Vail and nothing was within it this place was the Holy of Holies and no man might enter look into it nor violate the same On each side of the lower Temple there were many Lodgings and Doors to pass into every one of them having three roofs one above another and there was a Gate which led unto both sides of the Temple and unto these Rooms but the higher part of the Temple had not the like Rooms on each side and therefore it was made so much narrower than the other The outward Court of the Temple coveed with massy Plates of Gold yet was it higher than it by 40 Cubits neither was it so sumptuous as the lower For the whole height was 100 Cubits and the ground thereof 60. The outermost part was so curious and richly wrought it was impossible to imagine any D workmanship that it wanted for it was all covered with a Massie Plate of pure Gold which shined far brighter than the Morning Sun so that it dazled the Eyes of the beholders as doth the Sun when it is gazed upon And afar off it seemed to strangers that came thither like a white Mountain for where the Temple was not guilded with Gold there was it Milk-white The top hereof was all set full of Rods of Gold very sharp at the uper end like Pikes lest the Birds should come and sit thereon and so defile it several of the Stones wherewith it was Built were fourty-five Cubits large five Cubits in length and six Cubits broad Before the Temple there stood an Altar fifteen Cubits high being fourty Cubits broad and as many long and four-square having Corners made like Horns The way to this Altar was on the South E side where by little and little it ascended from below to the Altar This Altar was built without any Iron and never Iron did touch it The Temple and the Altar were enclosed with Stone-work very beautiful which was a Cubit high and separated the People from the Priests Those that were troubled with flux of Seed or Leprosy were expulsed the City Women also having their monthly courses but those that were not unclean might pass this foresaid limit Likewise men that were not purified were not permitted to come within the inner Temple and those that were might not come among the Priests those also that descended from the line of the Priests and for blindness did not administer their function were notwithstanding admitted into the place appointed for the rest of the Priests that were sound and had share as F they had yet did they go attired as Lay-men for only he that did Sacrifice might wear Priestly attire The Priests that were admitted to the Altar and Temple had no infirmity The Priests in the old
amongst them but the Souldiers also strove who should first effect their part and every Souldier laboured to please his Decurio The Romans with ceasless labour build the Wall the Decurio to content the Centurion and Centurion C the Tribune and the Tribune to please the chief Commander and he to please Caesar who every day went round about and beheld the Work and so beginning at the place called the Assyrians Camp where he was encamped he drew a Wall all about even to the new City and from thence by Cedron and Mount Olivet and so turned toward the South and enclosed the Mountain with the Rock called Peristereonos and the Hill next adjoyning thereunto which hangeth over Siloa and from thence bending his Work to the West he brought it down all along the Valley of the Fountain from whence ascending to the Monument of Ananus the High-Priest where Pompy pitched his Tents he brought it about by the North side of the City and coming along to the Village called Erebinthonicus he compassed the Monument of Herod towards the East D and so joyned the Wall to his Camp One Wall of 39 Stounds whereof one containeth 8 Furlongs or thereabout where he began This Wall was nine and thirty furlongs about Without this Wall he built also thirteen Forts every one ten furlongs in compass And all this whole work was finished in three days space which yet required Months to have been built in so that the celerity in the building thereof makes it scarcely credible The Romans plant their courts of guard in several Castles The City being thus encompassed with a Wall and Gaurds placed in every Fort Titus himself continued to go round the first Watch to see all things in good order the second Watch he allotted to Alexander and the third to the Captains of the Legions and the Watchmen appointed every one his turn to sleep and so all night long some of them went about the Castle E CHAP. XIV Of the Famine in Jerusalem and of the building of the second Rampire by the Romans THe restraint of liberty to pass in and out of the City took from the Jews all hope of safety and the Famine now increasing consumed whole Housholds and Families The houses and ways full of dead men the Houses were full of dead Women and Infants and the Streets of the Carcases F of elder Men and the young Men pale like Ghosts walked about the Market-place and fell down dead where it happened And now the multitude of dead bodies was so great that they that were alive could not bury them nor indeed cared they for burying them being now uncertain what should betide themselves And many endeavouring to bury others The dead lie unburied in the streets fell down themselves dead upon them as they were burying them Many being yet alive went into their Graves and there died Yet for all this Calamity was there no weeping nor lamentation for the Famine overcame all affections And they who were yet living without tears beheld those who being dead were now at rest before them There was no noise heard within the City and the still night found all full of dead bodies and which was most miserable of all G the Thieves at night came and took away that which covered the dead bodies nakedness went laughing away and in their bodies they proved their Swords and upon pleasure only thrust many through The year of the World 4034. after the Nativity of Christ 72. yet breathing Yet if any desired them to kill H him or to lend him a Sword to kill himself that so he might escape the Famine they denied him And every one that died as he was dying fixed his Eyes upon the Temple and beheld it with grief leaving the Seditious behind them But they no longer able to endure the stink of the dead bodies that lay corrupted on the ground The cruelty of the Thieves against those that lie a dying first commanded that all such should be buried at the charges of the City and at last finding no place wherein to bury them all they threw them over the Walls into the Ditch When Titus going about the Walls beheld all the Ditch filled with dead mens bodies Titus lifting up his hands to heaven calleth God to witness that the fault is not his he lamented and lifting up his hands to Heaven called God to witness that it was not his doing Such was the estate of the City But the Romans when none of the Seditious durst make any more excursions passed their time in I joy and mirth for they neither suffered Famine nor sorrow having abundance of Corn and all other necessaries out of Syria The Romans shew the Jews their abundance of victuals and the Provinces adjoyning and many standing before the Walls aud shewing their abundance of Victuals to the Jews did so much more increase their misery Yet were not the Seditious people moved at these Calamities wherefore Titus pitying the reliques of the Nation and minding at least to save them that were left alive Titus pitying the remainder of the Nation laboureth to save them hasted to take the City and so he begun anew to build Mounts though he scarcely found matter to do it withal For all the Wood neer the City was consumed in the first works so that now the Souldiers were forced to fetch more Wood ninety furlongs off and only against Antonia were erected in four places four Mounts greater than the former Caesar went about and hastened K the Workmen and now shewed the Thieves that were fallen into his hands Yet for all this The blindness of the Jews they would not repent and being as it were deprived of the exercise of their Wits and Bodies they used both as though borrowed and not their own For neither did any affection move their minds nor any grief there bodies for they rent and tore the dead Bodies like Dogs and filled the prisons with weak and languishing people CHAP. XV. L Of the Massacre of the Jews both within and without the City AT last Simon 's cruelty against Matthias and his Sons Simon having tormented Matthias put him to death notwithstanding that by his means he had obtained the City This Matthias was the Son of Boethus a Priest whom the people for his fidelity towards them greatly esteemed he seeing the outrages of the Zealots towards the people after John was joyned with them perswaded the people to call in Simon to help them conditioning nothing with him before for that they misdoubed no evil And when he was come into the City he held him for his Enemy as well as the rest notwithstanding that by his only advice he was received into the City as though Matthias had only done it through weakness M Wherefore calling him before the people he accused him that he favoured the Romans and so condemned him to die not
Arabians in these Wars against Strangers do what they please and presently cause the infamy of their vile Facts to redound to the Romans by committing such murthers and exercising such cruelty against the Jews for now all that bare Arms under him were defamed with this vile report He declared to them That such as G hereafter were found in that guilt should be put to death Also he commanded his own Legions to make enquiry who were suspected among them for this matter and to bring him word thereof But avarice is not terrified by fear of punishment cruel H people have naturally a desire of gain and no passion can be compared to the desire of wealth though sometimes it is bridled and restrained for fear But now God who hath given over the people to Perdition suffered all things to be turned to their destruction Avarice is not terrified with any punishment for that which Cesar did so strictly forbid was still secretly commited upon the poor Jews that fled for mercy to the Romans So that now whosoever fled out of the City the Souldiers first looking about them left any of the Romans should see them ript up their Bellies and so got an ungodly and impious booty yet in very few did they find that they sought for for the most of them that were slain had no Gold nor Silver found within them And this mischief caused many that had fled to the Romans to return again into the City I CHAP. XVI Of the Sacriledge committed about the Temple and the dead Bodies cast out of the City and of the Famine WHen John could rob no more John falleh to Sacrildge and taketh away many Presents out of the Temple nor get any spoil from the Citizens whom he had robbed of all they had he presently fell to Sacriledge and took away many of the gifts that had been offer'd to God in the Temple and of the Sacred Vessels K appointed for Divine Service as Cups Plates Tables and the Cruets of Gold that Augustus and his Wife had sent thither Thus a Jew robbed and spoiled the Temple of those tokens of respect wherewith the Roman Emperours and other Nations had honoured it and he had the boldness to affirm to his Associates that without fear they might use the Holy things of the Temple seeing they sought for God and the Temple Moreover he dar'd to share amongst them the Holy Wine and Oyl which the Priests kept for Divine Sacrifice in the inner part of the Temple I will not cease to speak that which grief compelleth me I verily think that had the Romans forborn to have punished so great Criminals either the Earth would have swallowed the City up or some deluge have drowned it or else the Thunder and Lightning which L conâumed Sodom would have light upon it for the people of the City were far more impious than the Sodomites In brief their wickedness and impiety were the cause that the whole Nation was extinguished What need I recount every particular misery Mannaeus the Son of Lazarus flying to Titus out of the Gate that was committed to his custody and yielding himself to him related to Titus that from the time that the Roman Army encamped near the City from the fourteenth day of April until the first of July were carried out of that Gate he kept a hundred and fifteen thousand eight hundred and fourscore dead bodies and nevertheless he had reckoned only those the number of whom he was obliged to know by reason of a Publick Distribution of which he had the charge For others were buried by their Parents and this was their M burial Six hundred thousand dead carcases cast out of the City to carry them out of the City and there let them lie And certain Noblemen flying to Titus after him reported that there were dead in the City six hundred thousand poor people which were cast out of the Gates and that the others that died were innumerable and that when so many died that they were not able to bury them that then they gathered the Bodies together in the greatest houses adjoyning and there shut them up And that a bushel of Corn was sold for a Talent which is six hundred Crowns and that since the City was compassed with a Wall by the besiegers they could not go out to gather any more herbs so that many were driven to that necessity that they raked Sinks and privies to find old dung of Oxen to eat and even the dung that was loathsome to behold Cow-dung and dirt gathered together is the Jews food was their meat The Romans hearing this were moved N to compassion yet the Seditious within the City who beheld this miserable sight were nothing moved nor repented but suffered them to brought to this Calamity for their hearts were so blinded by God that they perceiv'd not the precipice into which they were going to fall with all this miserable City O A The SEVENTH BOOK Of the WARS of the JEVVS B Written by Flavius Josephus The Contents of the Chapters of the Seventh Book 1 OF the breach made in the Walls and how the Mounts were fired and how Sabinus assaaulted the Wall 2 How the Romans assaulted Antonia and were repulsed by the Jews 3 Of the exceeding valour of Julian a Roman Souldier 4 Joseph's speech perswading the Jews to yield their City and how the Jews fled to the C Romans 5 Of another Battel the Rampiers being again built and of the excursions of the Jews 6 How the Romans were by a device of the Jews destroyed with fire 7 Of the Famine amongst the Jews 8 Of a Woman that for hunger did eat her own Son 9 How the Walls were taken and the Temple burnt 10 How the Temple was set on fire against Titus his will 11 Of the Priests the Treasure-house and the Porch 12 Of the Signs and Tokens which appeared before the destruction of the City 13 Of Titus his Rule and Government and how the Priests were sâain D 14 Of the prey of the Seditious and the burning of the inner part of the City 15 How the higher part of the City was assaulted and how some of the Jews fled to Titus 16 How the rest of the City was taken 17 Of the number of the Captives and of those that were slain 18 A brief History of the City of Jerusalem 19 How the Souldiers were rewarded 20 Of Vespasians sayling away and how Simon was taken and of the spectacles and shews made upon Vespasians birth-day 21 Of the calamity of the Jews amongst the Antiochians 22 How Vespasian at his return was received by the Romans E 23 Of Domitians acts against the Germans and Frenchmen 24 Of the River Sabbaticus and of the famous triumph of Vespasian and Titus 25 How Herodium and Machera were taken by Bassus 26 Of the Jews that were slain by Bassus and how Judea was sold 27 Of the death
amongst the Jews two of Johns faction and of Simons faction Malachias and Judas the Son of Merton and James the Son of Sosa Captain of the Idumeans and two brethren of the Zealots the Sons of Jairus Simon and Judas signaliz'd themselves F CHAP. IV. Josephs speech perswading the Jews to yield the City many of them fled unto the Romans AFter that Titus had commanded his Souldiers to ruine the foundations of Antonia and make an easie entrance for the whole Army he called Joseph to him for he understood that that day being the seventeenth of July the Jews were wont to celebrate a certain Feast to God which they called Entelechâsmus that is to say the breaking of the Tables and that they were much troubled that they could not celebrate the âame and again commanded him to tell John as he had formerly done That if he G desired to fight he should have liberty to come with what multitude he pleased so that the City and the Temple might not both perish with him that he ought to desist from prophaning the Holy-place and from sinning against God and that if he so H pleased he would grant him leave to Celebrate the Feast which had been now long time omitted and that by what company he would Joseph to the intent that not only John might hear this offer of Titus but also the rest of the people got upon an eminent place Titus willeth John to come out to fight lest with him the City and temple should perish also from whence he might be heard and in the Hebrew tongue declared to the Jews Caesars pleasure earnestly requesting them to spare their Country and prevent the fire now ready to take hold of their Temple and to offer the accustomed Sacrifices to God When he had thus said the people were very sorrowful and all held their peace not daring to speak But the Tyrant John having used many railing speeches against Joseph John raileth against Joseph at last answered that he need not fear the destruction of the Temple and City seeing that it belouged to God I Then Joseph with a loud voice cryed out True it is you have kept it pure and unprophaned for God and the Holy-things you have kept inviolate neither have you committed any iniquity against him from whom you expect help but have offered solemn Sacrifice unto him If any man should take from you your daily food no doubt you would account him your Enemy And can you then hope that God whom you have deprived of daily Sacrifice will assist you in this War Do you impute these offences to the Romans why they even now defend our Religion and command the Sacrifice to be offered which you have forbidden Who doth not bewail this unexpected change and lament our City Strangers and Enemies correct your impiety and you a Jew born and brought up in our Law are more cruel than they But consider John it is no shame to repent your wickedness in extremity and at K the last Jechonias sustained a voluntary banishment in Babylon If you be desirous to save your Country you have a good example of Jechonias sometime King of the Jews Who when the Babylonians warred against him of his own accord went out of the City before it was taken and willingly endured Captivity with all his Family and Kindred only to hinder the ruine of the City the profanation of the Holy-things and the burning of the Temple And for this act of his he is of Sacred memory among the Jews and hath thereby gained immortal praise amongst all posterity This is a good example O John now danger is at hand and I will promise you pardon from the Romans consider that I your Country-man admonish you and promise this unto the Jews and that in the name of Caesar God forbid that ever I should be such a wretch as to forget whence I took my birth and what love I ought to have for the Laws of my Country Yet you are incensed L against me and exclaim on me and curse me True it is I deserve worse than this because I seek to perswade contrary to the determination of Gods providence The City by the ordinance of fate and Gods will was to be overthrown and strive to save them whom his sentence hath condemned Who is ignorant of the writings of the ancient Prophets and their Prophecies wherein this wretched City is foretold to be destroyed by those that being born Jews murther our own Nation and now not only the City but also the Temple is full of your dead bodies Certainly it is God that joyns with the Romans to expiate all these Abominations with fire Joseph thus discoursing with Tears and Lamentations Josephs speech is interrupted with sighs could speak no more for sighing And the Romans compassionating his sorrow and affliction were astonished But John and his confederates were so much the more incited against the Romans and M sought to take Joseph yet his speech mov'd many of the Nobles and divers fearing the Seditious Guards remained still where they were making full account both of their own destruction and the subversion of the City Yet some there were who finding opportunity fled to the Romans amongst whom were two Priests Joseph and Jesus and three Sons of Ismael the Priest who was beheaded at Cyrena and the fourth Son of Matthias the Priest who escaped to the Romans before his father was put to death by Simon Giora Some of the Nobility among the Jews escape to the Romans with his three other Sons as is before related many other Nobles also came away with the Priests whom the Emperour received very courteously and sent them to Gophna knowing that it was a grief to them to converse amongst people of different manners from them and he willed them to remain there N and promised every one of them great possessions after the War was ended So they joyfully departed to the place appointed but the Seditious because they were not seen reported to the people that they who had fled to the Romans were slain designing hereby to terrifie the rest from flying to them Caesar's humanity towards the Jews and thus their device a while prevailed as their former did and they that fain would durst not now fly for fear But afterward Those Jews that were fled besought the besieged with tears and sighs to submit themselves when Titus recalled them from Gophna and commanded them to go about the Walls with Joseph and shew themselves to the people then many more of the Jews fled to the Romans And after they had gathered themselves together standing all before the Romans they besought the Seditious with tears to receive the Romans into the City and save O their Country or if this pleased them not at least to depart out of the Temple and A to deliver it up to them For the Romans durst not except necessity urged
the second year of the Reign of King Cyrus unto the destruction thereof were six hundred thirty nine years and five and forty days G CHAP. XI H A horrible slaugher continued in the Temple of the Priests the Treasure-house and the Porch WHen the Temple was thus consumed with fire whatsoever the Souldiers found there they carried away and put all to the Sword that were in it which were an infinite number they shewed pity neither to old age nor infants but old young Priests and common People all were slain without respect and all sorts of persons tasted I the calamity of War whether they resisted or entreated for mercy And now the flame increasing grieved even those that were yielding up the Ghost and by reason of the height of the Hill and the Building together one would have thought the whole City had been on fire The cry and howling of the murthered Jews Then a most lamentable cry was raised betwen the Roman Legions and the Seditious now invironed with fire and sword and the people that were taken in the higher part of the City and had fled to the Romans lamenting their calamity They of the City answered the cryes and tears of those in the Hill and many whose Eyes death by Famine had almost closed took strength a while to bewail the Temple which they now beheld on fire The Country beyond Jordan and the Mountains about did eccho to their Lamentations and yet the Calamities surpassed all expression For K one would have judged the Hill whereon the Temple was situate The Temple filled with fire and blood to have been burnt up by the roots it was so all over fire Yet the great quantity of Blood-shed seem'd to contend with the fire Many that were slain were covered with those that slew them and all the ground was over-spread with dead bodies so that the Souldiers ran upon the dead bodies to pursue those that fled At last the Thieves having driven the Romans without the Temple ran into the City and the rest of the People that were left fled into the outward Porch And many of the Priests used Spits of the Temple in stead of Darts and threw their Seats made of Lead instead of Stones against the Romans at last nothing at all prevailing and the fire falling upon them they got to the Wall which was eight Cubits broad Two Noblemen cast themselves into the fire and there stayed a while Yet two of the principal when they might L either have fled to the Romans and have been saved or else have endured like Fortune with the rest cast themselves into the fire and so were burnt with the Temple One of them was named Meierus the Son of Belga the other Joseph the Son of Daleus The Romans thought it in vain to spare the Buildings about the Temple seeing the Temple was already consumed and so they set fire on them all the Porches Galleries and Gates two only excepted one on the East-side and the other on the South-side both which afterwards they razed to the ground They also put fire to the Treasury which was full of an incredible quantity of Riches as well in money as in rich clothing and other things of great price and indeed all the Jews treasure for the richest of the City had brought all their wealth thither There came into the Porch that was M left standing many Men Women and Children to the number of six thousand And before Caesar and the Captains determined any thing what should be done with them Six thousand in the Porch consumed by fire the furious Souldiers fired the Porch wherein they were and so they all perished in the flames save a few who leaping down to avoid the fire were slain in the fall so that not one escaped of all that multitude A certain false Prophet was cause of their deaths who the same day preached in the City and commanded them to go into the Temple where he assured them they should that day receive the effects of Succour from God for many false Prophets were then suborned by the Tyrants False prophets suborned by the Seditious to perswade them to expect Gods help thereby to hinder them from flying to the Romans and to cause the Souldiers to fight more valiantly to defend their City Men easily believe and are credulous in N adversity so that if any deceitful person promise deliverance out of Calamity he that suffereth misery becomes full of hope thereupon O A CHAP. XII Of the strange Signes and Tokens that appeared before the Destruction of Jerusalem THese miserable People were thus easily perswaded by Impostors who abused the Name of God The blindness of the people yet would they not believe The first Prodigy nor give any ear or regard unto certain Tokens and Signs of the ruine of their City A Comet like unto a Sword but as it were blinded neither having B Eyes nor Souls they counterfeited themselves not to see what God foreshewed them One while there was a Comet in form of a fiery Sword The second prodigy was that a bright light shined about the Altar and Temple by night which for a year together hung over the City Another time before the first Revolt and War the People being gathered together to the feast of Unleavened-Bread which was the eighth day of April at the ninth hour of the night there was so much Light about the Altar and Temple as though it had been bright day The third prodigy was a Cow that brought forth a Lamb in the midst of the Temple and it remained half an hour This the ignorant People interpreted as a good Sign but they that were skilful in holy Scripture presently judged what would ensue before it came to pass At the same Festival a Cow led to be sacrificed at the Altar brought forth a Lamb in the middest of the Temple and the inner Gate of the Temple on the East-side being of massie brass and which at night C had alwayes at least twenty men to shut it The fourth the brazen gate of the Temple opened it self and was bound with Locks of Iron and barred with bars the ends whereof went into Mortice holes in the stones on either side the door the foresaid stones being on each side one whole Stone was seen at the first hour of the night to open of its own accord which being presently related to the Magistrate by the Keepers of the Temple he himself came thither and could scarcely shut it This also to the ignorant seemed a good sign as if God opened to them the Gate of his blessings but the wiser sort judged that the defence of the Temple would fail of its own accord and that the opening of the Gate foretold that it should be given to the Enemies and that this sign signified Desolation A little while after the Feast dayes on the one and twentieth day of
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 liâking are their Countries ãâã 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 ââave 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
fortune and victory by which he had gained them though inexpugnable The Souldiers now being weary with killing the miserable Jews and yet a great multitude remaining alive Titus commanded that only the armed Jews The old and weak Jews are ãâã and the strong and lusty râs erved and those that resisted should be slain but the rest N left alive But the Souldiers also killed old and weak persons all the able and lusty men they carried into the Temple and shut them there in the place appointed for the women Caesar left one Fronto a Libertine and his friend to keep them giving him also charge to make enquiry who had deserved punishment Fronto slew all the Thieves and Seditious who accused one another and reserved certain men of large stature and beautiful for the Triumph And all the rest that were above seventeen years old he sent bound into Aegypt to be imployed in certain works there as digging delving manuring the fields and other publick businesses Titus also sent many of them into divers Provinces Titus ãâã the Jews to serve in the Theaters for the fights with Beasts or Sword-players and those that were under seventeen years of age O were sold And during the time that Fronto kept them ten thousand died for hunger A partly for that their Keepers hating them would not give them meat partly for that some refused meat when it was offered them For there was now great scarcity of Corn by reason of the great multitude of People CHAP. XVII B Of the number of the Captives and those that were slain THE number of all the Captives that were taken during the whole time of the War The number of the Captives and such as died during the siege of the City was 97000 and the number of all that died and were slain during the Siege was 110000 most of them Jews by Nation but not natives of Judaea For being assembled together from all parts to the Feast of unleavened bread on a sudden they were involved in the War and first of all a Plague fell among them by reason of the straitness of the place and immediately after Famine worse than it That the City was capable of so many men it is evident for Cestius desirous to signifie the flourishing C estate and strength of Jerusalem to Nero who contemned our Nation requested the high-High-Priests that if possible they could they should number all the People in their City and upon the Feast of Easter when they killed Offerings from the ninth Hour of the day until the eleventh and to eat a Lamb not fewer than ten persons were assembled for it is not lawful to feast alone yea many times twenty are in a Company they numbred two hundred fifty six thousand five hundred Oblations or Lambs to be killed so that if we reckon to every Lamb ten men the number amounts to two Millions seven hundred thousand men all purified whole and sound for it was not lawful for any that were Lepers or had a flux of seed nor for Women that had the monthly D Terms to eat of that Sacrifice nor yet for any Stranger that came thither for Religion's sake So this great multitude was assembled together from other places and was there by the providence of God shut up as it were in a Prison And the City being filled with men of War was besieged so that the number of those that were slain surpassed all that ever perished either by any Plague sent from God or by the means of men they were partly openly slain The Romans searching the Graves and Vaults find much treasure partly taken by the Romans who searching the Vaults and opening the Sepulchres spared none they met with There also were found more than two thousand whereof some slew themselves with their own hands others were kill'd by others the rest perished by Famine The stink of dead bodies was so great that E many minding to search the foresaid places and being entred into them were forced to retire yet others for lucre sake treading on the dead Carcases searched the dead Bodies if they could find any thing for great Riches were hid in the Vaults and covetousness omitted no way to gain Moreover John and Simon apprehended in the Vaults many were taken out from thence whom the Tyrants who even in their extremity ceased not to tyrannize kept Prisoners yet God plagued them both according to their deserts for John being almost famished with his Brethren in a Vault besought the Romans to save his Life And Simon having long striven with necessity as we shall hereafter relate at last yielded himself and was kept for the Triumph but John was condemned to perpetual prison The Romans beat down the Walls and F fired the remaining parts of the City G CHAP. XVIII H A brief History of the City of Jerusalem THus was Jerusalem taken in the second year of Vespasian's Reign on the eighth day of September Jerusalem being five times spoiled was at that time once more sackt It had been formerly five times taken and was now finally destroyed First Asocheus King of Aegypt after him Antiochus then Pompey and after them Herod with Sosius took the City and yet destroyed it not But before them Nabuchodonosor King of Babylon destroyed it when he had enjoyed the same a thousand I three hundred and threescore years eight moneths and six dayes after it was first built He that first built it was one of the Princes of the Canaaanites surnamed the Just by reason of his Piety He first consecrated this City to God by building a Temple to him and changed the Name Solyma into that of Jerusalem But David the King of the Jews having driven out the Canaanites gave it to his own People to be inhabited and after four hundred threescore and four years and three moneths it was destroyed by the Babylonians From King David who was the first Jew that reigned there till the time that Titus destroyed it were a thousand one hundred seventy and nine years and from the time that it was first erected until it was by him destroyed were two thousand one hundred and seventy seven years yet neither the Antiquity nor Riches K nor the Fame thereof now spread all over the World nor the Glory of Religion did any thing profit or hinder it from being destroyed Such was the end of the Siege of Jerusalem When there was none left to kill nor any thing remaining for the Souldiers to get to exercise their outrage against for they would have spared nothing that they could spoile Caesar commanded them to destroy the City and Temple The Romans wholly ruinate both the City and the Temple leaving only standing certain Towers that were more beautiful and strong than the rest to wit Phaselus Hippicos and Mariamme and the Wall that was on the West side meaning there to keep a Garrison and that they should be Monuments
why had Amenophis this desire Forsooth because a certain King one of his Predecessors had seen them he therefore knowing by him what things they were and how he came to the sight of them needed no new device to accomplish his desire But perhaps the foresaid Prophet was a Man of great G wisdom by whom the King had confidence to attain his desire if so he had been how chanceth it that he was so unwise not to perceive that it was an impossible thing to satisfy the Kings desire for that which he promised was not brought to pass Or what H reason moved him to think that the Gods were invisible because of the Leprosie and infirmity of the people The Gods are offended with mens impieties not with the defects of their bodies And how was it possible that at one instant so many thousand Lepers and infirm persons should be gathered together or wherein did not the King obey the Prophet He commanded that the Lepers and infirme persons should be exiled the Country and the King did not banish them the Country but sent them to hew Stones as though he had needed workmen and not purposed to cleanse the Country from Lepers Lastly he saith that the Prophet foreseeing that Egypt was to suffer and fearing the wrath of the Gods killed himself and left his mind in a Book written unto the King How chanced it then that the Prophet did not at first foresee his own death and so oppose I himself to the Kings desire to see the Gods Or wherefore did he fear such calamities as were not to fall in his life or what great misery hanged over his head which might worthily cause him to kill himself to prevent it But let us hear that which followeth more sottish than all the rest The King saith he heariug this Manethon's words repeated and striken with fear did not however expel those Lepers he ought to have exiled but at their request gave them as he saith a City wherein before time the Shepherds did inhabit called Avaris whereinto being come they made a Priest of Heliopolis their Prince who devised Laws for them commanding them neither to adore the Gods nor to abstain from offering violence to such beasts as amongst the Egyptians are sacred but that they should kill and K spoil all things that they should marry with none but such as were their confederates that he bound the people with an oath to keep those Laws and that they fortified Avaris to fight against the King Adding moreover that he sent to Jerusalem for help promising to yield Avaris unto them being a place sometime possessed by their Ancestors and that they from that place leading their Forces might easily subdue all Egypt he then saith that the Egyptian King Amenophis came against them with 300000 and yet for that he would not strive against the decree of the Gods he fled into Aethiopia and carried with him Apis and other Holy Beasts and that the inhabitants of Jerusalem coming down invaded the Land fired the Towns and Cities slew their Nobles used all sorts of cruelty possible and that the Priests name who made Laws and Statutes for L them to live under was one of Heliopolis Osarsiphus by name deriving the same from Osiris the God of Heliopolis and that this man changing his name was afterward called Moses Moreover that Amenophis having lived in banishment thirty years came with a strong power out of Aethiopia and fighting with the shepherds and polluted he slew many of them and put the rest to flight pursuing them unto the borders of Syria Manethon remembreth not that here again he telleth a very unlikely tale for although the Lepers and impotent persons were offended with the King for appointing them to hew Stones yet it is to be thought that receiving their own desire at the Kings hands afterwards to wit a City to dwell in that then they again became the Kings well-willers Supposing also their hatred still continued towards him they rather should have M attempted revenge by treason against him than towards all their Nation wherein they had many dear friends and alliance And although they had purposed to War against these men yet would they not have been so impious as to have rebelled against the Gods and to have violated the Laws wherein they were brought up We have therefore cause to thank Manethon A confutation of Manethon's words alledged in that he cleareth us and affirmeth his own country-men yea a Priest to be authors of this impiety and that by oath they bound themselves so to do What can be more extravigant than to say that neither any of their country-men nor kinsmen rebelled with them but that the poor distressed people were glad to send to Jerusalem for succour But what society or friendship had they with the people of Jerusalem of whom they came to demand help N Why they were more their Enemies than the rest of their Country-men and were all of quite different manners from us They of Jerusalem as he saith presently did as they were willed to do in hope that according as they were promised they might subdue Egypt Were they ignorant of that Country out of which they had been driven by force had they lived in poverty or misery perhaps they might have been induced to have done it but seeing they inhabited a fortunate and rich City and possessed a goodly fertile soil far better than Egypt what might move them thereto What reason had they at the request of their ancient Enemies and they also so diseased as they of Jerusalem could not abide their own friends among them that had the O like diseases to thrust themselves into danger they could not fore-know the Kings A intent to fly as for Manethon himself he saith he met them at Pelusia with 300000 men And this they that went to War well knew But what reason had they to conjecture that the Kings mind would change and he flye As to what he charges upon the Auxiliaries from Jerusalem that they seized upon the stores and secur'd all the Corn that was in Egypt which brought great distress and exigence upon the people hath he forgot that considering they entred as Enemies they are not thereby to be reproached Rapacity being unavoidable among Souldiers especially if Strangers and Conquerours Hath he forgot he said before that the Lepers had done the same formerly and had to that purpose obliged themselves by oath and that he assured us that some years after Amenophis repelled the Jerusalem-Confederats and Lepers slew B many of them drove them out of those parts and pursued them to the very borders of Syria as if Egypt was a Country so easily conquer'd or that those who were then in possession meerly by conquest would not upon the first alarme of Amenophis's march have block'd up the passages and secured the Avenues on that side towards Aethiope which they might easily have done and
and instituted 38. K. One sacred City in Canaan 111. E. and why ibid. Cities of Refuge 109. D. 126. O. City of David 179. E. Cities of the Benjamites burnt 131. F. City of the Priests burnt 166. K. Cities builded of Solomon 214. K. Cities under Archelaus subjection 610. N. Cities taken from the Jews 355. N. Chief Cities of Galilee 20. K. Cities in arms against the Jews 633. C. Four Cities of Galilee revolt from Joseph 641. D. Citizens of Jabes bury Saul and his sons bodies 174. K. Citizens taken prisoners 262. B. Citizens of Giseala entertain Titus 685. C. Citizens resort to Vespatian 692. G. Civil Wars of the Israelites 131. B. Civil Wars of the Romans 705. D. E. Claudius chosen Emperour 513. F. unwillingly accepted it 515. E. carried on mens shoulders 513. G. denieth to give over the dignity 516. N. confirmed by Agrippa 517. A. perswaded to use the Senators mildly 517. N. giveth Agrippa Judaea c. 519. D. his Edict in favour of the Jews ibid. 519. E. commandeth Agrippa to desist from building 522. O. grants the Jews custody of the High Priests vestment 228. I. findeth the Samaritanes guilty 619. C. his wives 619. H. his death 620. G. Clemency becometh a King 169. C. Clemency of Joseph 35. F. G. of Archelaus 605. D. of Varus 609. F. Cleopatra Demetrius wife 343. K. obtains Tryphons army ibid. rebelleth against Ptolomy 348. C. prepareth an army against her son 352. E. taketh Ptolomaiâ 353. G. cometh to Antonius 380. B. murthereth her brother and sister 398. E. her corrupt dealing ibid. M. beggeth Judaea and Arabia 399. H. I. her Chieftain overthroweth Herod 400. E. her treason against Herod 580. M. Cloud on the Tabernacle 95. B. in the Sanctuary 211. I. A Clown made High Priest 687. C. Clytus author of sedition 642. I. cutteth off his own hand ibid. D. Colony of Nimrod 34. M. Colonies established by Abraham 42. H. Combat betwixt David and Goliab 160. M. N. Combat of Saul against the Ammonites 152. N. Combat challenged 159. D. 747. B. Comet like a sword 753. B. Comfort of Jonathan to David 187. B. Command of Saul for War 152. M. Commandment of God transgressed 28. L. 220. D. E. Commandment for the Ark c. 199. B. Ten Commandments 79. F. Commendation of Abraham 43. D. of Jacob 62. I. of Joseph 62. K. of Josaphat 231. M. Commination against the Israelites 212. F. against Jezebel Commiseration of the Galaadites 152. I. Commotion of the Jews 497. F. Companies of the Romans 634. M. Companions of Daniel cast into the furnace 269. M. preserved ibid. Companions of Jonathan slain 778. L. Comparison of Moses with other Law-makers 808. H. Comparison of the Roman forces with the Jews 626. N. Comparison of the Romans and Jews c. 683. K. of Jews and Grecians 783. B. Computation of time different 899. C. Compassion of Joseph 60. K. of Thermuthis 64. I. of the people 152. I. of the three Kings 237. M. of Elizeus 237. N. 240. G. of Caesar c. 428. K. of the people 9. B. of Antonius 574. L. of Tyroes son 594. I. of Titus 684. L. 747. F. Complaint of David to Jonathan 163. G. Complotting of Josephs death 51. D. Concord in wickedness 732. K. 619. D. Concord of the Jews in Religion 808. N. Concubine of Gideon 137. B. of Saul 176. N. of Solomon 217. H. of Roboam 221. C. Conditions of peace unjust 152. I. Conduct of Moses 71. B. C. Conduit under ground from Antonia 420. F. Confederacy 135. B. 161. G. 183. C. D. 234. G. 241. N. 307. K. Conference 363. L. 577. D. Confession of Achar 124. I. of the women 596. O. Confidence of Adad 230. B. of Joram 238. F. of Ochozias 235. N. Confirmation of Moses 67. B. of Saul 150. N. Conflict of the Jews with the Caâsarians 622. M. of Placidus with the fugitives 699. F. of the Jews with the Romans 725. D. 768. L. Confusion of tongues 33. C. Confutation of Manethon's words 794. N. of Lysimachus 797. A. B. of Appion 799. F. of Possidonius and of Apollonius 802. O. Congratulation 429. F. 463. C. D. Conquest of Canaan made difficult 96. L. effected 125. E. c. Consent of parents c. asked in marriage 43. B. and 46. K. Conspiracy of Corah and his followers 99. F. Conspiracy 246. D. 248. E. 243. I. 258. D. 411. N. 504. M. N. 594. I. Conspiracy in robbery 619. D. Conspirators punished 470. H. Constancy of the Esseans 612. M. of the Jews 617. A. 741. C. 790. M. 814. H. of Eleazar 818. L. Consultation about the Ark 147. A. Consultation against Joseph 14. L. of Herod with Archelaus 590. M. of Cestius with the Princes 625. B. of Titus 734. N. of Vespasian 707. D. of Judas 736. O. Contempt of Religion See Piety contemned Contempt of Saul 151. G. Contempt of God wherein it consisteth 157. F. G. Contempt of death 459. F. Contempt of God loss of a Kingdom 157. F. Contents of Jeremies Book 260. C. D. Contents of the Antiquities 25. D. 26. M. N. Contention of the Samaritans and Jews 333. I. K. Contention between Abrahams and Lots shepherds 36. N. Contention whence 587. G. Continuance of the Laws amongst the Jews 811. C. Core a certain measure 97. E. Corn of the Philistines spoiled 141. A. Corn provided by Herod 413. L. Corn burnt in Jerusalem 712. M. Corruption of Ventidius 384. F. of Scaurus 565. B. 575. C. of Silo 575. F. of Antipater 588. M. of Alexander 589. G. Corruption among the Greeks 781. A. Cost of Agrippa in building the wall 718. K. Costabarus usurpeth 409. O. preserved by his wives intercession 410. B. Covenant of God with Noah 32. K. Covenants of the Esseans 613. D. Covenant of Abraham with Abimelech 39. G. of Laban with Jacob 48. H. of Joshua with the Gibeonites 124. O. Covetousness of Cleopatra 580. K. of John 5. D. of Florus 621. F. Council called 593. D. 606. M. Counsel held against Joseph 18. M. Counsel to be sought at Gods hands 43. E. Counsel of Rebecca to Jacob 44. L. of Joseph to King Pharoah 55. F. of Raguel to Moses 78. H. I. of Balaam to Balac 106. O. of Achitophel 189. G. of Chusai 190. K. of the Elders 218. E. of the young men ibid. F. of Salom 593. B. Counterfeiting of Euricles 591. E. Counterfeiters of Letters fee'd 598. M. Country of the Amorites possessed by the Hebrews 105. B. Country beyond the Flood described 659. D. Countries inhabited 13. G. 14. H. I. c. Courage of the Jews 727. D. 635. E. of Eleazar 666. O. of John c. 685. G. Courtesie of Rebecca to Abrahams servant 42. K. L. of Rachel to Jacob 45. G. of Raguel to Moses 78. H. I. of Abigail to David 169. B. of the Witch to Saul 171. F. G. Court of the Tabernacle 81. B. C. Court of Jeroboam 219. K. Courtiers of Saul sound David 161. B. Cowardize of Vonones 479. E. of the Jews 740. M. A
36. H. writ a Volume of Abraham ibid. K. Height of the Mountain Itaburium 682. M. Temple 208. M. Heirs of David 181. D. Helen Queen of Adiabena 928. L. repaireth to Jerusalem 530. K. Heliopolis appointed for Jacob 61. D. Help of God when most ready 71. O. Help of God to be sought for 74. O. Heraulds 118. H. Hercules his War 42. I. Herod made Governor of Galilee 372. B. executeth Ezechias 372. C. called in question ibid. F. 578. O. saveth himself by flight 373. K. killeth Malichus 370. O. 570. O. expelleth Antigonus out of Jewry 378. B. 571. C. marrieth Mariamme ibid. accused made Tetrarch 380. B. C. 571. F. assailed by the Parthians 382. A. fleeth to Malchââ 383. K. made King 384. C. leadeth his Army against Antigonus 385. M. 571. C. his Proclamation 385. M. 575. E. overcometh the Galileans 386. D. 388. D. subdueth the Thieves 387. I. K. 576. M. repaireth to Antonius 391. K. wounded 388. G. besiegeth Jerusalem 389. K. hindreth the spoil of the City 391. I. bribeth Antonius ibid. L. preferreth his favourites 392. honoureth Hircaâââ 393. N. maketh Annuel High Priest 393. O. taketh the Priesthood from Ananel 395. I. contriveth Aristobulus's death 393. N. his counterfeit sorrow 396. E. goeth to Antony 39. C. committeth his Wife to Joseph c. ibid. C. D. E. instateth Cleopatra c. 399. C. levieth an Army 400. B. overcometh the Arabians 402. G. 582. K. dismayed at Antonies overthrow 403. M. practiseth Hircanus death 404. D. banisheth Antipater 585. F. repaireth to Caesar 405. K. his speech to Caesar ibid. entertaineth Caesar and his Army 406. B. incensed against Mariamme 407. I. against Pheroras 590. N. cometh to Jericho 576. I. takes Sephoris 576. L. his Buildings and works as Theaters 410. G. Castles 412. B. 414. G. 415. I. 415. L. 416. F. 417. H. H. 584. M. 585. A. distributeth Corn among the People 413. L. remits the third part of Tribute 417. H. sweareth the people 417. K. re-edifieth the Temple 418. A. B. c. saileth into Italy 422. L. giveth Wives to his Sons 422. O. his liberality 423. B. 424. G openeth Davids Sepulchre 433. B. crediteth all tales 436. I. weary of his life why 437. D. fortunate abroad and unfortunate at home 426. M. beheadeth Pappus 578. O. accuseth his Sons before Caesar 427. E. 428. I. K. 578. B. giveth ear to Accusers 441. A. B. accuseth his Sons 444. K. 593. D. strangleth them 594. K. accuseth Pheroras Wife 451. D. sendeth Antipater to Caesar 452. I. tortureth the Bond-Women 453. B. putteth away his Wife 454. K. calleth Antipater from Rome 454. M. 998. N. bringeth him in question 455. D. imprisoneth Antipater 458. â maketh his Will 459. D. E. 467. I. certified of his Brothers death 578. H. commandeth the Nobles to be slain 460. N. his liberality 460. O. 579. G. bemoaneth his Sons 594. N. betrotheth his Nephews ibid. G. 595. I. loved Antipater above the rest 600. I. blotteth him out of his Testament 601. E. putteth him to death 603. A. his own death and burial 462. K. c. 603. D. Herod fortifieth Cities 478. I. buildeth Tiberias 478. N. Herod dismisseth Aretas Daughter 484. M. marrieth Herodias ibid. N. repaireth to Rome 493. C. accused and banished ibid. D. E. Herod created King of Chalcis 519. E. killeth Silas 524. F. his authority to create the High Priest 528. K. Herodias envieth Agrippa 492. O. banished 493. E. Herodian a Castle 573. D. 585. A. High Priests Ornaments 871. B. c. garment 721. High Priest since Sadoc 265. M. Hill of witness 48. I. Hiraâ his League 179. D. his Ambassadors to Solomon 206. N. promiseth him Wood 207. B. receiveth great quantity of Wheat 117. D. ibid. proposeth hard questions 213. F. Hircanus High Priest 334. G. besiegeth Ptolomy ibid. maketh peace with Antiochus 345. M. taketh Money out of Davids Mounument ibid. N. surprizeth Cities of Syria 346. C. conquereth the Idumeans ibid O. besiegeth Samaria 347. M. takes it 348. B. discontented with the Pharisees 348. B. followeth the Sadduces 110. G. his death ibid. Hircanus Josephs Son 309. M. Treason intended against him 310. K. accused and why 310. F. his Apology ib. his jests 311. B. C. assailed by his brethren 311. E. afflicteth the Arabians 31â K. his buildings ibid. K. kills himself ibid. C. Hircanus High Priest 566. N. 357. H. content to live a private life 360. I. his Embassage to Scaurus 362. B. repaireth the walls of Jerusalem 376. F. honoured by the Atheniaâs 371. I. foretold of his death 373 H. his Ambassadours brought into the Senate 375. M. taken prisoner 381. N. highly hououred 393. N. his death 404. C. Hire of a Harlot 111. G. Hire not to be detained 117. D. History of Dina 49. B. Histories recited 729. C. Histories of Antiquities 780. K. Historiographers refuted 792. K. L. 793. F. 794. K. N. 795. F. 796. F. 797. A. B. hide Antiochus perjury 803. D. Holy oyntment 89. C. Holocaust or burnt Sacrifice 91. B. Homer antientest Greek Writer 781. B. Homicide committed 112. O. Honourable drawn before Tyrants 732. I. Honouring of strange gods look Idolatry Honours of Joseph 55. G. and 60. M. Honour of the Magistrate 112. L. 626. K. Honour change manners 166. M. Honour of Mordocheus 289. C. D. Honour due to Parents 810. L. Horses taken 127. A. Horsemen of Solomon 206. K. Horsemen brought Letters to Joseph 13. D. Horsemen of the Romans 661. D. Hospitality of the Esseans 612. N. Host look Army Houshold-stuff 127. A. Houses full of dead Men 735. F. 758. K. Humanity becometh a King 169. C. Humanity of Balaam 105. D. E. of the three Kings 237. L. of Caesar 607. D. of Titus 744. N. Humanity of Titus counted cowardize 727. B. Humanity of the Romans inciteth the Jews against them 754. O. Hunger killeth many 727. D. Hurt of the General dismaieth the Soldiers 233. K. Hymns sung to God 253. H. J. JAbisites besieged 152. H. promised assistance ibid. L. bury the bodies of Saul and his Sons 174. K. praised 175. Jabin a King of Canaan 134. K. subdueth the Israelites ibid. L. his Army put to flight 135. A. Jacob the Son of Isaac 43. E. his greatness foretold ibid. held his brothers heel 43. E. steals the Blessing 44 M. fleeing to Laban seeth a Vision 45. B. voweth a Sacrifice to God ibid. D. arriveth at Charran ibid. A. talks with Rachel and Laban ibid F. c. requireth Rachel c. 46. â deceived 46. L. departeth privily from Laban 47. â accuseth Laban of ill dealing 47. F. maketh a Covenant with him 48. H. sendeth messengers to his brother Esaâ 48. K. is reconciled to him and how ibid. M. wrestleth with an Angel ibid. N. sacrificeth 42. D. bewaileth Joseph 52. M. sendeth his Sons into Egypt c. 56. K. would not part without Benjamin 57. D. rejoyceth at Josephs prosperity 60. M. his journey into Egypt 61. B. meeteth Joseph and talks with Pharaoh 61. D. blesseth his Sons
a. fleeth to Raguel and why 66 k. marrieth his daughter ib. sent to deliver the Israelites 67 d. confirmed in his calling ibid. a b perswadeth Pharaoh to dismiss the Israelites 68 i. worketh miracles ibid. k l m. instituteth the Passover 70 i k. conducteth the Israelites 71 b c. exhorteth them ib. f. prayeth to God 72 i. leadeth them thorow the red sea ib. k. praises God ib. n. sacrificed to God in Sinai ib. o beseecheth God to sweeten the waters 73 g. putteth the people in mind of God's benefits â4 m. imploreth God's help ibid. o. striketh the Rock bringeth out water 75 f. encourageth the Israelites 76 l. lifting up his hands c. 77 a. ascendeth Sinai 78 m. how long remaineth there 80 h. fasted ib. asketh counsel of God c. 90 o. numbreth the people 94 o. sendeth spies to search the land 96 i. retires the people into the desart 99 a. sendeth forces against the Madianites 108 m. appointeth to Joshuah his successor 109 b. exhorteth the people to obedience 110 l. sweareth them to keep the law 119 b. exhorteth Josuah ibid. d. dieth 119 f g. Mother eateth her child 239 i. 748 o. Mother of the seven brethren 824 n. 825 b. 826 h i c. Mourning of Ruben for Joseph 52 l. of the Romans 637 b. of them in Jerusalem 711 a. Mourning for thirty days 115 e. Mourning for Moses's death 119 g. for Saul and his sons 174 f. for Abner's 177 g. for Herod's 462 n o. Mountain of Sinai 66 n. 77 e. Mounts builded lost 734 h. Mounts raised near the Temple 746 k. Multiplication of Jacob's posterity 63 d. Multitude of business 77 g. of dead carcasses 740 h. Mundus deâileth Paulina 481 d c. banished ibid. Murmure of the Israelites 74 i. 96 m. Murther of Simeon and Levi 49 c. Murther of Azael 176 k. of Abner 177 e. of Joram's brethren 241 l. of infants foretold 240 g. Murther of Saul punished 175 e. of Isboseth 178 l. Musick by whom invented 29 g. Mutability of fortune 682 h i. Mutiny in Chore and his complices 99 d e c. Mutiny about the golden Eagle 460 h. Mutiny against Archelaus 463 f g c. N. Nahas King of the Ammonites 152 i. his outrages offered the Israelites ib. 1. proposed hard conditions of peace 151 i k granteth to the Inhabitants of Jabes a truce ib. k. is slain 152 o. Nabal's flock spared 168 m. his currish answer to David's men ibid. n. died for grief 169 â Nabathaea the countrey of Ismael's posterity 40 l. Nabathaeans spoiled 3â0 b. Naboth falsly accused 228 f. stoned to death ibid g. Nabuchadonosor King of Babylon 260 g. vanquisheth Nechao ib. 261 h. exacteth tribute and slayeth Joachim 261 h. establisheth Joachin King ib. n. besiegeth and destroyeth Jerusalem 264 d. 265 h. dreameth a dream 268 d. erecteth an Idol 269 m. conversed with beasts ib. o. conquereth the rebels 78â e. builded a palace 788 i. besiegeth Tyre ibid. n. his death 270 a. Nadab Aaron's son burned and why 90 i. Nadab Jeroboam's son 224 h. his impiety and death ibid. i. Name of Saul famous 152 o. Naming of the creatures 28 h. Names of Regions and Nations 33 f. Naomi her sorrow 142 n. returneth into her countrey 143 n. her counsel to Ruth 143 b. Norbanus for the Jews 432 l. Narration of the Arabian wars 443 a. Nathan the Prophet 18â b. forbiddeth David to build the Temple ibid. c. reproved David 185 â Nativity of Jacob and Esau 43 i. two Nations proceed of them ibid. â Nation of the Jews mixed with all people 747 b. Nations whence descended 33 g c. Nature forbids a man to kill himself 672 l. Nature of the Idumaeans 690 m. Navy of Solomon 215 b. Naum the Prophet 250 g. foretelleth the overthrow of the Assyrians ibid. g. Nazarites 103 e. Nechao his exploits 260 c. is overcome ibid. g. 261 h. 262 f. Necessity a sharp weapon 663 f. Neglect of God's service cause of all evil 219 n. Negligence of Saul's guard 169 f g. Nehemiah his sadness and why 284 e. inciteth the people to build the walls 285 i. his ardent care in building them 285 k. his death ibid n. Nemrod 33 a b. son of Chus 34 m. Nephanes and Sabach David's Captains 196 b c. Nephews of Jacob 61 b. of Herod 594 m. Nephthalim the son of Jacob 46 n. his sons 61 b. Nero proclaimed Emperour 536 k. his murthers ibid. l. 620 h. amazed at the acts of the Jews 657 â sendeth Vespasian to govern Syria 657 f. Nicanor laboureth to surprise Judas 324 â slain 325 i. Nicanor known to Joseph 671 m. Nicanor wounded 723 c. Nicaule Queen of Aethiopia 215 c. resorteth to Solomon ibid. d. wondereth and praiseth Solomon's wisdom 215 d e. giveth him presents ibid. f. Nicholaus's Oration 424 i. Nicholaus the Historiographer reproved 433 c Nicholaus accuseth Syllaeus excuseth Herod 442 n. prosecuteth the King's accusation 456 m. excuseth Archelaus 466 k. 607 b. defendeth Herod and Archelaus 459 b. 607 b. Nicon the Romans great Ram 725 c. Nigar slain c. â97 b. Nilâs 28 k. maketh Egypt fertile 61 f. how far navigable 694 k. Nineveh admonished 249 k. her destruction prophesied 250 f. effected 251 h. Nisan a month with the Hebrews 70 i. Noah the son of Lamech 30 o. admonisheth the wicked ibid. l. buildeth the Ark n. saved with all his houshold ibid. o. sendeth out a Crow and a Dove 31 e. the tenth from Adam 30 o. sacrificeth to God 31 e. prayeth to God 32 i. is heard ib. k. God's covenant with him ib. k. his age 31 l. his three sons 32 o. his kind of life 34 o. was drunken and derided 34 o. Nob a City of the Priests burnt 169 c d Nobility slain by the thieves 686 m. 12000 slain 695 f. Nobility of the Jews fly to the Romans 744 n. Nobles repair to David 178 o. Nobles shut up by Herod 460 n. 602 n. released 462 m. 603 b. Nothing attempted by the Romans rashly 661 d 682 k. Number of the children of Israel 70 l. from twenty to fifty years of age 89 b. of David's souldiers 179 a. of workmen 207 d e. of Jews that returned from captivity 275 f l. of high Priests 540 n. of the captives and slain in Jerusalem 759 b c. Nuptial feast 46 l. O Obed-Edom's felicity 180 n. Obed begat Jesse 143 eâ Obed a King of Arabia 354 b. discomfits Alexander ibid. Obediah hideth the Prophets 227 i. Obedience of Abraham 40 o. Obedience to Magistrates 110 l m. Obedience of the Roman soldier 661 a b. Obimes Jeroboams son 222 d. falleth sick and dyeth ibid. g. Obodas King of Arabia 435 b. given to idleness ibid. â 438 o. Obsequies of Herod 462 n Observers of God's Laws rewarded 26 i. Occasion of the Jews war 623 a. Occasion of victory what 661 f. Occasion of violences 687 e f. Occurrences of Kingdoms and Commonweals 25 f. and 106 m. Occurrences of Jeremy 260 d
e. Ochozias King of Israel reproved and why 235 n o. his soldiers consumed ibid. m. 236 b. his death foretold 236 c. Ochozias King of Judah 241 n. visiteth Joram 242 c. slain ibid. g. Office of Judges 112 l m. of an Historiographer 359 g. of the Priests 70â a. Off-spring of Noah Abraham c. look progeny Og King of Galadine 105 b. is slain with his army ib. b. his high stature and great strength ibid. b. Oil in the pot multiplyed 226 d. 237 o. Scalding Oil thrown on the Romans 668 m. Olda the Prophetess 259 l. Old man killeth his wife c. 387 k. Old and weak Jews slain 758 n. One sacred City one Temple and one Altar 111 b. Onias high Priest 296 b Onias high Priest 307 l. paid not his tribute ibid. Onias high Priest's son 323 i. wins the favour of Ptolomy 332 g. buildeth a Temple in Egypt 333 h. 777 n. Onias stoned to death 361 b. Ophni son of Eli 143 e. his impiety and wickedness ib. e. is slain 144 n. Opinion of the Esseans and Grecians of the soul 614 k l. Opinion of the Pharisees and Sadduces 477 b c. Opinion of the wisest Greeks c. 807 f. Oppression of the Israelites 133 a o. ibid. m. 135 b. 1 8 m. 139 f. of the Jews 631 e f. 622 h c. 623 a b. c. Oracle of God to Joshuah 124 h. Oracles of the Prophets to be reverenced 233 l. Oration of Abraham 41 b. of Ruben 56 m and 59 o. of Juda 59 b. c. of Joseph 60 i k. of Moses to the people 79 b. to the seditious 100 i c. of Zambrias 110 h. of Moses before his death 107 g. of the Gabeonites 124 n. of Josuah c. 127 b. of Phinees 127 g. of Samuel 148 i. 151 b. of Saul 165 f. of Abias 223 k. of Herod 401 b. 402 a c. 581 b. 582 l. of Nicholaus 424 i. 425 k. 456 m. 587 f. of Agrippa 626 g. of Joseph 640 i. 672 k c. of Titus 676 m. 684 l. of Ananus 687 e c. of Jesus 691 a. of Caesar c. 717 b. of Joseph to the Jews 728 n. 729 a. of Titus to the Jews 754 n. c. of Eleazar 773 f. Orchards 701 f. Order of the Romans 660 n. Order of the superior bodies 30 i. Order of the Army c. 95 a b. Order of the Carpenters Masons c. 207 d e. Order of the Cities of Galilee 638 m n. Order of Titus's Army 711 d e. Ordinance of Artaxerxes 287 n o. 291 l m. Ordinance of the Fathers transgressed 107 â Oreb slain 136 l. Original of the Hebrews 35 b. Original of the Troglodytes 42 h. Original of the Israelites mischiefs 253 n. Original of the Grecian laws 807 e. Original of the Jews laws 815 b. Ornaments of the high Priest 87 a b c c. Ornaments of Solomon's Palace 213 c. Oronna or Orphana a Jebusite spared 179 g. giveth David his floor 198 i k. Oseas King of Israel overcome 252 o. made tributary ibid. c. taken prisoner 253 m. his subjects transported and why ibid. n o. Oath how in time past taken 42 k. Oath taken to observe the law 119 b. 259 m. Oath how and when to be kept 132 i. Oath of Jonathan to David 164 k l. Oath of Sânacharib falsified 255 m. Oath observed 452 m. Otho Emperor 705 f. slain ibid. Overthrow of the Sodomites 33 a b. of the Amorites 104 m. of the Hebrews 98 n. and 173 f. of Antony 403 m. Outrages of Elies sons 143 f. of Naas offered the Israelites 152 h. of Azael 245 m. 246 f g. of Florus Soldiers 623 c. Outward Court of the Temple c. 721 d. Oxen seven what do signifie 55 e. how many taken at once 109 a. not to be muzled 113 f. Ox that striketh 117 b Oza suddenly strucken dead 180 n. and why ibid. Ozias King of Juda's warlike exploits 249 l m. acts and studies ib. n o. stricken with a leprosie and why 250 b. enjoyned to depart the City ib. and 250 b. his death and burial 250 c. P. Pacorus sendeth horsmen to Antigonus 380 f. 572 i. his perswasion to Phaselus 381 i. his treason and subtilty ib. k l. 572 m. Pageants built 766 l. Painters cause multitude of gods 813 â Palestine whence took his name 34 m. Philistines overcome the Israelites 139 f. 144 m. invade the Israelites 144 i. are overcome 155 c d. 160 m. 180 i k. Palace in Tiberias burned 943 a. Palace built in Jerusalem 414 b. Palace of Solomon 212 g. Palace of the King 719 d. burned ibid. e. Palm-trees 701 d f. Pamphilian Sea divided it self 72 n. Pappus beheaded 389 k. 5780. Paradise 28 i. where situate ibid. k. adorned with all sorts of plants ibid. l. Parents compelled to murder their children 63 a. Paricide a publick injury 457 d. Paricides 256 f. Parthians restore Antigonus 380 f. 373 f. complât treachery against Phasaelus 381 k l. surprize him and Hircanus ibid. n. lay a plot for Herod 382 a. lose Armenia 483 d. Parts of the Temple 209 i. Pascha or Passover of the Hebrews 70 i k. celebrated 253 h. 269 a. 281 k. Passage of the Isralites over Jordan 122 l m. Passages stopped up from the Hebrews 71 d. Patience of Joseph 54 k. Pauliââ deceived and defiled 481 c d. Peace bought 245 n. 250 e. Peace of the Israelites 206 i. of the Jews 231 n. Peace better than War 691 d. A Penalty most cruel 61o c. Penalty of a woman married for a Virgin c. 114 m. Penalty published 15â d. what it wrought ibid. Pensioner to Saul David 159 b. Penitent obtain mercy 731 a. Penury of water 582 â see want People of Israel afflicted 62 m. 63 a b. 67 a. 68 i k. departed out of Egypt 71 b. exhorted to put their trust in God ibid. f g. and to obey the will of God 110 i k. c. drive away the Cattel of the Amalechites 157 b. require mitigation of their burthen 218 d. revolt from Roboam 219 i. are transported and why 253 n. fly with their money 731 c. People enjoyned by oath to serve God 245 k. 259 m. People of Judah bless God 235 k l. and why ibid. l. Peoples love to Joseph 18 h. People permit not Pilate to alter their laws 615 d. People exclaim against Florus 624 h. die for want c. 727 â Perfection of mind respected 158 l. Perjury of Florus 622 k. Peroration of Herod 581 e. of Joseph 672 o. Perplexity of the Israelites 71 d. Perswasion of Jeroboam to Idolatry 219 m. Perswasion of false Prophets dangerous 233 l m. Perswasion of Rapsaces 255 o. Pestilence one of the Plagues of Egypt 69 e. Pestilence destroyeth Senacherib's Army 256 f. Pestilence a great affliction 253 k. Petra a City of Arabia 573 d Petronius's charge for placing Caius's statue 494 l. c. executeth it not and why 494 m n. certifieth the
Jews of Caesar's threats 616 n. writeth to Caius 496 i. receiveth Letters of Caius's death 497 â 617 d. his Letter to the Dorâres 521 c. Phaceias King of Israel 250 â his impiety and wickedness ibid. e. slew 120000 Jews 251 l. took Achaz's son Prisoner ib. m. was slain 252 c. Pharao enamoured of Sara 36 l. plagâed ib. m. Pharao his dreams 55 b c. delivereth Joseph from bonds ib. c. advanceth him to great honour 55 g. rejoyceth at the arrival of Joseph's brethren 60 m. enquireth Jacob's age 61 e. restored the profits of his subject's lands 62 h. Pharao killeth the male children 62 o. would have killed Moses 64 n. and 66 k. his death 67 f. Pharao counselled to dismiss the Hebrews 68 i. not moved with miracles layeth heavier tasks on them ib. l. advised once more ibid. â driveth away Moses 70 h. dismisseth the Israelites ib. k. his host drowned 72 k. Pharisees a sect 339 m. 477 a. greedy of revenge 357 i. exempt from swearing 417 l. would not swear obedience 451 c. 463 d. their opinion 614 n. Pharos a tower 708 m. Phasaelus his government 372 c. vanquisheth Foelix 377 o. 571 b. made Tetrarch 380 c. 571 e. taken prisoner 371 n. dasheth out his brains 383 i. Phasaelus Tower and City 530 n. 584 n. Pheroras made Tetrarch 416 g. accuseth Alexander and Aristobulus 426 l. refuseth the Kings daughter 433 g. blamed for Alexanders offence 438 l. pardoned ibid. deceived 450 m. refuseth to put away his wife 451 f. banished 596 m. falleth sick and dieth 452 m. 596 n. his wise accused 452 o. she confesseth the poyson 453 f. Philip rebelleth against Antiochus 322 f. is slain 323 k. Philip King of Syria 355 i. besiegeth Demetrius 355 h. Philip Herod's son 471 d. hath part of the Kingdom 471 d. repaireth Cities 478 â Philo Judaeus's defence c. 494 i. Philistines overcame the Israelites 139 f. exacted tribute of them 139 f. put to flight 1â8 m. invade the Israelâites 154 k. are overcome 155 b c. and 160 m. discomfit Sauls army 173 f. overcome by David 180 i. k. by Ozias 249 l. by Ezechias 253 k. Phineas the son of Eleazar 108 k. slayeth Zambrias and Chosbi ib. l. overthrew the Madianites 108 l m. his Oration to the two tribes and half 127 g. succeeded Eleazar 128 o. foretold the Israelites their victory c. 131 d. Phineas Elies son 143 e his wickedness and impiety ib. e. is slain 144 n. his wife then bare Ichabod 145 c. Phison a flood of Paradise 28 k. called also Ganges ib. k. Phora 28 k. Phraates King of Parthia slain 478 o. Phul King of the Syrians 250 d. for money made a peace ibid. d. Piety profitable 224 n o. Piety of Ancestors remembred 63 b. Piety contemned cause of calamities 132 n. 133 d. 144 k c. 168 i. 252 c d. Piety of Asa 224 i. of Josaphat 231 m. of Jotham 250 f. of Ezechias 252 d. of Josias 258 ãâã and 259 h i. c. of Matthias c. 315 i. Pigeons dung sold 23â g. Pilate succeedeth Gratus 480 i. bringeth Caesar's statues to Jerusalem 480 i. not admitted 480 k. crucifieth Christ 480 m. putteth Samaritans to flight 482 l. accused ib. sendeth the statues from Jerusalem 480 k. beateth the seditious 615 f. Pillage taken 255 l. Pillars raised 30 k. A Pillar called Galaad 48 i. Pitcher of water 169 g. Pit to be senced 117 c. Pit of swearing 40 h. Pits bituminous 37 b. Pity of Joseph towards his brethren 60 i. Placidus repulsed at Jotapata 692 i. his victory 682 o. burneth Bethenabris â00 i. Placing of the vessels c. in the Temple 250 b c. and 21â d. 211 h l. Plagues of Egypt 68 o. 69 a b c d e f g. 70 k. Plague in David's time 19â f. Plague invadeth Judea 409 k. 412 g. Plat-forms erected 669 a. Plants sprang at first out of the earth 27 f. Plants not of four years growth 113 c. Plato admired 811 d. permitteth not Poets c. 813 b. Pledge to be restored to the poor 116 k. Plenty fore-signified 55 e f. Plotting of Antipater 433 e. The Plough found out and by whom 29 b. Poem of Homer 781 b. Poets cause multitudes of gods 813 a. Poyson tryed c. 458 k l. 601 b. Policy of Rebecca c. for her son 44 l. of Jacob to pacifie his brother 48 m. of the Gabeonites 124 m. of Joseph 9 e. â0 k. 1â e. of Jonathan 16 m. of Joseph 642 h. 665 c. 668 h. 10 l m. Politianus meets with Agrippa c. 625 c. inciteth the people to peace ib. e. Pompey Governour of Syria 362 d. marcheth against Aristobulus 363 l. 36â h. besiegeth Jerusalem 36â l. committeth Aristobulus to prison ib. 565 g. taketh the Temple 365 k. bestoweth the Priesthood on Hircanus ib. 366 o. spoileth not the Temple ib. d. 566 m. carrieth Aristobulus to Rome 567 a. beheadeth conspirators 56â n o. Popedius accused 5â5 f. Popularity of Alcimus 324 b c. Porch of the Temple 208 m. âired 747 a. Port of Caesarea 415 i. Port made by Herod 584 i k. Portion of Salpades daughters 109 f. Portion of Judea 659 f. Possession of Canaan prophecâed of 62 i. Posterity of Ismael 40 l. Posterity of Giants extinguished 37 b. Posterity of Jethro possessed of Land 129 d. Posterity of Noah replenished the world 32 o. Posterity of Esau 50 l. of Jacob 61 b. Poyson not to be used 1â7 a. Power given to save 59 f. Power of God every where 230 f. Power of Kings Wine and Women 277 i k l. Power of the soul â74 l. Power of David and Solomon 805 f. Practice of Simeon and Levi 49 c. Prey that the Israelites got in war 77 b c. 109 a. 123 â 124 l. Prayer of Noah 32 â of Amram 63 b. of Moses 72 i. 101 d c. of Joshuah 123 f. of Samson 142 k of Solomon 211 k. of Samuel and the Israelites 148 k l. Praise of Abraham 43 d. of Jacob 62 i. of Joseph 62 k. of Joshua 77 c. and 128 n of Moses 120 k. of Samuel 16â l. of Saul 172 k. of David 202 e. of Solomon 218 c. of Josaphat 235 m. of Nehemias 285 k. of Ananus 694 n. of Eleazar 819 d. Praise given to God 70 k l. Prediction of things to come â18 m. Preparations for war burned 322 b. Presents of Abraham 42 k. of Jacob 57 e. of the Egyptians 70 k. of Abigail 169 b. of the Mesopotamians 184 i. of the Queen of Aethiopia and of Kings 215 f. 216 l. of Ptolomy to the Interpreters 392 o. of Herod 591 d. Preservation of Moses 63 g. 64 n. of Daniel and his companions 269 n. Preservation from blood-shed 169 b. Presidents in every City 112 k. and what manner of men they ought to be ibid. k. Pride of Amasias 248 a. of Ozias 249 o. of Senacherib 255 n. of Nebuchodonosor 269 n. of Balthasar 271 h. of John 698 m. Priest's