there were betweene the first building of the temple vnder king Salomon and the destruction vnder Titus The crie and howling of the murthered Iewes The temple filled with fire and bloud Two noble men cast themselues into the fire The yeare of the world 4034. after Christs birth 72 Sixe thousand in the porch consumed by fire False prophets suborned by the seditious The blindnes of the people The first prodigie A comet like vnto a sword The second prodigie was that a bright light shined about the altar and temple by night The third prodigie was of a co◅ y e brought forth a lambe in the midst of the temple The fourth the brasen gate of the temple opened it selfe The fift armed chariots and men seene in the aire The sixt a voice in the inward temple The Seuenth prodigie Iesus a countrey mans crie and death The yeare of the world 4034 af◅r Christs birth 72. Iesus for seuen yeeres space fiue months cried about the Citie A stone shot from an engine killeth Iesus The Iewes interpret the signes to their own good liking are their Countries ruine and the cause of their owne calamity Gold was sold for halfe the price The craft of a boy The Priests ◅raue pardon but Titus commandeth them to be led to execution The seditious summon Titus to a parly The yeare of the ◅ld 4034. after Christs birth 71. Titus Oration to the Iewes by an interpreter The Romans humanitie incited the Iewes against them The yeare of the world 4034. after the birth of Christ. 72. Titus granteth the Iewes li◅e on condition they should lay aside their weapons and submit themselues The souldiers set the citie on fire Caesar cōstant in his resolution The seditious resorting to the kings house take away the treasure The punishment of a Roman souldier taken by the Iewes The Iewes are arrogant in midst of their calamitie The Iewes refuse to submit themselues to the Romans yet are they vnable to wag◅ warre with them The yeare of the world 4034. after Christs birth 72. The tyrants vttermost hope was in their vaults Rapine and slaughter in the vaults The Idumaeans consult in their assembly about their submission Fortie thousand of the people saued Iesus a priest the sonne of Thebathus Phineas the treasurer of the temple taken The yeare of the world 4034. after Christs birth 72. Some of the seditious kept in Acra the rest in the vault of the clue The feare and amazement of the seditious The tyrants do inieble themselues and of their owne accords for sake the towers frō whence by nomeanes but famine they might be driuen The Romans enter the town and obtaine the victory The houses and ◅ilie of best reckoning are left full of dead bodies The yeere of the world ◅034 af◅er Christs birth 72. These munitions of the citie and defence of the tower which the tyrants abandoned for feare impregnable Fortunes monument The olde and weake Iewes are slaine and the strong and Iustie relerued Titus distributeth the Iewes The number of the captiues and such as died during the siege of the citie The Romans searching the graues and vaults finde much treasure Iohn and Simon apprehended in the vaults The yeere of the world 4034. after Chris◅ birth 7◅ Ierusalem being fiue times spoyled was at that time once more sackt The Roma◅ wholy ruinate both the Citie and the temple Titus thanketh his souldier◅ for that they had continued their loue towards him Titus promises recompence to his valiant souldiers The yeare of the world 4034. after Christs birth◅ 72. Titus larges to his souldiers Titus sacrifice for his victorie The twelfth legion vnder Cestius leading gaue place to the Iewes Vespasians sayling and iournie Shewes at Caesarea Simon getteth downe into the vault and hopeth to escape from thence in saftie Simon i◅ taken by the Roman◅ Sinne cannot shunne Gods iustice A great multitude of the seditious taken in vaults The yeare of the world 4034. after the birth of Christ. 72. In a shew in Caesarea 2500. Iewes die Titus celebrateth Vespasians birthday The nation of the Iewes intermixed among all the people of the world A number of Iewes in Antioch A Iew called Antiochus is the cause of their mightie miscrie in Antioch Antiochus perfidious to his Citizens Antiochus forbiddeth to sanctifie the seuenth day Another calamitie at Anuoch The yeare of the world 4034. after Christs birth 72. A sort of wicked men by meanes they were indebted burne the market place and the publike records The yeare of the world 4035. after Christs natiuite 73. The Citie of Rome entertaineth Vespasian with all willingnesse and pompe The Romans issue out to meet with Vespasian Vespasian celebrateth gratulatory sacrifice for his safe arriuall The causes of the reuolt of the Germans and French from the Romans The yeare of the world 4035. after Christs birth 73. Ciuilis compelleth the Germans to subiection Domitianus Titus brother The Scithians and Sarmates rebellion against the Romans Titus celebrateth many sumptuous pastimes in all the cities of Syria The floud Sabbaticus Titus comming to Antioch The praiers of the citizens against the Iewes The yeere of the world 4036. after Christs bir◅ 74. Titus lamenteth the losse desolation of Ierusalem The Romans find no small part of the riches of Ierualem Iohn and Simon and seuentie other goodly Iewes are reserued by Titus to be sent into Italy The triumphāt attire of Vespasian and Titus Their vowes and dinner before their triumph The magnificence of the triumph The most precious garments The yeare of the world 4036. after Christs birth 74. The building of the Pageants The yeare of the world 4037. after Christs birth 75 A table of gold of the weight of a great talent The last of the spoyles was the law of the Iewes Simon the sonne of Giora is drawne with a halter about his neck through the market place Vespasian buildeth and dedicateth a Temple to peace The yeere of the world 4037. after Christs birth 75. Herode inuironeth Mache rus with a great wall and towers Wonderfull store of arrows and other engines in this tower Rue of admirable greatnes How Baaras is to be gathered Another fashion how to dig the roote Hot bathes The yeare of the world 4037. after the birth of Christ. 75. The Iewes that were for◅ners dwelt in ◅he lower Citie The conflict of the Iewes with the Romans Eleazar a Iew strong in hand and fierce in bold attempts Eleazar is taken and stripped naked and whipt Eleazars calamitie moueth the Iewes to submit themselues One thousand seuen hūdreth Iewes slaine by the Romans Iardes a wood inuironed by the Romans The yeare of the world 4037. after Christs birth 75. Three thousand Iewes slaine A tribute imposed by Caesar on all the Iewes Cesennius Petus president of Syria accuseth Antiochus before Caesar. Antiochus is sodainly inuaded by Cesennius Antiochus chuseth rather to depart out of his country with his wife and children then to fight with the Romans Antiochus
by famine and the Romans hauing so much laboured at the lower vvals did now by fortune take these which their engines could neuer haue shaken for there vvere thre inexpugnable towers that could not be battered vvith the engines vvhereof before vve haue made mention So the tyrants hauing forsaken these or rather being by Gods vvill driuen from hence presently they fled vnto the valley Siloa after the feare was past they againe tooke heart and vvent vnto the wall that was in that place yet not vsing such courage and violence as their need required they were beaten by the watchmen that guarded it their strength now failing vvearied with labour feare famine and calamitie And some was driuen one way and some another so were forced to hide themselues in vaults and sinks The Romans hauing obtained the wal placed their colours in the towers and clapping their hands and singing for ioy they cried victorie finding the end of the warre nothing so terrible as the beginning Yet did they not beleeue that vvas the end because they got the vvall without any bloudshed but admired seeing no man did offer to resist them And now issuing into euerie street they slew whom soeuer they found without any respect and fired houses and all the people that had fled into them and destroying many whereas they entred 〈◊〉 to get a pray and they found whole families dead and houses full of dead bodies consumed by famine Thus terrified with that heauie sight they departed out not taking any thing away yet for all that they pitied not them that were left aliue but slew whom soeuer they met whereby they filled the narrow streets so ful of dead bodies by them slaine that none could passe that way for them all the whole citie flowed with bloud so that many things set on fire were quenched with the bloud of them that were slaine At euening they ceased from killing but all the night long the fire increased and so in the morning which was the eight day of September all was now on fire the citie in the time of the siege hauing endured more miserie and calamitie then euer it receiued ioy and happinesse from the time of the first foundation notwithstanding that they were so great that all cities might iustly enioy it and it no wise deserued so to be oppressed with such miserie saue onely for that it fostered and bred such impious persons as wrought the ouerthrow thereof Titus entring into the Citie amongst the rest admired the strong holds thereof and the rockie towers which the tyrants like madde men depriued themselues of seeing the height firmenes bignesse and the ioyning of the stones togither and their breadth and hight he said surely God hath assisted vs in the fight and he it was that did withdraw the Iewes from these fortresses For what could mens hands and engines preuaile against them And hauing spoken much to this effect communing with his friends he set them at libertie whom the tyraÌ„ts had left bound in the castles when he destroied the rest of the citie wals he left those towers standing as a monument of his good fortune and victorie by the which he had gained them though vnexpugnable The souldiers now being wearie with killing the miserable Iewes and yet a great multitude remaining aliue Caesar commaunded that onely the armed Iewes and they that resisted should be slaine and the rest left aliue But the souldiers also killed olde folkes and weake persons 〈◊〉 king all able men and lusty they caried them into the temple and shut them there in the place appointed for the women Caesar left one Fronto a libertine and his friend to keepe them giuing him also charge to make inquirie who had deserued punishment whollew all the thâ—… and seditious one of them bewraying another and reserued certaine chosen young men of 〈◊〉 stature and beautiful withall for the triumph and all the rest that were aboue sâ—…uenteen yeeres olde he sent bound into Aegypt to be imployed in certaine workes there as digging dâ—…ng 〈◊〉 manuring the fields and to be vsed in other publike busines Titus also sent many of â—…em vnto diuers prouinces to be slaine in the theaters with beasts or swords and they that were vnder seuenteene yeeres of age were sold. And during the time that Fronto kept them ten thousand died for hunger partly for that their keepers hating them would not giue them any meat parâ—…y for that som refused meat when it was offered them For there was now scarcitie of come by reason of the great multitude of the people CHAP. XVII Of the number of the captiues and them that were slaine THe number of all the captiues that were taken during the whole time of warre was foure score and seuenteene thousand the number of all that died and were slaine during the siege was eleuen hundreth thousand the most of them being Iewes by natioÌ„ but not inhabitants of that place For being assembled togither from all parts to the feast of vnleauened bread presently on a sodaine were enuironed with war and first of al a plague amongst them by reason of the streightnesse of the place and immediately after famine worse then it And that the Citie was capable of so many men it is euident for that Cestius before numbred them who desirous to signifie the flourishing estate and strength of Ierusalem vnto Nero who contemned our nation requested the high priests that if possibly they could they should number all the people in their Citie and that vpon the feast of Easter when they killed offerings from the ninth houre of the day vntill the eleuenth to eate a lambe not fewer then ten persons were assembled for it is not lawfull for any to feast alone yea many times twentie are in a companie they numbred two hundreth fiftie six thousand fiue hundreth oblations or lambs to be killed so that if we reckon to euery lambe ten men the number amounteth vnto seuen and twentie hundreth thousand men all purified whole sound For it was not lawful for any that were leapers or had a fluxe of seed nor women that had the monthly tearmes to eat of that sacrifice nor for any stranger except he came thither for religion sake And this multitude was assembled togither from other places was there by the prouidence of God shut vp as it were in a prison And the city being filled with men of warre was besieged that the number of them that were slaine passed all that euer perished either by any plague sent from God or by the means of men who were partly openly slaine partly taken by the Romans who searching the vaults opening the sepulchers spared none they met with all There also were found more then two thousand whereof some slew themselues with their own hands other some killed by others the rest perished with famine The stinch of dead bodies vvas so great that many
of them perished being loaden with sleep gorged with wine They likewise that were compleatly armed intending to make resistance were as easily slaine as they that lay naked vpon the earth Thus Dauids men abode with him from the first hower of the morning till the euening doing nought else but kill murther that that only foure hundreth of the Amalechites escaped who likewise fled being mounted on their Dromodaries So recouered he all that which the enemie had ransackt and amongst other things he released both his own wiues those of his companions Wherupon they returned to the place where they had left the other two hundreth which might not follow them because they were appointed to guard the baggage To these the abouesaid foure hundreth would not grant a part of the booty and profit because they had not as they said followed the enimie with them but shewed themselues slacke in the pursuit alledging that they ought to content themselues with the recouerie of their wiues But Dauid said that the sentence which was pronounced by them was both euill and vniust for since God had granted them the grace to defeat their enemies all of them merited to haue part in the profit which ought equally to be deuided amongst them both amongst those that had fought and amongst those likewise that staied behiâ—…d to guard the baggage And from that day forward this ordinance hath beene held firmely amongst them that they that keepe the baggage should haue equall part and portion of the pray with those that should goe out to the battell But when Dauid was returned to Siceleg he sent vnto all his familiars and friends of the tribe of Iuda a seuerall part of the spoyle In this manner was Siceleg sacked and burned and thus were the Amalechites discomfited But the Philistines assailed and fought a bloudie battell with Saul and his followers wherein the Philistines had the vpper hand and slew a great number of their enemies Saul king of Israell with his sonnes fought therin verie valiantly and with stout hearts seeing that all their honour consisted in that onely point to die nobly and to hazard themselues against all camisadoes of their enemies For since the Philistines bent all their forces against them they saw no meanes of recouerie so that encompassed by them they died in the middest of them and yet before their death slewe a great number of the Philistines There were there present Sauls three sonnes Ionathan Aminadab and Melchi who being defeated all the Hebrewe armie turned their backes so that being instantly pursued by the enemie there fell a great disorder confusion and slaughter amongst them Saul fled also although he had about him a strong squadron of men And although the Philistines marshalled foorth against him a multitude of archers that shot many dartes and arrowes at him yet were they all but a verie fewe repulsed and although he had fought verie brauely hauing receiued on him diuers wounds yet being vnable to support the paine and griefe of his woundes and trauailed with shortnesse of breath he commanded his esquier to drawe his sword and to thrust it thorow his body before he should be surprised aliue by his enemies which his esquire refused to doe not daring to lay hands vpon his master For which cause Saul drew his owne sword and setled the point to his breast and cast himselfe thereon but vnable to force it home enough nor make it by goaring himselfe thereon to pierce quite thorow him he looked backe and perceiued a yoong man hard beside him of whom he demaunded what he was and hearing that hee was an Amalechite he requested him that since himselfe was vnable to pierce himselfe with his owne hands that he would leaue vpon him and make the sword passe thorow him and bring him to that death which he so earnestly desired which he did and hauing taken from him the gold which he had about his armes and the royall crowne likewise he fled away The Esquire seeing Saul dead sodainly slew himselfe Not one of all the kings guard escaped but all of them were slaine neere vnto the mountaine Gelboa When they that inhabited the valley on the other side of Iordan and in the plaine had intelligence that Saul and his sonnes were dead and with them a great number of their nation was slaine they abandoned their Cities and fled to others that were more defenced The Philistines finding these Cities destitute of inhabitants encamped therein The next day whilest the Philistines spoyled the dead they found the bodies of Saul and his sons which they spoyled beheaded sending their heads round about the countrey to make it knowne that their enemies were defeated They offered vp their armes also in the temple of Astaroth and as for their bodies they hung them on the wals of the Citie of Bethsan at this day called Scythopolis When they of Iabes a Citie of Galaad vnderstood how the Philistines had thus cut off the heads of Saul and his sonnes they were sore moued and thought it became them not to be so carelesse of them but that they should be rescued For which cause the most valiant and hardie amongst them for that Citie bringeth vp men both valiant in heart and strong in body departed and marched all night long so as they attained Bethsan and approching neere the wals tooke downe the body of Saul and his sonnes and carried them vnto Iabes without any resistance of the enemy in that they durst not attempt the rescue These Iabesians lamented ouer their dead bodies and made publike lamentations and buried them in the fairest place of their countrey which place is called Arar They mourned after this manner weeping both men and women and children and beating their breasts and lamenting the king and his sonnes and tasting neither meat nor drinke This was the end of Saul according as Samuel had foretold him because he had disobeyed God in his war against the Amalechites and for that he had slaine the race of Achimelech and Achimelech himselfe also and destroyed the Citie of the Priests He raigned during the life of Samuel for the space of eighteene yeares and twentie two yeares after his death Thus finished Saul his life THE SEVENTH BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 7. booke 1 Dauid is created king of one tribe in Hebron ouer the rest Sauls sonne obtaineth the soueraignty 2 Isboseth is slaine by the treacherie of his domesticall seruants and the whole kingdome commeth vnto Dauid 3 Dauid hauing surprised the Citie and cittadell of Ierusalem driueth the Chananites from thence and causeth the Iewes to inhabit the same 4 Dauid assayled by the Philistines obtaineth a famous victorie against them neere vnto Ierusalem 5 Dauid ouercomming the neighbouring nations imposeth tributes on them 6 They of Damasco are ouercome by Dauid 7 How Dauid ouercame the Mesopotamians 8 How
incamped apart in the plaine and the Ammonites stood in battell aray neere vnto their Citie gate to make head against the Hebrewes Ioab perceiuing this vsed this stratageme to counteruaile their complot for he chose out the ablest and stoutest of his men to serue vnder him against Syrus and the other kings confederates with him and gaue the rest vnto his brother Abisat commaunding him to oppose himselfe against the Ammonites whilest he charged the rest willing him that if he perceiued that the Syrians were stroâ—…er then he was and did put him to the worst to displace his squadron and to succour him promising to do the like if he perceiued him to be ouerpressed by the Ammonites Whenas therefore he had exhorted his brother to behaue himselfe valiantly and vertuously and to take heed least he should light on some dishonour he sent him before to charge the Ammonites and he on the other side assailed the Syrians who valiantly resisted him for a little space yet notwithstanding Ioab slew many of them and finally constrained them to turne their backs Which when the Ammonites perceiued who were afraid of Abisai and his people they retreated likewise and conforming themselues according to the example of their allies they tooke their flight into the Citie By which meane Ioab hauing obtained the vpper hand ouer his enemies returned in triumph and with victorie vnto the king to Ierusalem Yet were not the Ammonites wholy weakned by this losse for although they had by their lamentable experience a certaine knowledge that the Hebrewes were stronger then themselues yet would they by no meanes listen after peace They therefore sent vnto Chalama king of the Syrians on the other side of Euphrates whose confederacie they attained by bribes and huge sums of money This king had one who was called Sabecus for his lieutenant generall and vnder him fourescore thousand footmen and ten thousand horsemen Dauid vnderstanding that the Ammonites drew to head and intended anew to beare armes against him he surceased to prosecute the war against them by his lieutenants himself in person with al his forces passed ouer the riuer of Iordan and went out against them and at last meeting and fighting with them ouercame them killing welny fortie thousand of their footmen and seuen thousand of their horsemen he hurt Sabecus also Chalamas Lieutenant who likewise died of that wound The issue of this combate being thus the Mesopotamians yeelded themselues vnto Dauid and gaue him many great and magnificent presents He therefore by reason of the winter retired himselfe for that time to Ierusalem but incontinently vpon the spring time he sent out his Lieutenant Ioab once more to make warre vpon the Ammonites who ouerrunning their countrey vtterly spoyled it and shut them vp in Aramath their principal citie which he ouercame entred About this time it so fel out that Dauid notwithstanding he were a iust man one that feared God an exact obseruer of all the lawes and ordinances of his forefathers fell and offended God most greeuously For as he walked on the top of his royall pallace from the time of mid-day vntill the euening for betwixt these times he vsed accustomably to walke he perceiued a woman of incomparable beautie and supassing perfection whose name was Bethsabe who in her house bathed her selfe in a cleere and pleasant fountaine and being deuoured and rauished with her beautie he could not refraine his concupiscence but sending for her tooke the spoile of her beautie and chastitie and by that meanes got her with child Which when she perceiued she sent vnto the king beseeching him to bethinke himselfe of some meanes whereby her shame might be concealed and her life which was in hazard by the law for her adulterie might be preserued Who thereupon sent for Vrias Bethsabes husband and one of Ioabs soldiers who at that time was at the siege of Aramath and questioned with him vpon his arriuall as touching the estate of the siege of the armie who answering him that all things were fallen out according as he could wish Dauid tooke a portion of his owne supper and gaue it him willing him to repaire vnto his owne house and repose him selfe with his wife But Vrias did nothing lesse but slept amongst his fellow soldiers neere vnto the person of the king Which when Dauid vnderstood he asked him wherefore he repaired not to his owne house according to the custome of husbands that had beene long time absent vpon a long voiage and why he entertained not his wife from whom he had beene sequestred so many daies Vrias replied that it became him not either to repose or take pleasure with his wife whilest his companions and generall lay vpon the bare ground in the enemies countrey Which said Dauid commaunded him to soiourne there all the day long to the end that on the next morrow he might send him backe againe to Ioab That night the king inuited him to supper and although he were made drunke thorow the aboundance of wine he receiued which the king had purposely caused to be giuen him yet notwithstanding he slept at the kings gate without any desire to repaire home vnto his wife Herewith the king was much despited so that he wrote vnto Ioab commaunding him to punish Vrias because he had offended him and to the end that this intent of his should not be discouered he suggested him both in the meanes and manner of the prosecution of his death enioyning him to place him in the ranke of greatest danger and in face of the enemie to the intent that in the fight his person might be endaungered abandoned and left alone whilest they that fought next vnto him retired when they sawe him charged Whenas he had thus written and sealed vp the letter with his owne seale he deliuered it to Vrias to beare vnto Ioab who receiuing the same and conceiuing the kings pleasure placed Vrias in that quarter where he knew the enemies would fight most desperately appointing him out certaine of his best soldiers to second him with purpose that he would come and succour them with all his power to the end he might breake thorow the wall and enter the Citie Vrias who was a noble soldier and for his valour had gotten great honour by the king and reputation amongst all those of his tribe and tooke delight to be employed in hazardous attempts and refused no daunger valiantly accepted the execution But Ioab gaue priuate intelligence to those that were ranked next vnto him that when they should see the enemie sally out with greatest fury they should abandon Vrias When as therefore the Hebrewes drew neere vnto the Citie the Ammonites feared least the enemie should speedily scale and enter the Citie on that side where Vrias was ranked for which cause they picked out a squadron of the most resolute men amongst them and setting open their gates sodainly with swift course force
altar and to conduct him to the iudgement seat that he might in that place iustifie his actions But Ioab said that he would neuer abandon the Temple but that he had rather die in that place than in another When Banaia had certified the king of this his answer he commanded him to cut off his head in the same place according as he required and that in that sort he should be punished by reason of the two murthers which he had cursedly committed vpon the persons of Abner and Amasa commanding that his bodie should be buried in the same place to the end that his sinnes should neuer depart from his race and that both Dauid and Salomon might be held guiltlesse of the death of Ioab This commaund of his Banaia executed and was afterward made generall of all the men of warre Moreouer the king established Sadoc soly in the place of Abiathar whom he had deposed He commanded Semei also to build him a house in Ierusalem and to keepe himselfe therein without passing the floud of Cedron for if he chanced to breake that commaundement the penaltie which he should incurre should be no lesse then death and to the more serious performance of this his iniunction he tied him by a solemne oath Semei thanked Salomon for the charge he had imposed on him and swore that he would fulfill the same so that forsaking his owne countrey he came and dwelt in Ierusalem where after he had soiourned for the space of three yeeres it hapned that he had newes that two of his fugitiue slaues had fled and retired themselues in Geth whereupon he went to finde them out and no sooner returned he backe againe with them but that the king had intelligence that he had neglected his commandement and that which is more that he had broken that oath which he made vnto God wherewith he was wroth For which cause calling him vnto him he spake after this manner Hast thou not sworne said he that thou wilt no waies abandon or issue out of this Citie to depart into an other Truely thou shalt not escape the penalty of thy periurie but I will see iustice done vpon thee for the same and for those outrages thou didst offer vnto my father during his flight at which time thou didst shew thy selfe to be a wicked man in all things to the end that thou maiest vnderstand that the wicked receiue no priuiledge although that their punishments be for the present deferred but at such time as they suppose themselues to be assured because they haue suffered no punishment their punishment is augmented and made more grieuous then it had been if they had presently beene executed for their offences Whereupon Banaia slew Semei according as he was commanded From that day forward Salomon had his royall estate secured and after that his enemies had receiued condigne punishment he tooke to wife the daughter of Pharao king of Aegypt and afterwards builded the walles of Ierusalem farre greater and more stronger then they were before and all the rest of his life he gouerned his common-weale in peace so that his youthly yeeres hindred him not from the obseruation of iustice and the maintenance of lawes neither excluded the remembrance of that which his father had charged him at the houre of his death but behauing himselfe in all things exactly he executed the affaires of his kingdome with that circumspection that such as excelled him in yeeres and were aduanced in prudence could not surpasse him CHAP. II. Of the wisedome prudence and riches of Salomon and how first of all he builded the Temple in Ierusalem AS soone as he came to Hebron he determined to pay his vowes vnto God on that brazen altar which was erected by Moses and sacrificed thereon in burnt offrings a thousand head of cattell which honourable deuotion of his was most acceptable vnto God For the very same night after he had appeared vnto him in a dreame he commaunded him to aske whatsoeuer blessing as he imagined sufficient to recompence this his pietie But Salomon required a most high and excellent thing which God doth most liberally bestow and men in like sort very happily receiue For he demanded neither gold nor siluer nor any otherkind of riches such as a youthly man would require for these are onely affected by the common sort when the other are onely worthy of the diuine magnificence But giue me said he O Lord a ripe iudgement and a good vnderstanding to the intent that by these meanes I may administer iustice to this people with truth and equitie With this demaund of his God was greatly delighted and promised him to giue him all other things wherof he had made no mention namely riches and glorie and aboue all these such an vnderstanding and wisedome as no one man either king or priuate hath had before him Moreouer that he would continue the kingdome in his family for many ages if so be that he continued in the waies of iustice and obeyed God in all things and walked in his fathers waies in imitating his chiefest vertues After that Salomon had receiued these blessings from God and was made happy by these promises he forsooke his bed and worshipping God returned vnto Ierusalem where he offered great sacrifices before the Tabernacle and magnifically feasted all those of his houshold About the same time a verie difficult iudgement was brought him to decide the resolution whereof was very hard to bee discouered And I haue thought it necessarie to declare the occasions whereon at that present the debate was grounded to the end that the readers may vnderstand the difficultie of the cause in question and that if they happen at any time to be assistant in such like affaires they might draw as it were from the counterfeit of this kings wisedome a perfect modle whereby they may directly shape an answere to such demaunds as shall be offered them Two women of loose and lustfull conuersation came vnto him one of which who seemed to haue suffered the iniurie began after this manner I O king said she and this woman dwell togither in one chamber but so it fortuned that both of vs on one day and at the same houre bare each of vs a sonne some three daies after we were brought a bed this woman lying by her infant hath in sleepe ouerlaid it and stifled it and hath taken my childe from betweene my knees and laid it by her and setled the dead childe whilest I slept in my bosome Now on the morrow when I thought to offer the teate vnto mine infant I found not mine owne but perceiued that her child lay dead by me for I knew it because I had exactly marked it This my childe I haue redemaunded at her hands and because I could not recouer it I haue made my recourse vnto your maiesties iustice O king for in that we were sole women and she is obstinate and feareth not to be
not Demetrius giue them any credit Moreouer Ionathan requiring that for the whole countrey of Iewry and for the three gouernments of Samaria Ioppe and Galilee he might pay no more then three hundreth talents for tribute he granted him a full exemption and wrote his letters patents in these termes King Demetrius to Ionathan his brother and to all the nation of the Iewes Peace and Ioy. We haue sent you the copy of the letter that we haue written to Lasthenes our father to the end you may know the contents thereof which is this King Demetrius to Lasthenes his father Ioy and Peace Because the people of the Iewes are our confederates and obserue our ordinances my intent is to requite their good affection and to assigne them the three gouernments of Apherema Lydda and Ramatha with their appurtenances which haue been taken from Samaria and annexed to Iudaea Secondly we remit all that which our predecessors kings receiued of them that sacrificed in Ierusalem And other tributes likewise which were gathered for the fruits of the earth and the trees the tribute of the salt likewise and the gold that was leuied for the crowne so that henceforward nothing hereof be exacted at their hands either for the time present or to come See you therefore giue order that the copy of these our present letters be sent and deliuered to Ionathan to be affixed in some open conspicuous place in the sacred temple See here what he wrote at that time Demetrius perceiuing that his countrey was in peace and that he liued without feare of any warre he dismissed his army and cashierd his souldiers hiring onely certaine strangers who were mustred out of Candy and other Isles whereby it came to passe that his owne souldiers conceiued an enuy and hatred against him in that he gaue them no wages whereas his predecessors maintained them as well in peace as in warre to the end that they might be the more affectionate towards them and that if need required to employ them they might shew themselues more ready and couragious to fight for them CHAP. IX Tryphon Apamenus ouercommeth Demetrius and giueth the kingdome to Antiochus the sonne of Alexander and plighteth friendship with Ionathan A Certaine man called Diodotus and by surname Tryphon an Apamean by nation and generall of Alexanders army hearing what mutiny there was amongst Demetrius souldiers came vnto Malchus the Arabian who had the bringing vp of Antiochus Alexanders sonne and wrought as much as in him lay that he would commit Antiochus to his trust to the intent he might make him king and establish him in the soueraigne gouernment which appertained to his father And although vpon this first motiō of his he could hardly be drawn to beleeue it yet not long after by the continuall instance of Triphon he was perswaded to condescend and suffered himselfe to be drawne by his perswasions See here what this man pretended at that time But Ionathan the high Priest desiring that they within the cittadel of Ierusalem and those wicked and Apostate Iewes and in generall all those that were in the garrisons thorowout all the countrey might be displaced and dismissed he sent Embassadors with rich presents vnto Demetrius beseeching him to cashiere those that were in garrison in the fortresses of Iudaea who not only promised him that demaund but also matters of far greater moment after that warre which he had then in hand were determined For the present troubles at that time gaue him no leisure to performe the same he therefore praid him for the right of their friendship to send him some of his forces giuing him to vnderstand that his army was reuolted Wherupon Ionathan chose out three thousand fighting men and sent them vnto him But the Antiochians hated Demetrius both because of the iniuries they had endured vnder him as also for the hatred they had conceiued against his father who had in like manner done them much wrong so that they onely expected and watched their oportunitie to expulse him Vnderstanding therefore that the succours that Ionathan sent vnto Demetrius were at hand foreseeing that in short time he would gather a great army if they hasted not themselues to preuent him betime they betooke them to their weapons and beset the kings pallace after the manner of a siege and guarded all the gates with an intent to lay hold on the king Who seeing himselfe roundly beset by the armed multitude of the Antiochians tooke those hired souldiers with those whom Ionathan had sent him and charged them but he was forced to retire and ouercome by them who were assembled in that place to the number of many thousands For which cause the Iewes perceiuing that the Antiochians had the better hand they mounted vpon the battlements of the pallace and from thence darted and shot against them without any endomagement to themselues by reason of the distance and height of the place where they were notwithstanding they gauled the people grieuously in so much as they droue them from the houses neere adioning which they incontinently set on fire whereby the flame thereof was spred thorow the whole Citie so that the houses that were closely builded the one by the other and for the most part framed of wood were burnt downe to the ground The Antiochians perceiuing that they could not remedy the fire nor extinguish the same betooke them to flight and the Iewes chasing them from house to house pursued them after an incredible manner When the king perceiued that the Citizens of Antioch ranne here and there to saue their wiues and children and for that occasion had giuen ouer the battell he set vpon them in a certaine narrow streight whereas diuers of them were slaine and all at last enforced to cast downe their weapons and to yeeld themselues to Demetrius mercie who pardoning them their rebellion pacified that sedition After this he rewards the Iewes with part of the pillage thanking them as the onely authors of his victorie Whereupon hee sent them backe to Ionathan with no small acknowledgment and testimony of their prowesse and vertue But afterwards he discouered his euill nature towards him and falsified his promises menacing him to make warre vpon him except he paid him those tributes which the people of the Iewes ought and were woont to pay vnto the kings his auncestors before time And these deseigns of his had he executed had not Tryphon hindred him for he was enforced to turne those forces that he had prepared against Ionathan to make warre vpon Tryphon who returning from Arabia into Syria with the younger Antiochus who at that time was vnder yeeres he set the diademe vpon his head All the army likewise that had abandoned Demetrius for shorting them of their wages came and followed him and made open warre against their master and vnder Antiochus and Tryphon fought with him and ouercame him seazing both his Elephants and the Citie of Antioch
the sonne of Ananus was made high Priest A yeere after this this Eleazar also was deposed and the Priesthood was giuen to Simon the son of Camithus who continuing in this dignitie for a yeeres space no loÌ„ger Ioseph called Caiaphas succeeded after him After Gratus had behaued himself thus he returned to Rome after he had remained in Iudaea for the space of 11. yeers After him came PoÌ„tius Pilate and succeeded him in the gouernment But Herod the tetrarch being entertained into Tiberius friendship builded a citie in honour of his name and called it Tiberias He planted it in the fruitfullest part of Galilee hard by the lake of Genazereth and neere vnto the naturall bathes in the borough called Emmaus This citie was peopled by straungers who resorted thither from all parts and by diuers of the countries of Galilee some of which were constrained to inhabite the same Some of those likewise who were in authoritie repaired thither and from all countries there flocked many who were not assuredly held for men of free condition all which he infranchised and gaue them great gifts vnder that condition that they should not abandon the citie To some of them he gaue houses alreadie builded to other some lands verie apt to be tilled knowing that the habitation of such a place was contrarie to the lawes and customes of his countrey and the ordinances of the Iewes For that Tiberias was builded in a place full of sepulchers and our law saith he that conuerseth in those places is held vncleaue and defiled for the space of seuen daies At that verie time died Phraates king of Parthia being traiterously slaine by his sonne Phraataces for this cause After that Phraates had gotten many lawfull children he tooke vnto him an Italian woman to his concubine called Thermusa whom with other presents Iulius Caesar had sent vnto him After he had begotten on her his sonne Phraataces he was so much besotted with her beautie that he tooke her to his wife and held her in high estimation She that might perswade him vnto all that whatsoeuer she listed enforced hir selfe to the vttermost to make her sonne king of Parthia and seeing that she might not attaine thereunto except she had first found out the meanes to deliuer hir selfe of Phraates lawfull children she perswaded him to send them hostages to Rome In a word they were presently sent away because Phraates in no sort had the power to contradict Thermusas will and only Phraataces was brought vp in the affaires of estate who thinking the time too tedious and long if he should expect the kingdome whilest his father were dead conspired against him by the instigation and furtherance of his mother with whom as it is thought hee committed incest In effect being equally attainted of these two hainous crimes both for the murther of his father as his incest committed with his mother he was generally hated by his subiects who rebelled against him before such time as he was setled in his kingdom By this meanes was his fortune ouerthrowen and he died The noble men among the Parthians perceiuing that it was impossible for them to maintaine their pollicy without a king and that their king ought lineally to descend of the race of the Arsacians because by custom they might not choose any out of another stock and supposing that their ordinances had too much alreadie beene contradicted and that it would redound to their great dishonour if the kingdome should be continued in the hands of such a man who was descended from an Italian concubine they sent Embassadors to require Herode to come and be their king who otherwise was in hatred with all the people and accused of extreme crueltie In a word he was an vnsociable man and extremely cholericke notwithstanding he were of the bloud of the Arsacides they therefore flocked about him and killed him at a banquet made at a certaine sacrifice for the custome of the Parthians was that euery one bare his weapon or as the common report was that he was slaine at such time as he was a hunting For this cause they sent Embassadors to Rome requiring that one of those that were hostages there might be their king and one Vonones was sent vnto them who was preferred aboue all his brethren For he seemed to be capable of that high degree of honour as to commaund two of the greatest soueraignties that were vnder the sunne the one of his owne nation the other of a forraine dominion But the Barbarians who are by nature mutable and most impatient of indignitie shortly after repented themselues for they disdained to execute the commaund of a slaue for so called they a pledge saying that the Parthians had not a king giuen them by right of warre but that which was the most out rage that might be fall them by iniury offered them in time of peace For which cause they speedily sent for Artabanus king of Media who was of the race of the Arsacides To this request of theirs he willingly condescended and came vnto them with his army And Vonones marched forward to make head against him At the first encountry although the common sort amongst the Parthians fauoured Artabanus yet was he ouercome and fled to the mountaines of Media But not long after hauing assembled a greater army he once more set vpon Vonones and discomfited him at which time Vonones retired himselfe with some horsemen of his into Seleucia But Artabanus hauing made a great slaughter of those that fled and wholy abashed the minds of the Barbarians he retired himselfe to the citie of Ctesiphon with those people that accompanied him and was afterwards made king of Parthia Vonones arriued in Armenia and at the first sought to make himselfe king ouer that nation sending to this effect certaine Embassadours to Rome but Tiberius repulsed his suite in respect of his cowardice but the rather for that Artabanus by an expresse Embassage had threatned him with warre For they of greatest power among the Armenians who are those that dwell aâ—…out the â—…loud Niphates maintained Artabanus title and Vonones destitute of all hope to obtaine the kingdome yeelded himselfe to Syllanus who was Gouernor of Syria and in regard that he had bin brought vp at Rome he was kept in Syria and Artabanus gaue Armenia to Orodes one of his sons Antiochus king of the Coâ—…agenes died also at that time and there fell a debate betwixt the commons and the nobilitie so that both parties sent their Embassadours to Rome The nobles required that the forme of their gouernment might be changed into diuers 〈◊〉 and the people requested that they might be honoured by a king as they had been accustomed The Senate decreed that â—…icus should be sent to settle the affaires in the East fortune â—…by presenting him with the occasion of his ruine For at such time as he arriued in the East and orderly disposed all things he
and promise he would lend him some money But he alleadging that Agrippa before that time ought him money extorted from Marsyas a bill of his hand for twentie thousand attique drachmes deducting out of that summe two thousand and fiue hundreth which Marsyas tooke for himselfe which hee might the more easily doe for that Agrippa could not otherwise chuse Hauing therfore receiued this money he went to Anthedon where getting shipping he prepared himselfe for the iourney But when Herennius Capito who was treasurer of Iamnia vnderstood of his being there he sent his souldiers vnto him to exact three hundreth thousand siluer drachmes at his hands for which he stood indebted to Caesars treasurer during his being at Rome by which meanes he was inforced to stay Whereupon he made a shew that he would obey their demaund but as soone as it was night he caused the cables of his shippe to be cut and cast off and sailed to Alexandria there requested he Alexander Alabarcha to lend him two hundreth thousand drachmes in siluer But he protested that he would trust him with nothing But admiting Cypros his wiues constant loue towards her husband and her many other vertues he vpon her promise accorded to doe him kindnesse whereupon in present money he paied him fine talents in Alexandria and promised to deliuer him the rest of the money at Puteol fearing Agrippas vnthriftinesse Thus Cypros hauing furnished her husband for his iourney into Italie returned her selfe and her childred into Iudaea by land But Agrippa as soone as he arriued at Puteol wrote vnto Tiberius Caesar who liued at Capreas signifying vnto him that he came to doe his duetie beseeching him that he would grant him free and fauourable accesse Tiberius with all expedition returned him a verie kinde answere certifying him that he would be verie glad to see him safely arriued in Capreas In a word as soone as he was arriued Caesar expressed and made it knowne that his affection was answerable to his letters and both embraced him and lodged him The next day Caesar receiued letters from Herennius Capito who aduertized him that Agrippa ought three hundreth thousand drachmes of siluer which he borrowed and paied not at the time prefixed and that at such time as the appointed time of paiment was come he was fled out of the countrey and place of his procuration and by this occasion had depriued him of the meanes to constraine him to make satisfaction When Caesar had read the letters he was sore displeased and commaunded those of his chamber that they should not admit Agrippa to his presence vntill such time as he had discharged that debt But he nothing dismaied at Caesars displeasure required Antonia Germanicus and Claudius mother who was afterwards Emperour to lend him the summe of three hundreth thousand drachmes to the end he might not lose Caesars friendship Who remembring her Berenice Agrippas mother and with what familiaritie they had conuersed togither and how Agrippa likewise had been brought vp with Claudius her sonne lent him that money Whereupon he paying the debt without any contradiction enioyed the princes fauour and was so reconciled to Caesar that he committed his nephew to Agrippas charge commanding him to attend him alwaies whither soeuer he went Being by this benefit bound and tied to Antonia he began to reuerence her nephew Caius who was gratious in all mens eies and honoured in memorie of his parents At that time by chance there was one Allius a Samaritane Caesars free-man of whom he borrowed ten hundreth thousand drachmes of siluer paid Antonia her due and kept the rest the more honourablie to attend and wait on Caius By whom being intertained with most inward familiaritie it hapned one day that riding in the same Coach with him Agrippa wisht for they two were alone that Tiberius might shortly surrender the kingdome and empire vnto Caius who was each way more worthy then he These words of his were ouerheard by the Coachman called Eutychus who was Agrippas freeman who for that time spake not a word thereof But being afterwards accused for stealing Agrippas garment as he indeed had done and brought backe againe after he had fled away to Piso who was the prefect of the citie he asked him why he fled who answered that he had certaine secrets which he desired to reueale vnto Caesar that appertained to his profit and safetie for which cause he was sent by him in bonds to Capreas Tiberius according to his dilatorie maner wherein no King or tyrant euer equalled him held him prisoner For neither did he presently admit any Embassadors neither sent he successours to those who were gouernours and prefects of his prouinces when the former were dead and no lesse negligent was hee in yeelding audience to his prisoners But when his friends at any time questioned with him why he vsed these accustomed delayes he answered them that he deferred the embassadours after that sort for feare least if he should speedily dispatch them they should instantly returne with newe whereby it should come to passe that he should be continually troubled in entertaining and dismissing them And as touching his offices he left thē in their hands to whom he had cōmitted thē in regard of his subiects welfare For naturally all magistracy is subiect to auarice but in especiall strangers induce those who exercise the same to gather and ingrosse the more instantly when as the time of their authoritie is short and of small assurance whereas if they should continue in the same for a long time in regard of the gaine they had made and the much profits they had raised they would be afterward lesse greedie to extort further Now if hee should send others to succeede them on a sodaine it were impossible for him to content them notwithstanding their manie bribes whereas in giuing them time to fill their purses when they had gotten well they would abate the furious desire of lucre which they affected before And to this purpose he told them an example of a poore man that was a Lazar to whose wounds a great number of flies assembled themselues and couered the same at sight whereof some by fortune ari◅ing there and hauing compassion of his miserie and supposing that the cause why they assisted him not proceeded from their disability approched neere to helpe him but hee required them to let him alone Whereupon they demaunding the cause wherefore he that was hurt refused to be deliuered from so irkesome an euil he answered them for that they should do him more wrong if those flies were driuen away for that being alreadie full of bloud they pricke me not said he neither sucke me so earnestly but giue me some ease whereas if new should alight on my wound which were hungry should seaze my flesh in that desperate estate that I am they would procure my death For these causes he said that seeing his subiects alreadie consumed
displeaseth him for that there is no superiour to countermaund their sayings or that is exempt from reproofe if he offend against the commonweale or that may threaten with the authoritie of an Emperour for that shall be said For what else in these latter times hath increased and furthered our ouertopping tyranny then their slouthful feare who durst in no sort oppose themselues against his lust For being entangled by a certaine kind of pleasure of a quiet life and accustomed to liue after the manner of slaues and being afraid also to die vertuously and desirous to liue with shame we are fallen into these scarce sufferable calamities and into such mischiefs as haue concerned vs too neerely First of all therefore you ought to honour those who haue slaine the tyrant by dignifying them with as â—…reat honours as may be imagined and especially Chaereas For he only hath beene the man who by the power of the Gods and thorow his great wisedome and valour hath giuen you your liberty Neither ought you to forget him but to heape honours on his head yea especiall fauours as to the man who first of all consulted and first of all hazarded himselfe against a tyrant for your libertie It is an honest and wel beseeming action in men of free hearts to restore and repay condigne kindnes for the benefits that they haue receiued such is this man in your behalfe not like to Brutus and Cassius who murthered Caesar for they were the originals of seditions and ciuill warres in this citie and this man by the death of a tyrant hath not onely at once deliuered you of him but also hath cut off all those mischiefs that arose by him Thus spake Sentius and his aduice was entertained with great applause not onely by the Senators but the knights also that were there present Whereupon a certaine Senator called Trebellius Maximus arose and stepping to him pulled off the ring which Sentius had on his finger wherin was inchased a stone with Caius picture in it which Sentius had forgot to pul off so intent was he about that which he both said did and by this means the engraued Image was broken Now for that it was late Chaereas demaunded the watchword at the Consuls hands who gaue him the word Libertie Thus all of them were astonished at this chaunge and could scarcely beleeue that which had hapned For since that time that the popular gouernment had beene abolished the Consuls had neuer giuen the watchword vntill that present time For before the citie was oppressed by tyrannie the Consuls commaunded the men of warre After that Chaereas had receiued the word he gaue it to his souldiers who subscribed to the Senates authoritie of these there were about foure companies which preferred the lawfull gouernment before a tyrannie who also retired themselues to their chieftaines As for their parts the people returned to their seuerall houses full of ioy hope and courage for that they had regained the gouernment of the state which belonged vnto them and not to any particular gouernour In a word Chaereas was their onely hope He foreseeing that there would some mischiefe follow if Caius wife and daughter should remaine aliue and that if all his friends and family should not be vtterly extinguished all those who should be spared vvould serue to no other end but to the ruine of the commonweale and the lawes and on the other side desiring to see a finall end of that which he had begunne and to satisfie that hatred he had conceiued against Caius he sent Iuius Lupus one of the captaines of the guard to kill both his wife and daughter vvhich he did And the cause why hee gaue this charge chiefely to Lupus was for that Lupus was Clements kinsman who was a confederate in the execution of Caius to the end that partaking after this manner the death of the tyrant he might be knowne to haue dealt as forwardly for the common-weale as if from the beginning he had beene a counseller and agent in the conspiracie Notwithstanding there were some of his companions of that opinion that it should be but cruelty to deale with a woman in that sort for that Caius had offended thorow the corruption of his owne nature and not by the counsaile of his wife and that all those euils which he committed in the commonweale by desolating the flower thereof was his owne offence not hirs There were others that accused her to be the cause of all that which Caius had committed alledging that she had giuen him an amorous drinke by which he was tied and entangled in such sort vnto her and so led and transported by her loue that she gouerned all that which concerned the estate of Rome and the world subiect to Rome but her defenders preuailed nothing For finally it was resolued that she should lose her life To finish this Tragedie Lupus was dispatcht who lost no time in the accomplishment of their intent who had sent him for feare he had to be blamed and accounted but coldly affectionate towards the good of the common weale As soone as therefore he came into the pallace he found Caesonia Caius widow lying fast by the body of her slaughtered husband destitute of all that which the lawe gratifieth those that are dead with altogither bloudy and greatly afflicted hauing her daughter fast couched by her Being in this estate she was heard to vtter no other words but that she blamed Caius for that he had not giuen credit to that counsell which she had giuen him so often which words of hers were by certaine of them interpreted two waies For some of them thought that she meant that she had counsailed her husband to giue ouer his crueltie and murthers which he exercised against his Citizens and that in his gouernment he should vse a tempered measure with vertue for feare least his subiects misliking of his manners should seeke his destruction Others tooke it as if she had encouraged Caius to set vpon the conspirators and kill them without any delay yea before they had committed any offence and by that meanes prouide for his securitie They therefore said that Caesonia blamed Caius for that he had behaued himselfe too carelesly in that wherein she had counsailed him Such were the words Caesonia spake and such was the exposition as diuers men interpreted the same She seeing Lupus comming shewed him Caius body and besought him with teares and complaints to come no neerer But perceiuing that hee continued in his resolution and made no account of her words but did that for which he came after that she knew the cause of his arriuall she offered her naked throat vnto him with a great courage vsing such supplications as they ordinarily doe who despaire of their liues For she willed him to defer no longer to finish that Tragedie which his companions had begun and died in this sort couragiously by the hand of Lupus and after her
an office of kindnes from a friend For by giuing we bewray our well wishing and by receiuing we proportion and continue frendship vpon this ground I praie you build the good entertainment of my present and nourish this good custome in me which was vsuall both amongst Grecians and Latins I meane my translation which if it please you I haue my wish As for my maligners I expect no worse from them then Iason the Thassalian who being assailed and wounded by an enemie who had an intent to kill him had an impostumation opened that saued his life their stabbe and stroke of disgrace shall cure and heale the hidden and neglected infirmities of my minde and notwithstanding I shall both Genio ingenio liue to loue you and lament their want of char◅ie Thus heartelie commending me I hastilie take my leaue being tied prentize of late to other mens importunities Your louing Friend Tho. Lodge THE FIRST OF THOSE SEVEN BOOKES WHICH WERE WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS THE SONNE OF MATTHIAS AS TOVCHING THE WARRE AND DESTRVCTION OF THE IEWES THE PRAEFACE In which the Author taxeth diuers Historiographers of vntruth and declareth his intent and specifieth the principall points of this Historie FOr as much as the warre which was enterprised betwixt the Iewes and Romans hath amongst all other beene the greatest that either hath beene attempted in our age or heard of in any other either between citie or citie or nation against nation there haue beene some who rather building their discourse on the vaine and improbable report of others then their owne iudgements haue according to the manner of orators made a historie of their hearsay and haue filled their discourses not only with vanitie but also with cōtradiction Others there were who for that they were eie witnesses or actors of the same haue according to their own fancies preferred many lies either to flatter the Romanes or exercise their hatred against the Iewes forging somewhiles accusations otherwhiles breaking out into praises without any obseruation of historicall veri◅e For this cause I Ioseph the sonne of Matthias by birth an Hebrew and a citizen and priest of Ierusalem who in the beginning of these wars bare armes against the Romanes and afterwards being therunto forced by necessitie was present at all those things which were attempted and prosecuted in those warres haue thought good to discourse in the Greeke tongue in fauour of all those who acknowledge the soueraigntie of the Romane Empire all that which heretofore in my owne language I haue imparted to those Barbarians that inhabit the East For at such time as I haue alreadie spoken as these most bitter and busie warres tooke their beginning the Romans were at ciuill warres among themselues and as touching the Iewes who were in yeeres valiant and in wits turbulent they being both strong in power and rich in money did so insolently abuse the time that being animated by the greatnes of those seditions and troubles haue somewhiles swamme in hope sometimes sweltered in feare of possessing or losing certaine soueraignties in the East For the Iewes hope was that all those of their nation euen they who inhabited the parts beyond Euphrates would haue both followed them in their rebellion and seconded their follies with their forces Moreouer at that time the Frenchmen who bordered vpon the Romans suffered them not to liue in peace and the Germanes also began to take armes Finally after the death of Nero seditions raigned euery where so that by reason of the oportunitie of these times many men went about to make themselues kings and the souldiers whetted on with the couetous desire of gaine desired nothing more then trouble and alteration For which cause I thinke it a matter both worthy reproofe and ill beseeming my reputation if in so waightie affaires I should suffer the truth to be smothered in incertainties and should permit the Parthians Babylonians and the furthest distant Arabians and those of our nation inhabiting beyond Euphrates togither with the Adiabenites to obtain the true knowledge of those euents by mine industrie whilest the Grecians diuers of those who haue not born armes with the Romans being distracted with factions deceiued by adulation should be ignorant hereof Yet some of these there be who notwithstanding their false informations stick not to write histories not only void of all truth but also no waies answerable to their subiect which they vndertake For whilest they labour to dignifie and extoll the Romans they altogither suppresse the fame and fortunes of the Iewes yet cannot I coniecture by what meanes they maie be held great who triumph in the conquest of men so obscure and abiect Nay whilest they thus extol the Romans valour in conquering the Iewes they nothing at all respect the continuance of the wars nor the multitude of the Roman souldiers nor the honour of their captaines whose titles are much embased if they hauing laboured so much to conquer Ierusalem should haue any thing derogated from the honour and prosperitie of their attempts For mine owne part I am not resolued to contradict those who shall enhance the glorie and noble actions of the Romans neiher to extol and dignifie the deserts of mine owne nation but my resolution is in all truth and sinceritie to set downe each occurrent without respect or partialitie towards either part In performance whereof I will fashion my discourse according to the matter I entreat of and as my griefe and sorrow shall inuite me to lament the miseries of my countrey For the ciuill dissension that dismembred the same was the cause that brought it to confusion and those tyrants that raigned amongst vs were such who forcibly drew the Romans with sword and sire to seeke the desolation of our holy temple The truth whereof Titus Caesar himselfe can iustifie who destroied the same and who during all those warres still pitied the people for that they as he well perceiued were kept in awe by ◅he seditious And who oftentimes of his owne accord deferred the surprisall of the Citie purposely protracting the siege to the intent that in the meane time the authors of the sedition and bloudie wars might haue leasure to repent and submit themselues Now if any man thinke that I write this as one that exclaimeth against the tyrants and their the eueries or that in bewailing the miseries of my lost countrey I accuse their villanies and thereby transgresse the limits of a historie let it be imputed to my griefe and so pardoned For amongst all the Cities that were euer gouerned by the Romans our Citie onely attained to the top of felicitie which now alas is brought into extreame miserie captiuitie and desolation Nay if all the misfortunes calamities which the world from the beginning hath seene be compared with the infelicitie and fall of the Iewes they are slight and of no moment And to increase our sorrow no forrainers but our owne familiar friends and
temple All which I wil recount without any dissimulation or swaruing from the truth of historie After this I will relate what cruelty the tyrants vsed against their own countrimen what humanitie the Romans shewed towards strangers and how oftentimes Titus who desired the safetie both of the Citie and Temple prouoked and inuited the seditious to mutual amitie Furthermore I wil report how the people of the Iewes after these many and grieuous wounds which they both suffered and suncke vnder sometimes by warre otherwhiles by sedition and many times by hunger were at length ouerthrowne to their vtter confusion Neither wil I omit the slaughter of such as reuolted neither the punishment inflicted on those that were captiue but I will set downe how the temple was burned against Caesars will and what an infinit masse of sacred treasure was deuoured by the fire But to shut vp the historie I will annex the surprisall of the Citie and what signes and wonders hapned before the same the captiuitie also of the tyrants themsel◅es and the number of those that were led away into captiuitie and what miserie euerie one of them end◅red how the Romans continuing their wars vtterly raced the fortresses of their captiues finally how Titus in trauailing thorow the whole countrey established a for me of gouernment therein and afterward returning into Italy triumphed with much honour All these things haue I comprehended in seuen bookes indeuouring as much as in me lieth to flie and auoide all occasion of reproofe and reprehension from those men who knew these affaires and were actors in the warres All which I haue done for their sakes who rather affect truth then follow their pleasure and according to that order and for me I haue proposed I will begin and prosecute my stile and Historie THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE WARRES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 1. booke 1 The destruction of Ierusalem by Antiochus 2 The succession of Princes from Ionathan vntill Aristobulus time 3 Of Aristobulus Antigonus Iudas Essaeus Alexander Theodore and Demetrius 4 Of the warre attempted betweene Alexander Antiochus and Aretas and of Alexandra and Hircanus 5 Of the warre betweene Hircanus and the Arabians and of the Expugnation of Ierusalem 6 Of the warre of Alexander with Hircanus and Aristobulus 7 Of the death of Aristobulus and the warre of Antipater against Mithridates 8 How Antipater was accused before Caesar and how Hircanus was high priest and Herod beg◅ to make warre 9 Of the dissension of the Romans after Caesars death and of Malichus his deceits 10 How Herod was accused and set free 11 Of the warre of the Parthians against the Iewes and of Herods flight and fortune 12 Of Herods warre for the recouering of Ierusalem after his returne from Rome and how he warred against the theeues 13 Of Iosephus death brother to Herod and how Ierusalem was besieged by the s◅e Herod and how Antigonus was slaine 14 Of the treacherous practises of Cleopatra against Herod and of his warre against the Arabians and of a great earthquake 15 How Herode was confirmed in the peaceable possession of the kingdome of Iudaea by Augustus Caesar. 16 Of the Cities and monuments repaired and builded by Herod and of his felicitie and liberalitie towards strangers 17 Of the discord betwixt Herod and his two sonnes Alexander and Aristobulus 18 Of Antipaters conspiracie against his father Herod 19 How Herod should haue been poisoned and how the treason was discouered 20 How Antipaters practises against Herod were knowne and punished 21 Of the golden Eagle and of Antipater and Herods death CHAP. I. How Ierusalem was destroied by Antiochus AT such time as Antioch◅ surnamed Epiphanes made warre against Sextus Pompeius for the whole gouernment of Syria there arose a sedition among the Iewes wherein euerie one indeuoured himselfe to haue the soueraignty ouer others and those of chiefest authoritie and nobilitie amongst the rest disdained to submit themselues to such as were their equals At that time a certaine man called Onias who was one of the high priests hauing gotten the vpper hand did driue the sonnes of To◅ias out of the Citie who flying to Antiochus for refuge besought him in all humilitie that he would leade his forces into Iudaea offering themselues to be his guides in that expedition and voiage Antiochus who long before that time desired such an occasion easily condescended to their requests leuying a great army entred their countrey and tooke the citie by force and ◅ue the most part of them who fauou◅ed Ptolomy and giuing his souldiers libertie to sacke the cit◅e he himselfe spoiled the temple also and for the space of three yeres and sixe moneths forbad al sacrifices and ceremonies which before time were accustomed and vsed in that place Whereupon Onias the high Priest fled vnto Ptolomey and hauing obtained a grant of a peece of ground from him within the liberties and precinct of Heliopolis he built a towne and temple in that place resembling the citie and sanctuarie in Ierusalem But neither was Antiochus satisfied with the vnexpected surprise of the citie nor with the pillage slaughter of the citizens but was so far transported by his passions incensed with the remembrance of those euils which he sustained during the siege of the citie that he compelled t◅ Iewes to forsake the customes of their country cōmanding them from that time forward to vs◅ no more circumcision of their children but that they should immolate swine vpon the Altar which when al of them iointly refused to obey the most constant among them were for that cause put to death Bacchides being made chiefe of the garrisons by the appointment of Antiochus what with his innated cruelty the impious commandement that was left him omitted no occasion to further his wicked impietie insomuch as he particularly tormented such as were of noble birth and qualitie so that each day for the most part he represented vnto them the fresh face and memorie of the desolation of their citie till all of them at the last being prouoked and whe◅d on through the grieuousnes of that which both themselues and others indured addressed themselues with confidence to prosecute the◅ reuenge A◅ length Matthias the sonne of Asmoneus one of the Priests who was borne in a village called Modin accompanied with his fiue sonnes and his owne household armed with swords slue Bacchides and fearing the power and multitude of the enemies garrisons speedily retired himselfe into the mountaines Thither resorted diuers of the people vnto him for which cause he waxing more confident and couragious came downe from the mountaines and ouercomming the captaines of Antiochus droue them out of the borders of Iudaea At such time therefore as through his happie successe he became potent and was by common consent of the people for that he had deliuered them from the subiection of straungers made their
Iudaea But it so came to passe that the power and expectation which all men had of Herod was the cause of Antipater his fathers death For Malichus being hereby put in feare hired one of the kings officers for a certaine sum of money to poison Antipater by which means he died being thus vniustly rewarded for his good will toward wretched Malichus He was a worthy man and fit to gouerne who had recouered the kingdome being lost for Hyrcanus Malichus who perceiued that the people were incēsed against him because they suspected that he had poisoned Antipater pacified and moderated their displeasure by denying the fact yet to the intent he might be stronger he gathered about him a guard of armed men for he thought that Herod would not let the matter slip so but that he would presently come with an army to reuenge his fathers death But by the counsell of his brother Phasaelus who sent him word that he should not openly be reuenged vpon Malichus least a sedition might arise amongst the people he patiently permitted it so to be and suffered Malichus to purge himselfe and permitted him to be freed from suspition and celebrated a most solemne funerall for his father which done he went vnto Samaria and appeased the sedition wherewithall the Citie was disquieted After this he returned to Ierusalem intending in that place to celebrate the festiuitie sending certaine of his armed men before him and appointing the rest to accompanie him But Malichus who feared this approch of his had sollicited Hyrcanus to giue order that no strangers should intermingle themselues among the people who were at that time purified But Herod contemning both him that commanded and his commission entred the Citie by night whereupon Malichus once more came vnto him and wept for Antipater Herod although he could verie hardly bridle his displeasure yet dissembled he the same and sent letters vnto Cassius wherein he complained of his fathers death the memorie of whose hate being refreshed by this offence he writ againe vnto Herod willing him to reuenge his fathers death which that he might the better effect he secretly commanded the captaines of his regiment that they should assist Herode Now for that after the surprisall of Laodicea all the best of the Citie came to Herod bringing gifts and crownes he appointed this for a fit time of his intended reuenge Now Malichus suspecting that Herod would worke reuenge at Tyre purposed secretly to get away his sonne who was there a pledge and he himselfe purposed to flie into Iudaea But despaire of his owne safetie vrged him to greater matters for he hoped to incite the Iewes to take armes against the Romans for that Cassius was now busie in the wars against Antonius so that he thought he might easily depose Hyrcanus and so make himselfe king But he was preuented by the destinies for Herode suspecting his purpose inuited him and Hyrcanus to supper at which time he made a shew as though he had sent one of his seruants to cause a banquet to be prepared but indeed he sent him to the captaines to foretell them that they mightlie in waite for Malichus who remembring what charge Cassius gaue them came foorth of the Citie vnto the shore next adioyning vnto the towne all armed with swords where compassing Malichus round about they killed him with many wounds Hyrcanus hereat astonished fell in a swoun being scarcely come to himselfe he demaunded who killed Malichus One of the captaines answered that Cassius gaue that commandement whereupon he answered truly Cassius hath preserued me and my countrey in killing him who was a traitor to vs both but whether herein he spake as he thought or that for feare he approued the fact it is vncertaine And thus was Herod reuenged vpon Malichus CHAP. X. How Herod was accused and reuenged AFter Cassius was departed from Syria there arose another sedition amongst them in Ierusalem for Felix came with an armie against Phasaelus thinking so to be reuenged vpon Herod for killing Malichus It chanced that Herod at that time was at Damascus with Fabius a Romane Captaine who comming to assist Phasaelus by the way fell sick so that he could not succour him but it so fel out that Phasaelus without any helpe did of himselfe ouercome Felix and therewithall reproued Hircanus as vngratefull who had both fauoured Felix and suffered Malichus his brother to take and keepe his castles for alreadie had he seazed many of them and especially one of greatest strength called Massada yet all these did not protect him from the violence of Herod who was no sooner recouered of his sicknesse but presently tooke all the rest Massada and at Hircanus humble suit permitted him to depart from thence He also chased Marion the tyrant of the Tyrians out of Galilee who occupied three castles in that country as for all the Tyrians that he tooke he spared their liues sent some away with rewards whereby he got the good will of the citie and the hatred of the Tyrant This Marion was made Tyrant of Tyria by Cassius who through the means of such like instruments had gotten into his hand all Syria Marion for the hatred he bare to Herod tooke with him Antigonus Aristobulus his son by Fabius his means whom Antigonus had gained vnto himselfe for money he also got Ptolomaeus to assist him in this expedition Now Ptolomaeus who was father in law to Antigonus furnished him with al necessaries Herod likewise preparing himselfe against them gaue thē battel in the entrance into Iudaea got the victory hauing put Antigonus to flight he returned into Ierusalē where he was honoured by all men for his desert in that victory so that euen they that before despised him by reason of his affinity newly contracted with Hyrcanus sought his friendship and familiarity This Herod long before this time had a wife which was a noble woman of that countrey named Doris had by her a son named Antipater but he thē maried Mariamme Alexanders daughter who was Aristobulus his son Hyrcanus his neece by reason whereof he came to be familiar with the king But when Cassius was slaine neere vnto Philippi Caesar departed into Italy Antonius into Asia at which time the chiefe of the Iewes came accused Phasaelus and Herod alledging that they by force got vnto themselues the rule disposition of the country and left Hyrcanus only the bare name of a king But Herod being thē present so woon wrought himselfe into Antonius fauour by a great sum of mony that he permitted not his enemies to speak one word more who thereupon returned home Afterward a hundreth men of the most honorable amongst the Iewes repaired to Daphne neere Antiochia vnto Antonius now doting on the loue of Cleopatra who being chosen from amongst the rest because of their eloquence nobility of birth propounded an accusation against the two brethren
Petronius receiued the letters of Caius Caesars death twentie and seuen dayes before the other threatning letters came CHAP. X. Of the Empire of Claudius and of the raigne and death of Agrippa CAius Caesar being slaine by treason when he had raigned three yeares and sixe moneths Claudius was made Emperour by the armie which was at Rome The Senate by the instigation of the Consuls Sentius Saturnius and Pomponius the second commanded three legions of Souldiers to keepe the Citie during the Councell holden in the Capitol and for Caius Caesars crueltie they determined to fight against Claudius intending to reduce the Empire to the ancient gouernmēt that as before time so for euer after those shuld rule that the Senate iudged worthy It chanced that at this time Agrippa came to Rome and the Senate sent vnto him requesting him to come and be one of their Councell Claudius also desired him to take part with the armie intending to vse his helpe where neede required Agrippa perceiuing that Claudius was already as it were Emperour for his power hee tooke part with him who presently sent him as Embassadour to the Senate to tell them his purpose how that first of all the souldiers whether he would or no set him in that dignitie and it had beene in him an vndiscreet part to haue forsaken such an offer at the souldiers hands who did it for good will nay if he had refused it his life should be in continuall danger for it was sufficient cause of enuie that hee had beene elected Emperour Moreouer he purposed to rule not as a tyrant but as a most mild prince for he would be contented only with the title of an Emperour and doe nothing without the common consent of them all And although he was not naturally inclined to modest and curteous behauiour yet he had a sufficient example to beware that he abused not his authoritie by Caius Caesars death Agrippa bare this message to the Senate who answered as though they trusted vnto their souldiers and learned Counsell that they would not thrust themselues into wilfulbondage Claudius receiuing this answer sent Agrippa againe to tell them that nothing could cause him to betray them by whom he was made Emperour and that he was forced to make warre against them with whom hee was verie loth to striue and therefore willed them to chuse a place out of the Citie for the battell to be fought in for it stood with no reason to deface the Citie with ciuill wars and massacres for the obstinacie of some few Agrippa did also this message vnto the Senate and one of the souldiers that were for the Senate drew his sword and said Fellow souldiers what should moue vs to massacre our friends and kinred and parents who follow Claudius especially seeing wee haue an Emperour with whom we can find no fault vnto whom we should rather go forth with entreaties then with armes When he had said this he passed through the midst of the court and all the souldiers followed him The Senate being thus left desolate the Lords abādoned of their force began to be in great feare and seeing it was no standing out for them they followed the souldiers went vnto Claudius Before the Citie walles there met them some that indeuoured to shew themselues dutifull vnto Claudius for his fortune sake hauing their swords drawne and they almost killed fiue before Caesar vnderstood the outrage of the souldiers and they had done it had not Agrippa ranne and told him of the matter saying that if he did not presently appease the souldiers furie now raging against the Citizens that all his Nobilitie would presently be extinguished and he should be left an Emperour of a desolate place When Claudius heard this hee repressed the souldiers furie and verie honourably receiued the Senate into his campe and went forth presently with them and offered sacrifice to God as the maner is for the good estate of the Empire Also hee presently made Agrippa King of all his fathers dominions giuing him likewise that which Augustus gaue Herod to wit Trachonite and Auranite and beside them another kingdome called the kingdome of Lysania and published this his gift by an edict vnto the people and commaunded the Senate to engraue that donation in brasen tables and to place it in the Capitoll Moreouer he rewarded his brother Herod who was his kinsman with the kingdome of Chalcis and married him to the Queene Berenice Agrippa receiued greater reuenues of his kingdome then he could desire which he spent not vainly but in building such a wall about Ierusalem as had he finished it the Romans could neuer haue taken it but before he could end that worke he died in Caesarea hauing raigned three yeeres with the title of a king and other three yeeres before in the state of a Tetrarch Hee left behind him three daughters which he had by Cypris Berenice Mariamme and Drusilla and one sonne by the same wife named Agrippa who because he was verie young Claudius reduced the kingdome into a prouince and made Cestius Festus Gouernour thereof But after him Tyberius Alexander who nothing violating the lawes of the nation ruled them in peace After this Herod king of Chalcis departed leauing behind him two sonnes which he had by his brothers daughter Berenice to wit Berenicianus and Hircanus and by his first wife Mariamme Aristobulus His other brother also Aristobulus died a priuate person leauing one daughter Iotapa And these were the posterity of Aristobulus king Herods sonne and Herod had Alexander and Aristobulus by Mariamme whom he put to death but Alexanders posteritie raigned in the greater Armenia CHAP. XI Of diuers tumults in Iudaea and Samaria AFter the death of Herode who raigned in Chalcis Claudius created Agrippa the sonne of the former Agrippa king of Chalcis in his vncles kingdome and Cumanus was made ruler of the other prouince after Alexander vnder whō there were many tumults and new calamities which befell the Iewes For when they were assembled togither at the feast of vnleuened bread in Ierusalem the Romane souldiers standing in the porch of the temple for alwaies armed men kept that place vpon festiual daies least the people gathered togither should make any tumult one of the souldiers taking vp his coat turned his bare buttocks against the Iewes faces speaking words as vnseemely as was his gesture Whereat all the whole multitude began to murmur so that they flocked about Cumanus requesting him to punish the souldier for this misdemeanour and some of them rash young men and as it were prone to sedition began to reuile the souldiers and threw stones at them Then Cumanu fearing that the whole multitude of the Iewes would violently rush vpon him called vnto him many armed souldiers and sent them into the porch of the temple The Iewes being in a great feare fled and left the temple and there was such a throng that as they
And that which increased the sorrow of the citizens was that amidst these calamities their religion was also contumeliously abused for these theeues to trie of what strength and courage the people were and their owne forces did elect by lot a high Priest contrarie to their law which as we haue alreadie said requireth that the high Priest shall be chosen by succession This deed of theirs they coloured with an auncient custome alleaging that in time past the high Priest was chosen by lot But indeed this their fact was an abrogation of the most firme custome that was amongst the people and was onely a deuise to get all gouernment into their hands by establishing magistrates at their pleasure Then calling one of the holy tribes named Eniachin they cast lots and it so fell out that the lot fell vpon one whereby their iniquitie was discouered this man whose lot it was to be high Priest was named Phanes who was the sonne of Samuel a man not onely vnworthie of that dignitie but who had been so rudely brought vp that he neuer knew what the high Priest meant this Phanes was borne in a village called Aphthasis Him against his will they fetcht out of the field and as it had beene in a stage-play they graced him with another mans person and presently gaue him instructions how hee should behaue himselfe putting vpon him the sacred attire of the high Priest as though that so great impietie had beene but a sport The rest of the priests beholding a far off the holy lawes to be scorned scarcely contained themselues from teares and euen groaned for sorrow that their sacred dignities were so abused The people could no longer endure this their tyrannie but now euery one addressed himselfe to depose these tyrants And those that were most earnest herein were Gorion Iosephs sonne and Simeon the sonne of Gamaliel who went about the Citie to euerie one in priuate and then in a publike assembly exhorted the people to be reuenged vpon those tyrants who tooke from them their libertie and to addresse themselues to purge the holy Temple from such vile and vncleane persons Likewise the best disposed amongst the priests to wit Iesus the sonne of Gamala and Ananus the sonne of Ananus often in publike Sermons reprehended the people and vpbrayded them with their slouth in that they made no more haste to destroy those Zelous people for so those wretches termed themselues as though they had beene deuout followers of goodnesse and not impious malefactors The people being all assembled together euerie man grieued to see the holy place so kept for a denne of theeues and of their robberies and murders which they committed yet did they not goe about to reuenge thinking themselues too weake to deale with these Zelous as in deed they were Then Ananus stood vp amongst the middest of them and hauing often turned his eyes to the Temple and beholden it till the teares ran downe his cheekes Oh said hee how farre better were it for me to die then to liue to see the house of God thus filled with impietie and the Sanctuarie wherein none should come but me high Priest prophaned with the wicked feete of impious persons being cloathed in Priests apparell and beare the name of the most authoritie amongst all names and doe I yet liue and doe I to saue my life and to bee gray-headed abstaine from dying a glorious death Nay rather I alone will goe against these murderers and as though I were in a wildernesse where there were no man beside my selfe I alone will goe and offer my soule for Gods sake For what doth it auaile me to liue amongst a people that hath no feeling of their owne calamitie and which seeketh not to redresse their own present miseries for you being robbed and spoyled beare all patiently and being beaten you hold your peace and there is none amongst you that dare openly mourne for them that are most cruelly murdered O tyrannous gouernment But why should I exclaime against the tyrants Did not you your selues make them great and nourish their power and authoritie by your patience did not you by despising those who before were in authoritie being but a few make all these who are many in number tyrants ouer your selues haue not you keeping your selues quiet they being armed turned their swords vpon your owne heads and as then it behooued you to resist their enterprises when first they iniured your kinred you by suffering haue made them theeues because at first you made no account when they destroyed houses and whole families And this was the cause that at last the rulers and potentates themselues were set vpon and none would succour them when they were drawne through the middest of the Citie and these murderers 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 hauing no man to heare them they were most cruelly murdered as wee haue seene any for they were before our faces led to bee slaine as the fattest amongst a whole herd of beasts all wee beholding this and yet no man opening his mouth nor lifting vp his hand And will you also endure will you suffer the holy Sanctuarie to bee prophaned before your eyes and will you hauing so emboldned these miscreants as yee see now your selues stand in feare of them assure your selues they would if they could deuise how commit greater impietie then this is They keepe against you the strongest place in the whole Citie called a Temple but now in deed it is a fortresse or Castle of defence What doe yee now thinke such a tyrannie being established ouer you and your enemies being euen vpon you what do you deliberate to doe Doe you expect the Romans to come and helpe you to saue the Temple and sacred mysteries Our Citie is now at that stay and we haue so behaued our selues that our verie enemies pittie vs. O yee wretches will you not arise and as the verie bruit beastes doe will you not reuenge your selues vpon them that haue thus wounded you Will not euerie one of you call to mind the massacre of his friends and what calamitie he himselfe hath suffered and so encourage your selues to be reuenged For ought I can see you haue all lost that sacred and sweete and naturall desire of libertie and now we imbrace bondage as though we had learned to be bondmen euen from our ancestors But they endured many and hard warres to liue in libertie and yeelded neither to the power of the Aegyptians nor Medes because they would not be at their commaund What need is it to recount vnto you the warres of our predecessors To what end doe we enterprise this warre against the Romanes bee it commodious for vs or to our disaduantage if not to obtaine our libertie And we who cannot indure to bee subiect vnto the Lords of
them tell the Citizens that except they presently restored his wife vnto him that hee swore by God who gouerned all that hee would breake downe their wals and vse all that hee found in the Citie after that fashion and that he would spare no age nor respect the innocent more then the guiltie These his threates did not onely terrifie the people but also the Zelous in so much that they sent him his wife againe and so his anger being something asswaged he ceased a while from daily slaughter CHAP. VIII Of Galba Otho Vitellius and Vespasian NOt onely in Iudaea but also in Italy at this time were ciuill warres for Galba was slaine in the middest of the market after whome Otho was created Emperour and fought against Vitellius who affected the Empire whome the Germaine legions had elected So the battell being fought neere vnto Bebrias a towne in Gallia Cisalpina the first day Otho got the victorie against Valens and Caecinna the Generals of Vitellius his armie But the day following they ouercame Otho so many being slaine on both parts newes being brought that Vitellius his armie had gotten the victorie Otho being at Brixels slew himselfe when he had ruled the Empire three months and two dayes Then Othoes souldiers came vnto Vitellius his Captaines and ioyned with them and so Vitellius came to Rome with his armie In the meane time Vespasian the fift day of Iune departed from Caesarea and went vnto those parts of Iudaea which were yet vnconquered and first of all he went into the high Countries and subdued the two Toparchies of Acrabatena and Gophnitis and after them two townes called Bethel and Ephrem and placed garrisons in them and so went vnto Ierusalem killing many that hee found in the way and hee tooke many captiues And one of his Captaines called Cerealis with a part of his horse and footmen wasted all the higher Idumaea and in the way as he went hee tooke Caphetra a Castle and burnt it besieged an other called Capharis enclosed with a strong wall for the which ca◅ he deemed that he should haue made long abode there but contrarie to his expectation the Inhabitants opened the gates vnto him and came and yeelded themselues beseeching him to be good vnto them When he had ouercome them Cerealis went vnto Hebron an ancient Citie and set it on fire this Hebron as I haue alreadie said was situated vpon the mountaines not farre from Ierusalem and breaking into it by force hee slew all them that he found there and fired the Citie And hauing subdued all places saue onely three Castles to wit Herodium Massada and Macheron which were kept by the theeues now onely Ierusalem remained to be conquered CHAP. IX Of Simons acts against the Zelous WHen Simon had receiued againe his wife from the Zelous he went into Idumaea to rob and spoyle that which he had left and chasing the Inhabitants vp and downe at last hee forced them to flie vnto Ierusalem he himselfe followed them thither and besieging the wals he killed al the workmen he took that returned out of the fields from their labour T◅s Simon without the citie was more terrible to the people then the Romans and the Zelous within the citie crueller then them both being encouraged and incited therto by the counsel of the Galileans For they had put Iohn in authoritie Iohn in reward therof permitted al things to be don which they requested There was no end of robbing spoyling rich mens houses and of slaughtering both of men and women and now to iniurie any person was a pastime And hauing with bloudshed obtained their pray in securitie and without all feare after they had gotten what they liked they now began to lust after women yea they became thēselues effeminate thorow luxuriousnesse dressing their haire and cloathing themselues in womens apparrell and they annoynted themselues with sweete oyntments that their beautie might bee pleasing and annoynting their eyes wanton-like they now did not onely imitate the attire of women but also their impudencie and became so shamelesse that they now thirsted after vnnaturall pleasures as though they had kept a stewes and so prophaned the whole Citie with their execrable impurities Yet though they did effeminate their faces their hands were prone to bloudshed and although they liued in ignominious maner as people giuen ouer to pleasure yet could they quickly become warriours vnder the habites of women drawing their swords they did kil whom so euer they met Whosoeuer escaped Iohns hands Simon crueller murdered and whosoeuer escaped the tyrannie within the Citie was slaine by the tyrant without So now there was no way to flie vnto the Romans Furthermore the armie of Iohn began to be deuided for all the Idumaeans separated themselues from the other people and there began a mutinie against the tyrant partly enuying his puissance partly hating his crueltie And so assaulting him they slew many of the Zelous and compelled the rest to flie into the Kings house builded by Grapta father of Izata king of Adiabena The Idumaeans also brake in thither with them and droue them from thence into the Temple and so seazed vpon Iohns treasure for Iohn liued in that pallace and thither carried all his spoyles Then those Zelous that were dispersed in the Citie came vnto them that were in the Temple and Iohn purposed to send them against the townesmen and the Idumaeans But they feared not so much their forces although they knew them to be the better warriors as they did feare that now being desperate they would steale out of the Temple in the night and so slay them and fier the Citie Wherfore assembling themselues they deliberated with the priests how to auoide their assaults but it pleased God to turne their owne counsel to be their destruction and that they should prouide a remedie of safetie farre worse then death it selfe For to depose Iohn they deuised to introduce Simon and as it were to intreate yet another to tyrannize ouer them So this counsell was thought best and Matthias the Priest was sent vnto Simon whom before they stood in great feare of now to request him to come into the Citie With them also came such as had fled from Ierusalem for feare of the Zelous entreating him in like maner because they desired to returne to their wiues and families So he entred into the Citie proudly promising them to be their Lorde and all the people cried with lowd voices as he came into the Citie that he was their preseruer and giuer of life and libertie Being now within the Citie presently he deliberated with them about him to establish his dominion thinking as well them that called him into the Citie as those against whom he was called his enemies Then Iohn and the Zelous with him finding no way to come out of the temple and hauing lost all that he had in the Citie
and ready to be swallowed downe The olde men were driuen away and not permitted to keepe and defend their food from being taken from them the women were drawn vp and downe by the haire of the head for that they hid betweene their hands some part of their meat and would not forgo it No pitie was now remaining neither to olde age nor infancie but they tooke young babes eating their mouth full of meat and not permitting it to be taken out of their mouths and threw them against the ground Now if any one had preuented these theeues and eaten their meat before they could come at them then they were more cruell and the other so much more tyrannously handled as hauing committed some greater offence against them They also deuised most barbarous and cruell torments to extort food from others for they thrust sticks or such like into the cauitie of mens yards and sharpe thornie rods into their fundaments and it is abominable to heare what the people endured to make them confesse one loafe of bread or one handfull of corne which they had hidden These miscreants did not yet for all this feele either hunger or thirst for then these their impieties had been more tolerable but they did it only to exercise their crueltie preparing six daies food for themselues aforehand Wherfore meeting such as had escaped the Roman watch in the night and gone into the fields to gather weeds or herbs when they againe came into the Citie and thought they had now escaped the danger of their enemies they there tooke from them the hearbs they had gotten with hazard of their liues denying to giue them any smal part of that for which they had vndergone such danger and they required them for Gods sake to doe it yea they thought it a benefit if being thus robbed and spoiled they did not also perish by the swords of these miscreants These calamities the baser sort of people endured at the hands of the common souldiers but the nobles and chiefe men of the citie were led vnto the tyrants and accused before them of betraying the Citie vnto the Romans and so by some forged treason or other put to death And many times their suborned accusers would testifie against them that they purposed to flie vnto the Romans And those that Simon robbed he sent vnto Iohn and those that Iohn spoiled he sent vnto Simon and so they did as it were one drinke vnto another the bloud of the people and diuide their dead carkases betweene them insomuch that they disagreed onely for their desire of rule and domination but both conspired to doe mischiefe and commit iniquitie For he that did not giue to the other part of that which by crueltie he had extorted from the miserable Citizens was accounted impious and he that receiued not part did now grieue as sustaining losse in not hauing a share in crueltie and impietie I am not able to recount all their iniquities but briefly I thinke that neuer any Citie endured the like nor neuer any people since the memorie of men were so cruell and barbarous and finally to the intent that their impietie vnto strangers might seeme the lesse they spake euill of the nation of the Hebrewes and cursed them and openly confessed themselues to be slaues people of diuers countries vnited togither in wickednesse bastards and abortiues of their nation They ouerthrew the Citie and forced the Romans though against their wils to accept of this sorrowfull and heauie victorie and almost drew the fire into the temple as though it staid from it too long Neither did they weepe or lament when they saw the higher part of the city on fire but many amongst the Romans did with sorrow behold that sight which we will speake of hereafter where we wil describe the euent of that businesse CHAP. XII Of the Iewes that were crucified and the rampiers burnt THe mounts and rampiers that Titus built did greatly aduantage him and although his souldiers endured some losse by the Iewes who were vpon the wal yet he sent part of his horsemen and commanded them to lay wait for the Iewes that came out of the Citie into the vallies to fetch food and amongst them were also some fighting men For now that which they could rob and take from the Citizens was not sufficient for all of them yet the greater part of them were poore people who durst not flie vnto the Romans for feare that some harme should thereupon betide their dearest friends not induring to leaue them behinde to be murthered by the theeues Famine did now embolden them to go foorth of the Citie and now it only remained for them to go forth priuily and be taken by the enemies And being taken necessitie forced them to fight for feare of torments for they now thought it too late to request mercie after the fight they were beaten and tortured al waies possible and then crucified before the Citie wals Titus deemed this calamitie most miserable for euery day fiue hundreth Iewes and sometime more were taken and yet did he not thinke it expedient to dismisse so great a multitude nor to keepe them who would be as a guard of guards But the principall point for which he did not hinder this was that by this spectacle he might terrifie the Iewes and make them feare to suffer the like except they did quickly render themselues and the citie vnto him Wherefore the souldiers for a hatred which they conceiued against our nation crucified all they took one after one fashion and another after another in derision And the multitude of the captiues was now so great that there remained no more space to set crosses in nor any more crosses to crucifie bodies vpon But the seditious Iewes within the Citie were so farre from relenting by this massacre that rather their harts were hereby more hardned so that herewith they terrified the rest of the multitude for they catried the kinred of them that had fled vnto the Romans to the walles and bad them behold how those were vsed that had fled vnto the Romans the same sight they also shewed vnto them that desired peace affirming that they whom the Romans had so vsed were those that fledde vnto them for succour and not captiues by them taken This terrified many who desired to flie vnto the Romans from effecting their desire till such time as the truth hereof was knowne Yet some presently went boldly vnto the Romans as it were intending to suffer death and torment at their hands accounting that death comming vnto them by their enemies hands was farre more tolerable then the famine they endured Hereupon Titus cut off many of the captiues hands and so sent them into the Citie vnto Simon and Iohn that their calamitie might testifie them to be captiues and not such as had fled and yeelded vnto the Romans willing to admonish them at least now to yeeld and not compel him to
had alreadie closed tooke strength a while to bewaile the temple which they now opening their eies beheld on fire The countrey beyond Iordan and the mountains about did eccho with their laments and yet the calamitie surpassed that tumult For one would haue iudged the hil whereon the temple was scituate to haue beene burnt vp by the rootes it was so ful of fire Yet the multitude of bloud there shed surpassed the fire Many that were slaine were couered with them that slew them and all the ground was ouerspred with dead bodies so that the souldiers ran vpon the dead bodies to pursue them that fled At last the theeues hauing driuen the Romans without the temple they ran into the citie the rest of the people that were left fled into the outward porch And many of the priests first vsed spits and then their seats made of lead in steed of darts against the Romans at last nothing at all preuailing and the fire falling vpon them they went vnto a wall eight cubits broad and there staied Yet two of the nobles when they might either haue fled vnto the Romans and there haue beene saued or else haue endured like fortune with the rest they notwithstanding cast themselues into the fire and so were burnt with the temple one of them was named Meierus the sonne of Belga the other Ioseph the sonne of Dalaeus The Romans thought it in vaine to spare the buildings about the temple seeing the temple was alreadie consumed and so set fire on them all the porches galleries and gates two onely excepted one on the East side and the other on the South side both which afterward they raced vnto the ground they burnt also certaine chests called Gazophylacia or money boxes wherâ—…in was great store of coine and rich garments and other pretious things and indeed all the Iewes treasure for the richest of the citie had brought all their wealth thither There came into the porch that was left standing many men women children to the number of sixe thousand And before Caesar and the captains did determine any thing what should be done with them the furious soldiers fired the porch wherein they were and so they all perished in the flames saue a fewe that leaping downe to auoid the fire were slaine in the fall so that no one escaped of all that multitude A certaine false prophet was cause of all their deaths who the same day preached in the Citie and commaunded them to go into the temple and behold signes of their deliuerance for many false Prophets were then suborned by the tyrants to perswade them to expect Gods helpe thereby to hinder them from flying vnto the Romans and to cause the souldiers to fight more valiantly to defend their citie Men easily beleeue and are credulous in aduersitie so that if any deceitfull person promise deliuerance out of calamitie hee that suffereth miserie is in full hope thereof CHAP. XII Of the straunge signes and tokens that appeared before the destruction of Ierusalem THese miserable people were thus easily perswaded by impostors who did belie God yet would they not beleeue nor giue any eare or regard vnto certaine tokens signes of the ruine of their citie but as it were blinded neither hauing eies nor soules they counterfaited themselues not to see what God foreshewed them One while there was a comete in forme of a firie sword which for a yeere togither did hang ouer the citie an other time before the first reuolt warre the people being gathered togither to the feast of vnleuened bread which was the eight day of Aprill the ninth houre of the night there was so much light about the altar and temple as though it had beene bright day which remained halfe an hower this the ignorant people interpreted as a good signe but they that were skilfull in holy scripture did presently iudge what would ensue before it came to passe The same festiuitie a cow ledde to be sacrificed at the altar brought forth a lambe in the midst of the temple and the inner gate of the temple on the east side being of massiue brasse which at night time had alwaies at least twentie men to shut it was bound with locks of yron and was barred with barres the ends whereof went into morteis holes in the stones on either side the doore the foresaid stones being on each side one whole stone was seene at the first houre of the night to open of his owne accord which being presently related vnto the Magistrate by the keepers of the temple he himselfe came thither and could scarcely shut it and this also to the ignorant seemed a good signe affirming that God opened vnto them the gate of his blessings But the wiser sort iudged that the defence of the temple would decay of his owne accord and that the opening of the gate foretold that it should be giuen to the enemies affirming one vnto another that this signe signified desolation A little while after the feast daies on the one and twentith day of May there was seene a vision beyond all beleefe and perhaps that which I am to recount might seeme a fable if some were not now aliue that beheld it and that calamitie vvorthie to be so foretold ensued for before the sunne set were seene in the ayre yron chariots all ouer the countrey and an armie in battell aray passing along in the clouds and begitting the citie And vpon the feast day called Penticost at night the priests going into the inner temple to offer their vvonted sacrifice at first they felt the place to moue and tremble afterward they heard a voice vvhich said Let vs depart hence And that vvhich vvas most wonderfull of all one Iesus the son of Ananus a countrey man of the common people foure yeeres before the wars began vvhen the Citie flourished in peace and riches comming to the celebration of the feast to Ierusalem vvhich vve call the feast of Tabernacles sodainly began to crie out thus A voice from the East A voice from the West A voice from the foure vvinds A voice against Ierusalem and the Temple A voice against men and women newly maried A voice against all this people and thus crying night and day he vvent about all the streets of the citie Some of the nobilitie disdaining misfortune tooke him and scourged him with many stripes but he neither secretly speaking for himselfe nor vnto those that did beate him perseuered crying as before The Magistrates then thinking as in deed it was that the man spake this through some diuine motion led him vnto the Generall of the Romans where being beaten till his bones appeared he neuer intreated nor wepts but as well as he could framing a weeping voice hee cried woe woe vnto Ierusalem Albinus being then Iudge asked him what he was or of whence or wherefore he said so but he made him no answere Yet hee ceased not to bewaile
the miserie of Ierusalem vntill Albinus thinking him to bee out of his wits suffered him to depart This man euen vntill the time of warre neuer went to any Citizen nor was seene speake to any one but stil as it were studying of some speech he cried woe woe vnto Ierusalem Neither did he euer curse any one though euerie day one or other did beate him nor thanke any one that offered him meate All that he spake vnto any man was this heauie prophecie He went crying as is aforesaid chiefely vpon holy-dayes so doing continually for the space of seuen yeeres and fiue moneths his voice neither waxing hoarse nor wearie till in the time of the siege beholding that which he foretold them hee ceased and then once againe vpon the wals going about the Citie with a lowde voice he cried Woe woe vnto the Citie Temple and people and lastly he said woe also vnto my selfe which words were no sooner vttered but a stone shot from out an engine smote him and so he yeelded vp the ghost lamenting them all If any one doe diligently consider all these he shall find that God hath a care of mankind and doth euerie way foreshew betime what is most expedient for them and they through their owne madnesse to haue voluntarily perished in their wickednesse For the Iewes when the Castle Antonia was taken made the Temple foure square notwithstanding that it was written in the holy Scripture that the Citie and Temple should be taken when the Temple was made foure square But that which chiefely incited them to warre was the doubtfull prophecie likewise found in the holy Scriptures that at the same time one in their dominions should be Monarche of the whole world and many wisemen were deceiued in this interpretation making account that hee should be one of their owne nation yet indeed thereby was foretold Vespasians Empire But men cannot preuent destinie though they foresee it Thus the Iewes interpreted some of the signes as they pleased and at others they laughed till by the ruine of their Countrie and their owne wofull ouerthrow their iniquitie appeared CHAP. XIII How Titus was made Emperour and of the death of the priests AFter the seditious were fled into the Citie all the Temple and places thereabout being set on fire the Romans placed their ensignes in the Temple ouer against the East gate and there celebrating sacrifice with great cries declared Titus Emperour and the Romans got such prayes and booties that they sold gold in Syria for halfe the valew And amongst those Priests that kept on the wall a child being thirstie desired peace of the Romane watchmen saying that he was thirstie So they pittying both his yeeres and his need gaue him their hands that he should haue no harme and then he came downe and drunke and filled a bottle which he brought with him and when he had done hee ranne vp againe to his fellowes and none of the watchmen were able to ouertake him and they vpbraided him with falsehood But he answered that he had done nothing but that which hee and they intended for they did not giue him their hands to secure him to remaine with them but onely to come downe and take water which hee had done The Romane watchmen greatly admired the subtiltie of him that was but a child The fift day the Priests being almost famished came downe and the watchmen carried them to Titus whom they besought to graunt them their liues But he answered them that the time of pardon was past seeing that was destroyed for the which he might haue pardoned them and that it was meete that the Priests should perish with the Temple and so he commaunded them to be put to death Then the tyrants with their followers being on euerie side beset with warres and hauing no way to flie they being thus beleaguerd rounde requested to parly with Titus who for his naturall meeknesse his friends also perswading him thereto thought at least to saue the Citie iudging indeed that now the seditious had altered their minds and so he stood in the West part of the inner Temple for there was a gate built aboue a gallerie and a bridge that ioyned the Temple and Citie together which was then betweene Titus and the tyrants Many souldiers on both parts flocked about their rulers the Iewes about Simon and Iohn hoping for pardon the Romans about Titus desirous what he would say vnto them and Titus by an Edict commaunding the souldiers to be quiet and to shoote no arrowes spake vnto them first by an interpreter thereby shewing that he had the vpper hand and said O yee men of Ierusalem are you not now glutted with the calamities of your Countrie Neither calling to mind our power nor your owne infirmitie but with a rash furie haue destroyed your people Citie and Temple your selues also hauing instly deserued to perish who since Pompey first conquered you haue neuer ceased to be seditious and at last haue openly borne armes against the Romans Did you trust vnto your multitude You haue seene that a small parcell of the Romans armie hath sufficiently resisted you Or did you expect forraine aide What nation is not vnder our dominion and who wold rather make choyse of the Iewes then of the Romans Did you trust in your strength of bodie Why you know that the Germanes serue vs. Or in the strength of your wals What wall or what greater hinderance then the Ocean wherewith the Britaines inuironed haue yeelded vnto the Romane forces Or to your courage and politicke counsell of your Captaines You haue alreadie heard that the Carthaginians haue beene by vs surprised It was therefore the Romanes humanitie that incited you against themselues who first of all permitted you to possesse your Countrie and gaue you Kings of your owne nation and after all this wee kept your lawes inuiolate and suffered you to liue as your selues desired not onely in your owne Countrie but also amongst other nations and which is the greatest of all our benefits bestowed vpon you wee permitted you to gather tribute and gifts to the maintenance of your Temple and sacrifices to God of all which we neither forbad any to be brought vnto you neither hindered any that would offer vnto your Temple but suffered you our enemies to be made more rich then our selues so that you haue vsed our owne money against vs. Wherefore hauing receiued so many benefits at our hands you haue now disgorged your selues vpon vs and like spitefull Serpents spit your poyson vpon them that made much of you Let vs omit that by Nero his negligence you became forgetfull of your dutie and like some member in the bodie broken or shrunke you being still tumultuous at last were taken in a greater offence and were incouraged with immoderate desires to hope for vnlawfull libertie My father came into your Countrie not to punish you for your misdemeanour toward Cestius but by
their oths sake neither were they able to fight with the Romans being now as it were besieged round by them yet their accustomed murthers did encourage them to stand out Thus dispersed all ouer the Citie they lurked in the ruines lying in wait for those that sought to flie vnto the Romans and many of them were taken and all of them were slaine for famine had so weakned them that they could not flie and they cast their dead bodies vnto dogs And any death were easie in respect of famine So that many fled vnto the Romans hauing no promise no nor hope to be pardoned by them and vpon purpose fell into the hands of the seditious who neuer ceased from murther and now there was no place in the whole Citie voide but was filled with dead bodies who either perished by famine or sedition But the tyrants and factious theeues put their last refuge in the vaults where they hoped whatsoeuer hapned to saue themselues hoping that there they could not be found and so after the Citie was destroied to escape which was only their vaine phantasie For they could neither be hid from God nor the Romans yet at that time they trusted in those caues from whence they fired the Citie more then the Romans and cruelly murthered them that hauing escaped the flames came and fled into secret places and spoiled them also if they in any place found any meate though all bloudy yet they tooke it and did eate it and now one of them began to fight with an other about the spoile they gotte And I verily perswade my selfe that had they not beene preuented by the destruction of the Citie their crueltie would haue beene such that they would haue eaten the bodies of dead men CHAP. XV. How the higher part of the Citie was assaulted and how many Iewes fled vnto Titus Caesar perceiuing that the higher part of the Citie could not be woon without mounts being scituate in a soile round about the which were high and deepe places on the twentith day of August he set all his souldiers on worke and the carrying of wood for that purpose was verie painfull all trees within a hundreth furlongs off the Citie were already cut downe and vsed in the former worke as is before said So the foure legions raised a mount on the West side of the Citie and all the rest made a mount against the porch bridge and tower which Simon during his warres with Iohn had built About this time the captaines of the Idumaeans assembling togither deliberated to yeeld themselues and sent fiue of their companie vnto Titus beseeching him to confirme a peace vnto them and he hoping that the tyrants would yeeld after them who were the greatest part of his army with much ado granted them life and so sent them vnto their fellowes but Simon had notice of their departure and presently slew those fiue that were sent vnto Titus and taking the captaines the noblest of whom was Iames the son of Sosa he put them in prison and also kept and guarded the Idumaeans who now hauing no gouernours knew not what to do yet the guard could not hinder them from flying for although many of them were killed yet diuers fled and escaped and all were receiued by the Romans Titus curtesie being such as that he remembred not his former edict to the contrarie and now the souldiers hoping for gaine and hauing already gotten sufficient abstained from murthers for leauing onely the common people they solde the rest with their wiues and children for a small price many being exposed to sale and few comming to buy them so that he hauing made an edict that none should flie vnto him alone intending thereby to bring their families with them yet he now receiued them also appointing some to enquire who had deserued punishment and to inflict it on them And an infinite number was solde and more then fortie thousands of the people were saued whom the Emperour dismissed and permitted to go whither they pleased The same time a certaine priest the sonne of Thebathus named Iesus was promised pardon vpon condition that he should deliuer certaine holy things giuen vnto the temple and so he came and brought out of a wall two candlesticks like vnto them that were in the temple tables goblets cuppes all made of solide and massiue golde also the veile and the ornaments of the priests and the precious stones about them and many vessels made for sacrifice Moreouer the keeper of the holy treasure called Phineas brought forth the garments and all things that did belong vnto the priests and much purple and scarlet which were laid vp in store to make tapestrie or hangings amongst which also was some Cinamon Cassia and many other odoriferous things whereof were compounded sweet odors to be offered to God He also deliuered him much wealth of other mens and much sacred treasure for the which notwithstanding that he was taken by force yet he was pardoned as they were that fled vnto Caesar. CHAP. XVI How the rest of the Citie was taken THe seuenth day of September the mounts being finished which was the eighteenth day after they were begun some of the Romans placed theie rammes and engines to batter them some of the seditious who now despaired to keepe the citie left the wals and fled into Aâ—…a others hid themselues in certaine vaults and many hindred the Romans and resisted them for placing their rammes against the wals who were ouercome by them being both more in number then they were and also stronger and more valiant The Iewes being now all discouraged and sorrowfull so soone as any part of the wall was broken downe or shaken with the force of the rammâ—…s straight waies fled and now the tyrants were surprised with a greater feare then needed For euen before such time as the enemies had entred the wall they stood in doubt whether they might flie or no and they who a little before were proud and arrogant malefactors did now â—…emble and quake so that it was pitifull to see such a chaunge in them though they were wicked persons And they endeuored to assaile the vvall that Titus had built to compasse the whole citie vvithall but seeing themselues forsaken of all those that vvere vvont to be trustie vnto them euerie one fled vvhether necessitie did driue him Presently newes vvere brought them that all the west vvall of the citie was beaten downe others affirmed that the Romans had entred and that they had seene the enemies in the towers feare daseling their eies and prostrate vpon the ground they bewailed their misfortune and as though they had beene lame they stood still sought not to flie From vvhence one may chiefely perceiue Gods iustice towards the impious and the Romans fortune for the tyrants depriued themselues of their strong holds and voluntarily departed out of their towers vvherein they could neuer haue beene taken but
temples also some are desolate others newly erected as men pleased Whereas contrariwise they ought most constantly to keepe their opinion of God and his religion Appolonius Molon was one of these prowd fooles but those Grecians that followed true Philosophie knew all that is already said and the colde reasons of this allegorie and therefore did iustly despise them and agreed with vs in the true and decent opinion of gods nature Which Plato well seeing affirmeth that Poets are not to be permitted in a common wealth and sendeth Homer away verie honourably crowned and annointed least that he with fables should destroy or depraue the true opinion of God For Plato of all others especially imitated our law-maker as he did herein also commanding all his Citizens that all of them should perfectly learne his lawes and that for no casualtie any strange forraine custome should be admitted into their Citie but that their common wealth should be pure and they persist in the obseruation of their lawes But Appolonius Molon not respecting this inueigheth against vs for not receiuing into our societie men of strange opinions or religion whereas not onely we doe so but commonly all Greekes yea and the most prudent amongst them The Lacedemonians did expell all strangers and did not permit their Citizens to trauell into other countries fearing that by both these waies their lawes might be corrupted They therefore are to be spoken against rather then we seeing they neither admit strangers to conuerse with them nor to inhabite amongst them no nor impart their religion vnto them but we though not desirous to learne other nations religigion yet doe we not denie to impart ours to strangers that desire to embrace it which if I be not deceiued is a token of magnanimitie and clemencle in vs but this shall suffice concerning the Lacedemonians Apollonius was ignorant how matters stood with the Athenians who boast that their citie is free for all nations for they did most seuerely and without all mercy punish those that did but speak any word against their God For what was the cause of Socrates his death he neither betraied the city to enemies nor destroyed their temples but onely swore by a strange oath which as he said whether in iest or in earnest a diuell taught him and for this offence was he put to death by drinking hemlocke his accusers alledging that he corrupted young men and contemned the lawes and religion of his countrey And this Socrates sustained being a citizen of Athens Anaxagoras was of Clazomenia and for that he affirmed the sunne which the Athenians worshipped for God to be a fierie stone he was by the sentence of some few condemned to die They also proclaimed that whosoeuer would kill Diagoras of Melus should be rewarded with a talent for his labour onely for that this Diagoras was said to deride their misteries Protagoras also had beene by them taken and put to death had he not made quicke escape onely for that they supposed him to haue written certaine doubts of the Athenian Gods And what wonder is it that they so vsed these famous men who spared not to vse the like crueltie vpon women For they killed a priest for that some accused her to worship straunge Gods and their law appointed that who so did introduce straunge Gods into their citie should be punished with death It is therefore euident that they who enacted such streight lawes did not beleeue the Gods of other nations to be Gods for had they beleeued in them they would not haue depriued themselues of the benefit of many Gods The verie Scithians who delight in manslaughter so that they verie little differ from bruit beasts yet do they thinke themselues bound to maintaine their owne lawes as best so that they slew Anacharsis a famous Greeke that came vnto them onely for that he seemed to attribute too much vnto the Grecian Gods yea thou maist find many amongst the Persians who for this cause haue beene tortured And it is euident that Appolonius approued the Persian lawes for when the Greeks admited their fortitude and concord of opinions concerning God I meane the fortitude they shewed in the burning of their temples this Appolonius in all things imitated the Persians violating other mens wiues and putting out their childrens eies Whereas our lawes adiudge him to death that so vseth vnreasonable beasts And neither the feare and terrour of potentates nor the fauour of them whom all men reuerence could euer cause vs to forsake or abandon these lawes neither do we exercise fortitude to the end to depriue other men of their goods and fortunes by warre but to keepe our owne lawes and we who patiently put vp all other iniurie yet if any man do in our religion prouoke vs we presently seeke reuenge not respecting our owne abilitie yea though thereby we worke our owne vtter ruine and calamitie What therfore should moue vs to imitate the lawes of other nations when they that made those lawes yea euen the lawmakers themselues did transgresse them Or how can the Lacedemonians auoid reproch for their inhospitalitie neglecting mariage Or the Elians and Thebans for accompaning with men contrarie to the law of nature which fact most shamefull they deemed good necessary Yea not content to do so themselues they also ascribed the like vnto their gods to be done by them which the Greeks also now of late haue done for this cause they refused to marry with their own women iudging their satisfaction to be contrarie to the prescript of nature But I wil speak no more of punishment neither how great malefactors those first lawmakers freed from punishment being bribed with mony how vniust they were in the lawes appertaining to wedlock It is long to examine how great occasions of impietie they gaue For many haue alreadie long ago forsaken their lawes which cannot be said of vs who for our lawes haue suffered losse of our cities fortunes and liues we keeping and persisting in our lawes euen vnto death if any Iew be in a straunge countrey where there is a tyrant king yet doth not he so feare him that he would for his commaund any iot transgresse our lawes if therefore we do valorously endure thus much for our lawes all men must needs grant our lawes to be verie good but if they say we suffer all these calamities for to maintaine wicked or naughtie lawes what punishment are they not worthie of who hauing as they say better lawes then we do so easily forsake them whereas we do maintaine ours euen with our owne liues But seeing antiquitie of lawesis the greatest argument to prone their goodnes I will set downe of what antiquitie our lawes are together with our law-makers opinion of the Dietie if therefore any one compare our lawes with the lawes of all nations he shall find that ours are of more antiquitie then theirs
d. Queenes house or pallace 200. i k. Queene of Ethiopia looke Nicaule Queene Vasti refuseth to come to the banquet 277. a b. deposed ibid. c d. hard Questions dissolued 201 a b c. Questions of Artaxerxes 267. b. Quintilius Varus Gouernour of Syria 443. b. pacifieth the seditious 455. b. deliuereth the legion 457. c. assisteth the Romans 611. c. taketh Cities and Castles 611. c f. crucifieth the seditious 612. g. R Rachel daughter of Laban 23. a. bringeth Iacob to her father ibid. b c d. stealeth away her fathers gods 24. m. how she hid them 25. c. taught by Iacob to contemne them 24. m. dieth in childbed 27. c. Race of the Chanaanites to be rooted out 106. k. Race of Giants remained 109. c. Race of Achimelech murthered 149. d. Rage of Antiochus 802. k. Raguel a priest of Madian 45. c. father in law to Moses ib. c. commeth to Moses in Sinai 57. c f. Rahab hid the spies 101. b c. requireth of them an oath and why ibid. c d. her and all hers saued 102. l. Raigne of Dauid 189. c f. of Salomon 206. g of Iosaphat 226. k. of Herode 450. l. of Tiberius 618. h. of Caius 619. f. of Agrippa 620. l. of Claudius 622. g h. Railing of Goliah 142. h i k. Rainbow a signe of attonement 8. k. Raine foreprophecied 216. i. k. Raising of a dead man 236. m. a Ram offered in Isaacs steed 18. l. m. Ram an engine 653. d. described ibid. shaketh the tower 710. h. Rampierâ—… builded by the Romans 719. d. Rapines committed by day 673. a. Rapsaces chiestaine of the Assyrian armie 245. c. perswadeth lizechias to submit ibid. d c. Rasis warreth against Achaz 241. b. seazeth Elath ibid. b. slaine 242. g. Rational 64. k. Rauishment of Dina reuenged 27. a. punished 94. h. Rayment of Ioseph 31. f. a proofe against him 32. h. Rayment taken in warre 106. l. Reading of the law 274. l m. Reason described 800. m. hath dominion ouer passions ibid. k. Rebecca daughter of Bathuel 12. g. sister to Laban ibid. g. sheweth courtesie to Abrahams seruant 19. c. 20. g. procures his entertainement ibid. h i. maried to Isaac 20. k. brought forth two twins 21. a. her deuice for her sonne ibid. c. Rebellion of Chore 77. b. of Siba 181. c d. of the Antiochians 327. c d. of the Iewes against the Romanes 631. b. Rebellion of Scythians and Sarmates 749. c. Rebellious punished 80. g. Rebels kill an Embassador 637 d c. Rebels conquered 420. g. Reconciliation of Absalon 147. h i. of Herod and his sonnes 590. k l. of Pheroras with Herode 428. h. Records of the Greekes for the Iewes antiquitie 768. l. 769. c. Reformation of Gods seruice 243. b c. Religion contemned cause of calamitie 110. i k l. 111. c. 112. i. 113. c. see pietie contemned Religion renued 213. a. Religion of the Esseans 615. d. Reliques of Iupiter taken away 9. e. Remissenes in punishing cause of sinne 139. f. Renowne of Salomons vertues 202. c. Repairing of the Temple 235 c d. Repairing of the Citie Ierusalem 239. b. c. Repentance of the people 74. l. of Achab 217. l. of Dauid 171. a b. of Ioachas 236. i. Report of Iosephs death 662. g. Report of the behauiour of Samuels sonnes 130. l. Repose 3. e. Request of Ionathan 327. b. of the Iewes 612. l m. of the Romans to Caesar 703. c. Requitall of courtesie 20. g. 45. c. required 101. c. performed 102. l. Resolution of Iosephs brethren 29. d. Restitution of things borrowed 95. c. Restoring of God seruice 234. l. m. Returne of Iacobs sons 35. of the spies 73. f. 101. a. of Vespasian 746. h. Reuenues of Priests 81. c. of Mephiboseths lands 168. h i. Reuenues of Agrippa 511. c. of Archelaus 613. b. of Pheroras 592. l. Reuerence of the Sabboth 616. i. Reuerence of the Roman souldier 648. i k. Reuolt from the Iawes of the fathers 86. h. Reuolt of the ten Tribes 206. l. 207. a. Reuolt of the Germans 748. l. Reward of learned preachers 220. i. 253. d. Reward of valiant men 727. e f. Reward of such as keepe the law 794. l. Rewards oppresse Iustice 130. l. Riches of the Madianites 87. e f. of the Ainites 103. f. of Dauid 189. f. of Salomon 202. l m. 203. a b. 204. g h i. of Ozias 239. c. Riddle of Sampson propounded to the Thamnites 121. f. dissolued ibid. Ripping of womens wombes foretold 230. g. Riuer of Arnon 82. h i. Riuer Sabaticus 749. c. Robbers punished 406. l. Robberies in Trachona 406. i. winked at 623. d. Roboam entreated to ease the peoples burthen 206. deâ—…ied their petition ibid. l. abandoned of ten tribes 206. l. forbidden to make warre 207. a. builded strong cities 208. m. his wiues and children 209. a b. impietie ibid. maketh brasen shields â—…10 dieth ibid. h. Rocke veeldeth forth water 55. c. Road of the Philistines 150. h. Rod of Moses turned into a serpent 46. i. deuoureth the Egyptians rods 47. d. Rod of Aaron fructifieth 81. a. the Romans gouernment how farre it extended 649. a b. Romans ouercome the Iewes 569. b c e. sacke Iericho 579. b. get a great pray ibid. b. skirmish with the Iewes 610. i k. fire the porches ibid. k. haue subdued the Athenians c. 628. k. l. yea the whole world ibid. m. 629. a c flie into the kings forts 632. m. are slaine 633. d. burne Ioppe c 636. l. burne the temple gates 638. h. ouercome the Iewes 645. e f. retire without their purpose 656. g. enter Iotapata 657. e f. moued with no compassion 658. g. their warlike discipline 647. e f. 648. g. c. attempt nothing rashly ibid. l m. 669. a. driue the Iewes to their ships 663. c d. assault Gamala 667. f. 668 b c. many slaine 668. h. winne Gamala 670. 〈◊〉 i. fight with the Iewes 701. c. their feare and trouble ibid. c. ouercome the seditiouâ—… 709 a. get the first wall 711. b. driuen out by the Iewes 713. a hindred by the Iewes 714. h. plant their courts of guard 721. c. feare the desperatenes of the Iewes 726. h. vndermine the wall 726. m. inuade Antonia 728. k. set Ierusalem on fire 741. b. enter Ierusalem 743. d. finde treasure in the vaults 744. l ruinate Citie and Temple 745. c. dining Roume fell downe 581. c. Ruben the sonne of Iacob 24. i. why so called ibid. his sonnes 39. c. his disswasion 29. d e. and his perswasion 30. b. intended to saue Ioseph 30. i. pleadeth before Ioseph 34. m. 35. a. Rue of admirable greatnes 752. k. Ruine of the Israelites sought 41. c d. Ruine of the Amalechites foretold 47. d. Rulers of Ierusalem 639. d. Rumor of Herods death 387. d. Rumor of the Emperour 478. h. 497. d. Ruth her loue to Naomi 124. g. maried to Booz ibid. l. m. 125. a. S Saba chiefe Citie of Ethiopia 44. l. called Meroe and why ibid. l. Sabach and Nephanus Dauids captaines
after Christs birth 71. Caecinna is apprehended for treason Vespasian honours Caecinna with vnexpected honors is acquâ—…ed of treasoâ—… Sabinus taketh the capitol anâ—… leaueth Vitellius Vitellius slaine The people of Rome proclaime Vespasian Emperour Titusrepaireth to Ierusalem Titus commeth to Caesarea and gethereth his forces there The yeâ—…re of thâ—… world 4034. after Christs birth 72. A three fold sedition in Ierusalem The yeare of the world 4034. after Christs birth 72. The fight betweene Iohn and Eleazar Simon Iohn skirmish in the temple Great slaughter in the temple Iohn assaulted on both sides They of Ierusalem had well nie burnt all their Corne. A wretched calamitie in Ierusalem The yeare of â—…he world 4034. after the 〈◊〉 of Câ—…st 7â—… Lamentation and mouâ—…ng in 〈◊〉 The crueltie of the sedâ—… in Ierâ—…alem Iohn made vse of the wood that was kept for holy vses to make engines of The order of Titus army Tiâ—…us coÌ„meth to Iudaea The yeare of the â—…ld 4034 aftâ—… Câ—… birth 7â—… Titus repaireth to Ierusalem to found the dispositioÌ„s of the people Titus in danger Titus fighteth valiantly with his enemies Titus putteth his enemies to flight and returneth in safetie to his camp Titus campe was 7. stades off the Citie The seditious agree among themselâ—…es The yeare of the world 4034. after Christs birth 72. The citizens assaile the Romans The Iewes driue the Romans froÌ„ their campe The fight of the Iewes with the Romans The Romans are dispersed by the Iewes and driuen to the mountaine Titus valour against the Iewes Feare and trouble among the Romans The Iewes fight in their retreat and are driuen into the valley The yeare of the world 4034. after Christs birth 72. Iohn entreth and seaseth the inward temple and all the furniture therof putteth the Zealous to flight and raiseth a mightie sedition A threefold sedition deuided into two parts Whatsoeuer abouâ—…â—…alem 〈◊〉 hollow or troubled withâ—… vallies is filled vp The alacritie of the souldiers among the Romans contrary to Titus 〈◊〉 The yearâ—… of thâ—… world 4034. after Christs birth 72. The victorie of the Iewes Caesars sharpe Oration to his souldiers The Romane souldiers beseech Titus for their fellowes in armes How and in what places Titus befieged Ierusalem The treble wall of Ierusalem The Castle of Dauid Acra sustaineth the lower part of the Citie The yeere of the world 4034 after Christs birth 7â—… The fountaine Siloa The older wall The second wall The third wall â—…ezetha the fourth hill Agrippas cost in building the wall The third wall had 50. towers Psephina was seuentie cubits hie Herod called three towers by the names of three his most deerest friends The yeare of the world 4034. after the birth of Christ. 72. Hippico 85. cuâ—…its high Phasaelus 90. cubits higâ—… Mariamme a goodly tower 55. cubits high The kings pallace The kings pallace burnt by the theeues and rebels The temple builded vpon a most strong hill All the sacred treasures spent in the building of the temple The yeare of the world 4034 after Christs birth 72. The porches were builded of white marble stone sustained by pillars A peculiar place destinated for women for religion sake Some of the gates were of gold some of siluer and one of Corinthian brasse The sacred sanctuaâ—…ie The yeare of the world 4034. after Christs birth 72. The Babylonian vaile of admirable workmanship The signification of the vaile Three admible works The candlesticke the table and censor The outward court of the temple couered with many plates of gold The priests in the old testament abstained from wine and were sober The hie priests garment The yeere of the world 4034. after Christs birth 72. The precious stones in the high priests garment The description of Antonia Antonia not much vnlike the citie Fifteene thousand follow Simon Simons campe against Iohn The yeere of thâ—… world 4034. after Christs birth 72. The sedition tooke the City and the Romans ouercame tooke the sedition Titus circuring the wall seeketh which way he should attempt his batterie Nicanor is wounded with an arrow in the left shoulder The darts did the Iewes little good because they were not expert in vsing them The yeare of the world 4034. after Christs birth 72. â—…tus comman deth the wall to be battered in three places The seditious forgetting their haâ—…ed and discords ioyne in one The ramme shaketh a corner of a tower Titus putteth the Iewes to flight and driueth them into the Citie Iohn Captaine of the Idumaeans by the shot of an arrow that woundeth him in the brest dieth The yeare of the world 4034. after the birth of Christ. 71. Nicon that is to say Vistor the Romans great ramme The Romans get the first wall The Iewes conflict with the Romans The Iewes boldnesse The custome of the Romans to conquer Longinus breaketh into the midst of the Iewes army and disturbeth it The yeare of the world 4034 after Christs birth 72. Castor a subtill and politique Iewe. Mercie in wars hurtfull Titus taketh the second wall The yeere of thâ—… world 4034. after Christs birth 72. They interpret war like Titus humanity for cowardize The Romans are driuen out by the Iewes The Iewes courage increaseth The people in want and many die for hunger Titus once more getteâ—… the second wal Titus surceasing the siege commaundeth money to be distributed to all his soldiers The yeere of the world 4034. after Christs birth 72. Destinie had decreed that the innocent should perish with the nocent and the citie with the seditious The Romans in their labour are hindred by the Iewes Titus bountie towards the Iewes Iosephs Oration the Iewess Fortune and God for the Romans Famine in the Citie The yeare of the world 4034. after Christs birth 72. The Emperor striueth to bee at peace with the Romans Ioseph tippeth vp the ancient Histories and some â—…aine Nechias a king of Egypt The Hebrewes vnder the tyrannie of Egypt foure hun dreth yeeres The sacred Arke taken away by the Assirians and restored to the Iewes Senacherib king of Assyria The captiuitie of Babylon The destruction of IerusaleÌ„ by the King of Babylon Iosephs bitter inuectiue against them The yeere of the world 4034 after Christs birth 72. The Iewes sins against the lawes The Romans vse the same maner of ouerthrow against the Iewes as the Assyrians did God knoweth when to reuenge The fountains that before time were dâ—…y now flow to Titus God is wont to shew mercie to those who con fesse and be penitent The yeare of the world 4034. after the birth of Christ. 72. Iosephs loue and constancie towards his countrey The people flie with their money A wonderfull famine in the Citie The argument of store of meat A miserable kind of liuing and a spectacle of great compassion The souldiers enter the houses take the meat vnchueÌ„d out of the Citizens mouths The yeare of the world 4034 after Christs birth 72. The honorable and rich are drawne before the tyrants The
The next day assembling the Iewes he commanded them to demaund certaine fauours at his hands whereupon the high priest answered that he required the exercises of the ordinances of their forefathers and that euerie seuenth yeere they might be exempted from tributes Which was granted them fully They besought him likewise that by his permission the Iewes that were in the countries of Babylon and Media might liue according to their lawes And he promised them willingly to doe all that which they desired He made proclamation also among the people that if any one of them would beare armes with him in liuing according to the custome of their nation he was ready to receiue them with him and diuers tooke pleasure to serue vnder him in the warres After that Alexander had in this sort demeaned himselfe in Ierusalem he marched with his arm against the neighbouring Cities and wheresoeuer he went he was receiued with great affection But the Samaritanes whose Metropolitane Citie at that time was Sichem scituate neere vnto the mountaine of Garizim in which there dwelt diuers Iewes also that were reuolted from their nation seeing how magnificently Alexander had entertained the Iewes they resolued to demeane themselues like Iewes For such is the nature of Samaritanes as we haue declared heretofore that when the Iewes are in affliction they deny all acquaintance with them wherein they confesse the truth but when they perceiue any beame of good aduenture shining vpon them sodainly they vaunt of their alliance saying they are neere akin and of the race of Ephraim and Manasses the sonnes of Ioseph They came therefore to the kings presence and met him neere vnto Ierusalem with great magnificence and demonstration of singular affection towards him And after that Alexander had entertained them they of Sichem approched neere vnto him being accompanied with those men of war that Sanaballath had sent vnto the king beseeching him that he would visit their Citie and honour their temple with his presence whereupon he promised that at his returne hee would visit them They required him also that hee would acquite them of the tribute of the seuenth yeere because they did not sowe in the same He asked them who they were that made that request They answered him that they were Hebrewes but that they were called Sichemites by the Sidonians He asked them againe if they were Iewes and they said they were not Well said he I haue made this grant vnto the Iewes when as therefore I shall returne if I be more particularly informed I shall doe that which shall be held requisite Thus dismissed he the Sichemites but he commanded Sanaballaths men of warre to follow him into Aegypt promising in that place to impart possessions vnto them by lot which afterwards he did enioyning them to liue in garrison in the Citie of Thebais to make good that countrey After Alexanders death his Empire was deuided amongst his successors the temple builded neere vnto the mount Garizim remained intire And if any one were accused in Ierusalē for eating vnlawful meats or for transgressing the Saboth or for any such like fault he fled vnto the Sichemites saying that he was accused vniustly In that time deceased the hie priest Iaddus and Onias his sonne succeeded him This was the estate of them of Ierusalem at that time THE XII BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 12. booke 1 Ptolomey the sonne of Lagus is made lord of Ierusalem and the rest of Iudaea by a stratageme and leadeth diuers Iewes with him prisoners into Aegypt 2 Ptolomey Philadelphus translateth the lawes of the Iewes into the Greeke tongue and dismissing diuers captiues of that nation he dedicateth many presents in the temple of God 3 In what estimation the Iewes were with the Kings of Asia and how the freedome of those Cities they built was granted them 4 Ioseph the sonne of Tobias driueth away the Iewes imminent calamitie by reason of his friendship with king Ptolomey 5 The frienship and societie betweene the Lacedemonians and Onias the high Priest of the Iewes 6 The Iewes distracted by seditions call Antiochus to their assistance 7 How Antiochus leading his army to Ierusalem and possessing the Citie spoiled the Temple 8 Antiochus forbidding the Iewes to vse the lawes of their forefathers only the sonne of Asmonaeus called Matthias contemned the king and put his captaines to flight 9 Matthias being dead Iudas his sonne succeeded him 10 Appollonius a captaine of Antiochus is ouercome in Iewry and slaine 11 The ouerthrow and death of Lysias and Gorgias sent out against the Iewes 12 How deuiding their armies Simon ouercame the Tyrians and Ptolemaidans and Iudas the Ammonites 13 The death of Antiochus Epiphanes among the Persians 14 Antiochus Eupator ouerthrowing the army of the Iewes besiegeth Iudas in the temple 15 Antiochus giuing ouer his siege plighteth a league of friendship with Iudas 16 Bacchides a captaine belonging to Demetrius being sent with his army against the Iewes returneth backe to the King without the dispatch of his businesse 17 Nicanor elected captaine after Bacchides and sent out against the Iewes is slaine with his whole army 18 Bacchides sent out once more against the Iewes ouercommeth them 19 How Iudas being ouercome in battell is slaine CHAP. I. Ptolomey the sonne of Lagus ouercommeth and surpriseth both Ierusalem and Iudaea by a stratageme and leadeth away diuers of the Iewes prisoners into Aegypt ALexander King of Macedon hauing ouercome the Persians and established the estate of the Iewes according as it hath beene spoken he departed this life Wherupon his dominions and kingdomes fell into diuers mens hands Antigonus was lord of Asia Seleucus of Babylon and the bordering nations Lysimachus had Hellespont Cassander Macedon and Ptolomey the sonne of Lagus held Aegypt Now when as these men were at discord amongst themselues whilest each of them affected the soueraigntie fought the one with the other diuers great and continuall warres grew to head which afflicted many Cities whereby it came to passe that many of the inhabitants thereof died in fight and all Syria likewise vnder Ptolomey the sonne of Lagus who beyond his merit was called Soter that is as much to say as a Sauiour liued in little safetie He it was that seazed Ierusalem by a stratageme and pollicie for he entred the Citie vpon a Saboth day vnder pretext to offer sacrifice and whilest the Iewes suspected nothing but spent the day in idlenesse and quiet he surprised the Citie without resist and ouerpressed the Citizens with hatefull captiuitie Agatharchides the Cnidian who wrote the actes of Alexanders successors witnesseth no lesse reproching vs of superstition as if intending thereby that by that meanes we lost our Citie He writeth to this effect There is a certaine nation which are called Iewes who inhabite a citie which is called Ierusalem both strong and mighty They suffered it to
fall into Ptolomeies hands because they would not stand vpon their guard and thorow their importunate superstition they permitted themselues to be subdued by a tyrant conqueror See here what Agatharchides saith in this place of our nation But Ptolomey leading away with him diuers prisoners of the better quarters of Iudaea and the places neere vnto Ierusalem of Samaria and mount Garizim sent them into Aegypt to inhabite there and being assured that those of Ierusalem were most firme in maintaining their oaths and promises according as it appeared by their answere made to Alexander when as after the discomfiture of Darius he sent Embassadors vnto them he put diuers of them into his garrisons giuing them the same priuiledges in the city of Alexandria which the Macedonians had After he had receiued their oath that they should be faithfull vnto his successors in memorie of the great trust and fauours he had bestowed on them many of the other Iewes likewise of their owne accord went into Aegypt partly allured thereunto by the plenty of the countrey partly by the liberality of Ptolomey towards their nation Yet were there continuall seditions betwixt their posteritie and the Samaritanes for that they would keepe and maintaine the customes and ordinances of their forefathers whereupon diuers wars arose amongst them For they of Ierusalem said that their temple was the true sanctuarie of God and would that the offrings and sacrifices should be sent thither the Samaritanes contrariwise commanded them to be brought to the mount Garizim CHAP. II. Ptolomey Philadelphus causeth the lawes of the Iewes to be translated into the Greeke tongue and dismissing many captiue Iewes dedicateth many presents in the temple of God AFter him Philadelphus succeeded in the kingdom of Aegypt and held it for nine thirty yeers space He it was that translated the law into the Greeke tongue and deliuered the Iewes from that seruitude wherein they were enthralled in Aegypt to the number of sixscore thousand vpon the occasion that ensueth Demetrius Phalereus master of the kings librarie endeuoured to his vttermost to gather vp all sorts of bookes that were in the world and bought all that which was agreeable to the kings intent who aboue all things was curious to assemble diuersitie of bookes He being one day demaunded by the king how many thousands of volumes he had already gathered he answered him that he had already assembled about some two hundreth thousand volumes but that shortly he would gather to the number of fiue hundreth thousand Besides he certified him that he had been lately aduertised that there were diuers volumes among the Iewes wherein many things as touching their lawes and pollicies were written which were worthy of note and deserued to be put in so memorable and famous a librarie as his was which being written and set downe in the Hebrew tongue were very laborious and difficult to those that should attempt to translate them into the Greeke tongue For their characters seeme to haue some reference to the Syriacke and their pronunciation likewise not much dissonant from the same and notwithstanding they haue their phrase proper and peculiar vnto themselues For which cause there was no impediment but that they might be translated for the king defraying the charge might easily cause it to be done to the end that being faithfully translated they might be afterwards placed in his librarie Hereupon the king praising Demetrius care in collecting and gathering bookes wrote vnto the high Priest of the Iewes commanding that this translation might be finished In the meane time a certaine man called Aristaeus who was intirely beloued and befriended by the king by reason of his modestie and had diuers times before that present resolued with himselfe to sollicite the King to dismisse all the Iewes that were in his kingdome supposing that at that instant he had fit opportunitie offered him to make his request he spake vnto Sosibius the Tarentine and Andrew the chiefe captains of the kings guard beseeching them to fauour him in that which he intended to moue the king in Hauing therefore sounded the affections of these noble men he addressed himselfe vnto the king and spake vnto him after this manner Since my soueraigne it behooueth vs not to deceiue our selues by dissimulation but it necessarily importeth vs to discouer the truth whereas we haue concluded with our selues not onely to transcript but also to translate the lawes of the Iewes the rather to performe some acceptable seruice to your grace what honest pretext is there left for vs to attaine thereunto as long as there are so great a number of Iewes kept in thraldome in thy kingdome You shall therefore doe a worke answerable to the greatnes of your courage and benignitie if you deliuer them from their miserie considering that he who gaue them their lawes is God who gouerneth your kingdome as by diligent inquisition I haue certainly apprehended for both they and wee adore one God creator of all things whom we call by the name of Iupiter forasmuch as he maintaineth our life and the liues of all men For that honour therefore which you owe vnto God send backe these people into their countrey and permit them to inhabite the same who amongst al men are most singularly affected to their religion Neither hath your Grace occasion to suspect that I offer these supplications and praiers vnto you in their fauour and for their profit because I am either allied or descended of any of their tribes But whereas there is but one God who is the maker of all men and I my selfe am assured that he taketh pleasure in those men that addict themselues to beneficence this is the onely cause that induceth me to make this request vnto you When Aristaeus had ended this discourse of his the king beholding him with a cheereful and pleasant countenance asked him how many thousands he thought they were whose liberty he required Andrew being hard at hand answered that there were more then one hundreth and twentie thousand Wherupon the king replied is this demaund Aristaeus a matter of small consequence which thou requirest Sosibius and the other assistants answered that this reacknowledgement which he made vnto God who had giuen him the kingdome was worthie the greatnes of his courage so that reioycing at this their content he charged them at such time as they deliuered the men of warre their pay they should ouer and aboue the same pay euery one of them that had prisoners with them sixe score drachmes and as touching the request made by them he promised them to dispatch his letters pattents in most ample manner to bring a happie issue to Aristaeus suite or rather to satisfie the will of God which was especially to be respected Whereunto conforming himselfe he sent out his proclamation certifying thereby that he not onely set them at libertie who had beene brought thither by his father or those of his army who attended him but