stones And another like chance hapned A stone came and hit one of Josephs men of war a valiant man in such sort that it divided his head from his body and made it fly a large mile off At the same time one of the Roman souldiers devised with himself how to hit Joseph with a venomed arrow and gat him under a wall where Joseph was to accomplish his purpose but Joseph espied him and cryed to him Hold thy hand thou wicked fellow and do not kill me With that the fellow started somewhat aside being afraid at Josephs voice and suddenly the Jews out of the Town poured hot Oyl upon him from the wall and his skin was scalded off and he ran away naked howling and yelling to the Romans Camp where he died Vespasian and his son Titus were fully determined to continue the assault until the 47. day notwithstanding the walls were so high that they could not win the Town Yet at length the men were so spent within the Town that they that remained alive were so wearied with toyling that they were not able any longer to furnish theirwatch upon the wall This upon a certain night Vespasian and Titus understanding scaled the walls at a quarter where watchmen were lacking and after them many more of the Roman souldiers followed which went down on the inside and brake open the great gate of the Town whereat entred the whole Army of the Romans And being within the Town sounded their Trumpets and shouted to battel The Jews with the alarum tumult and hurly burly of the Romans awaked out of their sleep and were sore afraid Notwithstanding every man took him to his weapon and drew to the Market-place as fast as they might They had made the Market-place of the Town so large of purpose that if any businesse should happen there might come together the whole City if they would and as they looked about them they saw the Roman Army entring in at the Town by the way that came from the great gate Then fought they with the Romans and divided even in the Market-place where they stood exhorting one another and saying Let us die here fighting and never suffer our selves to be taken alive But Joseph and forty men with him worthy men all fled away into a wood where they found a â—…ain Cave and hid themselves therein All the 〈◊〉 of the Citizens were slain in that conflict for they would not yield nor commit themselves to the Romans they trusted them so little For on a time a certain Jew besought a Roman souldier to save his life and the Roman sware unto him saying God deal thus and thus with me if I slay thee therefore yield and come hither to me The Jew required him to give his right hand that he might trust him and the Roman reached him his left hand The Jew being dismayed in that great fear mark't not that it was his left hand But when the Roman had once hold of him he kept him fast with that hand and with his right took his sword slew the Jew that then was naked having cast away his weapon upon trust of the Roman When the Jews saw how the Roman regarded not his oath but slew the Jew that upon the trust of his promise and oath had yielded himself unto him they determined to die altogether and never to trust the Romans Whereupon they resolved with themselves utterly to die for the holinesse of the Lord God of Israel but in so doing they slew much people of the Romans and far more than they had done in any other battel yet at length the City was taken When Vespasian had knowledge where Joseph and his company was he sent Nicanor Pilerinus and Callicanus with him to Joseph to will him to come forth and he should have his life and not be slain upon that Joseph debated the matter with them that were with him in the Den requiring their advice For my part saith he if ye will follow my counsel I think it best we go unto them but upon this condition That they will make us a formal assurance of our lives effectually as we shall require them which done I doubt not but Vespasian when we come unto him will extend his favour towards us When these men perceived Joseph to be inclined to yield unto the Romans they said We marvel at thee O Prince Joseph at thee we say that wast chosen out of thousands of people and promoted to the Priesthood and Kingdom to sanctifie and hallow the Lord God of Israel who wast also appointed Captain General of so great an host and hast seen with thine eyes the shameful reproach of thy people with the displeasures and damages of thy Sheep that thou hast yet any desire to live in this dishonour What seest thou that thou wouldest desire to live Should'st thou not rather desire death than life Peradventure thou perswadest thy self that they call unto thee to save thy life or for thy commodity but without doubt this were a vain perswasion For they call thee for none other intent than to take thee alive and to brag how they took Joseph that was consecrated and addicted to the Wars and make it an argument that their power prospereth Now therefore our dear Brother and our Prince consider that this they will do yea if they save thy life But put the case they put thee to death Were it not better for thee to die on thine own sword than on theirs yea if it were for nothing but this it is better for thee to die than live lest thou should'st hear their reproaches their upbraidings and their quarrellings and if they preserve thee alive never think they do it for thy good but rather for thy ignominy and shame which is far more grievous than death it self Wherefore our dear Brother and our Prince What comes in thy mind that thou purposest to live after that thou hast lost thy people and thy brethren And to what purpose serveth thy life after they be 〈◊〉 one Mark diligently what Moses of worthy memory our Master did how he spake before God touching the people of Israel O pardon their sins saith he or else blot me quite out of thy book whiâ—…h thou hast written He would not live after the destruction of his people although the Almighty said unto him Let me alone that I may wreak mine anger upon them and consume them Why dost thou not call unto thy remembrance Aaron his brother that went betwixt life and death in withstanding the Angel that plagued the people and offered himself to die for his people that the plague might cease from Israel Where is King Saul and his son Jonathan that foughtfor the people of God and died in the field Could not Saul have saved his life and his sons both if he had been so disposed But he when he saw Israel had the overthrow in the battel he had no desire to live longer but chose to die rather than to
unto the Sages whom his father and grandfather slew and the injury commiâ—…ted to Honyauriga might return upon his head and be reyenged so that no remnant of the house of 〈◊〉 no name no residue no kinsman oâ—… posterity should be left alive Hircanus therefore took his journey toward Jerusalem and Herod came forth to meet him eâ—…mbraced him aâ—…d kissed him after brought him to his house and feasted him daâ—…y calling him his father before all men albeit in his heart he conspired to kill him which Alexandra his daughter and Mother in law to Herod knew well enough who opened it unto Hircanus but he would not credit her at the first till on a time he perceived the matter clear to be so then devised he how to flye to Maloc King of Arabia he sent therefore to Maloc to send him horses and a Chariot to flye withall but the Messenger dealt unfaithfully and lewdly with him for he brought Hircanus letters privily unto Herod who rewarded him well for his labour and bad him go to Maloc and to let him know what answer Maloc gave The Messenger upon this went and delivered the letters to Maloc who fulfilled Hircanus request sent him horses and a Charlot writing in this sort I have sent thee horses and horsemen come therefore unto me and whatsoever thy heart desireth I will do it for thy sake So the Messenger brought the answer secretly to Herod whereupon he sent straight to the place in which he understood Malocs men to lurk waiting for Hircanus and caused to apprehend them alive Then Herod commanded to call together the Elders before whom he willed also Hircanus to be brought and of him the King demanded tell me whither thou hast written any letter to Maloc King of Arabia he answered I writ none Then was Ristius the Messenger brought in as his acuser and the men of war also of Arabia that were apprehended who declared the whole matter before the Council so that Hircanus was quite dashed Then the King commanded him to be put to death and so was the kingdom established unto Herod The time that Hircanus raigned was 40. years and 6. moneths After the death of his mother he raigned 3. years and Aristobulus his brother removed him making him Priest Again 3. years after he returned to his kingdom and raigned 40. years Then Antigonus son of Aristobulus deposed him cutting off his ear and banished him out of the holy City So after when Herod his servant came to the kingdom he returned to Jerusalem and Herod shed his blood guiltless yet notwithstanding he had delivereâ—… Herod from the hands of the Elders who would have put him to death for the death of Hizkias From that time Hircanus wrought no evil in the sight of the Lord nor offended him in any great matter save only in this that he bare too much with Herod in shedding the innocent blood wherefore his own life went for the other Therefore happy is he that never forgetteth any part of his duty Marimi the daughter of Alexander the son of Aristobulus the Wife of Herod had a brother whose name was Aristobulus him Herod would in no wise promote to the high Priesthood because he feared the children of Chasmonany although his wife made earnest suite and lay sore upon him for the matter But the King made high Priest one that was nothing of the kindred of Chasmonany whose name was Haniel Notwithstanding when he had once dispatched Hircanus his wives Progenitors father of Alexandra his mother in law then he deposed Haniel the high Priest and preferred his wifes brother Aristobulus to the dignity who although he were but a child yet he was wise and of good understanding and beautifull withall so that in all Israel was not a goodlier nor hansomer young man than he was And this Haniel was the first that ever was deposed from that office of the high priest-hood for never did King of Israel attempt the like afore Herod who did this to quiet his wife and to fulfill his mother in laws mind notwithstanding this Alexandra his wives mother was not content nor satisfied for the death of her Father was such a grief but alwaies spake snappishly to the King that he committed her to ward Then she writ to Cleopatra Queen of Egypt wife unto M. Antonius a Noble man of Rome declaring unto her all the mischief that Herod had done to the posterity of Chasmonany and desiring of her aid to whom Cleopatra made this answer if thou canst find the means to come to me secretly thou shalt perceive what I shall do for thee When Alexandra had read the Letter she sent to Aristobulus her son the high Priest shewing him that she would flye to the Sea Japho and from thence would take shipping into Egypt perswading him also to flye with her We will saith she make two Coffers one for me and another for thee and we will with rewards allure our Servants to carry out us privily whereby we may flye to save our lives This their device was perceived of one of Herods Servants who forthwith made the King privy unto it The King commanded his Servant that bewrayed them that when they did convey the Coffers they should bring them to him which the servant did So when the Coffers were brought to the Kings presence he caused them to be opened and took out Alexandra and her son Aristobulus to whom the King spake sharply and rebuked them sore But Alexandera answered him again as short insomuch that the King moved with anger flung away from her into his chamber saying It is better to fit solitary in a corner of the house than with a brawling and scolding woman in an open place The King dissembled the matter and shewed no great displeasure a year after As Aristobulus the high Priest apparralled in his Pontificial vestures stood in the temple nigh unto the Altar to offer sacrifices the Israelits beheld his beauty his wisdom and behaviour in the ministery whereat every man rejoyced praising God that had not taken all away but left one to revenge the injuries done to the house of Chasmonany The King hearing this was sore afraid and not a little displeased thinking to himself the Israelits would restore the Kingdom of their fathers unto him He perceived every mans heart to be enclined towards him Wherefore he deliberated a while and in the feast of the Tabernacles he removed to Jericho with all his houshold whereas he made a great feast to all his nobles and servants placing them every one after hiâ—… degree before him Aristobulus the high Priest he seâ—… upon the right hand And as they eat drank and made merry certain of the Kings servants were disposed to go swim in Jordan To these the King had given secret commandment that they should desire Aristobulus to go and bath with them in Jordan and then to drown him So when they were going they came to Aristobulus and moved him to keep them
live and would not be separated from his brethren neither in life nor death as well he as Jonathan his son these were dearly beloved and most amiable men as the Scripture termeth them Why doest thou not remember our dear Prince the righteousnesse of David the anointed of the Lord who seeing a most grievous pestilence to rage upon the people of Israel said Let thy hand O Lord I beseech thee be turn'd upon me and my fathers house For I am he that have sinned I have transgressed as for these thy sheep What have they done What have they offended Where is the holy Law smothered and stifled in thy heart Art not thou an anointed Priest that hast declared and taught us the Holy Law whereby we might learn how to love our Lord GOD with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength If it be so that the service of God consists not in this that we should love him whom he loveth and die for his Covenant and Sanctuary together with his servants that be slain for the unity of the name of the Lord wherein standeth it then Hast not thou oft-times taught and proved unto us how that every man that dieth in the wars for the Lord his Sanctuary his people and his Law he is to be counted in the Lords lot and made worthy to go unto the great Light and shall not see everlasting darknesse Art not thou that Joseph the Priest that hast cryed so often in battel I am Joseph the Priest consecrated to battel that have vowed my life for the people of the Lord his Sanctuary and his Land But now when thou hast yielded thy self unto them and they order thee despitefully What wilt thou say unto them or what amends canst thou have at their hands I put the case they cast in thy teeth and say thy words be lyes How shalt thou avoid the reproach Art thou not he that said'st that we should fight for the people of God until we die in the conflict and in so doing death should be ransome for our sins and that we were sure to go to that great Light that is the light of life Which if it be true according as thou hast said Why then wilt thou shun death and not follow thy people that are gone before thee to that same light Ever hitherto thou hast had the upper hand wheresoever thou cam'st insomuch that they that heard of thee trembled for fear and now wilt thou yield thy life to captivity to the Romans as a vile slave Shall not this thy dishonour redound also to the people of God Thou art a Prince a King and a Priest Wilt thou be bound in chains Every man shall say This is he that gave his souldiers and the rest of the people to die but saved himself and his own life So when they had made an end of talk each man drew out his sword and came to him in the midst of the Cave saying Hearest thou Joseph our Prince if thou wilt be ruled by us first we shall slay thee as a Lord and a great Prince and thou shalt chuse what death thou wilt die that thou mayest die honourably But if thou refuse to die honestly assure thy self of this we will every man set upon thee and kill thee Joseph answered Indeed I know my brethren that your words are just and true For who is so mad to desire to live in this hurly burly and would God that he would call my soul unto him and receive it unto him also For I am not ignorant that it were more expedient for me to die then to live for the great troubles that have passed through my heart but he knoweth the secrets of mens hearts and it is he that giveth life unto men It is our GOD that closeth souls within the bodies and letteth them out again because he is the living God in whose hands remain the souls and spirits of all living creatures He hath left with us the spirit of life and closed it up within our bodies What is he that will open that he hath shut How shall we loose that he would have knit fast within us Do ye not all know how the life is a thing that he hath left us to keep and that we are his servants If then we cast away life before that God take it Shall he not worthily be displeased with us so that we shall not find life in the place of the living with Abraham our father of famous memory and with those just and godly men our forefathers Do ye not know that they went not unto God before they were called and when they were called they came and so dealt God with all the holy and godly men To Moses our Master of worthy memory the elect of God ye know that the Lord God of Israel said Get thee upon this mountain Abiram and so he did but he would not have done it of himself had not God called him whereby ye may see it is not lawful for a man to surrender his life unto the Living GOD except he require it again Take example I pray you of Job what time he curst the day that he was born in Might he not either have hanged himself or have run upon a knife or at the least have followed his wife's counsel to curse God and die Notwithstanding he abode patiently in most extream pain waiting till God demanded again his life and then restored it unto his Lord God and would not restore it undemanded but tarried till his appointed time came King David also of famous memory said Lead thou my life out of this pinfold and prison For he knew that the life was inclosed in the body and that none might let it forth but God I wot well that death is a great commodity so that the soul may return in his due time unto God that gave it us I know it also That he that dieth in the Wars of the Lord he shall come to the great Light But I know not what can appease Gods wrath towards the soul of that man that killeth himself and maketh haste to restore his soul before his time and without the Lords calling Wherefore my friends and my brethren I would ye should know it I am no more coward than you and I do not disagree with you because I am of a faint heart for fear of these present calamities but this I know I should commit a hainous offence against the Lord if I should kill my self And how say ye you Princes that stick unto your God to you I speak Tell me who shall make intercession unto God for us if we should commit this sin and each kill one another Would not a man judge him a slave a fool a froward person a rebel and a desperate man that should be forced with any misery to be so mad that because all things fall not out as he would wish would therefore hang or desperately murder himself with his
own hand Such ye know the law thus punisheth Their right hand is cut off wherewith they forced themselves to die then they are left unburied as men that have destroyed their own souls By what reason then shall we kill our selves I would wish that we might be slain of our enemies rather than we should so shamefully murder ourselves whereby ever after we should be taken for man-slayers If any man kill himself as Saul whom he commended without doubt he committeth a haynous crime and such a one as no satisfaction can be made for Besides that he shall be reckoned faint-hearted and as one that despaireth of his recovery wherefore our fore-fathers have taught us A man ought not to despair of his safegard and deliverance which cometh of God no not when the knife is put to his throat to cut it For King Hezekiah of famous memory when he heard these words of Esaias that worthy Prophet Make thy Will and set thy things in order for thou shalt die and not escape Neverthelesse he fainted not nor ceased not to pray to God for the prolonging of his life in theworld that he might amend his life and send a better soul unto God Then the Lord God of Israel seeing his unwearied and strong hope with his repentance suffered him to live fifteen years longer But as for Saul he was not appointed King over Israel after the Lords mind but only by the people that craved of Samuel Give us a King to rule over us whereupon afterward God departed from Saul for he was not obedient to Gods will but went about by force to establish his kingdom The Lord then seeing the wickednesse of his heart gave him over and chose him another to be King over his people anointing David his servant whiles Saul was yet living which Saul perceiving persecuted David and laboured with all his endeavour to destroy him because he knew God was with him and prospered all that he did whereas contrarily all went backward with himself For these causes I say he chose rather to die than live he also would not live after the people of Israel were overthrown in the Mountains of Gilboa And in mine opinion he slew himself for nothing but because he was a faint-hearted coward and utterly despaired of his safegard For although he said Lest these uncircumcised come and run me through Yet if he had been of aâ—…valiant courage he would have stood to his defence to the death Peradventure God would have delivered him But he contrarily all in despair procured both himself and his son a shameful death But ye shall consider this he was an unmerciful King and therefore did God rid him out of the World For as he did not spare his own life nor his son's so did he not spare others And whereas ye alledge Aaron unto me I would know of you why he put himself between the living and the dead Was it not because he would turn away the plague from Israel If he had known that he himself should have been stricken therewith doubtlesse he would not have striven against the striker but trusting in the holinesse of his righteousnesse he stood before the Angel to deliver Israel from that misery Therefore I am not to be compared with Aaron albeit I am one of his children and never yet in all my life did I shrink to venture my life in the Wars of the Lord And now I am not determined to kill my self lest I should sin against God and spoil my soul of hope of salvation I know it well and it were more expedient for me to be slain of mine enemies then that I should kill my self And if ye say the word Let us go forth and suddenly set upon our enemies to kill or to be killed in this battel of the Lord and so shall we do well peradventure God will give them into our hands For God is able to save as well by a small Army as by a great Then if ye see me to be afraid of mine enemies sword ye shall thereby know me to be a coward and one that fawneth upon his enemies and hunteth for their favour But ye shall see me go before you as a valiant man nor once to turn my face from death What did ye ever see in me that you should judge me fearful Did ye ever know me refuse to fight within the Town of Jorpata I have ever kept my quarter and ward and every day have I fought with mine enemies whom I have not spared but impaired and that not a little whiles I defended that little City forty eight daves against them For I thought with my self peradventure I may drive away the enemies of the Lord out of our Land and divert them from Jerusalem that they go not thither And so have I fought with them till all my valiant souldiers be spent and none left but you I could no longer withstand their force yet I would not yeild my self as a prisoner unto them therefore I fled hither with you into this Cave Now therefore Brethren ye shall understand that death is commodious and good indeed which comes in time But it is neither good nor godly for a man to kill himself and his brother to go afterward for that deed into hell and perdition And what other thing can more clearly set forth a mans proud and haughty mind with his hope in God than for a man to suffer patiently whatsoever chanceth unto him until his end come Behold the Lions and other Beasts how they are wont to withstand their enemies that lie in wait for them to the intent they may save their lives whose armour is in their teeth and claws wherewith neverthelesse they hurt not themselves but use them against other that assault them till they either overcâ—…me or be overcome We although we have no warlike Weapons yet have Nature armed us as well as them For albeit we be not of such strength as they yet hath we such armour that we may defend our selves therewith both from man and beast But how can we break the band of love one to another that proceedeth from God who hath chosen us his people and inheritance to sanctifie him How then may we be enemies one against another and kill one another If that be true as ye cannot deny it that although we be many thousands yet we are counted as one soul and members of one body Then how can any man ever find in his heart to strike his own eyes or feet or any other of his members to destroy it except he be mad and besides himself Moreover dear Brethren and Friends consider to what end the Master of a ship doth abide the tempest of the Seas and striveth day and night with the floods thereof Doth he not do it to save the Ship and his life from death If so it be he shâ—…uld willingly for the same purpose put himself in jeopardy of Tempest or run on Rocks Would not the Merchant-men
say See yonder desperate fellow that destroyeth himself his Ship with the the Merchants and their riches Suppose an earthly King should give his officers to keep certain precious Jewels Were it not convenient that they should keep them till such time as he should call for them again If they should at their pleasure cast them away before the King call for them Shall they not move him to anger And if a man come into the presence of the King uncalled Will not the King check him and say unto him What dost thou here before I call thee So now all the souls of Israel are the Lords who hath bestowed them unto men according to his mercy and good pleasure who also will receive them again when it pleaseth him and when his time is come every soul shall depart unto his place of rest Therefore if a man will with his own hands let forth his soul out of his body before his time God will not receive it neither shall it find any rest but be destroyed and why Because it is expulsed and thrust out of his place before his time and before God do call for it wherefore it shall wander inconstantly for ever Why then my dear Brethren and Friends do you advise us to kill one another and to expell and banish our souls from us they being not call'd for How can we put away this opprobry How can we make amends for this sin Who shall pray and make intercession for us And with this Joseph wept abundantly insomuch that they laught him to scorn Then Joseph held up his hands to heaven saying Thou Lord Almighty art our Father thou hast formed us and by thy great mercy taken us out of the clay thou art he that leadest us in thy faith and the multitude of thy mercies and benignities towards us hath not ceased Aâ—…d although our sins have separated us from thee yet nâ—…vertheless we are thy handy-work every one of us and a long time have we been called thy people Thou art Lord over all creatures and souls Thou dost what thou wilt and none dare say to thee Why dost thou so Thou art our Father we are clay thou hast given us our shape and fashion therefore if it please thee to take our souls take them by the hands of thine Angels that we commit no evil against them And if these my fellows that be present with me will not be partakers of my prayer behold my life alone for the which I beseech thy benign clemency if it please thee take it for thou gavest it me therefore do with it whatsoever it shall seem good unto thee It is in thine hands thou lendest it me and hast preserved it within me I will not destroy it my self or let it out of my prison before thou demand it for thou knowest that as man cannot live without thy decree and appointment so likewise he cannot die without the same Vnto thee therefore do I lift mine eyes thou that dwellest in Heaven to deal mercifully with thy servants and with me to turn our hearts that we consent not unto this to murder our selves If thou know any among them that intend so wicked an Act I beseech thee O Lord my God let me find favour in thine eyes give them an heart to hear wholesome counsel that I may deliver my self and mine own life which I commend into thine hands that thou wouldest receive it unto thee for in thy hand is the life of every living creature Thus when Joseph had finished his prayer he turned him unto his fellows and saluted them Then said they Thinkest thou therefore to move our minds because thou hast prayed unto God for thy self and for us Did not we tell thee ere while like as we tell thee now that we are determined to die by one means or other wherefore say thy mind and tell us by wâ—…at death thou wilt end thy life for we have ever known thee a just man and a worthy Prince therefore art thou worthy to die first Joseph perceiving his fellows were utterly determined to die and would give none ear to his perswasions for he could by no reasons draw them to his opinion he went subtilly to work with them on this wise Seeing it will be none otherwise Brethren quoth he I will shew you my advice Ye are determined to die ye say and that upon your own swords therefore there is no better way than to do it by lot in this wise Let us cast lots amongst our selves that we may be joyned together by couples then will we cast lots which couple shall die first afterwards they two shall cast lots betwen them which of them shall kill his fellow he that remaineth shall choose him one of the second couple to kill him likewise the second couple shall cast lots between themselves who shall die first and he that is left shall choose him one of the third couple whom he hath a fancy to be killed of then they shall try by lot who shall die first who being slain the other may choose him one of the fourth couple to kill him and so even till all be slain that we see not the captivity of our people The last couple that remain shall do thus Run one upon the others sword or else let them cast lots between themselves and upon whom it falleth let him die first But forasmuch as we are forty and one so that we cannot be justly joyned in couples let us cast lots first of all and see which of us shall first be slain and when he is once out of the way then let us divide the couples He that is to be slain first let him choose one of the first couple and cast lots and do as I have devised Then every man liked his device which was Gods doing who heard Josephs prayer and said all with one mouth We will do as thou hast advised and to thee it appertaineth to divide the men and to cast the lots Joseph answered But let us swear by the name of the Lord that this device shall stand be ratified and performed whereunto they accorded and sware all by the name of the Lord that they would have this device to be ratified and kept which Joseph had invented by casting of lots Then Joseph cast lots who should be the odde man and it fell upon Jehojada the son of Eliakim a Galilean which was a valiant man and chiefest in every counsel next to Joseph and the principal perswader of this wicked fact to kill themselves After that did he craftily divide them into couples so that the lot of his own couple came forth last of all who looked to be saved and trusted in God believing that he would deliver him from this abominable deed Then Jehojada chose him one of the first câ—…uple who slew him That done the first couple cast lots between them so the one killed his fellow and chose him one of the second couple to kill him Then they
Jehochanan took Eleazars part and defended him For Eleazar was alwayes Jehochanan's friend and aided him His father was high Priest and bare a great rule in Jerusalem wherefore Eleazar was of a great estimation and authority with the Elders so that they durst not apprehend him and his father also looked negligently unto him and let him do what he list because he had no more sons but him So he was the first that assembled naughty persons together and held ever on Jehochanans side from his first coming to Jerusalem And for his sake fell division and dissention between Jehochanan and Schimeon so that they became enemies and warred the one upon the other ever after as we shall declare hereafter CHAP. I. IN this while Vespasian had sent Antony and Mankiminus two Noble men and of his Council to Rome against Vitellius that they might make him out of the way and then would he come to Rome to receive the Imperial Crown there These two Captains went therefore and raised an Army by whose aid they set upon Vitellius and â—…w him not without much ado for there were slain that day at Rome 80. thousand good men of war When Vespasian had word that he was dispatched he made speed to Rome to his Coronation dividing first his Army into two parts whereof he took the one with him to Rome as a safegard for himself whatsoever should happen and the other he left with Titus his son to besiege Jerusalem withall So departing he left his son Titus at Alexandria commanding him to remain there till such time as he should signifie unto him otherwise by his Letters and shew him what he should do and that in no wise he should attempt the siege of Jerusalem in the mean space Titus answered I shall do dear Father according unto your commandment for to you it belongeth to command and unto me to obey Vespasian took with him King Agrippa and Munabas his son he fearing lest they would rebell and me Joseph Priest and prisoner also fast bound in chains for so had his Council moved him saying We cannot say the contrary but that we have found no sign of rebellion in Joseph hitherto neither think we that he hath gone about any but Who can tell when we are gone hence whether he will not flee to Jerusalem and help â—…o set them at unity and concord then they make him their King and after he be the sorer enemy unto us Besides this you shall have need of him in this journey he being a man of such great prudence and wisdom that whosoever followeth his coâ—…sel shall bring his matters to good and fortunate successe Vespasian liked well their advice and took him prisoner with him together with King Agrippa and his son albeit they had no irons upon them neither on hand or foot but only had their Keepers appointed them that they should not step aside And as Vespasian drew nigh Rome all the Citizens came forth to meet him and received him with great joy and mighty Shews Then he commanded that I should be put in prison but Agrippa and his son he let go at liberty The next day assembled all the Senate of Rome to create Vespasian Emperour after the manner of the Romans with whom was Agrippa and his son I also intreated the Jaylor to let me have Keepers with me and so to bring me to the place where he should be Crowned Caesar which the Jaylor granted me and went with me himself to the place and brought me where I might see all that was done Within few dayes after Vespasian took displeasure with Agrippa upon the information of certain evil disposed persons that had slandered him and perswaded Vespasian that he went about to rebell and how he had sent letters unto Jerusalem concerning the same matter wherefore Vespasian put both him and his son Munabas to death This befel three years and a half before the destruction of Jerusalem Moreover before this deed the continual Sacrifice ceased for a thousand two hundred and ninety dayes as it is written in Dan. Chap. 22. And from the time that the continual Sacrifice shall be taken away and abomination shall be put into desolation a thousand two hundred and ninety dayes The same year and moneth that Agrippa was put to death God moved the minde of Vespasian to remember me with his mercy wherefore he commanded that I should be fetched out of prison and brought to his presence And as I stood in irons before him Caesar bad me welcome and spake comfortably unto me saying Thou knowest very well that I have loved thee from the day I first saw thee and though I have kept thee continually in durance do not think I did it of any ill will or malice toward thee but rather thou mayest perswade thy self I did it lest the Roman Princes should disdain at thee and say See here is a fellow that in our wars hath endamaged us so greatly yet now goeth he check-mate with us in as great favour as we Let us kill him and put him out of the way But my friend Joseph be of good chear I will deliver thee from these iron-bands and thou shalt be with me in no worse case than one of my chief Princes I will send thee into Jewry to my son Titus to whom thou shalt be as a father and a counsellour Thou knowest Titus was he that took pity on thee and would not suffer thee to be put to death Yea he hath sundry times moved me to release thee of thy bonds and to honour thee which I have deferred to do only for this cause that I shewed thee I made him answer But how can I be quiet or in surety of my life as long as I am in thy company and thy sons seeing Agrippa and his son were suddenly put to death by you Caesar answered Hold thy peace Joseph I never looked for any goodnesse of Agrippa and his son Thou knowest not what they had wrought against my Majesty and how they went about to rebel thou hast born their bones with thy hands Doest thou not know I honoured him and his son in Jewry how I would not suffer any of my Army to annoy any of his Cities I answered Yes I know it was so as your Majesty saith Then said he But for all this hath Agrippa requited me again with evil For what time as the Nobles of Rome in Jewry went about to make me Empeperour thinking me somewhat more meet to rule the Empire than Vitellius Agrippa perswaded them that they should not make me Emperour affirming that there was nothing in me worthy wherefore they should promote me to that dignity And after when he came to Rome he went from one Bishop to another and caused them to go to the Bishops to accuse me of such crimes as in my conscience I knew nothing at all of By this I perceived that Agrippa's heart was full of rancour and rebellion and therefore I judged him
the array of the Romans but the Jews shrunk not from the Romans for they were in a fervent rage and wonderfull disdain and to further their courage Schimeon came to his men and cryed unto them with a loud voyce saying For the reverence of God friends flee not this day whosoever doth flee let him be sure he shall dye for it and his house be destroyed Titus also admonished his to keep their array and not to give back to Schimeon Then went he himself to that part of the Town where Jehochanans ward was there he caused a battering Ram to be planted and bent against the wall for there was a very large Plain There was at that time in Jerusalem one called Kantor who got to him a company of the Seditious and shot from the walls into the Romans Army where he slew very many and compelled the rest to retire This Kantor with nine other tall fellows whereof he was the Decurion defended one part of the Town Now as the Romans bended the Ram to batter the wall Kantor cryed unto Titus I beseech thee my Lord Titus be mercifull unto this most famous City that is almost beaten down already do not deface it utterly but take pitty of the Sanctuary that is in it and destroy not the habitation of the Lord God Titus at his request commanded his men to stay and to leave off battering the wall Then said he to Kantor Come forth hither to me and thou shalt save thy self I will pardon thee thou shalt not be destroyed Kantor answered I will see if I can perswade these my fellows to come with me But he did it upon colour for none other cause than craftily to trifle out time whereby he miâ—…ht cause Titus to leave off the assault for a while So he spake unto his fellows which knew his mind that the Romans might hear Let us go down and flee to the Roman Army Then they drew out their swords as though they would kill him and striking upon his harness he fell down to the ground in the sight of the Romans which were ignorant of his deceit Then one of the Romans let flye an arrow that wounded Kantor upon the face and glauncing from him slew another that stood by him Then Kantor cryed out What do ye will ye shoot at us that desire to be at peace with you which ye granted your selves and now will break your promise that ye made unto us Is this the reward my Lord Titus that thou renderest me for going about to flee unto thee that thy souldiers should shoot at me hearing me require conditions of peace Now therefore my Lord may it please thee to send hither some man of honour to whom I may come down and receive assurance of thy promise to be as one of thine own men Titus thinking he meant good faith spake unto Joseph willing him to go and make peace with the Jews in his name then to bring him unto him that he might find safe-gard of his life from the common destruction Joseph answerd Why wilt thou send me What have I offended thee Have I not ever done thee true and faithfull service Therefore if thou bear me any good will or favour send me not unto him whom I cannot trust For Joseph mistrusted some subtilty knowing Kantor afore So Titus sent one Captain Jiarus who said unto Kantor Come down and let us go together to Caesars son Kantor desired him to hold abroad his cloak lap that he might hurl him down his money that he had there lest the Jews perceiving it would take it from him and then he would come down And as Jiarus held up his lap to receive the money that Kantor spake of Kantor with all his might cast down a great stone which Jiarus espying lept aside and avoided but it lighted upon one of his fellows and slew him Titus was wonderfull wroth at this and forthwith planted yet another Ram against the wall and at length laid it flat upon the ground Then commanded Titus to make fires about the Wall where the Jews should think to escape Kantor seeing that would have fled and as he made haste to escape the fires the weight of his armour bare him down into the fire and there he died more desirous of death than life Then entred the Romans within the second wall against whom the Seditious issued and â—…ought with such vehement foâ—…ce that they prevailed against their enemies slue many of the Romans and forced the rest to retire unto the first wall that they had beaten down afore In this skirmish Titus himself took a bow and shot at the Jews in such wise that not one of his arrows were spent in vain but that it did some annoyance unto the Jews The Jews notwithstanding gave them the repulse from the Town and they were not able to make their party good with them Within four daies after came unto Titus a new supply of souldiers out of all quarters for ayd to the Romans by whose help they prevailed against the Jews at such time as they issued out of the Town and constrained them to withdraw themselves within the walls Yet Titus pittying the miserable state of the City Temple and People of the Lord at that time commanded his people to withdraw themselves from the walls and to leave off the assault for a while that he might offer peace to the Jews to see if they would now be content to submit themselves unto the Romans to have quietness and rest without danger of destruction Wherefore he gave them truce for five daies and upon the fift day he came to the gate of the City where he straightway espyed Schimeon and Jehochanan together preparing fire to destroy the Romans Engins of war for all the Jews had agreed together with one mind still to withstand the Romans Wherefore Titus perceiving the Jews to be so desperately bent that they had even vowed their lives to death he began to offer and propose unto them conditions of peace and sharply to reprove and blame their obstinate stubborness saying I have now won two of your walls and ye have but one left Therefore if yeâ—… will continue still in this self willed frowardness what will ye do most miserable creatures when as I shall gain also the third wall and quite destroy your City pulling down your Temple and all Why do ye not rather favour and spare your own lives your wives and children But the Jews set upon a sullen obstinacy would in no wise hear Titus speak Therefore Titus sent Joseph to declare his mind unto them in Hebrew that they might safely credit his promises and the peace that was offered Joseph therefore went and stood over against the gate keeping himself aloof off for he was afraid to come nigh the wall knowing that the people hated him because he had yielded himself to the Romans He called therefore unto them aloud Hearken all ye Hebrews and Jews I will declare unto you that
which shall be to your commodity Then the people gave ear unto Joseph who spake unto them in this wise AN Oration of Josephus to the Citizens of Jerusalem YOu should ere this good people of Jerusalem have fought so earnestly whiles your Cities were yet standing and your Land replenished with people ere ever this mischief had lighted upon you Now that with murthers and slaughters amongst your selves having destroyed one another and polluted the Temple of the Sanctuary with the blood of the murthered and not spared your own lives you are become few in number a small sort of you left What hope have you to prevail Again you have provoked a valiant Nation which is ruler over all people and hath subdued all other Lands which also hath those Nations in subjection under him which sometimes reigned over you besides this you wage battell with the Romans without all discretion and wisdom without any remorse of this famous City without any regard of the Sanctuary of the Lord without any compassion of your own lives Neither yet do ye forsake your purpose for I perceive you continue in this self-will to withstand the Romans still which is nothing else than to spread abroad this calamity further both on the people of God and on his holy Temple Albeit I am not afraid only for this holy Temple and most renowned City lest it should be razed and destroyed but for the Sacrifices and burnt offerings lest they should cease as the daily sacrifice is ceased And why because we have sinned against our Lord God Wherefore is his shaddow departed from us Because that in this same Temple we have kept wars making it an habitation for the wicked a tabernacle of seditious persons yea even the Ministers and Holy men of God have ye murthered and within the walls of the Temple have ye shed innocent blood without measure See now dear brethren and mark what Ordnance what Engins what Instruments of destruction are prepared to beat down the Temple the fire is already kindled to set a fire the Sanctuary and loe even your very enemies are so pitifull of your Temple that they would not have it defaced But you dear brethren and friends why are ye led with no remorse of your selves that your enemies may once remove from you these Engins of war What have you now left to trust unto when as two of your walls are already battered down and one only remaineth You will say peradventure we put not our trust in our walls but in our God Are ye not aware that your God hath long agone given you over and hath turned him to your enemies because they have with greater honour and reverence worshiped his name than we which rebelliously are fallen away from him Wherefore God assisteth not us but our enemies insomuch that except it be in such countries whereas either for extream cold of the one side or exceeding heat on the other no man is able to abide all Lands all Nations are under their Dominion Tell me I pray you what hope have you seeing God hath made them a terrour unto all Nations upon the earth who serveth them Why will not you obey them that you may live and not perish Do ye not consider it is come to their turn to rule over all that God hath committed Dominion unto them and ayded them with his assistance Remember you not how God in times past aided the Egyptians insomuch that they obtained the dominion over all the whole world but afterward departed from them and assisted you to get the Soveraignty over other Nations After that forsook you again and gave the Empire to the Chaldeans Assyrians and Persians which reigned far and wide over many countries Now also hath he given them over and helpeth the Romans these many years so that they bear rule over all If you will object and say To what intent should God give the dominion unto the Romans or other Nations over the world and over his inheritance and people also which is an holy people a peculiar and special Nation of all the earth Should ye not be ashamed to say this With what discretion can you wonder at this knowing that all mankind one or other are the handy-work of God who exalteth whom he list and whom he listeth he thrusteth down Ye say Ye be the children of God and his proper possession and ye aspire to the Soveraignty therefore it cannot be that God should determine any thing upon you by chance fortune or sudden anger and displeasure I grant But wot ye what The shadow or protection of the Lord hath forsaken you becausâ—… of your sins and transgressions against the Teâ—…ple and his holy ministers How can you stay upon his help when as he hath withdrawn his loving countenance from you and your sins have made a divorce between you and him O my dear children and brethren let never this imagination enter into your hearts for it shall nothing avail you Why will you my dear brethren and friends make war upon the Romans when as they are Lords over Nations and pierced the streets of India and all the Isles of the Sea even to the great Ocean-Sea and from thence to all the parts of the East whose dominion extendeth to the extream parts of the earth Yea even to Britain which is environed on every side with seas whose people are huge like Giants of a big stature and of mighty courage most expert archers and valiant souldiers in battel To whom when the Captain of the Romans came they gave him the repulse and would not be subdued but when the Princes of the Romans came they brought them into subjection and seâ—…itude under the Romans But you say my brethren and friends you will rather all dye than serve the Prince of the Gentiles and that death is better for you than life to be driven to see with your eyes the calamities of the sanctuary of the people of God Search the Histories and Chronicles from the time of your Ancestours When was there any time wherein you were free from the yoak of the Gentiles Do you not know that Jacob our father of worthy memory who was alwaies with God took his journey into Egypt to be a stranger in a strange land amongst a proud kind of people left he his children houshold and cattell should perish with hunger There he had with him his twelve sons which he had begotten and dwelt there also with his small family for fear of the grievous famine that was at that time Remember you not when that Judas with his brethren went down into Egypt how Joseph was moved as a stranger to pick a quarrel against his brethren to bring them into bondage bearing yet in his mind what injury they had done unto him Wherefore some of them he cast in prison and hanged them at his pleasure with crafty accusations especially Judas who was the chief amongst them of whom all the Jews took their name who if
of Israel Some interpreâ—…ed this of the King of Israel but the Priests said It is the King of the Romans The whole Roman Army being now come into the Temple and the Jews fled to Moâ—…nt Sion the Romans set up their â—…dols in the Lords Temple and railed at the Jews It happened that there came down to the Romans a little boy of the Priests from Mount Sion to a Captain of the Wall Keeper of the Temple desiring him to give him some water he taking pity on the boy gave him some the boy taking the vessel the water was in first drank himself then ran away with the rest the Captain made shew to run after him but let him go of puâ—…pose Once when the Romans were at their sacrifice with Titus some Priests came and besought him that he would not kill them he answered Why do you wish to live now and not rather dye with your brethren who have suffered death for Gods sake and for the sake of this House whereupon he commanded they should be all slain After Schimeon and Jehochanan sent to Titus for peace he answered This thing ye seek too late but how cometh it to pass that you beg your lives now being so few and that ye have wasted all things so desperately ye desire life and yet persevere in your malice still holding your swords in your hands have we not now taken your City Temple and the Sanctum Sanctorum What is there left for you to put hope in Therefore cast away your swords and lay down your armour and then if you come to me I know what I hâ—…ve to do peradventure I shall be gracious unto you Schimeon and Jehochanan answered We have sworn by the Lord our God who is God of Heaven and Earth thâ—…t we will never bear thy yoak nor serve thee or make any peace to be subject to thee therefore if it be thy pleasure to shew us mercy we will take our journey into the wilderness in granting this we will report to have found favour if not we will remain in this place to see what manner of death we shall dye Titus hearing this was much incensed and said remains the pride of your hearts and the hardness of your neck still with you though ye be Captives dare ye yet be so bold as to say ye have sworn not to endure our yoak Then Titus gave commandment to the Romans not to omit any opportunity to set upon the Seditious and by one means or other to destroy Schimeon and Jehochanan There was at that time a certain man of the Royall Blood whose name was Serach he accompanied with all his brethren and Sons that were there with him of the Kings blood came down from the Moâ—…nt Sion â—…o Titus who received them honorably and gently ordered them When Jehochanan and Schimeon understood that Serach and the reâ—…t were gone and had yielded themselves to Titus they went and set fire upon all â—…at was in the Kings Pallace that the Romans should have no â—…modity thereby From thence they went to the Temple where they found certain Commanders and Captains whom Titus had put in authority about the Temple of whom thâ—…ee were chief one Captain of the hoâ—…semen tâ—…e second of the Chariots and the third of the footmâ—…n him they killed and took hâ—…s companion alive One of them besought thâ—…m that had taken him that he might be bâ—…ought to Schimeon their Captain Let him saith he do with me as he list and in this one thing let me finâ—… favour at your hands They agreed and brought him to Schimeon who commanded his servants as soon as he was come to slay him But while he that was appointed to this business made delay and killed him not by and by he whipt down off the hill escaped and came to Titus who commanded him out of his sight being wroth with him that he had not fought unto death rather then to be taken alive But with the Jews was he wonderfully displeased that they had so despighâ—…ully ordered his men wherefore he commanded to kill all the Jews as many as could be found in the â—…ets of the City whom he would have spared before and caused proclamation to be made throughout all his Camp for their safety Then died many of the Jews â—…o that every place was full of dead bodies The men of War of the Edomâ—…tes which were with Schimeon perceiving how the matter went sent Embassadors to Titus to desire pâ—…ace and to save their lives which when it came to Schimeons ear he went unto them and slew the chief of them and their Noblemen the rest of the people of the Edomites fled unto Titus From that time forth Titus commanded his men to use no more cruelty to the Jews Soon after fled Jehochanan and Sâ—…himeon and hid themselves in certain caves The rest of the chief men of the Jews that were with them seeing them now to be fled came down from the Mount to Titus and fell down upon their faces before him upon the ground whom Titus received gently As for the Seditious that were witâ—… Schimeon and Jehochanan they fought till they all died together Then came forth unto Titus one Joshua a Priest son of Schaftai the High Priest bringing with him two Candlesticks of gold which were in the Sanctuary and the Tables of gold with other vessels of silver and gold and also the holy vestures decked with gold and precious stones all those he gave to Titus who made him chief Priest over them that remained next unto Joseph the Priest for Titus gave Joseph authority as well over the Priests and Leviâ—…es as over the whole people oâ—… the Jews Then was Gorion the Father of Joseph that writ this History brought out of prison with his wife and children among whom was one Bonian Josephs younger brother he was a very wise and godly Priest by whom God bestowed many benefits upon â—…e Israelites for Titus left him at Jerusalem and took him not with him as he did Joseph Josephs father lived after the City was taken twenty moneths and died They took also one Phineas a Priest who was keeper of the treasure-house he bewrayed and detected to the Romans all the Treasures of the Priests and their Vestments He gave also unto Titus a most precious oil with sweet odours and perfumes and garments also of purple which the Kings of the second Temple had given Wherefore both this Phineas and Joshua whom we mentioned before transgressed the Covenant of the Lord and offended God in that they deâ—…ivered his Jewels to the enemies of his people which they ought not to have done but rather to have died for the glory of the Lord as the other Priests did which cast themselves into the fire Thus was the City of Jerusalem taken with all the precious things that were therein And Tiâ—…us went up to Mount Sion took it and razed the walls thereof Three dayes after Jehochanan sore vext with hunger left
overcome you and to have gotten the dominion over you But neither ye nor your Country did ever delight us greatly for our manners differ far from yours Behold the King of Madai when he had kept us for a moneth we harmed him not we are not wont to hurâ—… men as ye are that cannot be content with your own state but must desire other mens inheriâ—…ance Now therefore go and return to your own Country and so will we to ours without doing you any more hurt wherefore ye need not be afraid of us So the Alanites went home to their own Countries having slain of Mithridates people three hundred thousand men and never a one of their own was killed Titus hearing of this was desirous to go unto them to let them understand his valiantnesse but he could not compasse it bâ—…cause all his best men were spent in the Waâ—… at Jerusalem Wherefore he determined to retuâ—…n to Rome after he had taken Jerusalem where he abode as yet besides the Antochia There he had intelligence that divers of the Jews were gathered together with whom was Eleazar the son of Anani the Priest who during the siege fled unto a certain Hold called Mezira whereupon many of the Jews resorted to him Titus hearing this that many had joyned themselves to Eleazar feared lest after his departure Eleazarâ—… might from thence make an inrode and take Jerusalem and destroy the Romans which should be no smal damage to the Roman Empire Wherefore he made out against him and sent thither one Silcham a Noble man of Rome with a great host to besiege Mezira but he could not get it Wherefore he sent unto Titus for an Iron Ram to batter the Walls withal which after he had received it he beat down the walls of Mezira therewith The Jews seeing that raised a great Countermure within of Wood and Timber which the Romans set on fire and burnt After that they assaulted the Town from morning till night at what time the Romans leâ—… off supposing they were not able to prevail against Eleazars defence in the dark Eleazar in the mean season called an assembly of all the chief men of the Jews that were with him and said unto them in this wise Come hither ye seed of Abraham and Kingly Priesthood which have until this day ever prevailed against the enemies of God Let us hear your advice what is best to be done against this multitude that is come upon us at unawares Ye see that at this time chiefly it becometh us to follow the courage and valiantnesse of our forefathers wherewith they were in time past endued Consider moreover that every thing hath his end and there are some times in War when as men are wont to follow the pursuit sometimes to flee from the same whom they pursued and to humble themselve before them And it is no shame to be humbled and disgraced when as all things have their determinâ—…te end Albeit whoso is of an haughty courage he must so establish his heart that he quail not with fear then shall he be deemed a valiant man If ye therefore be of that courage that ye fear not death then will I call â—…ou valiant men and worthy Consider the fortitude of Abraham our father and the fact that he did for having but one only son whom Sarah bare unto him in her age he never staggered nor stayed at it to offer him up to the Lord God for a burnt-offering for he thought not that he should kill him but perswaded himself most certainly that he should promote him to the life and light of the Lord forasmuch as for â—…he love of God and at his commandment he should have killed him Weigh the thing that Josiah the just King did who setting at nought this wretched life and aspiring to everlasting felicity would not avoid the jeopardy of his life when as he might have done it For although Pharaoh Necho said He came not against him but against the King of the Chaldees yet would not Josiah hear him but rather proceeding against Pharaoh in arms was slain in the battel and went unto that great Light in the Garden of Paradise which is the lot and inheritance of the just We know that in this world no man receives the reward of his righteousnesse but it is laid up for him in the other world where he shall reap the fruit of his righteousnesse that he hath sown in this world Neither doth long life in this world profit a man to the attaining of everlasting blisse except he work righteousnesse and lead his soul forth of darknesse into light like as contrariwise shortnesse of life hindreth no man from everlasting happinesse if so be it his soul have no defect in those things that pertain to the world to come For Abel which was slain of his brother lived no long life yet when he had ended it he obtained everlasting rest but Cain that lived long in the world was a wanderer and a runagate in this earth and after this life went to perpetual misery Now therefore my Brethren if we also shall live any longer our life shall be a miserable life and our dayes dayes of vanity and travel yea our soul as long as it shall remain in this body it shall be tossed with great tribulation but if it once go forth then shall it rejoyce and never be afraid And all the dayes that it is in the body it never leaveth weeping and mourning for it is the Spirit of life which is hedged within the body by â—…inewes bones none otherwise then if it were bound with chains The spirit is also that which quickneth the flesh that is taken of the dust of the earth for flesh cannot quicken the spirit Besides this the spirit is that which observeth and marketh the flesh and searcheth the works thereof so long as it is in the body yea the flesh cannot see the spirit but the spirâ—…t seeth the flesh alwayes neither is there any member of the body hid from it The eyes also of the body cannot perceive what time the spirit resorteth to the flesh and departeth from the same for the spirit of man which is his soul is from heaven but the flesh is taken from the earth Wherefore the soul may â—…main without the body but not likewise 〈◊〉 body without the soul and when the spiriâ—… comes to the flesh it visiteth it as a neighbour is wont to go and see his neighbour and quickeneth it and when again it departeth from it the flesh dyeth and if the soul will follow the desires of the flesh then this is the death of the soul but if it give no ear unto the flesh then shall the soul come to the light of life and the flesh shall die Wherefore the soul is glad when it departeth out of the body like as one that hath been bound is well contented when he 〈◊〉 dismissed out of prison For all the while that the soul is kept closed
Priest Mâ—…reover Titus was minded to have put Rabby Gamaliel father of Râ—…hbag to death but Rabby Jochâ—… son of 〈◊〉 made suice for him and obtained pardon for his life This Râ—…bby Jochanan was he that came forth of Jerusalem in the beginning when Vâ—…spasian father of Titus came first against Jerusalem whom Vespasian honoured greatly insomuch that when he returned to Rome he commended this Râ—…bby Jochanan to his son Titus commanding him to honour him for he perceived he was a wise man Titus râ—…igned two years after he had taken Jerusalem anâ—… died He was a very eloquent 〈◊〉 expert in the Laâ—…ne and Greek Tongue and writ divers Works in both Tongues He loved most intirely justice and equity for he wasted the City of Jerusalem against his will and being compelled thereunto â—…ea all the mischief that came upon it hapned through the malice and naugâ—…ness of the Seditious as we have touched before THE Ten Captivities OF THE JEWES THe Israelites were Ten times led into Captivity Four times by the hands of Sanherib and Four times by Nabuchadnezzar Once by Vespasian and Once by superstitious Adrian First invaded them Sanherib and transporthe Rubenites the Gadites and the half tribe of Manosseh He took away also the golden Calf which Jeroboam the son of Nebat had made He led them into Helah Habor to the River of Gozan and to the â—…ities of the Medes This Captivity was in the time of Pekah the son of Remaliah The second Captivity Hosea the son of Ela remained and slue Pekah the son of Remalâ—…h After he became the servant and subject of Sanherib seven years Then came Sanherib the second time and carried away the tribes of Asar Isachar Zebulon and Nephtali of whom he let go free only one of every eight He took away also another â—…alf that was in Bethel After the death of Ahaz raigned Zedekia his son in his stead four years The fourth year of whose raign Sanherib came and intrenched about Samarâ—…a besieging it three years and at length took it in the sixt year of the raign of Hizkiahu So led he away the Israelites that were in Samaria the tribe of Ephraim and Mannasse This is the third Captivity When Nebuchadnezzar had raigned eight years he made wars against Jerusalem bringing with him the Chutean Hereticks out of Babylon Ethiopia Hemates Avim and Sepharvavim and as he warred upon Judea he took in that Country a hundred and fifty Cities in the which there were two tribes Juda and Simeon whom he took with him and caused them forthwith to be led into Halah and Habar untill the King of the Ethiopians rebelled against him whose kingdom was on the hinder parts of Egypt Then taking Juda and Simeon with him he made war with the King of Ethiopia So the holy and blessed God placed them in the dark mountains Here was four Captivities whereby ten tribes went into exile by Sanherib There remained yet of Juda one hundred and ten thousand and of Benjamin one hundred and thirty thousand in the City of Jerusalem over whom raigned Hizkiahu Moreover Sanherib came out of Ethiopia against Jerusalem again leading with him one hundred and ten thousand but the holy Lord overthrew him there as it is written And the Angel of the Lord issuing forth smote in the house of Asar 175 thousand men His people therefore was slain and no man left but Sanherib and his two sons and Nebuchadnezzar and Nebuzaraden this slaughter was in the fourteenth year of Hizkâ—… From which overthrow untill the time that Nebuchadnezzar invaded the Jews in the raign of Jehojakim were a hundred and seven years The fourth year of Jehojakim came Nebuchadnezzar the first time and carried away three thousand and twenty and three of the tribes of Juda and Benjamin and of other tribes seven thousand all the able men and all their power binding them with chains This is the fift captivity Seven years after this Captivity came Nebuchadnezzar another time unto Dophna a City of Antioch from whence he led four thousand and six hundred of the tribe of Juda and of Benjamin fifty thousand of the other tribes seven thousand This transmigration made he in Babylon which is the sixt Captivity Furthermore betwixt the sixt bondage and the seventh were nine years of the raign of Zidkiahu When Nebuchadnezzar had raigned nineteen years he came the third time unto Jerusalem and overcoming Zidkiahu he burnt the Temple and took away the Pillars the brazen Sea and the furnitures that Solomon made and all the vessels of the house of the Lord and the â—…reasures of the house of the King which was in Jerusalem all the vessels he sent to Babylon He slew also of the Israelites nine hundred and one thousand besides them that were slain to revenge the blood of Zacharias The Levites stood singing a song whiles â—…laughter was made of them but they were not able to finish it before the enemies entred the Temple and found them standing in their place with harps in their hands Therefore he carried away in this Captivity the Levites which were of the seed of Moses six hundred thousand whom when the Gentiles had brought unto the Rivers of Babylon they demanded of the Jews Sing us a song of Sion And by and by they gnawed off the tops of their fingers with their teeth saying How shall we sing the song of the Lord in a strange Land And the blessed Lord seeing that they would not sing a song he enlarged them and placed them on the further side of Sambatia Moreover he translated and carried away eight hundred and thirty two thousand which were all of the tribe of Juda and Benjamin whereof he left in Jerusalem six thousand setting over them for their Ruler Gedalia the son of Ahikam who was slain after by Ishmael the son of Natania whereupon the Isrâ—…elites being afraid fled from their Country into Egypt This is the seventh transmigration and 〈◊〉 The 27. year of the raign of Nebuchadnezzar he â—…ook Egypt and Tyre drowned the Jews that were therein and the Nations which descended of Amon and Moab and of the Land bordering upon Israel and led Jeremy and Baruch with them into Egypt This is the eighth Captivity Then the Israelites that remained alive in Egypt departed unto Alexandria and remained in it untill they grew and increased unto many thousands and who so saw not their glory saw no glory in his time For there was in it the Sanctuary the Altar the offerings incenses the ordinance of bread of faces the houses of studies and schools without number men of great substance riches and power But wicked Troganus made war upon them and slew very many of them After came Alexander against them who slew also many of them These are the eight Captivities or bondages which befell in the first House and time of the first Temple After the desolation of the first House seventy years Cyrus the son of Esther sent unto Nehemiah Zerubbabel
Baruch and his whole society and they builded the second House Then after four years of the reign of Cyrus after the House was destroyed Ezra went from Babylon with forty thousand in his company and the Israelites were afflicted and vexed under Cyrus for the space of 33. years Then came Alexander the King of Macedonia and slew Cyâ—…us and when he had reigned tvvelve years he died After him came four Usurpers vvhich afâ—…licted the Israelites 158. years But after that the sons of Hasmonani came and slevv those Usurpers and taking the Dominion from them reigned themselves 103. years Then reigned one Herod the Servant to Chasmonani vvho killed his Masters and their vvhole family save one Maâ—…d vvhom he loved But she climbed up to the top of an house and said There is no body left alive of my fathers house but I alone so she cast her self headlong from the top of the house and died Herod did lay her in honeâ—… and preserved her for the space of seven years There vvere that said he had carnal copulation vvith her after she vvas dead Herod and Agrippa his son and Monazab his nephevv possessed the Kingdom one hundred and three years So hast thou four hundred and three years of the second House Then came Vespasian Caesar and Titus his wives son and wasted the second House carrying away Israel unto Rome This is the ninth transmigration Moreover Bitter remained after the desolation and wasting of the Temple fifty two years After that Aâ—…rianus who used superstition with bones made wars upon them and transported Israel from their Country after he had spoiled it conveying them into Spain This is the tenth Captivity This Adrian vanquished the Jews which rebelled the second time against the Romans with a final and utter destruction forbidding and not suffering them in any wise to enter into Jerusalem which he had began to fortify with very strong walls and caused it to be called Helius after his own name He caused also a Sow to be graven over the chief gate of the City and a Jew under her feet carved in stone in token of their subjection A Corollary THus the ancient Nation of the Jews which in former times might have been called the Favorite of God Almighty was utterly destroyed and their City demollished the famous City of Jâ—…rusalem which had been five times surprized and sacked before First Asocheus King of Egypt after him Antiochus then Pompey And after him Herod with Sosius took it yet did they not dismantle much less destroy it But before them the Kings of Babylon ruin'd it after they had possessed it 1300 years eight months and â—…ix daies after the building of it The first founder of it was one of the Princes of the Cananites â—…called in his own Language the just King and indeed he was so for he was the first Priest that sacrificed to God and dedicated a Temple there calling the City Solyma But David King of the Iews having driven out the Cananites gave it unto his people to be inhabited and after 464 years and 3. months it was destroyed by the Babyâ—…nians And from King David who was the first Iew that raigned there unâ—…ill the time that Titus destroyed it were 1179 years And from the time that it was first Erected unâ—…ill it was thus râ—…ed were 2177 years yet neither the Antiquiâ—…y nor riches nor fame thereof then spread over the world nor the glory of Religion did any thing avail to hinder this hard destiny Such was the end of besieging Ierusalem when there were none left to kill more or any thing remaining for the souldiers to get or whereon they should exercise their courage for they would have spared nothing that they could have spoiled Titus câ—…mmanded â—…hem to destroy the City and Temple only leaving standing certain Towers that were more beautifull and stronger then the rest viz Phasclus Hippiâ—…os and Mariamne with the wall that stood on the west side intending to keep a Garrison there and these were left to stand for Monuments of their strength and the Roman valour which had overcome a City so well fortified All the rest of the City they so flatted that they who had not seen it before would not believe it had ever been inhabited Eheu quà m tenui pendent Mortalia filâ—… And now for an upshot of all that hath been said take a short view of the whole Matter Together with a true Character of the JEWS as they are at this day With the hopes and desires of all good Men for their Conversion WHen the Jews had made the full measure of their sins run over by putting to death the LORD of LIFE Gods judgements as they deserved and our Saviour foretold quickly overtook them For a mighty Army of the Romans beâ—…ieged and sackt the City of Jerusalem wherein by Fire Famine Sword Civil discord and Forrein force eleven hundred thousand were put to death An incredible number it seemeâ—… yet it cometh within the compasse of our belief if we consider that the siege began at the time of the Passâ—…over when in a manner all Jâ—…ea was inclosed in Jerusalem all private Synagogues doing then their duties to the Mother-Temple so that the City then had more guests than Inhabitants Thus the Passeover first instituted by God in mercy to save the Israelites from death was now used by Him in justice to hasten their destruction and to gather the Nation into a bundle to be cast into the fire of his anger Besides those who were slain ninety seven thousand were taken captives And they who had bought our Saviour for thirty pence were themselves sold thirty for a peny The General of the Romans in this action was Titus son to Vespasian the Emperour A Prince so good that he was styled the Darling of mankind for his sweet and loving nature and pity it was that so good a stock had not been better grafted So vertuously disposed that he may justly be counted the glory of all Pagans and shame of most Christians He laboured what lay in his power to have saved the Temple and many therein but the Jews by their obstinacy and desperateness made themselves uncapable of any mercy Then was the Temple it self made a Sacrifice and burnt to ashes And of that stately Structure which drew the Apostles admiration not a stone left upon a stone The walls of the City more shaken with the sins of the Jews deâ—…ending them than with the baâ—…tering Raâ—…s of the Romans assaulting them were levelled to the ground only three Towers left standing to witnesse the great strength of the place and greater valour of the Romans who conquered it But whilest this storm fell on the unbelieving Jews it was calm amongst the Chrians who warned by Christ's predictions and many other prodigies fled betimes out of the City to Pâ—…lla a private place beyond Jordan which served them instead of a little Zâ—…ar to save them from the imminent destruction Threescore years after
in the flesh it is as it were a slave in most hard and grievous bondage under a hard Master Therefore when it departeth from the body it is glad because it must go to the Garden of Paradise Thus ye see that in this life the soul is compared to a bond servant and slave Much more than this did he discourse of the immortality and blessedness of the Soul before them which we have omitted here And making then a Digression from that he lamented and wept most bitterly for the case of the City of Jerusalem saying Where is now â—…e City of Jerusalem that great and populous City Where is that most beautiful City of Sion and that holy City which rejoyceth the whole Earth O thou worship of Israel the miâ—…h of our hearts whither is thy glory come Where is thy magnificence O Jerusalem Where be the hillâ—… of the daughter of Sion Where be her Kings and Princes Where be the Kingâ—… that were accustomed to come to enquire of her welfare in her gates Where are her Sages and Elders her young and most valiant men which were jocund and merry in her streets upon her Sabbaths and Festival dayes Where is her famous Sanctuary the Dwelling of the Almighty God Where is the House of Sanctum Sanctorum the habitation of holiness wherein no man might set his foot but the high Priest which he never but once a year entred into but in thee O Jerusalem thou wa'st once replenished with people and renowâ—…ed amongst Kings beloved of God in thee was established the seat of the Kingdom of Justice and Judgement whose Streets were paved with most precious Marble whose walls glistred and shineâ—… with the same Stone whose Gates were every one plated with Gold and Silver whose Walls were builded with great Sâ—…ones most honourablâ—… whose Priests in the midst of the Sanctuary like to Angels of God and Princes of Holinesse with Sacrifices and burnt-offerings made the Lord loving to thee and thy people How art thou now full of slain men and carcâ—…ses which have perished some by the sword some by famine and how are thy sons that dwelt in thee and the strangers also that resorted to thee to honour thy Feasts brought to ruine now in thee How art thou fallen from the height of thy pride and how art thou set afire and burnt even unto thy foundations and art left desolate and solitary What eye is so hard that can behold thee What heart so stony that can endure to see thee How art thou become a burying place of carcases and how are thy streets made void and destitute of living creatures and they which heretofore were replenished with living are now stuffed with dead How hath the ashes of the fire covered thee that the Sun cannot come at thee How do the ancient men which in times past did fit in midst of thee in the seat of wisdom judgement and justice now fit by the carcases of their children to drive away Crows and beasts from them having their hoary heads besprinkled with dust and ashes instead of their glory and those women thy daughters that are left they remain in the houses of them that made thee desolate not that they may live but be unhallowed and polluted Who shall see all these things in thee and shall desire to live rather than to die Who knowing the magnificence thou hadst of laâ—…e and now shall see thine ignominy and dishonour of the same will not chuse to die And would God we had been dead before that we might not have seen in thee this thy reproach O that we were without eyes that we mâ—…ght not be compelled to see these mischiefs that are in the midst of thee And behold we live a most sorrowful life for our enemies even now afore we be dead cast lots for ouâ—… sons and daughters to divide them amongst them to be their servants and handmaids When Eleazar had ended this lamentation he spake to the people that was with himâ—… thus Now therefore Brethren and friends take compâ—…ssion of your selves your wives and children with the old men which be with you Let them not be led into bondage without all mercy that they be not constrained to mourn under the hands of their enemies For if you do this ye lose without doubt all places that are prepared for you in the world of righteousnessâ—… neither shall ye have any part in the light of liâ—…e Yâ—…a rather with your own hands kill tâ—…m For if â—…e will do so they shall be counted as sacrifiâ—…s most acceptable unto God And that done we will after issue out upon our enemies and fight against them till we die valiantly for the glory of the Lord. For we will never suffer them to bind us with bonds and chains as bondslaves in the hands of the uncircumcised Neither will we see our ancient men to be haled by the beards before our eyes most miserably nor yet our maids wives and daughters to be prophaned unhallowed and defloured nor our sons crying to us and we cannot help them Forwhat shall our life avail us after that our land is desolate our Sanctuary razed the Romans will ravish our wives and daughters before our eyes and oppress our sons with a most grievous and hard yoke Now therefore it is better for us all to kill our wives and children whose blood God shall accept thankfully as the blood of burnt offerings and after we will issue out upon the Romans fight till we be all destroyed and die for the glory of the Lord our God These men therefore went and gathered together their wives and daughters embraced them and kissed them saying Is it not better for you to die in your holy Country honourably than to be led away into bondage with great ignominy and shame into the Land of your enemies and be compelled to die before the Idols of the Gentiles These sayings when the people had heard they broke forth that night in to great sorrow and pensivenesse weeping and making great lamentation but they all confest with one accord that they had rather die than live Therefore as soon as it was day Eleazars companions killed their wives and children and cast their bodies into cesterns and wells that were in Mezirah covering and stopping them with earth Afterward issued Eâ—…eazar the Priest forth of the Town with all his men and forced a battel upon the Romans of whom the Jews killed a great nâ—…mber and fought so long till they all died mâ—…nfully for the Lord God But Titus left a remnant of Israel in the City Jafnah and the villages thereabout and in the City Bitter and Aâ—…ssa and their villages in which place Rabby Jochanan son of Sakkai was appointed chief Bonian the Priest younger bâ—…other to Jâ—…seph the Priest was put in authority by Titus for Josephs sake over all the Jews which were at Jerusalem At the same time was 〈◊〉 a Prince of Israel put to death and Ischmael son of Elischa â—…he high