shall do well to disanull them by reason of the vertue of the Iewes and the forwardnes they haue protested in performance of our seruice After Caius Caesars death the Consuls Marcus Antonius and Publius Dolobella assembled the Senate and hauing brought in Hircanus Embassadours they declared their requests and contracted amitie with them the Senate likewise ordained that each thing should be granted them that they required And Dolobella hauing receiued Hircanus letters sent them thorowout all Asia and to Ephesus which is the Metropolitane citie of Asia in these termes The generall Dolobella to the Princes Senate and people of Ephesus Health Alexander the sonne of Theodore Embassadour to Hircanus the high priest and prince of the Iewes hath giuen vs to vnderstand that his subiects cannot go on warfare because it is not lawful for them to beare armes nor to trauell on the Sabboth day as also for that they may not seeke for their victuals and other necessaries on that day according to the custome of their countrey for this cause I grant them exemption from the warre in like manner as my predecessors haue done permitting them to vse the ceremonies and rites of their country assembling themselues to make their oblations and sacrifices as their lawes and customes require in contributing to the offering of the sacrifices in the temple And my will is that you write to this effect to euery citie of the prouince See heere how Dolobella honoured Hircanus at such time as he sent his Embassadours vnto him Lucius Lentulus Consul pronounceth that the Iewes that are citizens of Rome and that obserue and offer the sacrifices of the Iewes in Ephesus before the tribunall be exempt from warfare by reason of their religion Giuen the ninteenth of October There are besides these many other Edicts and ordinances made to the like effect by the same generals and by the Romane Senate in fauour of Hircanus and our nation and some other cities In like sort there were diuers decrees and writs sent vnto the gouernours and rulers of the prouinces touching our priuiledges all which may be easily beleeued by those that shall read our Historie with no preiudicate opinion if they consider those that we haue heere inserted For we haue shewed most expresse and liuely testimonies of the friendship that we haue had with the Romanes and such as at this day are affixed to pillers and engrauen in tables of brasse in the Capitol and that hereafter shall remaine affixed for euer For which cause I haue thought it to be a friuolous and vnnecessarie matter to insert all in this place and I thinke that there is not any man of so sinister iudgement that will not beleeue how much we haue been esteemed by the Romans as they haue giuen testimonies by diuers decrees published in our behalfe neither may any man suppose that we lie considering the truth of that which we publish Thus haue we sufficiently declared the amitie and association that in times past we haue had with the Romans About this time it came to passe that the estate of Syria was sore troubled vpon the occasion that ensueth Caecilius Bassus one of Pompeies partakers laid an ambush for Sextus Caesar and slew him and seazing vpon his army vsurped the gouernment wherby there arose great warre nigh Apamea For Caesars captaines marched out against Caecilius with great force both of foote and horsemen to whom Antipater sent his sonnes with a power to second them in remembrance of the benefits he had receiued at Caesars hands supposing it to be an act of iustice that the murtherer should be punished for his so hainous offence Now whereas this war continued a long time Marcus came and succeeded Sextus Meane while Caesar was slaine by Cassius and Brutus in the midst of the Senate after he had commanded three yeeres and six moneths as it is expressed in an other place CHAP. XVIII Cassius afflicteth the Iewes and exacteth about eight hundreth talents at their hands AFter Caesars death the brand of ciuill war began to flame and the greatest men of Rome trauailed the one this way the other that way to gather men of warre But Cassius came into Syria with an intent to take the army that was neere to Apamea and hauing leuied the siege he drew both Bassus and Marcus to be of his faction and trauailing from Citie to Citie he gathered a number of souldiers and much furniture and imposed huge tributes but especially he afflicted Iewry and exacted of that countrey more then seuen hundreth talents of siluer Antipater seeing the state in so great feare and trouble committed the exaction of the two parts of this money to his sonnes the other he commanded to be assigned to Malichus who was his enemy and the other part vnto an other Herode first of all gathered that which was commanded him in the countrey of Galilee and for this cause was greatly beloued by Cassius for he being prudent and discreet thought it no small policie at that time to win the Romans good will by other mens expence Vnder the other gouernours the Cities were set to sale togither with their inhabitants and amongst them these foure were the chiefest namely Gophna Emaus Lydda and Thamna for Cassius sold the people thereof to them that would giue most Furthermore Cassius was so much transported with Choler that he had slaine Malichus so much was he moued against him if Hircanus had not restrained his furie by sending him one hundreth talents of his owne money by Antipater But as soone as Cassius was departed out of the countrey of Iudaea he practised Antipaters death supposing that his cutting off would assure Hircanus state the more strongly But Antipater was not ignorant of this his resolution for hauing an inckling thereof he got himselfe on the other side of Iordan and assembled an army of souldiers both Iewes and Arabians Hereupon Malichus who was a politike and subtill fellow denied stoutly that he had intended any treason purging himselfe with an oath before Antipater and his children that he had neuer any such intent especially for that he saw that Phasaelus hâ—…ld Ierusalem and Herode had an army at commaund And in the end perceiuing the difficultie wherein he was he reconciled himselfe to Antipater and they agreed at that time that Marcus gouerned Syria who perceiuing that Malichus began to raise troubles in Iewry resorted thither and theâ—… wanted little but that hee had slaine him had not Antipater by earnest request obtained his life CHAP. XIX Malichus poysoneth Antipater BVt imprudent Antipater saued Malichus to his owne mischiefe For when Cassius and Marcus had assembled their army they committed all the charge into Herodes hands and made him gouernour of Coelesyria and deliuered him great forces both of foot and horse and ships by sea They promised him likewise the kingdome of Iudaea after they had finished the war that was at that time betwixt them
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
against Hircanus with a great army and is disswaded from war by his father Antipater and his brother Phasaeluâ—… Hedio Ruffinus chap. 19. Hircanus embassadours to Caesar. The Iewes much honoured by the kings of Europe Asia Iulius Caesar testified in a braien pillar that the Iewes were free citizens of Alexandria Iulius Caesars decree as touching the honors immunities and priuiledges granted to thâ—… Iewes The yeare of the world 3922. before Christs birth 42. The yeare of the world 3922. before the Naâ—…itie of Christ. 42. M. Antonius and P. Dolobella bring Hircanus embassadors into the Senate Dolobeâ—… letters â—…o thâ—… Ephesians Lucius Lucullus in the French Lentulus in the Latine being Consul maketh an edict in behalfe of the Iewes Iosephus conclusion concerning these edicts The yeere of the world 3922. before Christs Natiuitie 42. Caecilius Bassuâ—… murthereth Sextus Caesar. Marcus succeedeth Sextus in Syria Caesar slaine by Cassius and Brutus Hedio Ruffinus chap. 20 Cassius commeth into Syria and exacteth more theÌ„ 700. talents of siluer from the Iewes Herode winneth Cassius heart by the money he leuieth in Galilee The yeare of the world 3923. before Christs birth 41. Malichus layeth in wait to muâ—…er Antipater but forsweareth the same and is reconciled Cassius and Marcus make Herode gouernour of Coelesyria The yeare of the world 3923. before Christs birth 41 Malichus causeth Antipater to be poisoned The yeare of the world 3924. before the birth of Christ. 40. The yeare of the world 3924. before Christs Natiuitie 40. Faelix assaileth Phasaelus in Ierusalem and is ouercome by him Ptolomey MeÌ„naeus adopteth Antigonus Aristobulus son Herode expelleth Antigonus out of Iurie Herode marrieth Maâ—…aÌ„me Hircanus neece by his daughter Doris Herods wife The iudge corrupted with money Hircanus embassadours present Antonius with a crowne of gold require the captiue Iewes liberty sold by Cassius Antonius writeth to Hircanus as touching Brutus and Cassius actions and deathes The yeare of the world 3924. before Christs birth 40. Marcus Antonius writeth to the magistrates of Tyre to restore Hircanus and the Iewes their lands goods and liberty The yeare of the world 3924. before Christs birth 40. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 21. Cleopatra coÌ„meth into Cilicia to Antonius Herode accused by one hundreth Iews before Antonius Antonius maketh Phasaclus and Herode Tetrarches A thousand Iewes repaire to Tyre to accuse Herode who are partly slaine partly wounded and partly put to flight The yeare of the world 3925. before Christs birth 39. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 23. Antigonus promiseth the Parthians a great summe of money to install him in the kingdome Pacorus sendeth horsemen to Antigonus in Iudaea The Iewes inhabiting about mount Carmel ioyne themselues with Antigonus The yeare of the world 3925. before Christs birth 39. Penticost Herode fighteth with his enemies in the suburbes Pacorus chieftaine of the Parthians entering the citie perswadeth Phasaelus to go embassador to Barzapharnes The Parthians complot trecheries against Phasaelus Hircanus and Phasaelus surprised by the Parthians The yeare of the world 3925. before Christs Natiuitie 39. The Parthians lay a plot to surprise Herod 〈◊〉 discouereth iâ—… and preuenteth them by flight Herode comforteth his friends in their flight Herode seeing his mothers chariot ouerturned is ready to murther himselfe Herode retiring toward Massada is assailed by the Parthians The Parthians spoile the citizens of Ierusalem and destroy Marissa The yearâ—… of the world 3925. before Christs birth 39. Antigonus restored to the kingdome by the Parthians cuâ—…th off Hircanus cares to preuent his reinstalment in the Priesthood Phasaelus dash eth out his owne braines Antigonus putteth poison into Phasaelus wounds in steed of curing him Herode flieth to Malchus king of Arabia to borow mony Herode is comanded out of Arabia and flieth into Egypts from thence after some stormes he repaireth to Rome where he certifieth Antonius of thatwhich had befallen him The yeare of the world 3925. before Christs birth 39. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 23. al. 25. Antonius loued Herode and hated Antigonus Caesar Augustus Herodes friend Herode admitted into the Senate and declared king Herode intending the kingdome for his wiues brother enioyeth the same himselfe Herode ascendeth the Capitol with Antonius Caesar. Herodes family besieged by Antigonus in Massada Ventidius vnder pretext to helpe Ioseph fisheth to get money of Antigonus The yeare of the world 3926. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 38. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 2â—… al. 16. Herode returning backe out of Italy leadeth forth his army against Antigonus Herode assaulteth Ioppe and taketh it Many submit themselues to Herode Ressa taken Massada deliuered from the siege after which Herode marcheth towards Ierusalem Herode proclaimeth about the wals of Ierusalem that he repaired thither for the good of the people the common-weale Antigonus vpbraideth Herode that he is but halfe a Iewe and of no kingly race The enemie repulseth Herodes power from the wall The yeare of the world 3927. before Christs Natiuitie 37. Silon suâ—…orneth some of his soldiers to take an occasion to depart from IerusaleÌ„ Herode procured and furnished the army with victuals and 〈◊〉 â—…ion Antigonus sendeth out soldiers to surprise Herodes victualers The Romans sent to their garrisons to winter Robbers Herode fighteth with his enemies in Galilee and ouercommeth them and bringeth all Galilee vnder his subiection Antigonus refuseth to victuall the Roman army Ventidius sendeth for Silon to war against the Parthians The yeare of the world 3927. before Christs birth 37. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 25. Herode leadeth his soldiers against those theeues that held the caues Herode letteth downe his soldiers from the top of the mountaine in cofers A certaine old man killeth his wife and seuen of his sons and at last casteth himselfe headlong from the rocke Herode retireth toward Samaria to fight with Antigonus Herodo punisheth the rebels in Galilee Ventidius ouercommeth Pacorus and the Parthians in battell Machaeras killeth many Iewes Herode resoluing to depart to Antonius and to accuse Machaeras is reconciled by him and leaueth his brother Ioseph with an armiâ—… behind him The yeere of the world 3927. before Christs Natiuitie 37. Herode repaireth to Antonius at the siege of Samosata in the way killeth many Barbarians Herode was honourably entertained by Antonius and his host The yeare of the world 3928. before the birth of Christ. â—…6 Sosius hath the army committed to his charge by Antonius who departeth into Egypt Ioseph Herods brother is slain by Antigonus The Galileans reuolt from Herode Machaeras fortifieth Geth Herode departeth from Daphne a suburbe of Antioch into Galilee Herode fighteth with the Galileans ouercommeth them and driueth them into a castle The yeare of the world 3928. before Christs birth 36. The house wherein Herod soleÌ„nized his feast fell downe when the guests were gone without any mans detriment Herode wounded by his enemies Antigonus sendeth Pappus to Samaria Fight in the
Ant. lib. 14. cap. 11. Alexanders mother striueth to pacifie Gabinius with rewards The change of y e gouernment of the Iewes Ant. lib. 14. cap. 12. Aristobulus escaping from Rome raiseth new troubles Aristobulus fighteth with the Romans The Romans obtaine the victory and cary away Aristobulus and his son to Rome Alexander Aristobulus son once more prouoketh the Iewes to rebellion The Iewes ouercome by the Romans Gabinius ouercommeth the Nabathaeans in battell Ant. lib. 14. cap 13. Marcus crassus taketh away the rest of the gold of the temple Antipaters wife a noble woman of Arabia The yeare of the world 3917 before Christs birth 47. Ant lib. 14. cap. 14. Caesar deliuereth Aristobulus from his bonds Aristobulus his son slain by PoÌ„peies frieÌ„ds Ant. lib. 14. cap. 15. Ptolemaeus son marieth Antigonus yonger daughter and for that cause is slaine by his father Ant. lib. 14. cap. 16. Mithridates goeth to Pelusium therby obtaineth Antigonus helpe Mithridates victory against the Egyptians Antipater performeth many noble exploits and exposeth himselfe to all daunger for Caesars sake Caesar maketh Antipater a free citizen of Rome Antigonus Aristobulus son commeth to Caesar to accuse Pompeies friends for his fathers death The yeare of the world 3917. before the birth of Christs 47. Antigonus fallely accuseth Hyrcanus and Antipater Antipater casting off his garment sheweth his many woundes Caesar createth Hyrcanus hie priest and to Antipater he giueth the gouerâ—…ment of Iudaea Ant. lib. 14. cap. 16. Antipater repaireth y e wals of his country Antipater chargeth his subiects to obey Hyrcanus Phasaelus and Herode Antipaters sonnes Herodes fortitude Herod banisheth y e theeues out of Syria Phasaelus obtained the fauour of the people of Ierusalem Hyrcanus animated by enuious men against Antipater and his sonnes Herode called to his answere before the councell The yeare of the world 3922. before Christs birth 24. Hyrcanus absolueth Herod Hircanus once more incited by the wicked Herode gathering a great army commeth to Ierusalem to depose Hyrcanus Herode disswaded by Antipater from attempting against Hyrcanus Bassus murthereth Sextus Caesar by treason Marcus Sextus successor Ant. lib. 14. cap. 2. Iulius Caesar slaâ—…ne by Brutus Cassius Cassius leuieth money in the cities Herode Cassius friend Cassius seuere in his exactions The yeare of the world 3922. before Christs birth 42. Malichus forgetfull of Antipaters kindnes Antipater gathereth an armie against Malichus Octauius Augustus succeedeth after Caesar Cassius promiseth Herode after the warre to make him king of Iudaea Antipater poisoned by Malichus Herode intendeth to reuege his fathers death Malichus ioyneth with Hyrcanus Cassius chargeth Herode by letters to reuenge his fathers death The decree of fate laugheth at human hope Herods tribunes murther Malichus The yeare of the world 3923 before Christs birth 41. Ant. lib. 14. cap. 20. Foelix commeth with an army against Phasaelus Phasaelus ouercommeth Foelix toucheth Hyrcanus with ingratitude Antigonus Aristobulus son put to flight by Herode Doris Herods first wife of good birth by whom he had Antipater The chiefest Iewes repaire to Caesar to accuse Phasaelus and Herod Ant. lib. 14. cap 21. The Iewes once more coÌ„plaine against y e two brothers Antonius maketh the two brothers Tetrarches Antonius coÌ„mandeth in Tyre Sedition in IerusaleÌ„ against the brethren Antonius slue the captiues The yeare of the world 3923. before the birth of Christ. 41. Ant. lib. 14. cap. 21. Lysanias persuadeth Batzapharnes to depose Hyrcanus and enstate Antigonus A sore fight in the market place betwixt Antigonus and Hyrcanus Daily slaughters in Ierusalem Phasaelus entertaineth the Parthians and with him fiue hundreth horse Pacorus treason and subtiltie The yeare of the world 3924. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 40. * Or free Herode in Ierusalem and Phasaelus in the camp are in danger of their liues The yeare of the world 3924. before Christs birth 40. Herod is laid for to be betraied Herode in the night time flieth into Idumaea Herod more hotely pursued by the Iewes then the Parthians Herods victory Herodium Massada Petra a citie of Arabia The yeare of the world 3925. before Christs birth 39. Antigonus â—…weth off Hircanus eares Phasaelus words before he died The Parthians establish Antigonus king The yeare of the world 3925. before Christs Natiuitie 39. Animaters to impudence Herode perceiueth the Arabians to be his enemies Herod in great dangers repaireth to Rome Herod repairing to Rome hath conference with Antonius Ant. lib. 14. cap. 13. Herod â—…ndeth both Caesar and Antonius fauourable vnto him Herode praised before the Senate Herode made king by the 〈◊〉 Romane Senate The yeare of the world 3925 before Christs birth 39. Ant. lib. 14. cap. 23. Antigonus getteth Massada The wars between Antigonus soldiers Ioseph Herods brother Ventidius the Romane generall taketh money from Antigonus Ant. lib. 14. cap. 24. Herod against Antigonus Herod intendeth that after he hath taken Massada and Ioppe to besiege Ierusalem Herod begirteth Ierusalem with a siege proclaimeth the cause of his comming Siloes subtiltie being corrupted by y e Iewes Herod gathereth great store of prouision The yeare of the world 3925. before Christs birth 39. Herod accompanied with ten troupes commeth to Iericho The Romane got a great pray Ant. lib. 14. cap. 24. Herod taketh the citie of Sephoris Herode setteth forth against the theeues The yeare of the world 3926. before Christs birth 38. Ant. lib. ca. 25. The description of the caues where the theeues kept The yeere of the world 3926. before Christs birth 38. Ptolemey captaine of Herods souldiers slaine Machaeras iniquitie The yeare of the world 3927. before Christs birth 37. Antonius admireth Herods valour Antigonus cruelty against Iosephs care as The yeare of the world 3927. before Christs Natiuitie 37. Herode certified of his brothers death in a dreame Herods dining roume fell after he had forsaken it and gone to bed The number of the carcasses hinder the souldiers passage The yeare of the world 3928 before Christs birth 36. Herode beheadeth Pappus Antigonus captaine Ant. lib. 14. cap. 1â—… Ierusalem besieged The yeare of the world 3929 before Christs birth 35. The Iewes valiantly defend themselues Herods souldiers after fiue moneths siege enter the citie Slaughter in Ierusalem Sosius taketh Antigonus The yeare of the world 3929. before the birth of Christ. 35. Herode liberally bestoweth mony vpoÌ„ the souldiers Antigonus beheaded Ant. lib. 14. cap. 1. Cleopatras cruelty against her kinred Cleopatras couetousnes The yeare of the world 3934. before Christs birth 30. Ant. lib. 15. cap. 5. Clapatras subtill treason against Herode The yeare of the world 3934. before Christs birth 30. Ant. lib. 15. cap. 6. The Arabians defeat Herods army The Actian warre between Antonius and Augustus Another calamitie of Herodes Herodes oration to his dismaied souldiers Feare giueth confidence Thâ—… yâ—…re of 〈◊〉 world 3934. befoâ—… Christs birth 30. Herodes peroration Herode sacrificeth to God before the battell Herode assaileth the enemie The Arabiâ—…
fall vpon the Israelites that there is not any tongue that may expresse the same or man that may beleeue it The sonnes of Eli shall die and the Priesthood shall be transported into the family of Eleazar For Eli hath more loued his children then my seruice and more then was expedient for them Eli inforced the Prophet by imprecations to declare vnto him that which he had heard But Samuel for feare he should discomfort him would not disclose the same vnto him which made him the more assured of the intended and imminent death of his sonnes And because that which Samuel prophecied in effect proued true his reputation increased daily more and more In that time the Philistines leading out their armie against the Israelites incamped neere vnto the Citie of Amphec and for that the Hebrewes were negligent to withstand them they passed further into the countries thereabout so that in fighting with their enemies the Philistines at last got the vpper hand and slew the Hebrewes and had them in chace for the space of foure miles pursuing the rest of those that fled euen vnto their owne tents Whereupon the Hebrewes grew iealous and affraid of their whole estate and therefore sent they to the councell of the Elders and the high Priest praying them to bring the Arke of God with them to the end that hauing it in presence with them they might strike the battell and ouercome their enemies But they bethought them not that he that had pronounced the sentence of their calamitie against them was greater then the Arke which was made for him The Arke then was brought and the sonnes of Eli attended it whom their father had expresly commaunded that if it so fell out that the Arke were taken they should neuer more come before his presence except they would die Now Phinees executed the office of the high Priest by the permission of his father by reason he was verie aged The Hebrewes because of the presence of the Arke conceiued very great hope and assurance that they should haue the vpper hand of their enemies The Philistines likewise were sore amazed fearing the presence of the same but the issues were not answerable according to the one or the others expectation For when they ioyned battell the victorie which the Hebrewes hoped should be theirs fell vnto the Philistines the losse which the Philistines feared fell vpon the Hebrewes who at last perceiued that they had reposed their confidence on the Arke all in vaine For as soone as their enemies and they fought pell mell with them they turned their backs and lost about thirtie thousand men amongst whom the sonnes of the high Priest were slaine and the Arke was taken and carried away by the enemie CHAP. XII Eli vnderstanding of the losse of his sonnes fell from his seate and died AS soone as the newes of this ouerthrow was brought into Silo and that it was certainly knowne that the Arke was taken for a young Beniamite who was at the execution was come to bring tidings thereof all the Citie was filled with sorrow and Eli the high Priest who sate in one of the gates on a high throne vnderstanding the lamentation and iudging that some desaster had befallen his people sent to seeke out this young messenger by whom he was aduertised of that which had hapned This accident of his sonnes and the army he bare with great moderation because that before that time he had vnderstood by God what should happen for those aduersities which are least suspected do more grieuously oppresse vs at such time as they happen But when he knew that the Arke was surprised and in the enemies hands by reason that it hapned beyond his expectation he was in such sort attainted with griefe that he suffered himselfe to fall from his throne vpon the ground where he died he liued ninetie and eight yeares in all and had spent fortie of them in the gouernment of the people The same day died the wife of Phinees the sonne of Eli who had no more power to liue when she vnderstood of the misfortune of her husband for she was with child at such time as the message of this his death was brought vnto her and she brought forth a sonne in the seuenth month which liued and was called Ichabod which signifieth ignominie by reason of the infamie receiued at that time by the armie Eli was the first that gouerned among the successours of Ithamar one of the sonnes of Aaron for before that time the house of Eleazar was possessed of the Priesthood the sonne receiuing it from his father Eli transferred it to Phinees after him Abiezar his sonne occupied the place and left it to his sonne Boci whose sonne called Ozes receiued it after whom Eli of whom we speake at this present tooke the same whose posteritie retained that dignitie till the time of the raigne of Salomon for at that time the posteritie of Eleazar were reinstalled THE SIXTH BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 6. booke 1 How the Palestines compelled by pestilence and famine sent the Arke of God backe againe vnto the Hebrewes 2 The victorie of the Hebrewes vnder the conduct of Samuel 3 How Samuel when his strength failed him thorow age committed the administration of the affaires to his sonnes 4 How the people being offended with the manners of Samuels sonnes required a King that might rule ouer them 5 Saul by Gods commaundement was annointed King 6 Sauls victorie against the Ammonites 7 The Palestines assailing the Hebrewes are ouercome by them in battell 8 The victorie of Saul against the Amalechites 9 Samuel translateth the Royall dignitie vnto Dauid 10 The expedition of the Palestines against the Hebrewes 11 Dauids single fight with Golias and the slaughter of the Palestines that succeeded 12 Saul admiring Dauids fortitude giueth him his daughter in marriage 13 How the King sought Dauids death 14 How Dauid oftentimes hardly escaped from the kings treasons yet hauing him twice in his power how he would not hurt him 15 The Hebrewes are ouercome in a great battell by the Palestines wherein Saul the king and his sonnes fighting valiantly are slaine CHAP. I. How the Palestines compelled by pestilence and famine sent backe the Arke of couenant vnto the Hebrewes AFter that the Philistines had gotten the victorie ouer the Hebrewes and taken the sacred Arke as we haue before this declared they brought it with other their spoiles vnto the City of Azot and placed it in maner of a trophee in the Temple of Dagon their Idoll But on the next day after when earely in the morning they came and entred into the Temple to adore their god they found him fallen from that base or pillar that sustained him and lay along vpon the ground his face vpward before the Arke whereat being fore moued they tooke and fastned him in his former place
expressing their affection therein not onely in outward shew but also with their whole power labouring what they might that surprising him they might deliuer him to the kings hands But their iniust desire had as infortunate successe who being to incurre no perill by concealing him from pursuit promised to betray into the kings hands thorow adulation and auarice a man that was both vertuous and wrongfully persecuted to death by his enemies For Dauid being made priuie to their malice and ascertained of the Kings approch leauing those narrow streights wherin they then incamped escaped to a certaine rocke which is situate in the desarts of Simon Neither desisted Saul to pursue him for knowing by the way that he had ouercome the streights he came to the other side of the rock Dauid had surely both bin taken and circumuented had not the king beene reuoked by fearfull tidings which assured him that the Palestines had forcibly entred and spoiled his kingdome For he thought it more conuenient to reuenge himselfe on those his hostile and sworne enemies and to giue succour to his countrey and people being ready to be spoiled and wasted then vnder desire to lay hands on a priuate enemie to betray both his countrie subiects to their swords and thus was Dauid saued beyond all expectation and retired himselfe to the streights of Engaddi But after that Saul had repulsed the Palestines certaine newes was brought him that Dauid dwelt in the streights of Engaddi whereupon presently taking with him three thousand of the choisest men in all his armie heled them speedily to the forenamed place and being not farre from thence he perceiued neere vnto the high way a deepe hollowe large long and open caue whereas Dauid with his foure hundreth men might be hidden and descended himselfe alone into the caue to disburthen the necessities of nature This was presently discouered by one of Dauids followers who told him that God had presented him a fit oportunitie to reuenge him on his enimie and counselled him to cut off Sauls head and discharge himselfe thereby of much trouble and torment who arising and finding him out onely cut off the lap of the vesture wherewith Saul was attired and presently thereupon repented himself saying that it were a wicked deed in him to kil his lord whom God by election had raised to the estate of Maiestie and Empire For said he although he be vniust toward me yet ought I not to be iniurious towards him But when Saul was issued out of the caue Dauid went out after and cried with a loud voice beseeching Saul that he would giue him audience who turning backe vnto him he cast himselfe prostrate before his feete and humbled him on his face according to the custome and spake after this manner How vnworthie is it for thee O King that opening thy eares to scandalous backbiters and giuing trust and credit to vaine loose men thou suspectest thy most tried friends whom thou rather oughtest to iudge by their sincere and vpright actions for words may be either false or true but the mind may be discouered by none more apparant arguments then by mens actions as at this present thou maist iudge whether thou hast rashly beleeued them that make me guiltie before thy Maiestie of that crime that was neuer yet so much as thought vpon and haue so much exasperated thee against me that day and night thou thinkest on nothing more then my destruction Seest thou not now how vaine thy opinion is whereby they perswade thee that I am an enimie of thy house and earnestly desirous of thy death Or with what eies thinkest thou doth God behold thy crueltie who requirest his death who hauing occasion and opportunitie offered him to be reuenged on thee spareth thy life whose life were it in thy hands were assuredly lost for as easily might I haue cut off thy head as this lap of thy garment and therewithall in confirmation of his words he shewed it him yet did I forbeare this iust reuenge yet contrariwise art not thou afraid to exercise thy vniust tyrannies against me But God shall beare witnesse hereof and shall approue which of vs both are of more peaceable behauiours Saul amased to see how straungely his life had beene preserued and rauished to consider the naturall mildnes and moderation in Dauid began to weepe and Dauid wept also but Saul said that he had greater cause to lament then he For said he by thy meanes haue I receiued many benefits and thou at my hands hast been repaid with infinit iniuries This day hast thou testified that thou retainest the ancient iustice of thy progenitors who commaunded that their enemies should be dismissed with life at such time as they were surprised in the desart now am I thorowly perswaded that God hath reserued the kingdome for thee and that the Empire of all the Hebrewes attendeth thee Assure thou me therefore by an oth that thou wilt not exterminate my race neither remember thee of those iniuries I haue done vnto thee but that sparing my posteritie thou warrantise and keepe them vnder thy protection Dauid sware vnto him according as he had required and suffered him to returne into his Realme and both he and his companies retired themselues to the streights of Maspha About the same time died Samuel the Prophet a man who by his merit was in great estimation amongst the Hebrewes the famous testimonie of whose vertue and the peoples obseruation towards him was expressed in this in that they celebrated his funerall and set out his sepulcher with great pompe and when they had performed his rites they buried him in Ramath his countrey and lamented him many daies not after the manner of a common or forraine misery but as if each one of them had in particular a preiudice and losse to lament for For he was a man that was naturally framed to all iustice and goodnes and for these his vertues most acceptable vnto God He gouerned the people after the death of Eli the high Priest first in his owne person for the space of twelue yeares and afterwards during the raigne of Saul eighteene yeares whose death hapned as I said about this time But in those places where Dauid at that time remained there was a certaine Ziphian in a towne called Emma a man verie rich and Lord of much cattell For he had a troupe of three thousand sheepe and a heard of a thousand Goats On these did Dauid commaund his people to commit no waste neither thorow desire nor necessitie nor hope of concealement they should doe him any hurt Charging them moreouer that they should offer no wrong vnto any man because that to violate and take another mans goods was both vnlawfull and wicked and contrarie to Gods commandement Hee instructed them in this sort imagining with himselfe that he should gratifie a good man and such a one as deserued to be in like sort fauoured but
betweene the Romanes and the Iewes CHAP. XVIII Bacchides is sent once againe into Iudaea and obtaineth a victory WHen as Nicanors death and the discomfiture of his army was reported to Demetrius he sent a new army into Iudaea vnder the conduct of Bacchides who departing from Antioch and repairing to Iudaea encamped in Arbela a city of Galilee where hauing inforced conquered and taken a great number of those that were retired into caues he departed from thence and repaired in all haste to Ierusalem And vnderstanding that Iudas was encamped in the village of Berzeth he marched out against him with twentie thousand footmen and two thousand horsemen Now Iudas had not on his side in all aboue two thousand men who perceiuing the multitude of Bacchides soldiers were afraid so that some of them forsaking their camp fled away by which meanes there remained no more with Iudas but eight hundreth men Seeing himselfe therefore abandoned by so many of his men and pressed by his enemies who gaue him neither truce nor time to reassemble his forces he resolued to fight with those eight hundreth which he had whom he exhorted to be of good courage and to fight valiantly but they answered that they were insufficient to make head against so huge an army and counsailed him to retire and to stand on his guard for that time vntill he had gathered forces that might be able to confront the enemy But Iudas replied to this effect God forbid said he that the sunne should see me turne my backe vpon mine enemies And if by this meanes I meete with my death and that I must needes spend ◅y last bloud in this battell I will neuer soile so many notable actions so worthily atchieued nor staine so much glorie obtained with so great vertue by one ignominious flight And hauing in this sort exhorted the small remnant of those souldiers that were with him he commanded them that without any apprehension of danger they should bend themselues altogither against the enemy CHAP. XIX Iudas ouercome in the battell dieth BVt Bacchides drew out his army and arranged them in battell placing the horsemen on both the wings his light armed souldiers and archers in the front of the army and after these a strong band called the Macedonian Phalanx and he himselfe led the right wing of the battell And in this array he approched Iudas campe and caused the trumpets to be sounded commanding all his souldiers to giue a great shoute to charge their enemies Iudas did the like and encountred Bacchides so that on both sides there was a most cruell conflict which continued vntill the sunne-set And when as Iudas perceiued that Bacchides and the flower of his army fought in the right wing he chose out a certaine number of his most resolute followers and drew towards that quarter and setting vpon them he brake their squadron and afterwards thrusting into the midst of them he forced them to flie and pursued them as farre as the mount Aza They of the left wing perceiuing the flight of those in the right went after Iudas and enclosed him on the backpart He being vnable to flie and seeing himselfe enclosed by his enemies resolued with his souldiers to fight it out When as therefore he had slaine a great number of his enemies and being enfeebled more through wearinesse then by the woundes receiued of them he fell to the ground and was himselfe at last slaine likewise adding this honourable manner of death to his former notable and valiant exploites His souldiers seeing him dead and hauing no gouernour of respect left amongst them after the losse of so valiant a captaine betooke them all to flight Simon and Ionathan his brothers vpon intreatie recouered his body and carried it to Modim a place where his father was buried there was he interred by all the people who wept for him diuers daies and honoured him publikely according to the custome of their countrey Such was Iudas end who was a valiant man a great warriour and verie respectiue of the commandements of his father Matthias hauing done and suffered all that he might for the libertie of his countrey Being therefore after this manner adorned with vertue he hath left behinde him a perpetuall renowne of his worthy actes and an honourable memorie of himselfe obtained by the libertie in which hee reestablished his nation retyring them from the seruitude of the Macedonians who died also after he had discharged the office of the high priest for the space of three yeeres THE XIII BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 13. booke 1 Ionathan after his brother Iudas death succeedeth him in the gouernment 2 Ionathan hauing wearied Bacchides by warre compelleth him to draw to a league and to depart away with his army 3 Alexander the sonne of Antiochus Epiphanes maketh warre vpon King Demetrius 4 Demetrius sendeth an embassador to Ionathan with presents perswading him to be of his faction 5 Alexander by greater proffers then Demetrius did offer and by offering the high Priests place to Ionathan draweth him to fauour his faction 6 Of the temple of God builded by Onias 7 How Alexander after the death of Demetrius highly honoured Ionathan 8 Demetrius the sonne of Demetrius ouercomming Alexander possesseth the kingdome and plighteth friendship with Ionathan 9 Tryphon Apamenus after he had ouercome Demetrius reserueth the kingdome for Antiochus Alexanders sonne who receiueth Ionathan into fauour 10 Demetrius being ouercome by the Parthians Tryphon breaketh his couenant of peace and laying hold on Ionathan traiterously killeth him and afterwards assaulteth Simon his brother 11 How the nation of the Iews cōmitted both the priesthood the gouernment of the army to Simon 12 Simon driuing Tryphon into Dora besiegeth him and entreth friendship with Antiochus surnamed Pius 13 A debate arising betweene Antiochus and Simon Cendebaeus the kings captaine is driuen out of the countrey 14 How Simon was traiterously slaine at a banquet by Ptolomey his father in law 15 How Prolomies endeuours being made frustrate Hircanus obtained the gouernment 16 How Antiochus surnamed the Iust leading an army against Hircanus for three hundreth talents is both reconciled and tied in league of friendshippe 17 Hircanus expedition into Syria 18 How Antiochus Cyzicenus assisting the Samaritanes is both conquered and enforced to flie 19 Aristobulus was the first that set the Diademe on his head 20 The actes of Alexander King of the Iewes 21 The victorie of Ptolomey Lathurus against Alexander 22 Demetrius Eucaerus ouercommeth Alexander in battell 23 The expedition of Antiochus Dionysius into Iewry 24 Alexander being dead his wife Alexandra succeeded him in the kingdome CHAP. I. Ionathan after the decease of his brother Iudas succeedeth him in the gouernment WE haue declared in our former booke how the nation of the Iewes after they had been vnder the subiection of the Macedonians recouered their liberty we
haue obeyed him Aristobulus submitted and in discontent repaired to Ierusalem with full intent to prepare for warre Not long after this when as Pompey marched towards him with his army certaine messengers comming from Pontus certified him of Mithridates death who was slaine by his sonne Pharnaces CHAP. VII They of Ierusalem shut their gates against the Romanes WHen Pompey was encamped neere vnto Iericho in which place there were a number of Date trees and where also groweth that balme which is the most precious of all other oyntments distilling from a little shrub which is opened and slit by a sharpe cutting stone the next morning he marched towards Ierusalem At that time Aristobulus being sorie for his misbehauiour came vnto him offering him money and promising him to receiue him into Ierusalem he besought him that dismissing publike enmities and quarrels he would peaceably doe what him listed hereafter Whereupon Pompey pardoned him and condescended to his request and sent Gabinius with his soldiers both to receiue the money as also to enter the citie but his purpose failed him in both for Gabinius returned because he was excluded out of the citie neither receiued he any money for that Aristobulus soldiers would not permit that any promise should be performed Hereupon Pompey waxed wroth so that after he had committed Aristobulus to prison he went in person against the citie which was strongly fortified on euerie side except toward the quarter that extendeth northward which was easie to be beaten downe for this side is inuironed with a large and deepe valley compassing the temple which is inclosed with a meruailous strong wall of stone CHAP. VIII Pompey taketh the Temple and lower part of the Citie perforce BVt within the Citie there grew a diuision and faction by reason of the difference and dissident opinions of those that kept the same for some thought good to yeeld vp the citie into Pompeies hands othersome that were of Aristobulus faction counsailed that the gates should be kept shut and preparation for warre should be made for that the Romanes detained Aristobulus prisoner These later preuailing more then the rest seazed the temple and breaking downe the bridge which was betwixt it the Citie addressed themselues to stand on their defence But the others not onely deliuered the Citie into Pompeies hands but the royall pallace also who sent Piso his lieutenant thither with his forces to take possessiō therof to plant his garrisons therein and to fortify the houses neere adioining the temple whatsoeuer conuenient habitation without the walles First therefore Piso offered the besieged certaine conditions of peace which for that they refused he fortified and shut them in on euerie side being in all these his indeuours assisted by Hircanus On the out side of the Citie Pompey incamped with his army on the north part of the temple which was the easiest and meetest side to be assaulted on this side also there were certaine high towers and a huge trench besides a deepe valley tha◅ begirt the temple For towards the citie all waies and passages were so broken vp that no man could either go vp or downe and the bridge was taken away on that side where Pompey was encampt Each day did the Romanes trauell earnestly to raise a mount and cutting downe all the timber round about them hauing fitly applied the same the trench being fild vp although very hardly by reason of the incredible depth thereof the Rammes and Engines that were brought from Tyre were addressed with which they inforced and darted stones against the temple and had not the ordinance of the countrey commaunded to keepe the Sabbath which was the seuenth day of the weeke holy and to labour in no sort on that day the Romans had neuer bin able to haue raised their bulwarke if they within the temple had opposed themselues against them For the law permitteth to defend themselues against their enemies at such time as they are assailed vrged to fight but not assaile them when they intend any other worke Which when the Romanes vnderstood they neither gaue assault nor proffered skirmish on those daies which we call Sabbaths but they built their fortifications and towers and planted their engines so that the next day they were readie to put them in vse against the Iewes And hereby it is easie to coniecture how incredible the piety of our nation is how studious industrious they be in obseruing the diuine lawes For notwithstanding any present or imminent feare yet desisted they neuer to offer their solemne sacrifices but twice a day in the morning about the ninth houre the Priests offered vpon the altar notwithstanding any difficultie or daunger of the siege that might happen they omitted not the course of their oblations For at such time as the temple was taken in the third moneth and on a fasting day in the hundreth seuentie nine Olympiade in the yeere wherein Caius Antonius and Marcus Tullius Cicero were Consuls the enemy entred the temple by force and slue those that withstood them Yet notwithstanding all this the priests ceased not to exercise their accustomed sacrifice and neither the hazard of their liues nor the great number of those that were dead could force them to fly but that they held it more conuenient for them to indure all things that might happen in attending vpon the Altar thē to transgresse or vary one iot from their ordinances And that this may seeme to be no fable or praise of their dissembled deuotion but the exact and perfect truth all those that write the Histories concerning Pompey and his actes do witnesse no lesse amongst the number of which are Strabo Nicholas Titus Liuius the Romane Historiographer the most famous among the rest The greatest of those towers was battered by these engines and fell bearing a great pane of the wall to the earth with it which was the cause that the enemies in multitudes brake in by the breach The first that ascended the wal was Cornelius Faustus the sonne of Sylla with his soldiers After him mounted the Centurion Furius accompanied with those that followed him on the other side and thorow the midst of the breach did the Centurion Fabius enter with a strong squadron The whole circuite was filled with murthers and some of the Iewes died by the Romanes swords other some slue one another the rest cast themselues downe headlong from the steepie places many likewise set fire on their houses and consumed themselues therein for feare they should behold the executions that were performed by their enemies There died about twelue thousand Iewes and verie few Romanes Absolom also who was Aristobulus father in law and vncle was taken prisoner The religion of the temple likewise was not a little prophaned For whereas before that time no prophane man eyther entered or beheld that which was in the temple Pompey and diuers others that accompanied him entred the
in couert vntill such time as the passengers had recouered the plaine Now when the formost were past the ambush consisting of about some fiue hundreth horsemen sodainly charged Herode who was in the rereward when as therefore they had broken the former ranks whom they had met Herode with his troupe that was about him incontinently repulsed them and after he had encouraged his followers and whetted them on to the fight he wrought so much that he made those that fled to turne their faces and to fight so that the Barbarians were put to the sword on all sides The king also pursued them so long vntill at last he recouered that which had been taken by them which was a certaine number of sumpter horses and slaues But being charged afresh by others and they in greater number then those who encountred him at first he likewise rallying his forces togither charged and ouercame them and killing diuers of them he secured the way to those that followed after who al of them acknowledged him for their preseruer and guide When he drew neere vnto Samosata Anthony sent out his army in goodly array to meete and honour him and with all to succour him in that he had heard that the Barbarians had assailed him As soone as he came to Anthonies presence he entertained him kindly and after he had heard that which had befallen him in the way he embraced him in admiration of his vertue and did him great honour as to him whom a little before he had raised to royall dignitie Not long after this Antiochus surrendred the fort of Samosata to Anthony and vpon this occasion the warre was ended Whereupon Anthony committed the prouince with the army to Sosius and after he had commanded him to succour Herode he departed into Aegypt Sosius therefore sent two legions of souldiers before into Iudaea to succour Herode and afterwards hee followed with the rest of his army In the meane while Ioseph died in Iewry on this occasion that ensueth For forgetting his brother Herodes commandement which he gaue him at such time as he repaired to Anthony hee tooke to him fiue companies of souldiers which Machaeras had left him and marching towards Ierico to gather in the fruits of the field he pitched his tents vpon the mountaines And for that the Roman troupes were but newly leuied consisted of those men who were vntrained in the wars and for the most part were gathered out of the countrey of Coelesyria the enemies hauing aduertisement hereof assailed and surprised him in certaine places of disaduantage where there was a hot skirmish betweene them in which Ioseph died fighting valiantly and all his army was discomfited for six companies of them were slaine After that the dead bodies were at Antigonus command he cut off Iosephs head which Phaeroras his brother ransomed for the price of fiftie talents Which done the Galileans reuolting from their gouernours drowned Herodes partakers in the lake so that diuers commotions and troubles were raised in Iewry Machaeras he fortified the Castle of Geth This misfortune of Iosephs was reported to the king in a certaine suburbe of Antioch called Daphne who before the tidings had already conceiued some suspition and feare grounded vpon certaine dreames which gaue him certaine intelligence of his brothers death Departing therefore from thence with all expedition hee arriued neere to the mount Libanus where he tooke about 800. men with him and a Roman legion which he had and from thence came to Ptolemais from whence he departed with his army by night and crossed Galilee with them Wherupon the enemies came forth against him and were ouercome by him and shut vp in a fort from whence they were departed but the day before where Herode assailed them by breake of day But being vnable to offer them any preiudice by reason of the indisposition of the weather he led his men into the villages neer adioyning But when Antonius second legion was come and annexed to his forces they that were within the forte were dismaied and forsooke the same by night So that Herode marched with all diligence to Iericho with an intent to reuenge his brothers death and being encamped neere vnto the same hee banquetted and entertained the chieftaines of his armie and after the feast was ended and he had dismissed his companie hee withdrewe himselfe into his lodging In vvhich place it appeared how much God loued the king for the roofe of the house where hee had solemnized his feast fell downe vvithout hurt to any one vvhomsoeuer for no man was left vvithin it Whence it came to passe that each one perswaded himselfe that Herode vvas beloued by God considering hee had auoyded so great and vnexpected a perill The next day sixe thousand of his enemies came downe from the toppe of the mountaines to fight with him who affrighted the Romanes and their forelorne hope chased Herodes soldiers with darts and stones who was himselfe also hurt in the thigh with an arrow Antigonus sent a captaine to Samaria whose name was Pappas with some soldiers intending thereby to signifie vnto his enemies that he had more men of warre then he needed Pappus drew neere to Machaeras the Romane captaine and as touching Herode he tooke fiue cities by force and put some two thousand of them that were in garrison to the sword and afterwards hauing set the houses on fire he went out to encounter Pappus who was encamped in aborough called Isanas Diuers that came from Iericho Iurie submitted themselues to Herode who drawing neere the enemie who marched forward with great hardines fought with him and ouercame him and being inflamed with a great desire that he had to reuenge his brothers death he pursued them that fled and slue them euen within their borough The houses were incontinently filled with men of war and diuers fled hid themselues vpon the tops therof who were at last taken for the roofes of the houses were beaten downe and he saw that all was filled with soldiers whereby diuers were slaine by stones that were darted at them from aboue and afterwards cast and kild them by heapes which was the most grieuous spectacle of all those that had hapned in those warres to see an infinite number of bodies hidden one vnder another amidst the roumes of the houses This exploite of Herode did verie much abate the courage of his enemie who hereafter expected farre more worse fortune at his hands For a man might haue seene them flie away in heapes and had not a sodaine and forcible tempest fallen vpon them the triumphant army of Herode had incontinently entered Ierusalem with assurance of victory which had made a finall end of all that warre For Antigonus each day bethought him how to fly away and to forsake the citie But for that it was alreadie growen darke Herode commaunded his soldiers to refresh themselues and for that he himselfe was wearie
countrimen haue been the actors of our tragedie This considered if any man of too seuere and stoicall iudgement shall reprehend this my lamentation let such a one attribute the deeds I recount to the historie which I write and reserue the lamentations and sorrowes therof to me who am the historiographer although in my mind I may iustly challenge the smoothe tounged Grecians for that notwithstanding these our so miserable and so memorable warres hapned in their daies in respect wherof all other former troubles were obscure and of no reckoning they haue restrained their tongues pens and vndertaken an ouercurious silence to the end they might carpe at those with greater libertie who vndertake the publishing thereof whom though in learning and eloquence they both exceede and outstrip yet are they inferiour vnto them in the matter and subiect they intreat of For they forsooth discipher and set downe the valiant acts of the Assyrians and Medes as who should say the ancient writers had but coldly and scarce conceitfully handled the same and yet God knoweth they come so far behinde those auncient authors in their writings as they neither second them in sense nor equall them in vnderstanding For such as in times past published any worthy historie endeuoured to write that which they themselues had seene and for that each of them were eie witnesses of those affaires they committed to writing they more effectually performed all that which they promised the rather for that they accounted it to be an act of dishonestie to report and publish lies in steed of a historie And truely in my opinion that man is both worthy commendation and praise who striueth by his studious indeuours to register not onely the occurrences of times past but also those memorable euents that haue hapned in his daies and he only and truely is to be accounted industrious not that altereth and prâ—…neth at his pleasure an other mans works but he that of himselfe compileth a historie wherof no man hath before time written For mine owne part the rather for that I am a stranger I haue beene inforced to my no small labour and expence to refresh the memorie and truth of these euents in the eares of the Greeks and Romans For as touching their owne learned men their mouthes are alwaies open to gaines and controuersies and to this purpose their tongues still run on pattens marie if they come to a historie wherein they should both tell truth and with great labour enquire of those things that are past here are they mum the trauell is too tedious the bit is in their teeth so that they leaue the matter to their performance who are incapable and vnapt both in stile and studie to register the noble actions of royall princes Since therefore the Grecians make no account of the truth of historie it behooueth vs both to esteeme and honour it Now to discouer vnto you the originall of the Iewes what their estate hath been in times past and after what manner they departed out of Aegypt to shew what countries theâ—… conquered and what colonies they planted were in my iudgment both impertinent and to little purpose considering that diuers of mine own nation haue before my time made and written an exact historie of the noble attempts of our auncestors yea many Greeks also haue translated these mens writings into their owne tongue and haue as truly as rhetorically exemplified the same I will therfore begin my historie in that time where these writers and our owne prophets ceased and set downe at large all those warres that hapned in my time and as for those things that exceede my knowledge and remembrance I will onely touch them briâ—…ly and in a word or two First how Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes tooke the Citie of Ierusalem and possessed the same for the space of three yeeres and six moneths and finally how he was driâ—…en out of that countrey by the Asmoâ—…eans After this I will set downe the dissensions that hapned amongst Antiochus successors for the kingdome and how by this meanes they drew Pompey and the Romans into the managing and medling with their affaires How Herod likewise the sonne of Antipater being assisted by Sosius vtterly ouerthrew and canceld their felicitie authoritie and how in Augustus Caesars time and after the death of Herod and during the gouernment of Quintilius Varo a sedition â—…s raised among the people and how in the twâ—… yeere of Neros raigne the warre began to take head and continuance That likewise which happened in Cestius time and what warlike executions the Iewes performed in their first attempts and reuolts how they strengthened the Cities and forts about them and how Nero hearing of the great â—…er throw which his army receiued vnder Cestius their Generall and fearing least he should lose all made Titus Vespasian the Generall of his army who being attended by his eldest sonne came into Iudaea accompanied with as great a company of Romans as he could possibly gather what number of their allies inuaded spoiled Galilee what Cities they surprised in that place eâ—…r by forcible assault or by any other composition Besides all these things I will expresse what order and discipline the Romans obserue in their wars and wherein they are accustomed to exercise their souldiers I will note downe also the places and nature of the countrey of Gâ—…ee and the description of Iudaea togither with the mountaines lakes and fountains thereof with all the properties of the same not forgetting those miseries which the captiue Cities suffered neither how they were surprised All which togither with all those â—…ils and miseries which during those troubles befell me will I discouer and discourse with all truth and diligence the rather in that I publish them in thâ—…r eares who are no waies ignorant of thâ—…m After this I will set downe how vpon the decliâ—…g and downfall of the Iewes Nero died and how at such time as Vespasian had vndertaken the expedition to Ierusalem he was withheld from the action to receiue and enioy the imperial dignitie How at that instant when he retired himselfe into Aegypt to establish that estate the Iewes began to mutinie among themselues how many tyrants arose amongst them who hatched much ciuil discord and debate in their gouernment Againe how Titus departing out of Aegypt came the second time into Iudaea and ranged ouer the countrey and how and where he leuied and encamped his armies How and how oftentimes the city hath been vexed by sedition especially at such time as he himselfe was present What onsets he gaue how many mounts he raised in begirting the city with a treble walithe strength and prouision of the Citie the scituation and platforme of the Temple and the altars therein the rites and ceremonies which were vsed vpon festiuall daies the 7. purifications and offices of the priests the garments also of the high priest and the holy sanctuary of the