not to be of small force to correct and amend our manners These our customes hauing in them nothing that any that searcheth them can iustly reprehend they are now also though many are perswaded the contrarie consecrated and confirmed by their antiquitie So that we must needs make a conscience of it to forsake our lawes that haue endured so many ages These are the iniuries that these people by violence offer vs they sacrilegiously take from vs the money dedicated to God they impose tributes vpon vs who are free they vpon festiuall daies force vs to their tribunals to law and other prophane busines without any necessitie but onely in contumely and disgrace of our religion which they know well in the meane while that they persecute with vniust and vnlawfull hatred For your Empire equally prouiding for the good of all your subiects doth not onely nourish the mutuall concord of them all but also resisteth hatred and malice These are the iniuries most worthy Agrippa whereof we seeke redresse at thy hands requesting thee that hereafter we may liue according to our religion as before times and that our aduersaries may haue no more authority ouer vs then we ouer them which is not onely iustice and equitie but alreadie also granted by your clemencie And there are yet extant to be seene in the capitoll many decrees and ordinances of the Senate concerning this matter engrauen in brasse which are read vnto this day doubtlesse for our truth and fidelitie so oftentimes tried or at least though we not deseruing it yet holy and inuiolate For you do not only not withdraw from vs all other nations your former benefits granted vnto vs but you do rather euery day beside all hope and expectation increase them all which time will not suffer me to recount And that we may not seeme vanely to boast of our duties and officiousnes towards you and also omitting other things that are past our king now sitting with you can sufficiently testifie it so to be For what kind of loue good wil hath he omitted to shew vnto your nation where was he not prooued trusty what hath he not deuised to honour you where stood you in need when he was not the first man to helpe you Why therefore should not we receiue some fauour for his deserts I will not omit to put you in mind of the fortitude of his father Antipater who came with two thousand soldiers to assist Caesar in the Agyptian warres wherein he so valiantly behaued himselfe that neither by sea nor land any one in those warres deserued more commendations then himselfe I will not at this time recount how much good he did Caesar in those warres and what and how great rewards hee therefore receiued but rather I should first of all put you in remembrance of the letters that the Emperour writ vnto the Senate concerning this matter wherewith he obtained for Antipater the honours and priuiledges of the citie For this onely argument had beene sufficient to haue declared that we did not obtaine such fauour without desert request thee now to confirme the same of whom we might iustly hope for new benefits seeing such friendship and familiaritie betweene thee and our king For we haue vnderstood by our nation that dwell in Iudaea how many offerings thou didst there sacrifice vnto our God with what vowes thou honouredst him how thou feastedst the people and wast delighted in that mutuall hospitalitie All which are as it were an argument of the friendship confirmed betweene so great a Romane prince and the nation of the Iewes euen in Herodes house By all these we humblie request in the presence of the king nothing but this onely that thou wouldest not permit vs deceitfully to be defrauded of that which you your selues haue alreadie granted vnto the nation of the Iewes Now no one of the Greeks offered to oppose himselfe against that which Nicholaus did speake for this was no contention to a Iudge concerning their right but onely a deprecation and supplication to auoid iniurie Neither did they denie it onely thus they excused themselues that the Iewes dwelling amongst them were troublesome vnto them But the Iewes shewed themselues to be free citizens and to liue according to their religion and lawes of their countrey without any mans molestation or iniurie Wherefore Agrippa vnderstanding that they were wronged aunswered thus that he would not onely gratifie them for his friend Herods sake but also for that they seemed to him to demand a reasonable matter Wherfore though they had demanded a greater thing of him he would haue granted them whatsoeuer he might without preiudicying the people of Rome And now seeing they onely demaund of him that which alreadie the Romanes had granted vnto them he would ratifie and confirme vnto them the benefit which they had alreadie receiued at the Romanes hands and prouide that henceforth no man should molest them for liuing according to the institutions and ordinances of their countrey Hauing thus spoken he dismissed the assembly Then Herode arising thanked him in all their names And then after mutuall embracing one another they departed taking their leaues from Lesbus CHAP. V. How Herode returned into Iudaea THe king hauing a prosperous winde within a fewe daies after atriued at Caesarea and from thence he went to Ierusalem and calling togither all the people as well the Citizens as also the countrey people then present there he tolde them the cause of his iourney and how he had obtained immunities for the Iewes liuing in Asia that they might conuerse there among the Gentiles without any molestation Then he recounted vnto them what felicitie they had receiued and enioyed by his raigne seeing that his greatest care was so to prouide for his subiects that they might want nothing And to gratifie them the more he told them that he would freely remit the fourth part of the taxes and tribute they were to pay for the yeere past The people greatly comforted as well with the kings speech vnto them as with his liberalitie departed ioyfully wishing the king all happinesse CHAP. VI. Of the discord in Herodes house betweene him and his sonnes IN the meane time the discord of his house was daily increased for Salome greatly maligned the two young men as hauing a hereditarie hatred rooted in her heart and presumed by reason of her good successe in her exploit practised against their mother to labour all waies possible not to leaue any aliue that might reuenge her death who died not deseruing it And she wanted no occasion for that it seemed the young men were not verie wel affected toward their father partly for the memorie of their mothers death partly also for that they desired the kingdome So that they vpbraiding Salome and Pheroras did renew their olde hatred against them who daily practised by all meanes they could to ouerthrow them the young men also hated them but not
when I came to Belara which is scituate on the confines of Ptolemais distant some 20. furlongs frō Gaba where Ebutius encāped at that time and besetting all the passages with courts of guard whereby we might be more secure from the excursions of our enemies vntill we had carried out the wheate whereof there was a great quantitie stored vp in that place which was gathered out of the townships therabout belonging to Queene Berenice and loading diuers Camels and Asses which to that ende I had brought with me I sent the same corne into Galilee And hauing finished this businesse I offered Ebutius the battell and whereas he detracted the same being terrified by our boldnesse I tooke my course to encounter with Neopolitanus who as it was reported was in the territorie of the Tiberians and foraged there Now this Neopolitanus was a captaine of horsemen and had vndertaken to defend Scythopolis against their enemies Hauing therefore driuen him from doing any wrong in the countrey belonging to the Tiberians I prouided for the securitie of Galilee But Iohn the sonne of Leui who as we said liued at Gischala after he heard that all things sell out fortunately with me and that I was loued of my subiects and feared by mine enemies was fore aggrieued thereat and supposing his owne fortune was embased by my felicitie and being touched with no small enuie and in greater hope that he should hinder my good successe if so be that he could bring me in hatred with my subiects he sollicited those of Tiberias and Sephoris to forsake me and supposed also that the Gabarenians would reuolt vnto him which Cities are the chiefest in Galilee For he told them that vnder his conduct the common weale should be more discreetly gouerned but among the rest the Sephorites gaue least eare vnto him for that neglecting vs both they onely held for the Romans As for the Tiberians they would not consent to rebell yet notwithstanding they promised him some friendship But the Gabarenians wholy addicted themselues vnto Iohn by the meanes of one Simon a principall Citizen who was Iohns fellow and friend Yet did they not openly seeme to allow him for that they vehemently feared the Galileans whose good will towards me they were long time assured of but priuily they sought another meanes to entrap me And truely I fell into great danger vpon this occasion For when as certaine Dabarittenians being audacious young men had intelligence that Ptolomeis wife the kings steward vnder the conduct of certaine horsmen should in great pompe trauell along the great plaine out of the kings countrey into the Romans gouernment they sodainly set vpon them and putting the woman to flight they spoiled all that which shee carried with her Which done they droue to Taricheas a place where I then kept certaine moyles loaden with apparell and houshold stuffe of diuers sorts among which there were diuers siluer vessels and fiue hundreth pieces of gold Intending therefore to reserue these things for Ptolomey as being one of the same tribe in that our lawe permitteth not to defraud no not our enemies if they be of the same tribe I told those that brought the goods thither that they must be kept to be solde to the end that the price of the goods might be bestowed vpon the building of the wals of Ierusalem This motion of mine the young men interpreted verie hardly in that they were cut off from the part of the pray which they hoped for For which cause dispersing themselues in the streetes of Tiberias they spred a rumour that I would betray that country to the Romans alleadging that I onely fained that the pray was destinated toward the repairing of the walles of Ierusalem whereas the truth was that I kept the same to the intent I might restore it to the owner In which matter they were no whit deceiued in their opinion For after the departure of the young men I called vnto me two chiefe Citizens Dassion and Iannaeus the soones of Leui intire friends to the king and commaunded them that taking the houshold stuffe with them they should conuay it vnto the king threatning them with death if they reuealed this secret vnto any man But when as the rumour was spred thorow Galilee that I would betray the region into the hands of the Romans and all of them being grieuously bent and intent against me to punish me they of Taricheas also giuing credit to the young mens fained speeches perswaded my guard and the rest of the souldiers that forsaking me whilest I was asleepe they should come into the horse race and consult with other in that place how to degrade me and giue the honour vnto another They being perswaded came to the appointed place where they found many others there arriued and all of them cried out with one consent that it was meete to take punishment on a traytor who hath sought the destruction of the common weale But he that most of all incited them to these troubles was Iesus the sonne of Saphias who at that time had the magistracie of Tiberias in his hands a man giuen ouer to all wickednesse and borne to breed troubles and stirre vp seditions This man bearing Moses tables in his hands and comming out into the midst of the assembly spake thus with a loud voice If said he you be touched with no care of your selues yet at leastwise contemne not these sacred lawes which this your chiefetaine Ioseph a man worthy to be hated by all men hath of long time dared to betray and for that cause is worthy of extreame punishment After he had spoken thus and was applauded by the acclamations of the people he leading the armed men with him hastily repaired to the house where I kept with a certaine intent and purpose to put me to death Meane while I suspecting nothing of all this tumult and tired with labour and wearinesse tooke my rest when as sodainly Simon one of my guard who at that time only remained with me seeing the incursion of the people came and awaked me and certifying me of mine instant perill he gaue me counsell likewise that rather like a noble and vndaunted chieftaine I should shorten mine owne life then shamefully die by mine enemies direction Whilest he gaue me this counsell I committing my safetie to Gods hands and changing my garments went foorth into the assembly after a mournfull manner and wearing my sword hanging about my necke stealing by that way by which I knew that none of mine aduersaries might meete me and comming into the horse race I offered my selfe to euerie mans eie and lying prostrate on my face and watring the earth with my teares I mooued al men that beheld me to compassion And when I perceiued that the affections of the people were changed I laboured all that I might to deuide them in opinions before the armed soldiers returned from my house and confessing my selfe
Varus sitting in iudgement commanded all proofes to be brought and witnesses to appeare amongst whom were certaine of Antipaters mothers seruants lately apprehended who had letters from her to carie vnto him to this effect For asmuch as all those things are now knowne vnto thy father beware that thou returne not vnto him before thou hast obtained some warrant of thy safetie from Caesar. These and others being brought in Antipater also came in with them and prostrating himselfe before his fathers feete he said I beseech thee O father beare no preiudicate opinion against me lend me an open eare whilst I purge my selfe for if you please to giue me leaue I will proue my selfe guiltlesse But Herod with a vehement voice commanding him to hold his tongue spake thus vnto Varus I know Varus that both thou or anie other iust and indifferent Iudge will adiudge Antipater to haue deserued death and I feare me least you also should disdaine me for my bad fortune and thinke me worthy of all calamitie who haue begotten such sonnes as you see And yet this should moue thee so much the more to pitie me who haue beene so mercifull and carefull for such wicked caitifes For I had alreadie appointed those young men that are dead to be kings and brought them vp at Rome gotten them Caesars fauor but they whom I had so much honored and exalted vnto the crowne became traitors against mine owne life whose death was much auaileable to Antipater For his securitie I sought therein because he was a young man and the next that should succeed me but this cruell beast being more then full gorged with my sufferance patience hath emptied his stomacke euen vpon my selfe and thinketh my life too long is grieued that I liue to be old hath attēpted to make himself king not any other way but by murthering his father And for what cause did this come so to passe for that I recalled him out of the field where he was contemptible and casting them off whom I had begotten of a Queene appointed this to be heire of my kingdome I confesse vnto thee Varus my errour for I incited them against mee because that for Antipaters sake I depriued them of their right For wherein had I so well deserued of them as at this mans hands vnto whom being yet aliue I committed the sway and rule of my kingdome and openly in my will and testament declared him to be my heir and successor whole charges I with mine owne money haue still supported notwithstanding that I had bestowed vpon him the yeerely reuenues of fiftie talents And lately when he was to saile to Rome I gaue him three hundred talents and commended him vnto Caesar as the onely man of all my house who had preserued his fathers life And what was their offence if it be compared with Antipaters and what proofe vvas there of that for vvhich they suffred none but that vvhich this fellovv trecherously inuented Nay I may boldly say so of him vvho hath attempted to murder his father and novv doth hope to colour all againe vvith craft and deceit Beware Varus that he deceiue not thee for I knovv this beast and I euen novv see by his fained teares hovv probable a tale he vvill tell This fellovv once vvarned me that vvhilest Alexander liued I should bevvare of him and not put euerie one in trust vvith my person This is he vvho vvas vvont to go before me into my bed-chamber and looke about in euerie corner least some should haue lyen in vvait to haue effected any treason against me This is he vvho vvatched me in my sleepe and through vvhom I thought my selfe secure vvho comforted me vvhen I mourned for them that vvere put to death This is he vvho censured the good vvil of his brethren vvhen they vvere aliue This vvas my defender chāpion O Varus vvhen I remember his crafts and subtilties and all his counterfeitings I scarcely thinke my selfe aliue admiring how I escaped the hands of such a traitor and seeing that Fortune stirreth vp those of mine owne house against me and that those whom I most esteeme of are my greatest enemies I will bewaile mine owne fortune and alone lament mine owne desolation and not one that hath thirsted after my bloud shall escape although proofe be brought against euerie one of my children And thus his heart being surcharged with sorrow hee was forced to breake off his speech and presently he commanded Nicholaus one of his friends to shew all the proofes and euidences All this while Antipater lay prostrate at his fathers feete and lifting vp his head he cryed aloud Thou thy selfe O father sufficiently purgest me For how should I be one who sought to murther thee when thy selfe dost confesse that I alwayes haue preserued thee from all dangers Or if as thou saist I did it fainedly was it probable that I wold be so circumspect in other affaires and at other times and now in so waightie a matter play the part of a foolish sencelesse man nay I might well thinke that although such a thought might haue beene kept secret from men yet it could not be hidden from God who seeth all things Was I ignorant what befell my brethren whom God so punished for their wicked intents towards thee Or what should cause me to enuie at thy life The hope of the kingdom Why I had the kingdome Or a suspition of thy hatred towards mee I knew thou louedst mee Or anie feare which I had of thee Nay in obeying thee I was feared of others Perhaps want might cause mee thereto Much lesse For who might spend more then I Truly if I had beene the wickedst person in the world or the cruellest beast vpon the earth yet should I haue relented being ouercome by the benefits of so louing a father seeing as thy selfe hast said thou didst recall and preferre me before so many sonnes And thou yet aliue didst proclaime me king and made me a spectacle to all men for to emulate through the benefits thou bestowedst vpon me O wretch that I am O vnhappie time of my absence out of my country what an head did I giue to enuie what oportunitie to malicious deceitfull people Yet O father it was for thy sake and about thy affaires that I went to Rome that Syllaeus might not triumph ouer thy old age Rome can witnesse my pietie and Caesar the Prince of the whole world who did often call me a louer of my father Receiue here O father his letter farrer 〈◊〉 then these fained calumniations against me let these plead my cause let these shew my affection towards thee remember how vnwilling Iovas to saile to Rome knowing I had here in thy countrey many secret enemies Thou like an vnwise father hast cast me away thou force 〈◊〉 to giue enuie time to frame accusations against mee but now I vvill come to the proofes of
and are examined The yong men with the ringleaders condemned to die The king trobled with many diseases Ant. lib. 17. cap. 9. Herod seeketh remedie in his sicknes at the hot bathes Herod full of melancholy The embassadors signifie Acmes death and bring letters that authorize Herod to punish Antipater The yeare of the world 3963 after Christs birth 1. Herode ouercome with paine would haue slaine himselfe Ant. lib 17. cap. 16. Antipaters death Ant. lib. 17. cap. 12. Herodes death signified to the souldiers Archelaus proclaimed king after his fathers decease Herodes pompous funerall The yeare of the world 3964. after the birth of Christ. 2. Ant lib. 17. cap. 11. The lamentations and banquets Archelaus maâ—… The yeare of the world 3964. after Christs birth 2. Archelaus promiseth his subiects all fauour Asedition about the pulling downe of the Eagle and the agents thereof Ant. lib. 17. cap. 12. Archelaus bountie towards the seditious The feast of Easter solemnly kept and much sacrifice offered Three thousand of the Iewes slaine at the feast of Easter Sabinus commeth into Iudaea to sease y e fortresses and keepe the treasure Ant. lib. 17. cap. 13. Antipas elected king by Herodes former testament striueth with Archelaus for the kingdome The yeare of the world 3964. after Christs birth 2. Antipas accuseth Archelaus by letters to Caesar. Caesar calleth a councell of Romane nobilitie Antipaters vehement accusation against Archelaus Antipater spareth no vehemency in accusing Archelaus The will changed during Herods sicknes Antipater against Archelaus Nicholaus defendeth Archelaus Archelaus humbleth himselfe at Caesars feete Caesars bountie and humanitie towards him The yeere of the world 3964. after Christs birth 2. Ant. lib. 17. cap. 14. Sedition in Ierusalem Sabinus seazeth the kings treasure and laboureth to get possessioÌ„ of his fortresses Three campes of the Iewes Sabinus getteth into the highest tower of the strongest castle A skirmish betweene the Iewes and Romanes The Romans fire the porches The yeare of the world 3964. after the birth of Christ. 2. Ant lib. 17. cap. 15. Simon one of the kings seruants taketh the kingdome vpon him Athrongaeus a shepheard vsurpeth the kingdome The end and issue of the warre Ant. lib. 17. cap. 16. Varus assisteth the Romanes against the Iewes Varus taketh diuers cities and castles of Iudaea Ammaus burnt Varus commeth to Ierusalem with his army and with his onely preseÌ„ce dismaieth the Iewes The yeare of the world 3966. after Christs birth 4. Varus crucified two thousand of the seditious Varus mercy and bountie to the Idumeans Ant. lib. 17. cap. 17. Ethnarch a ruler oâ—… gouernour The Iewes call Archelaus in question A bitter accusation of the Iewes against Herod and his sonnes Herods tyrannie and cruelty The Iewes beseech the Romanes to haue compassion on the remainder of the Iewes The yeere of the world 3966. after Chrâ—…s Natiuitie 4. Nicholaus defendethâ—… Archelaus before Caesar and the â—…est Caesar maketh Archelaus Ethnarch of Juâ—…ie The distribution of the kingdome to Herods children Those cities that were vnder Archelaus subiection Salome Princesse of Iamnia Azotus and Phasaelis Ant. lib. 17. cap. 18. A certaine young man faiâ—…ing himself to be that Alexander whom Herod slew deciueth manie Caesar desireth to see the yong man The yeare of the world 3966 after Christs birth 4. Caesar maketh the counterfait Alexander a gallery slaue and executeth his counseller Ant. lib. 17. cap. 1â—… Archelaus banished for his tyranny and his goods confiscated Archelaus dreame of the oxen eares of corne Archelaus refusing Mariamme marieth Glaphyra Glaphyra saw Alexander in her sleepe Ant. lib. 18. cap. 1â—… The yeare of the world 3973. after Christs birth 11 Three sects among y e Iewes of which the Esseans were the best The Esseans doctrine of mariage Among the Esseans goods are common The yeere of the world 3973. after Christs birth 11. The Esseans hospitalitie The Esseans apparrell Their religion and labour The Esseans in compassion and helping others haue free choice in other things they are ruled by their gouernour The Esseans sweare not The Esseans vowes and couenants The yeere of the world 3973. after Christs birth 11 The Esseans circumspect in Iustice. The Esseans reuerence the Sabboths The Esseans liue long time The Esseans constancy in the warre with the Romanes The yeare of the world 3979. after Christs birth 17. The Esseans esteeme the soule immortall but they beleeue not the resurrection of the dead The Grecians opinion of the soule of man The yeare of the world 3979. after Christs Natiuitie 17. The Esseans prophecy There is a colledge of the Esseans that differeth from the former in the point of mariage The second sect of the Pharisees The third of the Sadduces Ant. lib. 18. cap. 5. The yeare of the world 3997. after the Natiuitie of Christ. 35. The people would not condescend to Pilate to alter their country lawes Pilate admiring the constancy of the Iewes in their religion sendeth statuaes from IerusaleÌ„ The yeare of the world 3998. after Christs birth 36. The yeare of the world 3998 after Christs birth 33. Pilate beateth the seditious with clubs The yeere of the world 4001. after Christs birth 39. Agrippa Aristobulus sonne hateth Tiberius and insinuateth himselfe into Caius Caligulas friendship Tiberius raigned 22. yeeres sixe moneths and 3. â—…daies Caius Caesar giueth the Tetrarchie to Agrippa Aristobulus sonne and maketh him a king Ant. lib. 18. cap. 14. Herode and his wife remaine in Spayne The yeare of the world 4002. after Christs birth 40. Ant. lib. 18. cap. 15. Caius Caesar calleth and reputeth himselfe a God The feare the Iewes had of Petronius armie The description of Ptolemais Sand like glasse neere Memnons sepulcher The yeare of the world 4002. after the birth of Christ. 40. Petronius certifieth y e Iewes of the Romans power and Caesars threats The constancy of the Iewes Petronius once more assembleth the Iewes and threatneth them Petronius sendeth to Caesar and signifieth the Iewes supplication Petronius receiueth letters of Caesars death The yeare of the world 4005. after Christs natiuitie 43 Ant lib. 19. cap. 3. Caius raigned three yeeres and six moneths Agrippa is chosen both betwixt the Senate and Claudius for an arbiter The yeere of the world 4005. afterChrists birth 43. The Senates answere to Agrippa The Senate follow the souldiers to Claudius Claudius honorably entertainâ—…th the Senate Agrippas kingdome The yeere of the world â—…08 after Christs birth 46. Ant. lib. 19. cap. 5. Agrippa after he had raigned three yeeres in Caesarea dieth Herod after he had raigned in Chalcis dieth Ant. lib. 19. cap. 7. 8. Alexanders and Aristobulus Genealogy The yeâ—…re of the world 4011. after Christs natiuitie 49. The yeare of theÌ„ world 4011. after Christs birth 49. A filthy fact and speech of a souldier against the Iewes on a festiuall day Cumanus 〈◊〉 the peoples rage Some tenne thousand men thronged to death A souldier cutteth the booke of the holy scripture in peeces and burneth it
Moses Moses was not a leper Moses tooke his name of Moy which in the Egyptian tongue signifieth water Against Chaeremon the historiographer Messenes son of Amenophis Manethons historie and Chaeremons compared together The difference betweene Manethons and Chaeremons historie Lysimachus is reproued for lying According to Lysimachus yeâ—…abbed and leprous Iewes were to be conueied into the wildernes and cast into the sea When the Iews got Iudaea and built Ierusalem Lysimus his opinion confuted Nothing is to be said against an impudent liâ—… Apion wrote something verie coldly Apion concerning Moses and the Iewes Apions fiction concerning the temple and Moses is 〈◊〉 The computatioÌ„ of the time is different among the Historiographerâ—… The friendship betweene Hiram and Salomon whereof we made mention in the first booke against Apion in the beginning The Egyptians doe call a disease about the priuie parts Sabatosis Apions fiction of the six daies iourney is confuted Apion denieth his countrey and origen Apion raileth against the Iewes as therby rewarding the Alexandrians The sea coast of Alexandria The liberties and priuiledges granted vnto the Iewes Alexander 1 Ptolomaeus Lagus 2 Ptolomaeus Philadelphus The seuentie interpreters 3. Ptolomaeus Euergetes 4. Ptolomaeus Philometor 5. Ptolomaeus Physcon ceased to to persecute the Iewes Of Cleopatra the last queene of Alexandria Anthonie the husband of Cleopatra The Iewes haue beene alwaies trustie to their princes The Egyptians do worship beasts not agreeable to mans nature The discord of the Iewes and the Alexandrians in religion The cause of discord betweene the Iewes and Alexandrians Apions fiction touching the Iewes being authors oâ—… sedition at Alexandria is confuted The Romans magnanimitie towards the Iewes The Iewes may haue no Images How Emperours and magistrates ought to be honored The lye of Possidonius and Apollonius concerning the Iewesis confuted An answere to the objection of the Asses head Who are accounted Asses amongst the Iewes and other wisemen Certaine Histo riographers endeuour to couer and hide Antiochus hiâ—… periutie and sacriledge That the Iewes ought once a yeare to sacrifice a Grecian The description of the Temple porches What was in the temple Foure Tribes of Priests and of euerie tribe more then fiue thousand men Another fable deuised by Apion of Zabidus Dora is a Citie of Phaenicia and not of Idumaea The gates of the temple Apions lie concerning the oath is confuted Apion vpbraided the Iewes with captiuitie Dauids and Salomons power Apion praiseth himselfe Why the Iewes doe sacrifice coÌ„mon beasts and do not eat swines flesh The Egyptian priests circumcised and eate no swines flesh Apions death The defence of Moses against Apolonius and Lysimachus Wherein Apolonius accuseth the Iewes The louers of order common lawes are excellent in meeknesse and vertue Moses more ancient then all other law-makers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This word law is not in Homer The life of Moses Moses maketh God his guide and counceller The Origen of lawes amongst the Greeks The opinion of the wisest Greeks coÌ„cerning God Moses compared with other lawmakers Two methods of moralitie and discipline Moses commaunded all the Iewes to come heare the law The concord of the Iewes in religion What sort of people are to be made priests Of God and of the diuine prouidence The workes of God The sacrifices of the old testament Purifications vsed in sacrifice Of marriage The punishment for him that doth rauish a virgine The purification for the bodie Of the funerals of the dead The honour due to parents Against these and vsurie How we ought to vse our enemies A repetition of the precepts of the law The reward of such as keepe the law The continuance of the lawes amongst the Iewes Plato admired amongst the Greekes Lycurgus the law-maker amongst the Lacedemonians The Iewes compared with the Lacedemonians The streit laws of the lewes Moses forbiddeth to deride and blaspheme false gods only for the name of God impured vnto them The number of Gods amongst the gentle infinit The fable of Iupiter and Pallas Iupiter What is the cause of such error concerning God Poets and pain ters cause the multitude of gods Plato decreed that no poet should be permitted in a comon wealth The Lacedemonians did expell al strangers The AtheniaÌ„s manners Socrates a citizen of Athens Anaxagoras A talent is 600 crownes The Scithians The Persians manners The Iewes coÌ„stancy in their lawes Against the lawmakers of the Gentiles The iniustice of lawmakers The Iewes strict obseruation of the law The Iewes lawes are of great antiquitie The lawes of the Gentiles The Epilogue of this booke The cause why Ioseph writ these bookes against Apion A briefe rehearsall of all that is aboue said The intention of the Iewes lawes The origen of the Iewes lawes Reason hath dominion ouer our passions The death of the seuen brethren and their mother The description of reason and wisedome Griefe and paine cause or hinder passion Reason resembleth a skilfull gardener An instance of Iosephs chastitie An instance of Dauids chirst Samuel 2. 28. Dauid in his thirst refused to drinke the water he so desired Seleucus and Nicanor Simon a traitor to his countrey Appolonius captaine of Syria came with an army to Ierusalem Angels vpon horses shining with fierie brightnesse Onias by prayers obtained Appolonius his life Antiochus his rage against the Iewes Eleazar is brought vnto Antiochus 〈◊〉 Macch. 6. Antiochus his exhortation to Eleazar Eleazars answere to Antiochus Eleazar constancie Eleazar cruelly whipped Eleazars last words in the fire Reasons victorie A similitude taken from the rocke Eleazars praise Antiochus caused seueÌ„ noble young men of the Hebrews and their mother to bee brought to Antioch 2. Macch. 7. The kings exhortation to the seuen brethren The young mens constancie The seuen brethren reply vnto Antiochus Antiochus coÌ„manded Macchabeus to bee racked The death of the elder brother The second brother bought Machir the third brother is brought Iudas the fourth brother is brought The death of the fourth brother Achas The fifth brother presecnted himselfe to torments before he was called The valour of the sixt brother The sixt brother sharpely reproueth Antiochus Iacob the seuenth brother brought to torments All men are borne and must die alike The death of the youngest brother Reason mistres of our affection A similitude of the waues The seuen brethren exhort one another to suffer death manfully True brotherhood A pledge and signe of brotherly amitie The mothers griefe The mother suffered seuen torments before she was tormented A similitude from the Deluge The mothers speech exhorting her seuen sons to suffer A golden saying of the mother of her seuen children The mother followed her sonnes in torments The light of the iust 1. Cor. 15. Antiochus leuied an armie of footemen from amongst the Hebrewes Antiochus dyed stinking exceedingly 2. Mach. 9. An Epitome of the life of the seuen sonnes and their mother The ioy of the blessed in euerlasting life
Aristobulus 3. Hyrcaâ—…us The race of Herod Antipater Herod the great Archelaus the great Agrippa the son of Agrippa The names of such as were high Priests from the time of their departure out of Egypt vntill the building of the temple which was made by Salomon Aaron Eleazâ—… Phinees Abiâ—…a Busqui Oses Heli Achitob Achimelech Ab aâ—… haâ—… Sadoc Achimaas Azarias From the building of the temple vntill the Captiuâ—…tie of Babylon Ioraâ—… Ioses Axioram Sudeas Ioathan Urias Nerias Odeas Sellum Helcias From their returne out of Babylon vntill the Machabees time Sarâ—…ia Iosedech Iosâ—… Ioacim Eliasib Eleazar Manasses Onias 2. Simon 2. Onias 3. Ioiada Ionathaâ—… Iadus Onias 1. Simon 1. Iason Onias 4. Lysimachus Alcimus High Priests since the Machabees time vntill the last destruction and ouerthrow of that Citie and nation Simon Bâ—…thus Ioseph 1. Ioseph 2. Ioazar Eleazar Iosuah the son of Sias Ioazar Aâ—…us 〈◊〉 Theophâ—… Sâ—… Mattathias Elion Ioseph 3. Ananias Ismael Ioseph Annas Eleazar Simon Ioseph Caiphas Ionathan Iosuah the son of Daâ—…eus Iosuah the son of Gâ—…liel Matthias Phinees or Paâ—…s Kingâ—… of Israel otherwise called kings of the ten tribes or of Samaria Ieroboam 1. Nadab Baasa Ela Zamri Amri Achab Ioram Iehu Ioachaâ—… Ioas Ieroboam 2. Zacharie Manahem Pecha the son of Manahem Pecha the son of Romelia Oseas Kings of Assyria and Babylon Phulhelechus Phulassar Salmanassar Sennacherib Assaradon Berodach Benmerodach Nabuchodonosor 1. Nabuchodonosor the great Euilmerodach Neriglossorar Labosardach Baltassar Kings of Persia. Cyrus Cambyses Smerdes Magus Darius the son of Hystaspis Zerxes the son of Darius Artabanus the tyrant Artaxerxes w t a long hand Zerxes Sogdianus Darius the bastard Artaxerxes Mnemoâ—… Artaxerxes Ochus Arsames Darius the son of Arsames Kings of Syria after the death of Alexander the great Seleucus Nicanor Antiochus Soter Antiochus surnamed God Seleucus Callinicus Seleucus Cerauâ—…s Antiochus the great Seleucus Philopator Antiochus Epiphanes Antiochus Eupator Demetrius Soter Alexander Epiphanes Demetrius Nicâ—…nor Antiochus Sedetes Demetrius Nicanor Alexander Zebina Antiochus Gryphus Antiochus Cyzicenâ—… Seleucus Gryphius Antiochus Pius The kings of Egypt after the death of Alexander the great Ptolomey Soter Philadelphus Euergetes Philopator Epiphanes Philometor Euergetes Phiscon Lathyrus Alexander Auletes Cleopatra Kings of the Tyrians Abibalus Hiram Belastartus Abdastartus Astartus Astarimus Phelletes Ithoballus Badezor Mettâ—… Pigmâ—…lion For the better vnderstanding of the Coines and measures whereof there is some mention made in this Historie obserue I pray you that which followeth Sath was a measure containing about some seuen pintes French The Epha contained three Saths The Core or Homer contained ten Ephas that is to say thirtie Saths and was the same measure both in drie and liquid things The Log contained a French pinte in measure The Hin contained twelue Logs The Bath contained as much as the Epha The Cad was a kinde of pitcher containing such a quantitie as a young maiden might well carrie The common Sicle contained the waight of foure ounces whether it were of gold siluer or of any other mettall The sacred or holy Sicle waied halfe an ounce of any mettall whatsoeuer The common Sicle of siluer was valued at about some shilling of our money The holy Siâ—…e of siluer was valued at about some two shâ—…llings The common Drachme was the eight part of an ounce The sacred Diachme was the fouâ—…th part of an ounce The Pound waied twelue ounces The ordinarie Taleâ—… contained fiftie foure pounds eight ounces and a quarter of Troy waight in any mettall yet was it not currant money but a masse made vp after the manner of an ingot The sacred Talent contained one hundreth pounds Furthermore note this for your better knowledge that when as Iosephus quoteth the Olympiades without any specification of the yeeres therein contained he orderly comprehendeth the space of foure yeers compleat Furthermore where the Latin word Stadium hath diuers Significations amongst both Greekes and Latins as the 〈◊〉 betweene Pâ—…ie and Diodorus Siculus may well testifie and for that diuers of our English translators haue somenmes called it a Stade other whiâ—…e a Stound and otherwhiles improperly a Fuâ—…long I pray you in reading this Historie wheras any of these words occurre suppose them for one and the same measure of ground and according to the Greekes account which I suppose Iosephus most respected in this Historie conclude it to be either of 600. foote as the Olympique that is of 120. paces or as the Pyrâ—…hique which contained 1000. foote that is 200. paces As for the furlong either multiply him 8. times to make him a Stade or as an ouersight in the printing let it passe with the Errata The names of those Authors which are alleadged in this Historie A Acusilaus Agatharcidâ—…s Alexander Andrew Apioâ—… Apollonius Molo Apollodorus Ariphanes Aristaeus Aristotle B Berosus C Cadmus Castor Chaeremon Chaerilus Clearcus Conon D Demetrius Phalereus Dius E Ephorus Euhemerus Eupolenâ—…us H Hecataeus Hellanicus Hermippus Hermogenes Herodotus Hesiodus Hestiaeus Hierâ—…m of Egypt Homer Hyâ—…rochides I Isidorâ—… L Titus Liuius Lysimachus M Manethon Menander Mnaseas Mochus N Nicholas of Damas. P Pherecydes Philon Philostratuâ—… Polybiâ—… Polycratet Posidonius Pythagoras S Strabo T Thales Theodotus Theophilus Theopompus Theophrastus Thucydides Timaeus Z Zopyrion Francis Patritius de Regno lib. 2. cap. 10. Historiarum cognitio Regibus Ducibus Imperatoribus et omnibus principibus perquam necessaria habenda est quam Cicero appellat testem temporum vitae Magistram veram memoriae et veritatis nunciam GEntle reader let it stand with thy patience I beseech thee to correct those errors that shall occurre in this historie as fauourablie as wee haue ouerslipt them vnwillinglie and count it no lesse virtue in thee to wincke at them with discretion as for mee to let them passe thorowe ouer-sight if thou doe this hope better for thy sufferance shall make me circumspect if not according to that in Plautus Quod dedi non datum vellem quod reliquum est non dabo Errata Fol. 4. line 3. for who read which f. 21. l. 14. for sâ—…aightes read straightes Ibidem l. 50. for Sara read Rebecca f. 37. l. 42. for thou read you f. coâ—… l. 45. for thou read you f. 134. l. 51. for deliuer them from those read deliuer those f. 261. l. 40. for Babylon read Ierusalem f. 274. l. 39. for be began read begâ—…n f. 279.l 38. for compassion read composition f. 299. l. 57 read for ould ould yeares ould yeares f. 361. l. 36. read for Iâ—…dea Iudaea f. â—…80 l. 40. for 15 read 50. f. 63â—… l. 1. for aide read warre THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE MOST AVNCIENT HISTORIE OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY IOSEPH THE SONNE OF MATTHIAS A most excellent Preface containing the causes which induced the Author to write this Historie together with the contents and intents of the same CHAP. I. THEY that indeuour themselues to write Histories seeme not in my opinion to haue one and the same intent and
obedient to his omnipotent will and for that cause that honor and thanksgiuing should wholy be ascribed to him For which causes and counsailes of his seeing the Chaldeans and Mesapotamians began to mutiny against him he thought it expedient to forsake that countrey and following the will and fauour of God he went and dwelt at Chanaan where beâ—…ng seated he builded an aultar and sacrificed vnto God Berosus amongst other things maketh mention of our father Abraham although he nameth him not when he speaketh after this manner After the Deluge and during the tenth generation there dwelt among the Chaldeans a most iust excellent and vpright man and exercised in the knowledge of the celestiall bodies But Hecataeus made more then a mention of him for he hath left a volume which he hath written of him And as touching Nicholaus Damascenus heare what he saith of him in the fourth booke of his Histories Abraham raigned in Damasco where he was a stranger whether he arriued with his army from a countrey scituate aboue Babylon called Chaldaea who a little while after departing out of that region went and dwelt with his people in a countrey at that time called Chanaan and at this day Iudea and his posteritie multiplied therein In an other treatise I will recite that which is reported of him The name of Abraham euen at this day is honourable in the countrey of Damasco aâ—…d there is a village to be seene which beareth his name and is called Abrahams house CHAP. IX Abraham oppressed by famine departeth into Egypt where staying a while at last he returned backe againe AFter this when famine had inuaded the land of Chanaan Abraham had intelligence that the Egyptians abounded in all plentie and decreed with himselfe to retire himselfe towards them as well to conferre with their priest and discourse with them of diuine things and their knowledge as touching God as also to follow them if they were more grounded in vnderstanding or reconcile them if his iudgement were more assured then theirs he led with him his wife Sara and vnderstanding that the Egyptians were much addicted vnto women to the end the King should not put him to death of purpose that he might enioy his wife Sara who was very beautiful he deuised this excuse to say that she was his sister charging her that if the matter came in question she should not faile but confirme the like But no sooner came he into Aegypt but the like fortune encountred tâ—…m as Abraham had before time suspected for the beawtie of his wife was sodainly published in euery place For which cause Pharao the King of that Nation desirous to see that with his eies 〈◊〉 which he had heard with his eares he sought for sent and lusted after her but God withstood this his vnbridled lust by afflicting the Kings subiects with a plague and his affaires by sedition Whereupon taking counsell of the Priests what remedie might be vsed and meanes might be sought to appease the diuine maiesty they answered him that this was the cause of their afflictions for that he thought to haue done violence to the straungers wife whereat being much affrighted the King first questioneth with the woman what she was and who her companion should be and at last resolued of the trueth he satisfied Abraham saving he supposed her to be his sister not his wife and that his purpose was not to offer iniury but seeke alliance so giuing him a great summe of money hegaue him leaue to conferre with the most excellentest learnedest Priests among the Egyptians Whence it came to passe that he grew into great estimation in regard of his vertues for whereas that Nation was deuided into different sects and opinions thorow mutuall contempt diuision were incensed the one against the other he declared that their opinions different and confuted by themselues in respect of religion were most vaine and deuoide of all trueth For these his disputations he was held in great regard amongst them and esteemed for a man most wise and a personage most exccellent not onely in well conceiuing but also in expressing and perswading that which he vndertooke to teach to these most gratiously imparted he the science of Arithmetike and the obseruation of the celestiall bodies For before that Abraham came into Aegypt the Aegyptians vvere altogether ignorant of those sciences but he transported them from Chaldaea into Aegypt and from thence are they deriued to the Greekes As soone as he returned into Chanaan he deuided the countrey with Lot and for that there grew a contention betwixt their shepheards as touching the bounding of those pastures where they fed their cattel he gaue Lot the choise and election of the countrey vvhich best pleased him reâ—…aining vnto himselfe that which was left Thus pitching his tents neere the mountain in a Citie called Hebron which is by seuen yeares more auncient then Tanis in Aegypt he dwelled there But Lot chose the plaine neere to the floud of Iordane not farre from Sodome vvhich in those daies vvas a goodlie Citie but at this present by the diuine iustice and vvrath of God is vtterly defaced so that no memorie remayneth thereof The causes of which iudgemenâ—… shall bee expressed hereafter CHAP. X. The ouerthrow of the Sodomites by the Syrians AT that time when the Assyrians were Lords ouer all Asia the estate of Sodome flourished in all affluence increased in great riches and mulâ—…itude of gallant youthes and the countrey was gouerned by fiue Kings these were Ballas Bareas Senabarus Symoborus and Balin each one particularly seased of his prouince and kingdome Against these the Assyrians incamped themselues and hauing deuided their armie into foure parts vnder the conduct of foure gouernours they waged battell with them in which the Assyrians attayning the day they imposed a tribute on the Kings of Sodome who after they had for twelue yeares space performed their duety and paid their tribute in the thirteenth yeare reuolted from them Whereby it came to passe that the Assyrians leuied a new armie against them vnder the conduct and commaund of Marphad Arioch Chodollogomor Thargal who sacked all Syria and extinguished the posteritie of the Giants And drawing neere to Sodome they encamped neere to the bituminous pits for at that time there were pits in that place but as soone as Sodome was destroyed there arose a lake in that place which by reason of the bituminous matter that flowed in the same was called Asphalâ—…ites that is to say bituminous of this lake hereafter we wil speake somewhat But the Sodomites encountering with the Assyrians there was a dangerous skirmish fought wherein many perished on both sides and the most were eyther staine or taken amongst whom was Lot led away captiue who came thither to assist the Sodomites CHAP. XI Abraham pursueth the Assyrians and returneth victorious ABraham hearing of these things and moued both
them For they were inioyned by them to cut Nilus into diuers trenches and to e◅iron their Cit◅es with walles and to build fortifications and banks whereby the inundations of the floud might be diuerted They also vexed our nation in building their hie and vaine Pyramides compelling them to learne diuers artes and to accustome themselues to endure labour and in such afflictions led they their liues for the space of 400. yeares the Aegyptians studying nought else but to tire the Israelites with continuall labour our country men endeuouring themselues alwaies to performe farre more then was expected from thē Liuing thus in this estate there grew afterwards an other occasion which instigated them the more to seeke the ruine and desolation of our Nation For one of the sacred secretaries to whose predictions those kind of people do very much attribute foretold the King that about that time there should be one bred and borne amongst the Israelites that in time to come should grieuously afflict the estate of the Aegyptians and wonderously enhance the good hap of the Israelites who should su◅passe all other in vertue and purchase to himselfe immortal glory if so be he should attaine to ◅ns estate Wherewith the King being greatly terrified he published an edict by the aduise of this secretary that whatsoeuer male child should be borne amongst the Israelites he should be cast into the floud to be drowned he commaunded likewise the Aegyptian midwiues diligently to obserue the time when the Hebrew women trauelled with child carefully to keepe marke their children at such time as they were deliuered For it was enioyned thē that they should be brought to bed by such midwiues who by reason of consanguinitie with that Nation should not transgresse the king◅ commaundement He enacted also a law with a penaltie that if any should be so bold to conceale their children both they and all their family should be done to death Great was this their calamity not onely in that respect because they were depriued of their children and for that the parents themselues were made the ministers to murther their owne children but foreseeing also the future time they were intolerably dismayed expecting nought else but the certaine and fatall ex◅pation of their wholenation by reason that when the children were s◅ine the parents themselues not long after were ass◅ed to die thus conceited they in themselues into what extreame misfortune they were fallen But no man whosoeuer although he complot neuer so many stratagems can resist the wil of God For both the child of whom the sacred secretary had fore prophecied was secretly brought vp vndiscouered by the kings spies and approued by the euents of his life that he was no false Prophet Amarames an Hebrew borne a noble man amongst his Nation fearing both the pub like perill least the wholenation should be brought to nothing thorow the want of issue and his owne priuate misfortune whose wife at home was big with child and readie to lye downe was troubled in his mind and vncertaine what to doe For which cause he made his recourse vnto God beseeching him that at the length he would haue mercy on those men of whom onely he had beene perpetually honoured and that it would please him to bring to end the present affliction which threatned the whole nation with vtter ruine and destruction But God being moued vnto mercy by his most humble prayer appeared to him in a dreame and recomforted him commaunding him to be confident telling him that he had in memory the pietie of his auncecestors and that he would for euer remunerate them euen as in times past he had beene gratious to their forefathers For it was he that had increased their posteritie and multiplied them to so mighty a nation that by his fauor Abraham departing alone out of Mesopotamia into Chanaan besides other felicities had issue by his wife that was before time barren and left ample possessions to his successors to Ismael Arabia to Chaeturas children Troglottida and to Isaac Chanaan Neither can you euer forget without note of impietie and ingratitude the attempts also which were happily atchieued in warre by my meanes but Iacobs name also is renowmed amongst forraine nations both in respect of the felicitie wherein he liued also for that prosperitie which by hereditarie right happened vnto his posteritie who taking their originall from 70. men that accompanied their father into Egypt are now increased to the number of sixe hundreth thousand know therefore now also that I inwardly and heartily affect your publike securitie and priuately thy glory For this child for feare of whose natiuitie the Egyptians haue condemned all your children vnto death shall be borne vnto thee he neither shall be discouered by the constituted spies and after he hath escaped beyond all expectation shall he be brought vp and in his time shall he deliuer the Hebrewes from the thraldome of the Egyptians and shall obtaine an eternall memorie for this his famous action not onely amongst his owne nation but also amongst straungers for this fauour will I extend vnto thee and on thy posteritie that followeth after thee he shall also haue such a brother who shall deserue both in himselfe and in his posteritie to inherite the priesthood for euer After these things were declared in a vision vnto Amram he awaked and told it to his wife Iochabel and by reason of the prediction of this dreame their suspition and feare the rather increased more and more for they were not onely pensiue in respect of their child but also by reason of the future great good fortune that was promised them But anone after the woman being brought a bed gaue credit to the Oracle who had so easie and gentle a labor that she beguiled the ouerseers spies in that she felt none of those throwes which do commonly afflict such as are in labor so that she nourished the infant three moneths secretly in her house without being in any sort discouered But afterwards Amram fearing to be surprised sore doubting least he should incurre the kings displeasure if the matter were discouered whereby both he and the child should be made away and Gods promises should be frustrate he had rather wholy commit the safety of his sonne to his prouidence supposing that if the boy were hidden which notwithstanding would be hard to effect yet that it would be troublesom vnto him to liue in continuall perill both of his owne and his sonnes safetie moreouer he thought that God would puruey some meanes of assurance to the intent that nothing of that which he had foretold might be proued false Grounding himselfe on this resolution they prepared and made a cradle of sedge after the manner of a couch so great as it was sufficient to lay the child in at ease and hauing pitched it on euery side least the water should pierce the same they put the child into it and
suffered him to float along the streame in committing him to the mercy of God Whilest in this manner it was borne downe by the streame Mariam the sister of the young infant by her mothers commaund went along the banke on the other side of the riuer obseruing whither at length the basket would be caried and where it did ariue At that time God manifestly declared that nothing is atchieued by mans wisedome but that all things are brought to passe by his omnipotent bountie and that they who for their profit and particular securitie seeke the ruine and destruction of others with neuer so much subtiltie care and diligence yet are they often times deceiued in their expectations againe that they that submit their wils vnto Gods will are warranted from all wrongs by such meanes as were neuer thought on which may most manifestly be perceiued by this child Thermuthis the kings daughter walking along the riuer side espied this basket caried away by the course of the streame presently commaunded certaine swimmers to draw the cradle on drie land and bring it before her who executing her commaund she opened the basket and beheld the child who in that he was faire and well featured did greatly delight her For God so loued and fauoured Moses that he caused him both to be nourished and brought vp by them who for feare least he should be borne had decreed to destroy all the rest of the race of the Hebrewes Thermuthis therefore commaunded them to fetch her some one nurse who might giue the child sucke who refusing the same and all other nurses whatsoeuer that were sent for to suckle him Mariam as if by good fortune and not of set purpose she had light into their company began to speake thus vnto Termuthis In vaine said she O Queene dost thou endeuour whilest thou striuest to giue this babe sucke by any but an Hebrewe nurse for he will not accept it but if thou call vnto thee a nurse of the same nation and agreeable with his nature doubtlesse he will take the nipple This speech of hers being both heard and plausibly accepted the Queene commaunded her to execute the same and to bring her an Hebrew woman that gaue sucke which she diligently performing returned and brought her mother with her whom none of the assistants knew who presenting her breast vnto the child he willingly tooke the dugge so that vpon the Queenes request the nourishment of the child was wholy committed vnto her And by reason of this accident and for that he was cast into the riuer he was called Moses for the Egyptians call water Mo and saued yses so this name composed of these two was imposed on this child who afterwards vvithout exceptions became the wisest man among the Hebrewes according as God had afore prophecled For he was the seuenth after Abraham for he was Amrams sonne and Amram sonne vnto Cathus and he to Leui and Leui to Iacob who tooke his originall from Isaac the sonne of Abraham He had a iudgementriper then became his age for euen amongst his childish delights he shewed himselfe more discreet then all his equals and in whatsoeuer he did it gaue testimony that at such time as he should attaine to mans estate he would mannage mightie things When he was but onely three yeares old God adorned and endowed him with an admirable audacitie He was so faire and amiable that there was not any one how austere and inhumane soeuer he were which but in beholding him would not be astonished and it chaunced also that diuers who encountered him as he was borne thorow the streetes turned themselues about to behold him and intermitted their other affaires onely to looke vpon him for the admirable and innated beautie which vvas in this infant did rauish all those that beheld him Whence it came to passe that Thermuthis in that she had no other issue adopted him for her heir and conducting him vnto her father she presented him before him saying that she was carefull of a successor by reason God had not vouchsafed him to haue any issue For saith she I haue brought vp this infant no lesse excellent in vvit then diuine in beautie and haue receiued him miraculously by the bountie and grace of Nilus whom I haue decreed to adopt my child and to establish him as successor to thee in thy kingdome This said she deliuered the infant into her fathers armes who after he had embraced and hugged him at his breast to giue his daughter the more content he put his Diademe vpon the childs head but Moses pulling it from his head after a childish manner cast it on the ground and spurned it with his feete which act of his vvas supposed ominous to the Realme and daungerous for the King Whereupon the sacred secretarie vvho had foretold that his natiuitie would be the destruction of the Egyptians vvilleth them to kill the child and inforced himselfe to enact it crying out with a loud voyce and speaking vnto the King after this manner O King this child by whose death God promiseth vs securirie hath alreadie confirmed the presage insulting ouer thy kingdome and spurning at thy Diademe Take from the Egyptians that feare which they haue conceiued thorow him by his death and from the Hebrewes that hope vvhich they build on his courage life But Thermuthis hastily conueied and snatched him thence and the King was not ouer forward to lay hands on him by reason that God dispensed all things in that sort in that he had a care of Moses preseruation He was therefore very carefully brought vp and in respect of him the Hebrewes in generall were replenished with good hope but to the Egyptians his education both vvas suspected and grudged at but by reason that if the lad should haue beene slaine there vvas not any one eyther a kinne or adopted or otherwise whatsoeuer that had regard of the estate of the Egyptians they abstained from his slaughter Being therefore thus borne and after this manner brought vp at such time as he increased in years he euidently by his vertue made it knowen vnto the Egyptians that he was borne to abase their pride and to exalt the Hebrewes by this occasion which ensueth The Aethiopians who confine vpon Egypt hauing spoyled and destroyed the country round about them spoiled and made pillage of all the goods of the Egyptians who incensed against them for the wrongs and iniuries which they had offered leuied an armie intending to reuenge them of that disgrace which their enemies had offered them but in the battell they were all put to flight so that some of them were slaine and the rest shamefully flying returned with ignominie worse then death into their owne countrey The Ethiopian made proud with this good fortune instantly pursued them and supposing it a cowaâ—…dly part in them not to take the benefite of their present good fortune and conceiuing an assured hope of
should be enterprised against them the people likewise approued their oathes But Iosuah encamping with his Armie vpon their confines and vnderstanding that the Gabeonites dwelt not far off from Ierusalem and that they likewise were of the race of the Canaanites he sent for the principall and princes amongst them and complained and vp braided them of their deceit whereunto they answered that they had no other means to procure their safetie and securitie and for that cause and their necessitie sake that they had sought their refuge thereby Whereupon he called vnto him Eleazar the high Priest and the councell of the Elders who told him that he might not infringe the oath which they had made vnto them but that he might depute them to serue the publique ministeries Whereupon they were adiudged to attend on these seruices and by this meanes deliuered they themselues from their imminent perill But for that the king of Ierusalem was sore incensed against the Gabeonites for that they had reuolted and submitted to Iesus he assembled together the Kings of his neighbour nations to make warre against them The Gabeonites perceiuing the danger they were in and how the enemie was prepared to assault them and how to that intent they had pitched their tents neere vnto a certaine fountaine not farre off from the Citie they required Iesus to assist and defend them For their affaires were in that estate that they expected death from the hands of their friends contrariwise hoped for helpe to be warranted by those Hebrewes with whō they had contracted amitie notwithstāding that they arriued in that countrie to destroy the whole nation of the Cananites Iosuah therefore hastning onward with his whole armie to giue them assistance and marching both day and night early in the morning charged the enemie at such time as he entended his assault and hauing put them to flight he pursued them by a steepy tract which place is called Bethora where hee knew that God had fought for him as it appeared manifestly by the thunder lightening and haile that fell at that time far bigger then was accustomed The day likewise the like whereof was neuer heard of before was lengthened least by the speedy approch of the night the enemie should escape from the victor whereupon it came to passe that Iesus tooke all those fiue Kings in a certaine caue neere Makkedah where they were hidden and condemned them all to the death And that the day at that time increased aboue common custome it is extant registred in the sacred volumes which are reserued in the Temple When after this manner the Kings that inuaded the Gabeonites were slaine and conquered Iesus led his Armie into the mountaines of Canaan where hauing made a great slaughter of men and taken a rich bootie he brought backe his armie into Galgal Now when the renowne of the Hebrewes valiant acts and the admirable number of those that were slaughtered were bruited and scattered farre and neere amongst the neighbour nations they were surprised with a sodaine feare so that the Kings of the Chanaanites that bordered vpon Libanus and they also of the plaine of Cha◅an ioyned themselues confederates with the Palestines and all of them were incensed against them and incamped neere vnto Berotha a Citie of the higher Galilee not farre from Cedesa which is also scituate in the land of Chanaan The whole armie of them consisted of three hundreth thousand footmen ten thousand horsemen and twenty thousand chariots This great multitude of the enemie astonished Iosuah and the Israelites and by reason of the assured feare wherewith they were seased they conceiued but little hope of obtaining the vpper hand but God reproched him and vp braided him of that his timiditie and for that they suspected themselues to be scarcely secured vnder his protection he promised them likewise that he would ouercome their enemies and make their horses vnprofitable and would consume their chariots by fire Iosuah therefore was emboldened by these promises from God and marched out against his enemies whom he surprised on the fift day The incounter was strong the slaughter so great that they who should but heare the same would scarcely beleeue it many also were slaine in the pursuite so that a few onely excepted the whole armie was put to the sword The Kings also were all of them slaine and of their men there remained not any one aliue Iosuah also commaunded that their horses should be slaine and hee burned their chariots securely marched thorow the whole countrey so that no man durst sallie out or make head against him He besieged likewise their strong places and killed all those whom he might apprehend Now when the fift yeare was fully finished and not any one of the Chanaanites were left al◅e except such as were fled into their Cities and forts of defences Iosuah once more retired his campe toward the mountaines and placed the sacred Tabernacle in the Citie of Siloe which seemed to be a verie conuenient place by reason of the beautie of the same where the arke might remaine til such time as their affaires of estate permitted them to build a Temple From thence he departed with all the people to repaire vnto Sichem and there builded he an Altar in that place according as before time Moses had commaunded and enioyned and hauing deuided his army he planted the halfe of them on the mountaine of Garizim and the other halfe on the mountain of Gebal on which also there is an Altar with the Leuites and the Priests and after they had sacrificed and done their execrations and ingrauen them on the Altars they returned into Siloe Now insomuch as Iosuah was wel strooken in yeares and verie well perceiued that the cities of the Chanaanits were hardly to be assaulted both in respect of the places wherin they were scituate as also for the munitions wherwith besides other aduantages of nature their walles were strengthned and fortified for the Chanaanites hauing intelligence of the departure of the Israelites out of Egypt and how they hastned thitherward to the intent vtterly to extinguish and ouerthrow that nation spent all that time in defencing and fortifying their Cities he assembled all the people in Siloe where when with mutuall and frequent concourse they were assembled he declared vnto them the happy successe which till that time had befallen them and the braue executions worthy in their euents to challenge God for their author furthermore the excellency of the ordinances vnder which they liued alledging that the thirty one kings which had beene so hardy as to encounter them hand to hand had by them beene ouercome that all the army that had vndertaken to ouerthrow them in battell was wholy discomfited so that there remained not any memory of them But for that certaine of the Cities were taken and the rest better defenced for this cause more obstinate had need of a longer
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
people were mustered in the Citie of Bala In this suruey besides those of the tribe of Iuda there were numbred seuen hundreth thousand men and of the tribe of Iuda in particular there were seuentie thousand Hauing therefore passed Iordan and marched some ten cables length of Nilus which is about some three leagues all the night time before the sunne rise he attained the place whither he intended to conduct them and deuiding his army into three parts he assailed the enemie on euery side that expected no such encountry and fighting valiantly against them he slew diuers and amongst the rest Nahas king of the Ammonites This victorie made Sauls name famous amongst all the Hebrewes so that he was wonderfully praised and honoured for his valour so that if before that time any one had contemned him at that time they chaunged their opinions and honoured him and accounted him the worthiest of them all For he was not satisfied to redeeme and deliuer those of Iabes but he entred the countrey of the Ammonites also and forraged the same with his army and vtterly ouerthrew them and after he had obtained a great bootie and pray both he and his victoriously magnifically returnd to their dwelling places The people highly pleased with this noble action atchieued by Saul reioyced because they had chosen them so noble a King and exclaimed against those that said that it would be discommodious and vnprofitable for their common-weale saying where are now these murmurers let them be put to death with other such like words that a people besorted with some good successe is wont to speake and inforce against them that set light by the authors inducers of the same Saul receiued great content and comfort thorow this good liking and allowance of the people yet notwithstanding he swore that no one of their tribe should be put to death that day because it would not seeme conuenient nor agreeable that the victorie which was giuen them by God should be mixed with the bloud of their brethren but rather that it was more decent and comely that the time should be spent in feast and iollitie Hereupon Samuel told them that it behooued them to confirme the kingdome to Saul by a second election and to that end they assembled together in the Citie of Galgal according as he had commanded them and there in the sight of all the people Samuel annointed Saul the second time with the consecrated oyle and proclaimed him king ar◅ew Thus was the Aristocracie and gouernment of the better sort amongst the Hebrewes turned into a Monarchie For vnder Moses and his disciple Iesus who gouerned the Empyre and armie at that time the nobilitie and elected worthie men ruled the state After whose death for the space of 18. whole yeares the people was without gouernment the common-weale not long after reassumed her pristine pollicie and the gouernment was giuen vnto him which was esteemed the most valiant in warre and the most vpright in doing of Iustice. All which time for this cause hath beene called the time of the Iudges After this the Prophet Samuel assembled the people and spake vnto them after this manner I coniure you by that great God that hath giuen life to those two brothers I meane Moses and Aaron and that hath deliuered your forefathers from the Egyptians and their tyranny that without any affection either of feare or shame or instigation of any other passion you truly testifie whether I haue committed any sinister or wicked act either for profit sake or for auarice or fauor Reproue me if I haue taken away any mans calfe or sheepe or any other thing-whatsoeuer but that which I might lawfully take for my reliefe and sustenance and at such hands as willingly offered me the same or if I haue drawen any mans beasts to my vse or vsed his cattell to my profit and his hinderance in these and such like if I haue offended any man let him now accuse me in the presence of the king All of them cried out with one voice that no such default had beene committed by him but that he had gouerned their nation in holines and iustice After that the people had thus publikely testified in the behalfe of Samuel he said vnto them Since you haue liberally freely protested that you haue no cause of wrong to vrge or inforce against me heare I pray you that wherewith I can iustly accuse you of You haue grieuously offended against the maiestie of God in that you haue required a king at his hands you should haue rather remembred that your old father Iacob accompanied onely with his 70. sons came into Egypt constrained thereunto by famine and that in that countrey diuers thousands of persons issued from his loynes whom the Egyptians kept in captiuitie offering them extreme outrages And whenas your fathers called vpon God how he wonderfully deliuered thē from the necessities wherin they were without giuing them any king contenting themselues with two brothers Moses and Aaron who brought and conducted you into this countrey which you possesse at this present And although you participated these benefits by the hands of God yet notwithstanding you haue not forborne both to forget religion and neglect pietie This notwithstanding at such time as you haue beene conquered by your enemies he hath set you free gracing you first of all with the ouerthrow of the Assyrians their forces secondly giuing you victorie ouer the Ammonites and Moabites and finally ouer the Philistines Now these great exploits were performed by you not vnder the conduct of a king but by the direction of Ieptha and Gedeon what folly therefore hath bewirched you to make you flie from God and to seeke to liue vnder the subiection of a king But I haue named such a one vnto you whom God hath chosen to be your gouernour Notwithstāding to the intent that I may giue you a manifest testimony that Gods wrath is whetted against you because you haue desired to haue a king I will striue to expresse it vnto you by visible signes done by God himselfe I will therefore require of God that he wil make you see in this place and in the hart of sommer such a storme that there is not any one of you that hath euer seene the like thereof Scarce had he spoken the words but that so dainly there fell great store of lightning thunder and haile in approbation of that which the Prophet had said so that amased and transported with feare all of them confessed that they had offended They notwithstanding professed that their errour was of ignorance not of obstinacie and besought the Prophet that with a good and fatherly affection he would beseech God to appease his wrath towards them and forgiue them their offences at that present which to their other grieuous negligences they had annexed and whereby they had transgressed his holy will All which Samuel promised them to
to be presented before him to the end they might consult togither what should be done with him Hereunto the Prophet answered That God tooke no pleasure in sacrifices but such as were good and iust and such said he are they that are according to his will and commandement since no action may be reputed good but in respect of the reference it hath to Gods will for God refuseth not him that sacrificeth not but him that disobeyeth him For he willingly accepteth not those sacrifices that are offered vnto him by those that submit not themselues vnto him and offer not vnto him the true and onely offering yea though they present diuers and many great sacrifices and bring him sundrie Iewels of gold and siluer but reiecteth such things and respecteth them not as pledges of pietie but testimonies of wickednesse But he taketh pleasure in those onely that obserue that which he hath pronounced and commanded making choise rather to die then any waies to infringe the same not seeking that sacrifices should be offered vnto him but if they be offered although of small and no valew yet are they more acceptable vnto him in pouertie and obedience then all those which the richest hand or strongest fortune can affoord him any waies Know thou therefore said he that thou hast incurd Gods displeasure in that thou hast contemned and neglected his commandements for how canst thou thinke that he will regard thy sacrifices with a gracious eie which hee himselfe hath adiudged to vtter perdition and ruine except thou thinke that to offer such thinges vnto God be in effect no lesse then to seeke out death Be assured therefore of the losse both of thy kingdome and power which hath in such sort transported thee that thou hast contemned God who bestowed the same vpon thee But Saul confessed that he had sinned and done amisse in that hee had not obeyed the words of the Prophet yet alleadged he that he was compelled to doe the same in that he durst not restraine the souldier who was whet and kindled vpon the pray but said he be fauourable and mercifull vnto me for her after I will take heede least I fall into the like sinne and he besought him that he would stay with him so long whilest he might offer a peace offering in his behalfe But he that foresaw and knew that God would be mooued by no sacrifice began to depart CHAP. IX Samuel proclaimed Dauid King BVt Saul willing to retaine Samuel tooke hold of his garment and for that the Prophet hastily withdrew himselfe he tore away a part thereof by reason that Samuel violently withdrew himselfe from him To whom the Prophet sayd that in like sort his kingdome should be rent from him and that another who was more honest and vpright should take possession therof for God continued in his determination intended against him because that to change varie opinion is humane passion and not diuine puissance Saul answered that he had grieuously sinned but that it was impossible for him to recal that which was done he notwithstanding besought him that in the presence of the people he would as yet doe him honor at such time as he should walke with him cast himself before the presence of God which Samuel condescended vnto and went with him to adore God After this Agag the king of the Amalechites was brought before Samuel who heard him lament and complaine that death was verie bitter and tedious to whom he answered in this manner following As thou hast caused diuers mothers amongst the Hebrews to weepe and lament the losse of their children so shalt thou cause thy mothers sorrow and torment for thy death which said he presently commanded that he should be put to death in Galgal as for himselfe he returned backe againe to the city of Ramath But the king perceiuing in himself into how many mischiefs he had fallen by his offences committed against God departed to his chiefe city called Gaba which name signifieth a hillock and from that day forwards he neuermore came into the prophet Samuels presence who was hartily sory for his fall But God commanded him to giue ouer his care that taking with him the sacred oile he should repaire to the city of Bethleem to Iesse the son of Obed and that there he should annoint one of his sons for king according as he had cōmanded him when as the Prophet said that he was afraid lest Saul getting notice therof should either by treason or opē force seeke to slay him being incouraged assured in his attempt he came to the forenamed town In that place was he saluted with great concourse of people each of thē inquired of him to what intent he repaired thither who answered them that he came to offer sacrifice vnto God Now when the oblations were performed he inuited Iesse and his sonnes to banquet with him and beholding the eldest of them to be faire and well proportioned he coniectured by his stature and seemelines that it should be he that was to be elected king but in this matter he attained not the scope of Gods prouidence For demanding whether he should annoint that young man whom in admiration he thought so worthie of the kingdome it was answered him that men saw not in such manner as God doth For thou said he beholding the beautie of the young man supposest him worthie of the kingdome but I prise not royaltie and gouernment of estate by the beauties of the bodie but by the vertues of the soule and him require I that is perfectly furnished herewith and hath his mind beautified with pietie iustice obedience and fortitude Vpon these words Samuel commaunded Iesse to bring all his other sonnes into his presence who presented him with fiue others the eldest of which was called Eliab the second Aminadab the third Sala the fourth Nathaneel the fift Rael and the sixt Asam. Now when the Prophet beheld these likewise no lesse beautifull men then was the eldest he asked of God which of them he should choose for king he answered him that he should choose neither of them for which cause he enquired of Iesse whether he had any other sons besides them who told him that he had one which was called Dauid who had the care and custodie of his flockes Him did the Prophet sodainly commaund him to send for alledging that it was impossible for them to sit downe to the banquet except he were present Now when Dauid was arriued according as his father had commanded him Samuel seeing him faire in colour quicke in eye and otherwaies answerable to his naturall ornaments This is he said he in priuate to himself who is accepted and elected by God to be our king This said he sat downe at the table and made the young man sit aboue him and both Iesse his father and his other brethren Afterwards taking the cruet of oyle in the presence of the
him in his owne chamber where he lay and hauing at that time a iauelin in his hand he commanded him to play on his harp to sing hymnes Now whilest Dauid executed that his commandement Saul stretching out his arme threw his dart at him but Dauid foreseeing it auoided the stroke and fled into his owne house where he soiourned all the day long Now when the night was come the king sent out certaine of his seruants to watch his house for feare least he should escape to the end that the next day being drawen and appearing in iudgement he might be condemned and put to death But Michol Dauids wife and Sauls daughter hauing intelligence of her fathers intention ran vnto her husband telling him in how great peril both he and she were who without his presence neither could nor would liue any longer Beware said she least the sunne finde thee in this place for he shall no more behold thee here hereafter Flie therefore whilest the present night offereth thee opportunitie which God doth lengthen for thy safetie-sake for be assured that if thou beest surprised in this place my father will make thee die a miserable death This said she let him downe by a window and so saued him and incontinently after she prepared his bed and trimmed it as if he laye sicke therein and vnder the couering thereof she laid the liuer of a new slanghtered Kid and when her father had sent the next morning to apprehend Dauid she answered that he had beene sicke all the night long then discouering the bed that was couered she gaue them to vnderstand that Dauid was laid therein making them touch the couerlet vnder which the liuer stirred and made them beleeue that the liuer that lay there was Dauid who panted breathed verie hardly Which being signified vnto Saul he commaunded that he should be brought vnto him in that estate wherein he was because he was resolued to put him to death But when Sauls messengers were arriued and returned thither and had discouered the bed they perceiued Michols subtiltie and went and certified the king thereof who reproued her verie grieuously for that she had saued his aduersarie and deceiued her father But she defended her selfe with words full of good apparance saying that Dauid had threatned to kill hir and how for that cause and by the impulsion of feare she was drawen and induced to aide and saue him For which cause she ought to be pardoned since by constraint and not of set purpose she had furthered his escape For said she I thinke that you seeke not so greedily after the death of your enemie as you preferre the same before the safetie and securitie of your daughter On these perswasions Saul pardoned his daughter Dauid deliuered from this perill came vnto the Prophet Samuel to Ramatha and told him what ambushes the king had laid for him how hardly he had escaped death by the stroke of his Iauelin whereas in all things that concerned Saul he had alwaies shewed himselfe obedient againe how he had neuer ceased to warre vpon his enemies and had by Gods assistance beene fortunate in all things which was the cause that Saul was so displeased with him The Prophet informed of Sauls iniustice forsooke the Citie of Ramath and led Dauid to a certaine place called Galbaath where he remained with him But as soone as Saul was informed that Dauid was retired and accompanied with the Prophet he sent out certaine soldiers to lay hands on him and bring him vnto him who repairing to Samuel and finding the congregation of the Prophets were seased with the spirit of God and began to prophecie Which when Saul vnderstood he sent out others who had the like incounter with the first For which cause he sent out others and seeing the third companie prophecie likewise he was in the end so much despited that he came thither in his owne person And when he drew neere the place before that Samuel saw him he made him prophecie so that Saul comming towards him was seased by aboundance of the spirit so that he was rauished out of himselfe and hauing despoyled himselfe of his raiment he lay prostrate all the day and the night long in the presence both of Samuel and Dauid Dauid departed from thence and went vnto Ionathan to whom he complained of those ambushes which his father had laid to intrap him in telling him that notwithstanding he had neuer committed either iniurie or fault against his father yet did he earnestly pursue him to put him to death Ionathan perswaded him that he should neither rashly suspect these things nor be ouer-credulous in those reports which perhaps might be brought vnto him but that he should trust him onely who was assured that his father intended no euill against him For if he had he would haue told him who is neuer wont to act any thing without his counsell But Dauid sware vnto him that it was so and besought him that he would beleeue his vnfained assertiōs wherby he might the more easily procure his securitie least contemning his words and supposing them to be fained and friuolous he should by his death be ascertained of the sight and truth thereof For he assured him that his father for that cause did not communicate his counsailes with him because he was assured of the loue and friendship that was betweene them Ionathan sore aggrieued that Dauid was so perswaded and Sauls intention was such asked him what he desired at his hands or wherein he might shew him friendship Dauid said vnto him I know that thou wilt further me in what thou maist and refuse me in nothing Now to morrow is the first day of the moneth in which I was accustomed to dine at the kings table and if thou thinkest good I will depart out of the Citie into the field where I will lie hidden if he aske for me thou shalt say I am gone into the countrey of Bethleem where my tribe solemnizeth a feast thou shalt certifie him also that thou hast giuen me leaue And if he say God speed him which is an ordinary wish that friends vse to such as go a iorney know that he hath no hiddē rancor nor secret malice conceiued against me but if he answer otherwise it shall be an assured testimonie that he complotteth some mischiefe against me and this shalt thou ascertaine me of as both becommeth my present calamitie and our mutual friendship which by vowed oth thou being my Lord hast plighted with me who am thy seruant And if thou thinke me vnworthie of this fauour and iniurious towards thy father without expecting the sentence of his iustice kill me now at this present with thine owne sword These his last words so grieuously stroke Ionathan to the heart that he promised him to accomplish his request assuring him to certifie him if he any waies could perceiue that his father was ill affected towards him
God at such time as he slew the Philistine Dauid hauing gotten it fled out of the countrey of the Hebrewes and went vnto Geth a countrey of the Philistines wherein Achis was king There being knowne by the kings seruants hee was discouered and noted to be that Dauid that had slaine many thousand Philistines Dauid fearing to be put to death by him and suspecting least he should fall into the same daunger which hee had escaped by flying from Saul counterfeited himselfe to be foolish and mad so that the some frothed and issued out of his mouth and counterfeited in all things so cunningly that he made the king of Geth beleeue most stedfastly that he was besotted and frenzie in his sicknesse For which cause the king was wroth with his seruants in that they had brought him a madman and commanded them with all expedition that might be to driue him out of his countrey Hauing in this sort escaped out of the countrey of the Geths he transported himselfe into the tribe of Iuda and being in the caue of Adullam he sent vnto his brothers to let them vnderstand that he was there who came vnto him with all their linage and diuers others that either were in need or stood in feare of Saul resorted vnto him saying that they were ready to performe whatsoeuer he should command them all which amounted to the number of foure hundreth or thereabouts Dauid therfore being thus assured by reason of the succours and forces that come vnto him dislodged from thence went to the king of the Moabites beseeching him that he would bee pleased to entertaine his father and mother in that countrey vntill such time as he vnderstood what should be the issue or end of his affaires The king vouchsafed him this fauour and did them great honour all the time they were in his countrey And as touching Dauid he hauing receiued instructions by the commandement of the Prophet to abandon the desart to soiourne in the tribe of Iuda he obeyed him so that comming to Saron he made his aboade in that place But when Saul had vnderstood that Dauid had beene seene with a number of men he fell into an extraordinarie feare and trouble of minde for knowing both the vnderstanding and courage of the man he thought inwardly with himselfe that he would attempt no action that was not great and such a one as might not onely endanger his kingdome or at leastwise breed him much difficultie labor For which cause assembling his friends and captaines and those of his tribe in Gaba where he kept his royall court there sitting in a place called Aror where all his honourable and ciuill magistrates with the rest of his captaines and souldiers enuironed him round about hee spake vnto them after this manner Beloued friends I know that you can beare witnesse of my bountie and how I haue aduanced some of you to honours signiories and possessions and haue preferred you to the chiefest dignities and prerogatiues amongst the people Now would I know of you whether you hope or expect from the sonne of Iesse greater bountie and larger benefits then I haue bestowed vpon you I know that all of you are confederated with him and that my sonne Ionathan likewise is of the same faction and hath perswaded you to follow and fauour him For I am not ignorant both of the othes and couenants that are past twixt him and Dauid and am well assured that he is both a counseller and assister vnto him in whatsoeuer he vndertaketh against me yet are none of you touched with these cares but intending your owne quiet you expect the euent of these matters When the king had spoken thus there were none of the assistants that replied onely Doeg the Syrian master of the kings mulets arose and said That he had seene Dauid in the Citie of Nob who resorted to the high Priest Achimelech to aske counsel of him as touching his assaires that there he had receiued those things that were needfull to furnish him in his voyage and Goliahs sword likewise and how he was safely conducted towards the place whither he pretended to go Hereupon Saul sent for the high Priest and all his kinred and spake thus vnto him What wrong or displeasure haue I done thee that thou hast entertained the sonne of Iesse and hast deliuered him victuals and armes to him I say that seeketh but the meanes to possesse himselfe of my kingdome What answere hast thou made him as touching those demaunds he presented thee in regard of his future fortunes for thou hast not been ignorant that he fled from me and what hatred he beareth against both me my family The high priest denied none of these things but freely confessed that he had deliuered him such things as were reported but not with an intent to gratifie Dauid but the king for I entertained him said he not as thine enemy but as thy faithfull minister and tribune nay which is more as thy sonne in law and such a one as was tied vnto thee by neere alliance For who would haue thought that he who was intitled to so much honour by thee should be thine enemie nay rather who would not esteeme him for thy sauourite and neerest friend And where as he asked counsell of me as touching Gods will this is not the first time I haue answered him but oft many other times haue I aduised him And where as he said that he was sent by thee about some hastie and secret businesse should I haue refused him those supplies which he required at my hands I might haue bin iudged rather to haue done iniurie to thy maiestie then to him For which cause thou art not to suspect or thinke euil of me or if thou hast receiued any aduertisement that Dauid at this time intendeth some trouble innouation against thee oughtst thou to thinke that by reason of the curtesie I haue shewed him that I either fauor him or maintain him against thee for what I bestowed I imployed as on thy friend thy sonne in law and thy tribune and whatsoeuer curtesie he receiued from me it was done vnto thee Notwithstanding all these iust allegations yet could Saul be no waies induced to beleeue them but contrariwise his vehement feare made him suspect the true iustifications of Achimelech so that he commanded certaine armed men that were about him that they should put both him and all his family to the sword But when they held it no lesse then sacriledge to violate by violent death such as were men consecrated vnto God Saul commanded Doeg the Syrian to perpetrate the slaughter who ioyning to himselfe certaine other sacrilegious and impious men he murthered Achimelech and all his race who were in number three hundreth thirtie and fiue men He further sent to Nob the citie of the Priests and put all of them vnto the sword neither sparing woman nor childe nor hauing respect vnto any
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
answere his hart more more failed him in that he manifestly perceiued what sinister successe would betide him if God should not assist him in the conflict He therfore commāded that they should search him out some Pythonissa or cunning enchantresse who inuocated and raised the spirits of the dead to the end that by her meanes he might know if his warres should haue that successe which he pretended for the diuiners which giue answere by the belly which the Greekes call Engastrimythes declare their aduentures to those that aske them And when as by the report of a certaine familiar friend of his he was aduertised that there was such a one at Endor vnwitting to his whole arme and laying aside his royall habites and attended onely by two whom he esteemed for his most faithfull seruants he repaired to Endor to this woman requiring her to diuine and raise vp the spirit of him whom he should name The woman denied and said that she ought not contradict the kings edict who had driuen out of his realme all such sort of soothsaiers telling him that he did not well that hauing receiued no wrong at her hands he should thus sound her and seeke to bring her in lapse of the kings lawes cause her to be punished But Saul swore vnto her that no man should knowe thereof and that he would not discouer her diuination to others briefely that shee should incurre no daunger thereby After then that by his othes and protestations he had perswaded her that she should haue no cause to feare he commanded her to raise the spirit of Samuel She not knowing what Samuel was called him from hell and he sodainly appeared But when she perceiued that it was an honourable man and of diuine semblance she was sore troubled and being wholy discomforted with this vision she turned and said vnto the king art not thou Saul for Samuel had certified her no lesse Saul confessed that it was he and asked her for what cause she seemed to be so much troubled she answered that she saw a man ascend that resembled God Saul commanded her to declare vnto him his shape habite and age and she gaue him to vnderstand that he was a reuerend olde man attired in the vestment of a high priest By these markes Saul knew that it was Samuel whereupon prostrating himselfe on the earth he adored and saluted him The spirit of Samuel asked him for what cause he had troubled and raised him To whom he complained and lamented that he was inforced thereunto by necessitie for that a grieuous host of his enemies were at hand and that void of counsaile he was forsaken by God hauing from him no prediction either by prophecie or dreame for which cause said he I made my recourse vnto thee who hast alwaies had care both of me and my fortunes But Samuel foreseeing that the kings death was hard at hand answered him that it was in vaine for him to question with him as touching those things that should happen since thou knowest that thou art forsaken by God Know therfore said he that Dauid shall possesse the kingdome and that it is he that shall establish the estate by armes but as concerning thy selfe thou shalt lose both thy kingdome and thy life because thou hast disobeyed God in thy warre against the Amalechites and hast not obserued his commandements according as I foretold thee at such time as I was aliue Know therefore that thy people and host shall be discomfited by the enemy and that both thou and thy sons shall be to morrow slaine in the battell and be with me When Saul vnderstood these things he became speechlesse thorow the sorrow wherewith he was seased and fell downe on the pauement either for that his forces failed him thorow sodaine griefe or for his want of meat because that neither that night nor the day before he had vouchsafed his body any refection or sustenance At length hardly recouering himselfe out of his swoun the woman importuned him to receiue some sustenance beseeching him to doe her that fauour in recompence of her vnexpected diuination which though interdicted she had aduentured to performe for his sake before she were ascertained that it was he that had forbidden them in consideration wherof she prayed him that sitting downe at the table he would refresh himselfe with some sustenance to the end he might be the more able to returne vnto his army And although he resisted and vtterly refused to eat in that he had no appetite and was vtterly desperate yet so effectually importuned she that finally she perswaded him to receiue some little nourishment And whereas shee had but one calfe which she bred vp in her house with some particular care for she was but a poore woman and had no other riches yet spared she not to kill it and dresse the flesh for Saul his seruants Thus refected Saul returned backe againe into his campe The curtesie of this woman deserueth to be praised for although she knew that the king had prohibited her art whereby both she and her family sufficiently maintained themselues and although before that time she had neuer seene Saul yet so it is that without remembring her that it was he by whom her art had bin condemned she entertained him not as a stranger or like the man she had neuer seene before but had compassion of him and comforted him exhorting him to eate although he refused it and presented him willingly and hartily with that little which she had in her pouertie All which she did not vnder hope of recompence or expected preferment knowing well that Saul should shortly lose his life nor according to the ordinarie course of men that naturally honour those that haue bestowed some dignitie vpon them and become seruiceable to those from whom they pretend to draw some profit hereafter She therefore ought to be imitated and in her appeareth an excellent example of bountie approuing that there is nothing more worthie praise then to relieue those that are in necessitie neither any thing more becomming men or whereby we may obtaine Gods fauour and graces better then by it Thus much sufficeth at this present in respect of this woman But now methinketh I shall do vvell if I insert in this place and in these my vvritings another eaxmple both profitable to people and nations and in especiall an incitation to noble men and such as are borne vnto glory to follow vertue vvhich also shall expresse vvhat honour is and exemplifie how a man may eternize his memorie vvhich ought to engender in the hearts of kings of nations and of gouerners of commonweales a singular desire and affection to addict themselues to noble actions and to encourage them to entertaine dangers yea death it selfe and teach them to endure all difficulties vvhatsoeuer for their countries cause To vvhich intent the historie of Saul the king of the Hebrewes yeeldeth me matter
thorow the intestine warres of his family Dauid was expulsed out of his kingdome by his son 9 Absolon marching out with his army against his father is ouerthrowne 10 The happy estate of Dauid restored againe into his kingdome 11 Dauid in his life time annointeth and createth his sonne Salomon king 12 The death of Dauid and how much he left his sonne towards the building of the temple CHAP. I. Dauid is created King of one Tribe in Hebron ouer the rest Sauls sonne obtaineth the soueraigntie THIs battell was fought on the same day that Dauid returned conquerour to Siceleg after he had subdued the Amalechites But some three daies after his returne he that slew Saul and had escaped from the battell hauing his garment rent and ashes cast vpon his head came and cast himselfe prostrate before Dauid and being demaunded from whence he came he answered from the battell of the Israelites and certified Dauid of the vnhappy issue thereof telling him how diuers thousands of the Hebrewes were slaine and how Saul himselfe and his sonnes were done to death in the conflict He likewise gaue him to vnderstand how hee himselfe retreated amongst the Hebrewes and was present at the flight of the king confessing likewise that he was the author of his death vnder purpose to redeeme him from the hands of his enemies For said he Saul hauing cast himselfe vpon the point of his sword was so weake by reason of the agonie of his wounds that he could not dispatch himselfe Furthermore he produced the testimonies of his death the gold about his armes and the royall crowne which he tooke and brought from him being dead Dauid perceiuing no cause wherby he should suspect his death whereof he had most euident and infallible testimonies rent his garments and spent the day in weeping and lamenting with his companions And the more was he ouerpressed with sorrow by reason of the losse of his most deere friend Ionathan whom he acknowledged to be the authour and conseruer of his life And so vertuous and affectionate shewed he himselfe towards Saul that although he had oftentimes been in danger to haue been slaine by him yet was he sore agrieued at his death and not that alone but he likewise executed him that slew him telling him that he himselfe had accused himselfe for slaying the king declaring thereby that he was the sonne of an Amalechite and commanded that he should be put to death He composed likewise lamentations and Epitaphs in praise of Saul and Ionathan which are as yet extant at this present time where in I liue After that he had thus honouted the king and performed his lamentation and obsequies he asked counsaile of God by the meanes of the Prophet what Citie of the tribe of Iuda he would giue him to inhabite in who answered him that he would giue him Hebron For which cause he forsooke Siceleg and came and dwelt in Hebron and brought thither his wife and souldiers All the people of the aforesaid tribe resorted thither vnto him and proclaimed him king where vnderstanding how the Iabesins had buried Saul and his sonnes he sent embassadours vnto them both to praise and approue their actions promising them that both he allowed their act and would remunerate their deuoire which they had extended toward the dead giuing them likewise to vnderstand that the tribe of Iuda had chosen him for their king But Abner the son of Ner General of Sauls army a man of execution and of a noble disposition vnderstanding that Saul and Ionathan and his two other brothers were dead came into the campe and bringing with him the onely sonne of Saul that was left whose name was Isboseth he passed on the other side of Iordan and proclaimed him king of all the people except the tribe of Iuda He appointed likewise for his royall seate and place of residence a certaine countrie called in Hebrew Machare that is to say the campe From thence went he with an elected band of souldiers with a resolution to fight against those of the tribe of Iuda in that he was displeased with them because they had made choise of Dauid for their king Against him marched out Ioab the sonne of Suri and of Saruia Dauids sister generall of his army to encounter him accompanied with his brothers Abisai and Azael and all Dauids souldiers and arriuing neere a certaine fountaine of Gabaa he arranged his army in that place to enter battell And when as Abner said vnto him that he desired to make triall whether part had the better souldiers it was accorded betweene them that twelue for either side should be chosen out to determine the challenge who marching out into a certaine place betwixt both the hosts and hauing darted their Iauelins the one against the other came at last to the sword where mutually assailing hewing and butchering one another both in their heads sides and bowels they all of them at last fell down dead as if the plot had bin determined between them Which done the two armies ioyned in like sort and after a cruel battell Abner with his followers were discomfited who speedily flying were incessantly pursued by Ioab who in his owne person insisted and exhorted his other soldiers to pursue them hastily without suffering any of them to escape But amongst the rest Ioabs brothers were hot vpon the chase and the yoongest of them called Azael gaue especiall restimonie of his forwardnesse thorow that swiftnesse in running wherwith he was endowed for he ranne not onely more swifte then other men but outstripped horses also in their race Whilest thus he pursued Abner with great vehemencie and headlong course without turning either on the one side or on the other Abner turned back vpon him and intending to dignifie him for his forces he first couenanted with him for one souldiers armour and another time seeing that he could not be perswaded to stay he prayed him to arest himselfe and pursue him no further for feare least being inforced to kill him he should be depriued of the courage to behold his brother Ioab But perceiuing that he made no account of his words but that Azael instantly insisted to pursue him Abner flying and turning himselfe backe stroke him with a Iauelin which he had in his hand in such sort as he presently died But they that pursued Abner likewise arriuing in the place where Azaels body vnaduenturously fell dead staied round about him and surceased to pursue the enemy any further But Ioab and his brother Abisai outstripping the body with swift running and conceiuing a more mortall hatred against Abner for that he had in this sort slaine their brother they pursued him vntill sun-set with admirable swiftnesse and incredible alacritie vnto a place called Dumaton There mounting vppon a hillocke hee sawe Abner with the tribe of Beniamin flying from him who beganne to crie out vnto him and say that men of the same tribe should not be so whetted
two last which were named by vs were the sonnes of concubines But Thamar was Absalons sister by the same father and mother CHAP. IIII. Dauid assayled by the Palestines obtaineth a famous victorie against them neere vnto Ierusalem NOw when the Palestines knew that the Hebrewes had created Dauid king they led forth their army against him towards Ierusalem where encamping themselues in the valley of the Giants which is a place not farre off from the Citie they in that place expected the encountrey But the king of the Hebrewes who was wont to do nothing inconsiderately without Gods aduise commanded the high priest to prophecie and foretell what successe and euent the warre should haue who after he had informed him that God smileth on fauoureth their attempts he presently drew out his armie against the enemie and striking the battell he sodainly assailed the enemies on their backes and partly slew them and partly put them to flight But let no man suspect that the army of the Palestines was either small in number or weake in courage which at that time assailed the Hebrewes in that he coniectureth in his mind that they were easily ouercome without either attempting or performing any noble or memorable action For he is to know that all Syria Phenicia and all other warlike nations beyond them bare armes with them and were confederates in this warre which was the onely cause that notwithstanding they were so many times ouercome and had lost diuers thousands of men that they desisted not to assaile the Hebrewes with more great force and that which is more hauing beene defeated in the battels before recited yet forbare they not to assaile Dauid a new with thrice as much power as before or to incampe in the same place For which cause Dauid tooke counsell of God once more what the issue of this battell should be and the high Priest told him that he should encampe in the forrest called Teares because it was not farre off from the enemies campe and that he should not depart from thence neither attempt them in battell before the trees did shake without any agitation or breath of wind Whereupon as soone as the trees shooke and the time which God had appointed was come without any delay he issued out to enioy a prepared and manifest victorie For the squadrons of the enemie were disarrayed and incontinently betooke them to flight and were swiftly followed and slaughtered vntill the Citie of Gerar which is a frontire towne of their countrey and their campe was thorowly ransacked wherein there were found great riches and amongst all other things their Gods were beaten to peeces The battell being brought to this end it seemed good vnto Dauid by the counsaile of the Elders and Coronels ouer thousands that all the flower of their youth should be assembled from all the parts of the countrey euery one according to his tribe Secondly that the Priests and Leuites should repaire to Cariathiarim and bring from thence the Arke of God and conueie it to Ierusalem to the end that when it should be there the seruice of God might thereafter be celebrated in that place other sacrifices and honours agreeable to the diuine maiesty might be performed And had the same beene done during the life of Saul no inconuenient had fallen vpon them When as al the people were assembled according as it was decreed by him the king came forth to transferre the Arke which the Priests carying out of Aminadabs house they laid it vpon a new waine which togither with oxen their brothers and children drewe The king marched formost and after him all the people praising God a◅d tuning all sorts of melodie then vsuall in that countrey with diuersitie of sounds of instruments of Dances and Shalmes Trumpets and Clarions and in this manner conducted he the Arke into Ierusalem But when they were come to the threshing floore of Chidō which is a certain place so called Oza died thorow the wrath of God for the oxen stumbling that drewe the chariot and the Arke somwhat shaken he stretched out his hand with intent to sustaine the same and because he was no Priest God stroke him till he died The king and the people were sore aggrieued at the death of Oza and the place where he died is called to this day Ozas Striking Dauid fearing least if he should retire the Arke with him into the Citie the like happe should attend him that had befallen Oza who was in that sort done to death for that he had onely thus stretched out his hand he placed it not with him in his owne house within the Citie but commaunded that it should be left in the possession of one called Obed by descent a Leuite and in behauiour a man good and vertuous where it remained for three months space during which time his house was blessed with al worldly goods and goodnes The king being ascertained what aduantages had befallen Obed who of a poore and needie man was sodainly become verie rich so that all men had their eies fixed on him they that heard speake of his house enuied him he assured himselfe that no inconuenient would befall him for which cause he retired the Arke into his own house which was caried by the Priests and seuen quires of singing men disposed by the king went before the same The king himselfe likewise touched and plaied vpon the Harpe so that Michol Dauids wife and Sauls daughter seeing him entertaining himselfe after that manner mocked at him The Arke then being thus caried was placed in a Tabernacle orected and dressed by Dauid who offered most magnificent sacrifices of all sorts and forgot not the sacrifices for prosperities he feasted all the people likewise both men women and children distributing vnto euery one a cake a morsell of rosted meat a cake fried in the pan and a portion of the sacrifice and after he had thus feasted the people he dismissed them and retreated himselfe into his owne house But Michol his wife and daughter to king Saul drawing neere vnto him vpon his returne besought God for him that it might please him in all other things she might expresse vnto her husband all that which became her intire and vnequald loue towards him but in this she blamed him because that being so great and mightie a king as he was he had dishonoured himselfe in dauncing despoiling himselfe and discouering partly that which became him not doing all this in companie of his seruants and handmaids To whom Dauid answered that he was not ashamed in performing a thing so acceptable vnto God as that was who had honoured him more then her father placed him aboue all others assuring her that he would play dance oftentimes after that sort without care whether his demeanor pleased either her or her chambermaids This Michol of whom we intreat had no children by Dauid but being maried againe to another to whom her father had
betrothed her after he had rauished her from Dauid she bare fiue sonnes of whom we wil speake in their place The king perceiuing how by Gods assistance his affaires prospered daily more more thought that it should be a hainous offēce in him if he should dwel in houses made of Cedar high and well builded and neglecting the Arke suffer it to remaine vnder a pauilion for which cause he conceiued a desire to build a Temple vnto God according as Moses had foretold and to this intent consulted he with the Prophet Nathan who willed him to performe all that which he was minded to accomplish assuring him that God would be each way assistant vnto him for which cause he was verie heartily affected towards the building of the Temple But the same night God appeared vnto Nathan commaunding him to certifie Dauid that he accepted his will and that his affection was agreeable vnto him considering in especiall that no one before him had a thought to performe the like yet notwithstanding although his deliberation were such he permitted him not to finish the same by reason he had followed many warres and had embrewed his hands in the bloud of many of his enemies But after his decease which shall happen after he hath liued a long and prosperous life his sonne called Salomon to whom he shall leaue the kingdome after his death shall cause a Temple to be built vnto him promising him to assist and fauour the said Salomon euen as the father doth his sonne and that he would continue the royaltie in his heires and their successors And that if they shall happen to offend him he will onely punish them with sicknes and sterilitie Dauid vnderstanding these words which were deliuered him by the Prophet was verie ioyfull by reason that the royaltie was firmely assured to his heires and for that his house should be famous and renowmed and presenting himselfe before the Arke he prostrated himselfe and adored and gaue God thanks for all the benefits he had bestowed on him for that from a poore and humble shepheard he had raised him to so great a height of maiestie and glory and for that he had promised to haue care of his posteritie as erst he had had of the Hebrewes and their libertie This said after he had sung hymnes vnto God he departed CHAP. V. Dauid ouercomming the neighbouring nations imposeth tributes on them NOt long time after this Dauid thought it requisite to make warre vpon the Philistines partly to the intent he might auoid the suspition of sloth and idlenes and partly that hauing according as God had foretold discomfited his enemies he might leaue a peaceable kingdome to his posteritie after him He therefore assembled his army anew commanding thē to be in a readines to march forward to the warre whenas therefore he supposed that the armie was addressed he departed out of Ierusalem and made a road vpon the Philistines whom he ouercame in battell and tooke a great part of the countrey from them by meanes whereof he enlarged the frontires of the Hebrewes and translated the warre and led forth his forces against the Moabites whose army being deuided into two parts was by him defeated and ouerthrown and the rest were taken prisoners and tributes were imposed on them which they were bound to satisfie euery yeare Afterwards he led out his host against Adarezer sonne of Ara king of Sophona and waging battell with him neere vnto the riuer of Euphrates he slew about twentie thousand of his footmen and some fiue thousand of his horse he tooke also almost a thousand of his chariots the greater part whereof was wholy consumed and one hundreth of them onely reserued to his owne vse CHAP. VI. They of Damasco are ouercome by Dauid ADad king of Damasco and of Syria vnderstanding that Dauid had made warre on Adarezer who was both his friend and confederate issued forth with great forces to bee assistant vnto him and to deliuer him from his enemies according as he expected But entring field and waging battell with Dauid neere vnto the riuer of Euphrates he was ouercome and lost a great number of his souldiers for in that battell there were staine on his side by the Hebrew enemy to the number of twenty thousand and the rest fled Of this king Nicholas the Historiographer maketh mention in the fourth book of his histories in these words Sithence and long time after a certaine man of that countrey called Adad gouerned in Damasco and ouer the rest of Syria except Phoenicia who making warre against Dauid king of Iudaea and hauing oftentimes fought with him in his last encountrie wherein he was ouercome neere vnto the floud Euphrates he shewed himselfe more resolute then all other kings in force and valour Moreouer he speaketh of his heires how after his death they succeeded him both in royaltie and name the one after the other and saith thus He being deceased his sonnes raigned for ten generations after him each of them receiuing from their father the same name and the same kingdome after the manner of the Ptolomies of Aegypt The third of these being more mightie then the rest and desirous to reuenge himselfe in warre of these iniuries which were offered vnto his grandfather led foorth his army against the Iewes and destroyed the countrey called at this day Samatia Wherein he varied not any waies from the truth for he of whom he speaketh is that Adad that made warre in Samatia during the raigne of Achab king of Israell of whom we will speake hereafter in his place But when Dauid had led forth his campe against Damasco and against the rest of the countrey of Syria he reduced them all vnder his obeisance placing garrisons amidst their countrey and imposing tribute vpon them which they should pay vnto him He dedicated also to God in the Citie of Ierusalem the golden quiuers and armors which Adads guard were wont to weare which afterward Syssa king of Aegypt tooke at such time as he warred against Roboam his Nephew and carried away great riches out of the temple of Ierusalem as it shall be declared hereafter when as we shall come to intreat of that matter This king of the Hebrewes being inspired by God who made him prosperous in all his wars encamped before the goodliest Cities Adarezer had that is to say Betthea and Machon which he besieged tooke and spoyled where there was found great store of gold and siluer and of brasse which was of more estimation then gold whereof Salomon made that great vessell called the Sea and other faire lauers at such time as he adorned and furnished the temple of God When the king of Amath vnderstood of all that which had hapned to Adarezer and how his power and forces were destroied he grew affraid of his owne estate and resolued with himselfe to make a league confederacie with Dauid before he might come out against him
and to that intent he sent his sonne Adoram vnto him to testifie and expresse what contentment he had receiued for that he had defeated Adarezer his enemy and to contract with him amitie and confederation He seht him presents also namely vessels of antique worke of gold of siluer and of brasse whereupon Dauid made a league with Thani for so was the king of Amath called and receiued the presents that were sent vnto him and afterwards dismissed his sonne with conuenient honor both for the one and the other and consecrated that to God which he had sent him togither with the gold and siluer which he had taken from other cities and nations that were subiect vnto him For God did not only so farre fauour him as to make him victorious and happy in his owne wars but hauing also sent Abisai Ioabs brother the lieutenant of his army against the Idumeans he likewise granted him victorie for Abisai slew in the battell about eighteene thousand of them and filled all Idumaea with garrisons challenging a tribute throughout the countrey by the pole This king loued iustice of his own nature and exercised iudgement according to veritie He had for his lieutenant generall in all his armies Ioab and appointed Iosaphat the son of Achilles chiefe ouer the Registers After Abiathar he established Sadoc of the house of Phinees for high priest who was his friend Sisa was his secretarie Banaia the sonne of Ioiada was captaine ouer his guard and all the elders were ordinarily about him to guard and attend him He remembring himselfe also of the conuentions and oathes that were past twixt him and Ionathan the sonne of Saul and of 〈◊〉 â—…itie and affection that had been betweene them for besides all other graces which he had he most freshly retained them in memorie from whom in times past he had receiued any friendship He caused a search to be made if any one of the house and family of Ionathan were left-aliue to the intent he might remunerate the friendship which he had receiued at Ionathans hands Where upon a certaine man was brought vnto him who was enfranchised by Saul that might enforme him what one of his race was aliue who asked him if he could name him any of Ionathans sons then liuing whom he might make partaker of those curteous fauors graces which in times past he had receiued by Ionathan Who answered him that he had one sonne remaining whose name was Mephiboseth who was lame of his legs for that at such time as the newes came that both his father and grandfather were slaine in the battell his nurse fearfully snatching vp the child and flying suffered him vnfortunately to fal from her shoulders and so hurt him When as then he was aduertised where and with whom he was brought vp he sent vnto the citie of Labath to Machir with whom Mephiboseth was kept commanded him to be brought vnto him Now when he came to Dauids presence he cast himselfe prostrate on his face to do him reuerence but the king exhorted him to be of good courage and to hope hereafter for better fortune and gaue him his fathers house with all the possessions that were purchased by Saul his grandfather appointing him to sit and feed with him at his owne table yea to eate of his royall prouision not letting one day slip wherein he accompanied him not at meales The yong man did him reuerence humbly thanking him for the gratious words and roiall offers be had made vnto him At that time Dauid called for Siba and certified him how he had giuen Mephiboseth his fathers house and all Sauls purchases commanding him to manure and husband his possessions and to haue care of all things and to returne the reuenew to Ierusalem for that Mephiboseth was euery day to take his refectioÌ„ at his table charging both him his 15. sons and 20. seruants to doe him seruice After the king had thus disposed of him Siba did him reuerence and after he had protested to performe whatsoeuer he had giuen him in charge he departed and Ionathans sonne remained in Ierusalem where he liued at the kings table and was entertained and tended as carefully as if he had beene his owne sonne he had a sonne also called Micha These were the honors that those children which suruiued after Ionathan and Sauls death receined at Dauids hands About the same time died Naas king of the Ammonites who during his life time was Dauids friend and his sonne succeeded him in his kingdome to whom Dauid sent embassadors to comfort him exhorting him to disgest his fathers death with patience assuring him that he would expresse no lesse loue towards him then he did vnto his father But the gouernours of the Ammonites entertained this embassage verie contumeliously and not according as Dauid had kindly intended it and murmured against their king telling him that they were but spies sent by Dauid to seeke into his forces and discouer the strength of his countrey vnder a pretext of humanitie counselling him to stand vpon his guard and not to giue eare to his protestation least being deceiued he should fall into some remedilesse inconuenient Naas king of the Ammonites supposing that his gouernors spoke nothing but truth outraged the embassadors that were sent vnto him with great iniuries for causing the halfe of their beards to be shauen close by the chin and cutting away the halfe of their vestments he sent them back againe returning their answeres not in words but in deeds Which when Dauid saw he was grieuously displeased and made it knowne that he would not suffer that mockerie and iniurie so easily to be disgested but that he would make warre on the Ammonites and reuenge those indignities that were offered to his embassadors The friends and gouernors of Naas considering how they had violated and broken the peace and how for that occasion they deserued to be punished prepared for the war and sent one thousand talents to Syrus king of Mesopotamia requiring him that he would be their consederate in that warre and receiue their pay they requested the like of Subas these kings had 20000. footmen in camp They hired also with their mony the king of the countrey called Michas and the fourth called Istob which two had with them 12000. thousand souldiers CHAP. VII How Dauid ouercame the Mesopotamians BVt Dauid was no whit amated neither with the confederacie nor force of the Ammonites but trusting in God resolued that the cause of his warre was iust for which cause he continued in reuenge of those outrages which he had receiued by them Hauing therefore mustered vnder Ioab the flower of his whole army he commanded him to depart and make warre vpon them who came and incamped himselfe before their chiefest Citie called Aramath which when the enemies perceiued they issued foorth and arranged themselues in battell not altogether but in two seuerall parts For their confederates and allies were
incamped apart in the plaine and the Ammonites stood in battell aray neere vnto their Citie gate to make head against the Hebrewes Ioab perceiuing this vsed this stratageme to counteruaile their complot for he chose out the ablest and stoutest of his men to serue vnder him against Syrus and the other kings confederates with him and gaue the rest vnto his brother Abisat commaunding him to oppose himselfe against the Ammonites whilest he charged the rest willing him that if he perceiued that the Syrians were stroâ—…er then he was and did put him to the worst to displace his squadron and to succour him promising to do the like if he perceiued him to be ouerpressed by the Ammonites Whenas therefore he had exhorted his brother to behaue himselfe valiantly and vertuously and to take heed least he should light on some dishonour he sent him before to charge the Ammonites and he on the other side assailed the Syrians who valiantly resisted him for a little space yet notwithstanding Ioab slew many of them and finally constrained them to turne their backs Which when the Ammonites perceiued who were afraid of Abisai and his people they retreated likewise and conforming themselues according to the example of their allies they tooke their flight into the Citie By which meane Ioab hauing obtained the vpper hand ouer his enemies returned in triumph and with victorie vnto the king to Ierusalem Yet were not the Ammonites wholy weakned by this losse for although they had by their lamentable experience a certaine knowledge that the Hebrewes were stronger then themselues yet would they by no meanes listen after peace They therefore sent vnto Chalama king of the Syrians on the other side of Euphrates whose confederacie they attained by bribes and huge sums of money This king had one who was called Sabecus for his lieutenant generall and vnder him fourescore thousand footmen and ten thousand horsemen Dauid vnderstanding that the Ammonites drew to head and intended anew to beare armes against him he surceased to prosecute the war against them by his lieutenants himself in person with al his forces passed ouer the riuer of Iordan and went out against them and at last meeting and fighting with them ouercame them killing welny fortie thousand of their footmen and seuen thousand of their horsemen he hurt Sabecus also Chalamas Lieutenant who likewise died of that wound The issue of this combate being thus the Mesopotamians yeelded themselues vnto Dauid and gaue him many great and magnificent presents He therefore by reason of the winter retired himselfe for that time to Ierusalem but incontinently vpon the spring time he sent out his Lieutenant Ioab once more to make warre vpon the Ammonites who ouerrunning their countrey vtterly spoyled it and shut them vp in Aramath their principal citie which he ouercame entred About this time it so fel out that Dauid notwithstanding he were a iust man one that feared God an exact obseruer of all the lawes and ordinances of his forefathers fell and offended God most greeuously For as he walked on the top of his royall pallace from the time of mid-day vntill the euening for betwixt these times he vsed accustomably to walke he perceiued a woman of incomparable beautie and supassing perfection whose name was Bethsabe who in her house bathed her selfe in a cleere and pleasant fountaine and being deuoured and rauished with her beautie he could not refraine his concupiscence but sending for her tooke the spoile of her beautie and chastitie and by that meanes got her with child Which when she perceiued she sent vnto the king beseeching him to bethinke himselfe of some meanes whereby her shame might be concealed and her life which was in hazard by the law for her adulterie might be preserued Who thereupon sent for Vrias Bethsabes husband and one of Ioabs soldiers who at that time was at the siege of Aramath and questioned with him vpon his arriuall as touching the estate of the siege of the armie who answering him that all things were fallen out according as he could wish Dauid tooke a portion of his owne supper and gaue it him willing him to repaire vnto his owne house and repose him selfe with his wife But Vrias did nothing lesse but slept amongst his fellow soldiers neere vnto the person of the king Which when Dauid vnderstood he asked him wherefore he repaired not to his owne house according to the custome of husbands that had beene long time absent vpon a long voiage and why he entertained not his wife from whom he had beene sequestred so many daies Vrias replied that it became him not either to repose or take pleasure with his wife whilest his companions and generall lay vpon the bare ground in the enemies countrey Which said Dauid commaunded him to soiourne there all the day long to the end that on the next morrow he might send him backe againe to Ioab That night the king inuited him to supper and although he were made drunke thorow the aboundance of wine he receiued which the king had purposely caused to be giuen him yet notwithstanding he slept at the kings gate without any desire to repaire home vnto his wife Herewith the king was much despited so that he wrote vnto Ioab commaunding him to punish Vrias because he had offended him and to the end that this intent of his should not be discouered he suggested him both in the meanes and manner of the prosecution of his death enioyning him to place him in the ranke of greatest danger and in face of the enemie to the intent that in the fight his person might be endaungered abandoned and left alone whilest they that fought next vnto him retired when they sawe him charged Whenas he had thus written and sealed vp the letter with his owne seale he deliuered it to Vrias to beare vnto Ioab who receiuing the same and conceiuing the kings pleasure placed Vrias in that quarter where he knew the enemies would fight most desperately appointing him out certaine of his best soldiers to second him with purpose that he would come and succour them with all his power to the end he might breake thorow the wall and enter the Citie Vrias who was a noble soldier and for his valour had gotten great honour by the king and reputation amongst all those of his tribe and tooke delight to be employed in hazardous attempts and refused no daunger valiantly accepted the execution But Ioab gaue priuate intelligence to those that were ranked next vnto him that when they should see the enemie sally out with greatest fury they should abandon Vrias When as therefore the Hebrewes drew neere vnto the Citie the Ammonites feared least the enemie should speedily scale and enter the Citie on that side where Vrias was ranked for which cause they picked out a squadron of the most resolute men amongst them and setting open their gates sodainly with swift course force
violence they cast themselues vpon their enemies They that were neere Vrias seeing them draw neere retired backe againe according as Ioab had before hand commanded them but Vrias being ashamed to flie or forsake his ranke expected the enemie and valiantly encountring him he slue diuers of them but at last being inclosed and shut in the middest of them he was slaine and with him some other of his companions perished in the conflict This done Ioab sent messengers vnto the king to certifie him that not enduring the delay of the siege and assailing and scaling the walles he was compelled to returne backe into his campe with losse of some men and repulse from the Citie yet had he commaunded the messengers that if they perceiued the King to be displeased with the newes they should gâ—…ue him to vnderstand that Vrias was dead The King hearing this discourse according as Ioabs messengers had deliuered it made a shew to be displeased saying that it was a fault in him that he had so neerely approched the wall alledging that he might haue done farre better to haue taken the towne by mine or engine vrging in way of example the act of Abimelech Gedeons sonne who intending to surprise by force a tower that was within the Citie of Tebez was stroken with a stone which was cast at him by an olde woman whereupon he that was a valiant man for entring an action ouerâ—…ash and dangerous shamefully died In remembrance of whose desaster they ought to haue beene more warie and not to haue approched the wall of the enemie so neerely For it is a verie good point in warre to haue in memorie both fatall and fortunate successes to the end that when a man is in the like daungers he may follow the one and flie the other Whilest thus he rebuked them the messenger certified him of Vrias death which did somewhat appease him So that he commaunded them to tell Ioab that it was but an humane accident and that such was the nature of warre that sometime the one side had the better and sometime the other to conclude that he should prouide for the siege and take care least hereafter they should receiue any further losse counselling him by trenches and engines to ruinate the wall and commaunding that all those that were in the towne should be put to the sword The messenger thus dismissed reported all these things vnto Ioab according to the Kings commaundement But Vrias wife hauing notice of the death of her husband wept and mourned for him diuers daies and when the dule and lamentations were finished and performed to the dead the king espoused her incontinently and she bare him a man child yet God beheld not this mariage with a fauourable eie but was wroth with Dauid and appearing to the Prophet Nathan in a dreame he blamed the king verie sore Now Nathan who was a wise and experienced man knew well that when kings are displeased they suffe themselues rather to be ouercome by passion then by reason for which cause he determined to conceale the menaces and threatnings that God had made for that time and discoursed of other profitable matters with Dauid after this manner requiring the king that it would please him to censure and deliuer his opinion in the same Two men said he dwelt in one and the same Citie the one of them was rich hauing many troupes of great and small cattell the other that was poore had but one only sheep which he nourished with his children sharing him out a part of that whereon he fed and louing her as tenderly as a man would doe his onely daughter It hapned that this rich man had a stranger that repaired to his house for whose entertainment he would not suffer any one of his own beasts to be slaine but sent a violent messenger who tooke away the poore mans sheepe and caused it to be dressed to entertaine his guest This report of Nathans displeased the king very sore in so much as he swore vnto him that he that had beene so bolde to commit such an act was a wicked man and that reason required that he should restore him fourefold and that after he should be put to death Whereunto Nathan replied saying that it was he that deserued this punishment who had giuen sentence against himselfe in that he had presumed to commit so grieuous a sinne Moreouer he certified him of Gods displeasure who notwithstanding he had made him king ouer all the Hebrewes and Lord ouer all the nations round about which were diuers and great and who besides these things had warranted him from the hands of Saul and had giuen him wiues whom he had espoused iustly and lawfully was so despised and dishonoured by him that he had espoused and kept by him an other mans wife and caused her husband to be slaine and betrayed him vnto his enemy For which sinnes of his he pronounced that he should be punished by God and his wiues should be violated by one of his owne sonnes who should likewise lay a snare for him so that he should suffer a manifest plague for the sinne he had committed in secret Moreouer said he the sonne which thou shalt haue by her shall shortly die After the king had receiued this message he was sore troubled and being confused he powred forth tears sighed for sorrowes confessing that he had done wickedly for vndoubtedly before this time he had alwaies feared God and had neuer in his life offended him but in that act with Vrias wife Whereupon after his submission God was appeased and tooke compassion of him promising him to continue both his life and kingdome and that he would be no more displeased with him if so be that he repented him of the sinne he had committed After that Nathan had declared these things vnto Dauid he departed vnto his owne house But God inflicted a grieuous sicknesse on the infant that was borne by Bethsabe for which cause the king was sore agrieued and for seuen daies space would take no refection notwithstanding that he was earnestly instanted thereunto by his houshold seruants He put on likewise a mourning habit and laide himselfe on the ground vpon a sacke beseeching him that it would please him to grant him the childes life towards whose mother he bare so exceeding loue and affection But when the infant was deceased about the seuenth day of his sicknesse his seruants durst not certifie him thereof supposing that if it should come vnto his eare he would the more obstinately abstain from eating the care of his person and should be in danger by reason of his disordinate griefe for his childe to procure and hasten his own death considering he had so vehemently bin afflicted and tormented for his onely sicknesse But the king perceiuing by their lookes that his seruants were troubled and that they concealed some fatall harme and gathering thereby that his sonne was dead
sodainly fell into his enemies hands This when a certaine souldier apperceiued he brought newes thereof vnto Ioab who promised him to giue him fiftie sicles if he would kill him The souldier answered that if hee would giue him two thousand he would not commit such a murther on the sonne of his soueraigne the rather for that in the presence of them all Dauid had requested them to spare him Hereupon Ioab commanded him to shew him the place where he had seene Absalon hang who no sooner discouered him but thrusting a iauelin to his heart he slew him That done Ioabs Esquires arrounding the tree tooke him downe and casting him into a deepe and obscure pit they ouerwhelmed him with stones so that in appearance it seemed to be a toombe or some great high and stately monument After this when Ioab had sounded the retreat he withdrew his soldiers from pursuit supposing it to be an innaturall thing for one countreyman to flesh himselfe vpon another Absalon had erected in the royall valley two furlongs distant from Ierusalem a marble pillar which he had intituled by the name of Absalons Hand saying that when his children should be dead his name should remaine in that pillar Now he had three sonnes and a daughter which was called Thamar as we haue said heretofore who was married vnto Roboam Dauid's Nephew and had by him a sonne called Abia who succeeded his father in the kingdome Of whom we will speake more conueniently in his place CHAP. X. The happy estate of Dauid being restored vnto his kingdome AFter that Absalon was slaine all the people returned priuately to their owne houses but Achimaas the sonne of the hie priest Sadoc drewe neere vnto Ioab requiring his licence to repaire vnto Dauid and to certifie him of the victorie and how by Gods helpe and prouidence he had obtained the victorie This did the generall deny him telling him that it was not conuenient that he who before times was wont to bring ioyfull newes should now certifie the king of his sonnes death He therefore commanded him to stay and calling Chusai to his presence he gaue him commission to certifie the king of that which he had seene Achimaas requested him the second time that he would suffer him to go promising him that he would make no mention but of the victory and that as touching Absalons death he would not vtter any thing whereupon he dismissed him also who choosing the shorter way which he onely knew outstripped Chusai Now as Dauid sate in the gate of the Citie expecting some messenger that might certifie him of the successe of the battell one of the Sentinels perceiuing Achimaas that came running hastily and vnable to discouer who it was told Dauid that he saw a messenger comming towards him who answered that it was some one that brought ioyfull newes Anon after he told him that a certaine other messenger followed To whom Dauid answered likewise that it was one that brought glad tidings And when the watchman perceiued that it was Achimaas Sadoc the high priests sonne and that he was neere at hand he ranne first of all and certified Dauid who was very glad thereof saying that he brought some good and desired newes as touching the euent of the battell and no sooner had the king spoken the word but Achimaas entred and humbled himselfe vpon his face before Dauid to whom he reported that his army had the victorie Being afterwards demanded what was become of Absalon He answered that he incontinently departed from the campe as soone as the enemies were put to flight yet that hee heard a certaine crie of souldiers that pursued Absalon and further then that he knew nothing because by Ioabs commandement he was speedily sent away to bring tydings of the victorie When Chusai was come and had humbled himselfe before the king and had declared vnto him the successe of the battell the question was asked how Absalon did Whereunto he answered The like fortune happen to thine enemies O King as hath hapned to Absalon These words quite extinguished the delight and ioy that Dauid conceiued in the victorie and wholy amated his faithful souldiers for as touching the king he ascending the highest part of the Citie bewailed his sonne beating his breast tearing his haire and afflicting himselfe in all kindes and after such a sort as may not be expressed and crying out in a most mournfull manner My sonne said he would God my sonne that I were dead with thee that I might be with thee For whereas of his owne nature he was a verie louing man yet loued he Absalon aboue all other most tenderly When the army and Ioab were enformed that Dauid lamented his sonne in this sort they had this respect that they would not enter the Citie after a triumphant and victorious manner but they entred hanging their heads and weeping all of them most tenderly as if they had returned from some discomfiture But when as the king hauing his head couered perseuered in his desire to bewaile his sonne Ioab entred in vnto him and said O King you consider not that in this behauiour of yours you dishonor your selfe for it is to be thought that you hate those that loue you and expose themselues to all perils for your loue yea that you hate your selfe and your own succession and that contrariwise you loue your most mortall enemies most intirely since you bewaile them that were no lesse who are iustly depriued of their liues For if Absalon had had the victorie and had possessed the kingdome in assurance there had not any one of vs been left aliue that loue you but had all of vs suffered a most hated death nay and in the first ranke your selfe and your owne children neither would they being our enemies haue lamented but laughed at our deaths yea they would punish them likewise who should haue any compassion of our miseries Yet art thou not ashamed to lament after this manner for such a man as most extremely haâ—…ed thee who notwithstanding he were thine owne sonne was so vngratefull and vngratious towards thee Desist therfore from thy vniust lamentation and offer thy selfe in presence to thy weldeseruing souldiers and giue them thankes that by their vertue haue obtained thee this victorie otherwise if thou continue as thou hast began this day will I translate both the kingdome and the army from thee and giue thee occasion more grieuously and truely to lament thee of thy misfortunes then thou didst before By these words Ioab pacified and alayed the kings lamentations and drew him to the care of his common weale For cloathing himselfe in a royall habit whereby he might seeme more gratious in the sight of his souldiers he sate him downe in the gate so that all the people hearing thereof flocked out to salute him Whilest these things past after this maner they that remained aliue of Absalons army returning home vnto their houses sent
and the kings aduersarie were deliuered into his hands to doe iustice on him to leuy the siege and to cause his army to retire from thence When the woman had heard what Ioab had said she praied him to stay a little while promising him incontinently to cast his head ouer vnto him Wherupon she came downe amongst the assembly of the Citizens to whom she spake after this manner Wretched men that you are will you miserably suffer your wiues and children to be slaine for a wicked mans cause and a stranger whom ye know not will you admit him in place of Dauid your king from whose hands you haue receiued so many benefits thinke you that one only Citie can resist so huge an army After this manner perswaded she them to cut off Sibas head and to cast it into Ioabs campe which done Ioab commanded the retreat to be sounded and leuied the siege and returning backe into Ierusalem was once more declared generall of all the people The king also appointed Banaia captaine of his guards and of six hundreth souldiers Adoram was made treasurer to gather in the tributes Sabath and Achilaus had the charge of remembrancers Susa was made secretarie Sadoc and Abiathar were made the high priests After this it hapned that the conntrey was afflicted with a famine For which cause Dauid besought God that he would haue compassion on his people and that it might please him to manifest not onely the cause but also the remedie of that maladie The Prophets answered him that God would be reuenged of the wrong done vnto the Gabeonites whom king Saul had deceiued and traiterously slaine without respect of the oath which the gouernor Iosuah and the elders made vnto them If therefore he would suffer the Gabeonites to reuenge the death of their slaughtered friends according to their desire God had promised to be appeased and to deliuer the people from their imminent presenteuils As soone as he vnderstood by the prophets what God required he sent for the Gabeonites and asked them what it was which they required who wished him to deliuer into their hands seuen of Sauls sonnes to take their reuenge on them whereupon the king made search after them onely sparing and protecting Mephiboseth the sonne of Ionathan When the Gabeonites had laid hold on these seuen they executed them according to their pleasures and thereupon God incontinently sent downe raine and disposed the earth to beare fruit moistning and alaying the drouth forepassed so that the land of the Hebrewes recouered againe his pristine fruitfulnesse Not long after the king made warre vpon the Philistines and at such time as the battell was striken and the enemies turned their backes it chanced that the king hotly pursuing the chase was left alone and discouered in his wearinesse by one of the enemies called Acmon the sonne of Araph of the race of the Giants who beside his sword had a iauelin the point whereof waied three hundreth sicles and a corselet tissued with chaines who returning backe charged Dauid very violently with an intent to kill the king of his enemies by reason that he saw him spent with trauell But about the same instant Abisai Ioabs brother arriued in the place who stept betweene them and rescued the king and slew his enemy The whole army for a little space were grieuously discomforted in regard of the danger wherein the king had been and the gouernors swore that he should neuer afterwards enter into battel with them for feare least he might fall into some distaster by reason of his readinesse and valour and by that meanes should depriue the people of those gifts which were in him which he had already made them feele and whereof hereafter they should be made partakers if God should vouchsafe him a long and blessed life The king hauing intelligence that the Philistines were assembled in the citie of Gazara sent out an army against them in which Sabach the Hittite one of Dauids redoubted and picked souldiers behaued himselfe very valiantly and gate great reputation for he slew diuers of them that vaunted themselues to be of the race of the Giants and that were verie proud and puffed vp with presumption of their valour and was chiefe authour of that victorie which the Hebrewes had After this last receiued losse the Philistines once more hazarded their fortunes in warre against whō when Dauid had sent out an army Nephanus his kinsman shewed himself very valiant For fighting hand to hand against him that was accounted the most valiant champion amongst all the Philistines he slew him and put the rest to flight of whom verie many died in that battell also In processe of time they reincamped neere vnto a Citie not farre from the frontiers of the countrey of the Hebrewes In which army of theirs there was a man six cubits hie who had on either foote and either hand a finger more then the accustomed bequest of nature affoorded him Against him Ionathan the son of Sama one of those that were sent by Dauid in this army fought hand to hand slew him so that approuing himselfe to be the meanes of that victorie he bare away the honor of the battell and praise of his valour for this Philistine boasted likewise that he was descended from the race of the Giants After this battell they warred no more on the Israelites Hereupon Dauid deliuered from war and danger and euer after enioying a perfect peace composed Odes and hymnes in praise of God in diuers kindes of verse for some are of three other some are of fiue measures He made instruments also and taught the Leuites to praise God vpon them on the Saboth daies and other feasts The forme of these instruments was after this manner The Cinnare is composed of ten strings and is plaid vpon with a bow The Nable containeth twelue sounds or cords and is striken with the fingers The Cimbals were large and great and made of brasse of which it sufficeth in this sort to make some mention least the nature of those instruments should wholy be vnknowne Now all those that were about the king were valiant men but amongst all the rest there were eight most notable and heroick men The noble actions of fiue of which I will declare because they might suffice to exemplifie the vertues that were in the other that remained for they were capable to gouerne a countrey and to conquer diuers nations The first of them was Issemus the sonne of Achemaeus who hauing verie oftentimes thrust himselfe into the midst of his disordered enemies neuer gaue ouer fighting till he had slain nine hundreth of them After him was Eleazar the sonne of Dodeias who had accompanied the king in Sarphat He in a certaine battell wherein thorow the huge multitude of the enemies the Israelites were affrighted and put to flight onely kept his place and affronted the enemy and
prepared a great number of talents of gold and far more of siluer and wood besides a great multitude of carpenters and hewers of stone a great quantitie likewise of Emeraulds and other sorts of pretious stones Lastly he told them that now also for the present he would bestow on them to that vse other three thousand talents of pure gold out of his owne treasurie to adorne the holy place and the chariot of God and the Cherubims that should stand vpon the Arke and couer it with their winges Now when the king had spoken after this manner all the gouernours priests and Leuites according togither shewed a great readinesse and made many signall and heroicall offers For they tied themselues to bring fiue thousand talents of gold and ten thousand stateres of siluer a hundreth thousand and of iron many thousand talents and if any one of them had a pretious stone he brought it and deliuered it to the treasurers custody who was called Ialus being one of Moses posteritie This thing highly contented all the people and Dauid seeing the affection and readinesse of the gouernors and priests and in generall of all the rest began to blesse God with a loud voice calling him the creator and father of this whole world the fashioner both of diuine and humane things and the president and gouernour of the Hebrewes and their felicitie and the kingdome by him committed vnto him After this he praied for all the people that they might be bountifully blessed and priuately he besought God to giue his sonne a good and iust minde furnished and adorned with all vertue He commanded the people likewise to sing praises vnto God which they performed and prostrated themselues vpon the earth and afterwards gaue thankes vnto Dauid for all those benefits they had receiued during the time of his gouernment The next day in way of sacrifice vnto God they offered vp a thousand calues a thousand rammes and a thousand lambes for sacrifice and a burnt offring in way of peace offrings also they slew many thousand other beasts The king celebrated a feast all that day with the whole people and Salomon was annointed with oyle the second time and proclaimed king Sadoc also was established high priest of all the people and Salomon was conducted into the kings house and placed in his fathers throne and from that day forward they obeied him CHAP. XII The death of Dauid and how much he left his sonne towards the building of the temple NOt long time after this Dauid fell sicke thorow age and knowing that he should depart out of this world he called for Salomon his sonne and spake vnto him after this manner following My sonne I must now depart and sleepe with my fathers and enter the common way which both they that now liue and those which come after shall tract from whence we may not returne neither behold and reuisit those things that are done in this life For which cause whilest I yet liue and drawe onward to my death I earnestly exhort thee as heretofore I haue counselled thee that thou behaue thy selfe iustly towards thy subiects and deuoutly towards God that hath honored thee with this kingdome charging thee to keepe his precepts and lawes which he hath giuen vs by Moses and to take heede least either surprised by slatterie or misled by fauour or seduced by couetousnesse or any other sinister affection thou be drawne to neglect and forsake the same for thou canst by no meanes continue in Gods fauour except thou keepe his lawes for otherwise he will withdraw his prouidence from thee But if in such sort as it becommeth thee and we wish thou behauest thy selfe towards him thou shalt continue the kingdome in our family and no other house at any time but our owne shall obtaine the dominion ouer the Hebrewes Remember likewise the iniquitie of Ioab who thorow emulation slew two good and iust generals Abner the sonne of Ner and Amasa the sonne of Iethram punish him according as thou thinkest meete for that hitherto he hath escaped punishment by reason he was stronger and more powerfull then my selfe I commend also vnto thee the sons of Berzillai the Galaadite whom for my sake aduance to honor and adorne with dignities not in bestowing any benefits on them but in repaying those curtesies I haue receiued which their father with a liberal hand bestowed vpon me during the time of my banishment and for which he made vs indebted to him As touching Semei the sonne of Gera of the tribe of Beniamin who during the time of my flight and at such time as I retired my selfe into my campe iniured me with great outrages and afterwards came out to meete me neere vnto Iordan and tooke assurance of me that for that time I should not punish him at this present seeke you after him and doe iustice vpon him After he had thus exhorted his sonne and had communicated with him all his affaires both as touching his friends as those also whom he thought worthy of punishment he gaue vppe the ghost after he had liued seuentie yeeres and raigned in Hebron a Citie of Iuda for the space of seuen yeeres and a halfe thirtie three in Ierusalem ouer the whole nation He was a iust man adorned with all vertue requisite in a king that should haue the gouernment of so many nations For he was valiant beyond comparison and in those battels which he fought for his subiects he was the first that thrust himselfe into danger and exhorted his souldiers to behaue themselues valiantly not commanding them like their gouernour but trauailing and fighting with them as their fellow souldier He was sufficient both in knowledge and foresight both how to accept of the present and how to manage his future occasions he was moderate and iust curteous and fauourable to those that were afflicted and both iust and gentle which are those ornaments wherwith princes ought to be beautified and in this great authority wherein he was placed he stepped not any waies awry but in respect of Viras wife He left as much or rather more riches behinde him they any other king of the Hebrewes or other nations had done His sonne Salomon buried him most royally in Ierusalem with all those ceremonies which were accustomed in royall obsequies amongst other things he buried a great and huge value of riches with him the incredible estimate whereof may be coniectured by that which followeth For one thousand three hundreth yeares after the hie Priest Hircanus being besieged by Antiochus surnamed the wicked who was Demetrius son willing to gratifie him with some sum of mony to the intent he might leuie the siege and transport his armie some otherwaies and vnable to leuie money by any other means he opened one Cabinet of the monuments of Dauid from whence he drewe three thousand talents which he deliuered to Antiochus and by this meanes deliuered the Citie
from the siege as we haue declared in an other place And againe a long time after this Herod also opened an other Cabinet from whence he tooke out a great summe And as touching the tombes of Princes no man defaced them because they were most magnificently builded for feare least they should be esteemed destroyers of monuments But for the present it sufficeth that I haue certified thus much THE EIGHTH BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 8. booke 1 How Salomon obtaining the kingdome expelled his enemies 2 Of the riches prudence and wisedome of Salomon and how first of all he builded the Temple in Ierusalem 3 How Salomon being dead the people reuolted from Roboam his sonne and made Hieroboam king of the ten tribes 4 How Susac king of the Aegyptians sacking Ierusalem caried away the riches of that Citie into Aegypt 5 The warre of Hieroboam against Abiam Roboams sonne and the slaughter of his armie and how Basanes the rooter out of Hieroboams posteritie occupied the kingdome 6 The irruption of the Aethipians into the land of the Hebrewes vnder Asa and the ouerthrow of their armie 7 Basans stocke being wholy rooted out amongst the Israelites Zamri ruled in Israel with his sonne Achab. 8 Adad king of Damasco and Syria encamping and fighting two seuerall times against Achab is ouerthrowne 9 Of Iosaphat king of Ierusalem 10 Achab being prouoked to warre by the Sryans is ouercome and slaine in the battell CHAP. I. How Salomon obtaining the kingdome expulsed his enemies WE haue declared in the former Booke what Dauid was how great his vertue hath beene what profits and benefits those of his nation receiued by him what warres and battels he worthily exployted and how happily at last through extremitie of age he departed out of this life But after that Salomon his sonne being at that time verie young had obtained the kingdome and was placed in his fathers throne according as Dauid had determined and the diuine power had decreed the whole people according to the common course in the election of newe Princes with happie acclamations wished him perpetuall felicitie in all his affaires and after his well gouerned estate and royaltie long many prosperous yeares But Adonias who during his fathers life time thought to possesse and seaze himselfe of the royall estate came vnto the kings mother and with all humilitie reuerence saluted her To whom Bethsabe said that if there were anything wherin she might sted him he should manifest it vnto her and that she would grant it him willingly Whereupon he began to say that it was a thing verie well knowen that the kingdome appertained vnto him both in regard of his age as also in respect of the fauour and good liking of the people but since that it had beene transferred vnto Salomon hir sonne by the will of God he was content therewith and would be his seruant being verie glad of the fortunate successe of his affaires He therefore besought her that she would solicite Salomon in his behalfe and perswade him to giue him Abisace to wife who had slept with Dauid for that he had not had any carnall company with her by reason of his age and that as yet she was fully possessed of her virginitie Bethsabe promised him to further his suit to the vtmost of hir power and willingly to employ her selfe toward the accomplishing of the marriage both for that the king was willing to gratifie her in whatsoeuer she should desire as also for that she would instantly intreat him so that he departed from her with assured hope of good successe in respect of his marriage Hereupon presently did Bethsabe addresse her selfe to the king intending to certifie him both what Adonias had requested and what she had granted When tidings came to Salomon that his mother came to visit him he went out to meete her and embraced her afterwards conducting her into the place where the royall treasure was he sate him downe and commaunded his seruants to place a seat on his right hand for his mother who setled by him spake vnto him after this manner My sonne vouchsafe me one fauour that I shall request at thy hands and send me not hence discontended and confused thorow thy refusall Salomon answered her that she should commaund him by reason that dutie tied him to the satisfaction and fauour of his mothers suites reprouing her for that insinuation she had vsed by reason that thereby she euidently expressed that she was not thorowly assured to obtaine her demaund but that she feared the refusall and repulse in the same she therefore required him to giue the Damsell Abisace for wife to Adonias his brother The King displeased at this her suit dismissed his mother alledging that Adonias hammered hie thoughts in his head that he wōdred that in requiring Abisace to wife he had not requested Salomō likewise to giue him place in the kingdome for Adonias was elder than he and had more mightie friends then he had namely the generall Ioab and the high Priest Abiathar For which cause he incontinently sent Banaia captaine of his guard to kill Adonias his brother Then calling vnto him the high Priest Abiathar The paines said he that thou hast endured by accompanying my father Dauid and attending and bearing the Arke with him make thee escape from death yet notwithstanding for that thou hast beene an assistant to Adonias and followed his faction I condemne thee to depart from my presence charging thee not to see my face any more but to retire thy selfe to thine owne house and there to liue in thy countrey vntill thou hast ended thy daies for hauing in this sort neglected me it is not conuenient that thou shouldest be in honour with me For this cause was the house of Ithamar depriued of the priestly dignitie according as God had foreprophecied to Eli one of the auncestors of Abiathar and translated to the race of Phinees and established in Sadoc Those of the race of Phinees who led a priuate life all that time that the Priesthood remained in the familie of Ithamar wherof Eli was the first were these Boccias the sonne of Ioseph Ioatham the sonne of Boccias Maraeoth the sonne of Ioatham Aropha the sonne of Maraeoth Achitob the sonne of Aropha Sadoc the sonne Achitob who was the first high Priest vnder king Dauid Ioab hauing tidings of the death of Adonias was seazed with sodaine and extreme feare for he loued him more than king Salomon and by reason of that friendship which he bare vnto him he iustly and vpon good grounds apprehended his owne danger and in this respect he fled vnto the altar hoping in that place to be secured in regard of that reuerēce which the king bare vnto God But when Ioabs resolution was made knowne vnto the king he sent Banaia vnto him with commission to bring him from the
altar and to conduct him to the iudgement seat that he might in that place iustifie his actions But Ioab said that he would neuer abandon the Temple but that he had rather die in that place than in another When Banaia had certified the king of this his answer he commanded him to cut off his head in the same place according as he required and that in that sort he should be punished by reason of the two murthers which he had cursedly committed vpon the persons of Abner and Amasa commanding that his bodie should be buried in the same place to the end that his sinnes should neuer depart from his race and that both Dauid and Salomon might be held guiltlesse of the death of Ioab This commaund of his Banaia executed and was afterward made generall of all the men of warre Moreouer the king established Sadoc soly in the place of Abiathar whom he had deposed He commanded Semei also to build him a house in Ierusalem and to keepe himselfe therein without passing the floud of Cedron for if he chanced to breake that commaundement the penaltie which he should incurre should be no lesse then death and to the more serious performance of this his iniunction he tied him by a solemne oath Semei thanked Salomon for the charge he had imposed on him and swore that he would fulfill the same so that forsaking his owne countrey he came and dwelt in Ierusalem where after he had soiourned for the space of three yeeres it hapned that he had newes that two of his fugitiue slaues had fled and retired themselues in Geth whereupon he went to finde them out and no sooner returned he backe againe with them but that the king had intelligence that he had neglected his commandement and that which is more that he had broken that oath which he made vnto God wherewith he was wroth For which cause calling him vnto him he spake after this manner Hast thou not sworne said he that thou wilt no waies abandon or issue out of this Citie to depart into an other Truely thou shalt not escape the penalty of thy periurie but I will see iustice done vpon thee for the same and for those outrages thou didst offer vnto my father during his flight at which time thou didst shew thy selfe to be a wicked man in all things to the end that thou maiest vnderstand that the wicked receiue no priuiledge although that their punishments be for the present deferred but at such time as they suppose themselues to be assured because they haue suffered no punishment their punishment is augmented and made more grieuous then it had been if they had presently beene executed for their offences Whereupon Banaia slew Semei according as he was commanded From that day forward Salomon had his royall estate secured and after that his enemies had receiued condigne punishment he tooke to wife the daughter of Pharao king of Aegypt and afterwards builded the walles of Ierusalem farre greater and more stronger then they were before and all the rest of his life he gouerned his common-weale in peace so that his youthly yeeres hindred him not from the obseruation of iustice and the maintenance of lawes neither excluded the remembrance of that which his father had charged him at the houre of his death but behauing himselfe in all things exactly he executed the affaires of his kingdome with that circumspection that such as excelled him in yeeres and were aduanced in prudence could not surpasse him CHAP. II. Of the wisedome prudence and riches of Salomon and how first of all he builded the Temple in Ierusalem AS soone as he came to Hebron he determined to pay his vowes vnto God on that brazen altar which was erected by Moses and sacrificed thereon in burnt offrings a thousand head of cattell which honourable deuotion of his was most acceptable vnto God For the very same night after he had appeared vnto him in a dreame he commaunded him to aske whatsoeuer blessing as he imagined sufficient to recompence this his pietie But Salomon required a most high and excellent thing which God doth most liberally bestow and men in like sort very happily receiue For he demanded neither gold nor siluer nor any otherkind of riches such as a youthly man would require for these are onely affected by the common sort when the other are onely worthy of the diuine magnificence But giue me said he O Lord a ripe iudgement and a good vnderstanding to the intent that by these meanes I may administer iustice to this people with truth and equitie With this demaund of his God was greatly delighted and promised him to giue him all other things wherof he had made no mention namely riches and glorie and aboue all these such an vnderstanding and wisedome as no one man either king or priuate hath had before him Moreouer that he would continue the kingdome in his family for many ages if so be that he continued in the waies of iustice and obeyed God in all things and walked in his fathers waies in imitating his chiefest vertues After that Salomon had receiued these blessings from God and was made happy by these promises he forsooke his bed and worshipping God returned vnto Ierusalem where he offered great sacrifices before the Tabernacle and magnifically feasted all those of his houshold About the same time a verie difficult iudgement was brought him to decide the resolution whereof was very hard to bee discouered And I haue thought it necessarie to declare the occasions whereon at that present the debate was grounded to the end that the readers may vnderstand the difficultie of the cause in question and that if they happen at any time to be assistant in such like affaires they might draw as it were from the counterfeit of this kings wisedome a perfect modle whereby they may directly shape an answere to such demaunds as shall be offered them Two women of loose and lustfull conuersation came vnto him one of which who seemed to haue suffered the iniurie began after this manner I O king said she and this woman dwell togither in one chamber but so it fortuned that both of vs on one day and at the same houre bare each of vs a sonne some three daies after we were brought a bed this woman lying by her infant hath in sleepe ouerlaid it and stifled it and hath taken my childe from betweene my knees and laid it by her and setled the dead childe whilest I slept in my bosome Now on the morrow when I thought to offer the teate vnto mine infant I found not mine owne but perceiued that her child lay dead by me for I knew it because I had exactly marked it This my childe I haue redemaunded at her hands and because I could not recouer it I haue made my recourse vnto your maiesties iustice O king for in that we were sole women and she is obstinate and feareth not to be
law at such time as he made the similitudes of beasts of brasse to vnderprop the vessell called the great sea and those of Lyons which he caused to be set vnto his throne For that action of his ill beseemed him who had a most excellent and domesticall example of vertue in the person of his father besides the glorie that he had left him by being a faithfull seruant of God whence it came to passe that by neglecting to followe his steppes notwithstanding that God had exhorted him thereunto by appearing vnto him at two seuerall times he died most ignominiously There came therefore vnto him a prophet sent from God telling him that his sinnes were manifest and notorious in Gods sight threatning him that ere long he should repent the wickednesse he had committed Yet notwithstanding the realme should not be taken from him during his life because God had promised Dauid that he should be his successor in the same but after his decease his sonne should beare the penalty of the same not so as all the people should reuolt but that he would giue ten tribes vnto his seruant and leaue two vnto the grandchild of Dauid because he had loued God and by reason of the Citie of Ierusalem where it pleased him to make his habitation When Salomon heard these things he sorrowed and was sore troubled in that all his felicitie for which he toforetime was admired began to decline Neither passed there long time after this denunciation of the Prophet but that God so pleasing there rose vp an enemie against him who was called Ader by nation an Idumaean and of the princely stocke who vpon this occasion grounded his rebellion and insurrection For at such time as Ioab generall of Dauids army had conquered Idumaea and in the space of sixe moneths defeated all the youth and those that were capable to beare armes he fled vnto Pharao king of Aegypt who entertained him verie courteouly and gaue him an house and lands for his maintenance and loued him deerely when he came to mans estate so that he maried him with Taphines his wiues sister on whom he begat a sonne who was brought vp with the kings children who hauing intelligence in Aegypt of Dauid and Ioabs death addressed himselfe vnto Pharao and besought him to giue him leaue to repaire into his owne countrey The King asked him what he wanted or what the cause was that moued him to be so hastie to forsake him Notwithstanding therefore that he importuned and requested him diuers times yet preuailed he nothing with him for that time But when Salomons fortunes began to decline by reason of his iniquities aboue mentioned and the wrath of God prouoked against him Ader by Gods permission came into Idumea after he was licēsed by Pharao to depart But being vnable to moue the people to reuolt from Salomon by reason of the strong garrisons he held and knowing that without hazard of his owne person he could moue no alterations or innouation in that place he departed from thence went into Syria where cōfederating himself with a certaine man called Raas who was fled from his master Adarezar king of Sophene and liued like an outlaw in that Region he contracted friendship with him and a great sort of outlawes and theeues that were his followers and went into Syria and taking seazure of that countrey proclaimed himselfe king thereof From whence making excursions into the lands of the Israelites he spoyled and pillaged the same during Salomons life time Thus were the Hebrewes enforced to sustaine these outrages at Aders hands Moreouer a certaine man called Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat by nation a Iewe rebelled against Salomon and raised his hopes aboue his estate perswaded thereunto by a prophecie that concerned him and incited him vnto the action For being left verie young by his father and carefully instructed by his mother as soone as Salomon perceiued him to be of a noble and couragious spirit he made him commissarie ouer the building of the wals at such time as he immured and fortified Ierusalem In this office he behaued himselfe so well that the king thought very well thereof and in way of recompence gaue him the estate of Generall ouer the tribe of Ioseph Towards which whilest he trauelled from Ierusalem a certaine Prophet met him vpon the way who was of the Citie of Silo called Achias who approching neere vnto him and saluting him drew him out of the way into a place where none but thēselues were present there renting the garment which he wore vpon his backe into twelue peeces he commaunded Ieroboam to take ten telling him that God had so decreed and how he would rent the gouernment from Salomon and reserue only one tribe vnto his sonne with that other which was annexed vnto it by reason of the promise made vnto Dauid and to thee said he he giueth the other tenne because Salomon hath offended God and addicted himselfe to the loue of straunge women and the seruice of forraine gods Now since thou knowest the cause wherefore God hath alienated the kingdome from Salomon be thou iust and obserue thou the lawes for if thou behauest thy selfe in such sort as thou knowest Dauid did a great reward of thy pietie and recompence of thy obseruance attendeth thee so that thou shalt become as mightie as Dauid hath beene before thee Ieroboam confirmed in great hopes by these words of the Prophet being by nature haughtie in yeares young and besides that desirous of authoritie he tooke no rest but being possessed of the place of generall and remembring himselfe of that which had beene told him by Achias he presently beganne to perswade the people to reuolt from Salomon and to choose him for their king Salomon hearing newes of this his deliberation and enterprise sought the meanes to lay hands on him and to put him to death but Ieroboam preuenting him fled vnto Susac king of Egypt with whom hee remained vntill the death of Salomon And thus for that time escaped he punishment and thus was hee reserued to the fortune of a kingdome CHAP. III. After the death of Salomon the people reuolte from Roboam his sonne and proclaime Hieroboam king of the tenne tribes BVt when Salomon was very olde he died after he had raigned fourescore yeares and liued nintie foure and was buried in Ierusalem of all kings the most happy rich and prudent except that sinne wherunto he was drawen by women in his olde age of whom and those calamities that presently after befell the Hebrewes we haue sufficiently spoken After the death of Salomon as soone as his sonne Roboam whom he begat vpon an Ammonitish woman called Nooma succeeded him in the kingdome the gouernours of the people sent certaine messengers into Aegypt to recall Ieroboam who arriuing in the Citie of Sichem Roboam came thither also resoluing himself in that assembly of the Israelites to take the
In this estate were the affaires of Asa king of the two Tribes Now will I returne to Basa King of the multitude of Israel who hauing slaine Nadab the son of Ieroboam vsurped the kingdome He made his aboad in the citie of Thersa and raigned foure and twenty yeeres shewing himselfe more wicked impious then either Ieroboam or his son had bin He plagued the people many waies dishonoured God very greatly who sent the Prophet Gimon vnto him to foretell him that his whole race should perish and that his house should be persecuted with as many miseries as himselfe had inflicted on Ieroboams posterity because that hauing receiued the gouernment from God he shewed himselfe vngratefull vnto him for his goodnesse and gouerned his people impiously and vniustly whereas iustice and pietie are both profitable vnto those that practise them and wel-pleasing vnto God Further in that he had conformed himselfe in life to the dissolute course that Ieroboam vsed and was wholy contaminated with all his vices he might assure himselfe that resembling him in wickednesse he should vndoubtedly equall him in punishment When Basa heard all those euils that should shortly fall on him and his posteritie by reason of his wickednesse he redeemed not the time neither indeuoured himselfe to gaine the reputation of a reconciled life or to obtaine pardon at Gods hands by repenting himselfe of his forepassed sinnes but euen as they that haue a recompence proposed vnto them to make them more affectionate in exploiting any thing doe diligently indeuour themselues to performe the same so Basa notwithstanding the prophet had foretold him of that which should happen persisted in his wickednesse as if it had been in vertue and became worse and worse to the vtter ruine and confusion both of him and his houshold and daily addicted himselfe vnto all wickednesse with no lesse greedinesse then if he had enterprised to beare away the honour in such a combate In the end he assembled an army and assailed Ramath once more which was a great Citie some foure leagues distant off of Ierusalem which he tooke and determined to leaue a garrison therein and fortifie the same with a resolution from thence to make his roades into Asaes kingdome But Asa fearing the inuasion of his enemy and considering that the souldiers who were left in Ramath did most grieuously spoile all the dominions that were vnder him sent embassadours to the King of Damasco with gold and siluer to induce him to a societie in warre and to renew that amitie betweene them which was confirmed betwixt both their fathers Who willingly receiued those treasures that were sent him and made a league with him and brake the truce which he had with Basa so that he sent the gouernours of his dominions against those Cities that were vnder Basaes subiection with commandement to destroy them Of these they burned some and ransackt other some amongst which were Elon Dan and Abellane Which when the King of Israell vnderstood he gaue ouer the fortifying of Ramath and with all expedition returned to yeeld those of his subiects his assistance who were vtterly distracted But Asa in the meane while builded two strong townes Gabath and Maspha of that stuffe which Basa had prepared to build withall Basa afterwards preuented by the common debt of death had no more opportunitie to make warre against Asa. He was buried in the Citie of Arsane and his sonne Ela succeeded him in the kingdome who after he had raigned some two yeeres was traiterously slaine by Zamri a captaine of a halfe regiment of horsemen For whilest Ela banquetted with Osa who was the steward of his house Zamri wrought so effectually that he perswaded some of his horsemen to assault Ela who at that time was alone and destitute of men of warre and captaines for that all of them were at the siege of Gabathon a Citie of the Philistines CHAP. VII Basaes ofspring being extinct among the Israelites Zamri raigned in Israel and after him Amri and his sonne Achab. AFter that Ela was slaine Zamri tooke the Kingdome vpon him and wholy rooted out Basaes posteritie according as the prophet Gimon had foretold For after the same maner was his family vtterly ouerthrowne for their impietie as Ieroboams progeny was ex tinguished for their iniquitie as we haue toforetime declated For the army which bâ—…â—…ged Gabathon hearing newes of the Kings death that Zamri had murthered him and seased the kingdome they made Amri generall of the army and annointed him for their king who leuying the siege before Gabathon came before the royall Citie of Thersa which he besieged and tooke perforce Zamri seeing the Citie destitute of defence had retired himselfe into the most secret and retired place of the pallace where setting it on fire he burned both himselfe and it after he had raigned seuen daies Sodainly after this the Israelites fell at controuersie amongst themselues because that some of them sought to preferre Thaman to the kingdome and others were wholy addicted to Amri but they of Amries side had the better and being of the better sort slew Thaman and made Amri soueraigne ouer the people The thirteenth yeare of Asa Amri began his raigne and was King for twelue yeeres space six yeeres gouerned he in Thersa and six in Mareon which the Greekes call Samaria himselfe imposed this name of Samaria calling it by the name of Samar who had giuen him the land on which he builded this Citie He differed in nothing from the other kings his predecessors but in that he was worser then any of them for all of them busied their heads on this thing onely that by daily impieties they might alien the people from God For which cause God being displeased cansed the one of them to cut off the other and finally extinguished both the posteritie and name of one another This Amri died in Samaria and Achab his sonne was his successor Hereby a man may truely and easily perceiue what care the diuine maiestie hath of humane affaires and how he loueth the vertuous and vtterly rooteth out the vicious For the kings of Israel through their impietie in a short and successiue course the one after the other were cut off and confounded with all their families But Asa king of Ierusalem and the two Tribes liuing happily in the fauour of God for his pietie and iustice attained to a reuerend and old age and after he had raigned one and fortie yeeres he died a good death And after his decease Iosaphat his sonne whom he begat on his mother Abida succeeded him who in all things that concerned either pietie or fortitude seemed to emulate and equall his grandfather Dauid according as it shall be declared hereafter But Achab King of Israel made his aboad in Samaria and gouerned the kingdome for the space of twenty two yeeres without any alteration of those ordinances which his progenitors kings of Israel had established but that he exceeded
them daily in complotting worser wickednesse For he imitated all their impieties and wickednes but especially the apostasie of Ieroboam for he adored those calues that were erected by him and besides that he added farre worse impieties then the former He tooke to wife Iezabel the daughter of Ithobal King of the Tyrians and Sidonians of whom he learned to adore the gods of her nation for she was a busie and audacious woman and of such immeasurable madnesse that she feare not to build a temple in honour of Bel the god of the Tyrrians and to plant a wood furnished with all kinde of trees and to ordaine priests and false prophets also in honour of that God The king also tooke delight to haue these kindes of men oftentimes about him exceeding all other kings before him in madnes and malice To him came a certaine prophet sent by the Almighty God that was borne in Thesbon in Galaad telling him that he foreprophecied that neither dew nor raine should fal on the earth a long time vntil that himselfe who was prepared to depart frō him should appeare again vnto him and binding the same with an oath for the better confirmation thereof he retired himselfe to the Southward where he liued by a certain riuer from whence he fetcht his drinke for his meat was daily brought him by certaine Crowes Now when the riuer thorow want of raine was waxen drie God commanded him to repaire vnto Sareptha a Citie not farre from Sidon and Tyre and scituate in the midst betweene them both where he should finde a widow woman who should furnish him with food As soone therefore as he drew neere vnto the gate he saw a woman that liued by her labour gathering of sticks and God gaue him to vnderstand that it was she who should nourish him Wherupon he came vnto her and saluted her praying her that she would bring him some water to coole his thirst and as she was ready to depart he called her backe againe and willed her to bring him some bread also Whereupon she swore that she had nothing in her house but a handfull of flower and a little oyle and that she was come forth to gather sticks to the end she might bake the same and make bread for her selfe and her sonne and when they had eaten the same they must needly perish thorow famine because they had not any thing more left them Go said the prophet and be of good courage and conceiue better hopes and when thou hast prepared meate for me bring it me for I tell thee that thy pitcher of meale shall neither faile nor thy pot of oyle be emptie vntill that God send raine vpon the earth When the Prophet had spoken thus she approched neere vnto him and performed that which he commanded and shee her selfe had sufficient to feede vpon and shee gaue the rest vnto her son and to the prophet so that they wanted nothing so long as the drougth continued Menander maketh mention of this default of raine in the acts of Ithobal king of the Tyrians speaking after this manner In his time there was a season without raine from the moneth of October vntill October in the next yeare after but vpon his supplication and request there fell great store of thunder He builded the Citie of Botris in Phenicia Auzate in Libya Doubtlesse he expressed herby the drougth that hapned in Achabs time for about that time Ithobale raigned ouer the Tyrians as Menander testifieth in his historie This woman of whom we haue spoken heretofore that nourished the Prophet seeing her sonne fallen sicke lying senseles as if he had beene alreadie dead or yeelding vp of the ghost wept brake out into such passionate laments as were answerable to her desolate estate said that the cause of her misfortune was in that the Prophet was come into her house and had discouered her sinnes and that for the same cause her sonne was dead But he recomforted her and willed her to be of a good courage and commanded her to bring the child vnto him assuring her that he would restore him to life Now when she had brought him he tooke the child and bare him into his lodging where he remained and laid him on his bed cried out vnto god saying that he had but slenderly recompenced her that had receiued and nourished him if so be her sonne should be taken from her hee therefore besought him that he would returne the soule into the bodie restore life vnto the infant Whereupon God hauing compassion on the mother and being willing to gratifie the Prophet and to the intent that no man might suppose that he came vnto her to endomage her he restored the child to life beyond all expectation For which the mother gaue thanks vnto the Prophet saying that by this meanes she was thorowly perswaded that God had spoken vnto him Not long after hee sought out Achab according as God had commaunded him to let him vnderstand that he should haue raine At that time the famine raigned ouer the whole country and there was great want of necessarie victuals so that men did not onely faint for want of bread but the earth also for want of raine could not bring forth that which was requisite for the sustenance of horses and other cattell The king therefore calling Obediah vnto him who was the master of his heards he commaunded him that he should each way seeke out for fountaines and brookes willing him that if he found out any grasse he should mow the same and giue it to his cattell for their sustenance And whereas by his commaund the Prophet Elias was sought in diuers places and could not be found he willed Obediah also to follow him So taking both of them seuerall waies the king followed one and the master of the cattell an other This Obediah was a godly and vertuous man who when the Prophets were put to death hid one hundreth of them in dens and sustained them with bread and water After this man was departed from the king Elias met with him and asked him what he was which when he had certified him he humbled himselfe on his face before him Elias commaunded him to repaire vnto the king and to certifie him that he was hard at hand Obediah asked him wherein he had offended him that he would make him a minister and messenger vnto him who had sought to kill him and had by-laid the countrey to apprehend him For there was not any streight whither he sent not some of his men to find out Elias with charge that if they found him they should put him to death Now it may so be said he that whilest I repaire vnto the king the spirit of God wherewith thou art fulfilled will carry thee away and the king not finding thee here and frustrate of his desire will reuenge himselfe on my head Be thou not therefore so secure by
this cause he was sought for by the kings wife that he might be done to death The voice replied againe and commaunded him to shew himselfe openly assuring him that he should vnderstand that which it behooued him to performe Hereupon as soone as it was day he forsooke the caue he heard an earthquake and saw a light and after all things were appeased the heauenly voice which proceeded he knew not from whence willed him that he should in no waies be discomforted with that which he saw for that no one of his enemies should haue power to hurt him charging him to return vnto his house to the intent to proclaime Iehu the son of Nimsi king of the people and Azael of Damasco king of the Syrians certifying him that in his place Elizeus of the citie of Abela should be prophet and that the wicked people should be destroied the one by Azael the other by Iehu When Elias had heard these things he returned into the countrey of the Hebrewes and met Elizeus the son of Saphat at the cart and with him diuers others driuing before them twelue couple of oxen him did he approch and cast vpon him his garment who instantly began thereupon to prophetize so that forsaking his oxen he followed Elias Yet required he him that before his departure hee might take leaue of his parents which licence when he had obtained he committed them vnto God and followed Elias attending on him during all the terme of his life like his disciple and seruant This issue had the affaires of this so excellent a Prophet But a certaine Citizen called Naboth of the Citie of Azar had a vineyard neere vnto the lands of Achab who required him that he would sell him the same at what price he thought conuenient at his owne election to the intent he might annex the same to his owne lands and make them all but one possession wishing him that if he would not sell it him for siluer to choose in exchange thereof any one field of his that best liked him Naboth answered him that he would not doe it but that he intended to gather the fruit of his owne land himselfe which he had receiued as an inheritance from his father The King no lesse tormented then if he had lost his owne inheritance in that he might not bee master of an other mans patrimony would neither wash nor receiue any sustenance For which cause Iezabel his wife questioned with him as touching the cause of his discontent and how it came to passe that he neither washt dinde nor supt who told her of Naboths rude behauiour and how hauing vsed al iust and reasonable composition vnto him in abasing himselfe more then his royall authoritie permitted he had been outraged by him in that he obtained not the thing which he requested at his hands Hereupon Iezabel willed him to be of good cheer aduising him that dismissing his displeasure he should continue his ordinarie entertainment because she her selfe would take vpon her to reuenge him on Naboth Wherupon she presently sent letters in Achabs name to the gouernours of the countrey whereby she enioyned them to celebrate a fast and to assemble the people charging them that in that place Nabotl should haue a seat prepared for him by reason of his birth nobilitie willing them afterwards that suborning three impudent and false witnesses to depose against him that he had blasphemed against God and the king they should by this meanes and for this occasion cause him to be stoned and put to death by the people All which was performed according as the Queene had written and Naboth conuinced by false witnesse for scandalizing both God and the King was stoned by the people and put to death When Iezabel had tidings hereof she repaired to the kings presence and told him that he should enioy Naboths vineyard and disburse nothing for the same But God displeased with this her wickednesse sent the Prophet Elias purposely to meete with Achab in Naboths ground and to tell him that he iniustly possessed the lawfull inheritance of a legitimate heire whom he had done to death As soone as the King perceiued that he came vnto him supposing it to be vnseemely for a king to be reproued he first of all confessed the fault and offered him to make restitution according to his arbitrement Then did the prophet foretel him that in the same place where Naboths carkasse was consumed by dogs that both his and his Queenes bloud should be shed and that all his race should be destroied for that they durst commit such an impietie and so wickedly slaughter against all law so good and guiltlesse a Citizen At length Achab vpon these words was seazed with displeasure repented for the offence he had committed so that apparelling himselfe in sackcloth and walking barefoote he tasted not any meate but confessed his sinnes vnder hope to appease Gods wrath For which cause God certified him by the Prophet that during his life time the punishment of his race should be deferred because he had repented him of his misdeeds but that the threats and menaces should take effect in his sonnes time all which Elias signified vnto the king CHAP. VIII Adad King of Damasco and Syria fighteth at two seuerall times with Achab and is ouerthrowne by him WHilest Achabs affaires were after this manner disposed the sonne of Adad that raigned ouer the Syrians and those of Damasco assembled the forces of his whole countrey and associated with himselfe two and thirtie other kings with whom he came and made warre against Achab. Who being farre inferiour to him in forces came not out into the open field to bid him battell but closing vp his souldiers in his strongest cities he himselfe retired into Samaria which was begirt with a very strong wall and generally very hard to be surprised For which cause the Syrian taking his army with him resorted to Samaria and incamping before the same intended to scale and batter the Citie But first of all he sent a Herauld to Achab to require him to giue audience to his embassadours which he would send vnto him by whom he should be certified what his resolution was As soone as the King of Israel had granted them free accesse the embassadours came and according to the kings directions required that Achabs goods his children and wife should be at Adads command which if he would confesse and suffer him to seaze so many of them as best liked him he would leuy the siege and batter the Citie no more Achab gaue the embassadours commission to certifie the King of Syria that both himselfe and all whatsoeuer was his was at his commaund Vpon which answere the King sent a second message vnto Achab enioyning him the next day to admit such of his seruants as hee should send vnto him to search his royall pallace and the houses of his friends and kinsmen and take from
to ascribe alwaies more credit vnto them then to the vaine plausible speech of such as currie fauour and no lesse to respect them then things of infinit profit since by them we are diuinely admonished what we ought to take heed of It behooueth vs also to consider what force the ordinance of God is of by examining those things which befell Achab. For it is impossible to auoid the preordinance of God notwithstanding that men flatter and nourish themselues with vaine hopes which inueigle them so far that finally they are ouertaken in the snares thereof For this carelesse inconsideration was fatall to King Achab in that he beleeued not his death which was foretold him but being deceiued by the flattering perswasions of false Prophets ranne headlong vpon his owne danger and death After him succeeded his sonne Ochozias THE NINTH BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 9. booke 1 Ioram Achabs sonne ouercommeth the Moabites in battell 2 Ioram King of Ierusalem obtaining the crowne killeth his brothers and his fathers friends 3 Iorams army is ouerthrowne by his enemies and his sonnes are slaine only one excepted at length he himselfe dieth a miserable death 4 The king of Damasco warreth against the king of Israel 5 Ioram with all his posteritie is slaine by Iehu Ochosias king of Ierusalem is slaine also 6 Iehu raigneth amongst the Israelites in Samaria and his posteritie after him till the fourth generation 7 Athalia raigneth fiue yeeres in Ierusalem and after she is slaine by the hie priest Ioas Ochosias sonne is proclaimed king 8 Azael King of Damasco gathereth an army first against the Israelites and afterwards against Ierusalem 9 Amasias King of Ierusalem maketh warre against the Idumeans and Amalechites and obtaineth the victorie 10 Amasias making warre against Ioas king of the Israelites is ouercome 11 Ozias ouercommeth the nations round about him 12 Rasin or Rabe king of Damasco vexeth the inhabitants of Ierusalem with warre Achaz their king is compelled to call the king of Assyria to assist him 13 The King of Assyria taketh Damasco by force and slaieth the king and translateth the people into Media and planteth other Colonies in the same 14 Salmanazar taking the king of Israel captiue translateth ten of the 12. Tribes into Media and causeth the Cuthaeans to inhabite their region CHAP. I. Ioram Achabs sonne ouercommeth the Moabites in battell AS soone as King Iosaphat was returned backe againe to Ierusalem from the warre wherein he had giuen succour to Achab against Adad the King of Syria as we haue heretofore declared the Prophet Iehu in his returne came forth and met him and reproued him because he had giuen Achab who had been a man both impious and wicked his assistance assuring him that God was displeased with that his confederacie yet notwithstanding that he of his goodnesse had deliuered him from his enemies although contrarie vnto his duetie he had demeaned himselfe vniustly After this admonition Iosaphat began to celebrate sacrifices and to offer vp thankesgiuings and peace offrings vnto God Which done he rode in progresse and circuit round about those countries that were vnder his dominion giuing order that the people should be instructed in those ordinances which were deliuered from God by the hands of Moses and exhorted his subiects to the practise of pietie contained in the same Hee planted iudges likewise in euery city commanding them to execute iustice vnto the people without respect of any thing but only iustice He charged them likewise that they should not be corrupted with rewards or seduced by dignitie riches or nobilitie but that they should doe iustice indifferently vnto all men knowing that God seeth all things how secretly soeuer they be carried or contriued Hauing in this sort ordered euery thing in each Citie of the two Tribes he returned againe into Ierusalem where he likewise chose iudges from amongst the Priests and Leuites and the Elders among the people exhorting them in all things to giue vpright and exact iudgement And if they of other cities had any causes of greater consequence which should bee referred to their finall determination he charged them with earnest industrie to decide them with as vpright and iust measure as might be for that it was very conuenient that the most exact and accomplished sentences should be deliuered in that Citie where as God had his temple and the King made his ordinarie aboad Ouer all these he placed his two friends Amasias the Priest and Zabadias of the Tribe of Iuda After this manner did the King dispose of his estate About this very time the Moabites and Ammonites and with them their confederates a great number of Arabians assaulted and assembled themselues against him and encamped themselues neere vnto Engaddi a Citie scituate neere vnto the lake Asphaltites and distant from Ierusalem some three hundreth stounds in which place flourish those goodly and holesome Palme-trees whence distilleth the pure and perfect liquor of balme When Iosaphat had intelligence that the enemies had past the lake and were already farre entred into his countrey he was affraid and assembled the people of Ierusalem in the temple and standing vpright and turning his face toward the propitiatorie he besought and requested God that he would giue him power and force to ouercome his enemies For such had been the forme of their supplication who in times past builded the temple namely that it might please him to fight for that Citie and oppose himselfe against those that durst attempt or assault that place to the intent to dispossesse them of that country which he himselfe had giuen them in possession and in pronouncing this prayer he wept and all the people likewise both men women and children made their requests vnto God Presently vpon this a certaine Prophet called Iaziel arose vp in the midst of the congregation and cried out and certified both the people and the King that God had heard their praiers and promised them to fight for them against their enemies enioyning them the next day to sally out in armes and go make head against their aduersaries whom they should incounter in the mountaine scituate betwixt Ierusalem and Engaddi in a place called the hillock of Sis which place in Hebrew signifieth Eminency willing them not to fight against them but onely to arrest in that place and see how God would fight and make warre for them When the Prophet had spoken these words the king and all the people prostrated themselues vpon their faces giuing thankes vnto God and adoring meane while the Leuites sung continuall hymnes with instruments and voices About the beginning of the day the king departed into the desart that is vnder the Citie of Thecoa aduising the people to beleeue all that which the prophet had said vnto them and not to arrange themselues in battell ray he commanded the Priests to march before
according as we haue gathered them out of holy scriptures Obedias wife who was sometime steward of Achabs house came vnto him and told him that he was not ignorant that in that persecution wherin Iezabel sought to murther the Prophets how her husband saued one hundreth of them for whose priuat maintenance he had borrowed much money of other men and that now he being dead his creditors stroue to draw both her and her children into seruitude For which cause she besought him in consideration of this act to haue compassion on her husband and to yeeld her some succour Hereon Elizeus asked her if she had any thing in her house who answered him that she had nothing but a verie little oyle left her in a earthen pot Whereupon the Prophet commaunded her to depart and to borrow diuers empty vessels of her neighbour that done he willed her to locke vp her doores and to poure oyle into the vessels in that it was Gods pleasure to fill them all The woman did according as he had commaunded her and all the vessels were found full so as none of them were emptie whereof when she had certified the Prophet he aduised her to goe and deliuer her oyle and pay her debts and when all was paide he assured her that there would be some remainder that might serue to sustaine both her and her children By this meanes Elizeus discharged the widow of her debts and that trouble which her creditors intended against her He admonished Ioram likewise by certaine messengers that he should take heed of a certaine place wherein the Syrians lay in ambush intending to slay him by means of which admonition the king went not out on hunting But Adad being sore displeased because his ambushment was discouered began to suspect his owne followers whereupon calling vnto him his houshold seruants he maliciously termed them traitors and furthermore threatned them with death for that they had discouered a matter which was only committed to their trust vnto his enemy Whereupon one of the assistants told him that he ought not to conceiue that false opinion of them neither suspect that they had discouered his intended ambush to cut off his enemie but rather that he ought to conceiue that the Prophet Elizeus had discouered and discoursed all that which was intended against him Whereupon he sent out his souldiers with an expresse charge to know in what Citie Elizeus made his ordinarie aboad who returning backe brought him newes that he remained in Dothaim For which cause Adad sent a great number of horsemen and chariots to Dothaim to lay hold on Elizeus who begirt the Citie by night and laide watch round about the walles that no man might escape them Early in the morning when the Prophets seruant had notice hereof and was aduertised that the enemies sought to surprise Elizeus he fearfully hasted and discouered their intent vnto his master who encouraged him and commanded him to shake off his feare for that he held himselfe both secured assured of Gods help whereupon he praied God that at that present he would shew his power and assistance both toward the reliefe of his necessitie and the confirmation and incouragement of his seruant At that time God hearing his prayer presented to the Prophets seruants sight a number of chariots and horsemen that inuironed Elizeus so that he laid his feare aside and was assured when he perceiued these succours That done Elizeus besought God againe that hee would blinde his enemies eies and to cause a thicke cloud to fall vpon them to the end they might not discouer him Which done he presently thrust himselfe amongst the thickest of his enemies demanding of thē whom they came to seeke for They answering him that they sought for the Prophet Elizeus he promised them to deliuer him into their hands if so be they would come with him into the Citie where he was They blinded in eies and depraued in vnderstanding by God followed the Prophet willingly who marched before them When as therefore Elizeus had brought them into Samaria he willed king Ioram to locke the gates and to inuiron the Syrians with his souldiers This performed he prayed God that he would cleere the Syrians sight and take away the cloud that obscured their eies who being deliuered from their blindnesse perceiued that they were in the midst of their enemies Whereat being sore astonied and vncertaine whence this diuine and vnexpected act had befallen them King Ioram asked the Prophet whether he should kill them with darts But Elizeus forbad him to doe so for said he it is a iust and conuenient matter that they who are taken by order of warre should lose their life but that they had done no euill vnto his country but by Gods prouidence came thither without their owne knowledge for which cause he counsailed him to giue them presents and present them meat and afterwards to suffer them to depart without any iniurie Ioram giuing credit to the Prophets words entertained the Syrians magnificently and with great humanitie and sent them backe vnto Adad their king to whom vpon their arriuall they declared all that which had hapned vnto them Adad astonished at this vnexpected euent and wondring at the apparition and power of the God of the Israelites lastly admiring the Prophet whom God so wondrously assisted he concluded from that time forward neuer more to attempt the king of Israel in secret because he feared Elizeus but concluded to make open warre against him hoping to haue the vpper hand of his enemies by meanes of the great number and force of his army So that he issued out with a mighty power against Ioram who supposing himselfe to be ouermatched by the Syrian army locked himselfe vp within Samaria putting his trust and confidence in the fortification and strength of the wals thereof Adad hoping to surprise the citie if not by engins at leastwise by famine default of things necessarie drew neere vnto Samaria to besiege it But Ioram was so destitute of conuenient supplies that by reason of the incredible want of victuals an Asses head was sold in Samaria for eighty pieces of siluer and a measure of pigeons doung at fiue pieces of siluer which they vsed in steed of salt neither was there any thing that more troubled the king then that he feared least some one constrained by famine should deliuer or betray the Citie vnto the enemy For which cause he euery day walked the round about the walles and visited the sentinels of the Citie for feare least any one should lie hidden within and with all care and diligence he gaue order that if any one had such a sinister intent the meanes to execute the same should be taken from him And whereas a certaine woman cried out vnto him Haue mercie vpon me O King he incensed with wrath and supposing that she asked him some meate began to raile on her
send out two scouts vpon horsebacke to search euerie quarter betwixt that and Iordan to the end that if they should be taken and slaine by the enemies ambushment their fall might be a president to the whole army to stand vpon their guard for feare least they should be surprised in like manner vrging this for a conclusion that the losse of two horsemen should not be very great since perhaps they might otherwaies haue been cut off by famine This aduise of his was allowed by the king and ratified by his assistance so that presently there were two spies sent out who rode along without encountring any enemy but they met with great quantitie of victuals and armes cast away and abandoned by the Syrians to the intent they might flie away the more lightly Which when the king vnderstood he suffered the people to issue out and spoile the campe who recouered things of no small valew therein but much gold and siluer and troupes of all sorts of cattell and besides that they found so great a quantitie of wheate and barley that had they dreamed thereof they could not hope or imagine the like Thus were they deliuered from all their precedent afflictions for there was so great quantitie of corne that two measures of barley were sold but for one sicle and a measure of wheate flower for a sicle according as Elizeus had prophecied Now the measure which we call Sat containeth an Italian bushell and the halfe But the captaine of the third part of the army was he only that enioyed no part of this benefit for being appointed by the king to haue the keeping of the gate and to restrain the multitude from headlong pressing out for feare least thrusting one an other some of them should be troden vnder foot and slaine he himselfe was trode vpon and slaine according as the Prophet had foretold for that he only amongst the rest would not giue credit to that which he had said as touching the great aboundance of victuals that should happen When Adad king of the Syrians was safely returned to Damasco and knew that God had suffered such a confusion and feare to fall both on him and his army and that it had not hapned by reason that the enemy sallied out vpon him he was sore discouraged to see that God was so displeased with him and through anguish and agonie of minde fell sicke And for that at that verie time Elizeus was come into Damasco Adad vnderstanding thereof sent Azael who was one of his most trustie seruants vnto him to present him and to consult with him vpon his sicknes whether he should recouer or no. Hereupon Azael loaded fortie camels with the most fairest and most honourablest presents that either Damasco or the princes royall court affoorded and repairing to Elizeus saluted him verie courteously telling him that he was â—…nt vnto him by king Adad first of all to present him and afterwards to aske counsaile of him 〈◊〉 touching his malady whether he might easily be healed The Prophet commanding the messenger to carrie no euill tydings vnto the king did notwithstanding tell him that he should die Aâ—…ael hearing thereof was sore grieued and Elizeus himselfe began to weepe so that the teares fell from his eies aboundantly in that he foresaw how many euils the people should suffer after the decease of Adad And when as Azael demanded him the cause wherefore he was so discomforted I weepe said he for the compassion that I haue of the people of Israel by reason of those calamities which they shall endure by thy meanes For thoushalt kill the better sort of them and shalt burne their strongest Cities thou shalt murther their infants and dash them against the stones and shalt open the womens wombes that are with child Azael answered what force is there in me to execute these things Elizeus said vnto him that God had certified him that he should be king of Syria When Azael was returned backe vnto Adad he signified nothing vnto him but glad tidings as touching his sicknes but the next day he cast a wet net vpon him strangled him and seazed the kingdome into his owne hands This Prince was a man of execution and well beloued amongst the Syrians and common people of Damasco who euen vntill this day honour Adad and Azael his successour as gods by reason of their benefits and those temples which were builded by them which adorne the Citie of Damasco For euery day do they celebrate feasts in memorie of these kings and honour them by reason of their antiquitie not knowing that they were moderne and such as raigned not past eleuen hundreth yeers since But Ioram king of Israel hearing of the death of Adad began to giue ouer his feare and cast off that suspition which he had conceiued of him reioycing that yet at last he might haue libertie to liue in peace The other Ioram king of Ierusalem for he likewise was so called as we haue heretofore declared by murthering of his brethren and his fathers friends who were gouernours obtained the kingdome and became so wicked and impious as he differed in nothing from the kings of Israel who transgressed the first lawes and ordinances of the Hebrewes and peruerted the seruice of God For Athalia Achabs daughter his wife taught him to execute diuers mischiefes and amongst the rest to adore strange gods This notwithstanding God would not altogither abolish his race by reason of his promise made vnto Dauid yet intermitted he not daily to introduce new impieties and soile the ancient lawes of his forefathers with new corruptions Meane while it came to passe that the Idumaeans reuolted and slue their king who had beene before time subiect vnto Iosaphat Iorams father and in his place established an other to their owne liking For which cause Ioram inuaded Idumaea by night with his horses and chariots and spoyled the countrey round about his kingdome without passing any farther yet profited he nothing in so doing for all of them reuolted from him and amongst the rest the inhabitants of the countrey of Labina But so great was the fury of this man that he constrained the people to ascend the high mountaines and adore straunge gods Yet whilest he behaued himselfe in this manner and vtterly rooted out of his thought the lawes of his forefathers there was a letter brought vnto him from the Prophet Elias which â—…ertified him that God would doe great iustice vpon him because hee had forsaken the waies of his forefathers and followed the impieties of the kings of Israel constraining the Tribe of Iuda and the inhabitants of Ierusalem to forsake the pure seruice of their God to serue Idols 〈◊〉 Achab had constrained the Israelites to doe Furthermore because hee had murthered his brethren and slaine vpright and vertuous men The Prophet likewise certified him by letters what punishment he should endure namely the ruine
of his people the death of his wiues and children and lastly his owne death which should happen vnto him by a sicknesse in his belly wherewith hee should be so tormented that his entrailes strangely rotting within him should drop out of his belly and that he himselfe should see his misery which should be such as neither might be recouered by medicine or should euer leaue him vntill he had finished his daies These things did Elias denounce vnto him by his letters CHAP. III. Iorams armie is discomfited his sonnes are slaine except one and himselfe finally dieth a miserable death NOt long after the Arabian army that dwel towards Aethiopia confederating themselues with other Barbarians inuaded Iorams countrey and spoiled the same and ransacked the kings house and slew his sons and daughters and left him but one onely sonne called Ochozias who escaped from his enemies hands After this 〈◊〉 he himselfe was strooken with a long sicknes according as the Prophet had foretold him for God powred his displeasure vpon his entrailes whereupon he died miserably seeing them fall out of his belly The people likewise handled his bodie ignominiously supposing as I thinke that being cut off in that sort by Gods displeasure he was vnworthie of royall funerall for he was not buried in the sepulcher of the kings neither was there any honour done vnto him He liued fortie yeares and raigned eight and they of Ierusalem made his sonne Ochozias king CHAP. IIII. The king of Damasco warreth against the king of Israel IOram king of Israel hoping after the death of Adad to recouer Ramath in Galaad from the Assyrians after he had made greater preparation and apparation for the warre he led his army against the same In this siege he was hurt by an arrow which was shot by a certaine Syrian but not vnto the death and retired himselfe into the Citie of Iezrael vntill he were recouered of his wounds leauing behind him his whole armie at the siege of Ramath vnder the conduct of Iehu the sonne of Nimshi who tooke the Citie by force intending vpon his recouery to make warre against the Syrians But the Prophet Elizeus sent one of his disciples to Ramath gaue him the holy oyle and willed him to annoint Iehu to say vnto him that God had chosen and annointed him for king and after he had informed him likewise in certaine other instructions he commaunded him to depart after the manner of one that flieth making no man priuie of his departureâ—… When this disciple of his came vnto the appointed Citie he found Iehu sitting in the midst of the captaines at warre according as Elizaeus had told him and drawing neere vnto him he told him that he would communicate certaine secrets with him for which cause he arose and followed him into his chamber Whereupon the young man taking out the oile poured it on his head saying that God had chosen him to exterminate the race of Achab and reuenge the bloud of the Prophets vniustly murthered by Iezabel and that both he and his house might be brought to nought in like sort as the sonnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat and the children of Basa were extinguished for their impietie so that no one of the race of Achab might suruiue in the world As soone as he had spoken thus he issued out of the chamber with all speed endeuouring that he might not be discouered by any of the army Now when as Iehu was come out he returned to his place where he sate with the captains who demaunded of him besought him to declare vnto them wherefore the young man came vnto him alledging that they supposed him to be out of his wits Truly said he you haue diuined well for he hath talked vnto me after the manner of a mad man wherein they desirous to vnderstand wherefore he came and beseeching him to expresse the cause he told them what he had said vnto him namely how God had chosen him to beking ouer the people As soone as he had spoken these words euery one of them cast off their garments spred them before him and sounding a trumpet they proclaimed Iehu king who assembling his army determined to conduct them toward the Citie of Iezrael against Ioram who lay there to recouer his wound which he had receiued at the siege of Ramath in Galaad as we haue heretofore declared Thither also was resorted in way of friendship and consanguinitie Ochozias king of Ierusalem both to visit Ioram and to see how he was recouered of his wound for he was his nephew and sonne vnto his sister as we haue said before Iehu desirous to surprise Ioram and his followers on the sodaine made an ordinance by which he prohibited that none of his soldiers should runne before to giue any intelligence of his repaire vnto Ioram alledging that it should be a manifest demonstration of their good will towards him whereas contrariwise they that did otherwise declared that they held him not for their king CHAP. V. Ioram with all his race is slaine by Iehu Ochozias king of Ierusalem is likewise slaine with him THe men of warre were very ioyful to execute this his ordinance and garded the waies to the intent that no man might secretly steale into Iezrael and beare tidings to the inhabitants of that which had hapned Meane while Iehu attended by certaine of his choicest horsemen and mounted â—…n his owne person vpon a chariot marched towards Iezrael And when as he drew neere vnto the Citie the sentinell that was appointed by Ioram to discouer those that repaired to the Citie perceiued Iehu resorting thither with a multitude of attendants and told Ioram that a troupe of horsemen were at hand Whereupon a scout was sent out to discouer who they were who drawing neere vnto Iehu asked him what newes there was in the army telling him that the king was desirous to know the same Iehu willed him to take no care thereof but to follow after him The sentinell perceiuing this certified Ioram that the messenger whom he had sent trouped along with them that came and followed their generall Whereupon the king sent out a messenger the second time and Iehu commanded him to attend him as he did the first which the sentinell signified to Ioram likewise who finally mounted his chariot to go out and meet them accompanied with Ochozias king of Ierusalem who as we haue said was come into the Citie to see how the king recouered vpon his hurt because he was neerely allied vnto him But Iehu marched on softly in goodly array til Ioram meeting with him in the field of Naboth asked him how the army did Who in steed of answere reuiled him bitterly and called him the son of a poisoner of a harlot For which cause Ioram fearing his turbulent spirit and suspecting least he hammered vpon some sinister intent turned his back and fled away as swiftly as his chariot could be
according to the custome of their forefathers which had already too long time been neglected dreadfully threatning all those who should any waies intermit to roote out the name and memorie of these wretches out of the world They therefore slew all these priests and inuironed the kings pallace and in so doing cleered Samaria of forraine gods This Baal was the God of the Tyrians for whom Achab builded a temple in Samaria intending thereby to content Ithobaal the king of the Tyrians and Sidonians to whom he assigned priests and honoured him with all sorts of sacrifice After this Idol was exterminated Iehu suffered the Israelites to adore golden calues When this execution was performed in punishing the wicked God to whom this action of his was acceptable told Iehu by his Prophet that his children should obtaine the kingdome of Israel to the fourth generation This was Iehus estate CHAP. VII Athalia raigned fiue yeeres in Ierusalem and after she was slaine by the hie priest Ioas is proclaimed king AThalia Achabs daughter hearing newes of the death of her brother Ioram and her son Ochozias togither with the vtter ruin of al the royal posterity bethought her selfe to extinguish Dauids memory in such sort to root it out that no one of that line should remain aliue to enioy the kingdome hereafter which when she had concluded in her heart she began to put it in execution Yet notwithstanding one of Ochozias sons escaped her bloudy hands by this means that ensueth Ochozias had a sister by his fathers side whose name was Iosabetha who was maried to Ioiada the hie priest who entring into the kings pallace and finding Ioas at that time but one yeare of age hidden with his nurse amongst the dead she tooke both him and his nurse and locked them vp in a closet within the temple where Ioiada her husband and she did secretly nourish them for the space of fiue yeeres during which time Athalia raigned in Ierusalem ouer the two tribes About the seuenth yeere Ioiada entred into discourse with fiue centurions and perswaded them to oppose themselues with mutuall consent against Athalias proceedings and to assure the kingdome to little Ioas. Whereupon giuing and receiuing faithfull promises of secrecie the one vnto the other they confidently addressed themselues to execute their intended purposes after this maner They whom the hie priest had chosen to execute this act went thorow all the countrey and gathered the priests and Leuites together with all the gouernours of the tribes and afterwards returned and brought them to Ierusalem to the hie priest who made them sweare an oth that they would keepe secret that which he should enforme them of as a thing that required silence and men of execution to performe the same As soone as he had assured them by oth he brought forth the little child whom he had nourished who was of Dauids line and said vnto them Behold your king who is of that race which as you know was chosen by God to raigne ouer you for euer I therefore thinke it fit that the third part of you guard and keepe him within the temple and that the fourth make their watch round about the same An other company shal haue the guard of the great gate that leadeth to the pallace As for the rest of the people let them remaine disarmed within the temple and suffer no armed man to enter thereinto except the priest onely He appointed also an other company of priests and Leuites to be about the king with iauelins and drawne swords charging them that whosoeuer durst be so bold to enter the temple armed they should presently put him to the sword and laying all feare aside to attend the safety and guard of the kings person They being obedient to that which the hie priest had commanded them in effect expressed their readinesse whereupon Ioiada opening the Arsenall which in times past was prepared by Dauid distributed amongst the centurious Leuites and Priests all the iauelins quiuers and all other sortes of armes that were therein and disposed all them that were armed round about the people ioyned hand in hand to impeach any one from entring in amongst them that were not of their faction Afterwards bringing out the infant Ioas into the midst of the company they set the royall crowne on his head and Ioiada after he had annointed him with oyle proclaimed him king whereupon all the people reioiced and clapping their hands cried out God saue the King Athalia hearing this noise and applause beyond all hope was greatly troubled and with those souldiers which she had about her she hastily issued out of the pallace and arriuing in the temple the priests admitted her as for the rest of the men of warre that followed her they that by the hie priests ordinance circuited the temple would not suffer them to enter with her Now when Athalia saw the childe standing before the Tabernacle with the royall crowne on his head she rent her garments and storming thorow despite she cried out and commanded that the traitor should be slaine that had thus betraied her and sought to dispossesse her of her kingdome But Ioiada called the centurions and commanded them to carie Athalia out vnto the brooke Cedron and there to kill her because he would not permit that the temple should be defiled with her cursed bloud Moreouer he charged them that if any one should attempt to rescue her they should kill them likewise Hereupon they that were appointed to execute this his command tooke her and led her without the gate of the kings mules and there slew her After that Athalia was in this manner executed Ioiada assembled the people and the men of warre in the temple binding them all by an oth to yeeld the king their faithfull seruice and to procure the prosperitie and increase of his kingdome Secondly he made the king sweare in like manner that he would maintaine the seruice of God and in no manner disanull Moses lawes That done they ranne vnto Baals temple which Athalia and her husband Ioram had built to the dishonour of God and their forefathers and for the honour of Achab and leuelled it with the ground and put to death their hie priest called Mathan The charge and guard of the temple Ioiada committed to the priests and Leuites according to the order established by Dauid with commaundement twise a day to offer their ordinarie burnt offrings and consequently to make perfumes according to the lawe He appointed also certaine of the Leuites to be porters to guard the temple to the intent that no vncleane thing should enter the same vnespied and after he had ordained these things with the Centurions and gouernours and with all the people he tooke Ioas and led him out of the temple and attended him to the pallace and hauing placed him in the royall throane all the people cried God saue the king banquetted
and feasted for diuers daies Thus after the death of Athalia the citie was in quiet Ioas was 7. yeers old at such time as he was made king his mother was called Sabia was of the town Bersabe He carefully obserued the lawes and highly affected the seruice of God all his life time and when he grew to mans estate he maried two wiues which the high Priest gaue him by whom he had sonnes and daughters This is all that I haue thought good to declare as concerning Ioas both how he escaped Athalias treasons and obtained the kingdome CHAP. VIII Azael King of Damasco leuieth an army and first of all assaulteth the Israelites and after marcheth forward against Ierusalem BVt Azael king of Syria making warre against the Israelites and against their king Iehu destroyed the countrey on the other side of Iordan and all the easterne tract inhabited by the Rubenites Gadites and Manassites Furthermore he burnt spoyled Galaad and Bathanaea violenting and outraging all those that he met withall For Iehu went not out against him to resist him but being become a contemner of God a despiser of pietie and his lawes he died after he had raigned seuen and twentie yeares ouer the Israelites he was buried in Samaria and left behind him Ioas his sonne to succeed him in the kingdome But Ioas king of Ierusalem conceiued a certaine desire to renewe the Temple for which cause calling vnto him Ioiada the high Priest he commaunded him to send thorow all the countrey the Leuites and Priests and to leuie vpon euery one of their heads halfe a sicle of siluer for the building reparation of the temple which was fallen into decay in Ioram Athalia and her followers times But the high Priest would not obey him herein knowing well that no man would willingly disburse money But in the three and twentith yeare of his raigne the king sent both for Ioiada and the Leuites also and expostulated with them for disobeying his commandement enioyning them from that time forth to prouide for the building of the Temple Wherupon the high Priest vsed present dispatch in leuying the money wherewith the people were highly contented He therefore made a chest of wood closed on euerie side except that on the vpper lid thereof there was a little cranny left open which he placed neere vnto the Altar commaunding that euerie one should offer according to his deuotion and put in his offering thorowâ—… the cranny into the coffer to be imployed in the repairing of the Temple whereunto all the people shewed themselues affectionate so that they gathered together a great quantitie of gold and siluer with great zeale and when the cofer was filled it was emptied and the account thereof taken and sumde vp by the secretary and high Priest in the kings presence and afterwards all was brought together into one assigned place which order was obserued euery day And when as it was supposed that there was sufficient money gathered the high Priest Ioiada and king Ioas hired masons and carpenters and prepared great beames of excellent timber After that the Temple was repaired they imployed the remainder of gold and siluer which was of no small quantitie to make cuppes pots and vessels and other vtensils and euery day offered they sacrifice of great value vpon the Altar and this custome was continued so long as Ioiada liued But after his decease which hapned in the hundreth and thirtith yeare of his age after he had liued a iust and vpright life and was interred in the sepulcher of Dauid in Ierusalem because he had established the kingdome in Dauids posteritie king Ioas had no more care to serue God and with him the rest of the gouernours of the people were corrupted in contradiction of the lawes and ordinances which they knew were verie conuenient for them For which cause God being prouoked by this change and incensed against the king and the rest sent his Prophets vnto them to protest to expostulate with them for their offences and to withdraw them from their iniquitie But they pursued sinne the more vehemently so that neither the punishments by which they who had offended God before times had beene plagued with all their posterities neither all the aduertisments giuen them by the Prophets could induce them to amend or to forsake those sinnes wherein they were engaged but that which is worst King Ioas stoned Zacharie Ioiadas sonne and put him to death in the Temple forgetting himselfe most vngratefully of the benefits he had receiued by his father And the occasion was for that Zachary hauing receiued a charge from God to prophecy came into the midst of the people and counsailed both them him to follow iustice foretelling them that they should be grieuously punished except they did beleeue This Zachary did at his death call God to witnesse and iudge of those calamities he endured in dying grieuously and violently for the good counsaile which he had giuen them and the benefits which his father had in times past done vnto Ioas. But many daies passed not before the king suffered due punishment for these misdeeds For Azael king of the Syrians inuaded his countrey and after he had first of all ruinated Gitta he marched forward with an intent to besiege him at last in Ierusalem Ioas desperate of all succours emptied all the treasures of God and those of the kings and tooke away the presents that were hung vp in the Temple and sent them to the Syrian redeeming the siege by this meanes least he should be drawen into hazard to lose all The Syrian pacified with such and so great riches and aboundant treasure suffered not his army to passe to Ierusalem After this Ioas was seazed with a greeuous sicknes and to the intent that the death of Zachary the sonne of Ioiada might not escape vnreuenged his friends conspired against him and he died by their hands He was entombed in Ierusalem but not in the sepulcher of his ancestors because he had fallen from God He liued seuen and fortie yeares CHAP. IX Amasias king of Ierusalem made warre against the Idumaeans and Amalechites and obtained the victory AMasias his sonne succeeded him in the kingdome But in the one and twentith yeare of Ioas raigne Ioachas the sonne of Iehu tooke possession of the kingdome of Israel in Samaria and was seazed thereof for the space of seuenteene yeares But he followed not his fathers steps but rather behauing himselfe impiously according as his predecessors in the kingdom contemners of God had done For which cause the king of Syria subdued him and cut off a great part of his dominions and tooke his greatest cities from him and defeated his armies so that at length he had but ten thousand footmen and fiue hundreth horsemen All which hapned to the Israelits according to the prophecy of Elizeus which he foretold vnto Azael at such time as he prophecied
the seruice of God By which meanes it came to passe that the people brought all kinde of fruit to the priests and Leuites which the king put vp in certaine storehouses which he had built to be distributed to euerie one of them their wiues and children and by this means they returned againe to their former puritie in religion After the King had disposed all things in this sort he made warre vpon the Philistines and ouercame them and seased all their Cities betweene Gaza and Geth About this time the king of Assyria sent vnto him and threatned him that if he would not pay him those tributes which his father before him had paid vnto him he would destroy all his countrey Neuerthelesse Ezechias set light by his threats assuring himselfe in that pietie and zeale he bore towards God and in the Prophet Esay by whom he was exactly instructed as touching all those things that were to succeed And for this present it shall suffice that we haue spoken thus much of this king CHAP. XIIII Salmanasar slayeth the king of Israel and leadeth the Israelites captiue into the countrey of Media WHen tydings was brought to Salmanasar King of Assyria that the king of Israel had priuily sent vnto Soan king of Aegypt to request his assistance in warre against the Assyrian he was sore displeased and drew forth his army against Samaria in the seuenth yeere of the raigne of Oseas But the King of Israel withstood his entrance into the Citie by which meanes he was besieged therein for three yeeres space and finally Samaria was taken by force in the ninth yeere of Oseas and the seuenth of Ezechias raigne At which time all the kingdome of Israel was destroied and all the people transported into the countries of Media and Persia and amongst the rest king Oseas was taken prisoner The King of Assyria caused certaine nations of a countrey which by reason it abutted vpon a certaine riuer in Persia called by that name was called Chut to remoue their habitation and to dwell in Samaria and inhabite the countrey of Israel As for the ten Tribes of Israel they were transported out of their countrey nine hundreth fortie seuen yeeres since their predecessors departing out of Aegypt possessed the countrey of Chanaan eight hundreth yeeres after the gouernment of Iosuah and two hundreth and forty yeares seuen moneths and seuen daies since they reuolted from Roboam Dauids nephew to giue the kingdome to Ieroboam This was the end of the Israelites who transgressed the lawes and disobeyed the Prophets who foretold them of that calamitie which should happen vnto them except they repented them of their impieties The sedition that they moued against Roboam establishing his seruant for their king was the originall of their mischiefes For Ieroboam committing impietie against God and they imitating his wickednesse preuailed so much as the maiestie of God grew displeased with them so that he punished them according as they deserued But the King of Assyria rauaged and spoiled all Syria and Phaenicia with his army his name is found written in the Chronicles of the Tyrians for he made warre against the Tyrians at such time as Elulat raigned in Tyre whereof Menander maketh mention who wrote the historie of Tyre and hath translated their Pantarches into the Greeke toong The King Elulat said he raigned six and thirtie yeeres and pursued the Chuteans that were reuolted from him by sea and made them subiect Against whom the King of Assyria sent forth his army and inuaded all Phaenicia and afterwards hauing couenanted a peace with them he returned backe againe The Cities of Sidon Arce and Paletyr and diuers other cities reuolted from the Tyrians and submitted themselues to the king of Assyria For this cause and for that they of Tyre did not obey him he drew his army forth once more against them and he was furnished by the Phaenicians with sixtie ships and eight hundreth rowers The Tyrians charging these ships with twelue of their vessels ouerthrew the nauy of the Assyrians and tooke about fiue hundreth men prisoners which act of theirs wonderfully increased their honour But the king of Assyria returning backe againe planted a garrison vpon the riuer and fortified the fountaine heads to the intent the Tyrians might draw no water which act of his continuing for the space of fiue yeeres they were inforced to find dig new fountaines to sustaine themselues These things are written in the registers of the Tyrians themselues as also the exploits of the king of Assyria against them But these Chuteans new inhabitants of Samaria for to this day their name remaineth there as hauing bin brought from the Region of Chut which is in Persia where there is a riuer of that name for that they were of fiue nations they brought with them each of them the god whom they honoured in their nation to the number of fiue gods whom they serued after the manner of their countrey Whereupon the true and supreme God was grieuously displeased and prouoked against them for a plague fell amongst them that consumed them in such sort that they could finde no remedie vntill such time as they had notice that it behooued them to adore the great God and that therein consisted their safetie They therefore sent vnto the king of Assyria requiring him to send them Priests from amongst the Israelites whom he had led away prisoners in war Which done they learning the law and the manner of Gods seruice by them began verie diligently to obserue both by which meanes the plague ceased sodainly And now euen vnto this day continue they in the same Religion and are called by the Hebrewes Chuteans and Samaritanes by the Greekes These as often as they finde the Iewes in prosperitie call them their cousins according to the varietie and changes of time but if they perceiue their fortunes to be on the declining hand then abiure they consanguinitie and renounce any lawfull parentage or amitie and say that they were planted in the countrey and drawne thither from a forraine nation But in time and place conuenient we shall speake of them more amply THE TENTH BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 10. booke 1 Senacharib King of Assyria besiegeth Ezechias in Ierusalem 2 Ezechias hauing liued for a certaine time in peace dieth and leaueth his sonne Manasses to succeed him 3 The Kings of the Chaldees and he of Babylon warre against Manasses and ledde him away prisoner 4 The historie of King Iosias 5 Iosias death in battell who hindered the King of Aegypt from leading his army against the Babylonians and the euent thereof 6 The army of Nabuchodonosor commeth into Syria 7 Nabuchodonosor putteth Ioacim to death and maketh Ioachin King 8 Nabuchodonosor changeth his purpose besiegeth Ioachim and is reconciled vnder composition 9 Sedechias is appointed king ouer Ierusalem 10 Ierusalem is
twenty and three yeers olde who raigned in Ierusalem his mothers name was Ametala he was a man full of impietie and of a malignant and peruerse nature The King of Aegypt returning from the warre sent vnto Ioaz commanding him to meet with him in Samath a Citie of Syria where he was no sooner arriued but he kept him prisoner committing the kingdome to Eliacim his brother on the fathers side who was his elder brother likewise He changed his name also and called him Ioachim he imposed atribute also on Iudaea of one hundreth talents of siluer and a talent of golde which Ioachim paid And as touching Ioaz hee led him into Aegypt where he finished his daies after he had been king three moneths and ten daies Now Ioachims mother was called Zabuda of the Citie of Abuma He was a wicked person and of a malignant nature hauing neither pietie towardes God nor respect of equitie towardes men CHAP. VI. Nabuchodonosors army commeth into Syria IN the fourth yeere of his raigne a certaine man called Nabuchodonosor possessed the kingdome of Babylon who at that time went out with a great army against Carchabesa a Citie scituate neere vnto Euphrates resoluing with himselfe to fight against Nechao king of Aegypt vnder whose power all Syria was subiect Nechao vnderstanding of the Babylonians intent and how great his army was made verie little account thereof but with a huge army addressed himselfe towards Euphrates with an intent to repulse Nabuchodonosor But he was ouercome in battell and lost diuers thousands of his men Whereupon the Babylonian passing Euphrates seazed all Syria as far as Pelusium Iudaea onely excepted The fourth yeere that Nabuchodonosor raigned ouer these conquered countries the eight yeere of the raigne of Ioachim ouer the Hebrewes the Babylonians led forth his army against the Iewes with a mightie power threatning them to vse al hostility except Ioachim would pay him tribute Ioachim fearing his threats bought his peace with siluer and paid him for three yeers space the tributes that were imposed on him But in the third yeere vnderstanding that the Aegyptian was vp in armes against the Babylonian he denied the paiment of the tribute notwithstanding he was frustrated of his hope for the Aegyptians were not so hardy as to make warre All which the Prophet Ieremy daily foretold him signifying vnto him that he builded his hope in vaine vpon the Aegyptians and that it would fall out that the Citie should be ouerthrowne by the king of Babylon and Ioachim himselfe should be deliuered prisoner into his hands But because there was no meanes for them to escape this iustice all that which he said was nothing auailable For notwithstanding the people and gouernours heard thereof yet made they no reckoning of the same but were displeased with those counsailes which he proposed vnto them accusing Ieremy as if he tooke pleasure to vtter and publish ominous and aduerse presages against the king they likewise called him in question before the kings counsaile and required that he might be condemned Whereupon some of them gaue sentence against him the rest reproouing the aduise of the elders that were thus addicted tooke a more discreete course and caused the Prophet to depart out of the kings house forbidding his aduersaries to doe him any mischiefe they protesting that he had not only foretolde the future calamities of the city but that many before him had done the like as Micheas and diuers others yet that no one of them had suffered any euill by the kings of their time but that contrariwise Micheas had been honoured as a Prophet sent from God By these words they appeased the people and deliuered Ieremy from the death intended against him This man wrote all his prophecies and red them to the people in their fasts and assembled them in the temple in the ninth moneth of the fifth yeere of the raigne of Ioachim which booke he had composed touching that which should happen vnto the Citie the temple and the people When the gouernours heard the same they tooke the booke from him and commanded that both he and his secretarie Baruch should withdraw themselues out of the sight of men and they tooke the booke and presented it vnto the king who in the presence of his friends commanded his secretarie to reade the same and after he had heard the contents thereof he waxed wondrous wroth and renting it in pieces cast it into the fire intending that it should neuer be seene He sent out likewise a strickt commission to seeke out Ieremy and his secretarie Baruch and to lead them out to be punished But they had preuented his indignation CHAP. VII Nabuchodonosor putteth Ioachim to death and establisheth Ioachin in the kingdome NOt long after this he went out to meete the king of Babylon who was marched out to make warre against him and being incredulous and carelesse of the Prophets predictions he opened the gates vnto him supposing that he intended him no euill But when the Babylonians were entred into the Citie the King obserued not his promises but put all such to death as were in the flower and beautie of their yeeres and spared none of the inhabitants of Ierusalem with them also he slew their king Ioachim and caused his body to be cast from the toppe of the wals and vouchsafed him no sepulture establishing Ioachin his sonne King of the countrey and of the citie Moreouer he tooke three thousand of the most honourable Citizens of Ierusalem prisoners and led them to Babylon with him amongst whom was the Prophet Ezechiel at that time very yoong in yeers This was the end of king Ioachim who liued thirty six yeeres and raigned eleuen Ioachin that succeeded him in the kingdome was the sonne of Nosta of Ierusalem and raigned three moneths and ten daies CHAP. VIII Nabuchodonosor changeth his purpose and besiegeth Ioachin and receiueth him vnder composition AS soone as the Babylonian had bestowed the kingdome of Iudaea on Ioachin he was seazed with a sodaine feare which made him suspect least Ioachin remembring himselfe of the iniuries he had done vnto him by the murther of his father might draw the countrey into rebellion and reuolt against him For which cause he sent out certaine forces and besieged Ioachin in Ierusalem who being a man of a good nature and of an vpright heart was loth to forsake the Citie in that danger without a gouernour considering that it was for his cause that the common weale was in that hazard For which cause taking his wife and his neerest akin with him he deliuered them into the hands of the captaines that were sent against him receiuing an oth from them that neither they nor the Citie should receiue any harme But this promise continued not a yeere for the King of Babylon obserued it not but commanded his captaines to imprison all the youth and artificers that were in the Citie and to bring
his wofull predictions had weakned the hearts of the people which were otherwaies readie to fight for him and their countrey by reason that he flying vnto the enemie menaced them with the surprisal and vtter ruine of their Citie But the king in regard of the naturall humanitie and iustice that was in him was not any waies whetted in respect of his owne interest yet to the intent he might not seeme to be vtterly opposed to the gouernours by contradicting them he deliuered the Prophet into their hands to deale with him howsoeuer they pleased Who hauing obtained this libertie from the king entred the prison on the sodaine and laying hold on Ieremy they let him downe into a pit full of mud to the intent he might die in that place and be strangled by the ordure in effect he was set therein vp to the necke But one of the kings seruants an Aethiopian by nation certified the king of the Prophets affliction assuring him that his friends and gouernours did not iustly so to thrust and burie the Prophet in the mud and cursedly to conspire against him tyring him with bonds and tortours worse then death For which cause the king hearing this newes was sorie that he had deliuered the Prophet to the gouernours and commaunded the Aethiopian to take thirtie men of his court with him with cords and such other things necessary as might concerne the safetie of the Prophet charging him with all expedition to deliuer him from that captiuitie Hereupon the Aethiopian furnished with men and necessarie meanes drew the Prophet out of the mud and dismissed him without any gard That done the king sent for him in secret demaunding of him if he had any message to deliuer him from God praying him to let him vnderstand what soeuer he knew as touching the successe of the siege The Prophets answere was that although he should tel him yet it would not be beleeued that if he should exhort him he would not giue eare or listen vnto him But said he O king thy friends haue condemned me to death as if I had beene a most wretched malefactor But where are they now at this present that haue deceiued thee and bore thee in hand saying that the Babylonian would not come and besiege thee Now will I take heed how I tell thee the truth for feare least thou condemne me to death Hereupon the king swore vnto him that he should not die neither that he would deliuer him into the hands of the gouernours for which cause Ieremie grounding himselfe vpon the faith which he had plighted vnto him counselled the king to yeeld vp the Citie to the Babylonian because that God had willed him to signifie vnto the king that if he would saue his life and auoid the imminent daunger and saue his Citie from vtter ruine and preserue the temple from burning he should submit or otherwise that none but he should be the cause of all these euils that should happen vnto the Citie and Citizens and of that calamitie that should confound both him and all his familie When the king heard this he told him that he would doe according as he had counselled him and performe whatsoeuer he thought necessarie to be done but that he feared his friends who were alreadie of the Babylonian faction least being accused by them he should be deliuered by their meanes and the kings displeasure vnto death But the prophet encouraged him telling him that his feare was in vaine assuring him that he should suffer no euill if so be he yeelded vp the Citie and that neither his wife nor children nor the sacred temple should either endure desaster death or ouerthrow Vpon these words the king dismissed Ieremy charging him to communicate the counsell that was held betweene them to no one of the Citizens no not to the princes if so be they should light on any inckling of their conference or aske of him whether the king had sent for him aduising him to answere if so be they were inquisitiue that he resorted to the king to request him that he might be no more imprisoned all which the Prophet performed for they instanced him verie much to know for what cause the king had sent for him CHAP. X. Ierusalem is taken and the people carried into Babylon by Nabuchodonosor MEane while the Babylonian continued his violent siege against the Citie of Ierusalem and hauing raised towers vpon certaine bulwarks he droue away by this meanes all those that approched neere vnto the walles he raised also round about the circuit of the Citie diuers platformes that equalled the walles in height Meane while the Citie was as valiantly and couragiously defended by the inhabitants for neither pestilence nor famine plucked down their spirits And although that within the Citie they were tormented with these scourges yet were not their resolutions distracted by the warre neither did the enemies inuentions astonish them nor their engines affright them but that they inuented new countermines so that all the battel betwixt the Babylonians and Iewes seemed to be a trial both of valour art whilest these by the one doe assuredly hope to surprise the Citie and the other thought their safetie consisted herein if they ceased not by new inuentions to frustrate their enemies endeuours And in this estate continued they both for the space of eighteene moneths vntill they were consumed by famine and by the darts that were shot against them by those that shot from the towers At length the Citie was taken by the princes of Babylon in the eleuenth yeare of the raigne of Zedecias the ninth day of the fourth moneth who were put in trust by Nabuchodonosor to performe the siege For touching his owne person he made his aboad in the Citie of Reblata Now if any man be desirous to know the names of them that had commaundement at such time as Ierusalem was surprised these they be Nergelear Aremantus Emegar Nabosar and Echarampsar The Citie being taken about midnight the princes of the enemies armie entered into the temple which when Zedecias vnderstood he tooke his wiues and his children with the princes and his friends and fled thorow a great valley by the desart which when the Babylonians vnderstood by certaine Iewes that were reuolted and had submitted themselues vnto them they arose earely in the morning to pursue them and ouertooke and surpised them neere vnto Iericho Whereupon those princes and friends of Zedecias that had taken their flight with him seeing the enemies neere vnto them forsooke him scattering themselues heere and there concluded each of thē to saue himselfe When as therefore the enemies had apprehended him who was attended by a few followers only and accompanied by his children wiues they brought him vnto the kings presence who no sooner beheld him but he called him wicked and perfidious and vpbraided him with breach of his promise and contempt of his maiestie to whom he had
sworne he would keepe it to his vse Furthermore he reproched him for his ingratitude in that hauing receiued the royaltie from his hands which he had taken from Ioachin to bestow it on him he had notwithstanding employed all his forces against his benefactor But said he that great God that hateth thy trecherie hath deliuered thee into my hands and when he had spoken these words he caused Zedechias friends and children to be slaine before his eies with all his other prisoners afterwards commaunding his eies to be plucked out he led him to Babylon All which hapned vnto him according as the prophets Ieremie and Ezechiel had foretolde him namely that he should be surprised and brought before the king of Babylon and should speake with him face to face and should see him with his eies for so had Ieremy prophecied but being made blind and conducted to Babylon he should not see the Citie of Babylon according as Ezechiel had foretold All which may sufficiently expresse to those that knowe not the nature of God how diuers and admirable his iudgements be in disposing all things in good order and presignifying those things that are to come euen as in this place there appeareth a most signall example of humaine errour and incredulitie by which it was not lawfull for them to auoid their future calamitie neither shunne their vnremoueable destinie Thus was the race of the kings extinguished that descended from Dauid who were in number one and twentie that raigned after him All of them together gouerned fiue hundreth and fourteene yeares sixe moneths and ten daies adding thereunto the twentie yeares of the first king Saul who was of an other tribe After this the Babylonian sent Nabuzardan general of his army vnto Ierusalem to spoile the temple giuing him in charge to burne both it and the kings pallace and to race and leuell the Citie with the ground and afterwards to transport the people into Babylon Who arriued there the eleuenth yeare of the raigne of Sedechias spoyled the temple caried away the vessels that were cōsecrated to Gods seruice both those of gold as also them of siluer he tooke likewise the great lauer that was giuen by Salomon The columnes and pillars of brasse with their chapters likewise and the tables and candlestickes of gold and after he had borne away all things he burned the temple the first day of the fist moneth of the eleuenth yeare of Sedechias raigne which was the eighteenth of Nabuchodonosors gouernment He burned also the kings royall pallace and raced the Citie This temple was burned 470. yeares sixe moneths and 10 daies after the foundation therof in the yeare 1062. six monethes ten daies after the departure of the people out of Aegypt 1950. yeres six moneths ten daies after the Deluge from the creation of Adam vntil the ruine of the temple there were three thousand fiue hundreth and thirteen yeares six moneths and ten daies Thus haue we set downe the number of the yeares and orderly expressed what and in what time euerie thing hath beene performed The generall for the king of Babylon hauing destroyed the Citie and transported the people tooke prisoners the high Priest Sareas and his fellow in office the Priest Sephan with the gouernours and keepers of the Temple which were three the Eunuch also which had the charge ouer the rest and seuen of Sedechias friends and his secretarie besides sixty other gouernours al which together with the vessels which he had pillaged he sent to Reblatha a Citie of Syria vnto the king of Babylon who commaunded in that place that the high Priest and gouernours should be beheaded as for the rest of the prisoners and Sedechias the king he carried them with him to Babylon he sent also in bonds with the rest Iosadoch the son of Sareas the high Priest whom he had put to death in Reblatha as we haue heretofore declared And for that we haue reckned vp the race of the kings set down likewise what they were and how long they continued me seemeth that it shall not be vnnecessarie to recite the names of the high Priests and to report who they haue beene that haue administred the priesthood vnder the kings Sadoc was the first high Priest of the temple builded by Salomon After him his sonne Achimas succeeded in that honour and after Achimas Azarias after whom succeeded Ioram and after Ioram Ioschua after Ioschua Axioram who had for his successor Phideas to Phideas succeeded Sudeas to Sudeas Iulus to Iulus Iotham to Iotham Vrias to Vrias Nerias to Nerias Odeas to Odeas Saldum to Saldum Elcias to Elcias Sareas to Sareas Iosadoch who was carried away prisoner into Babylon all which haue succeeded in the priesthood by lineall descent When Nabuchodonosor was come to Babylon he shut vp Sedechias in prison where he kept him vntill he died and after his death he honoured him with a royall tombe He likewise offered the vessels that he had taken out of the temple of Ierusalem vnto his gods and caused the people to inhabite the countrey of Babylon deliuering the high priest from his bonds The generall Nabuzardan that led the people away captiue left the poorer sort in the country of Iudaea those also that voluntarily yeelded themselues vnto him ouer whom hee appointed Godolias the sonne of Aicam gouernour a man that was both vpright and noble commanding them to till the land and to pay their assigned tribute to the king He drew the Prophet Ieremy also out of prison perswading him to repaire with him to the king of Babylon telling him that he had receiued expresse commaundement from the king to furnish him with all thinges necessarie for that iourney but if he were not contented to repaire to Babylon he should declare to him in what place he would make his aboad to the intent he might certifie the king thereof But the Prophet would not follow him neither depart or soiourne in any other place desiring rather to liue amidst the ruines of his countrey and among the pitious reliques of his poore nation When the generall Nabuzardan vnderstood his resolution he gaue charge to the gouernor Godolias whom he left in Iudaea to haue care of him and to furnish him with all that which he wanted and after he had gratified him with presents he departed Meane while Ieremy dwelt in the Citie of Masphath praying Nabuzardan that he would send him his disciple Baruch the son of Neria a man of a noble family and excellently learned in that countrey language Nowe when as these that during the siege of Ierusalem were retired out of the Citie vnderstood of the retreat of the Babylonians they assembled togither from all parts and came to Masphath to Godolias vnder the conduct of Iohn the sonne of Careas and Iezanais and Sareas and others And besides these a certaine man called Ismael of the bloud royall a wicked
and fraudulent man who during the siege of the Citie had retired himselfe to Bathal king of the Ammonites and had soiourned with him during all the troubles Who being in this sort assembled before him Godolias counselled to remaine in that countrey without any feare of the Babylonians promising that in manuring their land they should incurre no inconuenience All which he confirmed vnto them by an oth adding further that if any disturbance were offered to any man he would readily assist him He gaue each one this aduise likewise to inhabite any Citie that best liked them promising them to send them thither with such things as appertained to them to build them houses and furnish their habitations promising them that when time serued hee would make their prouision of corne wine and oyle for their maintenance during the winter time which when he had proposed these conditions vnto them he gaue them leaue to depart and inhabite the countrey wheresoeuer they best liked Now when the rumour ran amongst the people of Iudaea that Godolias had thus curreously entertained those that were fugitiues and how he had permitted them to inhabite and till the countrey prouided that they paid their tribute to the Babylonian diuers of them repaired incontinently to him and inhabited the countrey And Iohn and the other gouernours being with him and assured both of his clemencie and courtesie begā intirely to loue him For which cause they told him that Bathal king of the Ammonites had sent Ismael to murther him by some treacherie that by that meanes he might haue the dominion ouer the Israelites that remained in that he was of the bloud royal Assuring him that the means of his deliuerance from that treason was if so be he would commaund them to kill Ismael in secret assuring him on the contrarie side that they feared that if Ismael should happen to kill him their whole nation that remained was like to fall to vtter ruine But Godolias tolde them plainly that these stratagems they intended were practized against a man that had receiued pleasure at his hands and that it was not likely that he whom he had succoured during the time of his necessitie would be so wicked or impious against his benefactor as to attempt to murther him whom in any occasion or necessitie he could not but to his great shame and indignitie either flie or forsake Yea said he although those things are true which you informe me of yet had I rather die then oppresse a man that hath committed his life to my trust For which cause Ihon and the rest seeing their perswasions were in vaine departed from him Some thirtie daies after Ismael accompanied with ten men came to Masphath to Godolias who receiued them with presents and magnificent entertainment so that to expresse to Ismael and his companions how hartily they were welcome Godolias drunke so hard that he was somwhat ouerseene with wine Now when Ismael perceiued him to be in that key and ouerloaden with drinke and sleepe he stept vnto him with his ten associates cut both his throat and theirs who kept him company at the banquet after which murther he issued out by night and slew all the Iewes that were left in the citie those Babylonian soldiers also that were left in garrison in that place The next day there came fourescore men of the countrey to Godolias with presents being vtterly ignorant of that which had hapned Ismael knowing them called them vnto him as if he intended to bring them to Godolias and as soone as they were entred he locked the court and slew them and afterwards cast their bodies into a deepe ditch to the intent they might not be discouered Of this number there were some that escaped who besought him that they might not be put to death before they had deliuered certaine moueables garments and corne that they had hidden in the field which when Ismael vnderstood he spared them But he kept them prisoners that were in Masphath with their wiues and children in the number of whom were the daughters of Sedecias whom Nabuzardan had left with Godolias This done he retired backe againe to the king of the Ammonites Iohn and the gouernours of his company vnderstanding of the actes committed by Ismael in Masphath and aboue all of the murther of Godolias they were wonderfully displeased so that each of them assembling his priuate force issued forth to pursue and persecute Ismael whom they ouertooke neere vnto a fountaine in Hebron The prisoners that were with Ismael seeing Iohn his confederates tooke courage supposing that it was some succours that came to helpe them and forsooke him that led them and began to ioyne with Iohns followers and thus fledde Ismael with his eight men to the king of the Ammonites Iohn gathering togither all those whom he had rescued from Ismaels hands both Eunuches women and children retired into a certaine place called Mandra where he soiourned all that day resoluing from thence to depart into Aegypt fearing least the Babylonians should put him to death if they should remaine in Iudaea for that they would be displeased with the death of Godolias whom they had planted in the gouernment Being thus plunged and perplexed with these deliberations they addressed themselues to the Prophet Ieremy beseeching him to enquire of God and to certifie them what it behooued them to do in this their doubtfull estate binding themselues by an oth to doe that which Ieremy should commaund them Hereupon the Prophet promised that he would aske counsell of God for them and some ten daies after God appeared vnto him and willed him to certifie Iohn the gouernours and the rest of the people that if they inhabited Iudaea he would assist them and haue care of them and keepe them so as the Babylonians whom they feared should doe them no harme but if they departed into Aegypt he would abandon them and would be so incensed against them that he would thrall them in the like miserie as their brethren had indured in times past Whilest the Prophet thus warned them from God they would not beleeue him in that he commanded them to remaine in that place by Gods prescript ordinance but they imagined that vnder a false pretext of Gods commaund he had counselled them thereto but that in effect he spake in fauour of his disciple Baruch perswading them to stay there to the end they might be consumed by the Babylonians contemning therefore the counsell which God gaue them by the Prophet both Iohn and the rest of the multitude went into Aegypt and led with them both Baruch and Ieremy Whither they were no sooner come but God told the prophet that the Babylonian should lead his army into Aegypt for which cause he willed him to foretel the people that Aegypt should be destroyed and that they should partly be slaine in that place and partly led captiue to Babylon Which came in like manner to passe for
in the fift yeere after the destruction of Ierusalem which was the three and twentith yeere of the raigne of Nabuchodonosor Nabuchodonosor in his owne person led his army into Coelosyria and hauing conquered the same he made warre vpon the Ammonites and Moabites And after he had brought these nations vnder his obeisance he went and sought against the king of Aegypt and ouercame him and after he had slaine their king that gouerned at that time and planted an other in his place he afterwards tooke the Iewes that he found in that countrey and carried them prisoners into Babylon By this means we haue learned that the state of the Hebrewes being brought to this point hath bin translated twise to the other side of Euphrates For the people of the two tribes were captiued by the Assyrians during the raigne of Oseas and consequently that of the two tribes vnder Nabuchodonosor king of the Babylonians and Chaldees vpon the taking in of Ierusalem True it is that Salmanazar after he had displaced the Israelites planted the Chutheans in their place who beforetime inhabited the innermost of the countries of Persia and Media and were called Samaritanes according to the name of the place which they inhabited but the Babylonian hauing led the two tribes prisoners hath not planted any other people in their places For this cause Iudaea Ierusalem and the temple remained desert for the space of seuentie yeeres and all the time that passed betweene the captiuitie of the Israelites vntill the destruction of the two tribes was a hundreth and thirtie yeeres six moneths and ten daies But Nabuchodonosor chose the most noblest yoong men amongst the Iewes and such as were allied to king Sedecias and esteemed likewise for the good disposition and faire proportion of their bodies and faces and committed them to masters to be instructed commaunding that euery one of them should be gelded according as they were accustomed to deale with yoong children of other nations whom he subdued by force He allowed them victuall from his owne table and they were taught and instructed in the disciplines of the countrey and in the Chaldeetoong These were verie apte to learne wisedome and for that cause he commanded that they should be trained vp in the exercise thereof Of these there were foure of Zedechias kindred faire in body and vertuous in nature who were called Daniel Ananias Misael and Azarias whose names the Babylonian changed and willed them to be called by other names distinct and different from their own Daniel was called Balthasar Ananias Sidrach Misael Misach and Azarias Abdenago These did the king esteeme very highly for their excellent nature and for the great affection that they had to attaine vnto learning and wisedome wherein they profited greatly and were for that cause highly reckoned of by him And whereas Daniel and his kinsemen thought good to liue austerely and to abstaine from those meates that came from the kings table and in generall from all things that had life they went vnto Askenas the Eunuch who had the care and charge ouer them beseeching him to conuert those meates to his owne vse which were sent them from the kings table and to allow them herbes and dates and such things as had no life because they intended to hold that course of life and to forsake all other Askenas told them that he was ready to condescend vnto their demaunds but that he feared least being called for by the king they should be found to be leane in body and discoloured in face for without doubt in following that diet they must needly lose their colours and be lesse dispost in comparison of others which might be the cause to bring him into hazard of his head They perceiuing that Askenas intended nought els but his securitie perswaded him to allow them but ten daies of approbation vnder condition that if by that regiment of diet their habitude of body should not be any waies altered they might continue in that fashion of life and diet which they had intended from that day forwards but if they should be found leane and weake and lesse proportionable then they that sed vpon the kings allowance that then they should returne to their accustomed diet Now it so fell out that not onely their bodies were better in growth but they seemed rather better fed and of a taller statute then the rest so that they that liued vpon the kings ordinarie seemed leane and wearish where as Daniel and his companions made shew as if they had beene nourished with dainties and brought vp in aboundance From that time forward Askenas tooke all that which was allowed the foure yoong men from the kings table and boldly kept it to himselfe giuing them in steed thereof the diet that they chose and delighted in They hauing their spirits more pure and subtill to comprehend their masters instructions and their bodies more strong to endure labour for their spirits were not charged with diuersitie of meates nor their bodies effeminated for the same cause attained the more readily to all that doctrine that was taught them by the Hebrewes and Chaldees Daniel especially hauing profited in wisedome studied the interpretation of dreames and God appeared vnto him Two yeeres after the surprisall of Aegypt king Nabuchodonosor dreamed a wonderfull dreame the issue whereof God made him see in a dreame but he forgat the same when he arose out of his bed And for that cause sent he for his Chaldees and diuines telling them that he had dreampt a dreame but that he had forgot the same commanding them to declare vnto him what the dreame was and the signification thereof also Whereunto they answered that it was impossible for men to sound out the secret thereof notwithstanding they promised him that if he would declare his vision vnto them they would cause him to vnderstand the signification thereof Hereupon Nabuchodonosor threatned them with death except they represented his dreame vnto him and they protesting that they could not fulfill his request he commanded them all to be slaine But Daniel hearing how the King had condemned all the sages to death and knowing that both he and his companions had part in that danger addressed himselfe to Ariochus the captaine of the Kings guard requiring him to informe him for what cause the king had adiudged the Chaldees and sages to be put to death And hauing intelligence what had hapned as touching the dream how the king by forgetting the same had charged them to informe him therin how they had answered that it was impossible for them to performe the same and how thereby they had prouoked the king to displeasure he besought Ariochus to go vnto the king and to procure one nights repriue in the behalfe of the Aegyptians and Chaldees in that he hoped during that night time to beseech God and intreat from him both the dreame and the signification thereof Hereupon Ariochus told the king what Daniel had requested
who respited the execution of the Magitians for that night vntill he might see what would become of Daniels promise who retiring himselfe with his companions into his chamber besought God all the night long to manifest vnto him the dreame and deliuer the Magitians and Chaldees from the kings wrath with whom both he and the rest of his companions were like to die except he might know what the king had dreampt the night past and what was the interpretation thereof Whereupon God hauing compassion of the daunger wherein they were and taking pleasure in Daniels wisedome signified vnto him both the dreame and the signification thereof to the intent the king might be resolued in the meaning thereof Daniel hauing receiued the truth from God arose verie ioyfully and certified his brethren who had alreadie lost all hope of life and thought on no other thing but death and gaue them courage and hope of life Hauing therefore rendred thanks vnto God for that he had had compassion of their young yeeres as soone as it was day he went vnto Arioch requesting him that he might be brought to the kings presence certifying him that he would open vnto him the dreame which he had seene the night past Now when Daniel was brought vnto the kings presence he besought him that he would not esteeme him to be more wise then the other Chaldeans and magicians in that whereas none of them could expound his dreame he did attempt to expresse the same for that came not to passe by reason of his experience or for that he was more industrious then they were but said he God hath had compassion on vs that were in daunger of death and at such time as I requested him to grant me and my countrie men life he hath certified me both of your dreame and the signification thereof I was not so much agrieued for that in our innocency we were adiudged to death by thee as afraid of thine estimation and glory which was hazarded by condemning so many and so innocent and iust men to death whereas that which you haue required of them sauoreth nothing of humane wit but is the onely worke of God Whilest therefore thou thoughtest in thy selfe who it was that should commaund the whole world after thy selfe at such time as thou wert asleepe God intending to let thee know all those that should gouerne after thee presented thee with this dreame It seemed vnto thee that thou sawest a great statue wherof the head was of gold the shoulders and armes of siluer the belly and thighes of brasse and the legs and feete of yron Thou beheldst after that a great stone that was drawen from a mountaine that fell vpon the statue and beat downe and burst the same and left no whole peece thereof so that the gold siluer yron and brasse were poudered as small as dust whereupon a violent wind seemed to blow which by the furie and force thereof was borne away and scattered into diuers countries on the other side the stone grewe so mightie that it seemed to fill the whole earth This was that vision that appeared vnto you the signification whereof is expressed after this manner The head of gold signifieth your selfe and those kings of Babylon that haue been before you The two hands and shoulders signifie that your Empyre shal be destroied by two kings the one part by the king of the east cloathed in brasse whose force shall be abated by an other power resembling that of yron and he shal haue the power ouer the whole earth by reason of the nature of yron which is more strong then gold siluer or brasse he told the king also what that stone signified But for mine owne part I thought it not expedient to expresse it in this place because the onely but and intent of my writings is onely to register such things as are past and not such matters as are to come But if any man haue a desire to know these things and cannot bridle his curiositie but will vnderstand such matters as are hidden let him â—…ead the book of Daniel which he shal find amidst the sacred scriptures When king Nabuchodonosor had heard these things and remembred himself of his dreame he was astonished at Daniels wisedome and casting himselfe prostrate on the earth after the manner of those that adore God he embrased Daniel giuing direction that sacrifice should be offered vnto him as if he were God Moreouer he called him by the name of God and committed the administration of his whole kingdome to him and his companions who by reason of the commotions and conspiracies of their maligners and detractors hapned to fall into most eminent and dreadfull daunger vpon this occasion that ensueth The king built a golden Image sixtie cubits high and sixe in bignesse and erected it in a great plaine neere vnto Babylon and being readie to dedicate the same he assembled all the gouernours and princes of his countries commanding then first of all that as soone as they should heare the trumpet sound they should prostrate themselues on the earth to adore the statue threatning that whosoeuer should do the contrarie he should be cast into a burning furnace whereas therefore all of them adored the statue vpon the sound of the trumpet Daniel and his companions vtterly refused to performe that dutie alledging for their iustification that they would not transgresse the lawes of their countrey for which cause being apprenended they were instantly cast into the furnace of fire and protected therein by Gods prouidence escaped death beyond all mens expectation For the fire touched them not neither could it burne during their aboad in the furnace For God so fortified their bodies that they could not be consumed by fire which accident made them in greater estimation with the king for that he saw they were vertuous and beloued by God and for that cause they were highly honoured by him Not long after this the king saw an other vision in his sleepe which signified vnto him that being cast from his empire he should conuerse with sauage beasts and that hauing liued in that estate in the desart for the space of seuen yeares he should recouer his kingdom again Hauing had this dreame he assembled the Magitians once more demanding their answere and the signification thereof But it was impossible for any one of them eyther to find out or declare the intelligence of this dreame vnto the king onely Daniel discouered the same and the effect was answerable to his prediction For the king passed the forelimited time in the desart so that no man durst intermeddle with the affaires of estate during seuen yeares But after he had called vpon God that it would please him to restore him to his kingdome he repossessed the same again Let no man in this place accuse me for reporting these particularities according as I haue found them written in holy books for in the
entrance of my history I haue answered those obiections so that I haue openly protested that I will onely faithfully translate the Hebrew Histories into the Greeke tongue according to my promise relate that which is contained therin without adding any thing of mine owne or concealing ought of an other mans After that Nabuchodonosor had raigned fortie three yeares he died he was a man of execution and more happie then any of his predecessors Berosus maketh mention of his actes in the third booke of his Chaldaique historie where he speaketh thus His father Nabuchodonosor hauing notice that the gouernour whom he had appointed ouer Aegypt the neighbouring parts of Coelosyria Phaenicia was reuolted from him being at that time in himselfe vnable to endure the troubles of warre committed a part of his forces vnto his son Nabuchodonosor who was in the flower of his age and sent him forth against him who encountring the rebell and fighting with him ouercame him and brought the countrey vnder his subiection Meane while Nabuchodonosor the father died of a sicknes in Babylon after he had raigned one and twentie yâ—…ares Nabuchodonosor the sonne hauing notice of his fathers death gaue order to the affaires of Aegypt and the rest of the countrey and committing the care and transportation of the Iewes Syrians Aegyptians and Phaenicians to his friends to bring them to Babylon with his army and carriage he with a fewe men made hastie iourneies thorow the desaâ—…t And when he had taken the administration of the kingdome vpon him which in his absence was in the hands of the Chaldees and by their chieftaine was reserued vntil his returne vnto his vse he became Lord of all his fathers Empire When his prisoners were arriued he assigned them conuenient dwelling places in the countrey of Babylon and with the spoiles of the warre he magnificently repaired and decked the Temple of Bel other places He enlarged the olde Citie and repaired beautified it with other buildings by meanes wherof they that would besiege the same were hindred from cutting off of the currant of the riuer to the preiudice of the inhabitants He enuironed it inwardly with a treble wall and outwardly with as migâ—…tie and as many enclosures and made all of burnt bricke The wals were magnificently builded the gates brauely adorned in maner of temples He caused a pallace to be builded neere vnto his fathers auncient pallace the magnificenâ—… and ornament wherof I am too weake witted to expresse onely this thing most memorable 〈◊〉 â—…ue thought good to note downe that these huge great and pompous buildings were finished in fifteene daies In this pallace he had vaultes raised so high that in outward appearance they seemed to bee mountaines on which all sorts of trees were planted He deuised and prepared also a goodly garden and called it the hanging garden because his wife hauing beene brought vp in the countrey of Media desired to haue a place conformable to that of her birth Megasthenes in the fourth booke of his Indian Historie maketh mention of this garden in that place where he inforced himselfe to proue that this King surpassed Hercules in valour and execution of worthie actions For he said that Nabuchodonosor ouercame the chiefe Citie of Libya and a great part of Spaine Diocles in the second booke of his Persian Historie and Philostratus in his Phaeâ—…ician and Indian Historie make mention of this King saying that he ouercame the Citie of Tyre at the end of thirteene yeeres at such time as Ithobal raigned ouer the Tyrians This is the summe of all that which the Historiographers write as touching this King CHAP. XI Nabuchodonosors successors the destruction of Babylon by Cyrus King of Persia. AFter Nabuchodonosors death his sonne Euilmerodach obtained the kingdome who incontinently deliuered Iechonias king of Ierusalem out of prison and held him in the number of his most esteemed friends and gaue him presents and committed the gouernment of the pallace of Babylon into his hands For his father had not kept his promise with Iechonias when he surrendred himselfe his wife children and friends into his hands in the behalfe of his countrey and to the intent that the Citie of Ierusalem should not be rased by those that besieged it as we haue heretofore declared Euilmerodach died in the eighteenth yeere of his raigne and Niglisar his sonne obtained the kingdome which hee possessed fortie veeres and afterwards died After him the succession of the kingdome came vnto his sonne called Labosardach which continued in him but for the space of nine moneths and after his death it came vnto Balthasar who by the Babylonians was called Naboandel Against him Cyrus king of Persia and Darius king of Media made warre and at such time as he was besieged in Babylon there hapned a meruailous and prodigious spectacle Balthasar sate vpon a certaine festiuall in a royall chamber where he was serued with great store of vessell fit for his maiestie and royaltie and with him at the banquet there sate his concubines and most intirest friends At which time to shew his magnificence he caused those vessels to be brought out of the temple of his God which Nabuchodonosor his predecessor fearing to employ to his owne vse had stoared vp in his Idols temple But Balthasar was so puffed with pride that he dranke out of them and employed them to his vses Now so came it to passe that whilest he quaffed and blasphemed the name of God he sawe a hand issuing from a wall which wrote in the same certaine syllables by which vision being somewhat terrified he assembled his Magitians and Chaldees and all that sort of people who amongst those barbarous nations made profession to interprete prodigies and dreames to the intent they might signifie vnto him the meaning and vnderstanding of that writing Now when these Magitians had told him that they could in no sort sound or vnderstand the same the king was sore vexed and toubled at this vnexpected vision whereupon he caused it to be proclaimed thorow his countrey that whosoeuer should read that writing and declare the meaning thereof he would giue him a golden chaine and a purple robe such as the king of Chaldees wore and besides all this the third part of his Empire After this proclamation the Magitians assembled togither with greater concourse and were farre more diligent and inquisitiue to finde out the signification of the writing but they were no lesse grounded therein then they were at the first Meane while the kings grandmother seeing him wholy amated in minde began to comfort him and to tell him that there was a certaine man amongst the prisoners of Iuda led thither at such time as Nabuchodonosor destroied Babylon whose name was Daniel a man wise and expert in searching out of things that were impossible and only knowne vnto God who euidently expounded that which Nabuchodonosor required at such time as no other man
neither touch nor approch Daniel because they had beene fed and gorged before For which cause the king displeased with their iniurious malice commanded a quantitie of flesh to be cast vnto the Lyons and when they were glutted he willed that Daniels enemies should be cast among them to the intent he might know whether the Lyons would touch them or no when they were gorged At which time Darius saw verie manifestly that God had by his power warranted Daniel from death For as soone as the nobles were cast into the den the Lyons spared not one of them but tore them all in pieces as if they had beene hungry and without meate I suppose that these Lyons hauing been a little before glutted with meat did not annoy these men by reason of their famine but I rather iudge that their malignitie did whet on their furie for when as God so pleaseth vnreasonable creatures doe iustice vpon malignant and enuious men Daniels aduersaries being in this sort exterminated and destroied Darius gaue notice hereof to all the subiects of his prouinces praysing that God whom Daniel adored saying that he was the onely true God who had all power he honoured Daniel likewise with especiall regard esteeming him amongst the chiefest of his familiars He therefore being thus famous and admirable because he was beloued by God builded in Ecbatane in the countrey of the Medes a magnificent castle and a meruailous monument that remaineth euen vnto this day which seemeth to those that looke thereon that it is but newly builded and made but that very day which they behold the sarine the beautie thereof seemeth so liuing and perfect as that continuance of time doth in no sort deface it For it fareth with buildings as with men they wax olde and are enfeebled by yeeres and lose their beauty at this day all the kings of Media Persia and Parthia are entombed in this Castle and the charge thereof is committed to a priest who is a Iew and this custome continueth euen vntill this day Neither is that to be buried in silence which is worthy especiall admination in this man For all exceeding felicitie that was incident to a most famous Prophet attended him and during his whole life time he was both most highly honoured by kings and reuerenced by the common sort and after his death his memorie is perdurable For all the bookes which he left in writing are red amongst vs euen at this present and we haue been perswaded by the reading thereof that Daniel had conference with God For he hath not onely prophecied of things to come as other Prophets haue done but also hath determined the time wherein those things should happen And whereas other Prophets were accustomed to foretell aduersities and for that occasion were misliked both by princes and their people Daniel foretold them alwaies good successe so that he hath drawne vnto him the good will of all men by reason of those pleasing predictions that he pronounced and by the issues thereof he hath obtained a testimony of truth and a reputation likewise of diuinity and hath left vs certain writings by which he hath manifestly declared the immutabilitie and exact certaintie of his prophecies It is said that being at Susa the Metropolitane Citie of Persia at such time as he walked abroad attended by his familiars that there fel an earthquake with a great noise so that he was left alone and all his companions fled from him And that thereupon being sore troubled he fell vpon his face and both his hands at which time some one touched him and commaunded him to stand vp and to see that which should happen to his countrimen after diuers ages Being therefore raised vpright there was a great ramme shewed vnto him that had diuers hornes the last whereof was the greatest of all Afterwards he looked towards the west and perceiued a goat carried thorow the ayre that butted at the ramme and hauing encountred him twise had beaten and trampled him vnder his feete Thirdly he saw a goat in whose forehead there grew one great horne onely which being broken foure others broke out in steed thereof bending each of them towards the foure windes of the world He hath written also that from them there shal arise another little one also which as God who presented the vision to him told him being growne to perfection should warre against the whole nation of the Iewes and take the Citie by force and confound the estate of the temple and hinder the sacrifices for one thousand two hundreth ninety and six daies Daniel writeth that he saw these things in the field of Susa and hath declared that God himselfe told him what that vision signified which was that the Ramme signified the kingdomes of the Persians and the Medes His hornes signified the kings that were to raigne in those kingdomes and that the last horne signified the last king who should surpasse all the rest in riches and glorie That the goat signified that there should come a certaine king among the Greekes who should fight at two seuerall times with the Persian and should ouercome him in warre and afterwards possesse the whole gouernment And that by the great horne that grew in the front of the Goat the first King was represented and how that after he was taken away fower other should spring thereout And whereas euerie one of these turned themselues toward the foure corners of the world it was a signe that after the death of the first he should haue foure successors that should depart the kingdome betweene them who neither should be his allies or children yet such notwithstanding as should commaund the world for many yeares That from them there should arise a certaine King that should oppose himselfe against the Hebrewe nation and their lawes and should ouerthrow their pollicy spoyle their temple and be a let that for three yeares space the sacrifices should not be solemnized Now so hath it hapned that our nation hath beene so handled vnder Antiochus the famous as Daniel had foreseene and hath written diuers yeares before all that which should happen At the same time Daniel wrote as touching the Empyre of the Romanes how it should destroy our nation and hath left all these things in writing according as God declared them vnto him so that they who read and consider those things that haue hapned admire Daniel for the honour that God dignified him with and find thereby that Epicures erre who driue all diuine prouidence from humaine life and affirme that God gouerneth not the affaires of the world or that the world is administred by a happie and incorruptible essence which causeth all things to continue in their being but say that the world is mannaged by it selfe by casualtie without any conductor or such a one as hath care thereof For if it were so and that it were destitute of a soueraigne gouernour as we see shippes destitute of their pilots
that they that disobey and contradict these thinges shall be hanged on the gibbet and that their goods be confiscate These were the contents of his letters Now the number of those that returned togither from the captiuitie into Ierusalem was fortie two thousand foure hundreth sixtie two CHAP. II. The Gouernours for the King doe hinder the building of the Temple WHilest these men laid the foundations of the Temple and were verie affectionately busie about the building thereof the nations that bordered vpon them and in especiall the Chuteans whom Salmanazar king of Assyria sent from Persia and Media to inhabite in Samaria at such time as he translated the people of the ten tribes incited the princes and gouernours to interdict the Iewes from raising and building their citie and reedifying the temple Who corrupted with siluer sold their negligence and delay to the Chuteans which they vsed in those buildings For Cyrus intending his other wars was ignorant hereof and hauing conducted his army against the Massagetes it was his hap incontinently to finish his life When as therfore Cambyses his sonne had obtained the kingdome they of Syria and Phoenicia the Ammonites Moabites and Samaritanes wrote their letters to Cambyses in these termes O King thy seruants Rathimus the secretarie Semelius the Scribe and those men that are counsellers in Syria and Phoenicia giue thee to vnderstand that those Iewes that were led captiue into Babylon are returned backe into this countrey and doe build a wicked and rebellious Citie and repaire the places and walles of the same and reedifie their temple likewise Know therefore that if these things be permitted to be finished that they will no more endure to be thy subiects and tributaries but will oppose themselues against their kings holding it more fitter to commaund then to obey We haue therefore thought good that whilest they are thus on working and affectionat in rearing their temple to write vnto your maiestie to the intent you may not neglect to examine your fathers records wherein you shall alwaies finde that the Iewes haue been rebels and enemies to their kings and that their Citie hath been for this cause laid desolate vntill this present We haue thought good to signifie thus much to your maiestie which perhaps is vnknown vnto you because that if this Citie be once more reinhabited and inclosed with a wall your way is shut vp from passing into Coelesyria and Phoenice CHAP. III. Cambyses inhibiteth the Iewes to build the Temple WHen Cambyses had red this letter in that he was by nature both wicked and malicious he grew inwardly iealous and displeased at the contents thereof and wrote backe againe after this manner The King Cambyses to Rathymus the secretarie of his casuall euents and to Belsem and Semelius scribes and to al his other counsellers and inhabitants in Samaria Phoenicia health Hauing red your letters I haue commanded the records of mine auncestors to be examined and I finde that the Citie of Ierusalem hath bin alwaies enemy to their kings and that the inhabitants thereof haue alwaies raised sedition and wars I haue likewise found that their kings haue bin mightie and violent and that they haue vexed Syria Phoenicia with continuall tributes For this cause I haue ordained that the Iewes shall not be permitted to reedifie their Citie for feare least their malice should augment by such occasion which they haue continually vsed against their kings Incontinently after the receipt and reading of these letters Rathymus and the sâ—…ibe Semelius and those of their faction tooke their horse and rode hastily to Ierusalem leading with them a great number of people prohibiting the Iewes from the building either of their Citie or temple Thus was this worke interrupted vntill the second yeere of the raigne of Darius king of Persia for the space of nine yeeres For Cambyses raigned six yeeres during which time he subdued Aegypt and vpon his returne from thence he died in Damasco And after the death of Cambyses the Magi that held the Empire of the Persians for the space of one yeere being taken away the seuen families of Persia made Darius the sonne of Hystaspis king CHAP. IIII. Darius the sonne of Hystaspis causeth the Temple to bee builded THis Darius during the time that he liued a priuate life made a yow vnto God that if he obtained the kingdome he would send backe vnto the temple of Ierusalem all those vessels which were as yet remaining in Babylon It fortuned that about the same time Zorobabel who was appointed gouernour ouer the captiue Iewes came vnto him from Ierusalem For he was the kings auncient friend for which cause he with other two were chosen to be of his guard and obtained thereby that honor which he expected The first yeere of the raigne of Darius he entertained all his courtiers with great pompe and magnificence both those of his houshold as they also that were his gouernors and Princes of Media and Persia and the commanders in India confining vpon Aethiopia with all the chieftaines of his army in one hundreth twenty seuen prouinces Now after they had made great cheere and were full of wine they departed each of them vnto their lodgings to betake themselues to rest But king Darius laid in his bed reposed verie little all the night long but passed the time without sleepe for which cause seeing he could take no rest he began to deuise and discourse with three of his guard promising him that should most truely and aptly answere those questions that he should demaund to grant him licence in way of reward to weare a purple garment and to drinke in golden cups to lie on a gilded bed and to ride in a chariot harnessed with gold and to beare the Tiara or linnen wreath and weare a golden chaine about his necke and sit in the next place vnto the king and should likewise bee called his kinsman in regard of his wisedome After he had made these large promises he demanded of the first whether wine were the strongest of the second whether the king were stronger of the third whether women or truth were the most strongest of the three And as soone as he had deliuered them these questions to deliberate vpon he laid him downe to rest Vpon the next morrow he sent for the princes chiefetaines and gouernours of Persia and Media and afterwards sitting aloft in that throne from whence he was accustomed to determine the differents among his subiects he commanded those three yoong men of his guard in the presence of that princely assistance publikely to yeeld their resolution of those questions he had proposed vnto them Whereupon the first of them began after this manner to expresse the force of wine Noble princes when I consider the force of wine I find nothing that may surmount the same For wine entangleth and deceiueth the vnderstanding and maketh the princes vnderstanding like to the poore
and wine and all other things which the Priests should think meet to offer sacrifice to the intent that they might pray for the preseruation of the king of Persia commanding that they that should transgresse or contradict this commandement of his should be laid hold on and hanged on a gibbet and that their goods should be confiscate to the kings vse Moreouer he besought God that if any man went about to hinder the building of the temple that he would punish him and strike him and restraine his wickednes therby When Darius had found these things written in his Panchartes and Chronicles he wrote backe to Sisin and his companions in this forme King Darius to Sisin and Sarabazan with their associates health Hauing found amongst the memorials of Cyrus the copy of your missiue I haue sent it you and my pleasure is that the contents thereof be executed Fare you well Sisin and his associates being câ—…tified of the kings pleasure resolued themselues conformably to execute the same and taking the care of the sacred buildings vpon them they assisted the Princes and magistrates of the Iewes in such sort as the building of the temple was finished with great diligence by the instigation of the Prophets Aggeus and Zachary according to Gods commandement and by the directions of the kings Cyrus and Darius so that it was finished within seuen yeeres In the ninth yeere of the raigne of Darius and the three and twenty of the eleuenth moneth called by vs Adar and by the Macedonians Distre the Priests and Leuites and all the rest of the people offered sacrifices for the renouation of their former felicitie after their captiuitie and for their new temple also sacrificing one hundreth bulles two hundreth sheepe foure hundreth lambes twelue goates according to the number of the twelue tribes of Israel and for the sinnes of each of them The Priests and Leuites also according to the lawes of Moses appointed porters to euery gate For the Iewes had builded galleries round about and within the temple Now when the feast of vnleauened bread which is the feast of Easter drew neere in the first moneth called Xanthicus by the Mecedonians and Nisan by the Hebrewes all the people of the townes round about Ierusalem resorted thither and celebrated the feast purifying both themselues their wiues and children according to the ordinance of their forefathers And after they had solemnized the feast called Easter or the passeouer in the 14. moone they banquetted for seuen daies space sparing no cost how great soeuer it were They offered burnt offrings also and sacrifices of thankesgiuing acknowledging Gods goodnesse that had brought them home into their natiue countrey to liue according to the lawes of their forefathers and had made them gracious in the king of Persiaes eies Thus dwelled they in Ierusalem in all ioy sacrificing and seruing God with great affection and liuing vnder the gouernment of their nobilitie For the chiefest authoritie remained in the hie Priests vntill the Asmonaeans obtained the kingdome for before the captiuitie of Babylon they were vnder the gouernment of kings who began from Saul and Dauids times about some fiue hundreth thirtie two yeeres six moneths and ten daies and before their kings certaine gouernours called Iudges raigned and vnder this sort of pollicie liued they more then fiue hundreth yeeres from the death of Moses and Iosuah See here the estate of the Iewes deliuered from their captiuitie during the daies of Cyrus and Darius True it is that the Samaritanes were their mightie and malicious aduersaries and did them many mischiefes trusting in their riches and pretending themselues to be the Persians kinsmen because their originall proceeded from thence For they refused to pay that tribute which the king had commanded them to disburse vnto the Iewes to make their sacrifices and had their gouernours likewise affectionate and forward to further their malice neither was there any of them idle or negligent in working them mischiefe either in themselues or by others For which cause the Iewes determined to send Embassadors vnto king Darius to accuse the Samaritanes and to that intent Zorobabel and foure others were sent As soone therefore as the king vnderstood by these Embassadors what crimes and accusations they had brought against the Samaritanes he dispatched his letters and addressed them to the gouernours and counsaile of Samaria the tenour of which letters was to this effect King Darius to Tangara and Sambaba gouernours of Samaria to Sadrach and Bobelon and to their companions our seruants being in Samaria health Zorobabel Ananias and Mardocheus Embassadours in the behalfe of the Iewes accuse you to be perturbers of the building of their temple alleadging that you refuse to discharge that which by my decree you ought to furnish them with for the charge of the sacrifices My will is therefore that vpon the sight of these letters you deliuer out of the royall treasurie in Samaria appointed for the tributes all that which shall be necessary for them to performe their sacrifices vpon the request of the Priests to the intent they let passe no day without sacrifice and praier vnto God for me and for the Persians This was the contents of his letter CHAP. V. The beneficence of Zerxes Darius sonne towardes the Iewes AFter Darius death his sonne Zerxes succeeded him not onely as heire in the gouernment of his kingdome but also as successor vnto his pietie and deuotion towards God for he no waies changed those institutions of his fathers that concerned religious seruice but with great beneuolence fauoured all the Iewes During his raigne Ioacim the sonne of Iesus was hie priest Amongst them also that remained in Babylon there liued a hie priest with the Iewes in that place called Esdras a iust man and one of great reputation amongst the people and whereas he was verie skilfull in the lawes of Moses hee obtained great friendship with the king This man intending with certaine other Iewes of Babylon to make his repaire vnto Ierusalem besought the king that he would vouchsafe to bestow his letters of commendations to the gouernors of Syria in his behalfe Whereupon the king wrote his letters pattents of grace certifying his fauour toward Fsdras to the princes in those parts to this effect Zerxes king of kings to Esdras the high priest and reader of the diuine law health It is decreed by me and seuen other of my counsaile that whosoeuer in my kingdome of the Israelites their Priests or Leuites will repaire with thee vnto Ierusalem he may freely performe the same with my good licence and reuisit Iudaea according to the law of God bearing with you those presents vnto the God of Israel which both I and my friends haue vowed I likewise giue thee licence to take with thee all the gold and siluer whatsoeuer that any of thy nation liuing here in Babylon will offer vp vnto God to buy offrings to be
sacrificed vpon the altar of thy God and to make whatsoeuer vessels of gold or siluer which either thou or thy brethren shall thinke meete Those sacred vessels also which are giuen thee thou shalt dedicate vnto thy God and if there be ought els requisite in this behalfe that according to thy wisedome shalt thou prouide and the charges shalt thou receiue out of my treasurie I haue also commended thee to the treasurers of Syria and Phoenicia and haue written to them that whatsoeuer Esdras the priest and reader of the lawe of God shall require they shall presently deliuer it him And to the end that God may be fauourable to me and my children my will is that a hundreth measures of wheat be giuen vnto God according to the law I commaund you also that are magistrates that you exact nothing neither impose any taxations on the Priests Leuites sacred singing men porters or holy officers But thou Esdras according to the wisedome giuen thee from aboue shalt appoint Iudges who shall in Syria and Phoenicia execute iustice vnto the people according to the science of the law Teach thou likewise freely all such as are ignorant so that whosoeuer violateth either Gods or the kings law he may be fined or els condemned to death as not sinning thorow ignorance but of contumacie Farewell When Esdras had receiued this letter he was wonderfully contented and began to adore God confessing openly that it was he who was the author of that fauour he had receiued at the kings hands for which cause he said that the onely thankesgiuing appertained to him And after he had read this letter vnto the Iewes that were at that time residentin Babylon he kept the originall but sent the copy to all those of his nation being in the countrey of the Medes who vnderstanding of the kings affection towards God and his fauour towards Esdras were very ioyful and diuers amongst them tooke their goods and came vnto Babylon desiring to returne to Ierusalem but all the rest of the Israelites would not abandon or leaue their quiet dwelling there For which cause it came to passe that two tribes were vnder the obedience of the Romans in Asia and Europe but the ten tribes were on the other side of Euphrates euen vntill this day being many infinites of thousands whose number may not be comprehended With Esdras there departed a great number of Priests Leuites porters singing men and seruants of the temple Now after that he had assembled those of the captiuitie that inhabited on this side Euphrates and soiourned there three daies he commanded them to solemnize a fast and to pray vnto God for his preseruation and that no euill might happen vnto him and that neither their enemies nor any other might doe them any violence For Esdras had foretold the king that God would be their protector and that therefore he required no conuoy of horsemen at his hand for his securitie After that they had recommended themselues vnto God they set forward on their way the twelfth day of the first moneth of the seuenth yeere of the raigne of Zerxes and arriued in Ierusalem in the fift moneth of the same yeere Whereupon he incontinently presented vnto the treasurers who were of the race of the Priests the siluer that was consecrated namely six hundreth and fiftie talents and siluer vessell a hundreth talents of vessell of golde twenty talents of brasen vessell more precious then gold waying twelue talents These were the presents of the king and his friends and of the Israelites that dwelt in Babylon When Esdras had deliuered these abouenamed presents vnto the hands of the priests he offered burnt offrings vnto God according to the law namely twelue bulles for the publike conseruation of the people 72. rammes and lambes twelue goates for the expiation of sinne And after them he deliuered the kings letters to his princes and gouernors in Coelosyria and Phoenicia who being constrained to execute that which was enioyned them by the king honoured the nation of the Iewes and supplied them euerie waies in their necessities This counsaile had Esdras himselfe giuen of their departure But in my opinion God hauing regard of his wisedome and integritie did happely aduance his deliberation Not long after this there came certaine men vnto him complaining that some of the people Priests and Leuites had transgressed against the pollicie and broken the lawes of the countrey for that they had espoused certaine strange women and confounded the race of the Priests requiring him that he would haue an inward regard to Gods ordinances for feare least he conceiuing a generall hatred against them all should send them anew some grieuous calamities For which cause Esdras deuoured with sorrowe incontinently rent his clothes and tore his haire and pulled his beard and cast himselfe vpon the ground because the principals amongst the people had part in that offence And for that he feared least if he should commaund them to forsake their wiues and those children they had begotten by them he should not be obeyed he persisted in griefe and lay continually couched vpon the ground Whereupon all those resorted vnto him who were not guiltie and wept and lamented with him for that which had hapned Whereupon Esdras raising himselfe from the earth and lifting vp his hands to heauen said that he was ashamed to looke thereupon because the offences of the people were so hainous who had forgotten the inconuenients that had befallen their forefathers for their impieties beseeching God that he would reserue some remainder and seede of the aduersitie and captiuitie which at that time hapned vnto thē that he would once more establish thē again in Ierusalem their natiue countrey that he would take compassion of them and grant them pardon for those sins which at that present were cōmitted by them for which though they deserued death yet hoped they in the mercies of God for their deliuerance Whilest thus both he and those that came vnto him lamented round about him with their wiues and children a certaine man called Achonius one of the principall men of Ierusalem repaired vnto him and said that they had sinned because they had espoused straunge women and perswaded Esdras to adiure them all to banish both them and the children begotten by them wishing that they who obeied not the law might be punished Esdras perswaded by these words made all the Princes of the Priests Leuites and tribes of Israel sweare that they would dismisse their wiues and children according to the counsaile of Achonius And as soone as he had receiued their othes he departed from the temple vnto Iohns house the sonne of Eliasib and there spent he all the day without tasting any meat by reason of the griefe which so inwardly he had conceiued Whenas therefore it was published by edict that all they that were returned from the captiuitie should repaire within two or three daies to Ierusalem vnder the penalty
euery one of the guests to drinke according to his discretion He sent also thorow out all the countrey commanding a cessation from all labour and that euery one should make holiday for many daies in honour of his roialty The Queene Vasthi also made a banquet vnto her women in the royall pallace Now whereas the king was desirous to shew the maiestie of his queen to those he had inuited he sent vnto her commanding her to resort vnto the banquet in more roiall manner then the rest of her attendants but she too curiously tied to the obseruation of the law of the Persians which forbiddeth women to be seene by strangers went not vnto the King and notwithstanding he sent his Eunuches diuers times vnto her yet persisted she in her refusall to come vnto him Whereupon the king mooued with displeasure gaue ouer his banquet arising therefro he called vnto him his seuen counsellers to whom according to the vse of the Persians it belonged to expound the lawes and accused his wife telling them how grieuously he had been wronged by her for that being sent for by him diuers times to accompany him at his banquet she had euerie way refused to obey him He therefore commanded them to declare their opinion what punishment appertained to her One amongst them called Muchaeus answered that the iniurie was not onely offered vnto him but to all the Persians who being after that manner despised by their wiues were like to passe their liues ignominiously for that no one of them would acknowledge duetie towards their husbands taking their example from the Queens disobedience which she shewed towards him who was the gouernour ouer all Whereupon he concluded that she that had thus dishonored him should be grieuously punished which done he thought it meete that this ordinance of the kings might be published thoroâ—… all nations that Queene Vasthi should be separated from his bed and another woman chosen in her place But the king who vehemently loued her and could hardly endure to be separated from her knowing that he could not keepe her contrarie to law was wholy deuoured in sorrow for that he might not be master of that which he desired Which when his familiars perceiued they counselled him to forget the memory loue of a woman so vnprofitable to send and seeke out thorow al his countries for the fairest woman amongst them whom he might choose and take to wife that surpassed all others in beauty for that by the interuiew company of an other woman the great affection which he bare vnto Vasthi might be extinguished The king allowing and ratifying this counsaile of theirs sent out certaine messengers and deputies commanding them to bring vnto his presence the fairest virgins that were to be found in his kingdome when as therefore they had assembled a great number of them they found in Babylon a yoong orphelin without either father or mother who was brought vp vnder her vncle whose name was Mardocheus of the tribe of Beniamin and one of the greatest men amongst the Iewes It came to passe that this Esther for such was her name was iudged to be the fairest amongst the rest who for her amiable countenance made all men stand at gaze to behold her She therefore was deliuered in charge vnto one of the Eunuches who carefully attended her with all the diligence that was possible decking her with odors and precious perfumes according to the custome of noble women and after this manner were foure hundreth virgins entertained for the space of six moneths Now when he that was put in trust with this commission thought these virgins to be sufficiently prepared and that they deserued to approch the princes bed he sent euery day one vnto the king to keepe him company who after some embraces sent her presently backe againe vnto the Eunuch But when as Esther came vnto his presence he setled his affection on her more then on all the rest and being surprised with hir loue he tooke her for his lawfull wife and the nuptials were solemnlie celebrated in the seuenth yeere of his raigne and in the twelfth moneth called by vs Adar and generally Februarie and he sent posts thorow all his kingdomes to proclaime a feast in honour of his marriage he himselfe also feasted the Persians and Medes and the Princes of the nations for a whole moneths space for the same cause At such time as Esther entred into the royall pallace he set a diademe vpon her head and so liued with her that he neuer questioned with her either of her birth or nation Her vnele also came from Babylon to Susa the chiefe citie of Persia where euery day he walked before the pallace gate enquiring how Esther did for that he loued her as deerely as if she had been his owne naturall daughter Now the king had made a law that no man should approch his presence except he were called during the time that he was in his throne round about his seat there stood certaine officers with their axes ready to punish those who being vncalled should attempt to approch the throne The king himselfe sate aloft and holding in his hand a golden scepter whensoeuer he intended to saue the life of any one that approched his throne vncalled he stretched forth the same and touched him therewith who being thus touched by these means auoided the penaltie of death And as touching these things we haue sufficiently spoken in this place Not long after this when as Bagathous and Theodestes two of the kings Eunuches had conspired against him Barnabazus who was of the Hebrew nation and one of their seruants disclosing their treason discouered it to the Queenes vncle Mardocheus who by her meanes made the king priuy to their conspiracie Who sore troubled herewith found out the truth by examination and after he had commanded them to be executed on the gibbet he for that time gaue no recompence to Mardocheus for the safegard of his life he onely commanded his name to be registred and chronicled in his commentaries commanding that he should attend in the pallace and be esteemed for one of the kings most inward friends Now as often as Aman the sonne of Amadath an Amalechite came vnto the pallace to visite the king all those that were either Persians or trangers according to the kings especiall direction did him honour But Mardocheus shewed him no honour both by reason of that vpright iudgement that was in him as also for that the lawes of the Iewes fâ—… bade the same Which when Aman had obserued he demaunded whence he was and vnderstanding that he was a Iew he was much displeased saying in himselfe that the Persians who were of freer condition cast themselues prostrate before him and he that was but a slaue disdained to do the like Intending therfore to reuenge himselfe on Mardocheus he thought it not sufficient to procure his punishment at the kings hands but resolued wholy
to exterminate his race for he was by nature a capitall enemy of the Iewes by reason that the Amalechites from whom he challenged his descent had been wholy ruinated by them For which cause he addressed himselfe vnto the king and accused them saying that there was a certaine cursed nation spred thorow his whole kingdome insociable and abhorring the customes of other men who vsed diuers lawes and ceremonies hatefull both for their manners and studies to all the rest of his subiects and all mortall men This nation saith he if thou wilt doe a gratious and acceptable fauour vnto thy people thou shalt vtterly extinguish and leaue neither captiue nor slaue aliue amongst them And least your maiesties tribute should be any waies impaired by these meanes I promise you of mine owne reuenewes forne thousand talents of siluer desiring rather willingly to forbeare so much money then that your kingdome should be vnpurged of such a cursed race of men When Aman had made this his request the king answered that he forgaue him the money and that he permitted him to deale with that nation as best him liked When Aman had obtained this his desire he presently sent an edict thorow all nations in the kings name and to this effect The great king Artaxerxes vnto his gouernours of a hundreth and seuen and twenty prouinces extending from India as farre as Aethiopia Health Hauing obtained the Empire ouer so many nations and extended my dominion ouer the world according to mine owne pleasure without being constrained to offend any of my subiects by vsing our power more proudly and importunately then becommeth vs but shewing our selues fauourable and mercifull in prouiding for their peace and plentifull estate we haue searched out the meanes thereof to the intent that we might perceiue the fruit Being therefore admonished by my friend Aman who for his wisedome and iustice is more honoured then all others by me and for his approued fidelitie hath the second place in authoritie next mee that there is a certaine race of men intermedled among you enemies to all humanitie vsing none but their owne lawes and such as are different from others disobedient to their kings and of depraued manners and customes that neither allow our monarchie nor further our affaires I will and command that they being made knowne by Aman a man whom we hold as deere as our father be slaine with their wiues and children so as you spare none of them attributing more vnto your owne mercie then our edict and this commaund we to be done the fourteenth day of the twelfth moneth of this present yeere that in one day cutting off all our enemies hereafter it may be lawfull for you to liue in peace and securitie This edict being spred thorow all places of the countrey and published in euerie citie all men addressed themselues against the prefixed day vtterly to exterminate the Iewes and no les diligence was there vsed in Sufan the Metropolitane city Meane while the King and Aman feasted and made good cheere whilest the Citie hung in suspence being troubled with the expectation of the euent of that which should follow But Mardocheus hauing intelligence hereof rent his garments put on sackcloth and cast ashes on his head walking thorow the Citie and crying that their nation had not committed any crime that deserued death and vsing these or such like speeches he came vnto the Kings pallace stood before the gate because it was vnlawfull for him to enter thereinto in that habit The like also did the Iewes that were in the Cities where those edicts had beene published against them weeping lamenting their miseries But when the newes hereof was brought vnto the Queene that Mardocheus stood before the pallace gate in a lamentable estate she was sore troubled sent certain of her seruants vnto him to cōmand him to exchange his attire but they could not perswade him to put off his sackcloth because the inconueniēt for which he had put it on was not ouerpast She therefore called vnto her her Eunuch Acratheus and sent him vnto Mardocheus to know what hatefull accident had befallen him that made him put on this desolate habit and poure forth those lamentable teares notwithstanding she had instantly praied him to disrobe him of the one and dry vp the other Hereupon Mardocheus told the Eunuch of the edict made against the Iewes and sent by the king vnto all his prouinces the offer of the money that Aman likewise had tendered to the king whereby he had bought the vtter ruine of his nation at the kings hands Moreouer he gaue him the copie of that which had beene proclaimed in Susan to be deliuered vnto Esther whom he commaunded to beseech the king and to esteeme it no dishonour to put on an abiect and base garment to saue her nation and to preserue the Iewes from that death whereunto at that time they were exposed for that Aman the next in honour to the king had accused the Iewes and incensed his maiestie against them When Esther vnderstood this she sent againe vnto Mardocheus giuing him to vnderstand that she was not called for by the king and that whosoeuer entred vnto him and was not called should die except the king would warrantize him by stretching out his golden scepter for he vnto whom the king extended that fauour although he were not called vnto him yet suffered he not death but obtained pardon When these things were reported by the Eunuch from Esther vnto Mardocheus he commanded him to tell hir that she ought not so much to tender the particular respect of her life as the liues of her whole nation assuring hir that if at that present she had not care of them their succours should wholy proceed from God by some other meanes then this but she and her fathers house should be destroyed by them whom she had contemned Vpon this reply Esther sent the same messenger backe againe vnto Mardocheus commaunding him to repaire vnto Susan and to call a generall assembly of all the Iewes that remained there willing them for three daies space to fast and abstaine from all kind of meat for her safetie and that both her selfe and her seruants would doe the like promising them that at that time she would present her selfe to the king notwithstanding his contrarie edict and that if she must needs die she would willingly endure it Mardocheus following this direction of hers caused the people to fast and to pray vnto God for her he likewise himselfe besought him that it might please him at that present to haue compassion their desolate and destressed nation as before that time he had oftentimes had care of them and that as he had pardoned them at such time as they had offended so now also at this present he would deliuer them from that perdition which was denounced against them For that they were not in daunger to die infamously for any offence of their
to beseech the King that it might be lawfull for him to put Mardocheus to death Now when the officers had brought the king tydings that Aman was before the pallace they were commanded presently to call him in As soone as he came into the kings presence he said vnto him Knowing that thou art my affectionate and onely friend I prithee giue me thy counsaile how I may condignly honour him according to my greatnesse whom I doe most affectionately loue Aman thinking the aduice he should giue should be giuen for himselfe because he supposed that he only was beloued by the king more then all others counsailed him that which in his opinion was the best in this manner For said he if you intend to inuest the man with glorie who as you say is beloued by you cause him to be mounted vpon a braue horse and let him be apparelled in a royall habit and put a chaine of gold about his necke and let some one of thy chiefest friends march before him and proclaime thorow out the Citie that thus is the man honoured whom the king loueth Aman gaue this counsaile in that he hoped that it should be his owne fortune But the king highly contented with this his aduise turning towards him spake thus vnto him Thou hast a horse a garment and a chaine seeke out therefore the Iewe Mardocheus and giue them him and match thou before him making this publike crie For said he thou art mine inward friend and it is verie decent that the execution of that thing be committed to thy trust which thou hast so faithfully counsailed And this commaund I to be done in this sort because Mardocheus hath been the preseruer of my life Aman hearing these words beyond al expectation was confused in his spirit being wholy discomforted knew not which way to turne him he therefore issued out hauing with him the horse the purple habite and the chaine of gold Meeting therefore with Mardocheus before the pallace who was cloathed in sackcloth he enioyned him to lay his mourning habite aside and to cloath himselfe in purple But he who was wholy ignorant of that which had hapned and supposing that he mocked him said O thou wickedest man amongst men doest thou thus mocke at our afflictions Notwithstanding being afterwards informed that the king had bestowed this honour on him for sauing his life and discouering the trecherie of those Eunuches that would haue slaine him he put vpon him the scarlet habite that the king wore ordinarily and put the chaine about his necke and afterwards mounting his horse he went round about the Citie Aman also walking before him and crying that thus should be dealt and done with him whom the king honoured loued and thought worthy of estimation Now after they had circuited the whole Citie Mardocheus gaue his attendance on the king but Aman came not in presence so much was he ashamed at that which had hapned for which cause he repaired home and told his wife and friends with teares of all that which had hapned who told him that it was no waies possible for him to reuenge himselfe as yet on Mardocheus because God was with him Now whilest they were discoursing and debating this matter togither Esthers Eunuches came to hasten Aman to the banquet and Sabuchadas one of the Eunuches seeing the gibbet erected in Amans lodging whereon he intended to execute Mardocheus demanded of one of the seruants wherefore it was raised vp and vnderstanding that it was for the queenes vncle whom Aman would require at the kings hands to the end he might put him to death for that time he held his peace But when the king being seated with Aman at the banquet required the Queene to declare what she would require that he might grant her she began to lament the danger of hir people saying that she with her whole nation were made a pray to the sword and that for that cause she brake out into that discourse For said she I had not troubled your maiestie neither had I been agrieued if you had commanded that all the Iewes should be sold and led away captiues to extreme miserie for that affliction might haue been borne she therefore praied him to redeeme them from those miseries When as therefore the king demaunded who it was that practised that tyrannic she began publikely to accuse Aman saying that he alone was that wretched and enuious man who had complotted their tragedie Hereupon the king was verie sore troubled and rose from the banquet to depart into the garden then began Aman to pray and beseech Esther to forgiue him his offence for that at that present he was in a dāgerous estate Now whilest he was fallen vpon her bed to beseech her fauour the king entred and grew the more displeased at that he saw and said O thou cursed amongst men darst thou attempt to enforce my wife Aman was wholy confounded with this question so as he had not a word to answere him Hereupon the Eunuch Sabuchadas stepping forth accused him for that he had found him in his lodging erecting a gibbet for Mardocheus assuring the king that one of his houshold seruants had told him it at such time as he was sent to call him to the banquet alleadging moreouer that the gibbet was fiftie cubits hie Which when the king vnderstood he adiudged Aman to no other death but that which he intended against Mardocheus and thereupon presently commanded that he should be hanged vpon the same gibbet vntill he were dead And in this place it behooueth me to admire the maiestie of God in considering what his wisedome and iustice is in that he not onely punished the wickednesse of Aman as he had deserued but also caused him to fall into the same snare which he had prepared for an other man Thus died Aman who had vniustly abused the kings friendshippe as for his goods they were giuen vnto the Queene After this the king called for Mardocheus vnto him for already he had notice that he was his wiues vncle and gaue him the ring which he had giuen vnto Aman the Queene likewise gaue him his goods and required the King to deliuer the nation of the Iewes from that dismay whereinto they were fallen thorow the perill of their liues letting him see those letters which were sent by Aman the Amadathite thorow all his countries assuring him that she could not liue to behold the death of her brethren and the totall ruine of her countrey The king assured her that he had vndertaken nothing that might discomfort her auowing to her that he would not contradict her will wishing her to write her selfe in the kings name all that which she would haue done in the behalfe of the Iewes promising that when she had done the same he would seale it with his owne seale giuing her authoritie to send the same thorow all his realmes to the end that they that read those letters
The next day assembling the Iewes he commanded them to demaund certaine fauours at his hands whereupon the high priest answered that he required the exercises of the ordinances of their forefathers and that euerie seuenth yeere they might be exempted from tributes Which was granted them fully They besought him likewise that by his permission the Iewes that were in the countries of Babylon and Media might liue according to their lawes And he promised them willingly to doe all that which they desired He made proclamation also among the people that if any one of them would beare armes with him in liuing according to the custome of their nation he was ready to receiue them with him and diuers tooke pleasure to serue vnder him in the warres After that Alexander had in this sort demeaned himselfe in Ierusalem he marched with his arm against the neighbouring Cities and wheresoeuer he went he was receiued with great affection But the Samaritanes whose Metropolitane Citie at that time was Sichem scituate neere vnto the mountaine of Garizim in which there dwelt diuers Iewes also that were reuolted from their nation seeing how magnificently Alexander had entertained the Iewes they resolued to demeane themselues like Iewes For such is the nature of Samaritanes as we haue declared heretofore that when the Iewes are in affliction they deny all acquaintance with them wherein they confesse the truth but when they perceiue any beame of good aduenture shining vpon them sodainly they vaunt of their alliance saying they are neere akin and of the race of Ephraim and Manasses the sonnes of Ioseph They came therefore to the kings presence and met him neere vnto Ierusalem with great magnificence and demonstration of singular affection towards him And after that Alexander had entertained them they of Sichem approched neere vnto him being accompanied with those men of war that Sanaballath had sent vnto the king beseeching him that he would visit their Citie and honour their temple with his presence whereupon he promised that at his returne hee would visit them They required him also that hee would acquite them of the tribute of the seuenth yeere because they did not sowe in the same He asked them who they were that made that request They answered him that they were Hebrewes but that they were called Sichemites by the Sidonians He asked them againe if they were Iewes and they said they were not Well said he I haue made this grant vnto the Iewes when as therefore I shall returne if I be more particularly informed I shall doe that which shall be held requisite Thus dismissed he the Sichemites but he commanded Sanaballaths men of warre to follow him into Aegypt promising in that place to impart possessions vnto them by lot which afterwards he did enioyning them to liue in garrison in the Citie of Thebais to make good that countrey After Alexanders death his Empire was deuided amongst his successors the temple builded neere vnto the mount Garizim remained intire And if any one were accused in Ierusalē for eating vnlawful meats or for transgressing the Saboth or for any such like fault he fled vnto the Sichemites saying that he was accused vniustly In that time deceased the hie priest Iaddus and Onias his sonne succeeded him This was the estate of them of Ierusalem at that time THE XII BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 12. booke 1 Ptolomey the sonne of Lagus is made lord of Ierusalem and the rest of Iudaea by a stratageme and leadeth diuers Iewes with him prisoners into Aegypt 2 Ptolomey Philadelphus translateth the lawes of the Iewes into the Greeke tongue and dismissing diuers captiues of that nation he dedicateth many presents in the temple of God 3 In what estimation the Iewes were with the Kings of Asia and how the freedome of those Cities they built was granted them 4 Ioseph the sonne of Tobias driueth away the Iewes imminent calamitie by reason of his friendship with king Ptolomey 5 The frienship and societie betweene the Lacedemonians and Onias the high Priest of the Iewes 6 The Iewes distracted by seditions call Antiochus to their assistance 7 How Antiochus leading his army to Ierusalem and possessing the Citie spoiled the Temple 8 Antiochus forbidding the Iewes to vse the lawes of their forefathers only the sonne of Asmonaeus called Matthias contemned the king and put his captaines to flight 9 Matthias being dead Iudas his sonne succeeded him 10 Appollonius a captaine of Antiochus is ouercome in Iewry and slaine 11 The ouerthrow and death of Lysias and Gorgias sent out against the Iewes 12 How deuiding their armies Simon ouercame the Tyrians and Ptolemaidans and Iudas the Ammonites 13 The death of Antiochus Epiphanes among the Persians 14 Antiochus Eupator ouerthrowing the army of the Iewes besiegeth Iudas in the temple 15 Antiochus giuing ouer his siege plighteth a league of friendship with Iudas 16 Bacchides a captaine belonging to Demetrius being sent with his army against the Iewes returneth backe to the King without the dispatch of his businesse 17 Nicanor elected captaine after Bacchides and sent out against the Iewes is slaine with his whole army 18 Bacchides sent out once more against the Iewes ouercommeth them 19 How Iudas being ouercome in battell is slaine CHAP. I. Ptolomey the sonne of Lagus ouercommeth and surpriseth both Ierusalem and Iudaea by a stratageme and leadeth away diuers of the Iewes prisoners into Aegypt ALexander King of Macedon hauing ouercome the Persians and established the estate of the Iewes according as it hath beene spoken he departed this life Wherupon his dominions and kingdomes fell into diuers mens hands Antigonus was lord of Asia Seleucus of Babylon and the bordering nations Lysimachus had Hellespont Cassander Macedon and Ptolomey the sonne of Lagus held Aegypt Now when as these men were at discord amongst themselues whilest each of them affected the soueraigntie fought the one with the other diuers great and continuall warres grew to head which afflicted many Cities whereby it came to passe that many of the inhabitants thereof died in fight and all Syria likewise vnder Ptolomey the sonne of Lagus who beyond his merit was called Soter that is as much to say as a Sauiour liued in little safetie He it was that seazed Ierusalem by a stratageme and pollicie for he entred the Citie vpon a Saboth day vnder pretext to offer sacrifice and whilest the Iewes suspected nothing but spent the day in idlenesse and quiet he surprised the Citie without resist and ouerpressed the Citizens with hatefull captiuitie Agatharchides the Cnidian who wrote the actes of Alexanders successors witnesseth no lesse reproching vs of superstition as if intending thereby that by that meanes we lost our Citie He writeth to this effect There is a certaine nation which are called Iewes who inhabite a citie which is called Ierusalem both strong and mighty They suffered it to
of Lydia and Phrygia are newly growne to rebellion I haue thought good according to my duty to preuent the same and whilest I consulted with my friends what was to be done it hath been thought fit that two thousand families of the Iewes with all their housholds should be sent thither all which should be drawne out of Mesopotamia and Babylon to plant them in garrisons and places of securitie For I am perswaded of their good affection and zeale towards vs both in respect of their deuotion towards God as also for the testimony which our predecessors haue borne of them namely that they are faithfull and ready to execute that wherein they are imployed And although it be a difficult matter to remooue them yet resolue I my selfe that it shall be done and withall I permit them to liue according to their lawes Now when as they shall arriue in that place thou shalt bestow on euery one of them places to build them houses on with sufficient lands both for tillage and to plant their vineyards in for which they shall pay no tribute for ten yeeres space and during such time as they may gather of their owne for their sustenance they shall be allowed their prouision of corne for them and their seruants Our will is also that they who shall be employed in necessarie affaires be sufficiently prouided of that they neede to the intent that being so bountifully delt withall by vs they may shew themselues the more affectionate in that which concerneth vs. Thou shalt giue order also to the vttermost of thy power that this nation be no waies ouerpressed or interessed by any man Farewell Hitherto haue we sufficiently declared what friendship Antiochus the great bare vnto the Iewes After this Antiochus contracted alliance and friendship with Ptolomey who gaue him his daughter Cleopatra in mariage and assigned him for her dowry Coelesyria Samaria Iudaea and Phoenicia and for that these two kings deuided the tributes betweene them the chiefest in authoritie in euerie prouince redeemed the exaction of their countrey and paid the summe agreed vpon to the kings treasurie At that time the Samaritanes puffed vp with their prosperitie vexed the Iewes spoyling their countrey and leading them away prisoners perforce This hapned vnder the high Priest Onias For after the decease of Eleazar Manasses his vncle obtained the Priesthood and after the death of Manasses Onias the sonne of Simon surnamed the Iust enioyed this dignitie Simon was brother to Eleazar as I haue heretofore declared This Onias was of no great capacitie and withall was very couetous by which meanes he failed to paye the twenty talents of siluer which his predecessors were woont to pay to the kings of Aegypt of that tribute which the people paid vnto him Whereupon Ptolomey Euergetes the father of Philopator was grieuously incensed against him so as he sent an embassadour to Ierusalem to accuse him for that he failed to pay his accustomed tribute threatning him that if hence forward he receiued it not he would deuide his countrey amongst his souldiers and send them to inhabite the same When the Iewes were ascertained of his complaints they were confused and amazed but Onias was no whit mooued thereby because he was wholy giuen ouer to couetousnesse CHAP. IIII. Ioseph the sonne of Tobias preuenteth the imminent calamitie of the Iewes and becommeth Ptolomies friend BVt a certaine man called Ioseph the sonne of Tobias and of Onias sister who was the high Priest being yoong in yeeres but honoured in Ierusalem for his wisedome foresight and iustice hauing certaine notice by his mother of the arriuall of this Embassadour came vnto the Citie for he had been ablent in the village of Phicala where he was borne and sharpely reprooued Onias his vncle on the mothers side for that he did not any waies prouide for the securitie of his Citizens but sought to draw his countrymen into a generall hazard for that he retained in his hands that money which was leuied for the tribute Whereby he told him that he had obtained the gouernment ouer the people and purchased the high priesthood And that if he were so bewitched with money that for the loue of the same he could haue the patience to see his countrie in hazard and behold his Citizens also suffer all that which cruelty could inflict vpon them he counsailed him to repaire vnto the king and to require him to bestow the whole or the halfe of the Tribute vpon him Hereunto Onias answered that he would no more execute the gouernment and that if it were possible for him he was ready to giue ouer the priesthood and that therefore he would not repaire vnto the king because he was not any waies moued with these occurrences Whereupon Ioseph asked him if hee would permit him in the peoples behalfe to go Embassadour vnto Ptolomey Whereunto Onias answered that he gaue him free leaue Vpon this occasion Ioseph went vp into the temple and summoned the people to a generall assembly exhorting them to be no waies troubled and to conceiue no feare thorow the negligence of his vncle Onias requesting them to be confident in heart and estraunged from all sinister suspition promising them that he himselfe would go in Embassage vnto the king and faithfully pleade their cause before him and perswade him that they had committed no insolent neglect or contempt against his maiestie Which when the people vnderstood they gaue Ioseph harty thankes Whereupon he presently came downe from the temple and honourably entertained the Embassadors that came from Ptolomey and hauing presented them with gifts of great price and feasted them magnificently for many daies he sent them backe vnto their Prince assuring them that he himselfe would in person follow them And the rather was he incited to this iourney because the Embassador had perswaded him to repaire into Aegypt vnder such assurance that he would obtaine all his requests at Ptolomeies hands the rather for that he was woon with the yoong mans free spirit and noble entertainment Assoone as the Embassadour returned into Aegypt he certified the king of Onias ingratitude and Iosephs humanitie certifying him that he would come in person to intreat pardon for the people for that offence they had committed against him and the rather for that he was in especiall authoritie among the people and so farre vsurped he vpon Iosephs praises that both the king and the Queene Cleopatra had a good opinion of him notwithstanding he was as yet absent But Ioseph sent vnto Samaria vnto his friends and borrowed money making his preparation for his voiage Hauing therefore furnished himselfe with apparell vessels and horses with the expence of almost twenty thousand drachmes he arriued in Alexandria At that very time it chanced that the Princes and gouernours of Phoenicia and Syria repaired thither to buy their tributes for the king was accustomed euery yeere to sell them to the men of most respect in euery Citie
with their circumcised children whom according to the Kings commaund they hung about the neckes of their parents who were crucified And if in any place they found any sacred scripture they defaced burnt it and they with whom it was found were put to a most cruell death The Samaritanes seeing this affliction of the Iewes claimed them no more for their kinsmen and called their temple of Garizim no more the temple of God but as we haue heretofore declared they shewed their own corrupt and vnconstant natures and chalenged their descent from the Medes and Persians as in effect they were for which cause they sent embassadours to Antiochus with letters to this effect To King Antiochus the mightie God the suggestion of the Sidonians that dwell in Sichem Our ancestors enforced by the continuall pestilence that raunged in their countrey and induced by a certaine auncient superstition haue beene accustomed to obserue that day as festiuall which the Iewes call their Sabbath and hauing builded on the mount of Garizim a temple and dedicated it vnto a god who hath no name haue offered vp in the same diuers and solemne sacrifices But since that you haue inflicted punishment on the Iewes according as their wickednes deserueth the commissaries of the King supposing that we were tied to their customes by reason of some alliance betweene vs couple vs with them and charge vs with the same accusations whereas we are borne Sidonians as it appeareth by the rowles of our commonweale We therefore beseech you who are our benefactor and Sauiour to commaund your gouernour Apollonius and your steward Nicanor not to molest vs any more by charging vs with those accusations which appertaine vnto the Iewes who neither are tied vnto vs by alliance neither accord with vs in maners but that our temple which hath not hitherto born the name or title of any God may now be called the temple of Iupiter of Greece by which meanes we shall be deliuered from all trouble and being at libertie to intend our affaires we may the easier and more willingly pay you greater tributes To this request of the Samaritanes the King answered sending them backe their owne letter King Antiochus to Nicanor Health The Sidonians of Sichem haue sent vs this suggestion which wee annexe vnto these our letters Since therefore they who were sent vnto vs to this intent haue sufficiently approoued both to vs and our counsel of friends that they are vtterly strangers vnto those crimes wherewith the Iewes are charged and are desirous to liue according to the lawes of the Graecians we absolue them in as much as concerneth this cause and their temple which hereafter shall be called by the name of Iupiter of Greece we haue written to the like effect also to Apollonius our Magistrate Giuen the fortie and sixe yeere and the eleuenth of the Moneth Hecatombaeon which signifieth August CHAP. VIII Antiochus forbiddeth the Iewes to vse their lawes onely Matthias the sonne of Asmonaeas contradicteth him and obtaineth the victory against Antiochus captaines AT that same time there dwelt a certaine man in Modin a village of Iury whose name was Matthias who was the sonne of Iohn and who was the sonne of Simon the sonne of Asmonaeus a Priest of the ranke of Ioarib borne in Ierusalem This Matthias had fiue sons Iohn called Gaddis Simon called Matthes Iudas called Machabaeus Eleazar named Auran and Ionathas called Apphus This Matthias oftentimes complained vnto his sonnes as touching the miserable estate of their commonweale the sacke of their Citie the sacriledge of the temple and the miseries of the people telling them that it were better for them to die for the law then to liue in ignominie When as therefore the commissaries deputed by the King came vnto the Borough of Modim to constraine the Iewes to performe that which was enioyned them and to commaund them to sacrifice according to the ordinance requiring Matthias who surpassed the rest in honour and other qualities but in especiall in excellency of descent and nobilitie to begin first of all to offer sacrifice to the end that the rest might follow him and be induced by his example promising him that in so doing the King would honour him greatly Matthias answered thereunto that he would in no sort commit that idolatrie assuring them that notwithstanding al other nations of the world either in respect of loue or for feare of iustice should obey the edicts of Antiochus yet that neither he nor any of his children could or would be induced to forsake their fathers religion Now as soone as he had returned this answere and held his peace a certaine Iew stepped forth to offer sacrifice according to Antiochus ordinance wherewith Matthias was in such sort displeased that both he and his sonnes fell vpon him and with their swords hewed him to peeces He slew Apelles the kings captaine likewise with certaine other soldiers who would haue withstood him And not content herewith he ouerthrew the Altar crying out with a loud voice If said he any one be affectioned to the lawes of his fathers and the seruice of God let him follow me and this said he sodainly retired himselfe into the desart with his sons leauing the borough vtterly dispossessed The rest doing the like retired themselues into the desart with their wiues and children and made their habitation in certaine caues The Kings captains hauing intelligence hereof gathered those forces that were at that time in the Cittadel of Ierusalem and pursued the Iewes into the desart And hauing ouertaken them they laboured first of all to make them submit themselues and to make choice of that which stood with their profit rather then to indaunger themselues and inforce them to chastice their disobedience with bloud in warre But the Iewes respected them not a whit but contradicted them in their demands who had alreadie concluded and resolued among themselues rather to die then commit such an impietie For which cause they who omitted no oportunitie assailed the Iewes on a Sabbath day and burned them within their caues who neither resisted their enemies nor so much as closed vp the mouths of their caues And therefore abstained they from all defence by reason of the day resoluing with themselues in no sort to violate the Sabbath day for we are commaunded to cease from all labour on that day There were therefore about some thousand stifled in their caues accounting both men women and children Yet notwithstanding diuers escaped who ioyned themselues with Matthias whom they appointed likewise for their captaine who declared vnto them that they ought to fight on the Sabbath daie assuring them that if they did it not but scrupulously obserued the law they themselues should be enemies vnto themselues if perhaps the enemy should assaile them that day and should not stand vpon their garde for by that meanes they should be destroyed without resist By these words he perswaded them to doe as he
spoiled the temple of Diana in the countrey of Persia. For since he had onely intended to commit sacriledge but had not effected it he merited not to suffer punishment for the same And if it seemeth good vnto Polybius that Antiochus was punished by death for this occasion it is farre more likely to be true that his death befell him for the sacriledge he had committed in the temple of Ierusalem But our purpose is not to argue against those that maintaine that Polybius reasons are of greater truth and consequence then ours are CHAP. XIIII Antiochus Eupator discomfiteth the Iewes and besiegeth Iudas and shutteth him vp in the temple BEfore Antiochus gaue vp the ghost he called for Philip one of his chiefest familiars and made him gouernor of his kingdome And hauing deliuered the diademe into his hands his royall robe and his ring with other iewels he charged him to beare and deliuer them to his sonne Antiochus requiring him earnestly to haue care of his bringing vp and to maintaine the kingdome in his behalfe vntill he comming vnto the yeeres of discretion were fit to manage it himselfe This done Antiochus died the hundreth fortie and ninth yeâ—…re of the kingdome of Syria After that Lysias had certified the people of the kings death he pâ—…oclaimed his sonne Antiochus whom at that time he had in his protection king surnaming him Eupator according to the instructions that were giuen him About that time the garrisons and Apostataes that were in the fortresse in Ierusalem did much mischiefe vnto the Iewes For setting vpon those at vnawares who ascended the temple to worship and offer their sacrifice they slew them for the fortresse commanded the temple For these causes Iudas resolued to cutte off these garrisons and to that intent he assembled all the people and besieged it This enterprise was vndertooke in the yeere one hundreth and fiftie after that Seleucus had vsurped the gouernment of those countries Hauing therefore made him certaine engins and raised diuers rammes he industriously continued the siege But diuers of those Apostataes that were reuolted and of that garrison issued out by night and assembling togither such men as were of so malicious nature as themselues they came vnto king Antiochus requiring him that he would not suffer them to be abused in such sort by those of our nation nor so carelesly neglected by them considering their disgrace grew by his fathers seruice for whose sake they had forsaken their own religion followed his lawes and ordinances Furthermore they inferred that the fortresse was in danger to be surprised by Iudas and his associates except some present succours were sent vnto them When Antiochus the yonger had notice hereof he was sore displeased and sent for his captaines and friends commanding them to hire strange souldiers and all those in his kingdome who were of yeeres to beare armes so that he gathered in short time an army of one hundreth thousand footmen and twentie thousand horsemen and thirtie two Elephants and with this Equipage departed he out of Antioch committing his army to Lysias direction As soone as he came into Idumaea he went vp vnto Bethsura a walled Citie and very difficult to be surprised which he besieged and begirt but with such disaduantage that the Bethsurians resisting him valiantly and sallying out vpon him burned those preparations and engines which he had furnished for the batterie of the town When as therefore a long time was consumed about this siege Iudas hauing intelligence of the kings approch raised his campe from before the Castle of Ierusalem and marching forward to meet the enemy he shut his army in a certaine streight in a place called Beth-zacharia some seuentie stounds distant from the enemies campe The king hauing tidings hereof raised his siege from Bethsura marched towards the streight wherein Iudas army was inclosed and about the morning he set his souldiers in battel aray He first of all caused his Elephants to march one after another thorow the streight for that it was impossible for them to march in square About euery Elephant were one thousand footmen and fiue hundreth horsemen These Elephants bare high towers on their backs garnished with archers Touching the rest of his forces he caused them to ascend two seuerall waies by the mountaines vnder the conduct of his most intirest friends commanding them with a huge shout and crie to charge their enemies to discouer their golden and brazen bucklers to the end the reflection thereof might dazel the eies of the Iewes whereupon the mountaines resounded with fearfull cries of Antiochus army Yet was not Iudas any waies amated hereat For entertaining the charge with a noble courage he slew almost six hundreth of the forlorne hope But Eleazar surnamed Auranes Iudas brother seeing a huge Elephant among the rest armed with royal trappings supposing that the king was vpon the same he ran against him with a mightie courage and after he had slaine diuers of them that enuironed the Elephant and scattered the rest he thrust his sword into the belly of the beast and wounded him to the death so that the Elephant falling vpon Eleazar slew him with the waight thereof and thus nobly died this worthy man ouerthrowing a great number of his enemies thorow his infinite valour Iudas seeing his enemies forces so great in number retired backe to Ierusalem to continue his siege and Antiochus sent part of his army to Bethsura to surprise the same and with the rest he himselfe marched onward to Ierusalem The Bethsurites being affraid of this mighty army of the king and seeing their necessarie prouisions failed them yeelded vp their Citie after they had taken the kings oth that they should receiue no outrage When as therefore Antiochus became Lord of this Citie he offered them no iniurie onely he thrust them out disarmed from the Citie and planted a garrison therein Hee spent a long time also in besieging the temple of Ierusalem for that they who kept the same defended it valiantly For against euerie engine the king builded raised vp against them they erected a counter-engine Their only want was victuals because their old prouision was consumed the ground had not bin manured that yeere because it was the seuenth in which according to the law the countrey soyle should not be stirred which was the cause that diuers of those that were besieged fled secretly for want of victuals insomuch that very fewe remained for the defence of the temple In this estate were they who were besieged in the temple When as King Antiochus and Lysias the generall had receiued tidings that Philip comming out of Persia intended to make himselfe master and lord of the countrey they concluded to giue ouer the siege for that time and to march forward against Philip without giuing any inckling thereof either to his souldiers or captaines He onely commanded that Lysias should communicate the same with the captaines
without discouering of his deliberation or enterprise against Philip and to tel them that for these reasons he leuied the siege first for the length thereof next for the strength of the place lastly for want of victuals and for many affaires that required some circumspect and carefull foresight in his kingdome Furthermore for that he thought it most expedient to capitulate with the besieged and contract friendship with all the nation of the Iewes promising and permitting them the exercise of their religion because they onely rebelled for that they were depriued of the same and for that he was assured that hauing the grant thereof they would each of them returne into their owne countries When Lysias had expressed and published these reasons all the army and the captaines approoued the same CHAP. XV. Antiochus giueth ouer his siege from before the Citie and entreth a league and alliance with Iudas WHereupon Antiochus sent a herauld to Iudas and those that were besieged with him promising them peace with permission to liue according to their religion Which conditions they willingly entertained and hauing taken an oath and assurance from the king they surrendred vp the temple Wherupon Antiochus entred the same and seeing it to be a place so well fortified he contrarie to his oath commanded his army to leuell the wall that enuironed the same with the ground which done he returned to Antioch leading away with him the high Priest Onias who was called Menelaus For Lysias had counselled the king to murther Menelaus if he intended that the Iewes should line in peace without any commotion and the rather because it was he onely who was the author of all these euils by reason of the counsaile he had giuen to Antiochus his father to inforce the Iewes to forsake their religion The King for that cause sent Menelaus vnto Beroea a Citie of Syria where he commanded him to be put to death after he had enioyed the high priesthood for the terme of ten yeeres He was a wicked and impious man who for his onely ambitious desire of authoritie had inforced our nation to reuolt from their religion As soone therefore as Menelaus was dead Alcimus was made high priest who was called Iacimus Now when Antiochus found that Philip had already conquered a great part of his countrey he fought with him and taking him prisoner slew him But Onias the sonne of the high priest whom as we haue heretofore declared was left an Orphan in his infancie seeing that the king had slaine his vncle Menelaus and giuen the priesthood to Alcimus who was not of the race of the priests and had transferred this honour into another family at the perswasion of Lysias he fled vnto Ptolomey King of Aegypt where being honourably entertained by the King and his Queene Cleopatra he obtained a place in the Heliopolitane signiorie where he builded a temple like vnto that which was at Ierusalem whereof wee shall hereafter haue more fit opportunitie to speake CHAP. XVI Bacchides generall of Demetrius army commeth to make warre against the Iewes and returneth backe againe vnto the king without performance of any thing AT that time Demetrius Seleucus sonne fled to Rome and tooke possession of Tripolis in Syria and after he had set the diademe vpon his head and had leuied and hired certaine souldiers he inuaded the kingdome where he was receiued to the generall content of all men who submitting themselues vnto him laid hold on the king Antiochus and Lysias and brought them aliue vnto him but he incontinently commanded that they should be put to death after that Antiochus had raigned two yeeres as we haue already declared in an other place To this new elected king diuers Iewes banished for their impietie and with them the high priest Alcimus made their resort who in general accused their nation and as principals Iudas and his brethren obiecting against them that they had slaine his friends and all such as were on his side and that among all those that were in the kingdome and expected his comming some of them were slaine and that the rest being driuen from their natiue countrey were banished into other places requiring him that he would send some one of his friends to take knowledge of the outrages committed by Iudas and his brethren Demetrius was much moued by these reports of theirs and for that cause sent Bacchides who was in times past much esteemed by Antiochus Epiphanes for his valour and to whose gouernment at that time all Mesopotamia was committed To whom he gaue an army ioyning with him the high priest Alcimus with commission to kill Iudas and his confederates Bacchides departing from Antioch with his army came into Iudaea and sent a certaine herauld to Iudas and his brethren to intreat with him vpon certaine articles of peace because his intent was to surprise them by some subtiltie and treacherie But Iudas smelling his drift gaue little trust vnto him for in that he came thither with so great an army he easily coniectured that he intended no peace but to make warre notwithstanding some of the people gaue eare vnto the peaceable proclamation of Bacchides and supposing that there was no sinister intent in Alcimus who was their countriman they submitted themselues vnder his gouernment Hauing therefore receiued an oth from them both that neither they nor any of their followers should any waies be endomaged by them they committed themselues to their protection But Bacchides setting light by his oth slue three score of them and by this breach of his faith towards these he caused others who intended to submit themselues to forsake and fly his gouernment As soone as therefore he had remooued his army from Ierusalem he came vnto the village of Bethzeth and there apprehending many of those which had fled and some others among the people he slue them all commaunding all those that liued in the countrey to obey Alcimus to whom he left in that place for the gard of his person a part of his army and that done he returned vnto Antioch to King Demetrius In the meane while Alcimus intending to assure his estate and gouernment and supposing that it should be so much the better confirmed if so be he could obtaine the good wil of the people he vsed all kind of plausible familiar speech vnto thē and deuising with euery man pleasantly graciously he adioyned in short time great forces to those which he had before amongst whom there were many fugitiues and vngodly men by whose helpe and assistance he marched thorow the countrey killing all those whom he found to be of Iudas faction Iudas perceiuing that Alcimus hauing gathered great forces had alreadie slaine diuers of the most vprightest men and such as feared God in all his nation he addressed himselfe also to ouerrunne the countrey and slue as many of Alcimus partakers as he could meet with Who perceiuing in himself that he was
when by no pollicy nor prowes of theirs they were able to apprehēd him for that Ionathā hauing notice of their ambushes stood vpō his gard Bacchides the Macedonian was displeased with the Apostataes or fugitiues obiecting against thē that they had deceiued both the king and him and laying hold on fiftie of the principallest of them he put them to death But Ionathan and his brother with those of their company retired themselues vnto Bethalaga a certaine village in the desart for feare of Bacchides in which place he builded towers and walles to keepe his garrison in more securitie Bacchides vnderstanding hereof tooke the army that he had with him and those Iewes that were his confederates and marched forward against Ionathan where battering those fortifications that were made by him he besieged him for many daies But Ionathan for all his busie siege and violence was not awhit terrified but resisted him valiantly leauing his brother Simon in the citie to make head against Bacchides he secretly stole out and gathered a great number of soldiers that fauoured his proceedings and in the night time with valiant courage brake into Bacchides camp and after he had there slaine a number of them he gaue his brother Simon notice of his comming who assoone as he heard the noise in the enemies campe hastily issued forth with his soldiers and burnt all the Macedonians engines and for his part also made a great slaughter of them Bacchides seeing that he was circumuented by his enemies and that both before and behind he was pressed by them being astonished at this so hard sodaine and vnexpected encounter was almost out of his wits so sore was he confused at the issue of his siege that fell out altogither contrary to his expectation for which cause he discharged all his choler vpon those Apostataes supposing he was abused by them who had sent vnto the king and had caused him to be sent thither and full gladly would he haue returned home could he but make an end of the siege without his dishonour CHAP. II. Ionathan constraineth Bacchides to make peace with the Iewes and to depart out of the countrey BVt Ionathan knowing his deliberation sent an Embassadour vnto him to conclude a peace and amitie betwixt them with this condition that they should each of them deliuer vp those prisoners that were taken on either side Bacchides supposing that his request would be to his great honour and that a fit occasion was now offered him whereupon he might raise his siege without any disgrace promised Ionathan his friendship so that both of them swore from that time forward neuer to make warre the one against the other and each of them both receiued and restored their prisoners Thus returned Bacchides into Antioch vnto his King and after that retreat he neuer made warre againe vpon Iudaea But Ionathan hauing obtained this securitie went and dwelt in the towne of Machmas where administring and gouerning the commonweale he executed such seuere iustice on those that were reuolted from the religion of their countrey that he clensed the nation of all such kind of men CHAP. III. Alexander the sonne of Antiochus Epiphanes maketh warre against Demetrius IN the hundreth and sixtie yeare Alexander the sonne of Antiochus the Famous came into Syria and seazed the Citie of Ptolemais by the treason of those soldiers that were therein who were ill affected towards Demetrius by reason of his arrogancy which was such that he granted no man accesse vnto him for being locked vp in a royall fort defenced with foure towers which himselfe had builded neere vnto Antioch he suffered no man to approch his presence but was carelesse and wholy negligent in his affaires liuing in pleasure and idlenes whereby he grew into great hatred amongst his subiects as we haue alreadie declared in another place Now when Demetrius knew that Alexander had seazed Ptolemais he gathered all his forces and marched forth against him CHAP. IIII. Demetrius couenanteth a peace with Ionathan MOreouer he sent Embassadors vnto Ionathan that might confirme an alliance and ratifie a friendship betwixt them for he determined with himselfe to preuent Alexander for feare least he capitulating with him first of all should obtaine his assistance And this did he especially for the feare he had of Ionathan least remembring those iniuries he had before time receiued at his hands he should oppose himselfe against him He therefore sent vnto him requiring him to assemble his forces to make preparation for the warre cōmanding likewise that those Iewes should be deliuered into his possession whom Bacchides had shut vp for hostages in the fortresse of Ierusalem After that Demetrius had demeaned himselfe in this sort Ionathan resorted to Ierusalem and in the presence of all the people and of the garrison that was in the fortresse he red the kings letters and after the reading thereof the cursed and reuolted Iewes that were in the fortresse were sore afraid seeing that the king permitted Ionathan to leuy an army and to receiue the hostages But he receiuing them into his hands restored each of them to their fathers and mothers and by this meanes remained Ionathan in Ierusalem where he made diuers reparations and buildings according as him pleased For he builded the Citie walles of hewen stone to make them more forcible against the assaults of warre Which when they perceiued who were in the garrisons thorow out al Iudaea they forsooke them all and retired backe into Antioch except they that were in the Citie of Bethsura and those in the fortresse of Ierusalem for they consisted for the most part of those Iewes that had abandoned their religion who for that occasion feared to forsake their garrisons CHAP. V. Alexander draweth Ionathan to his partie BVt Alexander knowing what promises Demetrius had made vnto Ionathan and being well assured how valiant he was and how he behaued himselfe against the Macedonians moreouer how he was vexed by Demetrius and his Lieutenant Bacchides Hee told his friends and familiars that it was impossible for him to meete with a better allie at that time then Ionathan who had approoued himselfe a valiant man against his enemies and for particular causes bare hatred against Demetrius from whom he had receiued many iniuries and on whom he had wrought sundry reuenges for which cause if they thought it good to draw him vnto their side against Demetrius the time was veriefit to entertaine and confirme a mutuall peace betweene them which aduise of his being approoued by his fauorites he sent a letter vnto Ionathan to this effect King Alexander to Ionathan his brother Health We haue long sithence vnderstood of your valour and fidelitie which hath caused vs to send our Embassadours vnto you to intreat with you of alliance and amitie betwixt vs and from this day forward we elect and ordain you high Priest of the Iewes receiue you into the number of our chiefest
he especially mooued by a certaine prophecie of Esay who more then six hundreth yeeres before had foretold that a temple should be assuredly builded in Aegypt in honour of the almightie God by a Iew. Being therefore incited by this Oracle he wrote a letter to Ptolomey and Cleopatra to this effect During the time that I was emploied in your warres and by Gods fauourable assistance haue done you many seruices I haue visited Coelesvria and Phoenicia and haue been in the Citie of Leontopolis which is in the territories of Heliopolis I haue also visited diuers other places wherein the Iewes haue temples against all right and honestie which is the cause that they agree not among themselues as also the like hath hapned amongst the Aegyptians thorow the multitude of temples and the great diuersitie of religions And hauing found out a very conuenient place neere a Castle called Bubastis in the Plaine where there is store of all sorts of stuffe for building cattell fit for sacrifice I beseech you that it may be lawfull for me to purifie the temple that is leuelled in that place with the ground and dedicated to no sacred power and that in the place thereof it may be lawfull for me to erect and build a temple in honour of the highest God according to the patterne and the same dimensions of that temple which is in Ierusalem for the preseruation and prosperitie both of you your Queene and children and to the intent that those Iewes that dwell in Aegypt may assemble and serue God therein for that by how much the more there is vnitie and concord among themselues by so much the more may they be disposed to your seruice For to this effect is the prophecie of Esay which saith thus There shall be saith he a temple for our Lord God in Aegypt many other things also hath he foretold as touching this place This is the effect of that which Onias wrote vnto K. Ptolomey And by his answere which he made hereunto a man may easily coniecture what pietie was both in him and Cleopatra his sister and wife For they haue returned the sinne and transgression of the law which through this meanes fell vpon Onias head by this answere that ensueth King Ptolomey and Queene Cleopatra to Onias the high Priest Health We haue perused your letters by which you require vs to giue you licence to clense the temple that is defaced at Leontopolis in the seigniorie of Heliopolis in the place called Bubastis in the plaine We maruell very much that a temple builded in a place so vncleane and full of execrable beasts should be agreeable vnto God but since that you informe vs that the prophet Esay did long time sithence prophecie the same we giue you licence if it may be done according to the law and with this condition that we commit not any sin against God Vpon this answere Onias taking possession of the place builded therein a temple and erected an altar vnto God according to the model of the temple of Ierusalem but farre lesse and Iesse rich Yet thinke I it no waies requisite to declare the dimensions thereof neither the vessels in the same because I describe them particularly in my seuenth booke of the warres and captiuitie of the Iewes neither wanted there some Leuites and priests who being answerable to Onias in deuotion and zeale frequented the diuine seruice in that place and renued the ceremonies But let this suffice for the present as touching this temple But it came to passe that the Iewes of Alexandria and the Samaritanes that brought in the seruice and worship of the temple vpon the mount Garizim vnder Alexander the great fell at oddes and debated their differents before Ptolomey For the Iewes said that the temple in Ierusalem builded according to Moses lawes and ordinances was the lawfull temple but the Samaritanes maintained that that which was builded on mount Garizim was the true temple They therefore besought the king that it would please him to sit in iudgement with the assistance of his friends to heare their allegations in this behalfe and to condemne the party vnto death who should be found faultie in his processe Now the aduocates which pleaded for the Samaritanes were Sabbaeus and Theodosius and Andronicus the sonne of Messalam defended the cause of those of Ierusalem and the other Iewes And both of them swore both by God and by the King that they would bring their prooues according to the law beseeching Ptolomey to adiudge him to death whom he should find to haue falsified his oath The king therefore sate downe with his friends both to heare the cause and determine vpon their differents But the Iewes of Alexandria were sore mooued and displeased against them that had drawne the preheminence of the temple in Ierusalem into question and were highly discontent that a temple so auncient and famous and so esteemed and honoured thorow the whole world should in such sort be dilgraced When as therefore the day of audience was come Sabbaeus and Theodosius suffered Andronicus to declaime first who began to approoue the lawfulnesse holinesse and religion of the temple in Ierusalem out of the law and by the successiue gouernment of the high priests who from father to sonne and from hand to hand had receiued this honour therein alleadging that all the kings of Asia had honoured the maiestie of that place with presents and rich oblations whereas neither in record of men nor course of antiquitie the temple of Garizim hath been in any estimation By these and such like words Andronicus perswaded the king that the temple of Ieruusalem was builded according to the ordinance of Moses inuiting him to adiudge Sabbaeus and Theodosius to death This may suffice as touching the differents of the Iewes of Alexandria and such things as befell them during Ptolomey Philometors time CHAP. VII Alexander after Demetrius death honoureth Ionathan greatly AFter that Demetrius was slaine in fight according as we haue heretofore declared Alexander was king of Syria who wrote to Ptolomey Philometor requiring his daughter in marriage telling him that it was a matter answerable to his dignitie to contract affinitie with him first since he had obtained his fathers empire by the fauour of God and next for that he had ouercome Demetrius Ptolomey yeelding a willing eare to these his demaunds and entertaining them with great pleasure wrote backe that he was very glad that he had recouered his fathers kingdome promising him to giue him his daughter in marriage giuing him to vnderstand that he would meete him at Ptolemais and bring his daughter vnto him to that place and there celebrate the nuptials After he had written these letters Ptolomey made his speedy repaire to Ptolemais and led with him his daughter Cleopatra where meeting with Alexander according to their appointment he deliuered him his daughter with such a dowry of gold and siluer as well beseemed his kingly magnificence Vnto
proofe both of their faith and valour There died also many of Demetrius soldiers But after that Alexander had fled vnto the mountaines diuers Iewes to the number of sixe thousand in commiseration of his desperate estate and thorow the feare they had of Demetrius resorted vnto him which when the conquerer heard he retired himselfe After this the Iewes made warre against Alexander and in diuers losses which they receiued there died a great number of them in diuers combates Finally after he had closed vp the most strongest amongst them in the Citie of Bethom he besieged them and after he had taken the Citie and brought them vnder his subiection he caried them to Ierusalem where he perpetrated an vnspeakable and cruell murther For whilest he banquetted with his concubines in the sight of them all he commaunded eight hundreth of them or thereabout to be crucified and before their eies whilest they yet liued he caused their wiues and childrens throats to be cur All which he did to reuenge himselfe of those wrongs which he had receiued but he exceeded the bounds of humanitie herein notwithstanding they had rebelled against him and reduced him into a most piteous estate and put him in daunger both of his life and kingdom For being not content to assaile and make warre vpon him with their owne forces they drewe straungers also into his countrey against him and finally they ouerpressed him in such sort that he was constrained to yeeld vp into the king of Arabias hands the countries and cities that he had conquered from the Moabites and Galaadites for feare least they should ioyne with the Iewes and make warre against him besides other innumerable iniuries and outrages committed by them against him This notstanding it cannot be excused but that he ouershot himselfe herein so that by reason of this his so enormous cruelty he was called Thracidas that is to say as cruell as a Thracian and this title continued among the Iewes The soldiers of the contrary party who amounted to the number of eight thousand fled by night into strong and sure holds and as long as Alexander liued they were in exile But at the last after he was deliuered of all these troubles he liued in quiet and gouerned his kingdome peaceably all the remnant of his life But Demetrius departing from Iudaea to Beroea besieged his brother Philip with ten thousand footmen and one thousand horse But Straton Lord of Beroea allied to Philip called Zizus Duke of the Arabians and Mithridates Sinaces gouernour of the Parthians vnto his helpe who repairing vnto him with great forces besieged Demetrius in his owne trenches in which they so inclosed him by continuall shooting of dartes and want of water that they constrained him and those that were with him to submit themselues to their mercy When as therefore they had praied the whole countrey and were seazed of Demetrius they sent him prisoner to Mithridates who at that time was King of Parthia And as touching the Antiochians as many of them as were found in the campe were suffered to depart with the safety of their liues and baggage and to returne to Antioch But Mithridates King of Parthia honoured Demetrius by all meanes possible vntill such time as he was surprised with a sicknes whereof he died Incontinently after the battell Philip came into Antioch and hauing obtained the kingdome ruled ouer Syria CHAP. XXIII The explaites of Antiochus Dionysius against Iudaea AFter this Antiochus called Dionysius who was Philips brother came into Damasco to obtaine the soueraigutie therein and there in short space accomplishing his affaires got possession of the crowne When his brother Philip who had an army in a readines to inuade the Arabians had tidings hereof he came to Damasco with great speed and made him sirrender vp the Citie both by the meanes of Milesius whom Antiochus had left gouernour in the Castle as also by the consent of the Citizens themselues But Philip shewed himselfe vngratefull toward Milesius performing nothing of that which he had promised him at such time as he deliuered him the Citie because his intent was that the world should thinke that the feare of his power and not Milesius sauour was the cause of the surprisall of Damasco Which act of his drew him into suspicion with Milesius and was the cause that he lost the Citie againe For departing from thence to exercise himselfe at tile Milesius locke the gates against him and kept the Citie for Antiochus Who hauing intelligence of that which had befallen Philip returned out of Arabia at that verse instant-led his army into Iudaea in which there were eight thousand footmen and eight hundreth horsemen Alexander fearing his approch made a deepe trench from Caparsabe which is called at this day Antipatris as farre as the sea of Ioppe which was the onely streight whereby he might be assailed and made a wal furnished with wooden towers with their courts of guard distant the one from the other an hundreth and fiftie furlongs to keepe backe Antiochus But he fired all these his fortifications and made his army passe into Arabia thorow this streight The king of Arabia retired vpon the first assault but afterwards he presently came into the field with ten thousand horsemen whom Antiochus charged very valiantly and in the onset lost his life yet with victorie whilest he sought to succour a company of his men that were hardly laid to After Antiochus death his army retired to the burrough of Cana where diuers of them died for hunger After him Aretas raigned in Coelesyria who was called vnto that kingdome by those that held Damasco and hated Ptolomey the sonne of Mennaeus Aretas led his army into Iewry and got a victorie against Alexander neere to Adida which done he retired out of Iudaea vpon a coposition made between them Moreouer once more Alexander marched towards the city of Dion and tooke the same And afterwards he led his army against Essa where Zeno had hoorded vp his chiefest riches and before he assailed the fortresse he inuironed the place with three huge walles which he builded round about it and hauing taken it by force he marched to Gaulana and Seleucia which wen he had ouercome he made himselfe master of a valley called the valley of Antiochus with the fortresse of Gamala And obiecting many crimes against Demetrius the lord of those places he dispossessed him of his gouernment Finally after he had made warre for the space of three whole yeeres he returned into his countrey where the Iewes intertained him willingly by reason of the happy exploits which he had atchieued About the same time the Iewes were already possessed of the Cities of Syria Idumaea and Phoenicia of the tower of Straton Apollonia Ioppe Iamnia Azoth Gaza Anthedon Raphia Rhinocura all which were neere vnto the sea and in the firme land on the side of Idumaea as Adora Marissa and all Samaria the
mounts Carmel and Itabyr and herewith Scythopolis Gadara Gaulanitis Seleucia Gabala and of Moab Essebon Medaba Lemba Orona Telithon and Zara Antona of Cilicia and Pella This last Citie was raced by them because the inhabitants would not promise to conuert themselues to the religion of the Iewes with diuers other of the principall Cities of Syria also which were conquered by them After this king Alexander fell sicke by the meanes of his surfeit and drunkennesse and for the space of three yeeres he was trauailed with a quartane ague This notwithstanding he was alwaies in the campe vntill such time as being wearied with trauels he died in the marches of the countrey of the Gerasens at such time as he besieged Ragaba which is a Castle scituate on the other side of Iordan The Queene perceiuing that he was at deaths dore and that there remained neither hope of life nor recouerie she began to weepe and lament and to beate her breasts because both she and her children were likely now to be left desolate and in these words she bemoaned her selfe vnto him To whom wilt thou leaue both me and thy children in the estate wherein we be or why should we suruiue or liue one after another considering that thou assuredly knowest that the hearts of thy people are estranged from vs Hereupon the king comforted her gaue her this counsaile that if she would assure the kingdome both vnto her and her children she should behaue her selfe according to his direction which was first to conceale his death and not to suffer his men of warre to haue notice thereof vntill such time as she had taken this Castle Which done he aduised her to repaire to Ierusalem in pompe and triumph and that being there she should bestow some authoritie vpon the Pharisees who should recount her praises and obtaine her fauour amongst the people For said he these kind of men are in great estimation and credit with the people and can doe much hurt vnto those they hate and further them 〈◊〉 like sort very mightily towards whom they are well affected For the people easily beleeueth them when they vrge ought against any man notwithstanding it be of enuy and that he himselfe also had incurd the displeasure of the people for their sakes in that hee had offended them When as therefore said he thou shalt arriue in Ierusalem send thou for the chiefest amongst them and pray them to come vnto thee and after you haue shewed them my dead body vse the most plausible speech that you can and giue them permission to dispose of my body how they list whether it be their pleasure to interdict and deny me funerall in that they haue receiued many indignities by me or whether in aâ—…ngment of their displeasure they will offer any ignominy to my body and promise you them that you will doe nothing in the administration or gouernment of the kingdome but by their aduise If in this sort you shape both your manners and discourse towards them it will come to passe that I shall be buried by them with great magnificence which otherwise I could not be by any other meanes because they will offer no outrage to my bodie no although you should permit them and besides that you shall raigne in more assurance and quiet After he had giuen his wife these aduertisements he gaue vppe the ghost after hee had raigned seuen and twentie yeeres and liued for tie and nine CHAP. XXIIII After Alexanders death his wife Alexandra gouerneth the kingdome AFter that Alexandra had taken the Castle of Ragaba she conferred with the Pharisees according to her husbands counsaile and committed vnto their discretion not onely that which concerned her husbands obsequies but also the gouernment of the kingdome whereby she not only appeased the displeasure which before time they had conceiued against Alexander but also obtained their good will and amitie They therefore came and declaimed amongst the people making an oration of the acts and gests of Alexander complaining euery where that they had lost a good king and by the inforced praises that they vsed they incited the people to great griefe and lamentation so that they buried him with more magnificence then any king that raigned before him This Alexander left two sons behinde him the one called Hircanus the other Aristobulus and by his testament committed the gouernment of the kingdome to Alexandra his wife For Hircanus was incapable to manage affaires and rather delighted in peace and quiet and Aristobulus who was the younger was both actiue and fit for gouernment The people were well affected towards Alexandra because she had manifestly expressed how greatly she misliked her husbands misgouernment She appointed Hircanus high priest both in regard of his age as also for that by nature he was composed to peace and quiet and committed all things to the disposition of the Pharisees commanding the people to obey and obserue them She also renued and confirmed that which Hircanus had disanulled and the Pharisees according to the customes of their forefathers had introduced so that she bare the name and the Pharisees the authoritie roiall For they restored such as were banished to their estates and deliuered prisoners and in all things they demeaned themselues like great Lords Alexandra also for her part vndertooke the care of the common weale and kept a great number of souldiers in pay and increased her power in such sort that the tyrants round about her feared her and deliuered her hostages and pledges of peace All the countrey was in quiet onely the Pharisees troubled the Queene perswading her to put those to death who had counsailed king Alexander to put those eight hundreth to death of whom we haue forespoken and they themselues afterwards slew one that was called Diogenes and after him diuers others one by one vntil such time as those in authoritie came vnto the royall pallace accompanied with Aristobulus who seemed to be displeased with that which had hapned and who if the occasion were offered made shew that he would not permit his mother to gouern after that manner and told her that which had hapned and in what dangers they had been to expresse their duety and loyaltie which they ought to their deceased master and how for that cause they had been greatly honoured by him requiring her that she would not vtterly frustrate them of their hopes which they expected in lieu of their seruice that now they that had escaped froÌ„ the danger of their forrain enemies were in their houses murthered like beasts by their priuate maligners without any reliefe or succours from any one They furthermore vrged that if their aduersaries would content themselues with those they had slaine they would endure their misfortunes patiently by reason of the sincere affection they bare vnto their lords but if they must needly as yet suffer the like they required that they might haue licence to depart For that they
that the gouernment which she enioyed during her life time was after her death distracted with infinite troubles and calamities wherewith her family was replenished And notwithstanding her regiment after this manner yet during her life time she kept the kingdome in peace And thus died Alexandra THE XIIII BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 14. booke 1 How after the death of Alexandra her youngest sonne Aristobulus made warre against his brother Hircanus for the kingdome who obtaining the victorie compelled Hircanus to flie into a castle in Ierusalem And how after it was agreed and concluded between them that Aristobulus should be king and Hircanus liue as a priuate man without dignitie 2 Of the race of Antipater and how he purchaseth renowme great power and authoritie both to himselfe and his children and of the flight of Hircanus to Aretas king of Arabia 3 Aristobulus being vanquished is pursued as farre as Ierusalem 4 Hircanus and Aristobulus send Embassadours to Scaurus to request his aid and succour 5 Aristobulus and Hircanus present themselues before Pompey to debate their titles touching the kingdome 6 Pompey is seazed of the fortresses by a warlike stratageme 7 They of Ierusalem shut their gates against the Romans 8 Pompey taketh the Temple and lower part of the citie by force 9 Scaurus maketh warre against Aretas and by the perswasion sollicitation of Antipater maketh aleague with him 10 Alexander being ouercome by Gabinius retireth himselfe into a castle where he is shut vp and besieged 11 Aristobulus escaping out of prison flieth from Rome who being taken againe in Iudaea by Gabinius is sent backe prisoner to Rome 12 Crassus warring against the Parthians passeth through Iewrie and spoyleth the Treasurie of the Temple 13 Pompey retireth into Epirus and Scipio commeth into Syria 14 Caesars voyage into Egypt wherein the Iewes do him faithfull seruice 15 Antipaters valiant acts and the amitie betwixt him and Caesar. 16 Caesars letters and the Senates decree as touching the friendship betwixt the Iewes and Romans 17 Antipater committeth the gouernment of Galilee to his sonne Herod and that of Ierusalem to Phasaelus his other sonne and how Sextus Caesar aduāced Herode to great honour and dignitie 18 Cassius afflicteth Iurie and exacteth eight hundreth talents 19 Malichus poisoneth Antipater 20 Herode putteth Malichus to death by Cassius commandement 21 Antigonus the sonne of Aristobulus seeking to recouer his fathers kingdome by the aide of the King of Tyre is discomfited and driuen out of Iudaea by Herod 22 Herod meeting Antonius in Bithynia winneth his fauour with a great summe of money to the intent he should giue no ◅are to his accusers 23 Antonius arriuing in the prouince of Syria establisheth Herode and Phasaelus for Tetrarches 24 The Parthians make warre in Syria to restore Antigonus the sonne of Aristobulus to the kingdome 25 The Parthians take Hircanus and Phasaelus prisoners and lead them away 26 Herode at Rome is declared King of Iury by the Senate 27 Herode returneth from Rome and fighteth against Antigonus 28 Antigonus is discomfited by Sosius and Herode CHAP. I. How after the Contention betweene the two brethren touching the kingdome it was agreed that Aristobulus should be king and Hircanus liue as a priuate man WE haue alreadie intreated in our former Booke both of the actes and death of Queene Alexandra it now remaineth at this present to prosecute and continue the sequell of our History to the end that we neither omit any thing thorow ignorance or burie ought in forgetfulnes For they that make profession to write Histories and to recite such things as are obserued by antiquitie ought not onely studiously to conforme their stile but also to beautifie the same with the ornaments of eloquence to the intent the reader may conuerse in their writings with the more delectation But aboue all things they must haue an especiall care so exactly to set downe the truth that they who know not how these things came to passe may be the more duely and fitly informed When as therefore Hircanus had taken vpon him the high Priesthood in the third yeere of the hundreth seuentie and seuenth Olympiade and in the yeere that Q. Hortensius and Q. Metellus called the Cretensian were consuls at Rome Aristobulus sodainly vndertooke the warre against Hircanus and fought with him neere vnto Iericho where a great number of Hircanus followers submitted themselues of their owne accord to Aristobulus Thorow which accident Hircanus was inforced to fly to the fortresse of the higher citie wherein Alexandra Aristobulus mother had imprisoned both his wife and children as before this it is specified The rest of his faction for feare of his brother who had gotten the victory retired themselues within the enclosure of the temple where they were besieged and taken After this a peace was intreated of betwixt both the brethren and their different was accorded in this manner that Hircanus should passe the remnant of his life without entermedling with affaires of estate but should onely intend his security and peace and Aristobulus should commaund the kingdome This league was ratified betweene them in the temple and confirmed with othes coniunction of hands and embraces in the sight of all the people which being finished Aristobulus retired himselfe into the pallace and Hircanus to Aristobulus lodging to lead a priuate and quiet life CHAP. II. Of the race of Antipater and how he is aduanced to high estate and how Hircanus flieth to Aretas King of Arabia BVt acertaine friend of Hircanus by nation an Idumaean and by name Antipater being wel monied and by nature both factious and industrious and thorow ambition but badly affected toward Aristobulus the rather for that he affected Hircanus faction began to stir much trouble True it is that Nicholas Damascene writeth of this man that he was descended from the noblest amongst those Iewes who returned from out of Babylon into Iury but this he did of set purpose to gratifie Herode Antipaters sonne who by a casualtie became afterwards King of the Iewes as we will expresse hereafter in time and place conuenient This Antipater was at the first called Antipas according to his fathers name who as it is reported was made gouernour of all Idumaea by king Alexander and his wife and afterwards made a league with the Arabians Gazeans and Ascalonites corrupting them and insinuating himselfe into their fauours by diuers great presents bestowed vpon them This young Antipater considering with himselfe what Aristobulus power was and fearing least some mischiefe might be fall him thorow the hatred the young king had conceiued against him he communicated with certaine of the greatest reckoning amongst the lewes and secretly and cunningly incensed them against Aristobulus telling them that they had done amisse both to see and suffer Aristobulus to detaine the kingdome vniustly in his hands and to dispossesse
king and you honourable assistance I could neuer yet remember that euer any man which was called in question to defend his cause before vs hath appeared in this equipage and I suppose that none of you can say that the like hath euer happened but whosoeuer commeth into this place to receiue iudgement he presenteth himselfe with humilitie and feare with a countenance prepared to implore mercie hauing his haire long and his garment blacke but this gallant Herode accused of murther and for this occasion called before vs who could imagine that he should appeare before vs in a purple robe hauing his haires trimmed and besides that a guard of armed men about him with an intent that if we condemne him according to law he may put vs to death without lawe that after he hath violated all right he might escape and saue himselfe But I blame not Herode in this action for that he hath a more inward regard of his particular profit then of the lawe but I accuse both you and the king who haue giuen him such assurance Know therefore that there is a soueraign God that will one day punish both you and the king and him whom you will deliuer by the kings meanes And so generally fell it out as he had said For as soone as Herode had obtained the kingdome he put all those of the councell to death and Hircanus himselfe likewise onely Sameas was exempted for he held him in great estimation because of his wisedome and iustice and because that at such time as the Citie was besieged by Herode and Sosius Sameas perswaded the people to receiue Herode telling them that by reason of their sins and offences they might not escape from him whereof we will speake in place conuenient Hircanus perceiuing that the iudges were inclined to condemn Herode deferred the sentence till the next day and sent secretly vnto Herode counsailing him to flie out of the Citie assuring him that there was no other meanes to saue his life Thus posted he to Damasco as if he fled from the kings presence and presenting himselfe before Sextus Caesar after he had assured his person he resolued with himselfe that if the councell should call him once more to his answere he would not obey them But after his departure the councel were displeased with Hircanus and laboured to perswade him that all these things tended to his destruction which he well perceiued yet knew he not what to doe he was so negligent and void of foresight When Sextus had made Herode gouernour of Coelesyria which estate he sold vnto him for ready mony Hircanus was affraid least Herode should make war against him neither passed there long time before the effect grew answerable to his feare For Herode marched forth against him with a great army supposing himselfe to be much wronged by the assignation he had sent him and in that he was summoned to giue a reason of his actions before the councell But his father Antipater and his brother Phasaelus came forth against him to hinder his approch towards Ierusalem striuing to appease his furie and counsailing him not to attempt any thing by way of action but that contenting himselfe that he had threatned and affrighted Hircanus he should not attempt any further against him who had raised him to that high degree They told him also that it became him not onely to remember that he was cited to answere but that he was absolued also and permitted to depart without danger or any violence Moreouer that he ought to thinke that God gouerneth the ballance of warre and that the issue of battels is vncertaine and for that cause he ought not to expect the victorie if he made warre against the king who was his familiar and from whom hee had receiued farre more kindnesse and no displeasure who though he made some appearance and shadow of seueritie touching the accusation intended against him yet notwithstanding it proceeded not so much from him as from his euill counsellors Herode in some sort pacified by these perswasions obeyed his father supposing that it sufficed him in regard of his future hopes that he had giuen the people so large a testimony of his power This was the estate of the Iewes at that time But Caesar arriuing at Rome prepared himselfe to set saile towards Affricke with an intent to make warre against Scipio and Cato To him Hircanus sent Embassadours beseeching him to confirme the amitie and association that he had with him But now at this present I thinke it very conuenient to declare all the prerogatiues and associations that the Romans and their Emperors haue made with those of our nation to the end that all other people might know that the kings of Asia and Europe haue been well affected towards vs and haue made great account of our valour and fidelitie And although diuers men lewdly affected towards vs beleeue not that which the Macedonians and Persians haue written of vs because the same matters are not extant in all places neither set downe in publike writings but only amongst our selues and some Barbarians yet is it manifest that they cannot contradict the declarations made by the Romans which are manifestly affixed in publike places in Cities as likewise also at this present they are written in the Capitol in brazen pillars Iulius Caesar in like manner in a brazen pillar erected by him hath declared vnto the Iews that inhabited Alexandria that they were free Citizens therin And to the intent that these things may more manifestly appeare I will propose the decrees of the Senate and of Iulius Caesar made in fauour of Hircanus and our nations Caius Iulius Caesar Emperour high Priest Dictator the second Time to the gouernours Senate and people of the Sidonians Health If you are well we are in health both our selues and our army I haue sent you the copy of an inscription registred in fauour of Hircanus Alexanders sonne high priest â—…d prince of the Iewes to the end it may be placed among your publike monuments and my will is that it be engrauen in a table of brasse both in Greek and Latin letters the tenour whereof is this that followeth Because Hircanus Alexanders sonne the Iew both at this present as also heretofore as well in peace as in warre hath expressed his fidelity towards vs and our estate as diuers chieftaines of our armies yeeld testimonie of him and for that in our last Alexandrine warre he seconded vs in the battell with fifteene hundreth men and hauing beene sent by vs to Mithridates hath surmounted all those of his company in valour For these causes my will is that Hircanus Alexanders sonne and his successors be princes of the Iewes and further that they continue alwaies in the high Priesthood according to the ordinance and custome of their countrey that both he and his children be our associates and be enrowled likewise amongst our chiefest
had afterwards endured many paines and miseries Furthermore that his friends were in great daunger and left besieged for which cause hee had sailed by winter and despised all daungers onely to seeke for assistance at his hands on whom depended his hope and last refuge CHAP. XXVI Herode is made king of Iury by the Romane Senate ANtonius hearing all those alterations that had befallen Herode had compassion of his misery bethinking himselfe of the estate and condition of great men who are likewise subiect to no lesse casualties and the rather was he induced to doe him good both in remembrance of the friendship he had with Antipater his father as also by reason of Herodes promises of certaine summes of money if so be he were made king by his meanes as he had beene before time declared Tetrarch But that which most moued him hereunto was the hatred which he bare vnto Antigonus whom he accounted to be a mutinons man and an enemy to the Romans fortune On the other side Caesar was wel inclined to succour him both in regard of those armies which Antipater had brought into Aegyptin his fathers seruice as also because of the good hospitality and kindnes that he had shewed him in all things as in especiall to gratifie Antonius who was well affected towards Herode Whereupon the Senate being assembled Messala and Atratinus brought forth Herode and after they had praised him and recited the benefits which the Romans had receiued by his father and the great affection and good will which he bare to the people of Rome they accused declared Antigonus for the Romanes enemy not onely for his ancient crimes but also for that in contempt of the Romans he had receiued the kingdome from the Parthians Whilest the Senate was sore displeased at the report of these things Antonius arose and declared openly before thē all that in furtherance of the Parthian warre it were not amisse that Herode should be made king which opinion of his was generally allowed and finally ratified The principall demonstration of the loue and affection which Antonius bare vnto Herode was that he not onely obtained him the kingdome beyond all hope for neuer thought he that the Romans would grant that dignity vnto him who were wont to reserue that honour to those of the kings bloud and therefore he intended to haue demaunded it for his wiues brother Alexander and nephew to Aristobulus by the fathers side and to Hircanus by the mother which Alexander Herode afterwards put to death as it shall be declared in place conuenient but also for that within the terme of seuen daies he sent him out of Italy with the vnexpected titles of his felicitie As soone as the Senate weas risen Antonius and Caesar issued forth leading Herode betweene them and being accompanied by the Consuls and other magistrates went vp into the capitol to do sacrifice and to place there this decree the Senate had made as touching this matter The first day of Herodes raigne Antonius feasted him and after this sort was he established king in the hundreth eightie and fourth Olympiade in the yeere wherein C. Domitius Caluinus twice Consul and Caius Asinius Pollio were Consuls Meane while Antigonus besieged those that were in the castle of Massada who were plentifully furnished with all things necessary except it were water for which cause Ioseph Herodes brother that was within and two hundreth of his friends had concluded to flie vnto the Arabians for that they vnderstood that Malchus had repented himselfe of the fault he had committed against Herode But whilest they stoode vpon these termes God powred downe a huge raine on a certaine night that in short time filled their cestemes in such sort as that they had no more necessitie to flie and from that time forward they waxed confident and for that this abundance of water befel them by Gods prouidence they made a sallie vpon their enemies in which they charged Antigonus soldiers after such a maner somtime in open field sometime by couert assault that they slue a great number of them At that time Ventidius a Romane captaine was sent into Syria to driue the Parthians from thence after their departure he arriued in Iury making shew that he would assist Ioseph but in effect all his pretence was to draw money form Antigonus Being therefore encamped neer vnto Ierusalem and hauing drawn sufficient money from Antigonus he retired himselfe with the greater part of his forces and to the intent his deceitfull dealing might not be discouered he left Silo with a company of his soldiers who likewise was honoured by Antigonus for feare least he should be cause of some newe trouble before such time as the Parthians whose comming he expected should yeelde him aide CHAP. XXVII Herode returneth from Rome by sea and fighteth against Antigonus AFter that Herode was come from Italy by sea to Ptolemais and that he had assembled no small number of soldiers both straungers and his owne countrimen he marched forward against Antigonus and passed thorow Galilee Silo and Ventidius also gaue him assistance in this action hauing receiued direction by Gellius from Antonius that they should assist Herode to recouer his countrey But Ventidius was employed in appeasing the troubles that were raised in the cities by the Parthians and as touching Silo he kept in Iudaea hauing beene corrupted by Antigonus But the further that Herode daily marched into the countrey the more and more increased his forces and all Galilee except a very few submitted themselues vnto him Whilest therefore hee marched forward toward Massada being vrged thereunto in that he was to relieue his parents that were besieged therein the citie of Ioppe would not grant him passage for the citizens thereof were his enemies so that it behooued him first of all to ruinate the same to the end he might leaue no retreat or place of rescous for his enemy on his backe if so be he made towards Ierusalem Vpon which occasion Silo laying hold dislodged his army made thitherward whom when the Iewes did pursue Herode sallied out with a small company and put them to flight and saued Silo notwithstanding he fought very coldly and cowardly Afterwards being seazed of Ioppe he hasted onwards to deliuer his friends that were besieged in Massada but part of the inhabitants submitted themselues vnto him for the friendship they had borne vnto his father an other sort of them for the honour that they bare vnto him the rest admitted his goue◅ment in acknowledgement of those benefits they had receiued from them both But the greatest part was thereunto moued by the hope they had conceiued of their new elected king and the confirmation of his gouernment Thus by these meanes was his army mightily increased Whilest thus he marched forward Antigonus seazed those places that were fittest to lay ambushes in or to fight at aduantages by the way
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
present attended him came downe from the tower and humbled himselfe on his knees before Sosius feet who hauing no compassion of the change of that estate wherein he saw him outragiously scorned him calling him Madame Antigona yet left he him not without guard after the manner of a woman but fast bounde for his further assurance But Herode was busied in deuising how he might moderate his associates and strangers after he had had the vpper hand ouer his enemies For the strangers swarmed into the Citie by heapes and not onely into the Temple but also into the Sanctuarie Hee therefore exhorted some and threatned other some and restrained the rest by force of armes and he was more troubled at that present in being a conquerour then if he had been conquered for that those things that were not lawfull to be seene were beheld by prophane men He preuented likewise the spoile of the Citie as much as in him lay beseeching Sosius most instantly to preserue it to the vtmost asking him if the Romans would leaue him king of a desart after they had voided the Citie of men and goods Alleadging furthermore that he esteemed the gouernment of the whole world of no valew in regard of the life of one of his Citizens Sosius answered that it was reason that the pillage should be giuen to the souldier who had borne the hazard of the siege whereunto Herode answered that he would satisfie euerie man out of his owne treasurie and by this meanes he raunsomed the rest of the Citie by fulfilling those his promises For he gaue many mightie gifts vnto euerie one of the souldiers and by proportion vnto the captaines but aboue all hee royally rewarded Sosius so that euerie one of them departed very rich in siluer This calamitie hapned in the Citie of Ierusalem in the yeere wherein Marcus Agrippa and Canidius Gallus were Consuls which was in the hundreth fourescore and fift Olympiade in the third moneth on the daies wherein the solemne fast was celebrated as if this affliction had iumpt togither in one issue and instant with that of Pompeies for on the same day had the same Citie been taken twentie and seuen yeeres before Sosius offered a crowne of gold vnto God and afterwards departed from Ierusalem leading Antigonus prisoner with him vnto Anthony But Herode fearing least if Antigonus should be kept by Anthony and sent to Rome he should debate his title with him before the Senate by protest that he was descended of the royall line whereas Herode was but a Plebeian and common person and that although hee had offended the Romans and thereby might not deserue to be king yet at least his children who were of the princely line were not to be denyed their title Herode I say fearing these things wrought so much by force of his money with Anthony that he caused him to put Antigonus to death so that at that time Herode was truely deliuered from all feare Thus ended the estate of the Asmoneans after sixe score and sixe yeeres This family was famous both for their nobilitie as also by reason of their Sacerdotall dignitie and for the noble actions and exploites which their auncestors had atchieued for our nation but they lost their authoritie thorow their mutuall factions which soueraigntie was deriued to Herode Antipaters sonne who was ignoble by birth and of meane friends who were subiects and vassals to kings See heere what we haue receiued from our auncestors as touching the ende of the race of the Asmoneans THE XV. BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 15. booke 1 Ierusalem being ouercome by Sosius and Herode Antigonus is beheaded by Anthonies commandement Herode maketh away the chiefest friends of Antigonus 2 How Hircanus being dismissed by the Parthians returneth to Herode 3 Herode after he had made Aristobulus his wife Mariammes brother high priest practiseth and worketh his death 4 Cleopatra thirsting after the kingdomes of Iewry and Arabia laboureth to beg a part of them at Anthonies hands 5 The arriuall of Queene Cleopatra in Iudaea 6 Herode maketh warre against Aretas at such time as Anthony was ouerthrowne by Caesar in the Actianwarre 7 Of the earthquake in Iewry 8 Herodes oration to his army 9 Herode intending to repaire vnto Caesar doth of necessitie kill Hircanus 10 How Herode obtained the continuance of his kingdome of Iudaea at Caesars hands 11 Herode maketh away Mariamme thorow false calumniations of her enemies 12 Of the famine that afflicted the land of Iewry 13 The building of Caesarea 14 Herode buildeth a new temple in Ierusalem CHAP. I. Ierusalem being taken by Sosius and Herode Antigonus is beheaded by Anthonies command Herode maketh away all his chiefest friendes IN the former booke I haue declared how Sosius and Herode tooke the Citie of Ierusalem by force with it Antigonus prisoner now wil we also declare that which hath subsequently followed For after that Herode had obtained the absolute gouernment ouer the whole land of Iudaea he aduanced all those among the common people who fauoured his proceedings as for those who were opposed against him there passed not a day wherein some one or other of them suffered not punishment But amongst the rest Pollio the Pharisee and Sameas his disciple were highly honoured by him For during the time of the siege of Ierusalem they counselled the inhabitants to receiue entertaine Herod for which cause he respected them accordingly This Pollio in times past when Herode was found guiltie of death foretolde Hircanus and the rest of the Iudges in way of exprobration that being absolued by them he should one day inflict punishment on them all Which prediction God in processe of time approoued by the euent no sooner therefore became he master of Ierusalem but he gathered togither all the rich houshold stuffe that was in the pallace and furthermore hauing spoiled the rich men of their goods and by this means leuied a great summe of gold and siluer he sent great presents to Anthony and his friends Moreouer he condemned fiue and fortie of Antigonus principall and noblest fauourites to death setting streight watch about their doores that none of them might be carried out vnder colour of being dead The dead bodies likewise were troden vnder foote and all the gold siluer or iewels that was to be found amongst them was carried to the king and conuerted to his vse so that there was no end of these miseries For the couetousnesse of the conquerour whose greedy and thirsting desire could hardly be quenched said hold on whatsoeuer was theirs And for that it was the seuenth yeere it necessarily came to passe that the land was left vnmanured for we are forbidden to sowe in this yeere Anthony hauing taken Antigonus prisoner resolued to keepe him in prison vntill the time of his triumph But after he had receiued tidings that the
nation of the Iewes were ready to innouate and rebell and continued their good affection toward Antigonus in regard of the hatred they conceiued against Herod he concluded with himselfe to take his head from him at Antioch For the Iewes could scarcely containe themselues Strabo of Cappadocia testifieth no lesse in these words Anthony hauing brought Antigonus the Iew to Antioch caused his head to be cut off and was the first among the Romans that hath caused a king to be beheaded in this manner supposing that the Iewes might neuer otherwaies be induced to change their opinions and receiue Herodeâ—… yet this opinion of his was not answerable to equitie For notwithstanding whatsoeuer impulsion he might deuise yet could they not be induced to call him king in so high estimate and account held they their former king But Anthony supposed that that infamie would obscure his renown and lessen the generall hate that they bare to Herode See here what Strabo writeth As soone as the high priest Hircanus who was prisoner among the Parthians heard that Herode had taken possession of the kingdome he returned backe vnto him being deliuered after this manner following Barzapharnes and Pacorus princes of the Parthians had taken Hircanus who was first high priest and afterwards king and with him Phasaelus Herodes brother and led them away prisoners with them into their own countrey Phasaelus not able to endure the dishonour of imprisonment and preferring an honorable death before a reprochful and ignominious life murthered himselfe as I haue heretofore declared CHAP. II. How Hircanus dismissed by the Parthians returned vnto Herode PHraates king of Parthia vnderstanding how nobly Hircanus was descended who was brought prisoner vnto him entertained him gratiously and for this cause drew him out of prison permitting him to conuerse in Babylon in which place there were a great number of Iewes who honoured Hircanus verie much and no lesse then their high priest and king The like also did all they of that nation inhabiting as farre as Euphrates which did not a little content Hircanus But after that he was aduertised that Herode was possessed of the kingdome he transferred his hopes another waie being of his owne nature tenderly affected toward his friends expecting that one day Herode would requite him for that he had deliuered him from death whereunto he was condemned and in danger likewise of the penalty and punishment He began therefore to consult with the Iewes as touching his iourney who in way of duetie and loue came to visit him and who besought him and importuned him to abide with them offering him all seruice and honour assuring him that he should in no lesse manner be respected among them then their high priest and king yea in farre higher regard then he might any waies be in his owne countrey by reason of the maime he had in his bodie thorow Antigonus tyranny alleadging that kings doe not ordinarily call to their remembrance those pleasures that they haue receiued in their infant fortunes because that with their estates they change both their manners and inclinations But notwithstanding all these or such like allegations yet could not Hircanus be withdrawne from the desire he had to repaire homeward Herode also wrote vnto him that he should require Phraates and the Iewes that inhabited his kingdome in no sort to enuie his felicitie in that he should partake with him both in dignitie and royaltie alleadging that the time was now come wherein he might acknowledge the benefits he had receiued by being heretofore nourished and preserued by him With these letters he sent Samaralla likewise on an embassage to Phraates furnished with great rich presents endeuouring by that meanes to winne him that he in no sort should hinder his gratulation and good intent towards one that had so highly deserued at his hands yet were not his protestations answerable to his pretence For insomuch as he gouerned not with that vprightnes which became a iust king he feared least some alteration might befall him according to his demerites for which cause he sought to get Hircanus vnder his power or at leastwise to dispatch him out of his life which he afterwards performed When as therefore Herode had perswaded the Parthian to dismisse Hircanus and the Iewes to furnish him with money sufficient to beare his expence in his iourney he receiued him with all honour In common assemblies he gaue him alwaies the highest place and in the time of festiuals he made him alwaies sit downe before him and the more closely to deceiue him he called him brother endeuouring himselfe by all means wholy to extinguish in him all colour and cause of suspicion of treacherie neitherintermitted he any other stratagems whereby in his opinion he might any waies further or promote his cause and yet by these meanes occasioned he no small sedition in his owne familie For carefully prouiding least any one among the nobilitie should be established high Priest he sent to Babylon for a certaine man of bace condition called Ananel and gaue him the Priesthood For which cause Alexandra grew sodainly displeased not being able to endure that outrage This woman was Hircanus daughter and Alexanders wife who was king Aristobulus sonne who had two children by her husband the one wondrous beautifull who also was called Aristobulus the other was Mariamme who was likewise faire and maried to Herode She was sore moued and highly displeased to see her sonne so much indignified for that during his life another was called to the honour of high Priesthood for which cause she wrote vnto Cleopatra by the meanes of a certaine Musition beseeching her to beg the high Priesthood at Antonius hands for hir sonne But for that Antonius made little reckoning of those suites a certaine friend of his called Gellius who was come into Iury about certain of his affaires and who had seene Aristobulus fell in loue with him by reason of his beautie and being abashed likewise at his great and goodly stature and allured by Mariammes admirable beautie he openly protested that he accounted Alexandra a happie mother in her children and deuising to this effect with her he perswaded her to send the pictures of her two children to Antonius for that if hee should but behold them he would refuse him in nothing wherein he should request his friendship Alexandra perswaded by these words sent their pictures vnto Antonius Gellius also made the matter more wonderfull telling him that the children seemed rather to be engendred of no mortall straine but by some diuine power labouring as much as in him lay that Antonius might be allured to affection them Who supposing it to be a matter ill be seeming him to send for Mariamme who was married to Herode and desirous likewise to auoid Clopatras suspicions wrote vnto Herode that vnder some honest pretext he should send Alexandras sonne vnto him with this addition if it might
was vpon the point of execution surprised her at such time as she thought to flye and yet notwithstanding he pardoned her that fault in that he durst not decree any punishmēt against hir though he could haue found in his heart to haue vsed seueritie for that Cleopatra vvould not haue contained her selfe had she but had such an occasiō offered her to expresse her hatred against Herod For which cause vnder the colour of a high and magnanimous spirit he made shewe to pardon her of his meere clemencie yet inwardly resolued hee to make young Aristobulus away yet not rashly and vpon the instant least the act should growe apparant and palpable Now the feast of Tabernacles was at hand which was one of those that was ceremoniously and solemnly celebrated among vs for which cause he concealed his intents during the festiuall daies intending both in himselfe and in the presence and companie of the people to follow all kinde of pleasure and delight yet did his enny incite him to hasten the execution of his will Aristobulus was at that time some seuenteene yeere olde who at such time as he approched the altar to offer sacrifices according to the lawe apparelled in the high priests ornaments to performe the ceremonies he who for amiable countenance and goodly stature surpassed the young and tendernesse of his yeeres expressing in his countenance the dignitie and nobilitie of his race drew the eies and good affection of all the people vnto him so that they openly called to remembrance the noble actions of Aristobulus his grandfather All the people therfore being surmounted by those their affections and at that present time being all of them troubled with the ioy they conceiued they brake out by little and little into happy acclamations mixed with wishes and praiers so that the good will the people bare to Aristobulus discouered it selfe openly and they manifestly although too hastily in such a kingdome declared what euils they generally endured For all which causes Herode concluded to execute that which he had heretofore complotted and conceited against Aristobulus As soone therefore as the feast was ouerpassed he soiourned in Iericho where Alexandra entertained him In that place he vsed Aristobulus with all kindnesse to the end to draw him into some place where he feared nothing playing also with him and counterfaiting to sport after the fashion of the young men to gratifie him Now for that the place where they disported themselues was by nature too hoat they quickly wearied left their sport and went out togither to take the fresh aire and recouering a pleasant shade vnder certaine arbors and neere certaine fishpooles which were largely spread round about they beheld certain of their seruants and friends that swomme therein with whom not long after Aristobulus began to swim being perswaded thereunto by Herode Whereupon Herodes confederates who were deputed to execute the murther laid hands of him and thrust him vnder the water pretending to duck him in sport and neuer gaue him ouer vntill such time as they had stifled him in the water This hapned about the euening and after this manner died Aristobulus after he had liued in all for the space of eighteene yeeres and administred the priesthood one whole yeere and after this Ananel presently recouered his former dignitie Now when this accident was reported to the women all of them were sodainly deuoured in teares and transported with strange lamentations which they spent ouer the dead body All the Citie also was marueilously amated neither was there any priuate family that thought not it selfe touched by this inconuenient but imagined the losse in particular to concerne himselfe and no other But aboue all when Alexandra had notice of this wicked deede she was more passionate and perplexed then any other being so much the more discomforted for that she knew how all things had hapned But the feare of a farre greater mischiefe constrained her to represse her passion in such sort that diuers times she was ready to bereaue her of her owne life and dispatch her selfe out of miserie with her owne hands But she contained her selfe to the end that suruiuing and liuing after her sonne who was so traiterously and fraudulently slaine and prolonging her owne life without giuing any suspition or shadow that she supposed her sonne to be thus cursedly murthered she might with more opportunitie expect the occasion to reuenge her selfe For which cause she dissembled all things gouerned her griefe and made shew that she knew nothing of that which was either intended or had hapned As for Herode he laboured by all means to perswade the strangers that this death had befallen Aristobulus without his knowledge and did not onely prepare that which was requisite for the funerall but vext himselfe likewise made shew of a man truely deuoured in his sorrow and it may be that in remembrance of Aristobulus beauty and flourishing young yeeres he was truely touched with compassion notwithstanding that he imagined that this death of his should be a means of his intire securitie demeasning himselfe in all things very circumspectly with intent to purge himselfe of that crime But especially he shewed his great magnificence in the interring of his body both in the furnishing and preparation of the herse as in the perfumes and other things thereunto belonging in such sort as the griefe which the Ladies had conceiued was pacified after this manner of consolation CHAP. IIII. Cleopatra thirsting after the kingdomes of Arabia and Iewry laboureth to beg a part of them at Anthonies hands BVt none of all these things could either mooue or mollifie Alexandra but that daily more and more she increased her sorrow and in the heart of her teares kindled her wrath and heate with a desire of reuenge She therefore certified Cleopatra by her priuate letters of Herodes treasons and her sonnes most miserable and vntimely death Cleopatra long before that time desirous to assist her and hauing compassion of her miserie vndertooke the matter and ceased not to incite Anthony to reuenge Aristobulus death telling him that it was an vnpardonable errour that Herode being created king in such a state whereunto he had no right should be suffered to practise such conspiracies against the true and lawfull kings Anthony perswaded by these her words as soone as he came vnto Laodicea sent for Herode to the end that making his appearance he might answere that which might be obiected against him as touching Aristobulus death for he disliked the act notvvithstanding that Herode himselfe had attempted it But although Herode vvas affraid of this accusation and did not a little suspect Cleopatraes displeasure for that she ceased not continually to prouoke Anthony against him yet obeyed he this commandement and transported himselfe thither the rather for that he durst not otherwise do notwithstanding he left his vncle Ioseph behind him committing the gouernment both of the kingdome his priuate
estate vnto him giuing him secret instructions to kil Mariamme if so be that Anthony should happen to doe him any mischiefe For he loued her so extremely by reason of her beautie that he supposed himselfe iniured if after his decease she should be beloued by any other and he openly declared that all that miserie which befell him proceeded from Anthonies passion and intire affection and admiration of her beauty whereof he had before time heard some report As soone therefore as he had in this sort disposed his affaires notwithstanding he had little hope of good hap yet repaired he to Anthony But Ioseph gouerning that kingdome that was committed to his hands conuersed diuers times vpon this occasion with Mariamme and communicated oftentimes with her not onely for publique profit sake but also to doe her that honour which so great a princesse deserued At such time therefore as he secretly deuised with her as touching the friendship and ardent affection which Herode bare vnto heâ—… his speeches were iested at after the manner of Ladies but especially flouted at by Alexandra For which cause Ioseph being ouer-forward to expresse the kings good will towards her proceeded so farre that he discouered the commandement that was giuen him thereby to make manifest that it was not possible for Herode to liue without her and that if any inconuenient should happen vnto him he would not in death also be disioined from her This discourse of Iosephs was not interpreted by the Ladies as a demonstration of his good will but rather as a manifestation of Herodes malignitie who dying desired also that they should perish and interpreted that which he had spoken as the testimonie of his tyrannous and malicious hart At that time there was a rumour spread in the Citie of Ierusalem by Herodes maligners that Anthony had in such sort tormented him that he was dead Whereupon all those of the kings house were troubled and in especiall the Ladies so that Alexandra incited Ioseph to forsake the pallace and take the Ladies and to retire himselfe vnder the ensignes of the Roman legion who at that time were about the citie for the security of the kingdome vnder the conduct of the Tribune Iulius to the end first of all that if any trouble should happen in the kings house they might be by this meanes in safetie hauing the Romans to friend and afterwards for that they hoped that if Anthony should see Mariamme she might obtaine all things at his hands whatsoeuer she desired assuring him that he would restore the kingdome vnto her and depriue her of nothing that concerned or was answerable to her royall estate But whilest they were distracted with these deliberations there came letters from Herode contrarie to some few mens report and all mens expectation For as soone as he came vnto Anthony he compassed his fauour by his many presents which he had brought with him to that intent from Ierusalem and sodainly debating the matter with him he appeased him in such sort as he was no more displeased against him and from that time forward Cleopatras speeches were but coldly conceited of in regard of his so ample satisfaction For Anthony said that there was no reason that a king should be answerable for that which he had done in his kingdome for that in so doing he should no more be king but that when the honour is once giuen him he hath the authoritie likewise left him to vse his regall power Vrging further that it concerned Cleopatra likewise her selfe not to search too curiously into the affaires and gouernment of kingdomes Herode certified all this by his letters and signified further what other honours he had receiued at Anthonies hands in assemblies and feasts to which he inuited him alwaies notwithstanding that Cleopatra seemed to be displeased therewith detracting him and being desirous to get the kingdome of Iewry into her hands stroue by all meanes possible to put him to death but that he had found Anthony alwaies an vpright man and feared not henceforward that any euill should be fall him and returning presently vpon this he brought with him a more ample testimonie of Anthonies most assured affection both in respect of his owne kingdome as of his particular affaires And as touching Cleopatra she pretended not to seeke any further then that which she had because that Anthony had giuen her Coelesyria in steed of that which she had demaunded for bearing thence forwarde to mention Iewry any more because Anthony wholy reiected those suites After these letters came vnto their hands the trouble and disturbance wherein they were and their desire to retire vnto the Romans as if Herode had been dead was wholy extinguished Yet was not this their resolution hidden from the king but that Herode after he had brought Anthony on his way who at that time set forward in his warres against the Parthians he returned into Iewry Vpon his arriuall his sister Salome and his mother certified him exactly of Alexandras intent and the determination of her friends Salome likewise spake against Ioseph her husband and slandered him obiecting against him that he had had Mariammes company Al which she spake thorow the malice she had long time conceiued against him for that in a certaine debate Mariamme had in her rage despitefully hit them in the teeth with their obscure birth Herode who was alwaies inflamed with the earnest affection which he bare vnto his wife Mariamme was sodainly troubled hereat and although iealousie pressed him forward yet loue restrained him and kept him from doing any thing rashly thorow passion or affection for which cause he called Mariamme aside and demanded of her in secret what familiar companie she had kept with Ioseph She by solemne othes and by all possible allegations in her owne defence appeased the king by little and little and pacified his choler For in such sort was he transported with the loue that he bare vnto his wife that hee beleeued she had sufficiently purged her selfe of those slanders that had been inforced against her yeelding her most hartie thankes for her honest affection towards him and declaring vnto her openly the great esteeme and loue that he bare vnto her Finally as it often falleth out amongst louers they fell to teares and embraced each other with great affection and for that she gaue him no credit he indeuoured the more to draw her to beliefe Whereupon Mariamme said vnto him It is not the act of a louer to haue giuen commandement that if any thing should befal thee otherwaies then well with Anthony I should presently be done to death with thee notwithstanding I haue no waies offended thee No sooner were these words out of her mouth but the king entred into a strange passion and giuing ouer his embraces he cried out with a loud voice and tore his haire saying that he had a most euident proofe that Ioseph had committed adultery with her
the subiection of Herod who was the very scourge of their familie but rather that he should stand vpon his owne guard and reserue himselfe to his better hoped fortunes She furthermore gaue him counsell to write vnto Malchus who had the gouernment of Arabia requesting him to graunt him both protection and entertainment For that if Herod should chance to be cut off by Caesars displeasure doubtlesse the kingdome would returne vnto him both in regard of his nobility as also of the peoples fauour These perswasions of hers Hircanus at the first repulsed but afterwards being ouercome by the importunitie of the woman who ceased not day and night to sing the same song of future hope and of Herods treasons he gaue certaine letters to a friend of his written to the Arabian wherein he required him to send him certaine horsmen who might conduct him to the Asphaltite lake which lieth distant from the confines of Ierusalem some three hundred furlongs And therefore especially committed hee these letters to Dositheus trust both for that he fauoured Hircanus and his daughter and seemed likely for diuers causes to hate Herod for he was Iosephs kinsman who was slaine by Herod and not long before certaine of his brothers were slaine amongst others at Tire by Anthonies command yet for none of these occasions continued he faithfull to Hircanus For he setting more by the present fauour of the king that then raigned then the rest discouered the letter vnto the king who first of all giuing him thanks required one office of friendship more at his hands which was that folding vp the letter and sealing it he should conueigh and deliuer the same to Malchus and returne his answer for that it merely concerned him if he knew his resolution also Which when Dositheus had diligently perfourmed the Arabian returned this answer that he was readie to entertaine both himselfe and his whole family and all those Iewes likewise which were of his faction promising to send him a band of souldiours who should be able to conduct him safely thither and should be obedient to his command in all things Now as soone as Herod was seazed of these letters he called for Hircanus and demanded of him whether he had any confederacy with Malchus who denied the same But Herod protesting and bringing forth his letter in an open assembly commanded him afterwards to be put to death Thus are these matters registred in Herodes commentaries for by some are they deliuered otherwise namely that he was executed not for this crime which he had committed but for some treasons against the king For they write to this effect that Herod at a certaine banquet dissembling his suspition demaunded of Hircanus whether he had receiued anie letters from Malchus and that he answered that he had receiued letters but such as conteined nothing els but officious salutations Further that another asked him whether he had receiued anie present therewithall and when he had answered that he had receiued nothing but foure coursers for his saddle the king wrested this to a capitall offence of corruption and treason and commanded him presently to be led to death Now that he died guiltlesse they alleage this for a most approued argument namely his gentle disposition who euen in his youthfull yeares neuer gaue signe or appearance of rashnesse or pride or signification of audaciousnesse no not euen then when he had the royall gouernment in his hands but in that freedome of authoritie disposed the most things by Antipaters aduise But at that time he was more then fourscore yeares old and knew that Herods estate was secured and passing Euphrates also and liuing on the other side of the riuer he left such as held him in great honour and returned home into his owne countrie to the end he might liue vnder Herodes gouernment Whereby it is lesse likelie that he would attempt any alteration so farre different from his nature so that all these things seeme to be fained by Herode Thus ended Hircanus his life after his variable and aduerse fortune wherewith during all his life time he was afflicted For at such time as his mother Alexandra liued he was created high priest of the Iewes and obtained that honour for the space of nine yeeres and after his mothers death he had scarcely gouerned the kingdome for the space of three moneths but that he was expulsed by his brother Aristobulus and afterwards restored by Pompeies assistance and receiuing all his former honours he liued in full possession of them for the space of fortie yeeres After this he was once more distated by Antigonus and being maimed in his bodie liued certaine yeeres in captiuitie among the Parthians from whence not long after he returned home and though he had many things promised him by Herode yet after so many alterations of fortune he obtained nothing at his hands and that which amongst all the rest is most of all to be lamented as we haue said he was vniustly put to death an innocent and in his olde age For he was a louer of iustice and an obseruer of perpetuall modestie and gouerned his kingdome for the most part by other mens direction being onely guiltie in himselfe of ignorance and the loue of idlenesse Truly Antipater and Herode by this mans goodnesse obtained their so great riches for which deserts of his against all lawe and right hee was cruelly put to death But Herode after Hircanus death addressed himselfe to performe his iourny towards Caesar and hauing little hope of any good fortune in regard of his friendship with Antonius he grew desperately iealous of Alexandra for feare least she taking oportunitie of the time should incite the people to rebell and fill the kingdome with domesticall sedition for which cause committing the gouernment of the estate to his brother Pheroras he left his mother Cypros his sister and all his kinred in the castle of Masada and commaunded his brother that if any misfortune should befall him he should retaine the kingdome in his owne hands and maintaine it As for his wife Mariamme for that by reason of certaine dislikes betwixt her his mother and sister they might not liue togither he left her with her mother Alexandra in the castle of Alexandrian and committed them to the custodie of his treasurour Ioseph and Sohemus the Iturian and with her the keeping of his castles both which had alwaies beene his faithfull friends and to whom in way of honour he committed the custodie of these princely Ladies But he gaue them also this commandement that if they should be certified that any sinister mishap had befallen him they should presently kill them both and to the vtmost of their power continue the kingdome in his children and his brother Pheroras CHAP. X. How Herode obtained the kingdome of Iudaea at Caesars hands AFter he had in this sort giuen order for all his affairs he withdrew himselfe vnto Rhodes intending
should demaund what he meant he should certifie him that Mariamme hauing prepared a poison for his grace had dealt with him to deliuer it to his maiestie Charging him moreouer that if the king in hearing him speake of this portion should seeme to be mooued therewith that then he should proceede no further in his discourse He therefore being in this manner before hand instructed what he ought to doe at that very instant was sent in to discouer his treacherie vnto the king for which cause with a sober and staied countenance be entred in vnto him being seriously and well prepared to discourse and told him that Mariamme had bribed him to present his Maiestie with an amorous cup of drinke Now when he perceiued that the king was troubled with these words he prosecuted his discourse alleaging that the potion was a certaine medicine which Mariamme had giuen him the vertue whereof he knew not which he had receiued according as he had told him knowing that it concerned both his owne securitie and the kings safetie Herode who before this was highly displeased hearing these words was so much the more incensed for which cause he presently commanded Mariammes most faithfull seruant to be examined by torments as concerning the poison supposing that it was impossible for her to vndertake any thing whatsoeuer without his priuitie He being tired and tormented after this cruell manner confessed nothing of that for which he was tortured but declared vnto the king that the hatred which his wife had conceiued against him proceeded from certaine words that Sohemus had told her Scarcely had he finished these words but that the king cried out with a loud voice saying that Sohemus who before time had beene most faithfull both to him and his kingdome would not haue declared these his priuie commands except there had been some more inward familiaritie and secrecie betwixt him and Mariamme for which cause he presently commanded his ministers to lay hands on Sohemus and to put him to death As for his wife he drew her to her triall and to this effect he assembled his most familiar friends before whom he began to accuse her with great spight and spleene as touching these potions and poisons aforesaid wherin he vsed intemperate and vnseemly speeches and such as for their bitternesse did ill become him in cause of iustice so that in the end the assistants seeing the butte and bent of his desire pronounced sentence of death against her which being past both he and all other the assistants were of this opinion that she should not so speedily be executed but that she should be kept close prisoner in some sure place of the pallace But by Salomes sollicitations Herode was incited to hasten her death for that she alleaged that the king ought to feare least some sedition should be raised amongst the people if he should keepe her aliue in prison And by this meanes Mariamme was led vnto her death Alexandra her mother considering the estate of the time and fearing no lesse mischiefe from Herodes hands then her daughter was assured of she vndecently changed her minde and abiectedly laid aside her former courage and magnanimitie For intending to make it knowne that she was neither partie nor priuie to those crimes wherewith Mariamme was charged she went out to meete her daughter and entertained her iniuriously protesting publikely that she was a wicked woman vngrateful towards her husbād and that she wel deserued the punishment that was adiudged her for that she durst be so bold to attempt so hainous a fact neglecting to requite her husbands intire loue with her vnfained loyaltie Whilest thus dishonestly she counterfaited her displeasure and was readie to pull Mariamme by the haire the assistants according to her desert condemned her generally for her shamefull hypocrisie but she that was led to be punished conuicted her by her mild behauiour For first of all she gaue her no answere neither was any waies altered by her reproches neither would so much as cast her eie vpon her making it appeare that she discreetly concealed and couered her mothers imperfections was agrieued that she had so openly shewed so great indignitie expressing for her owne part a constant behaiour and going to her death without chaunge of colour so that those that beheld her perceiued in her a kind of manifest courage and nobilitie euen in her vtmost extremitie Thus died Mariamme hauing beene a woman that excelled both in continence and courage notwithstanding that she defaulted somewhat in affabilitie and impatience of nature for the rest of her parts she was of an admirable and pleasing beautie and of such a cariage in those companies wherein she was intertained that it was impossible to expresse the same in that she surpassed all those of her time which was the principall cause that she liued not graciously and contentedly with the king For being entertained by him who intirely loued her and from whom she receiued nothing that might discontent her she presumed vpon a great and intemperate libertie in her discourse She disgested also the losse of her friends verie hardly according as in open termes she made it known vnto the king whereby also it came to passe that both Herodes mother and sister and himselfe likewise grew at ods with her and in especiall her husband from whom onely she expected no hard measure After her death the king began more powerfully to be inflamed in his affections who before times as we haue declared was alreadie miserably distracted For neither did he loue after the common manner of maried folke but whereas almost euen vnto madnes he nourished this his desire he could not be induced by the too vnbridled manners of his wife to alay the heat of his affection but that daily more and more by doting on her he increased the same And all that time especially he supposed that God was displeased with him for the death of Mariamme his wife Oftentimes did he inuocate her name and more often vndecently lamented he her And notwithstanding he deuised all kind of delights and sports that might be imagined by preparing banquets and inuiting guests with princely hospitalitie to passe away the time yet all those profited him nothing For which cause he gaue ouer the charge and administration of his kingdome And in such sort was he ouerwhelmed with griefe that oftentimes he commaunded his ministers to call his wife Mariamme as if as yet she had beene aliue Whilest thus he was affected there befell a pestilence within the citie that consumed a great sort of the people and the better part of the nobilitie and each man interpreted that this punishment was inflicted by God vpon men for the vninst death of the Queene Thus the kings discontents being by these meanes increased he at last hid himselfe in a solitarie wildernesse vnder pretext of hunting where afflicting himselfe incessantly at last he fell into a most grieuous sicknes
This disease of his was an inflammation or paine in the necke he seemed also in some sort to raue and waxe mad neither could any remedies relieue him of his agony but when as the sicknes seemed rather to increase all men at last grewe almost desperate of his recouery For which cause his phisition partly in respect of the contumacy of his disease partly because in so great daunger there was not any free election of diet they gaue him leaue to taste whatsoeuer best pleased his appetite committing the vncertaine euent of his health to the hands of fortune Whilest thus he soiourned in Samaria which now is called Sebaste Alexandra inhabiting at that time in Ierusalem hauing notice of this his estate sought to reduce all the strong fortresses that were within the citie vnder her subiection the one of which abutted vpon the temple the other was scituate within the citie for they that are Lords of these keepe all the rest of the nation vnder their awe because that without these neither the vsuall and daily sacrifices may be performed neither may the Iewes liue without such sacrifices and oblations who had rather loose their liues then contemne their religion She therefore laboured those that had the gouernment thereof to surrender them vp to her and Herods children begotten of her daughter Mariamme for feare least he being dead they should be seazed by others and if it should fortune him to recouer his health in the meane while they might be kept and held by no man more securely then such as were his domesticall friends This suite and sollicitation of hers was but coldly conceited of and the captaines who at other times shewed themselues alwaies faithfull at that time were the rather farre more constant in their dutie both for that they hated Alexandra as also for that they thought it a great offence to dispaire of the health of their prince For these were the kings olde friends and one of them was Herodes owne nephew whose name was Achiabus For which cause they sent present messengers vnto him to certifie him of Alexandras intent who hauing heard these newes presently commanded her to be slaine and at length ouercōming his sicknes he grew so badly affected both in bodie and mind that hee waxed hatefull vnto all men so that all those who offended him for how little cause soeuer were readily sought for to be punished In this his intemperance he imbrued his hands in the bloud of diuers of his inward friends as Costabarus Lysimachus Antipater surnamed Gadias and Dositheus for this occasion that ensueth Costabarus was an Idumean and one of the greatest account amongst his countrimen who was descended from the Priests of Cozas whom the Idumaeans esteeme for a God Now after that Hircanus had drawen the policy of the Idumaeans to the reformed customes of the Iewes Herode was made king of the Iewes and appointed Costabarus to be gouernour in Idumaea and Gaza giuing him Salome his sister to wife after he had put Ioseph to death to whom she had bin maried before time as we haue heretofore declared Costabarus seeing himselfe in this estate beyond his expectation grew more elate and proud then his good fortune required and in a little time forgot himselfe so farre that he thought himselfe dishonoured if he should performe that which Herod commaunded him and scorned that the Idumaeans should be vnder the Iewes subiection notwithstanding they had receiued their manner of gouernment from them He therefore sent messengers vnto Cleopatra giuing her to vnderstand that Idumaea had alwaies beene vnder her ancestors subiection and for that cause she ought vpon iust cause to demaund and beg that countrie at Antonius hands and that in respect of himselfe he was readie to become her seruant All which he practised not to gratifie Cleopatra in any sort whatsoeuer but to the intent that if Herodes fortunes should be any waies weakned he might more easily by this meanes both inlarge and obtaine the kingdome of Idumaea And with these foolish hopes was he transported in regard of his birth and riches which he had heaped togither by such dishonest meanes as he continually practized as he that intended no small matters But notwithstanding Cleopatras often and earnest petition to obtaine this soueraigntie yet could she not obtaine it at Antonius hands When Herode had notice of these couert and cunning practises he was readie to kill Costabarus But vpon the earnest supplications of his sister and hir mother he dismissed and pardoned him yet held him alwaies in suspition by reason of this his practise Not long after it hapned that Salome fell at debate with Costabarus for which cause she sent a libell of diuorse to her husband notwithstanding it were against the lawes and ordinarie customes of the Iewes For according to our ordinances it is onely lawfull for the husband to do the same and as touching the wife notwithstanding she were separated yet is it not lawfull for her to marrie againe except hir husband first giue her licence But Salome without respect of the lawes of the countrey grounding her selfe too much vpon her owne authoritie forsooke her husband saying that she separated her selfe from her husband by reason of the great friendship which she bare vnto her brother for that she had receiued some notice that Costabarus practised some innouation with Antipater Lysimachus and Dositheus And this accusation of hers confirmed she by Babas children whom he had alreadie kept with him in all securitie for the space of twelue yeeres All which was true and at that time beyond all mens expectation wonderfully troubled Herode as soone as he heard it For as touching Babas sonnes he had heretofore resolued to cut them off for that they had been alwaies badly affected towards him and all his enterprises but all that time he had let them passe because by continuance they were growen out of his remembrance Now the cause of this enmitie and hatred which he bare towards them was gathered from this ground At such time as Antigonus enioyed the soueraignty and Herode besieged the citie of Ierusalem with an army now those incommodities necessities that ordinarily happen vnto those that are besieged were the cause that diuers acknowledged Herode and fixed their hopes vpon him But Babas sonnes being in authoritie and besides that attended by a great number of men perseuered in their faithfull obseruation of Antigonus and blamed Herode continually encouraging the inhabitants to continue the kingdome in those to whom it appertained by discent and they themselues followed that course which in their opinion was most profitably for the commonweale But after that the citie was surprised by Herode and he grew master of the estate Costabarus who was appointed to keepe the citie gates and to lie in wait that none of those who were accused to haue forsaken the kings side should escape knowing that the sonnes of Babas were greatly esteemed
were taken from the Barbarians which king Herode had placed there with all those spoiles which he had taken frō the Arabians In a corner on the north side there stood a verie strong and defenced fortresse builded by the Asmonians who were Herods predecessors and had beene both kings and high priests and had imposed a name on that tower which was Baris in which they kept the priestly vesture where with the high priest was wont to be adorned at that time onely when he was to offer sacrifice King Herode kept the same in that place and there remained it after his death vntill the time of Tiberius Caesar vnder whom Vitellius gouernour of Syria came vnto Ierusalem where he was entertained by all the people with as great magnificence as was possible and being desirous to acknowledge the fauours that he had receiued at their hands being requested by them that they might haue the keeping of the high priests ornaments he wrote vnto Tiberius Caesar to grant them that fauour til the death of king Agrippa the Iewes had the same in their possessiō But after that Agrippa was dead Cassius Longinus that gouerned Syria Cuspius Fadus lieutenant of Iudaea commaunded the Iewes to return the same into the fortresse Antonia saying that the Romans ought to be Lord therof as they had beene in times past For which cause the Iews sent embassadors vnto Claudius Caesar to request his fauour therin who arriuing at Rome found the young king Agrippa there who besought the Emperour that it might be lawfull for him to haue the keeping of the habit who commaunded Vitellius the gouernour of Syria to deliuer it vnto his hands Before time it was kept vnder the seale of the high priest and the custodie of the tresurers on the eeue of a certaine solemne feast the tresurers went vp to the captain who kept the forttesse for the Romans and after they had opened their seale they tooke the habit and after the feast was past they returned it backe againe vnto the same place and shut it vp vnder the same seale in the presence of the captaine All which we haue thought good to lay open to make the diuersitie knowne that was vsed in that care After that Herode had in this sort builded this strong tower for the securitie and guard of the temple he called it Antonia for the loue of Antonius his friend and one of the chiefest men in Rome In the westeme part of this porch there were foure gates whereof the one opened vpon the kings pallace to which there was a direct way thorow the midst of the valley the two others led vnto the suburbes and the fourth opened vpon the rest of the citie and gaue open passage vnto the same by the meanes of a number of staires by which men might descend to the foot of the valley and from thence there was an ascent by other staires to ascend vpwards For the citie was scituate neere vnto the temple after the manner of a theater and was bended to the southward by a deepe valley As touching the fourth side turned toward the south it had likewise certaine gates in the midst thereof and vpon the same there was a triple gallery verie royall and princely the length whereof extended from the orientall valley as farre as the westerne For it was impossible to extend it any further This worke was one of the most famous peeces that was euer seene vnder the sunne For the depth of the valley was so great that it was impossible for a man to see the bottome if he looked downward from the higher part and notwithstanding on the same he erected this porch of so great a height that but to looke from the toppe thereof and to consider the depth as well of the valley as the height of the porch it would make a man giddie and his eye could not peirce vnto the immesurable bottom of the same It had in length foure rankes of pillars opposed the one right ouer against the other for the fourth pane of the wall was fortified with a wall of hewen stone the thicknesse of the pillars was such that it was as much as three men could fadome holding one an other by the hand and the length was of twentie and seuen foote with a double base at the bottome The whole number of them was one hundreth sixtie and two and they had Chapters engrauen and damaskt with Corinthian worke All this building was so huge that it mooued admiration in those that beheld the same Betwixt these foure rankes there were three porches whereof two were on either side containing in breadth each of them thirtie foote and in length a stade or furlong and more then fiftiē foote in height That in the midst was in breadth once and a halfe as much as these two and in height twise as much For it surpassed the rest by farre The floore was made of goodly plankes engrauen with diuers figures and the roofe thereof was farre higher then any of the rest in which certaine huge beames were morteised on which there were certaine pillars builded vnited and annexed so fitly togither that it is a matter incredible to those that haue not seene the same and admirable to him that beholdeth it Such was the fashion of the circuit of the first porch In the midst and not farre off from the other stood the second whereunto there was an ascent made with few steppes It was inclosed with a separation of stone with an inscription forbidding any stranger to enter the same vpon paine of death This inward porch both to the southward and the northward had three gates in ranke equidistant the one from the other and toward the eastward had one great gate by which those men entred who were cleansed with their wiues For beyond that place it was not lawfull for the women to haue accesse But the third inward space was onely accessible by the Priestes In it was the Temple and before the same the altar on which they were woont to offer burnt sacrifices vnto God But Herode durst not enter the interior sanctuarie from whence prophane men were excluded by the lawe but by the mediation of the priests he intended the structure and building of the inward porch and finishing in eight yeeres space the rest of the edifice at length also he finished the Temple it selfe by the indeuours of the same priests within the terme of one yeere and six moneths By which meanes the people were replenished with the fulnesse of ioye and euerie one gaue thankes vnto God for that the whole worke was finished so speedily and wished all happinesse to the king for his cost and diligence in the execution and finishing thereof and they celebrated a great feast in honour of the restauration of the Temple Then did the king offer vp three hundreth oxen vnto God and the rest of them each one according to his abilitie offered
mischiefe was againse set on foote for Pheroras the kings brother meeting Alexander who as we haue said was Glaphyra her husband who was daughter to Archelaus he told him that he heard by Salome that Herod was far in loue with Glaphyra so that he could not shake off this affection The young man hearing this became iealous and was in a great rage and now what honour soeuer or gifts Herod for the loue of his sonne gaue her Alexander did interpret it in the worst sense being now made iealous by that which he had heard of Pheroras not able to put vp such iniuries as he thought he went vnto his father and with teares recounted vnto him what Pheroras had told him But Herod was hereat the more enflamed not enduring himselfe falsly to be accused of so shamefull a fact inueighin against the great malice of his friends who for his great good turâ—…s he did them so rewarded him And presently sending for Pheroras very sharpely he began toâ—… hide him saying O most impious that liueth amongst men art thou become so vngratefull either to speake or thinke such a matter of vs Thinkest thou that I do not perceiue thy drift that thou speakest not these words vnto thy sonne to discredite me but also to the intent by this meanes thou mightest worke some treason against me cause me to be poisoned For who but a good sonne as this is would suffer his father suspected for such a matter to liue and not be reuenged of him for such offence Whether doest thou thinke that thou didst put these speeches into his mind or by them a sword into his hand to kill his father withall or what was thy intent seeing thou hatest both him and his brother and only counter faiting good will towards me to belie me and to report that of me that without impietie could not be thought get thee hence thou wretched impe seeing thou hast thus abused thy brother who hath well deserued at thy hands and do as thou wilt all thy life time my selfe will endeuour to be better vnto my children then I haue been and neither will I punish them as they deserue but I wil honour them aboue their merits The king hauing discharged his choler against his brother Pheroras and he being taken in a manifest fault answered that that report was first deuised by Salome of whom he heard it which she being then present hearing began to exclaime saying it was not her deuise and that they all laboured to make the king hate her and to put her to death being one who did especially wish him well and what in her lay seeking his safetie and that now he was in daunger of more treason then euer before for said she I was the onely cause that you did put away the woman whom you so doated after perswading you to marrie the kings daughter and this is the cause that you hate me With these speeches tearing her haire and striking her breast she made a shew of innocency but this her gesture was a colour to hide her bad entent So Pheroras was left in great pexplexitie not knowing what to say or do and finding no pretence to excuse his fact for on the one side he confessed that he told it vnto Alexander and on the other that he could not make Herode beleeue that he heard it of Salome This contention endured a good while at last the king being wearied sent away his brother and his sister and greatly commending his sonnes moderate mind and that he had giuen him intelligence of those speeches verie late in the night he went to supper After this contention Salome was hardly thought of because she was iudged to be the authour of this ill report and the kings wiues wished euill vnto her because they knew her to be of strange qualities and hard to please and so variable that according to the time one while she would professe friendship and presently after hatred Wherefore they still had some thing to enforme Herode of against her taking occasion hapning by chaunce which was this There was a king of the Arabians named Obodas a slouthfull man and one giuen to idlenes and there was one Syllaeus that did gouerne all his affairs this man was a craftie fellow in the prime of his youth and very beautifull This Syllaeus comming vnto Herode about some busines and viewing Salome who then sate at supper with him began to set his mind vpon her and finding she was a widow he entred into talke with her and she finding her brother now not so friendly vnto her as before he had beene and also entangled with the beautie of this young man did not greatly denie to marie him many feasts being made at that time they shewed euident signes of their mutuall consent and loue one vnto another The kings wiues told the king of this in scoffing sort Herode herewith not contented demanded of Pheroras how the matter stood willed him at supper time to note if he could espie any tokens of familiaritie betwixt them And Pheroras told him that by signes mutuall viewing one another they sufficiently shewed their intents After this the Arabian being suspected departed into his owne countrey But two or three moneths after he came againe into Iudaea only for this purpose talked with Herod concerning this matter requesting him to let Salome be his wife affirming that that affinity would be profitable vnto him for the traficke between his people the Arabians whose prince he was to be did alreadie enioy a great part of the dominion Herod told al this vnto his sister asked her if she would marie him she answered she would Then they requested that Syllaus should become a Iew in religion or else it was not lawful for him to mary her He would not condescend hereunto affirming that he should be stoned to death by his people if he did it and so he departed without obtaining his purpose From that time forth Pheroras and especially the kings wiues accused Salome of intemperancy affirming that she had had the companie of the Arabian Now Herode determined to marry his daughter vnto Salomes sonne whom Pheroras refused for the loue of his maide which sonne of Salomes was her eldest that she had by Costabarus and that to shew his good will toward Salome his sister But he was disswaded by Pheroras who told him that the young man would neuer loue such a father in law because of his fathers death perswading him rather to marie her to his eldest sonne who was to succeed him in his Tetrarchie which he easily perswaded the king vnto and so obtained pardon for his former offence Wherefore the spousals being changed the maide was maried vnto the youg man who had an hundred talents in dowrie with her more then otherwise should haue beene giuen with her But all this while the dissension of Herodes house did not cease
but rather encreased he hauing a shamefull beginning and comming to a sorrowfull end Herod had three Eunuches whom he greatly esteemed for their beauty one of them was his butler the other his cooke and the third his chamberlaine whom also he was wont to employ in serious affaires of his kingdome Some one or other enformed the king that these three Eunuches were corrupted by his sonne Alexander with great summes of money and being vpon tortures examined if they had accompanied with him they confessed all yet they affirmed that they knew no practise of his attempted against his father But their torments being encreased by Antipaters fauorites they were forced to confesse that Alexander secretly hated his father and he exhorted them to forsake Herode who was now good for nothing who dissembled his age by painting his face to make himselfe seeme younger then he was and colouring his head and beard blacke which were alreadie growne verie white through age but rather fer their mindes vpon him who would in despite of his father enioy his kingdome due vnto him and that then he would aduance them to the highest honors of the kingdome for he had not onely title vnto it by his birth but also was now prepared likewise to inuade it and that he had many of the captaines of the souldiers and many of the kings friends on his side who were prepared to doe or endure any thing for his sake Herode hearing this feare and anger did inuade him by reason that his sonnes words seemed both contumelious and threatning and being for both these causes in a rage he feared some greater matter to be put in practise against him which he could not sodainly and hauing so little warning auoide and not daring to make open enquirie he set secret spies a worke to tell him how all matters stood himselfe now mistrusting all men and accounting it his securitie to mistrust all euen them that deserued it not and not moderating his suspicious minde now whosoeuer was the nearest vnto him was the more suspected as of most power to iniure him As for others that were but onely named by his spies he presently esteemed it his safetie to put them to death Then they of his household euerie one being carefull to saue himselfe were one turned against another euerie one deeming it his owne safetie to preuent others by accusing them vnto Herode which done presently they incited other mens enuie against them and euerie one of them to desire such measure as they had measured vnto others and thus they also reuenged their priuate quarrels and presently after they themselues were taken and did by other mens meanes suffer the like being intrapped in the same trappe they set for their enemies For the king did quickly repent himselfe because he had put verie many to death who were not conuicted yet for all that he was not hereby admonished to beware of the like hereafter but on his repentance for their death raged so farre as to cause him to inflict the same punishment vpon their accusers which he had done vpon them So great trouble and feare then fell vpon all the whole court He then commaunded many of his dearest friends and them especially whose fidelitie he had before times experienced not to come in his sight nor within his court gates For he did now shake off the friendship between Andromachus and Gemellus and himselfe who were his auncient friends and oftentimes had gone Embassadors for him and alwaies been of his counsell and had been tutors vnto his children in whom he had alwaies reposed more trust then in any others the one of them for that his sonne Demetrius was familiar with Alexander and Gemellus for that he knew him to wish well vnto Alexander for he was one of them who had brought him vp and had aboad with him at his being at Rome And no doubt but he had censured them with some more heauie sentence had it not been that they were so eminent persons Wherfore at that time he was contented to haue banished them and depriued them of all their authoritie to the end that hauing now disgraced these good men he might the more freely play the tyrant Antipater was the cause of all this mischiefe who from the first time that he perceiued his father to be fearefull and suspicious still after that ioined with him as a counsellor and as it were increased his rage and crueltie and then he gallantly plaied his part endeuouring that whosoeuer would resist him should be made away Wherfore Andromachus the rest of his friends being now banished the court the king presently tortured all that he imagined any way to fauor Alexander to see if they were guilty or if they knew of any treason to be practised against him but they knowing nothing to informe him of died amidst their torments Where he so much more tortured others for that contrarie to his opinion he found not so much as an euill thought against him Antipater craftily interpreting it that they had rather in torments conceale the truth then to shew themselues not trustie to their masters and friends wherefore many being taken he caused them to be tortured to get some thing out of some of them At last one amongst the rest not able to endure those torments imposed vpon him said that he had often heard Alexander say so often as any one commended his goodly stature or skilfull shooting the rest of his vertues that these qualities nature bestowed vpon him rather then other benefits for his father for enuy hereat was offended so that when he talked with him he did vpon purpose draw his body togither least his father should perceiue the talnes of his stature and that when he went a hunting with him he vpon purpose did misse the mark he could haue hit because he knew his father could not endure that he should be cōmended And whilest these his words were considered pondred and his torments intermitted he again accused Alexander to haue conspired with his brother Aristobulus to kill his father when he was hunting then to flie with speed vnto Rome and begge the kingdome of Caesar. There were also found some of this young mans letters written vnto his brother complaining of the iniurious dealing of his father who had giuen certaine grounds vnto Antipater the yeerely reuenues whereof amounted vnto two hundreth talents Then Herode thinking himselfe to haue probabilitie enough his former suspition was now confirmed and so he tooke Alexander and cast him in prison and againe he began to rage notwithstanding that himselfe did scarcely beleeue the informations against him neither could he himselfe deuise any cause wherefore they should seeke to worke treason against him And those complaints seemed childish neither was it probable that hauing openly killed his father he would afterwards haue gone to Rome Wherfore endeuouring to finde some stronger argument of his sonnes impietie
letters did now without any hesitation beleeue that in deede some treacherous practise was plotted against him by his sonnes But Alexander affirmed that Diophantus the scribe had counterfeited his hand and that that letter was Antipaters deuise For Diophantus was accounted cunning in such matters and afterward being taken with the like he was therefore put to death And the king produced them that had been tortured at Iericho before the people to accuse his sonnes where they were stoned to death and the people hereat moued would also haue killed Alexander and Aristobulus with the same death But Herode by the meanes of Ptolomeus and Pheroras did restraine them and commanded the young men to be cast into prison and there to be kept so streight that no man was admitted vnto them but manie spies were set who should narrowly marke all their actions and words and now they were acconnted as condemned men both by other mens opinions and also by their owne One of them to wit Aristobulus for griefe enuiting his Aunt and mother in law to compassionate his present calamitie and to hate him that was the author hereof affirming that she also was in great danger being accused in hope to marry with Syllaeus to haue signified vnto him by letters all that past in Herods court Which words the woman presently came and recounted vnto her brother Herod The king no longer able to bridle his furie commanded them both to be bound and kept in seueral places one from another and each of them to write what they had plotted against their father being thus commanded they wrote that they neither prepared treason nor yet thought of any treason against him onely they purposed to flie because they perceiued that they could no longer liue here because they were so suspected in continual care At that time a prince of Cappadocia came Embassadour from Archelaus named Mela who was one of the greatest lords of the country and Herod willing to shew his sons malice he sent for Alexander out of prison commanding him to recount how and after what order or whither they meant to flie he answered vnto Archelaus who had also promised them to send them to Rome but that they had no further intent or purpose to effect any vnlawfull practise against their father and that all other accusations were false And that he requested that Tyrannus and the rest might haue been better examined but Antipater preuented that who by his owne forged tumours spread amongst the people did cause them to hasten their deaths Which being said Herode commanded both him and Mela to be lead vnto Glaphyra that she might be asked whether she were any way priule vnto the conspiracie against Herod and comming vnto her the woman seeing her husband bound presently tore her haire and being amazed with great compassion cried out amaine The young â—…ans cheekes were also bedewed with teares so that a long time after those that were present amazed and mooued to compassion at this miserable sight could neither speake or doe the kings commaund At last Ptolomeus to whose charge Alexander was committed willing him to speak whether his wife was priuie to his intent he answered how could it be otherwise who is dearer vnto me then my owne life being mother of her and my children Then she answered crying out alowd that she was priuie to nothing that was any harme yet quoth she if it will auaile you any thing or helpe to saue your life I am ready to tell any lie whatsoeuer seeing I must die and will denie nothing you would haue me to say Alexander answered neither did I purpose any impietie against my father as some suppose who ought not to thinke so neither doest thou know of any one this thou knowest that thou and I purposed to flie vnto Archelaus thy father and that he promised to conuay vs to Rome which she also affirmed Herode now thinking that Archelaus was conuicted of euill will towards him deliuered letters vnto Olympus and Volumnius commanding them in the way as they went to passe by Eleusa a towne of Cilicia and deliuer certaine letters vnto Archelaus himselfe to the same effect and that from thence they should go to Rome and if so be when they came there they found that Caesar had been reconciled vnto him by Nicholaus his meanes that then they should also deliuer certain letters vnto him declaring all that was past betweene him and his sonnes and the proofes alleaged to conuince the young men Archelaus writ againe vnto Herod that indeede he would haue entertained the young men for feare that any greater mischance should befall them or their father by reason of the suspition against them yet was he not minded to send them to Caesar nor to haue confirmed them in any malicious course The messengers comming to Rome found Caesar reconciled vnto Herode and deliuered the letters vnto him For Nicholaus his embassage was to this effect So soone as he came vnto Rome and had entred the pallace beside the charge he had giuen him he did also vndertake to accuse Syllaeus For he perceiued the Arabians at variance amongst themselues and that some of them had declared all Syllaeus his bad practises and that by his means and procurement many of Obodas kinsmen were murthered as his aduersaries manifestly prooued by certaine of his letters which they intercepted Now Nicholaus desirous to reconcile Herode vnto Caesar omitted not this occasion by chance offered him for he well knew that if he began with the kings defence he should then find a hard and heauie iudge against him but if he began to accuse Syllaeus he should finde also fit occasion to pleade his kings cause Wherefore Nicholaus taking vpon him to prooue the accusation against him at the day appointed he accompanied with the king Aretas Embasladours accused Syllaeus as a murtherer of his Lord and king and many other Arabians and that he had borrowed much money to trouble the peace of the common wealth and that he had corrupted many women and honest matrons both at Rome and in Arabia He added hereunto a most grieuous crime to wit that he by his lies and false reports had deceiued Caesar whom in all things he had misinformed concerning that which Herode had done Which when he once mentioned Caesar commaunded him to omit the rest and onely to recount the matter concerning Herod whether Herod did not enter into Arabia with an army and did slay two thousand and fiue hundreth men and carrie away captiues and robbe and spoile the countrey Nicholaus answered that to these demannds himselfe was able to answere that Herode did none of all these or at least verie little hereof which he did recount and that he did not deserue any displeasure Caesar contrarie to his expectation hearing this began to giue diligent eare to what Nicholaus said and hereupon Nicholaus recounted vnto Caesar howe Herode had lent
before the people and the people throwing any thing that came to their hands at them they slew them euery one And Alexander and Aristobulus were caried vnto Sebaste there by their fathers command were strangled and their bodies buried by night in the castle Alexandrium where their grandfather by the mothers side and many of their progenitors lay buried But perhaps some will nothing maruaile that a hatred so long a breeding should in the end so preuaile that it ouercame naturall affection But one may iustly doubt whether the fault were in the yong men who exasperated by a hard father so long time fell into such hatred of him or whether it is to be imputed vnto his vnkindnes immoderate desire of honour rule who could not abide any to be his equal but rather chusing to do all at his owne pleasure Or rather vnto fortune whose power the wisest liuing is not able to resist Wherefore I am perswaded that fortune hath predestinated all humane actions so that they must haue a necessary euent And this ineuitable force we cal fate or fatal destinie for that there is nothing which it effecteth not But it sufficeth briefly to haue touched this high matter which is of it selfe very difficult which attributeth some thing vnto our actions and examineth the causes of the varietie of our actions which speculation is alreadie comprised in the two volumes of our law Furthermore as touching the yong mens fault we may accuse their youthly arrogancy the free kingly pride which was in them who did giue too great eare vnto their fathers accusers for that they were vniust serchers into his life actions and that they maliciously suspected him could not rule their tongues but hereby gaue double occasion vnto their aduersaries and matter vnto those tale bearers that sought to get the kings fauor But their fathers shamefull fault cānot be excused who suffered himselfe so to be ouerruled with passion that he put thē to death that were begotten of his own body without any proof or argumēt of the crimes laid vnto their charge yea two yong men of excellent feature of body not only beloued of their owne nation but also of strangers not slouthfull in hunting cōmendable in military affaires eloquent in ciuil discourses For in all these things they were excellent especially Alexander the eldest of them It had bin enough for him suppose he had condemned them either to haue kept thē in perpetual prison or to haue banished them into some far country seeing that he was assured of the Roman power vnder whose protectiō he neither needed to haue feared inuasion nor secret treason against him For so soone to put them to death only to satisfie his owne furious will what other thing doth it betoken but only an impious liberty casting off all fatherly humanity kindnes especially seeing that he was aged whose yeeres could neither plead ignorance not that he was deceiued For neither was he the more excused by the delay he vsed nay it had beene a lesse offence if amazed with some sudden newes he had beene incited vnto so hainous an offence but after so long delay deliberation at last to effect such a matter betokeneth a bloudie mind obdurate in wickednes as he well shewed himselfe afterward to haue not sparing the rest whō before time he held most deere who although they were lesse to be pitied in that they iustly suffered yet was it an argument of his like cruelty in that he abstained not from their deaths also but we will speake hereof hereafter THE XVII BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 17. booke 1 Of Antipaters malice who was Herodes sonne 2 Of Zamaris the Babylonian Iew. 3 Of Antipaters treacherous practises against Herode his father 4 How Herode sent Antipater vnto Caesar. 5 Of Pheroras death 6 How Pheroras wife was accused for intending to poyson the king and how Herode knew Antipaters practises against him 7 How Antipater was condemned to die and imprisoned 8 Of Herodes sicknesse and the sedition amongst the Iewes 9 Of Antipaters death 10 Of Herodes death his testament and funerall 11 How the people began a sedition against Archelaus 12 Of the sedition of the Iewes against Sabinus and how Varus punished the authors thereof 13 How Caesar ratified Herodes testament 14 Of the false Alexander 15 How Archelaus being againe accused was banished vnto Vienna CHAP. I. Of Antipaters malice who was Herodes sonne AFTER that Antipater had made away his brothers thorow the extreme impietie and vnbridled furie wherewith Herode their father was incensed and whetted against them yet incontinently obtained he not that which vndoubtedly he hoped for For being deliuered and discharged of that feare he conceiued least his brethren should be partakers with him in the kingdome he found it a difficult and dangerous matter for himselfe to finde the meanes how he might obtaine the kingdome so strange and hainous a hatred had all the nation conceiued against him On the other side in shewing himselfe proud and loftie he more and more whetted and encreased that hatred which the souldiers had fore conceiued against him in whom notwithstanding the securitie of the kingdome consisted if it should fortune so to fall out that the people should attempt any alteration All which mischiefes were begotten by his owne sinnes and the vnnaturall murther of his brothers Naithelesse he gouerned the kingdome with his father liuing in no lesse authoritie then himselfe Herode also reposed more confidence in him euen in those things for which he was worthie to lose his head For the king conceiued that in confirmation of his good affection towards him Antipater had accused his brethren as vnder resolution to continue his father in securitie and not for any hatred he bore as well vnto them as to his father though indeed he hated them for his fathers sake being transported with furie But all these were but as it were many subtill stratagemes to insinuate himselfe into Herodes counsailes and sauours and these did he craftily make vse of to cut off the occasion least any should preuent or accuse him of that which he pretended to doe and that Herode might be depriued of all meanes and manner of reliefe if so be Antipater should bend his forces against him For the treason he complotted against his brothers proceeded from the hatred he bare vnto his father but at that time was he the more egged on to prosecute his intended purposes without any delay or procrastination For if Herode should happen to die it was a matter most assured that the kingdome should be his and should his life conti◅ any longer time and the practise Antipater went about should be discouered seeing himselfe inuironed with these dangers he should be inforced to make his father his enemy For which cause he vsed verie
and ripped vp the outrage that was done vnto his daughters as it hath beene declared ascribing the same to the pride of this woman obiecting it for a crime against her for thereby she had iniued his honour Besides this he accused her that she had of set purpose stirred vp mutinies and by all meanes possible both in word and in effect contrarie to all law of nature shee stirred vp debate betwixt him and his brother and that the fine that he had imposed vpon his aduersaries was satisfied at her charge so that no ◅ot of that conspiracy was contriued without her priuitie and consent For which causes said he brother Pheroras it shall not be amisse for you of your owne accord to driue such a wretched woman from you before you be requested and the sentence be prouounced against her otherwise she will be the cause to kindle a warre betwixt you and me For if at this present you will continue the friendship and brotherhood betwixt you and me separate your selfe from her in so doing I will account you for my brother and you shall lose nothing by the affection which I beare vnto you For the bond of brotherly loue cannot continue safe and vnuiolate vnlesse you put her away Now although Pheroras was moued with the importance and waight of this discourse yet said he that for the loue he bare vnto his wife he would forget nothing of that dutie which consanguinitie required at his hands in regard of his brother but that he had rather die then to liue without her company whom he loued more deerely then his life Herode although he tooke this answere of his brothers for a most gricuous iniurie yet forbare he to discouer his displeasure towards him he onely forbad Antipater and his mother and in like manner Pheroras to frequent the one with the other any more He commaunded the women likewise that they should giue ouer their familiar entertainments the one with the other which all of them promised to performe Yet this notwithstanding vpon fit opportunities and occasions they visited one another and Antipater and Pheroras feasted one another by night The report also went that Antipater had the company of Pheroras wife and that his mother was the meanes and minister of their priuie meetings CHAP. IIII. Herode sendeth Antipater vnto Caesar. ANtipater suspecting his fathers dislikes and fearing least his hatred should by increase bring him into hazard he wrote vnto his friends in Rome requiring them to write their letters vnto Herod requesting him to send Antipater vnto Caesar with al expedition as was possible Which being brought to passe Herode sent him thither with diuers royall presents and gaue him his testament and will with him wherein he had bequeathed the kingdome to Antipater And if it should happē that Antipater should die before him then bequeathed he the same to his son Herod whom he had by the high Priests daughter About the same time Syllaeus the Arabian repaired to Rome notwithstanding he had neglected those things that Caesar had giuen him in charge Him did Antipater accuse before Caesar for the same defaults wherewith he was charged by Nicholaus Syllaeus also was accused by Aretas for murthering diuers of the best account in the citie of Petra contrarie to his mind amongst the which was Sohemus a man of much vertue and honour and Phabatus Caesars seruant of which crimes Syllaeus was accused vpon that occasion which ensueth There was a certaine man of Corinthus who was one of the kings gard and such a one as he putvery great trust in him did Syllaeus perswade by store of money and bribes to kill Herode which he promised to performe Phabatus made priuie to Syllaeus mind he presently told it to the king who caused him to be apprehended and tortured who confessed the whole matter He laid hands also on two Arabians perswaded by this Corinthians confession one of which was a man of commaund in his countrey and the other was Syllaeus chiefest friend They being examined confessed that they came thither to solicite and egge forward with many exhortations the Corinthian to execute the murther and to assist him if he stood in need of them Which being fully approued by Herode before Saturnine he sent them to Rome there more amply to be proceeded against and so to be punished CHAP. V. Pheroras death HErode perceiuing that his brother Pheroras did constantly continue his affection towards his wife he commaunded him to retire himselfe into his owne dominion whereupon he willingly departed to his Terrarchy protesting by many solemne othes that he would neuer more returne into the citie vnlesse he were assured that Herode was dead Not long after it hapned that the king falling sicke he was sent for to receiue certaine secret instructions as from the mouth of a dying man but Pheroras would not obey him in regard of his oth This notwithstanding Herode dealt more kindly with him and continued his loue and affection towards him for he came vnto Pheroras as soone as he heard of his first sicknes and being vnsent for also and after he was deceased he sent his bodie to Ierusalem and honourably entombed him in that place and grieously lamented his death This was the beginning of all Antipaters mishaps who at that time was departed to Rome For it was Gods pleasure that at last he should be punished for the murther of his brethren This matter will I discourse of at large that it may serue for an example vnto many kings how they ought to practise and follow vertue in all their actions CHAP. VI. Pheroras wife is accused and Herode is aduertised of Antipaters conspiracies AFter Pheroras death two of his freemen who were Taphnites by birth and such as Pheroras in his life time both inlie trusted and dearely loued came vnto Herode requiring him not to suffer his brothers death to passe vnpunished but to make diligent enquirie of that vnfortunate and vnexpected misaduenture Herode lent a willing care vnto their suite perceiuing that the matters they importuned him in were likely and verie credible Whereupon they told him that Pheroras the day before his vnexpected sicknesse had supt with his wife and that hauing receiued an vnaccustomed poison with his meate he was dead That this poison had been brought thither by a woman of Arabia who in her speech protested that it was some potion to increase loue but in effect it was to bring Pheroras to his end For the women of Arabia amongst all others are skilfull in poisons and are great sorcerers and she that was charged with this fact was esteemed a great freind and sauourer of Syllaeus best beloued That Pheroras mother and his wifes sister went into those quarters vpon purpose to buy that poyson and returned backe and brought this woman with them the day before the supper The king mooued by these words of theirs tortured both those
maidseruants of theirs who were their bondwomen as also certaine other of their free seruants Now when the fact would not be extorted by reason that none of them confessed the same at length shee that was last of all put to her triall ouercome by the paines shee endured said nought else but that shee praied God that Antipaters mother might feele the like torments since shee was the cause of all those mischiefes which they endured These words of hers made Herode the more eager and inquisitiue so that by force of tortures he wrought out all the secrets of these women their banquets their secret assemblies and those verie words that Herode had spoken apart betwixt his sonne and himselfe which had beene reported vnto the women that Pheroras entertained namely that he would giue him one hundreth talents prouided he would vse no conference with Pheroras Moreouer they reckoned vp the hatred that Antipater bare vnto his father the complaints that he made vnto his mother of the too long life and continuance of his father for that in regard of himselfe he was already waxen olde so that although the kingdome should fall into his hands presently yet could he receiue but verie little contentment thereby Moreouer hee alleadged that diuers brothers and brothers children were brought vp togither with him so that he might not securely hope for any thing for that already if he should fortune to die the kingdome was to descend not to his sonne but to his brother besides this he was accustomed to accuse the king of diuers cruelties committed by him and of that murther which he executed vpon the persons of his children That for feare least he should practise his tyrannie against those that remained Antipater had found out the deuise to be summoned to Rome and Pheroras withdrew himselfe into his Tetrarchy These words which as he knew had reference vnto that which his sister had often informed him of were not by him held incredible so that being pressed with the malice of Antipater he sequestred Doris his mother from his presence spoiling her before her departure of all her iewels which were valued at many talents and from that time forward he shewed himselfe more fauourable towards those women of Pheroras household But nothing did more whet Herods displeasure against Antipater then did a certaine Samaritane who was also called Antipater who had the ordering of the affaires of Antipater the kings sonne For he being brought in question and tortured declared amongst other things that Antipater had mixed a mortall poison and deliuered the same to Pheroras his vncle commanding him to practise the kings death in his absence and by that meanes least suspected That this poison was brought out of Aegypt by one called Antiphilus Antipaters friend That it was sent to Pheroras by one called Theudion Antipaters mothers brother That this poison was kept by Pheroras wife and was committed by her husband to her custodie She being examined by the king hereupon confessed no lesse hastning forth as if she intended to fetch the same she cast her selfe downe headlond from the toppe of the house yet did she not murther her selfe because she fell vpon her feet Now after she was recouered out of her swoune and the king had promised all securitie both to her selfe and her family if so be she would discouer the truth and contrariwise threatned her with extreme torments if she obstinately continued in concealing these treasons she sware that she would discouer all things according as they were acted and as many men thought at that time she tolde nothing but the truth That poison said she was brought by Antiphilus out of Aegypt and bought there by the meanes of a brother of his who was a physition After this Theudion brought it to our house and I hauing receiued it from Pheroras hands kept the same but bought by your sonne Antipater to poison you that are his father Now therefore after that my husband fell sicke and you in kindnesse came to visit and comfort him he being mooued with compassion and conquered by your brotherly kindenesse by your good affection and louing care in giuing order for his health called me vnto him and said O Wife Antipater hath circumuented me whilest by his pestilent counsailes and poisoning practises he desireth to cut off his father and depriue me of a kinde brother Now therfore since as I perceiue there is no part of my brothers louing and naturall affection diminished towards me wherewith he was wont to entertaine me and that my latest houre of life approcheth God forbid that being ready to sleepe with my forefathers I should present them with a ghost soiled and sweltred in my brothers bloud Dispatch therefore and burne this poison before mine eies Hereupon said she I presently brought it forth according as my husband commaunded me and burnt the greatest part of the poison and the rest I reserued that if after my husbands death your grace should vse me vnkindly it might serue me to escape those extremities that would betide me After she had spoken thus she brought forth before them all the poison and the box wherein it was kept After her another of Antiphilus brothers and the mother to them both confessed no lesse being constrained thereunto by force and violence of torture and acknowledged the box The kings wife also who was the daughter of the high priest was accused for confederacie and concealement of all these treasons For which cause Herode put her away from him and raced his sonnes name out of his testament wherein he had bequeathed him the kingdome after his decease He displaced also his father in law Simon the sonne of Boëthus from the priesthood and placed Matthias the sonne of Theophilus who was borne in Ierusalem in his steed In the meane space Bathillus Antipaters freeman returned from Rome who being tortured confessed that he brought a poison with him to deliuer it to Antipaters mother and Pheroras to the ende that if the first poison were not effectuall enough to dispatch the king they might make vse of this other to cut him off speedily There came letters also to Herods hands from his friends in Rome written and deuised by Antipaters meanes to accuse Archelaus and Philip for that verie often they had refreshed the memorie of Alexander and Aristobulus death contriued by their father and for that they lamented the miserable fate of them who were innocently betraied and that now also they themselues were called backe into their countrey for no other cause but vpon their arriuall to be made partakers of their brothers miserable destinie These things did Antipaters friends certifie Herod of in that by many and mightie presents he wrought them thereunto He himselfe also wrote vnto his father colourably after a maner excusing the young men and imputing their words to their indiscretion young yeers Meane while he busied himselfe in accusing Syllaeus and coutted the chiefest Romans buying
practise these trecheries you haue poisoned your mother also with no lesse corruption and in steed of the loue that should haue beene amongst brethren you haue filled your family with mutinies and hatreds And after and besides all these things thou hast beene so audacious as to call thy father beast being of thy selfe more malignant then those beasts that are most venemous vsing thine owne venome against thy deerest friends and such as haue best deserued at thy hands strengthing thy selfe with his guard and diuers trecheries both of men and women against one olde man as if thy cursed mind alone were not sufficient to satisfie thy hatred And now after so many men and women slaues and free men tortured for thy cause after the open and manifest testimonies of thy parties in the conspiracy thou art so impudent as yet to contradict the trueth and thou that lately hopedst to depriue thy father of his life doest now as much as in thee lieth endeuour to abolish that law that was instituted against malefactors in thy kind herewithall Varus equitie and all whatsoeuer iustice is in the world Dost thou therefore accuse them of falsehood who were examined in torments to the end thou mightest endaunger their credit who were the preseruers of thy fathers life shall we beleeue thee more then them in their torments Wilt thou not O Varus deliuer the king from the iniuries of those who are his owne flesh and bloud wilt thou not put this wicked beast to death who hath murthered his brothers to pretend a loue towards his father and who hath at last beene discouered to bee the most mortall enemie of them all to the intent that at one instant hee might establish the kingdome in himselfe Thou knowest that Patricide is no priuate crime but a publike iniurie to life and nature which is no lesse lothsome in the thought then it is in the act which who so punisheth not is of himselfe guiltie of an iniurie offered to our common mother nature After these speeches he annexed certaine points as touching Antipaters mother which thorow feminine frailtie had beene blabbed out by her to wit that she had asked counsaile of southsaiers and diuiners to whom the kingdome should befall And that she had offered sacrifices and made prayers for the death of the king And moreouer he declared what lasciuious pranks Antipater had plaied with Pheroras women in banqueting and amorous and wanton dalliances The informations likewise that were presented by such as were tortured with sundry testimonies of diuers men some suborned the other found out to be incontinently produced and confirmed For each man seeing that Antipater was exposed to the accusations of those men who had the gouernment in their hands and that the good fortune that had long time accompanied him had openly deliuered him into the hands of his enemies they manifestly discouered the insatiable hatred which they had conceiued against him whereas before time the feare that they had of him inforced them to be silent yet was he not so much burdened with other mens hatreds as with his owne wickednes namely his deadly hatred against his father his breach of amitie amongst his brethren wherby he filled the kings houshold with seditions and murthers of some complotted and acted by other some neither giuing place to hatred according to iustice nor to amitie according to good affection but according as it might stand with his profit Which for that diuers men perceiued long before that time they iudged of euents according as they had reason and the rather because that being voide of hatred they spake but their opinions And whereas heretofore they had cried with a lowd voice against him at such time as they were shut vp at this time when as they were depriued of their feare they declared al things that they knew And whereas there were diuers produced of the mischiefes committed by him yet seemed there nothing to be fained for that the accusers neither spake in fauor of the king neither concealed any thing for feare of perill but condemned all Antipaters wicked actions and iudged him worthy of death and punishment not so much for his fathers security as of his own deinerit Neither did they onely accuse him who were by iustice tied thereunto but diuers voluntarie witnesses also brought in their euidence so that although he was a verie cunning dissembler and colourer of his lies and most impudent in his assertions yet durst he not once open his mouth or mutter against the same As soone as Nicholas had finished his discourse and accusations Varus cummanded Antipater to answere to those crimes that were obiected against him if he had any thing to alleadge that he was not guiltie of those forfaits or hainous crimes that were laid vnto his charge For of himselfe he desired nothing more and knew well that Herode his father desired no lesse then that he should iustifie himselfe and maintaine his innocencie But he humbling himselfe vpon his face and lowly bending his body to the ground besought God who was the searcher of all hearts to approoue his innocencie by some euident signe how he had neuer attempted anything to his fathers preiudice For this is the custome of all wicked men that as often as they attempt any hainous act they engage themselues in all wickednesse without any respect of Gods iustice and when as by their misdeeds they are fallen into perill then call they God to their mindes by whose inuocation and testimonie they desire to be deliuered making a shew that they commit all things to his determination The like whereof at that time happened in Antipater who wheras before time disposed all his actions in such sort as if there had been no God that had the ouersway of humane affaires at such time as iustice ouertooke him and he was disfurnished of the benefit of the lawe had his recourse to Gods power alleadging that he was reserued by God to this end that he might diligently intend his fathers safetie Hereupon Varus when as by often questionings he could wrest nothing from him but that he onely cried vpon God seeing that otherwise there would be no end of these debates he commaunded the poison to be brought forth before them all that hee might make experience of what force it was which being presently brought vnto him and ministred to one that was condemned to die it presently killed the man Which done he arose and departed out of the councell and the next day went to Antioch where for the most part he was wont to haue his residence for that it was the chiefe Citie of the Assyrians But Herod presently commanded his sonne to be put in bonds no man knowing what talke had been betweene him and Varus vpon his departure but all mens opinion was that the king did nothing in imprisoning him but by his counsaile When as therefore he had fast bound him he sent vnto Caesar and wrote
he returned to Iericho where a melancholy humour possessed him which made him vnsociable and displeased against all men so that seeing that he must needlie die he bethought him of this facinorous action that followeth For the noblest men among the nation of the Iewes resorting vnto him from all parts vpon his commaundement vnder the expresse penaltie of losse of life to whosoeuer should neglect the same the king shewed himselfe to be displeased as well against those whom he thought guiltie as against them who had giuen him no occasion of discontent For he caused them to be shut vp in a place called the Hippodrome which was the tilt yard to runne horses in and sent for his sister Salome and Alexas her husband telling them that his end was at hand for that his griefes did incessantly tormēt him which as he said he ought to beare patiētly because it was an end that should happen to all men But that which most grieued him was that he saw himselfe depriued of those mournings and lamentations which a king deserued For he was not to seeke of the Iewes affections neither how his death was desired and longed for by them since that in his life time they presumed so farre as to reuolt and dishonour and deface those gifts which he had bestowed vpon the commonweale It therefore behooued them to afford him some solace in that his bitter anguish for that if they refused not to performe that which he had contriued in his mind the lamentation of his death should be magnificent as great as any king euer had and the pleasure and laughter that might accompany his death should be abated by their sorrow who should vnfainedly lament for the whole nation He therefore willed them that at such time as he should giue vp the ghost they should cause the Hippodrome to be inuironed by his soldiers as yet vnaduertised of his death which he would not haue published before this execution were ended and to commaund them to shoot their arrowes at those that were shut vp therein And that when they had slaine them all after this manner they should make him triumph reioice in a double ioy first for that in his death his commaundement should be ratified by effect secondly for that he should be honoured by a memorable lamentation Thus weeping he besought his kinsfolke for the loue they bare vnto him and for the faith they bare vnto God that they should not suffer him to die frustrate of this last honour and they protested that they would not transgresse any point of this his commandement Hereby may a man coniecture what his nature was who tooke pleasure in these aboue named impieties and who through the desire he had of long life hath after this sort delt with those of his bloud and it may be coniectured by these his last commandements that he had nothing in him that fauoured any humanitie for that departing out of the world he had such a mind that all the nation and all such as were most affectioned towards him should be driuen to sorrow and desolation commaunding that in euery house one should be slaine yea such as had not in any sort offended him and were not accused of any misdeed committed against any other whereas they that haue any vertue finding themselues at that state haue beene accustomed to lay aside the hatred which they haue before time borne vnto their enemies CHAP. IX Antipaters death WHilest he deliuered these instructions to his kinred he receiued letters from those Embassadours which he had sent to Rome vnto Caesar the effect whereof was that Acme was put to death by Caesars commaund who was displeased with her for that she had beene of Antipaters conspiracy who was remitted to Herodes pleasure like a king and father to vse him as best pleased him either to exile and banish him or if it so pleased him to put him to death Herode receiuing these newes recouered his spirits a little thorow the pleasure he receiued in the contents of those letters both of the death of Acme as of the power that was granted him to punish his sonne But being assailed afresh with grieuous dolours and vrged with a desire to eate he called for an apple and a knife for before time he was accustomed to pare his apples himselfe and to cut a little and afterwards to eate it when as therefore he had gotten holde of the knife he looked round about him determining to giue himselfe a mortall wound therewith and had surely done it had not Achiabus his nephew hastily stept within him and staied his hand and called for assistance At that time the sorrow and lamentation was renewed in all the pallace as if the king had beene alreadie dead and Antipater certainly beleeuing that his father was departed began to hope and confirmed no lesse in his words that being deliuered out of prison he should obtaine the possession of the kingdome without any difficulty and deuised with the Gaoler as touching his deliuerāce offring him great presents both in hand hereafter as if there had beene no other question but of that But so farre was the Gaoler from obeying that which Antipater demaunded that he presently went and certified the king what his intent was and what offers he had made him Herode who had alreadie conceiued a sinister opinion of his sonne hearing what the Gaoler had said began to exclaime and to beat his head although he was almost at the vttermost gaspe and lifting himselfe vp vpon his elbowes he commaunded that one of his guard should presently haste and kill him and that done that he should be buried in the castle of Hircanion without any honour CHAP. X. Herodes will death and buriall AFter this hauing changed his mind he made a new testament For he appointed Antipas Tetrarch of Galilee and of Peraea whereas before that he had instituted him for his successour in the kingdome He created Archelaus king he gaue the prouinces of Gaulonites Trachonites Batanea and Paneade to Philip his sonne and Archelaus brother by the mothers side to be Tetrarch ouer those places He gaue his sister Salome Iamnia Azot and Phasaelis with fiftie thousand crownes of gold He prouided also for his other kinsmen all whom he left rich in money which he gaue them and reuenues which he assigned them He gaue Caesar ten millions of drachmes in siluer amounting to the summe of eleuen hundreth thousand francs besides a great quantitie of gold and siluer plate and of precious moueables To Iulia Caesars wife and to certaine others he bequeathed fiue millions of drachmes amounting to fiue hundreth and fiftie thousand francs or there abouts After he had in this manner disposed all things some fiue daies after he had caused Antipater to be executed he departed this life hauing raigned after Antigonus death for the space of thirtie and foure yeeres and thirtie and seuen yeeres after he was elected and approued
king by the Romans a man without respect cruell and seuere towards all men slaue to his wrath Lord of the lawes yet so fauoured by fortune as no man more for from a priuate man he became a king and being inuironed with many perils he alwaies happily escaped them and he liued also a verie long time And as touching his family and children in this also in his owne opinion was he happie in that he ouercame his enemies and aduersaries but in my opinion he was most vnfortunate But before the kings death was thorowly knowen Salome and Alexas discharged those that were locked vp in the Hippodrome and sent euerie one of them home vnto his owne house telling them that the king commaunded them to depart and follow their household affaires and till their land wherein they performed a most noble action and benefited the whole nation with an especiâ—…ll good turne After that the kings death was bruited abroad Salome and Alexas caused all the men of warre to be assembled in the Amphitheater in Iericho and first of all they caused Herods letters to be read after which were addressed to the soldiers in which he gaue them thanks for the fidelitie and good will which they had expressed towards him praying them to continue the same to Archelaus his sonne whom he had appointed to be their king after him That done Ptolomey to whom the king had committed the custodie of his seale recited his testament which was to take no effect except that Caesar approoued the same Thereupon all of them began to applaud and honour Archelaus for their king The men of war flocked about him in troupes accompanied with their captaines promising him to serue him with no lesse will and affection then they had done his father praying God to yeeld him his assistance At that time also the kings herse was prepared and Archelaus gaue order that his obsequies should be most royallie performed and bestowed all the furniture that was requisite for that funerall and princely enterment He was carried out in a gilded litter distinguished with diuers precious stones the couer thereof was of azure colour The dead body was apparelled in a purple raiment hauing a diademe vpon his head ouer which there was set a crowne of gold and a scepter was couched in his right hand About this litter marched a great number of his children and kinsfolke and after them followed the men of warre disposed in bands and troupes according to the manners of euerie nation The first of these were the Archers of his guard after them went the Thracians and lastly marched the Germans and Galathians all of them in their warlike abiliments and discipline After them followed all the army marching in order in like manner as when they were addressed to battell each one vnder his corporall and captaine Next these followed fiue hundreth of his houshold seruants bearing perfumes and all these in this equipage marched to the Castle Herodion distant some eight stades or furlongs off For there was he entombed according to the tenor of his testament Thus died Herode Archelaus continued his mourning for seuen daies space in honour of his father For the law of the country ordaineth no lesse And after he had feasted the people and laid aside his mourning apparell he ascended vp into the temple All the way as he went all the people with shouts and acclamations cried God saue the king and with praiers and praises honoured him to their vttermost and he being conducted vp to a high station and state which was made for the purpose and placed in a throne that was embelished with gold entertained the people verie gratiously taking pleasure in their acclamations and congratulations that they bestowed vpon him He gaue them thankes also for that they had blotted out of their remembrance the iniuries that his father had done vnto them protesting in his owne behalfe that he would enforce himselfe to requite their kindnes with an intire affection He likewise tolde them that for the present he accepted not the stile of a king because the honour was bequeathed vnto him with this condition that Caesar should ratifie his fathers testament For this cause although the souldiers that were in Iericho enforced themselues to set the diademe vpon his head yet would he not accept that vncertaine honour because it was not as resolued whether Caesar who was the principall partie in the gift would grant him the gouernment or no. He alleadged likewise that if his affaires succeeded according to his desire he would not according as his honour commaunded him forget their loue or leaue their good affection vnrequited And that in the meane while he would enforce himselfe by all meanes to further those things that concerned them and entertaine them with more kindnesse then his father had done But they according as it is the custome of the common people thinking that those that enter into such dignities declare and open their mindes at the first day the more Archelaus spake kindely and curteously vnto them the more they applauded him and presented him with diuers petitions for certaine grants and donations from him Some of them cried out vnto him that he should cut off some part of their taxes and tallages which they paied annually Othersome cried vpon him to deliuer those prisoners that were committed by Herode of whom diuers had pined a long time in prison Others instantly vrged him to cut off those tributes which had been imposed by him vpon bargaines and sales which was to pay the halfe of the bargaine Whereunto Archelaus did not in any sort contradict striuing to the vttermost of his power to please the people for that he knew full well that their good affection would be no small aduantage toward him in the confirmation of his kingdome That done he sacrificed vnto God and afterward fell to banquetting and entertainment of his friends CHAP. XI The people mutinie against Archelaus MEane while certaine men among the Iewes that were desirous of innouation in their priuate conuenticles bewailed Matthias and his confederates whom Herode had put to death and condemned for racing and defacing the golden Aegle for that incontinently after their decease they had neither been publikely honoured nor lamented for by reason of the feare that the people had conceiued of Herode For which cause at that time they required with lamentations and great cries that their obsequies might be solemnized and as if the dead bodies had receiued some contentation by their teares and tempest of exclaimes they vttered many hainous and disgracefull speeches against Herode and assembling themselues togither they required Archelaus to doe them iustice against those that during Herodes life were in authoritie and especially they demaunded that the high priest who was aduanced by his father should be deposed and that an other more lawfull and vpright might be placed in his steed to offer and exercise the high
who was confirmed in the kingdome by his fathers testament yet would he not giue eare thereunto But Antipas no sooner arriued in Rome but all his kinsfolke reuolted from Archelaus vnto him not so much for the loue they bare him as for the hatred they had conceiued against Archelaus and aboue all for the desire they had to recouer their libertie and to draw themselues vnder a Roman gouernour For they thought that if there were any contradiction that Antipas for whom they indeuoured to procure the roialtie should be more profitable vnto them then Archelaus Sabinus also by his letters accused Archelaus to Caesar But Archelaus by Ptolomey exhibited vnto Caesar a supplication containing his right and title to the kingdome his fathers testament and the account of the money which Herode his father had sealed vp togither with his ring and expected the issue But when he had read these letters and those which Varus and Sabinus had sent him and vnderstood what summes of money he had left and what the annuall reuenue was and how Antipas challenged the kingdome and appropriated it to himselfe according as his letters made mention he assembled all his friends to haue their aduise thereupon Amongst them was Caius the sonne of Agrippa and his daughter Iulia adopted by him whom he caused to sit in the chiefest place which done he commanded the assistants to speake what they would touching this matter At that time Antipater Salomes sonne a man verie eloquent and a great aduersarie to Archelaus spake first saying that it was a mockerie for him at that time to speake of the kingdome â—…nsidering that before Caesar had granted it him he had alreadie seazed the forces of the state when as vpon a festiuall day he had slaine so many who although they had deserued that punishment yet ought the iustice thereof to haue been reserued to a lawfull power and not to haue bin vsurped by him either being king with Caesars preiudice whose authoritie he had contempned or by being a priuate man which was a greater ouersight For which cause he vndeseruedly at this time hoped for his approbation whom already as much as in him lay he had depriued of the title and authoritie of his allowance Moreouer he obiected against him that of his owne authoritie he had chaunged certaine chieftaines of the armie and that he had seated himselfe in the royall throne and like a king had determined certaine causes and had granted certaine demaunds of the people finally that he had left nothing vndone which he might haue performed had Caesar confirmed his title He alledged also that they who were inclosed in the Hippodrome were dismissed by him and diuers other acts partly true partly probable in regard of the ambition of young men who desirous to gouerne do ordinarily commit such things besides this his neglect in mourning for his father and withall his reare banquets all night long at that verie time his father died whereat the people began to mutinie seeing the smal regard he had of his fathers death from whom he had receiued so great goods and honours How all the day long he made a shew of his sorrow and teares in his pauilion but all the night tooke pleasures like a king and being such if Caesar should grant him the kingdome he would behaue himselfe no lesse vnkindly towards him then he had done towards his most kind father That it was no lesse then a hainous crime in him to delite himselfe with songs and daunces at his fathers death as if he had beene his enemie That he now came to Caesars presence to the intent to obtaine the kingdome by his consent whereas alreadie he had behaued himselfe no otherwise then if he had alreadie beene established king by his authoritie But most of all he exaggerated the slaughter he had committed in the temple and the impietie perpetrated so neere to the feast of Easter at which time diuers both straungers and citizens had beene slaughtered after the manner of sacrifices and the temple filled with carcasses not by a straunger but by him who vnder the colour of religion desireth the gouernment of the kingdome to the end he might satisfie the vniustice of his nature in exercising each way his tyranny toward all men for which cause his father neuer thought nor euer dreampt to substitute him king in his place For he knew both his life and disposition and by his former testament and that of greatest force had ordained his aduersarie Antipater to be king For he had beene allotted the kingdome by his father not when his mind was dead before his bodie but when both his iudgement was sound and his bodie in health Yea although at that time Archelaus father had such a conceit of him as in his latter testament and bequest he pretendeth yet that he had alreadie declared what kind of king he was likely to be who contemned Caesars authoritie in confirming the kingdome and being as yet a priuate man doubted not to murther the citizens in the temple This said Antipater to giue greater credit to his words bringing diuers of his kindred as witnesses of that he had said ended his Oration Whereupon Nicholas arose and alledged in Archelaus behalfe as touching the slaughter that it was to be imputed to their impietie who could not be restrained from their tumults and vprores before Archelaus was enforced to appease them by force alledging that they were so much the more guiltie for that they had not onely exercised their malice but also had enforced others to attempt so hainous a reuenge against them for their insolencie seemed in appearance to concerne Archelaus yet in a sort their contumacie pertianed to Caesars iniurie For those that had beene sent by him to appease and represse their sedition were against all law and right charged and slaine by them without respect of God or regard of the solemne feast whose defence Antipater was not ashamed of without respect of equitie so that he might satisfie that hatred which he bare vnto Archelaus That therefore it was their fault who first of all abstained not from iniurie but whetted those swords which were drawen in maintenance of the peace against their owne bosomes He enforced all other things also whereof they had accused Archelaus against themselues saying that none of these things were done without their consents and that the offence was not so grieuous as they intended it should be esteemed to the end they might discredit Archelaus So great a desire was in them to hurt their kinsman a man both well respected and affected by his father as also kind and officious towards them in all things that concerned them As for the testament that it was made by the king when he was in perfect estate of minde and bodie and of greater force then the former because the authoritie and confirmation thereof was ascribed to Caesar the soueraigne of the world Further that Caesar would
slaine by his father she was married the second time to Iubaking of Mauritania and he also being dead she liuing with her father in Cappadocia was married to Archelaus who put away Mariamme his wife for the loue he bare vnto Glaphyra She liuing with Archelaus was encountred with such a dreame She thought that she sawe Alexander fast by her who cherishing and embracing her checked her saying Glaphyra Thou approouest the truth of that prouerbe which saith Women haue no loyaltie For hauing giuen me thy faith and maried with me at such time as thou wert a virgin and borne children by me thou hast forgotten and neglected my loue thorow the desire thou hast had to be married the second time Neither hast thou contented to haue done me this wrong but hast taken vnto thee likewise a third husband lewdly and impudently intruding thy selfe into my family and being married with Archelaus thou art content to admit my brother for thy husband This notwithstanding I will not forget the loue that I haue borne there but will deliuer thee from him who hath done thee this reproch by retaining thee for mine owne as heretofore thou hast been After that she had told this vision to certaine women that were her familiars she died verie shortly after Which accident I haue thought good to register in this place in that I was to intreat of those kings and otherwise the matter seemeth to be a signall example containing a most certaine argument of the immortalitie of soules and Gods prouidence And if any one deeme these things incredible let him reserue his opinion to himselfe and no waies contradict those who by such euents are incited to the study of vertue Now when the gouernment of Archelaus was annexed to Syria Cirenius who had been Consul was sent by Caesar to taxe Syria and to dispose of Archelaus house THE XVIII BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 18. booke 1 Cyrenius is sent by Caesar into Syria and Iudaea to taxe the people Coponius is made gouernour of Iudaea Iudas the Galilean raiseth vp new troubles 2 What and how many Sects there were among the Iewes 3 The Tetrarches Herode and Philip build Cities in honour of Caesar. 4 The sedition of the Iewes against Pontius Pilate 5 That which hapned to the Iewes that were dwelling at Rome in Pilates time 6 Of Vitellius his arriuall in Ierusalem and how he receiued commission from Tiberius Caesar to make warre against Aretas after he had receiued hostages of Artabanus 7 Herode the Tetrarches warre against king Aretas and his ouerthrow 8 Agrippaes voiage to Tiberius where he is accused and shut in prison He is deliuered after the death of Tiberius by Caius his successor 9 How Herode the Tetrarch was banished 10 The sedition of the Iewes and Greekes at Alexandria 11 Caius sendeth Petronius into Iudaea to make warre against the Iewes if so be they refused to receiue his statue 12 That which hapned to the Iewes that were at Babylon and of the two brethren Asinaeus and Anilaeus CHAP. I. Cyrenius is sent by Caesar into Syria Cyrenius the Roman Senator hauing executed all degrees offices and dignities vntill such time as he obtained the Consulship a man of great reckoning and estimation was sent into Syria by Caesars direction to doe iustice among the people and to sesse and taxe each mans goods with him was sent Coponius a captaine of a companie of horsemen who was appointed to haue the commaundement of all Iewrie Cyrenius therefore came into Iudaea which was already annexed vnto Syria to taxe the goods of the inhabitants thereof and to confiscate Archelaus substance And although at the first the Iewes thought but hardly of this description yet notwithstanding without contradiction they submitted themselues being perswaded thereunto by the counsell of the high priest Ioazar the sonne of Boëthus by whose aduice they suffered themselues to be taxed without contradiction But after this there arose a certaine Iewe called Iudas the Gaulanite borne in the towne of Gamala who hauing a certaine man called Sadoc the Pharisee confederate with him laboured to stirre vp the people to rebellion Alleadging that the description was no other thing but a manifest confession of their seruitude exhorting all the nation to maintaine their libertie and putting them in hope that they thereby should happely establish their estates and enioy their goods with securitie and besides this obtaine both honour and glorie in prosecution of such an enterprise Moreouer that God would not affoord them a more assured way to settle their fortunes then by this meanes namely if they would employ themselues in the execution of their desseignes and if hauing conceiued in their mindes hautie and noble attempts they forbore not to finish the same notwithstanding the execution cost them their liues These speeches of theirs were entertained by the people with great pleasure and by the same they were the more confirmed hartned to rebellion So that there was no kind of euil which these men set not abroach yea the whole nation was replenished with such miseries that it is impossible to recount them for the wars therein continued with such furie that it was impossible to restraine the violence thereof so that they neither spared friends nor respected enemies but were wholy giuen ouer to the spoile There raigned nothing but robberies and murthers of noble personages who entertained one an other vnder pretence to establish the estate of the common weale but in effect for their priuate profit sake wherby the cities were replenished with seditions murthers in which the inhabitants slaughtered one another after a strange manner of furie and desire they had not to spare any that was of their contrarie faction They were afflicted with forraine enemies and famine yet none of these could pacifie their furie but that they furiously raced Cities shed innocent bloud till at length the horrible mischiefe tooke such a head that they consumed the temple of God and burned all the beautifull buildings So dangerous a thing is it to change the customes and manners of a countrey For Iudas and Sadoc hauing introduced and raised a fourth sect and tying the Sectaries to their commaund filled the whole common weale for the present with many troubles and produced the rootes of these mischiefes which afterward branched abroad from this vnaccustomed sect For which cause I thinke it not amisse to discourse briefely of these sectaries opinions whereby so many euils haue fallen vpon our nation CHAP. II. How many and what sects there were among the Iewes THere were three sects among the Iewes of long continuance and antiquitie that of the Esseans that of the Sadduces and that of those who were called Pharisees Of these haue we spoken in our second booke of the warres of the Iewes and yet now I thinke it not amisse to speake somewhat
the second day of this solemnitie he shewed himselfe being apparrelled in a Robe of siluer made with admirable workmanship and came in the same to the Theater in the morning Whereas the first reflexe of the rising sunne â—…eat vpon his Robe he shined after such a sort that all those that beheld him were seazed with reuerence and feare Whereupon certaine sycophants which did not a little dishonour him exclaimed one on the one side the other on the other saluting him for a God and in speaking to him cried out thus Be mercifull vnto vs hitherto haue we feared thee as a man but hence forward we wil confesse and acknowledge thee to be of a nature more excellent then mortall frailtie can attaine vnto Agrippa reproued them not for vsing these words neither reiected he their palpable and detestable flattery But not long after he looking vpwards perceiued an owle ouer his head perched vpon a cord and knew the same incontinently that he was but a message of his misfortune whereas before time he had denounced vnto him his felicitie and conceiued thereupon a most hearty and inward griefe And sodainly he was seazed with a terrible griping in his belly which began with verie great vehemencie for which cause turning his eies towards his friends he spake vnto them after this manner Behold him said he whom you esteeme for a God condemned to die and destinie shall apparantly conuince you of those flattering and false speeches which you haue lately vsed in my behalfe For I who by you haue been adored as one immoitall am vnder the hands of death But I must willingly entertaine that which God pleaseth to send me For I haue not liued in obscuritie but in so great and wonderfull felicitie that each one of you haue tearmed and helde me happy Whilest he spake thus his griefes augmented in such sort as he was brought almost to his last for which cause with all expedition he was conuaied into his royall pallace and the rumor was spred in euerie place that verie shortly he would be dead For which cause the people with their wiues and children put on sackcloth according to the custome of the countrey to the end they might sollicit Gods mercie in the kings behalfe and all the Citie was filled with teares and lamentations The king that lay in an vpper chamber and looking downe into the court sawe them lying thus on the earth could not refraine himselfe from teares And after he had for the space of fiue daies without ceasing beene tormented with griping in his belly hee gaue vp the ghost in the fiftie fourth yeere of his age and the seuenth yeere of his raigne For hee had raigned foure yeeres vnder the Empire of Caius Caesar hauing first of all gouerned Philips Tetrarchy three yeeres to which was annexed the signiorie of Herode in the fourth yeere and three yeeres vnder the Empire of Claudius Caesar during which time he gouerned ouer the aboue named countries and moreouer ouer Iudaea Samaria and Caesarea His reuenue amounted to twelue hundreth myriades besides which he made many loanes For in that he was verie liberal in giuing he spent farre more then his reuenue and spared not any thing to shew himselfe magnificent Before the people knew of his death Herode his brother prince of Chalcis and Chelcias the kings lieutenaut and friend agreed betweene themselues to send Aristo one of their trustiest seruants to kill Silas who was their enemie as if they had beene commaunded by the king Thus died king Agrippa leauing behinde him a son called Agrippa seuenteen yeeres old and three daughters one of which that was called Bernice was married to Herode his fathers brother when she was sixteene yeeres olde The two other were Mariamme and Drâ—…silla this Mariamme being of the age of ten yeeres was promised in marriage by her father to Iulius Archelaus Chelcias sonne and Drusilla which was sixe yeeres olde was promised also to Epiphanes sonne to the king of Comagena After Agrippas death they of Caesarea Sebaste forgot themselues of those benefits they had receiued from him and vsed him no lesse despitefully then as if he had been their vtter enemy For they reprochfully abused him after his death and reuiled him in such sort as it is vnseemely to report the same Furthermore all the men of warre who were at that time many in number went vnto the kings lodging and with one accord seazed the statues of the kings daughters and carried them to the brothell house where after they had placed them they vttered all the indignities that they could possibly practizing such shamefull matters as they may not be expressed Besides this resting themselues in the publike places they banqueted in the open street wearing chaplets of flowres vpon their heads and perfuming themselues with odors to sacrifice to Charon drinking to one another for ioy the king was dead Thus expressed they their ingratitude not only towards their king Agrippa who had bestowed so many liberalities on them but also towards Herode his grandfather who had builded their Cities and to his extreame charge erected their ports and temples At that time Agrippa the deceased Agrippas son was at Rome and was brought vp vnder the Emperour Claudius When Caesar vnderstood how those of Caesarea and Sebaste had iniuriously dealt with Agrippa he was sore displeased and mooued with their ingratitude his purpose was to send the younger Agrippa with all expedition to take possession of the kingdome of his father and therewithall to discharge himselfe of his oath but diuers of his freeman and friends who were in great credit with him disswaded him from the same alleadging that it would be a dangerous matter to commit the greatnesse of such a kingdome to a young man who scarcely had as yet attained to the age of eighteene yeeres and for whom it was impossible to support the care of so great a kingdome considering that if he were at mans estate he should finde himselfe ouerburthened with the charge of a kingdome This aduice of theirs was allowed by Caesar and for this cause hee sent Cuspius Fadus to gouerne Iudaea and the whole realme honouring his dead friend in this in that he would not suffer Marsus who had been his enemy to enter into his kingdome He gaue especiall commission also that Fadus should sharply punish those of Caesarea and Sebaste for the outrages they had offered to his deceased friend and the excesse that was committed against his daughters who were yet liuing commaunding him to transport the companies of the Caesarians and Sebastens and the fiue Roman legions into the countrey of Pontus to serue in that place and to take those Roman souldiers that bare armes in Syria to serue in their place yet notwithstanding this commandement of his they were not displaced For they sent Embassadours to Claudius to appease him and by this means they obtained the fauour to remaine in Iudaea
time Helena Queene of Adiabena and her sonne Izates conformed themselues to the religion of the Iewes vpon this occasion that ensueth Monobazus king of Adiabena who was also called Bazeos being surprised with the loue of his sister Helena espoused her and got her with child Vpon a time it hapned that sleeping with her he laid his hand on her belly whilest she lay asleepe him thought that he heard a voice that commanded him to take away his hand from off her belly least he should crush the fruit that was therein which by Gods prouidence should haue a happie beginning and no lesse fortunate ending Monobazus was sore moued at this voice and as soone as he awoke he told it to his wife and afterwards when the child was borne he called him Izates Besides he had another elder sonne by the same wife who was called Monobazus according to his owne name And he had also other sonnes by his other wiues yet notwithstanding Izates was most manifestly his best beloued and so cherished by him as if he had beene his only begotten sonne For which cause his other brothers enuied him which increased their hatred for that all the rest of them were aggrieued because Monobazus made most account of Izates The father manifestly perceiued all this yet did he pardon them knowing that they did it not for malice but for the desire that euerie one of them had to be best esteemed by his father Notwithstanding being affraid least some mishap should betide Izates by reason of the hatred his brethren bare vnto him he gaue him many great gifts and sent him to Abemerigus who raigned at that time in a fort called Spasinus committing his sons life into his hand Abemerigus also intertained him with kind affection and loued him in such sort that in processe of time he gaue him Samacha his daughter to wife and for her dowry hee gaue him a countrey of great reuenew Monobazus being olde and seeing he had no long time to liue desired before his death that his sonne might come and visit him he therefore sent for him and receiued him very louingly giuing him a countrey which he called Caeron which bringeth forth great aboundance of excellent Amomum In this place was the remainder of the Arcke in which Noe was saued during the Deluge which remnants are to be seene at this day if any man haue a desire to behold the same Izates remained in that place vntill his fathers decease But on the very day of his death Helena sent for all the Lords and Gouernours of the kingdome and captaines of all the Army and vpon their assembly she spake vnto them after this manner I suppose said she that you are not ignorant of my husbands mind who hath desired that Izates might be king in his steed and hath esteemed him most worthy of such an honour yet expect I your iudgement in this point For he that receiueth the soueraigntie not from one mans hand but from many and hath the same confirmed vnto him by their consent is happie She vsed this discourse vnto them to trie what their intent was who were there assembled They vnderstanding her mind prostrated themselues first of all vpon the earth before the Queene according to the custome of their countrey and afterwards aunswered her that they approued the kings election and tooke pleasure to obey Izates whom his father deseruedly and to all their contents and the desire of the common people had preferred aboue the rest of his brethren alledging moreouer that they would put his brethren and kinsmen to death before his comming to the end that he might enioy the kingdom with all securitie for by their deaths all the feare that might grow by their hatred and enuie might be extinguished Hereunto the Queene answered that she gaue them thanks for the fauour they bare vnto her and her sonne Izates notwithstanding she required them to suspend their iudgements as touching the death of his brethren vntil such time as Izates himselfe should giue his consent thereunto They seeing they might not obtaine the libertie to put them to death gaue counsaile that they should be kept prisoners vntill his comming to the end at leastwise for their owne parts that they might be out of daunger and that moreouer vntill his comming there might one be appointed to gouerne the estate whom she should esteeme most trustie and faithfull vnto him Whereunto Helena condescended and made his elder brother Monobazus king and set the Diademe on his head and gaue him his fathers seale ring with that robe which they call Sampsera exhorting him to gouerne the kingdome vntill his brothers arriuall Izates hauing certaine notice of his fathers death resorted thither speedily and receiuing his brother Monobazus willing surrender tooke vpon him the gouernment of the kingdome During such time as Izates soiourned in the fortresse of Spasinus a certaine merchant who was a Iew called Ananias hauing accesse to the kings wiues taught them the maner how to serue God according to the religion of the Iewes and Ananias by their meanes growing acquainted with Izates taught him the like and accompained him into Adiabena being drawen thereunto by his earnest intreaties at such time as Izates resorted thither vpon his fathers sending for It chanced also in like sort that Helena was in like manner instructed by another Iew and retained the rites and religion of the Iewes After that Izates came into his kingdome and knew that his brethren and kinsfolke were imprisoned he was much grieued Conceiuing therefore with himselfe that it would be a great impietie in him to suffer them to be slaine or kept bound in prison and that on the other side it were a daungerous matter for him if being at liberty they should remember the euil they had indured for which cause he sent some of them to Rome for hostages with their children vnto the Emperour Claudius and the rest vnto Artabanus king of Parthia Afterwards when he was thorowly assured that his mother was wholy addicted to the religion of the Iewes he endeuoured himselfe the more to shew himselfe zealous therein and supposing that he could not be a perfect Iew except he were circumcised he prepared himselfe to be circumcised Which when his mother vnderstood she laboured to her vttermost to hinder his resolution certifying him that in so doing he should bring himselfe in great daunger for that in being king he would draw himselfe into the dislike of his subiects if they should haue notice that he was addicted to a new religion and to straunge ceremonies and that they would not endure that in being a Iew he should be their king so she for a while by her disswasion restrained him from his desire But the king required counsell of Ananias who according with Helena in the course of her dislike threatned Izates that if he would not obey his mother he would forsake him and depart from him
committed against the Iewes if Nero had not pardoned him vpon his brother Pallas submission and intreaty who importuned him and was at that time in great reputation with him Furthermore two of the chiefest amongst the Syrians that wrought Berillus who had sometimes beene Neros Master and at that time was secretarie of estate in the Greeke tongue by mightie bribes to begge at Neros hand the reuocation of the right and title which the Iewes enioyed in the gouernment and administration of the common weale For which cause Berillus sollicited the Emperour and obtained a letter at his hands which was the cause of those mischiefes that afterwards hapned in our nation For the Iewes of Caesarea vnderstanding what commission the Syrians had gotten were so much the more kindled and encouraged to make warre As soone therefore as Festus was arriued in Iudaea he found the countrey grieuously afflicted with robberies and the lower countrey was spoyled by sword and fire The theeues likewise at that time encreased wondrously they vsed short swords after the manner of a Persian Cymetre and crooked like the Roman faulchion with which they slew diuers men For thrusting themselues into the presse of people that came in great multitudes on the festiuall daies to celebrate Gods seruice they killed those verie easily whom they listed and oftentimes repairing to their enemies villages they spoiled and burnt the same But Festus sent diuers forces both of horse and foote against certaine Iewes that were seduced by an enchanter who had promised them security and repose from all their troubles and molestations if so be they would followe him into the desart who slew both the deceiuer and the deceiued that followed him At that time king Agrippa erected a stately building within the pallace at Ierusalem neere vnto the porch This pallace in times past appertained to the Asmoneans was scituate in a high place with a goodly prospect from whence they that listed might with pleasure behold the whole citie of Ierusalem wherein the king tooke great delight and beheld from thence that which was done in the temple The chiefest men of Ierusalem seeing this building were sore displeased For neither doth our custome or law permit that any one should looke on that which is done in the temple and especially forbiddeth that no man should behold the sacrifices and oblations They therefore builded a high wall vpon the gallerie which was within the temple on the West side which did not onely damme vp the sight of the royall chamber but also that of the gallery without the temple on the West side where the Romanes kept guard neere vnto the temple on the festiuall daies Herewith was King Agrippa sore displeased and the gouernour Festus farre more then hee who commaunded them to pull downe the wall But they besought him that he vvould giue them licence to send their Embassadours to Nero to this intent alleaging that it was impossible for them to liue if any part of their temple should be beaten downe Which being graunted them they sent tenne of their chiefest nobilitie and with them Ismael the high priest and Chelcias the Treasurer of the temple vnto Nero who no sooner heard their suit but he pardoned them not onely for that they had done but hee commanded that the building should remaine as it was All which hee did in fauour of his wife Poppea who was intreated by the Iewes for that she was a deuout Princesse to sue for them She therefore commaunded the tenne Embassadours to returne and kept Chelcias and Ismael for pledges vvith her The king vnderstanding how all things had past gaue the high priesthood to Ioseph surnamed Cabi vvhich was the sonne of Simon who in times past had beene high Priest CHAP. VIII The gouernment of Albinus CAesar being aduertized of Festus death sent Albinus to gouerne Iudaea But king Agrippa commaunding Ioseph to lead a priuate life and aduanced in his steed a certaine man called Ananus the sonne of Ananus who is reported to haue beene most happie For he had fiue sonnes al which supplied the place of the high priest after himselfe had long time before them enioyed the roome The like whereof hath neuer hapned to any of our high Priests The younger Ananus who as we said was aduanced to this place was a rash and headstrong man that followed the sect of the Sadduces who as we haue alreadie declared were amongst all other the Iewes the most seuere in executing Iustice whereas therefore Ananus was of this disposition he thought that he had a fit occasion offered him to do what him listed after Festus death and during the time that Albinus was as yet vpon his way He therefore ascended and sate down in the tribunal assisted by the Iudges and caused Iames the brother of Iesus who was called Christ to appeare before him with certaine others and accused them for transgressing the law and blasphemy against God and caused them to be stoned to death They that were men of vpright conscience within the citie and diligent obseruers of the law vvere verie much displeased with this act and sent secretly vnto the king beseeching him to prohibite Ananus that hereafter he should commit no such like offence for that his first action was not allowable Some of them also went to meet Albinus being on his vvay from Alexandria to enforme him that it was not lawful for Ananus to assemble the councel without his licence Albinus perswaded by these words wrote a cholericke letter to Ananus wherein he threatned to punish him And for the same cause king Agrippa dispossessed him of the Priesthood after he had held the same for the space of three moneths and in his steed he established Iesus the sonne of Damneus After that Albinus was arriued in Ierusalem he employed all his care and studie to pacifie the countrey by executing diuers of the theeues But the high priest Ananias daily increased in honour and credit and purchased the good will of the citizens by his liberalitie and great gifts But he had certaine mischieuous seruants about him who conuersed with those that were most intemperate and audacious who repairing from graunge to graunge tooke vp many tenths that belonged to the Priests and beat those that reâ—…used to tender them The priests vsed no lesse force then did their seruants hauing no man that might restraine them whereby it came to passe that the piests who were before time maintained by the tenths died at that time for want of victuals And the theeues renewing their entrance into the citie by night during the feast that was celebrated at that time tooke the secretarie of captaine Eleazar aliue who vvas Ananias sonne who was the high And hauing bound him led him out of the citie sending Ananias word that they would deliuer his secretarie if he would labour so much with Albinus as to deliuer them their tenne companions then prisoners who
and continuance of these eighteene was foure hundreth sixtie six yeeres six moneths and ten daies so long as the Iewes haue had the royall gouernment After the surprisall of Ierusalem by the Babylonians vntill such time as Cyrus king of Persia dismissed the Iewes and gaue them leaue to returne from Babylon into their owne countrey with permission to reedifie their temple there are 70. yeeres and at that time the captiues beeing returned Iesus the sonne of Iosedech tooke vpon him the high priesthood who with those of his posteritie to the number of fifteene haue gouerned in a Democratie or popular estate vntill the time of Antiochus surnamed Eupator for the space of foure hundreth and fourteene yeeres This Antiochus was the first who with his generall Lysia displaced Onias surnamed Menelaus of his priesthood commanding him to be slaine at Beryth and after he had driuen his sonne out of the succession he established Iacim high priest who notwithstanding was of Aarons race but not of his family For this cause Onias the sonne of Onias and nephew to the deceased Onias retired himselfe into Aegypt where growing familiar with Ptolomey Philometor and Cleopatra his wife he perswaded them to build a temple in the confines of Heliopolis not vnlike to that of Ierusalem and to create a high priest in the same of which temple in Aegypt we haue made verie oftentimes mention After that Iacim had held the priesthood for the space of three yeeres he died without successor For the Citie remained seuen yerees without a high priest Againe the Asmoneans recouered the gouernment of their nation and after they had warred against the Macedons they established Ionathan hie priest who exercised the office seuen yeeres but afterwards he was slaine by an ambush and treason conspired against him by Tryphon as we haue declared elsewhere After him Simon his brother vndertooke the priesthood who was not long after slaine treacherously by his sonne in lawe at a banquet After him succeeded his sonne Hyrcanus who enioying this dignitie for the space of thirtie one yeeres died when he was verie olde leauing behinde him Iudas surnamed Aristobulus who dying by sicknesse left his brother Alexander his heire both of the kingdome and high priesthood After that Aristobulus had obtained the royal gouernment he enioyed both dignities one whole yeere For this Iudas surnamed Aristobulus was the first that set the diademe on his head causing himselfe to be called a king The which Alexander did continue for he also ioyned the kingdome with the high priesthood and raigned 27. yeers and feeling himselfe draw neere to his death he left it in Alexandras his wiues hands to dispose of the priesthood as she pleased She therefore bestowed it on Hyrcanus and as touching the kingdome she kept it in her own hands nine yeers afterwards died Her son Hyrcanus was high priest for so long time for after Alexandras death his brother Aristobulus made warre against him and hauing ouercome him he tooke the kingdome from him and not onely seazed the crowne but the priesthood After he had raigned three yeeres and as many moneths Pompey repaired to Ierusalem and tooke it perforce and laying hold of Aristobulus sent him bound vnto Rome with his children After which he restored the priesthood once more to Hyrcanus committing the gouernment of the nation vnto his hands forbidding him in the meane space to weare the diademe Besides the first nine yeeres Hyrcanus gouerned twentie and foure but Barzapharnes and Pacorus princes of the Parthians passed Euphrates and made warre against Hyrcanus and tooke him aliue prisoner and made Antigonus Aristobulus sonne king But after he had gouerned three yeeres and three moneths Sosius and Herode tooke him aliue perforce and Antonius sent him to Antioch where he was put to death After that Herode was created king by the Romans there was neuer any hie priest created of the posterity of the Asmoneans for he gaue the hie priesthood to certaine men of obscure base condition who were of the order of the priests Aristobulus onely excepted This Aristobulus was Hyrcanus nephew who was prisoner among the Parthians and hauing giuen him the priesthood he married himselfe with Mariamme his sister to the intent to continue himselfe in the good liking of the people in remembrance of Hyrcanus but afterwards fearing least all of them should turne to Aristobulus side he caused him to be slaine by finding out a meanes to cause him to be stifled at such time as he bathed himselfe in a fishpond neere to Iericho as we haue declared before this After him he bestowed the priesthood no more on any of the line of the Asmoneans Archelaus his sonne followed his fathers steps in respect of the priesthood and from that time forward the Romans haue enioied the soueraigntie ouer Iewry All they then that haue exercised the priesthood from Herodes time vntill the day that Titus tooke the Citie and the temple haue been in all twentie and eight All the continuance of their gouernment was one hundreth and seuen yeeres Certaine of these gouerned during Herodes life and in the daies of Archelaus his sonne but after these two were dead the gouernment was Aristocraticall or of the nobilitie wherein the priests had the gouernment ouer the whole nation Thus much haue we thought meet to speake at this time as touching the high priests CHAP. IX How Florus Albinus successor offered many iniuries to the Iewes which constrained them to take armes GEssius Florus being sent by Nero to succeed Albinus filled all Iudaea with many mischiefs and miseries He was a Clazomenian borne and was married to a certaine woman called Cleopatra no lesse mischieuous then himselfe who being beloued by Poppea Neros wife obtained this dignitie for him He behaued himselfe so outragiously and violently in all his gouernment that thorow the great iniustice he committed the Iewes praised Albinus as if hee had been their benefactor For he concealed his mischiefe taking care least it should wholy be conceited or discouered but Gessius Florus behaued himselfe in such sort as if he had been sent to make open shew and sale of his villanies publishing his iniustice in the eares of our nation without omitting either rapine or iniustice in execution and inflicting punishment on the innocent For he was pitilesse and couetous and made no difference betwixt noble and ignoble and was not ashamed to be partaker with theeues of whom there were diuers that made it their profession to steale without any feare in that they were assured of their safetie because he was partaker with them And in a word there was no moderation in him in sort as the poore Iewes being vnable to endure the insolent rapines and spoilings of their goods that they receiued by these theeues were constrained to abandon their owne houses and to flie their countrey and remaine in some more commodious place of securitie yea though it were among strangers What neede I
to high and great matters by telling him that Agrippa should be put to death by the Romans in regard of those faults which the Iewes had committed and that Varus who was royally descended should possesse his gouernment For without question Varus was held to be of the bloud royall for that he deriued his petigree from the Tetrarch Sohëmus that gouerned the countrey that abutted on Lybanus For these causes Varus grew proud and retained Philips letters by him hoping by these meanes that the king should haue no knowledge thereof and he set watch in euerie passage for feare least any man should flie and certifie the king of that which had hapned and to giue the Syrians the better content who dwelt in Caesarea he put diuers of those Iewes that dwelt among them to death He intended also to vndertake a warre against the Iewes of Bathanaea who were called Babylonian Iewes by confedâ—…â—…ing himselfe with the Trachonites of Bathanaea For which cause sending for twelue of thâ—… Iewes who were of most estimation among the inhabitants of Caesarea he enioyned them to repaire to Ecbatane to signifie vnto those of their nation that dwelt there that Varus vnderstanding that they pretended to take armes against their king and scarcely beleeuing it had sent them vnto them to perswade them to lay by their armes And that this should be a certaine signe by which they might perfectly expresse that he had no reason to giue credite to their reports who had inforced and obiected so much against them Furthermore he commanded them that seuentie of the chiefest of them should be chosen out to answere to those accusations wherewith they should be charged These twelue arriuing in Ecbatane and entertained by those of their nation found that they neither imagined nor intended any commotion for which cause they perswaded them to send their seuentie men which they did little suspecting that which would happen As soone therefore as these with the other twelue Embassadours came to Caesarea Varus hauing inckling of their comming met them on the way with the kiÌ„ngs forces and slew them altogither with the foresaid Embassadours and tooke his way towards the Iewes of Ecbatane But one of the seuentie who had escaped resorted thither with all expedition preuenting Varus and certified the rest of that which had hapned Wherupon they incontinently fel to armes and with their wiues children retired themselues to the fort of Gamala abandoning their villages which were stored with all kind of goods and many thousand cattell When Philip had tidings hereof he repaired himselfe also to the fort of Gamala where he no sooner arriued but the people cried out with a lowd voice exhorting him to take the soueraigntie and to make warre against Varus and the Syrians of Caesarea For they had intelligence that the king was dead But Philip moderated their fury recounting vnto them what benefits the king had bestowed on them and of what power the Romans were against whom it was but a folly for them to take armes and in the end he perswaded them to peace The king vnderstanding that Varus was determined to kill and murther all the Iewes that were in Caesarea with their wiues children all in one day who were many in number he sent vnto him Equus Modius to supply his place as it hath been by vs declared in an other place Meane while Philip kept the fort of Gamala and the countrey thereabouts perseuering in their fidelitie and loyaltie to the Romans As soone as I arriued in Galilee and had perceiued and learnt all occurrences that had hapned by those who reported the same vnto me I presently signified the whole estate by my letters to the councel at Ierusalem to know what their pleasure was I should doe Who gaue me this answere that I should remaine where I was and retaine those Embassadours that I had with me if they thought good to take charge of Galilee But they being verie wealthy by meanes of those tenths and titâ—…es that were giuen them and verie willing because they were due to gather them vp in right of their priesthood resolued with themselues to returne to their owne houses But for that I intreated them to remaine with me vntill such time as we had setled the affaires they willingly consented vnto me I therefore departed with them to the Citie of Sephora and came into a burrough called Bethmans distant from Tiberias some foure furlongs and from thence I sent a messenger to the councell of Tiberias exhorting the chiefest among the people to come and speake with me who comming foorth to visit me accompanied with Iustus also I tolde them that I was sent Embassadour vnto them with those other by the communaltie of Ierusalem to perswade them to deface that building that was erected by Herod the Tetrarch wherin diuers figures of liuing creatures were painted for that our lawe forbad them to allow or doe such things and I exhorted them to suffer vs to doe that execution as soone as they might Capella and those of his partie did for a long time refuse to consent thereunto but in the end we inforced them so much that they condescended Now whilest we debated vpon this conclusion Iesus the sonne of Saphias of whom we haue spoken heretofore declaring how he was the chieftaine and conductor of the faction of sailers and poore men tooke with him certaine Galileans and set fire on all the pallace vnder hope to get great riches thereby for that there were certaine roofes of the house couered with gold who spoiled many things against our consent For after we had conferred with Capella and the chiefest Tiberians we retired our selues from Bethmaus into the higher Galilee In the meane time Iesus men slew all the Greekes that remained there and who before the warre had been their enemies Which when I was certified of I was grieuously displeased and came down to Tiberias and disposed of the kings moueables for â—…re least they should be carried away by the robbers and hauing recouered a candlesticke of â—…rinthian worke princely tables and no smal quantity of massiue siluer I resolued with my selfe â—…eserue it to the kings vse Calling therefore ten of the chiefest Senators and Capella Antyllus sonne vnto me I deliuered the vessels into their hands charging them to deliuer the same to no man except it were to my selfe From thence with mine associates I went vnto Iohn at Gischala toknow what his mind and resolution was and I presently smelt out by him that he affected innouation and tyrannie For he besought me to grant him libertie to transport Caesars wheat that was stored vp in the villages of higher Galilee telling me that he would bestow the same in reedifying and repairing the wals of his countrey But I smelling out both his drift and counsels denied him that libertie For I thought that that wheat would either serue the Romans or my selfe for that already I had the care
that I was not wholy cleere of that which was obiected against me I besought them to vnderstand to what vse I reserued that pray that was brought vnto my hand after which if they list they might kill me And whilest the multitude commaunded me to speake the armed men returned backe and beholding me rushed in vpon me with an intent to murther me but being restrained by the peoples exclamations they moderated their furie supposing that after my confession of treason and reseruation of the kings money they might haue a better occasion to finish my Tragedy For which cause after silence I began thus Men and brethren said I if in your opinion I deserue death I refuse not to die yet before my death will I certifie you of the whole truth Truly when as I perceiued that this Citie was most commodious and fit to entertaine strangers and that I perceiued that many men forsaking their owne countries were delighted with your conuersations and willing to partake with you in all sorts of fortune I was resolued to build vp your wals with this money for which being thus destinated to doe you good your indignation is prouoked against me Vpon these words the Taricheans and strangers cried out giuing me thankes and willing me to be of a good courage But the Galileans and Tiberians continued in their hatred insomuch as they grew to debate betwixt themselues the one threatning me with punishment the other contrariwise willing me to assure my selfe of securitie But after I had promised the Tiberians that I would reedifie their wals and fortifie other conuenient Cities they giuing credit to my words repaired euerie one of them to their owne houses And I beyond all expectation escaping from so great a perill with certaine of my friends and some twentie souldiers returned to my house But once againe the theeues and authors of sedition fearing least they should be punished for these their offences begirt my lodging with six hundreth armed men intending to consume it with fire Of whose arriuall as soone as I had intelligence imagining with my selfe that it would be much dishonour for me to flie I resolued to vse valour and courage against them for which cause commanding the gates to be shut I required them from the top of the house that they would send in some of them vnto me to receiue that money for which they had been drawn into this mutinie whereby they might haue no further cause to be incensed against me Which done laying hold of one of the most troublesome fellowes that with the rest came in vnto me I caused him to be beaten with many grieuous strokes and his hand to be cut off and hung about his necke and thus handled we thrust him out of doores to returne vnto those who had sent him But they being wondrously affraid herewith and suspecting the like punishment if they should stay there any longer for that they suspected that I had diuers armed souldiers in my house they sodainly all of them fled away and so by this stratageme escaped I the other dangers Yet wanted there not some who incited the people once more against me saying that the kings seruants who were fled vnto me for refuge ought not to liue except they submitted themselues to their lawes and customes from whom they required protection They likewise accused them that they were of the Roman faction and poisoners and presently the people began to mutinie being deceiued by their words who laboured to flatter them Which when I heard of I once more enformed the people that they ought not to persecute those who resorted vnto them for rescous and I iested at their folly who accused them of impoisoning and that the Romans would not vainly nourish so many thousands of souldiers if they pretended to make away their enemies with poison Being by these words somewhat pacified they had scarcely withdrawn themselues awhile but that by certaine outcasts and wicked men they were incited against the nobilitie so that with armed weapons they resorted to the houses of the Taricheans intending to murther them Which when I heard I was sore affraid that if this wickednesse should be committed no man hereafter should dare to trust his life in my hands For which cause being assisted by diuers others I hastily resorted to their lodging and shut vp the gates and cutting a trench betwixt it and the lake I called for a barke and entring into the same with them I crossed ouer into the confines of the Hippenians and furnishing them with money to buy them horses for that they could not transport their owne with them in that flight I dismissed them requiring them to digest their present misfortunes with a constant minde For I my selfe tooke it verie heauily that I was once more inforced to land those men in the enemies countrey who had committed themselues to my trust yet thinking that if it should so fall out that they should fal into the Romans hands they should be safer then if by suffering them to remaine in my countrey I should see them opprest I aduentured them thus Yet were they saued and the king gaue them pardon And this was the end of this tumult But they of Tiberias wrote vnto the king requiring him to send a garrison into their country and promising him to reuolt and follow him Which done as soone as I came vnto them they required me that I would build them those wals which I had promised them for they had alreadie heard that Taricheas was inuironed with wals Whereunto I condescended and gathering stuffe from euerie place I set the workemen to their taske But some three daies after departing from Tiberias towards Taricheas which was thirtie stades distant from thence by chance a troupe of Roman horsemen were discouered not farre from the Citie which made the inhabitants beleeue that they were the kings army Whereupon they presently began to vtter many things in honour of the king and more in my reproch And presently a certaine friend posted vnto me and told me what their minde was and how they intended to reuolt from me Which when I vnderstood I was wondrously troubled For I had sent backe my men of warre from Taricheas to their houses for that the next day was the Sabboth day For I would by no means that the Citizens of Tarichea should be charged or troubled with entertaining souldiers And at all times when I remained in that citie I tooke no care of the guard of mine owne person hauing had often proofe of the loyaltie of the inhabitants towards me Being therefore at that time attended onely with seuen souldiers and a few of my friends I knew not what to do For I thought it not fit to call backe my forces for that the day was welny past and although they should haue beene with me the next morning yet they might not haue taken armes because our lawes forbad the same how
died in that encountrie yet not I alone protest this but it is extant also in writing in the records of the Emperour Vespasian how the inhabitants of these tenne cities cried out to Vespasian in the citie of Ptolemais requiring that thou mightst be punished as the author of their mischiefes and assuredly thou hadst beene punished by the Emperour had not Agrippa who had receiued commission to execute thee vpon the instant request of his sister Berenice spared thee life and kept thee bound in prison for a long time Furthermore thy politicke behauiours do sufficiently expresse what the rest of thy life hath beene and how thou hast caused thy countrey to rebell against the Romanes whereof I will produce hereafter most euident arguments and for thy cause will I vrge somewhat against those other Tiberians and I will make it plaine to those that shal read these histories that thou hast beene no friend to Rome nor faithfull to thy king And I enforce these my authorities from the greatest cities of Galilee Sephoris and Tiberias in which thou Iustus wert borne For Sephoris scituate in the heart of Galilee hauing round about it a number of villages and being a citie sufficiently able in it selfe to attempt and execute anie noble action at their pleasure yet notwithstanding the citizens thereof resolued to obserue their faith to the Romanes and thrust me out of doores forbidding euery man among them to beare armes for the Iewes And to the end they might be more assured in my behalfe the inhabitants deceiued me in that they intreated me to incompasse their citie with a wall and that done they willingly entertained a garrison which was sent them from Cestius Gallus who was generall of the Romane Legions in Syria in contempt of me although at that time I had a great power and terrified the countrey round abouts But when our great citie of Ierusalem was besieged and that temple which was common to all our nation was in daunger to fall into the enemies hands the Sephorites sent no succours to the end it might not be said that they tooke armes against the Romanes But thy country Iustus being scituate vpon the lake of Genazareth distant from Hippus thirtie stades from Gadara sixtie from Scythopolis sixscore in a countrey obedient to the king hauing not any citie of the Iewes round about it might haue verie easily kept their faith to the Romans if they had listed For both the citie and people were furnished with munition in all aboundance But as thou saist I was the cause at that time And who afterwards For thou knowest that before the siege of Ierusalē I was in the Romans hands that Iotapata was taken by force and diuers other castles and that many other Galileans were spent in diuers battels At that time shouldest thou haue deliuered thy self of that feare thou hadst of me laying thine armes aside presenting thy selfe to the king the Romans when thou vndertookest armes not of thine own accord but inforced But the truth is you expected Vespasians comming euen vntil such time as he begirt your citie wals with a siege then laid you your armes aside for feare of danger yea euen thē had your citie bin ouerthrown except the king in excuse of your folly had obtained your pardon at Vespasians hands It was not therefore my fault but your offence that behaued your selues like enemies Do you not remember how often times I haue obtained the victorie against you and how few times you could complaine of bloudshed But you falling at dissension one with another haue beene the instruments of your owne ruine not for the loue you bare either to the King or the Romanes but of your owne malice slewe one hundreth eightie and fiue citizens at such time as I was besieged by the Romanes in Iotapata Nay more is not this true that during the siege of Ierusalem whereof I haue made mention there were more then two thousand Tiberians slaine or otherwise taken prisoners But perhaps thou wilt alledge that at that time thou wert no enemie for that thou wert fled to the King but I tell thee that thou fleddest thither for the feare thou hadst of me I am a wicked man as thou saist but what art thou whom King Agrippa vpon many presents deliuered from punishment at such time as thou wert condemned by Vespasian to lose thy head For what cause hauing made thee prisoner twice and hauing so many times past the sentence of banishment against thee hauing once commanded thee to be thine owne murtherer hath he giuen thee life vpon the importunate sollicitation of his sister Bernice And after so many crimes cōmitted by thee hauing entertained thee for his secretary when he found thy corruption in that office he banished thee from his presence But I will not too exactly touch thee with these matters yet notwithstanding I wonder at thine impudence that hast openly protested that thou hast written more exactly and perfectly of this matter then any man whereas thou art vtterly ignorant of those things that were done in Galilee For at that time wert thou at Berytum with the king and wer◅ no waies priuie to the siege of Iotapata seeing thou didst not follow vs. Neither couldst thou be able to learne how I behaued my selfe therin for that there was no one left aliue to giue thee certain intelligence Thou wilt perhaps say that thou hast carefully described that which hapned during the siege of Ierusalem And how may this be possible For thou wert neither agent nor looker on in that warre neither hast thou red the commentaries of Vespasian But I coniecture hereby that thou hast not read them at all forasmuch as thou hast written cleane contrary to that which is contained therein And if thou art so confident that thy historie is truer then other mens why didst thou not publish it during Vespasians and Titus liues who were the generals of that warre neither before king Agrippa and those of his rate who were all of them very expert in the Greek tongue For thou hast kept it written by thee aboue twentie yeeres and mightst haue produced witnes of thine exact diligence before them who were priuie to all things But now when they are dead thou thinkest that no man liueth that may reproue thee thou hast vndertaken this boldnes to publish thy work But I haue vsed no such pollicy or feare in my bookes but haue presented them to the Emperours themselues who haue beene eie witnesses and actors thereof For I knew in mine owne soule that I had set downe all things truely Whereupon I obtained my expected approbation Moreouer I communicated the same historie with diuers others whereof some of them were present at the warre as was king Agrippa and some of his kinred And Titus the Emperour himselfe was so desirous that men should search for the truth of that historie out of these bookes that he placed them in a
ruler he died leauing his eldest sonne who was called Iudas to succeed him in the gouernment Who fearing least Antiochus would stil continue warres against him gathered togither an armie of his countrimen and was the first amongst the Iewes that made a league with the Romans and droue backe Antiochus Epiphanes at such time as he enforced himselfe once more to inuade the borders of Iudaea repulsing him with a great ouerthrow And whereas the remembrance of this victorie was yet fresh in mens minds and memory he assaulted the garrison of the citie For as yet they were not destroyed in which conflict he forced them to forsake the highest part thereof which is called holy and to betake themselues into the lower part and hauing obtained the temple he made euery place cleane and compassed it with a wall and made new vessels for the seruice of the temple and planted them therein because those that had beene before time consecrated there were prophaned Hee builded likewise an other Altar and began to renue the accustomed sacrifice and obserue the rites of religion Scarcely was the citie brought to the former estate but Antiochus died who left a sonne and heire behind him who was not onely inheritor of his kingdome but also of his hatred against the Iewes who hauing gathered togither fiftie thousand footmen and almost fiue thousand horsemen and fourescore Elephants entred by the mountaines of Iudaea and tooke a towne named Bethsara neere which Iudas met him in a place called Bethzacharie where the passage was something streight and before the armies ioyned battell Eleazar Iudas brother seeing one Elephant higher then the rest bearing a great tower on his backe and adorned with golden furniture thinking Antiochus had beene there ranne from his company and breaking the rankes of the enemies came vnto the Elephant but he could not reach him whom he deemed to be the king he was so highly mounted for which cause wounding the Elephant in the belly the Elephant fell vpon him and pressed him to death which act of his had no other successe but this that by attempting so great a matter he gaue manifest testimonie that he preferred his renowne before his life Now he that gouerned the Elephant was but a priuate person and although by happe Antiochus had beene there Eleazar had atchieued nothing else in this his valiant attempt but yet he aduentured his life vnder hope to performe some valiant exploit And this act of his was a presage vnto his brother of the euent of the whole warre that ensued For the Iewes fought stoutly and a long time but yet Antiochus armie being both more in number and more prosperous obtained the vicâ—…rie so Iudas therefore after the losse of many of his companie fled vnto the Gophonites with those of his side who escaped And Antiochus went to Ierusalem from whence after some stay he departed for want of necessaries leauing a sufficient garrison as for the rest of his armie he led them for the winter time into Syria Yet notwithstanding the kings departure Iudas rested not but encouraged by many of his nation who daily came vnto him and gathering also togither those who escaped out of the former battell at a village named Adaâ—…a he fought with Antiochus captaines where after much and many approbations of his valour in assaulting and slaughtering a great number of his enemies he himselfe at length was slaine and within a few daies after his brother Iohâ—… also was slaine and betrayed by their trecheries who fauoured Antiochus CHAP. II. Of the succession of Princes from Ionathas vntill Aristobulus AFter him succeeded his brother Ionathas who carefully studied for the peace and securitie of his people and fortified himselfe by the friendship of the Romans and was reconciled to Antiochus his sonne yet did none of all these things profit him or acquit him from danger For the tyrant Tryphon who was tutour to Antiochus laying wait for him and seeking to spoile him of his friends took Ionathas at such time as he came with a small company to Antiochus who was at Ptolemais and binding him lead an army against Iudaea from whence being repulsed by Simon Ionathas brother and ouercome by him in displeasure and reuenge thereof he slue Ionathas But Simon valiantly bestirring himselfe in the gouernment and guide of the affaires of the common-wealth tooke Zara Ioppe and Iamnia which were bordering townes and ouercomming the garrison at Accaron he destroyed the citie and assisted Antiochus against Tryphon who besieged Dora before that expedition which he made against the Medes Yet would not the greedie mind of the king be satisfied notwithstanding that Simon had thus faithfully serued and assisted him in the death of Tryphon but that within short time after he sent vnto Cendebeus who was the generall of the army commaunding him to sacke and spoile Iudaea and to take Simon and make him a slaue But Simon though aged in yeeres fought both youthfully and valiantly and sent his sonnes with the most resolute men he had before against Antiochus and himselfe with the residue of his army assaulted another quarter of their enemies campe and hauing laid many ambushes euen in the mountaines he in euery place was victorious and after this his most famous victorie he was proclaimed high priest and deliuered the Iewes from the gouernment of the Macedonians vnder which they had beene 270. yeeres Finally by the trecherie of Ptolemaeus his son in law he was murthered at a banquet who imprisoning his wife and two sonnes sent certaine men to kill the third sonne whose name was Iohn otherwise called Hircanus But the yong man vnderstanding the successe of his fathers voiage hasted vnto the citie accompanied with a great multitude for he greatly hoped that the people would remember his fathers prowes especially because Ptolemaeus iniquitie was hated of all men Ptolemaeus also hasted to enter the citie at another gate but he was speedily repulsed by the people who had alreadie receiued Hircanus For which cause he presently retired himselfe into a Castle named Dagon scituate beyond Iericho After that Hircanus had obtained the office of the high Priest which was left him by his father and had offered sacrifices vnto God he led forth his forces with all speed against Ptolemaeus hoping to helpe and deliuer his mother and brethren that were detained prisoners with him and assaulting the Castle notwithstanding that in all other things he had the better hand yet was he ouercome by iust griefe and compassion For at such time and so often as Ptolemaeus perceiued himselfe to be in daunger he brought Hircanus mother and brethren vpon the walles and beat them where he might behold them in their torments threatning to cast them downe from the wal except Hircanus would presently depart For which cause Hircanus was more moued with compassion and feare then with anger wrath But his mother being no waies dismaid with stripes which she indured
past was called Bari and afterwards Antonia giuing his archers this commission that if Antigonus came vnarmed they should let him passe if otherwise that they should kill him He sent certaine messengers also to Antigonus requiring him to repaire vnto him disarmed But the enuious Queene preuented this good intent of his by a subtill stratageme complotted and acted by those that with her conspired against him For she perswaded those that were put in trust to discharge this message to discouer nothing of that which the king had commaunded them but to signifie vnto Antigonus that his brother hauing intelligence that he had made himselfe many accomplished and compleat armours with other faire and worthy furniture for the warre in Galilee which by reason of Antigonus sodaine departure from that place and his owne instant infirmitie he might not behold would count it no little fauour and felicitie to beholde and see him in his warlike ornaments Which when Antigonus vnderstood who by reason of his brothers disposition suspected no mischiefe he armed himselfe and resorted vnto him intending to delight and content him with his musters But no sooner arriued he in the streight which is called the tower of Straton but the guard of Aristobulus set vpon him and slaughtered him yeelding by this meanes a demonstratiue and certaine testimonie that detraction distracteth and destroieth all good nature and friendship and that amongst all our most accounted affections there is no one so defenced and fortified as may abate the edge of enuie At this time also who would not wonder at a certaine man called Iudas who being by birth an Essean was blessed with this felicitie in his prophecies that his predictions were neither touched with mistaking or tainted with lying This man perceiuing how Antigonus passed thorow the temple cried out to his familiars who attended him in no small number for ordinarily diuers of his disciples did attend vpon him Ah said he how happy were it for me at this present if I were dead since that truth dieth before me and some one of my predictions are found faulty and deficient For behold Antigonus yet liueth who should this day haue dwelt with death The place which was destinated for his departure is the tower of Straton which is distant from this place some six hundreth stounds and yet notwithstanding there are but foâ—… hours of the day to be past now therefore is the time wherein my diuination shall be falsified Hauing spoken to this effect the olde man sate him downe being altogither disconsolate and pensiue vntill such time as within a while after it was tolde him that Antigonus was slaine in a place vnder ground which was called the tower of Straton being of the same name with Caesarea which is scituate vpon the sea coast which was the occasion that Iudas staggered in his diuination The sorrow which incontinently seazed Aristobulus for committing this hainous murther augmented and increased his sicknesse in such sort that his soule was continually troubled with the thought of his sin and his body thorow extreame heate of passion dried vp and the griefe that he felt was so vehement that his entrailes became exulcerate so that he voided bloud in great abundance And it so fel out by the diuine prouidence that one of his seruants who was deputed to that office bearing out that bloud which came from him missed his way and came vnto that place where Antigonus had been slaine wherein as yet there appeared some signes and staines of the bloudshed of Antigonus on which he powred out the bloud of the murtherer Aristobulus Which when they perceiued who stood hard at hand they began to crie out with a lowd voice as if the seruant had purposely spilled the bloud in that place Aristobulus hearing this crie demanded the cause thereof and the more that each man fled and feared to discouer the same vnto him the more instantly sought he to vnderstand the truth so that at length after he had vsed threats and violence he was certified by some one of that which had past Whereupon his eies were sodainly filled with teares so that in vehement agonie of minde he at last cried out and said It is impossible but that the great eie of the diuine maiestie should see my wicked acts and the sodaine vengeance of my brothers bloudshed should pursue and ouertake me How long O thou impudent body wilt thou detaine a soule alreadie condemned and adiudged to my mother and dead brother How long shall I thus lingeringly languish in spending a parcell of my bloud vnto them Let them take it all at once and let not the diuine vengeance laugh any longer to see the effusion of mine entrailes This said he died after he had scarcely raigned one yeere His wife after his death deliuered his brother Alexander from prison annointed him king who was both the eldest and seemed to be the most staiedst among the rest of his brethren Who growing by this meanes to be both proud and potent put one of his brethren to death for aspiring and hunting after the kingdome as for the othâ—…r that remained aliue in that he contented himselfe with a priuate and contemplatiue life he kept him neere about him He made warre also against Ptolomey that was called Lathyrus who had surprised the Citie of Asoch put a great number of his enemies to the sword naithelesse Ptolomies side obtained the victorie who retiring himselfe into the countrey of Aegypt by reason that his mother Cleopatra pursued him with open warre Alexander forcibly entred the Citie of Gadara and the fort of Amathunt which was one of the greatest of all those that were round about Iordan in which place Theodore Zenos sonne had hoorded vp his chiefest and most precious mooueables who sodainly setting vpon him recouered all that which was his and furthermore laid hands on the kings carriage in seazing which he slaughtered many Iewes to the number of ten thousand But Alexander after he had recouered this losse inuaded the frontier townes vpon the sea coast and wan Raphia and Gaza and Anthedon which afterwards by king Herod was called Agrippias But after he had conquered and ouercome these places the common sort of the Iewes raised a mutiny against him during a certaine solemne and holy feast for all mutinies seditions are commonly raised at banquets and it is thought that he could not haue preuailed against those treacheries had he not been assisted by the Pisidians and Cilicians whom he hired to helpe him for the Syrians he refused to hire them by reason of their naturall hatred they bare against the Iewes Hauing therefore slaine eight thousand of the rebels he warted vpon Arabia ouercomming the Galaadites and Moabites and imposing vpon them a tribute he returned to Amathunt and wheras Theodorus was daunted with his prosperous successe he finding the Castle without any to defend it rased it vnto the
high priest and because of his dull nature she thought that though he were in princely authoritie yet he would molest no man and therefore also made him king As for the yongest son Aristobulus because he was of a hot spirit she was willing that he should liue a priuate life Now there was a certaine sect among the Iewes which were called Pharisees who ioyned themselues with the Queene these people were thought to be of the godliest sort and to be more skilfull then other in interpreting the scriptures and for that cause Alexandra fauoured them the more because she was superstitiously giuen to religion These hauing by little and little insinuated themselues into the fauour of a simple woman now did domineere at their pleasure displacing deposing imprisoning and restoring to libertie whom they pleased for no other purpose but that they might enioy the profites and commodities of the kingdome and Alexandra bare all charges This Queene was alwayes desirous of high attempts and dayly studied to encrease her wealth she leuied two armies and hired a great many strangers whereby shee did not onely strengthen her owne countrey but also made her selfe to be feared of other nations She ruled others but her selfe was ruled by the Pharisees who at last killed Diogenes who was a gallant man and highly in fauour with king Alexander affirming that through his counsell the king commanded those eight hundred before mentioned to bee crucified and further they perswaded the Queene Alexandra that she should put to death all others through whose counsell Alexander her husband had beene incited against those eight hundred The Queene being blinded with superstition thought it vnlawfull to denie any thing which they requested so tha◅ they put to death whom they pleased till such time as the chiefest of those who were in this danger in humble wise came to Aristobulus who perswaded his mother to spare them for their dignitie and banish others whom she thought had deserued punishment who hauing obtained their liberty dispersed themselues through the whole country Now Alexandra sent an armie to Damascus and because Ptolomeus daylie vexed the citie she tooke it without doing anie thing worthy of memory she did solicite Tigranes king of Armenia with gifts and promises who with an armie had besieged Ptolemais wherein Cleopatra was but he for feare of troubles in his owne countrey in that Lucullus had entred into Armenia withdrew himselfe from thence In the meane time Alexandra being sicke her youngest sonne Aristobulus with his seruants which were manie in number all trusty for the heat their yong yeares got all the castels and hiring soldiers with the money he found in those castles he proclaimed himself king But Alexandra pitying the complaints of Hircanus imprisoned the wife and children of Aristobulus in a castle neere vnto the North part of the temple which in olde time was called Baris as wee said before afterwards Antonius being Emperour it was called Antonia as in like manner Sebaste and Agrippias other cities were named of Augustus and Agrippa But Alexandra died before she could reuenge Hircanus of the wrongs which Aristobulus had done him This Queene reigned nine yeeres left Hircanus in possession of al whom during her life time she had aduanced to the kingdome But Aristobulus being both stronger in power and more esteemed in authoritie encountred with his brother about Iericho where many of Hircanus souldiours forsaking their king fled vnto Aristobulus for which cause both he the remnāt of those that followed him were forced to flie into the castle called Antonia where he found hostages to redeem him For as we haue already said Aristobulus wife and children were imprisoned in that place and least any worse mishap should betide him he concluded a peace vpon condition that Aristobulus should bee king and that he as brother to the king would content himselfe with other dignities Vpon these conditions they were made friends in the Temple where in the presence of all the people they in most friendly sort embraced each other which when they had done they changed houses and Aristobulus went into the kings pallace and Hircanus vnto Aristobulus his house CHAP. V. Of the warre betweene Hircanus and the Arabians and of the taking of Ierusalem NOw a sodaine feare inuaded all the enemies of Aristobulus when they saw him contrarie to all expectation made king and especially Antipater aboue all others whom Aristobulus a long time had hated This Antipater was an Idumaean borne and for his nobilitie and riches was the chiefest and best reputed of his nation This man perswaded Hircanus to flie vnto Aretas king of Arabia and craue his helpe to set him in his kingdome Furthermore he perswaded Aretas likewise to receiue Hyrcanus and to helpe him to recouer his kingdome speaking much against the manners of Aristobulus and praising Hyrcanus adding that he being king of so famous a nation ought to assist those who were vniustly oppressed and that Hyrcanus had manifest iniurie offered him being forced to forsake his kingdome which by the right of succession was due vnto him After he had thus made his way he in the night time tooke Hyrcanus and fled with him foorth of the Citie and making all haste possible they arriued at a towne called Petra with safetie which is a towne where the kings of Arabia were accustomed to keepe their court there he deliuered Hyrcanus into the kings hands and through many gifts and intreaties obtained the fauour that he might be conducted into his kingdome And to the effecting of the same Aretas gaue him an army of fifty thousand horse and foote which power since Aristobulus was not able to resist he was ouercome vpon the first onset and was forced to flie vnto Ierusalem and he had been surely taken if Scaurus a captaine of the Romans by taking opportunitie at those troubles had notraised the siege For Pompey the Great who warred againg Tigranes sent him out of Armenia into Syria who comming to Damascus found it newly taken by Metellus and Lolius who dismissing them from thence and finding how matters stood in Iudaea hasted thither in hope of a bootie So soone as he entred into the confines of the countrey both of the brethren sent embassadours vnto him desiring him to take their parts but Aristobulus hauing sent him three hundreth talents he neglected to doe Iustice for hauing receiued that sum Scaurus sent messengers vnto the Arabians and Hyrcanus threatning the displeasure of the Romans and Pompey except they would presently raise their siege for which cause Aretas being much abashed returned out of Iudaea vnto Philadelphia and Scaurus repaired vnto Damascus Yet sufficed it not Aristobulus that he had escaped from being taken but that gathering all his forces togither he pursued his enemies and ioyning battell with them about Papyron he slew six thousand of them in which number was Cephalon Antipaters brother But Hyrcanus and Antipater being destitute of the
but also prouided victuals for his army Whereupon the citizens of Memphis would not fight but yeelded of their own accord vnto Mithridates so that passing through Delta he fought with the other Aegyptians in a place called the tents of the Iewes being with all his cōpany in danger he was rescued by Antipater who marching along the riuer side set vpon discomfited the left wing of the enemies battel rushing vpon them that pressed vpon Mithridates he slue many pursued the rest that fled till he got their tents and al with the losse of fourescore men But Mithridates flying lost eight hundreth men being against all hope preserued out of those wars was without all enuie a true witnes before Caesar of al that vvhich Antipater had both done deserued Wherupon Caesar redoubled his courage vvith praise and promises vnto him and made him forward to hazard himselfe for him In a word he proued shewed himselfe a stout vvarrior hauing many vvounds in euery part of his bodie he bare a badge testimonie of his valour and vertue Afterward when the state of Aegypt was quiet he returned into Syria where he made him a citizen of Rome and granted him the immunities thereof and did so honour him in other things and vse him so friendly that he made him a patterne for all to imitate and for his sake he confirmed Hyrcanus in the high Priesthood CHAP. VIII How Antipater was accused before Caesar of the Priesthood of Hyrcanus and how Herode made warre AT the same time Antigonus the sonne of Aristobalus repairing to Caesar against his will was a cause of Antipaters greater felicity for comming to complain of his fathers death who was as it was thought through Pompeies enuie poisoned and to accuse Scipio of crueltie which was vsed against his brother whereas he should haue abandoned all passion which moued him to mingle hatred with his miseries contrariwise he accused Hyrcanus and Antipater as though they had vniustly driuen him and his brethren out of their natiue soile and grieuously iniured the people to obtaine their intent Alleadging that they had sent aide into Aegypt to Caesars forces not for good will but for feare of auncient enmitie and that hereby they might acquite themselues of the good will they bare to Pompey At these words Antipater casting away his vesture shewed the number of his wounds saying it was not needfull to vse words to proue what affection he had borne to Caesar for his verie body would shew it although hee himselfe held his peace adding that he admired the impudent boldnesse of Antigonus who being sonne to an enemie of the Romans and a fugitiue from the Romans and still continued his fathers purpose of noueltie and sedition should dare to accuse others before the Roman Emperour demaunding of him how he durst hope to obtaine any good thing who ought to be contented with his life onely alleadging that hee craued not maintenance for that he wanted but that he might raise a rebellion amongst the Iewes and against them who should bestow any thing vpon him Which when Caesar heard he said that Hyreanus was most worthy to be high priest and bid Antipater wish what dignitie he would haue who leauing that to the pleasure of the giuer he was made gouernour of all Iudaea And moreouer he obtained to reedifie the rased wals of his countrey and Caesar commanded that those honours should be engraued in the Capitoll that it might be a token in time to come of Antipaters Iustice and vertue Antipater hauing attended Caesar out of Syria first of all repaired the ruined walles of his countrey which Pompey had raced and going thorowout all the countrey he threatned the obstinate and perswaded the seditious to obedience admonishing them that if they obeied Hyrcanus they might liue in wealth and peace and enioy happinesse and an vniuersall selicitie but if they suffered themselues to be led with the vaine hopes of those who for their priuate commodities sought for alteration that then they should find him in steed of a Procurator the Lord of all and Hyrcanus in steed of a king a tyrant and the Romans and Caesar in steed of friends deadly enemies for that they would not suffer his power to be ouerthrowne whom they themselues had established for king But notwithstanding he spake these words yet because he saw Hyrcanus more dull and not of so seruent a spirit as the care of a kingdome required he himselfe setled the estate of the countrey and made Phasaelus his eldest sonne gouernour of the army and the Lord of Ierusalem and of his owne liuing and sent Herode his youngest son to gouerne Galilee although he was very young who being by nature of a valiant courage found out a present occasion to shew his braue minde for he tooke Ezechias which was captain of theeues who as he vnderstood was woont to pray vpon the confines of Syria with a great multitude and put him to death with many other theeues which thing was so gratefull vnto the Syrians that in all townes and villages they made songs of Herod as though he had restored them to peace and to their possessions At length the glorie of this fact came to the eares of Sextus Caesar who was Caesar the Emperours kinsman who then ruled Syria Phasaelus also did striue to ouercome the towardnesse and good reputation of his brother by daily increasing and winning to himselfe the good wils of the inhabitants of Ierusalem so that during the time he gouerned the Citie he did nothing insolently through might or power for which cause the people honoured Antipater as their king and reuerenced him as Lord of all yet was his fidelitie and good will neuerthelesse towards Hyrcanus But it is impossible that any man that liueth in prosperitie should not be enuied For Hyrcanus although before time he were mooued something at the glorie of these young men and especially with the prosperous successe of Herod being often annoied with frequent messengers who spred his praise for euerie thing he did yet in particular he was stirred vp by many enuious persons who are woont to haunt the courts of Princes who were grieued that Antipater and his sonnes ruled without offence These men tolde Hyrcanus that he onely enioyed the bare name of a king and that Antipater and his sonnes ruled all and that he so long would permit winke at them til that at last they would make themselues kings for they now did no more so much as pretend themselues to be procurators But leauing that title they took vpon them the dignities of Lords and maisters without any regard or reuerence toward him for Herod had put to death a great multitude of Iewes against the law whereas neither by word of mouth nor by writing the king had giuen him any such authoritie and that Herode if he were not a king but a priuate
person was to be brought into iudgement there to answere the matter and shew the king a reason and satisfie the lawes of his countrey which permitted no man to be put to death before by law he was conuicted By these perswasions Hyrcanus grew angrie so that not concealing his wrath he caused Herode to be sent for to answere the matter who both for that his father aduertised him thereto and because he trusted to the equity of his cause first leauing a garrison in Galilee he repaired vnto the king came accompanied with a strong guard least either he should seeme to derogate from Hyrcanus dignitie if he should lead forth many or that for want of defence he should expose himselfe to the enuie of his aduersaries Sextus Caesar also fearing the young man least any euill should betide him amongst his enemies sent vnto Hyrcanus manifestly warning him to free Herode from the crime of murther For which cause Hyrcanus who loued Herode and was willing so to do of his owne accord did acquite him Whereupon he supposing that he had escaped against the kings will went to Damascus vnto Sextus purposing not to obey if hereafter he were sent for Naithelesse Hyrcanus was once againe incited by bad people against Herode who certified him that he was gone away in a rage and that he would enterprise something against him which Hyrcanus beleeuing knew not what to doe seeing his enemie more potent then himselfe Shortly after Sextus Caesar proclaimed him Generall of the army both in Syria and Samaria so that now he was greatly to be feared not onely for that he was highly in fauour with the comminaltie but also for the forces which he commanded So that hereupon Hyrcanus fell into an extreme feare verily perswading himselfe that Herod with his whole army would presently come against him Neither was his suspition in vaine for Herod angrie at the pretended crime wherof he was accused came with a great army to Ierusalem intending to depose Hyrcanus which he had effected had not his father and his brother gone forth to meet him and pacified him entreating that he would account that terror wherein he had put his enemies and his owne indignation for a sufficient reuenge and that he should spare the king by whose fauour he came to be so potent adding moreouer that he should not thinke it a disdaine that he was called to answere his accusations but seeing that he was acquited of them he should shewe himselfe gratefull to the king Neither ought he so to reuenge the discontent he had taken that he should shew himselfe vnthankfull to him who had saued his life Moreouer he was to consider the fortune of warres togither with the cause thereof and thinke that the warres he now pretended were very vniust bidding him not to be too confident of the victorie being to fight against his owne king who had alwaies been gratious vnto him and neuer cruell only being as it were vrged thereunto by some of his councell who being meerely enuious rather to satisfie their owne mislikes then in regard of his disgraces framed a shadow of an accusation Herode pacified herewith supposing it to be sufficient for him to obtaine the thing he hoped for to haue shewed his forces vnto his nation At this time began Ciuill warre among the Romans neere vnto Apamia for Caecilius Bassus for the loue he bare to Sextus Pompey slew Sextus Caesar at vnawares and made himselfe gouernour of his army and other captaines of Caesars to reuenge his death made after Bassus with all their forces vnto whom Antipater by his two sonnes sent aide both for Caesars sake that was slain as for Caesars sake that was yet aliue for he was an entire friend welwiller vnto them both and these warres continuing long Marcus came out of Italy to succeed Sextus CHAP. IX Of the dissension amongst the Romans after Caesars death and of the treacherie of Malichus AT this time arose great and bloudy ciuill warres amongst the Romans at such time as Caesar was traiterously slaine by the treason of Cassius and Brutus after he had ruled the Empire 3. yeers and seuen moneths By reason of which murther their troubles daily increased and the nobilitie being at variance amongst themselues euerie one followed that course that they thought most expedient for themselues Whereupon Cassius presently marched into Syria to take possession of the gouernment of the army which was about Apamia where hee made Marcus and the legions that were at variance and Bassus friends and raised the siege from Apamia and leading the army in his owne person he forced euerie citie to be tributarie so that he grew to exact without measure Whereas therefore he commanded the Iewes to contribute seuen hundreth talents Antipater who feared his displeasure appointed his sons and other of his friends presently to gather the money and especially among the rest he gaue this charge to one Malichus a friend of his being by necessitie inforced thereunto But Herode first of all got Cassius his fauour who brought a hundreth talents which he had collected out of Galilee which was his part or prouince for this cause Cassius accounted him as a deare friend As for the rest he accused them of negligence and was angrie at the other Cities So that for that cause he destroied Gophna and Ammauntes and other two of the basest cities marching onward as if he intended to kill Malichus for that he had been so carelesse and negligent in gathering the tribute mony But Antipater presently disbursing vnto Cassius a hundreth talents saued both him and all the rest of the Cities Yet Malichus after Cassius was departed did no more remember how beneficiall Antipater had been vnto him but oftentimes did treacherously lie in waite for to murther Antipater who hindred and withstood his villanous pretence notwithstanding that himselfe had often confessed that Antipater had saued his life Antipater fearing both his power and subtiltie passed ouer the riuer Iordan to gather an army that he might reuenge those treacheries But Malichus being discouered by his impudencie ouercame Antipaters sons for through many oths and excuses he woon Phasaelus chiefe of the garrison in Ierusalem and Herod also who was master of the armorie that they should be a meanes to reconcile him to Antipater Whereupon Antipater entreating Marcus who was Generall of the army in Syria and had determined to kill him he was saued The reason that Marcus would haue put him to death was because Malichus sought to make an alteration Now Caesar being young and Antonius warring against Cassius and Brutus Marcus and Cassius hauing gathered an army in Syria in consideration that Herode had stood them in steed where need required they made him Procurator of all Syria giuing him a band of horsemen and footmen Moreouer Cassius promised him that if the warres had a happy end he would make him king of
when they fled into the temple without respect of age or womanhood For although the king intreated the souldiers to spare the people yet for all that they neuer restrained their cruell hands but like mad men they raged against all men women and children At that time also Antigonus neither respecting his former condition nor his present estate came and prostrated himselfe at Sosius hi◅ feete beseeching him to be mercifull vnto him but Sosius nothing compassionating his calamitie cruelly derided him and called him Antigona yet did he not permit him to depart free as a woman but put him in prison Now when Herode had conquered his enemies he endeuoured to the vttermost to appease the furie of the souldiers for all the whole multitude were desirous to see the temple and the holy vessels therein but he resisted them appeasing some by threatnings reclaiming others by force and the rest by entreaties supposing that it had been better for himselfe to haue been conquered then by obtaining the victorie to minister a meanes whereby those things should be discouered which were not lawfull to bee reueiled He therefore presently repressed the souldiers from sacking the citie inueying much against Sosius and obiecting against him that the Romans would desolate the Citie both of men and money and leaue him king of a place without subiects adding further that he esteemed not the empire of the whole world to be a recompence for such a massacre of his Citizens Hereunto Sosius replied that in equitie the souldiers were to haue the sacking of the towne in recompence of that labour they had spent in the siege But Herode gaue him this answere that he had rather recompence euerie man out of his owne treasurie and by this means he redeemed as it were the reliques of his desolate countrey and in the end performed that which he had promised For he bountifully rewarded euerie souldier and captaine according to his merit and gaue Sosius a kingly reward so that no man went away without money This done Sosius dedicated a golden crowne vnto God and so departed leading Antigonus captiue with him to the intent to present him vnto Antonius This man desirous to continue his life and entertaining himselfe with this cold hope euen vntill the last receiued in the end that reward which his faint heart desired and was beheaded Herode being now king made a distinction betweene the Citizens and those who had fauoured him he vsed verie honourably and put those to death who had followed Antigonus and when money failed he distributed all his kingly ornaments and sent them to Antonius and his companie Yet did not he quite redeeme himselfe from all annoiances for Antonius being now captiuate through Cleopatra her loue in all things yeelded vnto her desire and Cleopatra hauing raged so against her owne kindred that she had not left one of them aliue now turned her furie vpon strangers and accusing the nobilitie of Syria vnto Antonius she perswaded him to put them to death that she might thereby the easier obtaine their possessions Afterward her couetous minde sought to effect the like against the Arabians and the Iewes also in so much as she secretly went about to cause the kings of those places Malichus and Herode to be put to death Antonius made a shew as though he would haue granted her request yet he thought it great impietie to kill good men and so great kings yet notwithstanding he no more accounted them his friends but tooke a great quantitie of ground from the limits of both their countries and a vineyard in Iericho where balme grew and gaue her all the Cities on this side the riuer Eleutherus Tyre and Sydon onely excepted Now when she had obtained the dominion of these Cities she followed Antonius vnto Euphrates who set forward to make warre against the Parthians and afterward by Apamia and Damascus she came into Iudaea where Herode hauing something pacified her angrie minde with great gifts obtained to pay her yeerely two hundreth talents for that part of his countrey which Antonius had giuen her and seeking by all meanes possible to get himselfe an interest in her fauour he conducted her vnto Pelusium and not long after Antonius returned out of Parthia and brought Artabazes the sonne of Tigranes captiue and gaue him vnto Cleopatra for all the money and riches which he had got and the captiue likewise were bestowed on her CHAP. XIIII Of the treacherous practise of Cleopatra against Herod of Herods warre against the Arabians and of a verie great earthquake ABout such time as the Actiacum war was on foot Herode prepared himselfe to attend Antonius for that for the time present all troubles were pacified in Iudaea and he had already gotten the castle of Hyrcanion which Antigonus sister had in her possession But Cleopatra c◅aftily preuented him in this his iourny so that he could not go with Antonius for she desiring the ruines of both the kings as was before mētioned perswaded Antonius that he should ◅se Herod to make warre against the Arabians whom if he ouercame then she should be made Queene of Arabia and if so be he himselfe were ouercome then she should be Queene of iudaea intending hereby that one of these potentates should ruinate the other But this practise of hers was greatly to Herods gaine For first of all making head against those of Syria that were his enemies with all the power of horsemen he could make which was verie many and meeting them at Diospolis he ouercame them although they valiantly resisted who hauing the ouerthrow stirred vp a mightie armie of the Arabians to helpe them so that an infinite company was gathered togither about Coelesyria expecting the Iewes neere vnto a citie called Canatha Where king Herode meeting them purposed not to fight vnaduisedly but to compasse his owne armie round about with a wall but his armie remembring their former victorie would not be counselled but violently assaulted the Arabians and at the first onset put them to flight Herode pursuing his enemie was greatly endaungered by the treason of the inhabitants of Canatha who were set on by Athenio that vvas one of Cleopatras captaines vvho had alwaies borne him ill vvill for the Arabians encouraged by their helpe returned againe to battel and they two ioyned their forces togither and set vpon Herode in stonie and difficult places and put his armie to flight and killed many of them those that escaped fled vnto a little village hard by called Ormiza vvhere the Arabians compassing them about took both the men their tents with al their furniture Not long after this ouerthrow of Herods souldiers he came and brought helpe but too late and to little purpose but the cause hereof was for that the captaines of his army would not obey his commaundement for if they had beene obedient Athenio had not had the opportunitie to worke him that iniury yet
but after he had made him high Priest in the seuenteenth yeere of his age he presently put him to death after he had so honoured him who when he came to the Altar clothed in sacred attire vpon a festiuall day all the people wept and the same night was he sent to Iericho and drowned in a lake by the Galatheans who had receiued commission to performe the murther These things did Mariamme daily cast in Herodes teeth and vpbraided both his mother and sister with verie sharpe and reprochfull words yet he so loued her that notwithstanding all this he held his peace But the women were set on fire and that they might the rather moue Herode against her they accused her of adulterie and of many other things which bare a shew of truth obiecting against her that she had sent her portraicture into Aegypt vnto Antonius and that through immoderate lust she did what she could to make her selfe knowen vnto him who doted vpon womens loue and was of sufficient power to do what wrong he pleased Hereat Herode was sore moued especially for that he was iealous of her whom he loued bethinking himselfe vpon the crueltie of Cleopatra for vvhose sake king Lysanias and Malichus king of Arabia were put to death and now he measured not the daunger by the losse of his wife but by his owne death which he feared For which cause being drawen by his affaires into the countrey he gaue secret commaundement vnto Ioseph his sister Salomes husband whom he knew to be trustie and one who for affinitie was his well-willer to kill his wife Mariamme if so be Antonius should haue killed him But Ioseph not maliciously but simply to shew her how greatly the king loued her disclosed that secret vnto her and she when Herode was returned and amongst other talke with many oaths sware that he neuer loued woman but her indeed quoth she it may well be knowne how greatly you loue me by the commaundement you gaue to Ioseph whom you charged to kill me Herode hearing this which he thought to be secret was like a mad man and presently perswaded himselfe that Ioseph would neuer haue disclosed that commaundement of his except he had abused her so that hereupon he became furious and leaping out of his bed he walked vp and downe the pallace vvhereupon his sister Salome hauing fit opportunitie confirmed his suspition of Ioseph For which cause Herode growing now raging mad with Iealousie commanded both of them to be killed Which done his wrath was seconded by repentance and after his anger ceased the affection of loue was presently renewed yea so great was the power of his affection that he would not beleeue she was dead but spake vnto her as though she were aliue vntill in processe of time being assertained of her funerall he equalled the affection he bare her during her life by the vehemencie of his passion for her death Mariammes sonnes succeeded their mother in her wrath and recogitating what an impious act it was they accounted their father as a mortall enemie both before and after they went to studie at Rome and especially after they came againe into Iudaea For as they encreased in yeeres so did the violence of their mind encrease And they being now mariageable one of them maried the daughter of their aunt Salome who accused their mother the other maried the daughter of Archelaus king of Cappadocia And now to their hatred was there ioyned a libertie to speake more freely against them and by this occasion of their boldnes many were animated to calumniate them so that some did openly tell the king that both his sonnes sought to worke treason against him and that the one of them prepared an army to helpe the other to reuenge the death of their mother and that the other to wit he that was sonne in law to Archelaus purposed to flie and accuse Herode before Caesar. Herode giuing eare vnto those calumniations sent for Antipater whom he had by Doris to the end he might defend him against his two sons and sought to aduance him aboue them But they thought this alteration intolerable seeing one whose mother was but a priuate woman so preferred and they moued with their owne noblenes of birth could not containe their indignation but vpon euerie occasion shewed themselues offended yet were they euery day lesse accounted of As for Antipater he wrought himselfe into fauour for he knew how to flatter his father and raised many slaunders vpon his two brethren partly inuented by himselfe partly diuulgated by some of his fauorites whom he set a worke about that matter till that at last he put his brethren out of all hope of hauing the kingdome For he was now by the kings Will and Testament declared king so that he was sent as a King vnto Caesar in a kingly habit and pompe only he wore no Crowne and in time he so preuailed that he wrought his mother into Mariammes steed and with flatteries and calumniation so moued the king that he began to deliberate about the putting to death of his sonnes For which cause he conducted his sonne Alexander with him to Rome and accused him before Caesar that he had giuen him poyson But he with much adoe hauing obtained libertie to plead his owne cause and that before an vnskilfull Iudge yet more wise then Herode or Antipater he modestly held his peace in all things that his father had offended in and first of all he purged his brother from daunger of that crime and taking the vvhole matter vpon himself he in verie good sort acquited himselfe therof And afterwards he inueighed against Antipaters subtiltie complained of those iniuries which had been offered him hauing besides the equitie of his cause sufficient eloquence to acquit himselfe for he was a vehement orator and knew wel how to perswade Last of al he obiected that his father hauing a desire to put both him and his brother to death had laid an accusation vpon him where at the whole audience wept and Caesar was so moued that not regarding the accusations that were laid vnto them he presently made Herode and them friends vpon these conditions that they in all things should be obedient vnto their father and that their father should leaue the kingdome to whom he pleased Hereupon Herode returned from Rome and though he seemed to haue forgiuen his sonnes yet laid he not his iealousie and suspition aside For Antipater stil vrged his argument to make Herod hate his other two sonnes though for feare of him that reconciled them he durst not openly shew himselfe an enemie vnto them Afterward Herode sailed by Cilicia and arriued at Elaeusa where Archelaus receiued him verie courteously thanking him for the safetie of his sonne in law and verie ioyfull for that they were made friends for he wrote vnto his friends at Rome with all speede possible that they should be
For Caesar had giuen no such authoritie for he gaue him licence to take any one that was a fugitiue from him out of any Citie although it were not vnder his dominions And the young men were ignorant of the offences laide vnto their charge and so were more easily entrapped being vnawares of them for their father did not openly tell them of any matter but they euerie day perceiued their fathers good will towardes them to decay which so much the more encreased their griefe In like manner Antipater by little and little mooued Pheroras their vncle and Salome their aunt against them daily consulting with his wife whom he should incite against them Now Glaphyra Alexanders wife encreased their malice euery day recounting her owne nobilitie bearing her selfe aboue all that were in the whole kingdom for she deriued her petigree by the fathers side from Timenus by the mothers side from Hystaspis his sonne called Darius inueying verie much against the basenesse of Herodes wiues and his sister who were chosen for their beautie and not for their nobilitie of birth For Herod as we haue said had many wiues both for that it was lawfull by the custome of their countrey and because Herode delighted in many and all of them hated Alexander for Glaphyras pride and contumelious speeches And Aristobulus made Salome his enemy although she was his wiues mother for she was before mooued by Glaphyras speeches and he often vpbraided his wife with her base birth still telling her that he had married a priuate woman and his brother Alexander a Queene And his wife often with weeping teares told this to her mother adding moreouer that Alexander and Aristobulus threatned that if they got the kingdome they would make their other brethrens mothers weaue with their maids and that they would make them notaries of villages deriding that they applied themselues to learning Salome mooued hereat could not containe her selfe but tolde all to Herod who easily beleeued her because she spake against her sonne in law Moreouer another accusation was laid to their charge wheâ—…eat the king was greatly mooued for he was enformed that Alexander and Aristobulus did often bewaâ—…le their mother and lament her hard happe with sighes and cursed him and that often when he bestowed some of Mariammes cloathes vpon his latter wiues they threatned that in short time in steed of princely attire they should weare a black habite Whereupon Herod though he feared the constant mindes of the young men yet because he would not take away all hope of amendment he called them vnto him for he was to saile to Rome and as a king threatned them in few words and like a father gaue them many admonitions and requested them to loue their brethren promising them forgiuenes of their former offences so that hereafter they amended all But they beseeching him not to beleeue accusations forged against them vpon malice and aunswering that the effect of matters would easily acquite them requesting him not so easily to beleeue tales but refuse to giue malignant people opportunitie and recourse vnto him for that there would alwaies be some that would maliciously inuent tales to tell whilst there was any one that would giue them the hearing and beleeuing thereof For they knew that Salome was their enemie and Pheroras their vncle and both of them bare cruell minds and were hard hearted and especially Pheroras who was fellow with his brother of all sauing onely the crowne and had his owne reuenues amounting to a hundreth talents a yeere and receiued all fruits of the whole countrey beyond Iordane which was giuen him by his brother Herode also had obtained of Caesar to make him Tetrarch and bestowed vpon him a princesse for his wife despousing vnto him his wiues sister after whose decease he despoused vnto him his eldest daughter and gaue him three hundreth talents with her for a dowrie But Pheroras fell in loue with his maid and forsooke a princesse whereat Herode being angrie maried his daughter vnto his brothers sonne who was afterward slaine by the Parthians but Herode presently pardoned Pheroras offence Diuers before this time were of opinion that in the life time of the Queen he would haue poisoned Herode and Herode although he loued his brother verie well yet because many who had accesse vnto him told him so he began to misdoubt and so examining many that were suspected lastly he came to Pheroras friends none of them confessed it yet they confessed that he was determined to flie vnto the Parthians with her whom he was so in loue withall and that Costabarus Salomes husband was priuie thereunto vnto whom the king maried her after her first husband for sâ—…pition of adultery was put to death Salome her selfe also was not free from accusation for Pheroras accused her that she had contracted matrimony with Syllaeus who was procurator to Oboda king of Arabia who was a great enemie of the kings and she being conuicted both of this and all things else whereof her brother Pheroras accused her yet obtained pardon as likewise Pheroras did so that the whole tempest of all their family was turned against Alexander and light vpon his head The king had three Eunuches whom he loued dearly and euery one knowne by their offices for one of them was his butler the other was his cooke and the third got him to bed and lay with him these three Alexander with great gifts ouercame Which the king vnderstanding by torments forced them to confesse it and declared with what promises they were therto by Alexander induced and how he had deceiued them affirming that there was no trusting to Herode who was a shamelesse olde man and that he died his haire to make himselfe seeme young and that he in despite of him would be his successor and then he would be reuenged vpon his enemies and make his friends happie and especially them and that the whole nobilitie did secretly obey him and the captaines of the army and gouernours did priuily come vnto him Hereat Herode was so terrified that he durst not presently diuulgate their confessions but night and day he sent spies to learne what was said or done and whom he suspected them he presently killed so that his whole kingdome was full of iniquitie For euery one as his malice moued him fained calumniations and many desirous of bloudshed abused the kings wrath as they pleased against their enemies and credit was giuen to euerie lie and no man was so soone accused but presently he was punished and he who presently before accused others was now accused himselfe aâ—…d carried to be punished with him whom he accused For the kings perils shortned the time of triall for their liues and he became so tyrannous that he afforded not a good looke vnto them that were not accused and shewed himselfe most fierce and violent euen to his deerest friends so that he banished many out of his
friends according to their deserts And all the kings kinred by the kings appointment and consent bestowed rich gifts vpon Archelaus and both he and all his nobilitie accompanied him to Antiochia Not long after there came one into Iudaea far more subtil then Archelaus who both disanulled the reconciliation made for Alexander and caused his death also This man was a Lacedemonian borne named Eurycles who by money sought to haue obtained the kingdome This man brought vnto Herode rich gifts as it were for a bait of that he intended he had so behaued himselfe in Greece that it could no longer tolerate his excesse and Herode againe rewarded him with farre greater gifts then those were that he gaue him but he esteemed his liberality as nothing except he bought it with the bloud of Princes For which cause he circumuented the king partly by flattering him partly by praising him fainedly and especially by his owne craft and subtiltie and quickly perceiuing his inclination he both in word and deed sought to please him 〈◊〉 so that the king accounted him amongst his chiefest friends For both the king and all the nobilitie honoured him the more for his country sake in that he was a Lacedemonian But he very easily perceiuing the feeble stay of Herodes house and the hatred betweene the brethren and how the king was affected towards euery one of them he first of all entertained himselfe at Antipaters house making a shew in the meane while of good will towards Alexander pretending protesting that in times past he had beene Archelaus companion by this means he quickly crept into fauor with him as an approued friend which was the cause that he was sodainly entertained for a faithful man He presently likewise brought him into friendship with Aristobulus hauing sounded euery mans disposition he accommodated himselfe vnto all humours and to begin withal he became Antipaters pensioner and a traitor to Alexander And he often vsed hot words to Antipater as it were childing him that he being eldest of the brethren so slenderly looked after them who pretended to put him besides the crown which was his right He many times likewise vsed the like words to Alexander admiring him who was borne of a Queen husband to a Queene yet would permit such a one who was descēded of a priuat woman to succeed in the kingdom especially seeing he had such occasion opportunitie to effect the contrary for he might assure himself of Archelaus his helpe in any thing Alexander supposed he had spoken as he thought because he counterfaited friendship with Archelaus so that he misdoubting nothing disclosed vnto him all his mind concerning Antipater saying that it was no wonder though Herode disinherited them of the kingdome since before time he had slaine their mother Eurycles counterfaiting himselfe both to pitie them and to be sorrowfull for their mischance entised Aristobulus to speake the like and hauing animated them both to complaine in this sort against their father he presently went to Antipater and disclosed to him all their secrets forging also the trechery which those two brethren intended against him which was to dispatch him with their swords For this cause Antipater gaue him a great summe of money and commended him to his father and being hired to effect the death of Alexander and Aristobulus he himselfe became their accuser Whereupon he came vnto Herode and told him how in regard of those benefits which he had receiued at his hand he would now bestow his life vpon him and the light of this world for recompence of his hospitalitie affirming that Alexander had lately stretched forth his hand with his sword drawne to kill him and he onely was the cause that he performed it not by staying his hand and promising him to assist him in the matter adding that Alexander vsed these speeches That Herod was not contented to enioy a kingdome which was another mans right nor yet as it were to dismember his kingdome after Mariammes death but he would also leaue the kingdome belonging vnto their ancestors vnto a pernicious bastard Antipater and for that cause hee would reuenge Hyrcanus and Mariammes death And that it was not conuenient to receiue the kingdome from such a father without bloud and euery day he had occasion giuen him so to doe for he could speake nothing without calumniation For if any mention were made at any time of any ones nobilitie presently he was vpbraided without cause for his father would presently say there is none noble but Alexander whose fathers base birth is a shame and discredit vnto him And that going a hunting if he held his peace his father was offended if he praised then it was said he mocked so that in euerie thing he found his fathers affection turned from him that he was only fauourable to Antipater so that he would die with all his heart if he failed of his purpose if he killed him his father in law Archelaus would worke his safetie to whom he might easily flie And after he would go to Caesar who as yet knew not Herods manners for he would not stand before him then as he did before being terrified because his father was present neither would he only speake of his own wrongs but of the wrongs of the whole nation who were oppressed by exactions euen vnto death And then he would lay open in what pleasure and after what sort the money gotten with bloud was consumed and who and what kind of men they were that were thereby enriched and what was the cause of the affliction of the citie and that there he would bewaile the death of his vncle and his mother and vnfold all Herodes wickednes which being once made manifest vnto the world no man would account him a murtherer of his father Eurycles hauing falsely reported this of Alexander fell presently to praise and extoll Antipater affirming that he onely loued his father and hindered such practises The king yet not throughly appeased for that which had past grew into an exceeding agony and Antipater once againe suborned other false witnesses against them who affirmed that they were wont to haue secret talke with Iucundus and Tyrannius who sometime were generals of the kings horsemen who were then displaced for some offence they had committed Whereupon Herod being verie angrie presently tortured them and they affirmed that they were ignorant of all that which was laid to their charge But there was found and brought vnto the king a letter as though it had beene written by Alexander vnto the Gouernour of the Castle of Alexandriam requesting him that he would receiue him and his brother Aristobulus into the Castle when he had killed his father and to assist them both with weapons and other necessaries Alexander affirmed that this letter was counterfeited by Diophantus the Kings Secretarie who was both bold and could counterfeit anie ones hand and hauing counterfeited manie was at
last for the same put to death Herod caused the Gouernour of the castle to be tortured but he confessed nothing that was laid against him and although he had no good proofe of any thing yet he commaunded his two sonnes to bee kept in hold He likewise called Eurycles who was the bane of his house and the breeder of all the mischiefe author of his safetie and one who had well deserued at his hands and gaue him fiftie talents who departing from Iudaea before matters were well knowne went to Archelaus and faining that he had reconciled Alexander and Herod he receiued there a peece of money From thence he went into Achaia and spent that which he had euilly gotten in as bad manner as he got it Lastly he was accused vnto Caesar that he had caused dissension in all Achaia and spoyled the Cities for the which cause hee was banished And this was the punishment which was inflicted vpon him for Alexanders and Aristobulus troubles It is not amisse here in this placeto compare Euaratus of Cous vnto this Eurycles who being a deare friend vnto Alexander and arriuing about the same time that Eurycles did being put to his oath sware that he heard the young men say nothing yet his oath nothing preuailed nor profited them poore soules For Herod would onely heare and giue eare vnto accusatitions and hee highly esteemed them that would beleeue them with him and shewe themselues moued thereat Moreouer Salome encreased his crueltie towards his sonnes for Aristobulus minding to bring her into the same trouble with himselfe who was his mother in law and his Aunt sent vnto her willing her to looke to her selfe as though the King was minded to put her to death Who being now called into question for the matters whereof she was before accused to wit that she purposed to marrie with the kings enemie Syllaeus the Arabian to whom she priuilie reuealed the Kings secrets and this was the vtter ruine of the young men wherewithall they were ouer throwne as it were with a violent tempest For presently Salome went vnto the King and told him what Aristobulus had admonished her of and he being now outragious caused both his sonnes to be bound and imprisoned in seuerall places Then sent he Volumnius who was the Generall of his Armie and Olympus one of his familiar friends vnto Caesar to carie him the informations against his sonnes in writing who sayling to Rome after their arriuall deliuered the Kings letters And Caesar was verie sorie for the young men yet hee permitted the father to doe what hee would with his children and so wrote vnto him that he should haue licence to do what he thought good yet he signified vnto him that he should do better to cal his Nobles together and let them make enquirie concerning the treasons and then if he found them guiltie of these things whereof they were accused to put them to death Hereupon Herod according to Caesars letters and appointment came vnto Berytum and there gathered an assembly to sit in iudgement the chiefe in that iudgement were the Gouernors that Caesar in his letters appointed Saturninus and Pedanius Ambassadors and with them Volumnius Procurator next the kings kinred and Salome and Pheroras and then the nobilitie of Syria Archelaus onely excepted who because he was father in law to his sonne Herod suspected him to be partiall But hee suffered not his sonnes to come into iudgement for he knew that the verie sight of them would haue moued all men to compassion And moreouer if they were permitted to speake for themselues that then Alexander would easily haue acquited them both for which cause they were kept in Platane in a Castle of Sidonia The king beginning his oration was as vehement as though they had beene present against whom he spake and he was halfe afraid to obiect anie treason against them for that he had no proofe thereof and therfore he prosecuted their opprobrious words iniuries and offences which they had committed against him the which he affirmed to be more grieuous then death At last when no man contradicted him he began to lament as though by ouercomming in such sort himself was also ouercome thereupon requested euery one to giue their vedict And first of all Saturninus condemned his sonnes but not to die saying that he had three sonnes present and he thought it not lawfull to adiudge other mens sons to death The two Legats also affirmed the same and many followed their aduise But Volumnius was the first that pronounced the sorrowfull sentence after whom all the rest followed some to flatter Herod some for hatred they bare him but none for anie indignation against the young men Then all Iudaea and Syria expected an end of this tragedie yet no man thought Herod to be such a Tyrant as that he would haue put his two sonnes to death Herod caused his sonnes to be brought to Tyre from thence by ship he conueyed them to Caesarea bethinking himself what death he should put them to In the meane time there was an old souldiour of the kings named Tyro who had a sonne belonging to Alexander and highly in his sauour and he himselfe greatly loued the two young men who being verie much grieued in mind at that which had past went about crying that iustice was troden vnder foote truth opprest that nature was confounded and the life of man full of iniquitie and whatsoeuer else griefe put into his mind who nothing esteemed his owne life At last this Tiro came boldly vnto the king and sayd vnto him O king thou seemest to me most vnhappie who doest giue credite vnto wicked and vile persons against thy dearest sons For Pheroras Salome thou beleeuest before thy owne children whom notwithstanding thou hast often found to haue deserued death and thou dost perceiue that they do this to the intent to make thee want lawfull successors and leaue thee none but Antipater whom they with all their harts would haue king because they can rule him as they list But bethinke thy selfe O king how all thy souldiours will hate him for the death of his two brethren for there is no man that doth not pitie the two young men and many of the Nobilitie are displeased hereat After he had spoken this he named them who were displeased whereupon the king presently commaunded them and him and his sonne to be laid hold on and presently one of the kings Barbers named Tryphon shewing himselfe to be in I know not what furie came forth and said vnto Herode Tiro perswaded me to kill thee with my razour promising me that if I would so do Alexander would giue me great rewards Herod hearing this caused Tiro and his sonne and the barber to be tortured and they denyed all and the Barber affirmed nothing more then hee had already said Then he commaunded Tiro to be more tormented Whereupon his sonne moued with
compassion towards his father promised to disclose all the matter vnto the king so that he would pardon his father who being released of his torments presently declared how his father through Alexanders means and procurement was purposed to haue killed him Manie that were present thought this was a deuise of the young man to free his father from torments and yet others were perswaded that it was true Vpon this Herod made a speech vnto the people wherein he inueighed against the Gouernours of his armie and Tiro and made the people arme themselues and kill both them and the Barber with staues and stones Now he sent his sonnes vnto Sebaste which was not farre from Caesarea and there he caused them to be strangled and hauing quickely dispatched the matter he caused them to bee brought into the Castle Alexandrium there to be buried with their mothers vncle And this was the end of Alexander and Aristobulus CHAP. XVIII Of Antipaters conspiracie against Herod his father BVt Antipater now hoping without all controuersie to succeed in the kingdome was generally hated of the whole nation for it was openly knowne that he by false caluâ—…niations had caused his brethrens deaths And on the other side he stood in no little feare of his brothers children whom he perceiued now to begin to grow to yeares for Alexander had by Glaphyra two sonnes Tigranes and Alexander and Aristobulus had by Berenice daughter to Salome fiue children to wit three sonnes Herod Agrippa and Aristobulus and two daughters Herodias and Mariamme Herod after hee had put Alexander to death sent away Glaphyra with her dowrie into Cappadocia married Berenice Aristobulus his wife vnto Antipaters vncle For Antipater deuised this match to become friends with Salome whom he before time hated and enuied He also by his great gifts sought to get Pheroras fauour and the friendship of such as were friends vnto Caesar sending to that end great summes of money to Rome He gaue Saturninus and all the rest great riches in Syria But the more he gaue the more he was hated of all men for euery one iudged that he did not consume such wealth for that he was liberall but that he lauished it out for feare so that he got not the loue of them vpon whom he bestowed it and they to whom he gaue nothing were so much the more his enemies Yet he became euerie day more bountifull seeing against his expectation Herode made much of their children whose parents he had slaine intending to shew how much hee repented their deaths by the pitie and compassion he tooke vpon their children For assembling together his friends he caused the children to be placed by him and the teares standing in his eyes he sayd Hard cruell and sinister fortune tooke away from me the fathers of these children but I pitie to see them orphans and naturall affection commendeth them vnto me Wherefore I will endeuour that seeing I haue beene an infortunate father I may be a wiser and happier grandfather and leaue them who are most deare vnto me to raigne after me Wherefore brother Pheroras I betroth thy daughter vnto Alexanders eldest sonne that for that cause thou maist be carefull to prouide for him and assist him and vnto thy sonne Antipater I assure the daughter of Aristobulus that so thou maist be a father to her who wants a father and my son Herod whose mothers vncle was high Priest shall marrie with her sister And this is my will and pleasure touching this matter and let no man who loueth me seeke to alter this And I beseech Almightie God for the good of my countrie and of these my Nephewes to prosper these mariages and to looke vpon these children with a more fauourable eye then he did their fathers Hauing thus spoken he wept and ioyned the childrens hands and curteously saluting euerie one he dismissed the Councell Vpon this Antipater was amazed and all the Orphans well perceiued how sorrowfull hee was For now he thought himselfe dishonoured by his father and that his good fortune was endangered seeing that Alexanders sonne was like to haue both Archelaus and Pheroras the Tetrarch to assist him Moreouer he considered how he was hated and how the people did compassionate the children for that they were fatherlesse and affected them remembring their fathers who were dead were terrified at his wickednes Wherfore he attempted all means possible to breake off the marriages yet he feared to insinuate anie thing to his father cunningly who was now verie seuere and warie and mistrustfull And therefore went openly vnto him to make his humble suit request him that he would not leaue him without honour nor depriue him of that dignitie which before time he had iudged him worthy of giuing him onely the bare title of a king and leauing the substance of the kingdome in other mens powers For it would be impossible for him to obtaine the kingdome if Alexanders sonne beside Archelaus his fauor were by marriage made sonne in law vnto Pheroras Wherefore he earnestly besought him that seeing he had a great manie daughters to change the marriages for the king had nine wiues and by seuen of them hee had children Antipater by Doris Herod by Mariamme daughter of the high Priest and Antipas and Archelaus by Malthace the Samaritane and his daughter Olympias whom his brother Ioseph married and by Cleopatra of Ierusalem Herod and Philip and by Pallas Phasaelus he had two other daughters also Roxane and Salome one of them by Phaedra and the other by Elpis Hee had likewise two wiues by whom he had no issue his cousin and his neece and beside these he had two daughters by Mariamme sisters to Aristobulus and Alexander Wherefore Antipater seeing his father had such choise of daughters he requested the mariages to be altered The king well perceiuing his mind and purpose towards the Orphans was verie angrie and calling to remembrance the misfortune of his sonnes whom he had put to death he greatly feared least Antipater by some false accusations should ouerthrow them and so with sharpe words did driue him off for that time yet afterward he so flattered Herod that he got the mariages to be altered And first of all he ioyned Aristobulus daughter with Antipater himselfe and his sonne to Pheroras daughter Here one may see what Antipater could do by flattering speeches for Salome in the like matter could not speed although that she was his sister and procured many times Iulia Caesars wife to speake for her that shee might marie with Syllaeus the Arabian yet was not she permitted so to do But Herode sware that he would account her as an vtter enemie except she would desist from that purpose and afterward against her will he maried her vnto one Alexas a friend of his and one of her daughters to Alexanders sonne and the other to Antipaters vncle As for Mariammes daughters one of them was maried to Antipater his
thâ—…se matters Behold here I am vvho notwithstanding a murtherer of my father yet did I neuer suffer any misfortune by sea nor land is not this O father a sufficient argument of my innocencie For I know father that before God and thee I am condemned and being condemned I beseech thee giue not credit to reports extracted by torments let me be bumed inflict all torments vpon me spare not my wicked bodieâ—… For if I be a murtherer of my father I must not die without torments crying out aloud after this manner and vveeping he moued all that vvere present and Varus also to compassion but Herode onely abstained from teares for his anger gaue attention to the truth And presently Nicholaus at the kings commaundement making a long speech of Antipaters craft and subtiltie tooke away all hope of mercy and began a verie bitter accusation ascribing all mischiefe vvhich had befallen that kingdome vnto him and especially the death of the two brethren who through his calumniations vvere made away affirming also that he vsed trecherous practises against those vvho vvere yet aliue fearing least they should seek to succeed in the kingdome for he vvho had prepared poyson for his father would much lesse spare his brethren And then comming to the proofe of his pretence to poyson his father he declared in order all euidence thereof aggrauating his offence by Pheroras as though Antipater also were the cause why he purposed to murther his brother and how he had corrupted the kings deerest friends and so filled the wholecourt with wickednes And when he had accused him of many other things and brought proofe thereof he ended his speech Then Varus when he had commaunded Antipater to make aunswere vnto those things and that he said nothing more then God is a witnesse of my innocencie he called for the poyson and gaue it to one that was condemned to die who hauing drunke thereof presently died Then Varus talked secretly with Herod and what was done there in that councell he wrote vnto Caesar. Yet notwithstanding when Herod had sent Antipater to prison he sent messengers vnto Caesar to shew him his hard fortune and calamitie After this it was proued that Antipater wrought treason against Salome For one of Antiphilâ—…s seruants came from Rome and brought letters in the name of Acmes who was one of Iulia her maides which she writ vnto the king telling him that she found a letter of Salomes amongst Iulias letters and so for good will she had sent it him â—…the letter which she affirmed to be Salomes contained many bitter inuectiues against Herod and many accusations But these letters were written and fained by Antipater who for money had perswaded Acmes so to do as we haue said for the letter which she writ to Antipater euidently shewed it to be so for she wrote as followeth I haue written vnto thy father as you requested me and sent also other letters and I assure my selfe he will not spare his sister if he doe but read the letters and you may do wel seeing I haue performed all your requests that now you would be mindful of your promise This letter against Salome and others being found to be counterfaited the king began to doubt that Alexander was made away by such counterfaited letters and he was verie angry that he had almost put his sister to death through Antipaters deuise Wherefore he no longer delaied to punish him for all yet he was hindred by a great sicknesse from accomplishing his purpose He also sent letters vnto Caesar concerning Acme the maid and Salomes false accusation and changed his testament and blotted out the name of Antipater and in his roome vvrote Antipas leauing out Archelaus and Philippus who were the elder brethren because Antipater had accused them And he bequeathed vnto Caesar a thousand talents beside many other rich gifts and to his wife and children and kinred and libertines about fiue hundreth and gaue euery one a great gift either in ground or money and honoured his sister Salome with most rich gifts And thus he corrected his will CHAP. XXI Of the golden Eagle and of Antipaters and Herodes death HErods disease encreased partly through age and especially for his gâ—…ese and sorrow for he was now three score and ten yeeres olde and his mind was so troubled by the death of his children that though he were in health yet he tooke no pleasure in any thing and his sicknes was so much the more grieuous vnto him because that Antipater was yet aliue for he purposed to put him to death when he was recouered of his sicknes To encrease his calamitie there arose a tumult amongst the people For there were in the citie two sophisters who made a shew as though they were very skilful in their country lawes for that were renowmed all ouer the countrey One of them was named Iudas who was sonne vnto Sepphoraeus the other was called Matthias sonne vnto Margalus These two were followed by a great many yong men so that when they expounded the law they had an assembly like a great armie all young men These two hearing that the King partly by griefe and partly by his disease was verie like to die spake vnto their acquaintance saying that it was now a fit time vvherein God might be reuenged and those things which were made against their countrey lawes taken away for it was a great offence to God to permit the Images or shapes or likenesse of any liuing thing to be in the temple This they said because the king had set a golden Eagle vpon the chiefest porch of the temple which the Sopâ—…sters now willed the yong men to take away saying that it was meritorious although danger might ensue thereon yea euen to die for their countrey lawes For they that died for such a cause should haue their soules immortall and enioy euerlasting blisse and that many vnwise men ignorant of that doctrine so loued their liues that they chose rather to die by sicknesse then to spend their liues in a vertuous quarrell Whilest they said thus there was a rumour spred that the king was now at the last cast whereat the young men being incouraged about noone when many were walking in the temple they let themselues downe from the top of the temple with great ropes and so with hatchets cut downe the Eagle Whereof the captaine of the souldiers being aduertised accompanied with a great many soldiers went speedily to the temple and tooke almost fortie of the young men and caried them to the King Who first of all asked them if they were so bold as to cut down the golden Eagle and they confessed they had done it then he demaunded by vvhose commaundement they answered by the commaundement of their country lawes After this it was asked them why they who were presently to die were so ioyfull they answered for that after death they hoped to enioy
many good things and eternall blisse The king hereat greatly moued with anger ouercame his disease and vvent forth and made a speech to the people vvherein he inueighed against them as Church-robbers and that vnder pretence and colour of their country lawes and religion they attempted great matters and adiudged them as impious people worthie of death The people fearing that he would torture many to learne who fauoure that act requested him that first the authors of that crime then those that were found guilty therein should receiue punishment that he would remit the offence to all the people besides The king with much ado entreated caused the yong men that let themselues down in cords and the Sophisters to be burned the rest which were taken in that act to be beheaded After this the kings sicknesse spred ouer his whole bodie and he vvas afflicted with most grieuous paine for he had a vehement ague and an itch ouer all his whole bodie which was intolerable and a daily colicke and his feete were swollen as though he had the dropsie his belly was swollen and priuie members putrified so that vvormes bred in the putrified places He was also short winded and he vvas grieuously tormented with difficultie of breath and a conuulsion of the whole body so that some said that this was a punishment laid vpon him for the death of the two Sophisters Herod notwithstanding he was afflicted with so many grieuous sicknesses yet was he desirous to liue and sought remedie whereby he hoped for health At last he passed ouer Iordan where he vsed the vvarme vvaters of Calliroe which runne into the lake of Asphaltites and are so sweet that men vse to drinke of them There the Physitions caused his bodie to be bathed in hot oyle and it was therewith so dissolued that his sight failed and he was as though he were dead whereaâ—… those that were about him being troubled with their cries caused him to looke vp now despairing of life he willed fiftie Drachmes to be distributed vnto euery souldier and great summes of money to the captains and his friends As he returned when he came to Iericho he was in verie great likelihood to die of melancholie and there he deuised a wicked fact for he caused the chiefe men of euerie towne and village in all Iudaea to be assembled together and then he shut them vp in a place called the Hippodrome and calling vnto him Salome his sister and Alexas her husband I know quoth he that the Iewes will make feasts for ioy of my death yet if you will do my command I shall be mourned for and I shal haue a princely funeral Therefore so soone as I haue giuen vp the ghost cause souldiours to compasse these men whom I haue here in hold and kill them all for so all Iudaea and euerie houshold thereof shall against their will bewaile my death As thus he commanded this to be done the Legates came which he had sent to Rome bringing him letters wherein was shewed how Acmes Iulia her maid was by Caesars command put to death and Antipater condemned to die yet Caesar writ that if his father had rather banish him he would condiscend thereunto also Herod with this newes was something refleshed yet presently with paine he was ouercome for he both was troubled with a vehement cough and almost pined with fasting to that he thought to hasten his owne death and taking no apple in his hand he called for a knife for hee was accustomed to cut the meat which he did eare and then looking about him least any standing by might hinder him he lifted vp his arme to strike himselfe But Achiabus his cousin raâ—… hastily vnto him and stayed his hand and presently there was made great lamentation throughout the kings pallace as though the king had beene dead Antipater hauing speedy newes hereof was glad and tooke courage and promised the keepers a peece of money to let him go But the chiefest of them did not only denie to do it but also went presently to the king and told him all what Antipater requested Herod hearing this lifted vp his voice with more strength then was meete for a sicke man and commaunded his guard to go and kill Antipater and burie him in the Castle called Hyrcanium And then againe he altered his testament and writ Archelaus his eldest sonne who was brother to Antipas for king and appointed Antipas for Tetrarch Fiue dayes after the death of his sonne Antipater Herod died â—…hauing reigned thirtie and foure yeares after he slew Antigonus and thirtie seuen yeares after that the Romans had declared him king And in all other things he was as fortunate as any man for he being but a priuate person got the crowne and kept it and left it vnto his posteritie but in his houshold affaires hee was most infortunate Salome before it was knowne that the king was dead went forth with her husband and released all those that were in hold whom the king commanded to be slaine saying that the kings mind was now altered and therefore he gaue them all licence to depart and after their departure the kings death was made known to the souldiers who together with the other multitude were assembled in the Amphitheater at Iericho Where Ptolemaeus keeper of the kings seale made a speech vnto them and began to say that Herod was now happie and comforted the multitude and so he read vnto them a letter which the king left wherein he earnestly requested the souldiers to fauour and loue his successour After the Epistle read he recited the kings testament wherein Philip was appointed heire of Trachon the places therunto adioyning Antipas designed Tetrarch and Archelaus king Him also he commanded to beare his ring vnto Caesar and withall notice and intelligence of the estate of the kingdome whereof he had beene gouernor fast sealed in writing for he appointed Caesar to be ouerseer of all his ordinances vnto whose pleasure he left the performance of his testament This was no sooner reade but presently the skies were filled with the voyces and cries of the people who did congratulate Archelaus and the souldiers and the people came in companies vnto him promising their fauor and furtherance and desired God alwayes to assist him This done euerie one was busied about the kings funerals where Archelaus spared no cost but buried the King with all royall pompe possible The Beere wheron he was carried was adorned with gold and precious stones vpon it lay a bed wrought with purple whereupon was laid the dead corps of the King couered also with purple with a crowne on his head and a diademe of pure gold and a scepter in his right hand About the Beere were his sonnes and kinsfolke and the guard bands of Thracians Germans and Gauls all went before in order as though they had gone to warres The rest of the
souldiers in warlike order did follow their Captaines and leaders and 500. seruants and libertines carried perfumes And thus the corps was carried the space of two hundreth furlongs into the Castle named Herodion where as himselfe had appointed it was interred And this was the end of king Herode THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE WARRES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 2. booke 1 Of Herods successour Archelaus how he entred into the Temple and the mutinie that arose for the reuenge of those that were executed for taking away the golden Eagle 2 Of the fight and massacre in Ierusalem betweene the Iewes and Sabinians 3 Of Varus his deeds concerning the Iewes that were crucified 4 How the Iewes had an Ethnarcha constituted ouer them 5 Of the false supposed Alexander and how he was taken 6 Of the death of Archelaus 7 Of Simon the Galilean and the three sects of the Iewes 8 Of Pilates gouernment 9 Of the pride of Caius and of Petronius the President 10 Of the raigne of Claudius the Emperour and the raigne and death of Agrippa 11 Of diuers tumults in Iudaea and Samaria 12 Of the tamults in Iudaea vnder Foelix 13 Of Albiuns and Florus Presidents of Iudaea 14 Of Florus crueltie towards the Iewes of Caesarea and Ierusalem 15 Of another opperession of those of Ierusalem through Florus his meanes 16 Of Politianus the Tribune and Agrippa his oration to the Iewes wherein he exhorted them to obey the Romans 17 Of the beginning of the rebellion of the Iewes against the Romans 18 Of the murther of Ananias the high Priest Manahemus and the Roman souldiers 19 Of a great slaughter of the Iewes in Caesarea and throughout all Syria 20 Of another grieuous slaughter of the Iewes 21 Of the massacre of the Iewes at Alexandria 22 Of the massacre of the Iewes by Cestius 23 Of the battell of Cestius against Ierusalem 24 Of the besieging of Ierusalem by Cestius and the massacre there 25 Of the crueltie of them of Damascus towards the Iewes and of Iosephus his practises in Gablee 26 Of Iosephus his dangers and euasion and the malice of Iohn Giscaleus 27 How Iosephus recouered Tiberias and Sephoris 28 How the citizens of Ierusalem prepared themselues to warre and of Simon Gioras tyrannie CHAP. I. Of Herods successour Archelaus and how he entred into the Temple and the mutinie that arose for the reuenge of those that were executed for taking downe the golden Eagle ARchelaus being appointed successor in the kingdom of Herod late dead necessitie constrained him to go to Rome which iourney gaue occasion of new broyles For after that for seuen dayes space hee had celebrated his fathers funerals and largely feasted the people for this is a custome amongst the Iewes which bringeth manie of them to pouertie yet he that doth not so is reputed impious he went vnto the Temple attired in a white garment where he was with great ioy receiued of the people and he himselfe sitting in a tribunall seat a throne of gold did verie curteously admit the people to his presence and thanked them for their diligent care vsed in his fathers funerals and for that they exhibited honour vnto him as though he were alreadie king Yet he said that he would not take vpon him the authoritie nor name of a king till such time as his succession was approued by Caesar who by his fathers testament was Lord and maister of all and for that cause he withstood the souldiers at Iericho when they would haue crowned him But he promised that if he were confirmed king by those who were in authoritie he would largely recompence both the souldiers and the people for their good will and that he fully purposed to be better vnto them then his father was The multitude hereat greatly reioyced and made present triall of his mind and purpose for some cried out requesting that the tribute might be no more exacted Others desired that the yearly paiments might cease Others requested to giue all prisoners libertie Archelaus in fauour of the people graunted all their requests then offering sacrifices he banquetted with his friends when sodainly after the noone time of the day a great multitude desirous of alteration the common lamentation for the kings death being ceased began a priuate mourning bewailing their mischance whom Herod had put to death for pulling down the golden Eagle from off the porch of the Temple This sorrow was not secret but the whole citie did resound with laments for them that were thought to haue lost their liues for the temple and their countrie lawes They also cried that reuenge was to be taken vpon them whom Herod for that fact rewarded with money And that first of all he who by Herod was constituted high Priest was to bee reiected and another more holy and deuout to be put in his place Archelaus although he was hereby moued to reuenge yet because he was presently to take such a iourny abstained frō it fearing least that if he brought the multitude into hatred of him they might hinder him Wherfore he sought rather by admonishing them then by force to reclaime those that were seditious and sent the Gouernour of the souldiers to request them to bee pacified But the authours of that sedition so soone as he came to the temple before he spake one word threw stones at him and in like manner they vsed others sent after him to appease them for Archelaus dispatched many messengers vnto thē whom they spitefully intreated making a shew that if they had beene more in number they would not haue beene appeased Therefore when the feast of vnleauened bread drew nigh which the Iewes call Easter wherein an infinite number of sacrifices were appointed an innumerable multitude of people came out of all villages thereabout for deuotion sake to that solemnitie and they who so lamented the death of the Sophisters remained in the Temple seeking by all meanes to nourish their sedition Which Archelaus fearing sent a band of souldiers and a Tribune with them to take the chiefe of the seditious before such time as they had drawne vnto them the multitude of the people against whom the whole number being stirred vp slewe a great many of them with stones and the Tribune himselfe being sore hurt had much ado to escape And when they had so done they presently went and offered sacrifice as though that no hurt had beene done But Archelaus perswaded himselfe that the multitude would not be appeased without slaughter wherefore he sent vnto them the whole armie the footmen into the citie and the horsmen into the field who inuading the seditious people as they were sacrificing slew of them almost three thousand and scattered the residue into the mountaines neere adioyning There were also criers who followed Archelaus and proclaimed by vertue of his commaund that euerie one should depart home to his house so euerie one
distributed amongst the whole family for he thought that they for number wanted succour CHAP. II. Of the fight and massacre at Ierusalem betweene the Iewes and the Sabinians BEfore such time as Caesar determined any thing concerning this matter Malthace the mother of Archelaus fell sicke and died and many letters came out of Syria signifying that the Iewes had rebelled Which Varus foreseeing after the departure of Archelaus from thence went vnto Ierusalem to represse and resist the authors of that sedition and because the multitude would not be quiet he left one legion of the three which he brought out of Syria in the citie and so hee returned vnto Antiochia But Sabinus comming afterward to Ierusalem was the cause that the Iewes beganne a new broyle For one while he forced the garrisons to render to him the Castles another while he rigorously made search for the kings treasure and he was not onely assisted by those that Varus left there but also he had a great multitude of his owne seruants all armed to further his auarice And in the feast of Pentecost so called because of the number of seuen weekes the people assembled themselues togither not for religion sake but for anger and hatred so that there was an infinite multitude of people which came out of Galilee and Idumaea and Iericho and the countries beyond Iordan Yet the Iewes which were inhabitants of the Citie surpassed the rest both in number and courage and they therefore parted themselues into three bands and made three campes one vpon the North part of the temple the other on the South part neere vnto the Castle called Hippodromus the third on the West-part neere the pallace and so they besieged the Romanes on euerie side Sabinus greatly fearing them both for their multitude and for their courage sent many letters vnto Varus earnestly requesting him with all speed to bring succour for if hee did not the whole legion would be extinguished Hee himselfe got him into the highest tower of the Castle Phasaelus which is so called by the name of Herodes brother whom the Parthians killed and from thence hee gaue a signe vnto the souldiers to issue out sodainly vpon their enemies for himselfe was in such a feare that hee durst not come downe to the souldiers of whom he was gouernour The souldiers obeying his commaund issued into the temple and there fought a sore battell with the Iewes who hauing no bodie to assist them being vnexperienced in warlike affaires were soone conquered by them that were skilfull At last many Iewes got vpon the porches and cast dartes at them from the toppe thereof so that they killed many but the other could not reuenge themselues of them who fought against them from so high a place neither could they sustaine the force of them who ioyned battaile with them till at last they fired the porches which for greatnes and curious worke were admirable And so many were eyther destroyed with the sodaine fier or else leaping downe amidst their enemies were by them slaine others going backward were cast headlong from the wall others despairing of life killed themselues with their owne swords and they who priuilie came downe the walles and assaulted the Romans being astonished with feare were easily ouercome till at last all being eyther put to the sworde or caste downe through feare the treasure dedicated to God was left destitute of keepers so that the Souldiers tooke away thereof about foure hundreth talents and that which they left Sabinus got But this losse of men and money stirred vp many moe Iewes and those more warlike then the first against the Romans who besieging the kings pallace threatned all their destructions vnlesse they would presently depart from thence promising Sabinus and the legion leaue to depart if he so liked Part of the kings souldiers who of their owne accord fled vnto them did assist them But the most warlike and valiant amongst them were three thousand of Sebaste whose rulers were Rufus and Gratus one leader of the footmen and the other ouer the horsemen both which although they had had no souldiers with them for their valour of bodie and counsell might yet haue beene a great helpe vnto the Romanes in those warres The Iewes earnestly continued the siege and assaulted the castle walles crying vpon Sabinus to depart and not to hinder them now after so long time to haue their countries liberty Sabinus though with all his heart he wished himselfe away yet durst he not trust them but he suspected that their courtesie was but a plot to entrappe him and on the other side hoping that Varus would come and helpe him he still indured the daunger of the siege At the same time there were tumults in many places of Iudaea and many through opportunitie of the time aspired to the kingdome For in Idumaea two thousand olde souldiers who had borne armes vnder Herod gathering togither and hauing armed themselues came and fought with the kings forces whom Achiabus the kings cousen resisted in the strongest villages alwaies eschewing to fight in the open field At Sephoris also a towne of Galilee Iudas the sonne of Ezechias the captaine of the theeues who before was taken by king Herode and had vvasted that countrey gathered togither a great multitude and brake into the kings armory and armed all his company and fought against them who affected the royall dignitie Also beyond the riuer Simon one of the kings seruants being faire and of a huge stature put a crowne vpon his owne head and gathering togither a companie of theeues went about with them vnto Iericho and burned the kings pallace and many faire and sumptuous houses there and so got great pray by burning the houses and he had surely fired all buildings of account had not Gratus captaine of the kings footmen made haste to meete him with the bowmen of Trachon and the most warlike men of Sebaste where many footmen were slaine But Simon though he fled into a streight valley yet he ouertooke him and cut him ouerthwart the necke and so he fell downe In like manner other of the kings pallaces neere Iordan by Bethara were burned by a multitude of others gathered togither in bands from beyond the riuer At this time a shepheard named Athrongaeus presumed to vsurpe the crowne he was thereunto induced by the courage he bare and the disdaine of death With this resolution he armed his foure brethren and euerie one of them had a companie armed and they were as his captaines and champions to make incursions and he like a King medled onely with great affaires and then he put a crowne vpon his head and thus he continued a long time wasting the country and killing especially the Romans and also the kings souldiers so that none of the Iewes escaped if they were in hope to gaine by them They also presumed to meet a company of the Romanes at Ammauns who caried corne
and armour vnto the legion where they killed with darts one Arius a Centurion and fortie of the most valiant amongst them and the rest being in the like daunger through the helpe of Gratus with his souldiers of Sebaste escaped When they had done many things in this manner against the inhabitants straungers at last three of them were taken the eldest by Archelaus and the two others who were eldest after him fell into the hands of Gratus and Ptolemaeus and the fourth yeelded himselfe vnto Archelaus vpon composition and thus at last they came to their end And all Iudaea by their example was filled with theeues CHAP. III. Of Varus his deedes concerning the Iewes that were crucified WHen Varus had receiued the letters of Sabinus and of the nobles with him fearing the whole legion he hasted to succour them Wherefore he came to Ptolemais with two other legions and foure comets of horsemen vvhere he vvilled the kings forces and the nobles to meete him Moreouer as he passed by Berytum they accompanied him with 15. hundreth armed men Aretas also the King of Arabia for the hatred he bare to Herode was come with a great number of horsmen and footmen Assoone as the host vvas assembled Varus incontinently directed part of his armie into Galilee adioyning thereto and appointed a friend of his the sonne of Caius for their gouernour who presently put them all to flight against whom he was sent and hauing taken the castle of Sephoris he fired it and made the inhabitants therofbond slaues Varus with the rest of the armie went into Samaria and tooke it yet hee did the Citie no harme because he founde that amiddest al those tumults they had been quiet When he had pitched his tents at a village called Aun which was in the possession of Ptolemaeus the Arabians sacked it for they hated them who loued Herod From thence they went to Sapp◅o an other strong borough which they in like manner sacked and destroyed with all the fruits reuenewes they founde there All was filled with the slaughter and fiers which the Arabians made and there was no end nor hinderance of their auarice Also Varus commaunded Ammaus to bee burned being angrie for the death of Arias and the rest that were slaine there and the inhabitants thereof were scattered euery one by flight seeking to saue himselfe From thence hee went to Ierusalem and at the sight of him the Iewes fled and scattered themselues some here some there all about the country they that remained in the Citie excused themselues that they were not consenting to that tumult but that for the celebration of the feasts sake they permitted thē to come into the citie affirming that they had rather beene besieged together with the Romans then to haue conspired with those of the sedition and so they laid the cause of that tumult vpon others But first Iosephus Archelaus his cousin with Gratus Rufus came to meet him leading the kings armie and the Sebastians the Roman souldiers adorned in their accustomed apparrell Sabinus durst not be seene of Varus and therefore got him out of the towne before and went vnto the sea coast Varus deuided his armie and sent it into the fields against the Authours of that tumult and those that were brought vnto him who were in lesse fault hee committed to prison and those who were the chiefest he crucified to the number of two thousand And vnderstanding that in Idumaea there yet remained ten thousand of armed men he presently sent the Arabians home because he perceiued that they did not warre as those that came to helpe him but as they themselues pleased wasting the country against his will and so accompanied with his own armie he hastened against the enemies But they without anie fight through Achiabus counsell yeelded themselues to Varus And he pardoned the common souldiers and sent the Captaines to Caesar to answere the matter Who pardoning the most of them yet punished some that were the kings kinsmen for some of them were a kin to Herod because they altogether rebelled against their king Varus hauing thus quieted the estate of Iudaea and Ierusalem leauing the same legion that was there before departed to Antiochia CHAP. IIII. How the Iewes had an Ethnarcha constituted ouer them NOw Archelaus had a new processe at Rome against the Iewes who before the sedition with the leaue of Varus were gone to Rome to craue the libertie of their countrie These who came as Embassadours in their countries behalfe were fiftie in number and they were assisted by more then eight thousand Iewes that liued at Rome Wherefore Caesar called a Councell of the Nobilitie of Rome in the Temple of Apollo which was situate vpon mount Palatine and ioyned to Caesars priuate pallace which was most sumptuously adorned and the multitude of Iewes appeared with the Legats against Archelaus and his friends Archelaus kinred neither came with him nor with the rest of the Iewes with him they would not ioyne for enuie and with the Iewes they durst not for shame Amongst them also was Philip the brother of Archelaus whom Varus sent in curteous maner to assist his brother or if that it pleased Caesar to deuide Herods kingdom amongst his children that then he might haue a part The aduersaries were comaunded to shew what Herod had committed contratie to the lawes First of all they answered that they found him not a King but the most cruell tyrant that euer was and that he murdered many and those whom he left aliue endured such miserie as they thought themselues far vnhappier then those who were so butchered For said they he was not onely contented to teare his subiects bodies with torments but also defacing and ruinating the elde◅ of his owne countrie he adorned and reedified the cities of strangers and permitted fortainers to massacre the Iewes without reuenge And in steed of their ancient and wonted happinesse and their lawes inuiolated their countrie was by him made so poore and so filled with inquitie that within those few yeares that Herod raigned they had sustained more murders and massacres then all their ancestors had from the time of their departure out of Babylon vntill the beginning of his raigne being then pouoked to take armes when Xerxes was king of Persia. Yet they by enduring such miserie being now accustomed therunto would willingly be subiect to such a successour of his as they knew would make them liue in most bitter seruitude for they when Herod his father was dead presently called Archelaus king notwithstanding he was the sonne of such a tyrant and with him mourned for the death of Herod and offered sacrifice for the prosperitie of his successor But he to shew himselfe Herods son began his reigne with the slaughter of three thousand citizens and because he had so well deserued the kingdome he offered so many men to God for sacrifice and on a festiuall day filled
was to raigne so many yeares as there were eares of corne in number and then after he had abidden many mutations he should die Fiue dayes after this interpretation Archelaus was sent for to Rome to answer that before Augustus whereof he was accused I also thought it worth rehearsing to set downe the dreame of his wife Glaphyra daughter to Archelaus king of Cappadocia who was first married vnto Alexander brother vnto this man and sonne to king Herod by whom he was put to death as we haue said before after whose death shee was married to Iuba King of Lybia and he being dead she returned home to her father and liuing in her widowhood at home with her father Archelaus the Ethnarch beholding her was so inflamed with her loue that presently being diuorced from his wife Mariamme he married her Who shortly after she came into Iudaea dreamed that she saw Alexander her first husband standing before her and saying vnto her It had beene enough for thee to haue married the king of Lybia but thou not contented therewith comest againe to my house greedy of a third husband and which is worse of all now married to mine own brother I wil not conceale nor dissemble this iniurie which thou dostme but I will recouer you against your will And she scarcely liued two dayes after she had recounted this dreame CHAP. VII Of Simon the Galilean and the three sects amongst the Iewes AFter that Archelaus his dominions were made a prouince a certaine Roman knight called Coponiu's was made gouernour thereof receiuing authority from Caesar to punish and put to death In his time a Galilaean named Simon incited his countrimen to reuolt reprouing them for paying tribute to the Romans and for being subiect to anie mortall men but God This Simon was a Sophister hauing a sect of his own deuising nothing like other sects For there are three sects of Philosophers amongst the Iewes one is that which the Pharisies do follow another which the Sadduces do follow the third is that which the Esseans follow which is the most famous of the three The Esseans are Iewes borne but they are most friendly to one another who beside al other pleasures do eschew witchcraft neither do they suffer thēselues to be led with their owne affections but account it a great vertue to abstaine from all vices and to keep chastity For they refuse mariage account other mens children put to them to be taught whilest they be young as their kinsmen whom they do diligently instruct in their manners and opinion◅ not for that they condemne mariage and propagation of mankind but for that they thinke men should auoid womens intemperance for they think that none of them keepe themselues truly to one man Also they contemne riches and all things with them are common no man amongst them is richer then other And they haue a law amongst themselues that whosoeuer will followe their sect he must make his goods common to them all for so neither any amongst them shall seeme abiect for pouertie nor any great for riches sake but they haue as it were all equall patrimonies like brethren They account it a shame to vse oile and if anie man against his will bee annointed therewith they vse all diligence to wipe it away for they account homelines best and all their clothes are white They haue amongst them procurators to ouersee and vse all things for their common benefit and euerie one seeketh the good of all who are chosen from among them by a common consent They haue not one certaine citie but are in manie cities and if anie of their sect come vnto them from another place they giue him any thing they haue as if he himselfe were owner thereof And in briefe they goe boldly in to those whom they neuer in their liues did see before as though they were verie familiarly acquainted with them and therefore when they take a iourny they only arme themselues against theeues carie nothing with thē els In euerie citie there is one of them appointed whose office it is to haue a care of the guests see that they neither want cloathes nor any thing els necessarie for them All children vnder gouernment brought vp by them go apparelled alike they neuer change their apparel nor shooes except they haue cleane worne their first apparell or that by reason of long wearing they will do no more seruice They among themselues neither buy nor sell but euery man that hath any thing that another wanteth giueth him it and taketh that of him which himselfe needeth yet euerie one of them may take any thing he hath need of from whom he pleaseth without any change Aboue all towards God they are verie religious for before the sunne rise they haue no profane talke but they make certain vowes praiers after the custome of their countrie as it were praying that it may rise vpon them After this euerie one is dismissed to practise the art he knoweth and when euerie one hath diligently laboured till fiue of the clocke they all gather themselues together againe and being couered with linnen cloathes so they wash their bodies with cold water hauing thus purged themselues they haue a secret assembly vnto the which no man that is not of their sect is admitted and so they come into the refectorie as into a holy temple all sitting down with silence and the baker setteth euery man in order a loafe the cook euery man a messe of pottage of one sort Then before meate the Priest giueth thanks and no man may taste anie meat before they haue made their prayers to God Likewise when dinner is ended they pray againe for both before and after they giue thankes vnto God the giuer of all and then putting off that apparell as sacred they apply themselues vnto their worke till euening This done they doe as before causing their guests to suppe with them if by fortune any come Their house is neuer troubled with cries or tumults for euerie one is appointed to speake in his turne so that they who are without the house esteeme their silence as some sacred mysterie The cause hereof is their continuall sobrietie and that euerie one is limited howe much he should eate or drinke And although that in all other matters they are ruled by their gouernour yet in these two to wit compassionating and helping they may doe as they thinke good for euerie one may when hee pleaseth helpe those whom he thinketh deserue helpe and when they please giue meat to them that are in need Yet may not they giue any thing to their kinred without the leaue of their Gouernour These men giue not place to anger but refraine from wrath keepe their promise and maintaine peace and account euery word they speake of more force then if they had bound it with an oath and they shun oathes worse then
torments which if they continue in wickednes they shall endure This is the Esseans Philosophie touching the immortalitie of the soule wherein they propose an ineuitable allurement to those who haue once tasted of their Philosophie There are also some amongst them who promise to foretell things to come who from their tender age haue studied and followed holy bookes diuers purifications and sayings of the Prophets and their diuination seldome faileth There is another colledge of these Esseans agreeing with the former both in apparrell meat and kind of life and obserue the same lawes and ordinances onely they differ in the opinion of marriage affirming that they who abstaine from mariage do cut off the greatest part of mans life to wit succession of mankind For say they if all men should follow that opinion presently all mankind would perish yet notwithstanding these people are so continent that for three yeeres space they maketrial of the women they are to marry and when they haue proued them fit to beare children then they marrie them None of them must lie with their wiues when they are with child to shew that they do not marry to satisfie lust but for to haue children When their wiues wash themselues they are couered with a garment as the men are and this is the manner and custome of this sect Of the two former sects the Pharisees are said to be most skilfull in interpreting the law and are of opinion that all things are to be attributed to God and Fate and that euerie man may of his owne power doe good or ill yet say they destinie helpeth in euery action â—…d that the soules of men are all incorruptible but onely the soules of good men goe into other bodies and the soules of wicked men are sent into euerlasting paine But the Sadduces denie Fate and Destinie and affirme that God is the author of no euil auowing likewise that a man hath free will to doe well or ill and euerie man may chuse whether he will be good or bad and they generally denie both paines and rewards for the soules after this life The Pharisees are sociable and louing one to another but the Sadduces are at discord among themselues liuing like sauage beasts and as vncourteous to their owne sect as to straungers This is all which I haue to speake concerning the Philosophers amongst the Iewes Now I will returne to my purpose CHAP. VIII Of the cities which Philip and Herode builded and of Pilates gouernment ARchelaus his Ethnarchie being now made a prouince the rest of his brethren to wit Philip and Herode who was surnamed Antipas gouerned their Tetrarchies And Salome dying left vnto Iulia by her testament the Toparchie which she ruled as also Iamnia a ground set with palme trees in Phasaelis When Tiberius Caesar after the death of Augustus was made Emperour of Rome after that he had raigned seuen and fiftie yeeres sixe moneths and two daies Herode and Philip remaining in their Tetrarchies Philip builded a citie neere vnto the head of Iordan in the countrey of Paneade and called it Caesarea and another he built in the lower part of Gaulanitis and named it Iulias Herode in Galilee built the Citie called Tiberias and another in Peraea on this side Iordan which also he named Iulias Pilate being sent by Tiberius to be gouernour ouer the Iewes caused in the night time the statua of Caesar to be brought into Ierusalem couered which thing within three daies after caused a great tumult among the Iewes for they who beheld it were astonished and moued as though now the law of their countrey were prophaned for they hold it not lawfull for any picture or Image to be brought into the citie At their lamentation who were in the citie there was gathered togither a great multitude out of the fields adioyning and they went presently to Pilate then at Caesarea beseeching him earnestly that the Images might be taken away out of Ierusalem and that the law of their countrey might remaine inuiolated When Pilate denied their suit they prostrated themselues before his house and there remained lying vpon their faces for fiue daies and nights neuer mouing Afterward Pilate sitting in his tribunall seat was verie carefull to call all the Iewes togither before him as though there he would haue giuen them an answere when vpon the sodain a company of armed souldiers for so it was prouided compassed the Iewes about with a triple ranke the Iewes were here at amazed seeing that which they expected not Then Pilate told them that except they would receiue the Images of Caesar he would kill them all and to that end made a signe vnto the souldiers to draw their swords The Iewes as though they had agreed thereto fell all downe at once and offered their naked neckes to the stroke of the sword crying out that they would rather lose their liues then suffer their religion to be prophaned Then Pilate admiring the constancy of the people in their religion presently commaunded the statuaes to be taken out of the citie of Ierusalem After this he caused another tumult amongst them for they haue a sacred treasure called Corban which Pilate vsed to bring water in vnto the Citie foure hundreth furlongs off for this cause the people murmured so that when Pilate came to Ierusalem they flocked about his tribunall crying and exclaiming Pilate fore seeing that tumult caused souldiers secretly armed to mingle themselues amongst the people in priuate apparrell and commanded them not to vse their swords but to beat those with clubs whom they saw make such clamours And when he had thus plotted the matter sitting in his Tribunall he gaue a signe vnto the souldiers and presently the Iewes were beaten and many of them partly with blowes and partly troden vpon by the multitude died miserably The multitude amazed aâ—… the calamitie of those that were slaine held their tongues For this cause Agrippa sonne to Herod the Tetrarch whose father Aristobulus Herode the King put to death went to Rome and accused him to Caesar. Tyberius not admitting his accusation he remained still at Rome and sought the fauour of other potentates there and especially he reuerenced Caius the sonne of Germanicus he being yet a priuate person vpon a certaine day being with him at a banquet he stretcht forth his hands openly began to beseech Almightie God that Tyberius Caesar might quickly die that he might see him Lord of all the world Tyberius hauing notice here of by one of his familiar friends caused Agrippa to be imprisoned where he endured a hard and streight imprisonment vntill the death of Tyberius which was six moneths after After he was dead hauing raigned 22. yeares sixe moneths and three dayes Caius Caesar who succeeded him in the Empire freed him from prison and gaue him the Tetrarchie of Philip who was now deceased and the title of a king When Agrippa came into his
Petronius receiued the letters of Caius Caesars death twentie and seuen dayes before the other threatning letters came CHAP. X. Of the Empire of Claudius and of the raigne and death of Agrippa CAius Caesar being slaine by treason when he had raigned three yeares and sixe moneths Claudius was made Emperour by the armie which was at Rome The Senate by the instigation of the Consuls Sentius Saturnius and Pomponius the second commanded three legions of Souldiers to keepe the Citie during the Councell holden in the Capitol and for Caius Caesars crueltie they determined to fight against Claudius intending to reduce the Empire to the ancient gouernmēt that as before time so for euer after those shuld rule that the Senate iudged worthy It chanced that at this time Agrippa came to Rome and the Senate sent vnto him requesting him to come and be one of their Councell Claudius also desired him to take part with the armie intending to vse his helpe where neede required Agrippa perceiuing that Claudius was already as it were Emperour for his power hee tooke part with him who presently sent him as Embassadour to the Senate to tell them his purpose how that first of all the souldiers whether he would or no set him in that dignitie and it had beene in him an vndiscreet part to haue forsaken such an offer at the souldiers hands who did it for good will nay if he had refused it his life should be in continuall danger for it was sufficient cause of enuie that hee had beene elected Emperour Moreouer he purposed to rule not as a tyrant but as a most mild prince for he would be contented only with the title of an Emperour and doe nothing without the common consent of them all And although he was not naturally inclined to modest and curteous behauiour yet he had a sufficient example to beware that he abused not his authoritie by Caius Caesars death Agrippa bare this message to the Senate who answered as though they trusted vnto their souldiers and learned Counsell that they would not thrust themselues into wilfulbondage Claudius receiuing this answer sent Agrippa againe to tell them that nothing could cause him to betray them by whom he was made Emperour and that he was forced to make warre against them with whom hee was verie loth to striue and therefore willed them to chuse a place out of the Citie for the battell to be fought in for it stood with no reason to deface the Citie with ciuill wars and massacres for the obstinacie of some few Agrippa did also this message vnto the Senate and one of the souldiers that were for the Senate drew his sword and said Fellow souldiers what should moue vs to massacre our friends and kinred and parents who follow Claudius especially seeing wee haue an Emperour with whom we can find no fault vnto whom we should rather go forth with entreaties then with armes When he had said this he passed through the midst of the court and all the souldiers followed him The Senate being thus left desolate the Lords abādoned of their force began to be in great feare and seeing it was no standing out for them they followed the souldiers went vnto Claudius Before the Citie walles there met them some that indeuoured to shew themselues dutifull vnto Claudius for his fortune sake hauing their swords drawne and they almost killed fiue before Caesar vnderstood the outrage of the souldiers and they had done it had not Agrippa ranne and told him of the matter saying that if he did not presently appease the souldiers furie now raging against the Citizens that all his Nobilitie would presently be extinguished and he should be left an Emperour of a desolate place When Claudius heard this hee repressed the souldiers furie and verie honourably receiued the Senate into his campe and went forth presently with them and offered sacrifice to God as the maner is for the good estate of the Empire Also hee presently made Agrippa King of all his fathers dominions giuing him likewise that which Augustus gaue Herod to wit Trachonite and Auranite and beside them another kingdome called the kingdome of Lysania and published this his gift by an edict vnto the people and commaunded the Senate to engraue that donation in brasen tables and to place it in the Capitoll Moreouer he rewarded his brother Herod who was his kinsman with the kingdome of Chalcis and married him to the Queene Berenice Agrippa receiued greater reuenues of his kingdome then he could desire which he spent not vainly but in building such a wall about Ierusalem as had he finished it the Romans could neuer haue taken it but before he could end that worke he died in Caesarea hauing raigned three yeeres with the title of a king and other three yeeres before in the state of a Tetrarch Hee left behind him three daughters which he had by Cypris Berenice Mariamme and Drusilla and one sonne by the same wife named Agrippa who because he was verie young Claudius reduced the kingdome into a prouince and made Cestius Festus Gouernour thereof But after him Tyberius Alexander who nothing violating the lawes of the nation ruled them in peace After this Herod king of Chalcis departed leauing behind him two sonnes which he had by his brothers daughter Berenice to wit Berenicianus and Hircanus and by his first wife Mariamme Aristobulus His other brother also Aristobulus died a priuate person leauing one daughter Iotapa And these were the posterity of Aristobulus king Herods sonne and Herod had Alexander and Aristobulus by Mariamme whom he put to death but Alexanders posteritie raigned in the greater Armenia CHAP. XI Of diuers tumults in Iudaea and Samaria AFter the death of Herode who raigned in Chalcis Claudius created Agrippa the sonne of the former Agrippa king of Chalcis in his vncles kingdome and Cumanus was made ruler of the other prouince after Alexander vnder whō there were many tumults and new calamities which befell the Iewes For when they were assembled togither at the feast of vnleuened bread in Ierusalem the Romane souldiers standing in the porch of the temple for alwaies armed men kept that place vpon festiual daies least the people gathered togither should make any tumult one of the souldiers taking vp his coat turned his bare buttocks against the Iewes faces speaking words as vnseemely as was his gesture Whereat all the whole multitude began to murmur so that they flocked about Cumanus requesting him to punish the souldier for this misdemeanour and some of them rash young men and as it were prone to sedition began to reuile the souldiers and threw stones at them Then Cumanu fearing that the whole multitude of the Iewes would violently rush vpon him called vnto him many armed souldiers and sent them into the porch of the temple The Iewes being in a great feare fled and left the temple and there was such a throng that as they
one of them tumbling vpon another There was a great throng in the gates of the citie for euery one hastning and striuing to get in hindered themselues and others Many died most miserably in that throng and some were stifled and some prest to death being troden vpon so that their neighbours comming to bury them could not know them The souldiers also cruelly assaulted them killing all that they could come vnto and forced the people to go in by the entrance called Bezetha who desired to recouer the temple and the castle called Antonia Florus taking the souldiers with him pursued them thither striuing to get the castle yet did he not preuaile for the people made resistance and threw down stones from the house top and killed many of the Romans who being ouercome with darts cast from aloft and could not resist the people who on euery side came against them retired themselues vnto the rest of the armie at the kings pallace Those that were seditious fearing that Florus would againe assault them and by the castle Antonia make an entrance into the temple they got vpon the galleries that reached from the porch of the temple vnto Antonia and beat them downe hereby to represse the couetousnes of Florus Who greedilie gaped after the sacred treasure and striued to enter by Antonia into the temple to take them but seeing the porches beaten downe he offered no more violence And calling togither the high priests and nobilitie he said that he was content to depart out of the citie but he would leaue them as great a garrison as they would request Whereunto they answered that nothing should be altered if he would leaue one companie to keepe all quiet so he left not that which a while before did fight against the people because that the people would not easily brooke them for that which they had suffered at their hands So Florus as he was requested changing the garrison with the rest of the army departed to Caesarea CHAP. XVI Of Politianus the tribune and how Agrippa made a speech vnto the Iewes exhorting them to obey the Romanes FLorus yet deuised an other way to stirre the Iewes to rebellion for he reported vnto Cestius that the Iewes were reuolted impudently belying them to haue committed that which indeed they endured at his hands The nobles of Ierusalem and Berenice certified Cestius of all that Florus had done he receiuing letters from both partics deliberated with his nobles what to do Some cosisailed Cestius to go into Iudaea with an army punish the Iewes if they were reuolted and if they were not then to confirme them in their obedience Yet it pleased him better to send some about him thither before to bring him true newes of their estate and what had hapned So he sent Politianus the tribune who in his way met with Agrippa about Iamnia as he returned from Alexandria and told him all for what and from whom he was sent Where also were present the Priests and chiefe of the Iewes to welcome Agrippa And hauing saluted him as courteously as they could they presently bewailed the misery which had befallen their nation the cruelty of Florus Which although Agrippa disallowed yet made as if he were angry with the Iewes whō he greatly pitied purposing hereby to bridle their affections that they perswaded that they had had no iniury might abstaine from reuenge So that all the better sort who for their lands and liuings desired quietnes well perceiued that the kings reprehension was not of malice but for their good The people of Ierusalem went out to meete them threescore furlongs off and receiued Agrippa and Politianus verie courteously yet the women lamented the death of their husbands slaine and with their teares moued the whole multitude to sorrow who besought Agrippa to haue compassion on their nation intreating also Politianus to go into the citie and behold what Florus had done And so they shewed him the market place desert and the houses destroyed and by the meanes of Agrippa perswaded Politianus to go round about the citie as farre as Siloa onely with one man and behold with his eies what Florus had done and that they were obedient to the Romanes in all things and onely were enemies vnto Florus who had vsed them so cruelly Politianus hauing gone about the whole citie ascended into the temple well perceiuing many arguments of the Iewes fidelitie towards the Romanes and calling the people there togither he praised their loyaltie and exhorted them still to continue in like obedience and worshipped God and his ◅ites as farre as the law permitted him and so he returned vnto Cestius The multitude of the Iewes came to Agrippa and the high Priests requesting them to send Embassadors against Florus vnto Nero and not to giue an argument of rebellion by not complaining of such murthers for Florus would make him beleeue that they had rebelled except they went vnto him to shew that Florus gaue first occasion and it was certaine that the multitude would not be quieted if any one hindred that Embassage Hereupon Agrippa thought that it would be an hatefull matter to send Embassadours to Rome to accuse Florus and on the other part he perceiued that it was to no purpose to contradict the Iewes who were readie now to rebell wherefore calling the people togither he made a speech vnto them and seated his sister Berenice in an eminent place in the house of the Asmonaeans The porch wherin he called thē togither was in such a place that it ouerlooked all the higher part of the Citie for there was onely a bridge betweene it and the Temple which ioyned the Temple and it togither and there spake he vnto the Iewes in manner following If I had perceiued that you were bent to fight against the Romans or that the better part of the people were not enclined to peace neither would I haue come vnto you nor haue presumed to haue counselled you in any thinge For it is in vaine to giue counsell of such thinges as are expedient where all the auditors are alreadie determined to followe that which is contrarie to the counsell giuen them But for that some are ignorant what miserie wars induce because by reason of their young yeeres they haue not knowne it others are moued with a rash and vnaduised desire of their libertie others are drawne by auarice and hope of gaine in that hurlyburlie I thought it good to assemble you all togither and declare vnto you what meanes is to be vsed to restraine such people that the good may the better knowe howe to resist and ouercome the practises of the wicked But let no man frowne if he heare that which displeaseth him and I will tell you nothing but that which seemeth expedient for you For they that are so bent to rebellion that they will not be recalled may for all my words continue in the same minde still And I wil
Eleazars companions rose vp communed together that it did not become them that rebelled against the Romans onely to recouer their lâ—…bertie that they should bee traytors thereof to their owne companions who were of the same condition and that they should indure a King or Lord ouer them who although he be no seuere man yet hee was of more abiect and base condition then they If it were so that it were expedient to haue one ruler ouer all the rest they had rather haue any one then Manahemus and being thus agreed they set vpon him in the Temple where he was praying with great Pompe apparelled like a King and hauing about him a gard of his friends in armour Now when Eleazar his followers set vpon Manahemus the people did also throw stones at him so stoned him hoping that by his death the sedition would be extinguished The gard of Manahemus at first made some resistance but when they perceiued the whole multitude against them euery one shifted for himselfe as he could those that were taken were put to death and they that escaped were afterward sought for onely a few of them fled vnto Massada amongst whome was Eleazar the sonne of Iairus who was Manahemus kinsman and afterward in Massada became a tyrant But Manahemus fled into a place called Ophlas where hee basely hid himselfe and being taken hee was drawne out from thence and after many torments put to death and with him all the Nobilitie that had assisted him as also Absalomon who was his onely helper And in this matter as I haue said the people greatly helped hoping hereby to haue some end of that sedition But the rebels did not kill Manahemus to the end to extinguish sedition but to the intent to rob and spoyle more freely The people with many intreaties besought them to let the Romans alone whome they did befiege but they were so much the more earnest against them till they being no longer able to make resistance with the consent of Metilius their Captaine and some other of more authoritie sent vnto Eleazar requesting him to giue them licence to depart with their liues and leaue their munition to the Iewes Who accepting their petition sent vnto them Gorion the sonne of Nichodemâ—…s and Ananias the Sadducee and Iudas the sonne of Ionathas to confirme the promise of their liues Which done Metilius led away the Souldiours and whilest the Romans had their weapons none of the rebels durst attempt any of their treacherie against them but so soone as euerie one according to couenant laide downe their shields and swords and so departed mistrusting nothing Eleazar his gard set vpon them and killed them who neither made any resistance nor any intreatie for their liues onely putting them in mind of their promise and oth So they wereâ—…ll slaine saue onely Metilius who greatly intreated for his life and promising that he would become a Iew in religion and be circumcised they spared him Yet was this a small losse to the Romans who onely had then but a verie few slaine of their great and almost infinite armie and this seemed the verie beginning of the Iewes captiuitie When they saw themselues to haue giuen sufficient cause of wars and too great and that the Citie was now so filled with iniquitie that the wrath of God did hang ouer it though there had beene no feare of any harme to them by the Romanes yet the whole Citie mourned and was sorrowfull and quietly minded lamented as though they themselues should answere for the seditious for that murder which was committed vpon the Sabaoth when it is not lawfull for the Iewes to doe any good worke CHAP. XIX Of the great massacre of the Iewes at Caesarea and in all Syria AT the same houre on the selfe same day it happened as it were by Gods prouidence that the Inhabitants of Caesarea did massacre the Iewes that dwelled amongst them so that at one time aboue twentie thousand were slaine and not one Iew left aliue in all Caesarea For those that escaped Florus tooke and brought them forth bound vnto the people After this massacre done at Caesarea the whole nation of the Iewes waxed mad and diuiding themselues into companies they wasted and destroyed in short time all the borders of Syria and the Cities thereabout to wit Philadelphia and Gebonitis Gerasa Pella and Scythopolis and then they made incursion into Gadara Hippon and Gaulanitis pulling downe some places firing other some And from thence they marched towards Cedasa a Citie of the Tyrians and Ptolemais Gaba Caesarea and neither Sebaste neither Asealon could resist them but they also were consumed with fire Likewise they destroyed Anthedon with Gaza and most places adioyning to these Cities were sacked to wit the fields and villages and a mightie slaughter was made of them that were taken in these places The Syrians made as great a massacre of the Iewes as this amongst them for all the Iewes that inhabited amongst them were murdered not only for an old grudge but also for the auoyding of imminent danger And al Syria was troubled in most grieuous maner and euerie Citie was diuided into two parts and either parts safety consisted in this to preuent the other in murdering them first the daies were spent in bloudshed and the nights in feare worse then death it selfe For though they onely pretended to destroy the Iewes yet were they drawne to suspect other nations that followed the Iewes religion and because they were as it were neuters the Syrians thought it not good to destroy them and againe for their agreeing in religion with the Iewes they were constrained to hold them as enemies Manie of the contrarie part who before seemed modest were now through auarice incited to meddle in this murder for euerie one tooke the goods of them that were slaine and carried them to other places as conquerers And he was most renowmed that had stolen most as hauing also killed most There might you see in euerie part of the Citie the dead bodies of all ages vnburied old men and children and women lying in most shamefull maner their secret parts being vncouered Briefely all the Countrie was filled with exceeding great calamitie and the feare of myserie to come was vnspeakable And these were the conflicts betweene the Iewes and strangers But afterward making incursion vpon the borders of Scythopolis the Iewes there dwelling were their enemies For they conspiring with the citizens of Scythopolis and preferring their owne commoditie and security before their kinred and consanguinitie ioyned with the Gentiles against the Iewes who for all that were suspected for their forwardnes Finally the Scythopolites searing that they would assault the citie by night and excuse their reuolting by their great miserie they commaunded all the Iewes that if they would shew themselues trustie vnto the Gentiles they with all their children should go into a wood hard by who forthwith did
destroy the citie telling that in so doing euen now at the last they should saue their owne liues country and temple which had not the like in the world and he continually went about the Rampiers hastening the workemē in their busines as though he presently meant to effect that in deeds which in words he had spoken The Iewes that stood vpon the wals cursed both him and his father reuiling them and affirming that they contemned death and that they did chuse rather to die then to become bondslaues and that whilest life lasted they would as much as lay in them harme the Romanes neither hauing care of themselues nor of ther countrey which Caesar sent them word were both presently to perish Moreouer he said that the whole world was a temple dedicated to God farre more excellent then that of theirs which notwithstanding should be conserued by him that dwelt in it whose helpe they also enioying would deride all his threatnings which could not come to passe God being the end of all And thus opprobriously they exclaimed against the Romans At this time arriued also Antiochus Epiphanes and with him many armed men and beside them guarded with a companie called the Macedonians who were all of like age and little older then young men in their youth all trained vp in armes and armed after the Macedonian manner whereof also they tooke their name yet for the most part not able to answere the expectation that men had of the Macedonians For the king of Comagene was the most fortunate and happie of all kings that were subiect vnto the Roman Empire till such time as he felt the frowne of fortune who in his aged yeeres shewed that none ought to be accounted happie before his death he yet florishing his sonne said hee marueiled that the Romans did delay so long to assault the Citie and enter the battered walles for this young man was a fine warrior and of exceeding strength to the which he trusted too much so that he did many things rashly Titus hereat smiled and answered that that was a labour not onely for the Romans but for all in common After he had said thus presently this young man Antiochus as he was accompanied with his Macedonians assaulted the wall and himselfe with his strength and dexteritie auoided the dartes of the Iewes and cast his darts at them but all his young men only a few excepted were there slain for ashamed of their boasting speeches they cōtinued longer in fight then it was expedient for them at last many being wounded retired themselues now perceiuing that the Macedonians to win a victorie had need of Alexanders fortune The Romans the 12. day of May began to build their Rampires and labouring full ieuenteene whole daies with much ado they ended them the nine and twentith day of the said moneth For they builded foure most huge rampiers one of them ouer against Antonia which was builded by the fift legion opposite to the midst of the Struthian waters another was builded by the twelft legion 20. cubits distant from the other But the tenth legion which was of more account then the two former erected a mount opposite to the pond called Amygdalon on the North side and the fifteenth legion made the fourth thirtie cubits distant from the other ouer against the monumēt of the high Priest Iohn The mounts being thus finished Iohn vndermined that which was ouer against Antonia and vnderpropped it with posts of wood and filling the mine with wood bitumen and pitch he fired it so the post that held it vp being burnt the mine fell and the mount also with a hideous noise fell into it and first of all there arose a great smoke and dust for the mines did couer the flame at last the fire hauing consumed the matter that couered it the flame cleerely appeared The Romans at this sodaine and vnexpected exploit were amazed being grieued at it so that thereby those who before made account of the victorie as though it had beene theirs alreadie began to despaire Two daies after Simon and his associates did set vpon the other Rampiers for thereon were planted Rammes where with the Romans began to beate the wals Amongst the rest a certaine man named Tepthaeus of Garsus a citie of Galilee and Megassarus one of Queene Mariammes seruants and with them one of Adiabena the sonne of Nabateus who for his fortune was named Agiras which signifieth lame these three taking firebrands ran vnto the engines and there was none found in all the Roman armie more valiant then these men nor more terrible for they ran amidst the throng of their enemies so boldly as though they had gone amongst their friends and neuer made any stay but breaking through the midst of their enemies they fired their engines and notwithstanding that on euerie side they were assaulted with darts and arrowes yet did they not giue backe nor seeke to auoid the daunger till such time as the fire had taken hold of the engines The flame mounting on high the Romans now came running out of their campe to succour their fellowes and the Iewes vpon the wall with dartes and arrowes hindred them fighting with them that sought to quench the flame nothing sparing their owne bodies The Romans began to draw away the Rammes their shelters being fired And the Iewes amidst the flames sought to keepe them there yet for all this the Romans saued their Rammes From thence the fire caught hold of the Rampiers and those that would haue preuented it were burned and the fire so increased that it could not be extinguished so the Romans now enuironed with a flame and despairing to rescue their workes retired themselues into their campe and left them on fire But the Iewes were so much the more earnest their number still encreasing by new supply comming out of the Citie so encouraged by this their victorie they rashly aduentured vnto the Romans campe and assaulted the guard there Whichguard was a companie placed round about before the campe in armour and there was a law made that whosoeuer of them that forsooke his place he should lose his life so that they esteeming rather to die a glorious death then ignominiously to suffer a penal punishmēt resisted verie valiantly so that many that had fled retired themselues back againe to fight both for shame that they had forsaken their place and for feare of punishment therefore and placing Engines vpon the rampier of their campe they hindred the Iewes from issuing out of the citie any more for they came out vnarmed hauing nothing to defend their bodies withall For the Iewes fought with whom soeuer they met and rashly running amongst their enemies pikes they stroke them with their fists For the Iewes preuailed more by their hardinesse then by their deeds and the Romans fled more for the Iewes boldnesse then for any harme they sustained by them Then Titus came from Antonia where he had
were dead in all the citie 600000. poore folks which were cast out of the gates the others that died were innumerable that when so many died that they were not able to burie thē that then they gathered their bodies togither in the greatest houses adioyning and there shut them vp And that a bushel of corn was solde for a talent which is six hundreth crowns and that after the Citie was compassed with a wal that now they could not go out to gather any more hearbs many were driuen to that necessitie that they raked sinkes and priuies to finde olde dung of Oxen to eate and so the dung that was loathsome to behold was their meate The Romans hearing this were mooued to compassion yet the seditious within the Citie who beheld this miserable sight were nothing mooued nor repented not but suffered them to be brought to that calamitie for their hearts were so blinded by the prouidence of God that they could not see what hanged ouer their heads and ouer the Citie THE SEVENTH BOOKE OF THE WARRES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 7. booke 1 Of the breach made in the wals how the mounts were fired how Sabinus assaulted the wal 2 How the Romans assaulted Anto◅a and were ◅pulsed by the Iewes 3 Of the exceeding valour of Iulian a Roman souldier 4 Iosephs speech perswading the Iewes to yeeld their Citie and how the Iewes fled vnto the Romans 5 Of another battaile the Rampiers being againe builded and of the excursions of the Iewes 6 How the Romans were by the deuice of the Iewes consumed with fire 7 Of the famine amongst the Iewes 8 Of a woman that for hunger did seethe her own sonne 9 How the wall was taken and the Temple burnt 10 How the Temple was set on fire against Titus his will 11 Of the Priests the treasure house and the porch 12 Of the signes and tokens which appeared before the destruction of the Citie 13 Of Titus his rule and gouernment and how the priests were staine 14 Of the pray of the seditious and the burning of the inner part of the Citie 15 How the higher part of the Citie was assaulted and how some of the Iewes fled vnto Titus 16 How the rest of the Citie was taken 17 Of the number of the captiues and them that were slaine 18 A briefe histor◅e of the Citie of Ierusalem 19 How the souldiers were rewarded 20 Of Vespasians sailing how Simon was taken of the spectacles shewes made vpon Vespasian birth-day 21 Of the calamitie of the Iewes amongst the Antiochians 22 How Vespasian at his returne was receiued by the Romans 23 Of Domitians actes against the Germans and Frenchmen 24 Of the riuer Sabbaticus and of the famous triumph of Vespasian and Titus 25 How Herodium and Machaera were taken by Bassus 26 Of the Iewes that were slaine by Bassus and how Iudaea was sold. 27 Of the death of King Antiochus and how the Alans brake into Armenia 28 How Massada the strongest Castle of all was taken and destroyed 29 Of the death of the Sicarians that fled into Alexandria and Thebes 30 How the Temple which Onias built at Alexandria was shut vp 31 Of the Massacre of the Iewes at Cyrene CHAP. I. Of the breach made in the wals and how the mounts were burned and how Sabinus assaulted the wall THE miserie of Ierusalem euery day encreased the seditious being by reason of their miserie more more incited against the people for now the famine was not only amongst the people but amongst them also And it was a miserable sight to see the multitude of dead bodies heaped togither in the Citie from which came a pestilent infectious smel so that it hindred the soldiers from making excursions For they were forced to tread vpon dead bodies as though they were to march along a field couered with dead carcasses Hauing now embrued their hands in the bloud of their countrimen they prepared to resist and fight with their enemies and as it seemeth to me hereby vpbraiding God in that he so deferred to punish them For the greatest part of them did now fight more earnestly then before not for hope of safetie but as despairing of all The Romans though much troubled to get wood to build withall yet did they in one and twentie daies finish their mounts hauing cut downe all the woods neere the citie by nintie furlongs It was miserable to behold that countrey and place before all beset with trees and fertile plants now to lie plaine like a desart all cut downe neither was there any straunger that before time had seene Iudaea and the beautifull suburbs of Ierusalem who now beholding it could abstaine from teares or not lament the woful change so farre different from the former For now this warre extinguished vtterly all signes of beauty neither could one comming sodainly now know the place which he well knew before When the mounts were ended both the Romans and the Iewes greatly feared the Iewes for that except they were destroyed their citie would be presently taken the Romans for that if these were ouerthrowne they knew not how to erect more wanting matter and now their bodies were wearied with labour and their minds with many griefes and molestations But the Romans were more grieued at the calamitie of the citie then the citizens within for the Iewes notwithstanding these miseries did neuerthelesse stoutly defend their wals but the courages of the Romans failed whē they saw that the Iewes policy made their mounts vnprofitable that the strength of the wals resisted their engines that the Iewes boldnesse ouercame their strength in sight and especially seeing that the Iewes hauing endured such calamitie famine and miserie were still more couragious then before so that they deemed their strength not to be ouercome and that their minds were inuincible who were hardened and encouraged by miserie For who were able to abide their forces in prosperitie who by aduersitie were incited to vertue Wherefore the Romans made a stronger watch about their mounts But Iohns followers who were in the Castle Antonia fearing what might ensue if the wall were battered preuented it in what they could before the Rams were set vp and taking firebrands in their hands they assaulted the mount but deceiued with a vaine hope they retired themselues For first of all they seemed to disagree amongst themselues so that they came from their wals one after another and some space betweene euery one so that they came softly and fearefully and briefely not after the manner of the Iewes for they wanted courage rashnes and a flocking togither at once which is proper vnto all that nation and so came more soberly and with lesse courage then they were wont They did also finde the Romans more couragious then of late who so defended their mounts with their bodies and weapons that it was not
most wittie as also hee did in many things else and euen vntill this day many of their Epistles sent one vnto another are kept amongst the Tyrians And that I doe not feare the authoritie amongst the Tyrians I will proue by the testimonie of Dius a man who by common consent hath faithfully written the Phaenician Historie wherein he writeth as followeth After the death of Abibalus Hiramus his sonne reigned in his steade who increased the number of his Easterne Cities and inlarged Ierusalem hee also ioyned the Temple of Iupiter Olimpius situate in an Iland vnto it filling vp the water with earth and adorned it with golden gifts After this ascending into Libanus he cut downe the wood to build Temples and that the king of Ierusalem named Salomon sent vnto him certaine riddles to be expounded and he againe the like vnto him couenanting together that he who could not tel the meaning of one an others riddles should pay vnto the other a some of money and that Hiramus confessing he could not expound Salomons riddles did pay vnto him much money Lastly that one Abdemonus a Tyrian did expound the said riddles and writ more vnto Salomon which if Salomon could not interpret hee should pay vnto Hircanus a sum of mony this testimonie Dius beareth vs concerning the foresaid matter But I will now recount the words of Menander an Ephesian who hath registred the acts of al kings both at home and abroad endeuouring to make a true historie out of the writings of enerie country This man writing of the Tyrian kings and comming to Hiramus he saith thus of him Abibalus dying there succeeded in the kingdome his son Hiramus who liued 34. yeers this king with a rampier conioyned Eurichorus and erected there a pillar of gold in Iupiters temple and went into the woods and cut downe the Cedars of Libanus to make couerings for the temples of which pulling downe the olde he erected new and dedicated the temple of Hercules and Astartus but that to Hercules in the moneth of Peritius and then the other to Astartus when he wâ—…an army went against the Tyrians who did not pay him tribute whom when he had subdued he returned againe At this time also liued Abdemonus a seruant vnto the king who was wont to expound the parables which king Salomon of Ierusalem sent vnto king Hiramus now how long it was from this kings time till the building of Carthage we may thus calculate After the death of Hiramus his sonne Beleastartus succeeded him who liued fortie and three yeeres and raigned â—…en after him his sonne Abdastartus who liued twentie yeeres and raigned nine but this king was treacherously slaine by the foure sonnes of his nurse the eldest of whom raigned twelue yeeres Next whom Astartus the sonne of Beleastartus who liued fortie and foure yeeres and raigned twelue after him ruled his brother Astarimus who liued fiftie and foure yeeres and sate in the kingdome nine then he was slaine of his brother Phelletes who raigned eight moneths and liued fiftie yeeres and was slaine by a priest of Astarta named Ithobalus who liued three score and eight and raigned thirtie two yeeres him succeeded his sonne Badezorus who liued fortie fiue yeeres and raigned six yeeres to him succeeded his sonne Mettinus who liued thirtie two yeeres and raigned nine After him Pigmalion who liued fiftie sixe yeeres and raigned fortie in the seuenth yeere of whose raigne his sister Dido builded a Citie in Africa and named it Carthage so that from the time of king Hiramus vnto the building of Carthage is by this computation a hundreth fiftie fiue yeeres and two moneths and for as much as the temple of Ierusalem was built in the twelfth yeere of Hiramus his raigne the computation of the time since that yeere vntill the building of Carthage is 143. yeeres and 8. moneths What need we alleadge more seeing this testimonie of the Phoenicians The truth is now sufficiently made manifest for our auncestors must needs haue come into this countrey we inhabite before such time as they built a temple in it as I haue also made manifest in my bookes of Antiquitie collected out of our holy Scripture I will now speake of that which the Chaldeis writ of vs in their histories which do much agree in all other matters with those of our nation And first let Berosus be my witnesse who was a Chaldean borne yet a man famous and knowne vnto all that loue learning for he in the Grecian tongue did write Astronomie and the Chaldeis Philosophie Berosus imitating the most auncient histories writeth of the diluge and how mankinde was therein extinguished and he in all things imitateth Moses He also speaketh of the Arke wherein our forefather was preserued and affirmeth that it was carried vnto the tops of the mountaines in Armenia after this he prosecuteth the Genealogie of all that raigned from Noe vntil Nabulassarus king of the Babylonians and Chaldeans He likewise setteth down how long euerie one raigned and in prosecuting the deeds of this king he recounteth how he sent his sonne Nabuchodonosor into Aegypt and to our countrey with great power who finding them rebels subdued them and burnt the temple at Ierusalem and so departed carrying with him all our nation into Babylon whereupon our Citie was desolate seuentie yeeres vntill the raigne of Cyrus king of the Persians Moreouer he affirmeth that the Babylonian kept Aegypt Syria Phoenicia and Arabia exacting more of his subiects then euer any king of Babylon or Chaldea had done before his time And the words of Berosus must needs be to this effect Nabulassarus his father hearing that his substitute in Aegypt Caelesyria and Phoenicia had rebelled he himselfe not being able to take such paines committed these affaires vnto his sonne Nabuchodonosor and gaue vnto him a part of his army for that he was in the â—…ower of his age and sent him against him and Nabuchodonosor fighting with the said Champion ouerthrew him and subdued the countrey which of olde belonged vnto them and at the same time his father Nabulassarus fell sick in Babylon and died hauing raigned twentie nine yeeres But Nabuchodonosor long after vnderstanding his fathers death he disposed of Aegypt and other prouinces as he thought good and taking the captiues of Iudaea Phoenicia and the Syrians that liued in Aegypt he committed them to certaine of his friends to be brouglit with other carriage and his army to Babylon and so he himselfe accompanied with a verie few to his iourney to Babylon through the desart and finding that the Chaldeis ruled all and that their nobilitie reserued the kingdome for him he was made king and commanded houses to be built for the captiues that were comming in the most conuenient places of Babylon and he of the spoile beautified the temple of Belus and other places most richly and built a new citie without the wall of the olde and prouiding least hereafter the
enemies might tume the riuer and so haue accesse vnto the Citie he inuironed the inner Citie with three seuerall wals and the outmost Citie likewise The wals whereof were made of brick but the wals of the inner Citie were of bricke and bytumen this done he builded most sumptuous gates which might haue become temples and moreouer neere vnto his fathers pallace he builded another farre greater and more costly then it was the pompe wherof it were hard and perhaps tedious to expresse Yet this we will rehearse worth the nothing that this so ambitious and aboue all credit gorgeous pallace was builded in fifteene daies in it he erected rocks of stone like mountaines beset with all sorts of trees he also made a famous garden all supported with pillars for that his wife being brought vppe in the countrey of the Medes desired to haue a prospect into the fieldes and mountaines This he relateth of the forementioned king and many things more in his booke of the affaires of the Chaldeis wherein he reprooueth the Greeke writers who falsely affirme that Semiramis the Assyrian Queene built Babylon and that they falsely report those wonderfull works about Babylon to haue been by her made and finished We must needs thinke that the Chaldean historie is true seeing it agreeth with that of the Phoenicians which Berosus writ of the king of Babylon who subuerted both Phoenicia and al Syria with them also accordeth Philostratus in his historie in the siege of Tyria and Magasthenes also in his fourth booke of the affaires of India where he laboureth to proue that the said king excelled Hercules in strength and valour affirming that he subdued the greatest part of Affrique and Spaine and that the temple of Ierusalem was burnt by the Babylonians and againe reedified by Cyrus we will prooue it out of Berosus who in his third booke saith as followeth Nabuchodonosor hauing begun the third wall fell sicke and died when he had raigned fortie three yeeres and his sonne Euelmaradochus succeeded him who for his iniquitie and lustfull liuing was treacherously slaine by his sisters husband named Niriglissoroor after he had raigned two yeeres He being dead the traitor Niriglissoroor vsurped the kingdome and raigned foure yeeres whose sonne then a childe was made king called by name Laborosardochus and he raigned nine moneths who for that he seemed to be of verie corrupt manners was slaine by his owne friends after whose death they who slew him consulting togither did make one Nabonidus a Babylonian king At this time the wals of bricke and bytumen about the riuer of Babylon were built In the eight yeere of this kings raigne Cyrus comming with an army out of Persia conquered all Asia and came with his forces against Babylon but the king of Babylon hauing notice of his comming leuied an army meeting him in the way and ioined battell with him but being ouercome in the fight he accompanied with a verie few of his men was forced to flie into Borsippa Cyrus now besieged Babylon and purposed to destroy the outward wals thereof by reason that it was too strong and too hard to win and so he returned to Borsippa to besiege Nabonidus the king of Babylon who was fled thither But Nabonidus not abiding the euent of war yeelded himselfe vnto Cyrus who dealt mercifully with him and gaue him a territorie in Carmania but expelled him out of Babylon so Nabonidus led the rest of his life in that prouince This historie agreeth with ours for in our writings we finde that Nabuchodonosor in the eighteenth yeere of his raigne did destroy our temple and that it so remained threescore and ten yeeres Also that in the second yeere of king Cyrus the soundations thereof were laide againe and that it was finished and reedified in the second yeere of king Darius his raigne This done I will also relate the histories of the Phoenicians that we may abound with proofe of that we say for they make a computation of the yeeres after this manner In the raigne of king Ithobalus Nabuchodonosor besieged Tyre thirteene yeeres after whom Baal raigned ten yeeres next him iudges were appointed to wit them that follow Eâ—…nibalus the sonne of Balachus iudged two moneths Chelbis the sonne of Abdaeus ten moneths Abbarus the high priest three moneths Myttonus and Gerastus sonnes of Abdilimos iudged six yeeres after whom Balatorus raigned one yeere and after his death the Tyrians called Merbalus from Babylon and made him king and he raigned foure yeeres and he then dying they sent also to Babylon for his brother Iromus who raigned twentie yeeres in whose raigne Cyrus obtained the Persian Empire so that this whole time is fiftie foure yeeres three moneths for Nabuchodonozor began to besiege Tyre in the seuenth yeere of his raigne and in the fourteenth yeere of king Iromus his raigne Cyrus was made Emperour of Persia. Wherefore both the Chaldeis and Tyrian Historiographers agree with vs concerning our temple So that the antiquitie of our nation aboue mentioned is now made manifest and without all controuersie And that which is alreadie alleaged to this end may be sufficient for them who are not vpon purpose contradictions It is therefore requisite to satisfie them who giue no credit to the writings of other nations and contend that the Grecian histories onely are to be beleeued to bring many testimonies from the Greeks themselues who haue as opportunitie serued made mention of our nation and knowne it Pythonis a Samian borne both of great antiquitie and excelling all other Philosophers in holinesse towards the Gods is not onely conuinced to haue knowne the customes of our nation but he did also as it plainely appeareth imitate them in many things His writings are in no place extant but diuers haue recorded many notable things of him and especially Hermippus a man most diligent in searching of histories This Hermippus recounteth in his first booke of Pythagoras that the said Philosopher hauing one of his familiar friends named Calliphon dead who was a Crotonian borne reported this mans soule to be perpetually with him and that the said soule commaunded him not to passe the place where his asse fell and that hee should abstaine from vncleane water and that he should with all diligence eschue blasphemie and then it followeth this he did and said imitating the opinions of the Iewes and Grecians and applying them to himselfe For it is certainly reported that this man gathered much of his philosophie out of the Iewes lawes Our nation in times past was well knowne to diuers cities so that many of them do now obserue our customes and others esteeme them worth the imitation as Theophrastus doth witnesse in his booke entituled de legibus for he saith that the Tyrian lawes forbid to sweare by any straunge sacrament and amongst these straunge and forraine sacraments he reckoneth the oath called Corban which oathe is vsed onely amongst the
presently assembling togither the people of Aegypt and consulting with the princes of his countrey he sent all holy beasts and all that the priests esteemed before him giuing the priests especiall charge to hide their Idols and he commended his sonne Sethones who also by his father Rampses was called Ramesses being but fiue yeeres olde vnto the custodie of a friend of his and then accompanied with three hundred fighting men he met his enemies but would not fight with them fearing least he should fight against the pleasure of the gods and so he retired himselfe vnto Memphis and taking Apis and the rest of the Aegyptian gods hee with all his troupes of Aegyptians tooke shippe and fled into Aethiopia For the king of Aethiopia vpon curtesie obeied him and for this cause he entertained him his followers prouided all necessaries for them for that fatall thirteen yeers banishment and this was done in Aethiopia In the meane time the inhabitants of Ierusalem came downe into the country with the vncleane Aegyptians and did so tyrannize ouer the inhabitants that all their beholders iudged their victorie to be full of crueltie for not contented to fire the cities and townes and to commit all manner of sacriledge and to destroy the Idols of the gods they did also most cruelly teare in pieces the sacred beasts and forced the priests and prophets to lay violent hands vpon them and kill them after which deed they draue them out of the countrey naked It is therefore reported that a Heliopolitan priest Osarsiphus by name made lawes for them and statutes to gouerne them This priest was called Osarsiphus taking his name from the God of Heliopolis called Osiris who being now thus conuersant with this people changed his name and called himselfe Moses Thus the Aegyptians report of the Iewes and many things els which for breuitie sake I omit Manethon furthermore writeth that afterward Amenophis the king came with a great power out of Aethiopia and his son Rampses with him accōpanied with a great army and that ioining battell with the shepheards and polluted persons he gaue them an ouerthrow and pursued them vnto the borders of Syria And this is Manethons report but for as much as he writeth olde wiues tales dotages and lies I will by manifest reason conuince him first distinguishing that whereof I am to speake hereafter He of his owne accord granteth and confesseth that our auncestors at first were not Aegyptians but strangers that came thither from another place and conquered the countrey and againe departed from thence I will now out of his owne writings endeuour to shew that the weake people of Aegypt were not mixed with vs and that Moses who indeed was our conducter out of Aegypt and liued many ages before was no Lepar He therfore first of all setteth downe a ridiculous cause of this forementioned faction which was that king Amenophis was desirous to see the gods Which gods trow yee he could already see the Oxe the Goate the Crocodile and the Munkey but the God of heauen how could he see And why had Amenophis this desire forsooth because a certaine king one of his predecessors had seene them he therefore knowing by him what things they were and how he came to the sight of them needed no new deuice to accomplish his desire but perhaps the foresaid prophet was a man of great wisedome by whom the king had confidence to attaine his desire but if so he had been how chanceth it that he was so vnwise he could not perceiue that it was an impossible thing to satisfie the kings desire for that which he promised was not brought to passe Or what reason mooued him to thinke that the gates were inuisible because of Lepars and weake people The gods are offended with mens impieties not with the defects of their bodies And how was it possible that at one instant so many thousand Lepars and infirme persons should be gathered togither or wherein did not the king obay the Prophet he commaunded that the Lepars and infirme persons should be exiled the countrey and the king did not banish them the countrey but sent them to hew stones as though he had needed workemen and not purposed to cleanse the countrey from Lepars Lastly he saith that the Prophet foreseeing that Aegypt was to suffer and fearing the wrath of the gods he killed himselfe and left his minde in a booke written vnto the king How chanced it then that the prophet did not at first foresee his own death and so opposed himselfe vnto the kings desire to see the gods or wherefore did he feare such calamities as were not to fall in his life or what great miserie hanged ouer his head which might worthily cause him to kill himselfe to preuent it But let vs heare that which followeth more sottish then all the rest The king quoth he hearing this and stroken with feare did not for all this expell those Lepars he ought to haue exiled but at their request gaue them as he saith a Citie wherein before time the shepheards did inhabite called Auaris whereinto they being come they made a priest of Heliopolis their prince who deuised lawes for them commaunding them neither to adore the gods nor to abstaine from offering violence to such beasts as amongst the Aegyptians are sacred but that they should kill and spoile all things that they should marrie with none but such as were their confederates that he bound the people with an oath to keepe those lawes and that they fortified Auaris to fight against the king Adding moreouer that he sent to Ierusalem for helpe promising to yeeld Auaris vnto them being a place sometime possessed by their ancestors and that they from that place leading their forces might easily subdue all Aegypt he then saith that the Aegyptian king Amenophis came against them with three hundreth thousand and yet for that he would not striue againct the decree of the gods he fled into Aethiopia and carried with him Apis and other holy beasts and that the inhabitants of Ierusalem comming downe inuaded the land fired the townes and Cities slew their nobles vsed all sort of crueltie possible and that the priests name who made lawes and statutes for them to liue vnder was one of Heliopolis Osarsiphus by name deriuing the same from Osiris the god of Heliopolis and that this man changing his name was afterward called Moses Moreouer that Amenophis hauing liued in banishment thirtie yeeres came with a strong power out of Aethiopia and fighting with the shepheards and polluted he slew many of them and put the rest to flight pursuing them vnto the borders of Syria Manethon remembreth not that heere againe he telleth a verie vnskilfull tale for although the Lepars and impotent persons were offended with the king for appointing them to hew stones yet is it to be thought that they receiuing their owne desire at the kings hands to wit a Citie to dwell in
al entering into a league togither sodainly inuaded Aegypt and Amenophis not biding the brunt fled into Aethipia leauing his wife great with child who hiding her selfe in caues dens did bring forth a child whom they called Messenes who afterward draue the Iewes into Syria being in number 200000. this done he recalled his father Amenophis out of Aethiopia And thus Chaeremon saith But I imagine that which I haue alreadie said to be sufficient to declare the vanitie of both these two men For if that which they report were true it were vnpossible that they should so much differ but they labour to deuise lies and write not any thing agreeable to other mens writings For Manethon faineth that the cause of the banishment of the lepers was the kings desire to see the Gods and Chaeremon saith that it was for that Isis after appeared vnto him in his sleepe Manethon also saith that Amenophis gaue the king that councell so to cleanse the countrey and Chaeremon saith that he that councelled the king was called Phiriphantes the number also of lepers hath nerie good consonance I warrant you Manethon saith they were almost fourscore hundreth Chaeremon saith two hundreth and fiftie thousand Moreouer Manethon writeth how that these lepers were first sent to a place to hew stones and afterward came to Auaris to dwell and that they hauing already begun wars in Aegypt that then they sent for helpe from Ierusalem And Chaeremon saith that they hauing left Aegypt found at Pelusia two hundreth and fourscore thousand men whom Amenophis had kept there with whom they ioyning againe returned and inuaded Aeigypt and then Amenophis fled into Aethiopia and which is worth the noting he setteth not downe what countrimen or to what purpose this great armie was whether Aegyptians or straungers neither doth he shew any reason why the king would not carie them into Aegypt Moreouer Chaeremon feineth a dreame of the lepers and Isis and reporteth that Ioseph together with Moses was expelled whereas Ioseph liued foure ages before Moses euerie age containing at least a hundreth and seuentie yeeres Rhamesses also Amenophis sonne according to Manethons historie being a young man fled into Aethiopia and was banished with his father and afterward assisted him in the wars whereas Chaeremon reporteth that he was borne in a caue after his fathers departure and that he getting the victorie did driue the Iewes into Syria who were in number two thousand O felicitie in lying for he neither told what nation those three hundred and fourescore thousand was nor yet how a hundred and fourescore thousand of them perished neither were they slaine in the fight or fled vnto Rhamesses and which it is most to be admired one cannot gather out of his words whom he calleth Iewes or whether he attribute this name vnto the two hundreth and fiftie thousand lepers or vnto the three hundreth and fourscore thou sand which were at Pelusium But it is folly to oppose my selfe against them who haue sufficienly contradicted themselues for had other men controlled their writings they had beene the more to be borne withall I will add Lysimachus vnto the two former who hath the same lye that they haue yet farre more absurd a fiction then theirs For he saith that at such time as Bocchoris raigned in Aegypt the people of the Iewes being scabbed and infected with leprosie fled into the temples to beg maintenance and that so many men were with this disease infected that a dearth and scarcitie fell vpon Aegypt Likewise that king Bocchoris went vnto Ammon to know of the Oracle what caused the death and that answere was made that if he would expell all lepers and vncleane persons from out of the temples into the desert that then the famine would cease and that he should drowne these lepers as if the sunne disdained that they should liue and that then he should purifie the temples and so the earth would againe yeeld fruit also that Bocchoris hauing this answere from the Oracle he called togither the Priestes and sacrificers and hauing gathered lepers and vncleane people togither he deliuered them to souldiers to be conducted into the desert and that then they should be lapt in lead and cast into the sea Moreouer they being drowned other diseased people there gathered together and were carried into the wildernesse to be destroyed and that they taking counsell one of another what to doe the night following they made great fiers and lights wherwith they terrified and draue away the souldiers that kept them and that they fasted the day following requesting God to bee mercifull vnto them and th◅ the next day one Moyses councelled them to goe all one way as thicke together as they could till such time as they came to some place inhabited and that he then commanded them neuer hereafter to bee friendly to any man but alwayes rather to giue bad councell then good and to destroy all Temples and Altars of the gods they came by vnto which councell they all agreeing iournyed together through the wildernesse and after much sorrow came to places inhabited Vsing men by whom they past iniuriously fiting Temples and robbing them at last in this manner they came vnto that place which they now call Iudaea and there building a Citie they began to dwell and of this fact called the Citie Hierosyla and shortly after growing more potent they for auoiding shame chaunged the name thereof and called it Ierusalem and themselues the inhabitants of Ierusalem This fellow found not that king which the two former speake of but hee ioyned a more new name and leauing the dreame and the Prophet he goeth to Ammon to know an answere of the old touching the scabbed and lepers for hee saith that a multitude was gathered together at the Temples but hee leaueth it vncertaine whether the Iewes onely were infected with this disease for he saith the people of the Iewes which people whether were they strangers or those that were borne in that Countrie Why dost thou call thē Iewes when they were Aegyptians If they were straungers why dost thou not tell of whence they were Or how came it to passe that the King hauing drowned so many of them in the Sea and left the rest in the wildernesse that still so many should bee left Or how did they passe the wildernesse and get the Countrie wee now inhabite and built a Citie and a Temple famous through all parts of the world Thou shouldest not onely haue told the name of our law maker but also what Countriman he was and of what parents and what moued him in his iournie to make such lawes against the gods and against men For if they were Aegyptians they would not so easily haue forgotten the religion where in they were brought vp or of what place else so euer they were they had some lawes or other which they had beene accustomed to keepe If they had vowed to haue borne
vnspeakable None of you were terrefied with feare but you so hastened to your deaths as though you had onely beene to go to blisse and felicitie you were truely brethren who euen by death were linked together God hath greatly in you magnified our nation and in you shewed vs all an example of fortitude whom therefore I thinke he caused to be so many in number as were the daies wherein he created the world so that seuen brethren may resemble the seuen daies wherein in all things were made And why should we so admire this fortitude in these young men when a woman armed her selfe with contempt of death who indeed is not to be called a mother but to be honoured with a higher title then humane frailtie can afford who bare into this world so many triumphs For the mother seeing her children dead was with a kind and godly zeale inflamed also to suffer and no maruaile seeing that the verie bruit beasts if they perceiue violence offred to their young do oppose themselues to perils in their defence and protect them with their wings teeth and talents yea and euerie one that is any way able to make resistance opposeth her selfe to the enemie to defend her young And not onely bruit beasts doe this but euen Bees doe defend not onely their young but also their honie threatning their sting to them that offer to taste thereof and more esteeming the good of their young then their owne liues But this zealous mother directed by the spirit of God and reasons loare hasted that her children might die before her who not being to liue depriued of her children chose rather to see them die ioyfully then to perish in care and sorrow Therefore when al her family had suffered she then the last glorie of them al came to her agony despising the tyrants threats and offering her motherly breast to those torments which her children had suffered O blessed stocke and blessed encrease of the selfesame wombe Why should I not affirme that in all lineaments and feature of the bodie you are like your mother and if this be a commendation in them that beside the shape of bodie receiue nothing else of their mother I will say more of you that you are like your mother in fortitude vertue and religion and that you so in all things resemble her that you are euerie way equall vnto her saue onely herein that she with her eies beheld the immanitie of your torments being also as constant in her owne martyrdome as you in yours She therefore herein excelled you that she suffered seuen torments before she came to suffer in her owne person and feared in euerie one of them least she should be ouercome But O thou example of all women I cannot tel whether thou bare these children in thy wombe or created them who could with drie eies looke vpon them whilst they were torne in peeces yea I say little affirming that thou with patience didst behold these sights for euen thou thy selfe didst exhort them thereunto thou reioycedst to see one of them torne in peeces with fleshhookes the other to be racked vpon the wheele and the third to be bound and beaten thou ioyfully admiredst the others burning and exhortedst the rest not to be terrified herewith and although whilest thou beheldest their torments thy griefe was greater then that which thou hadst in childbirth yet didst thou frame a lightsome and merry countenance as though it had beene one trumphing While they were a killing thou didst laugh and seeing onely one of all thy children left hereat thou didst nothing relent Can I describe how euerie one perished seeing thou their mother didst laugh at their deaths when their sinewes were cut in two their heads fleane their tongues pulled forth by the roots their hands broken their bodies in the fire and cast vpon yron plates red hotte and vpon wheeles and their ribs pulled in sunder and many other torments for the which we want names Neuer was any swanne which by the report of antiquitie sung so sweet a note before her death sweeter then the most melodious harmonie and the most pleasant voice was the funerall verses of those thy children that perished You children were not ouercome by the fabulous Syrens enchauntments who to honour God doubted not to leaue your mother without children And she sprung of noble stocke chose rather to want you all for a short time then to incurre eternall damnation wishing rather that the bodies of her children should be tormented then their soules Well she knew that nothing was more fraile infirme then our bodies which though persecutiō be wanting are often killed with agues and aboundance of blould or fluxes And who is ignorant of shipwracke incident to sailers hazard of life vnto them that trauaile and sodaine death to those that liue in ease Sodaine casualtie by fire and by the hands of theeues and a thousand other waies to dispatch our liues seeing then that our morrall bodies are subiect to so many miseries to bring vs to our ende who would not make choise of a quicke dispatch whereby we loose the goods of this world and gaine life euerlasting O thou most reuerent of all women the credit of thy nation and honour of our religion who like the Arke of Noe didst persist inuiolate amongst such stormie waues for as it withstood the force of the Deluge and being built strongly with firme bords did not suffer any thing within it to perish so thou sufferedst not the tyrant to ouercome the holy Ghost which thou hadst receiued in thy heart Behold of what force and efficacie reason is which often time maketh vs men inferiour to women For neither was Daniel so terrified at the sight of the Lions nor the three children with the firie furnace as this woman was grieued at the death of euery one of her children before she came to her owne agonie What would another woman mother haue done in this case but wept with pitiful lamentations haue cried Ah wretch that I am most vnhappie and miserable of all that breath who therefore bare so many children into this world that their seueral deaths might be so many seueral occasions of my griefe and sorrow she would haue iterated her frequent births and her toyle in her ten moneths bearing them she would haue bewailed her haplesse fortune who brought forth so many deaths and daungers she would haue recounted the milke wherewith she fed them and their meat she had prepared for them the paines she had taken with them how she had caried them in her armes and sung to them and taught them to speake her cares her watchings her feare least any mishap should betide them And with weeping teares would haue said shall I a grandmother embrace your children who a while agoe was a too fruitfull mother and am now depriued of you all If this day I die I haue none to burie me But this handmaide of
a. high priesthood confirmed to him 80. g h i. giueth his stoole to Eleazar 82. h. his death ibid. h. Aarons rod fructifieth 81. a. Abdon Iudge of Israel 120. k. renowmed for his issue ibid. k. Abel second son of Adam 5. a. is commended ibid. a b. is stain by his brother and why ibid b c. Abias leuieth an army 211 b. ouercommeth Ieroboam 211. f. dieth 212. g. his issue ibid. Abiathar escapes Sauls hands 149. d. telleth Dauid of his families slaughter 150. g. asketh counsell of God 157. b. dispossessed of the priesthood 191. d. holpe Adonias 186. l. Abigal pacifieth Dauid 152 k l m. after married to Dauid 153. b. Abihu Aarons son burned 67. a. and why ibid a. Abimelech king of Gerar enamoured of Sara 16 i. plagued for taking her ibid i. made a couenant with Abraham ibid l. expelleth Isaac his countrey 21. b. after maketh a league with him ibid. c. d. Abimelech Gedeons bastard sonne 117. c. killeth 69. of his brethren and vsurpeth ibid. e f. practiseth against the Sichemites 118. i k. slaieth them and sacketh their Citie ib. l. burned the Sichemites fled to the rock 118. l m. taketh Tebez 119. a. is wounded and slaine ibid. Abiram rebellious 79. a b. he and those that were with him swallowed vp 80. g. Abisai ouercommeth the Idumaeans 167. c. sent against the Ammonites 169. a. Abisai 183. c. Abisace nourisheth Dauid 186. i. Abner Sauls vncle 132. l. questioneth with Saul ibid. m. Generall of his army 147. c. maketh Isboseth king 160. g. reuolteth from Isboseth 161. a. killeth Azael 160. perswadeth the Gouernours to create Dauid king 161. c d. is slaine 162. g. Abraham son of Thares 11. c. tenth from Noe ib. e. taught the Aegyptians religion artes 13. b c. first preacher of the word 12. i. his wisedome ib. an Astronomer 12. k. 13. c. an Arithmetitian ibid. c. his house 12. l. oppressed by famine ibid. m. deuided the land with Lot 13. c. rescueth Lot and the Sodomites 14. h. A son promised him 14. k. 15. b. foretolde his progenie to be euill intreated 14. k l. circumcised himselfe and Ismael 15. b. entertaineth Angels and entreateth for the Sodomites ib. d e. intended to offer his son 18. h. k. marrieth Chetura 19. prouideth a wife for his son ib. d. dieth 20. l. is commended ibid. Absence of Dauid excused 147. c d. Absolon killeth Amnon 173. a. fled to Gessur 173. c. reuoked from banishment and how ibid. d e. affecteth the kingdome 174. k. proclaimed king ibid. l. passeth ouer Iordan 177. d. his ouerthrow 178. h. slaine by Ioab ib. i. Abundance foretold 40. l. Abundance of siluer 204. h. Abundance of victuals foreshewed 228. i k. effected 229. d. Abundance of victuall shewed 722. g h. Acclamation of the people 451. c. Accusation of Laban against Iacob 25. b. of Iacob against him ib. d e. of Putifars wife against Ioseph 32. g. of Doeg against Achimelech 149. a. of Aristobulus and Hyrcanus 353. b c. of Antipater against his brethren 595. f. of Herod and Nicholaus 602. m. 603. a. 604. h. of Antipater against Archelaus 609. d. of the Iewes 612. k. Achab son of Amri king of Israel 214. h. followeth impieties ibid. tooke to wife Iesabell ibid. seeketh Elias 215. c. coueteth Naboths vineyard 217. b. his repentance ibid. f. twise ouercommeth the Syrians 219. a b d. reprooued for dismissing Adad 220. h i. imprisoneth Micheas and why 220. i. 221. b. reiected his aduice 221. e. f. wounded dieth 222. g h. Achabs 70. sons 232. Achar stole the spoiles dedicated to God 102 m. hid them in his tent 103. a. found guiltie and put to death ibid. c. d. Achaz of Iuda sacrificeth his son 241. a. serueth Idols ib. a b. 242. g. ouerthrown in battell 241. c. hireth Theglaphalasar 241. f. shutteth the temple gates 242. h. dieth ibid. Achias reprooued Salomon 204. l. foretold Ieroboam to be king ouer 10. tribes 205. c. Achis a king of the Philistines 148. h. leadeth out Dauid against the Hebrewes 156. k. dismisseth him and why ibid. l m. Achitophels counsell against Dauid 176. a. hangeth himselfe 177. b. Acmes letter to Antipater 446. m. 447. a. executed 450. g. Acquaintance of Rebecca with Abrahams seruant 20. g. Act of Saul most malicious 149. d. an Action how said to be good 140. h. Action of Saul and his people 139. e. Acts of the Israelites 109. b c d e f. Acts of Simon against the Zelous 692. h. c. Act most cruell 723. c. d. Actian warre 584 h. Adad king of Damasco ouercome 167. a. Adad king of Syria proposeth conditions to Achab 218. h i. k. ouerthrowne 217. a. his second expedition ibid. c. taken prisoner is dismissed ibid. d e. discomfiteth and slaieth Achab 222. g. h. asketh counsell of Elizaeus 229. c. his death foretold 229. f. Adam created and how 3. f. placed in paradice 4. g. forbidden the tree of knowledge onely 4. h. transgresseth ibid. i. cast out of Paradice 5. a. begot Cain and Abel ibid. a and other children also 6. g. his age and death ibid. g h. 7. b. prophecied of a twofold destruction ibid. h. Adar a moneth of the Hebrewes 99. e. Ader enemie to Salomon 205. a. spoiled the landes of the Israelites 205. c. Adoni-bezec taken 109. c. punished confesseth Gods iustice ibid. c. Adonias affecteth the kingdome 186. i. flieth to the Altar 187. d. requireth Abisace 291. a c. slaine ibid. c. Aduersities befell the Israelites 113. c. and why ibid. c. Aduice of Raguel allowed 58. i. of the Elders reiected 206. i. of young men accepted ibid. l. Adulteresse her policie 32. g h. Adulterie 71. b. punished 94. h. Adulterie of Elies sonnes 125. b. Adulterie of Dauid 169. d. Affaires of Ioseph 639 b. Affection of Ioseph toward his brethren 38. l. of Ionathan to Dauid 144 m. Affinitie of Iacob with Rachel 23. b. of Saul and Ionathan with Dauid 144. i. 145. b. of Demetrius with Ptolemey 326. h. Affliction of the Hebrewes with the causes thereof 41 b c d. 46. g. l. 47. e. Africa from whence it tooke his name 19. c. Agag king of the Amalechites taken 139. c. spared and why ibid c. put to death 140. l m. and why ibid. Agar Saraes handmaid 14. m. contemned her mistris and why ibid. m. fled commanded to returne 14. m. 15. a. promised happines 17. c. brought forth Ismael ibid. a. cast out with her sonne 17. b. comforted ibid c. Age of Isaac at his offring 18. g. when he died 27. d. Age of the fathers before the floud 7. a b c. Age of Abraham 20. l. of Iacob 40. m. Aggaeus the prophet encourageth the Iewes 271. b. Agreement of the seditious 700. m. 710. h. Agrippa offereth 100. fat Oxen 413. c. reconciled to the Ilyensians 414. g. confirmeth the Iewes priuiledges 415. c. writeth to the Ephesians 422. h. Agrippa becommeth poore 472. i. k. borroweth money 473. b c e admitted to Caesars
presence d. accused by Eutichus 474 h m. 475. a. b. imprisoned ibid. hateth Tiberius 618. h. getteth Caius friendship ibid. his happy fortune foretold 476. g. h. certified of Tiberius death 498. g. departeth to his kingdome ibid. l. his request of Caius 482. i. his speech to the Senate 504. h. 619. f 620. g. hangeth vp his golden chaine 507. d. his acts 509. a b c c. 510. 511. c. saluted for a God 510. in his death 511. c. 610 k. his children ibid. d. Agrippas request to the Empresse 5 ac m. obtaineth Philips tetrarchie 52â—… a. getteth a portion of Galilee 522. g. deposeth Ioseph 524. i inlargeth the citie of Caesarea 525. a. his kindnes to the Berytians c. f 525. b. c. his Epistles to Ioseph 550 m. Agrippa excuseth Caesar c 628. h. his oration 627. c. 628. 629. 630. driuen out of the citie 631. b. And that came to the Romans 6 7 c f. Aid of the Idumaeans 677. a b c. Ainan or Aitaken and burnt 103. e. f. Ainites discomfit three thousand Israelites and slew 36. 103. a. after put to flight and slaine by Iosuah ibid. c. Aire temperate 688 i. Albirius gouernour of Iudaea 524 i. full of wickednes 623. d. pacifieth the countrey 524. l. executeth malefactors 525. c. Alcimus high Priest 313. accuseth Iudas and his brethren ibid. c. his popularitie 314. g h. killeth of all Iudas faction ibid. h. dieth sodainly 315. d. Alexander Polyhistor 19. c. Alexander King of Macedonia 284. i. ouerthroweth Darius armie ibid. subdueth Darius 285. a. marcheth toward Ierusalem ibid. e f. honourably receiued by the high Priest and the rest 2â—…5 f. 286. g. his sacrifice in the temple ibid. h. i. adoreth the high Priest 286. g. his death and successors 287 e f. Alexander warreth against Demetrius 320. g. laboureth to win Ionathan ibid. l m. slaieth Demetrius 321. f. marieth Ptolomies daughter 323. d. sendeth presents to Ionathan 325 a. discomfited and slaine 326 g. Alexander Zebina obtaineth the kingdome 337. b. slaine ibi b. Alexander king of the Iewes 341. a. 563. a. besiegeth Ptolemais ibid. c. his ouerthrow 342. k. besiegeth Gaza 343. c. sedition raised against him 563. c. 344 h. ouercome ibid l. 563. f. citions cast at him 341. h. crucifieth 800. Iewes 345. a. 564. b. his sicknes and aduise to his wife 346. i k l. 564. l. his death and funerall 347. a b. Alexander sonne of Aristobulus 356. i. ouercome ibid. l. 668. l. beheaded 359. b. Alexander Herodes sonne 413. b. marrieth Glaphyra ibidem his defence 418. k. 419. a b c c. reconciled to his father 419. e. 427. f. bribeth the Eunuches 593. b. imprisoned 427 a. 593. b. accused of treason ibid. 431. g h c. writeth bookes 593. c. condemned 434. h. 596. m. strangled 435. c. 597. d. false Alexander c. 460 g. 613. d. condemned to tug at an oare 460. g. 614. f. g. Alexander exerciseth crueltie 261. d. Alexandra gouerneth the kingdome 347. f. imprisoneth Aristobulus wife and children 564. l. committeth charge to the Iewes 348. g. her embassage to Tigranes 348. h. her death ibid. 565. d. Alexandra solliciteth Antonius and why 384. h. excuseth her selfe ibid. suspected by Herode c. 385. b. pretending to flie is betraied ibid. c. certifieth Cleopatra of Herodes trechery 387. b. striueth to acquit her selfe 398 m 399. a. seeketh to get Herods castles 399 c. put to death 400. g. Alexas marrieth Salome 437. c. dismisseth the Nobles 450. m. Alliance of Abraham with his wife 16. l. of lacob with Laban 23. c. 25. f. of Saul and Ionathan with Dauid 145. b of Iuda with the Israelites 241. d. Allowance of Micheas 221. f. Allusion of Ionathan 147. f. Alacritie of the Romans 702. m. Alleageance renounced 748. l. Altar of incense 63. b. Altars of Idolators to be destroyed 90. h. one Altar to be erected c. and why 90. l. Altar builded by Iosuah 102. g. Altar erected by the two tribes and halfe 107. c. why 108. i. Altar of gold and of brasse where placed 198. g. h. Altar in Bethel 207. claue in twaine ibid f. Altar erected by Dauid 185. b. Amalechites warre against the Israelites 56. gh ouercome by the Israelites 57. b c spoiled and their vtter ruine foretold ibid d 98. g. ouercome the Israelites 115. f. are destroyed 139. b c. d. burne Siceleg 157. a. Aman honoured by all but the Iewes 278. h i. his petition for the Iewes ruine ibid. k. his hatred against Mardoche 282. k. his trecherie discouered 281. e f. iudged to the gallowes ibid f. his goods bestowed on Mardoche 282. g. Amarames Moses father see Amram Amasias king of Iuda 236. h. reuengeth his fathers death 237. c. ouercommeth the Amalechites ibid. c d. reproued and why 237. d e. commaundeth Ioas to yeelde him homage ibi f. his armie flies and he taken prisoner 283. g. is slaine ibid. h. Amaza slaine 181. c. Amazement of the seditious 743. a b. Ambition 162. h. of Adonias 185. i. of Iohn 685 a. of Eleazar 697. c. f. An Ambush laid for the Ainites 103. e. Abushes of Saul for Dauid 144. g h c. 145. d e f. 146. g. h. of Adad for Ioram 227. a. Ammon Lots sonne 16. h. Amnon deflowreth Thamar 172. i k. Ammonites oppresse the Israelites 119. b c. and are ouercome ibid. f. iniute Dauids Embassadours 168. k. reuenge wrought on them 169. b c d. warre against Iosaphat 223. e. kill one another 224. h. Amorites ouercome 82. l. their countrey possessed by the Hebrewes 83. b. Amos a wicked King 248. i. is slaine ibid. Amphitheater built by Herode 401. c. 406. h. Amram Moses father 41. m. praieth to God 42. g. casteth Moses into the riuer 42. k l. and why ibid. Amri King of Israel 214. g. slew Thaman ibid. his impictie and death ibid. Ananias death 633. a. Ananus high Priest 524 i. had fiue sons his successors ibid. Ananias high Priest 524. l. Ananias high priest slaine 722. i. Ananus stoneth Iames 524. k. Ananus gouernor of Ierusalem 639. d. his iruectiue against the Zealous 674. h. disposeth this soldiers c. 675 c d. slain 680. l. Ananus a cruel souldier 722. k. Achimelech entertaineth Dauid 148. g h. deliuereth him Goliahs sword ibid. h. accused to Saul 149. a. and slaine ibid. c. Ancestors conceale not honest things 〈◊〉 h. Angels guarded Elizeus 227. c. Angels i. sonnes of God c. 6. k. Angell resisteth Balaam 84. g. Angels promise Abraham a sonne 13. d. e. enter Lots house ibid. f. foretell the destruction of Sodome 15. e. Angell appeared to Agar 14. m. 17. b c d. to Iacob 22. k. l. 26. g h i k. to Manoach his wife 120. m. foretelleth hir Sampsons birth ibid. m. worketh a miracle 121. c. 227. c. Angersee wrath Anilaeus receiueth charge from Artabanus 485. c d. killeth a noble man 486. h. reproued and accused ibid. h i. taketh Mithridates prisoner 487. a Anna
corrupted 520. i. banisned 521. a. Cunning of Dauid in playing on the haipe 141. e. Cups of gold 197. b. Curse against him that builds Iericho 102. l. Custome of the countrey 24. g. Custome obserued in sacrifices 68. l m. Custome of warre 97. c d. Custome in Samaria 228. l. Custome laudable in a king 280. l. Custome to punish slaiers of themselues 659. f. Custome of the Romans 711. d. Custome of the Priests 766. i l. c. Cutthroates among the Iewes 523. c. Cyprus a Castle 588. g. Cyrenaeus taxeth Iudaea 462. l. Cyrus lung of Persia 26â—… b. ouerthroweth Balthazar and taâ—…th Babylon 262. h. dismisseth the Iewes 265. a b c. permitteth to build Câ—…e and Temple 265. b c. his decree touching the temple 271. c d. Cyzicenus king of Syria see Antiochus D Dagon fell downe 127. c. Dares of creasion six 3. d e. the seuenth sanctified ibid. e. the day lengthened 104. m. Dalila foundeth Sampson 123. a. betraieth him ibid. b c. Darâ—…aseens kill 10000. Iewes 639. c d. N. Damascenus testimonie of Abraham 12. k. Damasco countrey of Abraham â—…2 k. Damsels intice the Hebrewes to idolatrie 8â—…9 d. 86. g. Dan the sonne of Iacob 24. k. what it signiseth ibid. k. his issue 40. g. Daniels austere life 258. g h. expounds Nauchodonosors dreame 259. c d. aduaunced to honour ibid. 262. g f e. his fellowes cast into the furnace 259. f. interpreteth the writing 262. g. cast into the Lyons dentie 262. l. his vision of the Ram and Goat 263. d 〈◊〉 his predictions of the Roman Empire 264. h Datius king of the Medes 261. b. surpriseth Babylon 262. h. causeth Daniels enemiâ—… to be cast to the Lyons 263. a. Darius son of Hystaspis maketh a vow 263. a. performeth it 268. l m. propoundeth three questions 267. b. his letters for building the temple c. 268. m. 269. a. he restoreth the vessels c. ibid. b. his Epistle to the prefects of Syria 171. c. Darius king of Persia ouerthrowne 285. 2. Darknesse separated c. 3. d. Darknesse of Aegypt 49. a b. Dart of Saul 153. c d. Darts profit not the Iewes 709. d. Dathan rebellious 79. a. he with his companio were swallowed vp 80. g. Daughters of Salpades inheritance 88. c. Daughters of the Madianites 85. d. allure the Hebrewes to Idolatrie 86. g. Dauid annointed king 141. b c. seased with Gods spirit 141. d. caseth Sauls vexation ibid. d e f. killeth a Lyon and a Beare 142. k. m. ouercommeth Goliab 143. c d. killeth six hundreth l'hilistines and marrieth Michol 144. k. l. vanquisheth the Palestines 145. d. discouereth Sauls affection towards him 146. h. complaineth to Ionathan 146. k l. receieth Goliahs sword 148 g h. counterfaiteth madnesse and why 148. i. his care of his parents ibid. k. defendeth Cilla 150. h. flieth to the Ziphians 150. k. escapeth Sauls hands and how 151. a. twise saueth Sauls life 151. b c. 153. c d. testifieth his innocencie ibid. c. 154. g. spareth Nabals flocks 152. g. incensed against Nabal and why ib. i. is appeased ibid. l. m. vpbraideth Abner 153. d e. dwelleth at Siceleg and spoilet the Satrites c. 154. i. recouereth his vites and slaieth the Amalechites 157. b c. lamenteth Saul and Ionathan c. 159. c f. chosen king by one tribe c. 160. g. requireth Michol 161. b c. purgeth himselfe of Abners death 162. i. k l. surpriseth Ierusalem 164. h i. vanquisheth the Palestines 165 b c. transporteth the Arke and how ibid. c e. intended to build a temple 166. h. gaue God thankes ibid. k. reuengeth his Embassadours 169. b c d. marrieth Bethsabe 170. l. repenteth his sinne 171. b. mourneth for his sonne 171. ibid. c d. expelled his kingdome 177. b. his entertainment at Mahanaim 177. c. commandeth to spare his sonne 177. f. bewaileth Absalons death 179. a. granteth Amasa pardon 179. c. his concubines sequestred 181. c. distributeth offices 182. b. deliuered out of perill ibid. l. perswaded to abstaine from warre ibid. lus 38. champions 183. c. c. sendeth Ioab to muster the people 184. h. of three punishments offered chooseth the plague 184. k. prayeth for the innocent people ibid. l. commanded to build an Altar ibid. m. gathereth store of yron c. 185. d. counselled Salomon to honour God ibid. f. groweth olde and numbe 186. h. numbreth the Leuites 187. e. confirmeth the kingdome of Salomon ibid. commendeth Salomon to the tribes 188. h. his counsell to Salomon 189. c. willeth Salomon to punish Ioab 189. d. commendeth Berzillais sonnes to Salomon 189. his age raigne and vertues ib. f. Dauncing of the maidens of Israel 243. e. of Dauids before the Arke 165. e f. Daunger of the Israelites 50. i k l. 51. d. c. of Dauid 144. m. 145. c f. 150. i k l m. 151. a b. of the Sephorites 534. a. of â—…cims sonne 532. g. of Ioseph 537. c. 538. g. 539. a. 641. c d. of Herode 577. c. of Titus 700. h. Dead â—…e vnburied 721. d. c. Dead bodie raised 236. m. Dealing of Laban with Iacob 25. d c. Dealing of Saul with Dauid colourable 144. g h i. Death of the fathers 6. k. 7. a c. Death of the seuen brethren 800 k l. 801. a. 802. g. 803. c. Death of Abraham 20. l. of Isaac 27. d. of Rachel ibid. c. of Iacob 40. m. of Ioseph 41. a. of Moses 99. b c. of Samuel 151. f. of Salomon 206. g. Death of the first begotten 49. d. Death of the leader discomfort to the souldier 222. h. Dearth of victuals prophecied 214. k. Debate compâ—…itted 157. d. c. Debate of the Iewes and Samaritanes 322. m. 323. 2. Debate of Herode with his sonnes 590. b. Debate betwixt the Ladies 598. m. Debora a prophetesse 115. a. encouraged Barac ibid. c. Decease of Herode 605 i k. Declamation of Sentius 499. a b. Deceit of Florus 624. k. of Iohn 676. g. of the Iewes 702. l m. Deciding of hard controuersies referred to Moses 58. i. Decree of the Romans 315. c. of Cyrus 271. c d. Decree of destinie 714. g. Dedication of the Tabernacle and Priests 66. l. Defence of Moses c. 790. i k. Defence of Nicholaus 609. c. 613. a. 459. b. Defie of the enemie 142. i. 145. b. Deflouring of Dina 26. m. of Thamar 172. i. k. Deflouring of a Virgine 94. i. Deliuerance of the Israelites out of Egypt 50. g. l. from danger 51. d e. f. Deluge or floud 6. i. the cause thereof ibid. when it hapned 7. a b. destroyed all saue those in the Arke 6. decreased 7. d. Demetrius exhortatorie letter 290. g. Demetrius Seleucus slaieth Lysias and Antiochus 313. d. maketh himselfe king ib. d. sendeth Nicanor against Iudas 314. i. sendeth Bacchides against Ionathan 319. b. maketh peace with Ionathan 320. i. 321. b. fighteth with Alexander and is slame 321. c. Demetrius Nicanor ouercommeth Alexander 326. g. obtaineth the kingdome ibid. incurreth the â—…tred of his souldiers ibid.
114. g. m. 126. g. 209. b. 210. k. 212. h. 213. f. 214. g. h. 217. c. 231. c. 239. e. f. 240. g. 121. c. 242. h. i. 248. g. 250. k. l. 251. c d e. 252. k l. m. 253. a b c. 254. g h c. 255 a. c. Imprecation for building Iericho 10â—… l. Imprecation of Saul 137. e. Incest 71. b. of Lot 16. h. of Ammon 172. i k. Inchanters banished 154. l. Inclosure before the temple 197. d. Inconstantie of fortune 668. l. m. Inconueniences vnder a king 131. c. d. Incouragement of Moses 46. 〈◊〉 of Iosua h. 98. m. Incredulitie punished 229. k. d. Incursions of the Amalechites 115. f. of the Philistines 150. h. of Ader 205. c. Indebteds acts and deuices 748. g. Indulgence cause of sinne 139. f. Industrie of the Romans 648. g h. Ingratitude of the Sichemites 117. f. of the Israelites 135. d. of Nabal 152. i. m. of Demetrius 326. g. of Malchus 577. a. Inhabitants of Nob slaine 149. d. Inhabitants of countries 10. g c. and 11. a c. Inheritance of Iacob and Esau 28. g of Salpades danghters 88. l. Inhibition of Cambyses 226. l m. Iniquitie 580. h. of the Iewes 726. l. Iniuries of Florus 464. h. Iniurie to Dauids Embassadours 168. k. to Thamar 172. k l. Iniustice of lawmakers 797. d e. Innocencie of Dauid 151. d. 153. d e. Insolence 237. c. 239. d e. 240. h. 719. c. Institution of circumcision 15. b. of the Passeouer 49. c d. Instruments of Musicke 197. c. Interpretation of Iosephs dreames 24. a b. of the Butlers 32. l. of the Bakers 33. a b. of Pharaohs ibid. e f. of Nabuchodonosors 259 c d. of the hand writing 262. g h. Interpreters royally entertained 293. b. Intent of Florus inanifested 626. k. Intention of Saul against Dauid 144. h. l. 145. f. 146. l. Intestine discord 672. k. Inuectiue against murtherers 163. c. against the Zealous 674. h of Ioseph against the Iewes 715. f. Inuentor of Musicke who 5. f. Inuentor of the art of forging ibid. first Inuentors of letters 765. a. Inuocation of God in trouble 54. l. Ioab generall of Dauids armie 160. discomfiteth Abner ibid. i. slaieth Abner 162. g. discomfiteth the Syrians 169. a. reconcileth Absalon to his father 174. h. i. Ioab and the armie enter the citie mournfully 179. 〈◊〉 his Oration vnto Dauid c. ibid. c. sent out against Siba 181. d. killeth Amaza ib. e. rebuked proposeth conditions of peace 181. g h. one of Adonias coadiutors 186. i k. slaine 191. f. Ioachas king of Israel subdued 236. h i. and why ibid. his repentance and praier ibid. Ioachim king of Iuda 250. l. paid tribute ibid. 251. a. reuolteth and is slaine 251. a b not buried ibid. c. Ioachin king of Iuda 251. c. see Iechonias Ioas king of Israel 236. k. called Elizaeus his father ibid. k. his treble victorie 236. m. 237. a. Ioas saued and how 233. f. created king of Iuda 234. g. his pietie during Ioiadas time 234. m. repaireth the temple 235. c d. his impietie after Ioiadas decease ibid. e. stoneth Zacharias ibid. e f. bought his peace 236. g. dieth ib. Ioatham his workes about the temple 240. k. actes of warre ibid. k. 241. a. Ioaz king of Iuda taken prisoner 250. k. his impictie death ibid. k l. Iobel a maker of tents 5. f. Iochabel Moses mother 42. i. secretly hid him three moneths ibid. k. appointed to be his nurse by Pharaohs daughter 43. b. Iodes killeth Eglon 114. k. subdueth the Moabites and ruleth Israel ibid. k l. Ioel and Abia gouerne the common weale 130. k. Ioiada high priest 233. m. creaÌ„teth Ioas king 234. g. sweareth king and people to serue God ibid. l. deceaseth 235. d. Iohn releaseth Ismaels captiues 257. b. refused counsell ib. c. Iohn high priest slaieth his brother 283. f. punished 284. g. Iohn Ionathans brother slaine 318. i. Iohn Baprist slaine 471. a. Iohns actes in Gischalis 533. c f. his treason 534. l. secketh to murther Ioseph 535. a. he and the Embasladours resort to Iesus 544. g. his followers forsake him 551. b. a trecher and murderer 640. k. flieth into Gischala 642. k. perswadeth the Tiberians to reuolt ibid. h i. mooueth to rebellicu 670. k l. reserued to be at the siege of Ierusalem 671. d. sweareth to the people c. 676. h. breaketh his oath ibid. i. assaulted on both sides 698. k l. putteth the Zealous to flight 702. g. seaseth the temple ibid. raileth vpon Ioseph 729. c. apprehended 744. m. is condemned to perpetual prison ibid. Iohn captaine of the Idumaeans 710. l. slaine ibid. l. Ionas cause of a tempest and why 238. k l m. deuoured of a Whale and cast out 239. a. preacheth to the Niniuites ib. 2. Ionathan Sauls sonne 136. h. entred the enemies campe and slew them 137. b c. breaketh the edict ibid. f. counselleth Dauid to flie 144. m. pacifieth Sauls displeasure and certifieth Dauid thereof 145. b c. discouereth Sauls hatred to Dauid and how 147. d e f. renueth his couenant 150. k. Ionathan gouernour of the Iewes 318. g h. reuengeth his brothers death 318. l. assaileth Bacchides by night 319. c. putteth Apollonius to flight 324. h i. appeaseth Demetrius 326. i. putteth Demetrius to flight 329. a. renneth friendship with the Romans c. 329. b c. c. fighteth with Demetrius 330. g. repaireth Ierusalem c. ibid. i l. taken by Tryphon 331. b. 560. h. slaine 332. k. 560 h. Ionathans letters to Ioseph 542. h. m. Ionathan challengeth a Combate 732. l m. slaieth Pudens 733. a. Ioppe a retreat for theeues 661. c. taken ibid. e f. Ioram king of Iuda 226. l. serued Idols 230. h. murthereth his brethren ib. k. dieth miserably 230. m. Ioram king of Israel an impious man 225. c. asketh aide ibid. c. in distresse with two other kings ibid. e f. relieued and how 225. f. 226. g. ouercame the Moabites ibid. h. besieged 227. f. threatneth Elizaeus 228. h. certified of the enemies flight 229. b. his expedition to recouer Ramath 231 a b. Iordan yeeldeth the Israelites passage 161. e f. his fountaine 667. b. Iosaphat king of Iuda his pietie 220. i k. his expedition with Achab 220. l m. reprooued 223. b. renueth the true seruice of God ibid. c. prayeth and why 223. c. obtaineth victorie and how 224. g h i. his ships cast away ib. i. aydeth Ioram 225. c. dieth 226. k. Ioseph sonne of Iacob 24. l. enuied of his brethren 28. l. dreamed a dreame ibid. l m. sold by his brethren 29. c. 30. h i. resisted his mistris twofold temptation 31. a b. c accused and cast into prison 32. g h i. expounded dreames 32. l. 33. b e f. counselled the king how to preuent famine 34. g h. aduanced to honour and married a wife ibid. h i. sounded his brethren and why ibid. l. sent them away but detained Simeon 35. d e. banquetteth them and Beniamin 36. h i. staieth their iourney
Lots cast to kill one another 660. h i. 761. a b. Loue of women blindeth 86. g. and causeth to serue strange gods ib. g h. 204. i. 205. d. Loue of Ionathan toward Dauid 144. m. 146. l. 147. a b. of Ioseph to his countrey 717. a. Louers of Order c. 790. l m. Lust of Putifars wife 31. a c of the Gabaens 110. l m. 111. a. of Caius 50â—… e. of the Aegyptians 13. a. Lustie Iewes reserued 744. h. Lybia of whom called Africa 19. b c. Lycurgus among the Lacedaemonians 795. a. Lysias Generall of Antiochus army 307. b. inuadeth Iudaea ibid. i. ouercome 308. h. once againe inuadeth Iudaea ibid. i k. Lysimachus killeth Apollodotus 343. c. betrayeth Gaza ib. M Machaeras killeth many Iewes 377. e. fortifieth Geth 378. l. his iniquitie 580. h. Madnesse counterfaited 148. i. Madianites Embassage to Baalam 83. 84. g. their daughters seduce the Hebrewes 85. d. put to flight and slaine 87. c. subdue the Israelites 115. f. kill one another 117. a. Madus and his progenie 10. h. Magicians could not expound the dreame 258. k l. 259. g. Magicians deceiue many 522. l. worke much mischiefe 622. Magistrates to be obeyed 89. d e. to be honoured and reuerenced 91. d. 628. g. 786. l. their duetie 223. c. d. Magog author of the Scythians 10. h. Magnanimitie of Herod 420. l. of the Romans 786. i k. Magnificence of Salomon 202 m. 204. h. of Ezechias 243. a b. of Herod 588. i k. of Vespasians triumph 750. l. Maidens of Israel sing and daunce 143. e. Malchus king of Arabia 577. a. repelled Herod ib. a. repented him of that dealing 578. g. Male children done to death and why 41. d c. Maledictions of Moses 97. f. 98. a. Malefactors executed 525. c. Malice of Pharao 49. a. of Doeg and Saul 149. c d. of the Ziphians 150. l m. of the Aegyptians to the Iewes 776. 〈◊〉 Malichus laieth waite for Antipater 366. k. poisoneth him 367. a. slaine ibid. e. Mambres Abrahams friend k. Man created 3. f. called Adam and why ib. f. imposed names on the creatures ibid. f. placed in Paradice 4. g. transgresseth ibid. i. cast out of Paradice 5. a. author of his owne death 8. h g. Manahem foretels Herods raigne 408. i. Manahem king of Israels actes 240. h. bought his peace ib. h. dieth 240. i. Manahemus chiefe of the rebels 632. m. slaine 633. e. Manasses marrieth Sanabalats daughter 284. h. retaineth his wife ibid. k l. enioyeth his desire 285. d. Manasses Iosephs sonne 34. i. king Manasses impietie 247. c f. sed away prisoner 248. g. repenting is restored ibid. g. his actes 248. h i. dieth ib. Mandate of Cyrus 265. c. Manethon an Aegyptian writer 768. m. sheweth the comming and departure of the Iewes c. 779. i. his fabulous reports 776. k. his lies confuted 777. f. his words repeated 778. i. Manna what 55. e. food of the Israelites 55. c. how much to be gathered ibid. b. when it ceased 102. h. Manner of purification 81. f. 82. g. Manners of the Aegyptians 41. b c. of the Esseans 614. m. 615. e. of the Idumaeans 677. b c. of the Athenians 797. a. of the Persians 797. c. Manoachs wife saw an Angell 120. m. foretolde of a sonne and instructed ibid. m. 121. a. is seene of both 121. b c. Manslaughter 88. k. Mara what 53. c. March of the Romans 649. e f. Mariam Moses sister 42. l. watcht him ibid. k l. fetched his mother 43 a. her death 81. f. Mardochaeus Esthera vncle 277. d. discouereth the traytors 278. g h. his lamenting and why 279. a b. â—…red 281. c. d. Marriage when to be contracted 93. e. Marriage with an harlot forbidden ibid. e. Marriage with a bondwoman 94. l. Marriages made 598. g h. broken ibid. k. Mariamme wife of Herod 384. l. committed to Ioseph 387. c. accused excused her selfe 388. i k. displeased with Herod 396. l. coldly entertained Herod 397. b c. vpbraided Herod 589. d. accused and put to death 399. a. 589. c. 590. g. Marphad sacked Syria 13. e. killed Giants ibid. e. Marsus Gouernour of Syria 510. k. displeased ibid. Marâ—…iall discipline 640. h. 648. g. Masons how imployed 195. b c. Massacre of the Iewes 634. g c. 635. a c. 636. b c. 722. i k c. Massada a strong Castle 755. d. for what occasion builded 757. c. battered with the Ram 757. d. Matter for the building of the tabernacle 60. k l. Matter committed in trust 96. k l. Matthias refuseth to commit Idolatrie 305. b. slaieth an Apostata ib. rooteth out Idolatrie 305. e. his death 306. h. maketh warre against Antiochus 559. b. Matthias raiseth sedition 448. g c. burned ibid. 〈◊〉 Matthias cruelly handled 722. i. Measures found out and by whom 5. e. Medimnus a certaine measure 75. b. Meeting of the Hebrewes thrise a yeere 90. m. Melancholie of Herod 605. e. Melchisedech king of Solyma 14. h i. entertaineth Abraham c. ibid. i. prayseth God and receiueth the tenths 14. i. Men thronged to death 621. a b. Menelaus high priest 303. warreth against Iason ibid. Mephiboseth obtaines the possessions of Saul 168. h. purgeth himselfe of Sibas slaunders 180. 〈◊〉 restored to the halfe of his possessions ib. l. Merchandise brought to Salomon 203. e. Merchants of Arabia buy Ioseph 30. h. sold him to 〈◊〉 ib. m. of Tharsis â—…24 i. Mercie hurtfull in warre 712. k. Mercie of Varus 612. h. of Titus towards Ioseph 660. m. to his enemies 672. g. Meroe a strong Citie of Ethiopia 44. l. Messengers sent to Dauid 146. g. to Nabal 152. h. Mesopotamia troublesome to trauellers 19. d. Mesopotamians submit themselues 169. c. Method of moralitie and discipline 791. f. 792. g. Methusala Enochs sonne 6. m. 7. a. how long he liued 7 c. Mice deuoure the fruit c. 127. f. Micheas reproueth Achab and why 220. h. how rewarded ibid. i. foretelleth Achabs death and Sedechias punishment 22â—… c. d. his allowance ibid. f. Michol daughter of Saul 144. g. giuen to Dauid in mariage ibid. l. conueieth Dauid away 145. f. deceiueth Sauls messengers 146 g. h. restored to Dauid 261. b. mocked at him 165. f. Midwiues of Egypt 41. c. Mildnes of Dauid 151. d. Militarie discipline 640. h. 648. g. a Mind furnished with vertues 141. b. Ministeries of the Gabeonites 104. k. Miracles 46. g k l. 207. c f. 216 i. 214. l m. 121. c 226 l m. Miracle of the Suns going backe 247. b. Miracle of Helizaeus 688. g. Misa king of Moab 225. d. put to â—…ight 226. h i. sacrificeth his sonne ibid. i. Misdemeancur of the wicked 6. k. of Samuels sonnes 130. m. of a souldier 621. a. Miserie of the Israelites 41. e 42. k. 47. c. 54. l. foreprophecied 210. k. of the Iewes foretold 249. b. of Iudaea 463. b c. of the Iewes prophecied 630. l of the people 718. i. k. 725. 〈◊〉 three Miseries assaile Ierusalem 685. c. Mithridates king of Parthia
all his houshold ibid. m. sendeth out a Crowe and a Doue 7. d 〈◊〉 the tenth from Adam 6. m. sacrificeth to God 7. c. praieth to God 8. g is heard ibid. h. Gods couenant with him ibid. i k. his age 7. c. his three sonnes 9. a. his kinde of life 11. c. was druâ—…ken and derided ibid. c. Nob a Citie of the priests burnt 149. c d. Nobilitie slaine by the theeues 673. a. 12000. slaine 682. i. Nobilitie of the Iewes flie to the Romans 730. i. Nobles repaire to Dauid 163. d. Nobles shut vp by Herod 449. c. 605. c f. released 450. m. 606. h. Nothing attempted by the Romans rashly 648. l m. 669. a. Number of the children of Israel 49. f. from twentie to fiftie yeeres of age 66. b. of Dauids souldiers 163. c f. of workmen 195. b c. of Iewes that returned from captiuitie 266. g. 269. d. of high priests 526. g. 527. a. of the captiues and slaine in Ierusalem 744. i k c. Nuptiall feast 24. g. O Obed Edoms felicitie 165. c. Obed begat Iesse 125. a. Obeda king of Arabia 344. k. discomsits Alexander ibid. Obediah hideth the prophets 215. d. Obedience of Abraham 17. c. Obedience to magistrates 89. d c. Obedience of the Roman souldier 648. i k. 649. a b. Obimes Ieroboams sonne 210. i. falleth sicke and dieth ibid. i k. Obodas king of Arabia 425. c. giuen to idlenesse ibid. c. 428. m. Obsequies of Herod 451. a. Obseruers of Gods lawes rewarded 2. i k. Occasion of the Iewes warres 625. a. Occasion of victorie what 649. a b. Occasion of violences 674. g. Occurrences of kingdomes and common weales 2. g. 85. a. Occurrences of Ieremy 250. k. Ochozias king of Israel reprooued and why 224. k l. his souldiers consumed ibid. m. 225. a. his death foretolde ibid. b. Ochozias king of Iuda 231. a. visiteth Ioram 232. g. slaine ibid. i. Ode of praise 52. g. Office of Iudges 91. d e. of an Historiographer 390. h i. of the priests 693. a. Ofspring of Noah Abraham c. looke progenie Og king of Galadine 83. b. is slaine with his arâ—…y ibid. c. his high stature and great strength ibid. c. Oile in the pot multiplied 214. l m. 226. l m. scalding Oile throwne on the Romans 655. c f. Olda the prophetesse 249. b. Olde man killeth his wife c. 377. c. Olde and weake Iewes slaine 744. g. h. One sacred Citie one temple and one Altar 90. l. Onias high priest 286. m. Onias high priest 297. paid not his tribute ibid. Onias high priests sonne 313. c. wins the fauour of Ptolomey 322. m. buildeth a temple in Aegypt ib. l m. 559. a. Onias stoned to death 351. f. 352. g. Ophni sonne of Eli 125. b. his impietie and wickednesse ib. b. is slaine 126. k. Opinion of the Esseans and Grecians of the soule 616. l m. Opinion of the Pharisees and Sadduces 617. b c. Opinion of the wisest Greekes c. 791. c. Oppression of the Israelites 113. d. 114. g. ibid. m. 115. e f. 119. c d. 120. l. of the Iewes 623. e f. 624. g h. c. 625. a b. c. Oracle of God to Iosuah 103. c d. Oracles of the Prophets to be râ—…uerenced 222 i. Oration of Abraham 18. h. of Ruben 34. m. 35. a. of Iuda 37. c. c. and 38. g h. of Ioseph 37. a b. of Mâ—… to the people 59. b. to the seditious 77. f. 78. g. c. of Zambrias 86. k. of Moses before his death 89. a. c. of the Gabeonites 104. h. of Iosuah c. 106. m. of Phinces 107. c. of Samuel 129. c. 133. b. of Saul 148. l m. of Abias 211. c. of Herod 391. c. 392. g c. 584 i. 585. c. of Nicholaus 414. i. 415. 444. k. 590. m. of Agrippa 627. c. of Ioseph 641. c. 659. b. c. of Titus 663. d. 671. a. of Ananus 674. g. c. of Iesus 677. c. of Caesar c. 703. d. of Ioseph to the Iewes 714. i. 715. a. c. 716. g. of Titus to the Ieweâ—… 740. g c. of Eleazar 758. h. Orchards 688. h. Order of the Romans 648. h. Order of superiour bodies 6. h. Order of the Army c. 72. l m. Order of Carpenters Masons c. 195. b c. Order of the Cities of Galilee 640. i k. Order of Titus army 699. c e f. Ordinance of Artaxerxes 278. g. 280. g h. Ordinances of the fathers transgressed 86. h. Oreb slaine 117. b. Original of the Hebrewes 11. c. Original of the Troglodytes 19. b. Original of the Israelites mischiefes 243. f. Original of the Grecian lawes 791. c d. Original of the Iewes lawes 798. k l. Ornaments of the high priest 63. f. 64. g h c. Ornaments of Salomons pallace 200. k. Oronna or Orphona a Iebusite spared 164. k l. giueth Dauid his floore 185. a b. Oseas king of Israel ouercome 24â—… h. made tributarie ibid. i. taken prisoner 243. c. his subiects transported and why ibid. e f. Oth how in time past taken 19. d. o th taken to obserue the law 98. k. 249. d. Oth when and how to be kept 112. k. Oth of Ionathan to Dauid 147 a b. Oth of Senacherib falsified 245. b. o th obserued 440. l Otho Emperour 691. f. slaine ibid. Ouerthrow of the Sodomites 13. d e. of the Amorites 82. m l. of the Hebrewes 76. g k. 157. f. of Antonie 393. f. Outrages of Elies sonnes 125. b. of Naas offered the Israelites 133. e f. of Azael 235. b. 236. g h i. of Florus souldiers 625. c. Outward court of the temple c. 707. c. Oxen seuen what doe signifie 33. f. how many taken at once 87. c. not to be muzled 93. a. oxe that striketh 96. i. Oza sodainly stroken dead 165. d. and why ibid. Ozias king of Iudaes warlike exploits 239. b c. acts and studies ibid. c d. striken with a leprosie and why 239. e f. enioyned to depart the Citie ibid. 240. g. his death and buriall 240. g. P Pacorus sendeth horsemen to Antigonus 370. l. 575. a. his perswasion to Phasaelus 371. his treason and subtiltie ibid. b c d. 575. d. Pageants built 751. a. Painters cause multitude of gods 796. k. Palestine whence tooke his name 11. a. Palestines ouercome the Israelites 120. l. 126. h. inuade the Israelites 136. i. are ouercome 137. d e. 143. d e. 16â—… b c Pallace in Tiberias burned 533. c. Pallace built in Ierusalem 404. k. 〈◊〉 Pallace of Salomon 200. h. Pallace of the king 705. c. burned ibid. c. Palme trees 687. f. 688. h. Pamphilian sea deuided it selfe 52. h. Pappus beheaded 582. g. Paradice 4. g. where scituate ibid. g. h. adorned with all sortes of plants ibid. g. Parents compelled to murther their children 41. 〈◊〉 Paricid a publike iniurie 445. l. Parricides 246. k. Parthians restore Antigonus 379. l. 576. complot trecherie against Phasaelus 371. c. surprise him and Hyrâ—…anus ibid. f. lay a
besiegeth Ierusalem 354. i 567. k l committeth Aristobulus to prison ibid. 567. c. taketh the temple 355. a. bestoweth the Priesthood on Hyreanus ibid. 356. spoileth not the Templâ—… ibid. d. 567. carieth Aristobulus to Rome 568. h. headeth conspirators ibid. Popedius accused 491. 2. Popularitie of Alcimus 314. g h. Porch of the temple 195. e. fired 733. f. Port of Caesarea 305. e. Port made by Herode 587. d. Portion of Salpades daughters 88. c. Portion of Iudaea 647. b. Possession of Chanaan prophecied of 40. l. Posteritie of Ismael 17. a c. Posteritie of Giants extinguished 13. c. Posteritie of Iethro possessed of land 109. d Posteritie of Noah replenished the world 9. f. Posteritie of Esau â—…8 h i. of Iacob 40. l. Poison not to be vsed 96. h. Power giuen to saue 38. h i. Power of God euerie where 219. d. Power of kings wine and women 267. c. f. 268. h. Power of the soule 759. a. Power of Dauid and Salomon 789. c. Practise of Sâ—…on and Leui 27. a. Pray that the Israelites goe in warre 57. b c. 87. e f. 102. m. 103. f. Prayer of Noah 8. g. of Amram 42. g. of Moses 51. c. 79. b c c. of Iosuah 103. b. of Sampson 122. l. of Salomon 198. i l. of Samuel and the Israelites 129. d. e f. Prayse of Abraham 20. l. of Iacob 40. m. of Ioseph 41. a. of Iosuah 57. c. 108. m. of Moses 99. e. f. of Samuel 15â—… f. of Saul 156. h. of Dauid 189. e. of Salomon 206. g. of Iosaphat 224. i. of Nehemias 276. k. of Ananus 680. m. of Eleazar 804. k. Praise giuen to God 52. g h. Prediction of things to come 98. a. Preparations for warre burned 312. g. Presents of Abraham 19. d. of Iacob 36. g. of the Aegyptians 49. d. of Abigail 152. k. of the Mesopotamians 168. c d. of the Queene of Ethiopia and of kings 203. b c f. of Ptolomey to the interpreters 295. b. of Herod 594. l. Preseruation of Moses 42. m. 43. c. of Daniel and his companions 259. f. Preseruation from bloudshed 152. l m Presidents in euerie Citie 91. d. and what manner of men they ought to be ibid. d. Pride of Amasias 237. d e. of Ozias 239. d. of Senacherib 245. c. of Nabuchodonosor 260. g. of Balthasar 261. c. of Iohn 685. a. Priests vestures 61. c d. e. Priests abstaine from wine 707. c. 775. a. Priests executed and why 739. c. high Priests number and succession 526. g c. 527. a c. Priesthood confirmed to Aaron and his sonnes 80. i. Priesthood to be transported foreshewed 126. g. Princes of Syria 270. m. Principalitie affected by Adonias 186. i. by Costabarus 400. i. 685. a. 691. c. 697. f. Priscus slaieth Ionathan 733. a. Prisoners dismissed 241. d c. Priuiledges granted to the Iewes 295. d. 364 g. c. 365. a c. 784. l m. Problemes of Hiram c. 770. l. Prodigies preceding Ierusalems destruction 738. i k c. 739. a c. Professors of wisedome burne themselues 759. c. Progenie of Iapheth 10. b. of Canaan 10. m. 11. b. of the sonnes of Sem 11. c d. of Chaâ—…s sons 10. l. of Iacob 39. c. of Aaron 526. g. of Herod 471. d. 472. g h i. Prohibition of armes and yron-worke 136. i. Profit how great redounded to king Pharao 40. i k. Promise of Gods assistance 89. c d. Promotion of Ioseph 34. g h. 39. b. Prophecie of Iacob touching his posteritie 40. l m. of the sacred Secretarie 41. d. of Balaam 85. a b. of Samuel 126. g. 140. i k. of Achias 204. l m. 205. d. of Iadon 207. c f. of Olda 249. b. Prophecie of the captiuitie and deliuerie 253. a b. Prophet Moses a good gouernour 99 e f. Prophet Nathan 166. h. 170. m. Achias 205. c. Iadon 207. c. Samaeas 209. c. Azarias 212. l. Elias 214. k. Gimon 213. a. Elizaeus 225. c. Esay 245. f. Ieremie 250. i. Ezechiel 251 c. Ionas 238. l. Naum 240. k. Aggaeus and Zacharias 271. b. Micheas 220. h. false Prophet discrediteth the true 208. l. â—…21 d. false Prophet decerueth the people 522. l. Prosperitie of Ioseph 32. b. of Salomon 202. m. 203. a b c. 206. g. of Ieroboam 239. a. Prosperitie maketh prowd 237. d c. 239. d. Prospect stopt vp 524. g. Prouidence of God in sauing Moses 42. k l. m. 43. a b. of the Israelites 99. a. Prouision of victuals 164. g. 578. m. 579. a. Prouision for the priests 276. k. Prouision of things necessarie for warre 648. g h. Prooues against Antipater 445. b c d. 604. h i k l. Prudence of Ioseph 33. c. 34. g. of Salomon 199. a. of Iosephus 652. l m. Ptolemais described 618. l. besieged 342. g. taken ibid. l. Prolomey Lagus obtaineth Aegypt 287. c. seazeth Ierusalem by a stratageme ibid 288 g. led the Iewes away captiue ibid. g h. Ptolomey Philadelphus caused the Iewes lawes to be translated c. 2. h. his librarie 288. k. his proclamation 289 c. his liberalitie 290. k l. his Epistle to Eleazar c. 290. l m. his gifts giuen to the temple 291. d c. 292. g. c. 293. a c. his banquet 294. g. Ptolomey Euergetes king of Aegypt 297. f. incensed against Onias ib. Ptolomey Philopater warreth against Antiochus 296. h. his death ibid. Pâ—…olomey Epiphanes king of Aegypt 302. h. his children ibid. Ptolomey Philometor circumuented 303. h. succoureth Alexander 325. b. his death complotted ib. c. refuseth the Diademe of Asia ibid. c. his fight and death 3â—…6 g. Ptolomey slaieth Simon 334. h. imprisoneth Hyrcanus mother and brethren ibid. his crueltie against them 560. m. murthereth them 561. a. Ptolomey Physcon 337. a. the Syrians request to him ib. Ptolomey Lathyrus 337. f. aydeth Antiochus ibid. commeth to ayde the Ptolemaidans 341. f. besiegeth Ptolemais and why 342. g. ouerthroweth Alexander ibid. k. driuen out of Aegypt 343. a. Ptolomey Mennaeus fined 353. b. adopteth Antigonus 368. h. Ptolomies wife robbed 536. m. is slaine 580. g. Punishment of Adam and Eue 4. l m. of the Serpent ibid. m. 5. a. of Sodome 15. c 16. g h of a false witnesse 91. f. of Homicide committed ib. f. 92. h. of Saul 140. i. of Iadon 208. i. of Senacherib 246. k. of Nabuchadnezzar 260. g. Punishment for honouring false gods 204. l m. 241. b c. Punishment of Aristobulus 340. i. Punishment for rauishers of virgins 793. c. Purgations of women 25. c. of Purification the manner 81. f. 82. g. Purifications vsed in the sacrifices 793. d. Purification of the body 793. e f. Pursuite of Laban after Iacob 25. a. of the Aegyptians afteâ—… the Hebrewes 50. h. Putifar an Aegyptian Lord bought Ioseph 30. l m. Pythonissa of Endor 154. m. Q Quadratus Gouernour of Syria 621. c. decideth the Iewes and Samaritanes debate ibid. f. Quailes fell amidst the Hebrewes campe 55. a. 73. c. Qualities of the Aegyptians described 41. b. Quantitie of Gold 203.
182. m. 183. c. Sabboth 3. called a day of rest and why ibid. c. Sabinus repaireth to Ierusalem 453. c. and why ibid. 608. l. 610. h i. Sabinus pursueth those that slue Caius 496. h. alloweth not of Claudius 505. c. killeth himselfe 506. h. Sabinus tooke the Capitol 696. h. slaine ibid. i. Sabinus valiant 728. g. slaine ibid. h. Sacks of chaffe 653. f. Sacred sanctuarie 706. l. Sacrifice acceptable to God 140. h. Sacrifice of Cain and Abel 5. b. Sacrifice of Noah 7. c. of Iacob 27. b. Sacrifices of the Princes of the tribes 67. e. f. Sacrifice of thanksgiuing 68. i k. Sacrifice for sinne 68. k. Sacrifice of Penticost 69. f. Sacrifice of Salomon at the dedication of the Temple 199. d. Sacrifice of Samuel 129. f. Sacrifice of Ezechias 243. a b. Sacrifice of Herode 585. b. Sacrifice of the olde testament 66. h. 793. c. Sacrifice consumed of it selfe 66. m. Sacrilege of Achar 102. m. punished with death 103. d. of Crassus 359. m. 569. c. of Iohn 724. g. Sadoc sent to Dauid 176. m. being pursued is hidden 177. a. Sadoc established high Priest 191. f. 192. g. Sadduces a sect 329. e. 463. e. 617. c. their opinion 617. b c. Safetie of Dauid respected 144. m. Sale of the Iewes 666. k. Salmanasar king of Assyria 242. h i. ouercommeth Oseas and why ibid. h i. taketh Oseas prisoner and transporteth the Israelites 243. e f. spoiled Syria and Phoenicia 244. g. Salome accused Mariamme 397. d. accuseth Alexander c. 416. k. entiseth her daughter c. 424. h. denied to Syllaeus in marriage 425. c d. excuseth her selfe ibid. a. mâ—…th Alexis 437. c. discouereth conspiracies 439 b. releaseth the Nobles 450. m. 606. h. princesse of Iamnia 613. b. dieth 464. l. Salomons coronation 189. a b. king of Israel 190. m. requireth wisedome of God 192. k. marrieth a wife ibid. i. decideth the two womens debate 193. b c. buildeth the temple 195. d. prayeth to God 198. i k. 199. a. exhorteth the people to praise God ibid c. builded a pallace 200. h. dissolueth hard questions 201. a. repaireth the wals of Ierusalem ibid. d. buildeth Cities 201. d e f. maketh the Chanaanites tributarie 202. buildeth a nauie ibid. k. remunerateth Nicaule the Queene 203. c. marrieth strange wiues 204. i. committeth Idolatrie ibid. i. his punishment decounced ibid. l m. had enemies raised against him 205. a. dieth 206. g. Saltis subdued the Aegyptians 769. a. Samaria besieged 227. f. of whom so called 214. g. taken 243. e. described 647. a. Samaritans hinder the building of the temple 266. h i. 270. l. their offer reiected ibidem k Iewes enemies 272. h. kinsmen to the Iewes when 286. k l. disdaine the Iewes 304. i. send letters to Antiochus ibid. k. contend with the Iewes 322. m. 323. a. accuse the Iewes 520. h. their strife with the Iewes 621. f. 11000. slaine 657. c. Samaeas reprooueth the Iewes impietie 209. e. comforteth the people ibid. Samaeas his admonition 362. m. honoured 363 a. Sampson killeth a Lyon 121. d. marrieth a wife ib. e. propoundeth a riddle ibid. e f. his actes against the Philistines 12â—… h i k l m. prayeth and why 122. l. betraied by Dalila 123. c. the slaughter of the Philistines and of himselfe ibid. d. Samuel his paâ—…ents 125. c. consecrated to God ibid. e. God called him tâ—…ise ibid. f. foreshewed the death of Eli and his sonnes 126. g. offereth sacrifice 129. m. comforteth the people ibid. his victorie and recouerie of lands 130. h i. committeth the common weale to his sonnes ibid. i k. troubled and why 131. a b. bidden to create a king ibid. c. sheweth the peoples estate vnder a king 131. c. annoinieth Saul king 132. k. iustiâ—…ieth himselfe and why 135. c. striueth to reconcile Saul to God 139. e. killeth Agag 140. l m. telleth Saul of Gods displeasure 140. i. annointeth Dauid king 141. a b c. his death buriall and praise 151. f. Sanabalâ—…ath gouernour of the Samaritans 284. h. followeth Alexander 285. b. buildeth a temple ibid. Sanctuarie 62. h. 196. g. 198. h. Sanctuaries or places of refuge for whom 88. k. Sand like glasse 618. l. Sara daughter of Aram 11. f. Abrahams wife 12. a m. her beautie 13. a. king of Aegypt enamoured on her ibid. a. bringeth Agar to Abraham 14. m. her age when she conceiued Isaac 15. c. preserued from Abimelech and how 16. i. brought foorth Isaac ibid. caused Ismael to be expelled c. 17. b. affecteth Isaac ibid. b d. her death 19. a. Saraeus high priest tooke prisoner 255. d. Saturninus president of Syria 428. l. 429. a. permitteth Herod to enter Arabia ibid. b. his indifferent sentence 434. h. Saul seeketh the lost Asses 132. g. annointed king by Gods commandement ibid. i k. confirmed therein 132. l. hideth himselfe 133. c d. saluted by the people for their king 133. d. promiseth the Iabasites assistance 134 i k. killeth k. Naas 134. l. sacrificeth and is reprooued 136. l. ouercommeth the Philistines 137. e. would haue slaine Ionathan 138. i k. alwaies a conquerour ibid. i. taketh and spareth Agag 139. c d e. slaieth the Amalechites and raseth their Cities ib. b c. offendeth God ibid. d e. loseth his kingdome and why 240. h i. denied pardon renteth Samuels garment ib. i k. slew the Philistines 143. d. resolueth to kill Dauid 144. g h l. darteth his Iauelin at Dauid 145. e. prophecieth 146. i. questioneth about Dauids absence c. 147. c d e. maketh an oration to his captaines 148. l. m. pursueth Dauid 150. k l. 151. a b. condemneth himselfe and iustifieth Dauid ib. d e. pursueth Dauid againe and his life saued 153. c e. banisheth diuiners 154. l. by a sorceresse is foretold the euent of the battell 155. a b c. praised 156. h i. is slaine 158. g h. Scarcitie foresignified 33. e f. how to be preuented 34. g h. among the Israelites 73. a. very greaâ—… in Claudius his time 75. a b. in Samaria 227. f. 228. g. Scarcitie of corne 744. h. Scaurus maketh peace with Aristobulus 352. k. president of Coelesyria 356. g. his warre against Aretas ibid. h. 566. h. bribed ibid. Science of the celestiall bodies 6. h. Schisar king of the Assyrians 113. d. oppressed the Israelites ibid. d. Scopas generall of Ptolomies army 296. i. discomsited ibid. ouercommeth the Iewes 296. k. Scythopolitans kill 3000. Iewes 634. l. Sea of Pamphilia deuided it selfe 52. h. red Sea deuided at the stroke of Moses rod 51. d. returning to his course drowneth the Aegyptians ibid. e. brazen Sea 196. k. Sebas 183. d. Sebaste a hauen 443. b. Secretarie of priest foretelleth Moses greatnes 41. d e. willeth him to be sâ—…lled 43. c. Securitie promised to Rahab and hers 101. c d. Sects of the Iewes 329. e. 463. d. 614. l. Secrets of Syllaeus disclosed 599. d. Sedechias a false prophet 221. d. contradicteth Micheas ibid d e. Sedechias king of Iuda 252. h. reuolteth ibid. seduced 252. i. 253. a
Samuel to Elcana her husband 1. King 3. The yeare of the world 2818 before Christs birth 1146. God foreshewed Samuel of the death of Eli and his sonnes Hedio Ruffinus chap. 16. 1. Reg. 4. The Palestines kill foure thousand of the Israelites The yeare of the world 2850. before Christs birth 1114. The Hebrewes bring the Arke into the battel Ophni and Phinees with thirty thousand are slaine and the Arke is surprised by the enemie Eli vnderstandeth of the losse of his sonnes and the surprisall of the Arke Eli hearing of the losse of the Arke died Phinees wife bare Ichabod and died The yeare of the world 2850. before Christs birth 1114. The genealogie and progenie of Eli the high priest 1. King 5. Hedio Ruffinus ch 1. The sacred Arke is caried into the Temple of Dagon They of Azot are horribly plagued for taking away the Arke Mice deuoure the fruit of the countrey of Azot Thereare of the world 2350. before Christs Natiuitie 1â—…4 1. King 6. Consultation about the Arke The conclusion of the counsaile as touching the sacred Arke The yeare of the world 2851. before the birth of Christ. 1113. The sacred Arke commeth to Bethsama The gratulatioÌ„ of the Bethsamites vpon the artiuall of the Arke The yeare of the world 285â—… before Christs Natiuitie 11 13. Ruffinus writeth that God strooke 70. of the greatest and 50000 of the common sort as it is 1. Kin. 6 1 Kin. 7. The Arke is transferred into Cariathiarim Hedio Ruffinus chap. 2. I he punishment of the Israelites Samuels oration to the people Samuels exhortation to the people as touching their repentance The yeare of the world 2871. before Christs natiuitie 1093. The praiers supplications and fasts of the Israelites in Maspha What things in warfare are to be opposed against the enemie Samuel coÌ„forted the people Samuels sacrifice and praier The yeare of the world 2871. before Christes Natiuity 1093. The sacrifice deuoured by caelestial firme a token of Gods assistaÌ„ce A horrible earthquake among the enemies Samuels victorie ouer the enemy Samuel recouereth those lands which the Israelites had lost Samuel prescribeth lawes and disposeth the iudgment seat in seuerall cities Hedio Ruffinus chap. 3. 1. King 8. Samuel committeth the gouernment and care of the commonweale to his two sons locl and Abia. The Israelites report vnto Samuel the lewd behauiour of his sons and beseech him to nominate a king that may raign ouer them The yeare of the world 2871. before Christs birth 1093. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 4. Samuel is discomforted thorow the peoples demand Samuel is comforted by God God commandeth Samuel to create a king Samuel expresseth vnto the Israelites those inconueniences they shall suffer vnder a king The people obstinarely perseuereth in crauing a king The yeare of the world 2880. before Christs natiuitie 1084. 1. King 9. The yeare of the world 2880. before Christs Natiuitie 1084. Saul seeketh the Asses that were lost Saul asketh where the Prophet dwelleth God certifieth Samuel whom he should create king Saul commeth vnto Samuel Samuel certifieth Saul how he shall enioy the kingdome Samuel conducteth Saul vnto the banquet 1. King 10. Samuel annointed Saul king Samuel in way of confirmatioÌ„ telleth Saul what shall befortune him in his iourney The yeare of the world 2880. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1084. Saul concealed his royall dignitie The vnconstancie of mans loue Samuels oration to the people as concerning Saul Lots cast thorow euery tribe family Sauls modesty and temperaÌ„ce in vndertaking the gouernment Saul hideth himselfe from the presence of the people Saul of a high slature Saul saluted by the people for their king Diuers attend on Saul other some coÌ„temnâ—… him Hedio Ruffinus chap. 5. 1. King 〈◊〉 The yeare of the world 2880. before Christs birth 1084. Sauls warre against the Ammonites Naas king of the Ammonits offereth vniust conditions of peace to the Galaadites The Embassadours of the Galaadites to the Israelites Saul promiseth assistance to the Iabasites Sauls serious exhortation and command for warre 1. Reg. 12. Ten Schaeni or cables length of Nilus so-called by the cords that drew the ships vp Nilus make 37. Italian miles Saul killeth the Ammonites and Naas their king Saul made his name famous amongst the Hebrewes Saul is praised by the people The yeare of the world 2880. before Christs Natiuitie 1084. Sauls lenitie against his aduersaries Saul once more annointed king by Samuel The distinct gouernments of the Hebrewes Samuels iustification of him selfe in the presence of the people Samuel expostulateth with the people and obiecteth their sinnes ingratitude A huge tempest falleth vpon Samuels praier The yeare of the world 2880. before Christes Natiuity 1084. An exhortatioÌ„ to the consideration of Gods assistance and benefits bestowed on the Israelites Hedio Ruffinus chap. 6. Saul elected two thousand for his owne guard and one thousand for Ionathans Saul ouercommeth the Philistines The Philistines prepare to inuade the Israelites The Israelites dismaid at the report of the army of the Philistines Saul sacrificeth contrarie to God and the Prophets direction Samuel accuseth Saul The yeare of the world 2880. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1084. Hedio Ruffinus Galgala The Palestines spoile the countrey of the Hebrewes 1. Reg 14. Ionathan with his harnes bearer doe priuily enter the enemies campe Ionathan slayeth a certaine number in the enimies camp the rest inuade one another and are put to flight Hedio Ruffinus chap. 7. Saul hearing that there was a tumult in the Palestines campe sallieth out vpon theÌ„ Sauls edict vnwittingly broken by Ionathan The yeare of the world 2880 before Christs birth 1084. The Hebrewes feed on bloudy flesh Saul trieth by lot who hath displeased God Saul intendeth to kil his owne sonne being prepared and resolute to die The Israelites rescue Ionathan from his displeased father Oba or Soba Saul alwaies conquerour Hedio Ruffinus ch 8. 1. Reg. 15. The yeare of the world 2883. before Christs birth 1081. Samuel by Gods commandement addresseth Saul to make warre vpon the Amalechites Saul mustring his people findeth in the tribe of Iuda onely thirtie thousand men Saul raseth the cities of the Amalechites Saul taketh Agag the king of the Amalechites prisoner and keepeth him aliue contrarie to Gods commandement The people contrarie to that which god had ordained driue away the horse and cattell of the Amalechites Hedio Ruffinus chap. 9. God displeased with Sauls disobdience Samuel striueth to reconcile Saul vnto God Too much indulgence and lenity confirmeth the wicked in their vngodlines The yeare of the world 2883. before Christs Natiuitie 1081. Samuel chideth Saul The contempt of God wherein it consisteth A pleasing and acceptable sacrifice vnto God Samuel telleth Saul of Gods displeasure the losse of his kingdome Saul coÌ„fesseth his sinne and craueth pardoÌ„ which not withstanding is denied him Saul striuing to stay Samuel rentâ—…th his garment Hedio Ruffinus ch 10. The
asked counsel of God The yeare of the world 2890. before Christs birth 1074. Saul repaireth to Endor to aske counsaile of a 〈◊〉 Saul commandeth the witch to raise Samuels ghost Saul complaineth him of his miseries to Samuel and asketh his aduise Samuels ghost certifieth Saul of the euent of his battell against the Philistines Saul through sodain sorrow sel in a swoun The enchantres intreateth him to refresh himselfe and take some refection An example of courtesie and liberalitie in the enchantresse The yeare of the world 2890. before Christs Natiuitie 1074. Iosephus praiseth Saul for a worthy and valiant king in that foreknowing his daunger and death he exposed himselfe to assuredperil 1. Reg. 29. Achis leadeth out Dauid with him against the Hebrewes and is reproued by the chiâ—…taines of the Palestines for so doing Achis dismisseth Dauid The yeare of the world 2890. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1074. The Amalechites in Dauids absence spoile and burne Siceleg and cary away the pray Dauid taketh counsell of God whether he will assist him to recouer his wiues and goods out of the hands of the Amalechites Dauid guided by an Egyptian slaue ouertaketh the Amalechites Dauid assaileth the Amalechites and maketh a great slaughter of them and recouereth the whole pray Dauid compâ—…mitteth the debate betwixt those that pursued the chace and those that keptt he baggage touching the pillage 1. Reg. 31. Saul and his sons seeing their army ouercome by the Philistines are desperately dismaid and slaine The yeare of the world 2890. before Christes Natiuity 1074. Saul striueth to kil himselfe and being vnable vseth the assistance of a young Amalechite The Hebrewes that inhabit the valley beyond Iordan leauing their townes fly to defenced cities The Palestines hung vp the bodies of Saul and his sons The Citizens of Iabes rescue the bodies of Saul and his sons and both bury and lament them The yeare of the world 2891. before Christs birth 1073. 2. Reg. 1. An Amalechite certifieth Dauid of Sauls death and in testimony thereof presenteth his bracelets and crowne Dauid lamenteth Saul and Ionathans death Dauid commandeth the Amalechite to be slaine that killed Saul The yeare of the world 2891 before Christs birth 1073. Dauid by Gods commaundement commeth and dwelleth at Hebron and is declared king of the tribe of Iuda Dauid praiseth the Iabesines for burying Saul and his sonnes Abner the son of Neâ—… crowneth Isboseth Sauls sonne Abner leadeth out his army against the tribe of Iuda Ioab with all Dauids army issueth out to meet him Twelue soldiers fight and kill one another and Abners side are ouerthrowne Azael Ioabs brother pursueth Abner Abner in his flight killeth Azael Ioab Abisai pursued Abner till sunne set Ioab sounding a retreat restraineth his soldiers How many on each side died in the battell 2 Reg 3. The beginning of ciuill warre amongst the Hebrewes The yeare of the world 2891. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1073. Dauid had sixe sonnes borne in Hebron Abner bridled and gouerned the multitude so that along time they were subiect to Isboseth Abner sendeth embassadours to Dauid in Hebron to â—…e a couenant with him Dauid requireth his wife Michol at Abners hands Abner consulteth with the â—…lders and gouerners of the army to reuolt to Dauid The elders captaines perswaded by Abner â—…llow Dauid The Beniamites accord with Abner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Dauid and certifieth him there oâ—… Abner being kindly intertained by Dauid is friendly ly dismissed The yeare of the â—…orld 2899. before Christs Natiuity 1065. Men inclined to ambition and auarice date al things Dauid with the whole people bewaile Abner and honour his funerals Dauid salueth his honour and auoideth the suspition of Abners death The yeare of the world 2899. before Christs Natiuitie 106 5. Hedio Ruffinus â—…hap 〈◊〉 2 Reg 4. Isboseth hand is brought to Dauid Dauids sharpe inuectiue against then urtherers of Isboseth and their punishment 2. Reg. 5. The nobles of the Hebrewes retaire to Dauid to Hebron and declate him king Dauid entertained the nobles kindly The armed soldiers that came to Dauid The yeare of the world 1899. before Christs Natiuitie 1065. Hediâ—… Ruffinus chap. 3. The siege of Ierusalem vndertaken by Dauid Dauid surpriseth the lower towne Dauid gettâ—…th the vâ—…per towne The valour of Dauids soldiers in especiall of Ioab Daâ—…id expelleth the Iebusâ—…tes out of the towne and citie of Ierusalem The league of â—…hip betwâ—…â—…iram Daâ—…id How Ierusalem was called Solyma and what mention Homâ—… made therof The years since Ioâ—…uaâ—…s conquest to this time 515. Oâ—…phon a Iebusite friend to Dauid 2. Reg. 24. Dauids sonnes borne in Ierusalem Hedio Ruffinus chap. 4. The yeare of the world 2899. before Christâ—…â—…rth 1065. The Palestines mouing warre against Dauid are partly staine or put to â—…light The Palestines inuaded the Hebrewes with a mightie army gathered out of sundry nations The Palestines flight 2. Reg. 6. Dauids commaund as touching the traÌ„sportation of the Arke Oza stretching out his hand to stay the Arke is sodainly stroken dead Dauid placeth the Arke in Obed. Edomes house who prospereth there through in all felicitie The Arke transported into Dauids house and placed in a tabernacle Dauid is mocked by his wife Michol The â—…re of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 beâ—… Chriâ—… bâ—… 10â—…4 2. Reg. 7. Dauid decree eth to build a temâ—…le vnto God God certifieth Dauid by Nathan that Salomon should build the teÌ„ple Dâ—…uid giueth Gâ—…d thanks â—…or the blessings which were promised him by NathaÌ„ Hedio Ruffâ—…us chap. 5. Dauid warreth against the Palestines and â—…keth a great part of the inâ—…eritance from them 2. Reg 8. A greate slaughter of the Moabites Dauid ouercommeth the king of Sophona The yeare of the world 2904. before Christs Natiuitie 1064. Adad king of Damasco and Syria is ouercome by Dauid in battell Nicholaus the historiographer maketh meÌ„tion of king Adads warre with Dauid Of an other king of Syria that spoyled Samaria 3. King 20. Dauid imposeth tribute on the Syrians whom he subdued 2. Reg. 8. Ierusalem spoiled by Syâ—…ac king of Egypt 3. Reg. 14. The pray thaâ—… was made in the warre 2. Reg. 8. The king of the Amatheâ—… requireth a league at Dauids hands Dauid â—…ompelled the Idumeans to pay tribute by the pole The distribution of offices 2. Reg. 9. The yeare of the world 2900. before Christs Natiuitie 1064. Dauid maketh an enquirie if any of Ionathans kinred were left aliue Dauid giueth Mephiboseth his father Ionatâ—…ans house Sauls inheritance Dauid committeds the disposing of Mephiboserhs lands to Siba and commaundeth him to make the returne of his reuenues in Ierusalem Hedio Ruffinus chap. 6. 2. Reg. 10. Dauid sendeth embassadors to comfort the sonne of the king of the Ammonites who are basely abused Dauid is sore displeased with the iniury offered to his embassadors intending reuenge The Ammonites hire their confederates and prepare for the warre against Dauid Dauid sendeth out Ioab with the choisest flower
of his army against the Amalechites The yeare of the world 2910. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1054. Ioab and Abisaies armies Ioabs victory The Syrians with the Ammonites assemble themselues against Dauid The Mesopotamians submit themselues to Dauid Aramatha besieged Hedio Ruffinus chap. 7. 2. Reg. 11. Dauids adulterie Bethsabe certifieth the king that she is with child Dauid sendeth for Vrias and willeth him to repaire home vnto his wife which he doth not The yeare of the world 2910. before Christs Natiuity 1054. Dauid wâ—…eth vnto Ioab to puniâ—…h Vrias Ioab setteth Vrias in a daungerous place to encounter with the enemie Vrias iâ—… set with some associates to attempt the siege the Ammonites sallying out his company forsake him Vrias with some others is slaine and the king is certified thereof Dauid is displeased with the newes of his ouerthow Dauid is appeaâ—…ed hearing at Vrias death Dauid marieth Bathsaba and beareth him a Sonne 2. Reg. 12. The yeare of the world 2910. before Christs birth 1054. NathaÌ„ prophecieth 〈◊〉 Dauids punishment and sharpely rebuketh him he is condemned by his own mouth and 〈◊〉 himselfe Dauid confesseth his sinne and obtaineth pardon at Gods hands Dauid fasteth seuen daies lamenting and mourning for his sonne Dauid being certified that the child was dead â—…eth and waâ—…ing taketh sustenaÌ„ce Dauid yeeldeth a reason why during the childs life he saâ—…ed and why being dead be tooke refection Saloâ—…on was borne by Bethsabe Ioab by letters solliciteth the king to come to the surprisall of Rabatha Dauid surprising Rabatha by force giueth it for a pray to his soldiers The yeare of the world 2910. before Christs birth 1054. Hedio Rufâ—…s chap. 8. 〈◊〉 Reg. 13. The yeare of the world 2912. beâ—… Christ birth â—…052 Ionathaâ—… counselled Amnon how he might enioy his loue Amnon perswadeth his sister to submit to his lust Amnon notwithstanding his sisters resist violateth her Absalon comforteth his sister Thamar Absalon inuited his father and brethren to his sheep-shearing and commandeth his seruants to kill Amnon being ouercharged with wine sleepe The yeare of the world 2912. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1052. Dauid is certified that al his sons are slaine by Absalon Ionathan coÌ„forteth Dauid contradicting his feare in respect of all his sons and only vpon iust surâ—…e suspecting Amnons death Dauids sonnes reâ—…ort vnto their father Absalon fâ—…ieth to his grandfather 2. Reg. 14. Absalon by the subtilty of a woman and the seâ—…ing on or Ioab is renoked from banishment vnto Ieruâ—…aleÌ„ The yeare of the world 2912 before Christes Natiuity 1052. Absalon reuoked by his father 11 commanded for a time to fly his presence Absalons children borne in Ierusalem 2. Reg. 13. Ioab vrged by the burning of his houses reconcileth Absalon to his father The yeare of the world 2â—… 16. before Christs birth 1048. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 9. Absalon subtilly affecteth his fathers kingdome The yeare of the world 29â—…0 before Christs natiuitie 1044. Absalon proclaimed king Dauid departed out of Ierusalem Dauid flying prohibiteth the hie Priests to follow him to the intent to giue him telligence of that which did passe The yeare of the world 2920. before Christs Natiuitie 1044. Ethaeus departeth with Dauid Achitophel reuolteth from Dauid and followeth Absalon whose counsails Dauid striueth by praier to make frustrate Chusai is perswaded to submit to Absalon and to Achitophels counsels 2. Reg. 16. Siba accusing his master wrongfully is made owner of his riches Semeies reuiling of Dauid Dauid forbiddeth to kill Simei Chusai vnder a colour offreth his seruice to Absalon The yeare of the world 29â—…0 before 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1044. Achitophel â—…th Absalon to lie with his fathers concubines 2. Reg. 17. Achitophels counsaile perswading Absalon to pursue Dauid Chusais opposition Chusais counsaile accepted Achitophels 〈◊〉 Sadoc and Abiathars sons sent vnto Dauid The yeare of the world 2920. before Chrisâ—… birth 1044. â—…he hie Priests soâ—… being pursued are hidden by a woman in a pit Dauid informed of Absalons deliberation passeth himselfe his whole army ouer Iordan by night Achitophel perceiuing his counsaile was despised hung himselfe Dauid commeth to Mahanaim where he is royally intertained by the peeres Hedio and Ruffnus ch 10 2. Reg. 18. Absalon passeth ouer Iordan The diuision of Dauids arâ—…ie Dauids â—…eÌ„ds disswade his presence in the battell Dauid commaundeth theÌ„ to spare his sonne The battel betwixt Ioab and Absalon The yeare of the world 2920 before Christs birth 1044. The fâ—…ight and ouerthrow oâ—… Absalons 〈◊〉 Ioab killeth Absalon Absalons marble pillar Chusai sent to certifie Dauid of the victory The yeare of the world 2920. before Christs Naâ—…ie 1044. Dauid hearing of Absalons death by Chusai grieuously bewaileth him 2. Reg 19. Ioab and his army enter the citie in mournfull manner Dauid is taxed for lamenting his Son and vpon Ioabs perswasion 〈◊〉 himselfe vnto the people Hedio Ruffinus chap. 11. The kingdome of Israel is once more offered vnto Dauid Dauid not only giueth Amasa his pardon but maketh him generall also of the whole armie The tribe of Iuda coÌ„meth as farre as Iordan to meet with Dauid and make a bridge ouer the floud The yeare of the â—…orld 29â—…0 before Christs Natiuitie 1044. Simei is pardoned Mephiboseth purgeth himselfe of Sibas slaunders Dauid pardoneth Mephiboseth and restoreth him to the halfe of his possessions Berzillai excuseth himselfe and will not resort to â—…erusalem The yeare of the world â—…920 before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1044. The tribe of Iodaes acculation and excuse for that without the knowledge of the other tribes they had gone out to meet the king 2. Reg. 20. Siba a seditious person incenseth the people to rebeil against the king Dauids concubines whom Absalon had disloured are sequestred from him Ioab by reason of Amasaes delay is lent out against Siba by Dauid Ioab killeth Amala The yeare of the world 2920. before Christs Natiuity 1044. Ioab besiegeth and shutteth vp Siba within Abelmacâ—…ea A woman rebuketh Ioab for seeking the subuersion of the citie which hee rather ought to protect Ioabs conditions of peace proposed to the besieged The punishmeÌ„t of Siba Offices distributed by Dauid Hedio Ruffinus chap. 12. 2. Reg. 21. A famine inflicted on the Israelites for breach of oth Seuen â—…en of Sauls kinred deliuered to the Gabeonits to be punished Dauid in hazard of his life is deliuered by Abisai Dauid perswaded to abstain from warre Dauids valiant captaines Sabach The yeare of the world 2924. before Christs birth 1040. Nephanus Ionathan 2. Reg 12. Dauid a poes Dauids instruments of Musicke 2. Reg. 23. Dauids thirtie eight chaÌ„pions Issemus Eleazar Sebas Three champions passe thorow the enemies camp and drew water in Bethleem and brought it â—…nto Dauid Abisai Banaia Banaias slew an Egyptian with his owne speare The yeare of the wâ—…d 2924 before Christâ—… bâ—…h 1040. Banaia slew a Lion Hedio Ruffinus chap. 13. 2. Reg 24. Dauid â—…endeth loab to muster the people The summe
of the Israelites that were numbred Dauid hauing election of three sorts of punishment chose the plague A huge slaughter of those that died of the pastâ—…lence that was iâ—…flicted by God Dauid prayed for the innocent people A commaundement to â—…ld an Altar The yeare of the world 2930. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1034. Oronna the Iebusite supra lib. 7. ch 3 called Orphona Oronna giueth Dauid his floore The summe that was paied for the threshing floore The place of the Altar that was built Gen 22. Supra li. 1. ch 13 Hedio Ruffinus chap. 14. The workmen allotted for the building of the Temple 1 Paral. 22. Dauid gathereth great store of iron brasse wood The building of Salomons Temple is commaunded Dauid counâ—…elleth Salomon â—…o honour God The yeare of the world 2930. before Christs Natiuity 1034. The treasure that was gathered towards the building of the Temple The assistants that Salomon had in building the teÌ„ple The commandement as touching the Arke and laying vp al other sacred vtensils within the Temple Hedio Ruffinus chap. 15. Dauid groweth old and numbe Abisace warmeth him 3. Reg. 1. Adonias affecteth the kingdome The yeare of the world 2931. before Christ birth 1033. Bethsabe by NathaÌ„s perswa sion certifieth Daiud of Adonias vsurpatioÌ„ The yeare of the world 2931. before Christs Natiuitie 1033. The kingdome is confirmed to Salomon by an oth Salomon is annointed king and placed in his fathers throne Adonias for feare of the kings displeasure flieth from his banquet and taketh hold of the hornes of the Altar Dauid numbreth the Leuites and distribuith their offices 1. Paral 13. The diuision of the Priests into 24. kinreds 2. Paral. 24. The yeare of the world 2931. before Christs Natiuitie 1033. He deuided the Leuites into 24. parts Moses posteritie appointed to keepe the diuine treasure 1 Paral. 26. The army deuided into 12 parts 1. Paral. 27. Dauid assembling the gouernors of the tribes commendeth his son Salomon to theÌ„ 1. Paral. 28. Dauid giueth his sonne the modle of the Temple The princes of the people gaue a huge summe of gold siluer brasse precious stones towards the building of the Temple The yeare of the world 2931. before Christs birth 1033. 1 Par. 29. The â—…fices and â—…stiuall solemâ—…ed vpon Salomons coronation Hedio Ruffinus ch 16. 3. Reg. 2. Dauids last counsaile to Salomon Dauid willeth Salomon to punish Ioab Dauid coÌ„mendeth Berzillai sonnes to Salomon How Simei should be punished The yeares of the age and raigne togither with the vertues of Dauid The yeare of the world 2923 before Christs birth 10â—… The sumptuous sepulchre of Dauid Hircanus taâ—…th a huge summe of money out of Dauids tombe Herode spoyleth Dauids sepulcher The reare of the world 2931. before Christ birth 1033. 3. Reg. 2. Salomon king of Israel after Dauids death The yeare of the world 2931. before Christi Natiuitie 1033. Adonias requireth Abisace to wife Adonias is slaine Abiathar is dispossessed of the priesthood The genealogy of the high Priest Sadoc Ioab is slaine Banaia is substituted in his place The yeare of the world 29â—…1 before Christs Natiuitie 1033. Sadoc obtaineth Abiathars place in the Priesthood Simeies punishment and death Hedio Ruffinus chap. 2. 3. Reg 3. Salomon marieth the king of Egypts daughter and establisheth the kingdome God appeareth to Salomon by night in a dreame and willeth him to â—…ke that which most of all he desired Salomon requireth wisedome at Gods hands who with it giueth him riches and honours also The yeare of the world 2931. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1033. Two women accuse one an other for â—…chaunge of their children Salomon coÌ„mandeth both the children to be deuided into two parts Salomon by the speech and gesture of the women discouereth the true mother Salomons gouernours and captaines 3. Reg 4. The happy peace of the Israelites in Salomons time Salomons daily expences Salomons chariots and horsemen The yeare of the world 2931. before Christs Natiuity 1033. Salomons prudence and wisedome Salomons methode in coniuration whereby he cast out diuels The author in this place abuseth the giftes of God bestowed on Salomon in extending them to those artes which are sorbidden by the expresse word of God A Iew casteth out diuels Hirams embassadours to Salomon 3. Reg 5. Salomon requireth carpenters and workemen from Hiram Hiram promiseth Salomon wood and in steed thereof requireth corne The yeare of the world 2931. before Christs birth 1033. The truth of Iosephs history The king sendeth Hâ—… great quantity of wheat oyle and wine The order of the carpenters in Libanus The order of the malons and other workmen Hedio Ruffinus ch 9. 3. Reg. 6. When the building of the temple began The depth of the foundatioÌ„s of the temple The height length and breadth of the temple The porch before the teÌ„ple The cels which were builded in the circuit of the temple The beames and wals beautified with gold The yeare of the 〈◊〉 2933 before Christs birth 1031. Winding staires The temple deuided into two parts Two cherubims The pauement gates and all other things in the temple beautified with gold Salomon sendeth to Hiram for Vram a cunning workman 3. Reg. 7. A vessel called the brasen sea Ten brasen bases of the lauer Ten round lauers The yeare of the world 2933. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1031. The vse of the sea and the other ten lauers The Altar and vessels appertaining to the same The Table of sacâ—…ed bread The candlesticke The cuppes and vials The bowles The censors Priestâ—… garmeÌ„â—… Instruments of musicke The inclosure before the temple The Fanâ—… The huge treÌ„ches where in the foundation of the temple was laid filled Hedio Ruffinus chap. 4 3. Reg 8. Salomons temple was consecrated in the moneth of October The Arke is caried into the temple The yeare of the world 2941. before Christs Natiuity 1023. The Priests place the arke of God in the sanctuarie and in it the tables of stone wherin the tenne commaundements were written The candlesticke table and altar of gold The bâ—…asen altar A cloud in the tabeinacle Salomons praier vnto God Godimmeasurable The cause why the temple was builded God is true in his promises Salomons praier wherein he thanketh God for his benefits and beseecheth his future protection The yeare of the world 2941. before Christs Natiuitie 1023. Salomon humbly beleecheth God that he will protect this temple as his own house He prâ—…ieth that â—…angers may be heard aâ—… 〈◊〉 this place A 〈◊〉 from heauen consumeth Salomons sacrifies 3. Reg. 8. Salomon exhorteth the people to praise God and to giue him thanke and to pray vnto him 3. Reg. 8. Salomons sacrifices in the dedication of the Temple The feast of Tabernacles The king dismisseth the people 3. Reg. 9. God appeareth againe to Salomon and promiseth him all blessings if he swarued not from his fathers precepts A grieuous commination against the Israelites if they fall from the way
of righteousnes The yeare of the world 2941. before Christs Natiuitie 1023. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 5. Salomons pallace finished in thirteene yeares The haule The tribunall The Queenes house and other pallaces of pleasure The ornameÌ„ts of Salomons pallace Chambers of pleasure with household stuffe of gold 3. Reg. 10. Salomons throne made of Iuory 3. Reg. 5. The yeare of the world 2941. before Christs birth 1023. Salomons gratuitie to Hiram for the benefits he receiued 3. Reg. 9. 3. Reg 5. Salomon interpreteth certaine hidden questions sent vnto him by Hiram Menander the Historiographer maketh meÌ„â—… of HiraÌ„ and Salomon Dius maketh mention of Hiram Dius of Salomon Salomon repaireth the wals of Ierusalem and erecteth towers Hedio Ruffinus chap. 6. Salomon buildeth certaine cities Azor Magedon Gaza Betachor Baleth Thadamor or Palmyra Why the Egyptian kings were called Pharaohs The yeare of the world 2953. before Christs birth 1011. The Egyptian kings called Pharaohs Ptolemei Caesares Herodotus writeth not the names of the EgyptiaÌ„ kings Nicaule queen of Egypt and Ethiop commeth to Salomon 3. Reg 10. Salomon compelleth the remainder of the Chananites to pay tribute The thraldom of the Chananites 3. Reg. 10. The queene of Egypt and Ethiope reforteth to Salomon The queene of Ethiope wondreth at Salomons wisdome The yeare of the world 2953. before Christs Natiuitie 1011. The queene of Ethiope praileth Salomons wisedome The Queene giueth Salomon many sumptuous presents Salomon remunerateth the Queens bountie Hedio Ruffinus chap. 7. The precious timber that was brought to Salomon SalomoÌ„s ships spent three yeares in their iourney Many kings present Salomon with sundry presents The horses and other gifts presented to Salomon The yeare of the world 2953. before Christs Natiuitie 1011. Ittan The waies about Ierusalem paued with flint The cities of Chariots The aboundance of siluer in Solomons time Egyptian horses 3. Reg. 11. Solomon marrying straunge women is seduced by theÌ„ The reare of the world 2964. before Christs birth 1000. The punishment inflicted on Salomon far honouring strange gods The yeare of the world 2964. before Christs birth Aooo Ider enemie to Salomon Ader fled into Egypt Ader beseecheth Pharao to dismisle him that he might returne into his countrey Ader returneth into Idumaea and from thence departeth into Syria Raas and Adet enemies to Salomon IeroboaÌ„ rebelleth against Salomon Achias the Prophet sore-telleth that he should be king ouer the ten tribes Ieroboam flieth into Egypt and remaineth there vntil Salomons death The yeare of the world 2964. before Christs Natiuity 1000. The death of Salomon Hedio Ruffinus chap. 8. al. 4. 3. Reg. 12. The people require RoboaÌ„ to mitigate their burthen The holsome aduise of the elders The yeare of the world 2971. before Christs birth 993. Roboam reiecteth the aduise of the elders and followeth the counsaile of the yonger The Israelites moued with their â—…pulse reuolt from Roboam The yeare of the world 2971. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 993. Roboam intéding to make waâ—…e on those tribes that â—…uolted is inhibited The court and pallace of Ieroboam Why IeroboaÌ„s calues were made Ieroboam perswadeth the people to Idolatrie The neglect of Gods seruice is the cause of all euill 3. Reg. 13. The prophecie against the Altar in Bethel The prophecie is confirmed by a miracle Ieroboams withered hand restored The yeare of the world 2971. before Christs Natiuitie 993. Hedio Ruffinus ch 9. The Prophet is brought backe by the subtilty and fraud of the false Prophet The disobedience of the Prophet his punishment and buriall Iadons prophecy is detracted to Ieroboam by the false Prophet Hedio Ruffinus chap. 10. Roboams defenced cities 〈◊〉 Paral. 11. The yeare of the world 29â—…1 before Christs birth 993. The godly Israelites returne to Roboam Roboams wiâ—…es and children Regiâ—… ad exempium totus compâ—…itur orbis Alias chap. 5. Susac inuadeth Iudea with great forces Ierusalem besieged Samaeas the Prophet reprehendeth the Iewes of their impietie 2. Paral. 2. Samaeas comforteth the people Ierusalem and the temple are spoyled 3. Reg 1â—… What Herodotus wrote of this expeditioÌ„ The yeare of the world 2975. before Christs Natiuity 989. Roboam for the golden shields and bucklers maketh new of beasse Roboam dieth and Abias raigneth after him The yeare of the world 29â—…8 before Christs birth 976. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 11. 3. Reg. 14. Ieroboams impietie Ieroboams son falleth sicke his mother is sent to Achias the Prophet The punishmeÌ„t of Ieroboam and the misery of the people foreprophecied The yeare of the world 2988. before Christs Natiuitie 976. Alias chap. 6. The expedition of Ieroboam against Abias king of Iuda Abias leuied an army against Ieroboam Abias oration to the Hebrewes wherein he vpbraideth them of their superstition and forsaking of their religion The yeare of the world 2988. before Christs birth 976. The death of Abias 3. Reg. 15. Asa king of Iuda The yeare of the world 2991. before Christs natiuitie 973. The yeare of the world 2992. before Christ birth 972. The yeare of the world 2993. before Christs birth 971 Hedio Ruffinus chap. 12. al. 8. Asas pietie 3. Reg 15. The EthiopiaÌ„s warre against Asa. 2. Paral. 14. The yeare of the world 3000. before Christs birth 964. Asas victorie The exhortation of Azarias the Prophet 2. Paral 15. The yeare of the world 3000. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 964. Religion renewed in Israle Basaes impietie 3. Reg. 16. A prophecy against Basa Basa surprised Ramath and fortifieth it The yeare of the world 3006. before Christs birth 958. Asa inciteth those of Damasco to inuade Bala The yeare of the world 3016. before the birth of Christ. 948. Alias chap 9. The death of Basa The yeare of the world 3017. before Christs birth 947. Basaes stocke destroyed The yeare of the world 3017. before Christs Natiuitie 947. Diuers factioÌ„s of the people Amri king of Israel The yeare of the world 3021. before Christs birth 943. Amri dieth and Achab his sonne succeedeth him The yeare of the world 3028. before Christs birth 9â—…6 Alias chap. 10. Asa dieth Iosophat succeedeth him The yeare of the world 3031. before the birth of Christ. 933. Iezabel 3. Reg. 17. The dearth of victuals prophecied to the Israelites The yeare of the world 3037. before Christs birth 927 Crowes feed Elias The widow of Sareptha entertaining Elias neither flowre not oyle faile Menander of the famine during the time of Elias The yeare of the world 3037. before Christs Natiuitie 927. Elias restoreth the wâ—…wes sonne to lâ—…e 3. Reg. 18. Elias is sent by God to prophecy fault to Achab. The yeare of the world 3040. before Christs birth 924. Achab seeketh for Elias Obediah coÌ„cea leth and sustaineth a hundreth prophets Achab accuseth Elias of impietie Elias reproueth the superstition of the people The yeare of the world 3040 before Christs birth 924. Elias doctrine and office confirmed by miracle Fire from heauen deuoureth the sacrifice Bels priests slains
Elias foreprophecieth raine 3. Reg. 10. Elias flieth from Iezabel Gods care for his seruants God speaketh to Elias in the desart The yeare of the world 3040. before Christs birth 924. lehuking of Israel Elizeus calling Hedio Ruffinus chap. 14. al. 11. 3. Reg. 21. The story of Naboth who was stoned to death for denying Achab his vineyard Elias prophecieth what reuenge God wil take of Achab and Iezabel Achabs repentance The yeare of the world 3040. before Christ Natiuity 924. 3. Reg. â—…0 Adads warre against Achab The Syrians emballage to Achab. His answere to the Legates A ladâ—… confidence in his soldiers The Israelites God promiseth victory against the Syrians The yeare of the world 3040. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 9â—…4 Achabs victory against the Syrians Adads second expedition against the Israelites The yeare of the world 3041. before Christs birth 923. Adad is receiued into fauour by Achab and dismissed vpon conditioÌ„ The yeare of the world â—…041 before Christs Natiuitie 923. Achab was reproued for dismissing Adad The reward of learned preachers The yeare of the world 3042. before Christs birth 924. Iosaphats pietie 3. Paral. 17. The peace in Iosaphats time Iosaphats armie Iosaphats expedition with Achab against the Syrian 〈◊〉 3. Reg. 22. The yeare of the world 3047. before Christs birth 917. The false prophets prophecie plausibly Micheas the true prophet Hedio Ruffinus chap. 15. 3. Reg. 22. al. 〈◊〉 Achab and Iosaphats warre against the Syrian The yeare of the world 3â—…47 before Christs Natiuity 917. Achab wounded by an arrow in the battell dieth The dogs licke Achabs bloud according to Elias prediction The Oracles of the Prophers are to be reuerenced The matchles necessitie of fate The yeare of the world â—…048 before Christs Natiuitie 916. 4. Reg 3. 2. Pâ—… 19. 20. Iehu the Prophet reprehendeth Iosaphat for helping Achab. Iosaphat reneweth the true seruice of God Iosaphat placed Iudges and Magistrates in euery citie The Moabites and Ammonites warre against Iosaphat Iosaphats praier in the temple of Ierusalem for victory Iaziel the prophet assureth theÌ„ of victorie The yeare of the world 3048 before Christs birth 916. The manner and weapons whereby Iosaphat ouercame his enemies The Ammonites and their confederates kill one another The spoiles of the Ammonites The fame and praise of Iosaphat in euerie place Hedio Ruffinus chap. 2. Ochozias Achabs sonne king of Israel 4. Reg. 1. Ochozias hauing a grieuous fall seeketh to be informed of a false Oracle and is reproued by Elias Elias forme and habit Ochozias soldiers fear to fetch Elias are consumed with lightning The yeare of the world 3048. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 916. The yeare of the world 3049. before the birth of Christ. 915. Ochozias dying without issue â—…am his brother raigned in his steede Elias according as Enoch was taken froÌ„ the sight of men Hedio Ruffinus chap. 3. 4. Reg. 3. Eliâ—…aeus Ioram asketh aâ—…d against the Moabites Want of wâ—… in the Hebrew army The kings seeke for counsell at Elizaeus hands Elizaeus fore-prophecieth store of water and their victory The yeare of the world 3049. before Christs Natiuitie 915. A wonderfull blindnes of the enimy grouÌ„ded on the rednes of the water that flowed The victory of the Hebrewes against the Moabites The king of the Moabires sacrificeth his owne sonne Iosaphats death The yeare of the world 3050. before the birth of Christ. 914. Ioram Iosaphats sonne king of Ierusalem 4. Reg. 4. Elizaeus commandeth the widow to fill her empty vessels with oyle The yeare of the world 3050. before Christs Natiuitie 914. Elizeus aduiseth Ioram to auoid Adads ambush who lay in wait to kill him 4. Reg 6. Elizaeus is besieged in Dothaim by his enemie The Angels about Elizaeus the prophet Elizeus leadeth the Syrians blinded into Samaria where by his perswasion they are courteously entertained and presented by Ioram and sent home Hedio Ruffinus chap. 4. Samaria besieged by the Syrians The yeare of the world 3050 before Christs birth 914. The famine so great in Samaria that women eate their owne children Ioram threatneth Elizaeus death 3. Reg. 7. 4. Reg. 7. The enemies flight by reason of a terror that God sent among them The yeare of the world 3050. before Christs birth 914. The lepers certifie the Samaritanes of the flight of their enemies Spies sent abroad The enemies campe spoiled by the Samaritanes The truth of Gods oracles The punishment of incredulitie 4. Reg. 8. Elizeus is senâ—… vnto by Adad to enquire counsell of him as touching his sicknes The yeare of the world 3055. before Christs Natiuity 909. The prophecy of Adads death and Azaels gouernment Hedio Ruffinus chap. 5. 4. Reg. 8. Iorams impietie The yeare of the world 3057. before Christs birth 907 The Idumaeâ—…s reuolt Iorams wickednes reproued by Elias letters The expedition of the Arabians against Ioram 2. Paral. 21. The yeare of the world 3060. before Christs birth 904. Iorams death The yeare of the world 3060. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 904. Hedio Ruffinus chap 6. Iorams expedition against Ramath 4 Reg. 9. Iehu by Gods commandement annointed king The yeare of the world 3060. before Christs Natiuitie 904. Iorams slaughter The truth of Eâ—…ias prophecy The death of Ochozias king of Ierusalem and his burial A famous example of Gods iudgement 4. Reg. 10. Achabs 70. children slaine in Samaria The yeare of the world 3060. before Christ birth 904. The roting out of Achabs line The slaughter of Ochozias seruants Ionadab The slaughter of Baals priests Baal God of the Tyrians The kingdome promised to Iehus posteritie Hedio Ruffinus chap. 7. 4. Reg. 11. Athalia rooteth out all the royall bloud onely Ioas Ochozias Ion is saued The yeare of the world 3060. before Christs Natiuity 904. Ioas by Ioiadas meanes who was the high Priest is createdding The yeare of the world 3067. before Christs birth 897 Athalias punishment The king and the people ioyned by oth to serue God The restoring of Gods seruice Ioas piety during Ioiadas time The yeare of the world 3067. before Christs Natiuitie 897. 4. Reg. 12. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 8. 4. Reg 12 13 The warre betweene Azael and Iehu The yeare of the world 3089. before Christs birth 875. The restoring of the temple Ioas im pie tie after Ioiadas death and how he was reproued by the Propher 2. Paral. 28. Zachary stoned to death The yeare of the world 3089. before Christs birth 875. The spoile of the temple Ioas death The yeare of the world 3105. before Christs birth 859. 4. Reg. 14. Amasias king of Ierusalem The forces of Israel weakned and restored by God The yeare of the world 3089. before the birth of Christ. 875. Ioas king of Israel and Samaria The yeare of the world 3103. before Christs birth 861. Elizâ—…us foretelleth that Ioas should ouercome the Syrians thrise Elizâ—…us death and the raising of a dead man to life that was cast into his tombe
Ioas treble victory The yeare of the world 3◅03 before the Natiuitie of Christ. 86◅ Hedio Ruffinus chap. 9. Amasias king of Ierusalem 4. Reg. 14. De◅ 24. The yeare of the world 3106. before Christs birth 858. The dismission of the Israelits 2 Paral. 25. Amasias victory ouer the Amalechites Amasias i◅ reprehended◅y a proohet for his idolatry The yeare of the world 3106. before Christs Natiuitie 858. Amasias expedition against Ioas king of Israel Amasias taken prisoner by the king of Israel Ierusalem ruinated The temple spoyled Amasias slaine The yeare of the world 3120. before Christs birth 844. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 11. 4. Reg. 14. The enlargement of the kingdome of Israel Ionas 1 Ionas sēt vnto Niniue flieth the presence of God and ascending a ship is cast in a strome into the sea The yeare of the world 3120. before Christs Natiuitie 844. Ionas cast into the sea is deuou red by a whale and cast vpon the coast of Niniue foretelleth them of the losse of their empire Ionas 2. 3. 4. Reg. 14. 15 Ieroboams death Ozias king of Iuda The yeare of the world 3136. before Christs birth 828. Ozias expedition and the repaiting of the city 2. Paral. 26. The yeare of the world 3150. before Christs natiuitie 814. Ozias riches and army Ozias transgresseth his vocation and is punished with a leprosie and compelled to depart out of the city The yeare of the world 3170. before Christ birth 794. The yeare of the world 3170. before Christs birth 794. Zacharias slaughter 4. Reg. 35. Manahem king of Israel The yeare of the world 3174. before the birth of Christ. 790. The Tapsians slaughter Peace bought with money The yeare of the world 3185. before Christs birth 779. Phaceias The translatiō of the Israelits The yeare of the world 3187. before Christs birth 777. Iothams piety Hedio Ruffinus chap. 7. The prophecy of the destruction of Niniue Naum. 2. The yeare of the world 3204. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 760. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 13. Achaz impiety The sacrifice of his sonne The punishment of impietie Esay 7. 4. Reg. 16. The slaughter of the army of Iuda 4. Reg. 16. The Israelites by the prophets aduice dismisse those prisoners they had takē of the tribes of Iuda and Beniamin The yeare of the world 3207. before Christs birth 757. The yeare of the world 3207. before Christs birth 757. 4. Reg. 16 17. The translatiō of the Israelites Achaz giueth the gold and siluer of the temple to the king of the Assyrians Achaz shutteth the doors of Gods temple and honoureth strāge gods Achaz death The yeare of the world 3215. before Christs birth 749. Oseas impietie and punishment Hedio Ruffinus chap 14. 4 Reg 17. The pietie of Ezechias king of Iuda Ezechias embassadours that were sent to the Israelites to exhort them to celebrate the feast of vnleuened bread are slaine by them 2. Paral. 29. 30 The word of God is neuer without fruit The yeare of the world 3218. before Christs Natiuitie 746. Ezechias sacrifice Reformation of Gods seruice The yeare of the world 3224. before Christs birth 740. The king ouercommeth the Philistines Ezechias forsaketh the seruice of the king of Assyria Hedio Ruffinus chap. 15. 4. Reg. 17. The Israelites remoued from their possessions are translated into the region of the Chuthites The yeare of the world 3224 before Christs birth 740. The Tyrians Chronicles touching the wars of Salmanazar against the Tyrians written by Menander Gods displeasure against the idolatrous Chuthites The Chuteans embrace the seruice of God and in prosperitie claime kindred of the Iewes The yeare of the world 3231. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 733. 4. Reg. 18. The destruction of Iudaea The oth of Senacherib and his breach thereof Rapsaces perswasion to cause Ezechias submit 4. Reg. 19. Ezechias in aduersity hath recourse to God he is cōsorted by Esay The yeare of the world 3231. before Christs Natiuity 733. Herodotus of Senacharib Hedio Ruffinus chap. 11. The punishment of Senacharib for displeasing God Patricides Hedio Ruffinus chap. 3. 4. Reg. 20. Ezechias sicknesse and the prolongation of his life assured by miracle The yeare of the world 3231. before Christs Natiuitie 733. The Assyrian Monarchie destroied The embassage of the king of Babylon to Ezechias The captiuitie of Babylon foreprophecied by Esay The yeare of the world 3232. before Christs birth 732. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 4. Ezechias death 4. Reg. 21. Manasses impiety and cruelty The yeare of the world 3247. before Christs birth 717. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 5. Alias cap. 4. The yeare of the world 3247. before Christs Natiuitie 717. Manasses surprised and led prisoner into Babylon and after his repentance restored to his kingdome The yeare of the world 3288. before Christs birth 676. Manasses purifieth the citie and consecrateth the temple againe The yeare of the world 3302. before Christs birth 662. Manasses death Amos king of Iuda a wicked prince The yeare of the world 3304. before the birth of Christ. 660. Iosias king of Iudae 4 Reg. 22. Iosias restoreth the true seruice of God The feare of the world 3307. before Christs birth 657. Iosias rooteth outidolairie The yeare of the world 3321. be fore Christ birth 643. Iudges The zeale of the people in the reparation of the temple The yeare of the world 3321. before Christs birth 643. Moses sacred bookes found in the temple Olda the prophetesse sent vnto by Iosias The pophecie of the Iewes miserie 4 Reg. 23. A liuely image of a godly prince The truth of the diuine oracles 3. Reg. 13. The celebration of the passeouer The yeare of the world 3321. before Christs birth 643. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 9. Alias cap. 5. The yeare of the world 3334. before Christs birth 630. The Egyptians worke their passage thorow Iudaea 4. Reg. 23. Iosias death An Epitaph written by Ieremy on Iosias 2. Paral. 25. Ieremy prophecieth the captiuitie of Babylon In what time Ieremie liued Ioaz king of Iuda 4. Reg. 23. 2. Paral 36. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 7. Alias chap. 6. Eliacim called Ioachim made king of Iuda The yeare of the world 3335. before Christs birth 629. The yeare of the world 3336. before the birth of Christ. 628. Nabuchodo nosor king of Babylon warreth against the Egyptians The yeare of the world 3336. before Christs birth 628. Ioachim paseth Nabuchadnezzar tribute 4. Reg. 24. The yeare of the world 3343. before Christs natiuitie 621. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 8. Ioachim reuolteth from the king of Babylon The yeare of the world 3345. before Christs Natiuity 619. Ieremy foretelleth the destruction of Ierusalem Ier. 22. Nabuchadnezzars entertainment into the citie and his crueltie 4. Reg. 24. 2. Paral. 36. Ioachin or Iechonias king of Iuda The yeare of the world 3346. before Christs Natiuitie 618. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 9. 4. Reg. 25. Nabuchodonosor a truce ◅eaker Sedechias king of Ierusalem seduced by his courteours false
prophets giueth no eare to Ieremy Ezechiel prophecieth the destruction of the temple The yeare of the world 3354. before Christ birth 610. Sedechias reuolt from the Babylonian Hedio and Ruffinus chap. 10. The king of Egypt comming to rescue the king of Ierusalē is ouerthrowne by Nabuchodonosor with all his army and driuen out of Syria The yeare of the world 3346. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 618. Sedechias seduced by false prophets The prophecy of the captiuitie of Babylon and the deliuerie Ier. 25. 29. 37. The yeare of the world 3354. before Christs birth 610. Ierusalem besieged 4 Reg. 25. Ier. 39. Two mightie enemies Famine and pestilence Ieremy perswadeth them to yeeld The reward of godly preachers in this life Sedechias neglecteth the prophets good counsaile for feare of the gouernours The yeare of the world 3354 before Christs birth 610. Ierusalem besieged eighteene moneths and at length taken The yeare of the world 3356. before Christs birth 608. Sedecias flyeth by night and is suprised by the enemie The yeare of the world 3356. before Christs Natiuitie 608. Sedechias hath his eies pulled out and his children slaine before his face How many and how long the kings raigned that were of Dauids luie The temple the pallace and the citie spoiled and burnt The captiuitle of Babylon The high Priests in Ierusalem Sedecias death Hedio Ruffinus chap. 11. The yeare of the world 3356. before Christs birth 608. Godolias captaine of the fugitiues Ieremy set at libertie by the Baby lonian and richly offered and presented Baruch dismissed out of prison The Iewes resort to Masphath to Godolias The yeare of the world 3356. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 608. Iohn releaseth limaels captiues Iohn asketh counsaile of God and being informed refuseth the same Ier. 42. 43. The prophecy of the Babylonian armie and the Iewes captiuitie The yeare of the world 3361. before Christ birth 603. The yeare of the world 3361 before Christs birth 603. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 12. Dan 1. Daniels forwardnes and his fellowes towardnes in studying wisedome and good letters The yeare of the world 3363. before Christs natiuite 601. Dan. 2. Nauchodonosor dreaming forgetteth his vision sendeth for the magitions not able to discouer his doubts he threatneth them with death The yeare of the world 3◅63 before Christs birth 601. The vision and the Rouelation thereof opened to Daniel Daniel telleth the king his dreame and the enterpretation thereof Nabuchodonosors dreame of the foure monarches of the world Daniel and his fellowes aduanced to honour The yeare of the world 3364 before Christs birth 600 The kings edict for honouring the goldē statue Dan. 3. Daniel and his kinsmen refusing to adore the statue are cast into the furnace The yeare of the world 3364. before Christs Natiuitie 600. The yeare of the ◅ld 3369. before Christs na◅uitie 595. Dan. 4. The dreame and exposition thereof Nabuc◅odosors death The yeare of the world 3381. before Christs birth 583. Berosus of Nabuchodosor Hedio Ruffinus chap. 13. Megasthenes of Nabuchodonosor D◅ocles Philostratus The yeare of the world 3382. before Christs Natiuitie 582. Euilmerodach releaseth lechonias from his long imprisonment 4. Reg 25. Ierem. 52. Niglisar Labosardach Balthasar or Naboandel king of Babyl◅ The yeare of th◅ world 3421. before Christs birth 543. Dan. 5 Balthasar see◅h a hand thrust out of a wall and writing certaine sillables The yeare of the world 3425. before the birth of Christ. 539. ◅he yeare of the ◅rld ◅25 before Christs birth 9◅9 Daniel interpreteth the writing to the king The king performeth his promises to Daniel Babylon surprised by Cyrus king of Persia. The force of enuie Daniels honour and vprightnes Hedio Ruffinus chap. 14. Dan. 6. Daniel cast into the Lions denne The yeare of the world 3425. before Christs birth 539. Daniels enemies rent in pieces by the Lions Daniels prophecies Daniels vision of the Ramme and Goat by whom the king of Media and Persia were prefiguted Dan. 2. The yeare of the world 3425. before Christs Natiuitie 539. Daniels predictions of the Romane Empyre Dan. 9. The Epicures errour conuicted The yeare of the world 3426. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 538. The end of the Babylonian captiuitie after seuentie yeares 1. Esd. 1. 3. Esd. 2. The edict of Cyrus king of Persia. Esay chap. 44. 45. his prophecy of Cyrus Cyrus permitteth the Iewes to returne into their countrey to build their temple citie The vessels belonging to the temple sent backe from Babylon to Ierusalem Cyrus mandate to the princes of Syria The yeare of the ◅orld 3426. before Chriss birth 538. The number of the Iewes that returned from the captiuity of Babylon to Ierusalem Hedio Ruffinus chap. 2. 1. Esd. 4. The Samaritanes inhibite the Iewes from building the temple Alias cap. 3. The letters of the Samaritās and others written to Cambysis as touching the reedifying of the citie and tēple of Ierusalem The yeare of the world 3435. before Christs birth 529. Cambyses answere wherein he inhibiteth the Iewes from building the citie or temple The yeare of th◅ world 3443. before Christ birth 521. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 9. al. chap 4. Darius the son of Hystaspis made emperour of the Persians 1. Esd. 5. 6. Darius voweth to send the sacred vessels to Ierusalem Zorooabel Dar◅us propoundeth three questions to three of his gard 3. Esd. 4. The first expresseth the power of wine The second extelleth the kings power 3. Esd 4. The yeare of the world 3443. before Christs birth 521. Zorobabel the third expresseth the power of women and at length attributeth the palme vnto truth Zorobabel obtained both praise great rewards by his good discourse Darius being put in memory of his vow commandeth that the temple should be restored Hedio Ruffinus chap. 4. The yeare of t◅e world 3443. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 521. Darius letters for the liberty possession and erection of the temple granted to the Iewes 1. Esd. 6. Glad tidings brought to the Iewes The Iewes depart from Babylon to Ierusalem 3. Esd. 5. The number of the Iewes that went ou◅ of Babylon 3. Esd. 2. Zorobabel chieftaine and Iesus high priest of this company 1. Esd. 3. The yeare of the ◅orld 3443 before Christs birth 521. The feast of Tabernacles The temple began to be built The Samaritans desirous to further the building of the temple are reiected The Samaritanes suppose to hinder the building of the temple The Syrian princes examine the cause why the Iewes repaire their citie and tēple The yeare of the world 3444. before Christs birth 520. 1. Esdras 5. Aggeus and Zachary the Prophets The Satharitans indeuouring to hinder the reparatiō of the temple and citie doe further it the more Cyrus decree as touching the temple and the Iewes The yeare of the world 3450. before Christs birth 514. 3. Esdras 6. Darius epistle to the prefects of Syria The finishing of the temple The yeare of the ◅orld 3450. before Christs
temple Antiochus Epistle to Zeuxis in which he maketh honourable mention of the Iewes The yeare of the world 3764. before Christs birth 200. Antiochus friendship and confederacy with Ptolomey The Samaritanes molest the Iewes The yeare of the world 3770. before Christs Natiuitie 194. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 4. Onias the hâ—…gh priest prouoketh the king of Egypt for non paiment of his tribute The yeare of the world 3770. before Christs birth 194. The taxatioÌ„ of the hie priest for offending the king The kings embassadour honourably entertained who reporteth Iosephs liberality vpon his returne into his countrey The yeare of the world 3770. before Christs birth 194. The tributes of Coelesyria coÌ„mitted to Ioseph The Ascalonites and Scythopolitans punished for their conteÌ„pt Iosephs welth and children The yeare of the world 3770. before Christs Natiuitie 194. Hyrcanus ofspring and towardnes Ioseph sendeth his sonne Hircanus to Ptolomey The yeare of the world 3780. before Christs birth 184. Treason intended against Hircanus The yeare of the world 3780. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 184. Hircanus apology of his actions Hircanus iests Hircanus sounding what other meÌ„ would giue gauemore then the rest for which he receiueth another kingly reward Hircanus brothers assailing him on the way are slaine and discomfited The yeare of the world 3780. before Christs birth 184. Iosephs death Onias and after him Simon his sonne high priest Hedio Ruffinus chap. 4. The letter of the king of Lacedemon to the high priest of the Iewes 1. Machab. 12. Sedition amongst the people after Iosephs death Hircanus afflicteth the Arabians with continual war Hircanus buildeth a strong tower The yeare of the world 3790. before Christs Natiuitie 174. Antiochus Epiphanes king of Syria The sonnes of Prolomey Epiphanes Philometor and Physcon Hircanus killeth himselfe Hedio Ruffinus chap. 6. 1. Macchab. 1. Iesus created high Priest by Antiochus Epiphanes Iesus depriued of the priesthoode The yeare the of world 3790. before Christs birth 174. Onias surnamed Menelaus substituted in his place The wars betwixt Iason and Menelaus Apostates froÌ„ the Iewish religion Antiochus enforced to depart out of Egypt The history of Antiochus Epiphanes Antiochus entring IerusaleÌ„ spoileth the temple The yeare of the world 3796. before Christs birth 168. The yeare of the world 3798. before Christs birth 166. The yeare of the world 379â—… before Christs birth 166. Antiochus abrogating Gods law thorow extreme tyranny enforceth the Iewes to Idolatry and fortifieth the temple Hedio Ruffinus chap. 7. The deuil seekehth to abolish the Bible The variable wits of the Samaritanes which made them so odious in the sight of the Iewes The yeare of the world 3799. before Christs birth 165. The yeare of the world 3799. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 165. The zeale and piety of Matthias and his sonnes An Apostata slaine by Matthias Matthias with his sons Hieth into the desart The Iewes are slaine on the Sabbath day which slaughter maketh Matthias more werie Matthias rooteth out all Idolatry Hedio Ruffinus chap. 8. Matthias exhorteth his sons to pietie fortitude and concord The yeare of the world 3799 before Christs birth 165. 〈◊〉 Macchab. 3. Matthias death Iudas Machabaeus appointed gouernor Hedio Ruffinus chap. 9. Iudas Machabaeus ouercoÌ„meth Apollonius in battell Seron gouernour of Coelesyria is put to flight in Iudaea The yeare of the world 3799. before Christs birth 165. Antiochus preparation to inuade Iudaea Antiochus committing his kingdome prouinces and sonne to Lysias charge departeth into Persia The yeare of the world 3800. before Christs birth 164. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 10. Ptolomey Gorgias aand Nicanors war in Iudaea Iudas oration to his soldiers 1. Machab. 4. The yeare of the world 38â—…0 before Christs Natiuitie 164. Iudas ouercommeth Lysias army Iudas gathereâ—… a huge 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 once 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and loâ—… fiue thousand of his soldiers The temple of Ierusalem The yeare of the world 3801. before Christs birth 163. The temple left desolate for three whole yeeres space Dan. 12. The yeare of the world 3801. before Christs birth 163. The festiuall solemnized for the reestablishment of the temple Hedio Ruffinus chap. 21. Mach. 5. Iudas maketh continuall warre with the neighbouring nations Hedio Ruffinus chap. 11. Simo ouercoÌ„ming his enemies in Galilee deliuereth the Iewes that were captiue Iudas and Ionathas succour the Iews besieged in Galaad Bosra taken and burnt The yeare of the world 3801. before Christs birth 163. Iudas succoureth the besieged Iewes Timothies soldiers slaine Malla taken and buâ—…nt Chaspoma and Bosor takeÌ„ Timothy gathereth new forces and is ouercome by Iudas The Iewes are brought out of the country of Galaad into Iuâ—…aea Ephron besieged burnt An admirable victory of Iudas Machabaeus who in all these conflictes lost not one man Ioseph and Zachary ouercome by Gorgias lose two thousand â—…olgiers Chebron and Marissa besieged The yeare of the world 38â—…1 before Christs birth 163. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 13. 1. Mac. 〈◊〉 Antiochus desirous to spoile Dianaes teÌ„ple besiegeth Elymias and is shamefully repulsed to Babylon The yeare of the world 3802. before Christs birth 162. Antiochus Epiphanes burdned with cares falleth sicke Polybius Megalopolitan of the cause of Antiochus sicknes Antiochus appointeth Philip gouernour of his kingdome and committeth his sonne Antiochus to his charge Hedio Ruffinus chap. 14. Lysias createth Antiochus the yonger king and surnameth him Eupator The Macedons in the castle of Ierusalem doe much harme â—…o the Iewes Iudas Machabaeus besiegeth the castle The fugitiue Iewes fly out of the castle and require Antiochus assistance The yeare of the world 3803. before Christs Natiuitie 161. Antiochus marcheth into Iudae a with his army Bethsura besieged Iudas with his forces encountreth the king at Bethzacharia Eleazar Iudas brother killeth an Elephant Iudas returneth to Ierusalem and Antiochus followeth him The Bethsurites yeeld vp their citie The temple of Ierusalem besieged Antiochus hearing newes of Philips intent to inuade Persia giueth ouer his siege to meet him The yeare of the world 3803. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 161. Antiochus maketh peace with Iudas The wal of the teÌ„ple defaced Onias otherwaies called Menelaus led away prisoner Alcimus or lacimus made high priest The yeare of the world 3804. before Christs birth 160. Philip slaine by Antiochus Onias the high priests sonne builded a teÌ„ple in Egypt resembling that at Ierusalem Hedio Ruffinus chap. 15. 1. Machab. 7. Demetrius seazeth Tripolis and other cities of Syria and killeth Antiochus and Lysias Alcimus the high priest with Apostates accuseth Iudas before Demetrius Bacchides killeth diuers that trust his oth The yeare of the world 3804 before Christs birth 160. Bacchides vseth great tyranny in Bethzeth Alcimus vseth popularity and familiarity to win the peoples hearts and killeth all such as were of Iudas factioÌ„ Iudas resisteth Alcimus power Alcimus accuseth Iudas to Demetrius Hedio Ruffinus chap. 16. Demetrius sendeth Nicanor against Iudas Nicanor dissembling with Iudas
laboured to surprise him Nicanor threatneth the people that except they yeeld vp Iudas he will destroy the temple The yeare of the world 3804. before Christs birth 160. Iudas and his followers put Nicanor and his soldiers to flight Adar March Alcimus the high priest dieth Hedio Ruffinus chap. 17. 1. Macchab. 8. Iudas couenaÌ„teth a peace with the Romanes The decree of the Romanes touching society and friendshippe of the Iewes Hedio Ruffinus chap. 1â—… 1. Mach. 9. Demetrius sendeth Bacchides with forces into Iury. Bacchides meeteth Iudas with 20000. soldiers The yeare of the world 3804. before Christs birth 160. Iudas with a small army intendeth to assaile a mightie host Bacchides disposeth his army and fighteth with Iudas Iudas disperseth the enemies army killeth some and at last is slaine himselfe Iudas is buried in Modim The yeare of the world 3805 before the Natiuitie of Christ. 159. The yeare of the world 3805 before Christs birth 159. The Iewes coÌ„pelled by the Apostates by famine submit themselues to the Macedonians Bacchides murthereth those of Iudas faction Ionathan by the publike instigation of the Iewes vndertaketh the gouernment Bacchides coÌ„plotteth to betray Ionathan and his brother Bacchides draweth out his forces against IonathaÌ„ Iohn the brother of Iudas is slaine by Amars sonnes Bacchides assaileth Ionathan on the Sabbath day loseth two thousand of his men The castle of Ierusalem fortified Simon reuengeth his brother Iohns bloud on the sons of Amaraeus The yeare of the world 3808. before Christâ—… birth 156. Demetrius by the solicitation of the fugitiues sendeth Bacchides against Ionathan with an army Bachides displeased with the Apostates for that they could not surprise Ionathan killeth fiâ—…ie of them Ionathan and his brother besieged in Bethalaga Ionathas stealing out of the citie assaileth Bacchides by night Bacchides reuengeth himselfe on the fugitiues and iâ—… inforced to retreat Mac 〈◊〉 Bacchides maketh peace with Ionathan Ionathan liueth at Machmas punishing the wicked The yeare of the world 3813. before Christs Natiuitie 151. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 11. Alexander the sonne of Antiochus Epiphanes commeth into Syria and seazeth Ptolemais Demetrius war against Alexander 〈◊〉 Machab. 10. The Macedonians forfaking their garrisons resort to Antioch Hedio Ruffinus chap. 8. Alexander endeuoureth to draw Ionathan to his faction by presenting him with the high Priesthood The yeare the of world 38â—…3 before Christs birth 151. Demetrius studieth by promises to assure himselfe of Ionathans frieÌ„dship The battel betweene Alexander and Demetrius and of Demetrius death The yeare of the world 3813. before Christs birth 151. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 4. Onias the son of Onias the high priest seeketh to build a temple in Egypt The yeare of the world 3814. before Christs birth 150. A temple builded in Egypt by Ptolomies consent The warres of the Iewes li. 7. chap. 37. Sedition betwixt the Iews and Samaritanes as touch ing their teÌ„ple The yeare of the world 3814. before Christs birth 150. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 5. 1. Mac 11. Alexander king of Syriâ—… marrieth Cleo patra Ptolomeis daughter The yeare of the world 3818. before Christs Natinitie 146. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 6. Demetrius the sonne of Demetrius passeth out of Greece into Cilicia and seeketh to make himselfe Lord of Syria A man confident in battel Apollonius fighteth with Ionathan and is put to flight Ionathan pursued the enemy as farre as Azot and burneth Dagonâ—… temple and killeth 8000. men The yeare of the world 3818. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 146. AlexaÌ„der sendeth presents to Ionathan Hedio Ruffinus chap. 7. Ptolomey Philometor 〈◊〉 â—…to Syria with an army to assist his sonne in law AlexaÌ„der Ionathan meeteth with Ptolomey and is honourably entertained by him Treason intended against Ptolomey and discouered for which cause he taketh away his daughter from Alexander and giueth her to Demetrius for his wiâ—…e Ptolomey perswaded the Antiochians to accept Demetrius for their king and reiused the Diademe of Asia The yeare of the world 3818 before Christs birth 146. Alexander being ouercome flieth into Arabia and is staine in that place Ptolomeis death Ionathan appeaseth Demetrius by presents Demetrius letters to Lasthenes in which he bestoweth many priuiledges on the Iewes Demetrius incurreth the hatred of his soldiers by abridging their pay in time of peace The yeare of the world 3820. before Christs birth 144. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 8. 1. Machab. 11. Diodotus called Tryphon Apamenus requireth Malchus to commit Antiochus Alexanders â—…n to his charge Ionathan sendeth Emballadors with presents to Demettius to request him to cassiere the forces in the castle of Ierusalem and the fortresses there about The rebellion of the citizens of Antioch and the reuenge taken on them by Demetrius Demetrius thrust out of Antioch The yeare of the world 3820. before Christs birth 144. Ionathan for the fauours benefits he receiued at Tryphons and Annochus hands offereth and performeth his best indeuours against Demetrius Simon Ionathans brother taketh in Bethsura The yeare of the world 3810. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 144. Ionathan putteth Demetrius soldiers to flight Ionathan reneweth his frienship coÌ„federacy with the Romanes and Lacedemonians The yeare of the world 3821. before Christs birth 143. Three sects of the Iewes The Pharisees The Essenians The Sdaduces The warres of the Iewes lib. 2. chap. 1â—… The yeare of the world 3821 before Christs birth 143. Demetrius captaines once more make warre vpon sonathan and seeing their purposes discouered flie by night Ionathan marcheth into Arabia and spoileth the Nahatheans Simon his brother taketh Ioppe Ionathan and Simon repaire the citie of Ierusalem and the fortresses of Iury. Demetrius maketh warre vpon Arsaces king of the Parthians and is taken prisoner Hedio Ruffinus chap. 9. 2. Mac 11. 13. TryphoÌ„ labouring to transferre Antiochus kingdom into his owne hands and fearing Ionathans opposition traiterously complotteth his death The yeare of the world 3821. before Christs birth 143. The yere of the world 3822. before Christs Natiuitie 142. 2. Mac. 14. Ionathans want lamented by all men The neighboâ—…ring nations and Tryphon inuade Iudaea Simon Ionathans brother assembleth the people and animateth theÌ„ The yeare of the world 3823. before Christs birth 141. The yeare of the world 3823. before Christs Natiuitie 141. Simon succeedeth his brothers Iudas Ionathan Simon sendeth Ionathan Absaloms sonne to â—…oppe to expulse the inhabitants thereof Tryphon by fraudulent promises vnder certaine conditions perswadeth SimoÌ„ that his brother should be set at liberty Ionathan is slaine by Tryphon Ionathans monument The yeare of the world 382â—… before Christs birth 140. The Iewes discharged of tributes Simons authority The yeare of the world 3823. before Christs birth 141. Simon raceth the castle of Ierusalem The yeare of the world 3824. before Christs birth 140. Hedio Ruf. finus chap. 10. 1. Maccâ—…b 15. Tryphon murthering Alexander obtaineth the kingdome Tryphon hauing obtained dominion discouereth his corrupt nature Tryphons army
submit to Cleopatra Demetrius wife who married with Antio chus Soter and committed the authority to his hands Hedio Ruffunus chap. 11. Antiochus hauing driuen Tryphon out of Syria besieged him in Dora Tryphons death The yeare of the world 3827. before the birth of Christ. 137. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 1â—… The yeare of the world 3827. before Christs birth 137. Simon and his son expelleth 〈◊〉 out of Iurie The yeare of the world 3830. before Christs natiuiti 134. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 13. 1. Mac. 16. No faith nor trust no not in sons in law The yeare of the world 3831. before the birth of Christ. 133. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 14. Ptolomy besieged by Hircanus knowing the power of naturall affection keepeth his mother brethren prisoners whippeth them on the wals and threatneth to throw them downe The end of the histories of the Bible The yeare of the world 3831. before Christs birth 133. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 15. Hircanus is driuen into the citie by Antiochus Pleiades the seuen starres The weaker sort are thrust out of the city Antiochus affoordeth seuen daies truce to celebrate the feasts of tabercles Hircanus maketh peace with Antiochus and the siege is giuen ouer The yere of the world 3838. before Christs Natiuitie 126. Hircanus taketh a huge summe of money out of king Dauids tombe Nicholas Damascene The years of the world 3838. before Christs Natiuitie 1â—…6 Antiochus slaine in the conâ—…ct against the Parthians Hedio Ruffinus chap. 16. Hircanus surpriseth diuers cities of Syria and laieth deso late the temple that was builded on the hill Gâ—…zim The yearâ—… of the world 3840 before Christs birth 1â—…4 The Idumaeans conquered by Hircanus admit circumcision and the â—…awes of the Iewes Hircanus maketh a league with the Romanes The yeare of the world 3844. before Christs birth 120. The yearâ—… of the world 3844. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 120. Demetrius being ouercome by Alexander is slaine Hedio Ruffinus chap. 17. AlexaÌ„der slain in the conflict betwixt him and Antiochus Gryphus The yeare of the world 3852. before Christs natiuitie 112. Hircanus whilest the brothers weaken themselues by ciuill warres liueth in peace The yeare of the world 3854. before Christs birth 110. Hircanus besiegeth Samaria Antiochus seeking to 〈◊〉 lieue the Samaritanes is ouercome and put to slight by Aristobulus The yeare of the world 3854. before Christs birth 110. Epâ—…tares corrupted with money selleth Scythopolis other places to the Iewes Hircanus taketh Samaria Hircanus is foretold by a voice in the temple of his sons victory Chelchias and Ananias captaines of Cleopatras army Strabo of Cappadocias report of the loyalty of the Iewes Hircanus grow eth in discontent with the Pharisees Eleazar the Pharisee vpbraideth Hircanus that his mother was a slaue The Sadduee Ionathan incenseth Hircanus against the Pharisees The yeare of thâ—… world 3854. before Christs birth â—…10 Hircanus forsaketh the Pharisees and followeth the Sadduces The constitutions of the Pharisees Hircanus death The yeare of the world 3861. before the birth of Christ. 103. Hircanus prophecy of his sonnes The yeare of the world 3862. before Christs birth 10â—… Hedio Ruffinus chap. 18. Aristobulus Hircanus son was the first afer the captiuity of BabyloÌ„ that set the Diademe on his head Aristobulus admitteâ—…h his brother Antigonus to be his copartner in the kingdome and imprisoneth the rest of his brethren and samisheth his mother Antigonus death complotted Aristobulus 〈◊〉 incensed against his brother Antigonus The yeare of the world 3862. before Christs birth 102. Aristobulus Queene contriueth Antigonus death The force of slaunder Iudas the EsseaÌ„ a prophet The punishment of Aristobulus for the murt her of his brother The touch of conscience The yeare of the world 38â—… before Christs birth 101. Aristobulus compelleth the Irureans to be circumcised and to obserue the Iawes of the Iewes â—…un The yeare of the world 3863. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 101. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 19. Salome surnamed Alexandra Aristobulus wife maketh laÌ„naeus Alexander king Alexander executeth the one brother that affected the crowne and honoureth the other Alexander besiegeth Ptolemais The yeare of the world 3864. before Christs birth 100. Zoilus tyrant of Straton and Dora Zoilus and the Gazeans require aide against the Iewes at Ptolomies hands The yeâ—…re of the world 3864. before Christs birth 100. Alexander perswadeth Ptolomey to cut ost Zoilus Zoilus taken Ptolemais besieged by Ptolomey Ptolomey taketh Azota towne in Galilee Ptolomey assaulteth Sephor Hâ—…catontamachi or the warriors by huÌ„dreths Alexanders ouerthrow Ptolomey to the end he might afflict the Iewes with more terrour causeth his soldiers to eat mans flesh Ptolemais taken by force Cleopatra prepareth an army against hir sonne The yeare of the world 3864. before Christs birth 100. Ptolomey driuen out of Egypt Ptolemais besieged and takeÌ„ by Cleopatra Alexanders peace with Cle opatra renueth The yeere of the world â—…873 before Christs Natiuitie 91. Alexander taketh Gadara Alexander besiegeth Gaza Apollodorus by night inuadeth the camp of the Iewes Aretas king of Arabia flattereth the Gazeans with hope of rescue Lysimachus killeth his brother Apollodotus and betrayeth Gaza to Alexander The yeare of the world 3873. before Christs Natiuitie 91. Antiochus Gryphus slain Seleucus Gryphus son maketh warre with Antiochus the Cyzicenian The yeare of the world 3874. before Christs birth 90. Antiochus Eusebes putteth Seleucus to flight Antiochus Seleucus brother fighteth against Antiochus the sonne of the Cyzicenian Demetrius Eucaetus made king of Damasco by Ptolomey Lathurus Cittons cast at Alexander Amath destroyed Obeda king of Arabia The yeere of the world 3884. before Christs natiuitie 80. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 20. Demetrius Eucaerus marcheth out against Alexander Demetrius fighteth with AlexaÌ„der and hath the vpper hand Alexander in this fight loseth all his hired soldiers The yeare of thâ—… world 3884. before Chriss birth 80. Sixe thousand men resort vnto Alexander Alexander being assailed by the Iews besiegeth the mightiest of them in Bethom Alexander crucifeth 800. Iewes and murthereth their wiues children in their presence Alexander surnamed Thracidas Demetrius besiegeth his brother Philip in Beroea Hedio Ruffinus chap. 2â—… Antiochus king of Damalco Antiochus thrust out of his kingdom by his brother The yeare of the world 3887. before the birth of Christ. 7â—… Caparbasa called Antipatris The yeare of the world 3884. before Christs birth 80. Antiochus death and the famine amoÌ„gst his army Areâ—…as king of Coelesyria Cerraine cities taken by Alexander The yeere of the world â—…887 before Christs Natiuitie 77. The Iewes are Lordes of the cities of the Syrians Idumaeans and Phaenicians Pella destroied and rased Alexanders sicknes The yeere of the world 3890. before Christs birth 74. Alexander instâ—…cteth his wife how she may â—…igne securely The authority of the Pharisees among the people The yeare of the world 3890. before Christs birth 74. Alexanders death Alexanders funerall Hedio Ruffinus chap. 22. Hircanus and
houses The yeare of the world 3929. before Christs natiuitie 35. Herode being alone and naked in his house escaped vnhurt amoÌ„gst many armed enemies Herode sendeth Pappus head to his brother Phaeroras Herode besiegeth IerusaleÌ„ Herode repaireth to Samaria to marrie Alexanders daughter The yeare of the world 3929. before Christs birth 35. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 26. al. 27. Sofiâ—…s and Herode lead a mightie army against Ierusalem Herode preuenteth the dearth The Iewes without feare resist those that besieged them The outward part of the temple and the lower citie taken The Iewes flye to the vpper citie and the temple IerusaleÌ„ taken The yeare of the world 3929. before Christs birth 35. Antigonus submitteth himselfe to Sosius Herode sore troubled in pacifying the straungers The spoile of the citie hindred When Ierusalâ—… was taken Herode bribeth Antonius with money to make away Antigonus The end of the Asmonean family and the extinction of their priest hood The yeare of the world 3930. before Christs Natiuitie 3 4. Herode preferreth his fauorites and killeth his enemies The Pharisees honoured by him Pollio fore-prophecied Herodes tyrannie The slaughter of them that were of Antigonus â—…action The yeare of the world 3930. before Christs birth 34. Antigonus beheaded Strabo of Antigonus Hedio Ruffinus chap. 〈◊〉 Hircanâ—… heating â—…idings that Herode had obtained the kingdome returneth vnto him Hircanus highly honoured in Babylon by the Iewes Hircanus leauing his country expecteth fauour at Herodes hands Saramalla Herodes embasdour to Phraates Herode highly honoureth Hircanus The yeare of the world 3930. before Christs Natiuitie 34. Herode giueth the high priesthood to Ananel Alexandra soliciteth Antonius by Cleopatras mediation for the high priesthood for hir sonne Antonius requireth Aristobulus at Herods hands The causes why Aristobulus was not sent Herode inueieth against Alexandra for pretending to vsurpe the kingdome Alexandra excuseth herselfe and hauing promise of the priesthood for hir sonne is reconciled to Herode The yeare of the world 3930. before Christs birth 34. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 3. Herode taketh the Priesthood from Ananel The Priesthood taken from three Alexandra suspected by Herode is spied and watched and her actions obserued Alexandra pretending to flie into Egypt is betraied by her seruant Herode contriueth Aristobulus death The yeare of the world 3932. before Christs birth 33. Aristobulus is drowned by Herodes direction Ananell restored to the priesthood The lamentation for Aristobulus death Herodes counterfait sorrow The yeare of the world 3931. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 33. Alexandra certifieth Cleopatra of Herodes treasons and her sonnes traiterous murther Herode readie to repaire vnto Antony commaundeth Ioseph to whose charge he coÌ„mitted the kingdome to kill his wife A foolish rumour of Herodes death Herode appeaseth Anthony by presents and certifieth his friends by letters of his health The yeare of the world 3932. before Christs Natiuitie 32. Ioseph and Mariamme accused before Herode Mariamme excuseth purgeth hir selfe before the king and is reconciled Herode commandeth that Ioseph should be slaine and imprisoneth Alexandra Hedio Ruffinus chap. 4. Cleopatra verie couetous Cleopatra murthereth her brother and sister The yeare of the world 3932. before Christs birth 32. Cleopatra contrieth Lysanias death Antonius giueth Cleopatra a portion deducted out of Iury and Arabia Cleopatra coÌ„meth to Herode who enstateth hir in that the part of Arabia these reuenewes of lericho that were giuen her An intemperate woman giuen to lust Herode goeth about to put Cleopatra to death and is disswaded by his â—…riends Antonius conquereth Armenia Herode bringeth Cleopatra onward off her way towards Egypt The yeâ—…e of the world 3933. before Christs birth 31. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 5. Herode leuieth an army to assist Antonius against Octauian Herode is incited by letters to the Arabian warre Herodes battels and conquests The yeare of the world 3934. before Christs birth 30. Cleopatras chieftaine ouerthroweth Herode The Arabians returning to the barrell kill those that flie and cake the campe The yeare of the world 3935. before Christs birth 29. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 6. An earthquake in Iudaea killeth ten thousand men The Arabians kill the Embassadours of the lewes Herode comforteth the Iewes that were out of heart for their former losses Herode comforteth and exhorteth his soldiers The cause of warre against the Arabians The yeere of the world 3935. before Christs Natiuitie 29. Legates inuiolable With whom soeuer Iustice is there is God also The yeare of the world 3935. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 19. The Arabians are ouercome by Herode The Arabians enforced by thirst require truce at Herodes hands Hedio Ruffinus chap. 7. Herode dismaied at Antonius ouerthrow The yeare of the world 3935. before Christs Natiuitie 29. Herode determineth to make away Hircanus Alexandra solliciteth Hircanus her father to require assistance at Malchus haÌ„ds Three hundreth furlongs containe nine Germaine miles Hircanus by Herodes commaund is put to death Hircanus dieth guiltlesse Hircanus life The yeare of the world 3935. before Christs birth 29. Herodes disposition of his affaires before he repaired to Caesar. Herode commeth to Caesar and declareth vnto him what pleasures he had done Antony promising him no lesse dutie and loue if so be he might be receiued into his fauour The yeare of the world 3935. before Christs Natiuitie 29. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 8. Caesar confirmeth Herodes authoritie Herode conducteth Caesar toward Egypt and presenteth him with many sumptuous gifts Herode inter taineth both Caesar and his at my verie heroically Herode giueth Caesar eight hundreth talents Mariamme and Alexandra displeased with Herode The yeare of the world 3935. before Christs birth 29. Sohcmus discoueteth the kings secrets Herode but coldly entertained by his wife MariaÌ„me Herodes sorrowes to see his wiues affections distracted and chaunged Hrodes siâ—…t 〈◊〉 and his mother incense the king by slaunderous reports against Mariamme Antony and Cleopatra slain Caesar Lord of Egypt Sohemus honoured by Horod with dignities Hedio Ruffinus chap. 9. Caesar enlargeth Herodes dominions The yeare of the world 3935. before Christs birth 29. Mariamme a froward womaÌ„ The yeare of the world 3936. before Christs birth 28 Sohemus suspected by Herode in Mariammes behalfe is put to death Mariamme is accused by Herode and condemned and imprisoned Mariamme by Salomes instigations is led to execution The yeare of the world 3936. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 28. Alexandra vndecently striueth to acquit her selfe of Mariammes treason Herods miserable estate moane after the death of his wife A plague inuadeth IerusaleÌ„ Herode falleth grieuously sicke Alexandra in Herodes absence seeketh to get the possession of the castles The yeare of the world 3936. before Christs Natiuitie 28. Herodes councellors certifie him of Alexandras intent Alexandra put to death Costabarus whom Herode had matched with his sister Salome vsurpeth in Idumaea Costabarus preserued by his wiues intercession Costabarus Lysimachus Antipater
to marrie Alexas Glaphyra somtimes Alexanders wife is sent back to Archelaus king of Cappadocia Hedio Ruffinus chap. 2. Herode bringeth vp his sons children Antipater hateth his brothers children Antipater laboreth his father to breake of the mariages he 〈◊〉 Herodes ninâ—… wiues The yeare of the world 3961. before Christs Natiuitie 3. Herode buildeth a castle in the region of the Trachonites and maketh Zamaris the Iew that came from Babylon gouernour therein Iacim Philip the sonnes of Zamaris Hedio Ruffinus chap. 3. Pheroras deceiued by women The yeare of thâ—… world 3961. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 3. Salome discouereth to Herode the conspiracies of the Ladies and others The Pharisees subtill and arrogant The Pharisees would not sweare obedience but were finde Pheroras wife paieth their fine for which benefit they promise her the kingdome Bagoas Carus and others are put to death by Herode Hedio Ruffinus chap. 4. Herode accuseth Pheroras wife and commandeth him to put her away The reare of the world 3961. before Christs birth 3. Pheroras refuseth to put away his wife Herode interdicteth Pheroras and Antipater their priuic meetings and forbiddeth the Ladies no lesse Herod sendeth Antipater to Caesar. Antipater accuseth Syllaeus at Rome before Caesar. Aretas accuseth Syllaeus for killing Phabatus and others A traitor that sought the kings death is apprehended Anoth soleÌ„nly obserued Pheroras in his sicknes is visited by Herode and being dead is honourably buried by him The yeare of the world 3961. before Christs birth 3. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 5. Pheroras freemen accuse his wife for poisoning him Herode tortureth the Ladies bond women and soundeth out Antipaters their secrets Herode thrusteth Doris Antipaters mother cut of his pallace Antipater the Samaritane declareth how Antipater the kings sonne had prouided poison for his father The yeare of the world 3961. before Christs Natiuitie 3. Pheroras wife confesseth that she hath the poison and casts her selfe downe headlong from the roofe The yeare of the world 3962. before Christs natiuitie 2. The king putteth away his wife and blotteth his sonne out of his testament He degradeth Simon and enstateth Marthias in the Priesthood Archelaus and Philip are accused by Antipaters means Hedio Ruffinus chap. 6. Herod writeth friendly letters to Antipater and calleth him home from Rome The yeare of the world 3962. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 2. Celenderis in Cilicia Sebaste a hauen builded by Herode in honour of Caesar Antipater vpoÌ„ his returne is saluted by no man Quintilius Varus gouernout of Syria Herode calleth his son in question before Quintllius Varus Antipater accused by Herod The yeare of the world 3962. before Christs birth 2. Antipaters answere to his fathers obiectioÌ„ Nicholas Damascene prosecuteth the kings accusation The yeare of the world 3962. before Christs birth 2. Patricide the publike iniurie of life and nature The yeare of the world 3962. be fore Christs Natiuitie 2. Antipater accused by all men Varus giueth Antipater licence to iustify himselfe Antipater striueth by his protestations and inuocations of God to iustifie himselfe The poison is ministred to a condemned man and it killeth him Hedio Ruffinus chap. 7. Herode imprisoned his son sent embassadors to Caesar to certifie his abuses Antiphilus letter to Antipater Acmes letter to Antipater The yeare of the world 3962. before Christs birth 2. Acmes letters to Herode Herode inflamed with hatred against his sonne Antipater layeth all the fault vpon Antiphilus Hedio Russinus chap. 8. Herode falling sicke maketh his will and leueth his succession of the kingdome with his other goods to his friends and kinsfolkes Herode impatient in his old age and wonderous wayward The yeare of the world 3963. after Christs birth 1. A golden Eagle vpon the greatest gate of the temple The yeare of the world 3963. after Christs Natiuitie 1. Contempt of death The yong men pulling downe the goldeÌ„ eagle hew it in peeces with their axes Iudas Matthias with fortie other yong men being brought to the kings presence iustifie their actioÌ„s with ioy and the king sendeth them bounde to Iericho Herode assembleth the gouernours of the Iewes and expostulateth with theÌ„ about this coÌ„motion Matthias is depriued of the hie priesthood and Iozar is assigned his place Ioseph Ellemi for one day hie priest Matthias and Iudas burned The Ecclipse The yeare of the world 3963. after Christs birth 1. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 〈◊〉 Herodes horrible sicknes The hot bathâ—… of Calliroes that flow into the lake Asphaltite Herode bestoweth a distribution among his souldiers Herode commandeth that the noblest of the Iewes should be slain after his death The yeare of the world 3963. after Christs Natiuitie 1. Letters are sent froÌ„ Rome that Acme was executed by Caesars command and that he had authoritie to vse Antipater at his pleasure Herod calling for a knifâ—… and an apple intendeth to stab himselfe Achiab withholdeth his hand Antipater thinking his father to bee dead dealeth with his keeper for his deliuery which Herod heating of commandeth him to be slaine Hedio Ruffinus chap. 10. Herods will is changed His legacy to Caesar and Iulia his wife Herods death Herods mutable strange fortune Salome and Alexas after the kings death dismisse the Iewes y t were shut vp in the Hippodrome The yeare of the world 3963 after the Naâ—…tie of Christ. 1. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 11. Herods thaâ—…sgiuing to his armie and testament read Archelaus is applauded by the people Alias cap. 12. Herods corps is buried with great pompe and solemnity in Herodion The Germans and French serued vnder Herod Archelaus banquetteth the people Archelaus pro miseth that with Caesars approbation hee will carefully intend the desires and profits of the people The yeare of the world 3963. after Christs birth 1. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 12. â—…l 13. The seditious people bewail Matthias and those that were executed with them They would be reuenged on Herods friends and would depose the high priest The yeare of the world 3964. after Christs naâ—… 2. Sedition at the feast of the Passeouer The yeare of the world 3964. after Christs birth 2. Three thousand Iewes slaine Archelaus repaires to Rome and many of his faction follow him Hedio Ruffinus chap. 13. al. 14. Sabinus repaireth to Ierusalem with an intent to leaze Herodes treasures castles Antipas vnder hope to recouer the kingdome saileth to Rome Antipater Salomes son accuseth Archelaus before Augustus Caesar. The yeare of the world 3964. after Christs Natiuitie 2. Nicholaus excuseth Archelaus The yeare of the world 3964 after the Natiuitie of Chrisâ—… 2â—… Caesar pronounceth Archelaus to be worthy oâ—… the kingdome Hedio Ruffinus chap. 14. Marthace Archelaus mother dieth Varus pacifieth the seditious at Ierusalem Alias chap. 15. Sabinus auarice raiseth a great sedition in Ierusalem at the feast of Penticost A most bloudy battel fought betwixt the Romanes and Iewes neere vnto the teÌ„ple
granted him to create the hie priest Hedio Ruffinus chap. 2. al. 5. Monobazuâ—… the king of Adiabena begetteth two sons on Helena his sister Monobazus and Izates The yeare of the world 4009. after Christs natiuitie 47. Izates sent to Abemerigus marieth his daughter Samacha Caeron very fruitful in Amomum in which the reliques of Noes aâ—…ke are to be seene Izates was made king by his mother Helena the nobility and Monabazus gouerneth the kingdome till his comming Izates and his mother Helena learne the true seruice of God according to the manner of the Iewes The yeare of the world 4009. after the Natiuitie of Christ. 47. Izates sendeth his brothers to Claudius Caesar and Artabanus Izates is disswaded by Helena his mother and Ananias from circumcision Eleazar perswadeth Izares to be circumcised They that â—…olie on God put their confideÌ„ce in him do alwaies reap the reward of their pietie Helena the Queene of Adiabena resorteth to Ierusalem Alias cap. 6. The yeare of the world 4009. after Christs birth 47. Artabanus reâ—…reth himselfe to Izates and requireth his assistance Izates comforteth Artabanus promiseth him his assistance Izates writeth to the Parthians and perswadeth them to receiue their king Cinnamus restoreth the kingdome to Artabanus Izates receiueth great honours and gifts at Artabanus hands Antiochia and Mygdonia builded by the Macedons Vardanes after his fathers death laboreth to perswade Izates to make warre against the Romanes but he preuaileth not The yeare of the world 4009. after Christs birth 47. After Vardanes was slaine the kingdome is comâ—…ted to Gotarza Vologelus king of Parthia Monobazus and his kinred thinke to receiue the Iewes religioÌ„ The Adiabenians conspire with the king of Arabia against Izates The Lords of Adiabena perswade Vologesus to kill Izates Izates calleth vpon God who sendeth the Dahans and Sacans into Parthiâ—… vpon whose arriuall Volgesus returneth The yeare of the world 4010. after Christs Natiuitie 48. Izates deliuereth vp the kingdome to his brother Monobazus and dâ—…eth Hedio Ruffinus cap. 5. al. 8. Theudas perswadeth the â—…eople that with a word he will cause Iordan to deuide it 〈◊〉 yeeld them passage he with his followers are slaine Hedio Ruffinus cap. 5. al. 8. Tiberius Alexander gouernour of Iudaea Iames and Simon the sons of Iudas of Galilee crucified The yeare of the world 4011. after Christs birth 49. The yeere of the world 4011. after Christs birth 49. Hedio Ruffinus cap. 9. al. 10. In the feast of Pascha a certaine souldier shewing his priuie members moueth a sedition amoÌ„g the people whereby twentie thousand Iewes lost their liues Stephen Caesars seruant robbed in his iourney for which cause Cumanus spoileth the villages neere to the place where the robbery was done A certaine soldier â—…eareth the bookes of Moses â—…aw and therefore is beheaded by Cumanus coÌ„maundement Hedio Ruffinus cap. 10. al. cap. 12. Certaine Samaritanes kill diuers Galileans in their way to Ierusalem The yeare of the world 4014. after Christs birth 52. The yeare of the world 4014. after Christs natiuitie 52. The Galileans in reuenge of their iniuries burne certaine villages of the Samaritanes and spoyle the same Hedio Ruffinus cap. 8. al. 12. The Samaritanes accuse the Iewes before Numidius Quadratus The Iewes lay the burthen of the warres on the Samaritanes and Cumanus Dortus with foure other are crucified Ananias Ananus Cumanus Celer and some other are sent to Rome Alias cap. 13. Agrippa moueth Agrippina to intreat Caesar to heare the cause of the Iewes The yeare of the world 4015. after Christs birth 53. Hedio Ruffinus cap 9. al. 14. Claudius â—…oelix gouernour of Iudaea Drusilla Mariamme â—…oelix getteth Drusilla from her former husband Polemon king of Cilâ—…cia marrieth Bernice The yeaÌ„re of the world 4018. after Christs birth 56. Mariamme scorning Archelaus marrieth Demetrius Hedio Ruffinus cap. 10. al. 15. Agrippina Meslaâ—…na and Paetinâ—… Clâ—…dius wiues Nero Emperour The yeare of the world 4019. after Christs birth 57. Nero a tyrant Neros tyranny The yeare of the world 4019. after Christs Natiuitie 57. Alias cap. 16. Foelix punisheth y t theeues and Magicians and other seducers of the people Eleazar the sonne of Dinaeus sent to Rome Foelix conspireth against Ionathas Butchery The deceitfull Magicians Hedio Ruffinus cap. 12. al. cap. 17. A falle prophet draweth the Iewes to the mount Oliuet The yeare of the world 4019. after the Natiuitie of Christ. 57. Hedio Ruffinus cap. 13. al 18. A broile in Caesarea betweene the Syrians and Iewes The yeare of the world 4020. after Christs birth 58. Ismael the son of Phabeus the high priest The strife betweene the high priests the priests Alias cap. 19. Foelix acculed Hedio Ruffinus cap. 14. The cutthroâ—… among the Iewes Festus discomfiteth a great deceiuer with all his â—…ollowers Hedio Ruffinus cap. 15. al. 10. The yeare of the world 4020. after Châ—…sts birth 58. The chiefest men of Ierusalem stop vp the prospect of Agrippaâ—… house Ioseph Cabi y t son of Simon made high priest Albinus gouernour of Iudaea Ananus the son of Ananus the high priest Hedio Ruffinus cap. 16. al. 21. Ananus had fiue sons that succeeded him in the priesthood The â—…eare of the world 4025. after Christs birth 43. Iames the brother of â—…ur Lord stoned Ananus accused before Albinus Iesus the sonne of Damneus possesseth Aâ—…anus place Some forcibly gather the tenths of the â—…riests The yeâ—…re of the world 4026. after Christs birth 64. The theeues apprehend Ananias kinred and seruants Caesarea Philippi new builded by Agrippa and called Neronias The Berytianâ—… receiue much kindnes at Agrippas hands Ananias Costobarus and Saul prepared to spoile the weaker Hedio Ruffinus cap. 17. al. 22. Albinus executeth the hainous malefactors Agrippa giueth them of the tribe of Leuâ—… leaue to wâ—…are linnen garments Agrippa permitteth the ministers of the temple to sing the sacred hymnes The people of the Iewes beseech the king that it may be lawfull for theÌ„ to repaire the porch Matthias the sonne of Theophilus high priest The yeare of the world 4026. after Christs natiuitie 64 Hedio Ruffinus cap. 18. The succession and number of the hie priests among the Iewes Aaron and his progenie There were 83. high priests in all The yeare of the world 4026. after the Natiuitie of Christ. 64. Aristobulus slaine by Herode supra lib. 15. cap. 3. The yeare of the world 4028. after the birth of Christ. 66. Gessius Florus gouernour of Iudaea Gessius Floruâ—… worse then Albinus The yeare of the world 4030. after Christs birth 68. Florus the originall cause of the wars of the Iewes The beginning of the warres The Epilog of the Antiquitles of the Iewes The yeere of the world 4030. after Christs birth 68. Ioseph expert in the Greeke and Hebrew tongues This volume was written The yeare of the world 4057. after Christs birth 95. Iosephus Ilnage Ioseph the son
sithence the beginning of the world being compared with those the Iewes suffered are of no moment The Grecian Historiographers ouerpasse the wars of the Iewes with silence Who may rightly be called a Historiographer Antiochus Epiphanes the first author fountaine of the warres of the Iewes The Epiromâ—… of the warreâ—… of the Iewes The signes and changes after Neroes death Titus besiegeth Ierusalem The manners and sacrifices of the Iewes The humanity of thâ—… Romans towards the Iewes The burning of the temple and the ouerthrow of the citie The Romans triumph ouer the Iewes The cause why he wrote this historie The yeare of the world 3802 before Christs birth 162. Ant. li. 12. ca. 6. Antiochus being stirred vp by 〈◊〉 soâ—… inuadeth Iudaea and surpriseth Ierusalem Ant lib. 15. cap. 4. The yeare of thâ—… world 3802. before the birth of Christ. 162. The high priest Onâ—… flieth to Ptolomey Ant. lib. 1â—… cap. 7. Antiochus altereth the customes of the Iewes Bacchides crâ—…eltie towards the Iewes Ant. lib. 1. cap. 7. 8. Matthias confederated with others maketh warre againâ—… Antiochus Antiochus dieth and leaueth the kingdome to his sonne Antiochus who gathereth a huge power and inuadeth Iurie Ant. lib. 12. cap. 14. 15. Eleazar dieth being slaine bâ—… an Elephant Eleazar preferred honour before life The yeare of the world 3802. before Christs birth 162. Antiochus departing from Ierusalem leaueth sufficient garrison there Ant. lib. 12. cap. 18. ludas fighteth with Atiochuâ—… captains and is slaine Ant. li. 13. c2 1. The yeare of the world 3805. befoer Christs Natiuitie 159. Ionath as taken by Tryphons subtilue is slain Ant. lib. 15. cap. 9. The yeare of the world 3823. before Christs birth 141. Simon encouÌ„treth with Cendebeus ouercommeth him Ant. lib. 13. cap. 14. Simon by the treachery of his son in law Ptolemaeus is taken slaine Iohn otherwise called Hircanus the son of Simon The yeare of the world 3831. before the Natiâ—…itie of Christ. 133. Hircanus obtaineth the honour of the hie priesthood which his father had Ptolemaeus cruelty against Hircanus mother brethreÌ„ The yeare of thâ—… world 3831. before Christs birth 133. Ptolemaeus murthereth Hircanus mother and brethren The yeâ—… of the world 3839. before Christs birth 125. Antiochus vpon â—…e paimeÌ„t of three hundreth talents raiseth his siege Ant. lib. 13. cap 15. Aristobulus Antigonus besiege Sebaste Sebaste ouerthrowen and spoiled The seditios ouercome in warre Iohn after he had happily gouerned the countrey for 30. yeeres space dieth The yeare of the world 3861. before Christs birth 103. Ant. lib. 13. cap. 19. Aristobulus saÌ„misheth his mother Aristobulus loued Antigonus very deerly The yeare of the world 3861. afâ—… Christs birth 103. Antigonus in honour of his brother ascended vp into the temple Antigonus falsely accused to his brother Aristobulus commandeth his guard that if Antigonus came armed they should kil him The Queenes cunning Stratageme against Antigonus Antigonus suspecteth not his brother Iudas the prophet foretelleth Antigoâ—… death Aristobulus thorow the griefe he conceiued at his brothers death falleth sicke A seruant spilleth bloud in the same place where Antigoâ—…us was slaine The yeare of thâ—… world 3862. before the birth of Christ. 102. The eie of God discouereth euery sinne Aristobulus dieth milerably Ant lib. 13. cap 9. Alexander aduanced to the kingdome vâ—…eth much cruelty Alexander is ouerthrowne by Theodore The sedition of the Iewes against Alexander vpon a festiuall day Alexander assaileth the castle of Amathunt and raseth iâ—… Demetrius commeth to helpe y e Iewes Ant. lib. 13. cap. 20. The warre betwixt Demetrius and Alexander wherein Demetrius is conquerer The yeâ—…e of the world 3â—…62 before Christs birth 10â—… The Iewes reuolt from Deâ—…trius Aleâ—…aÌ„ders immoderate wrath who crucified eight hundreth captiues Alexander ceaseth from warre Alexander feareth Antiochus Demetriâ—…s brother The king of the Arabianâ—… inuadeâ—… Antiochus souldieâ—… vnawares The king of Arabia putteth Antiochus forces to flight and killeth a great number of them They of Damasco and Aâ—…ctas against Alexander Alexander sick of a quartane feuâ—…r Ant. lib. 13. cap. 2â—… Alexandra Alexanders wife thorow the opinion of vertue obtaineth the kingdome The yeare of thâ—… world 3862. before Christs Natiuitie 102. Hyrcanus first made high priest and afterwards king The Pharisees getting in fauour with the Queene are made her chief gouernours and enjoy all honours Alexandra willingly obeieth the Pharisees The Pharisees by their enuies and acculatioÌ„s are the death of many good men Aristobulus expostulâ—…teth with his mother Aristobulus proclaimeth himselfe king Alexandra imprisoneth Aâ—…stobulus wife and children The yeare of the world 3873 before the Natiâ—…itie of Christ. 95. Alexandra dieth and Hyrcanus succeedeth her in the kingdome Ant. lib. 14. cap. 1. The brethren contending for the kingdome are accorded vpon certaine conditions Ant. lib. 14. ca. 2. 3. 4 Antipater perswadeth Hyrcanus to flie to Aretas king of Arabia and to craue his assistance to recouer his kingdome The yeare of the world 3873 before Christs birth 95. Antipater with Hyrcanus flie from Ierusalem by night to Aretas king of Arabia Aretas furnisheth Hyrcanus with 50000 souldiers Scaurus captaine of the Romans The yeare of the world 3899. before Christs birth 65. Scaurus receibeth 300. talents from Atistobulus and commandeth the Arabians and Hyrcanus to depart out of the countrey Antipater and Hyreanus seek for Pompeies helpe Ant. lib. 14. cap. 6. 7. Pompey furnished both with the Syrians and Romane army setteth forth against Aristobulus Pompey commaundeth Aristobulus to descend Aristobulus resorteth to Pompey Aristobulus intendeth to fight with Pompey Hedio * Idumaea The yeare of the world 3903. before Christs birth 61. Pompey besiegeth Ierusalem Aristobulus humbly presenteth himselfe to Pompey Ant. lib. 14. cap. 7. 8. Pompey vieweth the citie which way it might most easily be battered Sedition within the citie betwixt Hircanus and Aristobulus friends Pompey his enter the citie and search the kings house Aristobulus with his frieÌ„ds flie to the temple Pompey filleth vp the trench and obserueth the seuenth day Pompey buildeth towers vpon his platformes The Iewes intermit not sacrifice in the midst and heat of the siege Twelue thousand Iewes slaine in the temple Pompey his followers enter the sanctuary Pompeies continencie Hyrcanus made hic priest The yeare of the world 3903 before Christs birth 61. Pompey causeth the chiefest conspirators to be beheaded Pompey deliuereth many goodly cities from the subiection of the Iewes Aristobulus his family caried to Rome Ant. lib. 14. cap 9. The Arabian is reconciled to Scaurus Ant. lib. 14. cap. 10. Alexander Aristobulus son gathereth a great power gainst Hyrcacanus The yeare of the world 3904 before the Natiuitie of Christs 60. Alexander gathereth 10000 footmen and 1500. horsmen Antipater with his forces goeth out to meet Alexanâ—…nder Alexander fighteth with his enemies and loseth sixe thousand men Marcus Antonius a captain What cities the Iewes receiued to inhabite The yeare of the world 3804. before Christs Natiuitie 60.
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—…
The yeare of the world 4014 after Christs birth 52. The souldier executed that burned the Bible A Galilean slaine in Samaria Eleazar and Alexander two princes of the Iewes exercise much crueltie Conspiracy in robbery Quadratus gouernour of Syria heareth the Samaritanes Iewes Quadratus giueth sentence betwixt the Iewes and Samaritanes The yeere of the world 4014. after Christs birth 52. Claudius sentence against some Samaritanes Cumanus and Celer Claudius dieth and Nero succeeded him The yeare of the world 4015. after the Natiuitie of Christ. 53. Nero killeth his brother his mother and wife The yeare of the world 4018. after Christs natiuitie 56. Ant. lib. 20. cap. 1â—… Felix surpriseth Eleazar the captaine of the theeues and many others and sendeth them bound to Rome Another sort of theeues who at 〈◊〉 daies went about the city to murther men Ionathas the high priest with many others slaine Ant. lib. 20. cap. 12. An Egyptian Prophet gathereth welny â—…0000 men Felix ouerthroweth the Egyptian The theeues and magitians work much mischiefe to many men The yeare of the world 4020. after the 〈◊〉 of Christ. 50. Ant lib. 20. cap. 13. A fight betweene the Iewes and Syrians about Caesarea Sedition and slaughter among the Iewes The yeare of the world 4024. after Chrisâ—… 〈◊〉 62. Ant lib. 20. cap 11. Albinus president of Iudaea full of all wickednes The seditious bribe Albinus to winke at their robberies The yeare of the world 4028. after Christs birth 66. Ant. lib. 20. cap. 16. Gessius Florus succeeded Albinus and proued worser then Albinus The couetousnes of Florus spoileth whole cities The yeare of the world 4018. after Christs birth 66. Cestius Gallus appeaseth the people and requireth a mitigation of Florus seueritie The beginning of the warre of the Iewes the 12. yeare of Neros raigne Ant. lib. 20. cap. 15. The causes of the warre of the Iewes The yeare of the world 4030. after Christs birth 68. Florus periury and decoit toward the Iewes The conflict of the Iewes with the Caesareans Florus imprisoneth twelue of the chiefest Iewes in Caesarea Another cause of warre raised by Florus The yeare of the world 4030. after Christs Natiuitie 68. Another occasion of the war Florus scorneth the gratulation of the Iewes Florus in his tribunal requireth them to be yeelded vnto him who had spoken ill of him The outrage of Florus soldiers Florus soldiers kill 630. Iewes in one day Berenice requi reth Florus to pacifie his displeasure against the Iewes The furie of the souldiers against Beroâ—… nice The people exclaime against Floruâ—… The yeare of the world 4030 after Christs birth 68. Florus renueth the discontents of the people Florus subtiltie and treason The exhortation of the priests and princes to the people The euent sheweth Florus intent counsel The slaughter of the Iewes The seditious for 〈◊〉 least Florus should seâ—…se their spoiles flie to the temple Florus taketh the spoiles and entreth the temple Florus seeing the Iewes inexpugnable in the temple surceaseth his violence and leauing a band behind him goeth to Caesarea The yeare of the world 403â—… after Christs birth 68. Cestus Gallus president of Syria coâ—…ulteth with the princes what were bestro be done Politianus is sent to Ierusalem and meeteth with Agrippa The multitude of the people go out to meet Agrippa and Politianus Politianus assembleth the people and inciteth them to peace and after returneth to Cestius The Iewes require the king y t there might be some embassadors sent to Rome to conplaine of Florus to Nero. Agrippas oration to the Iewes Agrippa striueth to make the common sort flexible attentiue The yeâ—…re of the world 4030. after Christs birth 68. It be hooueth to honour the magistrate and not to prouoke him by iniury Agrippa excuseth Caesar and the Romanes Depulsion of the Iewes libertie which they so vehemently seeke forâ—… The exaÌ„ple of the Athenians others who obey the Romane empire The Lacedemonians The Macedonians The comparison of the Romans force with the Iewes weaknes The Romans haue brought the whole world vnder their gouernment haue â—…ought another world beyond the Ocean The 〈◊〉 of the world 4030. after Christs Natiuitie 68. Fiftie Cities of Asia obey the Romans The defence of France The Spaniards subiect to the Romans The Germains mulâ—…de vertue and huge stature The Britaines subiect to the Romans The Parthians The Carthaginians made subiect by Scipâ—…os hands The Romans gouerne the Moores The yeare of the world 4030 after Christs birth 68. Alexandria acknowledgeth the power of the Romans Gods fauour towaâ—…ds the Romans The last argument that proueth the Iewes destitute of Gods mans helpe and vnapt to make warre Whilest the ship is yet in the Port it is good to preuent the â—…uture tempest Agrippas prophecie of the Iewes future miserie Agrippâ—… protesteth that hee hath omit ted no counsel that he thoght expedient for the Iewes The yeare of the world 4030. after the birth of Christ. 68. Agrippa the king is by the people driuen out of the citie with stones The Iewes refuse Caesars sacrifices for the prosperitie of the Romanâ—… Against those who refuse forrain sacrifices None of the seditious gaue eare to those that were in authoritie Embassadours sent to Florus and Agrippa against the seditious The yeare of the world 4030. after Câ—…sts birth 68. Warre in Ierusalem between thâ—… seditious and those that â—…auored peace Xylophoria aâ—…east The kings souldiers are ouercome The Iews take Antonia and burne it Manahemus the chiefe of y t rebels giues the kings faction and friends licence to depart The Romans forsaking the Stratopedon flie into the Kings sortes The yeare of the world 4030. after Chrâ—…sts birth 68. The death of Ananias the high priest and Ezechias his brother Eleazars followers assault Manahem in the Temple Manahem with the princes slaine The Romans vnable any â—…on ger to resist yeeld themselues The Romanâ—… against all couenant law are all slaine saue Metiliâ—… Slaughter on the Sabaoth day The yeere of the world 4030. after Christs birth 68. The Iewes spoyle the villages and burn the Cities of Syria Al Syria full of miserable calamities Iewes against Iewes The Scythopolitans kill thirteene thousand Iewes Simon daily killeth many of his countrimen in Scythopolis The yeare of thâ—… world 4030. after the birth of Christ. 68. Simon killeth his parents his wife and children and at last himselfe An other slaughter of the Iewes The cities in armes against the Iewes Varus killeth 70. Iewes in in their iourney The Romans yeeld vp theiâ—… castle in Marichunte to the Iewes Sedition in 〈◊〉 betweene thâ—… Greeks and Ieweâ—… The yeere of the world 4030. after Christs birth 68. Tiberius Alexander exhorteth the seditious Iewes to keepe peace A cruell victorie wherein 〈◊〉 thousand Iewes are slaine Huge companies of the Romans Zâ—…bulon 〈◊〉 strong Citie of Galilee spoiled and burnt The Iewes kill two thousand Syrians The Romans take Ioppe and burne it and kill eight thousand and foure hundreth 〈◊〉 â—…nd
most incident to this purpose For although he knew that vvhich should befall him and that his death vvas at hand according as it had beene foretold him yet resolued he not to auoid the same neither so loued he his life that for the conseruation thereof he vvould deliuer vp his people into the hands of their enimies nor dishonour his royall dignitie but himselfe vvith his children and all his household exposed themselues to daunger thinking it more honourable to die vvith them in fighting for his subiects and farre more expedient that his children should die like valiant men then to leaue them aliue in incertitude of estate whereinto they might fall supposing that hee should haue sufficient successours of his race if he left behind him a perpetuall memorie and praise both of him and his For which cause in my opinion he was both iust strong and prudent and if anie one either is or hath beene like vnto him I suppose that it becommeth all men to giue testimony of such a mans vertue For I thinke that the Historians and ancient Writers haue not worthily entituled them with the stile of valiant men who attaining some worthie actions attempted warre vnder assured hope of victorie and safetie but they only that imitate Saul may deseruedly be called iust praise-worthie couragious hardie and contemners of all dangers For what great thing is there in vndertaking the common hazard of warre and tossing twixt hope and feare to vse fortunes fauour if she fawne vpon vs but contrariwise I count it an assured signe of a valiant man when as without conceit of hope of any goodnes and knowing his death at hand and assured in his conflict is not affraid nor dismaid with such apprehensions but seeketh out with an inuincible courage his most assured hazard This is the praise of our Saul who is an example to all true louers of glory that if they haue regard to leaue an honest memory to their posterity they should vpon the like opportunitie propose the same resolution to themselues but in especiall kings who by reason of the excellencie of their degree ought not onely forbeare to be euill but also striue to be excellently vertuous I could likewise say more of this generous argument of Sauls valour but least I should seeme too affectionate I will returne to our former purpose After that the Philistines were thus encamped according as hath beene afore-spoken and had numbred their forces according to their nations kingdomes and gouernments king Achis issued in the rereward with his particular companie whom Dauid followed accompanied with his sixe hundreth soldiers whom when the chieftaines of the Philistines beheld they asked the king whence those Hebrewes came and what their leaders name was Who answered thē that it was Dauid who fled from Saul his master and how he had entertained him being fled from him againe how Dauid in recompence of the good he had receiued at his hand and to reuenge him on Saul was readie to fight for them against him But the chieftaines blamed him because he had chosen an enemie for his associate counselling him to dismisse him for feare least he should secretly performe some straunge stratageme against his confederates because said they he hath a fit opportunitie to reconcile himselfe to his master They therefore willed him to send Dauid backe vvith his sixe hundreth souldiers vnto the place vvhich he had giuen him to inhabite because it was the same Dauid of whom the damsels made songs singing in praise of him that he had slain many thousand Philistines When the king of Geth vnderstood these things he thought their counsell to be laudable for which cause calling Dauid vnto himhe said vnto him I protest vnto thee said he that I beare a most singular affection and good liking towards thee and for that cause I haue called thee out to assist vs in this battel but our captaines allow not of my resolution for which cause retire thy selfe to the place which I haue giuen thee without conceiuing any euil suspitiō of me There shalt thou be in garrison to forestal the enemie from foraging our country and in so doing thou shalt partly assist vs in the warre Herupon Dauid departed vnto Siceleg according as the king had commaunded him But during the time that Dauid was in campe and attended on the Philistines warre the Amalechites arose and tooke Siceleg by force and burned the Citie and after they had gathered a great bootie both in that place and in other villages of the Philistines countrey they retired backe againe Now when Dauid arriued at Siceleg and found it wholy ruined and spoiled and seeing likewise that his two wiues and the wiues of his companions were prisoners togither with their children he presently rent his rayment and began to weepe and lament with his companions yea so much was he afflicted that he had scarce any teares left him to bemone himselfe beside this his companions amated with the captiuitie of their wiues and children were readie to stone him to death accusing him that he was the cause of all that which had hapned But when as his griefe was after a manner aslaked and he somwhat returned to himself he lifted vp his heart vnto God and commaunded the high Priest Abiathar to put on the Ephod and aske counsaile of God and that done to declare vnto him whether by his assistance he might ouertake the Amalechites if so be he should pursue them and whether he should recouer his wiues and children that they had led away and reuenge him of his enemies As soone as the high Priest had certified him that he might pursue them he sallied out with sixe hundreth soldiers and pursued the enemie and drawing neere vnto the riuer he found a certaine stragler an Egyptian by nation wholy discomforted and feeble thorow want and famine wherewith he was pressed hauing for three daies space wandred in the desart without any sustenance whom after he had refreshed with meate and drinke and recomforted he asked him to whom he belonged and what he was The Egyptian told him his nation and how he had beene left in that place by his master because that thorow his weaknes it was impossible for him to follow them He consessed likewise that his master was one of the number of those that had burned and sacked not onely other quarters of Iudea but Siceleg also Dauid taking this man for his guide ouertooke them finding some of them lying on the earth others banquetting and following drunkennesse and almost sencelesse by ouerdrinking so recouering both his booty and pillage and sodainly setting vpon them he made a great slaughter For they being naked and suspecting no such inconuenient and wholy addicted to frolicke drinking and feasting were all of them easily defeated diuers likewise amongst them were slaine as they sate at their meat others likewise were slaughtered whilest they carroused the one vnto the other and some
Iudaea But it so came to passe that the power and expectation which all men had of Herod was the cause of Antipater his fathers death For Malichus being hereby put in feare hired one of the kings officers for a certaine sum of money to poison Antipater by which means he died being thus vniustly rewarded for his good will toward wretched Malichus He was a worthy man and fit to gouerne who had recouered the kingdome being lost for Hyrcanus Malichus who perceiued that the people were incēsed against him because they suspected that he had poisoned Antipater pacified and moderated their displeasure by denying the fact yet to the intent he might be stronger he gathered about him a guard of armed men for he thought that Herod would not let the matter slip so but that he would presently come with an army to reuenge his fathers death But by the counsell of his brother Phasaelus who sent him word that he should not openly be reuenged vpon Malichus least a sedition might arise amongst the people he patiently permitted it so to be and suffered Malichus to purge himselfe and permitted him to be freed from suspition and celebrated a most solemne funerall for his father which done he went vnto Samaria and appeased the sedition wherewithall the Citie was disquieted After this he returned to Ierusalem intending in that place to celebrate the festiuitie sending certaine of his armed men before him and appointing the rest to accompanie him But Malichus who feared this approch of his had sollicited Hyrcanus to giue order that no strangers should intermingle themselues among the people who were at that time purified But Herod contemning both him that commanded and his commission entred the Citie by night whereupon Malichus once more came vnto him and wept for Antipater Herod although he could verie hardly bridle his displeasure yet dissembled he the same and sent letters vnto Cassius wherein he complained of his fathers death the memorie of whose hate being refreshed by this offence he writ againe vnto Herod willing him to reuenge his fathers death which that he might the better effect he secretly commanded the captaines of his regiment that they should assist Herode Now for that after the surprisall of Laodicea all the best of the Citie came to Herod bringing gifts and crownes he appointed this for a fit time of his intended reuenge Now Malichus suspecting that Herod would worke reuenge at Tyre purposed secretly to get away his sonne who was there a pledge and he himselfe purposed to flie into Iudaea But despaire of his owne safetie vrged him to greater matters for he hoped to incite the Iewes to take armes against the Romans for that Cassius was now busie in the wars against Antonius so that he thought he might easily depose Hyrcanus and so make himselfe king But he was preuented by the destinies for Herode suspecting his purpose inuited him and Hyrcanus to supper at which time he made a shew as though he had sent one of his seruants to cause a banquet to be prepared but indeed he sent him to the captaines to foretell them that they mightlie in waite for Malichus who remembring what charge Cassius gaue them came foorth of the Citie vnto the shore next adioyning vnto the towne all armed with swords where compassing Malichus round about they killed him with many wounds Hyrcanus hereat astonished fell in a swoun being scarcely come to himselfe he demaunded who killed Malichus One of the captaines answered that Cassius gaue that commandement whereupon he answered truly Cassius hath preserued me and my countrey in killing him who was a traitor to vs both but whether herein he spake as he thought or that for feare he approued the fact it is vncertaine And thus was Herod reuenged vpon Malichus CHAP. X. How Herod was accused and reuenged AFter Cassius was departed from Syria there arose another sedition amongst them in Ierusalem for Felix came with an armie against Phasaelus thinking so to be reuenged vpon Herod for killing Malichus It chanced that Herod at that time was at Damascus with Fabius a Romane Captaine who comming to assist Phasaelus by the way fell sick so that he could not succour him but it so fel out that Phasaelus without any helpe did of himselfe ouercome Felix and therewithall reproued Hircanus as vngratefull who had both fauoured Felix and suffered Malichus his brother to take and keepe his castles for alreadie had he seazed many of them and especially one of greatest strength called Massada yet all these did not protect him from the violence of Herod who was no sooner recouered of his sicknesse but presently tooke all the rest Massada and at Hircanus humble suit permitted him to depart from thence He also chased Marion the tyrant of the Tyrians out of Galilee who occupied three castles in that country as for all the Tyrians that he tooke he spared their liues sent some away with rewards whereby he got the good will of the citie and the hatred of the Tyrant This Marion was made Tyrant of Tyria by Cassius who through the means of such like instruments had gotten into his hand all Syria Marion for the hatred he bare to Herod tooke with him Antigonus Aristobulus his son by Fabius his means whom Antigonus had gained vnto himselfe for money he also got Ptolomaeus to assist him in this expedition Now Ptolomaeus who was father in law to Antigonus furnished him with al necessaries Herod likewise preparing himselfe against them gaue thē battel in the entrance into Iudaea got the victory hauing put Antigonus to flight he returned into Ierusalē where he was honoured by all men for his desert in that victory so that euen they that before despised him by reason of his affinity newly contracted with Hyrcanus sought his friendship and familiarity This Herod long before this time had a wife which was a noble woman of that countrey named Doris had by her a son named Antipater but he thē maried Mariamme Alexanders daughter who was Aristobulus his son Hyrcanus his neece by reason whereof he came to be familiar with the king But when Cassius was slaine neere vnto Philippi Caesar departed into Italy Antonius into Asia at which time the chiefe of the Iewes came accused Phasaelus and Herod alledging that they by force got vnto themselues the rule disposition of the country and left Hyrcanus only the bare name of a king But Herod being thē present so woon wrought himselfe into Antonius fauour by a great sum of mony that he permitted not his enemies to speak one word more who thereupon returned home Afterward a hundreth men of the most honorable amongst the Iewes repaired to Daphne neere Antiochia vnto Antonius now doting on the loue of Cleopatra who being chosen from amongst the rest because of their eloquence nobility of birth propounded an accusation against the two brethren
our God giueth vs more courage to suffer then thou hast to punish and so the precept of God remaineth firme in vs. And as he thus spake one tooke holde of his tongue with a hot paire of tongs and he suffering the same torments that his brethren had done and fried in a frying pan he gaue vp the Ghost Sixe of the brethren being now dead by diuersitie of torments onely one of the seuen remained aliue with his mother named Iacob younger in yeeres but not in constancie of minde then the rest of his brethren hee presenting himselfe before the tyrant moued him to compassion both for that he was left alone and the last of his brethren and also that he was to perish wherefore he called the child vnto him and into a place where no instruments of torment were and taking him by the hand he said thus vnto him hoping to winne him by faire speeches By thy brethrens calamitie thou now well hast learned what is prepared for thee if thou disobey me deliuer thy selfe therfore from these torments I will giue thee what honour my kingdome can affoord thou shalt be a Magistrate and generall of my armie and one of my councellors But perceiuing himselfe not to preuaile he caused the young mans mother to be called vnto him who comming and standing neere her sonne the tyrant said thus vnto her Where are now O worthie woman all thy children Behold of such a number if thou please the destinie affoords thee one aduise therefore thy child and mollifie his obstinate minde by wholesome corunsell The mother hauing heard what the king said she enclined her selfe vnto the king which done that the king might not vnderstand her she spake in Hebrew to her child as followeth Pitie thy mother O sonne and comfort thy sorrowfull mother who bare thee nine moneths in my wombe and gaue thee sucke three yeeres and with great industrie haue brought thee vpto this age I pray thee deare sonne consider the heauen and earth and al that in them is and know that God created them all of nothing who also of nothing made mankind Feare not this Ethnicks paines and torments but imitate thy brethren and contemne death that in the day of mercie I may receiue thee and thy brethren againe in heauen As his mother thus admonished him he in the Hebrew tongue requested to be vnbound for that he had a secret to disclose vnto the king who being vnlettered he presently ranne to the torments prepared for there was a frying pan red hot that was prepared for such as were to suffer vnto the which the child comming remembring his brethren beholding also the king he said vnto him Cruell tyrant I now know thee not onely to haue beene cruell against my brethren but euen crueltie itselfe Wretch that thou art who gaue thee this purple and who exalted thee to this kingdom dignitie euen he whom thou in vs dost persecute whose seruants and worshippers thou killest and tormentest for which thy wickednes thy selfe shall suffer eternal fire and torments which shall haue no end Thou art of higher dignitie authority in this world then other men yet he that made other men made thee also of the same nature that they are of al men are borne must die alike He that killeth another sheweth that himselfe may bee killed thou tearest and tormentest thy owne picture and image all in vaine thou in thy furie killest him whom not long since God created like thy selfe and according to the same law thou thinkest all lawfull which thy kingly power can commaund thou pullest out our tongues and tearest our bodies with fleshhookes and consumest vs with fire but they who haue alreadie suffered this haue receiued euerlasting ioy for their reward and thou shalt anuswere for all the punishment inflicted vpon them Thinke not that I expect any fauour at thy hands I will follow my brethren and remaine constant in our law The tyrant hearing thi swas wroth and caused him to be tormented but his mother in torment comforted him and with her kind hands held his head when with violence of the tortures bloud issued out of his mouth nose and priuie parts the tormentors not ceasing till life in him was almost spent but they by Gods appointment gaue ouer and so he tooke strength againe to endure more then any of his brethren had done at last his hands and armes being cut off he lifted vp his eies to heauen and cried O Adonai O Sabaor be mercifull vnto me and receiue me into the companie of my brethren let thy wrath now cease and grant them mercie who by vs doe make intercession to thee hauing said thus his tongue being pulled out he of his owne accord went into the fierie frying pan and so to the great admiration of Antiochus died Behold how euident it is that reason can rule our affections seeing that children hereby shewed more constancie then the tyrant could shew crueltie For it was reasons force that wrought in them that determination to suffer all torments rather then to forsake the way of saluation These constant young men doe fitly resemble inexpugnable towers and them who after a great tempest and shipwracke doe safely enter the harbour of saluation who guiding their course amidst the boysterous waues at last obtaine the wished shoare For euerie one of them strengthened the other by aduice and good counsaile and none of them was like an effeminate person loath to suffer martyrdome None vsed delay herein but one followed an others example Let vs therefore die for our law and imitate the three children whom the Assyrians fury condemned to the fierie furnace whose patience spread their fame euen vnto heauen Whilst thus one of them exhorted the other it came to passe that none of them offended but each one resolute in his religion tooke example of the vertue courage and constancie of their forefather Isaac who vnderstanding that it was Gods will he should be sacrificed he refused not to submit his bodie to his fathers sword Let vs quoth they yeeld our soules to him of whom we receiued both soule and bodie It is a small matter for vs to suffer losse of these members seeing that we shall in lieue of them receiue euerlasting blisse Abraham Isaac and Iacob doe ioyfully expect vs as coheires of their kingdome let vs glorifie that wombe wherein we were for ten moneths space let none of vs be more coward then the other nor none of vs degenerate from the other Wee that were all begotten of one father and sucked of one milke must in all things resemble one another wee had one teacher and one law inuiolate And in this golden bond of concord were these brethren linked togither and none of them mourned to see the other tormented but all reioyced at the others death O children whose dignitie farre surpasseth the royaltie of Kings and Princes whose glory and vertue is
c. neglecteth the Prophets counsell ibid. surprised 154. l m. his eies put out 255. a. his death ib. f. Sedition against Moses 73. a. 76. m. 80. k l. of Chore for the priesthood 77. b c d. Sedition against Roboam 206. l. 243. f. of the Samaritans against the Iewes 288. h i. among the people 302. i. of the Iewes 480. g. betwixt Senat and people 503. f. Sedition at the passeouer 452. l. betweene the Iewes and Samaritans 519. f. for the golden Eagle 608. h. in Ierusalem 610. h. 6â—…3 b 〈◊〉 betweene Greekes and Iewes 635. c. a threefold sedition 697. e. tooke the Citie 709. a. Seditious more impious then the Sodomites 724. h. Seditious 623. b c. beaten 618. g. bribe Albinus 623. d. flie to the temple and why 629. l. gaue not eare to those in authoritie 631. f. put the Romans to flight 662. l. agree among themselues 700. l m. 710. h. challenge the sodden childe 734 l. summon Titus to parley 739. f. take away the kings treasure 741. c d. their vtmost hope 742. g. kept in Acra and in Vaults 743. a. Seed of the woman 4. l. shall bruise the serpents head ib. l. Seeds at first grew out of the earth 3. d. Seeds not to be mixed togither 92. l. Sehon king of the Amorites denieth passage to the Hebrewes 82. i. ouerthrowne by them ibid. l m. is slaine 83. a. Seir what it signifies 21. a. Seir Esaus dwelling place 26. l. Seleucus Nicanor priuiledgeth the Iewes 295. d. Selecus Soter raigneth in Asia 302. g. Sem Noahs third sonne 9. a. couereth his fathers shame 11. 〈◊〉 his progenie ibid. d. Semechoâ—…tis a lake 667. b. Semiramis built not Babylon 772. h. Senaar a plaine 9. a. Senabarus one of the fiue kings of Assyria 13. e. Senacherib surpriseth the Cities of Iuda 245. b. besiegeth Ierusalem ibid b c. his army striken with the pestilence 246. k. himselfe slaine ib. Senate perswadeth Claudius to resigne 503. b. Senates decree c. 360. m. Senates answere to Agrippa 620. g. their repaire to Claudius 620. i. Sencelesnesse of Achaz 242. g. Sentence against Herods sonnes 596. m. Sephora Moses wife 46. m. Sephoris walied 464. i. spoyled 551. d. entertaineth the Romans 636. m. Sepulchre of Dauid 190. g. of Memnon 618. l. Serpents tempting of Eua 4. i. his subtiltie ibid. h. his punishment ib. m. 5. a. enemy to man 4. m. wherin his strength lieth and how easily killed ibid. m. Serpents verie hurtfull destroyed 44. i k. Seruants of Elizeus 227. b. Seruants of Salomon happie and why 203. c. Seruant of Abraham taketh his oth 19. d. his praier and eare in discharge of his message 19. c. 20. g h i k. Seruiâ—…e of God neglected 242. h. Seruice of forraine Gods 204. i k. 237. d. 242. h. Seruice of Antipater 577. c. Seruices of the Gabeonites 104. k. Seruitude of the Egyptians great 40. k. of the Hebrewes insupportable 41. c. 46. g l. 47. c. Seruitude of the Israelites 113. d. and why ibid. e. 114. g. m. 715. a. c. Seth sonne of Adam 6. h. a vertuous man ibid. h. left a godly issue ibid. h. his age and death 7. b. Sethosis king of Egypt 770. Seuen men of Sauls kinred punished 1â—…2 k. Seuentie Iewes with Iohn and Simon sent into Italy 750. h. Seuentie interpreters 293. b. 785. a. Seueritie of Herode 407. a. Sextus Caesar gouernour of Syria 362. g. writeth in Herodes behalfe ibid. l. selfeth the presidents place 363. b. slaine 366. g. 572. k. Sheepshearing of Nabal 152. h. of Absalon 172. m. Shewes at Caâ—…sarea 746. i. Ships of Salomon 203. e. of Iosaphat c. 224. i. Shipwracke of Iosephus 530. l. Siba manureth Mephiboseths lands 168. h. accuseth him getteth his goods 180. i k. Siba sonne of Bochri 181. incenseth the people to rebellion 181. c. besieged by Ioab 182. g. his punishment ibid. h. Sibils prophecie of Babel 9. c. Sicarians 755. d. besieged 756. i. authors of new calamitie 761. e. taken 762. g. Sichama Iosuahs habitation 108. k. Sichem defloureth Dina 26. m. desireth to marrie her ibid. m. is slaine 27. a. Sichemites slaine 27. a. Sichemites constitute Abimelech their ruler 116. c. banish him 118. h. are slaine and their Citie sackt ibid. k l m. c. Sicknes of Ieroboams sonne 210. i. Sicknes of Ochozias 224. k. Sicknes of Ioram 130. k l. Sicknes of Adad 229. f. Sicknes of Ezechias 246. m. Sicknes of Herode 447. d. Sicle 66. g. Siege of Ierusalem 164. g. 245. a 〈◊〉 deferred 689. d. Signes of the law 91. c. Signe of Ezechias recouerie 257. a b. Signes before the destruction of Ierusalem 738. i k. c. 739. a. c. Signe of a true historie 766. g h. Signification of the golden head 259. c. Silas captaine of the kings guard 552. m. Silas groweth into hatred 509. a. Silon corrupted with money 376. g. Silua besiegeth Massada 756. i. Simei pardoned 190. g. punished 192. g h. Simeon the sonne of Iacob 24. i. why so called ibid. i. he and Leui slew the Sichemites 27. a. left as a pledge with Ioseph 35. d e. his sonnes 39. e f. Similitude 117. f. 271. a b 685. c. Simon succoureth the Galileans 309. e. taketh Bethsura 328. l. declared high Priest 331. c d. animateth the people against Tryphon ibid. c. his authoritie 332. m. raceth the Castle of Ierusalem 333. a. maketh warre against Antiothus 333. f. 334. g. traiterously slaine 334. h. 560. k. Simon degraded 442. i. Simon affecteth the crowne 456. k l. 611. b. Simons counsel against Ioseph 540. k. m. Simon the Galilean 614. l. deuiser of a sect ibid. Simon killeth many of his countrimen 634. l. m. his parents wife c. 635. a. Simon the sonne of Giora committeth rapines and murders 644. g h. Simon of Garasa 690. g. assembleth the theeues ibid. spoyleth Idumaea 691. b c. assaulteth the temple 693. a. his campe 708. l m. apprehended 744. m. 746. l. kept for the triumph ibid drawen through Rome with a halter 751. d. Singing looke song Single combate 142. h. Sinne escapes not vnpunished 153. a. Sinnes of the Iewes against the law 716. g h. Sinne cannot escape Gods Iustice 746. m. Sisara captaine of Iabins host 115. a. put to flight and slaine ibid. d e. Situation of the land of the Amorites 83. b. Situation of the higher Calilee 646. k. Situation of Iotapata 651. c. Situation of Gamala 667 c. Situation of Massada 755. d. Sixe thousand Iewes consumed with fire 738. g. Skirmish of the Romans with the Iewes 610. i k. Skirmish betweene the Galileans and Romans 656. m. Skirmish of Simon and Iohn 698. h i. Slaughter one of another 117. d. 137. d. 224. h. Slaughter on the Sabboth day 633. f. Slauerie of the Hebrewes see seruitude Slaughter of Achimelech and his familie 149. c d. Slaughter of Ochozias seruants 233 a. Slaughter of Baals priests 233. d. Slaughter of Azarias 420. g.