temples also some are desolate others newly erected as men pleased Whereas contrariwise they ought most constantly to keepe their opinion of God and his religion Appolonius Molon was one of these prowd fooles but those Grecians that followed true Philosophie knew all that is already said and the colde reasons of this allegorie and therefore did iustly despise them and agreed with vs in the true and decent opinion of gods nature Which Plato well seeing affirmeth that Poets are not to be permitted in a common wealth and sendeth Homer away verie honourably crowned and annointed least that he with fables should destroy or depraue the true opinion of God For Plato of all others especially imitated our law-maker as he did herein also commanding all his Citizens that all of them should perfectly learne his lawes and that for no casualtie any strange forraine custome should be admitted into their Citie but that their common wealth should be pure and they persist in the obseruation of their lawes But Appolonius Molon not respecting this inueigheth against vs for not receiuing into our societie men of strange opinions or religion whereas not onely we doe so but commonly all Greekes yea and the most prudent amongst them The Lacedemonians did expell all strangers and did not permit their Citizens to trauell into other countries fearing that by both these waies their lawes might be corrupted They therefore are to be spoken against rather then we seeing they neither admit strangers to conuerse with them nor to inhabite amongst them no nor impart their religion vnto them but we though not desirous to learne other nations religigion yet doe we not denie to impart ours to strangers that desire to embrace it which if I be not deceiued is a token of magnanimitie and clemencle in vs but this shall suffice concerning the Lacedemonians Apollonius was ignorant how matters stood with the Athenians who boast that their citie is free for all nations for they did most seuerely and without all mercy punish those that did but speak any word against their God For what was the cause of Socrates his death he neither betraied the city to enemies nor destroyed their temples but onely swore by a strange oath which as he said whether in iest or in earnest a diuell taught him and for this offence was he put to death by drinking hemlocke his accusers alledging that he corrupted young men and contemned the lawes and religion of his countrey And this Socrates sustained being a citizen of Athens Anaxagoras was of Clazomenia and for that he affirmed the sunne which the Athenians worshipped for God to be a fierie stone he was by the sentence of some few condemned to die They also proclaimed that whosoeuer would kill Diagoras of Melus should be rewarded with a talent for his labour onely for that this Diagoras was said to deride their misteries Protagoras also had beene by them taken and put to death had he not made quicke escape onely for that they supposed him to haue written certaine doubts of the Athenian Gods And what wonder is it that they so vsed these famous men who spared not to vse the like crueltie vpon women For they killed a priest for that some accused her to worship straunge Gods and their law appointed that who so did introduce straunge Gods into their citie should be punished with death It is therefore euident that they who enacted such streight lawes did not beleeue the Gods of other nations to be Gods for had they beleeued in them they would not haue depriued themselues of the benefit of many Gods The verie Scithians who delight in manslaughter so that they verie little differ from bruit beasts yet do they thinke themselues bound to maintaine their owne lawes as best so that they slew Anacharsis a famous Greeke that came vnto them onely for that he seemed to attribute too much vnto the Grecian Gods yea thou maist find many amongst the Persians who for this cause haue beene tortured And it is euident that Appolonius approued the Persian lawes for when the Greeks admited their fortitude and concord of opinions concerning God I meane the fortitude they shewed in the burning of their temples this Appolonius in all things imitated the Persians violating other mens wiues and putting out their childrens eies Whereas our lawes adiudge him to death that so vseth vnreasonable beasts And neither the feare and terrour of potentates nor the fauour of them whom all men reuerence could euer cause vs to forsake or abandon these lawes neither do we exercise fortitude to the end to depriue other men of their goods and fortunes by warre but to keepe our owne lawes and we who patiently put vp all other iniurie yet if any man do in our religion prouoke vs we presently seeke reuenge not respecting our owne abilitie yea though thereby we worke our owne vtter ruine and calamitie What therfore should moue vs to imitate the lawes of other nations when they that made those lawes yea euen the lawmakers themselues did transgresse them Or how can the Lacedemonians auoid reproch for their inhospitalitie neglecting mariage Or the Elians and Thebans for accompaning with men contrarie to the law of nature which fact most shamefull they deemed good necessary Yea not content to do so themselues they also ascribed the like vnto their gods to be done by them which the Greeks also now of late haue done for this cause they refused to marry with their own women iudging their satisfaction to be contrarie to the prescript of nature But I wil speak no more of punishment neither how great malefactors those first lawmakers freed from punishment being bribed with mony how vniust they were in the lawes appertaining to wedlock It is long to examine how great occasions of impietie they gaue For many haue alreadie long ago forsaken their lawes which cannot be said of vs who for our lawes haue suffered losse of our cities fortunes and liues we keeping and persisting in our lawes euen vnto death if any Iew be in a straunge countrey where there is a tyrant king yet doth not he so feare him that he would for his commaund any iot transgresse our lawes if therefore we do valorously endure thus much for our lawes all men must needs grant our lawes to be verie good but if they say we suffer all these calamities for to maintaine wicked or naughtie lawes what punishment are they not worthie of who hauing as they say better lawes then we do so easily forsake them whereas we do maintaine ours euen with our owne liues But seeing antiquitie of lawesis the greatest argument to prone their goodnes I will set downe of what antiquitie our lawes are together with our law-makers opinion of the Dietie if therefore any one compare our lawes with the lawes of all nations he shall find that ours are of more antiquitie then theirs
bread of twentie foure Assars of flower and those loaues they baked two by two the day before the Sabboth and the day of the Sabboth in the morning they bring it and set it on the sacred Table opposing sixe to sixe the one against the other and vpon them are imposed two platters full of incense and these things remaine after this maner till the next Sabboth and then set they new in the place of the first which are giuen to the Priests for their maintenance The incense is cast into the sacred fire in which the burnt offerings are consumed and in place thereof there is new incense put The Priest also sacrificeth on his owne charge flower mingled with oyle and a little baked by fire and this doth he twise euerie day and bringeth to the fire halfe an Assar of flower in the morning and the other halfe in the euening But I will entreat hereof more expresly hereafter for the present me thinks I haue sufficiently spoken already Moses separated the tribe of Leui and exempted them from the other people to the end they might be consecrated vnto God and he purified them with liuing fountaine water and purged them with solemne sacrifice and committed the Tabernacle to their charge with all the holy things pertaining therunto and all the rest which had bin made for the couer of the Tabemacle to the end they might be ministers to the Priests their superiours who were already consecrated to God After this he distinguished the beasts also namely those that were to be eaten froÌ„ those which were to be forborne and abstained from of which we will speak at such time as occasion is offered vs and will bring proofes and the reason which induced him to ordaine that some were proper to feede vpon and for what cause he would that we should abstaine from other some He hath generally interdicted all vse of bloud in meates esteeming the bloud to be the soule and spirit of beasts He hath also generally prohibited to eat the flesh of those beasts that died by theÌ„selues likewise the caule and fat of goates of sheepe and oxen He thrust them likewise out of the company and conuersation of men who were leprous such as were troubled with the fluxe of their seed And as touching women that haue their sicknesse he sequestred them for the space of seuen dayes after which it was lawfull for them to conuerse indifferently the one with the other The like decreed he of those that had assisted the buriall of a dead man whom he permitted to conuerse with other after seuen dayes were expired It was a thing also decreed by law that he that was surprised with vncleannesse and vnpurified beyond the number of those dayes he should sacrifice two Wethers one of which should bee purified and the other giuen to the Priests The like sacrifice is made for him that hath had vnnaturall pollution who first washeth himselfe in cold water The like must they offer that haue vse of their lawfull wiues Hee altogether droue the leprous out of the citie not permitting them to frequent any mans companie but esteeming them as men little differing from the dead And if any one by his prayers made vnto God was deliuered from this disease and his skin reduced to his natiue colour such a one presented himselfe before God in diuers oblations and sacrifices of which wee will speake hereafter For which cause they are worthy to be laughed at who say that Moses fled out of Aegypt because he was a leper and that he conducted with him other such as were trauelled with that disease and brought them into the land of Canaan For if that were true Moses had not made these ordinances to his owne preiudice which if other had proposed it behooued him to haue opposed himselfe against them especially since amongst diuers other nations there are lepersâ—… who are held in great honour and who are so far from disdaine and contempt as that they haue beene made Generals of most notable armies and elected for Gouernours of common-weales hauing libertie to enter the Temples and to be present at the sacrifices What therefore hindred Moses if he had beene polluted with the like hatefull sicknesse to make such lawes and ordaine such statutes among those people who honoured and obeyed him whereby such as were therewith infected might be preferred By which it is manifest that those things that are obiected against him are rather of malice then probability But Moses being cleane from such sickenesse and conuersing amongst his countrimen which were vntainted made these ordinances for them that were sicke hauing regard to the honour of God But of these things let each man censure as best liketh him He forbad that women should enter into the Temple after their deliuerance or to assist the sacrifice vntill fortie dayes were expired if they had beene brought a bed of a sonne but if it were a daughter he willed that the number of the dayes should be doubled and that when they should enter they should present their offerings vnto God and to the Priests that offered them And if any one suspected that his wife had committed adultery hee brought an Assar of grinded barley and cast a handfull thereof before God and the rest was reserued for the maintenance of the Priests and then the Priest placing the woman in the porch which is right ouer against the Temple and taking the couer from her head writeth the name of God vpon a skinne and maketh her sweare that she hath not plaid false with her husband and wish if she had transgressed thè bounds of chastity that her right thigh might be put out of ioint her womb might rot and that death might follow thereupon but if through entire loue and iealousie proceeding therefro her husband had beene inconsiderately drawne into that suspition that she might within ten moneths bring forth a male child And after such an oath ministred vnto her the Priest wipeth out the name of God that was written on the skinne and wringeth it into a viall and then taking of the earth of the Temple according as he findeth it and hauing mingled the same giueth it the woman to drinke and if she hath beene vniustly accused she continueth with child and beareth her fruit her full time but if she hath falsified her faith to her husband forsworn herselfe before God then dieth she a shameful death for her thigh is nummed her wombe growes full of water See here how Moses hath prouided for these sacrifices at the purifying of a woman He furthermore made these lawes which ensue He generally forbad adulterie iudging it to be a great good hap if men demeaned themselues honestly in mariageÌ„ that both in politique estates and priuate families it was a thing most profitable that children should be borne in lawfull matrimonie The law also forbiddeth a man to haue the
at length they should too lately and vnprofitably repent them of their errour yet that God their establisher should restore Cities to the Citizens and a Temple to his people And that it should come to passe that they should not lose this only one time but also very many times Then did Moses also exhort Iesus that he should lead his army against the Chanaanits promising him that God would be assistant in his actions prophecying besides much good hap vnto the people Since that saith he I go vnto mine ancestors and that God hath prefixed this day and time of my departure I protest before you that liuing as yet and standing in your presence I giue him thanks for the care and prouidence which he hath hitherto had of your affaires not onely in propulsing your aduersaries but also in largely imparting his blessings vnto you and for that he hath alwaies fauourably helpt me whilst I indeuoured by my labour and care to reduce your fortunes to a better state And that which is more it is he that hath giuen both the entrance and the issue making vse of me but as his committee and seruant in all that good which he would should be done vnto his people For all which things I haue thought it requisite that in departing from you I should blesse the power of God who in time to come shall haue the care and charge of you And to acquit my selfe of that debt I leaue you this in remembrance which is that you ought to serue and honour him and reuerence the ordinances which he hath giuen you whereby continuing his fauours towards you he will grant you grace to conserue and keepe this excellent gift Truly that law-maker that were no more then a man would be greatly displeased and highly discontented with those men who should violate his ordinances and should set them at noughts doe not you therefore tempt God who is prouoked vnto anger when those lawes which he himselfe hath established and giuen you shall be contemned and neglected Whilest Moses pronounced these his last words and discoursed vnto the tribes their seuerall destinies the whole multitude brake into teares and the women beating their breasts shewed and expressed the sorrow they had conceiued at his death The children likewise lamented making it knowne that they could not be masters of their owne sorrow because that in their tender yeares they had vnderstood the vertue and famous acts of Moses and betwixt the elder and younger sort there was as it were a conflict who should weepe more bitterly for the one vnderstanding of how worthie a gouernour they were depriued lamented the time to come and the other were perplexed because they should then forsake him before they had sufficiently tasted and made triall how great his vertue was But how great the compassion and complaint of the people was a man may make coniecture by this that then befell the Prophet For although he were assuredly perswaded that a man was not to lament vpon the instant of his death in that it chanced vnto him both according to the will of God and the law of nature yet he beholding the affection of the people could not temperate and restraine himselfe from teares And whilest he was borne thither where he vanished out of their sight all of them followed him wetting their faces and bosomes with flowing teares Then did Moses beckening with his hand warne them from a farre off that they should stand stil and keep their places exhorted them that were neerest him by word of mouth that they should not follow nor prosecute him any further with teares for feare least they should make his departure tragicall and lamentable Onely the Senate led him forth and Eleazar the high Priest and the chiefetaine Iesus And when he was arriued vpon the mountaine called Abarim which is verie hie and scituate neere vnto Iericho and from whence he might discouer the greater part of the land of Chanaan he dismissed the elders and whilest with mutuall embraces he tooke his last leaue of Eleazar and Iesus and discoursed with them a cloud sodainly enuironed him and he was taken away into a certaine valley but in the scripture he writeth that he died fearing least for the excellencie of his vertue they might report that he was rauished and taken away by God The whole time of his life was one hundreth and twentie yeares the third part whereof he spent in gouernment one month onely exempted He died the last month of the yeare the first day of that month which the Macedonians call Dystrus and our countrimen Adar Of all men the wisest that euer was and who in execution of his good counsels had no man to equall him Moreouer in eloquence he was incomparable and in dexteritie and grace to intertaine and perswade the people he had no second and so were his affections alwaies leuelled and limited by his wisedome that he seemed vtterly to want them and that onely he knew the names of those passions which he perceiued to be too actiue in other men In his gouernment he was matchlesse in his prophecies peerlesse so that all the orations that he made seemed to be Oracles For which cause the whole multitude mourned for him during the terme of thirtie daies neither were the Hebrewes euer seased with so extreme griefe as they were at that time when the Prophet died neither did he onely leaue behind him a present desire of him but a great estimation amongst all men who haue euer chanced to read and examine his writings whilst by them they make estimate of his vertues And these are those things which I thought good to be spoken of the death of Moses THE FIFTH BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 5. booke 1 How Iesus Generall of the Hebrewes hauing ouercome and slaine the Chanaanites deuided their land amongst the Tribes by Lot 2 How after the death of the Generall the Israelites neglecting the ordinances of their forefathers fell into extreme calamities and thorow a ciuill warre that was raised amongst them there were but 300. of the tribe of Beniamin left aliue 3 How for their impietie the people of Israel were deliuered by God into captiuitie under the Assyrians 4 Their libertie by Cenizus 5 How the people once more were ouercome by the Moabites and exempt from seruitude by Iodes otherwise called Ehud 6 How they were brought vnder the subiection of the Chanaanites and restored to their libertie by Barac 7 How the Amalechites hauing entred the countrey of the Israelites and conquered them possessed and spoyled the same for the space of seuen yeares 8 How Gedeon deliuered the people 9 How some successors of Gedeon waged warre against the neighbour nations round about them 10 Of Sampsons strength and what mischiefes he did in Palestine 11 How the sonnes of Eli the Prophet were slaine in battell by
touching Euphrates and Tygris they flow into the redde sea Euphrates is called Phora that is to say dispersion or flower Tygris is called Diglat which signifieth streight and swift Gehon runneth by the countrey of Aegypt and signifieth as much as comming from the East the Greekes call it Nilus Now God commanded Adam and his wife to eate of the fruites of all other plantes and that they should abstaine from that of science telling them that at what time soeuer they should taste of the same they should die the death Whereas then at that time all liuing creatures were at accord one with another the Serpent conuersing with Adam and his wife was inflamed with enuie for that he sawe they should be happy if they continued in the obseruation of Gods commandements and that contrariwise they should cast themselues headlong into ruine and destruction if they should disobey the same He therefore maliciously perswaded the woman to taste the fruit of the tree of intelligence giuing her to vnderstand that the knowledge of good and euill was in the same and that as soone as they had tasted thereof they should lead a life no lesse happy then Gods and by this meanes he caused the woman to fall which tooke no regard of the ordinance of God For hauing her selfe tasted of this fruit and finding it pleasant and delicious in taste she perswaded her husband also to taste the same at which time they vnderstood that they were naked and sought meanes to couer themselues for this fruit had in it selfe the vertue to giue vnderstanding and to quicken the thought Then couered they themselues with fig leaues which they put before their priuities esteeming themselues more happy then they were before in that they had found out that which they wanted But when as God came into the garden Adam who before times was accustomed familiarly to talke with him finding himselfe guiltie of sinne hid himselfe from his presence but God wondring hereat asked him for what cause he fled and shunned him at that time whereas before time he had taken pleasure to talke familiarly with him Adam knowing that he had transgressed the ordinances and commandements of God answered him not a word but God spake vnto him after this manner I had prouided for you the meanes whereby you might haue led your life without sufferance of any euill or sense of any miserie so that all whatsoeuer was requisite for necessitie or pleasure might happen of it selfe vnto you by my onely prouidence without any trauell or care on your parts which if you had well vsed age had not so soone ouertaken you but that you might haue liued many yeares but thou hast scorned this mine ordinance and broken my commandement For in that thou art silent at this time it proceedeth not of vertue but of euill of which thou findest thy selfe culpable wherefore both old age shall quicklier come vpon thee and the daies of thy life shall be shortened Adam excused his sinne and required at Gods hands that he would not be incensed against him laying the fault of that which had happened on his wife alleadging that he had offended by reason he was suborned by her and the woman accused the Serpent But at that time God punished him because he had suffered himselfe to be ouercome by the counsaile of a woman that the earth thence forward neuer more of her owne accord should bring foorth fruit but that when they had trauailed and almost deuoured themselues in labour it should sometimes giue them foode and at other times refuse to sustaine them And as touching Eue he chastised her with child-bearing and throwes in trauell for that being her selfe deceiued by the Serpent she had drawne her husband by the same meanes into extreame miserie He tooke also from the Serpent his voice and was displeased against him * by reason of the malice he had conceiued against Adam and he put venome on his tongue declaring him an enemie both to man and woman whom he commanded to bruise the head of the Serpent as well for that the euill which chanced vnto men consisted in the head as also â—…at being assaulted in that part he is most easily done to death Moreouer hauing depriued him of his feete he condemned him to slide and traile himselfe along the earth And after that God had ordained them to suffer those punishments he translated Adam and Eue out of the garden into another place CHAP. III. Of the Posteritie of Adam and of the ten ages euen vnto the Deluge BVt Adam and Eue had two male children the first whereof was called Cain which signifieth acquisition and the second was called Abel which is as much to say as mourning they had also daughters These brothers addicted themselues each one of them to their particular exercises Abel the younger honoured iustice and supposing that God was present in all his actions he alwaies and wholy fixed his thoughts on vertue and his exercise was keeping of sheepe But Cain being the wickedest man amongst men and addicted to vnsatiable desire of profit was he that first found out the vse of the Plough and who killed his brother for the cause which ensueth Hauing concluded among themselues to sacrifice vnto God Cain offered the fruites of his labour and planting Abell presented milke and the firstlings of his folde which sacrifice of his was more acceptable to God in that it rather consisted of things produced of themselues by the order of nature then that which a couetous man had forcibly in a manner extorted from nature Hereupon Cain being wroth because his brother Abell was more honoured by God then himselfe slewe his brother and hauing hidden his bodie out of sight he thought that such a murther should be concealed But God knowing well this fact appeared to Cain and questioned with him as concerning his brother what might become of him for that many daies since he had not seene him when as heretofore he had alwaies seene him conuersant before him Cain being troubled and ignorant what aunswere he should make vnto God said first that he wondered what was the cause his brother was so long time absent and finally aggreeued in that God continued the quest and did more exactly seeke after him he said he was â—…ot his brothers keeper or bound to take care of his affaires Then God reproued and conuicted Cain of murthering his brother and spake vnto him after this manner saying that he wondered he should denie the knowledge of his brothers death whereas he himselfe had slaine him notwithstanding he acquited him of the punishment deserued for this murther by reason that Cain had done sacrifice and made request vnto God that it might please him to remit somewhat of the seueritie of his iustice against him yet did God curse him and threaten to punish his successors to the seuenth generation Then did he driue him his wife out of
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
bethinking them on their imminent perill supposing that they had trauailed this long iourney all in vaine for that they saw their accusation must be answered Ruben the eldest of them began after this maner to plead their cōmon cause Neither are we come hither said he as spies neither vnder pretence to indomage the king but dire famine whose furie we seeke to preuent hath cōpelled vs to come into this countrey grounding our selues on your humanitie who as we haue heard haue not onely made offer of sale of come and meanes of sustenance to your citizens but also vnto all straungers And that we are brothers and borne of the same father our verie countenances testify no lesse in that they varie not very much the one from the other Our father by name is Iacob by nation an Hebrew who begat vs his twelue sonnes on foure women who while they all were in safety our affaires were fortunate and prosperous but one of them being dead whose name was Ioseph our domesticall fortunes began to grow to ruine Our father languisheth in continuall lamentations whose teares do no lesse afflict vs then in times past the vntimely death of our dearest brother did affect vs. Now are we come to buy corne hauing left in our fathers custody the youngest of our brothers called Beniamin That thus it is if so thou please to send any one vnto our house thou maist be assured Thus spake Ruben both on his owne and his brothers behalfe whereby he might exempt from Ioseph his sinister opinion of them who knowing that both his father and brother were in health commaunded them to be shut in prison vnder pretence to call them to further examination vpon his better leasure Some three daies after calling them before him he began thus Since saith he you protest that you came not hither into this kingdome on purpose either to preiudice the King or worke treasons towards the state and that you pretend your selues to be the sonnes of one father you shall induce me to beleeue that your allegations be true if leauing some one with me as pledge of your loyalties who shall be well entertained you beare hence your desired corne vnto your father and returne againe vnto me bringing with you your brother whom as you say you left behind you for this shall be an argument that you faine not Amased at these words and supposing that their extreame calamitie was at hand they lamented their fortunes oftentimes expostulating amongst themselues that the dire reuenge of their brother oppressed with vndecent tyranny was fallen vpon them Moreouer Ruben reprehended their too late and vnprofitable penitencie saying that those afflictions which God the iust reuenger of innocencie had inflicted on his impious brothers were constantly to be borne After this manner spake they one vnto another supposing that no man was present who vnderstood the Hebrew tongue and they all lamented being inwardly touched with the words of Ruben and condemned their perpetrated wickednes as if they had not beene the authors of the fact for which at that time they thought that God did most iustly punish them Ioseph beholding them in this perplexitie vnable to dissemble any longer his brotherly loue in that the teares alreadie began to burst out of his eyes which at that time he desired to conceale he departed from among them Not long after returning againe vnto them he retained Simeon with him who in the meane time should remaine as pledge with him vntil their backe returne and giuing them licence to buy their corne he commaunded them to depart giuing withall a speciall commaundement to one of his seruants that the money which they had brought to buy corne should secretly be shut vp into their sackes and they permitted to depart all which his seruant performed But Iacobs sons returning into Chanaan told their father all that which had happened vnto them in Aegypt and how they were attached for spies and traitors to that countrey and that when they protested that they were brethren and that the eleuenth was left at home with their father they would not beleeue them moreouer that Simeon was left pledge with the gouernour vntill Beniamin came thither to giue testimony of their truth whereupon they desired their father that without contradiction or sinister conceit to send their yonger brother with them But Iacob was displeased with that which his sonnes had done and whe◅as he was not a little grieued that Simeon was left behind he thought it worse then death also to be depriued of Beniamin and neither could Ruben with his praiers offering his sonnes for pledges that if any sinister fortune should fall vpon Beniamin by the way the Grandfather might reuenge him on his children perswade Iacob to yeeld consent but they vncertaine what to do were more and more terrified in that they found their money inclosed in their sackes of corne Now when corne began alreadie to faile them Iacob being compelled by force of famine determined to send Beniamin with his other brothers for it was vnlawfull for them to returne into Aegypt except they kept their couenant And whereas necessitie pressed them daily more and more and his sonnes ceased not instantly to call vpon him yet as yet was he doubtfull and vnresolued at last Iuda a man vehement by nature began more liberally to reproue his father in that he was too carefull of his brother to whom nothing might happen without the will of God whether it were abroad or at home and that without reason he had care of his sonne Beniamin in such sort as it was not possible for them to get ought out of Pharaos countrey which was necessarie for their nourishment that he ought also to haue care of the life of Simeon least whilest he dallied and delayed to send Beniamin on the iourney Simeon in the meane time should be slaine by the Aegyptians Moreouer he exhorted him to commit the care of his sonne vnto God promising to bring him backe againe in safetie or else to die together with him Moreouer he said that certaine giftes gathered from the profits of Chanaan as the iuice of Mirabolans Stacte Terebinth and Hony should be sent as presents vnto Ioseph together with the double price of their come Thu◅ shedding teares on both sides they depart from their father leauing him miserably tormented for the health of his sonnes contrariwise suspecting with themselues least thorow his absence their father should be slaine with sorrow In this perplexitie spent they a whole day At last the old man remained in his house wholy afflicted and they trauailing into Aegypt did mitigate their present griefe with the hope of better fortune where no sooner were they atriued but they repaired vnto Ioseph being sore afraid least it should be laid to their charge that vnder colour of fraud and deceit they had caried away with them the price of their former come which presently before Iosephs
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
vp with great care and diligence sparing nothing that might appertaine to their sustenance or instruction Now therfore shall they say surely the follies of youth are to be pardoned let this suffice you that hitherto you haue forgotten your duetie for which cause remember your selfe and grow wise thinking with your selfe that God is grieuously offended against those who disobey or disdaine their parents by reason that he himselfe is the father of all mankind who seemeth to be preiudiced in himselfe in that dishonour which is done vnto those that beare his name at such time as they receiue not such dutie from their childrens hands as he commaundeth The law likewise inflicted an meuitable punishment against such which thou oughtest with all prouidence to preuent and not incurre If by these medicines the vnbridled irregard of youth may be healed let no man either impute or reproch him in his submission for in so doing the law-maker shall be accounted mercifull and the parents shall be held to be happie when as they see that their sonne or daughter is exempt from punishment But if such speeches and instructions of the father are set light by the sonne let the lawes be irreconciliable enemies against such continuall outrages committed by the children against their parents and let them drag them out of the Citie in the sight and presence of all the people and there let him be stoned to death and after the offender hath lien there a whole day in the sight of the people let him be interred and buried by night In like manner ought they to be buried who for any occasion whatsoeuer are condemned and executed by iustice Let the enemie also be enterred after the same manner and let no dead man lye vnburied after such time as he hath beene iudged and hath satisfied the lawes It is not lawfull for any Hebrewe to lend vpon vsurie whether it be meat or drinke for it is an vniust thing to make profit of the forumes of the tribes but it is better to succour their necessities and impute their thanksgiuing and Gods retribution to be a gaine vnto them which are wont to follow such kind of benefits But they that haue borrowed either money or any fruit either drie or moist when as by the fauour and assistance of God they shall reape their owne haruest and gather their fruit let them make a willing restitution to those that haue lent them as if they laid them vp for themselues to possesse them at such time as they had need of them But if there be any so impudent as they will not make satisfaction let no man enter into their houses to take a pawne before the iudges haue giuen order that the pledge should be demanded before their doore and the debter without contradiction shall bring it vnto him being assisted by the maiestie of the law If he of whom the pledge is taken haue sufficient abilitie the creditor may retaine the gage till such time as he be paid but if he be poore he shall restore him his pawne before the sunne set and especially if it be any garment whereon he is accustomed to sleepe for God doth naturally bestow his mercy on those that are poore It is not lawful to receiue in way of gage either a mill or ought else that belongeth thereunto least any debter should be depriued of the necessarie instruments to prouide his victuals with and he should endure any euill thorow pouertie Let him that committeth any theft be punished with death but he that hath stolne either gold or siluer let him restore it twofold If any man kill such as breake into their houses to rob them or they that breake their walles let not such a one be punished Who so shall steale a beast shall restore foure for it except it be an Oxe for which one shall satisfie fiuefolde and if the thiefe want meanes to pay this penaltie let him be their slaue against whom they haue trespassed and at whose suit they are condemned If any one be sold vnto one of his owne tribe let him serue him seuen yeares and at the seuen yeares end he shall depart with libertie but if during the time that he remaineth with the buyer he beget any child vpon a female fellow slaue and that he be willing to serue by reason of the good affection and great amitie that he beareth vnto the house in the yeare of lubile which happeneth euerie fiftith yeare let him be set at liberty leading away with him his children wife with their freedom If any man find money or gold by the way let him seeke out him that hath lost it and make knowne the place where he found it to the intent he may restore it knowing that the profit is not good which commeth and accrueth by an other mans iniurie The like is to be done with beasts for if any man find them straied in the desart if he find not out the owner let him presently keepe it by him taking God to witnesse that he will not detaine with him an other mans goods If any man find an other mans beasts bemired or bebogd let him not passe further but succour them or if he find them trauailed with foule weather let him indeuour himselfe to saue the same and helpe him that is the owner not sparing or making nice of any labour Let each man direct the ignorant trauailer in his way and set him in the right path if he wander without deluding him or hindering him in his necessities or misleading him in his iourney Let no man speake ill of him that is either absent or deafe If any man be stroken in a quarrell and it be not with a weapon let him that stroke him be presently punished in receiuing the like outrage as he hath offered him But if he be caried into his house and lie sicke vpon it diuers daies and in the end die thereof he shall be exempt of the penaltie But if he escapeth and during the time of his sicknes hath beene greatly hindred and charged then let him that stroke him pay all the charges he hath beene at during the time he kept his bed and satisfie the Phisitions He that with his foot shall strike a woman with child if the woman miscarry he shall be by the Iudges amerced in a summe of money for that he hath lesned the number of the people by the losse of him that is dead in his mothers wombe Let him likewise be condemned to pay a summe of money vnto the husband But if the woman die of the stroke he that offered the violence must die the death also by reason that the law iustly ordaineth that life should be satisfied with life Let not any one among the Israelites vse any mortall poyson nor any drugge that may do hurt vnto any man and if any man be found with such things about him let him die dying that death which he
him whom you your selues haue chosen surpassing all the rest in valour For whereas there are diuers commanders it falleth out that that which ought necessarily and readily to be executed is hindered and commonly the issue is vnfortunate where there are diuers commanders Let your army be generally leuied of men that are strong in body and hardie in courage and sequester from your armie him that is fearefull least such men hapning to flie when they ought to fight do giue your enemies the aduantage Let them also be free from warre who hauing built them a new house haue not enioyed the same for a yeares space as also he that hath planted a vineyard and hath not gathered the fruit thereof and besides these he that hath wedded a wife and hath not as yet brought her home to his house least being transported with the desire of these things and reseruing themselues to their forsaken pleasures in the behalfe of their wiues they fight but faintly and coldly But when you haue brought your army into the field take heed you commit no outrage and when you shall assault any Cities if you fortune to haue any need of matter to make engins of grub not the land neither see you cut downe the fruitfull trees but spare them remembring you that they are planted for the good of men and that if they could speake they would accuse you alledging that without cause of warre they are ill intreated against all right and that if they had the power to depart from thence they would dislodge and remoue into another countrey But when the battell is ended and the day is yours kill all those enemies that resisted you in the skirmish the rest reserue as your tributaries except the people of the land of Chanaan for they with all their families are to be ruinated Beware also but especially in warre that neither a woman vse a mans apparrell neither a man a womans raiment These are the lawes which Moses left He gaue them likewise certaine institutions which he had written fortie yeares before that time whereof we will speake in an other treatise Some few daies after for he assembled the people sixe daies one after the other he gaue them his blessing and pronounced his maledictions against those which should not liue according to his lawes but should transgresse the determinations thereof He red also vnto them a Poeme of sixe measures which he had enregistred in the holy booke contayning a prediction of things to come according to which all things haue and doe fall out without varying any waies from the truth and veritie These volumes and the Arke gaue he vnto the Priests in which he also placed the ten commaundements written in the two tables He committed also vnto them the custodie of the Tabernacle He likewise exhorted the people that at such time as by force they had conquered the promised countrey and were planted therein they should not forget the iniurie which the Amalechites had done vnto them but that they should lead forth their army against them and take vengeance of the wrongs they had done them at such time as they were in the desart And commaunded them that as soone as they had taken the countrey of Chanaan they should exterminate and extinguish all the people He willed them also to erect an Altar toward the rising of the sunne not farre from the citie of Sichem betweene two mountaines the one Garizim on the right hand and the other called Gebal on the left and that distributing the people into two parts sixe tribes in euery part they should plant them on the mountaines And he commaunded that the Leuites and Priests should be with them to the intent that they first of all that were vpon the mountaine of Garizim should beseech God that he would multiply his blessings vpon them that should be zealous of his seruice and carefull of the conseruation of his lawes without diuerting from that which Moses had commaunded The sixe other also were appointed to answere the like and when as likewise these six last had praied the sixe first were to answere them and confirme that which they had pronounced This done they pronounced maledictions against the transgressors each one answering other in ratification of that which had beene spoken He reduced also vnder writing these blessings and curses to the intent that the memorie thereof might neuer be suppressed or extinguished by time which he also being neere vnto his death caused to be written in the Altar on the one side thereof in that part which extended it selfe toward the place where the people stood at such time as they sacrificed and offered burnt offerings Since which day there were no more sacrafices offered in that place because it was contrarie to law Thus did Moses establish and these the Hebrewe nation obserue continually and vnuiolably euen vnto this day On the next morrow he reassembled all the people themselues their wiues and children he likewise commaunded that the slaues should be there present binding them by an oth that they should maintaine keepe the lawes and that diligently tying themselues to the will of God they should not so much esteeme either their kinred or meanes of perils or any other cause whatsoeuer as that thereby they should be driuen to neglect their lawes or depart from the ordinances thereof but whether it were any one of their kinred or any Citie whatsoeuer that would seeke to alter and disturbe the same or striue to weaken the estate thereof that both in particular and in publike they should expose themselues and endeuour to punish them and if they should fortune to take such a Citie that they should race and vtterly deface the same and if it were possible not to leaue one stone vpon another but to destroy the foundation But if they were too feeble to take such a reuenge yet that they should make it knowen that they were not consenting to their impietie Hereunto the whole people subscribed and sealed it with an oth He afterwards told them how the people should know when the sacrifice were agreeable vnto God and how they ought to march out to battell taking a signe of the stones of which I haue forespoken Iosuah likewise during the life and in the presence of Moses foreprophecied whatsoeuer he intended to performe for the profit of the people either abroad in the administration of warre or home in prescribing lawes and preparing them to an order of life which was newly prescribed them he told them that by instructions from God he foreprophecied that if they violated their countrey religion they should not escape their destruction for that both their country should be filled with forraine armes and their Cities sackt and their Temple burnt that they themselues should be sold vnder the speare that they should serue a nation which would not be moued or touched with commiseration of their afflictions and miseries and that
out of doores from them vpon the breake of day But she being wholy desolate and discomforted by this desaster returned to her lodging and both by reason of the agonie which she had suffered as also for the shame that hindered her from appearing before her husband who would be incredibly and extremely tormented with that accident she fell downe and gaue vp the ghost Her husband supposing that she was onely seased with some sound sleepe not suspecting any other inconuenient thought to awake her with that deliberation to comfort her because she had not willingly condescended to their violences and lusts but maugre her resist was rauished by them and taken out of his lodging But so soone as he perceiued that she was dead he moderated his affections considering the extremitie of his euils and laying the dead bodie vpon his Asse he caried it to his house where he no sooner arriued but that he deuided and cut the same into twelue pieces which he sent to the twelue tribes of Israel commaunding them that bare the same to tell euerie tribe who they were that were the authors of the death of his wife and what villany they had practised against her The tribes were verie much discontented at that which they both saw and heard hauing neuer before that time heard of any the like aduenture and incensed with extreme displeasure and yet iust they assembled themselues in Siloe and being arraunged before the Arke they resolued sodainly to take armes and to assaile the Gabeonites as their capitall and mortall enemies But the elders with-held them declaring vnto them that they ought not after that manner enterprise a headlong warre against their brethren before they had conferred and debated the cause with them and examined the crimes whereof they were accused the rather for that the law permitteth not any warre no not against straungers before an enterparle embassage which might reclaime those that were held culpable reduce them to reason For which cause they told them that they should conforme themselues both according to the letter of the law and the bond of brotherhood to send certaine messengers to the Gabeonites to demaund at their hands the authors of that villanie to the end that when they were deliuered they might take their satisfaction by their punishment but if they should not regard that which was demaunded then that it was lawfull for them to assaile them with open warre Hereupon they sent certaine messengers to the Gabeonites to accuse those yong men that had perpetrated that indignity against the woman to demaund them at their hands to the intent they might suffer condigne punishment by death for the breach they had made of the law But the Gabeonites would not yeeld vp the young men supposing it to be an indignity for them for feare of warre to be obedient to other mens commaundements by reason that they thought themselues no waies inferiour vnto others in feats of warre both in respect of their number and the courage both in the one and the other The rest of the tribe also made great preparation by reason they were all of thē resolued vnited together mutually to defend thēselues against whosoeuer should assaile them After that the report of the Gabeonites answer was brought vnto the Israelites they sware an oth the one vnto the other that none of thē would giue their daughters in mariage to a Beniamite promising each of them to issue make warre against them against whom they were more incensed then our predecessors haue bin animated against the Chanaanites as we haue bin giuen to vnderstand They speedily therfore leuied led into the field an armie of 400000 men against them The Beniamites host consisted of 26000. armed men and 600. others fiftie of which were expert in shooting and fighting with the left hand The field was fought neere to Gaba wherein the Beniamites put the Israelites to flight who were slaine to the number of twentie two thousand and more of them had bin slaughtered that day had not the night sodainly ouertaken them and ended the skirmish Thus did the Beniamites ioyfully returne vnto their cities the Israelites were discomforted thorow their vnexpected calamitie The next day they once more renewed the battel and the Beniamites had the vpper hand once againe so that the Israelites lost eighteene thousand men more and by that meane forsooke their campe thorow feare and retired to Bethel which was not farre off from the place The day after they fasted and besought God by the mediation of Phinees the high Priest that it would please him to appease his wrath against them and that contenting himselfe with the two ouerthrowes which he had sent them he would now at last both giue them victorie and valour to encounter their enemies All which God promised them by the prophecy of Phinees Whereupon they deuided their army into two parts and laid the one thereof in ambush neere vnto the Citie In the meane time whilest the other halfe that made head against the Beniamites retired themselues to the intent their enemies should assault them the Beniamites sodainly issued and set vpon them that orderly retired and the more they retired vnder purpose to draw them the further from the towne the more eagerly the enemie insisted so that all they likewise who thorow age and weaknes were left in the Citie sallied out as companions and sharers in the future pray But when as they were drawne farre enough from the Citie the Hebrewes staied made head and fought against them Then gaue they a signe to those that were in ambush in such sort as was accorded amongst them who sodainly issuing out together rushed in vpon their enemies with a huge crie Who seeing themselues so sodainly surprised knew not what to doe but retiring themselues into certaine Baricadoes they defended themselues with arrowes but all of them were slaine except it were sixe hundreth who making head and closely filletted and embattailed together thrust themselues desperately into the midst of their enemies and by this meanes escaped they into the mountaines hard by where they encamped All the rest to the number of twentie fiue thousand or thereabouts were slaine And the Israelites burned Gaba vtterly slew both the women and children They exercised no lesse iustice on the other cities of Beniamin so much were they fleshed and transported with furie And for that Iabes a Citie of Galaad would not ioyne with them in battell against the Beniamites they sent twelue thousand chosen men out of their companies to destroy the same who slew all those that might beare armes with their wiues and children except foure hundreth virgins So much griefe and furie had they conceiued thorow the accident that chaunced to this woman and the despight they had conceiued against the Beniamites for prouoking them vnto armes which furie when it was somewhat appeased they repented themselues reputing themselues to be depriued of one
three yeares space liued hidden amongst the mountaines flying the power of Abimelech Neither did there many daies ouerpasse but that the Sichemites being moued with compassion and iust reuenge in respect of the murther which was committed vpon the sonnes of Gedeon banished Abimelech out of their Citie and the whole tribe Whereupon he resolued to do some mischief to both the Citie and Citizens and for that their vintage was at hand they durst not gather the fruit fearing least they should receiue some iniury at the hands of Abimelech By good hap about that time a certaine Prince called Gaal retired thither with a troupe of soldiours and his kinred him did the Sichemites beseech that he would grant them a conuoy whilest they had gathered in their haruest which request of theirs being accepted by Gaal they issued out with their forces being seconded by him and his and securely brought in their fruits and feasting one with another in companies they were so bold as to scoffe at Abimelech and the chiefest of his followers and the chiefest of those straungers among them that came into the city to their assistance surprised by Ambuscado diuers of Abimelechs people slew them But Zebel one of the Sichemites and Abimeleches host signified vnto him by a messenger how Gaal incited the people against him inuiting him to lie in wait for him neere about the Citie promising him that he would bring Gaal thither to the end that he might easily reuenge him of that iniurie which his enemie had offered him Which done he promised to worke so wisely that he would reconcile him to the peoples fauour againe and whenas Abimelech had chosen a place fit to lie in ambush and Gaal with Zebel too carelesly liued and walked in the suburbes at length he sodainly espying certaine armed men cried out to Zebel that he had discouered the enemie whereunto Zebel replied that they were the shadowes of rocks but Gaal drawing more neere vnto them and perceiuing apparantly who they were answered Zebel that they were no shadowes but ambushes of men Whereunto Zebel replied dost not thou obiect cowardise to Abimelech why therefore shewest thou not thy great valour in fighting with him Gaal confusedly amazed assailed the soldiours of Abimelech in which conflict certaine of his followers were slaine and he himselfe fled into the Citie giuing example vnto the rest to follow him Hereupon Zebel laboured that Gaal might be expulsed out of the Citie accusing him of his cowardly encountry with the soldiers of Abimelech Now when as the same Abimelech had afterwards gotten certaine intelligence that the Sichemites would issue anew to gather to their vintage he laid an ambush neere vnto the Citie And no sooner were they issued but that the third part of his troopes surprised and seazed the gates to cut them off from their returne that thought to reenter the rest ranne after those that were scattered here and there so that there was a great slaughter on euerie side and the Citie was ruinated euen vnto the verie foundations for they could not withstand the siege and they sowed salt vpon the ruines thereof Thus perished all they that were in the Citie of Sichem But they that escaped thorow the conntrey and had auoided the daunger assembled and fortified themselues vpon a strong rocke and there incamped and began to defence the same But as soone as Abimelech had notice of their intention he hasted thither with his forces and inuironed the place with fagots of dry wood carying them thither in his owne person and encouraging thereby those of his armie to doe the like so that the rocke was incontinently compassed with wood Whereunto he set fire round about and in an instant it flamed and burned vehemently so as none of them were saued but all of them perished with their wiues and children to the number of fifteene hundred men besides many other of the weaker sort This calamitie hapned to the Sichemites in so grieuous a measure that there is not any griefe sufficient to deplore it were it not that that so horrible misfortune fel vpon them by reason of their ingratitude they had shewed to so vpright a iudge and so gratious a benefactor Abimelech alaid the courage of the Israelites by this encounter and conquest of the Sichemites and gaue sufficient testimonie that he aspired more higher and that he would neuer terminate his violence vntill he had vtterly extinguished them He therefore led forth his army against the Tebeans and their Citie which he tookè but in that towne there was a great tower whither all the people had retired themselues and whilest he prepared himselfe to besiege the same and approched likewise neere vnto the gates a certaine woman cast a peece of a milstone at him and hit him on the head which was the cause that Abimelech called at that time for his squier commaunding him to dispatch him to the intent it might not be reported that he died by the hands of a woman His squier did according as he had commaunded him and reuenged on Abimelech by putting him to death the crueltie he had committed against his brethren and the tyranny executed vpon the Sichemites on whom all these misfortunes fell according as Iothan had foretold them As soone as Abimelech was slaine all the armie was dispersed and euery one returned vnto his dwelling place and Iair the Galeadite of the tribe of Manasses tooke vpon him the gouernment Amongst other conditions of this man these were of the greatest note that he was rich and had thirtie worthie sonnes all expert vpon horse backe and exercised the magistracie in the countrey of Galaad he after he had gouerned the people for the space of twentie yeares died when he was very old and was honourably intombed in Chamon a citie of Galaad From this time forward the pollicie and estate of the Hebrewes grew more and more disordered and the lawes began to be neglected Whence it came to passe that the Ammonites and Philistines setting light by them destroyed all their countrey with a great army during which time they occupied all the land on this side Iordan and so much were they heartned as that they pressed further and possessed the better part on the other side of the riuer and conquered the same Wherupon the Hebrewes being brought to more moderation by these their aduersities had their recourse vnto God by praiers and sacrifices requiring him that it might please him to moderate his wrath and that hauing regard and respect of their supplication he would be pleased to stay his heauie hand ouer them This submission of theirs preuailed with God who inclined himselfe to assist them Whilest therefore the Ammonites led their armie into Galaad they of the countrey arose to meete and fight with them being disfurnished of a gouernour to conduct them Now there was a certaine man called Ieptha of great estimation as well for the
of them perished being loaden with sleep gorged with wine They likewise that were compleatly armed intending to make resistance were as easily slaine as they that lay naked vpon the earth Thus Dauids men abode with him from the first hower of the morning till the euening doing nought else but kill murther that that only foure hundreth of the Amalechites escaped who likewise fled being mounted on their Dromodaries So recouered he all that which the enemie had ransackt and amongst other things he released both his own wiues those of his companions Wherupon they returned to the place where they had left the other two hundreth which might not follow them because they were appointed to guard the baggage To these the abouesaid foure hundreth would not grant a part of the booty and profit because they had not as they said followed the enimie with them but shewed themselues slacke in the pursuit alledging that they ought to content themselues with the recouerie of their wiues But Dauid said that the sentence which was pronounced by them was both euill and vniust for since God had granted them the grace to defeat their enemies all of them merited to haue part in the profit which ought equally to be deuided amongst them both amongst those that had fought and amongst those likewise that staied behiâ—…d to guard the baggage And from that day forward this ordinance hath beene held firmely amongst them that they that keepe the baggage should haue equall part and portion of the pray with those that should goe out to the battell But when Dauid was returned to Siceleg he sent vnto all his familiars and friends of the tribe of Iuda a seuerall part of the spoyle In this manner was Siceleg sacked and burned and thus were the Amalechites discomfited But the Philistines assailed and fought a bloudie battell with Saul and his followers wherein the Philistines had the vpper hand and slew a great number of their enemies Saul king of Israell with his sonnes fought therin verie valiantly and with stout hearts seeing that all their honour consisted in that onely point to die nobly and to hazard themselues against all camisadoes of their enemies For since the Philistines bent all their forces against them they saw no meanes of recouerie so that encompassed by them they died in the middest of them and yet before their death slewe a great number of the Philistines There were there present Sauls three sonnes Ionathan Aminadab and Melchi who being defeated all the Hebrewe armie turned their backes so that being instantly pursued by the enemie there fell a great disorder confusion and slaughter amongst them Saul fled also although he had about him a strong squadron of men And although the Philistines marshalled foorth against him a multitude of archers that shot many dartes and arrowes at him yet were they all but a verie fewe repulsed and although he had fought verie brauely hauing receiued on him diuers wounds yet being vnable to support the paine and griefe of his woundes and trauailed with shortnesse of breath he commanded his esquier to drawe his sword and to thrust it thorow his body before he should be surprised aliue by his enemies which his esquire refused to doe not daring to lay hands vpon his master For which cause Saul drew his owne sword and setled the point to his breast and cast himselfe thereon but vnable to force it home enough nor make it by goaring himselfe thereon to pierce quite thorow him he looked backe and perceiued a yoong man hard beside him of whom he demaunded what he was and hearing that hee was an Amalechite he requested him that since himselfe was vnable to pierce himselfe with his owne hands that he would leaue vpon him and make the sword passe thorow him and bring him to that death which he so earnestly desired which he did and hauing taken from him the gold which he had about his armes and the royall crowne likewise he fled away The Esquire seeing Saul dead sodainly slew himselfe Not one of all the kings guard escaped but all of them were slaine neere vnto the mountaine Gelboa When they that inhabited the valley on the other side of Iordan and in the plaine had intelligence that Saul and his sonnes were dead and with them a great number of their nation was slaine they abandoned their Cities and fled to others that were more defenced The Philistines finding these Cities destitute of inhabitants encamped therein The next day whilest the Philistines spoyled the dead they found the bodies of Saul and his sons which they spoyled beheaded sending their heads round about the countrey to make it knowne that their enemies were defeated They offered vp their armes also in the temple of Astaroth and as for their bodies they hung them on the wals of the Citie of Bethsan at this day called Scythopolis When they of Iabes a Citie of Galaad vnderstood how the Philistines had thus cut off the heads of Saul and his sonnes they were sore moued and thought it became them not to be so carelesse of them but that they should be rescued For which cause the most valiant and hardie amongst them for that Citie bringeth vp men both valiant in heart and strong in body departed and marched all night long so as they attained Bethsan and approching neere the wals tooke downe the body of Saul and his sonnes and carried them vnto Iabes without any resistance of the enemy in that they durst not attempt the rescue These Iabesians lamented ouer their dead bodies and made publike lamentations and buried them in the fairest place of their countrey which place is called Arar They mourned after this manner weeping both men and women and children and beating their breasts and lamenting the king and his sonnes and tasting neither meat nor drinke This was the end of Saul according as Samuel had foretold him because he had disobeyed God in his war against the Amalechites and for that he had slaine the race of Achimelech and Achimelech himselfe also and destroyed the Citie of the Priests He raigned during the life of Samuel for the space of eighteene yeares and twentie two yeares after his death Thus finished Saul his life THE SEVENTH BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 7. booke 1 Dauid is created king of one tribe in Hebron ouer the rest Sauls sonne obtaineth the soueraignty 2 Isboseth is slaine by the treacherie of his domesticall seruants and the whole kingdome commeth vnto Dauid 3 Dauid hauing surprised the Citie and cittadell of Ierusalem driueth the Chananites from thence and causeth the Iewes to inhabit the same 4 Dauid assayled by the Philistines obtaineth a famous victorie against them neere vnto Ierusalem 5 Dauid ouercomming the neighbouring nations imposeth tributes on them 6 They of Damasco are ouercome by Dauid 7 How Dauid ouercame the Mesopotamians 8 How
incamped apart in the plaine and the Ammonites stood in battell aray neere vnto their Citie gate to make head against the Hebrewes Ioab perceiuing this vsed this stratageme to counteruaile their complot for he chose out the ablest and stoutest of his men to serue vnder him against Syrus and the other kings confederates with him and gaue the rest vnto his brother Abisat commaunding him to oppose himselfe against the Ammonites whilest he charged the rest willing him that if he perceiued that the Syrians were stroâ—…er then he was and did put him to the worst to displace his squadron and to succour him promising to do the like if he perceiued him to be ouerpressed by the Ammonites Whenas therefore he had exhorted his brother to behaue himselfe valiantly and vertuously and to take heed least he should light on some dishonour he sent him before to charge the Ammonites and he on the other side assailed the Syrians who valiantly resisted him for a little space yet notwithstanding Ioab slew many of them and finally constrained them to turne their backs Which when the Ammonites perceiued who were afraid of Abisai and his people they retreated likewise and conforming themselues according to the example of their allies they tooke their flight into the Citie By which meane Ioab hauing obtained the vpper hand ouer his enemies returned in triumph and with victorie vnto the king to Ierusalem Yet were not the Ammonites wholy weakned by this losse for although they had by their lamentable experience a certaine knowledge that the Hebrewes were stronger then themselues yet would they by no meanes listen after peace They therefore sent vnto Chalama king of the Syrians on the other side of Euphrates whose confederacie they attained by bribes and huge sums of money This king had one who was called Sabecus for his lieutenant generall and vnder him fourescore thousand footmen and ten thousand horsemen Dauid vnderstanding that the Ammonites drew to head and intended anew to beare armes against him he surceased to prosecute the war against them by his lieutenants himself in person with al his forces passed ouer the riuer of Iordan and went out against them and at last meeting and fighting with them ouercame them killing welny fortie thousand of their footmen and seuen thousand of their horsemen he hurt Sabecus also Chalamas Lieutenant who likewise died of that wound The issue of this combate being thus the Mesopotamians yeelded themselues vnto Dauid and gaue him many great and magnificent presents He therefore by reason of the winter retired himselfe for that time to Ierusalem but incontinently vpon the spring time he sent out his Lieutenant Ioab once more to make warre vpon the Ammonites who ouerrunning their countrey vtterly spoyled it and shut them vp in Aramath their principal citie which he ouercame entred About this time it so fel out that Dauid notwithstanding he were a iust man one that feared God an exact obseruer of all the lawes and ordinances of his forefathers fell and offended God most greeuously For as he walked on the top of his royall pallace from the time of mid-day vntill the euening for betwixt these times he vsed accustomably to walke he perceiued a woman of incomparable beautie and supassing perfection whose name was Bethsabe who in her house bathed her selfe in a cleere and pleasant fountaine and being deuoured and rauished with her beautie he could not refraine his concupiscence but sending for her tooke the spoile of her beautie and chastitie and by that meanes got her with child Which when she perceiued she sent vnto the king beseeching him to bethinke himselfe of some meanes whereby her shame might be concealed and her life which was in hazard by the law for her adulterie might be preserued Who thereupon sent for Vrias Bethsabes husband and one of Ioabs soldiers who at that time was at the siege of Aramath and questioned with him vpon his arriuall as touching the estate of the siege of the armie who answering him that all things were fallen out according as he could wish Dauid tooke a portion of his owne supper and gaue it him willing him to repaire vnto his owne house and repose him selfe with his wife But Vrias did nothing lesse but slept amongst his fellow soldiers neere vnto the person of the king Which when Dauid vnderstood he asked him wherefore he repaired not to his owne house according to the custome of husbands that had beene long time absent vpon a long voiage and why he entertained not his wife from whom he had beene sequestred so many daies Vrias replied that it became him not either to repose or take pleasure with his wife whilest his companions and generall lay vpon the bare ground in the enemies countrey Which said Dauid commaunded him to soiourne there all the day long to the end that on the next morrow he might send him backe againe to Ioab That night the king inuited him to supper and although he were made drunke thorow the aboundance of wine he receiued which the king had purposely caused to be giuen him yet notwithstanding he slept at the kings gate without any desire to repaire home vnto his wife Herewith the king was much despited so that he wrote vnto Ioab commaunding him to punish Vrias because he had offended him and to the end that this intent of his should not be discouered he suggested him both in the meanes and manner of the prosecution of his death enioyning him to place him in the ranke of greatest danger and in face of the enemie to the intent that in the fight his person might be endaungered abandoned and left alone whilest they that fought next vnto him retired when they sawe him charged Whenas he had thus written and sealed vp the letter with his owne seale he deliuered it to Vrias to beare vnto Ioab who receiuing the same and conceiuing the kings pleasure placed Vrias in that quarter where he knew the enemies would fight most desperately appointing him out certaine of his best soldiers to second him with purpose that he would come and succour them with all his power to the end he might breake thorow the wall and enter the Citie Vrias who was a noble soldier and for his valour had gotten great honour by the king and reputation amongst all those of his tribe and tooke delight to be employed in hazardous attempts and refused no daunger valiantly accepted the execution But Ioab gaue priuate intelligence to those that were ranked next vnto him that when they should see the enemie sally out with greatest fury they should abandon Vrias When as therefore the Hebrewes drew neere vnto the Citie the Ammonites feared least the enemie should speedily scale and enter the Citie on that side where Vrias was ranked for which cause they picked out a squadron of the most resolute men amongst them and setting open their gates sodainly with swift course force
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
a seruile fearefull maner being all his life time enemy to Ieroboam He died after he had liued fiftie seuen yeares wherof he raigned 17. He was a haughtie and vndiscreete man who lost his estate because he would not giue credit to his fathers friends He was buried in Ierusalem in the sepulcher of the kings and his sonne Abias succeeded him in his raigne at such time as Ieroboam had alreadie raigned eighteene yeares ouer the tenne tribes Thus were these things terminated It behooueth now at this present to declare that which Ieroboam did afterwards and how he died He obseruing no meane or end of his impietie imployed himselfe continually in making of Altars and high places and presumed to ordaine common sacrificers But God withheld not long time to heape the punishment of those his impieties on the head of him and of all his posteritie Whereas therefore his sonne Obimes was sicke about that time he commaunded his wife to lay aside her royal garment and to apparrel her selfe like a common woman and afterwards to go to Achias the Prophet assuring her that he was admirable for his knowledge in foretelling things to come and had foretold him that he should be king for which cause he willed her to repaire vnto him after the manner of a straunger and enquire of him if her sonne should escape that sicknes Whereupon she disguised her selfe according as her husband had commaunded her came vnto the Citie of Silo where Achias dwelt as she was vpon entring his house notwithstanding hee had lost his sight thorow age God appeared vnto him and certified him in these two points first that Ieroboams wife came vnto him and next all that he should answere to her demaund At such time therefore as she entred into his house after the guise of a common and straunge woman Achias cried with a loud voice Enter thou wife of Ieroboam wherefore hidest thou thy selfe Thou canst not hide thy selfe from God who hath certified me of thy comming and hath informed me what aunswere I shall giue vnto thee He therefore said vnto her that she should returne vnto her husband and certifie him of Gods answere to this effect Of little and nothing that thou wert I haue made thee great and hauing dismembred the kingdome from Dauids posteritie I haue giuen it vnto thee but thou hast forgotten the same hauing forsaken my seruice hast molten downe new gods whom thou honourest so also will I exterminate thee and abolish all thy posteritie and cast them off for a pray vnto dogs and fowles of the ayre For I wil constitute a king ouer my people that shall leaue no one of Ieroboams race aliue The people also shall haue part of this punishment and shall be depriued of this their fruitfull countrey and be scattered among the regions on the other side of Euphrates because they haue followed the impieties of their king and adoring those gods that were forged by him haue giuen ouer my sacrifice And as concerning thy selfe O woman haste thee and certifie thy husband of these things For thou shalt find thy sonne dead for no sooner shalt thou enter into the Citie but he shall finish his daies He shall be buried with the lamentation of the whole people in generall For he onely was good of all the race of Ieroboam When Achias had finished his prophecie the woman started backe sore troubled and dismaide thorow the daunger of her sonne and went lamenting onward on her way wounded with the future death of him and by reason of her so earnest affection she was afflicted with incredible torments The haste which she vsed was importunate because of her sonne whom she should see dead by so much the sooner she hasted homeward but it behooued her to vse expedition in the behalfe of her husband Whenas therefore she was arriued she found her sonne expiring as the Prophet had foretold her and recited the rest vnto Ieroboam CHAP. V. Ieroboams expedition against the sonne of Roboam the ouerthrow of his armie and how Basanes rooted out the whole posteritie of Ieroboam and made himselfe king BVt Ieroboam was nothing moued herewith but leuied a great armie with an intent to make warre against Abias the sonne of Roboam who had obtained his fathers kingdome ouer the two tribes For he despised him because he was young in yeares This notwithstanding the young king was no whit dismaide although he vnderstood of Ieroboams comming but with greater wisedome then was incident to his yeares and beyond all expectation of his forward aduersarie he leuied an armie of two tribes with which he encountred Ieroboam at the mountaine of Samaria where incamping his host neere vnto him he prouided all things in a readinesse that were requisite for the battell and had with him foure hundreth thousand fighting men but Ieroboam had twise as many Now when the armies were arranged and expected to giue the allarum and charge Abias stood vp in a certaine high place from whence he might be seene and heard making a signe with his hand he required that Ieroboam and the people would first of al heare him peaceably which granted to him each one attēding in silence he brake out into these words There is none of you but knoweth that God hath promised the kingdome to Dauid and his posteritie for euer I therefore greatly admire how you haue reuolted from my father to submit your selues to Ieroboam his seruant whom at this present you accompany to warre against those whom God hath ordained to raigne and to take the kingdome from them the greater part whereof Ieroboam vsurpeth iniustly euen at this day and which as I suppose he shall not enioy long time For he shall be punished by God and shall cease to contradict his lawes and to dishonour them as he doth continually in perswading you to do the like You haue receiued no iniurie at my fathers hands but by reason that he was misled by the sinister counsails of certaine wicked persons spake vnto you certain words which in apparance seemed vnfitting in your eares you haue forsaken him in your displeasure but in effect you haue separated your selues from God and his commaundements Truly you should haue pardoned a young man vntrained and vntaught in oratorie not only for the rude words which he vsed but although his youth and ignorance should haue moued him to commit some churlish and indiscreet action or errour yet should you haue endured the same For the fathers demerites ought to serue and satisfie the childrens defects But you haue had no regard of all this neither then nor at this present but leade forth a great army against vs. But whereupon ground you the hope of your victorie Is it on your calues of gold is it on your Altars on the mountaines which are witnesses of your impietie and irreligion Is it your great number that surpasseth ours by farre that maketh
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
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
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
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
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
About the same time king Ptolomy Philometor set out an army by sea and another by land to repaire into Syria and to succour his sonne in law Alexander and in his way all the Cities entertained him verie affectionately according as Alexander had commaunded them and conducted him as farre as the Citie of Azot in which place all of them exclaimed before him and chalenged Iustice at his hand for that the temple of Dagon was burned and destroyed accusing Ionathan for the firing thereof and the slaughter of many people therein But Ptolomey hearing these accusations answered them not a word But when Ionathan came forth to meete him at Ioppe he courted him with royall presents and all the honour that was possible and after hee had kept him company as farre as the flood called Eleutherus he dismissed him and sent him backe to Ierusalem When Ptolomey was come to Ptolemais he hardly escaped death and that contrarie to all expectation by Alexanders owne complotting and Ammonius his friends mediation Which trechery being discouered Ptolomey wrote vnto Alexander requiring him that Ammonius might be punished for his treasons and conspiracies practised against him which in their natures required a seuere and cruell punishment But seeing that Alexander deliuered him not vp into his hands he coniectured and concluded that he himselfe was the authour thereof and conceiued a hainous displeasure against him In like manner before that time Alexander had offended the Antiochians by the meanes of the said Ammonius who had loaden them with many wrongs and incommodities but in the end Ammonius was punished for these his ou◅agious misdemeanors and disgracefully slaine like a woman whilest in a womans attire he fought to hide himselfe as we haue expressed it in another place At that time Ptolomey began to accuse himselfe for bestowing his daughter in mariage on Alexander and for resusing Demetrius to be his friend and confederate so that he brake off the affinitie that he had with him and after he had withdrawen his daughter from him he presently sent Embassadors vnto Demetrius to confirme a league of peace and affinitie with him promising him to bestow his daughter vpon him in mariage and to establish him in his fathers kingdome Demetrius verie ioyfull to heare of this Embassage accepted both of the confederation and marriage There onely remained one difficulty for Ptolomey to surmount which was how he might perswade the Antiochians to admit Demetrius against whom they were so grieuously incesed for the indignities which his father Demetrius had offered them but this difficulty ouercame he by this meanes that ensueth The Antiochians hated Alexander because of Ammonius as we haue expressed heretofore and by that meanes were the more easily drawen to driue him out of the Citie He perceiuing himselfe to be thrust out of Antioch came into Cilicia Whereupon Ptolomey came vnto Antioch and was both by the Citizens and soldiers therein ptoclaimed king and was constrained to take two Diademes the one as king of Asia the other asking of Aegypt Hee was a man of a gentle and iust nature no waies ambitions but such a one as prudently did forecast what was to ensue st◅riuing by all meanes possible to auoid the hatred and iealousie of the Romans For which cause assembling the Antiochians together he wrought so much with them that at last he perswaded them to accept of Demetrius assuring them that if he should receiue that benefit at their hands he would no more keepe in memory those things that had fallen out betwixt them and his father protesting for his own part that he would instruct him both how to order the course of his life honestly to manage his publike affaires rightly and promising thē that if he attempted to worke them any inconuenient he himself would be the formost to chastice him alledging for his own part that he would content himselfe to be king of Aegypt And by this meanes the Antiochians were induced to receiue Demetrius But when as Alexander was departed out of Cilicia with a g◅eat army and was come into Syria and had burned and spoiled the countrey of the Antiochians Ptolomey accompanied with his sonne Demetrius for he had alreadie maried his daughter vnto him issued out with their armies and obtained a ioint and mutuall victorie by ouercomming Alexander who was constrained to flie into Arabia It came to passe in that conflict that Ptolomeies horse hearing the noise of an Elephant was troubled and stumbled in such sort as he threw his master on the ground which when his enemies perceiued they ran al togither vpon him and gaue him diuers wounds in the head whereby he was in danger to haue been slaine vnlesse his guard had rescued him notwithstanding he was so sicke for foure daies space that he could neither heare nor speake But Zabel the potentate of Arabia beheaded Alexander and sent his head vnto Ptolomey who being somewhat come vnto himselfe after his wounds on the fift day and hauing some knowledge heard and saw togither a thing both delightfull in his eare and pleasant in his eie which was the death and the head of his enemy But some few daies after he died himselfe be◅ng full of ioy in that he saw his enemies fall This Alexander surnamed Balles raigned for the space of fiue yeeres as we haue elsewhere declared Demetrius surnamed Nicanor hauing obtained the kingdome began thorow his malice to dismember Ptolomeies army forgetting both the confederacy and affinitie that he had with him by reason of Cleopatra his wife who was Ptolomeies daughter But the men of warre hating his ingratitude fled into Alexandria to warrantize themselues from his wickednesse notwithstanding they left the Elephants in his power and possession But the high Priest Ionathan hauing assembled an army of all the countrey of Iudaea began to besiege the castle of Ierusalem where there was a garrison of the Macedonians and a great number of wicked Apostates that were fallen from the Iewish religion who in the beginning set light by the engines that Ionathan had raised to surprise the place in the strength whereof they reposed too much confidence But in the end some of these miscreants breaking out by night came vnto Demetrius and certified him of the siege who was sore displeased thereat taking a strong army with him departed from Antioch to make warre vpon Ionathan At such time as he came to Ptolemais he wrote to Ionathan and commanded him to come vnto him notwithstanding Ionathan gaue not ouer the siege but tooke the Elders and the Priests with him with gold and siluer robes a great quantitie of presents to beare vnto Demetrius and when he had deliuered them into his hands he appeased his wrath and after he had receiued many honors at his hands he obtained the confirmation of his priesthood in as ample manner as hee enioyed it du◅g the times of his predecessors And although the miscreant Iewes accused him yet did
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
and Anthony and Caesar the younger Wherupon Malichus mightily fearing Antipaters power determined to make him away and hauing corrupted Hircanus butler with money with whom both of them celebrated a feast hee made him away by poyson and afterwards assembling many men of warre about him he made himselfe master of the Citie When Herode and Phasaelus vnderstood of the traiterous conspiracie attempted against their father they were grieuously incensed against Malichus But hee denied all and in especiall abiured the intent or practise of the murther Thus died Antipater a iust and vertuous man and such a one as deerely loued his countrey But Herode who was his younger sonne incontinently resolued to reuenge his fathers death and came forth with an army against Malichus But Phasaelus who was the elder determined to circumuent him by policie for feare least he should raise a ciuill warre He therefore accepted of Malichus iustifications and made a shew that he supposed that he had in no such sort sought Antipaters death and only intended his fathers monument and funerals Meane while Herode resorting to Samaria and finding it in desperate estate restored the same and pacified the dissensions that were amongst the inhabitants Not long after by reason of a feast he came to Ierusalem with his men of warre Wherupon Malichus being affraid of this his accesse perswaded Hircanus that he should not permit him to enter into the Citie whereunto Hircanus condescended alleadging for pretext of his defence that amongst the holy people it was not lawfull to intermixt a troupe of polluted men But Herode made small reckoning of them that brought him this newes and notwithstanding this commaund entred the Citie by night whereat Malichus was much amazed Whereupon according to his wonted dissimulations he openly wept and bewailed the death of Antipater as his especiall friend but vnder hand he prepared a guard for his owne safetie Notwithstanding it was thought meet by Herodes friends to take no notice of this his dissimulation but to make a shew for their parts that they were wel affected towards Malichus CHAP. XX. Herode at the commaund of Cassius killeth Malichus by policie HEreupon Herode certified Cassius of Antipater his fathers death who knowing very well of what conuersation Malichus was wrote backe vnto Herode that he should reuenge the death of his father besides he sent secret letters to the captaines that were in Tyre commanding them to aide and assist Herode in that so iust execution which he intended After therefore that Cassius had taken Laodicea and the inhabitants of the countrey came togither bringing with them crownes and siluer to present him Herode expected that Malichus in that place should receiue his punishment but he entring into suspition of some like practise at such time as they drewe neere vnto Tyre in Phoenicia attempted farre greater things For whereas his sonne was an hostage in Tyre he entred the Citie with an intent to draw him thence and afterwards to returne into Iudaea After this vsurping vpon that oportunitie which he had by reason of Cassius troubles who hastily marched forward to meet with Anthony he determined to draw the people to an insurrection and to make himselfe Lord of the countrey but God disappointed his vniust purposes For Herode being a man of ripe iudgement incontinently discouered his pretence and sent one of his seruants before as if vnder purpose to prepare a banquet because he had told him before time that he would entertaine all his followers but in effect he sent him to the captaines to command them to issue out with their daggers and to meet Malichus who marching forth and meeting him neere vnto the shore of the Citie vpon the sea coast stabbed him in that place with their daggers Which act did so much astonish Hircanus that thorow amaze he waxed speechlesse and finally being much mooued he demaunded of Herodes men what accident had happened and who it was that had slaine Malichus Whereof when they certified him and how nothing was done without Cassius commaund he answered that all things were well done for that Malichus was a wretched man and a traitour to his countrey See here how Malichus was iustly punished for the wickednesse he committed against Antipater When Cassius was departed out of Syria there arose a new tumult in Iudaea for Faelix who was left in Ierusalem with an army marched forth against Phasaelus and all the people were in armes For which cause Herode speedily repaired to Fabius gouernour of Damasco and intending to succour his brother was preuented by a sicknesse so that Phasaelus obtaining the victory by his owne forces against Faelix enclosed him vp in a tower whence afterwards he dismissed him vnder composition Whereupon he presently and grieuously rebuked Hircanus for that being forgetfull of diuers benefits which he had receiued by him he had giuen aide vnto his enemies For Malichus brother being at that time reuolted planted garrisons in diuers fortresses and namely in Masada which was the strongest of them all As soone as Herode therefore had recouered his health he drew forth his forces against him and dispossessed him of diuers places that he held and after suffered him to depart with his life and goods CHAP. XXI Herode discomfiteth Antigonus the sonne of Aristobulus and driueth him out of Iudaea seeking to recouer his fathers kingdome by the aide of the prince of Tyre PTolomey Mennaeus drew vnto him by force of his money Aristobulus sonne the young Antigonus who had gathered a power and hired Fabius and was likewise drawne by Ptolomey vnder titles of consanguinitie and adoption With him ioyned Marion whom Cassius had made Gouernour in Tyre For this man hauing occupied Syria by tyrannie kept garrison therein Marion also inuaded Galilee which confined his countrey and hauing seazed three strong fortresses therein he kept garrisons in the same Herode also marching forth against him dispossessed him of them al and gratiously dismissed those Tyrians that had the keeping thereof bestowing benefits on some of them for the loue he bare vnto their citie And that done he came and encountred with Antigonus and fought with him and ouercame him before he had scarcely entred on the marches of Iudaea and droue him from thence When hee was come to Ierusalem Hircanus and all the people honoured him with crownes for already was he inserted into Hircanus family for that by promise hee was his sonne in lawe by which meanes he had more willingly vndertaken his defence for that he was to marrie Alexanders the sonne of Aristobulus daughter who was Hircanus neece on whom he begat three sonnes and two daughters Before her also had he married a wife of his owne nation who was called Doris on whom he begat Antipater his eldest sonne CHAP. XXII Herod meeting with Antonius in Bithynia giueth him a great summe of money to the ende he should not giue â—…are to those that would accuse him ANtonius and
restored to his first owner And my pleasure is that whosoeuer disobeieth this ordināce he may be punished And he that shall be conuicted to haue disobeyed the same he shall be punished according to his demerit He wrote to the like effect to the Sidonians Antiochians and Arabians all which we wil insert in a cōuenient place to testifie what accoūt the Romans made of our nation CHAP. XXIII Antonius arriuing in the prouince of Syria maketh Herode and Phasaelus Tetrarches AFter this Antonius retired himselfe into Syria and Cleopatra came forth to meet him neere vnto Cilicia and entangled him in her loues At that time also one hundreth of the chiefest reckoning among the Iewes came once againe in embassade to him to accuse Herode his adherents who to this end had chosen out the most esteemed Orator that might be found Messala likewise vndertooke the defence of the young men that were accused and made them answere Hircanus also was there in person who was alreadie by marriage allied vnto them After that Antonius had heard both the one and the other in the citie of Daphen he demaunded of Hircanus which of both the parties gouerned the common-weale best who returned him answere that they who were on Herods side were most studious of the weale publike Antonius who long since had borne good affection towards them by reason of the auncient hospitalitie that he had receiued with their father during the time that Gabinius was in Iudaea established them both for Tetrarches committing to their hands the affaires in Iudaea And to this effect wrote he his letters and committed fourteene of their enemies to prison whom had not Herode besought for their liues he had condemned them to death This notwithstanding as soone as they returned from their embassade they could not containe themselues in quiet but resorted once more vnto Antonius to the number of one thousand to the citie of Tyre where Antonius soiourned But Antonius alreadie corrupted by store of money by Herode and his brother who commaunded in that place ordained that the Embassadours of the Iewes should be punished for that they had attempted and affected some innouation where contrariwise he confirmed Herodes gouernment At that time Herode who walked by the sea side came vnto them aduising both them and Hircanus who at that present was with them to giue ouer their appeale for feare least some grieuous misfortune should befall them Whereunto since they gaue no regard certaine Iewes and inhabitants of that citie all at once ranne vpon them who slue some of them and hurt other some and the rest taking their flight towards their countrey euer afterwards contained themselues and liued in quiet thorow the feare they had conceiued But when the people ceased not to exclaime and protest against Herode Antonius was in such sort displeased that he commaunded all those whom he held prisoners should be slaine The yeere after Pacorus the kings sonne and Barzapharnes a prince among the Parthians inuaded and seazed Syria And about this time died Ptolomey the sonne of Mennaeus and his sonne Lysanias raigned in his steed who plighted friendship with Antigonus the sonne of Aristobulus who obtained this fauour at his hands by the counsaile and solicitation of a certaine prince of great authoritie and credit with him CHAP. XXIIII The Parthians make warre in Syria to restore Antigonus sonne of Aristobulus to his kingdome AFter this Antigonus promised the Parthians to giue them one thousand talents of siluer and fiue hundreth women if so be they would depriue Hircanus of the kingdome and restore it vnto him and withall put Herode and his friends to death Yet did he not deliuer them that he promised notwithstanding the Parthians led their army into Iury to restore Antigonus to wit Pacorus by the sea coast and Barzapharnes to the landward The Tyrians locked their gates against Pacorus but the Sidonians and Ptolemaidans receiued him into their citie He sent a troupe of horsemen into Iury to discouer the estate of the countrey and to giue succours to Antigonus The chieftaine of these horsemen was the kings butler who in like sort was called Pacorus But for that certaine Iewes inhabiting about the mount Carmel ioyned themselues with Antigonus were prepared with him to inuade his enemies he conceiued some hope that he might by their meanes reduce a certaine part of the region vnder his gouernment which is called Drymae and certaine of his wel-willers meeting him in the way perswaded him to presse forward as farre as Ierusalem where being seconded by others and his followers alreadie much increased in number they addresse themselues to assault the kings pallace And whereas those of the faction of the brethren brought present supplies and the skirmish was maintained in the market place the young men repulsed the enemy and droue him into the temple Which done they sent certaine armed men into the houses neere adioyning to guard them but the people rushing in vpon them and seeing they were destitute of aide burned both them and the houses wherein they were But this iniquitie of theirs was presently reuenged by Herode who in a skirmish that he had with them slew a great number of them And whereas there were daily assaults betweene both parties the enemies expected vntill such time as the people assembled from all parts of the countrey should repaire to Ierusalem to celebrate the feast of Penticost Which being come many thousands of men assembled about the temple both armed and vnarmed who seazed both the temple and the Citie except the kings house onely which Herode made good with a few men of war The wall thereof did Phasaelus his brother keep But Herode with a companie of his followers sallied out vpon the enemy who were planted in the suburbes and fighting valiantly against them he put diuers thousands of them to flight whereof some retired themselues into the Citie other some into the temple the rest into a certaine bulwarke neere at hand In this battell also Phasaelus shewed no little valour But Pacorus conductor of the Parthians came into the Citie with some few horsemen at Antigonus request making shew that he came to appease the sedition but the effect and scope of his comming was to obtaine the soueraigntie for Antigonus Furthermore after that Phasaelus was come out to meete with him and had curteously entertained him in his house Pacorus perswaded him to go Embassadour with him to Barzapharnes laying a baite vnder this pretence to surprise him He suspecting no treacherie was easily perswaded notwithstanding that Herode misliked the course who knowing the perfidious manners of the Barbarians exhorted him rather to assaile Pacorus and to assault and oppresse his forces when they were come vnto him Naithelesse Hircanus and Phasaelus vndertooke this embassade and Pacorus leauing with Herode two hundreth horsemen and ten of those whom they call free men conducted the Embassadours Now
burrough of Idumaea Ioseph his brother came forth to meete him and to consult with him as touching their whole estate and to know of him what should become of that great multitude that followed them considering that they had no souldiers in pay and the Castle of Massada whither he pretended to flie was too little to hold all the people for which cause he sent away many to the number of nine thousand willing them to disperse themselues here and there in the countrey of Idumaea and for the better dispatch of their iourney he furnished them with victuals As for himselfe he tooke with him his most able souldiers and inward friends and repaired to the Castle of Massada in which place he left the women and their traine to the number of eight hundreth or thereabouts and furnishing the place with corne water and other prouisions necessarie he went vnto Petra the chiefest Citie of Arabia As soone as it was day the Parthians sacked all that which appertained to the Citizens of Ierusalem and amongst other things they spoiled the palace notwithstanding they medled not with Hircanus money which amounted to some three hundreth talents They left diuers other things behind them also that appertained to Herode and especially that which had been transported into Idumaea by his mature prouidence Neither were the Parthians content with the spoile of the Citie but they forraged all the countrey round about and raced Marissa a verie rich Citie Thus Antigonus brought backe into his countrey by the king of the Parthians receiued Hirtanus and Phasaelus that were prisoners yet was he vehemently displeased because the women had escaped whom according to his promise he intended to haue deliuered with the money and fearing least Hircanus thorow the fauour of the people should be reestablished in his kingdome who was then prisoner in the custody of the Parthians he cut off both his eares depriuing him by that meanes from enioying the priesthood any more by reason of that maime because the law commaundeth that they who are in that dignitie should be sound in all their members But Phasaelus is to be admired for his great courage at this time for vnderstanding that hee must needly die he was no waies dismaied with death but that which he held most miserable and dishonourable was that he must needs die by the hands of his enemy Seeing therefore that he could not dispatch himselfe by other meanes because he was bound and chaiâ—…ed he knockt out his owne braines against a stone and so ended his life with as great honour as may be imagined in such a desperate estate depriuing his enemy of that power which he intended to practise in tyrannizing ouer him at his pleasure It is said that the wound being very deepe Antigonus sent priuily surgeons to cure him and that vnder colour of healing him they should put poison into the same wherethrough he might die But before Phasaelus gaue vp the ghost he vnderstood by a certaine woman that his brother Herode had escaped from his enemies for which cause he endured his death with far greater cheerfulnesse and constancie seeing that he left behind him such a man as would reuenge his death and punish his enemies But Herode was no waies discomforted with the greatnesse of those aduersities which enuironed him round about but was the more whetted on to find out new inuentions and to aduenture dangerous attempts For he went vnto Malchus king of the Arabians to whom before time he had shewed much curtesie hoping to receiue the like of him in this time of his great necessitie and to draw some money from him either by loane or gift according as he had often and verie bountifully pleasured him For being ignorant of his brothers death he endeuoured himselfe to raunsome him speedily from his enemies by paying his raunsome which amounted to three hundreth talents and for that cause he led with him the sonne of Phasaelus who was onely seuen yeeres olde to leaue him in pledge amongst the Arabians for the summe that was demaunded But certaine messengers came vnto him from Malchus who charged him in the kings behalfe to retire backe againe for that the Parthians had enioyned him that he should neither receiue nor retaine Herode And this colourable pretence vsed he because he would not pay his debts and hereunto was he perswaded by the aduice of the greatest in authoritie among the Arabians who pretended thereby to make themselues masters of that treasure that Antipater had committed to their custody Herode answered them that he repaired not into their countrey to giue them cause of any trouble but onely to consult with him about certaine matters of great importance touching his owne estate and that afterwards he was resolued to depart and withdraw himselfe into Aegypt as secretly as might be possible He returned therefore to a certaine temple where he had left diuers of his followers and the next day hee came to Rhinocura in which place he heard tidings of his brothers death But afterwards Malchus repented himselfe of his in gratitude and speedily sent after Herode but he could not ouertake him for he had gotten farre onward of his way and was already arriued in post neere to Pelusium where being denied his passage to Alexandria in those ships that were there he addressed himselfe to the magistrates of the place who highly respected and honoured him and sent him to the Citie where Cleopatra was who entertained him kindly yet notwithstanding could she not perswade him to remaine with her Whereupon he repaired towards Rome notwithstanding the winter and those grieuous troubles that at the verie same time afflicted Italie as it was reported Embarking himselfe therefore to saile into Pamphilia he was tossed with a most cruell storme so that with great danger at last he arriued in Rhodes hauing been inforced in the tempest to cast into the sea a good part of his substance There met he with Sappinas and Ptolomey two of his indeered friends He found also that the Citie of Rhodes had suffered much miserie by Cassius warres and although his meanes were very scant yet profited he them in what he might and caused their walles to be repaired notwithstanding that by so doing he greatly hindred himselfe After that he caused a little frigote to be built and embarked himselfe with his friends to repaire into Italy and arriued at Brundusium and from thence went to Rome The first to whom he discouered his misfortunes was Marcus Antonius to whom he reported all the occurrences in Iudaea and how his brother Phasaelus was taken by the Parthians and slaine and how Hircanus was imprisoned with him The manner also how they had established Antigonus king vnder promise to giue them one thousand talentes and fiue hundreth of the fairest women whom hee intended to choose out of his owne race Lastly how he stole away by night and rescued them and escaping his enemies hands
for that he would not haue discouered those things which had been spoken to him in secret except they had greatly trusted the one the other and in this emotion or rage of iealousie hardly contained he himselfe from killing his wife But the force of loue ouercame him so much that he bridled his rage notwithstanding it were irkesome and grieuous vnto him Yet gaue he order that Ioseph should be slaine without either audience or iustification of his innocencie and as touching Alexandra who was the cause of al these troubles he kept her prisoner About the same time there grew certaine troubles and alterations in Syria for that Cleopatra continually sollicited and importuned Anthony and whetted on his displeasure against all perswading him to remooue all from their gouernments and to bestow the same on her selfe And for that Anthony loued her extremely she was in great estimation and credit with him and being in her owne nature inclined to couetousnesse shee abstained from no kinde of corrupt dealing and wickednesse For knowing that the kingdome should descend vnto her brother she caused him to be poisoned when he was but fifteene yeeres olde as for her sister Arsinoe she caused her to be slaine by Anthonies meanes at such time as she made her prayers in the temple of Diana in Ephesus Moreouer in what place soeuer she vnderstood that there was any hope to get money whether it were in robbing of temples or in breaking open sepulchers she would be possessed thereof neither was there any religious place so sacred from whence she tooke not away the ornaments Furthermore there was not any thing so prophane and interdicted which she laid not hands on to satisfie her vnbridled auarice Neither was the whole world sufficient enough to content this magnificent Ladie who was made slaue to her owne desires and her disordinate appetite was such that all the riches in the world were not able to to saciate and fill the same For this cause she incessantly importuned Antonius to take from others to be liberall towards her and therefore intring into Syria with him she presently bethought her selfe how she might get it into her possession For she caused Lysanias Ptolomeies sonne to be put to death obiecting against him that he had priuate intelligence with the Parthians She begged Iury also at Antonius hands and required him besides that to dispossesse the kings of Arabia He was in such sort possessed by this woman that he seemed not only to be bewitched with her words but also inchāted by her poisons to obey her in whatsoeuer she thought meet yet was he ashamed to cōmit so manifest an iniquity for feare least being so farre ouerruled by her he should happen to offend in matters of more consequence Least therefore either by denying her he should draw her to discontent or by condiscending to her demands he should seeme to be the wickeddest man aliue he deducted a seuerall portion of both their dominions presented her with the same He gaue her likewise those cities that are scituate between the floud Eleutherius Aegypt except Tyre and Sydon which he knew to be free cities of long continuance although by earnest sollicitation she sought to be seazed of these also CHAP. V. Cleopatras progresse into Iudaea AFter that Cleopatra had obtained all these things and had accompanied Antonius as farre as Euphrates who at that time went to make warre in Armenia she returned backe againe and by the way visited Apamea and Damasco and at last tooke her progresse into Iury Where King Herode met with her and assured that portion which had beene giuen vnto her in Arabia with all the reuenewes of Iericho vnto her This countrey bringeth forth that balme which of all other oyntments is the most precious and onely groweth in that place and no other to the bignes of great Dates Being arriued in that place and growen inwardly familiar with Herode she fought to allure and draw him to her lust being of her selfe naturally addicted to such pleasures and intemperance and happily also being somewhat touched with loue or rather as it seemeth most likely she in this sort laid the foundation to intrap him vnder colour to reuenge her selfe of some outrage by that meanes But in effect she generally manifested that she was ouercome by her desire and sensuall lust But Herode was not ouer kindly bent towards Cleopatra knowing of long time how badly she was enclined towards al men and at that time he conceiued the greater hatred against her because by that intemperance of hers she pretended to destroy him and although that from the beginning he had reiected her sollicitations yet determined he to reuenge himselfe on her if so be by these her subtill vnderminings she should prosecute and continue her subtil pollicies to betray him He asked counsaile also of his friends whether hauing her in his possession he should put her to death For in so doing all those should be deliuered from diuers euils whom either in time past she had molested or hereafter s◅d bring in trouble Moreouer that it would be profitable for Antonius also whom without all doubt she would forsake if any occasion or necessitie should enforce him to make triall of her friendship But whilest he debated and discoursed vpon this resolution his friends restrained and disswaded him assuring him that it was a great indignitie for him who was a Prince of high thoughts and hautie resolutions to cast himselfe into manifest perill beseeching him to attempt nothing rashly For that Antonius would not endure the same notwithstanding it might be approued that it stood with his profit nay rather that by this meanes he should increase his desire for that by force subtilty he might seeme to haue lost her Further that no on colour of excuse should be left him in that she was the woman of greatest note nobility of that time that what soeuer profit might redound vnto him by her death should be annexed with Antonius iniurie Wherby it most euidētly appeared how great remediles domages would befall both to the kingdome the kings family also whereas nothing letted him by repulsing her vnlvwfull demand to dispose allthings for the present state with great discretion By these such like reasons and probable coniectures they deterred and disswaded him from aduenturing vpon his apparant daunger and attempting so hainous an act so that contrariwise they induced him to offer Cleopatra many rich presents and to conduct her onward on her way towards Aegypt As soone therefore as Antonius was seazed of Armenia he sent Artabazes Tigranes sonne with all his children who were great princes prisoners into Aegypt and presented them to Cleopatra with all those precious Iewels likewise which were taken by him or found in the kingdome But Artaxias his elder sonne who at that time had saued himselfe by flight raigned in Armenia whom Archelaus and Nero the
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
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
was poisoned by Piso whereof he died as it is declared in another place CHAP. IIII. The rebellion of the Iewes against Pontius Pilate PIlate Gouernour of Iudâ—… led his army from Caesarea to Ierusalem where he wintered them with an intent to bring in Caesars statues and standards into the Citie in contempt of our lawe which forbiddeth vs to make images For which cause those Gouernours that were before him were wont to make their entries into the Citie without such pictures or paintings Pilate was the first who vnawares and by night entered Ierusalem bringing with him his images Which when the people vnderstood in great multitudes they resorted to Caesarea beseeching him for many daies that he would transport those images into some other place But when as Pilate denied them to performe their request because the matter would redound to Caesars dishonour and the Iewes also ceased not to sollicite him some sixe daies after commanding his souldiers to lie in ambush in a readinesse he sate him downe in the Tribunall within the Hippodrome making vse of the oportunitie of the place for that it was most fit for a stratageme There being vrged once more about the same businesse he gaue a signe to his souldiers to beset them threatning them with death except they would presently giue ouer their suite and repaire euerie one of them with all speed to their owne houses But they prostrating themselues vpon the earth and offering their naked throats tolde him that they rather desired to die then to see their lawes violated which were with so great iudgement and reason proposed vnto them Pilate amazed at the confidence they shewed in the conseruation of their lawes sodainly caused Caesars images to be transported out of Ierusalem into Caesarea and out of the sacred treasurie he made certaine conduits of water that had their fountaine heads more then two hundreth stades off But the people tooke no pleasure in those conduits and diuers thousands of men assembled themselues exclaiming against Pilate endeuouring thereby to make him giue ouer his enterprise Some of them also vttered diuers iniurious speeches against him as it ordinarily falleth out amongst an vnbridled multitude But he causing them to be hemmed in by a great number of his souldiers attired in a popular habite as soone as they began to exclaime against him gaue a signe to his souldiers they as it was before time commanded them made vse of their maces and without distinction either of the persons or the offenders fell on all those whom they had encompassed And so vnmercifully laid on them who were naked and disarmed that some of them were slaine othersome grieuously hurt and after this manner was the tumult and sedition appeased At that time was IESVS a wise Man if it be lawfull to call him a Man For he was the performer of diuers admirable workes and the instructer of those who willingly entertaine the truth and he drew vnto him diuers Iewes and Greekes to be his followers This was Christ who being accused by the princes of our nation before Pilate and afterwards condemned to the Crosse by him yet did not those who followed him from the beginning forbeare to loue him for the ignominie of his death For he appeared vnto them aliue the third day after according as the diuine Prophets had before testified the same and diuers other wonderfull things of him and from that time forward the race of the Christians who haue deriued their name from him hath neuer ceased At that time also there fell out another accident which verie sore troubled the Iewes and in the temple of Isis at Rome there were many shamefull acts committed But I will first of all recount the accident in the temple of Isis and then will I declare that which befell the Iewes There was in Rome a Ladie called Paulina renowmed both for the nobilitie of hir house as also thorow her studie and exercise in vertue Besides this she was verie rich and with her riches beautifull and in her flowring yeeres and notwithstanding a verie mirrhor of chastitie She was married vnto a certaine noble man called Saturnine that equald her in all those her excellent perfections A certaine young man called Decius Mundus one of the knights of greatest account at that time fell in loue with her But she was of that disposition that it was impossible for him to corrupt her by presents And the more she refused those infinite presents which he sent vnto her the more was Mundus heart inflamed with ardent affection so that to enioy her but onely one night he offered her two hundreth thousand drachmes amounting in our English money to some sixe thousand pound yet for all this he could not ouercome her For which cause being vnable to endure this his vnfortunate loue he thought best to pine himselfe away for want of sustenance thereby to deliuer himselfe from the tyrannie of that passion wherewith he was afflicted Finally that he confidently resolued he constantly put in execution Now there was a certaine free woman that belonged to Mundus father whose name was Idâ—… expert in all sorts of subtilties who being sore aggrieued to behold the young mans resolution whom she saw wholy addicted to a desperate death she addressed her selfe vnto him and encouraged him with hope promising him to bring him to Paulinas speech by the meanes of a certaine bribe which she intended to offer He reioycing verie much at her motion demanded what summe would serue her who requiring nothing more then fiftie thousand drachmes to obtaine Paulina he furnished her presently When as by this means she had quickened the young mans spirit and receiued all that which she demanded she shaped not the same course which others had kept that had the sollicitation of the matter before seeing she saw that money would not tempt her but knowing that she was deepely deuoted to the seruice of Isis she practised this subtill and vnexpected policie She addressed her selfe to certaine priests of the temple and vpon great hopes and offer of greater presents and paying them downe vpon the present twentie and fiue thousand drachmes and promising them as much more vpon the performance of the bargaine she disclosed vnto them the passionate loue which the young man bare vnto Paulina exhorting them to worke so wisely that he might enioy her They bewitched with this huge present they had and hoped to receiue promised her to worke the feat Whereupon the eldest among them resorted to Paulina and hauing free accesse vnto her presence he required that he might haue conference with her in secret which when he had obtained he tolde her that he was sent vnto her by God Anubis in that the God was surprised with her loue and desired that she would come vnto him Paulina tooke great pleasure in this his discourse and tolde her familiars how she had been honoured with the amorous solicitation of a God and certified
to admit the statue Whilest the matter stood vpon these tearmes Aristobulus Agrippas brother and Elcias surnamed the Great accompanied with diuers of their houshold traine and some of the chiefest among the Iewes came vnto Petronius beseeching him that he would consider the obstinacie of the people neither giue them occasions to draw them into desperate actions but rather that he would write vnto Caius with what obstinacie the people refused the dedication of his image in the Temple and how giuing ouer the care of their husbandrie they prepared themselues for the warre without any trust or confidence in their owne strength being rather addressed to die then to suffer so great an indignitie to be offered to their religion Besides how giuing ouer their tillage there was nothing to be expected but robberie whereas they should want meanes to pay their customes by which meanes they hoped that Caesar would be mooued to moderate his seueritie towardes that nation and not to giue them cause of rebellion and that if he might not be mooued from the prosecution of the warre that then he might go forward with his businesse This was the effect of Aristobulus request But Petronius partly in respect of their praiers who instantly vrged him and the waightinesse of the action partly in regard of the contentious purpose of the Iewes supposing that it was a matter vnworthy a man to put so many thousands of men to death to satisfie Caius vnbridled desire and insolence and touched with the feare of God and the remorse of his own conscience he had rather to his owne danger informe the Emperour of the absurditie of the matter by his letters being no waies ignorant of his wrathfull spirit and forwardnesse in reuenge except his furious passion and expectation were answered For this thought he that although it altered not his resolution but happily inforced his displeasure against him in that he did not speedily execute his cōmaund yet that it was the duetie of a good man no not to refuse an assured death if so be he might saue so guiltlesse and huge a multitude When as therefore he had assembled the Iewes togither in Tiberias when many thousands of them resorted thither and disposed all those warlike forces that at that time gaue attendance on him round about him he tolde the Iewes first of all not his owne but the Emperours intent who would make them shortly taste his displeasure and enforce them to beare the burthen of his indignation who were so bold as to contradict him For himselfe that it necessarily concerned him that since by the Emperours fauour he had receiued so great houour he should not commit any thing contrarie to his commaund I hold it said he a matter most iust to employ my life honor for you to the end that so huge a number of men should not be drawne into danger of death and I will respect the excellencie of the lawes of your fathers for which you thinke you ought to entertaine warre and danger neither is it lawful to suffer the temple of God to be defiled by the authority of princes I wil therfore write vnto Caesar and certifie him of your mindes and in all that I may I will assist you to obtaine your requests God whose power surpasseth all industrie and humane force vouchsafe to conduct you and make you constant in the obseruation of your lawes and grant that he thorow excessiue desire of humane glorie commit not any thing that may offend God And if Caius be displeased and inforce his ineuitable displeasure against me I will vndertake all danger and endure all torments both in body and spirit to the end that I may not behold so many vertuous men as you are perish in your good and iust actions Go therefore each of you and plie your worke and till your lands my selfe wil send vnto Rome and both in my selfe and by my friends I wil employ my selfe for you After he had spoken thus he dismissed the assembly praying the chiefest amongst them to encourage the husbandmen to plie their businesse and to confirme the rest of the people in their good hope Of himselfe also he ceased not to animate them And truely God shewed his assistance to Petronius and assisted him in ◅ll his affaires For as soone as he had finished his discourse vnto the Iewes there sodainly fell a great raine beyond all humane expectation For the day was verie faire neither was there any appearance of raine in the ayre and all that yeere long there was an extreme drought so that men were past hope to haue any moisture notwithstanding that sometime there appeared certaine clouds in the heauens At that time therfore the water fell in great abundance and besides the expectation and opinion of men the Iewes conceiued hope that Petronius solliciting their cause should not bee repulsed But Petronius was more amazed then all the rest seeing euidently that God vndertooke the affaires of the Iewes and gaue them testimonie of his manifest assistance so that they that were their professed aduersaries had no meanes to contradict them as he himselfe wrote to Caius at large with inductions and exhortations to the end he should not drawe so many thousand men into a desperate resolution and vnhappy death For without warre it was impossible for them euer to make them forsake their religion Furthermore that he would not cut off and lose the reuenue which he receiued of that nation and would not erect a trophey of an euerlasting curse and malediction against himselfe Adding moreouer what the power of their God was which he had so cleerely declared that no man ought to doubt but that his mercifull hand was ouer them This is the content of Petronius letters On the other side king Agrippa who at that time conuersed at Rome grew more and more in fauour with Caius hauing entertained him at a banquet wherein he enforced himselfe to exceede all others in sumptuousnesse as in all other sorts of delights and pleasures yea with such festiuals entertained he him that not onely others but also the Emperour himselfe could not attaine to such magnificence so much inforced he himselfe to exceed all others thorow the great desire he had to content and satisfie Caesar in all things Caius was abashed at this his courage and magnificence seeing Agrippa enforce himselfe aboue his power and meanes to abound in siluer and all this to the intent to please him For which cause Caesar in acquitall of his kindnes intending to honour Agrippa to his vtmost power in granting him that which he most desired being one day whet with wine inuited him to drinke a carouse adding these words Agrippa I haue heretofore known the honour thou hast shewed towards me and thou hast expressed the earnest affection that thou bearest me in hazarding thy selfe in diuers dangers into which thou hast been drawne during Tiberius life time and hast omitted nothing no
honourable minded man knowing that their intent was such wrote himselfe vnto Artabanus who had nourished and brought him vp exhorting him to returne vpon his faith and to receiue againe his owne kingdome Artabanus vpon this motion gaue credit to his words and returned backe againe Whereupon Cinnamus came foorth and met him and prostrating himselfe before his feete called him king and afterwards taking the diademe from off his own head he set it vpon Artabanus head who by this means was restored to his former estate by Izates mediation after he had been driuen out of his kingdome by his chiefest nobilitie And hee did not forget the fauours which he had receiued at Izates hands but did him all the honour that possibly he could imagine For he permitted him to weare the straight Tiara and to sleepe vpon a guilded bed which is a priuiledge that belongeth only to the kings of Parthia He gaue him also a goodly and great countrey which he had taken from the king of Armenia This countrey was called Nisibis where in times past the Macedons had builded the Citie of Antioch by them called Mygdonia Presently after Izates was in this sort honoured Artabanus died leauing his kingdome to his sonne Vardanes who repaired to Izates praying him to ioyne with him in that warre which he intended to wage against the Romans but he preuailed not with him For Izates knowing the Romans force and good hap imagined that he vndertooke a matter beyond his power Furthermore he had sent fiue of his young sonnes to Ierusalem to learne our tongue and discipline and his mother likewise to adore in the temple for which cause he the rather held backe and disswaded Vardanes from enterprizing against the Romans whose power and puissant conquests he ordinarily reckoned vp vnto him to the end he might dismay him and by these his allegations cause him to giue ouer his purposed intent of war against them But the Parthian was displeased with this his perswasion and for that cause denounced a present warre against Izates But this his enterprize had but a fruitlesse issue for God cut off all his hopes For the Parthians vnderstanding what Vardanes intent was and how he was resolued to vndertake a war against the Romans slew him and gaue the kingdome to his brother Gotarza whom not long after this his brother Vologesus flew by treason restoring to his two brothers by the mother side these prouinces that is to say the kingdome of Media to Pacorus who was the eldest and Armenia to Tiridates who was the younger When Monobazus king Izates brother and the rest of his kinsfolke saw how happily all things succeeded to Izates and how in respect of his pietie towards God he was honoured and reuerenced by all men they also resolued themselues to forsake their religion and to serue God after the manner of the Iewes But this intent of theirs was discouered Whereupon the chiefest among them grew displeased yet did they not manifest their despite but kept it hidden in their hearts seeking some fit occasion to reuenge themselues as soone as they might They wrote also to Abias king of Arabia and promised him great summes of money if he would take armes against their king promising him that vpon the first charge they would forsake him for that they desired to be reuenged on him who was growne in hatred of their religion Hauing therefore confirmed their promise with an oath they incited him to make haste The king of Arabia performed that which they required and marched foorth against Izates with a great power And when as the first charge was ready to be giuen and before they came to handy-strokes all Izates souldiers forsooke him and turning their backes to their enemies fled in great disorder as if they had been surprized with a Panique feare yet was Izates no waies dismaied but hauing discouered that it was the treason and conspiracie of his greatest peeres he retired himselfe also into his campe where he inquired of the cause that they pretended After he knew that they had complotted with the Arabian he caused the conspiratours to be put to death and the next day after went out to fight and slew a great number of his enemies and constrained the rest to betake them to flight He pursued their king also into a fort called Arsam which he battered and assaulted with such spirit and diligence that he tooke the same with a great quantitie of bootie that was therein and returned to Adiabena with great triumph but he tooke not Abias aliue for hee himselfe had preuented his captiuitie with his death The Lords of Adiabena seeing themselues frustrated of their former hopes in that by Gods hand they were deliuered into the hands of their king could not containe their displeasure but practized further mischiefe for they wrote their letters to Vologesus king of Parthia desiring him to kill Izates and to bestow an other king vpon them who was a Parthian for that they hated their king who had abolished their religion and had embraced a strange lawe The Parthian vnderstanding hereof prepared himselfe for the warre and hauing no iust colour or pretext to inforce the same he sent a messenger vnto him to redemaund those honours which his father had giuen him which if he refused he denounced warre against him Izates was not a little troubled in his minde when he vnderstood this message For he thought that if he should restore the gifts he should offer himselfe great preiudice for that it would be imagined that he did it for feare knowing on the other side that if the Parthian should recouer that which he redemaunded yet would he not be in quiet he therfore commended his cause to God trusting that he would take care of him And building vpon this that the greatest good he might haue was to haue God to helpe he shut his wiues and children in a strong Castle and his corne in his strongest towers and afterwards burned all the hay and forrage and hauing after this manner prouided for all things he expected the approch of his enemie The Parthian came onward sooner then he was expected with a great power of horsmen and footmen For he marched forward in all haste and encamped neere vnto the floud that separateth Adiabena from Media Izates likewise encamped not farre from thence hauing with him about six thousand horsemen To whom the Parthian sent a messenger to giue him to vnderstand how great his power was which extended from the riuer of Euphrates as farre as Bactria recounting vnto him what kings he had vnder his subiection threatning him to punish him very seuerely in that he behaued himselfe so vngratefully towards his benefactors yea in such sort as the god whom he adored might not deliuer him out of the kings hands Hereunto Izates answered that he knew well that the Parthian farre exceeded him in power but that he was farre better assured that Gods power extended
Agrippa had not beene in Rome For he seeing that the matter was handled to the disaduantage of the Iewes besought Agrippina the Emperours wife that she would labour her husband in such sort that he would be pleased to take full knowledge of that which was done and that afterwards he should execute due iustice on those whom he found guiltie of that sedition Claudius fauourably gaue eare to this request and hearing the whole matter he found that the Samaritanes were the first authors of all those mischiefes and caused them to be put to death who came before him to pleade and banished Cumanus he gaue order also that captaine Celer should be sent backe to Ierusalem and that there in sight of all the people he should be dragged about the Citie vntil he died Furthermore he sent Claudius Foelix Pallas brother to gouerne Iudaea In the twelfth yeere of his raigne he gaue Agrippa Philips Tetrarchy with Batanea and besides that annexed thereunto Trachonitis and Abila which in times past appertained to Lysanias Tetrarchy taking from him the prouince of Chalcis which he had gouerned for the space of foure yeeres After that Agrippa had obtained this gift at Caesars hands he married his sister Drusilla to Azizus king of the Emesenians who consented to be circumcised because Epiphanes king Antiochus sonne would not giue care vnto the marriage for that he refused to entertaine the religion of the Iewes although in times past he had promised his father no lesse He gaue Mariamme also to Archelaus Chelcias sonne who by her fathers consent was before time promised him on whom he begat a daughter called Bernice A little after this the marriage of Azizus and Drusilla was broken off on this occasion following At such time as Foelix gouerned Iewrie he saw Drusilla and was surprised with her loue for that she surpassed all other women in beautie He therefore sent her a certaine Magician called Simon who was borne in Cypris and one of his greatest friends among the Iewes who perswaded her to forsake her first husband and to marrie with Foelix giuing her to vnderstand that she should be happy if she refused not this match She vnaduised and resolued to rid her selfe from the enuious affection which her sister Bernice bare towards her who hated her in regard of her beautie and for this occasion ceased not to iniurie her she condiscended to forsake the religion of the Iewes and to marrie with Foelix by whom she had a sonne who was called Agrippa His death hereafter will I declare and how in the Emperour Tiberius time he died and was burned in the fire of the mountaine Veâ—…ius with his wife Bernice remained a widow verie long time after Herodes death who was both her vncle and her husband and the report was that she had the company of her brother Finally she wrought so much that Polemon king of Cilicia caused himselfe to be circumcised to the end he might espouse her purposing by that means to make it knowne how falsely she had been accused Wherunto Polemon gaue eare because she was rich But this marriage continued not any long time For Bernice thorow her impudencie as it is reported abandoned Polemon who giuing ouer that marriage forsooke also the religion of the Iewes At the same time Mariamme hauing refused Archelaus her husband married with Demetrius one of the chiefest Iewes that were in Alexandria both in regard of his descent as also his riches who at that time also exercised the office of Alubarcha that is to say the gouernour of Arabia She caused the sonne she had by him to be called Agrippinus But of all this will I speake more exactly hereafter The Emperour Claudius died after he had raigned thirteene yeeres eight moneths and twentie daies Some say that he was poisoned by Agrippina his wife the daughter of Germanicus Claudius brother which was first married to Domitius Oenobarbus one of the greatest men of Rome after whose death and long widowhood she was finally married to Claudius into whose house she brought her sonne called Domitius by his owne fathers name Claudius had before time put Messalina his wife to death for the iealousie that he had of her although he had had children by her namely Britannicus and Octauius He had Octaâ—…ia also by his first wife Paetina which was elder then her brethren and was married to Nero whom Claudius so named and adopted for his sonne Agrippina fearing least Britannicus growing to mans estate should succeed his father in the Empire and desirous to make her owne sonne Emperor as it is reported she left nothing vnattempted that might bring her husband to his death and presently sent Bâ—…rrus who was generall of the army with certaine other captains and those of greatest power amongst his freemen to bring Nero into the field and to proclaime him Emperour He being thus established in the Empire caused Britannicus to be secretly poisoned and not long after this he openly caused his mother to be put to death yeelding her this recompence not onely for that she had borne him in her wombe but also for that by her pollicies he had obtained the Empire He likewise murthered Octauia his wife and diuers other noble men vnder colour of some conspiracie intended against him But I will no further prosecute this matter for that there are diuers who haue composed Neros historie of whom some haue had no regard of the truth but haue spoken at their pleasure for that he had been their benefactor othersome transported with hatâ—…ed and despite against him haue not been ashamed to publish such impudent lies against his renowne as they deserue to be condemned Neither doe I wonder that they haue inuented so many lies against Nero considering that in those histories which they wrote as touching the precedent Emperours they haue not studied to speake truth although they had not any occasion to hate them considering that they liued a long time after their death But let these contemners of truth write as them listeth for that they seeme to take delight in that licence For mine owne part I am intended to write nothing but the truth neither stand I much on that which concemeth not the matter which I intreat of purposing in all truth and diligence to declare that which hath befallen our nation of the Iewes without omitting of either their misfortunes or follies that haue proceeded with them I will therefore returne to the discouerie of our affaires Azizus king of Emesene being dead the first yeere of the Emperour Neros raigne his brother obtained the kingdome Aristobulus the sonne of Herode king of Chalcis had the gouernment of the signiorie of the lesser Armenia from Neros hands Caesar gaue Agrippa a certaine portion of Galilee commanding those of Tiberias and Tarichaea to liue vnder him Besides this he gaue him Iulias scituate beyond Iordan with fourteene burroughs neere adioyning thereunto CHAP.
the Iewes how he came how he fought against me the first time neere to the Citie of Taricheaâ—…how I departed from thence to repaire to Iotapata my taking my deliuerance and all my actions and fortunes during the warres of the Iewes and the siege of the Citie of Ierusalem But now me seemeth that it is necessarie that I describe other things exploited by me during my life time in other places then in the warres of the Iewes After the siege of Iotapata was ended I was prisoner with the Romans and kept verie carefully yet notwithstanding Vespasian did me much honour For by his commandement I married a virgin that was one of those that had been taken captiue in Caesarea But she remained not long time with me for after I was set at libertie and that I followed Vespasian she retired her selfe to Alexandria After which I married another woman in Alexandria from whence I was sent to Titus to the siege of Ierusalem where I was oftentimes in danger of death For the Iewes laboured what they might to take and punish me and the Romans supposing that as many and oftentimes as they were repulsed it was by my treason cried out continually to the Emperour to execute me for a traitor But Titus well experienced in the changes of warre pacified the violence which his souldiers intended against me by his silence And after the Citie of Ierusalem was taken Titus often solicited me to take that which I liked among the ruines of Ierusalem promising to giue it me But I making but small account of any thing after the ruine of my countrey besought him that he would giue me certaine free men and the sacred Bible which I receiued for a great consolation in my miseries All which he gratiously granted me Not long after hauing begd my brother and fiftie other of my friends they were giuen me and I was refused in nothing Entring into the temple by Titus permission I found a great number of prisoners shut vp therein and all those women and children of my friends and familiars whom I knew I deliuered them to the number of one hundreth and ninetie without paying any raunsome and I restâ—…d them to their former free condition Being sent with Cerealis and one thousand horse into the Citie of Thecoa by the Emperour Titus to espie if the place were fit for a campe in returning from thence I saw diuers prisoners who were on the gibbet amongst which were three of my familiars whereat I was grieued in my soule and I came and signified the same vnto Titus with teares who incontinently commaunded thâ—… they should be taken downe and as carefully drest and cured as might be two of which died notwithstanding the vtmost diligence of the Phisitions and the third suruiued After that Titus had appeased the troubles of Iudaea coniecturing with himselfe that the possessions which I had in Ierusalem would yeeld me but little profit by reason of the Roman garrison that should be placed there he planted me in a possession in a champion countrey and intending to embarke himselfe to depart for Rome he tooke me with him in his owne ship and did me great honour As soone as we came to Rome Vespasian had great care of me for he lodged me in his owne house where he kept before he was Emperour and honoured me with the title of a citizen of Rome and gaue me an annuall pension in money and as long as he liued continued his good affection towards me forgetting no kind of bountie which he might vse towards me Whereupon I was so much enuied that I grew in daunger thereby to lose my life For a certaine Iew called Ionathan hauing stirred vp a sedition in Cyrene gathered about him some two thousand inhabitants of the countrey was the cause of their ouerthrow and as touching himselfe being bound by the gouernour of that countrey and afterwards sent vnto the Emperour he said it was I that had sent him armes and money But Vespasian knew his falshood and condemned him to death and commaunded him to be executed After this mine enemies obiected diuers crimes against me in regard that I was in good reputation but God so wrought that I escaped them all Moreouer I receiued in gift from Vespasian an ample possession in Iudaea and at that verie time I forsooke my wife because her manners pleased me not although she were the mother of my three children of whom two are deceased and the third who was called Hircanus is yet aliue After this I maried a wife that was borne in Candie and was by nation a Iew and by birth noble and one of the greatest reputation amongst the inhabitants endowed with as laudable manners as any other vertuous woman whatsoeuer as her after life most plainly expressed By her I had two sonnes Iustus who was the eldest and Simonides who was also surnamed Agrippa Thus farre as touching my domesticall affaires That bountie which I receiued from the hands of the Caesars hath alwaies continued mine For after Vespasians death Titus who succeeded him in the Empire continued the same fauour which his father had shewed me For although I were oftentimes accused yet were not mine aduersaries beleeued Domitian who succeeded him augmented mine honours For he punished those Iewes that accused me and gaue order that the Eunuch and slaue whom I kept to teach my sonne and by whom I was accused should be punished He granted me extemption also from all the tributes of Iudaea which is one of the most greatest honours that a man may receiue And as touching Domitia the Emperours wife she alwaies continued her good affection towards me Behold heere the short recitall of my whole life whereby let each man coniecture of my manners as him listeth But O thrice excellent Epaphroditus after I haue giuen and offered thee all this ancient history of our nation I will for this present pause in this place THE LAMENTABLE AND TRAGICALL HISTORIE OF THE VVARS AND VTTER RVINE OF THE IEWES Comprised in seuen Bookes by Flauius Iosephus the Sonne of Matthias And newly translated out of the Latin and French into English by Tho. Lodge D. M. P. Printed at London on Bread-street hill at the signe of the Starre 1602. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL HIS esteemed friend M. Anthony Palmer Esquier SIR my affection that had rather be an actor then an orator doe well then speake well hath pickt you out to be the patron of this tragicall historie of the wars of the Iewes The reasons that draue me herevnto are neither the expectance of worldlie benefits nor the fruitlesse vp-shot of ostentation but your virtue which is not beloued respectiuelie but onely for it selfe hath created this good conceit in me which if you so please your acceptance may continue Now since as the Philosopher supposeth it is an action worthy a good man to do good vnto his friend so is it no lesse commendable to accept
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
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
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
kingdome and railed against such as he had no power ouer Antipater increased this mischiefe more and more and gathering togither a great company of his friends he omitted no kind of calumniation The king likewise was terrified by the rumours tales of pickthanks that he thought alwaies that he saw Alexander before him with a drawen sword For which cause he sodainly tooke him and cast him in prison and tortured his friends many of which died in torments because they would not confesse more then in conscience was true others not able to endure the torments were forced to confesse that Alexander and his brother Aristobulus thought to haue wrought treason against their father that they expected their time till he went a hunting resolued in themselues that hauing killed him they would presently flie to Rome Although these and such like calumniations were nowaies probable yet extremitie of paine forced men extempore to inuent them and the king willingly beleeued them as it were comforting himselfe thereby in that he might not be thought to haue imprisoned his sonne vn◅stly Alexander perceluing that it was vnpossible for him to abolish his fathers suspition thought it better to yeeld hi◅selfe guiltio and so wrote foure bookes against his aduersaries and confessed the treason affirming that he had many partakers therein namely Pheroras Salome who were the chiefe auouching that before that time he had had the vse of her body in the night time and how though he himselfe was vnwilling yet she forced him thereunto Now the bookes came vnto Herods hands which charged the greatest amongst the nobilitie with most hainous matters Archelaus fearing his son in law and daughter to be in great danger speedily came into Iudaea and ingeniously appeased the kings wrath for so soone as he came vnto Herod he cried where is that wicked son in law of mine or where may I see the face of that wre◅h that goeth about to murther his father that I may teare him in peeces with mine own hands marrie my daughter anew to a better husband for although she be not priuie to his cou◅sell yet is she defiled for that she was wife to such a man Nay I admire thy patience who art in such daunger and sufferest Alexander yet to liue for I came thus hastily out of Cappadocia thinking he had beene put to death to talke with thee concerning my daughter whom I maried to him for thy sake and honour Wherefore now let vs take counsell what to do with them both and seeing thouart too father like and not able to punish thy sonne thy ◅echerous sonne let vs chaunge roumes and let me be in t◅y place to reuenge thee with such like inuections he deceiued Herode though otherwise firme in his purpose Then Herode shewed him the bookes that Alexander had writ and reading euery chapter with deliberation Archelaus tooke occasion fit for his purpose and by little and little laid al the fault on Pheroras and those that were accused in the booke And perceiuing the king to giue eare vnto him let vs quoth he consider whether the young man was not circumuented by the trechery of so many lewde persens and not thou by the yong man for there appeares no cause why he should fall into such wickednes who now enioyed the kingdome and hoped to succeed thee therein had he not beene perswaded thereto by other men who seeing him a young man entised him vnto such naughtines For we see that through such men not onely young men but also olde men and most noble families yea and whole kingdomes are ruinated Herode vpon these speeches began somewhat to relent so that he appeased his wrath toward Alexāder encreased it towards Pheroras for he was as it were the subiect of the whole booke Who perceiuing the king so to trust vnto Archelaus friendship that he was lead by him to do what he pleased leauing Alexander he in humble manner came to Archelaus seeking impudently for succour at his hands of whom he had not deserued any fauour Archelaus answered him that he knew no waies to obtaine his pardon who was guiltie of so hainous crimes and conuicted manifestly to haue practised high treason against the kings owne person and to be the cause of all these miseries that had now befallen the young man except that he would lay aside all subtle dealing and denying of his fact and confesse the crimes wherof he was accused and so in humble wise go vnto his brother who loued him dearely and craue pardon promising him that if he would so do he would do him what good he could Hereupon Pheroras obeyed Archelaus his counsell and putting on a blacke attire he in pitifull maner and with teares prostrated himselfe at Herodes feete and crauing pardon obtained it confessing himselfe to be a most wicked and vile person and to be guiltie of al that which was obiected against him and that the cause which moued him to do al those things was the franticke and madde fits he fell into for the loue of that woman Now when Pheroras became his owne accuser a witnesse against himselfe then Archelaus endeuored to mitigate Herodes wrath towards him and excuse his faultes with fit examples for he alleaged that his brother attempted greater matters against him whom notwithstanding for natures cause he pardoned adding that in euery kingdome as in mightie bodies alwaies some part began to swell which notwithstanding was not presently to be cut off but to be cured by easie means Archelaus vsing many speeches vnto Herod to this purpose at last quite appeased his wrath toward Pheroras still counterfaiting himselfe to be angrie with Alexander affirming that he would take his daughter away with him till at last he forced Herode of his owne accord to entreat for the yong man requesting him again to despouse his daughter vnto him Archelaus after much entreatie answered that he was willing the king should bestow his daughter vpō any saue Alexander for he greatly esteemed the law of affinity Herod replied that if he did not diuorce his daughter from Alexander he should thinke that he bestowed his sonne vpon him for they had no children and his daughter was dearely loued of the young man so that if he would permit her to stay still there for her sake he would pardon all Alexanders offences Heereto Archelaus with much ado agreed and so was reconciled vnto his sonne in law and he vnto his father Yet Herode affirmed that he must needs be sent to Rome to speake with Caesar for he had written the whole matter vnto Caesar. Thus Archelaus craftily deliuered his sonne in law from daunger and after this reconciliation was made they spent the time in feasting and mirth Vpon Archelaus departure Herode gaue him seuentie talents and a throne of pure gold adorned with precious stones and Eunuches and a concubine named Pannychis and rewarded euery one of his
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
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
whole armie and almost all of them came running to see their generall and especially Titus who feared his fathers death so that the whole armie partly for the loue of their generall and partly for the feare of Titus his sonne were greatly troubled but Vespasian presently freed the armie from al perturbation and his sonne Titus from feare For the griefe of the wound being past he shewed himself to all that were sorrowful for him and incited them to fight against the Iewes more earnestly then before and now euery one as it were to reuenge their generall despised all danger and assaulted the wals one exhorting another Ioseph and his associates notwithstanding that many of them were killed with shot darts and arrowes yet they forsooke not the wals but with fire and sword and stones fiercely assaulted them that being defended with hurdles battered the wals with the Ramme but to little purpose for they were continually killed being in the sight of their enemies and for that they could not see them presently were stroken downe For their fire did make such a light as though it had beene day so that the Romans easily perceiued whither to direct their shot and for that their engines were not perceiued a farre off the Iewes could not defend themselues from the arrowes and stones which were shot against them by which meanes many of them were slaine and the tops and corners of the towers beaten downe And there was no man so wel guarded but he was slaine by force of these stones so that any man may know of what force that engine is by that which hapned that night For one that stood neere Ioseph vpō the wal was strokē with a stone his head caried frō his body by violence of that blow three furlongs as though it had been cast out of a sling the next day a woman great with child was stroken on the belly with one of those stones and the child caried forth of her from the place where she was stroken three furlongs so great was the force of this engine Therefore the violence of the engines was more terrible and likewise the noise of darts arrowes and other shot And many were slaine on euerie side and the bodies of those that were killed stroken against the vvall made a noise and within the citie was heard a pitifull lamentation and weeping among the women without a heauy mourning and crie of them that were wounded to death and all that part of the wal where the fight was flowed with bloud so that now the multitude of dead bodies had so filled the ditch before the wall that the Romanes might easily passe ouer them into the citie and the mountaines about did eccho with the cries of the citizens and all that night long nothing vvanted that either might by the eie or eare moue terror And many stoutly fighting for Iotapata died most valiantly many also vvere sore vvounded and notwithstanding the vvall was continually battered yet it vvas almost morning before it fell being all night long beaten with the Ramme And then they of Iotapata repaired the breach vvith their bodies and armour before the Romans could set bridges to enter it CHAP. X. How Iotapata was againe assaulted IN the morning Vespasian brought his armie to enter the breach hauing giuen them but little rest after their whole nights labour and desirous to make the Iewes that defended the breach to forsake their place before such time as he entred hee tooke the most valiant of his horsemen and vnhorsed them being armed from the head vnto the foote and placed them in three rankes that they being so armed might besiege round that part of the wall that was battered and to take long pikes in their handes so that as soone as the bridges were set they should first enter the breach After them hee placed the strongest of his footemen the rest of his horsemen hee set round about the Citie vpon the mountaine to the end that none might escape thereout after the footemen he commaunded archers to follow with their arrowes readie in their hands and them that vsed slings also and other engines for shot And he caused other to scale the wals where they were not battered to the intent that the townesmen busied in resisting them might leaue the breach vnmanned and the rest being wearied oppressed with the thicknesse of the shot should of force forsake their standing But Ioseph perceiuing his intent placed old men and children and those that were alreadie wearied vpon those parts of the wals that were not battered and himselfe with the stowtest in the Citie went to defend the breach and placed sixe men before them whom he choose out himselfe being one of them to sustaine the first brunt of their enemies assault commaunding them likewise to stop their eares to the end that they might not be terrified with the cries of the armie He willed them also to defend themselues with shields against the darts and arrowes and giue backe a little till such time as the Archers quiuers were emptied and if so bee that the Romans should offer to make bridges that then they with their instruments should resist and that euerie one now should fight not to defend his Countrie but as it were to recouer it being in a manner alreadie lost and imagine that they now did see their aged men murdered with their children and their wiues almost taken by their enemies and now to reuenge themselues vpon those that hereafter would massacre their whole Citie and thus he appointed men in both places The weaker multitude women and children seeing the Citie compassed about with three ranckes of horsemen and that the Romans with swords drawne preased against the breach that all the mountaines about did shine and glitter with their weapons that were placed there and certaine Arabians to serue the Archers with arrowes they cried out as though the Citie were now taken so that a man would haue iudged them alreadie amidst their enemies swords and not onely in danger to fall into their hands Wherefore Ioseph commaunded the women to their houses least their cries should effaeminate his souldiers mindes willing them likewise to keepe silence and threatned them if they did not and so hee marched vnto the breach which place fell vnto his lot and gaue no heede to them that sought to scale the wals but onely beheld a farre off the force of the arrowes When all the trumpets began to sound and the ayre to bee obscured with the multitude of arrowes Iosephs companions remembring the charge giuen them stopped their eares and armed their bodies against the shot of arrowes And so soone as the bridges were set against the wal presently they ran before the Romans could enter vpon them they got them into their hands resisted them that sought to come vpon them shewing great prowesse and strength and themselues no way inferiour vnto the Romans though
for the foresaid women that are not deuoured by the furie of war For they come vnto these women not fearing the companie of strangers amongst whom they li◅e yea this is an euident token of the priests integritie that euerie priest during the reuolution of two thousand yeers are registred togither with the names of their fathers and if any one doe erre or falsifie any of the things beforesaid he is then interdicted from the altar and from exercising any priestly function So that in the writings of such men all things must of necessitie be true and as they ought to be for that neither all men are permitted to write nor yet any dissonance and disagreement is found in their writings For such things as past in auncient times quite beyond the memorie of men were onely written by our Prophets who had the knowledge thereof by inspiration from God himselfe but other things of latter time are onely recorded by those who liued in the age wherein the things they writ of were done The bookes amongst vs containing the histories of all ages are neither infinit nor one repugnant to another for all our Chronicle is contained in two and twentie bookes to which bookes it is impietie to denie credit Fiue of these bookes were written by Moses comprehending Genealogies and the beginning of mankind and such notable euents as hapned euen from the beginning of the world vntill his death which is little lesse then three thousand yeeres After the death of Moses vntill the time wherein Artaxerxes liued who was king of the Persians and sonne to Xerxes the Prophets of our nation euerie one writ the historie of his time wherein he liued so that of these mens writings we haue thirteene bookes the foure other bookes which make vp the number alreadie mentioned are knowne to containe holy Hymnes dedicated vnto God and wholsome precepts for mans life and conuersation All things which from Artaxerxes vntill our time haue hapned are also set downe in writing yet the bookes wherein they are registred do not deserue so much credit as the former of auncient times for that there was no certaine successor of Prophets in this age Moreouer it is euident that to the former works we giue as great credite as to the things we our selues write and notwithstanding they haue been so long written yet in all that time no man durst presume either to alter or to blot out any thing therein contained For all Iewes euen from their cradle do beleeue these bookes to be sacred holy and diuine and therefore do giue all credite possible vnto them and so would willingly suffer death rather then to doe the contrarie Many captiues also of our nation haue alreadie been cruelly tormented and diuers waies put to death in open theaters only for that they would not cōmit any thing either in word or deed against their lawes nor violate the writings of their forefathers Now who amongst the Greekes did euer sustaine the like nay they are so farre from doing it that none can be found amongst them who would any losse in his goods or fortunes thereby to preserue all the writings of their nation from perdition and the reason hereof is that euerie one esteemeth the veritie of their Histories to depend vpon the will of the writer And this they do also of their most ancient Historiographers and not without cause for they euery day see men of their owne times writing Histories of matters past long before in former ages wherin neither themselues were present neither yet vouchsafe they to credit the writings of such as were then eye witnesses thereof yea some amongst them haue diuulged Histories of such things as of late befell our nation when themselues neuer haue beene in the place where such matters past as they did write of warre nor haue liued in any neighbour place vvhere they might haue probable report how matters past but onely making a few centones or broken newes they most impudently arrogate vnto therr patcht stuffe the name of a Historie I my selfe haue composed a most true Historie of those vvars and of enerie particuler thing there done as well I might hauing beene present in all those affaires For I was captaine of the Galileans amongst our nation so long as any resistance could be made againg the Romans and then it so fell out that I was taken by the Romans and being prisoner vnto Titus and Vespasian they caused me to be an eye witnesse of all things that past First in bonds and fetters afterward freed from them I was brought from Alexandria with Titus vvhen he went to the siege of Ierusalem So that nothing could then passe whereof I had not notice For beholding the Roman armie I committed to writing all things with all possible diligence My selfe also did onely manage all matters disclosed vnto the Romans by such as yeelded themselues for that I only did perfectly vnderstand them Lastly being at Rome and hauing now leasure all buisines being past I vsed the helpe of some for the puritie of the Greeke tongue and so I published a historie of all that had hapned in the foresaid wars which Historie of mine is so true that I feare not to call Vespasian and Titus Emperors in those wars to witnesse for them I first gaue a copie of that booke to them afterwards to many noble Romans who also were present in those warres I solde also many of them to our owne nation to such as vnderstood the greeke language amongst whom were Iulius Archilaus Herode the honest and the most worthie king Agrippa who all doe testifie that my historie containeth nothing but truth Who would not haue beene silent if in any thing either for ignorance or flatterie I had chaunged or omitted any particuler yet notwithstanding all this some ill disposed persons endeuour to discredit my historie as though they were disputing pro and contra amongst children in schooles being sometime on a sodaine too for a feined accusation and otherwise to feine a slaunderous and sodaine detraction neuer considering that he who promiseth other men a true relation of matters past must either be priuie vnto them by his owne knowledge as hauing beene present in the affaires or else haue that which he speaketh from other mens mouthes by report of them who know them both which I haue done For I gathered my other bookes of Antiquitie out of holy Scripture being my selfe a Priest and skilfull in our law and the historie of our wars I haue written my selfe being an agent in many matters therein contained and an eye witnesse of the rest so that nothing was said or done whereof I had not notice How then can any man excuse them from impudencie and malice who labour against me to proue my relation false They perhaps alledge that they haue read the commentarie containing the Emperours acts yet for all this they were not present in any action repugnant to that
Iewes and in our language signifieth the gift of God Herodotus of Halicarnassa knew our nation also and in a manner maketh mention of it for speaking of the Colchains he saith thus in his second booke The Colchians Aegyptians and Aethiopians onely amongst all other nations did vse circumcision in the beginning for the Phaenicians and Syrians liuing in Palestina do confesse themselues to haue learned this custome from the Aegyptians and the Syrians liuing neere vnto Thermodoontes and the riuer Parthenius and their neighbours the Macronians are reported lately to haue learned it of the Colchians and these are they onely that vse circumcision and they doe like vnto the Aegyptians but I am not able to say whether the Aegyptians or Aethiopians learned it of the other Herodotus therefore affirmeth the Syrians in Palestina to vse circumcision and it is manifest that of all that inhabite Palaestina the Iewes onely vse it which he knowing writeth so of them Chaerilus also an auncient Poet maketh mention of our nation and affirmeth that our countrimen warred vnder Xerxes against the Greeks and numbring them of the countries that followed him he lastly spake thus of our nation A people straunge followed this royall throng There language was th◅vnknowne Ph◅nician tongue In the hils of Solymus theirs dwelling was Neere to a lake for greatnesse which did passe Their heads ware shau'd and for the heads attire They ware an hors-skin dried at the fire It is euident as I thinke that he speaketh of the Iewes for the mountains of Solimus are in our countrey and that lake also called Asphaltites which is the greatest and vastest of all lakes that are in Syria and thus Chaerilus maketh inention of vs. And that the Iewes were not knowne only to the Greeks but also admired of them it is easie to proue not out of the obscurest writers but by the testimonie of their wisest Philosophers For Clearchus disciple vnto Aristotle and the best amongst all the Peripateti◅kes in his first booke de somno saith that his master Aristotle spake thus of a certaine ◅ew and reporting Aristotles words he saith thus It were too tedious to recount all things else which he alleageth but I will set downe that onely that may cause the man to be admired Hyperochides answered that they all were verie desirous to heare it then quoth Clearchus according to Aristotles precepts in his Rhethoricke I will first recount of what nation the man was least I seeme to oppose my selfe to him set downe the foresaid precept doe so quoth Hyperochides if so you please then he said this man before mentioned was by nation a Iew borne in Coelesyria one of the sect of the Indian Philosophers they are called as I heere reported amongst the Indians Calani and amongst the Syrians Iewes taking their name from the place where they inhabite called Iurie the name of their citie is hard to pronounce for they call it Ierusalem This man entertained many straungers and he came from out of the higher countrey downe vnto the sea coast and he was verie cloquent and of great courage We at that time liued in Asia when this diuine man came vnto the place where we were and began to conferre with vs and with other Philosophers making triall of their knowledge and for that many learned men were assembled about him he at last for this cause more willingly imparted some of his knowledge vnto them Thus farre Aristotle in Clearchus recounting moreouer at large the admirable abstinence of the foresaid Iew from meat and his chastity all which they that are desirous to know may read in Clearchus for I am loath to write any thing superfluous So now it is euident how Clearchus by the way of a digression speaking of an other matter maketh mention of vs. But Haecateus Abderita a Philosopher and one brought vp with king Alexander and dwelling with Ptolomaeus of Lagus did not onely briefly make mention of vs but also writ a whole booke of our nation the Iewes out of the which I will briefly note some few points that occurre but first I wil shew of what antiquity he is For he recordeth the time whē Ptolomaeus neere vnto Gaza faught with Demetrius which hapned the eleuenth yeere after Alexanders death in the hundreth and seuenteenth Olympiade as Castor writeth who speaking of this Olympiade saith that in this time Ptolemaeus Lagus ouercame Demetrius the sonne of Antigonus at Gaza in fight which Demetrius was called Polior◅etes and all men confesse that Alexander died in the hundreth and fourteenth Olympiade so that it is euident that at that time wherein Alexander liued our nation flourished And Hecataeus saith that after that battaile fought at Gaza Ptolomaeus was made Lord of the places bordering about Syria and that many men hearing of the clemencie of Ptolomaeus followed him into Aegypt and conuersed with him amongst the which one was called Ezechias the Iewes high priest a man about threescore and sixe yeeres olde and of cheifest notice and dignitie of all his nation and most prudent and ◅loquēt one also who in all affaires had more experience then any man else he likewise reporteth that the number of the Iewes priests who receiue their tenths rule al in general is a thousand fiue hundred or there about and againe making mention of the same Ezechias he saith this man being in this reputation and honour and conuersing with vs by the helpe of some about him declared all things wherein we and his nation differ and shewed vnto vs the place of his dwelling and the maner of his conuersation which he had in vvriting After this Hecataeus sheweth what maner of people we are how religious in our lawes how that we rather will sustaine all torments and death it selfe then violate them in any thing and that we account it a worthy thing so to do adding moreouer that being much hated of our neighbors and hauing suffered all contumelies both at the hands of the Persian kings and their officers yet that we could not be forced to chaunge our opinions but that we are continually exercised to to giue a reason thereof He also recordeth an example of our constant minds for Alexander quoth he being at Babylon and purposing to reedifie the temple of Bell he commaunded all his souldiers to carie timber to the building hereof and the Iewes onely disobeyed his commaund for the which they endured many stripes and torments till such time as the king freed them from it and they quoth he returning to their owne countrey destroyed all the temples and altars that they found there and some of them were by the officers therefore punished other escaped free adding that we may iustly be admired for these things and that our nation is exceeding populous likewise that many of vs were caried captiues into Babylon and there serued the Perfians Moreouer that many more were dispersed into Aegypt after Alexanders death for
whom he mentioneth all men may know that please to reade the booke of our Antiquitie The rest that his accusation containeth it is not amisse to let passe without answere for that it rather impeacheth the Egyptians his owne countrimen then vs for he doth complaine of vs for sacrificing ordinarie beastes and for abstaining to eate swines flesh and greatly laughed at circumcision Touching the sacrificing of these beasts we doe as all nations else doe And Apion inueighing against our sacrificing sheweth himselfe to be an Aegyptian for were he either a Graecian or a Macedonian he would be herewith offended for both Greekes and Macedonians doe vow to sacrifice Hecatombes to their gods and vse priests in the banquets and yet for all this the world is not desolate of liuing creatures as Apion feareth But were all men so mad as the Egyptians it would indeede be desolate of men and filled with cruell beasts which they supposing them to be gods doe diligently nourish If any man should aske Apion whom of all the Egyptians he iudged to be a wiseman and most religious towards their gods no doubt he would answere that the priests are For they say that their first kings in the beginning gaue them these two commandements in charge first to seeke wisedome and next to worshippe the gods they also are all of them circumcised and abstaine from swines flesh and no other Egyptian sacrificeth with them vnto their gods Apion therefore was surely blinde when in steed of detracting vs he speaketh ill of them to gratifie whom he tooke all this paines For the Egyptians doe not onely vse those customes which Apion in vs disalloweth but also doe teach others to circumcise themselues as Herodotus reporteth So that I verily thinke that Apion was iustly punished for blaspheming his countrey lawes and religion For being forced to circumcise himselfe to auoide a great disease he was hereby nothing helped but for all this his priuie members rotting he in extreame griefe and miserie gaue vp the ghost For wise men ought to perseuer in their countrey lawes in all pietie and not to deride and detract others but Apion forsooke his owne religion and slaundered and belied ours And this was Apions ende and here also should end this booke but that Apolonius Molon and Bysimachus and certaine others partly for ignorance partly for madnesse haue most iniuriously belied our law-maker Moses and the lawes he made detracting him as a deceitfull Magician and then as the author of all malice and impietie amongst vs and for such as teach no vertue nor goodnesse at all I will therefore as farre as in me lieth declare both our conuersation in general and in particular for if my iudgement be any thing our lawes are most forcible both to pietie and to all humanitie in generall as also to iustice paines-taking and contempt of death I onely request this fauour of the Reader that hee vvill not vvith a preiudicate or malicious opinion peruse these writings for I doe not write this as a praise and vaine ostentation of our nation but as a iust Apologie refuting the slaunderous reportes that some haue vsed against vs. Apolonius doth not continually inueigh against vs as Apion doth but onely here and there sometime affirming vs to be somewhiles hated both of God and man sometime to be cowards othersometimes contrariwise complaining of our nations boldnesse Saying moreouer that we are more sottish then any barbarous nation and that therefore we onely haue had none of our nation founders of artes or sciences which are profitable for mans life all which obiections are easily refuted if we shew the contrarie to all these by him reported both that we haue obayed our lawes and liued in all integritie If therefore I be forced to shew that other nations haue made contrarie lawes not I but they are to be blamed who comparing ours with them of other nations affirme ours to be the worse neither of which can charge vs either that these laws which I will briefly set downe are not ours or els that we haue not persisted in them as we ought Making therefore this beginning I affirme that they who haue framed themselues to liue togither vnder certaine rules and ordinances and kept them inuiolate and were the first founders of them were more to be commended for humanitie and vertue then they who liue vnder no rule nor ordinance at all and euerie law-maker endeuoureth so to challenge antiquitie for their owne ordinances as that they may not be thought to imitate others but to be themselues the first authors thereof and guides to direct other mens liues Which being so it is the duetie of a good law-maker to make choice of that which is best and most conuenient for them who are to obey their lawes and to satisfie them as much as may in proouing their lawes to be good and right and both in wealth and woe calamitie and felicitie to remaine in them neuer changing nor altering them I therefore auerre that our lawmaker is more auncient then any lawmaker mentioned For Lycurgus and Solon and Seleucus of Locris and those the Greekes admire are moderne of late times in respect of him as it is well knowne For the Greekes themselues confesse that in times past they wanted the name of law This Homer can witnesse who in his whole works neuer mentioneth this word law for the people of those times were not gouerned by lawes but by indefinite sentences and the princes pleasure vsing customes but not written and all tearing and chaunging them also as occasion serued But our lawmaker being very auncient for this is euerie way manifest euen by our aduersaries own confessions shewed himselfe both a good prince and connceller vnto his people for making lawes to direct and gouerne mens liues he perswaded them voluntarily to embrace them and firmely to persist in them with all wisedome And first of all let vs consider the works of his greatnesse For he vndertaking the conduct of many thousand of our forefathers out of Aegypt into our owne countrey deliuered them from many calamities almost impossible to be auoided for they being to passe through a place wherein in was no water and a verie sandie ground being also to warre and to keepe their wiues and children and goods for the variable euent of wars he in all these shewed himselfe a most wise and prudent counceller and a true patron and guide vnto them all For he made all the multitude so to depend vpon him that he might perswade them whatsoeuer he pleased and yet in none of all these did he vsurpe any authoritie ouer them and in that time and place wherein all men of authoritie assume power vnto themselus and vse tyrannie at such time as the people do oftententimes offend and liue in all manner of impietie he then being in authoritie did contrariwise vse all lenitie and mildnesse to the entent that he might be a
earth nor vsed any handy craft but ceasing from all labours and paines taking liued in their Citie far and faire-liking hauing both their meate and all other necessaries prouided and prepared for them by others and esteemed that onely their felicitie to doe or endure any thing so that they might preuaile against those against whom they enterprised warres and that they failed also herein I omit to rehearse For not onely one or two of them at once but oftentimes whole companies of them forgetting their owne lawes yeelded themselues to their enemies And can anie one tell of I say not so many but of one or two of vs that euer was treacherous to his own lawes or that feared to die for them I meane not a common death such as souldiers are subiect vnto but such a death as is effected by all torments and tortures that can be deuised Which I think those that preuailed against vs imposed vpon vs not for hatred but that they desired to see so admirable a matter and to see if we being but men and such who esteemed it the greatest impietie possible to doe it could be compelled by them to speake or doe any thing contrarie to our lawes Yet it is no wonder that we for our law doe die with such constancie rather then any other nation for other nations cannot abide to endure that which we account a triflle to wit labour and simple fare and that no man eate whatsoeuer or what he desireth or lie with them whom he ought not or be idle except he be of noble birth or go gallantly attired and we are alwaies carefull that when we fight against our enemy we obserue our lawes concerning our meats And thus we take pleasure to obserue and keepe our lawes and to exercise fortitude in obeying them Let now Lysimachus or Molonus passe and such as they be wicked lying writers and Sophisters deceiuers of young men and detracters of our owne nation as though we were the wickedest people liuing As for me I will not examine the lawes of other nations for it is our custome to keepe and obserue our owne not to detract others yea and our law-maker openly prohibited vs from blaspheming such as other nations hold for gods onely for the name of God attributed vnto them yet may we not leaue the obiections of our accusers vnanswered seeing that which wee are to speake against them is not our owne deuice but many before vs haue spoken it Who then of all the wise Greekes will not condemne the most famous Poets and especially the law-makers who at first brought and setled such vaine opinions of the gods amongst the cōmon people affirming the number of them to be so many as they thought good and to be borne at diuers times one of another allotting to euerie one his proper place as vnto other liuing creatures some to be vnder the earth others in the sea and the ancientest amongst them in Hell fettered and bound and those whom they place in heauen in words they do terme him a father but in deeds they shew him to be a tyrant and for this cause they report that his wife his brother and his daughter whom they affirme to haue been borne of his braine conspired against him to binde him and hang him as they report him also to haue dealt by his father Against these vanities all excellent and wise men doe worthily inueigh who beside this already rehearsed too in derision adde how some of the gods are young and some olde and some infants others are gods of artes and sciences and one is a Smith another a Weauer another a Pilgrime and is at variance with mortall men others delight in musicke others in shooting moreouer that they are at variance one with another amongst themselues and that they fall our one with another in mens behalfe and that not onely one of them laieth violent hands vpon the other but that also they are wounded by mortall men and sorrow feele griefe for the wounds and that which is most abominable of all do vse carnall copulation with mankind and that most vndecently that their vnbridled lust is extended both to men and women Then that their chiefe God of all whom they call father contemned and drowned certaine women whom he himselfe had deceiued and gotten with childe and that he could not deliuer the children borne of these women from calamitie for that destinie had obliged him not see their deaths without teares This is all good stuffe as also is that which followeth to wit adulteries committed in heauen so openly and impudently amongst the gods that some professe themselues to enuie their fellow gods and goddesses tied togither in such filthinesse And what should the rest of them doe when as their king and the most auncientest amongst them could not refraine his lustfull licentiosnesse from the company of women Moreouer some of them became seruants vnto men and some built houses for money and others became shepheards others like malefactors were chained in hell What man then that euer was accounted wise would not blush at these follies and reprooue the inuentors thereof and the foolish beleeuers also Others presumed to feigne both terror and feare and madnes and such simplicitie as that they might be deceiued and all other naughty passions to be found in the nature of their gods haue perswaded whole cities to offer sacrifices to the most noble amongst them And they are in great perplexitie thinking that some of the gods are the giuers of all good things others again to be their enemies and so seeke to please them with gifts as they would doe wicked men and they are verily perswaded that they shall sustaine great domage by their meanes except they doe daily pacifie their wrath by frequent gifts What is the cause of this shamefull ignorance and erronious iniquitie concerning God Truely I am perswaded for that their first law-makers were themselues herein to seeke and ignorant of the nature of God and that they did not faithfully deliuer vnto their common wealth so much as themselues knew concerning this point but as thought it had bin a thing of least moment did wilfully let it passe giuing licence to Poets and permitting them to deifie and make gods whom they pleased and that the Orators should write of the common wealths affaires and tell what them liked of strange gods Moreouer the painters and image-makers amongst the Greeks had a great hand in making of gods it being lawfull for them euerie one to frame what shape he list and how he list some of earth others in colours and the chiefest godmakers amongst them vse iuorie and gold to make their gods of a true argument of their mutable noueltie And then the auncient gods whom they first so honoured and reuerenced as they could possibly deuise being now withered with age are out of credit and other youngsters possesse their places and honours their
by many ages For our lawes established amongst vs haue beene imitated of all other nations For though the first Greekes did colourably obserue lawes yet all their Philosophers did imitate ours and our opinions of God and in humilitie taught others communion of life and conuersation yea the common people did long since imitate our pietie neither is there any nation either Greekes or Barbarians who haue not after some manner obserued a Sabaoth as we do and fasting daies and candlestickes with light all which they learned of vs yea many do also obserue our customes concerning their meats and our vnitie and concord wherein we excell all other nations our communitie also and industrie in arts and labours and sufferance for our lawes And which is most to be admired our law not hauing any to force vs to obserue it hath so obliged our hearts that as God is of all the world honoured without compulsion so are our lawes amongst vs all we not forced therevnto And whosoeuer doth diligently consider his owne nation and family shall find that which I haue reported to be true I will now generally reprehend the voluntarie malice of all men for either they meane that we hauing these good lawes do yet little esteeme them and follow worse or if they do not so meane let theÌ„ hold their malitious tongue from any further calumniatiation For I doe not take vpon me the defence of this cause for that I beare any hatred to any man but for that I and all Iewes do honour and reuerence our lawmaker and beleeue that whatsoeuer he prophecied proceeded from God yea although our selues did not know the goodnesse of our lawes yet the multitude of them that imitate them were a sufficient motiue to enduce vs thereunto But I haue at large and with all sinceritie discoursed our lawes and commonwealth in my bookes of our antiquitie And I now againe haue made mention of them neither in contumely of other nations nor in praise of our own but only to reproue such as haue most maliciously and impudently belied vs contrarie to the knowne truth And I thinke I haue alreadie fully performed thâ—… which I promised For I haue shewed our nation contrarie to their affirmations to be most ancient which I haue proued by the testimonie of many ancient writers who in their works haue mentioned vs. Our aduersaries affirme vs to haue come of Aegyptians I haue shewed that our forefathers came into Aegypt out of some other place They alledge that we were expelled Aegypt for their miserie in that they were infected with disease I haue proued that they came from thence to their owne countrey by meanes of their owne prowesse and force of their owne accord Others labour to defame our lawmaker as a wicked person whose vertue many of ancient times so long time as hath beene since him do witnesse It is not needful to speake more largely of our lawes for they by themselues appeare pious and good such as do not inuite or incite vs to the hatred of other nations but rather to communion and friendshp being both enemies to iniquitie and commaunders of iustice banishers of luxuriousnes and teachers of frugalitie and labour forbidding all wars enterprised for auarice and preparing the people to shew fortitude in them and for them inflicting ineuitable punishment vpon their transgressors not easily to be deceiued by gloasings speeches and executing in action all that they in word commaund yea amongst vs the execution of them obseruation is more readie then the words of them I therefore confidently affirme that we do teach more pious and vertuous manners then other nations doe For what can be better then inuiolate pietie What more iust then to obey the law what more profitable and commodious then to be at vnitie and peace amongst ourselues and neither to forsake one another in calamity nor iniurie one another in prosperitie to contemne and dispise death in time of warre and in peace to labour and till our grounds to vse other arts and works and alwaies to thinke and beleeue that God beholdeth all our actions and ruleth and disposeth all things If this be either written or reserued by any one before this time we are then to thanke them as being their schollers but if they are knowne neuer before to haue beene extant then we are knowne to be the first authors and inuentors of it Let therefore all Apions and Moions go and all others that with them are conuicted of lying and slaundering And this bookeis written to the Epaphroditus who louest the truth and to others who by thee wil or are desirous to know the same DESIDERIVS ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS TO THE MOST VERTVOVS AND LEARNED FATHER HELIAS MARCEVS THE MACHABAETAN RVLER OF THE RENOWMED COLLEDGE OF THE MACHABAES I Haue not grudged vertuous Father to dedicate vnto thee a dayes labour wherein I haue perused and what in me lyeth amended the booke which Ioseph writ of the seuen Machabees brethren And would it had lyen in my power more aboundantly to haue answered your expectation I haue now for that I counted the Greeke copie by the Latine coniectured the Greeke and altered some things yet but verie few Ioseph doth not falfely boast himselfe to haue attained to the excellencie of the Greeke tongue and this booke will sufficiently witnesse the same wherein he shewed both great vanitie and Emphasis in so much as hee seemeth to haue handled that famous worke with eloquent stile and ornament of discourse Saint Ierome for this cause entitleth this booke great eloquence Suidas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out of them both wee amend the corrupted title cal it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is of the rule of reason for the scope of this booke tendeth all to proue that reason is of no force in man except it beare soueraigntie ouer all our inordinate appetites This is most euidently proued by the bookes of the Machabees in the Scripture which books the Iewes doe not receiue as Canonicall yet doe they account it amongst their sacred writ I cannot but congratulate this worthy Colledge which though famous for many other things yet is more happie for that it is so blessed as to inioy so worthie and vnspeakable a treasure Or rather all Colonia Agrippina that happie and fortunate Citie yet in nothing more happie then for that it alone doth in her bosome shrine so many so sacred and excellent pledges of pietie yet should it be more happie if it could expresse their vertues whose sacred reliques it so religiously keepeth and imitate their manners whose bodies it possesseth to wit if in sinceritie of religion it imitated the pietie of three Kings and the sacred puritie of the eleuen Virgins if it resembled the most valiant yong men the Machabes and the inuincible courage of that woman whose valorous constancie no miserie could conquer And this best portion and part of her felicitie this worthie Citie might bestow vpon
it desired For example sake reason cannot hinder thee from being angrie but it can so worke that thou commit no impietie when thou art angrie in like manner it cannot hinder thee from desiring filthy pleasure yet can it cause thee not to yeeld vnto it Reason therefore cannot vtterly extinguish vice but onely bridleth it Witnesse in this the example of holy Dauid who fighting against strangers with great successe and being at euening wearie and faint he came vnto his princely tabernacle that was guarded by his souldiers where he found them all at meate yet himselfe being thirstie durst not drinke notwithstanding water was hard by onely for that religion disswaded him for he had vowed not to drinke before he had conquered his enemies He also forbad his men to drinke so that they might fight more couragiously if not for that they were valiant at least for that they might so haue drinke Whilest thus his thirst encreased three young men of strong bodies armed themselues and taking with them a vessell to put water in they went vnto the enemies campe and there assaulted the watchmen who for feare of death fled and so they past thorow the campe till such time as they came where the water was and taking some from thence they brought it to the king But holy Dauid so bridled his humane appetite that by reason he quenched his desire and shewed an excellent token of patience teaching how the feare of God was to be preferred before all things For taking the water he had much wished for and which had been gotten with such danger he presently powred it on the ground as a sacrifice to God chusing rather to die for thirst then to offend the diuine maiestie yet reason is not so forcible that it is able without due consideration to represse the inordinate motions of the minde and mitigate the griefe of the bodie But it is now time to come to our historie yet is not this former discourse to be thought impertinent for that it is somewhat appertaining to the matter ensuing Such was the wisedome and fidelitie of our forefathers that Seleucus king of Asia enriched our priests and being a man of another religion did ascribe all his actions and worthy deedes to the religion and faith of our auncestors But wicked mens madnesse could not herewith be satisfied For one Simon hating the high priest Onias and finding no waies or meanes to be reuenged of him in his owne countrey he went vnto Appolonius Gouernour of Syria Phoenicia and Cilicia and before him in a publike assembly tolde him that he could helpe the king to an infinite treasure for quoth he there is hidden in Ierusalem an infinite deale of golde and siluer which by right belongeth vnto king Seleucus Appolonius hearing this praised and commended Simon and confiscated the golde and siluer to the treasure house of Seleucus and hauing authoritie from the king to get it he leuied an army and so accompanied with Simon came vnto our country purposing if any violence were offered to vse the defence of his souldiers When the treasure house of our temple was now a sacking Onias wept bitterly and said that it was a heauy sight to them to whom this treasure was committed to see it or any part of it taken away But Appolonius neither respecting the teares and entreaties of the olde men women nor children pressed into the temple they all praying God to punish him and to defend their temple Being now with a great guard of armed men entred into the holy temple there appeared certaine angels on horsebacke with weapons in their hands and shining with a fierie flame about them and they daunted the courage of this infidell Appolonius who presently fell downe flat vpon his face and lying so a great while at last he came a little to himselfe and rising vp he leaned vpon his shoulder who kept the temple not being able to stand alone he was so terrified with the vision he had seene When he came a little to himselfe and was in some hope of recouerie he stretched both his hands towards heauen and himselfe despairing to obtaine pardon for his offence committed hee besought the Hebrewes to spoile whose temple he came to make intercession for him himselfe with teares crauing pardon for his offence and not onely acknowledging his fault but also confessing himselfe to haue deserued death and all punishment possible Holy Onias seeing this and fearing also that if Appolonius should then die the Hebrewes would be suspected to haue made him away he made prayers to God for him and so obtained his enemies life Appolonius presently hasted to Seleucus to let him vnderstand what had happened but when he came he found Seleucus dead and Antiochus raigning in his steed a man of tyrannous nature who bare an auncient grudge to Onias the high priest and therefore made Iason his brother high priest in his steed Iason promising Antiochus in lieu of this good turne to pay him three thousand six hundreth and threescore talents of siluer euerie yeere This Iason being now made high priest and chiefe amongst all the nation of the Iewes hee presently forced all the people to impietie and to forsake religion so that to build bathes he hindred the defence and building of the temple and all Doctors of our nation conspired with him in this iniquitie But hereat God was presently wroth who being displeased it was not needfull to seeke forraine enemies for Antiochus himselfe was incited to rage against them Who warring against Ptolomaeus king of Aegypt he heard it reported that the Iewes did deeme him to be dead yet was he verie gallantly entertained by the inhabitants of Ierusalem and presently after the fight he made an edict that who so amongst the Iewes refused to offer sacrifice to the gods that he should presently die vpon the wheele But the godly minded of our nation did little esteeme this edict yea the women circumcising their infants as our lawe requireth did afterward cast themselues downe headlong to the end that they might so obtain a present death without longer delay Antiochus perceiuing that the seueritie of his edict could not compell the Hebrewes to forsake their religion but that men voluntarily did chuse death he sitting in an eminent place from whence all the Iewes might behold him calling all of them togither he caused swines flesh to be sacrificed vpon the altar and to be offered to euerie Hebrew to eate Amongst this whole multitude assembled from all places was one Eleazar a priest well instructed in learning and the feare of God a man of aged yeeres and of a verie reuerent countenaunce one that was knowne to all men and famous for his vertue To this man Antiochus said thus Be aduised by me holy olde man to eschew those torments prepared for such as are obstinate preserue thy reuerent age and contemne not the benefit of this life take
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
b. inuented the vse of the plough ibid. b. father of hypocrites 6. g. Caius succeedeth Tiberius 471. c. certiâ—…eth the Senate of Tiberius death 478. i. maketh Agrippa king ibid. k. 618. i. banisheth Herod 479. d. vsurpeth diuine honor 479. f. 480. g. 618. k. his statue c. ib. k. writeth letters to Petronius 483. c. calleth himselfe Iupiters brother c. 489. a. b. c. causeth many to be murthered 490. k. sacrificeth 494. h. builded a hauen 501. e. slaine 495. b. 501. e. Caleb and Iosuah appease the people 74. h. Callimander slaine 338. g. Calling of Moses 46. g h. of Elizaeus 217. a. Calâ—…tie of the Israelites 41. c. 53. a e f. 54. g. 111. d. c. m. 112. g. 126. g. foretold 251. c. 252. k. Calamitie of Herod 584. h. of Syria 634. i k. Calamitie in Ierusalem 698. l m. 724. h i k. c. Calamitie of the Romans 733. b c. of the Iewes recounted 〈◊〉 the Romans 734. l m. Calamitie of the Iewes at Antioch 747. b c e. Calamitie of the Iewes taken by the Romans 760. g h. Calumniation 425. b. Calues of Ieroboam 207. b. Cambyses inhibiteth the building of the temple 266. l m. Campe of the enemies spoiled 229. c. Campe of the Romans how ordered 648. h i. 3. Campes of the Iewes 610. i. Candlesticke of gold 63. a. 198. g. Capharis submits to Caerealis 692. g. Captaine ouer a thousand 143. f. Captaines of Salomon 193. d e. 2. Captaines of Ochozias destroied and why 224. f. 225. 〈◊〉 the 3. preserued ibid. a. Captaine troden to death 229. d. Captiuitie of Babylon foreprophesied 247. c. 150. i k. effected 255. c d. 715. d. Carcases hinder the passages 581. e. Carcases innumerable 87. e. Carcases cast out of the Citie how many 724. i k. Care of God for the Israelites safetie 47. a. for his seruants 216. l m. Carthage built 771. c. Carelesnesse of Abner touching Sauls safetie 153. e. Carpenters how imployed 195. b. Cassius resisteth the Parthians 358. m. exacteth of the Ieweâ—… 700. talents of siluer 366. i. Cassius Longinus gouernour of Syria 512. m. Castle fortified 318. l. 356. k. rased ibid. Castle of Dauid 763. f. Castor a subtill Iew 7â—…2 g. Catalogue of Iacobs sonnes and nephewes 39. e f. 40. g. Catalogue of Gods benefits on Israel 54. i k l. Catalogue of the commandements 59. f. 60. g. Cattell gotten in warre 87. e. 103. f. 106. l. Catullus slaieth 3000. Iewes 763. b c. Cause of errour concerning God 796. i. Causes of discord 765. e. 766. g. Causes of malice betweene Egyptians and Iewes 776. h i. Causes of the Israelites ruine 41. c. Causes of the warres of the Iewes 624. i m. Causes of Vespasians election 694. g. Causes of writing the Antiquities 1. d. e. Caues of the theeues described 579. e. Ceasing of Manna 102. h. Celebration of the passeouer 249. f. 272. Celles about the temple 195. e. Cendebaeus put to flight 334. g. 560. i. Cenizus deliuereth the Israelites 113. e. vanquisheth 〈◊〉 ibid. f. iudged Israel foâ—…ie yeeres ibid f. Censors affixed to the brazen Altar 80. i. and why ibid. Censors of gold 197. b. Centuâ—…ion of Florus 625. a. Cesennius president of Syâ—…ia 754. accused Antiochus ibid. Cesterne digged to be inclosed 96. k. Cestius Gâ—…ppeaseth the people c. â—…24 g. i. burnt Zabulon Ioppe 636. k l. consulteth with the princes c. 627. a. his siege against Ierusalem 636. m. 637. b d. Chaereas and his complices conspire Caius death 490. g. h. why incited against Caius ibid. k conferreth with Clement c. 491. c. 492. g. intends to kill Caius ibid. expecteth occasion to assaile Caius 493. b. slaieth Caius 495. b. honoured 500. h. sendeth Lupus to kill Caius wife ibid. k l. executed 505. f. 505 g. Challenge of a single cumbate 142. h. Chaldaeans mutine against Abraham 12. k. C ham Noahâ—… sonne 9. a. his progenie 10. l. discouereth his fathers nakednes 11. c. Chambers of pleasure 200. k. Champions of Dauid 183. c. c. Chanaan Iacobs inheritance 28. g. Chanaanites put the Israelites to flight 76. k. wholy to be extinguished 97. f. 106. k. ten thousand slaine 109. b. made tributaries 202. l. Charges of the temple to be supplied 272. k. Chariots of labin 115. a. of Salomon 199. f. Chariots armed seene in the ayre 738. Chartisement bettered not Cain 5. d e. Chastitie of Ioseph 3â—… a b. 801 c. Chaunce medley 88. k. Chaunge of the Iewes gouernment 569. a b. Chaunge of names wâ—…nce 10. k. Cherubim 62. k. in the temple 196. h. Chetura Abrahams second wife 19. b. bare to Abraham sixe children ibid. b c. Chieftaines of Achis 15â—… l. cause Dauid to be dismissed ibid. l. of Salomon 193. d c. Children are to learne the law 91. c. 70. Children of Achab slaine 232. m. Children of Herode 598 i k. Children not to be punished for the fathers offence 96. m. Children male done to death 41. d e. Children of Chanaan 11. b. Children of Abraham 17. d. 19. b c of Iacob 24. i k l. 27. c. Children of Roboam 209. b. Children vnlike their fathers 130. k. 247. c. 230 i. k. Chodollogomor an Assyrian Captaine 13. c. ouerthrew the Sodomites ibid. Choice of the Esseans in compassion and helping 615. d. Chore mutineth against Moses 77. b. affecteth the office of high Priest ibid. d. 80. h. he and his companie consumed with fire ibid. l. Chosby a daughter of Madian 86. h. enticed Zambrias to Idolatrie ibid. h. i. slaine with him 87. a. Christ crucified 466. l. m. Chronicles of the Tyrians 244. g. Churlishnes of Nabal 152. i. Chusais opposition to Achitophel 176. i. his counsel accepted 176. l. certified Dauid of the victorie 178. l. Chuthites remoued vnto Samaria 243. c. plagued and why 244. h. i. claime kinred of the Iewes ibid. i. k. Circumcision commaunded and instituted 15. b. one sacred Citie in Canaan 90. l. and why ibid. Cities of refuge 88. i. k. 90. l. 106. â—…l Citie of of Dauid 164. i. Cities of the Beniamites burnt 112. h. Citie of the Priests burnt 149. d. Cities builded of Salomon 201. d e. Cities vnder Archelaus subiection 613. b. Cities taken from the Iewes 345. c. chiefe Cities of Galilee 549. c. Cities in armes against the Iewes 635. b. 4. Cities of Galilee reuolt from Ioseph 643. 2. Citizens of Iabes burie Saul and his sons bodies 158. i k. Citizens taken prisoners 252. c. Citizens of Giscala entertaine Titus 671. â—… Citizens resort to Vespasian 684 i. Ciuill wars of the Israelites 111. d. Ciuill wars of the Romans 691. f. Claudius chosen Emperour 498. l m. vnwillingly accepted it 502. â—…carried on mens shoulders 503. denieth to giue ouer the dignitie ibid. f. confirmed by Agrippa 504. g. perswaded to vse the Senators mildly 500. g. 620. i. giueth Agrippa Iudaea c. 506. i. his edict in fauour of the Iewes ibid. 507. a. commaundeth Agrippa to desist from building 509. c. grants the Iewes
ibid. b. desolated 726. g. Iudas Machabaeus 306. i. slaieth Apollonius and discomsiteth the Syrians ibid. k. m. his oration to his souldiers 307. twise discomfiteth Lysias 308. g h k. purged the Temple 308. l. 309. a. warreth with the neighbouring nations 309. c. b. succoureth the Iewes in Galaad 309. f. 310. g. his admirable victorie ibid. k. besiegeth the Castle in Ierusalem 312. c. and why ibid. his league with Antiochus 313. a. slaieth Alcimus partakers 374. h. putteth Nicanâ—…o flight 315. a. couenanteth peace with the Romans 315. c. abandoned of his men ibid. f. is slaine 316. i. 560. g. Iudas the Essean a Prophet 340. h 562. l. Iudas the Archtheefe 456. i. Iudas Galilaeus sect 464. g. Iudge corrupted with money 368. k l. Iudges â—…ualities 91. d. their office 223. c d. placed in euerie citie of Iuda ibid. c. Iudgement Teat in seuerâ—…ll cities 130. k. Iulian his valour and death 729. a b c. Iulius Ant. for the Iewes 422. k. Iupiter Enyelius reliques 9. e. Iustice is Gods power 91. e. Iustice of God 244. mâ—… leaues nothing vnpunished 601. 2. Iustice oppressed 130. l. Iustice neglected 566. h. Iustice of the Esseans 616. g. Iustification of Samuel 135. c. Iustus incitoth the people to rebellion 531. c d. reproued 549. b. his countrey Tiberias ibid. accused 553. c. condemned to death 550. i. his booke when published 150. k. desireth to commaund Galilee 552. i. Izates king of Adiabenaâ—… 514. i. learneth the service of God ibid. disswaded from circuâ—…cision 515. a b. writeth 〈◊〉 the Parthians c. 516. i. calleth vpon God 517. f. deliuereth the kingdome to his brother 518. 〈◊〉 h. dieth ibid. K Keeper of the prisons entreatie of Ioseph 3â—… i. Kind of liuing most miserable 717. c d. Kindnes of Agrippa 544. g. kinds of sacrifice two 68. h. i. Kindnes pretended 601. f. Kindnes of Herode 603. a. sat Kine and leane what they signifie 33. d e f. 〈◊〉 King desited 130 m. Kings field 14. i. 33. e f. 5. Kings of the Madianites slaine 87. e. of a King to be elected what things are required 92. h. i. the Kings of Canaan warre against the Hebrewes 105. a. they and their whole 〈◊〉 put to the sword ibid. b. 31. Kings ouercome by the Hebrewes 105. c. Kings of Egypt why called Pharaohs 201. f. 102. g. Kings of Alexandria called Ptolomies 202. g. King of Moab sacrificeth his sonne 226. i. King inioyned by oath to serue God 234. l. Kingdome of Salomon rent 204. m. 205. d. a Kingdome how continued 141. c. Kingdome promised to Iehues posteritie 233. e. Kingdome of Herode deuided 459. d. Kingdome not giuen but the honours thereof 591. b. Kingdome of Agrippa 620. k. Kinred 20. i. 23. e. Kinsman 25. c. Knowledge of celestiall bodies 6. h. Knowledge of good and euill 4. i. L Laban Bethuels sonne 21. g. consenteth to Rebeccaes mariage 20. k. entertaineth lacob 23. d c. appointeth him master of his shepheards ibid. f. deceiueth him 24. h. 25. d. pursueth after him 25. a. maketh a couenant with him ibid. b e f. his goods 24. m. 25. e. Labour of the Esseans 615. d. of the Roman souldiers 648. g. ceaslesse 721. a b. Ladder of Iacob 22. k. l. Ladies at variance 598. m. Lake Asphaltites 13. f. described 687. c. the propertie therof ib. Lake of Genezar 665. a. Lakes Asphaltites and Teberias 687. e f. Lamech his wiues and issue 5. f. Lamech Methusalas sonne 6. m. 7. a. Lamentation of Esau and why 22. l. Lamentation of Iacob 30. l of the Hebrewes 99. c. Lamentation of thirtie daies 94. l. m. Lamentation for Abner 16â—… i. for Aristobulus 381. l. Land of the Amorites possessed 83. b. Land markes not to be remoued 92. i. Land of Canaan deuided by Lots 106. h. c. Land of Sodome where 688. m. Lap of Sauls garment 151. b. Largesse of Titus to his souldiers 746. g. Largenesse of Iurie 774. l. Lauer how sustained 196. k. round lauers ibid. m. a Law most cruell 41. c. Lawes made by Moses 90. i. Lawes of adulterie and iealoufie 71. b. of the seuenth yeere 71. c f. of the fathers forsaken 86. h. of the plough 92. k. of like for like 96. i. of violence ibid. h. of warre 72. h. i. 97. c d. against wal-breakers 412. l. against forsakers of their places 720. h. Lawes of the Iewes of great antiquitie 798. f. Lawmakets of the Gentiles 797. d. Lawes of the Gentiles 798. g. Lea Labans daughter 24. g. substituted in Rachels place ibid h hare to Iacob foure sons ibid. i. k. League of Isaac with Abimelech 21. c. of Dauid with Hiram 164. i. of him with Salomon 195. a. of Hyreanus with the Romans 336. i k. Learning of Daniel 258. g. of Ioseph 529. d. Legacies of Herode 450. k l. Legions of the Romans 647. e. 699. c d. Lending vpon vsurie vnlawfull 9â—… c. Length of the Arke of Noah 6 l. m. Length of the Temple 195. c. Lenitie of Saul 135. a. Lenitie of Magistrates 139. f. Leapers driuen out of the Citie 70. k. l. 229. b. 239. f. 240. g. Leprosie of Ozias 239. f. Letters of Dauid 170. g. of Senacherib 246. g. of Artaxerxes for the securitie of the Iewes 282. i. of Ptolemy 290. m of Eleazar 291. b. of Demetrius 326. k. Leui sonne of Iacob 24. i. slew the Sicheâ—…ites 27. a. his sons 39. f. Leuites wife 110. h i. abused dieth c. 111. a. b. tribe of Leui sacred to God 70. h. Leuites sing hymnes 224. g. numbred 187. e. Liberalitie of the enchantresse 155. c. of Herod 588. k. of Helena 515. e f. of Izates ibid. Liberue of the Israelites 50. g. l. restored 113. c. Libertie of speech 220. h i. 585. e d. Libertie a precions thing 499. b. Liberties granted to the Iewes 784. i k l m. Librarie of Ptol. Philadelphus 288. k. Lice a plague of Aegypt 48. k Lic of Posidoâ—…us c. confuted 786. l. Liâ—… of Appion concerning our oath 789. b. Life of Moses 791. a. b. Life of subiects like to their princes 209. b c. Light created 3. d. called day ib. d. Lightnings horrible when 59. a. Lightnings on the enemies 130. g. Limits of the nine tribes and halfes possession 106. h c. Limits of a kingdome enlarged 238. k. Line of Achab rooted out 233. a. Line of Ioseph 529. b. Linnen and woollen garment 91. b. Logion or rational of the high priest 64. h. Longinus breaketh into the Iewes army 711. 〈◊〉 Losse of the Arke 126. l. and why ib. Losse of Sauls kingdome foretolde 140. i. and why ib. of the Empire of Asia 239. a. Losse of the Generall dismaies the souldiers 222. h. Lot sonne of Aram 11. f. had choise of the land 13. c. led away captiue ibid. f. rescued 14. h. receiueth Angels 15. e f. fled to Zoar 16. g. committed incest ib. h. Lots wife 16. g. Lots cast 103. d. 106. h c. 133. c. 238. l m.
Citie Iubal inuentor of musicke In the yeaâ—…e of the world â—…o be fore Christâ—… birth 3894. Cain the father of hipocrites and cuill men Adams yeares 930. Seth the sonne of Adam a vertuous man Two pillers raised Hediâ—… Ruffinus chap. 6. Geâ—…es 5. 6. Those whom Iosephus nameth in this place Angels Moses calleth the sonnes of God Genes 6. Noaâ—… departeth into an other country Noahs Arke Noahs genealogie The Deluge The yeare of the world 1656. before the Naâ—…tie of Christ. 2308. Nisan or Zanthicus is April to vs. This comparison doth not exactly agree with the Hebrewes and the 70. interpreters Enochs death is not written in holy scriptures Gen. 7. 8. In the Greeke copie Moseâ—… arâ—… 40. daies The Latin Ioseph 90. Noe sendeth a crow out of the Arâ—… Noe Forsakeâ—… the Arke and sacrificeth to God Nicholas Damascene of Noes Arke Thâ—…yeare of the â—…ld 1687. beforâ—… the Natiuitie of Christ. 1307. Hodio Ruffinus the 6. ch Noe prayeth God that he will drowne the carth no moâ—…e God heareth Noes praier Noâ—… Hedio Ruffinus chap. 7. Man is the author of his death not God Gods couenaÌ„t with Noe. In the â—…eare of the world 2007. before Christes Naâ—…ty 1959. The Rainbowe the signe of attonement betweene God and Noe. Hedio Ruâ—…fin 8. chap. Noes age 950. yeares Why they in times past liued longer then we doe The greate yeare The yeare of the world 1790. before 〈◊〉 Natiâ—…ie 2174. 〈◊〉 10 Noes three sonnes God commanded 〈◊〉 poâ—…e or Noe 〈◊〉 inhaâ—… the earth Gen 11â—… The confusion of tongues Sibils prophecie of the tower of Babel Hedio Ruffinus cap. 10. Tâ—… yeare of the world 1790. beforâ—… Christs Naâ—…iuitie 1174. The names of Regions and Nations Hedio Ruffinus cap. 11. Gen. 10. The Galatians descended from Gomar The progenie of Iaphet Noes first begotten sonne The progeny of the sons of Gomar The progeny of the sonnes of Iauam Tharsus Saint Pauls country â—…ctes 9. Whence grew the chaunge of names Of the sonnes oâ—… Cham and their progeny Libia or Africa The progeny of the Chananeans The yeare of thâ—… world 1790. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1174. Nabrodes or Nembroth Palestine so named of Philestâ—…ne The children of Chanaan Hedio Ruâ—…finus cap. 〈◊〉 Genes 9. Noe is made drunke lieth naked and is scorned and curseth him that derideth him Hedio Ruffinus chap. 14. Gen. 7. 2. Of the sonnes of Sem the third sonne of Noe and of theâ—…rs and Abrahams progeny The original of the Hebrewes Abrahams genealogy The yeare of the world 1950. beâ—…re Christs Natiuitie 2014. The terme of mans life about this terme 120 The yeare of the world 2024. before Christs birth 1940. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 15. Genes 11. 12. The wâ—…edome or Abraham Abraham the first preacher of the word Berosus Hecataeus Nicholaus Damascenus Abrahams house The yeare of the the world 2026. before the birth of Christ. 1938. Hedio Ruffinus cap. 16. Gen. 12. 13 The yeare of thâ—… world 2026. before the birth of Christ. 1938. The luâ—… of the Egyptiaâ—… Abraham taught the Egyptians religion and arts Abraham an excellent Astronomer The deuision of the fields between Abraham and Lot Hedio Ruffinus cap. 17. Genes 14. Fiue kings of Sodome The yeare of the world 2031. before Christs natiuitie 1933. The lake of Alphaltites The yeare of the world 2031. before Christs Natiuitie 1933. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 18. Gen. 1â—…5 On what victory dependeth Abraham bringeth back both Lot and the Sodomites that were prisoners The kings field Solima was afterward called Ierusalem Melchisedech the iust King Genesis 15. God promiseth Abraham a sonne God promiseth Abraham a progeny that should many yeares haue ill neighbours of the Egyptians Gen 16. Sara bringeth Hagar her handmaid to Abrahams bed Agar contemneth Sara The yeare of the world 2034. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1930. The promise of Ismael Isaac promised Genesis 17. Hedio Ruffinus cap. 19. The sinnes of the Sodomites Abraham entertaineth Angels The yeare of the world 2048. before Christs birth 1916. The Angels promised Abraham that he shall haue a sonne and foretell the destruction of Sodome The Angels enter Lots house The yeare of the world 1948. before Chriâ—…s Natiâ—…tie 1916. The Sodomits are blinded Lâ—…t and his family are saued Lot fled to Zoar. The interpretation of the names of Moab Ammon Hedio Ruffiâ—…us chap. 20. Genes 19. Abimeleâ—…h surprised with the loue of Sara Bersabe the pit of swearing Isiac laughter The yeare of the world 2048. before the birth of Christ. 1916. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 21. Genes 21. The Iewes were wont to circumcise on the eight day The Arabianâ—… not before 13. yeares Abraham banisheth Ismael and Agar Th Angell of God meeteth with Agar The twelue sonnes of Ismael Genes 25. The Region of Nabathaea The yeare of the world 2074. before Chriâ—…s natiuitie 1890. Abrahamâ—… obedience The yeare of the world 2074. before Christs Natiuitie 1890. Isaac was 25. yeares old wheÌ„ he should haue beene sacrificed Abrahamsoration at such time as his sonne should haue beene sacrificed Isaachâ—… answer God offereth a Ramme to Abraham to sacrifice in steed of Isaac The yeare of the world 2087. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1877. Hedio Ruffinus cap. 23. Genes 23. The age of Sara 127. Gen. 7. 25. 1. The originall of Troglodytes Libia called Africa Alexander Polyhistor Hedio Ruffinus chap. 24. Isaac marieth Rebecca The manner of swearing among the ancient lewes In the yeare of the world 2089. before Christes Natiuity 1875. The yeare of the world 2089. before Christs Natiuitie 1875. Rebecca grows acquainted with Abrahams seruant The talke which Abrahams seruant had with Rebecca In the yeare of the world 2124 before Chriâ—… Natiuity 1840. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 28. Genes 24. Abraham died after he had liued 175. yeares Hedio Ruffinus chap. 26. Gen. 25. The yeare of thâ—… world 2124. before the birth of Christ. 1840. Isaac came vnto Gerat Gen. 26. Abimelech expelleth Isaac being moued theâ—… eunto by enuie Faucâ—… Aâ—…imelech â—…eneweth friendship with Isaac Esau his wiues Genes 27. Isaac sendeth Esau on hunting The yeare of the world 2186. before Christs natiuitie 1778. Iacob by his motherâ—… counsel stealeth his brothers blessing The yeare of the â—…ld 2186. before Christs Natiâ—…itie 1778. Esau required a blessing Hedio Ruffinus chap. 27. Gen. 28. Iacobs ladder God speaketh vnto Iacob Iacob voweth a sacrifice vnto God calleth the place Bethel which is y e house of God The yearâ—… of thâ—… world 2186. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1778. Gen 29. Iacob arriueth at Charran in Mesopotamia among his mothers kindred Iacobs talke with Rachel Rachels excellent beauty Iacobs talke with Laban The yeare of â—…he world 2193. before Christs birth 1771. Iacob for recompence requireth Rachel for his wise The yeare of the world 2193. before Christs Natiuitie 1771. lacob in steede of Rachel lieth with Lea. The explication
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
against Hircanus with a great army and is disswaded from war by his father Antipater and his brother Phasaeluâ—… Hedio Ruffinus chap. 19. Hircanus embassadours to Caesar. The Iewes much honoured by the kings of Europe Asia Iulius Caesar testified in a braien pillar that the Iewes were free citizens of Alexandria Iulius Caesars decree as touching the honors immunities and priuiledges granted to thâ—… Iewes The yeare of the world 3922. before Christs birth 42. The yeare of the world 3922. before the Naâ—…itie of Christ. 42. M. Antonius and P. Dolobella bring Hircanus embassadors into the Senate Dolobeâ—… letters â—…o thâ—… Ephesians Lucius Lucullus in the French Lentulus in the Latine being Consul maketh an edict in behalfe of the Iewes Iosephus conclusion concerning these edicts The yeere of the world 3922. before Christs Natiuitie 42. Caecilius Bassuâ—… murthereth Sextus Caesar. Marcus succeedeth Sextus in Syria Caesar slaine by Cassius and Brutus Hedio Ruffinus chap. 20 Cassius commeth into Syria and exacteth more theÌ„ 700. talents of siluer from the Iewes Herode winneth Cassius heart by the money he leuieth in Galilee The yeare of the world 3923. before Christs birth 41. Malichus layeth in wait to muâ—…er Antipater but forsweareth the same and is reconciled Cassius and Marcus make Herode gouernour of Coelesyria The yeare of the world 3923. before Christs birth 41 Malichus causeth Antipater to be poisoned The yeare of the world 3924. before the birth of Christ. 40. The yeare of the world 3924. before Christs Natiuitie 40. Faelix assaileth Phasaelus in Ierusalem and is ouercome by him Ptolomey MeÌ„naeus adopteth Antigonus Aristobulus son Herode expelleth Antigonus out of Iurie Herode marrieth Maâ—…aÌ„me Hircanus neece by his daughter Doris Herods wife The iudge corrupted with money Hircanus embassadours present Antonius with a crowne of gold require the captiue Iewes liberty sold by Cassius Antonius writeth to Hircanus as touching Brutus and Cassius actions and deathes The yeare of the world 3924. before Christs birth 40. Marcus Antonius writeth to the magistrates of Tyre to restore Hircanus and the Iewes their lands goods and liberty The yeare of the world 3924. before Christs birth 40. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 21. Cleopatra coÌ„meth into Cilicia to Antonius Herode accused by one hundreth Iews before Antonius Antonius maketh Phasaclus and Herode Tetrarches A thousand Iewes repaire to Tyre to accuse Herode who are partly slaine partly wounded and partly put to flight The yeare of the world 3925. before Christs birth 39. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 23. Antigonus promiseth the Parthians a great summe of money to install him in the kingdome Pacorus sendeth horsemen to Antigonus in Iudaea The Iewes inhabiting about mount Carmel ioyne themselues with Antigonus The yeare of the world 3925. before Christs birth 39. Penticost Herode fighteth with his enemies in the suburbes Pacorus chieftaine of the Parthians entering the citie perswadeth Phasaelus to go embassador to Barzapharnes The Parthians complot trecheries against Phasaelus Hircanus and Phasaelus surprised by the Parthians The yeare of the world 3925. before Christs Natiuitie 39. The Parthians lay a plot to surprise Herod 〈◊〉 discouereth iâ—… and preuenteth them by flight Herode comforteth his friends in their flight Herode seeing his mothers chariot ouerturned is ready to murther himselfe Herode retiring toward Massada is assailed by the Parthians The Parthians spoile the citizens of Ierusalem and destroy Marissa The yearâ—… of the world 3925. before Christs birth 39. Antigonus restored to the kingdome by the Parthians cuâ—…th off Hircanus cares to preuent his reinstalment in the Priesthood Phasaelus dash eth out his owne braines Antigonus putteth poison into Phasaelus wounds in steed of curing him Herode flieth to Malchus king of Arabia to borow mony Herode is comanded out of Arabia and flieth into Egypts from thence after some stormes he repaireth to Rome where he certifieth Antonius of thatwhich had befallen him The yeare of the world 3925. before Christs birth 39. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 23. al. 25. Antonius loued Herode and hated Antigonus Caesar Augustus Herodes friend Herode admitted into the Senate and declared king Herode intending the kingdome for his wiues brother enioyeth the same himselfe Herode ascendeth the Capitol with Antonius Caesar. Herodes family besieged by Antigonus in Massada Ventidius vnder pretext to helpe Ioseph fisheth to get money of Antigonus The yeare of the world 3926. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 38. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 2â—… al. 16. Herode returning backe out of Italy leadeth forth his army against Antigonus Herode assaulteth Ioppe and taketh it Many submit themselues to Herode Ressa taken Massada deliuered from the siege after which Herode marcheth towards Ierusalem Herode proclaimeth about the wals of Ierusalem that he repaired thither for the good of the people the common-weale Antigonus vpbraideth Herode that he is but halfe a Iewe and of no kingly race The enemie repulseth Herodes power from the wall The yeare of the world 3927. before Christs Natiuitie 37. Silon suâ—…orneth some of his soldiers to take an occasion to depart from IerusaleÌ„ Herode procured and furnished the army with victuals and 〈◊〉 â—…ion Antigonus sendeth out soldiers to surprise Herodes victualers The Romans sent to their garrisons to winter Robbers Herode fighteth with his enemies in Galilee and ouercommeth them and bringeth all Galilee vnder his subiection Antigonus refuseth to victuall the Roman army Ventidius sendeth for Silon to war against the Parthians The yeare of the world 3927. before Christs birth 37. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 25. Herode leadeth his soldiers against those theeues that held the caues Herode letteth downe his soldiers from the top of the mountaine in cofers A certaine old man killeth his wife and seuen of his sons and at last casteth himselfe headlong from the rocke Herode retireth toward Samaria to fight with Antigonus Herodo punisheth the rebels in Galilee Ventidius ouercommeth Pacorus and the Parthians in battell Machaeras killeth many Iewes Herode resoluing to depart to Antonius and to accuse Machaeras is reconciled by him and leaueth his brother Ioseph with an armiâ—… behind him The yeere of the world 3927. before Christs Natiuitie 37. Herode repaireth to Antonius at the siege of Samosata in the way killeth many Barbarians Herode was honourably entertained by Antonius and his host The yeare of the world 3928. before the birth of Christ. â—…6 Sosius hath the army committed to his charge by Antonius who departeth into Egypt Ioseph Herods brother is slain by Antigonus The Galileans reuolt from Herode Machaeras fortifieth Geth Herode departeth from Daphne a suburbe of Antioch into Galilee Herode fighteth with the Galileans ouercommeth them and driueth them into a castle The yeare of the world 3928. before Christs birth 36. The house wherein Herod soleÌ„nized his feast fell downe when the guests were gone without any mans detriment Herode wounded by his enemies Antigonus sendeth Pappus to Samaria Fight in the
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
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.
thorow extreame thirst are inforced to yeeld to thâ—… Iewes Ant. lib. 〈◊〉 cap. 7. Herods oration to Augustus Caesar. Herode speaketh freely before Câ—… The yeare of the world 3934. before Christs birth 30 Caesars anâ—… to Herod Herods gratulation toward Caesar. Caesar increaseth Herodes Dominion Herode made gouernour of Syria The yeâ—…re of the world 3947. before Christs birth 17. Ant. lib. 15. cap. 10. 12. 13. 14. Herodes buildings The yeare of the world 3947. before the birth of Christ. 17. The fountaine head of Iordan Herod maketh a greater port then that of Piraeum An apt description of a haueÌ„ The yeere of the world 3947. before Christs birth 17. Caesarea in time past called the tower of Straton Ant. lib. 15. ca. 10. 12. lib. 17. cap. 5. Agrippium Antipatris Cyprus Phasaelus tower Herodium Herodium a castle resembling a citie Herods bountie to all men Herod famous thorow the world The yeare of the world 3954 before Christs birth 10. Herode a great hunter The yeare of the world 3954. before Christs Natiuitie 8. Herod besides the vertue of mind and body had the blessings of fortune Ant. lib. 15. cap. 3. 8. lib. 16. cap. 13. Herod expelseth Antipater out of the citie and killeth Hyrcanus his wiues grandmother Herods children by Maririamme Mariamme hatefully vpbraideth Herode with Hyrcanus death Herods mother and sister do falsely accuse Mariamme to him Herod secretly chargeth Ioseph to kill his wife Herodes suspition betwixt Ioseph and his wife The yeare of the world 3954. before Christs birth 10. Herode commandeth both Ioseph and Mariamme to be slaine Mariammes sons inheritor of her displeasure The yeare of the world 3956. before Christs birth 8. Herods debate with those sons he had by Mariamme Ant lib. 16. cap. 4. Antipater by disgracing his brothers is declared his fathers heire Herod accuseth Alexander before Caesar. A reconciliation betweene Herode and his sonnes Archelaus kindly entertaineth Herod and his sonnes Herods worthy oration to the people wherein he distributeth honours to his three sonnes The yeare of the world 3956. before the birth of Christ. 8. Herod giueth not the kingdome to his sons but the honours of the kingdome Herode conuerteth his speech to his sonnes Herod by his words did not vtterly extinguish the hatred betweenâ—… his sonnes Antipaters treason against his brother Alexander By whatmeans Antipater corrupted his brother Alexanders friends Anupater whetâ—…eth Herode and his courtiers against Alexander The yeare of the world 3956 before Christs birth 8. Glaphyra Alexanders wiâ—…e increased his conceiued suspition by her words Aristobulus obiecteth to his wife her base birth Ant. lib. 16. cap. 7. Alexander and Aristobulus often times bewaile their mother and by that meanes prouoke their father The two brothers excuse themselues before their father Herod The yeare of thâ—… world 3956. before Christs Natiuitie 8. Alexander corrupteth his fathers Eunuches and telleth them â—…e 〈◊〉 to succeed in the kingdome Herod seareth his sonne Alexander Ant. lib. 17. cap. 8. Hrods cruelty Herode casteth Alexander into prisoâ—… and tortured his friends Alexander during his imprisonment wrote â—…oure bookes against his enemies Archelaus king of Cappadocia The yeare of the world 3956. before Christs birth 8. Archelaus and Herode consulte vpon Alexanders bookes Herode is incensed against his brother Pheroras Pheroras attired in a mourning garment with teares falleth before Herodes 〈◊〉 and craueth pardon Pheroras by Archelaus meanes pacifieth Herode Archelaus compelleth Herode of his owne accord to be intreated for Alexander Herod dismisseth Archelaus and his friends with great presents Ant. lib. 16. cap. 11. Eurycles the Lacedemonian secretly accuseth AlexaÌ„der to his father and is the cause of his death The yeare of the world 3956. before Christs birth 8. Eurycles by fained friendship deceiueth Alexander Another false accusation of Alexander his brother moueth Herod to indignation The yeere of the world 3956. before Christs birth 8. Diophanrus the kings notary writeth fained letters in Alexanders name Cous Euaratus Ant. lib. 16. cap. 12. Herode by Salomes counsaile imprisoneth his sons The yeare of the world 3961. before Christs birth 3. Ant. lib 16. cap. 13. Herode gathereth a councell against Alexander Aristobulus Herode accuseth his sonnes in open iudgement Herodes sentence against his sonnes The yeare of the world 3961. before the birth of Christ. 3. Tiro an olde souldier exclameth against Herodes crueltie Tyro with his sonne are by the kings command laid hands on Ant. lib. 16. cap. 13. Another false accusation against Tyro Herode commaundeth his sonnes to be strangled and to be buried with Alexander their mothers vncle Ant. lib. 17. cap. 21. Anupater striueth by gifts and bribes to creepe into mens fauours The yeare of the world 3961 before Christs birth 3. Herode grieuously bemoned his sons expressing the same by his â—…ation toward their children Herode betrotheth his nephewes Herodes children by his seuen wiues Herode is perswaded by Antipaters flatteries to breake off the mariages Ant. lib. 17. cap. 3. Antipater buildeth vpon the kingdome Adebaâ—… betwixt the Ladies in y t court The yeare of the world 3961. before Christs birth 3. Ant. li. 17. ca. 4. Herode forbiddeth Antipater of his brothers company or to haue conference with his wife Fabatus Caesars gouernor discouereth Syllaeus secrets Herod banisheth his brother Pheroras and and his wife Pheroras died and was buried in Ierusalem Ant. lib. 17. cap. 5. The yeare of the world 3961. before Christs birth 3. A witch of Arabia The confession oâ—… the women in their tortures Doris Antipaters mother is spoyled of her Iewels and thrust out of the pallace Pheroras wife freely confesseth what was become of the poyson The yeare of the world 396â—… before Christs Natiuitie 3. Gods iustice leaueth nothing vnpunished Antipaters treasons against Archelaus and Philip his brothers Antipater giueth a great summe of money to those that counterfait letters against his brothers Ant. lib. 18. cap. 8. Antipater is solicited By Herode with many kind words to hasten his returne The yeare of the world 3961 before Christs birth 3. Antipater hated in Caesarea Antipaters entertainment at his fathers hands Antipater is iudged before Varus Herods accusation against Antipater The years of the world 3961. before Christs birth 3. Herodes kindnes towards his children Herode loued Antipater aboue the rest and bestowed many benefits on him Antipaters answer and excuse Antipater calleth Rome and Caesar to witnesse The yeere of the world 3â—…61 before Christs birth 3. Nicholaus by the kings commaund beginneth a most hainous and bitter accusation against Antipater Nicholaus peroration The venome tried vpon a condemned man An other proofe against Antipater Herod intendeth Antipaters punishment therefore blotteth his name out of his Testament Ant. lib. 17. cap. 8. The yeare of the world 3963. before Christs Natiuitie 3. Iudas and Matthias perswade the people to pul downe the golden Eagle The yong men that puld downe the Eagle are brought before Herod
Antiochus grew mighty and strong and feared to be punished by him for his executions done against the Arabians he slew himselfe with his own hands and Antiochus enioied all his goods CHAP. VI. A mutinie of the rich Iewes the one against the other ONias the high Priest being dead about this time Antiochus gaue the priesthood to Iesus his brother For that sonne vnto whom Onias had left the succession was as yet verie yoong of whom we will speake in conuenient time and place This Iesus Onias brother was depriued of the priesthood thorow the kings displeasure conceiued against him who gaue it shortly after to his yonger brother called Onias For Simon had three sonnes who as we haue declared successiuely possessed the priesthood this Iesus caused himselfe to be called Iason as his other brother caused himselfe to be called Menelaus whereas his name was Onias But Iesus who had first of all been established in the place of the high priest arose against Menelaus who was elected in the place after him The people therefore were deuided into factions and Tobias sonnes were on Menelaus side but the greater number of people followed Iason so that Menelaus and the sonnes of Tobias being grieuously vexed by them retired themselues to Antiochus giuing him to vnderstand that it was their intent to forsake the religion and ordinances of their fathers and to follow that of the kings and to liue after the manner of the Greeks exhorting him to giue them licence to erect a place of Exercises in Ierusalem Which when Antiochus had granted them they so demeaned themselues that there appeared no more signe of Circumcision in them so that at such time as they were naked there was no difference betweene them and the Greekes and neglecting all the ordinances and customes of their countrey they conformed themselues to the behauiour and manners of other nations Antiochus hauing all things in his kingdome according to his hearts desire resolued to make warre in Aegypt desiring to be possessed of the same both for that he contemned Ptolomeies sonnes age who were as yet weake as also for that they were not as yet capeable to manage their so mighty estates Arriuing therfore neer to Pelusium with a great power he circumuented by a subtil pollicie the yong Ptolomey Philometor and subdued Aegypt for after he had besieged Memphis and taken the same he came to Alexandria with an intent to besiege the Citie and to lay hold of the king who was therein But he was driuen not onely from Alexandria but also out of all Aegypt by the sommons that was sent him in the name of the Romans who commaunded him to depart and dislodge his army out of that countrey as we haue heretofore declared in an other place Now will I more largely and particularly discourse the actes and gests of this king who ouercame Iudaea and spoiled the temple For hauing onely made a briefe mention of him in my former workes I thinke it necessarie in this place to make a more exact recitall of his Historie CHAP. VII Antiochus leadeth out his army against Ierusalem taketh the Citie and spoileth the Temple AFter that King Antiochus was returned out of Aegypt and for the feare of the Romans had forsaken that countrey he led his army against Ierusalem and encamped before the Citie and surprised it by surrender in that the gates of the Citie were set open vnto him by those of his faction all which hapned in the hundreth fortie and third yeere of the raigne begun by Seleucus Now when he faw himselfe Lord and master of Ierusalem he slew diuers of the contrarie faction and after he had gathered togither many great and rich spoiles he returned backe to Antioch This misfortune hapned some two yeeres after the surprisall of the Citie in the hundreth fortie and fiue yeere of the raigne of that family on the fiue twentith day of that moneth which we call Chasleu and the Macedons Apellaeus the Romans December in the hundreth fiftie three Olympiade at which time he neither spared them who gaue him peaceable entrance and opened him the gates and effected him the means to spoile the inestimable riches of the temple with greater freedome but being no lesse tyrannous to the friend then to the offender he spared neither For hauing seene what quantity of gold was in the temple and how huge a number of presents and precious ornaments were in the same he was so ouercome with couetousnesse that he brake and violated all conuentions and conditions After therefore he had spoiled the temple and carried away the vessels dedicated vnto God the golden candlesticke the golden altar the table of shew bread the censors and pulled downe the curtaines made of fine linnen and scarlet after he had emptied the treasures that were hidden and left nothing behind him of any valew he drowned all the Iewes in grieuous lamentations For he inhibited and forbad them to offer their vsuall and daily sacrifice vnto God according to the prescript order of the law and after he had spoiled the whole Citie he slew a part of the inhabitants and carried away the rest of them into captiuitie with their wiues and children to the number of ten thousand Furthermore he burned the fairest buildings of the Citie and rased the walles and raised a fortresse in the lower Citie For the temple was as it were a high cittadel commaunding the rest For this cause hauing inclosed it â—…ith high walles and towers he planted a garrison of Macedonians therein with whom remained the rabble and skumme of the wicked Apostate Iewes who were giuen ouer to all impieties and who also afflicted their fellow Citizens with many and mischieuous iniuries The King also commaunded that an Altar should be erected in the temple on which he caused swine to be slaughtered offering sacrifice contrary to the religion and ordinance of the Iewes He constrained them likewise to forsake their deuotion towards God and to adore those Idols whom he reuerenced for Gods building in euery Citie and Burrough both Temples Altars on which he ordinarily caused swine to be offered He forbadde them likewise to circumcise their children threatning to punish him whosoeuer he were that was found to do the contrary Moreouer he chose certaine ouersecrs that should constraine them to fulfill his commandement so that a great number of Iewes some of their owne accord othersome for feare of the threatned punishment endeuoured themselues to satisfie the kings decree But those men who were of vpright hearts and valiant minds little respected these menaces For hauing more respect to their lawes and customes then to the torments wherewith they were menaced if they performed not the edict they were beaten and exposed to most cruell punishment for many daies amidst the which they yeelded vp the ghost For after they were whipt and maimed in their bodies they were crucified and tortured aliue they strangled the women also
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