S. Matth. 23. ver 38 36. All these things had been foretold by our Saviour and written by the Evangelists before the revolt of the Jews and at a time when there was not yet the least appearance of so strange a Revolution Now inasmuch as Prophecy is the greatest of miracles and the most powerful way whereby God Almighty authorizes his doctrine this Prophecy of Jesus Christ to which no other is comparable may be justly accounted the chief and most irrefragable evidence to mankind of his Divine Birth and Mission For as no other Prophecy was ever more clear so neither was any more punctually accomplisht Jerusalem was destroy'd to the ground by the first Army that besieg'd it there remain'd not the least footstep of that proud Temple the wonder of the Vniverse and the object of the Jews vanity and the calamities which ruin'd them answer'd precisely to that dreadful Prediction of our Saviour But to the end so great an Event might serve as well for the instruction of those that were to be born in afier-times as for those that were spectators of it it was necessary as I have said that the History should be written by an irreprochable Witness To which purpose 't was fit the Writer should be a Jew and not a Christian lest he might be suspected to have accommodated the Events to the Prophesies 'T was fit he should be a person of quality to the end he might be fully inform'd of all things 'T was fit he should see with his own eyes the wonderful things which he was to relate to the end he might be capable of credit And lastly 't was fit he should be a Man whose eloquence and judgment might be sutable to the greatness of such a subject All which qualifications so necessary to render this History compleat in all points meet so perfectly in Josephus that 't is evident God Almighty chose him expresly to persuade all reasonable persons of the truth of this marvellous occurrence 'T is certain that having contributed in this manner to the confirmation of the Gospel it appears not that he made any benefit thereof for himself or that he had any share in the blessings so plentifully poured down in his time upon all the earth But if there be reason to commiserate his unhappiness in this point there is some also to bless the Providence of God who has made his blindness serve to our advantage since the things he writes concerning his own Nation are in respect of the incredulous incomparably of more force for confirmation of the Christian Religion than if he had embrac'd Christianity so that we may apply to him in particular what the Apostle saith of all the Jews III. Josephus's Answer to Appion The next of the Works of Josephus besides his Life written by himself is an Answer in two Books to what Appoin and some others had written against his History of the Jews against the Antiquity of their Race against the Purity of their Laws and against the Conduct of Moses Nothing can be more solid than this Answer wherein Josephus proves invincibly the Antiquity of his Nation by the Egyptian Chaldean Phenician and even by the Greek Historians themselves He shews that all which Appion and those other Authors have alledg'd to the disadvantage of the Jews are ridiculous Fables as well as the plurality of their Gods and he excellently sets forth the greatness of the actions of Moses and the sanctity of the Laws which God gave the Jews by his intervention IV. The Martyrdom of the Maccabees The Martyrdom of the Maccabees follows next 'T is a piece which Erasmus so famous among the Learned calls a Masterpiece of Eloquence and I confess I understand not why having with reason so advantagious an opinion of it he paraphras'd it and not translated it Never was Copy more different from its Original 'T is hardly any of its principal Lineaments and if I mistake not nothing can more advance the reputation of Josephus than to see that so able a Man intending to embellish his Work has on the contrary so much diminisht the beauty of it and thereby shew'd how much Josephus is to be esteem'd for writing not after the manner of most of the Greeks in a long-winded style but closely and compendiously as affecting to say nothing but what is necessary And I cannot sufficiently wonder that no person hitherto has made a Translation of it from the Greek either into Latin or French at least to my knowledge For Genebrard instead of Translating Josephus has only Translated Erasmus For my part I have faithfully adhered to the original Greek without following that Paraphrase of Erasmus any where which invents names that are neither in Josephus nor the Bible for the mother of the Maccabees It should seem Josephus did not write this famous Martyrdom authoriz'd by the Holy Scripture but to prove the truth of a discourse which he makes in the beginning to shew that Reason is the Mistress of Passions and he attributes to it a power over them which there would be reason to wonder at if it were strange that a Jew should be ignorant that this power belongs only to the grace of Jesus Christ He is contented to declare that he means only a Reason accompany'd with justice and piety V. The Embassy of Philo to C. Caligula the Roman Emperor This is a brief account of all the Works of Josephus Now because Philo although a Jew as well as he writ also in Greek upon part of the same Subjects but handles the same rather as a Philosopher than an Historian and because none amongst all his Writings is so esteem'd as that of his Embassage to the Emperor C. Caligula of whom Josephus speaks particularly in the 10th Chapter of the 18th Book of the Jewish Antiquities I conceiv'd that this Piece having so great affinity therewith it would not be amiss to shew by a Translation of it the different manner of writing of these two great Persons That of Josephus is undoubtedly more compendious and has nothing of the Asiatic style so that he expresses that in few words which Philo doth sometimes in as many lines The History of that Emperor may be made up from the Writings of these two famous Authors inasmuch as Philo relates as particularly and eloquently the Actions of his Life as Josephus has written nobly and excellently the passages of his Death Both the one and the other were so extraordinary that 't is an advantage there remains such Images thereof to Posterity to animate good Princes to merit by their Virtue as great affection for their Memory as People have horror for those who have shew'd themselves unworthy of the rank which they held in the World It remains only to add That as this Volume comprehends all the ancient holy History so the Readers are desir'd to peruse it not only for Divertisement or Curiosity but also with an aim to profit by the useful Considerations for which
advanced towards Euphrates with an intent to repulse Nabuchodonosor H But he was overcome in battel The year of the World 33â—6 before Christ's Nativity 928. and lost divers thousands of his men Whereupon the Babylonian passing Euphrates seized all Syria as far as Pelusâ—um Judea only excepted The fourth year that Nabuchodonosor reigned over these conquered Countries and in the eighth year of the Reign of Joachim over the Hebrews the Babylolonian led forth his Army against the Jews with a mighty power threatning them to use all hostility 2 Kings 24. 11. ad 20. except Joachim would pay him Tribute Joachim fearing his threats bought his peace with silver and payed for three years space the Tributes that were imposed on him Joachim payeth Nabuchadnezzar tribute But in the third year understanding that the Egyptian was up in Arms against the Babylonian he denied the payment of the Tribute notwithstanding he was frustrated of his hope for the Egyptians were not so hardy as to make War All which the I Prophet Jeremy daily foretold him signifying unto him That he built his hope in vain upon the Egyptians and that it would fall out that the City should be overthrown by the King of Babylon Hedio Ruffinus cap. 8. and Joachim himself should be delivered Prisoner into his hands But because there was no means for them to escape this justice all that which he said Joachim revolteth from the King of Babylon was nothing available For notwithstanding the People and Governors heard thereof yet made they no reckoning of the same but were displeased with those counsels which he proposed unto them accusing Jeremy as if he took pleasure to utter and publish ominous and adverse Presages against the King they likewise called him in question before the Kings Council and requir'd that he might be condemn'd Whereupon some of them gave sentence against him But others took a more discreet course and persuaded them to cause K the Prophet to depart out of the Kings house forbidding his Adversaries to do him any mischief since that he had not only foretold the future calamities of the City but that many before him had done the like as Micheas and divers others and yet that no one of them had suffer'd any evil by the Kings of their time but that contrariwise Micheas had been honour'd as a Prophet sent from God By these words they appeased the People and deliver'd Jeremy from the death intended against him This man wrote all his Prophesies Jeremy foretelleth the destruction of Jerusalem and read them to the People in their Fasts when they were assembled in the Temple in the ninth month of the fifth year of the Reign of Joachim which book he had composed touching that which should happen unto the City the Temple and the People When the Governors heard the same Jer. 22. 24. they took the book from him and commanded L that both he and his Secretary Baruch should withdraw themselves out of the sight of men and they took the book and presented it unto the King who in the presence of his Friends commanded his Secretary to read the same and after he had heard the contents thereof he waxed wroth and renting it in pieces cast it into the fire intending that it should never be seen He sent out likewise a strict Commission to seek out Jeremy and his Secretary Baruch and to lead them out to be punished But they were already fled that they might prevent his indignation CHAP. VII M Nabuchodonosor putteth Joachim to death and establisheth Joachin in the Kingdom NOT long after this Nabuchadnezzars entertainment into the city and cruelty he went out to meet the King of Babylon who was marched out to make War against him and being incredulous and careless of the Prophets Predictions he opened the gates unto him supposing that he intended him no evil But when the Babylonians were entered into the City the King observed not his promises but put all such to death as were in the flower and strength of their years 2 Kings 24. 1 ad 11. and spared none of the Inhabitants of Jerusalem Joachin of Jochonias King of Juda. with them also he slew their King Joachim and caused his body to be cast from the top of the walls and vouchsafed him no Sepulchre establishing Joachin his son King of the Countrey and of the City Moreover he took 3000 of N the most honourable Citizens of Jerusalem Prisoners and led them to Babylon with him amongst whom was the Prophet Ezekiel at that time very young in years This was the end of King Joachim who lived 36 years and reigned 11. Joachin that succeeded him in the Kingdom was the son of Nosta of Jerusalem and reigned three months and ten days O CHAP. VIII The year of the World 3346. before Christ's Nativity 618. A Nabuchodonosor changeth his purpose and besiegeth Joachin and receiveth him upon composition AS soon as the Babylonian had bestowed the Kingdom of Judea on Joachin he was seized with a sudden fear Hedio Ruffinus cap. 9. which made him suspect lest Joachin remembring himself of the injuries he had done unto him by the murther of his father might draw the Countrey into rebellion 2 King 25. 27. and revolt against him For which cause he sent out certain Forces and besieged Joachin in Jerusalem who being a man of a good nature and of an upright B heart was loth to forsake the City in that danger without a Governor considering that it was for his cause that the Common-weal was in that hazard For which cause taking his wife and his nearest akin with him he delivered them into the hands of the Captains that were sent against him Nabuchodonosor a Truce-breaker receiving an oath from them that neither they nor the City should receive any harm But this promise continued not a year for the King of Babylon observed it not but commanded his Captains to imprison all the youth and artificers that were in the City and to bring them bound unto him The number of them was 10832 persons besides Joachin his Mother and his near Allies whom they took Prisoners CHAP. IX C Sedechias is made King over Jerusalem by the Babylonians INstead of Joachin he appointed Sedechias his Uncle King of Jerusalem whom he bound by an oath that he should govern the Countrey without any innovation 2 King 24. 17. and that he should hold no intelligence with the Egyptians Sedechias King of Jerusalem seduced by his Courtiers and false Prophets giveth no ear to Jeremy This Sedechias was 21 years old at such time as he came unto the Kingdom and was Joachims brother by the mothers side he was a contemner of all laws and a preverter of ordinances For the young men that were about him were without the fear of God and all the people under his dominions D committed whatsoever
them We ought indeed to grant the Superiority to the Grecians in all that concerneth Eloquence and the Ornament of Language but not in that which appertaineth to Antiquity or Truth of History and especially in what concerneth the truth of ancient History and what hath passed in every Country Wherefore as the Egyptians and Babylonians long since used all diligence in writing because their Priests were hereunto enjoyned who did most curiously treat of all such matters the same also did the Chaldees amongst the Babylonians and the Phoenicians also inhabiting amongst the Greeks taught them to use Registers both concerning publick K and private affairs which because all men confess I will omit to speak off I let pass also to recount what care our Nation hath had of this point no doubt greater than those Nations above mentioned had charging our High Priests and Prophets to execute this Office which Custom hath been observed even until this Age and if I may presume so far will be observed in all succeeding Ages as by my ensuing discourse I will endeavour to make manifest For our Nation did not only depute this Office to the most virtuous and religious men amongst them in the beginning and to such as were consecrated to the Service of God but they also provided to preserve the Line and Descent of Priests from all impurity and from being intermingled with others For no man amongst us can be a Priest who is not born of a Woman descended from the same L Line Neither in this case is any respect made either of Riches or Honours but the party who claimeth the dignity of Priesthood must by many Witnesses prove his Genealogy and that he is descended from Priests This Custom is not only of force in Judea but wheresoever else any of our Nation inhabit A custom which the Priests observed as in Egypt and Babylon and in any other place where continually the Priests in their Marriages have this respect not to marry with any Woman that is not of their own Line they send to Jerusalem the Name and Pedigree of the Woman whom they have married and all the Testimony hereof which they can deduce from her Ancestors Now if War molest our Nation as often it hath in the time of Antiochus sirnamed Epiphanes of Pompey the Great Quintilius Varus and especially in this our Age then M those Priests who survive make new Genealogies and Pedigrees out of the ancient Registers for those that remain of the Sacerdotal Race And they marry none that have been Captives for fear they may have had commerce with strangers What more evident token can there be of the Priests integrity than that every Priest during the revolution of two thousand years is Registred together with the Names of their Fathers The Priests amongst the Jews are every one registred with the name of their Fathers and this custom contiuued two thousand years and if any one do erre or falsify any of the things before-said 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 necessity 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 ancient times beyond the memory of men were only written by N our Prophets who had the knowledge thereof by inspiration from God himself but other things of latter time are only recorded by those who lived in the Age wherein the things they writ of were done The Books amongst us containing the Histories of all Ages are neither infinite nor one repugnant to another Two and twenty Books of holy Writ for all our Chronicle is contained in 22 Books to which Books it is impiety to deny credit Five of these Books were written by Moses comprehending Genealogies and the beginning of mankind with such notable events as hapned even from the beginning of the World til his death which is little less than three thousand years After the death of Moses till the time wherein Artaxerxes lived who was King of the O Persians and Son to Xerxes every one of the Prophets of our Nation wrote the History A of his time wherein be lived so that of these mens Writings we have thirteen Books the four other Books which make up the Number already mentioned are known to contain holy Hymns made to the praise of God and wholsome Precepts for mans life and conversation All things which from Artaxerxes until our time have hapned are also set down in writing yet the Books wherein they are registred do not deserve so much credit as the former of ancient times for that there was no certain succession of Prophets in that Age. Moreover it is evident that to the former works we give as great credit as to things which we our selves write and notwithstanding they have 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 Jews even from their Cradle do believe these B Books to be sacred and divine and therefore give all credit possible unto them yea and would willingly suffer death rather than do the contrary Many Captives of our Nation have been cruelly tormented and divers ways put to death in open Theaters The Jews and Grecians are compared together only for that they would not commit any thing either in word or deed against their Laws nor violate the writings of their fore-fathers Now who amongst the Greeks did ever sustain the like Nay they are so far from doing it that none can be found among them who would suffer any loss in his goods or fortunes to preserve all the writings of their Nation from destruction and the reason hereof is because every one esteemeth the verity of their Histories to depend upon the will of the Writer And this they do also concerning their most ancient Historians and not C without cause for they every day see men of their own times writing Histories of matters long before past in former ages Some others have written of â—he Wars of the Jews wherein neither themselves were present neither yet do they vouchsafe to credit the writings of such as were then eye-witnesses thereof yea some among them have divulged Histories of such things as of late befel our Nation when themselves never have been in the place where such matters past as they writ of nor have lived in any neighbour place where they might have probable report how matters past but only compiling a few broken stories they most impudently arrogate to their patcht stuff the name of a History I my self have composed a most true History of the last War Joseph was present in all the Wars of the Jews and of every particular thing there done as well I might having been present
us he speaketh ill of them to gratifie whom he took all this pains For the Egyptians do not only use those customs which Appion in us disalloweth Appions death but also do teach others to circumcise themselves as Herodotus reporteth So that I verily think that Appion was justly punished for blaspheming his Country-Laws and Religion For being forced to circumcise himself to avoid a great disease The defence of Moses against Appollonius and Lysimachus he was hereby nothing helped but for all this his privy member rotting he in extream grief and misery L gave up the Ghost For wise men ought to persevere in their Country-Laws in all piety and not to deride and detract others but Appion forsook his own Religion and slandered and belied ours And this was Appions end and here also should end this Book but that Appollonius Molon and Lysimachus and certain others partly for ignorance partly for madness have most injuriously belied our Law-maker Moses and the Laws he made detracting him as a deceitful Magician and Author of all the malice and impiety amongst us and for such as teacheth no vertue nor goodness at all I will therefore as far as in me lieth declare both our Conversation in general M and in particular For if my Judgment be any thing our Laws are most forcible both to piety and to all humanity in general as also to Justice pains-taking and contempt of death I only request this favour of the Reader that he will not with a prejudicate or malicious opinion peruse these Writings for I do not write this as a praise and vain ostentation of our Nation but as a just Apology refuting the slanderous reports that some have used against us Appollonius doth not continually inveigh against us as Appion doth Wherein Apollonius accuseth the Jews but only here and there sometimes affirming us to be hated both of God and man sometimes to be Cowards sometimes contrariwise complaining of our Nations Boldness Saying moreover that we are more sottish than any barbarous Nation and that therefore we only have had none of our Nation founders of Arts or Sciences which N are profitable for mans life all which objections are easily refuted if we shew the contrary to all these by him reported both that we have obeyed our Laws and lived in all integrity If therefore I be forced to shew that other Nations have made contrary Laws The lovers of order and common laws are excellent in meekness and vertue not I but they are to be blamed who comparing ours with them of other Nations affirm ours to be the worse neither of which can charge us eitheir that these Laws which I will briefly set down are not ours or else that we have not persisted in them as we ought Making therefore this beginning I affirm that they who have framed themselves to live together under certain Rules and Ordinances and kept them inviolate and were the first founders of them were more to be commended O for humanity and vertue than they who live under no Rule nor Ordinance A at all and every Law-maker endeavoureth so to attribute Antiquity to their own Ordinances as that they may not be thought to imitate others but to be themselves the first Authors thereof and guides to direct other mens lives Which being so it is the duty of a good Law-maker to make choice of that which is best and most convenient for them who are to obey their Laws and to satisfie them as much as may be Moses more ancient than all other Law-makers in proving their Laws to be good and right and both in wealth and wo calamity and felicity to remain in them neuer changing nor altering them I therefore aver 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This word Law is not in Homer that our Law-maker is more ancient than any Law maker mentioned For Lycurgus and Solon and Seleuchus of Locris and those the Greeks admire are modern and of late times in in respect of him as is well known For the Greeks B themselves confess that in times past they wanted the name of Law This Homer can witness who in his whole Works never mentioneth this word Law for the people of those times were not governed by Laws but by indefinite sentences and the Princes pleasure The life of Moses using customs but not written and altering and changing them also as occasion served But our Law-maker being very ancient for this is every way manifest even by our adversaries own confessions shewed himself both a good Prince and Counsellor unto his people for making Laws to direct and govern mens lives he perswaded them voluntarily to imbrace them and firmly to persist in them with all wisdom C And first of all let us consider the works of his greatness For he undertaking the conduct of many thousand of our fore-Fathers out of Egypt into our own Country delivered them from many calamities almost impossible to be avoided for they being to pass through a place wherein was no Water and a very sandy ground being also to War and preserve their Wives and Children and goods from the variable event of Wars he in all these shewed himself a most wise and prudent Counsellor and a true Patron and Guide unto them all For he made all the multitude so to depend upon him Moses maketh God his guide and Counsellor that he might perswade them to what he pleased and yet in none of all these did he usurp any Authority over them and in that time and place wherein all men of Authority assume D power unto themselves and exercise tyranny at such time as the people do oftentimes offend and live in all manner of impiety at the same time he being in Authority did contrariwise use all lenity and mildness to the intent that he might be a pattern of vertue and justice to all the rest giving all those that willingly followed him most assured safety using in all accidents most strange works For which cause he rightly deemed God to be his Captain and Counsellor and first examining himself and finding all the Laws he had set down were agreeable to the will and pleasure of God the chiefest care he had was how to perswade his people to the same which he himself now knew for they who direct their Lives according to the will of God avoid all sins as our Law-maker did being neither Magician E nor deceiver The origin of Laws amongst the Greeks as his Enemies injuriously report but such a one as the Greeks do boast Minos and others after him to have been for some of them affirmed their Laws to be made by Jupiter others by Apollo and Delphos Oracle either so believing themselves or else thinking that the people would be easily so perswaded Now who of all the Law-makers made the best Law and who did most rightly think of God he that compareth all their Laws together may easily
also some are desolate others newly erected as men please Whereas contrariwise they ought most constantly to keep their opinion of God and his Religion Apollonius Molon was one of these proud Fools but those Grecians that followed the B true Philosophy were not ignorant of what I have said of the Nature and Essence of God but agreed with us in our Opinions and laughed at these ridiculous Fictions Which Plato well seeing Plato decreed that no Poet should be permitted in a Common-wealth affirmeth that Poets are not to be permitted in a Common-wealth and sendeth Homer away very honourably crowned and anointed lest that he with his Fables should destroy or deprave the true opinion of God For Plato of all others especially imitated our Law-maker as he did herein also commanding his Citizens that all of them should perfectly learn his Laws and that for no casualty any strange forreign Custom should be admitted into their City but that their Common-wealth should be pure and they persist in the observation of their Laws But Apollonius Molon not respecting this inveigheth against us for not receiving into our society C men of strange opinions in Religion whereas not only we do so but commonly all Greeks yea and the most prudent amongst them The Lacedemonians expelled all strangers The Lacedemonians did expel all strangers and did not permit their Citizens to travel into other Countries fearing that both wayes their Laws might be corrupted They therefore are to be spoken against rather than we seeing they neither admit strangers to converse with them nor to inhabit amongst them nor impart their Religion unto them but we though not desirous to learn the Religion of other Nations yet do we not deny to impart ours to strangers who desire to embrace it which if I be not deceived is a token of magnanimity and clemency in us but this shall suffice concerning the Lacedemonians D Apollonius was ignorant how matters stood with the Athenians The Athenians manners who boast that their City was free to all Nations But they did most severely 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 betrayed the City to Enemies nor destroyed their Temples but only swore by a strange Oath which as he said whether in jest or in earnest a Devil taught him and for this offence he was put to death by drinking Hemlock his Accusers alledging that he corrupted young men and contemned the Laws and Religion of his Country Socrates a Citizen of Athens Anaxagoras And this Socrates sustained being a Citizen of Athens Anaxagoras was of Clazomenia and for that he affirmed the Sun which the Athenians worshipped for God to be a fiery stone he was by the sentence of some few condemned E to dye They also proclaimed that whosoever would kill Diagoras of Melus should be rewarded with a talent for his labour A talent is 600 Crowns only for that this Diagoras was said to deride their mysteries Protagoras also had been by them taken and put to death had he not escaped only for that they supposed him to have written certain doubts of the Athenian gods And what wonder is it that they used their men at this rate when they practised the same cruelty upon their Women one of their she Priests being put to death for worshiping a strange God their Laws appointing that who ever brought a strange God into their City should be punished with death It is therefore evident that they who enacted such strait Laws believed not the gods of other Nations for had they believed in them they would not have deprived themselves of the benefit of many F gods The very Scythians who delighted in man slaughter so much The Scythians that they very little differed from bruit Beasts yet did they think themselves bound to maintain their own Laws as best so that they slew Anacharsis a famous Greek that came unto them only for that he seemed to attribute too much unto the Grecian gods yea thou mayest find many among the Persians who for this cause have been tortured And it is evident that Apollonius approved the Persian Laws The Persians manners for when the Greeks admired their fortitude and concord of opinions concerning God I mean the fortitude they shewed at the burning of their Temples this Apollonius in all things imitated the Persians violating other mens Wives and putting out their Childrens Eyes whereas our Laws adjudg him G to death that so useth unreasonable beasts And neither the fear and terrour of Potentates nor the favour of them whom all men reverence could ever cause us to forsake or abandon these Laws The Jews constancy in their Laws neither do we exercise fortitude to deprive other men of their H goods and fortunes by War but to keep our own Laws and we who patiently put up all other injury yet if any man do in our Religion provoke us we presently seek revenge not respecting our own ability yea though thereby we work our own utter ruine and calamity What therefore should move us to imitate the Laws of other Nations when they that made those Laws yea even the Law-makers themselves did transgress them or how can the Lacedemonians avoid reproach for their inhospitality and neglecting marriage Against the Law-makers of the Gentiles Or the Elians and Thebans for accompanying with men contrary to the Law of Nature which fact most shameful they deemed good and necessary Yea not content to do so themselves they also ascribed the like unto their gods to be done by them which the Greeks also now of late have done and for this cause they I refused to marry with their own Women judging their satisfaction to be contrary to the prescript of Nature The injustice of Law-makers But I will speak no more of punishment neither how great malefactors those first Law-makers freed from punishment being bribed with money and how unjust they were in the Laws appertaining to Wedlock It is long to examine what great occasions of Impiety they gave For many have already long ago forsaken their Laws The Jews strict observation of the Law which cannot be said of us who for our Laws have suffered loss of our Cities Fortunes and Lives we keeping and persisting in our Laws even unto death and if any Jew be in a strange Country where there is a Tyrant King yet doth not he so fear him that he would for his command in any jot transgress our Laws If therefore we do valorously endure thus much for our Laws all men must needs K grant our Laws to be very good But if they say we suffer all these Calamities to maintain wicked or naughty Laws what punishment are they not worthy of who having as they say better Laws than we do so easily forsake them whereas we do maintain ours even with our Lives
Fairs and Markets appointed for Traffick he observed the ancient order of the year beginning in December Moses writes that the Deluge began the seven and twentieth day of the second month in the year two thousand two hundred fifty and six 11. after the Creation of the first Man Adam which time is carefully B calculated in Holy Writ Gen. 5 a v 3. ad finem in which the birth and death of great personages of that time are most exactly set down This comparison doth not exactly agree with the Hebrews and the 70 Interpretrs At such time then as Adam was 230 years old his Son Seth was born unto him and the same Adam lived 930 years Seth about the age of 250 years begat Enos who after he had lived 905 years left the Government of his affairs to his Son Cainan whom he had begotten about the 190 year of his age After that Cainan had lived 910 years he had his Son Malaleel begotten by him in the 170 year of his age The said Malaleel having lived 195 years died leaving his Son Jared Gen. 5. 24. who at the age of 162 years begat Enoch Enochs death is not written in holy Scriptures who lived 962 years After Enoch succeeded his Son Methusala begotten about the age of 162 years at such time as the said Enochs Father was yet alive and after that Enoch had lived 365 years he was taken C up unto God whence it cometh to pass that his decease hath not been mentioned by any writer Methusala the Son of Enoch in the year of his age 187 had Lamech for his Son who lived 782 years and to whom he left the Soveraignty having held the same 969 years And Lamech after he had governed 707 years declared his Son Noah Governor at such time as the said Lamech had lived 182 which Noah liv'd the space of 900 years All these years calculated into one sum make the number of 2256 yet to perfect this account we ought not to seek out the decease of the Personages for they lived in the same time that their Children and successors did Gen. 7. 4. but the onely thing we are to observe is their births In the Geek copy and Moses are 40 days â—v 17. ad 20. Now God having given the sign and the rain falling for the space D of forty dayes together the waters rose and overflowed the whole earth fourteen Cubits so that there was no means of flight or place of refuge for any But as soon as the rain was ceased The Latine Josephus 90. the water began to decrease by little and little for the space of one hundred and fifty days Gen. 8. 1. till the 27 day of the seventh month when Noah perceiving that the Ark was on ground upon the top of a certain Mountain of the Countrey of Armenia he opened the window and seeing the earth a little discover it self round about he conceived some better hope and began to comfort himself Some few dayes after when the water was ebbed somewhat more Noah sendeth a Raven out of the Ark. he sent out a Raven desiring to know if the rest of the earth were delivered from the waters and whether without danger he might go out of the Ark. 8. But the Raven finding the earth still cover'd with water returned unto E Noah who the seventh day after sent out a Dove to discover the state of the earth which returned bemired and bearing in its mouth an Olive branch whereby Noah perceived that the earth was freed from the Deluge and having still waited seven dayes more Noah forsaketh the Ark and sacrificeth to God he set at liberty all living Creatures that were in the Ark. But as soon as himself his Wife and his Family came forth he offered sacrifice unto God and Feasted and reioyced 16 17. both he and all his houshold The Armenians in their language have called the place where Noah descended Apobaterion which signifieth a descent and in that place even at this present the Inhabitants of the Countrey shew some remainers of the Ark. All Historians even the Barbarians have made mention of this Deluge and of the Ark amongst whom is Berosus the Caldean who setting down the occurrances F of this Deluge writeth after this manner Some say likewise that a certain part of this Ark is still seen in Armenia upon the Mountain of the Cordaeans and that some persons have brought from thence some of the Pitch wherewith it was Calked which the Men of that place are wont to use instead of a preservative against inchantment Hierome the Egyptian also who hath written of the Antiquities of the Phoenicians hath made mention of this matter Nicholas Damascen of Noahs Ark. as also Mnaseus with divers others Nicholas of Damascus likewise in his Ninety sixth Book speaketh hereof after this manner Above the Region of the Mineans there is a great Mountain in Armenia called Baris in which it is reported that divers retired themselves for safety during the time of the Deluge and there escaped and that a certain Man born on an Ark arrived on the highest top of that Mountain and that certain pieces G of that bottom had been kept there a long while 'T is probable this is the Man of whom Moses the Law giver of the Jews maketh mention But Noah fearing lest God having condemned all Men to a general perdition should every year overflow the earth after this manner offered burnt-sacrifice unto God beseeching him that hereafter he would H maintain the antient order The year of the World 1687. before Christ's Nativity 2307. and that no such great calamity might arrive by which all living Creatures might come in danger to be utterly destroyed and exterminated but that having inflicted deserv'd punishment on the wicked he would spare the Innocent whom in his mercy he had preserved from the past danger otherwise they should be more miserable Hedio Ruffinus cap. 6. than those that had been buried in the waters if having beheld with trembling so strange a desolation they should not be preserv'd from the first but to perish by a second Gen. 8. 20. He prayed therefore that he would be pleased to accept of his sacrifice Noah praâ—eth God that he will drown the earth no more and in his mercy vouchsafe not to conceive hereafter a ruinous hate and displeasure against the earth to the end that he and his posterity might by their labours Till it and building them Cities might possess the same in peace wanting none of those commodities I which they enjoyed before the Deluge but that they might equal their fore-fathers in age and length of life Noah having in this sort finished his requests 12. God heareth Noahs Prayer God who loved him for the uprightness of his heart granted him his request and said he had not been the Author of their deaths who
could speak they would accuse you that without cause they are ill treated against all right and that if they had the power to depart from thence they would transplant themselves into L another Countrey But when the Battel is ended and the day is yours kill all those Enemies that resisted you in the Fight Deut. 20. 15 16 17. the rest reserve as your tributaries except the people of the Land of Canaan The Canaanites are wholly to be extinguished for they with all their Families are to be exterminated Beware also but especially in War that neither a Woman use a Mans apparel nor a Man that of a Womans These are the Laws which Moses left Deut. 30. 31 32 33 34. He gave them likewise certain Institutions which he had written forty years before whereof we will speak in another Treatise Some few dayes after for he assembled the people six days together he gave them his blessing and pronounced his maledictions against those which should not live according M to his Laws but should transgress the determinations thereof He read also unto them a Canticle of six measures which he had registred in the holy book containing a prediction of things to come according to which all things have and do fall out without varying any ways from the truth These Volumes and the Ark he gave to the Priests in which he also placed the ten Commandments written in the two Tables Deut. 25. 19. He committed also unto them the custody of the Tabernacle He likewise exhorted the people that when by force they had conquered the promised Countrey The Amalechites to be punished and were planted therein they should not forget the injury which the Amalechites had done 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 N he commanded them that as soon as they had taken the Countrey of Canaan they should exterminate and extinguish all the people He commanded them also to erect an Altar towards the East not far from the City of Sichem between the two Mountains Garizim on the right hand and the other called Gebal on the left and that distributing the people into two parts six Tribes in every part they should place them on these Mountains And he commanded that the Levites and Priests should be with them and that they that were upon the Mountain of Garizim should pray to God to multiply his blessings upon them that are zealous of his service and careful of the conservation of his Laws which had been given them by Moses The six other also were appointed to answer them and when these six O last had prayed the six first were to answer them and confirm that which they had pronounced This done they pronounced maledictions against the transgressors each one A answering the other in ratification of that which had been spoken He reduced also into writing these blessings and curses to the intent that the memory thereof might never be suppressed or extinguished by time which he also being near his death caused to be written on the Altar on the two sides thereof and permitted the people to come near it onely that day and there to offer burnt offerings which is forbidden to them by the Law These ordinances did Moses establish and these the Hebrew Nation observe inviolably even unto this day On the next morning he re-assembled all the people with their Wives and Children he likewise commanded Deut. 29 1 ad 10. the slaves should be present binding them by an oath to maintain and keep the Laws Moses bindeth the Hebrews by an oath to keep the Law and that diligently tying themselves to the will of God they B should not so much esteem either their kindred or means or perils or any other cause whatsoever as thereby to be driven to neglect the Laws or depart from the ordinances thereof but whether any one of their kindred or any City whatsoever should seek to alter and disturb the same or strive to weaken the authority thereof that both in particular and publick they should expose themselves and endeavour to punish them and if they should fortune to take such a City they should raze and utterly deface the same and if it were possible not leave one stone upon another but destroy the foundation But if they were too feeble to take such a revenge yet that they should make it known that they were not consenting to their impiety Hereunto the whole multitude consented and promis'd with an oath He afterwards told them how the people should C know when the Sacrifices were agreeable unto God and how they ought to march out to Battel taking a sign from the stones of the High Priest's Rational of which I have fore-spoken Josua likewise during the life and in the presence of Moses Prophesied whatsoever he intended to perform for the profit of the people either abroad in the administration of War or at home in prescribing Laws and preparing them to that order of life which was newly prescribed them he told them that by instructions from God he Prophesied that if they violated their Countrey Religion they should not escape destruction their Countrey should be filled with Foreign Arms their Cities Sackt their Temple Burnt and themselves sold under the Spear and that they should serve a D Nation Deut. 33. 23. which would not be moved or touched with commiseration of their afflictions and miseries and at length they should too late and unprofitably repent of their error yet that God their establisher would restore the Cities to the ancient Citizens and the Temple to his people Deut. 34. 9. And that this should come to pass not onely once but also many times Moses exhorteth Josua Then did Moses also appoint Josua to lead his Army against the Canaanites promising him that God would be assisting to his actions and wishing all sort of happiness to the people Seeing that saith he I go unto mine Ancestors and God hath prefixed this day for my departure it is very just that living as yet and standing in your presence I give him thanks for the care and providence which he hath hitherto had of your affairs not onely in delivering E you from so many evils but also in largely imparting his blessings unto you and for that he hath alwayes favourably helpt me whilest I endeavoured by my labour and care to reduce your fortunes to a better state Deut. 3. 13. 23. for it is he which hath given both the beginning and the accomplishment Deut. 34. 9. making use of me but as his Minister and Servant in all that good which hath been done to his people For all which things I have thought requisite in departing from you to bless the goodness of God who in time to come shall have the care and charge of you
and to acquit my self of that debt I leave you this in remembrance which is that you ought to serve and honour him and reverence the Ordinances which he hath given you whereby continuing his favour towards you he will grant you grace to preserve and keep this excellent gift Truly a Law-giver that were no more than a man would be greatly displeased with F those who should violate his Ordinances and set them at nought do not you therefore tempt God who is provoked unto anger when those Laws which he himself hath established and given you shall be contemned and neglected Whilst Moses pronounced these his last words and fore-told to the Tribes their several destinies Deut. 34. 8. and wish'd them a thousand blessings The Hebrews lamentation at Moses death the whole Multitude brake into tears and the women beating their Breasts shewed the sorrow they resented for his death The Children likewise lamented because that in their tender years they had understood the virtue and famous acts of Moses and betwixt the elder and younger sort there was as it were a conflict who should weep most bitterly for the one understanding of how worthy a Governor they were deprived lamented the time to come and the G other were perplexed because they should then lose him they before had sufficiently tasted and made tryal how great his virtue was But how great the compassion and complaint of the people was may be conjectured by this that then befell the Prophet For although he were assuredly persuaded that a man is not to lament at the instant of his H death because it happens to him both according to the Will of God and the Law of Nature yet beholding the affection of the People he could not restrain himself from tears After which he walkt towards the place where he was to dye and they all followed him weeping Then did Moses beckning with his hand warn them from afar off that they should stand still and keep their places and he desir'd them that were nearest him by word of mouth not to afflict him any longer by following him with so many testimonies of affection Accordingly to obey him they stood still and all together bewailed their calamity in so great and so general a loss only the Senators xEleazar the High Priest and the chief Captain Joshua accompanied him And when he was arrived on the Mountain called Abarim which is very high and scituate near Jericho I from whence he might discover the greater part of the Land of Canaan he dismissed the Elders and whil'st with mutual embraces he took his last leave of Eleazar and Joshua and discoursed with them a Cloud suddenly environed him and he was carried away into a certain Valley but the Holy Books which he left us say that he dyed fearing lest for the excellency of his virtue they might report that he was taken up into Heaven The whole time of his Life was 120 years the third part whereof wanting a month he spent in government of this great People Moses when he dyed was 120 years old Amongst the Hebrews Adar is the 12 month but amongst us it is called March He dyed the last month of the year and the first day of that month which the Macedonians call Dystros and our Countreymen Adar He was of all Men that ever liv'd the wisest and who in execution of his good counsels had no man to equal him Moreover in eloquence he was incomparable and K in dexterity and grace to entertain and persuade the People he had no second and so were his passions always govern'd by his wisdom that he seemed utterly to want them and only to know the names of those passions of which he saw the effects in other men Ver. 10. His skill in War may give him a rank amongst the greatest Captains Moses was a good Governor and a great Prophet and no man ever had the gift of Prophecy in so high a degree for his words seem'd so many Oracles and that as inspir'd to him by God himself The People mourned for him 30 days nor were they ever seized with so extreme grief as they were at this time when the Prophet dyed neither did he only leave behind him a present desire of him but a great estimation amongst all men who have ever chanced to read and examine his Writings and by them estimated his virtues And these are the things which I thought good to say of the L death of Moses M N O A The Fifth Book of the Antiquities of the JEWS Written by FLAVIVS JOSEPHV'S The Contents of the Chapters of the Fifth Book 1. How Joshua General of the Hebrews having overcome and slain the Canaanites divided their Land amongst the Tribes by lot 2. How after the death of the General the Israelites neglecting the Ordinances of their Forefathers fell into extreme Calamities and through a Civil War that was raised B amongst them there were but 600 of the Tribe of Benjamin left alive 3. How for their impiety the People of Israel were delivered by God into Captivity under the Assyrians 4. Their Liberty by Cenez 5. How the People were once more overcome by the Moabites and exempt from servitude by Jodes otherwise called Ehud 6. How they were brought under the subjection of the Canaanites and restored to their liberty by Barac 7. How the Amalekites having entred the Countrey of the Israelites and conquered them possessed and spoiled the same for the space of seven years C 8. How Gideon delivered the People 9. How some Successors of Gideon waged War against the Neighbor Nations round about them 10. Of Samsâ—â—'s strength and what mischiefs he did in Palestine 11. How the Sons of Eli the Prophet were slain in Battel by the Palestines 12. How Eli hearing of the death of his Sons and the loss of the Ark fell down from his Seat and dyed CHAP. I. D How Joshua General of the Hebrews having overcome and slain the Canaanites divided their Land amongst the Tribes by lot Josh 2. AFter Moses was taken from amongst Men in the manner which I have declared the last duties were paid to him The year of the World 2494. before Christ's Nativity 1470. and the time of mourning was pass'd Joshua commanded the People to prepare themselves and to march forward to Battel He sent Spies likewise to Jericho who might both sound their minds Joshua sendeth Spies into Jericho and discover their Forces Soon after he dislodged and encamped in the open field intending with all expedition to pass the River of Jordan as soon as any opportunity offered it self Josh 2. 1 2 3. Then assembled he the Princes of the Tribes of Reuben E and Gad Joshua calleth to memory and reckoneth up what the Tribes of Gad Reuben and Manasses had promised Moses and of the half Tribe of Manasses for to this half Tribe the Countrey of the
City and the Elders and Magistrates and as many of the People as might commodiously be present and spake unto them First he called unto their remembrance the many benefits which God had bestowed upon them by means whereof from a poor and afflicted condition they had attained great riches and glory Then he exhorted them to observe his Commandments most Religiously to the end God might continue his merciful hand over them since they knew that his favour could be kept to them N by no other means but by their obedience He further told them that he thought himself oblig'd before he departed out of this life to admonish them of their duty Last of all Josh 24. 39. he desired them to accept well of that his good admonition and to be perpetually mindful of the same Joshuah's death As he ended these words he gave up the Ghost and dyed in the 110 year of his age whereof he spent 40 as Minister under Moses their chief Magistrate and after his death governed the Commonwealth 25 years A Man of incomparable prudence and eloquence wise and diligent in matters of Government and equally capable of the most important affairs of Peace and War in a word the most excellent Captain Governor of his time Ver. 33. He was buried in a City called Thamna belonging to the Tribe of Ephraim Eleazar's death About the same time likewise dyed Eleazar the High O Priest leaving the Priesthood to Phinees's Son his Sepulchre is seen at this day in the City Gabatha After their deaths Phinees being demanded by the People what God's A pleasure was The year of the World 2525. before Christ's Nativity 1439. and to whose charge the Wars against the Canaanites should be committed answered them that God commanded to give the Government to the Tribe of Judah which choosing that of Simeon for their Associates undertook the War with this condition that when they had utterly rooted out the remnant of the Canaanites out of their own Tribe Judg. 1. they should likewise employ themselves to extinguish all the Reliques of that Race amongst the other Tribes CHAP. II. How the Israelites after the death of their Emperor forgetting the Religion of their Forefathers fell into extreme Calamities and how through a Civil War raised amongst B them there were only 600 of the Tribe of Benjamin left alive BUt the Canaanites whose estate at that time was very potent expected them with a great Host about the City of Bezec Hedio Ruffinus cap. 5. al. 2. having their Army conducted by the King of that place Judg. 1. 1 2 ad 5. called Adoni-Bezec which name signifieth Lord of the Bezecenities for Adoni in the Hebrew Tongue is Lord and these Men promised themselves the Victory by reason that Joshua was deceased Ten thousand Canaanites slain and Adoni-Bezec taken ver 6 7. Against these the two Tribes of Judah and Simâ—on fought very valiantly and slaying 10000 of them in the pursuit they took Adoni-Bezec Captive who having his hands and feet cut off acknowledged the divine justice for he confessed that he had used 72 Kings before times after the same manner In this condition C they conducted him near Jerusalem where departing out of this life they buried him Then they over-run the Countrey sacking and taking the Cities and after they had divers of them in their possession they besieged Jerusalem and entring the lower City they put all the Inhabitants to the Sword But the higher Town was very hard to be assaulted by reason of the Fortresses and strength of the Walls and the naturally strong situation of the place which was the cause that they rais'd their Camp to go and besiege Hebron which they took and slew all that were therein Amongst whom there were some of the Race of the Gyants whose stature was so prodigious their aspect so terrible and their voice so dreadful that it can scarce be believ'd their Bones are still to be seen at this day This City being very considerable was given to the Levites with 2000 D Cubits of Land round about the rest of the Countrey was freely given to Caleb according as Moses had commanded he having been one of those Spies which Moses sent to view the Land of Canaan Jethro's posterity who was the Father of Moses possessed of Lands They gave lands and possessions likewise to the posterity of Jethro the Madianite who was Father-in-law to Moses for that they had forsaken their own Territories and join'd themselves to the Israelites and been with them in the Desart The Tribes of Judah and Simeon took those Cities of the mountainous Countrey of Canaan and also those that were in the Plain near the Sea-coast namely Ascalon and Azoth But they could not take Gaza and Accaron for those Cities being in the Plain and defended with a great number of Chariots repelled those that assaulted the same to their disadvantage So these two Tribes having had good success in Wars retired E to their Cities to enjoy in peace the spoils which they had taken As for the Benjamites Ver. 16. to whom Jerusalem appertained The Israelites overcame not the Canaanites at one time they received the Inhabitants thereof as their Tributaries so that all being in peace and the one ceasing from slaughter and the other assured from danger they employed themselves in manuring the Countrey The rest of the Tribes did the like conforming themselves according to the example of the Benjamites Av. 22. ad 26. and contenting themselves to receive their Tributes they suffered the Canaanites to live in peace The Ephraimites recover Bethel by a stratagem The Tribe of Ephraim having long besieged the City of Bethel could not see such an end of their design as the length of time and the Travels they had taken in the Siege required and although they were very much toyled and wearied with the same yet they continued the Siege At last one of the Inhabitants F who was carrying Provisions thither fell into their hands whom they promis'd that if he would let them into the City they would save him and grant life and liberty likewise to all his Family He was persuaded and by his means they became Masters of the place he and his were spared but all the rest of the Inhabitants were put to the Sword From that time forwards the Israelites ceas'd to make War and employed themselves in Tillage of their Lands and husbanding their Fruits and being grown rich they followed the delights and pleasures of the World in such sort as they became dissolute and had no regard either of their ancient Discipline or the Laws of their Forefathers Whereupon God was highly incensed against them Hedio Ruffinus cap. 6. â—l 3. and he gave them to understand that contrary to his Command they had spared the Canaanites and that those Canaanites in G time to come Judg. 2. 1 ad
worthiest of them all For he was not satisfied to redeem and deliver those of Jabeâ—s Saul kills the Ammonite and Naahs their King but he entred the Countrey of the Ammonites also and ravaged the same with his Army and after he had obtained a great booty both he and his Army Victoriously returned to their dwelling places The people highly pleased with this noble action atchieved by Saul Saul made his name famous amongst the Hebrews rejoyced that they had demanded a King and exclaimed against those that said it would be discommodious and unprofitable for the Common-wealth saying where are now these murmurers let them be put O to death Saul is praised by the people with other such like words that a people besotted with good success is wont to speak against them that oppose the same Saul commended the affection of A the people The year of the World 2810. before Christ's Nativity 1084. but swore that none should be put to death that day because it would not seem agreeable that the victory given them by God should be sullied with the blood of their Brethren but rather that it was more proper the time should be spent in feasting and jolity After this Samuel told them that they ought to confirm the Kingdom of Saul by a second Election Sauls lenity against his adversaries and to that end they assembled together in the City of Galgal according as he commanded them and there in the sight of all the people Samuel anointed Saul the second time with the consecrated Oyl v. 12 13. and proclaimed him King Thus was the Aristocracy and Government of the better sort amongst the Hebrews v. 14 15. turned into a Monarchy For under Moses and his successor Joshua Saul once more anointed King by Samuel who was General of the Army the form of the Commonwealths was Aristocratical After their death for the space of eighteen B years The distinct Governments of the Hebrews the people was without Government The Common-wealth not long after resumed its first form of Government and the supreme authority was given to him that was esteemed the most valiant in War and the most upright in doing Justice During which time such Magistrates were called Judges After this the Prophet Samuel assembled the people and spake to them after this manner 1 Sam. 12. 3 4. I conjure you by that great God that sent those two admirable Brothers Moses and Aaron to deliver our forefathers from the Egyptians Samuels justification of himself in the presence the people and their tyranny that without any consideration either of fear or favour or of any other passion you truly testifie whether I have committed any injustice either for interest avarice or affection Declare it If I have taken away any mans Calf or sheep ar any other thing whatsoever but that which I might lawfully take for C my relief and sustenance and at such hands as willingly offer me the same or if I have employed any Beasts to my service or use his cattel to my profit and his hinderance in these and such like if I have offended any man let him now accuse me in the presence of the King All of them cryed out with one voyce that no such fault had been committed by him but that he had Governed their Nation in Holiness and Justice After the people had thus publicky testified in behalf of Samuel he said unto them Since you have freely protested that you have no cause of wrong to charge against me v. 7. ad 16. hear I pray you wherewith I can justly accuse you Samuel expostulateth with the people and objecteth their sins and ingratitude You have griveously offended against the Majesty of God in that you have required a King at his hands you should have rather remembred that your old Father Jacob accompanied onely with his 70 Sons came into Egypt constrained thereunto by famine and D that in that Countrey divers thousands of persons issued from his loynes whom the Egyptians kept in captivity doing them extream outrages And when your fathers called upon God he wonderfully delivered them from the distresses wherein they were without giving them any King but sending them two Brothers Moses and Aaron who brought and conducted them into this Countrey which you possess at this present And although you participated these benefits from the hands of God yet you forget his religion and neglected piety This notwithstanding at such time as you have been conquered by your enemies he hath set you free assisting you first of all with the overthrow of the Assyrians and their forces then giving you victory over the Ammonites and Moabites and finally over the Philistines Now these great exploits were performed by you not under the conduct of a King but by the direction of Jephta E and Gedeon What folly therefore hath bewitched you to flie from God and to seek to live under the subjection of a King But I have named such an one unto you Whom God hath chosen to be your Governour Notwithstanding to the intent that I may give you a manifest testimony that Gods wrath is provoked against you because you have desired a King I will desire of God that he will make you see in this place and in the heart of Summer such a storm that there is not any one of you that hath ever seen the like Scarce had he spoken the words but suddenly there appeared great Lightning Thunder and Hail in confirmation of what the Prophet had said v. 16 17 18. so that amazed and confounded with fear A huge tempest falleth upon Samuels prayer all of them confessed that they had offended and desired the Prophet that with a good and fatherly affection he would beseech God to appease his wrath towards them and forgive them F this offence which they had committed through ignorance as he had pardoned their other negligences whereby they had transgressed his holy will All which Samuel promis'd them do to and be sought God that it would please him to pardon them the error which they had committed in this matter and to be appeased by his prayers After this he exhorted them to live uprightly and to keep in continual remembrance what evils had hapned unto them v. 20. ad finem for that they had forsaken the way of virtue and what wonders God had done An exhortation to the consideration of Gods assistance and benefits bestowed on the Israelites and what Laws he had given by Moses all which they ought to meditate on if they desired to be in safety and live happily with their King But if they failed herein he foretold them that both themselves and their Kings should be grievously punished Samuel having prophesied these things to the Hebrews dismissed them to G their own dwellings after he had confirmed the Kingdom to Saul the second time CHAP. VII The
For it is a thing unworthy either your Majesty Jonathan certifieth David how he hath pacified his father or the name of a Man to forget good deserts With these words was Saul pacified so that he swore to his Son he would do no hurt to David for his just persuasions and arguments were stronger than the choler and fear of the King Jonathan sent to seek out David and told him these good tydings from his Father and brought him to him and David continu'd to serve him as formerly N O A CHAP. XIV How hardly David escaped the ambushes that were often laid for him by the King yet having him twice at advantage and in his power would not murther him ABout the same time v. 8 9. the Philistines again led forth their Army against the Hebrews David hath a great victory against the Philistines and Saul sent David against them accompanied with his forces who encountring them slew a great number of them and returned to the King with a great Victory But Saul entertained him not as he hoped and as the happy exploit atchieved by him merited but he envied his good actions and honourable deserts as if Davids happy B success had been Sauls disadvantage and prejudice But when the evil spirit returned to vex him he lodged him in his own chamber and having at that time a javelin in his hand he commanded him to play on his Harp and to Sing Hymns Now whilest David obeyed his command Saul stretching out his arm v. 9 10. threw his Dart at him but David foreseeing it Saul darteth his javelin at David avoided the stroke and fled to his own house where he stayed all the rest of the day When night was come the King sent certain of his Servants to watch his house lest he should escape to the end that the next day being brought forth to judgement he might be condemned and put to death But Michol Davids Wife and Sauls Daughter having intelligence of her Fathers intention went to her Husband told him in how great peril he was being desirous to save his life with the hazard of her C own Beware said she lest the Sun at his rising find thee in this place for if it do I shall never more see thee Flie therefore whilest night offereth thee opportunity which I pray to God to lengthen for thy sake for be assured that if thou be surprized in this place my Father will make thee die a miserable death This said she let him down by a window and so saved him and soon after she prepared his bed as if he lay sick therein and under the covering she laid the Liver of a new slaughtred Kid and when her Father sent the next morning to apprehend David she answered that he had been sick all the night long v. 14. and opening the Curtains Michol persuadeth the Kings Servants that David is sick she gave them to understand that David was laid therein the Coverlet being moved by the Liver which was hot and yet stirred made them believe that the Liver that lay there was David who panted and breathed very D hardly Which being signified unto Saul he commanded that he should be brought to him in that estate wherein he was because he resolved to put him to death But when Sauls messengers returned thither and opened the bed they perceived Michols subtilty v. 17. and went and certified the King thereof who reproved her very sharply for that she had saved his Enemy Michol excuseth her self for delivering David and deceived her Father But she excused her self with words full of good appearance saying that David had threatned to kill her and through fear of death she was induced to save him For which cause she ought to be pardoned since by constraint and not ofset purpose she had furthered his escape For said she I think that you seek not so greedily after the death of your Enemy as to prefer the same before the safety and security of your Daughter v. 18. Upon these reasons Saul pardoned his Daughter E David delivered from this peril David expresseth to Samuel how the King was affected towards him went to the Prophet Samuel at Ramath and told him what ambushes the King had laid for him and how hardly he had escaped death by the stroke of his javelin whereas in all things that concerned Saul he had alwayes shewed himself obedient having served him advantageously in war upon his Enemies and by Gods assistance been fortunate in all things which was the cause that Saul was so displeased with him The Prophet informed of Sauls injustice departed from Ramath and led David to a certain place called Galbaath where he remained with him But as soon as Saul was informed that David was retired v. 19 20 21. and accompanied with the Prophet he sent out certain Soldiers to lay hands on him Saul sent armed Souldiers to apprehend David who began to prophesie and he himself likewise coming thither prophesieth and bring him to him They reparing to Samuel and finding the congregation of the Prophets were seized with the F Spirit of God and began to prophesie Which when Saul understood he sent out others with the like order and they had the lâ—ke extasie For which cause he sent out others and seeing the third company prophesie likewise he was in the end so enraged that he went thither in his own person And when he drew neer the place Samuel before he saw him made him prophesie also so that he was transported out of himself and having dispoiled himself of his rayment 1 Sam. 20. v. 1. ad 4. he remained naked all day and night in the presence of Samuel and David David departed from thence and went to Jonathan to whom he complained of those ambushes which his Father had laid to intrap him David complaineth unto Jonathan of his Fathers injuries telling him that notwithstanding he had never committed any fault against his Father he earnestly pursued him to put him to death Jonathan persuaded him not to suspect these things rashly nor to be over-credulous G to those reports which parhaps might be brought to him but trust him only who was assured that his Father intended no evil against him Jonathan excuseth his Father For if he had he would have told him being never wont to act any thing without his counsel But David sware unto him that it was so and conjured him not to doubt of it but rather to consider how H to procure his security than by contemning his words expect till his death ascertained him of the truth thereof He added that his Father did not communicate his counsels with him because he was assured of the love and friendship that was between them Jonathan persuaded by Davids reasons asked him what he desired at his hands or wherein he might shew him friendship v. 5. ad 11.
suffering great Travels and after they had once more renewed the oath of mutual Amity and Faith between them for all the time of their lives calling God to witness with imprecations against him that should fail therein Jonathan left David somewhat eased in heart and disburthened of his fear and returned to his own home But the Ziphians to gratifie Saul told him v. 19. that David was amongst them and promised to deliver him prisoner into his hands The Ziphians certifie Saul of Davids abode in their Countrey if so be he would come out against him for if he would seize all the straights of the Countrey it should be impossible for him to flie into D any other place The King praised their fidelity and promised them to require it and to remunerate them shortly for this their good affection and withall sent out certain men to seek out David and to break over the Forest promising them that shortly he would follow after them Thus did the Governours and Princes of the Ziphians offer themselves to the King to search out and apprehend him expressing their affection therein not only in outward shew but also with their whole power labouring what they might that surprizing him they might deliver him into the Kings hands But their unjust desire had as unfortunate success wicked people as they were who being to incur no peril by concealing him from pursuit promised to betray him into the Kings hands through adulation and avarice v. 26. a man that was both vertous and wrongfully persecuted E to death by his Enemies David hearing of the Kings coming flieth to save himself For David being informed of their malice and of the Kings approach quitted those narrow straights wherein he then encamped and escaped to a certain Rock sâ—ituate in the Desart of Simon Saul continued to pursue him and knowing by the way that he had overcome the straights he came to the other side of the Rock where David had surely been taken had not the King been revoked by tidings which assured him that the Philistines had forcibly entred and spoyled his Kingdom v. 27 28. For he thought it more conveninet to revenge himself on those his publick and open Enemies Saul pursueth David and having circumvented him had taken him had not he received news that revoked him and to give succor to his Countrey and people being ready to be spoiled and wasted than out of desire to lay hands on a private Enemy to betray both his Countrey and Subjects to their Swords and thus was David saved beyond all expectation and F he retired himself to the straights of Engaddi But after Saul had repelled the Philistines certain news was brought him that David was in the straights of Engaddi whereupon presently taking with him three thousand of the choicest men in all his Army he led them speedily to the forenamed place and being not far from thence he perceived near the high way a deep and large Cave where David with his four hundred men were hid and he descended alone into the Cave to disburthen the necessities of nature This was presently discovered by one of Davids followers who told him that God had presented him a fit opportunity to revenge him on his Enemy 1 Sam. 24 5. and counselled him to cut off Sauls head David cut off the lap of Sauls Garment and to discharge himself thereby of further trouble But David arising and finding him out only cut off the lap of the vesture wherewith Saul was attired and presently G thereupon repented himself saying that it were a wicked deed in him to kill his Lord whom God by Election had raised to the estate of Majesty and Empire For said he although he be unjust toward me yet ought I not to be injurious towards him who is my Lord. But when Saul was gon out of the Cave David followed him and cryed with a loud H voice beseeching Saul to give him audience Saul turning back to him David cast himself prostrate at his feet according to the custome and spake after this manner How unworthy is it for thee O King that opening thy ears to scandalous backbiters and giving trust and credit to vain and loose men thou suspectest thy most faithfull friends whom thou rather oughtest to judge by their sincere and upright actions for words may be either false or true but the mind can be descovered by no more apparent arguments than by mens actions as at this present thou mayest judge David upbraideth Saul for his subtilities to seek his death who was innocent whether thou hast raishly believed them that make me guilty before thy Majesty of that crime that was never yet so much as in my thought and who have so much exasperated thee against me that day and night thou thinkest on nothing more than my destruction Seest thou not now how vain thy opinion is whereby they persuade thee that I I am an Enemy of thy house and earnestly desirous of thy death Or with what eyes thinkest thou doth God behold thy cruelty who seekest the death of him who having an opportunity offered him to be revenged on thee spareth thy life whose life were it in thy hands were assuredly lost For as easily might I have cut off thy head as this lap of thy garment and therewithall in confirmation of his words he shewed it him yet did I forbear this just revenge But God shall bear witness hereof and shall condemn him of us two that shall be found the most culpable Saul amazed to see how strangely his life had been preserved and to consider the vertue and generosity of David v. 10 ad 17. began to weep and David wept also but Saul said that he had greater cause to lament than he Saul acknowledged his malice and Davids innocency and requesteth him that when he hath obtained the Kingdom he would be favourable to his Family For said he by thy means have I received many benefits and thou at my hands hast been repayed with infinite K injuries This day hast thou testified that thou retainest the ancient justice of our ancestors who instead of taking away the lives of their Enemies when they found them at advantage accounted it glorious to spare them Now I no longer doubt that God hath reserved the Kingdom for thee and that the Empire of all the Hebrews attendeth thee Assure thou me therefore by an oath that thou wilt not exterminate my Race or remember those injuries that I have done unto thee but that sparing my posterity thou wilt keep them under thy protection David sware to him according as he had required and suffered him to return into his Realm and both he and his companies retired themselves to the straights of Maspha About the same time died Samuel the Prophet a man who for his merit was in great estimation amongst the Hebrews Samuels death and burial the testimony of L
such time as Joab Ader fled into Egypt General of Davids Army had conquer'd Idumaea and in the space of six months defeated all the youth and those that were capable to bear Arms he fled unto L Pharaoh King of Egypt Ader beseecheth Pharaoh to dismiss him that he might return into his Countâ—â—y who entertain'd him very courteously and gave him an house and lands for his maintenance and loved him dearly when he came to mans estate so that he married him to Taphines his wives sister on whom he begat a Son who was brought up with the Kings children who having intelligence in Egypt of David and Joabs death address'd himself unto Pharaoh and besought him to give him leave to repair into his own Countrey The King ask'd him what he wanted or what the cause was that mov'd him to be so forward to forsake him Notwithstanding therefore that he importuned and requested him divers times yet prevailed he not with him But when Solomons fortunes began to decline Ader returneth into Idumaea and from thence departeth into Syria by reason of his iniquities above-mentioned and the wrath of God provoked M against him Ader by Gods permission came into Idumaea after he had obtained leave of Pharaoh to depart But being unable to move the people to revolt from Solomon by reason of the strong Garisons he held Raas and Ader enemies to Solomon and knowing that without hazard of his own person he could move no alterations or innovation in that place he departed from thence and went into Syria where confederating himself with a certain man called Raas who was fled from his Master Adarezer King of Sophone and lived like an Outlaw in that Region he contracted friendship with him and a great sort of Outlaws and Thieves that were his followers and went into Syria and seizing on that Countrey proclaimed himself King thereof From whence making excursions into the lands of the Israelites he spoiled and pillaged the same during Solomons life-time Thus were N the Hebrews enforced to sustain those Outrages at Aders hands Moreover a certain Man called Jeroboam the son of Nebat by Nation a Jew rebelled against Solomon Ver. 26 ad 35. and raised his hopes above his estate persuaded thereunto by a Prophesie that concerned him Jeroboam rebelleth against Solomon and incited him unto the action For being left very young by his Father and carefully instructed by his Mother as soon as Solomon perceived him to be of a noble and couragious spirit he made him Commissary over the building of the Walls at such time as he immured and fortified Jerusalem In this office he behaved himself so well Ver. 30. that the King thought very well thereof and by way of recompence made him General over the Tribe of Joseph Achâ—as the Prophet foretelleth that he should be King over the ten Tribes Towards which whil'st he travelled from Jerusalem a certain Prophet met him upon the way who was of the City of Silâ— called O Achias who approaching near unto him and saluting him drew him out of the way into a place where none but themselves were present and there renting the garment which he wore upon his back in twelve pieces he commanded Jeroboam to take ten telling him That God had so decreed The year of the World 2971. before Christ's Nativity 993. and how he would rent the Government from Solomon and reserve A only one Tribe unto his son with that other which was annexed unto it by reason of the promise made to David and to thee said he he giveth the other ten because Solomon hath offended God and addicted himself to the love of strange Women and the service of foreign gods Now since thou knowest the cause wherefore God hath alienated the Kingdom from Solomon be thou just and observe the Laws for if thou behavest thy self in such sort as thou knowest David did a great reward of thy piety and recompence of thy observance attendeth thee so that thou shalt become as mighty as David hath been before thee Jeroboam confirmed in great hopes by these words of the Prophet being by nature haughty in years young and besides that Ver. 40. desirous of authority Jeroboam flieth into Egypt and remaineth there until Solomons death he took no rest but being possessed of the place of B General and remembring himself of that which had been told him by Achias he presently began to persuade the people to revolt from Solomon and to choose him for their King Solomon hearing news of this his design sought means to lay hands on him and to put him to death but Jeroboam preventing him fled unto Susac King of Egypt with whom he remained until the death of Solomon And thus for that time escaped he punishment and thus was he reserved to the fortune of a Kingdom CHAP. III. After the death of Solomon the people revolt from Rehoboam his Son and proclaim Jeroboam King of the Ten Tribes C BUT when Solomon was very old The death of Solomon he dyed after he had Reigned fourscore years and lived ninety four and was buried in Jerusalem of all Kings the most happy rich and prudent Hedio Ruffinus cap. 8. al. 4. except that sin whereunto he was drawn by Women in his old age of whom and those calamities that presently after befell the Hebrews we have sufficiently spoken 1 Reg. 12. 1 ad 11. After the death of Solomon as soon as his son Rehoboam whom he begat upon an Ammonitish woman called Noma succeeded him in the Kingdom the Governors of the people sent certain messengers into Egypt to recall Jeroboam who arriving in the City of Sichem Rehoboam came thither also resolving in that Assembly of the Israelites to take the Kingdom upon himself by the peoples consent The people require Rehoboam to mitigate their burthen To him therefore the Princes D of the people resorted with Jeroboam beseeching him That he would remit somewhat of their servitude and shew himself more merciful than his father had been for that under his government they had been sorely oppressed assuring him that by that means his Kingdom should be the more secured if so be he had rather be beloved than feared He three days after promised them to return an answer to their demands and by that means drew them into suspition that upon the motion he misliked of the offers they had proposed for they thought it became his years to be affable and ready to deserve well yet remained there some hope in them Ver. 6 7 8. that they had not presently suffered a repulse Mean while he calling about him his fathers friends The wholesom advice of the Elders consulted what answer he should give the people they that wished his welfare and knew the nature of the people very well persuaded E him to speak familiarly unto the people and remitting a little of his Kingly
rain and told that he saw nothing at length going up the seventh time in descending he brought him this news that he saw B some black appearance in the Air not much unlike to a mans footstep When Elias understood this he sent unto Achab wishing him to retire himself within the City before the rain fell who had no sooner recover'd the City of Jezrael but that the Air was presently cover'd with thick clouds and a vehement wind intermixed with rain fell upon the earth 1 Reg. 19. 1 ad 4. and the Prophet seized by the Spirit of God ran with the Kings chariot as far as Jezrael a City of Asser Elias flieth from Jezabel When Jezebel Achab's Wife had notice what miracles Elias had perform'd and how he had slain her Prophets she was displeased and sent messengers unto him threatning him in like sort to revenge herself on him as he had slain her Prophets Which Elias fearing fled into the City of Bersabe which is upon the borders of the Tribe of Juda Gods care for his servantâ— bounding upon Idumaea in which place he left his servant and retired C himself into the Desart where whil'st he pray'd God that he would take him out of the World he fell asleep under a certain Tree and after he was awaked he arose and found bread and water ready prepared by him When he had eaten and was refreshed Mount Sinai Ver. 5 6. he went unto where it is said that Moses received the Law from God where finding out an hollow Cave God speaketh to Elias in the desart he entred into it and remained therein And being demanded by a certain voice which spake unto him he knew not from whence Wherefore he remained in that place and forsook the City He answer'd Because he had slain the Prophets of the false gods and because he had persuaded the people that there was but one onely God who ought to be honoured by all men and that for this cause he was sought for by the Kingâ— wife that he might be put to death The voice replied again and commanded him to shew D himself openly assuring him that he should understand that which it behoved him to perform Hereupon as soon as it was day he forsook the Cave and perceiv'd the earth to tremble under his feet Ver. 16. and after all things were appeased the voice which proceeded he knew not from whence Jehu King of Israel willed him That he should in no wayes be discomforted with that which he saw for that no one of his enemies should have power to hurt him charging him to return unto his house to the intent to proclaim Jehu the son of Nimsi King of the people and Azael of Damascus King of the Syrians Ver. 19. assuring him that in his place Elizeus calling Elizeus of the City of Abela should be Prophet and that the wicked people should be destroyed the one by Azael and the other by Jehu When Elias heard these things he return'd into the Countrey of the E Hebrews and met Elizeus the son of Saphat at the Cart and with him divers others driving before them twelve couple of Oxen he came near him and cast upon him his garment and he instantly began thereupon to prophetize so that forsaking his Oxen he followed Elias Hedio Ruffinus cap. 14. ad 11. Yet required he that before his departure he might take leave of his Parents which when he had perform'd he committed them unto God and follow'd Elias 1 Kings 21. 1 ad 16. attending on him during all his life like his disciple and servant This issue had the affairs of this so excellent a Prophet The story of Naboth who was stoned to death for denying Achâ—b his Vineyard But a certain Citizen called Naboth of the City of Azar had a Vineyard near unto the lands of Achab who requir'd him to sell him the same at what price he thought convenient to the intent he might annex it to his own lands and make them one possession wishing him that if he would not sell it him F for silver to choose in exchange thereof any one field of his which he liked best Naboth answer'd him That he would not do it but that he intended to gather the fruit of his own land himself which he had received as an inheritance from his father The King no less troubled with the repulse than if he had lost his own inheritance would neither wash nor receive any sustenance Whereupon Jezabel his wife inquir'd after the cause of his discontent and how it came to pass that he neither washt nor eat he told her of Naboths rude behavior and how having offer'd all just and reasonable composition he could not obtain what he requested Hereupon Jezabel willed him to be of good cheer advised him to continue his ordinary entertainment because she herself would take upon her to revenge him on Naboth Whereupon she presently sent Letters in Achabs name to the Governors G of the Countrey whereby she enjoined them to celebrate a Fast and to assemble the people charging them that in that place Naboth should have a seat prepared for H him by reason of his birth and quality willing them afterwards that suborning three false Witnesses to depose against him that he had blasphemed God and the King they should by this means cause him to be stoned and put to death by the people All which was performed according as the Queen had written and Naboth accused by false witness for scandalizing God and the King was stoned by the people and put to death When Jezabel had tydings hereof she repaired to the Kings presence and told him That he should enjoy Naboths Vineyard and disburse nothing for it But God displeased with this her wickedness Ver. 17 ad 26. sent the Prophet Elias purposely to meet with Achab in Naboths ground Elias prophesieth what revenge God will take of Achab and Jezabel and to tell him That he unjustly possessed the lawful inheritance of another whom he had put to death As soon as the King perceived that he came I unto him supposing it to be unseemly for a King to be reproved he first of all confessed his fault and offer'd him to make restitution according as he should think fit Then did the Prophet foretell That in the same place where Naboths Carcass was consumed by Dogs that both his and his Queens blood should be shed and that all his Race should be destroyed for that they durst commit such an impiety and so wickedly murder against all Law so good and innocent a man These words made so great an impression upon Achab that he repented him of the offence he had committed Ver. 27 28. so that apparelling himself in sackcloth and walking barefoot Achab's repentance he tasted not any meat but confessed his sins with hopes to appease Gods wrath Whereupon God
rather that he ought to conceive that the Prophet Elizeus had discovered all that which was intended against him V. 13 14 15. Whereupon he sent out his Soldiers with an express charge to know in what City Elizeus made his ordinary abode Elizeus besieged in Dothaim by his enemy who returning back brought him news that he remained in Dothaim For which cause Adad sent a great number of Horsemen and Chariots to Dothaim to lay hold on Elizeus who begirt the City by Night and laid watch round about the walls that no Man might escape them Early in the morning C when the Prophets servant had notice hereof and was advertised that the enemies sought to surprize Elizeus he fearfully hasted and discovered their intent to his Master who encouraged him and commanded him not to be afraid because he was assured of Gods help whereupon he prayed to God that at that present he would shew his power and assistance both toward the relief of his necessity Ver. 16 17. and the confirmation and encouragement of his servant The Angels about Elizeus the Prophet At that time God hearing his prayer represented to the Prophets servant a great number of Chariots and Horsemen that invironed Elizeus so that he laid his fear aside and was assured when he perceived these succors That done Elizeus besought God again That he would blind his enemies eyes and cause a thick cloud to fall upon them to the end they might not discover him Which done he presently thrust himself D amongst the thickest of his enemies demanding of them Whom they came 〈◊〉 seek for They answer'd him That they sought for the Prophet Elizeus he promis'd them to deliver him into their hands Ver. 18 19. if so be they would come with him into the City where he was Elizeus leadeth the Syrians blinded into Samaria where by his persuasion they are courteously entertained and presented by Joram and sent home They being blinded in eyes and depraved in their understanding followed the Prophet willingly who marched before them When therefore Elizeus had brought them into Samaria he willed King Joram to lock the gates and to inviron the Syrians with his Soldiers This done he prayed God that he would open the eyes of the Syrians and they being delivered from their blindness perceived that they were in the midst of their enemies Whereat being sore astonished and uncertain whence this divine and unexpected act had befallen them King Joram asked the Prophet Whether he should kill them E with darts But Elizeus forbade him to do so For said he it is a just and convenient matter that they who are taken in War should lose their life but that they had done no evil unto his Countrey but by Gods providence came thither without their own knowledge for which cause he counselled him to give them Presents and refresh them and afterwards to suffer them to depart without any injury Joram giving ear to the Prophets words entertained the Syrians magnificently and with great humanity and sent them back unto Adad their King to whom upon their arrival they declared all that which had hapned unto them Adad astonished at this unexpected event Hedio Ruffinus cap. 4. and wondering at the power of the God of the Israelites and admiring the Prophet whom God so wonderously assisted he concluded from that time forward F never more to attempt the King of Israel in secret because he feared Elizeus but concluded to make open War against him hoping to have the upper hand of his enemies by means of the great number and force of his Army so that he issued out with a mighty power against Joram who supposing himself to be overmatched by the Syrian Army locked himself up within Samaria putting his trust and confidence in the fortification and strength of the walls thereof Ver. 24. Adad hoping to take the City if not by force at leastwise by famine Samaria besieged by the Syrians and default of things necessary drew near unto Samaria to besiege it But Joram was so destitute of convenient supplies that by reason of the incredible want of victuals an Asses head was sold in Samaria for 80 pieces of silver and a measure of Pigeons dung at five pieces of silver which they used instead of Salt neither G was there any thing that more troubled the King than that he feared lest some one constrained by famine should deliver or betray the City unto the enemy For which cause H he every day walked the round about the walls The year of the World 3050. before Christ's Nativity 914. and visited the Centinels of the City for fear lest any one should lie hidden within and with all care and diligence he gave order That if any one had such a sinister intent the means to execute the same should be taken from him And whereas a certain Woman cryed out unto him Have mercy upon me O King he incensed with wrath and supposing that she asked him some meat began to rail on her telling her That he had neither Grange nor Wine-press whereby he might any ways supply her necessity The Woman answer'd him Ver. 28. That she had no need thereof The famine so great in Samaria that Women eat their own children and that she was not troubled for want of food but onely desired that he would determine a debate betwixt her and another Woman whereupon he commanded her to express and declare what she required Hereupon I she said That she had made an agreement with another Woman her Neighbor and Friend that since the famine and scarcity was such as they could find no redress for the same that they should kill their children for each of them had one and in this sort should nourish one another As for my self said she I have first of all strangled mine and we have both of us yesterday eaten thereof but now she will not do the like but breaketh the accord betwixt us and concealeth her child Joram was grievously tormented to hear these words and rent his garments and cryed out with a loud voyce and afterwards wholly enraged against the Prophet he devised in his heart to put him to death because he prayed not unto God to grant him means to escape those evils that invironed them round about so that he sent a Man presently to cut off his head Ver. 31 32. who prepared himself with all expedition to K the slaughter Joram threaneth Elizeus's death But Elizeus was not ignorant of this resolution of the Kings for sitting at home with his Disciples in his house he told them That Joram the murtherers son sent a Man to take away his head Ver. 33. but said he when he that hath the matter in charge shall come hither suffer him not to enter but make him attend and stay at the gate for the King will follow him and will
as the Prophet had foretold him and God N visited him with a disease in his bowels Ver. 19 20. whereof he dyed miserably the People likewise handled his body ignominiously supposing that being cut off in that sort by Gods displeasure he was unworthy of a Royal Funeral for he was not buried in the Sepulchre of the Kings neither was any honor done unto him He lived 40 years and reigned eight they made Ochozias King CHAP. IV. The King of Damascus maketh War against the King of Israel JOram King of Israel 2 Kings 8. 25 ad finem hoping to recover Ramath in Galaad from the Assyrians after he had made great preparations for War Hedio Ruffinus cap. 6. led his Army against it In this siege he was hurt O by an Arrow shot by a certain Syrian and retir'd himself into the City of Jezrael untill he should recover of his wound Joram's expedition against â—amath leaving Jehu with his Army at Ramath who took the City intending to make War against the Syrians But Elizeus sent one of his disciples to Ramath gave him holy oyl The year of the World 3060. before Christ's Nativity 904. willed him to anoint Jehu and to say That God had chosen and anointed A him for King and after he had given him some other instructions he commanded him to depart as one that flieth making no man privy to it When this disciple of his came to the City he found Jehu in the midst of the Captains of War as Elizeus had told him and drawing near 2 Kings 9. 1. ad 6. he told him That he would communicate certain secrets unto him for which cause he arose and follow'd him Whereupon the young man taking out the oyl poured it on his head Jehu by Gods commandment anointed King saying That God had chosen him to exterminate the race of Achab and revenge the blood of the Prophets unjustly murthered by Jezabel and that both he and his house might be brought to nought in like sort as the sons of Jeroboam the son of Nebat and the children of Basa were extinguished for their impiety so that no one of the race of Achab might survive in the world As soon as he had spoken thus he issued out of the chamber that he might not B be discovered by any of the Army Ver. 11. Now when Jehu came out he returned to his place to his Captains who besought him to declare unto them wherefore the young man came unto him alledging that they supposed him to be out of his wits Truly said he you have divined well for he hath talked unto me after the manner of a mad man wherein he told them what he had said unto him namely how God had chosen him to be King over the people As soon as he had spoke Ver. 13. every one of them cast off their garments and spread them before him and sounding a Trumpet they proclaimed Jehu King who assembling his Army determined to conduct them toward the City of Jezrael against Joram who lay there to recover his wound which he had received at the siege of Ramath in Galaad as we have heretofore declared Thither also resorted in the way of friendship and consanguinity C Ochozias King of Jerusalem to visit Joram and to see how he was recovered of his wound for he was his nephew and son unto his sister as we have said before Jehu desirous to surprize Joram and his followers on the sudden gave command that none of the Soldiers should run before to give any intelligence of his repair unto Joram alledging that it should be a demonstration of their good will towards him whereas contrariwise they that did otherwise declared that they held him not for their King CHAP. V. Joram with all his Race is slain by Jehu Ochozias King of Jerusalem is likewise slain D THE Men of War were very joyful to execute this his command Ver. 17. ad 23. and guarded the ways that no Man might secretly steal into Jezrael and bare tydings of that which had hapned Mean-while Jehu attended by his choicest Horsemen and mounted in his Chariot marched towards Jezrael And when he drew near unto the City the Centinel that was appointed by Joram to discover those that repaired to the City perceived Jehu resorting thither with a multitude of attendants and told Joram that a Troop of Horsemen were at hand Whereupon a Scout was sent out to discover who they were who drawing near unto Jehu asked him what News there was in the Army telling him that the King was desirous to know the same Jehu willed him to take no care thereof but to folâ—ow after him The Centinel perceiving this certified Joram that the Messenger E whom he had sent went along with them that came and followed their General Whereupon the King sent out a Messenger the second time and Jehu commanded him to attend him as he did the first which the Câ—ntinel signified to Joram likewise who thereupon took his Chariot to meet them accompanied with Ochozias King of Jerusalem who as we have said was come to the City to see how the King was recovered of his hurt because he was allied unto him But Jehu marched on in good aray till Joram meeting him in the field of Naboth asked him how the Army did who instead of returning an answer reviled him bitterly and called him the son of a Poysoner and of an Harlot For which cause Joram fearing his turbulent spirit and suspecting he designed some Treason against him fled away as swiftly as his Chariot could be driven telling Ochozias F that they were both of them betrayed but Jehu flung a Dart at him and pierced him thorow the heart Ver. 24. Whereupon Joram instantly fell on his knees Jorams slaughter and dyed Hereupon Jehu commanded Badac to cast Jorams body into Naboths field remembring him of the Prophecy of Elias foretold to Achab Ver. 25 26. who murthered Naboth The truth of Elias Prophesie namely That he and his Race should dye in that field For sitting behind Achabs Chariot he heard these words pronounced by the Prophet in effect it so fell out as he had prophesied When Joram was fallen down Ochozias was afraid to be slain for which cause he turned his Chariot to take another way Ver. 27. hoping that Jehu would not discover him The death of Ochozias King of Jerusalem and his burial But he was overtaken in a steep way and was hurt with an Arrow whereupon he forsook his Chariot and being mounted on a swift Horse posted to Maggedo where after his wounds had been dressed G some few dayes he deceased and was carried to Jerusalem and buried there after he had reigned one year and surpassed his father in wickedness H CHAP. VI. Jehu reigneth over Israel and keepeth his Court in Samaria and after him his Progeny to the fourth generation
AT such time as Jehu arrived at Jezrael Jezabel being on the top of a Tower in her Princely Robes cried out O trusty Servant said she that hath slain his Master He looking upward asked her what she was commanding her to come down unto him at length he charged her Eunuchs to cast her down from the top of the Tower in her fall v. 10. 30 31. she besprinkled the walls with her blood and as soon as she came to ground I her body was trampled under the horses feet A famous example of Gods Judgement untill she died That done Jehu repaired to the Palace with his friends and reposed himself there commanding his servants that they should bury Jezabel in respect of the Royal Race from whence she was descended but they to whom the charge of the obsequies were committed found no part of her body but her hands and head for all the rest was devoured by dogs Jehu certified hereof wondred at the prophecy of Elias who had foretold that Jezabel should die in that sort in Jezrael Now Achabs seventy Sons being brought up in Samaria 2 King 10. 1 ad 7. Jehu sent two Letters the one unto the Masters of the infants the other to the Governours of the City giving them to understand that they should choose one of the most vertuous amongst Achabs children K to reign as King over them because they had a multitude of strong Chariots horses Armor men and strong Cities to the end that in so doing they might take revenge on those that slew their Lord and Master This did he under a colour to sound how the Samaritans were affected towards him When the Governors and Tutors had received these Letters they were afraid and made account that they could prevail nothing against him who had prevailed already against two mighty Kings For which cause they wrote back unto him acknowledging him for their Sovereign and offering themselves in all duty Achabs 70. children slain in Samaria to be under his subjection Whereupon Jehu sent back unto them again commanding them that to express their obedience they should send him the heads of Achabs children divided from their shoulders Which command of his they L failed not to execute but presently packed up the heads in panniers and sent them unto him to Jezrael As soon as they were brought thither tidings thereof were carried to Jehu as he sate at supper with his friends who commanded that they should be laid in two heaps at the City gates on either side thereof Which done he issued out as soon as it was day to see them and beholding them he began to tell those that accompanied him that he had voluntarily Armed himself against his Master and slew him but as touching those whom they saw there The rooting out of Acabs line he had no wayes layd hands on them His only intent was that all men should know that all that which hapned unto Achabs race was done by the ordinance of God and that his house was destroyed according as Elias had foretold v. 12. 13 14. And after he had slain and dispatched both these and all those that were M found to be of Acabs race amongst the Israelites The slaughter of Ochozias servants he went unto Samaria and meeting by the way with Ochozias houshold Servants who was King of Jerusalem he asked them whither they went Jonadab who answered him that they went to salute Joram and their King Ochozias for they knew not as yet that they were both of them slain Hereupon Jehu commanded his Servants to lay hands on them and put them to the sword notwithstanding they were forty two in number After them he met with a virtuous man called Ionadab who in times past had been his ancient friend who embracing him praised his forwardness in that he had performed all things according to the Will of God in abolishing Achabs house Jehu caused him to come up to him into his Chariot and accompany him to Samaria telling him that he should see that he would spare no wicked man N but would punish all the false Prophets and tellers of lyes and abusers of the people who had made them forsake the true service of God and adore strange gods because that which is most acceptable to a good man is to behold the punishment of the wicked Jonadab perswaded by these words mounted up into his Chariot and went with him to Samaria and after Jehu had sought out Achabs kindred he put them to death and intending that no one of his false Prophets and Priests should escape his hands he assembled them together by a subtil policy For gathering the people together he protested that he would have twice as many gods as Acab had willing that all the Priests that belonged unto them should present themselves for that he intended to celebrate most magnificent sacrifices to Acabs gods protesting that whatsoever Priest should be absent he should lose his O head Now this god whom Acab honored was called Baal Having in this sort assigned a day wherein he would offer sacrifice he sent thorow all the Countrey of Israel charging all Baals Priests to repair unto him and commanding that each of them should have their vestments given them The year of the World 3061. before Christ's Nativity 405. As soon as they were apparelled he resorted A to his lodging accompanied with his friend Jonadab and commanded that a search should be made amongst them to espie whether any one of a contrary quality or condition were mixed with them for that he intended that no stranger should be amongst the Priests v. 18 ad 28. When therefore he understood that none but the Priests were in that assembly even at such time as they began to offer sacrifice â—he slaughter of Baals Priests he caused them to be inclosed by fourscore Soldiers whom he esteemed to be most trustly commanding them to kill the false Prophets and to punish them according to the custom of their forefathers which had already too long been neglected dreadfully threatning all those who should any wayes omit to root out the name and memory of these wretches out of the world They therefore slew all those Priests and guarded the Kings Palace and in so doing cleared B Samaria of forrain gods This Baal was the god of the Tyrians for whom Achab built a Temple in Samaria v. 30. intending thereby to content Ithobaal the King of the Tyrians and Sidonians to whom he assigned Priests Baal god of the Tyrians and honoured him with all sorts of sacrifice After this Idol was exterminated Jehu suffered the Israelites to adore golden calves When this execution was performed in punishing the wicked The Kingdom promised to Jâ—hues posterity God to whom this action of his was acceptable told Jehu by his Prophet that his children should enjoy the Kingdom of Israel to the fourth generation This was Jehu's
G contribute both Gold and Silver towards the building of the Temple and to furnish them with Cattel for the Sacrifices After that Cyrus had certified the Israelites of this his intent the Princes of the two Tribes of Juda and Benjamin with all the Levites and H Priests departed thence and repaired to Jerusalem Nevertheless divers of the Jews remained in Babylon because they were loth to abandon those Possessions they had gotten Those unto whom Cyrus had directed his Letters afforded them their assistance and furnished them with all things necessary to build the Temple some of them with Gold V. 7. 8. others with Silver and the rest with a certain number of Oxen and Horses Thus payed they their Vows unto God The Vessels belonging to the Temple sent back from Babylon to Jerusalem and offered Sacrifices according to the antient custom as if they had but now first begun to build the City and this were the third time of practising those Ceremonies which our Fathers had observed Cyrus sent them back also those Vessels which were consecrated to God which King Nabuchodonosor had sent unto Babylon after he had spoiled the Temple and delivered them I to Mithridates his Treasurer commanding him to commit them to Abassars hands who should have the custody thereof until the Temple were built to the end that a such time as it should be compleat he might deliver them to the Priests and Princes of the people to be restored again to the service of the Temple He sent Letters also to the Governors of Syria to this effect V. 9. 10. Cyrus the King to Sisine and Sarabasme health I have permitted those Jews that inhabit my Countrey Cyrus's Mandate to the Princes of Syria to return into their native Countrey and to reedify their City and erect the Temple of God in Jerusalem in the same place where it stood before I have also sent my Treasurer Mithridates and Zerobabel the Prince of the Jews with express charge and authority to lay the foundation of the same and to build it sixty Cubit sin heighth and as many in breadth making three Isles of hewen stone and another of such Timber as the K Countrey affordeth the Altar likewise whereupon they may offer Sacrifice unto God And my pleasure is that the charge of all these things be defrayed out of my Coffers I have also sent back those Vessels which Nabuchodonosor took out of the Temple and have delivered them to the Treasurer Mithridates and to Zerobabel the Prince of the Jews to be conveighed to Jerusâ—lem and restored to the Temple of God the number whereof I have hereunder subscribed Fifty Lavers of Gold and four hundred of Silver Fifty pots of Gold and four hundred of Silver Fifty golden Sieves and five hundred of Silver Thirty Ewers of Gold and three hundred of Silver Thirty great Viols of Gold and two thousand four hundred of Silver and besides all these One thousand other great Vessels We grant also unto the Jews the same Revenues which their Predecessors have enjoyed and we do allow them 205200 Darchmes for the purchasing L of Cattel C. 2. v. 1 2. aâ— finem Wine and Oil and we give them 2500 measures of Wheat to make fine Flower which we appoint to be taken out of the Countrey of Samaria and the Priests shall offer up these Sacrifices in Jerusalem The number of the Iews that returned from the captivity of Babylon to Jerusalem according to the ordinance of Moses and during their Sacrifice they shall make Prayers unto God for the preservation of the King and his House to the end that the Empire of the Persians may be still permanent And my Will is that they that disobey and oppose these Commands shall be hanged on a Gibbet and that their Goods shall be confiscate These were the Contents of his Letters Now the number of those that returned from the captivity into Jerusalem was Forty two thousand four hundred sixty two M CHAP. II. The Jews begin to build the Temple at Jerusalem but after the death of Cyrus the Samaritans and other neighbouring Nations writ to King Cambyses his Son to cause him to put a stop to the Work WHilest according to the King's Order Hedio Ruffinus chap. 2. the Jews laid the foundation of the Temple and were very busy about the building thereof Esd 4. 2. ad 11. the Nations that bordered upon them and especially the Chutheans whom Salmanazar King of Assyria sent from Persia and Media The Samaritans inhibit the Iews from building the Temple to inhabit in Samaria at such time as he carried away the N people of the ten Tribes incited the Princes and Governors to hinder the Jews from repairing their City and re-edifying the Temple These Men corrupted with Silver sold their negligence and delay to the Chutheans Alias C. 3. v. 11. ad 17. which they used in those Buildings For Cyrus intending his other Wars was ignorant hereof and having conducted his Army against the Massagetes The Letters of the Samaritans and others written to Cambyses as touching the re-edifying of the City and Temple of â—â—rusalem he ended his days in that expedition When as therefore Combyses his Son had obtained the Kingdom they of Syria and Phoenicia the Ammonites Moabites and Samaritans wrote their Letters to Cambyses in these terms O King thy Servants Rathymus the Chancelor Semelius the Scribe and those Men that are Counsellors in Syria and Phoenicia have thought themselves obliged to advertise thee that those Jews that were led Captive into Babilon are returned back into this Countrey and are O about building their City which was destroyed by reason of their rebellion and that they do repair the Walls of the same and re-edify their Temple likewise Know therefore that if these things be permitted to be finished that they will no more endure to be thy Subjects and Tributaries The year of the World 3435. before Christ's Nativity 529. but will oppose themselves against their Kings holding it more fit to command A than to obey We have therefore thought good before the Work be too far advanced to give your Majesty notice that you may search the Records of your forefathers wherein you shall always find that the Jews have been Rebels and enemies to their Kings and that the City hath been for this cause laid desolate unto this present We have thought good to signify thus much to your Majesty which perhaps is unknown unto you because that if this City be once more re-inhabited and inclosed with a Wall they will thereby obstruct your passage into Coelosyria and Phoenicia CHAP. III. B Cambyses forbiddeth the Jews to proceed in re-building the Temple WHen Cambyses had read this Letter being by nature V. 17. ad 22. wicked and malicious he grew jealous and displeased at the Contents thereof Cambyses answer wherein he inhibiteth the Iews
against Mardocheus Haman having all his treacheries and crulty discovered in the banquet is adjudged to the gallows and thereupon presently commanded that he should be hanged upon the same gibbet until he were dead And here we cannot but admire the Providence of God in considering his wisdom and justice in that he not only punished the wickedness of Haman as he had deserved but also caused him to fall into the same snare which he had prepared for another maâ— Thus died I Haman who had unjustly abused the Kings friendship as for his goods they were given unto the Queen After this the King called Mardochus unto him for already he had notice that he was his Wifes Uncle and gave him the ring which he had given unto Haman Hesther 8 1 2. the Queen likewise gave him his goods Hamans goods bestowed on Mardocheus and intreated the King to deliver her from those apprehensions into which she had been cast by those Letters which were sent out by that wicked man Haman in his Majesties name to the Governours of the several Provinces with instruction to Massacre the Jews extirpate and their whole Nation assuring him that she could not live to behold the death of her brethren and the total ruine of her Countrey The King made no difficulty in granting her request assuring her that K he would not contradict her will permitting her to write in the Kings name all that she would have done in the behalf of the Jews promising that when she had done the same he would Seal it with his own Seal and give her authority to send it thorow all his Provinces to the end that they that read those Letters confirmed by the Kings Seal should not any wayes oppose the execution of them Whereupon he sent for his Secretaries of State commanding them to write unto the Magistrates of all the Nations touching the Jews and to the Princes and Governors of one hundred twenty and seven Provinces from India as far as Ethiopia The Contents of which Letters were these L Artaxerxes the great King to the Governours and those that faithfully rule under us Health Many men being puffed up withpride av 5 ad finem by reason of the many benefits and honors The Kings Letters for the security of the Jews which they receive throgh the liberality of their benefactors do not only excercise their pride towards their inferiours but also are not afraid to wax insolent against those who are the authors of their benefits extinguishing as much as in them lieth all manner of gratitude amongst men and believing that it is in their power to deceive God himself and rob him of his Justice so that when the favor of their Princes hath given them power and authority in the Government of their affairs in stead of applying themselves to the benefit of the publick they have given M place to the hatred they have conceived against some particular men and deceived their Princes by false accusations and detractions and provoked their wrath against those who have not done amiss whence it cometh to pass that they have been sometimes in extream danger to lose their life The proof whereof appeareth not only in ancient Histories the knowledg whereof we have only obtained by hear-say but by that likewise which hath been audaciously attempted before our eyes so that hereafter we ought not to give credit to detractions and accusations nor to such things as men inforce themselves to perswade but it behoveth every man to judge according to the truth of that he knoweth and to punish those which are guilty and to pardon the innocent in considering their acts and not the words that are spoken For it is most notorious unto all men that Haman the Son of Amaeath an Amalechite by Nation and by that N means a stranger and not of the Persian blood but entertained by us hath in all things enjoyed the fruit of our bounty hitherto so that he hath been called our father honoured by all men and obtained amongst all men and in all things the second place after us yet could he not make a moderate use of his happiness nor prudently entertain the greatness of his felicity but hath sought means to deprive Mardocheus of his life who preserved mine seeking by his fraud and malice to practise the ruine of Esther the companion of our life and Kingdome and by this means striving to dispossess me of my most faithfull friends he determined to transfer the Kingdom unto others Touching my self in that I know that the Jews who are by this wretch destinated to die are no wicked men but such as live vnder a strict and holy disipline praying God continually that it would please him to continue the Kingdom O in us and our Successors I absolve them not only from that penalty contained in my former Letters sent by Haman which by these presents I utterly disanul but my pleasure likewise is that they be had in all honour As for him that practised these things against them I have caused him and all his race to be hanged before the gates of Susan according to the just A Judgement of God inflicted on them for their offences My will and pleasure therefore is That the Copy of this Letter be sent through all Countreys belonging to us to the intent that the Jews be suffered to live according to their own Laws in peace and that assistance may be given them to the end they may revenge themselves of those who have offered them outrage in their adversity And I command that this be done the thirteenth day of the twelfth month called Adar which is the day that God ordained for their preservation when they were appointed to be slain which day I wish may be fortunate to those that love us and a monument of revenge on those that intended our ruine My pleasure likewise is that all men Cities and Nations should know that whosoever shall neglect through obstinacy to fulfil the tenor of this my Mandate he shall be pursued with fire and sword and let these Coppies be set up B throughout all our Dominions and let each man of the Jews upon the prefixed day prepare himself to be revenged on his enemies As soon as the Posts had received these Letters they presently mounted on horsback and rode each of them his appointed way The Jews reveng them on their enemies and Mardocheus being cloathed in a Royal habit and adorned with a crown of Gold on his head and a chain of Gold about his neck came forth and the Jews of Susan seeing him thus honoured by the King supposed that his good success was an assurance of their own and when the Kings Letters were published The Jews lookt upon them as a favourable ray of light which portended their deliverance and their enemies were in so great fear that divers of other C Nations circumcised themselves supposing in that
assistance levy the tribute from those Cities who were negligent in their payments and after he had borrowed five hundred talents of the Kings friends in Alexandria he departed into Syria As soon as he came to Ascalon he demanded the payment of the tribute at the Citizens hands which they not only refused but moreover upbraided him with injurious words Whereupon laying hold on about twenty of the principal among them he put them to death and having gathered their substances together he sent the King some thousand talents certifying him of that which he had done Ptolomy admiring L at his wisdom The Ascalonites and Scythopolitanes punished for their conâ—mpt and approving what he had done permitted him to dispose of all things at his pleasure The Syrians when they heard this began to fear the like severity and perceiving that the Ascalonites were slain by Joseph they opened their gates and received him willingly and payed him their tributes Whereas also the Scythopolitanes contumaciously refused to lay down according to order their accustomed tributes he slew the chiefest amongst them and sent the confiscation of their goods unto the King When therefore he had gathered much silver and made great gains of the farming of the tributes to the intent he might establish and make his power of longer continuance he liberally employed his gains considering with himself that it was a part of wisdom to secure his good fortune by those riches which he himself had gotten For he sent M many presents both to the King and Queen and gave liberally to their friends and favorites and to all those which had any authority or credit in the Court that he might win and bind them unto him by his benevolence And in this felicity continued he twenty two years during which time he was the father of seven children by one wife and of another called Hircanus by another Wife who was the Daughter of his Brother Solymius whom he married upon this occasion Going once to Alexandria in the company of his brother who carried with him his daughter already marriageable Josephs wealth and children intending to bestow her upon some Jew of good quality whilest he sate at meat with the King a fair Damsel coming into the room danced so well that she gained the heart of Joseph whereupon he told his brother of it praying N him since by the laws of their Countrey it was forbidden to a Jew to marry a stranger that he would hide his fault and be an assistant unto him that he might procure her for his Mistriss His brother promised him his assistance and in the mean time he dress'd up his own daughter and brought her by night unto his bed whereupon he lay with her not knowing who she was because he had drunk over much and had her company His love still increased and not knowing how to conquer his passion he told his brother that he feared the King would not bestow this Damsel on him His brother told him that he need not trouble himself promising that he should enjoy her whom he loved and that allready she was his wife letting him know the whole contrivance and how he had rather wrong his own daughter than to suffer his brother to fall into dishonor O After that Joseph had commended the kind and natural affection of his brother towards him Hericanâ—â— off-spring and towardness he took his daughter to Wife who bare him a Son called Hircanus as it hath been said Who being thirteen years old gave testimony of that natural spirit and dexerity that was in him The year of the World 3750. before Christ's Nativity 944. by reason whereof his brethren conceived an hatred against him A and the rather because he excelled them in all things and thereby instead of gaining their love he raised their jealousy and hatred Whereas Joseph was desirous to know which of his children had the ripest Judgement and understanding he sent them one after another to those masters who were most renowned for Science in that time but all of them returned back unto him rude and illiterate because they were negligent and idle Whereupon he sent Hircanus the youngest of them into a desart place distant from the high way some seven dayes journey and gave him with him three hundred couple of Oxen to sow the ground in that barren place concealing from him the yokes that should couple them together B When therefore he came unto the place and perceived that the yokes were missing he asked advice of some of the husbandmen who counselled him to send some one back unto his Father to fetch the couples But he supposing he ought not to lose so much time as would be spent in sending back a messenger he made use of a contrivance which seemed much beyond his years For he caused ten couple of the oxen to be slain and distributed the flesh amongst his workmen and made them cut the Skins and fashion couples thereof and having yoked his Oxen he caused the land to be manured according to his Fathers direction and afterwards returned home unto him Whereupon he loved him the more intirely by reason of his wisdom and the subtlety of his understanding and esteemed him as if he had no other child but him alone but this increased the malice and envy of his brothers C When news was brought unto Joseph Joseph sendeth his Son Hircanus to Ptolomey that about that time King Ptolomey was blessed with a young Son and how all the chiefest Lords of Syria and the Countries under his obeysance repaired to Alexandria in great pomp to celebrate the birth-day of the Kings Son he being of himself unable by reason of his age to go thither he asked his Children whether any one of them would go and compliement the King When therefore the eldest Sons had excused themselves and refused to undertake the journey pretending they were unfit to performe the message and understood not the manner of living at Court all of them advising that their brother Hircanus might be sent Joseph was well pleased thereat and calling for Hircanus asked him if he would go to King Ptolomy he promised to undertake the journey and told his Father he needed no great sum of D money to perform it because he should travel frugally and content himself for the whole expence with ten thousand drachms Joseph was very glad to hear of his Sons prudence and after Hircanus had kept silence for a while he advised his Father that he should not present the King with any thing out of Judea but that he should write unto his factor in Alexandria commanding him to deliver such summes of money as he thought convenient to buy that which he found to be most magnificent and of best esteem in the City Joseph imagining that perhaps he would imploy about ten talents in presents and approving of his Sons Counsel wrote unto his factor Arion who had the use
presently from thence to the other side of Jordan Josephs death where he past his life in receiving and gathering the tributes of the Barbarians Onias and after him Simon his Son High Priest In that time Seleucus sirnamed Soter the Son of Antiochus the great reigned in Asia At that time also died Joseph Hircanus Father who was a man of good repute and great courage who established the people of the Jews in a lasting Peace Hedio Ruffinus chaâ— â— and freed them from poverty and many disasters and collected the Tributs of Syria Phoenica and Samaria for the space of twenty two years His Uncle Onias died also about the same time leaving the Priest-hood to his Son Simon after G whose death his Son Onias was made High Priest to whom Arius King of Lacedemon sent an Embassage and letters the copy whereof heareafter ensueth CHAP. V The year of the World 3780. before Christ's Nativity 144. H Arius King of Lacedemon writes to Onias the High Priest to contract an Alliance with the Jews pretending that the Lacedemonians were descended from Abraham Hircanus builds a magnificent Paliace and kills himself for fear of falling into the hands of Antiocus Arius King of Lacedemon The Letter of the King of Lacedemon to the High Priest of the Jews to Onias Health WE have found out a certain writing wherein it is recorded that the Jews and Lacedemonians are of the same race 1 Mac. 12. and both of them desended from Abraham It is I therefore requisite that since we are brethren you let us know wherein we can serve you that we may have one common interest Demoteles our messenger bringeth you our letters written on a square leafe the seal whereof is an Eagle holding a Dragon in her talons Sedition among the people after Joseph's death These were the contents of the Lacedemonians letters After the death of Joseph it came to pass that the people began to mutinie in the quarrel of his Children For the elder brethren made War against Hircanus who was the younger by means whereof the People were divided The greater part of them followed the Elder faction Hircanus afflicteth the Arabians with continual war and the High Priest Simon also by reason of his affinity with them followed their party Whereupon Hircanus resolved to repair no more unto K Jerusalem but fixing his habitation on the other side of Jordan he made continual War against the Arabians Hircanus buildeth a strong Tower slaying a great number of them and taking many prisoners He built an huge Tower of white Marble from the bottome to the top and on it he placed the figures of many living Creatures in sculpture of greatheight About the same he cut a deep trench of water and having hewed the front of the Rock that stood over against the bulding he made divers caves therein many furlongs long He also made divers chambers therein Antiochus Epiphanes King of Syria both to eat and sleep and dwell in He drew thither likewise currents of springing water in so great abundance that it gave much delight to those that dwelt there The Sons of Ptolomey Epiâ—hance philometor and Physcon and great ornament to the whole bulding The mouth of every Cave was so little that but one only man could enter at once which he therefore L made so narrow because they might the better serve for his security and refuge that if so be he were at any time assaulted by his bretheren Hircanus killeth himself he might avoyd the danger of surprisal Moreover he built within his Castle many large halls which he adorned with great and goodly Gardens Hedio Ruffinus chap. 6. and this place thus built was called by him Tyre and is scituate between Arabia and Judaea 1 Mac. 1. on the other side of Jordan not far from the Countrey of Essedon He commanded in this Countrey seven years all that time that Seleucus reigned in Syria After whose death his brother Antiochus sirnamed Epiphanes obtained the Kingdom Ptolomey also King of Egypt who was likewise called Epiphanes died and left two children very young behind him of whom the eldest was called Philometer and the younger Phiscon But when Hircanus perceived that Antiochus grew very powerful M he feared to be punished by him for his incursions made upon the Arabians whereupon he slew himself with his own hands and Antiochus enjoyed all his goods N O H CHAP. VI. The year of the World 3790. before Christ's Nativity 174. Onias sirnamed Menelaus seeing himself excluded from the High-Priesthood retires to Antiochus and renounceth the Religion of his forefathers Antiochus enters Egypt and being ready to make himself Master of it the Romans force him to retire ONias the High-Priest being dead about this time Antiochus gave the Priesthood to Jesus sirnamed Jason his brother For that son unto whom Onias had left the succession Onias sirnam'd Menelaus substituted in his place was as yet very young of whom we will speak in convenient time and I place This Jesus Onias brother was deprived of the Priesthood through the Kings displeasure conceived against him who gave it shortly after to his younger brother called Onias The Wars betwixt Jason and Menelaus For Simon had three sons who as we have declared successively possessed the Priesthood this Jesus caused himself to be called Jason as his other brother caused himself to be called Menelaus Apostates from the Jewish Religion whereas his name was Onias But Jesus who had first of all been established in the place of the High-Priest arose against Menelaus who was elected into the place after him So that the People were divided into Factions and Tobias sons were on Menelaus side but the greater number of the People followed Jason so that Menelaus and the sons of Tobias being much troubled by them retired to Antiochus telling him that they intended to forsake the Religion and Ordinances of their fathers K and to follow that of the King and to live after the manner of the Greeks exhorting him to give them licence to erect a place of Exercises in Jerusalem Which when Antiochus had granted them they so behaved themselves that there appeared no more sign of Circumcision in them so that at such time as they were naked there was no difference between them and the Greeks and neglecting all the ordinances and customs of their own Countrey they conformed themselves to the behaviour and manners of other Nations Antiochus having all things in his kingdom according to his hearts desire resolved to make War upon Egypt he contemned Ptolomy's son age who were not as yet capable to manage their affairs Arriving there near to Pelusium with a great power he circumvented by a stratagem the young Ptolomy Philometor and subdued Egypt for after L he had besieged Memphis Antiochus enforced to depart out of Egypt and taken it
made great complaints unto him and demanded justice at his hand because the Temple of Dagon was burnt and destroyed accusing Jonathan for the firing thereof and the slaughter of many People therein K But Ptolomey hearing these accusations answered not a word But when Jonathan came to meet him at Joppa Jonathan meeteth with Ptolomey and is honourably entertained by him he courted him with Royal Presents and all the Honour that was possible and after he had conducted him as far as the River called Eleutherus he dismissed him and sent him back to Jerusalem When Ptolomey was come to Ptolomais he hardly escaped death and that contrary to all expectation by the contrivance of Alexander Treason intended against Ptolomey and discovered for which cause he taketh away his daughter from Alexander and giveth her to Demetrius for his wife and his friend Ammonius which Treachery being discover'd Ptolomey wrote unto Alexander requiring him That Ammonius might be punished for his Treason and Conspiracies practised against him according to the heinousness of the offence But seeing that Alexander deliver'd him not up into his hands he conjectured and concluded that he himself was the Author thereof and conceived a great displeasure against this perfidious L Prince who had heretofore very much disobliged the Inhabitants of Antioch by protecting this same Ammonius from whom they had received a great deal of mischief but in the end Ammonius was punisht for these his outrages and disgracefully slain like a woman whil'st in a womans attire he sought to hide himself as we have related in another place At that time Ptolomey began to repent of bestowing his daughter in marriage on Alexander and for refusing Demetrius to be his friend and confederate so that he broke off the affinity that he had with him and after he had withdrawn his daughter from him he presently sent Ambassadors unto Demetrius to confirm a league of peace and amity with him promising him to bestow his daughter upon him in marriage and to establish M him in his fathers kingdom Demetrius very joyful to hear of this Embassage accepted both of the league and the marriage There only remained one difficulty for Ptolomey to surmount which was how he might persuade the Antiochians to admit Demetrius against whom they were so much incensed for the indignities which his father Demetrius had offered them but this difficulty he overcame by this means The Antiochians hated Alexander because of Ammonius as we have related before and by that means were the more easily drawn to drive him out of the City He perceiving himself to be thrust out of Antioch came into Cilicia Whereupon Ptolomey came unto Antioch and was both by the Citizens and Soldiers therein proclaimed King and was constrained to take two Diadems the one as King of Asia the other as King of Egypt But he being a man naturally N very just prudent moderate and not at all ambitious and unwilling to displease the Romans Ptolomey persuaded the Antiochians to accept Demetrius for their King and refused the Diadem of Asia he call'd together the Inhabitants of Antioch and prevailed so far with them that at last he persuaded them to accept of Demetrius for their King assuring them That if he should receive that kindness at their hands he would no more keep in memory those things that had fallen out betwixt them and his fathe protesting for his own part that he would instruct him both how to order the course of his life honestly and to manage his publick affairs with justice and promising them that if he attempted to do any thing that should be unworthy of a good Prince he himself would be the most ready to chastise him for his own part he would content himself to be King of Egypt And by this means the Antiochians were induced to receive Demetrius O But when Alexander was departed out of Cilicia with a great Army and was come into Syria and had burnt and spoiled the Countrey of Antioch Ptolomey accompanied with his son Demetrius The year of the World 3814. before Christ's Nativity 146. for he had already married his daughter unto him came forth A with their Armies and obtained a complete victory by overcoming Alexander who was constrained to flie into Arabia It came to pass in that battel that Ptolomies Horse hearing the noise of an Elephant was troubled and stumbled in such a manner that he threw his Master on the ground Alexander being overcome flâ—eth into Arabia and is slain in that place which when his Enemies perceiv'd they ran all together upon him and gave him divers wounds in the head whereby he was in danger to have been slain unless his Guard had rescu'd him notwithstanding he was so dangerously wounded that for four days he remained without any sense on the fifth day when he began to come to himself Zabel the Prince of Arabia who had beheaded Alexander sent his head unto Ptolomey Ptolomey's death wherewith he was well-pleased but this joy lasted not long for some few days after he died himself This Alexander sirnamed Balles reigned for the space B of five years as we have elsewhere related Demetrius sirnamed Nicanor having obtained the kingdom quickly discover'd his ill nature and treated Ptolomies Army very unworthily forgetting both the confederacy and affinity that he had contracted with him by Cleopatra his wife who was Ptolomey's daughter But the Men of War hating his ingratitude fled into Alexandria for their own security notwithstanding they left the Elephants in his power and possession But the High-Priest Jonathan having assembled an Army of all the Countrey of Judea Jonathan appeaseth Demetrius by Presents began to besiege the Castle of Jerusalem where there was a Garison of the Macedonians and a great number of wicked Apostates that were fallen from the Jewish Religion who in the beginning slighted the Engines that Jonathan had raised to take that C place in the strength whereof they reposed too much confidence But in the end some of them breaking out by night came unto Demetrius and told him of the siege at which he was displeased and taking a strong Army with him he departed from Antioch to make War upon Jonathan When he came to Ptolomais he wrote to Jonathan and commanded him to come unto him notwithstanding Jonathan gave not over the siege but took the Elders and Priests with him with gold and silver robes and a great quantity of Presents intended for Demetrius and when he had deliver'd them to him he appeased his wrath and after he had received many honours at his hands he obtained the confirmation of his Priesthood in as ample manner as he enjoyed it during the time of his Predecessors and although the wicked Jews accused him yet did not D Demetrius give any credit to them Moreover Jonathan requiring that for the whole Countrey of Jewry and for the three governments of Samaria Joppa and
lest he should revenge himself on those who had abused his servants and it was thought fit that both his Wife and Children should be committed to the Castle that adjoined to the Temple But from all parts round about there resorted Soldiers to Aristobulus so that he was attended K like a King for in the space of some 15 dayes he took 22 Forts whither he made his retreats and assembled an Army of Soldiers and levied them amongst the Lords that inhabited Libanus and Trachonitis For the multitude had alwayes resort 〈◊〉 the stronger side supposing that if they submit thereunto willingly and maintain and authorize the same that they shall draw some profit thereby as being those that were the occasion of the confirmation of his Monarchy Hereupon the ancient Jews and Hircanus repaired unto the Queen Hircanus and the Elders inform the Queen and accuse Aristobulus humbly intreating her to take some mature counsel and good advice concerning the present affairs because that Aristobulus her son was already very near Lord of the whole Countrey since he had so many Forts under his command Besides that it was inconvenient and undecent for them to consult L without her express order Alexandra's death notwithstanding she were grievously sick but that the present danger compelled them The Queen desired them to do that which they thought should be most profitable for the Commonweal telling them That they had many means for that their Nation was mighty great and strong and had great store both of money and riches in the common Treasury shewing them that because she knew that she had not long to live she had no more reason to take care of those affairs Having spoken thus she died after she had reigned nine years and lived in all 73. This Woman was endued with greater excellency than could be expected from one of her sex and expressed both in her actions and ordinances how fit she was to govern a kingdom and how unworthy some Princes are of the dignities they have amongst men For making more account of the present than future occurrences M and neglecting all other things in respect of those which are requisite in a moderate Government she never upon any instigation whatsoever perverted justice notwithstanding her family fell into such inconveniencies that the same sovereignty which she had obtained by divers dangers and labours was not long after that ruinated and lost for her scare effeminate desires For she gave ear unto those who were ill-affected towards her posterity Alexandra's Family incur much trouble and left the Kingdom destitute of such as were fit to govern so that the Government which she enjoyed during her life-time was after her death distracted with infinite troubles and calamities wherewith her family was involved And notwithstanding her Government after this manner yet during her life-time she kept the kingdom N in peace And thus died Alexandra O A The Fourteenth Book of the Antiquities of the JEWS The year 〈…〉 World 3899. before Christ's Nativity 65. Written by FLAVIVS JOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the Fourteenth Book 1. How after the death of Alexandra her youngest son Aristobulus made War against his brother Hircanus for the Kingdom who obtaining the victory compelled Hircanus B to flie into a Castle in Jerusalem And how after it was concluded between them that Aristobulus should be King and Hircanus live as a private man without dignity 2. Of the race of Antipater and how he purchased renown great power and authority both to himself and his children and the flight of Hircanus to Aretas King of Arabia 3. Aristobulus being vanquished is pursued as far as Jerusalem 4. Hircanus and Aristobulus send Ambassadors to Scaurus to request his aid and succor 5. Aristobulus and Hircanus present themselves before Pompey to debate their Titles touching the Kingdom 6. Pompey is seized of the Fortresses by a warlike stratagem 7. They of Jerusalem shut their gates against the Romans C 8. Pompey taketh the Temple and lower part of the City by force 9. Scaurus maketh War against Aretas and by the persuasion and sollicitation of Antipater maketh a league with him 10. Alexander being overcome by Gabinius retireth himself into a Castle where he is shut up and besieged 11. Aristobulus escaping out of Prison flieth from Rome who being taken again in Judea by Gabinius is sent back Prisoner to Rome 12. Crassus warring against the Parthians passeth thorow Jewry and spoileth the Treasury of the Temple 13. Pompey retireth into Epirus and Scipio cometh into Syria D 14. Caesar's voyage into Egypt wherein the Jews do him faithful service 15. Antipater's valiant acts and the amity betwixt him and Caesar 16. Caesar's Letters and the Senates decree as touching the friendship betwixt the Jews and Romans 17. Antipater committeth the government of Galilee to his son Herod and that of Jerusalem to Phasaelus his other son and how Sextus Caesar advanced Herod to great honour and dignity 18. Cassius afflicteth Jewry and exacteth 800 Talents 19. Malichus poysoneth Antipater 20. Herod putteth Malichus to death by Cassius's commandment E 21. Antigonus the son of Aristobulus seeking to recover his fathers Kingdom by the aid of the King of Tyre is discomfited and driven out of Judea by Herod 22. Herod meeting Antonius in Bithinia winneth his favor with a great sum of money to the intent he should give no ear to his accusers 23. Antonius arriving in Syria establisheth Herod and Phasaelus for Tetrarchs 24. The Parthians make War in Syria to restore Antigonus to the Kingdom 25. The Parthians take Hircanus and Phasaelus Prisoners and lead them away 26. Herod at Rome is declared King of Jewry by the Senate 27. Herod returneth from Rome and fighteth against Antigonus F 28. Antigonus is discomfited by Sosius and Herod CHAP. I. After the death of Queen Alexandra Hircanus and Aristobulus her two sons come to battel Aristobulus gets the victory and afterwards in a Treaty Aristobulus though youngest is to have the Crown and Hircanus is contented to live privately WE have already Treated in our former Book both of the Acts and Death of Queen Alexandra it now remaineth at this present to prosecute and continue the sequel of our History to the end that we G neither omit any thing through ignorance The office and duty of an Historiographer nor bury it in forgetfulness For they that make profession to write Histories and to recite such things as are observed by Antiquity ought not only studiously to conform their stile but also to beautifie the same with ornaments of eloquence that the Reader may peruse their H Writings with the more delectation But above all things they must have an especial care to set down the Truth exactly that they who know not how these things came to pass may be the more duly and fitly informed When as therefore Hircanus had taken upon him the High-Priesthood in
of some continuance This man therefore being surprized and brought into the Camp of the Jews they required him that as by his prayers he had obtained water so at that time likewise he would by his imprecations incense God against Aristobulus and his adherents But whereas he refused and excused himself he was at last constrained by the people to perform their request so that standing L up in the midst of them he spake after this manner O God King of the whole world since they who are at this present here with me are thy people and those that are besieged are thy Priests I humbly beseech thee that when they shall require thee to be incensed against their brethren thou wilt not hear them and when as likewise they shall provoke thee against the other Onias contradicting the Jews petition is stoned to death thou wilt not respect them Hereupon a certain sort of reprobate Soldiers amongst the Jews hearing these words of his stoneth him to death But God immediately punished this cruelty in them and the murther of Onias so cursedly perpetrated was revenged by this means which ensueth Aristobulus and the Priests being besieged the feast of Eastâ—r or the Passeover fell out during which time it was an usual custom among the Jews to honour God with many sacrifices M Now they who were with Aristobulite not having any beasts to offer up in sacrifice they requested the other Jews that were without That they might have some delivered unto them for their money Whereunto it was answered That if they would give one thousand drachnis for every head they should have some delivered into them To this demand of theirs Aristobulus and the Priests that were with him willingly condescended and let down the prefixed price and deliver'd the same from the wall but the others after they had received the money deliver'd them not those beasts which they desired them to sell them to sacrifice but they were so impious that they falsified their oaths not only toward men Breach of faith and the revenge thereof but defrauded God also in denying that which they had promised toward the furnishing of their sacrifice For which cause the Priests being defrauded in this N manner contrary to the oath and protestations of their adversaries besought God to shew vengeance on their Countreymen that had committed this heinous and perjurious impiety neither did God defer their punishment but immediately after he sent a great and violent Wind that spoiled all the fruits of the Countrey so that a measure of Wheat was sold for eleven drachms O CHAP. IV. A Scaurus being sent by Pompey into Syria Aristobulus gained his friendship He forced King Aretas to raise the siege of Jerusalem Aristobulus gaineth a Battel against Aretas and Hircanus MEanwhile Pompey sent Scaurus into Syria himself being in person detained in Armenia Hedio Ruffinus chap. 4. in pursuit of the War betwixt him and Tigranes When Scaurus came unto Damascus Hircanus and Aristobulus send Ambassadors unto Scaurus he found that Metellus and Lollius had newly taken the City for which B cause he marched on towards Jewry where being arrived certain Ambassadors came unto him in the behalf of Aristobulus and others also in the name of Hircanus requiring alliance and confederacy in the behalf of them both and offering from each of them a Tribute of 400 Talents But Scaurus preferred Aristobulus's promises because he was the ablest Scaurus is presented and of the noblest spirit and withall more moderate in his demand whereas Hircanus was poor and covetous notwithstanding he demanded greater things than his brother did for it was a harder matter to subdue a City that was so strong than to beat a company of runnagate Nabatheans and scarcely well animated to prosecute that War Aristobulus maketh War against Aretas and Hircanus For these causes therefore he receiving his money raised the siege commanding Aretas to return which if he refused he declared him an Enemy to Rome This done Scaurus returned to Damascus and Aristobulus led forth his Army against Aretas and C Hircanus and fighting with them in a place called Papyron he obtained the victory and killed about some 7000 of his Enemies amongst the number of which was â—ephalius Antipater's brother CHAP. V. Pompey cometh into the lower Syria Aristobulus sends him a rich Present Antipater repaireth to him in Hircanus's behalf Both the brothers case was stated to Pompey who defers the decision of it till he reduce the Nabatheans Aristobulus without expecting till then retired into Judea D NOt long after this Pompey cometh into Syria and Aristobulus sendeth a Royal Present unto him Pompey came unto Damascus and as he travelled through Coelosyria divers Ambassadors resorted unto him from all parts of Syria Egypt and Judea For Aristobulus sent him a Present of great value namely a golden Vine of 500 Talents price Hereof Strabo the Cappadocian maketh mention in these words There came an Ambassador out of Egypt bearing a Crown of 4000 pieces of gold and another from Jewry with a Vine or Garden and the workmanship was called Terpole that is to say Recreation I have seen this Vine at Rome in the Temple of Jupiter Capitoline having the inscription of Alexander King of the Jews Antipater for Hircanus and Nicodemus for Aristobulus come as Ambassadors to Pompey and it was esteemed and valued at 500 Talents It is said that Aristobulus Prince of the Jews sent the same E Straight after this there came other fresh Ambassadors to Pompey Antipater from Hircanus and Nicodemus from Aristobulus who accused those that had taken money namely Gabimus for that he first of all had received 300 Talents besides other Presents and secondly Scaurus Hedio Ruffinus cap. 5. who had received 400 alledging that by that means they had incensed them against him A Castle destroyed in Apamea He therefore gave direction that they should repair unto him about the Spring each of them to justifie and maintain their several Rights as for himself he drew his Forces from their wintering places and marched towards Damascus destroying in his way a certain Fortress which Antiochus the Cyzicenian had fortified in Apamaea He visited also the Countrey of Ptolomey Mennaeus who was a wicked and perverse man Ptolomey Mennaeus fined at a great sum of money and no wayes differed from Dionysius Tripolitane who was punished F with the loss of his head and was united also with him in friendship and affinity yet acquitted of the death he deserved by the means of a 1000 Talents Ransom which Ptolomey distributed among his Soldiers for their pay He demolished likewise the Castle of Lysias wherein a Jew called Sylas tyrannized and passing by the Cities of Heliopolis and Chalcis and having likewise ascended the mountain which is between them he came to Coelosyria and from Pella repaired to Damascus In which place he gave audience to
in the Countrey of Galilee and for this cause was greatly beloved by Cassius for he being prudent and discreet thought it no small policy at that time to win the Romans good will on other mens expences Under the other Governors the Cities were set to sale together with their Inhabitants and amongst them these four were the chiefest namely Gophna Emaus Lydda and Thamna for Cassius sold the people thereof to them that would give most Besides Cassius was so much transported with choler E that he had slain Malichus if Hircanus had not restrained his fury by sending him One hundred Talents of his own money by Antipater But as soon as Cassius was departed out of the Countrey of Judaea he practised Antipater's death supposing that his cutting off would assure Hircanus's state But Antipater was not ignorant of this his resolution for having an inkling thereof he got himself on the other side of Jordan and assembled an Army of Soldiers both Jews and Arabians Hereupon Malichus who was a politick and subtil fellow denied stoutly that he had intended any Treason Maâ—ichus layeth in wait to murther Antipater but forsweareth the same and is reconciled clearing himself with an Oath before Antipater and his Children that he had never any such intent especially seeing that Phasaelus held Jerusalem and Herod F had an Army at command And in the end perceiving the difficulty wherein he was he reconciled himself to Antipater and they agreed at that time that Marcus governed Syria who perceiving that Malichus began to raise troubles in Jewry resorted thither and there wanted little but that he had slain him had not Antipater by earnest request obtained his life CHAP. XIX Cassius and Marcus leaving Sâ—ria give Herod the command of the Army which they had raised promising to establish him King Malichus causeth Antipater to be poysoned Herod dissembleth with him BUT imprudent Antipater saved Malichus to his own mischief Cassius and Marâ—â—us make Herod Governor of Coelosyria For when Cassius G and Marcus had assembled their Army they committed all the charge into Herods hands and made him Governor of Coelosyria and delivered him great forces both of H Foot and Horse The year of the World 3923. before Christ's Nativity 41. and Ships by Sea They promised him likewise the Kingdom of Judaea after they had finished the War that was at that time betwixt them and Anthony and Caesar the younger Whereupon Malichus mightily fearing Antipaters power determined to destroy him and having corrupted Hircanus's Butler with Money with whom both of them celebrated a Feast he poysoned him Malichus causeth Antipater to be poisoned and afterwards assembling many Soldiers about him he made himself Master of the City When Herod and Phasaelus understood the traiterous conspiracy attempted against their Father they were grievously incensed against Malichus But he denied all and especial abjured the intent or practice of the murther Thus died Antipater a just and virtuous man and such an one as dearly loved his Countrey But Herod who was his younger son immediately resolved to I revenge his fathers death and came forth with an Army against Malichus But Phasaelus who was the elder resolved to circumvent him by policy lest he should raise a Civil War He therefore accepted of Malichus justifications and made a shew that he supposed that he had in no manner contrived Antipater's death and onely minded his Fathers Monument and Funerals Mean while Herod resorting to Samaria and finding it in a desperate condition restored the same and pacified the dissentions that were amongst the Inhabitants Not long after by reason of a Feast he came to Jerusalem with his Soldiers Malichus being afraid of his access perswaded Hircanus that he should not permit him to enter into the City whereunto Hircanus condescended alleadging that amongst the holy People it was not lawful to intermix a Troop of polluted K Men. But Herod slighted them that brought him this news and notwithstanding his command entred the City by night whereat Malichus was much amazed Whereupon according to his ordinary dissimulation he openly wept and bewailed the death of Antipater his especial friend but under-hand he prepared a guard for his own safety Notwithstanding it was thought fit by Herod's friends to take no notice of his dissimulation but to make shew that they were well-affected towards Malichus CHAP. XX. Cassius at Herod's entreaty sends orders to the Commanders of the Roman Troops to revenge L Antipater's death they stab Malichus Felix who commands the Roman Garison in Jerusalem attacketh Phasaelus who reduceth him to capitulate HErod having assured Cassius of Antipater his fathers death he knowing very well of what a wicked man Malichus was wrote back unto Herod that he should revenge the death of his father besides he sent secret Letters to the Captains that were in Tyre commanding them to aid and assist Herod in that just execution which he intended After that Cassius had taken Laodicea and the Inhabitants of the Countrey came together bringing with them Crowns and Silver to present him Herod expecting that Malichus should receive his punishment there but Malichus mistrusting their designs M when he was drawing near to Tyre in Phaenicia he contriv'd a greater enterprize For whereas his son was an hostage in Tyre he entred the City to draw him thence and afterwards return into Judaea taking that opportunity by reason of Cassius's troubles who marched to meet with Anthony he resolved to draw the people to an insurrection and to make himself Lord of the Countrey but God disappointed his unjust purposes For Herod being a man of a ripe judgment immediately discovered his intention and sent one of his servants before under the notion to prepare a banquet because he had told him formerly that he would entertein all his followers but in effect he sent him to the Captains to command them to go out with their Daggers and to meet Malichus who marching forth and meeting with him near the shore he N stabbed him Which act did so much astonish Hircanus that through amaze he grew speechless and being much moved he demanded of Herod's men how this accident had hapned and who it was that had killed Malichus which having heard and how nothing was done without Cassius's commannd he answered that all was well done Malichus being a wicked Man and a Traitor to his Countrey See here how Malichus was justly punished for the wickedness he committed against Antipater When Cassius was gone out of Syria there arose a new tumult in Judaea for Felix who was left in Jerusalem with an Army marched forth against Phasaelus and all the people were in arms For which cause Herod speedily repaired to Fabius Governor of Damasco and intending to succor his brother was prevented by a sickness so that O Phasaelus obtaining a victory by his own forces against Faelix enclosed him up in a Tower whence afterwards he dismissed him under
death Cleopatra long before that time desirous to assist her and having compassion of her misery undertook the matter and ceased not to incite Antony to revenge Aristobulus's death telling him that it was an unpardonable errour that Herod being created King in such a state whereunto he had no right should be suffered to practice such conspiracies again the true and lawful Kings Antony perswaded by these her words as soon as he came to Laodicea sent for Herod to the end that making his appearance he might answer that which might be objected against him concerning Aristobulus's death for he disliked the act notwithstanding that Herod himself had attempted it But although Herod was afraid of this accusation and did not a little suspect Cleopatra's displeasure K for that she ceased not continually to provoke Antony against him yet he obeyed his commands and transported himself thither the rather for that he durst not otherwise do notwithstanding he left his Uncle Joseph behind him committing the Government both of the Kingdom Herod ready to repair unto Antony commandeth Joseph to whose charge he committed the Kingdom to kill his wife and his private estate unto him giving him secret instructions to kill Mariamne if so be that Antony should happen to do him any mischief For he loved her so extremely by reason of her beauty that he supposed himself wronged if after his decease she should be beloved by another and he openly declared that all that misery which befel him proceeded from Antonies passion and intire affection and admiration of her beauty whereof he had formerly heard some report As soon therefore as he had disposed his affairs notwithstanding he had little hope of L good hap yet he repaired to Antony But Josepth governing that Kingdom that was committed to his hands conversed divers times upon this occasion with Mariamne and communicated oftentimes with her not only about publick affairs but also to do her that honour which so great a Princess deserved Therefore as he secretly convers'd with her witnessing the friendship and ardent affection which Herod bare unto her He found that neither she nor Alexandra did credit any such thing but rather laugh'd at it For which cause Joseph being too forward to express the Kings good will towards her proceeded so far that he discovered the commands that was given him thereby to make manifest that it was not possible for Herod to live without her and that if any inconvenience should happen unto M him he would not in death also be dis-joyned from her This discourse of Josephs was not interpreted by the Ladies as a demonstration of his good will but rather as a manifestation of Herods wickedness who dying desired also that they should perish and interpreted that which he had spoken as the testimony of his tyrannical and malicious heart At that time there was a rumour spread in the City of Jerusalem by Herods Enemies that Antony had so tormented him that he was dead Whereupon all those of the Kings house were troubled and especially the Ladies so that Alexandra incited Joseph to forsake the Palace A foolish rumour of Herods death and take the Ladies and retire under the protection of the Roman Legion who at that time was about the City for the security of the Kingdom under the Conduct of the Tribune Julius to the end first of all that if any trouble N should happen in the Kings house they might be by this means in safety having the Romans to be-friend them and afterwards for that they hoped that if Antony should see Mariamne she might obtain at his hands whatsoever she desired and that he would restore the Kingdom unto her and deprive her of nothing that concerned her or was answerable to her Royal estate But whilst they were in these deliberations there came Letters from Herod contrary to those reports Herod appeâ—seth Antony by Presents and certifieth his friends by Letters of his health and all mens expectation For as as soon he came unto Antony he compassed his favor by his many Presents which he had brought with him to that intent from Jerusalem and suddenly debated the matter with him he appeased him so that he was no more displeased against him and from that time forward Cleopatra's speeches O were but coldly received in regard of his so ample satisfaction For Antony said That there was no reason that a King should be answerable for that which he had done in his Kingdom for that in so doing he should no more be King but that when the honour is once given him The year of the World 3930. before Christ's Nativity 3â— he hath the authority likewise left him to use his regal Power Urging further A That it concerned Cleopatra likewise her self not to search too curiously into the affairs and Government of Kingdoms Herod shewed all this by his Letters and signified further what other honours he had received at Antoni's hands in Assemblies and Feasts to which he invited him always notwithstanding that Cleopatra seemed to be displeased therewith detracting him and being desirous to get the Kingdom of Jewry into her hands strove with all means possible to put him to death but that he had found Antony always an upright man and feared not henceforward that any evil should befal him and returning presently upon this he brought with him a more ample testimony of Antony's most assured affection both in respect of his own Kingdom and of his particular affairs B And as touching Cleopatra she pretended not to seek any further than that which she had because that Antony had given her Coelosyria instead of that which she had demanded forbearing thenceforward to mention Jewry any more because that Antony wholly rejected those suits After these Letters came unto their hands the trouble and disturbance wherein they were and the desire to retire unto the Romans as if Herod had been dead was wholly extinguished Yet their resolution was not hidden from the King for his sister Salome and his mother informed him of every particular at his arrival after he had parted from Antonius Joseph and Mariamne accused before Herod who was marching against the Parthians Salome likewise spake against Joseph her husband and slandered him objecting against him that he had Mariamnes company All which she spake through malice for that in a certain debate Mariamne C had in her rage despightfully hit her in the teeth with her obscure birth Herod who was always inflamed with the earnest affection which he bare unto his wife Mariamne was suddenly troubled hereat and although jealousie pressed him forward yet love restrained him and kept him from doing any thing rashly for which cause he called Mariamne aside and demanded of her in secret what familiar company she had kept with Joseph She by solemn oaths and by all possible allegations in her own defence appeased the King by little and little Mariamne excuseth and
they submitted themselves to Herod whom to their own sorrow they had approved to be a valiant Souldier CHAP. IX Antonius is overcome by Augustus in the Battle of Actium Herod put Hircanus to death his pretence for it he resolveth to repair to Augustus his orders before his way going M HErod puffed up with his successful fortune Hedio Ruffinus chap. 7. returned back into his own Countrey having obtained great reputation by his valour and vertue But when he supposed his State to be most assured Herod dismaied at Antonies overthrow he grew in danger both to lose his dignity and life by reason of that victory that Caesar obtained against Antony in the Actian War For at that time he not only supposed himself to be utterly overthrown but both his friends and Enemies that were round about him lost their hopes for that it was unlikely that he should escape unpunished with Antony Whereby it came to pass that his friends could not conceal their despair and his Enemies under their colourable and dissembled griefs covered their joy promising themselves thereafter a better and N pleasing administration of the Common-Wealth Hereupon Herod perceiving that except Hircanus Herod determineth to make away Hircanus there was not any one of the blood Royal alive determined to cut him off resolving with himself that if he hapned to escape the danger a man who at that time was worthier the Kingdom then himself should not claime the Crown and if any misfortune should befall him in regard of Caesar he desired to dispossess Hircanus of the Kingdom in regard of the envy which he bare him for that he was the only man who deserved to be advanced to that dignity Alexandra solliciteth Hiranus her father to require assistance at Malchus hands Whilest thus he was tormented in his thoughts he had an occasion offered him by Hircanus own followers to execute his intention For Hircanus being of a milde and gentle nature during all his life-time O forbare to entermeddle with State affairs committing all things to fortune and contenting himself with whatsoever condition it pleased her to allot him But Alexandra being an ambitious woman and unable to conceal with modesty the hope she conceived of change sollicited her father that he should not any longer endure the subiection of Herod who was the very scourge of their family but rather A that he should stand upon his own guard and reserve himself to his better fortune She gave him counsel to write unto Malchus who had the Government of Arabia requesting him to grant him both protection and entertainment for that if Herod should chance to be cut off by Caesars displeasure doubtless the Kingdom would return unto him both in regard of his Nobility as also of the peoples favour These perswasions of hers Hircanus at the first repulsed but afterwards being overcome by the importunity of the woman Alexandra solliciteth Hircanus her father to require assistance at Malchus hands who ceased not day and night to sing the same Song of future hope and of Herods Treasons he gave certain Letters to a friend of his written to the Arabian wherein he required him to send him certain Horsemen who might conduct him to the Asphaltite Lake which lieth distant from the confines of Jerusalem some three hundred Furlongs And therefore he committed these Letters to Dositheus trust both B for that he favoured Hircanus and his Daughter Three hundred furlongs contain nine Germane Miles and seemed likely for divers causes to hate Herod for he was Josephs kinsman who was killed by Herod and not long before certain of his Brothers were put to death amongst others at Tyre by Antonies command yet for none of those considerations continued he faithful to Hircanus For he preferring the present favour of the King that then reigned to the rest discovered the Letter unto the King who first of all giving him thanks required one office of friendship more at his hands which was that folding up the Letter and sealing it he should conveigh and deliver the same to Malchus and return his answer for that it neerly concerned him if he knew his resolution also Which when Dositheus had diligently performed the Arabian returned this answer for that it neerly concerned him if he knew C his resolution also Hircanus by Herods commands is put to death Which when Dositheus had diligently performed the Arabian returned this answer that he was ready to entertain both himself and his whole family and all those Jews likewise which were of this faction promising to send him a band of Soldiers who should be able to conduct him safely thither and should be obedient to his command in all things Now as soon as Herod had seized on these Letters he called for Hircanus and demanded of him whether he had any confederacy with Malchus he denied it 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 Herods commentaries for by some they are delivered otherwise namely that he was executed not for this crime which he had committed but for some Treasons against the King For D they Write to this effect that Herod at a certain banquet dissembling his suspition demanded of Hircanus whether he had received any Letters from Malchus and that he answered that he had received Letters but such as contained nothing else but compliments Hircanus dieth guiltless He asked him also whether he had received any present and when he had answered that he had received nothing but four Coursers for his Saddle the King wrested this to a Capitall offence of corruption and treason Hircanus life and commanded him presently to be led to death Now that he died guiltless they alledge this for a most approved argument namely his gentle disposition who evenin his youthful years never gave sign or appearance of rashness or pride or signification of audaciousness no not even then when he had the royal government in his hands but in the freedome E of authority disposed of the most things by Antipaters advice But at that time he was more then fourescore years old and knew that Herods estate was secured and that there is no likelyhood that he would remove from beyond Eufrates where he lived in great repute to live under Herods Jurisdiction or to engage in any trouble contrary to his humor and so far different from his nature so that all these things seem to be fained by Herod Thus ended Hircanus life after his variable and adverse fortunes wherewith during all his life time he was afflicted For when his mother Alexandra lived he was created High Priest of the Jews and obtained that honor for the space of nine years and after his mothers death he had scarcely governed the Kingdom for the space of three F months but that he was expulsed by his brother Aristobulus
by this means more grievously wound himself Herods sister and his mother incense the King by slandâ—rous reports against Mariamne through the desire he bare unto his deceased delight Whilst thus he was tortured in his passions and conceived sinister opinions against Mariamne his Wife Salome his sister and his mother having an inkling of his discontents thought that they had gotten a fit opportunity to express and execute their hatred towards Mariamne for which cause they conferred with Herod and whetted his spleen and displeasure with variety of slanders sufficient at one assault to engender hatred and kindle his jealousie against her To these reproaches of theirs he lent no unwilling ears yet L he had not the heart to attempt any thing against his Wife or to give free credit to their report notwithstanding his displeasure increased and was inflamed more and more against her for that neither she could colour her cares and discontents nor he contain himself from exchanging his love into hatred and perhaps at that time he had published some fatal doom against her had not a happy messenger brought him word that Anthony and Cleopatra being dead Anthony and Cleopatra slain Caesar was become Lord of Egypt for which cause Caesar Lord of Egypt hasting forward to meet and entertain him he left his family in that present estate Upon his departure he recommended Mariamne to Sohemus giving him great thanks for the care he had had of her Sohemus honoured by Herod with dignities and granting him in way of gratuity a part of Jewry to govern M When Herod was arrived in Egypt Hedio Ruffinus cap. 9. and had friendly and familiarly conferred with Caesar he was highly honoured by him for Caesar gave him those four hundred French men that were of Cleopatra's guard Caesar enlargeth Herods dominions and restored that part of his Countrey unto him again which was taken away and spoiled by her He annexed also unto his Kingdom Gadara Hippon and Samaria and on the Sea Coasts the Cities of Gaza Anthedon Joppe with the Tower of Straton which when he had obtained he grew more mighty than before and after he had accompanied Caesar as far as Antioch he returned into his own Countrey Upon his arrival he found that fortune which was favourable unto him abroad too froward at home especially in regard of his Wife in whose affection he seemed to be most happy For he was as inwardly touched with the lawful love of N Mariamne Mariamne a froward woman as any other of whom the Histories make report and as for her she was both chaste and faithfull unto him yet she had a certain womanly imperfection and natural frowardness which was the cause that she presumed too much upon the intire affection wherewith her husband was intangled so that without regard of his person who had power and authority over others she entertained him oftentimes very outragiously All which endured he patiently without any shew of discontent But Mariamne upbraided and publickly reproached both the Kings mother and sister telling them that they were but abjectly and basely born Whereupon there grew a great enmity and unincoverable hatred between the Ladies and from thence also there arose an occasion of greater accusations and calumniation O than before These suspitions were nourished amongst them for the space of one whole year after Herods return from Caesar and at length this long contriv'd hatred brake out violently upon this occasion that ensueth Whenas about mid-day the King had withdrawn himself into his Chamber to take his rest The year of the World 3936. before Christ's Nativity 28. he called Mariamne to him to A sport with her being incited thereunto by the great affection that he bare unto her Upon this his command she came unto him yet would she not lie with him nor entertain his courtings with friendly acceptance but upbraided him bitterly with her fathers and brothers death The King took these reproachful words in very evil part and was almost ready to strike her but his sister hearing a greater stir and noise than was usual sent the Butler who long before that time was suborned by her whom she commanded to tell the King that Mariamne had prepared a drink for him to incite and quicken him unto love Charging him moreover that if the King in hearing him speak of this potion should seem to be moved therewith that then he should proceed further in his discourse He therefore being in this manner before-hand instructed B what he ought to do at that very instant was sent to discover his treachery unto the King for which cause with a sober and stayed countenance he entred in unto him being seriously and well prepared to discourse and told him that Mariamne had bribed him to present his Majesty with an amorous cup of drink Now when he perceived that the King was troubled with these words he prosecuted his discourse alledging that the potion was a certain medicine which Mariamne had given him the vertue whereof he knew not which he had received according as he had told him knowing that it concerned both his own security and the Kings safety Herod who before this was highly displeased hearing these words was so much C the more incensed for which cause he presently commanded Mariamne's most faithful servant to be examined by torments as concerning the poison supposing that it was impossible for her to undertake any thing whatsoever without his privity He being tried and tormented after this cruel manner confessed nothing of that for which he was tortured but declared unto the King that the hatred which his wife had conceived against him proceeded from certain words that Sohemus had told her Scarcely had he finished these words but that the King cryed out with a loud voice saying That Sohemus who before time had been most faithfull both to him and his Kingdom would not have declared these his privy commands Sohemus suspected by Herod in Mariamnes behalf is put to death except there had been some more inward familiarity and secrecy betwixt him and Mariamne for which cause he presently D commanded his Ministers to lay hands on Sohemus and to put him to death As for his wife he drew her to her tryal and to this effect he assembled his most familiar friends Mariamne is accused by Herod and condemned and imprisoned before whom he began to accuse her with great spight and spleen as touching these potions and poisons aforesaid wherein he used intemperate and unseemly speches and such as for their bitterness did ill become him in cause of justice so that in the end the assistants seeing the scope of his desire pronounced sentence of death against her Mariamne by Salomes instigations is led to execution which being past both he and all other the assistants were of his opinion that she should not so speedily be executed but that she should be kept
these enterprizes but brought them unto Caesar their common benefactor and that forsaking his own right of a Father who had been injured or of a King against whom treason had been wrought he was now content to debate his matter with them before such a Judge as well knew how to decide the thing in question according to right and equity yet requested him that their offence might not be left unpunished nor he forced to lead the rest of his life still in perpetual fear nor suffer them to be so miserable as never to enjoy themselves nor desire to see the light of the Sun after having violated the most sacred Laws of God and nature Herod having with a vehement voice objected these accusations against his Sons before Caesar the two Princes were not able to abstain from tears whilst he was I yet speaking and having ended his speech they wholly burst out into tears not that they were guilty of those impieties laid unto their charge but that they were accused by their Father against whom it was not decent to speak freely for themselves nor expedient to refuse to defend their own cause Alias chap. 9 Wherein they remained doubtful what to do Alexander and Aristobulus moved all that were present even their Father and accuser to tears and compassion moving the auditors to pity them by their tears and lamentations and fearful withal lest it should be thought that their guilty conscience did trouble them that they were not able to speak in their own defence seeing that indeed it was only for want of experience by reason of their tender years Which also Caesar perceived and all that were present were so moved to compassion that neither their Father who was their accuser could refrain from being moved with compassion K CHAP. VIII Of Alexander's defence and how the two Brethren were reconciled to their Father Herod L THen the young Princes perceiving both their Father and Caesar to be mollified and they that were present partly to pity them partly to shed tears of compassion the one of them named Alexander who was the elder directing his speech to his Father began thus to clear himself of the Crimes objected against them Father Alexander speaketh in his own and his Brother's defence how well and friendly minded thou art towards us this present judgment declareth for hadst thou determined any heavy sentence against us thou wouldest not have brought us before him who is the preserver of us all For thou mightest being a King or for thy authority over us as a Father have punished us for our offence according to thy power But in that thou hast brought us to Rome and made Caesar our Judge it is an argument that thou seekest to save us for no man brings any one M to the Temple whom he purposeth to destroy which greatly aggravateth our cause who do censure our selves unworthy to live rather than to incur an opinion of impiety committed against thee such a Father How far more expedient is it to die guiltless than to live suspected of so great an ingratitude Wherefore if God grants us so much success in our defence as to perswade you of the truth we shall not rejoyce so much for having escaped so great a danger as to be found innocent by your judgment for we do not desire to live with the suspicion of those Calumnies It is a probable accusation to accuse our years as having affected the Kingdom and our unfortunate Mother's calamity maketh it seem more probable But consider I beseech thee if the same crime may not as well be framed against any one whomsoever as against us N For any King having children by a Wife that is now dead may if it please him suspect them as practising treason against him their father But suspicion is not sufficient to prove a man impious and guilty Wherefore produce any one that can bring sufficient proof that may induce any moderate Judge to believe that we ever attempted such a horrid Crime Can any man shew that poyson was prepared by us for you or that we conspired with any or that we corrupted any servants with money and gifts or that we writ any letters against thee yet calumny may feign every one of these upon no occasion It is a grievous matter for discord to be in a Princes Court and the hope of Dominion which your Majesty affirmed to be the reward of piety doth often impel mens minds unto hainous offences But although it be most certain that we cannot be convicted of any crime yet how O can we clear our selves from accusations forged against us before them that will not hear us But did we speak some insolent words yet were they not against thee O my father for that had A been impiety but against them who traduced us We bewailed our mother's misfortunes It is true But not because she is dead but because after her death she is evil spoken of by those who ought not to do it We affect the Kingdom of our father he being yet alive Wherein Is not that purpose of ours vain and frivolous we having already been graced with Kingly honours And suppose we were not yet might we hope for them But could we expect them with killing of thee whom both earth and seas would disdain after so execrable an offence Or could we have expected that the loyalty of thy subjects and the laws of our nation would have permitted us having gotten the Kingdom by murthering our father to have enjoyed the same and entred into the holy Temple which thou didst repair Or suppose we despised them all yet could any one that murthered thee escape Caesar being living B The Children by thee begotten are not so impious nor foolish though more unfortunate than thy estate requires And seeing thou hast nothing to accuse us of or nothing to prove any accusation laid unto our charge how canst thou be perswaded that we are guilty of such inhumane acts Is it because our mother was put to death But her death ought rather to have made us more wary than insolent and rash We could speak more in our own defence than this but what need is it to excuse that which was never done Wherefore we beseech Caesar who is Lord of all and now our Judge only this that if thou canst O my father put away out of thy mind all suspicion of us to suffer us to live hereafter how unhappy and unfortunate soever For what is more miserable than to be rashly accused without cause But if thou canst not we living live without fear of us let us die condemned by our own C censure For our lives are not so dear unto us that we desire to keep them to his molestation that bestowed them upon us Caesar with these words though before not greatly crediting such accusations and slanders laid against them was now more moved to believe that they were guiltless and
they were excellent and especially Alexander the eldest of them It had been enough for him suppose he had condemned them either to have kept them in perpetual Prison or banished them into some far Countrey seeing that he was assured of the Roman Power under whose protection he neither needed to have feared invasion nor secret Treason against him For to put them to death only to satisfie his own furious will what else doth it argue but only an impious liberty casting K off all Fatherly humanity and kindness especially seeing that he was aged whose years could neither plead ignorance nor that he was deceived For neither was he the more excused by the delay he used nay it had been a less offence if amazed with some sudden news he had been incited to so hainous an offence But after so long deliberation at last to effect such a matter betokens a bloody mind and hardened in wickedness as he shewed afterwards not sparing the rest whom before he held most dear Who though they were less to be pitied in that they justly suffered yet was it an argument of his like cruelty in that he abstained not from their deaths also But we will speak of this hereafter L M N O A THE SEVENTEENTH BOOK Of the B ANTIQUITIES of the JEWS Written by FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS The Contents of the Chapters of the Seventeenth Book 1. Antipater endeavoureth to hasten his Father's death that he may reign in his place The Children that Herod had by his nine Wives C 2. Of Zamaris a Babilonish Jew a man of singular virtue 3. Antipater Pheroras and his Wife conspire against Herod Salome acquainteth him with it he causeth some Pharisees who were of this Conspiracy to be put to death He endeavoureth to make Pheroras repudiate his Wife but he cannot be perswaded to it 4. Herod sendeth Antipater to Augustus with his Will by which he declareth him his Successor Syllaeus bribeth one of Herod's Guards to kill him but the plot is discovered 5. Pheroras's death D 6. Pheroras's Wife is accused and Herod is advertised of Antipater's Conspiracies 7. Antipater being returned back unto Judaea from Rome is convicted in the presence of Varus Governour of Syria for having endeavoured to poyson the King his Father Herod causeth him to be imprisoned and writeth to Augustus on that Subject 8. The Golden Eagle that Herod had consecrated and fixed on the Portal of the Temple is pulled off the severe punishment that he inflicteth for it The King 's terrible sickness and the cruel orders that he giveth to his Sister Salome and to her husband E 9. Augustus referreth it to Herod to dispose of Antipater as he pleaseth Herod falling into a relapse of his Torments desireth to kill himself Achiavus one of his Grand-children hindreth him It is reported that he is dead Antipater endeavoureth in vain to bribe his Keeper to set him at liberty as soon as Herod heareth of it he sendeth one to kill him 10. Herod altereth his Will declareth Archelaus his Successor he dieth five days after Antipater Herod's glorious Funeral ordained by Archelaus the peoples great acclamation in favour of Archelaus 11. Some Jews who demanded satisfaction for Judas and Matthias and others deaths F whom Herod caused to be burned for having pulled down the Eagle at the Portal of the Temple make an Insurrection which obligeth Archelaus to cause three thousand of them to be put to death He goeth afterwards to Rome to be confirmed King by Augustus His Brother Antipas who pretends to have right to the Crown repaireth thither also the Cause is pleaded before Augustus 12. A great Rebellion in Judea whilest Archelaus was at Rome Varus Governour of Syria stoppeth it Philip Archelaus's Brother goeth also to Rome in hopes to obtain one part of the Kingdom The Jews send Ambassadours to Augustus G to free them from their obedience to Kings and to re-unite them to Syria They complain to him against Archelaus and abhor the memory of Herod 13. Caesar confirms Herod's Testament and appointeth his Children to be his Successors H 14. An Impostor counterfeits himself to be Alexander Herod's Son Augustus finds out the Cheat and sends him to the Galleys 15. Archelaus marrieth Glaphyra his Brother Alexander's Widow Augustus having heard several of the Jews complaints of him confineth him to Vienna in France and uniteth his possessions to Syria Glaphyra's death CHAP. I. I Antipater endeavoureth to hasten his Father's death that he may reign in his place The Children that Herod had by his nine Wives AFter that Antipater had made away his Brothers through the extreme impiety and unbridled fury wherewith Herod their Father was incensed against them yet he did not immediately obtain that which undoubtedly he hoped for For being freed of K that fear he conceived lest his Brothers should be partakers with him in the Kingdom Hedio Ruffinus chap. 1. he found it a difficult and dangerous matter to find the means how to obtain it Antipater after he had made away his Brothers grew hateful both to the Souldiers and the people so strange and hainous a hatred had all the Nation conceived against him On the other side in shewing himself proud and lofty he more and more encreased that hatred which the Souldiers had conceived against him in whom the security of the Kingdom consisted if it should fortune to fall out that the people should attempt any alteration All which mischiefs were procured by his own sins and the unnatural murther of his Brothers Antipater governed the Kingdom with his Father Nevertheless he governed the Kingdom with his Father living only in less Authority than himself Herod also reposed more confidence in L him even in those things for which he was worthy to lose his head For the King conceived that in confirmation of his good affection towards him Antipater had accused his Brethren to continue his Father in security and not for any hatred he bore unto them more than to his Father though indeed he hated them for his Father's sake being transported with fury But all these were but as so many stratagems to insinuate himself into Herod's Counsels and Favours and these did he craftily make use of to cut off the occasion lest any should prevent or accuse him of that which he pretended to do and that Herod might be deprived of all relief if so be that Antipater should beâ—â— his Forces against him Antipater wisheth his Father's death For the Treason he complotted against his Brothers proceeded from the hatred he bare unto his Father But at that time he was the more egged on to prosecute M his intended purposes without any delay For if Herod should happen to die it was most sure that the Kingdom should be his and should his life continue any longer time and the practice Antipater went about should be discovered seeing himself invironed with these dangers he
a Tyrant being of himself a cholerick man implacable towards all men without any occasion having a natural inclination so cruel that the easiest pain whereunto he adjudged G those whom he condemned was death Notwithstanding therefore that every man took pleasure to hear the news yet did all conceal it until such time as they might be more fully assured through the fear of those miseries they foresaw if the matter should fall out otherways But Marsyas Agrippa's Free-man having certain H notice of Tiberius's death ran speedily to comfort his Master Agrippa with these good news and meeting with him as he came out of the Bath he made a sign unto him and told him in the Hebrew Tongue the Lyon was dead Agrippa conceiving that which he meant Marsyas Agrippa's Free-man certifieth him of Tiberius's death was ravished with joy and said unto him I will requite thee for all those benefits I have received at thy hands and especially for this good news provided that it prove true The Centurion who had the keeping of Agrippa considering what expedition Marsyas had used in running and the pleasure that Agrippa had conceived in his report he began to suspect some alteration and asked him what had happened and whereas he delayed to give him an answer he importuned him the more Whereupon Agrippa told him plainly what he had heard in that he had grown already intimately I familiar with him The Centurion rejoyced at this news as well as Agrippa hoping to speed the better thereby and made Agrippa good cheer But whilst they were in the midst of their Banquetting The rumour was spread in Rome that Tiberius was alive and drunk freely there came one unto them who told them that Tiberius was alive and that within few days he would come to Rome The Centurion troubled with this news for that he had committed a Capital crime in eating in the company of a Prisoner upon the news of Caesar's death and by rejoycing with him he drave Agrippa out of the place where he sate and reproachfully said unto him Thinkest thou said he that I know not how falsely thou spreadest the rumour of Caesar 's death yes be assured thou shalt answer thy lie with the loss of thy head This said he caused Agrippa to be bound whom before-time he had suffered to go at K liberty and shut him up in more close Prison than he had been before so that Agrippa was all that night long in this extream misery The next day the rumour was spread thorough the whole City that confirmed Tiberius's death and at that time every one boldly protested it There were some also who offered Sacrifices for this cause Caius certifieth the Senate and Piso of Tiberius's death and his Succession and willeth that Agrippa should be sent to his own Lodging And there came Letters also from Caius which were addressed to the Senate by which he assured them that Tiberius was dead and how the Empire was committed to his hands He writ another also to Piso who had the Guard of the City containing the like report and besides that commanding him to transfer Agrippa from the company of those Souldiers by whom he was kept to the same place where he was lodged before so that from that time forwards he grew confident For although he was L as yet a Prisoner yet lived he at his own discretion Caius arriving in Rome brought with him Tiberius's body which he burned most magnificently according to the custom of the Countrey Tiberius's Funeral And although he were very willing to set Agrippa at liberty the same day yet he was disswaded from it by Antonia not for any ill will she bare the Prisoner but in regard of Caius's honour lest thereby he should shew himself to be glad of Tiberius's death in setting him at liberty so speedily whom he had committed to Prison When therefore some few days were over he sent for him to his house and caused his hair to be cut and his garments changed and that done he set a Diadem upon his head Caius createth Agrippa King and giveth him two Tetrarchies and made him King of Philip's Tetrarchy to which he added Lysanias's Tetrarchy and changed his Chain of Iron into a Chain of Gold of the same M weight and sent Marullus into Judaea to govern there The second year of Caius's Reign Agrippa asked leave to repair into Judaea to dispose of his Kingdom purposing to return again when he had dispatched those Affairs Agrippa departeth into his Kingdom Which when the Emperour had granted him he came into Judaea and was seen and saluted for a King beyond all men's expectation serving thereby for a most notable example unto men to express unto them how great the power of Destiny is in humane Affairs The year of the World 4002. after Christ's Nativity 40. considering the poor estate wherein he had been before and the happiness which he enjoyed at that time Some termed him happy in that he resolutely followed his hopes others could scarcely believe that he was thus advanced N CHAP. IX Herodias Hedio Ruffinus chap. 14. alias chap. 16. Herod the Tetrarch's Wife and King Agrippa's Sister being impatient to see her Brother reign in so much Prosperity compels her Husband to go to Rome to obtain a Crown also Herodias Agrippa's Sister envieth her Brothers happiness and inciteth her Husband to seek a Kingdom but Agrippa having written to Caius against him he banished him and his Wife to Lions in France HErodias Agrippa's Sister was married to Herod the Tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea Shee envied her Brother to see him raised to so great Authority and to far greater O Dignity than her Husband enjoyed For which cause she was displeased that her Brother who fled out of his Countrey in that he wanted means to pay his debts was returned A in great Honour and State This alteration seemed unsufferable to her especially to see him apparelled like a King and environed with a great multitude of people so that it was impossible for her to hide her grief for which cause she incited her Husband and perswaded him to make a Voyage to Rome and to purchase as much as he possessed For said she I cannot endure to live if Agrippa Aristobulus 's Son condemned to die by the sentence of his own Father so poor and indigent that to redress his necessities wherewith he was daily pressed by his Creditors he was constrained at last to flee to Rome should return with such Titles of Honour and that her Husband who was a King's Son and was called to the Kingdom by his Father should live obscure and pass his life like a private man Husband said she if herefore it hath been no prejudice to thee to live in less Dignity B than thy Father hath done now at least desire that due honour which belongeth to thy Family neither think it sufferable
his own but the Emperour's intent who would shortly have them taste his displeasure and enforce them to bear the burthen of his indignation who were so bold as to contradict him For himself it necessarily concerned him that since by the Emperour's favour he had received so great honour he should not commit any thing contrary to his Command I hold it said he a matter most just to employ my life and honour for you to the end that so huge a number of men should not be drawn into the danger of death and I will respect the excellency of the Laws of your Fathers for which you think you ought to undergo a War and danger neither is it lawful to suffer the Temple of God to be defiled F by the Authority of Princes I will therefore write to Caesar and acquaint him with your minds and in all that I may I will assist you to obtain your Request God whose power surpasseth all industry and humane force vouchsafe to conduct you and make you constant in the observation of your Laws and grant that he through excessive desire of humane glory commit not any thing that may offend God And if Caius be displeased and enforce his inevitable displeasure against me I will undertake 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 juct actions Go therefore each of you and ply your work and till your Lands I will send to Rome and will employ both my Friends and my self for you After he had spoken this he dismissed the Assembly praying the chiefest amongst G them to encourage the Husbandmen to ply their business and to confirm the rest of the people in their good hope he himself also ceased not to encourage them And truly God shewed his assistance to Petronius and assisted him in all his affairs For as soon as he had finished his discourse to the Jews there suddenly fell a great rain beyond all H humane expectation for the day was very fair neither was there any appearance of rain in the Air and all that year long there was an extream Drought so that men were past hope to have any moisture notwithstanding that sometime there appeared certain Clouds in the Heavens After a long and continual Drought there fell a sudden shower At that time therefore the water fell in great abundance and besides the expectation and opinion of men the Jews conceived hope that Petronius soliciting their cause should not be repulsed But Petronius was more amazed than all the rest seeing evidently that God undertook the affairs of the Jews and gave them testimony of his manifest assurance so that they that were their professed Adversaries Petronius writeth to Caius had no power to contradict them as he himself wrote to Caius at large with inductions and exhortations to the end he should not draw so many thousand I men into a desperate resolution and unhappy death for without War it was impossible for him ever to make them forsake their Religion Moreover that he would not cut off and lose the Revenue which he received of that Nation and would not erect a Trophy of an everlasting Curse and Malediction against himself Adding moreover what the power of their God was which he had so clearly declared that no man ought to doubt but that his merciful hand was over them This is the Contents of Petronius's Letters On the other side Agrippa honoureth Caius in Rome in reward thereof Caius willeth him to demand somewhat who desireth nothing else than that Petronius's Commission to erect the Statue be revoked King Agrippa who at that time was at Rome grew more and more in favour with Caius having entertained him at a Banquet wherein he was very desirous to exceed all others as well in sumptuousness as in all other sorts of delights K and pleasures yea he entertained him so nobly that not only others but also the Emperour himself could not attain to such magnificence so much he endeavoured to surpass all others through the great desire he had to content and satisfie Caesar in all things Caius was amazed at his courage and magnificence seeing Agrippa so willing to constrain himself above his power and means to abound in Silver and all this to the intent to please him For which cause Caesar in requital of his kindness intending to honour Agrippa to his uttermost power in granting him that which he most desired being one day warm with Wine invited him to drink a Carouse adding these words Agrippa I have heretofore known the honour thou hast shewed towards me and thou L hast expressed the earnest affection that thou bearest me in hazarding thy self in divers dangers into which thou hast been drawn during Tiberius's life time and hast omitted nothing no not in that which exceedeth thy power to shew thy affection towards me For which cause I think it should be a great shame for me if I should suffer my self to be overcome by thee in kindness without some answerable correspondence I will therefore put that in practice which I have heretofore omitted for all those things that hitherto I have bestowed on thee are of no reckoning My will is that thy merits should at this time be requited by such means as might for ever make thee happy Now he spake after this manner hoping that Agrippa would beg some great Province at his hands or the Revenues of some Cities M But although he had already prepared his demand yet he did not discover his intent but gave Caius this answer that whereas he had served him to the dislike of Tiberius it was not for the gain he expected heretofore and for the present also he did nothing under hope to be rich contenting himself that he was in the Emperour 's good favour That the benefits he had received of him were great yea exceeding all that which he durst ever have hoped For said he although they be but small in comparison of your Greatness yet in respect of my self who have received them and in my conceit they are very great Caius admiring his generosity insisted to press him to ask whatsoever he had a mind to being ready to grant it Whereupon Agrippa said Dread Prince since it is your good pleasure to think me worthy to be honoured by your Presents I N will not request any thing at your hands that may tend to enrich me for that by those goods you have already given me I am greatly honoured But I beseech and request one thing at your hands which will purchase you the reputation of Piety and will procure God to be propitious unto you in all your actions and which also will breed me much glory among those who shall hear that I have not been refused in my demand which concerneth me more than the necessities of this life I therefore beseech
was Emperor to exact that superiority on the Sea which was answerable to his soveraignty on the Land betwixt one Cape of the Sea unto another for the space of thirty furlongs or stades betwixt which the Gulf had his course he caused a Bridge to be built on which he commanded himself to be drawn in a Charriot as if that way were answerable to the dignity of his deity He left not one Temple in Greece whatsoever that he spoiled not of those excellent pictures that were in them Cajus spoiled all the Temples of Greece Giving a Comission that all Statues and whatsoever ornaments or gifts and presents that were dedicated in any Temple should be brought unto him saying that such things as were admirable should be reserved for a place of admiration such as was the City of Rome with these spoils of the Temples he adorned his Palace and Gardens and generally K all his houses and Palaces that he had in Italy Cajus commandeth Memmius Regulus to tranâ—fer Jupiter Olympus to Rome He was so impudent also as to give direction that Jupiter Olympius Statue which the Greeks had in great estimation and which Phidias the Athenian Satuarian had made should be transported to Rome But Memmius Regulus to whom he directed this commission executed it not because the Masons informed him that without spoiling it they could not remove it from the place It is reported also that he was hindred from this execution by such prodigies that are almost incredible which he assured Cajus of giving him to understand what the occasion was that had moved him to disobey him therein and whilst he was in danger of death for his delay the sudden and successful death of Cajus warranted him from the same Yea so far stretched his unbridled fury that having a daughter newly L born he caused her to be carried into the Capitol and laid at the feet of the Image of Jupiter Cajus compareth himself with Jupiter saying that the child was common betwixt him and Jupiter leaving the judgment to all men which of the two parents was the greatest And notwithstanding all these his misdemeanours yet did men tolerate him He gave liberty to slaves also to accuse their Masters of whatsoever crimes they would which was so much the more hateful because all things were done by Caesars authority and to his good liking so that Pollux who was Claudius bondman durst accuse him Cajus gave slaves free liberty to accuse their Masters and countenanced Pollux to accuse his Master Claudius and Cajus the Emperour was contented among the Judges to hear his Uncle brought in question for his life hoping although it fell out otherwise to pick out an occasion to put him to death For having filled all the Countries of his Empire M with false accusations and all sorts of mischiefs and giving slaves a prerogative above their Masters their Lords devised many conspiracies against him some for spite and with an intent to be revenged of those injuries they had received others pretending by his death to prevent those inconveniences that threatned them In a word his death concerned the security of the Laws Many conspiracieâ— against Cajus and the safety of all men and had he not been speedily cut off our nation had almost been utterly exterminated For which cause I thought good to make an exact and ample declaration of every occurrent namely for that the knowledge thereof maketh very much towards the manifestation of Gods power and will which brings consolation unto those who are in adversity and keep them within the bounds of modesty who suppose that their prosperity should N continue always firm and although they neglect virtue think that no evil may befal them Three several Conspiracies were intended against him to ease the world of this burthensome Tyrant All of them were attempted by men of great account For Aemilius Regulus Three conspiracies against Cajus who was born in Corduba in Spain was fully resolved to kill him himself or to make him away by the means of his Confederates Chaereas Cassius Colonel over a thousand men was the conductor of another Band Aemilius Regulus Cassius Chaereas Annius Minucius and Annius Minucianus was in no less readiness to do his uttermost herein The cause that moved them to combine thus altogether in hatred against Cajus was that in respect of Regulus he was by nature a detester of all iniquity for he was a very generous man and so free that he dissembled not any of his designs but communicated them with many who were either O his friends or valiant men fit for execution And as touching Minucianus he was induced to seek his revenge through the desire he had to do justice to Lepidus who had A been one of his especial friends and one of the rarest men that were ever found among the Roman Citizens whom Caius had put to death through the fear he had conceived of him knowing well that all they against whom Caius was incensed could not escape with less punishment than loss of life As for the third man Chaereas he could not endure the shame and reproach of cowardise that Caius had objected against him but feared besides that his friendship and inward familiarity with Caius would draw him into manifest dangers for which cause and his own security and honours sake he resolved to dispach him Generally all of them were resolved to rid the world of Caius and bring an end to his pride and tyrannical power for their hope was that their attempt having good success their Countrey and Common-weal should reap the B fruits thereof for whose security and safety it became them to hazard themselves though it were with loss of their lives But above all the rest Chaereas was egged on with a desire he had to grow famous and through the facility and convenient means he had to do it The Circensian Games because his Colonels room gave him most secure access unto him About that time the Circensian Games were solemnized which is a kind of Pastime which the Romans very willingly behold Caius causeth divers to be murthered who request mitigation of their exactions and to this intent they resort to the place of these exercises and the common people is wont to demand somewhat from the Emperour which they desire to obtain and after having examined their requests do never refuse them Now they required with instant and importunate supplications that Caius would discharge them of their taxations and moderate the excessive tributes C which they payed but he would give no ear unto them and caused those to be apprehended who called upon the matter most earnestly sending his Guard some of them one way some of them another to put them to the sword After he had given this order and they who received it had fully executed it a great number of men were killed The people seeing this ceased to exclaim any
more preferring their lives to their goods This horrid sight incited Chaereas the more to execute his enterprize Chaereas for many causes is incited against Caius to the end he might finish his furious and tyrannical life whose pleasure was all mens destruction He had often resolved to kill him at Table yet he deferred to do it not that he fainted in his resolution but because he expected some better opportunity He had been Captain of Caius Guard a long D time Caius having appointed him to gather in his Tributes in the execution whereof he followed his own nature rather than Caesars command and spared those of whom he ought to have compassion for their poverty sake Caius was so displeased herewith that he objected against him that the cause why he delayed the bringing in of his money was his cowardise and negligence And among other injuries that he offered him as oft as he gave him the Watch-word as he usually went to fetch it once a day upon his watch-day he gave him the names of women and others that were ignominious persons notwithstanding that he himself was no less remarkable for his effeminate daintiness In those Ceremonies which he himself had established he attired E himself like a woman and was disguised with certain veils whereby he might the better counterfeit that sex and yet notwithstanding he could object this dishonour to Chaereas whom he vexed constantly when he gave him the watchword and so much the more because his companions jeared him with it For when it was his turn to receive the word from Caesars mouth he ordinarily fitted him with such an one as might move laughter which made him the bolder to conspire with his Confederates in that he had just occasion to be displeased among these was a Senator called Popedius and one that had past through all honours and offices otherwise an Epicure and lover of delights Timidius accused him in that he was his enemy that he had uttered certain injurious speeches against Caius Popedius is accused of a crime by Timidius unto Caesar and for proof hereof he alledged Quintilia for his witness a F woman among all Stage-players dearly beloved of many but in especial by Popedius by reason of her incomparable beauty and for that she refused to bear witness in a matter falsely objected against him whom she entirely loved Timidius required that she might be examined by torture Caius importuned herewith commanded Chaereas with all expedition and diligence to see Quintilia tortured and the rather gave he Chaereas these Commissions to kill and torment those whom he pleased for that he had conceived this opinion that be would acquit himself with more cruelty to the end he might exempt himself of that reproach of faint-heartedness which was wrongfully objected against him Caius commandeth Quintilia to be tortured who confesseth nothing Whilest thus Quintilia was led forth to be tortured she trod upon the foot of one G of those who were of the Confederacie giving him to understand that he should be of good courage for that there was no fear that she would bewray any thing in torture but would endure it with constancy notwithstanding Chaereas tormented her cruelly which he rather performed by constraint than of his own free will And seeing he H could enforce nothing out of her he brought her back to Caius in so pitiful an estate that all they that beheld her had compassion on her Caius likewise himself was moved and bethinking him of those pains she had endured he desisted from the inquest and accusation which was prosecuted against Popedius and Quintilia and gave her a certain sum of money Popedius is absolved to comfort her against the indisposition that might follow by reason of her torments which she had so couragiously endured This displeased Chaereas very much Chaeraas conferreth with Clement and Papinius as if he had been the cause of all those evils that had hapned to those two persons whom the cruelest of men did bemoan He consulted therefore with Clement who was Captain of the foot and Papinius who had the command of the Guard and spake unto them to this effect We have said he O Clement I employed our selves to the uttermost for the Emperours safety for by our diligence and care we have done so much that of all those who have conspired against him some of them have been killed the rest in such sort tormented and martyred that Caius himself had compassion on them But what reward or honour receive we for all these services Clement hearing these words held his peace giving manifest testimony by his looks and the change of his colour that he was greatly ashamed he had so long time obeyed the Emperours commands and whilst he thought with himself that it was no policy for him to open his mouth against Caius cruelty Chaereas emboldned himself to discover the calamities and dangers wherein both the City and the whole Empire were plunged telling him that the common report was that Caius was the K cause of them But said he those that will narrowly examine the truth will judge that I and Papinius that standeth by me and you Clement more than we have caused the Romans torment and the World's misery for that of our own will we have been Ministers of Caius's Commands and although the means lieth in us to make an end of those Violences that are committed against the Citizens and injuries to the whole World yet we serve him for his Guard and Hang-men in stead of Soldiers And we bear Arms not to maintain our Liberty and the Roman Empire but to preserve him who keeps their bodies and minds in slavery And every day are we soiled in their blood who are killed and tortured until such time as some one serve us with the same sauce to satisfie Caius's Cruelty For it is not for L the good will be beareth us that he maketh use of us but that which is more we are suspected by him and he will cause us to be put to death as he hath done others For his displeasure is not limited by justice but by his will We also shall serve him for a mark to aim at For which cause it behoveth us to provide for the security and liberty of all men and especially to warrant our selves against all those dangers that threaten us Clement declared by apparent signs that he thought well of Chaereas resolution but he counselled him to make no words of it for fear the rumour thereof should be spread among the people and the secret should be discovered before the execution and lest that Caius getting an inkling thereof they should all of them be drawn into danger of death and in the mean while it behoved them to hope that some good M fortune would fall out to their furtherance and that for himself his age had taken from him the necessary courage that belonged to such enterprizes
Parthia and Armenia to Tiridates who was the younger When Monobazus King Izates's Brother and the rest of his Kinsfolk saw how happily all things succeeded to Izates Monobazus and his Kindred think to receive the Jews Religion and how in respect of his Piety towards God he was E honoured and reverenced by all men they also resolved themselves to forsake their Religion and to serve God after the manner of the Jews But this intent of theirs was discovered Whereupon the chiefest among them grew displeased yet they did not manifest their despight but kept it hidden in their hearts expecting some fit occasion to revenge themselves as soon as they might They wrote also to Abias King of Arabia and promised him great sums of money if he would take Arms against their King The Adiabenians conspire with the King of Arabia against Izates promising him upon the first charge they would forsake him for that they desired to be revenged on him for having forsaken their Religion Having therefore confirmed their promise with an Oath they incited him to make haste The King of Arabia performed that which they required and marched forth against Izates with a F great power And when the first charge was ready to be given and before they came to blows all Izates Soldiers forsook him and turning their backs to their enemies fled in great disorder as if they had been surprized with a Panick fear yet was Izates no ways daunted but having discovered that it was treason and conspiracy of his greatest Peers he retired also into his Camp where he enquired of the Cause that they pretended After he knew that they had plotted with the Arabian he caused the Conspirators to be put to death and the next day after went out to fight and killed 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 vigour and diligence that he took the same with G a great quantity of booty that was therein and returned to Adiabena with great triumph but he took not Abias alive for he himself had prevented his captivity with his death The Lords of Adiabena seeing themselves frustrated of their former hopes in that by God's hand they were delivered into the hands of their King could not contain H their displeasure but practised further mischief for they wrote their Letters to Vologesus King of Parthia desiring him to kill Izates and to bestow another King upon them who was a Parthian for that they hated their King who had abolished their Religion The Lords of Adiabena perswade Vologesus to kill Izates and had embraced a strange Law The Parthian understanding hereof prepared himself for War and having no just colour or pretext to authorize it he sent a messenger unto him to redemand those honours which his father had given him which if he refused he denounced War against him Izates was not a little troubled in his mind when he understood this message For he thought that if he should restore the gifts he should do himself great prejudice for that it would be imagined that he did it for fear knowing on the other side that if the Parthian should recover I that which he redemanded yet he would not be quiet he therefore commended his cause to God trusting that he would take care of him And building upon this that the greatest good he might have was to have God to help he shut his wives and children in a strong Castle and his corn in his strongest Tower and afterwards burned all the hay and forrage and having after this manner provided for all things he expected the approach of his enemy The Parthian came forward sooner than he was expected with a great power of Horse and Foot For he marched forward in all haste and encamped near unto the river that separateth Adiabena from Media Izates likewise encamped not far from thence having with him about six thousand Horse To whom the Parthian sent a messenger to give him to understand how great his power K was which extended from the River Euphrates as far as Bactria shewing him what Kings he had under his subjection threatning him to punish him very severely in that he behaved himself so ungratefully towards his Benefactors yea that the God whom he adored could not deliver him out of the Kings hands Hereunto Izates answered that he knew well that the Parthian far exceeded him in power but that he was far better assured that God's power extended beyond all mens contradiction Izates calleth upon God who sendeth the Dahans and Sacans into Parthia upon whose arrival Vologesus returneth And having returned them this answer he betook himself to his prayers and prostrating himself upon the earth and casting ashes on his head and fasting himself his wives and children he called upon God and prayed after this manner O Lord Almighty if I have not vainly submitted my self to thy protection but have intirely chosen thee L for my only and true God be thou my help and assistance and not only deliver me from mine enemies but also abate and controul their pride who have not been afraid in their blasphemous language to prophane thy holy and sacred Name and utter blasphemous speeches against thy power Thus prayed he with sighs and tears and God heard him For the very same night Vologesus received Letters by which he was certified that a great number of Dahans and Sacans taking opportunity by his absence were entred into the Kingdom of Parthia and spoiled the whole Country For which cause he returned back into his Country without any further trouble And thus Izates by Gods Providence was delivered from the Parthian threats Not long after this Izates delivereth up the Kingdom to his Brother Monobazus and dieth after he had lived fifty five years and reigned four and twenty M and left behind him four and twenty sons he died and appointed his Brother Monobazus to succeed him in the Kingdom requiting hereby his faith and Loyalty in that during the time of his absence and after the death of his Father he had faithfully ruled and governed the Kingdom to his use His Mother Helena hearing news of his death lamented very grievously that she being his Mother was deprived of a Son that so zealously honoured and feared God yet notwithstanding she was comforted when she understood that her eldest Son was to succeed him in the Kingdom and hasted with all diligence to go and meet him As soon as she arrived in Adiabena she lived not long time after her Son Izates Whereupon Monobazus took both her body and his Brothers bones and sent them to Jerusalem commanding that they should be buried N in three Pyramids which Helena had builded Hedio Ruffinus cap. 5. aliàs 8. some three stades or furlongs from Jerusalem But hereafter we will recite the
Historiographers of untruth and declareth his intent and specifieth the principal points of this History THe War of the Jews against the Romans The duty of an Historiographer and how things that are past should be written was of all other the greatest that ever was attempted in our Age or heard of in D any other either between City and City or Nation against Nation Yet there have been some persons who rather building their discourse on the vain and false reports of others than their own knowledge have written the History of it by hear-say and filled their discourse not only with Vanity but also with Contradiction Others there are who though Witnesses or Actors in the same nevertheless have according to their own fancy related many falshoods either out of flattery to the Romans or hatred against the Jews Whose Writings are full of nothing but Accusations of the one and Praises of the other without observation of Historical E Verity Joseph himself had a hand in the Wars of the Jews For this cause I Joseph the Son of Matthias by Birth an Hebrew a Citizen and Priest of Jerusalem who in the beginning of those Wars bore Arms against the Romans and afterwards being thereunto forced by necessity was present at all those things which were attempted and prosecuted in those Wars have thought good to write in the Greek Tongue in favour of all those who acknowledge the Sovereignty of the Roman Empire all that which heretofore in my own Language I have written to inform other Nations When these great Wars began the Romans were at Civil Wars among themselves And the younger and more turbulent sort of Jews trusting to their Riches and Courage excited so great troubles in the East to make use of this opportunity that whole Nations were in apprehension to be brought into subjection to them because F they had confederated with those of their Nation that inhabited the parts beyond Euphrates to revolt all together Moreover at that time the Gauls who bordered upon the Romans suffered them not to live in peace And the Germans also began to take Arms. After Nero's time all things full of trouble In a word after the death of Nero Seditions reigned every where so that by reason of the opportunity of these times many went about to make themselves Kings And the Soldiers lead with the hope of gain desired nothing more than trouble and alteration Now because these matters were important the trouble I had to see the truth disguised made me take care to inform exactly the Parthians Babylonians Joseph had written this History in the Hebrew Tongue before and the farthest distant Arabians and those of our Nation inhabiting beyond Euphrates together with the Adiabenites of the true cause of this War of all that G passed in it and how it was ended lest those who were not present in it should be ignorant thereof and deceived by flattering and fabulous Historians Yet some of these there be who besides their false informations stick not to write Histories not only void of all H truth but also no ways answerable to the Subject which they undertake For whereas they labour to extol the Romans The Glory of the Romans is diminished if you derogate from their labours at the Siege of Jerusalem and debase the Jews I cannot understand how they can be held great who triumph in the Conquest of men so obscure and abject Nay whilst they thus extol the Romans valour in conquering the Jews they consider not the continuance of the War nor the multitude of the Roman Forces nor the honour of their Captains whose Glory is much impaired if they lessen that of the ressistance by which the valour of the Jews render'd the execution of the Enterprise so difficult For my own part I am not resolved to contradict those who shall enhance the Glory and Noble Actions of the Romans nor to extol and cry up the Deserts of my own Nation but my resolution is in all truth and sincerity to set down each Occurrent without I respect or partiality towards either part In performance whereof I will order my discourse according to the matter I treat of and as my grief and sorrow shall invite me to lament the miseries of my Countrey For the Civil Dissension that dismember'd the same was the cause that brought it to confusion And those Tyrants that reigned amongst us were such who forcibly drew the Romans with Sword and Fire to effect the Desolation of our Holy Temple Titus his Piety towards the Jews The truth whereof Titus Caesar himself can justifie who destroyed the same who during all those Wars still pitied the people for that they as he well perceived were kept in awe by the Seditious And oftentimes of his own accord he deferred the taking of the City and purposely protracted the Siege to the intent that in the mean time the Authors of the Seditions K might have leisure to repent and submit themselves Now if any man think that I write this as one that exclaimeth against the Tyrants and their Depredations or that in bewailing the miseries of my lost Countrey I accuse their Villanies too passionately and thereby transgress the limits of a History let it be imputed to my grief and so pardoned For amongst all the Cities that ever were conquered by the Romans our City only attained to the top of felicity but now alas 't is brought into extreme Misery All Calamities that hapned since the beginning of the World being compared with those the Jews suffered are of no moment Captivity and Desolation Nay if all the Misfortunes and Calamities which the World from the beginning hath seen be compared with the infelicity and fall of the Jews they are slight and inconsiderable And to encrease our sorrow 't is not to Foreigners but to our own Countrey-men L that we are to attribute the cause of our miseries Wherefore if any man too severe and Stoical reprehend this my Lamentation let him consider only the deeds I recount in the History which I write and pass over the Lamentations and sorrows of me The Grecian Historiographers overpass the Wars of the Jews with silence who am the Historiographer I confess I have often blamed and perhaps with reason the most eloquent Grecians that although these our most miserable and memorable Wars hapned in their days in respect whereof all other former troubles are obscure and of no reckoning they have restrained their Tongues and Pens to the end they might carp at those with greater liberty who undertake the publishing thereof whom though in Learning and Eloquence they exceed yet they have the advantage M of having managed Publick Affairs These Censurers of others write the Histories of the Assyrians and Medes as if the ancient Writers had ill reported the same though indeed they come as far behind those ancient Authors in their manner of writing as they
bridle his displeasure yet dissembled the same Cassius chargeth Herod by letters to revenge his fathers death and sent letters to Cassius wherein he complained of his fathers death Cassius already hated Malichus sufficiently and so he writ again to Herod willing him to revenge his father's death which that he might the better effect he secretly commanded the Captains of his Regiment to assist him Now for that after the surprizal of Laodicea all the best of the City came to Herod bringing presents and crowns he appointed this for a fit time of his intended revenge which Malichus suspecting as he was near Tyre he purposed secretly to get away his son who was there a pledge and to flee into Judaea But despair of his own safety urged him to greater matters for he hoped to incite the Jews to take Arms against the Romans N whilst Cassius was now busie in the War against Antonius so that he thought he might easily depose Hircanus and make himself King But God prevented these vain hopes For Herod suspecting he had some great design invited him and Hircanus to supper in order to which he made a shew as though he had sent one of his servants to cause a banquet to be prepared but indeed he sent him to the Roman Captains to tell them to lie in wait for Malichus who remembring what charge Cassius gave them The decree of fate laugheth at humane hope came forth of the City to the shore next adjoyning to the Town all armed with swords where compassing Malichus round about they killed him with many wounds Hircanus hereat astonished fell in a swoon and being scarcely come to himself Herod's Tribunes kill Malichus he demanded who killed Malichus one of the Captains answered that Cassius O gave the commandment whereupon he answered truly Cassius hath preserved me and my Country in killing him who was a Traitour to us both but whether herein A he spake as he thought The year of the World 3923. before Christ's Nativity 39. or that for fear he approved the fact it is uncertain Thus was Herod revenged upon Malichus CHAP. X. Ant. lib. 14. cap. 20. How Herod was accused and set free Felix cometh with an army against Phasaelus AFter Cassius was departed from Syria Phasaelus overcometh Felix and reproacheth Hircanus with ingratitude there arose another sedition in Jerusalem B for Felix came with an Army against Phasaelus to be revenged upon Herod for killing Malichus It chanced that Herod was at that time at Damascus with Fabius a Roman Captain and would have come to assist Phasaelus but by the way he fell sick so that he could not succour him but it so fell out that Phasaelus without any help did of himself overcome Felix and afterwards reproached Hircanus as ungrateful in that he had both favoured Felix and suffered Malichus's brother to seize upon divers place as already he had done and especially one of greatest strength called Massada Yet all these did not protect him from Herod who was no sooner recovered of his sickness but presently he retook them all and at Hircanus's request permitted him to depart He also chased Marion whom Cassius had made Prince of the Tyrians C out of Galilee who had got three Castles in that Country As for the Tyrians that he took he spared their lives and sent some away with rewards whereby he got the good will of the City and the hatred of the Tyrant Which Marion had gotten into his hands all Syria and for the hatred he bore to Herod took with him Antigonus Aristobulus's Son and marched against him and by Fabius's means whom Antigonus had gained to himself by money Antigonus Aristobulus's Son put to flight by Herod he also got Ptolemy to assist him in this expedition which Ptolemy was father-in-law to Antigonus and furnished him with all necessaries Herod likewise having prepar'd himself against them gave them battel in the entrance into Judea and got the victory and having put Antigonus to flight he returned to Jerusalem where he was honoured by all men for his courage in that victory so that even they D that before despised him now by reason of his affinity newly contracted with Hircanus sought his friendship and familiarity This Herod long before this time had a wife which was a noble woman of his own Country Doris Herod's first wife of good birth by whom he had Antipater named Doris and had by her a Son named Antipater but he then married Mariamne daughter of Alexander who was Aristobulus his son and of Alexandra Hircanus his daughter by reason whereof he came to be in favour with the King But when Cassius was slain near Philippi Caesar departed into Italy The chiefest Jews repair to Caesar to accuse Phasaelus and Herod and Antonius into Asia at which time the chief of the Jews came and accused Phasaelus and Herod alledging that they by force got unto themselves the rule of the Country and left Hircanus only the bare name of King But Herod being then present so wrought himself into Antonius's favour by a great sum of money E that he permitted not his enemies to speak one word more Ant. lib. 14. cap. 21. who thereupon returned home Afterward an hundred men of the most honourable amongst the Jews repaired to Daphne near Antioch to Antonius now doting on the love of Cleopatra and offered an accusation against the two brethren having chosen some of the greatest Quality and Eloquence to speak for them Messala undertook their defence being assisted by Hircanus Antonius having heard both parties demanded of Hircanus whom he thought the fittest to govern the Common-wealth who answered Herod and his brethren Whereat Antonius was exceeding glad for he had been most courteously entertained by Antipater when he came with Gabinius into Judea and thereupon he made them Tetrarchs Antonius maketh the two brothers Tetrarchs committing to them the rule of all Judaea F which when the Jews Ambassadors misliked he put fifteen of them in prison and was near resolving to put them to death the rest he sent away after he had treated them very ill The Jews once more complain against the two brothers Whereupon there arose greater tumults in Jerusalem and the Jews sent another Embassage of a thousand men to Tyre where Antonius resided with an intent to come against Jerusalem Antonius displeased with their murmurs and complaints commanded the Magistrates of Tyre to kill all they could catch of the Jews and to maintain their Authority Antonius commandeth in Zyre whom he himself had constituted Tetrarchs But Herod and Hircanus went to these Deputies who walk'd on the Sea-shore admonishing them earnestly to be contented lest by their indiscreet proceeding they should become not only the cause of their own deaths but also of War against their own Country G but because they would not be reclaimed by these admonitions Antonius sent
her Mother and youngest Brother to keep on their journey Herod more hotly pursued by the Jews than the Parthians and he with his Servants warily assaulted the Parthians and having in divers assaults C killed a great number of them he hasted towards the Castle of Massada and in his retreat sustained more harm by the Jews than by the Parthians who as they had been always troublesome so now within three score furlongs from the Town they set upon him Herod's Victory The Battel was long but Herod obtained the Victory killed a great many of them and in remembrance of the action built on that place a most stately Palace Herodion and a strong Castle which from his own name he called Herodion In this retreat many joyned with him But when he came to Thersa a Town of Idumaea his Brother Joseph met him and perswaded him to lessen the number of his followers because Massada could not receive such a multitude for the number amounted to above nine thousand Massada Herod according to his counsel dismissed those that were unfit for D his turn and sent them into Idumaea giving them necessaries for their journey As for those that were chosen men and fit for his purpose he retained them with him and so he was received into the Castle where leaving eight hundred Soldiers to defend the women Petra a City of Arabia and Provision sufficient for those that were within he himself went to Petra a City of Arabia In the mean time the Parthians at Jerusalem began to sack the houses of them that were fled The year of the World 3925. before Christ's Nativity 37. and the King's Palace they only abstained from Hircanus's money which amounted to more than three hundred Talents As for other men's Goods they found not so much as they expected for Herod long before suspecting the infidelity of the Parthians had sent all his Riches and Jewels into Idumaea as his followers also had E done When the Parthians had taken the spoil they were so impious that they left no place of the whole Countrey free from Pillage They destroyed the City of Marsa and bound Phasaelus and Hircanus and delivered them in Chains to Antigonus who presently cut off Hircanus's ears Antigonus cutteth off Hircanus's ears to the end that if by some alteration he chanced hereafter to get loose he might be no more High Priest for by our Law none may offer Sacrifice that wants any member of his body But Phasaelus his fortitude prevented the cruelty of Antigonus for having neither Weapon nor his hands at liberty he beat out his own brains against a stone and died demonstrating himself by that act to be the true Brother of Herod and not a Poltron like Hircanus Yet some report that Antigonus sent a Chirurgeon under pretence to cure the wound who filled the same with venomous F Medicines Phasaelus's words before he died and so killed him It is reported likewise that understanding before his death by means of a certain woman that Herod was escaped he spake these words Now I shall die without regret since I leave behind me one that will take vengeance of my enemies The Parthians established Antigonus King and so he died Although the Parthians had not yet received the five hundred women promised them which was the chief thing they looked for yet they established Antigonus in Jerusalem and led Hircanus Prisoner into Parthia But Herod with all speed hasted into Arabia as if his Brother had been yet alive to the intent to borrow money of the King of Arabia with which alone he hoped that the cruelty of those barbarous Parthians might be mitigated towards Phasaelus For his opinion was that although the Arabian had now forgot his Father's Friendship and G were hard-hearted yet at least he would lend him money seeing it was to redeem his Brother whose Son he meant to leave as a Pledge for it For Herod took with him a Son of his Brother 's into Arabia that was seven years old and purposed to give 300 Talents for his Ransom and had made the Tyrians intercessors for him to the Parthians H But Fortune prevented his endeavours so that his love and care for his Brother prevailed nothing He found also that the Arabians renounc'd the League of Amity for Malichus their King sent to him as he was yet in the way charging him with all speed to depart out of his Dominions pretending that the Parthians had sent Ambassadours to him to request him to drive him out of his Countrey but indeed the cause was that his ingratitude suffered him not to pay that which Antipater had deserved or requite his Sons now comfortless for those good turns that he had received at their Father's hands And those who counselled him to this were such as offered to forswear those Summs which Antipater had put them in trust with who were the chiefest men about him Herod perceiveth the Arabians to be his enemies Herod perceiving the Arabians to be his foes for that which I he thought would procure him friendship answered the Messenger according as his resentment moved him and took his journey towards Egypt and the first night he lodged in a Countrey Temple to the intent that those of his company that were behind him might overtake him The next day coming to Rhinoslura his Brother's death was told him after he had paid what he could not refuse to the first sentiments of so violent a sorrow he went forward In the mean time the King of Arabia though too late repented himself of that which he had done to Herod and sent Messengers after him to desire him to return but they could not overtake him he had marched so fast When Herod was come to Pelusium the Mariners of the City would not receive him into their Vessels for which K cause he in person went to the Governours who reverencing the Fame and Dignity of the man conducted him to Alexandria whither he no sooner came but Cleopatra received him very honourably intending to make him General of her Army which she was preparing at that time Herod in great dangers repaireth to Rome But he neither regarding the offers of the Queen nor yet discouraged by the hard Winter Season nor the dangers of the Seas took his journey towards Rome and being in great danger of Shipwrack near Pamphilia both he and the rest of the Passengers were forced to cast away the most part of their lading with much ado he arrived safe at Rhodes which had been much ruined in the War against Cassius there he was entertained by two of his friends Ptolomey and Sapinas and although his money grew scant yet there he built a great Galley with three Ranks of L Oars and in it being accompanied with his friends he sailed to Brundusium and from thence went straight to Rome Herod repairing to Rome hath conference with Antonius
was said he mocked So that in every thing he found his Father's affection turned from him and that he was only favourable to Antipater so that he would die with all his heart if he failed of his purpose If he killed him his Father-in-law Archelaus would afford him safety to whom he might easily flee And after he would go to Caesar who as yet knew not Herod's manners and he would not stand before him then as he did L before terrified because his Father was present neither would he only speak of his own wrongs but of the wrongs of the whole Nation who were oppressed by exactions even to the death And then he would lay open on what pleasures and after what sort the money gotten with Blood was consumed and who and what kind of men they were that were thereby enriched and what was the cause of the affliction of the City and there he would bewail the death of his Unkle and his Mother and unfold all Herod's wickedness which being once made manifest to the World no man would account him a Murtherer of his Father Eurycles having falsly reported this of Alexander to Herod fell presently to praise and extol Antipater affirming that he only loved his Father and hindred such practices M The King Another false Accusation of Alexander and his Brother moves Herod to indignation yet not throughly appeased for that which was past grew into exceeding fury and Antipater again suborned other false Witnesses against him who affirmed that they were wont to have secret talk with Jucundus and Tyrannus who sometimes were Officers of the King's Cavalry and now displaced for some offence they had committed Whereupon Herod being very angry presently tortured them and they affirmed Diophantus the King's Notary writeth feigned Letters in Alexander's name that they were ignorant of all that which was laid to their charge But there was found and brought to the King a Letter pretended to be written by Alexander to the Governour of the Castle of Alexandrium requesting him that he would receive him and his Brother Aristobulus into the Castle when he had killed his Father and to assist them both with Arms and other Necessaries Alexander affirmed N that this Letter was counterfeited by Diophantus the King's Secretary who was both malicious and could counterfeit any one's hand and who afterwards having counterfeited many was at last for the same put to death Herod caused the Governour of the Castle to be tortured but he confessed nothing that was laid against him and although he had no good proof of any thing yet he commanded his two Sons to be kept in hold He likewise termed Eurycles who was the Incendiary of his house and the breeder of all the mischief Author of his safety and one who had well deserved at his hands and gave him fifty Talents Who departing from Judaea before matters were well known went to Archelaus and feigning that he had reconciled Alexander and Herod he received there a piece of money O From thence he went into Achaia and spent that which he had evilly got in as bad manner as he had got it Lastly he was accused to Caesar that he had caused dissension A in all Achaia and spoiled the Cities for which cause he was banished And this was the punishment that was inflicted upon him for his treachery to Alexander and Aristobulus It is not amiss here in this place to compare Avaratus of Cous unto this Eurycles who being a dear friend to Alexander Cous Evaratus and arriving about the same time that Eurycles did being put to his Oath sware that he heard the young men say nothing though indeed his Oath nothing prevailed nor profited them for Herod would only hear and give ear to Accusations and he highly esteemed them that would believe them with him and shew themselves moved thereat Moreover Ant. lib. 16. cap. 12. Salome encreased his rage against his Sons for Aristobulus minding to B engage her to assist him being his Mother-in-law and his Aunt sent to her to look to her self as though the King was minded to put her to death because it was reported to him that she purposed to marry with the King's enemy Syllaeus the Arabian to whom she privily revealed the King's Secrets This was the utter ruine of the young men Herod by Salome's counsel imprisoneth his Sons wherewith they were overthrown as it were with a violent Tempest For presently Salome went to the King and told him of what Aristobulus had admonished her And he becoming outrageous caused both his Sons to be bound and imprisoned in several places Then he he sent Volumnius General of his Army and Olympus one of his familiar Friends The year of the World 3961. before Christ's Nativity 1. to Caesar to carry the Informations against his Sons in writing who sailing to Rome after their arrival delivered the King's Letters And Caesar was very sorry C for the young men yet he permitted the Father to do what he would to his Children and so writ to him that he should have license to do what he thought good Yet he signified to him that he should do better to call his Nobles together and let them make enquiry concerning the Treasons and then if he found them guilty of those things whereof they were accused to put them to death Hereupon Herod Ant. lib. 16. cap. 13. according to Caesar's direction went to to Berytum and there gathered an Assembly to sit in Judgment Herod gathereth a Council against Alexander and Aristobulus the chief in that Judgment were the Governnours that Caesar in his Letters appointed Saturninus and Pedanius presided and with them Volumnius Intendant of the Province next the King's Kindred and Salome and Pheâ—oras and then the Nobility of Syria Archelaus only excepted who D because he was Father-in-law to his Son Herod suspected him to be partial But he suffered not his Sons to come into Judgment for he knew that the very sight of them would have moved all men to compassion And moreover if they were permitted to speak for themselves that Alexander would easily have acquitted them both For which cause they were kept in Platan Herod accuseth his Sons in open Judgment a Village of Sidonia The King beginning his Oration was as vehement as though they had been present against whom he spake But he was half afraid to object any Treason against them because he had no proof thereof and therefore he aggravated their opprobrious words injuries and offences which they had committed against him which he affirmed to be more unsufferable than death E At last when no man contradicted him he began to complain of their silence Herod's sentence against his Sons which seemed to condemn him and thereupon requested every one to give their verdict And first of all Saturninus condemned his Sons but not to die saying that he had three Sons present and he
this most wicked and ingrateful of all men and is it now to be endured that he is so impudent as to dare to open his mouth in hope to colour all again with craft and deceit Beware Varus that he deceive you not for I know this beast and I even now see by his feigned tears how probable a tale he will tell This fellow once warned me that whilst Alexander lived I should beware of him and not put every one in trust with my person This is he who was wont to go before me into my bed-chamber and look about in every corner lest any should have lien in wait to have attempted any treason against me This is he who watched by me in my sleep and in whom I thought my self secure who comforted me when I mourned for them that were put to death This is he K who gave me good or ill characters of his Brethren when they were alive This was my defender and champion O Varus when I remember his crafts and subtilties and all his counterfeitings I wonder that I am yet alive and how I escaped the hand of such a traitor And seeing that fortune stirs up those of mine own house against me and that those that I most esteem are my greatest enemies I will bewail my hard fortune alone and not one that hath thirsted after my blood shall escape although proof be brought against every one of my children â— Thus his heart being surcharged with sorrow he was forced to break off his speech and presently he commanded Nicolas one of his friends to report all the proofs and evidences All this while Antipater lay prostrate at his Fathers feet Antipater's answer and excuse but now lifting up his L head he address'd to him and said You Sir your self made my Apology For how can he pass for a Parricide who as your self confess always watcht to preserve you from all dangers Which if you say I did feignedly is it probable that I would be so circumspect in other affairs and at other times and now in so weighty a matter play the part of a sensless man How could I think that such a design though kept secret from men could be hidden from God who seeth all things Was I ignorant what befel my Brethren whom God so punish'd for their wicked conspiracy against you Or what should cause me to aim at their life The hope of the Kingdom I possess'd it already Or a suspicion of your hatred towards me I knew you loved me passionately Or any fear which I had of you On the contrary I rendred you formidable to others by the care I took of your preservation M Was it want of money Nothing less for who might spend more than I Truly if I had been the wickedest person in the World or the cruellest beast upon earth yet I should have relented being overcome by the benefits of so loving a Father seing as your self said you recall'd and prefer'd me before so many Sons and being yet alive you proclaim'd me King and made me a spectacle to all men to envie through the benefits you bestowed upon me O wretch that I am O unhappy time of my absence out of my Countrie what an opportunity hath it given to malicious and calumniating people Yet O Father it was for your sake and about your affairs that I went to Rome to the end that Syllaeus might not triumph over your old age Antipater calleth Rome and Caesar to witness Rome can witness my piety and Caesar the Prince of the whole world who often called me a lover of my Father Receive here O Father his Letters far more N credible than those feigned calumniations against me let these plead my cause let these testifie my affection towards you remember how unwilling I was to go to Rome knowing I had here in this Country many secret enemies Thus you unwarily have been the cause of my ruine by forcing me to that voyage which has afforded envy time to frame accusations against me but now I will come to the proof of these matters Behold here I am who notwithstanding a Parricide yet never suffered any misfortune by sea or land is not this a sufficient argument of my innocency But I will not insist upon this proof of my innocence since I know that God hath permitted you to condem me already in your heart Only I conjure you give not credit to depositions extorted by torments let me be burned inflict all torments upon me spare not my body For if I am a Parricide I ought not to die without O all sort of torment Antipater accompanied these words with so many tears that he moved all that were present and Varus also to compassion but Herod only abstained A from weeping for his anger against his unnatural Son fix'd his mind upon the proof of his Crime And presently Nicolaus at the King's commandment made a long speech concerning Antipater ' s malice and artifices which he laid so open that he extinguish'd all pity in the minds of the hearers He ascrib'd all the mischief which had befallen that Kingdom unto him Nicolaus at the King's command beginneth a most heinous an bitter accusation against Antipater and especially the death of his two Brethren who through his calumniations were made away affirming also that he used treacherous practices against those yet alive fearing lest they should succeed in the Kingdom for he who had prepared poyson for his Father would much less spare his Brethren And then coming to the proof of his intent to poyson his Father he declared in order all the evidences thereof aggravating his offence by the B corrupting of Pheroras who by Antipater was drawn in to purpose the murther of his Brother and King Nicolaus's peroration and how he had also corrupted the King's dearest friends and so filled the whole Court with wickedness When he had accused him of many other things and brought proof thereof he ended his speech Then Varus commanded Antipater to make answer to these things The poyson tried upon a condemned man and seeing that he continued lying on the ground and said nothing more but God was witness of his innocency he called for the poyson and gave it one who was condemned to die who having drunk thereof presently died Then Varus talked apart with Herod and what was done there in that Council he writ unto Caesar and the next day he departed And when Herod had put Antipater in prison he sent messengers C unto Caesar to inform him of his hard fortune and calamity After this it was discoverd that Antipater design'd the death of Salome For one of Antiphilus servants came from Rome and brought Letters from Acme who was one of Julia's maids which she writ to the King telling him that she found a Letter of Salomes among Julia's which for good will she had sent him These Letters which she affirmed to be Salomes
resolution For he caused the chief men of every Town and Village in all Judaea to be assembled together and then he shut them up in a place called the Hippodrome And calling unto him his Sister Salome and Alexas her Husband I know said he that the Jews will make Feasts for joy of my death yet if you will do what I desire it shall be mourned for and I shall have a remarkable Funeral As soon as I have given up the Ghost cause my Soldiers to encompass these men whom I have here in hold and kill them all By this means all Judaea and every N Hous-hold thereof shall have cause to lament The Ambassadors signifie 〈◊〉 death and bring Letters that authorize Herod to punish Antipater After he had commanded this to be done those whom he had sent to Rome brought him Letters wherein was shewed how Acme Julia's Servant was by Caesar's Command put to death and Antipater adjudged worthy to die yet Caesar writ that if his Father had rather banish him he permitted it Herod with this news was something pleased yet presently his pains and a vehement Cough seized him with that violence so that he thought to hasten his own death Herod overcome with pain would have 〈◊〉 himself and taking an Apple in his hand he called for a Knife for he was accustomed to cut the meat which he did eat and then looking about him lest any standing by should hinder him he lift up his arm to strike himself But Achab his Nephew run hastily to him and stayed his hand and presently there was made great lamentation O throughout all the King's Palace Ant. lib. 1◠cap. 16. as though the King had been dead Antipater having speedy news hereof took courage and promised the Keepers a piece of money to A let him go But the chiefest of them did not only deny to do it but also went presently to the King and told him what Antipater requested Herod hearing this lifted up his voice with more strength than was meet for a sick man and commanded his Guard to go and kill Antipater and bury him in the Castle called Hircanion And now again he altered his Testament Antipater's death and appointed Archelaus his eldest Son King and Antipas his younger Brother Tetrarch Five days after the death of his Son Antipater Herod died Ant. lib. 17. cap. 12. having reigned thirty and four years after he slew Antigonus and thirty seven years after the Romans had declared him King In many things he was as fortunate as any man for being born but a private person he got the Crown and kept it and left it to his Posterity But in his Domestick Affairs he was most unfortunate B Salome before it was known to the Soldiers that the King was dead went forth with her Husband and released all those that were in Hold whom the King had commanded to be slain saying that the King's mind was altered and therefore he gave them all Licence to depart Herod's death signified to the Soldiers And after their departure the King's death was published to the King's Soldiers who together with the other multitude were assembled in the Amphitheatre at Jericho by Ptolomey Keeper of the King's Seal who made a Speech to them and told them that Herod was now happy and he comforted the multitude and read unto them a Letter which the King left wherein he earnestly requested the Soldiers to favour and love his Successor After the Epistle read he recited the King's Testament wherein Philip was appointed Heir of Trachonitis and the places thereunto C adjoyning Antipas Tetrarch and Archelaus King He commanded his Ring to be carried to Caesar to whom he referred the cognizance and disposal of all with full Authority requiring that as to any thing else his said Testament should be performed This was no sooner read Archelaus proclaimed King after his Father's decease but presently the Skies were filled with the voices and cries of the people who congratulated Archelaus and the Soldiers and the People promised to serve him faithfully and wished him a happy Reign This done the next care was about the King's Funeral on which Archelaus spared no cost but buried the King with all Royal Pomp possible Herod's pompous Funeral The Herse whereon he was carried was adorned with Gold and Precious Stones upon it lay a Bed wrought with Purple whereupon was D laid the dead Corps of the King covered also with Purple a Crown and Diadem of pure Gold on his head and a Scepter in his Right hand About the Herse were his Sons and Kinsfolk and the Guard and Bands of Thracians Germans and Gauls all went before in order as though they had gone to Wars The rest of the Soldiers in Warlike order followed their Captains and Leaders and five hundred of his Servants and Freed-men carried Perfumes And thus the Corps was carried the space of two hundred furlongs from Jericho to the Castle of Herodion where as himself had appointed it was interred H THE SECOND BOOK OF THE WARS of the JEWS I Written by FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS The Contents of the Chapters of the Second Book 1. Of Herod's Successor Archelaus how he entred into the Temple and the Mutiny that arose for the revenge of those that were executed for taking away the Golden Eagle 2. Of the Fight and Massacre in Jerusalem between the Jews and the Sabinians K 3. Varus Governour of Syria for the Romans represseth the Insurrections in Judea 4. How the Jews had an Ethnarch constituted over them 5. Of the Impostor Alexander Herod's pretended Son and how he was taken 6. Of the Banishment and Death of Archelaus 7. Of Judas the Galilean who established a fourth Sect and of the three Sects amongst the Jews 8. Of the Cities which Philip and Herod built and of Pilat's Government L 9. The Emperour Caius orders Petronius Governour of Syria to constrain the Jews by Arms to receive his Statue into the Temple Petronius forbears to do it The death of Caius saves him from Punishment 10. The Roman Army declares Claudius Emperour Of the Reign and Death of Agrippa 11. Of divers Tumults in Judea and Samaria 12. Of the Tumults in Judea under Foelix 13. Of Albinus and Florus Presidents of Judea M 14. Of Florus his cruelty against the Jews of Caesarea and Jerusalem 15. Of another Oppression of the Citizens of Jerusalem by Florus 16. Of Politianus the Tribune King Agrippa's Speech to the Jews exhorting them to obey the Romans 17. Of the Rebellion which the Jews begun against the Romans 18. Of the death of Ananias the High Priest Manahem and the Roman Soldiers 19. Of the great Massacre of the Jews at Caesarea and in all Syria N 20. Cruelties exercised against the Jews in divers other Cities and particularly by Varus 21. Fifty thousand Jews slain at Alexandria 22. Of the Massacre of the Jews by Cestius Gallus 23.
so great a multitude if there were some rash and foolish young men and that it was C impossible to discern all that offended seeing every one was now penitent for that which was done and at least for fear would deny it and that if he intended to maintain the quietness of the Nation and preserve the City still to the Romans he then must rather pardon a few seditious for so many good mens sake than revenge himself of a few wicked persons by the hurt and molestation of so many that thought no harm 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 Soldiers Hereat Florus's Choler was increased and presently he commanded the Soldiers to plunder the Market-place which was the higher part of the City where things were sold and put all they met or found to the sword The Soldiers who were desirous of gain having now authority from their Ruler did not only sack the place they were sent to but also all the houses and murthered the Inhabitants D All streets and gates were filled with them that sought to flee and the dead bodies of them that fell into the Soldiers hands no sort of spoyling was omitted They also apprehended many of the Nobility and brought them to Florus and he causing them to be whipt Florus's Soldiers kill 630 Jews in one day afterward hanged them There were slain on that day of men women and Children for they spared not the infants six hundred and thirty So horried an action appeared so much the more insupportable to the Jews in regard it was a new sort of cruelty which the Romans had never exercised Florus then doing that which none before durst ever presume to do for he caused Knights before the Tribunal-seat to be whipped and after hanged who though they were Jews born yet had received that dignity from the Romans E CHAP. XV. Of another oppression of the Citizens of Jerusalem by Florus AT this time King Agrippa was gone to Alexandria Bernice requireth Florus to pacifie his displeasure against the Jews to see Alexander whom Nero had sent to be ruler over Egypt His Sister Bernice in the mean while remained in Jerusalem and seeing the cruelty of the Soldiers she was much grieved and often F sent the Lieutenant of her horsemen and her own guard to Florus requesting him to abstain from the slaughter of the Citizens But he neither regarding the multitude of them that were slain nor the dignity of her that entreated but only his private gain and what he could gather by oppression and rapine denied her request so that the rage of the Soldiers extended it self also against the Queen The fury of 〈◊〉 Soldiers against Bernice For they did not only before her face beat and kill all that came in their way but they had also killed her had she not fled into the Palace where she watcht all night keeping a guard about her in fear that the Soldiers would break in upon her She came to Jerusalem to fulfil her vow to God for it is the custom that if any be afflicted with grievous sickness or be in any other distress they must abide in prayer thirty days before they offer sacrifice and abstain from wine and shave their hair which G custom Queen Bernice then observing went also barefoot to Florus his Tribunal-seat to entreat him but he not only contemned but also put her in danger of her life This was done the sixteenth day of May. The day after the multitude gathered together in the upper part of the City in the Market-place and with great cries complain H that so many were slain and especially used contumelious words against Florus which the Nobility and high Priests fearing death apprehending beseeched them to abstain from such words as had already caused that calamity in the City and not to provoke Florus to greater indignation The people exclaim against Florus And so the multitude was pacified for their sakes who entreated and hoped that hereafter Florus would desist from such cruelty Florus when he saw the multitude quieted was sorry and that he might again provoke them he assembled together the Nobility and high Priests telling them that it would be an argument that the people did not seek alteration any more Florus reneweth the discontents of the people if they would go in courteous manner and meet the Soldiers which were coming from Caesarea Florus's subtilty and treason whereof there were two Legions Having thus assembled the Jews together to I go meet the Soldiers he also sent and commanded the Centurions not to salute the Jews who came to meet them and if therefore the Jews were offended and gave any hard speeches they should fall upon them with their weapons The high Priests assembling themselves together in the Temple desired them to go and solemnly meet and entertain the Soldiers for fear of a greater inconvenience Notwithstanding this counsel those that were seditious refused to do as they were requested and others for grief of them that were slain took part with the seditious Then all the Priests and Levites brought forth the holy vessels and ornaments of the Temple The exhortation of the Priests and Princes to the people and with Harps songs and musical instruments came before the multitude and on their knees conjur'd them by the care that they ought to have of K the honour and preservation of the Temple not to provoke the Romans through contumelious words lest they should sack the Temple There might you have seen the chief of the Priests with ashes upon their heads and their cloaths rent so that their naked breasts were perceived calling every Nobleman by his name and speaking to all the multitude requesting them not for a small offence to betray their whole Country to them who still gaped after the destruction thereof For what thanks shall ye have from the Romans for your former salutations if now in hope of amendment of your miseries you go not forth to meet them contrariwise if you would go to them in solemn manner then you take from Florus all occasion of violence and save your Country from ruine and your selves from further calamities L Adding that it was a great shame that such a multitude should be led away with a few seditious persons and that it was more fit that so many should force those few seditious people to obey them and joyn with them in opinion With these perswasions they mollified the obstinacy of the Jews and also perswaded many of the seditious people some with threats and some with reverence of themselves to be pacified And so they going before all the people followed and went out to meet the Roman Soldiers At their coming near them they saluted them who answering nothing again those of the Jews that were seditious began to rail against Florus The event sheweth Florus's intent and counsel by whose order this was done whom presently the Soldiers apprehending beat them with clubs
now lay murthered and naked in the open streets left as it were a prey to be torn in pieces by Doggs and wild Beasts Was Virtue ever more insolently outraged And could she N without shedding Tears behold Vice thus triumph over her A The FIFTH BOOK Of the WARS of the JEVVS B Written by Flavius Josephus The Contents of the Chapters of the Fifth Book 1 OF another Massacre and of the Return of the Idumeans and the Cruelty of the Zealots 2 Of the Civil Discord amongst the Jews 3 Of the Yielding of Gadara and the Massacre there C 4 How certain Towns were Taken and the Description of Jericho 5 Of the Lake called Asphaltites 6 How Gerasa was Destroyed the Death of Nero Galba and Otho 7 Of Simon of Gerasa Author of a new Conspircy 8 Of Galba Otho Vitellius and Vespasian 9 Of Simon 's Acts against the Zealots 10 How Vespasian was chosen Emperour 11 The Description of Aegypt and Pharus 12 How Vespasian Redeemed Joseph from Captivity 13 Of Vitellus his Death and Manners D 14 How Titus was sent against the Jews by his Father CHAP. I. Of another Massacre and of the Return of the Idumeans and the Cruelty of the Zealots SUch was the end of Ananus and Jesus After whose death the Idumeans and E the Zealots massacred the People as though they had been a flock of pernitious Beasts and very few escaped the Butchery The Nobility and chief sort of men were put in Prison The cruelty of the Idumeans and the Zealots in hope that by deferring their death some of them would become partakers with them Yet none was hereby moved but every one desired to die rather than impiously to joyn with these Wretches against their own Country Whereupon they were most cruelly whipped before they were put to Death their Bodies being made as it were one sore place by Whipping and Stripes and when they could not endure these Torments any longer they were killed Who so was taken in the day time was in the night carried to Prison and those that died in Prison and Torments they cast their dead Bodies out F that they might have place to imprison others in their room The People were so terrified that none durst weep openly for his Friend nor bury the dead Body of his Kinsman yea those that were in Prison durst not openly weep but secretly looking about them lest any of their Enemies should see them For whosoever mourned for any that was afflicted was presently himself used in the same manner as he had been for whom he lamented Yet sometimes some in the night scraped up a little earth with their hands and therewithal covered the dead body of their Friend and some bolder than the rest did the like in the day-time 12000 of the Nobility executed And in this general slaughter were twelve thousand young Noblemen slain in this manner After which being hated for these Massacres they mocked and flouted the Magistrates and made no account of their Judgments So that when they determined to put to death Zachary the Son of Baruch one of the chief of G the City because he was an Enemy to their wickedness and loved the virtuous and one that was rich by whose death they hoped not only to have the spoil of his goods but also to be rid of one who might be able to resist their bad purposes they called seventy of H the best amongst the common People together as it were in Judgment with a pretended Authority and before them they accused Zacharie that he had betrayed the Common-wealth to the Romans and for that intent had sent to Vespasian but they neither shewed any evidence or proof thereof but only affirmed it to be so and therefore would have credit given to their words When Zacharie perceived that under pretence of being called to Judgement Zacharie condemned to death by the Zealots he was unjustly cast into Prison though he had no hope of Life yet he spared not to speak freely his mind and began to scorn the rage and pretence of his Enemies and purged himself of the crimes whereof he was accused and converting his speech against his Accusers he laid open all their Iniquities and much lamented the miseries and troubles I of the City In the mean-while the Zealots gnashed their teeth and could scarcely contain themselves from drawing their Swords and were desirous that their pretended Accusation and Judgment might be ended He also requested them who by these Miscreants were appointed his Judges Seventy Judges absolve acquit Zacharie to remember Justice notwithstanding the danger they might incur by it The seventy Judges all pronounced that he was to be absolved and freed as guiltless and rather chose to die than to cause his death who was Innocent This Sentence being pronounced the Zealots began to shout and cry with a loud voice and they all were angry at the Judges Zacharie slain in the midst of the Temple who did not understand to what end that counterfeit K Authority was given them Then two of the boldest amongst them set upon Zacharie and killed him in the midst of the Temple and insulted over him saying Thou hast now our Sentence and Absolution far more certain than the other was And presently they cast him down from the Temple into the Valley below and then contumeliously with the Hilts of their Swords they beat the Judges out of the Temple yet they did not kill them to the end that being dispersed thorow the whole City they might tell the People as Messengers from them of their miserable condition The Idumeans were now sorrowful for their coming One of the Zealots discovereth their cruelty and barbarous dealing to the Idumeans for they misliked these proceedings and being assembled together one of the Zealots secretly told them all that their Faction had done from the beginning that it was true the Idumeans had taken Arms L because they were informed that the Metropolitan City was by the Priests betray'd to the Romans but they might perceive there was no proof nor sign of any such matter and that indeed the Zealots who pretended themselves Defenders of the Liberty of the City were indeed Enemies and had exercised Tyranny over the Citizens even from the beginning And though they had associated themselves with such wicked persons and made themselves partakers of so many Murthers yet they ought now to cease from such wickedness and not assist men so impious to destroy their Country and Religion For though they took it in bad part that the City Gates were shut upon them yet now they were sufficiently revenged of those that were the cause thereof That Ananus himself was slain and almost all the People in one night whereof M many of them ere long would repent and that they might now themselves perceive the cruelty of those who requested their aid to be more than barbarous had not
it what he could upon intelligence that their rapine and plunder in the Town being not sufficient to supply their necessities the Jews were forc'd to seek out into the Valleys for food he disposed certain parties of Horse and other select men in Ambush to intercept them for though their exigences were very great yet being for the most part poor people with Families in the City they durst not run over to the Romans lest their Wives and Children should be murdered in their absence wherefore they were forc'd to make private excursions in the night to conceal themselves from the Enemy and having fallen unexpectedly into this Ambuscade they fought it couragiously as knowing it too late to expect mercy after such untractable obstinacy but they were defeated N many of them taken and tortur'd and afterwards crucified before the Walls of the City Titus crucifieth many Jews before the Walls Titus looked upon their condition as very deplorable for scarce a day past in which there were not 500 Jews taken and served in that manner by those partys of Horse yet he thought it inexpedient to remove them because they were a great security to the rest of his Army But his great design was by the cruelty of that spectacle to terrifie the City and hasten its surrender Wherefore the Souldiers in hatred to our Nation crucified all they took one after one fashion and another after another in derision And the multitude of the Captives was become so great there was left no space for the crosses nor indeed crosses for their bodies to be crucified upon But the seditious Jews within the City were so far from relenting by this massacre that rather their hearts were more hardned so that herewith they terrified the rest of the multitude O for they * The Jews carried the kindred of those that were fled out of the City to the Romans and shewed them the tortures they suffered carried the relations of those who were taken by the Romans to the Walls A that they might see how those were used that fled to the Romans the same sight they also shewed unto them that desired peace affirming that they whom the Romans had so used were those that fled unto them for succour and not captives by them taken This deterred many who would otherwise have fled to the Romans till such time as the truth hereof was known Yet some there were that ventured to the Enemy as preferring Death and Torment at their hands before the Miseries and Famine which they endured at home Hereupon Titus cut off many of the Captives hands and sent them into the City to Simon and John that their Calamity might testifie them to be Captives and not such as had fled voluntarily to the Romans willing them to admonish their Friends to yield B and not compel him to destroy the City and to assure them that in so doing they might still save their lives their Country and Temple which had not the like in the whole World and he continually went about the Rampires hastning the workmen in their business as though he presently meant to effect that in deeds which in words he had spoken The Jews both curse Caesar and is Father The Jews that stood upon the Walls reviled both him and his Father affirming that they contemned Death and would chuse rather to die than become slaves That whilest they lived they would to their power defend themselves against the Romans without any care either of themselves or their Country which Caesar sent them word were both in imminent danger Moreover they said that the whole World was a Temple dedicated to God far more excellent than theirs C which notwithstanding should be conserved by him that dwelt in it whose help they hoped to enjoy and did therefore deride all his threatnings as things that could never come to pass without his divine permission Thus did they opprobriously abuse the clemency of the Romans At this time arrived also Antiochus Epiphanes and with him a considerable supply of Men among which there was a company called the Macedonians of equal years and little older than young men all trained up in Martial Discipline and armed after the Macedonian manner from whence they took their name yet for the most part they did not answer the expectation that men had of the Macedonians For the King of Comagne was the most fortunate and happy of all Kings that were subject to the Roman Empire D till such time as he felt the frown of Fortune who in his old age proved that none ought to be accounted happy before his death whilest Comagne was in prosperity his Son said he marvelled that the Romans did delay to assault the City and enter the battered Walls for this young Man was a great Warriour and of exceeding strength to the which he trusting too much did many things rashly Titus smiled and answered The insolence of Antiochus and the Souldiers that that was a work too great for the Romans Upon which young Antiochus accompanied with his Macedonians assaulted the Wall and himself with his strength and dexterity avoided the darts of the Jews and cast his darts at them but his whole Party a few excepted were there slain for obliged by their extravagant boasting they continued longer in â—ight than it was expedient for them at last many E being wounded retired perceiving that the Macedonians to win a Victory had need of Alexanders fortune The Romans iu seventeen days build four huge bulwarks The Romans the twelfth day of May began to build their Rampires and labouring seventeen whole days with much ado they ended them the nine and twentieth of the said Month. For they builded four vast Rampires one of them over against Antonia which was built by the fifth Legion opposit to the midst of the Struthian Waters another was built by the twelfth Legion twenty Cubits distant from the other But the tenth Legion which was of more account than the two former erected a Mount opposit to the Pond called Amygdalon on the North-side and the fifteenth Legion made the fourth thirty Cubits distant from the other over against the Monument of the High Priest John F The Mounts being thus finished John undermined that which was over against Antonia and underpropped it with posts of Wood and filling the Mine with Wood Bitumen and Pitch he fired it so the posts that held it up being burnt the Mine fell and the Mount also with a hideous noise fell into it and first of all there arose a great smoak and dust for the Mines covered the flame at last the fire having consumed the matter that covered it the flame appeared The Romans at this sudden and unexpected exploit were much amazed and disordered so that thereby those who before made account of the victory as certain began now to dispair Two days after Simon and his associates set upon the other Rampires for thereon were planted
Aristotle in Clearchus recounting moreover at large his admirable abstinence and chastity Of whom they that are desirous to know more are recommended to Clearchus Hecateus 〈◊〉 brought up with King Alexander for I am loth to write any thing superfluous So now it is evident how Clearchus by the way of digression speaking of another matter maketh mention of us But Hecateus Abderita a Philosopher and one brought up with King Alexander and dwelling with Ptolomeus Lagus did not only briefly make mention of us but also writ a whole Book of our Nation the Jews out of which I will briefly note some few points that occur but first I will shew of what Antiquity he is For he recordeth the I time when Ptolomeus near unto Gaza fought with Demetrius which happened the eleventh year after Alexanders death in the hundred and seventeenth Olympiad as Castor writeth who speaking of this Olympiad saith That in this time Ptolomeus Lagus overcame Demetrius the son of Antigonus at Gaza in fight which Demetrius was called Poliorcetes and all men confess that Alexander died in the hundred and fourteenth Olympiad So that it is evident that at the time wherein Alexander lived our Nation flourished And Hecataeus saith That after that battel fought at Gaza Ptolomeus was made Lord of the places bordering about Syria and that many men hearing of the Clemency of Ptolomeus followed him into Egypt and conversed with him amongst the which one was called Ezekias K the Jews high Priest a man about threescore and six years old and of chief notice and dignity of all his Nation A thousand and five hundred Priests receive the Jews tenths and most prudent and eloquent one also who in all affairs had more experience than any man else He likewise reporteth That the number of the Jews Priests who received their tenths and rule all in general is a thousand and five hundred or thereabout And again making mention of the same Ezekias he saith This man being in reputation and honour and conversing with us by the help of some about him declared all things wherein we and this Nation differ and shewed unto us the place of his dwelling and the manner of his conversation which he had in writing After this Hecateus sheweth what manner of People we are and how religious in our L Laws and how that we will rather endure all torments and death it self than violate them in any thing and that we account it a worthy thing so to do adding moreover That being much hated of our neighbours and having suffered all Contumelies both at the hands of the Persian Kings and their Officers yet we could not be forced to change our Opinions but that we are continually exercised to give a reason thereof He also recordeth an example of the constancy of our mindes The Jews constancy against Alexander For Alexander quoth he being at Babylon and purposing to re-edifie the Temple of Bell commanded all his Souldiers to carry Timber to the building thereof and the Jews only disobeying his command endured many stripes and torments till such time as the King freed them from it And they saith he returning to their own Country destroyed all the Temples and Altars that they found there and M some of them were by the Officers therefore punished others escaped free Adding That we may justly be admired for these things and that our Nation is exceeding populous He shews likewise that many of us were carried Captives into Babylon and there served the Persians And that many more were disperst into Egypt after Alexanders death for a tumult begun in Syria He also recordeth the greatness of our Country The largeness of Jury and the fertility thereof They inhabit saith he a Country that hath almost thirty hundred thousand acres of most fertile ground Fifty â—â—ounds are almost six German 〈◊〉 for Jury is of this largeness and that in times past we inhabited a large and very great City which was very populous he speaketh also of the building of our Temple in this manner The Jews have many other Towns and Villages in every Province but they have N one most strong City the compass of whose Walls is fifty furlongs and in it inhabit a hundred and fifty thousand men and thâ—s City they called Jerusalem in the midst thereof is a building of stone with four Porches a hundred cubits about it hath also double Gates wherein is a foursquared Altar made of unhewn stones joyned together and it is twenty cubits square every way and ten cubits high and about it is a most huge Building wherein is on Altar and a Candlestick both of gold weighing two Talents and there is kept a continual Light night and day which never goeth forth But in it there is no Image nor Grove about it as about other Temples The Priests do dwell in the Temple and drink no Wine It is inhabited by the Priests who spend their time there in great continence both night and day absteining from all manner of Wine The same Author gives an account of an action perâ—ormed by one of our Nation who O was a Souldier under some of Alexanders successors and the Authors words are these A As I went saith he to the Red Sea a certain Jew one of the Horsemen that conducted us named Mosollamus a couragious man and one who excelled all Archers else both Greeks and other Nations This Jew every one hasting on forward of his journey and being will'd by a Soothsayer to stand asked for what cause the multitude stayed and went not forward Presently the Soothsayer shewed him a Bird which he diligently viewed and told the Jew that if that Bird did stand still in the place then it was expedient for them to stand and if the Bird did mount up and flie that then they ought to march on forward but if it slew towards the place from whence they came that then it was wisdom to retire The Jew hereat was silent yet drawing his Bow he shot an arrow and killed the Bird whereat the Soothsayer and certain others were offended and cursed him But he taking the unhappy Bird in his hand B said unto them Are ye so mad as to think that this Bird not having the foresight to preserve her self from this death is able to direct us in the success of our journey Had this Bird foreknown future events she would have eschewed this place for dread that Mosollamus a Jew should have strucken her with an arrow But we will now leave the testimony of Hecateus for every one that list may read his Book and there understand it more at large I will not omit the Testimony of Agatarchides Agatarchides his Testimony of the Jews a man of no evil in his own opinion yet indeed one who hath used detraction to our Nation This man speaking of Stratonice how leaving her husband Demetrius she came into Syria and how Seleucus would not
The Jews Laws are of great Antiquity But seeing the Antiquity of Laws is the greatest Argument to prove their goodness I will set down of what Antiquity our Laws are together with our Law-makers opinion of the Deity if therefore any one compare our Laws with the Laws of all Nations he shall find that ours are of more Antiquity than theirs by many Ages The Laws of the Gentiles For our Laws established amongst us have been imitated of all other Nations For though the first Greeks did pretendedly observe their own Laws yet all their Philosophers did imitate ours and our Opinions of God and taught others L the same manners and conversation yea the common people did long since imitate our Piety Neither is there any Nation either Greek or Barbarian who have not after some manner observed a Sabbath as we do and fasting days and Lamps all which they learned of us yea many do also observe our Customs concerning their meats and our unity and concord wherein we excel all other Nations our community also and industry in Arts and Labours and sufferance for our Laws And which is most to be admired our Law The Epilogue of this Book not having any to force us to observe it hath so obliged our hearts that as God is of all the world honoured without compulsion so are our Laws amongst us without any violence or force And whosoever doth diligently consider his own Nation and Family shall find that which I have reported to be true I will now generally M reprehend the voluntary malice of all men for either they mean that we having these good Laws do yet little esteem them and follow worse or if they do not so mean let them hold their malicious tongue from any further Calumniation For I do not take upon me the defence of this cause for that I bear any hatred to any man but for that I and all the Jews do honour and reverence our Law-maker The cause why â—â—seph writ these Books against Appion and believe that whatsoever he prophesied proceeded from God yea although our selves did not know the goodness of our Laws yet the multitude of them that imitate them were a sufficient motive to induce us thereunto A brief rehearsal of all that is abovesaid But I have at large and with all sincerity discoursed of our Laws and Common-wealth in my Books of our Antiquity And now again I have made mention of them neither in contumely of other Nations nor in praise of our own but N only to reprove such as have most malitiously and impudently belied us contrary to the known truth And I think I have already fully performed that which I have promised For I have shewed our Nation contrary to their affirmations to be most ancient The intention of the Jews Laws which I have proved by the testimony of many ancient Writers who in their Works have mentioned us Our Adversaries affirm us to have come of Egyptians I have shewed that our fore-fathers came into Egypt out of some other place They alledge that we were expelled Egypt for that we were infected with diseases I have proved that our Predecessors came from thence to their own Country by means of their own prowess and force of their own accord Others labour to defame our Law-maker as a wicked O person whose virtue many of ancient times and so long time as hath been since him do witness A It is not needful to speak more largely of our Laws for they by themselves appear pious and good and such as do not invite or incite us to the hatred of other Nations but rather to communion and friendship being both enemies to Iniquity and commanders of Justice banishers of Luxuriousness and teachers of Frugality and Labour forbidding all Wars enterprized for Avarice and preparing the people to shew Fortitude in them and for them inflicting inevitable punishment upon their transgressors not easily to be deceived by glozing speeches and executing in action all that they in word command yet amongst us the execution of them and observation is more ready than the words of them I therefore confidently affirm The Origine of the Jews Laws that we do teach more pious and virtuous manners than B other Nations do For what can be better than inviolate Piety What more just than to obey the Law What more profitable and commodious than to be at Unity and Peace amongst our selves and neither to forsake one another in calamity nor injure one another in prosperity to contemn and despise death in time of War and in Peace to labour and till our Grounds and to use other Arts and Works and always to think and believe that God beholdeth all our actions and ruleth and disposeth all things If this be either written or observed by any one before this time we are then to thank them as being their Scholars but if they were never extant before then we are known to be the first Authors Inventers of it Let therefore Appion and Molon perish and all others that with them are convicted of lying and slandering us This Book is written to thee C Epaphroditus who lovest the truth and to others who by thee will or are desirous to know the same D E F G DESIDERIUS ERASMUS H ROTERODAMUS To the most Virtuous and Learned Father HELIAS MARCEUS The Maccabetian Ruler of the Renowned Colledge of the I MACCABEES I Have not grudged vertuous Father to Dedicate unto thee a days labour wherein I have perused and what in me lieth amended the Book which Joseph writ of the seven Maccabees brethren and would it had lien in my power more abundantly to have answered your expectation I have now for that I counted the Greek Coppy by the Latine conjectured the Greek and altered some things yet but very few Joseph doth not falsly K boast himself to have attained to the excellency of the Greek tongue and this Book will sufficiently witness the same wherein he shewed great variety and emphasis insomuch as he esteemeth to have handled that famous work with eloquent stile and the Ornament of discourse Saint Jerome for this cause entituleth this Book Great Eloquence Suidas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out of them both we amend the corrupted Stile and call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is The Rule of Reason For the scope of this Book tendeth all to prove that Reason is of no force in man except it bear Soverignty over all inordinate appetites This is most evidently proved by the Books of the Maccabees in the Scripture which Books the Jews did not receive as Canonical yet do they account it among their sacred Writ I cannot but congratulate this worthy Colledg which though famous for many other things yet is more happy L for that it is so blessed as to enjoy so worthy and unspeakable a Treasure Or rather all Colonia Agrippina that happy
his dazled Eyes to Heaven Thou art He O God from whom life and Salvation proceedeth behold Eleazar's last words in the fire I dye for observing thy Laws be merciful to this thy Nation and do not forsake them whom thou hast hitherto B protected as in thy bosom and under the shadow of thy Wings let my death put an end to all our misery and pacifie thy wrath against our whole Nation for their offences recieve me for them all and bestow them all upon me And amidst these Speeches he joyfully expired It is most true therefore which we at first affirmed that Reason regulates our passions and disposeth us to suffer chearfully which once we having determined and resolved the anguish of our suffering is abated and our resolution and constancy confirmed If therefore reason and the inferiour powers be at variance Reasons victory we must subject them to Reason if we will make a perfect Victory With this guide our Father Eleazar was most safely directed neither to yeild or sink under his pains nor give place to unlawful C inticements and allurements he saved the Ship of his body from the shipwrack that might arise by the tempestuous storms of vanity and suffered not himself by contrary Winds to be driven from the right course yea though it was tossed upon the Waves of Tyranny yet did it remain sound and unbroken and keeping a direct course arrived in the haven of Salvation Never any man did seek so valiantly to defend his City from an Enemy as this holy old man did his Soul who amongst stripes crosses A similitude taken from the Rock and flames was still the same man For as the top of a high Rock standeth safe and resisteth the Wave without any dammage unto it self even so did the Rock of Reason in this man beat back the rage of those tempestuous Waves that dashed against his body nor permitting them to break in and pierce the Celestial and Divine D power of the Soul O happy old man Eleazar's praise more blessed than all of thy Age O Priest more sacred than all other Priests who didst not pollute thy sacred lips with profane meats impiety found no entrance that way from whence so many prayers to God had proceeded The Tyrants cruelty could not prevail against thee Thou therefore art made an example for all Priests of God to imitate Such a one behoved it a Priest to be more strong than torments more able to suffer than the torturers to inflict punishment more forcible than Princes commands yea and more potent than the fire wherein thou didst perish and finally thou wast ordained to be crowned with the Laurel of Martyrdom for thy sufferance Thou hast surpassed all Antiquity thou shalt be an example to all posterity E If then feeble old Age wherein all strength and heat of body was extinguished grown unfit for torments as being already broken with Age could by the strength of Reason endure so many miseries who dare deny Reason to be the chief cause of our sufferance We have seen the highest cruelty hath been overcome by a firme determination to persist in the Service and fear of God yet many affirme that every man who hath the use of Reason is not able to undergo such Agonies but their assertion is vain and of no force for most evident it is that he only is overcome by pain whom wisdom hath not armed with patience And no marvel if he who rashly enterpriseth so weighty a matter and without due consideration do at last forsake and repent himself of that which he so unadvisedly undertook But if we with due advice and deliberation F arm our selves it is not an easie matter to remove us by any misfortune from our determition when we foresee and preconsider the distresses that may befall us when they do happen we are not so much surprized or dismayed because we expected them before He therefore that is wise is resolute and able to conquer his passions Antiochus causeth seven noble young men of the Hebrews and their Mother to be brought to Antioch for that he doth well deliberate and when he cometh to tryall can put his determination in execution Neither is the wisdom of this old man so much to be admired seeing Children and as it were Infants have deserved the same commendations and wrought astonishment in their tormentors for the indignation and cruelty of Antiochus though overcome by the wisdom of this old man was but the more increased 2 Mac. 7 and therefore G by wicked counsel he caused seven young Gentlemen of the Hebrews to be brought unto Antioch out of their Castle Sosandrum who being tender in years and as he though weak and unable to suffer torments his hope was that either by perswasions H or terrours or tortures he might force them to renounce their Religion He therefore commanded these seven together with their Mother Salomana who now grew antient to be brought before him so they according to his command were brought being very graceful in their persons and every way worthy of so vertuous a Mother yea they resembled Angels their Faces shining like the clear light of the Sun their Eyes sparkled in most comely and decent manner as testifying that they surpassed in vertue all other of humane race and condition The Mother was descended of most vertuous and noble parentage and so she her self had continued and lived but that excellent feature of body and nobility of blood was much dignified by her vertue and fortitude in which shee passed all that could be said in her commendation I The Tyrant beholding them and their mother together with a counterfeit smile he accosted the Children in this manner I wish your good O admirable young men The Kings exhortation to the seven brethren for so both your beauty of body and noble Parentage perswade me do not therefore like mad men resist my command avoid not only torments but death also For I desire not only to exalt you unto honour but also to encrease your riches and possessions contemn the superstitious and superfluous belief of your own Country-men and embrace our Religion Which if you refuse to do as I hope you will not I will devise such torments as that I may by a lingring and painful death be able to consume you And to terrifie them the more he commanded the instruments of their torments to K be presented unto their view And accordingly Wheels Rods Hooks Rakes Racks Cauldrons Cages Gridirons were brought forth and Engines to torment the fingers and hands Gauntlets Aules Bellows brazen Pots and Frying-pans for these are the names which we find That which I term Bellows was a thin plate of Iron to kindle or blow the fire with like a Fan and far more horrible devices of torments were shewed unto them too long to rehearse whereof they having had a sight Antiochus said Consent unto me O prudent young
one indeed without the loss of his Life have remonstrated against so great an impiety Let us dye then said we among our selves seeing nothing can be more honourable than to lay down our Lives in defence of our Laws But our Death not being able to produce any good effect and being Embassadors as we are may it not be to augment the affliction of those who sent us and give advantage to such of our own Nation as have no friendship for us to say that to deliver our selves from some present inconvenience we deserted the Interest of the Publick though the lesser Interests are alwayes to give place to the greater and Private to Publick For in the subversion of Government all the Laws by which its Grandure and Consistance was maintained do for the most part suffer the same O Fate and are abolished with it A May it not be imputed to us likewise as a crime to abandon the Jews in Alexandria by abandoning an affair in which their Safety or Ruine is involved and the Safety or Ruine of our whole Nation and leave them in fear that a Prince of his Violence and Cruelty will entirely destroy them If it be Objected That seeing which way so ever we resolve no Success is to be expected why should not we think of retiring in safety I Answer That to do so we must have either no hearts or no knowledge in our divine Laws God perhaps will make use of this opportunity as a tryal of our Virtues and to see how we are disposed to comport under affliction Rather in stead of placing our safety in the uncertain succours of B Man let us put our whole confidence in God with a firm Faith that he will assist us as he has assisted formerly our Fore-fathers when their Perils were in appearance beyond all Remedy Thus it was we endeavoured to comfort our selves under so great and unexpected a Calamity flattering our selves with hopes of seeing happier times When we had remained silent for a time we said to him who brought us the first ill News Why do you content your self by having thrown an unhappy word among us to have kindled an universal trouble in our minds which as a single Spark will grow to a Flame and do not tell us what it is that hath transported the Emperour to so extravagant a resolution Every body knows replied the person that he would be reverenced as a God and because he is perswaded that the Jews are the only persons who will not acknowledge him for such C he believes he cannot any way afflict and punish them more than by dishonouring the Majesty and profaning the sanctity of their Temple which he knows is the most beautiful in the World decorated and enriched with the Presents of so many Ages which no doubt but his boldness and impiety will tempt him to seize Capito a Commissioner for the receipt of the Tributes in Judea has irritated him likewise against us by Letters which he has writ This Capito having little or no fortune before he was sent into this Province and having feathered his Nest well by his exaction since he came he has a mind to prevent by his Calumnies the just Complaints which he apprehended the Jews would make against him and he has made use of the occasion aforesaid Jamnia is one of the most populous Towns in Judea and all its Inhabitants are Jews except some few Strangers who unhappily for us are come thither to acquaint themselves with D the neighbouring Provinces Their aversion for our Manners and Customs is so great that they cease not to do us all the mischief that they are able to do and understanding that Caius was inslamed with an idle passion to be worshipped as a God and that on that account he had conceived a mortal hatred against us they thought they could never hope for a fairer opportunity to destroy us Wherefore they erected an Altar of Brick upon no other design but because they were sure we would never suffer the Laws of our Ancestors to be violated in that manner and their malice and cunning has had the effect which was intended For the Jews having pull'd down their Altar they who set it up made complaint immediately to Capito who was the contriver of the plot on purpose to ruine their fellow Citizens This wicked man transported as it were to have succeeded so far failed not to write to Caius exaggerating every thing and E adding much to the truth to provoke him the more The violent and audacious Emperour no sooner had the news but he commanded that in stead of an Altar of Brick they should set up a Statue of him as big as a Colossus which was to be Guilt over with Gold and placed in the Temple of Jerusalem in which resolution he had two principal Councellors Helico that notorious Buffoon and Apelles the famous Comedian who as is reported having prostituted himself and exposed his beauty for money when he was young was now got upon the Theater in his old age and the modesty of that profession every man knows By these excellent qualities these two excellent persons were got to be of Caius his Counsel With the one he consulted in matters of Railery and Wit and with the other how such a speech was to be pronounced upon the Stage not so much as concerning himself with the Peace and Tranquility of the Empire F Helico being an Egyptian bit us like an Asp and Apelles being of Ascalon was no kinder than he Every word that this person spoke was like a dagger at our hearts but these two wicked Counsellors were not long without their Reward For Caius caused Apelles to be clapt in irons for other Crimes and tortured him upon the Wheel but with several intervals to increase and spin out his punishment and Claudius succeeding Caius in the Empire he put Helico to death for other considerable Reasons G H CHAP. XIII Petronius his great trouble about executing the Order which he had received from Caius to set up his Statue in the Temple of Jerusalem because he was sensible of the injustice of it and foresaw the ill Consequences CAIuS wrote then that his Statue should be consecrated and set up in our Temple and omitted nothing that might injoyn the Execution of that Order He I commanded Petronius Governour of Syria to take half the Army which was disposed along the Euphrates to defend those Countries against the Kings and People of the East and to cause them to attend the Statue not that they were to add to the Solemnity of its Consecration but to cut those Jews in pieces who should have the boldness to oppose him Is it so then most cruel Prince that fore-seeing these poor people will sooner expose themselves to death than suffer the violation of their Laws and the profanation of their Temple you declare War against them and send a formidable army to consecrate your
the Consecration of the Statue to the Artists who being to make it excellent had required more time that it might be done more suitable to the dignity of the person it was design'd to represent He thought by this trick to gain time and it was likely Caius might comply because Harvest was at hand and he might very well apprehend that the Jews being made desperate and not valuing their Lives after the violation B of their Laws might burn their own Corn and destoy all their fruit which would be the more inconvenient because he was assured that Caius was upon a Voyage to Alexandria for it was not likely that he would expose himself wholly to the dangers of the Sea with so great a Train but rather steer his Course along the Shore of Asia and Syria where he might imbark and disimbarke as he pleased and have the benefit of his Long-boats of which he had 200 in his fleet to supply it with provisions and forrage which was requisite to be prepared in great quantities in all the Towns in Syria but especially the Ports by reason of the vast numbers which attended him as well from Italy as from all other parts of the world It was not doubted but this Letter would have been kindly received by Caius and C that he would have approved of the delay not in consideration of the Jews but for the convenience of making such provision of Victuals and therefore it was written and dispatched But the Choller of this Prince was so inflamed at the reading of it that his Eyes sparkled with fury and clapping his hands together in a great transport he said How Petronius Have not you yet learned to obey your Emperour Your great imployments have puff'd you up with pride aud it seems you know nothing of Caius but his Name but you shall know him better hereafter by your proper experience You have more consideration of the Laws of the Jews who are my mortal Enemies than for my Commands who am your Prince You apprehend their great numbers as if you had not an Army as great and terrible D to the King of Parthia and the whole East yet your compassion for that pitiful Nation is stronger than your desire to please and obey me You pretend forsooth the necessity of making provision for my passage to Alexandria as if I could not be accommodated from the neighbouring Provinces and as if the plenty of other Countries were not able to supply the sterility of Judea But why do I protract and spend time in unprofitable words 'T is by the death of this impudent fellow that I must convince him of the greatness of his fault and that mine anger never ceases though my threatnings may This furious Prince returned an Answer to Petronius but being fearful of provoking such of his Governours as were capable of raising Rebellion and particularly those E who commanded such potent and large Provinces as that upon the Euphrates and who had the command of such Armies as that which was then in Syria he dssembled his Choller applauded the descretion and prudence of Petronius only advised him by the by not to protract the Consecration of his Statue any longer for seeing Harvest was over there could be no considerable reason to defer it F G CHAP. XVI H King Agrippa comes to Rome and being told by Caius that he would have his Statue erected in the Temple of Jerusalem he falls into a swond having recollected himself he writes a Letter to Caius NOT long after King Agrippa arrived at the Emperors Court knowing nothing of the Letter from Petronius nor of the Answer which Caius had returned when Agrippa came to pay his duty to the Emperour he easily discovered by the manner I of his reception that he was highly offended He considered with himself whether he had done any thing that might disgust him but remembring nothing of that he concluded as was true that his passion was against some Body else Nevertheless observing that that agitation of Spirit appeared not in his Countenance but when he cast his Eyes upon him his fear continued and it came often into his mind to take notice of it to him but he forbore lest by an imprudent curiosity he should pull the anger of his Prince which was fixed upon other People upon himself No man seeing farther into Peoples thoughts then Caius he quickly perceived that Agrippa was disturbed and told him I will tell you what you are so desirous to understand You know me too well to be ignorant that I speak no less with my Eyes than with my Tongue K These honest men of your Nation are the only People who disdain to acknowledge me for a God and do seem to run themselves desperately into ruine by refusing their obedience to an order that I have given for the setting up a Statue of Jupiter in their Temple They have met together from all the Cities and Countries to present a Petition which in effect is nothing but to testify their contempt and disrespect to my Commands He would have proceeded but Agrippa was surprised with so violent a sorrow that he fainted before him and had fallen down had he not been sustained by those who were about him He was carried off to his Lodgings where he continued insensible for a considerable time The concernment of this poor Prince augmented the hatred that Caius had conceived L against our Nation If Agrippa said he who has alwayes had an affection for me and has been obliged to me by so many favours has so great a Passion for the Laws of his Country that he is not able to endure that I should cross them or so much as mention it to him without hatred to his Life what am I to expect from the rest of the Jews who are not obliged by any Consideration of me to abandon their sentiments All that day and a good part of the next Agrippa remain'd in such astonishment that he could not recollect himself at length about evening he began to lift up his head and opening his eyes with much trouble he cast them upon the People who were about him but knew no body and having done so he fainted again but with something more freedom of breath Not long after he opened his eyes again and coming a little to himself M Where am I said he with the Emperour and is he present Take courage Sir said some about him You are in your own Lodgings and the Emperour is not present You have slept enough awake now if you please and try if you know us Here are none but your Friends and your Servants whom you love and I am sure they love you beyond their own Lives Then the Prince opened his Eyes recollected himself and found by their countenances what an impression his malady had made in their hearts The Physitians caused the greatest part of those who were present to withdraw that they might
persons who had had the boldness to violate it of which without instancing in Forreign Examples I shall recount such as are domestick to your Majesty K When Marcus Agrippa your Grandfather in favour to King Herod my Grandfather condescended to visit Judea and coast along the Shore to Jerusalem he was so taken with the Magnificence of the Temple with its Ornaments the diversity of the Orders of the Priests with their Vestments and particularly with the habit of the Chief-Priest with the formality of their Sacrifices and the Devotion of those who assisted That he could not forbear testifying his admiration He took so much pleasure in the contemplation of these things that there was not a day past whilst he remained at Jerusalem but he visited them all offered magnificent Presents and granted to the Inhabitants of that great City all that they could desire but exemption from Taxes Herod paid him all the honour he could devise and having received much greater L from him attended him in person to the Sea-side the People flocking from all parts to throw boughs and flowers in his way accompanying him with a thousand Benedictions Is it not Sir a thing known all the World over that the Emperour Tiberius your great Uncle during the 23 years of his reign had the same respect for our Temple not suffering any body to make the least alteration in the Orders observed there Upon which account though otherwise I was a great sufferer by him I cannot contein from recounting an action that redounded much to his honour and I know you take delight in hearing the Truth Pilate the then Governour of Judea consecrated to him in the Palace of Herod at Jerusalem certain guilt Bucklers not so much in honour to M him as hatred to our Nation There was no Image ingraven upon the Bucklers nor no Inscription but the Name of him who dedicated them and the Name of him to whom they were dedicated Nevertheless the People tumultuated in such manner that they imployed the four sons of the King the other Princes of the Blood and the most considerable Persons of our Nation to perswade Pilate to cause the Buckers to be removed by reason it was contrary to the Customs of their Ancestors which Customs neither Kings nor Emperours had ever infring'd before and seeing Pilate who was of a violent and obstinate nature did seem to refuse them they cryed out Have a care of troubling the Peace which we enjoy Have a care how you provoke us to Revolt and to War 'T is not by the violation of our Laws that he Emperor is to be honoured you N must find another pretence to colour so unjust an Enterprize and so insupportable to us for this magnanimous Prince is far from intrenching upon our Customs If you have any Commission to that purpose any Letter or other Order to authorize you in what you do let us see it and we will depute persons to wait upon him with our humble Remonstrances These words exasperated Pilate yet gave him much trouble for he feared that if they sent their Deputies they would inform the Emperour of his Exactions Injustices and horrible Cruelties by which he had afflicted many innocent persons and put as many to death In so great an anxiety Pilate notwithstanding his Passion and Severity knew not what way to steer He durst not take away the Bucklers because they had been consecrated and if he durst have ventured upon that he could not frame himself to comply O with the People and besides he knew the mind of Tiberius A Those who interceded for the Jews perceiving that though he dissembled it what he could yet he repented of what he had done writ a Letter to Tiberius with great instance and respect and there needs no further proof of its effects than that after he had signified his displeasure to Pilate in his immediate Answer he sent to him his Commands to remove the Bucklers to the Temple at Cesaria which was built in honour to Augustus and it was done accordingly by which invention all due respect was paid to the Emperour without any invasion of our Laws Those Bucklers had no image upon them and yet now our Controversie is about a Statue Those Bucklers were placed only in the Palace of the Governour and this Statue must be set up in the Sanctuary a place so holy that there is only the high Priest permitted B to enter and that only one time in the year after a solemn Fast to burn Perfumes in honour to God and by his humble Prayers to implore his blessing on our whole Nation for the next year If any other not only of the Comonalty but of the Priests not excepting him who is next to the high Priest presumes to enter or if the high Priest himself enters it above once a year or more times that very day in which he has liberty to enter than what is allowed by our Law it will cost him his Life nothing can save him so peremptory has our great Lawgiver been in his Orders for the reverencing this holy Place and for the making it inaccessible You are not then to doubt great Sir but your Statue shall be no sooner erected but several of the Priests will rather kill themselves their Wives and their Children than be spectators of such C violence to their Laws Thus it was that Tiberius acted upon this occasion and as to that Prince the happiest that ever govern'd the Empire your most excellent Predecessor who having given Peace to the whole World deserved for his virtue and great exploits the glorious name of Augustus when he understood that we admitted not into our Temple any visible Image as being improper to represent an invisible God he admired the Piety and Knowledge of our Nation being learned himself and accustomed to pass the greatest part of his time at meals in discourse of Philosophical points that be had been taught by the greatest Masters and in the Conversation of learned Men which he kept constantly about him that his Mind might receive its repast as well as his D Body I could instance in several other things evincing his kindness to our Nation but I shall content my self with two Being informed that there was a neglect in bringing in our First-Fruits he sent to the Governours of the Provinces in Asia to permit only the Jews to assemble together because their meetings were not like the Bacchanals to drink and debauch and contrive against the Peace of the Publick but Academies of Virtue where People were instructed to love Justice and Temperance and as to their First-Fruits which were sent annually to Jerusalem they were imployed only to offer Sacrifices to God in the Temple Wherefore this great Prince expresly forbad every body for molesting E the Jews in what related to their Meetings and First-Fruits If these were not the very words I am sure it was the sence as your Majesty
Herod 462. N. O. Burning of the Temple 265. I. 476. M. 750. M. Burthen required to be eased 218. D. Bush of fire about Moses 66. O. Bushel of Corn sold for a Talent 738. M. Business of Moses 77. G. Butlers dream expounded 54. M. Butchery of the thieves 537. B. C. C. CAecinna perswaded the souldiers to revolt 309. E. F. apprehended 710. H. freed and honoured ibid. I. Caerealis conquered the Samaritans 670. B. C. Caesar confirmeth Hircanus in the Priesthood 370. D. departeth out of Syria 371. L. his testimony of the Jews 373. N. slain 569. D. 376. C. delivereth Aristobulus 567. A. Caesar slayeth Cassius 368. G. Herods friend 384. B. overcometh Antonius 403. M. confirmeth Herod in the Kingdom 405. N. giveth him 800 talents 406. G. Lord of Egypt 407. I. enlargeth Herods dominions ibid. 415. M. 583. B. made Pheroras Tetrarch 416. G. gave Herod revenues 416. F. offended with Herod 439. G. alloweth Herod to punish Malefactors 443. F. maketh Archelaus King 466. N. confirmeth Herods testament 471. D. calls a Council 606. M. makes Archelaus an Ethnarch 471. D. Caesarea built by Herod 414. G. was called Stratous Tower ibid. G. a great City 584. M. 674. H. Caiu Adams first son 29. B. slew his brother ibid. C. not bettered by Gods chastisement ibid. E. builded a City ibid. F. invented the use of the plough 29. B. father of hypocrites 30. H. Caius succeedeth Tiberius 485. C. certifieth the Senate of Tiberius death 492. L. maketh Agrippa King ibid. 616. H. banisheth Herod 493. E. usurpeth divine honour 493. G. 616. K. his Statue c. ibid. K. writeth letters to Petronius 493. C. calleth himself Jupiters brother c. 504. H. c. causeth many to be murthered 509. B. sacrifieth 509. A. builded a haven 516. L. slain 520. E. Caleb and Joshuah appease the people 96. M. Calimander slain 347. O. Calling of Moses 67. A. of Elizaâ— 228. E. Calamity of the Israelites 62. O. 73. D. E. F. 74. I. 129. B. 130. L. M. 133. B. foretold 261. L. and 262. E. Calamity of Herod 580. A. of Syria 632. L. M. Calamity in Jerusalem 738. K. L. M. c. Calamity of the Romans 747. E. of the Jews recounted to the Romans 749. B. Calamity of the Jews at Antioch 762. N. O. Calamity of the Jews taken by the Romans 775. D. Calumniation 435. B. Calves of Jeroboam 219. K. L. Caâ—byses inhibiteth the building of the Temple 275. N. O. 276. B. Camp of the enemies spoiled 240. D. Camp of the Romans how ordered 660. N. Three Camps of the Jews 607. F. Candlestick of Gold 84. O. 211. I. Capharis submits to Caerealis 705. F. Captain over a thousand 160. O. Captains of Solomon 206. H. Two Captains of Ochozias destroyed and why 236. B. the third preserved 236. C. Captain trodden to death 240. E. Captivity of Babylon fore-prophecied 257. I. 260. D. effected 265. L. 729. F. Carcasses hinder the passages 578. N. Carcasses innumerable 108. N. Carcasses cast out of the City how many 738. M. Care of God for the Israelites safety 67. F. for his servants 228. C. D. Carthage built 787. C. Carelesness of Abner touching Sauls safety 169. G. Carpenters how imployed 207. D. Cassius resisteth the Parthians 368. G. exacteth of the Jews 700 talents of silver 376. D. Cassius Longâ—â—â—â— Governour of Syria 527. C. Castle fortified 328. F. 362. L. razed ibid. F. Castle of David 717. F. Castor a subtil Jew 726. K. Catalogue of Jacobs sons and nephews 61. B. C. D. Catalogue of Gods benefits on Israel 74. I. K. Catalogue of the Commandments 79. F. G. Cattel gotten in War 124. L. 127. A. Catallus slayeth three thousand Jews 778. M. Cause of errour concerning God 812. N. Causes of discord 781. E. 782. H. Causes of malice between Egyptians and Jews 792. I. Causes of the Israelites ruine 62. M. Causes of the Wars of the Jews 622. K. Causes of Vespasians election 707. F. Causes of writing the Antiquities 25. D. E. 780. M. Caves of the thieves described 576. O. Ceasing of Manna 122. N. Celebration of the Passover 260. A. 281. K. Cells about the Temple 208. N. Candebaeus put to flight 343. N. 559. D. Cenizus delivereth the Israelites 133. C. vanquisheth Schisar ibid. G. judged Israel forty years ibid. O. Censors affixed to the brazen Altar 102. L. and why ibid. Censors of Gold 210. C. Centurion of Florm 623. A. Ceseâ—â—ius President of Syria 77. O. accused Antiochus ibid. H. I. Cestern digged to be enclosed 117. C. Cestiâ—â— G. appeaseth the people c. 622. I. burnt Zabulon and Joppe 634. N. consulteth with the Princes c. 625. B. his siege against Jerusalem 635. G. Châ—â—â—us and his compliâ—â—â— conspire Caius death 504. O. why incited against Caius 505. C. conferreth with Clement c. 506. I. intends to kill Caius ibid. expecteth occasion to assail Caius 508. I. slayeth Caius 510. L. honoured 515. A. sendeth Lupus to kill Caius wife ibid. E. executed 518. O. Challenge of a single combat 159. C. Chaldeans mutiny against Abraham 36. H. Cham Noahs son 31. O. his progeâ—y 34. K. discovereth his fathers nakedness 34. O. Chambers of pleasure 213. C. Champions of David 196. D. Canaan Jacobs inheritance 50. K. Canaanites put the Israelites to flight 98. N. wholly to be extinguished 118. M. 129. E. ten thousand slain 129. B. made Tributaries 215. B. Charges of the Temple to be supplied 281. N. Chariots of Jabin 134. K. of Solomon 206. K. Chariots armed seen in the air 753. D. Chastisement bettered not Cain 29. E. Chastity of Joseph 53. A. B. C. 816. K. Chance-medley 109. D. Change of the Jews Government 567. G. Change of names whence 34. I. Cherubin 84. H. in the Temple 209. I. Chetura Abrahams second wife 41. G. bare to Abraham six children ibid. O. Chieftains of Achis 172. N. cause David to be dismissed ibid. O. of Solomon 206. H. I. Children are to learn the Law 112. K. Seventy children of Achab slain 243. L. Children of Herod 595. B. C. Children not to be punished for the fathers offence 117. E. Children male put to death 62. O. Children of Canaan 34. N. Children of Abraham 40. I. M. of Jacob 47. N. O. Children of Roboam 221. B. Children unlike their fathers 149. B. 257. O. 241. I. K. Chodollogomor an Assyrian Captain 37. B. overthrew the Sodomites ibid. Choice of the Esseans in compassion and helping 613. C. Chorab mutineth against Moses 99. D. E. affecteth the Office of High Priest ibid. F. he and his company consumed with fire 102. L. Cosby a daughter of Midian 107. F. enticed Zambrias to Idolatry ibid. O. slain with him 108. K. Christ crucified 480. M. Chronicles of the Tyrians 254. A. Churlishness of Nabal 168. N. Chusais opposition to Achitophel 188. O. his counsel accepted 190. L. certified David of the victory 192. I. Chuthites removed unto Samaria 254. A. plagued and why 254. B. claim kindred of the Jews ibid. G. Circumcision commanded
corrupted with money 278. E. F. Judges qualities 112. L. their office 234. E. placed in every City of Juda ibid. E. Judgment seat in several Cities 149. A. Julian his valour and death 743. D. E. Julius Ant. for the Jews 432. L. Jupiter Eâ—yelius reliques 33. D. Justice is Gods power 112. K. Justice of God 254. C. leaves nothing unpunished 598. H. Justice oppressed 149. D. Justice neglected 565. A. B. Justice of the Esseans 613. E. Justification of Samuel 153. C. Justus inciteth the people to rebellion 3. D. reproved 19. F. his Country Tyberius 20. K. accused 23. E. condemned to death 20. N. his book when published 21. B. desireth to command Galilee 22. M. Izates King of Adiabena 529. A. learneth the service of God ibid. disswaded from circumcision 529. B. writeth to the Parthians c. 531. A. calleth upon God 532. L. delivereth the Kingdom to his brother 532. M. dieth ibid. K. KEeper of the prisons entreaty of Joseph 54. K. Kind of living most miserable 731. E. F. Kindness of Agrippâ— 11. C. Kinds of sacrifice two 91. A. Kindness pretended 598. N. Kindness of Herod 599. F. Fat Kine and lean what they signifie 55. D. King desired 150. I. Kings field 37. E. Five Kings of the Midianites slain 108. O. Of a King to be elected what things are required 113. B. The Kings of Canaan war against the Hebrews 125. D. they and their whole Army put to the sword ibid. B. 31 Kings overcome by the Hebrews 126. H. Kings of Egypt why called Pharaoâ—s 214. M. N. Kings of Alexandria called Ptolomies 214. M. King of Moab sacrificeth his son 237. L. King enjoyned by oath to serve God 245. I. Kingdom of Solomon rent 217. O. 219. H. A Kingdom how continued 158. N. Kingdom promised to Jeâ—ues posterity 240. B. Kingdom of Herod divided 471. D. B. Kingdom not given but the honours thereof 587. G. Kingdom of Agrippa 618. L. Kindred 43. B. 45. F. Kinsman 47. E. Knowledge of celestial bodies 30. K. Knowledge of good and evil 28. L. L. LAban Bethuels son 45. E. conâ—enteth to Rebeccaâ—â— marriage 43. C. entertaineth Jacob 45. E. appointeth him master of his shepherds 4â— I. deceiveth him ibid. L. pursueth after him 47 C. maketh a covenant with him 48. H. his goods 47. B. Labour of the Esseans 613. A. of the Roman Souldiers 660. N. ceasâ—ess 735. C. Ladder of Jacob 45. B. Ladies at variance 595. E. Lake Asphaltites 37. C. described 702. K. the property thereof 702. K. Lake of Genezar 679. H. Lakes Asphaltites and Tiberias 701. D. Lamech his wives and issue 29. F. Lamech Methusalaâ—s son 30. O. Lamentation of Esau and why 44. N. Lamentation of Jacob 52. M. of the Hebrews 119. F. Lamentation of thirty days 115. E. Lamentation for Abner 177. F. for Aristobulus 381. L. Land of the Ammorites possessed 105. B. Land-marks not to be removed 113. B. Land of Canaan divided by Lots 126. K. Land of Sodom where 702. M. Lap of Sauls Garment cut 167. G. Largess of Titus to his Souldiers 761. B. Largeness of Jewry 790. N. Laver how sustained 209. M. round lavers ibid. N. A Law most cruel 62. O. Laws made by Moses 111. B. C. Laws of adultery and jealousie 93. F. of the seventh year 94. L. of the fathers forsaken 107. E. of the plough 113. D. of like for like 117. B. of violence 116. M. of war 118. H. I. against wall-breakers 422. I. against forsakers of their places 734. K. of poyson 117. A. Laws of the Jews of great Antiquity 814. K. Law-makers of the Gentiles 814. I. Laws of the Gentiles 814. L. Lea Labans daughter 46. L. sustituted in Rackels place ibid. L. bare to Jacob four sons ibid. N. League of Isaac with Abimelech 44. I. of David with Hiram 179. E. of him with Solomon 207. D. Hircâ—â—â—â— with the Romans 336. I. K. 346. D. E. Learning of Daniel 267. O. of Joseph 1. E. Lagacies of Herod 462. K. Legions of the Romans 660. K. 711. C. Lending upon usury unlawful 116. I. Length of the Ark of Noab 30. N. Length of the Temple 208. M. Lenity of Saul 153. A. Lenity of Magistrates 157. D. Lepers driven out of the City 93. Gâ— 39. N. 〈…〉 250. â— C. Leprosie of Oziâ—s 250. B. Letters of David 184. L. of Senacherib 256. C. of Artaxerxes for the security of the Jews 291. L. of Ptolomy 390. E. of Eleazar 301. B. of Demetrius 336. E. Levi son of Jacob 46. N. slew the Sichemites 49. C. his sons 61. B. Levites wife 130. H. I. abused dieth c. 130. M. N. Tribe of Levi sacred to God 93. A. Levites sing hymns 235. K. numbred 200. N. Liberality of the Enchantress 171. G. of Herod 585. B. of Helena 530. K. of Izates ibid. Liberty of the Israelites 73. D. restored 133. C. Liberty of speech 231. L. 582. M. Liberty a precious thing 514. I. Liberties granted to the Jews 800. L. M. Library of Ptol. Philadelphus 298. D. Lice a plague of Egypt 69. C. Lie of Posidonius confuted 802. O. Lie of Apion concerning our oath 805. B. C. Life of Moses 807. B. Life of subjects like to their Princes 221. C. Light created 27. E. called day ibid. E. Lightnings horrible when 78. O. Lightnings on the enemies 148. M. Limits of the nine Tribes and halfs possession 126. K. c. Limits of a Kingdom enlarged 248. G. Line of Achab rooted out 243. M. Line of Joseph 1. B. Linnen and woollen garment 112. H. Logion or rational of the High Priest 87. C. Longinus breaketh into the Jews army 726. H. Loss of the Ark 144. N. and why ibid. Loss of Sauls Kingdom foretold 157. F. and why ibid. of the Empire of Asia 249. K. Loss of the General dismays the Souldiers 233. K. Lot son of Aram 35. D. had choice of the Land 36. O. led away captive 37. C. rescued 11. E. receiveth Angels 39. A. fled to Zoar 39. C. committed incest ibid. D. Lots wife 39. C. Lots cast 124. I. 126. K. c. 151. E. 155. G. Lots cast to kill one another 776. L. 673. C. Love of women blindeth 107. E. and causeth to serve strange gods ibid. E. F. 216. G. 217. H. Love of Jonathan towards David 162. I. 164. H. 164. K. of Joseph to his Country 731. C. Lovers of Order c. 806. O. Lust of Putiphars wife 53. A. F. of the Gabeans 130. L. M. of Caius 516. L. of the Egyptians 36. L. Lusty Jews reserved 758. N. Lybia of whom called Africa 42. H. Lycurgus among the Lacedaemonians 811. E. Lysius General of Antiochus army 317. I. invadeth Judaea 318. G. is overcome 318. C. once again invadeth Judaea ibid. Lysimachus killeth Apollodotus 353. L. betrayeth Gaza ibid. M. MAchâ—ras killeth many Jews 387. M. fortifieth Geth 388. D. his iniquity 577. D. Madness counterfeited 165. D. Midianites Embassage to Balaam 105. E. their daughters seduce the Hebrews 107. D. put to flight and slain 108. L. subdue
l. marrieth a wife ib. m. propoundeth a riddle ib. m. his acts against the Philistines 141 d e f. prayeth and why 141 d. betrayed by Dalila 142 h. the slaughter of the Philistines and of himself ibid. k. Samuel his parents 144 i. consecrated to God ibid. i God called him thrice ibid. k. fore-shewed the death of Eli and his sons 144 l. offereth sacrifice 148 l. comforteth the people ibid. his victory and recovery of lands 148 n. committeth the Common weal to his sons 149 b. troubled and why 149 e. bidden to create a King ib. f. sheweth the people's estate under a King ibid. anointeth Saul King 150 o. justifieth himself and why 153 b. striveth to reconcile Saul to God 157 c. killeth Agag 158 i. telleth Saul of God's displeasure 157 f. anointeth David King 158 n. his death burial and praise 168 l. Sanballat Governour of the Samaritans 293 k. followeth Alexander 294 b. buildeth a Temple ibid. f. Sanctuary 93 b. 209 h. 211 i. Sanctuaries or places of refuge for whom 109 â— Sand like glass 616 m. Sara daughter of Aram 35 o. Abraham's wife ibid. d. her beauty 36 l. King of Egypt enamoured on her ibid b. bringeth Agar to Abraham 38 i her age when she conceived Isaac 38 o preserved from Abimelech and how 39 e. brought forth Isaac ib. caused Ismael to be expelled c. 40 k l. affecteth Isaac ib. m. her death 41 f. Saraeus high Priest took Prisoner 265 l. Saturninus President of Syria 438 o. 4â—9 a. permitteth Herod to enter Arabia ib. b. his indifferent sentence 444 m Saul seeketh the lost Asses 150 k anointed King by God's commandment ib. o. confirmed therein 15 b. hideth himself ibid. f. saluted by the people for their King ib. f. promiseth the Jabesites assistance 152 l. killeth King Naas ib. n. sacrificeth and is reproved 154 l. overcometh the Philistines 155 e. would have slain Jonathan 156 h. always a conqueror ib. k. taketh and spareth Agag 157 b. slayeth the Amalekites and razeth their Cities 156 o. offendeth God 157 b. loseth his Kingdom and why ib. f. denied pardon renteth Samuel's garment ib. g. slew the Philistines 160 m. resolveth to kill David 162 i. darteth his Javelin at David 163 b. prophesieth 163 f. questioneth about David's absence c. 164 n. maketh an Oration to his Captains 165 f. pursueth David 167 e. condemneth himself and justifieth David 168 k. pursueth David again and his life saved 169 f. banisheth diviners 171 a. by a sorceress is foretold the event of the battel ib. c d. praised 172 k. is slain 173 f g. Scarcity fore-signified 55 e. how to be prevented 55 f. among the Israelites 95 e. very great in Claudius his time 97 d e. in Samaria 238 g h. Scarcity of corn 413 i k. Scaurus maketh peace with Aristobulus 362 b. Presidenâ— of Coelosyria 363 n. his war against Aretas 364 h. 5â—5 a. bribed ibid. Science of the celestial bodies 30 k. Schisar King of the Assyrians 133 b. oppressed the Israelites ibid. b. Scopas General of Ptolomy's Army 306 a. discomfited ib. overcometh the Jews 306 a b. Scythopolitans kill 3000 Jews 634 l. Sea of Pamphilia divided it self 72 n. Red Sea divided at the stroke of Moses's rod 72 k. returning to his course drowneth the Egyptians ibid. l. Brazen Sea 209 l. Sebas 196 e. Sebaste a haven 455 a. Secretary or Priest fore-telleth Moses's greatness 62 n. willeth him to be killed 64 n. Security promised to Rahab and hers 122 i. Sects of the Jews 339 m. 477 a. 612 l. Secrets of Syllaeus disclosed 599 d. Sedechias a false Prophet 231 e. contradicteth Micheas ib. e f. Sedechias King of Juda 262 d. revolteth ib. seduced ib. 263 h c. neglecteth the Prophet's counsel ib. o. surprised 264 f his eyes put out 265 h. his death ib. n. Sedition against Moses 95 e. 99 b. and 100 i. of Chore for the Priesthood 99 d. Sedition against Roboam 219 h. of the Samaritans against the Jews 298 b. among the people 312 k. of the Jews 494 h. betwixt Senate and people 516 h. Sedition at the Passover 464 l. between the Jews and Samaritans 534 l. for the golden Eagle 605 d. in Jerusalem 607 e. 621 d. between Greeks and Jews 634 h. threefold sedition 711 f. took the City 723 b. Seditious more impious than the Sodomites 724 h. Seditious 620 k l. beaten 615 f. bribe Albinus 621 d. fly to the Temple and why 624 n. gave not ear to those in authority 629 f put the Romans to flight 675 e. agree among themselves 712 o. 724 i. challenge the sodden child 749 a. summon Titus to parley 754 m. take away the King's Treasure 756 i. their utmost hope 756 m. kept in Acra and in Vaults 757 f. Seed of the Woman 28 n. shall bruise the Serpent's head ib Seeds at first grew out of the earth 27 f. Seeds not to be mixed together 113 d. Sehon King of the Amorites denieth passage to the Hebrews 104 m. overthrown by them ib. o. is slain ib. Seir what it signifies 43 e. Seir Esau's dwelling place 49 a. Seleucus Nicanor privilegeth the Jews 305 b. Seleucus Soâ—er reigneth in Asia 31â— f. Sem Noah's third son 32 o. covereth his father's shame 35 a. his progeny ib. b Semochonitis a lake 680 m. Semiramis built not Babylon 788 k. Senaar a plain 32 o. Senabarus one of the five Kings of Assyria 37 a. Senacherib surpriseth the Cities of Judah 255 l besiegeth Jerusalem ib. m. his Army stricken with the Pestilence 256 f. himself slain ib Senate perswadeth Claudius to resign 516 i. Senate's decree c. 378 f. Senate's answer to Agrippa 617 f. their repair to Claudius ddd 618 i. Senselesness of Achaz 252 b. Sentence against Herod's sons 593 e. Sephora Moses's wife 66 n. Sephoris walled 478 i. spoiled 22 h. entertaineth the Romans 635 b. Sepâ—lchre of David 202 o. of Memnon 618 l. Serpents tempting of Eve 28 l. his subtilty ib. l. his punishment ib. o. enemy to man ib. o. wherein his strength lyeth and how easily killed 29 a. Serpents very hurtful destroyed 65 d e. Servant of Elizeus 238 c. Servants of Solomon happy and why 215 e. Servant of Abraham taketh his oath 42 k. his prayer and care in discharge of his message ib. k. and 43 a b. Service of God neglected 252 b. Service of forreign gods 216 o. 248 b. 252 b. Service of Antipater 574 m. Services of the Gabeonites 125 a. Servitude of the Egyptians great 61 o. of the Hebrews insupportable 62 n. 67 a. and 68 i. Servitude of the Israelites 133 b. and why ibid. 134 k. 729 e. c. Seth son of Adam 30 i. a virtuous man ib. i. left a godly issue ib. k. his age and death 31 b. Sethosis King of Egypt 786 h. Seven men of Saul's kindred punished 195 n. Seventy Jews with John and Simon sent into Italy 765 f Seventy Interpreters 302 o. 801 a. Severity of Herod 416 e Sextus
Caesar Governour of Syria 372 c. writeth in Herod's behalf ib. f. selleth the President 's place 373 l. slain 376 b. Sheep-shearing of Nabal 168 n. of Absolon 180 o. Shews at Caesarea 761 e. Ships of Solomon 216 k. of Josâ—phat c. 235 m. Shipwrack of Josephus 2 h. Siba manureth Mephiboseth's lands 183 b. accuseth him and getteth his goods 189 b. Siba son of Bochri incenseth the people to Rebellion 194 l. by Joab 195 k. his punishment ib. l. Sybils Prophesie of Babel 33 d. Sicarians 771 c. besieged 772 a. authors of new calamity 777 i. taken ibid. k. Sichima Josuah's habitation 128 m. Sichem defloureth Dina 49 b. desireth to marry her ib. m. is slain ib. Sichemites slain 49 c. Sichemites constitute Abimeleck their ruler 137 b. banish him ib. d. are slain and their City sackt ib. g h. Sickness of Jeroboam's son 222 d. Sickness of Ochozias 235 n. Sickness of Joram 241 l m. Sickness of Adad 240 f. Sickness of Ezechias 257 i. Sickness of Herod 409 k l. Sicle 89 a. Siege of Jerusalem 179 c. 255 m. deferred 703 c. Signs of the law 112 k. Sign of Ezechias's recovery 257 k l. Signs before the destruction of Jerusalem 753 b c d e. Sign of a true history 782 h i. Signification of the golden-head 269 k. Silas Captain of the King's guard 522 a. Silas groweth into hatred 522 k. Silon corrupted with money 386 a. Silva besiegeth Massada 772 a. Simei pardoned 193 c. punished 204 m. Simeon the son of Jacob 46 n. why so called ib. m. he and Levi slew the Sichemites 49 c. left as a pledge with Joseph 57 c. his sons 61 b. Similitude 137 b. 672 l. Simon succoureth the Galileans 319 n. taketh Bethsura 338 e. declared high Priest 342 d. animateth the people against Tryphon ibid. e. his authority 342 e. razeth the Castle of Jerusalem 3â—2 f. maketh war against Antiochus 343 f. trayterously slain 344 b. 559 d. Simon degraded 454 i. Simon affecteth the Crown 468 m. 608 m. Simon 's counsel against Joseph 640 n o c. Simon killeth many of his countrey-men 632 o. his parents and wife c 633 a b. Simon the son of Giora committeth rapines and murders 642 m. Simon of Garasa 703 e. assembleth the thieves ibid. spoileth Idumaea 705 a b. assaulteth the Temple 70â— o. his camp 722 o. apprehended 759 e. 761 f. kept for the triumph ibid. drawn thorough Rome with an halter 767 b. Singing look song Single Combat 159 d. Sin escapes not unpunished 169 d. Sins of the Jews against the law 730 l. Sin cannot escape God's justice 169 e. 761 g. Sisara Captain of Jabin's host 134 k. put to flight and slain ibid. n. Scituation of the land of the Amorites 105 b. Scituation of the higher Galilee 659 b. Scituation of Jotapata 6â—4 b. Scituation of Gamala 680 m. Scituation of Massada 772 b. Six thousand Jews consumed with fire 752 m. Skirmish of the Romans with the Jews 608 i. Skirmish between the Galileans and the Romans 669 f. Skirmish of Simon and John 712 i. Slaughter one of another 136 i. 155 b. 235 l. Slaughter on the Sabbath day 632 h. Slavery of the Hebrews see servitude Slaughter of Achimelech and his Family 166 k. Slaughter of Ochozias's servants 243 m. Slaughter of Baal's Priests 244 a. Slaughter of Azarias 420 g. Slaughter of the Tapsians 250 e. of the Army of Juda 251 l. Slaughter of the Moabites 181 e. of Antigonus's faction 382. of the Jews 624 m. in the Temple 712 k. 751 c. in the vaults 756 n. Slanders touching the Jewish nation answered 791 f g c Sleep of Abner and his souldiers reproved 169 g. Sodom once a goodly City 36 o. her destruction foretold 38 o. burnt 39 b. Sodomites overcome by the Syrians 33 a b. taken and rescued ibid. d. their sins 39 a b. stricken with blindness ib. c. destroyed ib. b. Sohemus discovereth the King's secrets 406 f. advanced 407 m. put to death 408 l. Soil of Peraea 659 d. Souldiers ought to obey their Captains 677 b. Souldiers take meat out of the Citizens mouths 730 f. Souldiers rewarded 460 n. 761 b. Souldier sheweth his privy members 533 e. Souldiers require a Monarch 517 f. repair to Claudius 518 k. Souldiers dismissed and why 247 n. Souldiers of the Romans obey their Captains 661 a b. Souldiers that came unto David numbred 179 a b. Souldiers with their Captains consumed 236 b c. A Souldier's filthy fact 618 n. A Souldier burneth the book of the Scripture 534 h. is punished 619 a. Solemnity of the Passover 70 k. 92 k. Solemnity of the new Moon 164 m. Solemnity of transporting the Ark 180 m n o. Solyma the place where Melchisedech was King 37 e. after called Jerusalem ib. and 179 e. Song of praise and thanksgiving of the Israelites 72 n. Song of Moses 72 n. Song of the women and maidens of Israel 160 n. Son of Vision 46 n. Sons of Noah 32 o. Sons of Abraham 40 h i. and 43 d. Sons of Isaac 50 k. Sons of Esau 50 l. Sons of Jesse 158 m. Sons of Saul slain 173 f. Sons of David 179 g. Sons of Jacob hate their brother Joseph 50 o. go inâ—â— Aegypt for to buy corn 56 k l. 57 f. imprisoned and accused of theft 56 o. and 58 k l. carry Presents with them 57 f. depart into Aegypt with their Father 61 b. Sorceress of Eâ—dor 171 c. raised Samuel's ghost ib. c. Three Sorts of sedition 711 f. Sosius hath charge of the Army 388 c. leadeth an Army against Jerusalem 390 b. taketh Antigonus 579 e. Soveraignty to be given 158 m. Soul immortal 672 m. 784 m. tyed to a mortal body ibid. n. Spear of Goliah the Philistine 159 c. Spectacle of compassion 731 e. Spies sent into Canaan 96 i. sent to Jericho 121 d. survey the City ib. f. promised Rahab to save her and all that was hers 122 h. Spirit of God forsaketh Saul 258 o. and an evil spirit troubleth him ib. o. Spirit of God entred into David 158 o. Spoils gotten in war 77 c. Spoils dedicated to God 123 d. 225 m. Spoil of the Temple 246 d. Spoils committed in the day 686 l. Spoils c. carried in triumph 772 e f. Sports of Olympus 431 b. Stars made 27 e. their end courses and motions ib. State of Jerusalem troubled 642 l m. Statue of gold erected 269 m. commanded to be worshipped ibid. m. Statue of Caius 494 l. Statue of divers metals 269 m. beaten to powder ib. Statues of Caesar 480 i k. Jews refuse to admit them ib. Stature of Og 105 b. Stature of Saul 151 f. Stature of Goliah 159 c. Sterility fore-shewed 55 e f. Stock of Basa destroyed 225 m. Stone taken out of the mountain 269 i. Store of the Priest where kept 419 l. Store of provision 772 f. Store of all sorts of moveables 124 l. Store of Corn gotten 240 d e. Store of victuals 576 h i. Store of engines