to any god Let no man weare a garment wouen of linnen and woollen for it belongeth onely to the Priests Euerie seuenth yeare when the people shall be assembled together in the sacred Citie to sacrifice vpon the feast of Tabernacles at such time as the feast approcheth the high Priest from a high pulpit from whence he may be heard by the whole multitude shall read the law vnto all of them so that neither women nor children shall be exempted from the hearing of the same no not the verie slaues and bondmen For it is requisite that they retaine the perpetuall memory thereof alwaies imprinted in their minds for so shall they sinne the lesse in that they vnderstand what is decreed in the law The lawes likewise shall be of more force in the consciences of those that shall offend whilest they infixe in the minds of those that heare them their doctrines intermingled with menaces so that the wil to performe the law shal neuer be inwardly extinguished besides that the remembrance wil liue in thē how many plagues they incur by contempt therof Let children in especiall learne the lawes then which discipline there is not any more honest neither more conducible vnto felicitie Twice in the day in the morning in the euening about bed time let God be honoured for his benefit of our deliuerance out of Egypt For it is a thing in ◅ture reasonable to giue thanks vnto God as well in acknowledgement of the goods which we haue before time receiued as in expectation of his future mercies The chiefe of these also are to be written ouer our doores and worne on our armes and those things which declare his power and beneficence are to be borne about written on the head and armes that euerie way Gods bountie may be seene towards his people In euerie Citie or township let there be seuen gouernours such as are approued in vertue and famous for their iustice let each one of these magistrats haue two ministers of the tribe of Leui. Let those that are appointed Iudges in the Cities be held in high reputation so that in their presence no man presume either to vrge contumelies or iniurious speeches for so shall it come to passe that men accustomed to doe reuerence shall also exercise themselues in pietie and grow so much the farther from contempt of God and his power Whatsoeuer seemeth good to the Iudges to decree let that be held inuiolable except it be apparant that they be corrupted with money or that they may be manifestly conuicted of a wrongfull iudgement They ought likewise to iudge without respect of lucre or dignitie and preferre iustice before all other things for this iniurie sorteth out to Gods contumelie as if it were to be supposed that he is to be suspected to be weaker then they for whose sake they wrest the law contrarie to equitie for Gods power is iustice he therefore that giueth iudgement in fauour and partialitie of great men he maketh them greater then God himselfe And if the Iudges cannot determine of the matter in question as it oftentimes falleth out let them referre the cause to the sacred Citie and then shall the high Priest and the Prophet with the assistance of the Senate determine that which shall be conuenient The testimonie of one witnesse shall not be receiued but of three or at leastwise of two whose testimonie shall be made good by the examination of their behauiour and life As for women it is not lawfull for them to beare any witnesse by reason of the leuitie and temeritie of that sexe Neither is it lawfull for a man seruant to bring in testimonie by reason of his degenerate and ignoble mind for it is to be suspected that either for lucre sake or for feare he will depose an vntrue testimonie And if any false witnesse shall fortune to be beleeued and he afterwards be conuicted of periurie let him be subiect to that penaltie which he should haue endured that should haue beene cast by his false accusation If manslaughter be committed in any place and the offender may not be found out neither there appeare any likelihood that the man is slaine of malice let there be a diligent and carefull inquisition made with rewards prefixed to the discouerer but if no probabilities or coniectures may be gathered then let the magistrates of the next Cities that adioyne the place where the slaughter is committed and the ancients of the same assemble together and measure from the place where the dead bodie lieth and let the township that is found to be neerest and the inhabitants thereof buy a Heifer which they shall bring into a place vnlaboured and vnplanted where they shall after they haue cut the nerues of the necke kill it and the Priests the Leuites and ancients of the Citie shall wash their hands in the bloud then shall they lift vp their hands ouer the head of the said Heifer and crie out with a loud voice that they haue their hands cleane frō that homicide the which they haue not done neither were they present at such time as it was perpetrated and they shall call vpon the mercie of God beseeching him not to permit that any such grieuous accident euer fall out in their countrey The gouernment of the Peeres is the best kind of regiment of all other sorts of gouernment take you therefore heed that you desire no other forme of pollicy but retaine and continue the same hauing no other superiours but the lawes and managing your affaires by your selues For it sufficeth you that God is your Prince Yet notwithstanding if you shall grow in desire to haue a King see that you elect one of your owne nation that he in all things be studious to procure iustice and all other vertues perswading himselfe that God and the lawes are most vpright Let him not vndertake any thing without the aduice of the high Priest and the counsell of the elders Let him not haue diuers wiues neyther let him hunt after huge treasures nor multitudes of horse for feare least possessing them he become so insolent as that he raise his power and will aboue the lawes and if you see him affectioned vnto these things beware least he grow more puissant then is expedient for you It is not lawfull for any man to remoue the land markes neither of his owne land or any other mans whatsoeuer for by this meanes is the peace conserued Let each one therefore forbeare to remooue them because they are as the voyce of God assured for euer For warres and soldiers are raised thereby when such as would augment their inheritance striue alwaies to enlarge the bounds of their dominion And they that are so hardie to remooue the same are not farre from contempt of the lawes He that shall plant a peece of ground and the trees begin to fructifie before the fourth yeare the first fruits
that he had depriued him of his kingdome by the meanes of his owne sonne and in punishment of those crimes which he had committed against his owne master This his so cruel and vnbridled libertie moued all Dauids followers to displeasure so that all of them were prepared to reuenge them on Simei and amongst the rest Abisai would haue slaine him but Dauid pacified his displeasure willing him to forbeare for feare said hee least to our present miseries we annexe a further and new occasion For in as much as concerneth my selfe I set light by this mad dogge referre the matter vnto God who is the cause that he is thus desperatly bent against vs Neither is it to be wondred at that I suffer these outrages by him since mine owne sonne is so wicked as he taketh a felicitie to disdaine me but it may be that God wil haue compassion on vs if he please we shal haue the vpper hand ouer our enimies He therfore walked onward on his way not caring what Simei said who ranne on the other side of the mountaine rayling reuiling at him When Dauid was arriued on the banke of Iordan he mustred and refreshed his army who were fore wearied meane while Absalon entring Ierusalem with Achitophel his counsellor was saluted and applauded by the whole concourse of the people amongst the rest Dauids friend came vnto them who prostrating himself before Absalons feete wished him both prosperitie and perpetuitie in his kingdome Him did Absalon aske how it came to passe that he who was reputed to be one of Dauids most indeered friends and esteemed alwaies to be most loyall and faithfull vnto him should at that time when most occasion was profered him to expresse his loyaltie abandon him and submit himselfe to his enemie To him Chusai answered both readily and wisely that it became him to follow God and the good will of the people Since therefore said he my soueraigne that both these are for you it concerneth me to follow you because you haue receiued the kingdome from God If therefore you esteeme me to be your faithfull friend I will approue vnto you my loyaltie and true affection in like manner as in your knowledge I haue testified in effect vnto your father who ought not to be displeased at that which had hapned since the kingdome is not transported into an other house but remaineth in his owne family because he who was his sonne receiued the same By such like words he reconciled himselfe to Absalon whereas before that time he was inwardly suspected Hereupon Achitophel was sent for to consult with him about their affaires in hand who gaue him counsell to abuse all his fathers concubines and make them his owne For said he from that time forward the people will beleeue that you and he will neuer be reconciled and will be more readie to beare armes and inuade your father for your sake For hitherto said he they haue vnwillingly professed themselues to be his enemies suspecting least a peace should ◅e concluded betwixt the father and the sonne Absalon beleeuing this aduise of his caused a Tent or royall Pauilion to be pitched in the sight of all the people whereinto he entred and had the company of his fathers concubines All which fell out according as the Prophet Nathan had foretold at such time as he certified Dauid that his owne sonne should make warre against him CHAP. IX Absalons warre against his father his death and the discomfiture of his armie WHen Absalon had done that which Achitophel had instructed him in he requested him once more to counsaile him concerning that warre which he had enterprised against his father who required ten thousand chosen men at his hand promising him to kill Dauid and to bring all the rest that were in his conduct vnder his subiection assuring him that Absalons kingdome would be then established when Dauids head were cut off from his shoulders When this aduise of his had highly contēted him he sent for Chusai who was the chiefest amongst Dauids friends for so Dauid himselfe had termed him to whom he discouered the aduice which Achitophel had giuen him required him to giue his opinion what he thought therof who knowing verie well that if Achitophels counsaile were followed Dauid should be in daunger to be apprehended and slaine enforced all his arguments and counsails to the contrarie For said he my Liege you are sufficiently informed both what your fathers valour is and their vertue that accompanie him who hath fought many battels and hath had the vpper hand ouer all his enemies It is to be feared also least he at this present be encamped in the field For he is well exercised in leading armies and to preuent any stratagemes whereby the enemy may inuade him and about the euening he hath perhappes left his men hidden in some streight or in ambush behinde some rock and if our men shall assaile him his soldiers will by little and little retire and afterward recouering courage by reason that the King shall be neere vnto them they will charge vs afresh and during their medly your father will sodainly breake out of his ambush and encourage his owne men and discomfort yours wisely therfore examine mine aduice and if you find that it be good neglect that which Achitophel hath giuen you Send me thorow al the countrey of the Hebrewes commanding euery one to take armes march out against your father and when you haue gathered togither these forces be you your selfe in person the generall of the army and commit it not to an other mans charge and assuredly expect to haue an easie victory ouer him if you assaile him in the open field for that he is accompanied with a verie few men and your selfe are attended by many thousands who at least wise if they loue you and will shew a good affection towards you may easily rid you of that enemy And if so be your father shut himselfe vp in any Citie we will and may subuert the same by mines and engines This aduise of his seemed to be better then that of Achitophels so that Absalon preferred the same For it was God that put this thought into his heart to neglect Achitophels and respect Chusais counsell Now when Chusai had thus preuailed he presently repaired to the high Priests Sadoc and Abiathar certifying them what Achitophel had complotted and how he had contradicted him finally how his opinion had taken place giuing them in charge to send priuate intelligence vnto Dauid thereof and to enforme him of his sonnes resolution wishing him with all speede to passe ouer the riuer of Iordan for feare least Absalon being informed of his aboad in that place should make haste and pursue him and ouertake him before he might recouer a place of securitie Now had the high Priests before hand prouided that their sonnes should lie hid without the Citie of set purpose to the end
according to the custome of their forefathers which had already too long time been neglected dreadfully threatning all those who should any waies intermit to roote out the name and memorie of these wretches out of the world They therefore slew all these priests and inuironed the kings pallace and in so doing cleered Samaria of forraine gods This Baal was the God of the Tyrians for whom Achab builded a temple in Samaria intending thereby to content Ithobaal the king of the Tyrians and Sidonians to whom he assigned priests and honoured him with all sorts of sacrifice After this Idol was exterminated Iehu suffered the Israelites to adore golden calues When this execution was performed in punishing the wicked God to whom this action of his was acceptable told Iehu by his Prophet that his children should obtaine the kingdome of Israel to the fourth generation This was Iehus estate CHAP. VII Athalia raigned fiue yeeres in Ierusalem and after she was slaine by the hie priest Ioas is proclaimed king AThalia Achabs daughter hearing newes of the death of her brother Ioram and her son Ochozias togither with the vtter ruin of al the royal posterity bethought her selfe to extinguish Dauids memory in such sort to root it out that no one of that line should remain aliue to enioy the kingdome hereafter which when she had concluded in her heart she began to put it in execution Yet notwithstanding one of Ochozias sons escaped her bloudy hands by this means that ensueth Ochozias had a sister by his fathers side whose name was Iosabetha who was maried to Ioiada the hie priest who entring into the kings pallace and finding Ioas at that time but one yeare of age hidden with his nurse amongst the dead she tooke both him and his nurse and locked them vp in a closet within the temple where Ioiada her husband and she did secretly nourish them for the space of fiue yeeres during which time Athalia raigned in Ierusalem ouer the two tribes About the seuenth yeere Ioiada entred into discourse with fiue centurions and perswaded them to oppose themselues with mutuall consent against Athalias proceedings and to assure the kingdome to little Ioas. Whereupon giuing and receiuing faithfull promises of secrecie the one vnto the other they confidently addressed themselues to execute their intended purposes after this maner They whom the hie priest had chosen to execute this act went thorow all the countrey and gathered the priests and Leuites together with all the gouernours of the tribes and afterwards returned and brought them to Ierusalem to the hie priest who made them sweare an oth that they would keepe secret that which he should enforme them of as a thing that required silence and men of execution to performe the same As soone as he had assured them by oth he brought forth the little child whom he had nourished who was of Dauids line and said vnto them Behold your king who is of that race which as you know was chosen by God to raigne ouer you for euer I therefore thinke it fit that the third part of you guard and keepe him within the temple and that the fourth make their watch round about the same An other company shal haue the guard of the great gate that leadeth to the pallace As for the rest of the people let them remaine disarmed within the temple and suffer no armed man to enter thereinto except the priest onely He appointed also an other company of priests and Leuites to be about the king with iauelins and drawne swords charging them that whosoeuer durst be so bold to enter the temple armed they should presently put him to the sword and laying all feare aside to attend the safety and guard of the kings person They being obedient to that which the hie priest had commanded them in effect expressed their readinesse whereupon Ioiada opening the Arsenall which in times past was prepared by Dauid distributed amongst the centurious Leuites and Priests all the iauelins quiuers and all other sortes of armes that were therein and disposed all them that were armed round about the people ioyned hand in hand to impeach any one from entring in amongst them that were not of their faction Afterwards bringing out the infant Ioas into the midst of the company they set the royall crowne on his head and Ioiada after he had annointed him with oyle proclaimed him king whereupon all the people reioiced and clapping their hands cried out God saue the King Athalia hearing this noise and applause beyond all hope was greatly troubled and with those souldiers which she had about her she hastily issued out of the pallace and arriuing in the temple the priests admitted her as for the rest of the men of warre that followed her they that by the hie priests ordinance circuited the temple would not suffer them to enter with her Now when Athalia saw the childe standing before the Tabernacle with the royall crowne on his head she rent her garments and storming thorow despite she cried out and commanded that the traitor should be slaine that had thus betraied her and sought to dispossesse her of her kingdome But Ioiada called the centurions and commanded them to carie Athalia out vnto the brooke Cedron and there to kill her because he would not permit that the temple should be defiled with her cursed bloud Moreouer he charged them that if any one should attempt to rescue her they should kill them likewise Hereupon they that were appointed to execute this his command tooke her and led her without the gate of the kings mules and there slew her After that Athalia was in this manner executed Ioiada assembled the people and the men of warre in the temple binding them all by an oth to yeeld the king their faithfull seruice and to procure the prosperitie and increase of his kingdome Secondly he made the king sweare in like manner that he would maintaine the seruice of God and in no manner disanull Moses lawes That done they ranne vnto Baals temple which Athalia and her husband Ioram had built to the dishonour of God and their forefathers and for the honour of Achab and leuelled it with the ground and put to death their hie priest called Mathan The charge and guard of the temple Ioiada committed to the priests and Leuites according to the order established by Dauid with commaundement twise a day to offer their ordinarie burnt offrings and consequently to make perfumes according to the lawe He appointed also certaine of the Leuites to be porters to guard the temple to the intent that no vncleane thing should enter the same vnespied and after he had ordained these things with the Centurions and gouernours and with all the people he tooke Ioas and led him out of the temple and attended him to the pallace and hauing placed him in the royall throane all the people cried God saue the king banquetted
approched the well and required those virgins that they would giâ—…e him drinke which they denied him saying that they could not get water but with great labour which they must beare into their howses and not lauishly bestow on others whereupon one amongst them reproued the rest for that discourtesie which they vsed towards the straunger saying that they had neuer beene conuersant amongst men that refused to giue him water that requested it wherupon she gaue him drink with an amiable countenance and he conceiuing good hope of all his busines yet being further desirous to know the euent of the matter he praised the honestie and courtesie of Rebecca who had not refused to trauell in her owne person to satisfie his necessitie asking her of what parents she was terming them happie that had such a daughter praying God that it might please him to grant them the good hap to marrie her to their contentment and match her with a man of honest reputation by whom she might be plentifull in good and lawfull children Rebecca made no difficultie to tell him the names of her parents the better to gratefie him neither concealed she her owne name but answered in this sort I am called said she Rebecca my father was named Bathuel who is long since dead Laban is our brother who together with my mother hath care of all our family and hath the charge and protection of my virginitie Which when he vnderstood he reioiced at all that which had happened vnto him and was comforted wâ—…th those things which he had heard perceiuing manifestly how God had prospered his iourney Whereupon drawing out a Iewell with certaine other ornaments such as virgins take delight to weare he offred them vnto the maid telling her that he gaue her these presents in requitall of that kindnesse she had offered him in satisfying his thirst for that she amongst so many other virgins had onely shewed her selfe affable and gracious requiring her that he might be entertained in her brothers house by reason that night had depriued him of the means from trauelling any further and that he was charged with certain Iewels of an espoused of great price which in no place as he said might be in more safety then in their custody whom in effect he had found so curteous honest assuring her that the vertue which appeared in her gaue him sufficient testimony both of the curtesy of her mother and brother who would not as he supposed take it in ill part if he were entertained to conclude that he would in no waies be chargeable vnto them but would pay for his lodging and expences To this Rebecca answered that he had reason to conceiue a good opinion of her parents humanitie but yet did in some sort preiudice them in suspecting their liberalitie assuring him that his entertainement should in no sort be mercenary but voluntary and free according to heir affection Yet first said she I will certifie my brother Laban hereof and afterwards guide and intertaine you in our house which done she conducted him into their tent commaundâ—…g her brother Labans seruants to take care of his Camels as for himselfe she entertained and feasted him at her brother Labans table When supper was past he spake both to the brother and mother of the virgin after this manner Abraham the sonne of Thares is your cousen For Nachor good mistres the grandfather of your children was Abrahams brother of one and the same father and mother He now sendeth me vnto you requiring you to giue this Damsell for wife to his legitimate and onely sonne educated and brought vp to be heire of all his substance whom although he might haue matcht with the richest maidens of his countrey yet hath he refused all of them desiring rather to impart this honour to one of his kinred and nation set not light therefore his good affection and desire For besides all other blessings and good fortunes which haue happily befallen me in this my iourney I haue by Gods especiall prouidence found out both the maid and your house For at such time as I drew neere the Citie and beholding many virgins that went a watering I besought God that I might light vpon this maiden and he vouchsafed me my desire Ratâ—…fie therefore on your part this mariage contracted by Gods prouidence and honour Abraham in granting your consent by this your daughters mariage whom I am sent to request at your hands with most intire affection Now they in that they both allowed a thing so behoofull and perceiued also that it was conformable to the will of God they sent their sister vnto him vnder the conditions demaunded and Isaac then maried her at such time as he had the managing of Abrahams affaires by reason that the other sonnes of Abraham were alreadie departed to take possession of their Colonies CHAP. XVII Of Abrahams death AFew daies after this Abraham deceased a man full of vertue vntill his last ende and honoured by God according to that intire loue he had to vertue with great affection All the daies of his life contained one hundreth seuentie and fiue yeares and he was buried in Hebron with his wife Sara and by his sonnes Isaac and Ismael CHAP. XVIII Of Isaacs sonnes Esau and Iacob and of their Natiuitie and education AFter the death of Abraham Rebecca Isaacs wife waxed bigge with child and the time of her reckoning being neere at hand Isaac was sore troubled and sought counsell at Gods hands who answered him that Rebecca should bring forth two twins and that of those two sonnes two nations should be deriued both which should be called by their names and that he who seemed to be the least of them should grow to be the greatest not long time after according as God had foretold him she was brought a bed of two twins the eldest of whom was verie hairy from the top of the head vnto the soale of the foote and at such time as he issued out of his mothers wombe his yonger brother held him by the heele The Father loued the elder who was called Esau and Seir by reason of his haire which the Hebrewes call Seir in their language but the younger who was called Iacob was deerely beloued by his mother Now for that a great famine raigned in that countrey Isaac hauing resolued to retyre himselfe to Egypt by reason of the abundance and plenâ—…ie of that countrey he went and dwelt at Gerat according as God had commanded In which place king Abimelech receiued and entertained him according to the law of hospitalitie and the league of friendship which was betwixt Abraham his father and him In the beginning therefore he shewed vnto him great signes of friendship but afterwards the enuie he had conceiued hindred him from persisting in the same for perceiuing that God was fauourable vnto Isaac and had an especiall care ouer him he droue him out of his countrey
bread of twentie foure Assars of flower and those loaues they baked two by two the day before the Sabboth and the day of the Sabboth in the morning they bring it and set it on the sacred Table opposing sixe to sixe the one against the other and vpon them are imposed two platters full of incense and these things remaine after this maner till the next Sabboth and then set they new in the place of the first which are giuen to the Priests for their maintenance The incense is cast into the sacred fire in which the burnt offerings are consumed and in place thereof there is new incense put The Priest also sacrificeth on his owne charge flower mingled with oyle and a little baked by fire and this doth he twise euerie day and bringeth to the fire halfe an Assar of flower in the morning and the other halfe in the euening But I will entreat hereof more expresly hereafter for the present me thinks I haue sufficiently spoken already Moses separated the tribe of Leui and exempted them from the other people to the end they might be consecrated vnto God and he purified them with liuing fountaine water and purged them with solemne sacrifice and committed the Tabernacle to their charge with all the holy things pertaining therunto and all the rest which had bin made for the couer of the Tabemacle to the end they might be ministers to the Priests their superiours who were already consecrated to God After this he distinguished the beasts also namely those that were to be eaten froÌ„ those which were to be forborne and abstained from of which we will speak at such time as occasion is offered vs and will bring proofes and the reason which induced him to ordaine that some were proper to feede vpon and for what cause he would that we should abstaine from other some He hath generally interdicted all vse of bloud in meates esteeming the bloud to be the soule and spirit of beasts He hath also generally prohibited to eat the flesh of those beasts that died by theÌ„selues likewise the caule and fat of goates of sheepe and oxen He thrust them likewise out of the company and conuersation of men who were leprous such as were troubled with the fluxe of their seed And as touching women that haue their sicknesse he sequestred them for the space of seuen dayes after which it was lawfull for them to conuerse indifferently the one with the other The like decreed he of those that had assisted the buriall of a dead man whom he permitted to conuerse with other after seuen dayes were expired It was a thing also decreed by law that he that was surprised with vncleannesse and vnpurified beyond the number of those dayes he should sacrifice two Wethers one of which should bee purified and the other giuen to the Priests The like sacrifice is made for him that hath had vnnaturall pollution who first washeth himselfe in cold water The like must they offer that haue vse of their lawfull wiues Hee altogether droue the leprous out of the citie not permitting them to frequent any mans companie but esteeming them as men little differing from the dead And if any one by his prayers made vnto God was deliuered from this disease and his skin reduced to his natiue colour such a one presented himselfe before God in diuers oblations and sacrifices of which wee will speake hereafter For which cause they are worthy to be laughed at who say that Moses fled out of Aegypt because he was a leper and that he conducted with him other such as were trauelled with that disease and brought them into the land of Canaan For if that were true Moses had not made these ordinances to his owne preiudice which if other had proposed it behooued him to haue opposed himselfe against them especially since amongst diuers other nations there are lepersâ—… who are held in great honour and who are so far from disdaine and contempt as that they haue beene made Generals of most notable armies and elected for Gouernours of common-weales hauing libertie to enter the Temples and to be present at the sacrifices What therefore hindred Moses if he had beene polluted with the like hatefull sicknesse to make such lawes and ordaine such statutes among those people who honoured and obeyed him whereby such as were therewith infected might be preferred By which it is manifest that those things that are obiected against him are rather of malice then probability But Moses being cleane from such sickenesse and conuersing amongst his countrimen which were vntainted made these ordinances for them that were sicke hauing regard to the honour of God But of these things let each man censure as best liketh him He forbad that women should enter into the Temple after their deliuerance or to assist the sacrifice vntill fortie dayes were expired if they had beene brought a bed of a sonne but if it were a daughter he willed that the number of the dayes should be doubled and that when they should enter they should present their offerings vnto God and to the Priests that offered them And if any one suspected that his wife had committed adultery hee brought an Assar of grinded barley and cast a handfull thereof before God and the rest was reserued for the maintenance of the Priests and then the Priest placing the woman in the porch which is right ouer against the Temple and taking the couer from her head writeth the name of God vpon a skinne and maketh her sweare that she hath not plaid false with her husband and wish if she had transgressed thè bounds of chastity that her right thigh might be put out of ioint her womb might rot and that death might follow thereupon but if through entire loue and iealousie proceeding therefro her husband had beene inconsiderately drawne into that suspition that she might within ten moneths bring forth a male child And after such an oath ministred vnto her the Priest wipeth out the name of God that was written on the skinne and wringeth it into a viall and then taking of the earth of the Temple according as he findeth it and hauing mingled the same giueth it the woman to drinke and if she hath beene vniustly accused she continueth with child and beareth her fruit her full time but if she hath falsified her faith to her husband forsworn herselfe before God then dieth she a shameful death for her thigh is nummed her wombe growes full of water See here how Moses hath prouided for these sacrifices at the purifying of a woman He furthermore made these lawes which ensue He generally forbad adulterie iudging it to be a great good hap if men demeaned themselues honestly in mariageÌ„ that both in politique estates and priuate families it was a thing most profitable that children should be borne in lawfull matrimonie The law also forbiddeth a man to haue the
cause calling vnto him some fewe companions of his perils who were discontented with their present estate and desired a change he first of all discomfited the garrison which Schisart had placed ouer them and so much was he furthered with his first successe that the number of his followers increased more and more so that they seemed sufficient to equall the enemy in open field whereupon encountring him in one battaile they ouercame him and recouered their libertie and the rest of the scattered and confused army retyred themselues toward Euphrates Now after that Cenizus had by this effect giuen proofe of his valour he receiued the gouernment at the peoples hands and exercised the office of iudge fortie yeares at the end whereof he died CHAP. V. How the people were againe made subiect to the Moabites and how by Iodes they were exempt from seruitude AFter whose death the gouernment and seate being voide the affaires of the Israelites began againe to fall to ruine and the rather for that they neither yeelded due honour vnto God neither obedience to the lawes whence it came to passe that Eglon king of the Moabites seeing the disorder of their pollicie set them at nought so that he waged warre against them and ouercame them many times And for that he was a prince of greater forecast then any of his predecessors he fought against them and weakened their forces and constrained them to pay tribute This man translating his court to Iericho and proud in his victories omitted no meanes whereby he might vexe and molest the people so that they liued for the space of 18. yeares in great miserie But God being moued with their calamities and supplications deliuered them from their intolerable thraldome after this manner Iodes the sonne of Gera of the tribe of Beniamin a yong man both addressed by valour of minde and strength of hand to attempt any worthy action dwelt at Iericho This man insinuated himselfe into Eglons familiaritie and by presents and gifts entertained and courted him in such sort as he was well beloued and esteemed amongst all those courtiers that were neerest about the king It chanced one day that bearing certaine presents vnto the king attended by two of his houshold seruants he secretly girt a dagger to his right thigh at such time as he entred into the king now it was about midsommer and mid-day likewise whereby the watch was growne the more carelesse and slothfull partly by reason of the heate and partly for that the guard were occupied about their dinner The yong man therefore offering his presents vnto Eglon who at that time disported himselfe in a certaine sommer chamber began to discourse with him Now they were both alone by reason that the king resoluing to talke familiarlie with Iodes had sent away his guard and sate him downe in a seate but Iodes fearing least failing to stab home enough he should not giue him a fatall and deadly wound required him to rise telling him that he had a dreame to report vnto him by the commandement of God Whereat he reioicing very much leapt from his seate whereupon Iodes stabd him to the heart and leauing the poiniard sticking in his wound he escaped and locked the doore after him the guard making no noise at all supposing that the king had laide him downe to rest But Iodes giuing priuate notice hereof to them of Iericho offered himselfe to be their leader in the recouerie of their former libertie who willingly accepting thereof presently tooke armes and sent trumpets to publish the same thorow the whole countrey for after that manner were they woont to assemble the people They that were about Eglon were wholy ignorant of that which had hapned but about the eeuen-tide fearing least some mishap had befallen him they entred into the place where he was found him dead wherat they were greatly astonished so as they knew not what to doe For before they had assembled their forces togither the Israelites fiercely charged them and some they killed instantly the rest that were ten thousand in number betooke then selues to flie vnder hope to recouer their countrey of Moab but the Israelites hauing before that laide and fortified the passages of Iordan pursued them and slew them so that diuers of them perished in the Ferrie and not one of them remained that escaped their hands By this meanes the Israelites were deliuered from the seruitude of the Moabites and for this cause Iodes was aduanced to the gouernment of the people Finally after he had liued for the space of fourescore yeares he died A man besides the act of late rehearsed worthy of praise in all other things After him Sanagar the sonne of Anath was elected gouernour and in the first yeare of his raigne he left this life to partake the fruition of another CHAP. VI. How the Israelites were brought vnder the subiection of the Chanaanites and raunsomed from seruitude by Barac BVt the Israelites in no sort reclaimed or reconciled by their forepassed calamities fell againe into their former impietie and disobedlence and before they had sufficiently shaken off the seruitude of the Moabites were subiected vnto Iabin king of the Chanaanites This man kept his residence imperiall at Asor a Citie scituate on the lake of Sachonites he had in pay thirtie thousand foore and ten thousand horse and besides these hee had three thousand warlike Chariots Ouer all this huge army commanded Sisares an especiall man amongst the kings fauourites who encountring with the Israelites brought their affaires into so desperate an estate that they willingly for their owne securitie sake accepted seruitude and paied tribute whereunto they were inforced through the austeritie of their subiection almost for the space of twentie yeares not daring to lift vp their heads all which fell vpon them by the will of God to the end he might punish the too great contumacie and ingratitude of that nation Who at length repenting themselues and acknowledging the cause of their calamities namely that it proceeded from the contempt of their lawes they repaired to a certaine Prophetesse called Debora which name in the Hebrew toong signifieth a Bee beseeching her that by her prayers she would endeuour to prouoke God vnto mercie to the intent he should not suffer them so to be oppressed by the Chanaanites Hereupon God being inclined to take compassion on them granted them helpe and appointed Barac to be their gouernour a man of the tribe of Nephthali whose name signifieth lightning Debora therefore sending for Barac commandeth him to picke out and muster ten thousand chosen men and lead them foorth against the enemy alleadging that they were sufficient to obtaine the victorie which God had promised by his Oracle But Barac denying to vndertake the gouernment except she also would administer the same with him she moued therewith spake thes Wilt thou said she surrender the dignitie which God hath giuen thee
times I haue receiued at his hands For whilest I fed my fathers flocks I redeemed a lambe that was rauished out of my fold out of the lions iawes and catching the wild beast by the taile that with open mouth assaulted and sought to deuouâ—… me I bet him to the ground and slue him Neither with lesse successe inuaded I a beare that set vpon my flocke and as light doe I set by this monster also who vomiting out his slaunderous raylings both against God and men shall neither escape the diuine arme of iustice which he so wickedly prouoketh neither flie from my hands who am prepared to â—…counter him So much preuailed this forward readinesse in the yoong man that the king beseeching Gods assistance to second his courage furnished him with a royall armour a sword and a helmet and sent him forth to the battell But Dauid feeling the waight of his armour and seeming rather to be loaded then defenced with the same said vnto him Let these armes O king serue to inclose and defence thy body who art able to beare them and suffer me I beseech thee who am thy seruant to fight according to mine owne fantasie He therefore laid-by his armour tooke a staffe in his hand and fiue stones which he gathered on the bankes of the torrent which he put in his scrip his sling he bore in his right hand and being thus armed he marched forward to encounter his enemy Now when the Barbarian saw him thus furnished he so much contemned him that in way of scorne he asked him whether he thought him to be a dogge that he thus came foorth to fight with him with weapons fit to scarre dogges Nay said Dauid I esteeme thee worser then a dogge which so much peruerted Goliahs patience that he cursed the name of his God thundring out threats that he would cast out his carkasse to be deuoured by the beasts of the field and the birds of the ayre But Dauid answered Thou commest against me with thy sword thy iauelin and curets but contrariwise I march out against thee vnder the warrantise and protection of God who shall destroy thee by my hand and with thee thy whole army for this day will I take thy head from thy shoulders and cast the rest of thy body to the dogs whom thou resemblest and all men shall know that God is the Prince of the Hebrewes and that our armes and forces are the cares that it pleaseth him to haue of vs and that all other furniture of warre is vnprofitable except it be assisted by God The waight of the Philistines armes hindred him from marching readily so that he marched foote by foote towards Dauid contemning him and trusting that he should kill him easily both for that he was disarmed as also because he was yoong and tender in yeates CHAP. XI The single combate betwixt Dauid and Goliah and the slaughter of the Palestines that followed after DAuid set forward to make head against his enemy being assisted by a companion whom he saw not which was God drawing therefore one of the stones which he had gathered on the bankes of the torrent out of his scrip and hauing fitted it in his sling he forced it against Goliah and gaue him such a stroke on the forehead that he pierced him to the verie braine so that Goliah fell downe sodainly dead and he running vpon him as he lay sprawling on the earth cut off his head with his owne sword for he himselfe â—…ad none As soone as he was stroken downe discomfiture and flight seazed all the army of the Philistines for seeing the most esteemed warriour amongst them ouerthrowne and slaine they began to suspect the generall issue of their warre and resolued to retire from thence so tooke they their flight in disorder and confusion supposing by that meanes to deliuer themselues out of dangers But Saul and the whole army of the Hebrewes sallied out against them with great shoutes and cries and in the pursuit made a great slaughter of them and droue them to the borders of Geth and the gates of Ascalon In this battell there died on the Philistines side aboue thirtie thousand and the rest that were hurt and wounded were twise as many Saul returning backe into his campe pillaged and burnt their tents but Dauid bore Goliahs head into his pauillion and hung his sword in the tabernacle and consecrated the same vnto God But Saul afterward conceiued a priuie hatred against Dauid vpon this occasion which ensueth For whereas he returned triumphant like a conquerour with the army and the women and maidens singing and dauncing to their cymbals and timbrels in way of honour came out to meete him The women sung that Saul had slaine diuers thousands of the Philistines and the virgins answered that Dauid had slain diuers ten thousands Which when Saul vnderstood and saw that the lesser testimony of thousands was referred to him and that the ten thousands were attributed to Dauid he supposed that after so glorious a renowm there wanted nothing for Dauid except to be king For which cause he began to feare and suspect him so that by reason of the feare he had of him he thought that he was too neere his owne person and therefore from being one of the chiefest in authoritie about him which was to bee one of his chiefest commaunders and guard he made him captaine ouer a thousand rather respecting his owne securitie then the others honor to the intent that being often charged by incursions of the enemy hee might by some desaster be depriued of his life But Dauid hauing in all places the assistance of almightie God returned alwaies with good successe and happy issue so that for the excellencie of his valour the people intirely loued him And Sauls daughter also that was about that time mariageable began to be enamoured with him and so great and apparant was her affection towards Dauid as the certaine notice thereof came vnto her fathers eares who was sore displeased therewith yet hoping by that meanes the sooner to entrap him hee gaue eare thereto with some shew of allowance and told them who discouered their loues vnto him that he would willingly giue him his daughter to wife vnder pretence that the enioying of her might be the meanes of his vtter ouerthrow For said he I am content to giue him my daughter in mariage vnder that condition that hee bring me six hundreth enemies heads and he desirous to gette so high and famous a reward and in like sort to obtaine honour by an act both so dangerous and admirable will vndertake the execution thereof and shall be slaine by the hands of the Philistines and that intention which I haue conceiued against him shall succeede according to mine owne hearts desire for I shall be deliuered of him in sending him out of the world not by my meanes but other mens hands Further he charged his
Courtiers to sound and seeke out Dauids resolution and how he was affectioned towardes marriage who began to deuize with him telling him that the king bare him a most intire fauour and that the people admired him and how they would procure him the mariage of the kings daughter Whereunto Dauid replied Thinke you it to be a small matter to be son in law vnto the king for my selfe I esteeme otherwise considering in especial mine own base condition who haue neither reputation nor any honorable qualitie When Sauls seruants had related vnto him what answere Dauid had made them Tell him said he that I neither want goods nor presents for that were to expose my daughter to sale and not to match her with a husband I seeke for a sonne in law that hath valour and that is adorned with all vertue such as is manifest and apparant in thee and my desire is that for the dower of my daughter thou giue me neither gold nor siluer nor any other valuable wealth out of thy fathers house but the punishment of the Philistines and six hundreth of their heads which shall be the most desired and accepted dower thou canst present me with My daughter also requesteth aboue all the dowers that may accrew vnto her by order of law to be married to such a man that is so enobled and famous by the ouerthrow of his enemies When these words were reported vnto Dauid he was verie ioyfull thinking that Saul spake sincerely of this affinitie and without delay or taking counsaile or deliberation whether the thing were easie or impossible for him to execute hee incontinently departed with his company to go and finde out the enemy and execute the condition vnder which the marriage was promised him For it was God that made all things easie and possible to Dauid for after he had slaine diuers of them and cut off six hundreth of their heads he returned and presented them to the king and in consideration thereof required the performance of his marriage CHAP. XII Saul admiring Dauids fortitude giueth him his daughter to wife BVt Saul that could not flie from his promise for feare least it should be a great dishonour for him to be found a lier or to haue promised Dauid his daughter vnder colour either to murther him or to draw him to the execution of things that were impossible deliuered his daughter Michol vnto him But his intention was not to continue long in that mind For perceiuing that Dauid was gracious in Gods sight and in good reputation amongst the people he was affraid of him and being vnable to conceale his feare he had conceiued to be depriued of two things of such consequence as were his kingdome and life he resolued to kill Dauid giuing commission to his sonne Ionathan and diuers other of his seruants to execute the same But Ionathan amased to see this change in his father in steed of the singular good liking he had of Dauid in times past sought to hurt Dauid not in any slight sort but by indangering his life and on the other side being singularly affected towards him and respecting of his vertue he communicated the secret and deliberation of his father with him counselling him to haue care of himselfe and to flie vpon the next morrow and that in the meane time he would go and salute his father and as soone as the occasion presented it selfe hee would speake and conferre with him to know the cause of his conceiued displeasure against him to the intent he might pacifie the same supposing it to bee a matter vnreasonable that he should be depriued of life to whom the people were so much indebted and who in particular was his esteemed and vowed friend yea in respect of his former merits although he were found guiltie of many hainous offences yet ought he to obtaine a deserued pardon I will tell thee afterward said he what my fathers resolution is Dauid gaue credit to his holesome counsaile and retired himselfe from the presence of the king CHAP. XIII How the King practised to murther Dauid THe next day after Ionathan came vnto Saul and finding him merrie and well disposed he began to speake vnto him to this effect as concerning Dauid In what fault O Father either great or small haue you found Dauid guiltie that you haue ordained commanded him to be done to death who is such a man as for the conseruation of your own person hath been very profitable and besides that hath preiudiced the estate of the Philistines and inhaunced the honour of the people of the Hebrewes and hath deliuered them from that disgrace and mockerie wherewith they haue been curbed for the space of fortie yeares so that he onely hath dared and opposed himselfe against the proud defies of the enemy and since that time hath brought so many of the Philistines heads as was commanded him in recompence whereof he hath had my sister to wife so that his death should be a great displeasure vnto vs not onely by reason of the vertue wherwith he is endowed but also thorow occasion of his alliance with vs in bloud and consanguinitie For by his death your daughter shall partake part of the iniurie by reason that she shall suffer the incommoditie of widowhood before she hath tasted the fruites and commodities of marriage Way these things and pacifie your displeasure and do no wrong vnto such a man who first of all hath beene the author of your so good and great fortunes as is the conseruation of your person at such time as you were possessed and tormented with euil spirits and hath brought to passe that your furies are alayed and secondly hath reuenged you of your enemies For it is a thing vnworthy either your maiestie or the name of a man to forget good deserts With these words was Saul pacified so that he swore vnto his sonne that he would not iniure Dauid for his iust perswasions and arguments were more stronger then the choler and feare of the king Ionathan sent to seeke out Dauid and told him these good and happy tidings from his father and brought him vnto him where he liued and remained in sort as he did before time CHAP. XIIII How hardly Dauid escaped the ambushes that were often layd for him by the king yet hauing him twice at aduantage and in his power would not murther him ABout the same time whilest the Philistines led forth their army anew against the Hebrewes Saul sent out Dauid against them accompanied with his forces who encountring them slew a great number of them returned vnto the king with a great victorie But Saul entertained him not both as he deserued and the happy exploit atchieued by him did merit but despited and enuied his good actions honorable deserts as if Dauids happy successe had bin Sauls disaduantage and preiudice But at such time as the euill spirit returned anew and both seased and vexed him he lodged
in the fift yeere after the destruction of Ierusalem which was the three and twentith yeere of the raigne of Nabuchodonosor Nabuchodonosor in his owne person led his army into Coelosyria and hauing conquered the same he made warre vpon the Ammonites and Moabites And after he had brought these nations vnder his obeisance he went and sought against the king of Aegypt and ouercame him and after he had slaine their king that gouerned at that time and planted an other in his place he afterwards tooke the Iewes that he found in that countrey and carried them prisoners into Babylon By this means we haue learned that the state of the Hebrewes being brought to this point hath bin translated twise to the other side of Euphrates For the people of the two tribes were captiued by the Assyrians during the raigne of Oseas and consequently that of the two tribes vnder Nabuchodonosor king of the Babylonians and Chaldees vpon the taking in of Ierusalem True it is that Salmanazar after he had displaced the Israelites planted the Chutheans in their place who beforetime inhabited the innermost of the countries of Persia and Media and were called Samaritanes according to the name of the place which they inhabited but the Babylonian hauing led the two tribes prisoners hath not planted any other people in their places For this cause Iudaea Ierusalem and the temple remained desert for the space of seuentie yeeres and all the time that passed betweene the captiuitie of the Israelites vntill the destruction of the two tribes was a hundreth and thirtie yeeres six moneths and ten daies But Nabuchodonosor chose the most noblest yoong men amongst the Iewes and such as were allied to king Sedecias and esteemed likewise for the good disposition and faire proportion of their bodies and faces and committed them to masters to be instructed commaunding that euery one of them should be gelded according as they were accustomed to deale with yoong children of other nations whom he subdued by force He allowed them victuall from his owne table and they were taught and instructed in the disciplines of the countrey and in the Chaldeetoong These were verie apte to learne wisedome and for that cause he commanded that they should be trained vp in the exercise thereof Of these there were foure of Zedechias kindred faire in body and vertuous in nature who were called Daniel Ananias Misael and Azarias whose names the Babylonian changed and willed them to be called by other names distinct and different from their own Daniel was called Balthasar Ananias Sidrach Misael Misach and Azarias Abdenago These did the king esteeme very highly for their excellent nature and for the great affection that they had to attaine vnto learning and wisedome wherein they profited greatly and were for that cause highly reckoned of by him And whereas Daniel and his kinsemen thought good to liue austerely and to abstaine from those meates that came from the kings table and in generall from all things that had life they went vnto Askenas the Eunuch who had the care and charge ouer them beseeching him to conuert those meates to his owne vse which were sent them from the kings table and to allow them herbes and dates and such things as had no life because they intended to hold that course of life and to forsake all other Askenas told them that he was ready to condescend vnto their demaunds but that he feared least being called for by the king they should be found to be leane in body and discoloured in face for without doubt in following that diet they must needly lose their colours and be lesse dispost in comparison of others which might be the cause to bring him into hazard of his head They perceiuing that Askenas intended nought els but his securitie perswaded him to allow them but ten daies of approbation vnder condition that if by that regiment of diet their habitude of body should not be any waies altered they might continue in that fashion of life and diet which they had intended from that day forwards but if they should be found leane and weake and lesse proportionable then they that sed vpon the kings allowance that then they should returne to their accustomed diet Now it so fell out that not onely their bodies were better in growth but they seemed rather better fed and of a taller statute then the rest so that they that liued vpon the kings ordinarie seemed leane and wearish where as Daniel and his companions made shew as if they had beene nourished with dainties and brought vp in aboundance From that time forward Askenas tooke all that which was allowed the foure yoong men from the kings table and boldly kept it to himselfe giuing them in steed thereof the diet that they chose and delighted in They hauing their spirits more pure and subtill to comprehend their masters instructions and their bodies more strong to endure labour for their spirits were not charged with diuersitie of meates nor their bodies effeminated for the same cause attained the more readily to all that doctrine that was taught them by the Hebrewes and Chaldees Daniel especially hauing profited in wisedome studied the interpretation of dreames and God appeared vnto him Two yeeres after the surprisall of Aegypt king Nabuchodonosor dreamed a wonderfull dreame the issue whereof God made him see in a dreame but he forgat the same when he arose out of his bed And for that cause sent he for his Chaldees and diuines telling them that he had dreampt a dreame but that he had forgot the same commanding them to declare vnto him what the dreame was and the signification thereof also Whereunto they answered that it was impossible for men to sound out the secret thereof notwithstanding they promised him that if he would declare his vision vnto them they would cause him to vnderstand the signification thereof Hereupon Nabuchodonosor threatned them with death except they represented his dreame vnto him and they protesting that they could not fulfill his request he commanded them all to be slaine But Daniel hearing how the King had condemned all the sages to death and knowing that both he and his companions had part in that danger addressed himselfe to Ariochus the captaine of the Kings guard requiring him to informe him for what cause the king had adiudged the Chaldees and sages to be put to death And hauing intelligence what had hapned as touching the dream how the king by forgetting the same had charged them to informe him therin how they had answered that it was impossible for them to performe the same and how thereby they had prouoked the king to displeasure he besought Ariochus to go vnto the king and to procure one nights repriue in the behalfe of the Aegyptians and Chaldees in that he hoped during that night time to beseech God and intreat from him both the dreame and the signification thereof Hereupon Ariochus told the king what Daniel had requested
had said and vntill this day it is a custome among vs that if need require we make no difficulty to fight on the Sabbath day Matthias therefore hauing assembled a sufficient number of men about him destroyed the Altars and slue those that had forsaken their religion as many of them as he could lay hands on For diuers were scattered heere and there among the nations for the feare they had these commaunded he to circumcise their children that were not circumcised driuing those from euery place whom King Antiochus had ordained to see his law executed After therefore Matthias had gouerned for the space of one yeere he fell sicke of a most desperate disease for which cause he called for his sonnes and spake vnto them after this manner My sonnes I must now walke the way that is destinated vnto all men I therefore recommend and exhort you to follow my deliberation and diligently to obserue the same remembring you of the intent of me your father who haue begot and nourished you which is to maintaine the lawes of our countrey and to establish our estate which is vpon the point to be ouerthrowen except you submit vnto those who either voluntarily or forcibly betray the same shew your selues therefore to be worthy sons of me who am your father strengthen your hearts with courage to ouercome all force and necessitie thinking with your selues that if God see that you be such he will not forsake you but taking pleasure in your vertue he will once more grant you the fauour to recouer your former peace and liberty and will establish you in assured possession of your auncient lawes True it is our bodies are mortall and subiect vnto destinie but the memorie of our vertuous actions are enfranchised by immortalitie being therefore stirred vp with the loue thereof striue and bestirre your selues to obtaine honour to the end that proiecting mighty things you make no difficultie to hazard your liues in the execution of the same Aboue al things I exhort you vnto cōcord to the end that in whatsoeuer one of you shal be found more naturally apt and fitted then another he may prosecute the same without any contradiction of the rest I charge you also to obserue and obey your brother Simon who is a politique and valiant man in whatsoeuer he shall counsaile you As touching your chiefetaine you shall serue vnder Machabaeus because he is both valiant and strong for he shall reuenge the iniuries and outrages which haue been done to our nation and put our enemies to flight second him therfore with men of valour and such as feare God and by this means you shall augment your forces CHAP. IX Matthias dieth and his sonne Iudas succeedeth him AFter Matthias had spoken in this sort vnto his sonnes and praied God to fauour their enterprises and to restore the people to their auncient policie and the accustomed fashion of their life which they had in former times continued and obserued hee died anon after and was buried in Modin And after the people had grieuously lamented and mourned for him for a certaine time and performed publikely such honour in his funerals as was agreeable to his estate his sonne Iudas Machabaeus tooke vpon him the gouernment of the warres in the hundreth fortie and sixt yeere and by the assistance both of his brethren and other Iewes he droue the enemies out of the countrey and put those of his owne nation to death who had forsaken their religion and purged the countrey of all vncleannes which had been brought into it CHAP. X. Apollonius generall of Antiochus army commeth into Iewry and is discomfited and slaine WHen Apollonius who was Antiochus generall in Samaria heard hereof he gathered his army togither and inuaded Iudaea against whom Machabaeus made head and ouercame him in a battell wherein there died many and among the rest Apollonius whose sword Machabeus got as his part in the spoile There were a great number of them also who were wounded and much booty was taken in the enemies campe after which execution enriched with spoiles he retired himselfe But Seron gouernour of Coelesyria hearing hereof and vnderstanding that diuers had ioyned themselues with Iudas and that he had already about him a sufficient power to keepe the field and bidde the battell he thought that it concerned him to begin to punish those who resisted the kings Edicts For which cause after he had assembled all the forces that he had and besides them hired certaine apostate or figitiue Iewes he marched foorth against Iudas and came as farre as Bethoron a village in Iewry where he incamped Iudas also came out to meete with him determining with himselfe to bid him battell and seeing that his souldiers would hardly be drawne out to fight both by reason of their inequalitie of number as also for that they had eaten no meate but had fasted a long time he encouraged them saying that the meanes to obtaine victorie and to haue the vpper hand ouer their enemies consisted not in the greatnesse of their number but in their deuotion towards God whereof they had a most euident example in their forefathers who had oftentimes defeated with a small number of men diuers thousands of their enemies because they fought for iustice for their law and for their children for the greatest force said he that a man may haue is to be innocent and without iniurie By these words perswaded he his souldiers so that without any feare of the multitude of their enemies they all togither ranne vpon Seron and encountring with him they discomfited the Syrians For their chiefetaine being slaine all the rest betooke them to their heeles in which thing onely consisted the safetie of their liues Iudas therefore pursuing them as farre as the Champion slew about eight hundreth of them The rest saued themselues in those quarters that bounded vpon the sea CHAP. XI Lysias and Gorgias leade their armies into Iewry and are ouerthrowne WHen King Antiochus heard these tidings he was highly displeased at that which had hapned he therefore assembled all his forces and hiring diuers straungers and mercenarie Islanders he prepared himselfe to inuade Iudaea about the spring time But after the muster of his army when he truely found that his treasures failed him and that he was in great scarcitie of money for all his tributes were not truely paid him because the nations were rebellious being likewise in his owne nature a man of a great and magnificent spirit that could not be contented with that which he then had he resolued first of all to go into Persia to gather his tributes He therefore left the charge of his affaires with Lysias a man very much esteemed by him and such a one as gouerned all the countrey from Euphrates as farre as the borders of Aegypt and the lower Asia giuing him likewise a part of his army and some of his Elephants To him had the King
nation of the Iewes were ready to innouate and rebell and continued their good affection toward Antigonus in regard of the hatred they conceiued against Herod he concluded with himselfe to take his head from him at Antioch For the Iewes could scarcely containe themselues Strabo of Cappadocia testifieth no lesse in these words Anthony hauing brought Antigonus the Iew to Antioch caused his head to be cut off and was the first among the Romans that hath caused a king to be beheaded in this manner supposing that the Iewes might neuer otherwaies be induced to change their opinions and receiue Herodeâ—… yet this opinion of his was not answerable to equitie For notwithstanding whatsoeuer impulsion he might deuise yet could they not be induced to call him king in so high estimate and account held they their former king But Anthony supposed that that infamie would obscure his renown and lessen the generall hate that they bare to Herode See here what Strabo writeth As soone as the high priest Hircanus who was prisoner among the Parthians heard that Herode had taken possession of the kingdome he returned backe vnto him being deliuered after this manner following Barzapharnes and Pacorus princes of the Parthians had taken Hircanus who was first high priest and afterwards king and with him Phasaelus Herodes brother and led them away prisoners with them into their own countrey Phasaelus not able to endure the dishonour of imprisonment and preferring an honorable death before a reprochful and ignominious life murthered himselfe as I haue heretofore declared CHAP. II. How Hircanus dismissed by the Parthians returned vnto Herode PHraates king of Parthia vnderstanding how nobly Hircanus was descended who was brought prisoner vnto him entertained him gratiously and for this cause drew him out of prison permitting him to conuerse in Babylon in which place there were a great number of Iewes who honoured Hircanus verie much and no lesse then their high priest and king The like also did all they of that nation inhabiting as farre as Euphrates which did not a little content Hircanus But after that he was aduertised that Herode was possessed of the kingdome he transferred his hopes another waie being of his owne nature tenderly affected toward his friends expecting that one day Herode would requite him for that he had deliuered him from death whereunto he was condemned and in danger likewise of the penalty and punishment He began therefore to consult with the Iewes as touching his iourney who in way of duetie and loue came to visit him and who besought him and importuned him to abide with them offering him all seruice and honour assuring him that he should in no lesse manner be respected among them then their high priest and king yea in farre higher regard then he might any waies be in his owne countrey by reason of the maime he had in his bodie thorow Antigonus tyranny alleadging that kings doe not ordinarily call to their remembrance those pleasures that they haue receiued in their infant fortunes because that with their estates they change both their manners and inclinations But notwithstanding all these or such like allegations yet could not Hircanus be withdrawne from the desire he had to repaire homeward Herode also wrote vnto him that he should require Phraates and the Iewes that inhabited his kingdome in no sort to enuie his felicitie in that he should partake with him both in dignitie and royaltie alleadging that the time was now come wherein he might acknowledge the benefits he had receiued by being heretofore nourished and preserued by him With these letters he sent Samaralla likewise on an embassage to Phraates furnished with great rich presents endeuouring by that meanes to winne him that he in no sort should hinder his gratulation and good intent towards one that had so highly deserued at his hands yet were not his protestations answerable to his pretence For insomuch as he gouerned not with that vprightnes which became a iust king he feared least some alteration might befall him according to his demerites for which cause he sought to get Hircanus vnder his power or at leastwise to dispatch him out of his life which he afterwards performed When as therefore Herode had perswaded the Parthian to dismisse Hircanus and the Iewes to furnish him with money sufficient to beare his expence in his iourney he receiued him with all honour In common assemblies he gaue him alwaies the highest place and in the time of festiuals he made him alwaies sit downe before him and the more closely to deceiue him he called him brother endeuouring himselfe by all means wholy to extinguish in him all colour and cause of suspicion of treacherie neitherintermitted he any other stratagems whereby in his opinion he might any waies further or promote his cause and yet by these meanes occasioned he no small sedition in his owne familie For carefully prouiding least any one among the nobilitie should be established high Priest he sent to Babylon for a certaine man of bace condition called Ananel and gaue him the Priesthood For which cause Alexandra grew sodainly displeased not being able to endure that outrage This woman was Hircanus daughter and Alexanders wife who was king Aristobulus sonne who had two children by her husband the one wondrous beautifull who also was called Aristobulus the other was Mariamme who was likewise faire and maried to Herode She was sore moued and highly displeased to see her sonne so much indignified for that during his life another was called to the honour of high Priesthood for which cause she wrote vnto Cleopatra by the meanes of a certaine Musition beseeching her to beg the high Priesthood at Antonius hands for hir sonne But for that Antonius made little reckoning of those suites a certaine friend of his called Gellius who was come into Iury about certain of his affaires and who had seene Aristobulus fell in loue with him by reason of his beautie and being abashed likewise at his great and goodly stature and allured by Mariammes admirable beautie he openly protested that he accounted Alexandra a happie mother in her children and deuising to this effect with her he perswaded her to send the pictures of her two children to Antonius for that if hee should but behold them he would refuse him in nothing wherein he should request his friendship Alexandra perswaded by these words sent their pictures vnto Antonius Gellius also made the matter more wonderfull telling him that the children seemed rather to be engendred of no mortall straine but by some diuine power labouring as much as in him lay that Antonius might be allured to affection them Who supposing it to be a matter ill be seeming him to send for Mariamme who was married to Herode and desirous likewise to auoid Clopatras suspicions wrote vnto Herode that vnder some honest pretext he should send Alexandras sonne vnto him with this addition if it might
so many sacrifices as that scarcely they may be comprehended in number for that their multitude exceedeth their estimate About the verie time of the celebration of this feast in honour of the reedification of the Temple the kings day of coronation fell out which he was woont to solemnize euerie yeere with great ioye and for this twofolde occasion the solemnitie and ioy was farre more sumptuous and compleate The king also caused a conduit of water to be made and conuaied by pipes vnder ground drawing it from the Castle Antonia vnto the Orientall gate of the temple neere to which he builded an other Tower also to the end that by the conduits hee might ascend priuily vnto the Temple if happely the people should practise any insurrections against his roialtie It is reported that during the building of this temple it neuer rained by day time but onely by night to the intent the worke might not be interrupted and our predecessors haue testified no lesse vnto vs. Neither is this thing vncredible if we attentiuely consider those other effects of Gods prouidence Hitherto concerning the reedification of the Temple THE XVI BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 16. booke 1 How Alexander and Aristobulus returning vnto Herode their father were calumniated by Salomes and Pheroras meanes 2 How Herode gaue Alexander and Aristobulus wiues 3 How Herode sailed vnto Agrippa 4 The Iewes of Ionia accused the men of that countrey before Agrippa for indeuouring to take away their priuiledges granted vnto them by the Romans 5 How Herode returned into Iudaea 6 Of the discord in Herodes house betweene him and his sonnes 7 How Antipater being at Rome Herode brought Alexander and his brother and accused them before Caesar. 8 Of the defence of Alexander and how he was reconciled vnto his father 9 How Herode did celebrate euery fiue yeeres certaine sportes for hauing finished Caesarea 10 The Embassage of the Cyrenian and Asian Iewes vnto Caesar. 11 How Herode needing money entred into Dauids Sepulchre 12 How Archelaus king of Cappadocia did reconcile Alexander vnto his father 13 How the Trachonites reuolted 14 Of Herodes expedition into Arabia 15 How Syllaeus accused Herode vnto Caesar. 16 Of Euryclis his calumniations against Herodes sonnes 17 How Herodes sonnes were condemned in a councell at Berytus CHAP. I. How Alexander and Aristobulus being returned vnto their father were assailed and calumniated by Salome and Pheroras AMongst the rest of the affaires of the common wealth the king thought it behooued him to redresse and hinder priuate iniuries both in the Citie and country for the which purpose he made a new law vnlike to the former that it should be lawfull for such as were wall-breakers to be sold for slaues out of the limits of his kingdome which law did not seeme so much to intend the punishment of malefactors as the dissolution of his own countrey customs For to serue forraine nations who liued not after the manner of the Iewes and to doe whatsoeuer they commanded them was more preiudiciall vnto religion then vnto the parties conuicted of that fact Wherefore it was sufficiently already in the olde auncient lawes prouided for the punishment of such people to wit that a theefe should restore four times as much as he stole which if he was not able to doe that then he was to be solde not vnto strangers nor into perpetuall bondage but onely for seuen yeeres at which time he should againe be set free So that the common people did interpret this new lawe to set downe an vniust punishment and rather to sauour of tyrannie then of princely dignitie and to be enacted not without contempte of their auncient lawes so that for this cause all men spoke verie ill of the king At the same time Herode sayled into Italy to salute Caesar and to see his children liuing at Rome Where Caesar receiuing him verie curteously permitted him to take his sons home with him as being now sufficiently instructed in the liberall artes Who returning into their country were ioyfully receiued of all their countrimen both for that they were of comely stature and of curteous conditions and in their very behauiour did shew that they came of kingly linage Which things mooued Salome and the rest by whose false accusations their mother Mariamme was oppressed to enuy them fearing their puissance and verily perswading themselues that they would be reuengers of their mothers iniuries So taking hereby occasion they began also falsly to accuse them as misliking their father who had caused their mother to be slaine and as though they had an auersion from him whose hands was imbrued in their mothers bloud For they well perceiued that by such calumniations they might draw them into hatred and auert their fathers good will from them Yet did they not carrie these their inuentions to the kings eares but contented themselues to brute them abroad amongst the common people which so in the end comming to his hearing would cause in him such enmitie and hatred against his sonnes as that it would ouercome in him all naturall affection CHAP. II. How Herode gaue wiues vnto Alexander and Aristobulus BVt the king as yet mistrusting nothing moued with a fatherly care ouer them had them in such estimation as reason did require and for that they were now come vnto mans estate he married them both and vnto Aristobulus he gaue Bernice the daughter of Salome and vnto Alexander Graphyra the daughter of Archelaus king of Cappadocia Which done vnderstanding that Marcus Agrippa was returned out of Italy into Asia he went vnto him thither and inuited him into his kingdome requesting him to accept of his friends entertainment Which Agrippa yeelding vnto Herode omitted nothing that might delight him for he receiued him in his Cities newly built shewing him the faire houses and goodly edifices entertaining him and the rest of his friends and followers with all sorts of delights pompe magnificence as well at Sebaste as at the hauen of Caesarea and in the Castles he built to wit Alexandrium Herodium and Hircania He also brought him to Ietusalem where all the people met him apparelled in such goodly and braue attire as they were accustomed to adorne themselues withall when as they celebrated their festiuals and with many ioyfull acclamations receiued and saluted him Agrippa offered a hundreth head of fat oxen to God and feasted all the people and although he would willingly haue made a longer abode there yet winter drawing nigh fearing tempestuous weather he was forced to saile away with all speed into Ionia both he and his friends being honoured with very great presents CHAP. III. How Herode sayled vnto Agrippa HErode hauing past the winter at home and hearing that Agrippa was now with an army minded to go to Bosphorus the spring time being now at hand he sayled vnto him againe and
by so many exactions he thought it a good pollicy in him and a better prouision for them not to send them new gouernours continually who might after the manner of flies sucke them to the quicke especially if to their innated couetousnes he should annex the feare of their sodaine displacing Now to approue that to be true which I haue declared of Tiberius disposition this action of his may suffice to iustifie me For hauing beene Emperour for the space of twentie and two yeeres all those gouernours which he sent into Iury were two namely Gratus and Pilate his successour neither demeasned hee himselfe otherwise towards the rest of his subiects of the empire And as touching his prisoners the reason why he delaied so much to giue them audience was to the end that they who had beene condemned to death should not speedily be deliuered from those torments wherewith he threatned them and which they had deserued by their wickednes For whilest he kept them in that paine their mishappe increased the more For this cause Eutychus could not obtaine audience at his hands but was long time detained prisoner Afterwards in processe of time Tiberius transported himselfe from Capreas to Tusculanum which was distant from Rome some hundreth furlongs There did Agrippa sollicite Antonia to cause Eutychus to be called to his answere as touching the accusation which he pretended against him Now Antonia was in great fauour with Tiberius both in regard of the affinitie that was betweene them in that she was Drusus wife who was Tiberius brother as in respect of her modestie For she being young continued in her widowhood and would not marie with any other notwithstanding Augustus importuned her to wed but liued alwaies in honour without blame Besides that she had done Tiberius a great pleasure for at such time as Seianus his friend and a man in great account in those daies by reason he had the gouernment of the army practised a conspiracie against him whereunto diuers of the Senate and of his freemen and his men of warre likewise were accessarie yet brought she all their intents to nothing This attempt had taken a great head and Seianus had finished his purpose had not Antonia vsed more aduised courage then Seianus did in executing his treason For hauing discouered the daunger that threatned Tiberius she wrote and sent her expresse letters by Pallas one of her trustie seruants vnto him to Capreas certifying him in particular the whole processe of the conspiracy Caesar hauing true vnderstanding thereof caused Seianus and his consederates to be executed Although therefore that before that time he honoured Antonia greatly yet did he afterwards honour her farre more in such sort as he trusted her in all things When as therefore she intreated him to giue Eutychus audience Tiberius answered if said he Eutychus hath falsely obiected any thing against Agrippa it sufficeth that he endure that punishment which I haue enioyned him But being in the torture he maintaine that which he hath spoken to be true it is to be feared least Agrippa intending to punish his free man do rather heape the punishment vpon his owne head When Antonia had reported this answere of his to Agrippa he did the more instantly solicit her requiring her that the matter might be brought to tryall And for that Agrippa ceased not to importune her Antonia took the occasion which was this Tiberius being after dinner time catied in his litter hauing Caius and Agrippa before him she walking foot by foot by the litter besought him to call Eutychus to his tryall whereunto he replied The Gods said he know that that which I doe I doe it not of mine owne will but for the necessitie I am presied with vpon your request and hauing spoken thus he cōmanded Macron Seianus successor to bring Eutychus before him which was performed with all expedition Whereupon Tiberius asked him what he had to say against him vvho had enfranchised him My soueraign said he Caius that is heere present Agrippa rode one day togither in the same Coach I sate at their feet After diuers discourses held betweene them Agrippa began to speake after this manner vnto Caius O said he would God the day were come wherein the olde man departing out of this world would make you gouernour thereof For his sonne Tiberius would be no hindrance vnto you for him might you make away Then should the world be happy and I likewise haue my share in the felicitie Tiberius esteeming this his accusation to be true and hauing of long time conceiued a grudge against Agrippa for that notwithstanding he had commaunded him to honour Tiberius who was his nephew and Drusus sonne Agrippa had giuen small regard to his commaundement and had not honoured him but was wholy addicted vnto Caius For vvhich cause said he to Macron bind me this fellow He scarcely vnderstanding that vvhich he spake and no vvaies suspecting that he should giue that commandement in respect of Agrippa deferred the performance vntill such time as he might more exactly vnderstand his mind vvhen as therefore Caesar turned into the Hippodrome and by chance met with Agrippa in the teeth This is he said he Macron vvhom I haue commaunded to be bound and demāding of him once more by vvhom he spake It is Agrippa said he Then had Agrippa recourse to submissiue and humble praiers refreshing the memory of his sonne vvith vvhom he had bin brought vp and alledging the education he had vsed towards his nephew Tiberius But he preuailed nothing but vvas led away bound in those purple ornaments vvhich he then wore At that time it was verie hot weather and being in distresse of wine he was extremely thirsty and distressed yea more then became one of his qualitie Whereupon espying Thaumastus one of Caius seruants who caried water in a pitcher he required him to giue him drinke which when he had willingly bestowed on him he dranke and afterwards said vnto him This seruice thou hast done me in giuing me drinke shall do thee good one day For as soone as I shall escape out of these bonds it shall not be long before I obtaine thy liberty at Caius hands for that thou hast not neglected to do me seruice in this my imprisonment as thou hast before time done me whilest I was in my prosperitie and dignitie Neither deceiued he the mans expectation of his promise but rewarded gratified him For afterwards whē he had obtained the kingdom he begged Thaumastus liberty at Caius hands made him superintendēt of his affairs after his decease he gaue order that he should serue in the same place with his son Agrippa his daughter Bernice so that he died very olde and much honoured But this hapned afterwards But at that time Agrippa stood before the pallace bound with other companions who were likewise in bonds and thorow the griefe he cōceiued he leaned against a certain tree on
surprised hearing that they asked for a monarch promised that he would giue thē one if they would bring him a token from Eutychus who was the wagoner to the greene band whom Caius had loued extremely in somuch as he employed his souldiers in seruile labours as to build him stables for his horses reproched thē with diuers such like matters telling thē that he would bring them Claudius head shewing them that it was a matter ill beseeming them if after a mad man they should commend the Empire to a foole Yet none of these words could diuert them from their purpose but all of them drew their swords and with displaied ensignes marched towards Claudius to vnite themselues with those who had alreadie bound themselues by an oath to serue him faithfully So that the Senat was abādoned destitute of all defence so as there was no difference betwixt priuate men Consuls All of them were astonished confused not knowing what to do because they had thus prouoked Claudius displeasure against them And now fell they to reuiling one another in testimonie of the repentance they conceiued for these their proceedings Wherupon Sabinus one of those who had murthered Caius arose protested that he would sooner cut his own throat then consent to the establishment of Claudius or behold with his eies the misery thraldome of his country he likewise encouraged Chaereas telling him that he had deserued verie little by cutting off of Caius if he thought to liue without the liberty of his country To which he answered that he made no account of his life yet that he intended to sound Claudius mind and with this resolution they concluded Meane while certaine of the Senators sought on euery side to breake thorow the midst thickest of the souldiers to go and do reuerence and homage to Claudius amongst whom was Q. Pompeius one of the Consuls whom the men of war accused to be one of the principal actors to incite the Senat to recouer their liberty and they drew their naked swords against him And if Claudius had not restrained them they had surely dispatched him but he made him sit downe by him and by that meanes deliuered him from the daunger The other Senators who accompanied him were not entertained thus honourably but some of them were wounded euen then when they pressed forth to salute Claudias Aponius retired himselfe sore wounded and the rest were in great daunger to lose their liues But King Agrippa drawing neere vnto Claudius desired him to vse as much lenitie as was possible in him towards the Senators for that if any mischiefe should betide them he should haue no other persons to commaund To the which counsell of his Claudius gaue place and assembled the Senat in the Pallace causing himselfe to be caried thorow the citie in the company of his souldiers who marched before him doing much mischiefe to the common people But amongst those that slewe Caius Chaereas Sabinus were come out into the streets notwithstanding they were forbidden by Pollio whom not long before Claudius had made captaine of his guard And as soone as Claudius came into the pallace whither he assembled his friends hee pronounced sentence against Chaercas For although his action was accounted both generous and noble yet vvas he condemned for this because he vvas perfidious vvhereupon he vvas adiudged to die to giue example to others to the end that Princes and Emperours may hereafter liue in safetie He was therefore led to his death with Lupus and diuers other Romanes It is said of Chaereas that he endured this accident vvith a great courage vvhich he expressed not onely in that he chaunged not his countenance but also by the reproches vvhich he gaue Lupus vvho wept For vvhen as Lupus was putting off of his cloathes complained of the colde that he felt he taunted him thus alluding to his name which was Lupus That neuer any colde did harme to a woolfe Furthermore when he came to the place of execution where a great number of people were gathered togither to behold the spectacle he asked the souldier that was appointed to behead him if he were a cunning hea◅man and whether he had a new sword wishing him to vse that wherewith he murthered Caius His death was happy for he receiued but one stroke whereas Lupus was faintharted and receiued diuers because he stretched not out his necke freely Some few daies after at such time as the Romans solemnized their expiations and that euerie one honoured the memorie of his dead friend they gaue Chaereas a part of that honour and cast his portion into the fire saying that was to deface and purge their ingratitude whereof they were guiltie towards him Thus ended Chaereas his life But for Sabinus although Claudius had not only absolued him but also suffered him to exercise his office as before time he had done yet thought he that he should doe amisse and against iustice if he falsified his faith to his associates and confederates for which cause he shortned his owne daies thrusting his sword thorow his body to the verie hilts CHAP. IIII. Claudius confirmeth Agrippa in his fathers kingdome INcontinently after this Claudius cashierd all those of his souldiers whom he suspected and published an edict by which he confirmed the kingdome to Agrippa that Caius had giuen him accompanying his bountie with many praises annexing moreouer vnto his gouernment all that which Herode his grandfather had possessed to wit Iudaea and Samaria which in that they were as one lawfull inheritance appertained vnto him He gaue him also out of his owne dominions Abela and all the countrey about the mount Libanus that in times past appertained to Lysanias And he caused the alliance that was past betwixt them twaine to be engrauen and registred in an open place of the Citie of Rome He tooke from Antiochus the kingdome that he had and gaue him in exchange a portion of Cilicia and Comagena He set Alexander Lysimachus Alabarcha at libertie who had beene his olde friend and sometimes gouernour in Arabia and otherwhiles his mother Antonias steward who had been committed prisoner thorow Caius displeasure and married Bernice Agrippas daughter with his sonne Marcus which after the death of Marcus who died before he was espoused was afterwards married with her father Agrippas allowance to Herode his brother for whom Agrippa begd of Claudius the kingdome of Chalcis At that verie time the Iewes that were in the Citie of Alexandria mutined against the Greekes For after Caius death the nation of the Iewes which had been oppressed during his raigne and iniuriously dealt withall by the Alexandrines recouered their former courage and instantly fell to armes For which cause Claudius gaue commission to the gouernor of Aegypt to pacifie and appease that vprore He sent also his letters patents into Alexandria and Syria at the request of the two kings Agrippa and
reuolted vnto the Romans had compassed with so strong wals that the Romans themselues could not haue taken it so his hope was frustrate for neither by force nor faire meanes would the Sephorites yeeld vnto him Hereat the Romans being angry troubled the country more then before who now neither night nor day ceased frō destroying it but robbed spoiled all they found and all men able to beare armes they slew and made the rest their slaues Thus all Galilee was filled with fire and sword and no man escaped that calamitie onely they saued themselues that fled into the Cities that Ioseph had walled Titus came to Alexandria being winter sooner then he was expected and so receiued there the souldiers that he sent for and hauing a prosperous iourney he quickly came to Ptolemais and finding his father there with two of the chiefest legions to wit the fifth and tenth he also adioyned that fifteenth legion that he brought with him And there followed them eighteene companies fiue out of Caesarea one troupe of horsemen and fiue companies of horsemen out of Syria tenne of these companies of foote had in euery one of them a thousand men the rest only sixe hundreth thirteene and in euerie troupe of horsemen were a hundreth twentie The kings also brought great ayde for Antiochus Agrippa Sohemus brought each of them 2000. bowmen and a thousand horsemen and Malchus king of Arabia brought 5000. foot and 1000. horse and the most of his footmen were archers so that the whole army togither with the kings aide amounted vnto the number of threescore thousand horse and foot togither besides them that followed the campe who were a great multitude and not inferiour vnto the souldiers in warlike discipline so that one may admire the Romans who so traine vp their seruants in time of peace that they are verie fit for warres So that whosoeuer well beholdeth their militarie discipline he shal perceiue that they gained not this their goodly Empire by chance and fortune but by vertue for they do not onely then begin to vse weapons when they come to fight but they practise militarie discipline before they need and they are not idle in time of peace but alwaies practise themselues therein without ceasing Their exercises are like warre it selfe and euery souldier is euerie day exercised in euery sort of weapons euen as though they were fighting against the enemie so that hereby they easily indure the burthen and trauaile of warres For their disorder doth not make them forget what to do neither doth feare dismay them nor continuance of fight and warre wearie and tire them So that whosoeuer they fight against who are not so well prouided in these affaires as they are they alwaies ouercome them And one may well call their practises amongst themselues conflicts without bloudshed and their wars indeed conflicts with bloudshed They are not easily ouercome at vnawares for in what enemie-countrey soeuer they come they fight not before they haue fortified their campe about which they do not rashly neither do they pitch their tents in marish or high places after a disordered maner for if the place be vnequall they make it plaine And they proportion their campe foure square for they haue many smiths and all kind of workemen needfull which do still follow the armie to accomplish such busines And in the innermost part of the campe they make tabemacles whose outside resembleth a wall with towers equally distant one from another and betweene them engines of warre to cast stones and such like that all kind of shot may be in readines They also build foure gates large and wide both for their cattell easily to come in at and also for themselues if need require to enter in or issue out speedily Within the campe there are streets deuided into certaine spaces in the midst their rulers and amongst them all the generals tent like a temple so that it seemeth a citie and a market full of shops made in an instant There are also seats builded for the gouernours to iudge of controuersies if any arise betweene the souldiers and others All this place and all things belonging thereto are made in an instant partly by reason of the multitude partly by the industrie of them that worke and if need require they compasse it with a trench foure cubits deepe and as many broad Thus the souldiers enclosed with armes do liue quietly in their tents without disorder and all things are done with good aduice and order whether they need vvater or corne or vvood for they must all go to dinner at the time appointed and all sleepe at once and a trumpet giueth notice vvhen to watch and guard and nothing is done that is not commaunded In the morning all the souldiers come vnto their captaines to salute them and the captaines to the tribunes and they all to the generall and he giueth them a watch word and telleth them what he thinketh good and how they shall behaue themselues towards those that are vnder them whereby in fight they may demeane themselues and well know when to assault and when to retire When they go forth of the campe a trumpet soundeth and no man is idle but at the first becke taketh away his tabernacle makes all readie for their departure Then the trumpet soundeth again warning them to be readie and hauing laden their beasts with their baggage they expect the sound againe as though they were to run a race and at their departure they burne their campe because it is easie to build the like againe and also least afterwards it may aduantage their enemies When the trumpet hath sounded the third time which is a signe to set forward then they hasten those that are slow least they forsake their order And a crier standeth on the right hand of the general asking thrice if they be prepared to fight and they as often answere that they are holding vp their right hands with loftie courage and so they march on easily euerie man keeping his ranke as though they were readie to giue battell The footmen haue a head peece a breast plate and a sword on the left side and on the right side a dagger The footmen that guard the generall haue lauelin and a shield the rest are armed euery one with bucklers and pikes Moreouer they carry a saw a basket a fardle a hatchet also a cord a syeth and a chaine and victuals for three daies so that the footmen are as much loden as their cattell The horsmen carrie at their right side a long sword in the left hand adart and a long shield hanging against the horse side and a quiuer with three darts with broad edges which are as bigge as a speare they haue also helmets and breastplates like the footmen And the generals horsemen that guard his bodie doe nothing differ from the rest That companie alwaies leadeth that the lot falleth vnto And these are
were dead in all the citie 600000. poore folks which were cast out of the gates the others that died were innumerable that when so many died that they were not able to burie thē that then they gathered their bodies togither in the greatest houses adioyning and there shut them vp And that a bushel of corn was solde for a talent which is six hundreth crowns and that after the Citie was compassed with a wal that now they could not go out to gather any more hearbs many were driuen to that necessitie that they raked sinkes and priuies to finde olde dung of Oxen to eate and so the dung that was loathsome to behold was their meate The Romans hearing this were mooued to compassion yet the seditious within the Citie who beheld this miserable sight were nothing mooued nor repented not but suffered them to be brought to that calamitie for their hearts were so blinded by the prouidence of God that they could not see what hanged ouer their heads and ouer the Citie THE SEVENTH BOOKE OF THE WARRES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 7. booke 1 Of the breach made in the wals how the mounts were fired how Sabinus assaulted the wal 2 How the Romans assaulted Anto◅a and were ◅pulsed by the Iewes 3 Of the exceeding valour of Iulian a Roman souldier 4 Iosephs speech perswading the Iewes to yeeld their Citie and how the Iewes fled vnto the Romans 5 Of another battaile the Rampiers being againe builded and of the excursions of the Iewes 6 How the Romans were by the deuice of the Iewes consumed with fire 7 Of the famine amongst the Iewes 8 Of a woman that for hunger did seethe her own sonne 9 How the wall was taken and the Temple burnt 10 How the Temple was set on fire against Titus his will 11 Of the Priests the treasure house and the porch 12 Of the signes and tokens which appeared before the destruction of the Citie 13 Of Titus his rule and gouernment and how the priests were staine 14 Of the pray of the seditious and the burning of the inner part of the Citie 15 How the higher part of the Citie was assaulted and how some of the Iewes fled vnto Titus 16 How the rest of the Citie was taken 17 Of the number of the captiues and them that were slaine 18 A briefe histor◅e of the Citie of Ierusalem 19 How the souldiers were rewarded 20 Of Vespasians sailing how Simon was taken of the spectacles shewes made vpon Vespasian birth-day 21 Of the calamitie of the Iewes amongst the Antiochians 22 How Vespasian at his returne was receiued by the Romans 23 Of Domitians actes against the Germans and Frenchmen 24 Of the riuer Sabbaticus and of the famous triumph of Vespasian and Titus 25 How Herodium and Machaera were taken by Bassus 26 Of the Iewes that were slaine by Bassus and how Iudaea was sold. 27 Of the death of King Antiochus and how the Alans brake into Armenia 28 How Massada the strongest Castle of all was taken and destroyed 29 Of the death of the Sicarians that fled into Alexandria and Thebes 30 How the Temple which Onias built at Alexandria was shut vp 31 Of the Massacre of the Iewes at Cyrene CHAP. I. Of the breach made in the wals and how the mounts were burned and how Sabinus assaulted the wall THE miserie of Ierusalem euery day encreased the seditious being by reason of their miserie more more incited against the people for now the famine was not only amongst the people but amongst them also And it was a miserable sight to see the multitude of dead bodies heaped togither in the Citie from which came a pestilent infectious smel so that it hindred the soldiers from making excursions For they were forced to tread vpon dead bodies as though they were to march along a field couered with dead carcasses Hauing now embrued their hands in the bloud of their countrimen they prepared to resist and fight with their enemies and as it seemeth to me hereby vpbraiding God in that he so deferred to punish them For the greatest part of them did now fight more earnestly then before not for hope of safetie but as despairing of all The Romans though much troubled to get wood to build withall yet did they in one and twentie daies finish their mounts hauing cut downe all the woods neere the citie by nintie furlongs It was miserable to behold that countrey and place before all beset with trees and fertile plants now to lie plaine like a desart all cut downe neither was there any straunger that before time had seene Iudaea and the beautifull suburbs of Ierusalem who now beholding it could abstaine from teares or not lament the woful change so farre different from the former For now this warre extinguished vtterly all signes of beauty neither could one comming sodainly now know the place which he well knew before When the mounts were ended both the Romans and the Iewes greatly feared the Iewes for that except they were destroyed their citie would be presently taken the Romans for that if these were ouerthrowne they knew not how to erect more wanting matter and now their bodies were wearied with labour and their minds with many griefes and molestations But the Romans were more grieued at the calamitie of the citie then the citizens within for the Iewes notwithstanding these miseries did neuerthelesse stoutly defend their wals but the courages of the Romans failed whē they saw that the Iewes policy made their mounts vnprofitable that the strength of the wals resisted their engines that the Iewes boldnesse ouercame their strength in sight and especially seeing that the Iewes hauing endured such calamitie famine and miserie were still more couragious then before so that they deemed their strength not to be ouercome and that their minds were inuincible who were hardened and encouraged by miserie For who were able to abide their forces in prosperitie who by aduersitie were incited to vertue Wherefore the Romans made a stronger watch about their mounts But Iohns followers who were in the Castle Antonia fearing what might ensue if the wall were battered preuented it in what they could before the Rams were set vp and taking firebrands in their hands they assaulted the mount but deceiued with a vaine hope they retired themselues For first of all they seemed to disagree amongst themselues so that they came from their wals one after another and some space betweene euery one so that they came softly and fearefully and briefely not after the manner of the Iewes for they wanted courage rashnes and a flocking togither at once which is proper vnto all that nation and so came more soberly and with lesse courage then they were wont They did also finde the Romans more couragious then of late who so defended their mounts with their bodies and weapons that it was not
long time together warred against the Idumaeans Zabidus departing out of a Citie of Idumaea where Apollo was worshipped came vnto the Iewes promising them to deliuer vnto them Apollo the Dorians god and bring him vnto their Temple if so bee that all of them would there assemble themselues together and that afterwards Zabidus did make a most excellent kind of wooden instrument and placed in it three ranckes of Candles and put it vpon him and so walked like a starre gliding on the ground for that shape he resembled to them that were a farre off from him And that the Iewes hereat seeing this straunge vision admired and were astonished and standing a farre off they were all silent and how by this shift Zabidus easily got into their Temple and tooke away the golden Asses head for so hee writeth plainely and so to haue returned speedily to Dora Wherefore we may say that Apion leadeth an Asse to wit himselfe with fooleries and lies for hee nameth places that are not and setteth downe Cities to himselfe vnknowne for Idumaea is a Prouince neere vnto vs and bordering vpon Gara and there is no Citie in it called Dora but in Phaenicia neere vnto the hill Carmelus there is a Citie of that name yet nothing consonant to Apions slaunders for it is foure dayes iourney from Iudaea Why therefore doth he so rashly accuse vs for not worshipping the same gods that other nations doe seeing as he saith our predecessors did so easily beleeue that Apollo would come vnto them and that he walked vpon the earth with starres vpon his backe Perhaps indeed they had neuer before seene a candle or lampe themselues hauing so many or is it likely that he walking thus quite through our countrie where so many thousand men are no one of them al met him Did he in time of warre finde the townes and villages by which he past without any watchmen Well I omit the rest The gates of our temple were three score cubites high twentie cubites broad all couered with gold yea almost all of cleane gold and these gates euerie day were shut by two hundreth men and it was too impious a thing to leaue them open is it then credible that this candlebearer could easily open them who alone was iudged to haue the asses head So that now it remaineth doubtfull whether Zabidus did bring backe againe the asses head or els Apion tooke it of him and brought it againe to our temple that there Antiochus might finde it and so Apion might haue another occasion of lying He also belieth vs concerning the oath which he saith we Iewes doe take swearing by the God of heauen and earth and sea neuer to fauour any stranger and especially the Greekes This liar might better haue said not to fauour any stranger and especially the Aegyptians and so his former lies and these should haue had better correspondence with the beginning if our auncestors had been expelled by their predecessors out of Aegypt not for their wickednesse but for their owne calamitie But we are so far from the Greeks that we scarcely euer thinke of them so that no man can say that there is any enmitie betweene vs and the Greekes But contrariwise many of them haue embraced our religion and some of them therein perseuered others againe haue forsaken it yet none of them will say that he heard this oath spoken amongst vs but it should seeme that onely Apion heard of it in that he himselfe indeed forged it Truely his great wisedome and prouidence is woorthy to be admired as shall hereafter appeare for he to prooue these his lies to be true saith that it is a certaine testimonie that the lawes we obserue are most vniust and that we worship not God as we ought to do in that we were subiect to diuers nations and our Citie endured many calamities Where as touching themselues they are of a Citie that flourisheth in absolute authoritie accustomed to gouerne from the foundation thereof and not to serue the Romans In effect who can resist their valour Truely no man but Apion would euer haue flowted vs herewith seeing that few Cities so flourish and raigne ouer other that they againe at no one time haue been brought into subiection For many nations are subiect to others onely the Aegyptians are freed from the captiuitie of such as rule Europe and Asia for that as they say the gods flying into their countrey were saued by entring into the bodies of beasts Yet haue they not indeed had any one daies libertie since the beginning of the world neither vnder the gouernment of their owne princes nor vnder strangers I will not stand to recken how often the Persians haue wasted their Citie destroied their temples and slaine their supposed gods For it is not decent that I should imitate herein Apions foolishnesse neither am I calling to memorie what befell the Athenians and Lacedaemonians the last of which are recorded to haue beene most valiant and the first to haue beene most deuout and religious neither will I recken vp those most godly kings amongst whom Craesus was one who notwithstanding fell into great calamities Moreouer I will not recount how the Castle of Athens was set on fire and the temples of Ephesus and Delphos likewise and many others There is now one Apion a new accuser of the Iewes who vpbraideth them with their calamities forgetting quite all miserie that hath befallen his countrimen the Aegyptians but he was blinded with the fable of Sesostris whom he saith to haue been king of Aegypt We could report and boast of our kings Dauid and Salomon who subdued many nations vnto them but it is not fit here to speake of them But Apion was ignorant of that which all the world knoweth to wit that the Aegyptians haue serued first to the Persians and afterwards to the Macedonians and that as bondslaues where we remaining in free libertie raigned ouer all Cities round about vs 120. yeeres euen vnto the time of Pompey the great and when all the other kings were subdued by the Romans onely our kings for their fidelitie and friendship towards them were deare vnto them Oh but this sticketh vpon Apions stomacke that we haue not had any famous men of our nation who haue inuented artes and sciences and been excellent in wisedome such as Socrates Zeno Cleanthes and others whom he setteth downe were and which is most to be admired Apion putteth himselfe in the number of these famous men and saith that Alexandria is blessed and happy that hath deserued to haue such a Citizen as he is and great reason that he himselfe should testifie that of himselfe which all men else perceiue in him to wit that hee is an impudent deceitefull fellow both of corrupt life and manners So that any Alexandrians had iust cause to be sorie that they euer had any better opinion of him But that our nation had men equall at least vnto those
instructed vs we are all of one mind and all alike affected doe therefore no longer prolōg the time in vaine I came hither for to suffer not to speake vse all your tyrannie possible against this bodie for you haue no power at all ouer my soule The tyrant hereat moued to see this third nothing relent by his brothers death he deuised more crueltie thē humane wit alone could inuēt Wherefore he commaunded a globe to be brought and tied the holy martyr about it in such sort that all his bones were set out of ioynt and displaced whereat the holy martyr was nothing dismaid The skin also of his head and face was pulled off and then he was put vpon the wheele but he could not be racked any worse for that all his bones were displaced and did hang one separated from an other in most pitifull manner and when bloud issuing from him aboundantly he was depriued of the vse of his hands and feete but perceiuing his life to be spent he spake thus and died We O tyrant endure this torment for the loue of God and thou the author of such iniust crueltie shalt suffer euerlasting paine Then his tongue being cut out of his mouth he was put into a frying panne and so amidst those torments yeelded vp the Ghost Next after followed Iudas the fourth brother whom all the people perswaded and entreated to obey the king but he contemning their praiers and exhortations said thus with all constancie Your fire shall neither separate nor seuer me from the law of God nor from my brethren who in steed of this mortall life enioy life euerlasting I denounce vnto thee O tyrant destruction and ouerthrow but to such as beleeue saluation make triall of me therefore thou cruell wretch and see if God will forsake me who hath with open and stretched out armes receiued my three brethren that are gone before me and whom the wombe of so holy a mother at seuerall times brought forth vnto glorie The cruell tyrant hearing this was much moued and lept downe from his chaire to torment this martyr himselfe that so he might ouercome him and in his furie commaunded his tongue to be cut forth but he hereat not terrified said vnto Antiochus This crueltie will nothing auaile thee neither shalt thou hereby tyrannt as thou supposest conquer me Our God needs not by voice to be awakened but rather by secret cogitation to be praied vnto to helpe his seruants he prouideth for them that hold their peace and heareth the praiers of such as doe call vpon him if they deserue to be heard and onely requireth puritie of soule For our God knoweth all things before we aske and before we our selues enter into cogitation thereof he vnderstādeth our necessitie cut out my toong thou canst not cut out my mind while my life remaineth Those praiers which by it I haue vttered to Almightie God haue taught it to suffer would God thou wouldest so sanctifie all parts of my body by punishing them for thou therein inflictest punishment vpon thy selfe and reward vpon me thinke not that thou shalt thus escape long vnpunished When he had thus spoken his tongue was cut out of his mouth and he bound to a stake and there he was beaten with ropes ends and he did patiently endure this notwithstanding the colour of his face became dead and wanne Being loosed from thence he was put vpon the wheele and then praying for his countriemen he by death went vnto the rest of his brethren Then Achas the fifth brother before he was haled to torments spake in this manner Behold thou tyrant I come to be punished before thou commaund me hope not therefore any iot to alter his mind who as thou seest desireth to be tormented The bloud of my foure innocent brethren which thou hast shed hath condemned thee to hell fire I am to make them vp the number of fiue that by it thy paines may be encreased Tell me bloudie wretch for what offence by vs committed dost thou thus punish vs for what impietie dost thou so persecute vs what villany haue we committed what wickednesse what naughtinesse haue we attempted This is all thou canst alleage against vs that we honour God our creator liue iustly in obedience of his lawes and therefore do not esteeme thy punishments but they are to vs honour and saluation and not punishment we shall be greatly rewarded by God if no part of vs be left free from torment Whilest thus he spake his executioners by the kings commaund tooke him and cast him into a brasen pot and was prest downe in it his head to his feet and afterward he suffered all other torments which his brethren had indured yet not amazed hereat he sodainly started vp and thus bitterly inueighed against the tyrant Cruel tyrant how great benefits dost thou against thy will bestow vpō vs yea the more thou art incensed against vs the more acceptable to God shalt thou make vs yea I should be sory if thou shouldest shew mercie vpon me This short affliction gaineth vs life euerlasting if this tēporall death should not beride me euerlasting life could not befall me And thus he finished his agonie and died When the tormentors laid hands vpon the sixt brother who was called Areth whom the tyrant permitted either to chuse honour or else punishment but he agrieued at this offer said Although tyrant I be younger in yeeres then my martyred brethren yet my constancie of minde to theirs is not inferiour for we were all nourished vp togetheraltoger her instructed and we will all die together in the feare of God Hasten therfore to thy deuised torments that time which thou couldest spend in exhorting me spend it in deuising tortures for me Antiochus hereat confounded commaunded him to be bound to a pillar with his head hanging downe in such wise as humours running into it might cause ach and this done he caused a fire to be made so far Off him that it could not burne him but rost him He also commaunded as he hung to be pricked with awles that so the heat might pierce into the holes that they made in his flesh Whilest thus he was tormented much bloud like froth gathered about his head and face and he then spake in this manner O noble fight O valiant war O strife betweene pietie and impietie These men haue past their agonies whose crowne of martyrdome is the punishment of their persecutors I do most willingly follow my brethren that as by bloud I am conioyned vnto them so by death I may not be separated from them Deuise O tyrant some new torment for these which thou hast alreadie deuised are alreadie ouercome O master of crueltie enemie of pietie persecutor of iustice we sixe worthie young men haue conquered the kings power what his kingdome or the whole world could offorde Thy fire is cold and heateth not and the kings weapons are bended and blunted in our bodies