Sabinus also by his Letters accused Archelaus to Caesar but Archelaus by Ptolomey exhibited unto Caesar a Supplication containing his Right and Title unto the Kingdom his Father's Testaments and the account of the Money which Herod his Father had sealed up together with his Ring and expected the issue D But when he had read these Letters and those which Varus and Sabinus had sent him and understood what summs of money he had left and what the yearly Revenue was and how Antipas challenged the Kingdom and appropriated it to himself according as his Letters mention he assembled all his friends to have their advice thereupon Amongst them was Caius the Son of Agrippa and his Daughter Julia adopted by him whom he caused to sit in the chiefest place which done he commanded the Assistants to speak what they would concerning this matter At that Antipater Salome 's Son a man very eloquent Antipater Salome 's Son accuseth Archelaus before Augustus Caesar and a great Adversary to Archelaus spake first saying That it was a mockery for him at that time to speak of the Kingdom considering that before Caesar had granted it him he had already seized the Forces of the State when as upon a Festival day E he had killed so many who although they had deserved that punishment yet ought the justice thereof to have been reserved to a lawful Power and not to have been usurped by him either being King with Caesar's prejudice whose Authority he had contemned or by being a private man which was a great oversight For which cause he undeservedly at this time hoped for his approbation whom already as much as in him lay he had deprived of the Title and Authority of his Allowance Moreover he objected against him that of his own Authority he had changed certain Officers of the Army and that he had seated himself in the Royal Throne and like a King had determined certain causes and had granted certain demands of the people That he had left nothing undone which he might have performed had Caesar confirmed his Title He alledged also that they who were enclosed in the Hippodrome F were dismissed by him and divers other acts partly true partly probable in regard of the ambition of young men who desirous to govern do ordinarily commit such things Besides this his neglect in mourning for his Father and withal his rare Banquets all night long at that very time his Father died whereat the people began to mutiny seeing the small regard he had of his Father's death from whom he had received so great Goods and Honours How all the day long be made a shew of his sorrow and tears in his Pavilion but all the night he took pleasure like a King and being such if Caesar should grant him the Kingdom he would behave himself no less unkindly towards him than he had done to his most kind Father That it was no less than an odious crime in him to delight himself with Songs and Dances at his Father's death as if he had been his enemy That he G now came to Caesar's Presence to the intent to obtain the Kingdom by his consent whereas already he had behaved himself no otherwise than if he had already been established King by his Authority But most of all he exaggerated the Slaughter he had committed in the Temple and the Impiety perpetrated so near to the Feast of Easter at which time divers H both Strangers and Citizens had been killed after the manner of Sacrifices and the Temple filled with Carcases not by a stranger but by him who under the colour of Religion desireth the Government of the Kingdom to the end he might satisfie the injustice of his nature in exercising each way his Tyranny towards all men for which cause his Father never thought nor ever dreamt to substitute him King in his place For he knew both his life and disposition and by his former Testament and that of greatest force had ordained his Adversary Antipater to be King For he had been allotted the Kingdom by his Father not when his mind was dead before his body but when both his Judgment was sound and his body in health Yea although at that time Archelaus's Father had such a conceit of him as in his later Testament he pretendeth yet that he had already declared what kind of King he was I like to be who contemned Caesar's Authority in confirming the Kingdom and being as yet a private man doubted not to murther the Citizens in the Temple This said Antipater to give greater credit to his words bringing divers of his Kindred as Witnesses of that he had said ended his Oration Whereupon Nicholaus arose Nicholaus excuseth Archelaus and alledged in Archelau 's behalf as touching the slaughter that it was to be imputed to their impiety who could not be restrained from their Tumults and Uproars before Archelaus was enforced to appease them by force alledging That they were so much the more guilty for that they had not only exercised their malice but also had enforced others to attempt so great a revenge against them for their insolency seemed in appearance to concern Archelaus yet in a sort their contumacy K pertained to Caesar's ruine For those that had been sent by him to appease and redress their sedition were against all Law and right charged and killed by them without respect of God or regard of the solemn Feast Whose defence Antipater was not ashamed of without respect of equity so that he might satisfie that hatred which he bare unto Archelaus That therefore it was their fault who first of all abstained not from injury but whetted those Swords which were drawn in maintenance of the peace against their own bosoms He enforced all other things also whereof they had accused Archelaus against themselves saying that none of these things were done without their consents and that the offence was not so grievous as they intended it should be esteemed to the end they might discredit Archelaus So great a desire was in them to hurt their Kinsman a man both well L respected and affected by his Father as also kind and officious towards them in all things that concerned them As for the Testament that it was made by the King when he was in perfect estate of mind and body and of greater force than the former because the Authority and confirmation thereof was ascribed unto Caesar the Sovereign of the World Further that Caesar would not imitate them in that wrong they did unto Herod who being during his life-time bountifully graced by him by many benefits do now after his death go about to violate his last and truest Testament but that rather like a Friend and Confederate he would confirm his Will who like his faithful and sworn well-willer had committed all things to his trust For that there must needs be a great difference between M their Malice and Caesar's Vertue
cause which followeth Hircanus the High Priest the first of that name having builded a Tower near unto the Temple did for the most part make his Residence therein and there kept his Vestments that were committed to his charge the rather for that he only had the Authority to put them on and return them into their place at such time as he came down into the City and put on his accustomed Raiment His Successors did the same till Herod being exalted to the Kingdom and seeing this Tower to be strongly situated builded the same most magnificently and called it Antonia in honour of Antony his great friend And having found these Vestments in the place he retained them with him assuring himself the people would attempt nothing against him Archelaus his Son and Successor B in the Kingdom kept the same course that Herod had done But after that the Romans had obtained the Sovereignty thereof they kept the High Priest's Ornaments in their hands and reserved them in a place builded for that purpose under the Seal of the Priests and the Governour of those that kept the Sacred Treasure lighted the Lamp every day in that place Every seventh day before the Feast the Governour delivered them into the High Priest's hands and after they were purified he put them on to do Divine Service and the next day after the Feast he returned them again to the same place where they were kept before which custom was observed thrice every year in the time of a Fast Vitellius advanced Jonathan the Son of Ananus to the Priesthood and degradeth Joseph sirnamed Caiaphas But Vitellius returned those Ornaments into the hands of the Priests according to the ancient Orders leaving them to be used when need required commanding the C Governour to trouble himself no more about the place where they should be kept After he had done this favour to the Nation of the Jews he deposed the High Priest Joseph sirnamed Caiaphas and advanced Jonathan the Son of Ananus to that Dignity and afterwards returned to Antioch At that time he received Letters from Tiberius by which he commanded him to capitulate and conclude a Friendship with Artabanus the King of the Parthians whose hatred he suspected and feared lest seizing on Armenia he should work farther mischief against the State of Rome desiring him to assure the League by Hostages and namely with Artabanus's Son After Tiberius had written these Letters above mentioned unto Vitellius he perswaded the Kings of Iberia and Alania by great store of D money that with all expedition they should make War against Artabanus But the Iberians would not be drawn thereunto yet they suffered the Alanes to march thorough their Countrey and opened them their Gates of the Mount Caspius to give them passage to invade Artabanus The Parthians lose Armenia Thus once more was Armenia conquered and the Countrey of the Parthians was invaded whereby the chiefest among them were killed The King's Son also was killed in those Conflicts with divers Thousands of his Army Such things as hapned between Vitellius and Artabanus Moreover Vitellius having sent money to a Kinsman and Friend of Artabanus pretended to corrupt him to make Artabanus away But Artabanus perceiving the Plot that was intended against him and seeing that he could not escape because it was attempted by a great number of the best accounted Nobles within his E Court ceased to pass any further And seeing himself most apparently environed and thinking that under the colour of Friendship he was fraudulently betrayed he thought it better to retire himself into the Provinces of the higher Countrey and there to save himself Artabanus rostored to his Kingdom by the Danes and Swedes rather than to put himself in hazard and resort unto them who had already betrayed and forsaken him Arriving in that place he assembled a a great number of Soldiers of the Countreys of Danes and Swedes and having fought against them who had opposed themselves against him he recovered his Kingdom A League betwixt Vitellius and Artabanus When Tiberius had tidings hereof he endeavoured to draw Artabanus into Friendship with him which when Artabanus had notice of he willingly admitted so that Artabanus and Vitellius met together near Euphrates and by the means of a F Bridge that was builded upon the River Herod's Banquet in the midst of Euphrates they debated the matter together being each of them attended by their Guards After that they had concluded the Peace Herod the Tetrarch feasted them in a very magnificent Pavilion erected in the midst of the River Artabanus sendeth Tiberius his Son in Hostage and a Jew seven cubits high with great cost And not long after Vitellius sent Darius Artabanus's Son in Hostage to Rome with divers Presents amongst which there was a man seven Cubits high a Jew born who was named Eleazar who was called a Giant by reason of his stature That done Vitellius returned to Antioch and Artabanus to Babylon But Herod desirous to be the first that should advertise Caesar of the receipt of these Hostages Herod advertiseth the Emperour of all things before Vitellius's Letters came to his hands sent an express with Letters by which he fully satisfied him of all that which had hapned omitting nothing for the Consul to acquaint him so that after Vitellius's Letters G were brought unto him and that Caesar had already assured him of the true information that Herod had given him Vitellius was much troubled and suspecting lest he had received a greater injury than the matter made shew for he conceived in his heart a secret spight which continued until Tiberius was dead and Caius obtained the H Empire At that time also Philip Herod's Brother died in the twentieth year of Tiberius's Reign after he had reigned himself for the space of seven and thirty years in Trachonitis Gaulonitis and Bathanaea During all the time of his Government he behaved himself very peaceably for he made his abode within his own Dominion He walked being accompanied with a small number of his chosen servants and had that seat carried after him wherein he was accustomed to fit and do justice to the end that if any one presented himself and required his assistance he might without delay do him right Hedio Ruffinus chap. 9. alias chap. 13. For upon the first motion the seat was placed in that part wherein the Plaintiff met him and being seated therein he examined the cause punishing those that I were guilty and absolving the innocent He died in Juliade and was buried in the Sepulchre which he himself had caused to be built The year of the World 4000. after Christ's Nativity 38. and his Obsequies were performed with great Solemnity and Majesty And for that he left no Heirs Males behind him Tiberius seized on his Estate which he united to the Government of Syria ordaining that the Tributes that were gained
vision being awaked out of my sleep and troubled in my mind what it might signifie being seized by little and little by a pleasant slumber I fell a sleep again And again I saw a vision more prodigious than the former and which likewise troubles and terrifies me more For I saw seven ears of Corn sprung out of one root that hung down and bowed their heads because they were loaden with grain ready to be reapt The year of the World 2238 before Christ's Nativity 1726. after which there appeared E seven other weak and dry ears which devouring those other great and full ears left me highly astonished Hereunto Joseph answered This Dream O King although it hath been seen in two figures yet it importeth one and the same accident which is to ensue For both those seven lean Oxen and those seven dry ears of Corn The interpretation of Pharaoh's Dream a v. 18. ad 36. which you saw devour the seven fat Oxen and seven full ears of Corn fore-signifie a Famine and scarcity in Egypt for so many years as there were Oxen and ears of Corn in good plight so that the fertility of these good years shall be consumed by the sterility of so many other years according to their number and there shall be such scarcity of necessary provision that it shall be hard to prevent and supply the defect all which is signified by those seven lean kine which having devoured the good could not be satisfied by the same All F these things God foretels unto Men not to the end they should be terrified and affrighted but that being forewarn'd they may provide for themselves and the more easily prevent the imminent danger If therefore thou shalt lay up and store the abundance of the plentiful years v. 47 48 49. Egypt shall not feel the penury that shall follow And when the King admiring Joseph's prudence and wisdom demanded after what manner he might provide in the time of plenty By Joseph â—s counsel the succeeding scarcity is made more tolerable to prevent and redress the future sterility he warned and counselled him that the Egyptians should use parsimony and that that which remained of those years superfluity might be reserved for future necessities He counselled him also to command the husbandmen to hoard up their Corn in their Barns and only to distribute to the People so much as was sufficient and no more Hereupon the G King not only praising Joseph's counsel v. 42 43. but also his interpretation of his Dreams made him Lord and Commissary of all his store Joseph is intitled by Pharaoh to great honours and commanded him to provide whatsoever he thought necessary for his service and the good of his People assuring him that he thought no Man more proper to execute this counsel than himself who H was the author thereof Having therefore this authority given him by the King to use his own signet and to be cloathed in Purple and to ride in a Chariot throughout all Egypt he stor'd up all the Corn in the Kings Granaries and distributed to every one by measure Hedio Ruffinus chap 5. that which they wanted for Seed-Corn and for their nourishment without letting any Man understand for what cause he did it He was now about thirty years old and was held in great honour by the King being for his extraordinary prudence sirnamed by him Psontomphanech which in the Egyptian language signifieth V. 50 51 52. The discoverer of hidden things he was also honoured with a Wife of great dignity Joseph marrieth a Wife in Egypt on whom he begat Manasses and Ephraim By the Kings order likewise he took to Wife a Virgin Daughter to Putifar I the Heliopolitan Priest whose name was Asaneth by whom be begat Children before the Famine began in Egypt The elder of which was called Manasses which signifieth Oblivion because attaining better fortune he grew into oblivion of his former misery but the younger was called Ephraim which signifieth Return for that he was restored to the liberty of his ancestors Now when according to Joseph's interpretation the seven years of plenty and affluence were past in Egypt the years of Famine began to infest the Land V. 54 55. and for that the evil was unexpected The Famine in Egypt the headlong multitude grievously pressed with hunger and misery began to flock about the Kings gates and Garners Whereupon the King called for Joseph who presently distributing Grain to those that wanted it became without controversie the Father and conserver of the commonalty Neither K did he only sell it those that inhabited that Countrey but to strangers also accounting the whole race of Mankind so allied together that 't is reasonable such as want Gen. 42. 1 2 c. should be supplied by those that have plenty Jacob sendeth his Sons into Egypt to buy Wheat And because the same calamity both oppressed Canaan and other Kingdoms of the world Jacob also sent all his Sons into Egypt to fetch Corn as soon as he understood that strangers also had liberty to traffique in that place only with himself he retained Benjamin whom he begat on Rachel and who was brother by the whole blood to Joseph When these ten Brethren arrived in Egypt they repaired to Joseph beseeching him that they might be permitted to buy corn for nothing was done without his express command it seem'd an honour done to the King to do honour to Joseph He taking knowledge of his Brothers who thought of nothing less than of him by L reason that in his youth he was sold away by them and age had altered the lineaments of his face V. 7 c. and besides none of them could imagine that he had attained to so great dignity determined to make trial of them Joseph soundeth this Brothers to the end he might understand his Fathers and Benjamins estate V. 10. to the end he might the better gather how they were affected For he both denyed them his licence to buy Corn and commanded them also to be apprehended for Spies telling them that they were of divers Nations though they feigned kindred for how can it be saith he that a private Man should bring up so many worthy Sons which felicity scarcely and very seldom is granted to Kings This did he to the end he might gather some intelligence of his Father and in what estate he lived Rubens answer unto Joseph both for himself and his Brothers during his absence and what was become of Benjamin his Brother for he was much afraid they had offered the same hard measure to the youth M which they had us'd to himself These words struck them with a great fear in regard of their imminent peril supposing that they had travelled this long journey all in vain and for that they saw their accusation must be answered Ruben the eldest of them began after this manner
married to David having obtained that degree of honour by her modesty and beauty Now David had a Wife before named Ahinoam V. 39. ad finem whom he had married out of the City of Abesar As touching Michol the Daughter of Saul David marrieth Abigail Nabals wife and other-whiles his Wife Saul gave her to Wife at Lissa to the Son of Phalti of the City of Gethla After this certain Ziphians coming to Saul Saul marrieth his daughter Michol to another husband told him that David was returned again into their Countrey and that if it pleased him to assist them they might easily apprehend him Whereupon Saul took the Field with 3000 Men and being surprized by Night he encamped in a certain place called Siceleg 1 Sam. 26. v. 1 ad 9. F When David was certified that Saul was come forth against him The Ziphians once more labour to betray David in their Countrey he sent out certain Spies to whom he gave charge to bring him intelligence into what place at that time Saul was retired who ascertained him that he was at Siceleg he watched all that Night without the knowledge of any of his Followers and went into Sauls Camp attended only by Abisai his sister Servia's Son and Abimelech the Hittite V. 7 8 ad 13. Now whil'st Saul was asleep David once more attended by two entering into Sauls Camp stole away his Dart and his Pitcher of water and his General Abner with all his Soldiers David entred into the Kings Camp and although he knew the Kings Pavilion by his Javelin that stood at the door thereof yet slew he him not neither permitted he Abisai who was very forward to execute the slaughter But this he said that although the King were wicked yet since he was appointed by God himself he could not attempt any thing G against his life and be innocent for that it was Gods right to take vengeance on him to whom he had given the Kingdom and thus restrained he the others fury Yet to the intent he might certifie the King that having the opportunity to slay him he spared his life The year of the World 2891. before Christ's Nativity 1073. he bare away with him his Javelin and the Pitcher of water that stood by H Saul whil'st he slept without the knowledge of any of the Camp so much were they devoured and overwhelmed with sleep He therefore departed thence in all assurance having executed all that which either the time or his courage would permit him to do But after he had passed the River and had attained the top of a Mountain from whence he might be easily heard he cryed out to Sauls Soldiers and their General Abner so loud that he awaked them from their sleep and calling unto Abner as well as the common sort of Soldiers Ver. 14 ad 18. the General asked Who it was that called him to whom David answered David upbraideth Abner King Sauls General for suffering his Kings Javelin and Pitcher of water to be taken from him It is I the Son of Jesse your Fugitive but said he How cometh it to pass that thou who art so great and in chiefest authority about the King hast so small respect and guard of his person Thy sleep is more pleasant unto thee than to watch for his conservation Assuredly this I act of thine deserveth a capital punishment because thou neither hast discovered me nor any others before we entred the Camp or approached the King Behold here the Kings Javelin and his Pitcher of water by which you may perceive in what great danger he hath been even in the midst of you without any notice or discovery of yours Saul perceiving that it was Davids voice A ver 21 ad finem and seeing that through the negligence of his Guards Saul praiseth David and willeth him to be of good courage and exhorteth him to return to his own house it had been easie for him to have slain him which after so many provocations would not have seem'd strange to any man he acknowledged himself indebted to him for his life exhorting him to be assured and without suspecting any evil to return home unto his house because he was persuaded that he loved not himself so much as he was beloved by David notwithstanding that he had pursued him and for a long time K had chased him like a Fugitive constraining him by divers persecutions to forsake his dearest Friends and instead of rewarding his services had reduc'd him to the utmost extremities Hereupon David willed him to send some one of his Servants to bring back his Javelin and Pitcher of water protesting that God should be Judge of both their natures manners and actions who knew that that day also he had spared his Enemy whom if he had thought good he might have destroyed David having thus the second time spared Saul's life 1 Sam. 27. 1. and not willing to continue any longer in a Countrey David declareth his innocency to Saul where he might be in danger of falling at length into the hands of his Enemies he thought good to retire into the Countrey of the Philistines and sojourn there Saul desisteth to persecute David So that accompanied with 600 Men which he had with him he went to Achis L King of Gath one of their five Cities who received him kindly and gave him a place to dwell in Ver. 8 ad fin so that he abode in Gath having with him his two Wives Atchimaas and Abigail David with six hundred men and his two wives went into Palestine to Achis King of Gitia Which when Saul understood he troubled him no more because he had twice been in danger of his life whil'st he pursued him David held it not convenient to remain in the City of Gath and therefore requested the King of the Philistines that he would assign him some part of his Countrey where he might make his habitation because he feared to be chargeable to him if he remained in the City Achis assigned to him a Village called Siceleg David requireth a certain place at the Kings hands to make his habitation in which David after he obtained the Kingdom loved so well that he purchased the perpetual inheritance of it after he came to the Crown But hereof will we speak in another place The time that David lived amongst the Philistines M and in the Town of Siceleg were four months and twenty days during which time The King giveth him Siceleg by several excursions against the bordering Sarrites and Amalekites he spoiled their Countrey and returned back again with a great booty of Oxen and Camels yet brought he thence no Bondmen David spoiled the Sarrites and Amalekites and giveth part of the prey to the King persuading him that he took it from the Jews that inhabited the South Plain lest Achis by their means should thereby have intelligence
would not transgress the Laws of their Countrey for which cause being apprehended they were instantly cast into the Furnace of Fire and protected therein by Gods providence escaped death beyond all mens expectation For the fire touched them not neither could it burn during their abode in the Furnace For God so defended their Bodies that they could not be consumed by fire N which miracle made them in great estimation with the King for that he saw that they were virtuous and beloved of God and for that cause they were highly honoured by him Not long after this the King saw another Vision in his sleep which signified unto him that being cast from his Empire he should converse with Savage Beasts and that having lived in that estate in the Desart for the space of seven years he should recover his Kingdom again Having had this Dream he assembled the Magicians once more demanding their answer and the signification thereof But it was impossible for any one of them either to find out or declarethe meaning of this Dream unto the King Onely Daniel discovered the same and the effect was answerable to his prediction For the King passed the fore-limited time in the Desart Dan. 4. 1. ad 29. so that no man durst intermeddle O with the affairs of Estate during seven years The Dream and exposition hereof But after he had called upon God that it would please him to restore him to his Kingdom he repossessed the same again Let no man in this place accuse me for reporting these particularities according as I have found them written in Holy Books The year of the World 3381. before Christ's Nativity 5â—3 for in the entrance of my History I have A answered those objections so that I have openly protested that I will onely faithfully translate the Hebrew Histories into the Greek tongue and according to my promise relate that which is contained therein without adding any thing of mine own or concealing ought of another mans Nabuchodonosors death After that Nabuchodonosor had reigned fourty three years he dyed he was a man of good Conduct and more happy than any of his Predecessors Berosus maketh mention of his acts in the third Book of the Chaldaique History where he speaketh thus His Father Nabuchodonosor having notice that the Governour whom he had appointed over Egypt and the neighboring parts of Coelosyria and Phoenicia was revolted from him being at that time in himself unable to endure the troubles of War committed apart of his Forces unto his Son Nabuchodonosor who was in the flower of his age B and sent him forth against them Berosus of Nabuchodonosor Hedio Ruffinus chap 13. who encountring the Rebels and fighting with them overcame them and brought the Countrey under his subjection Mean while Nabuchodonosor the Father died of a sickness in Babylon after he had Reigned One and twenty years Nabuchodonosor the Son having notice of his Fathers death gave order to the affairs of Egypt and the rest of the Countrey and committing the care and transportation of the Jews Syrians Egyptians and Phoenicians to his friends to bring them to Babylon with his Army and Carriage he with a few Men made hasty journeys thorow the Desart And when he had taken the administration of the Kingdom upon him which in his absence was in the hands of the Chaldees and by their Chieftain was reserved until his return unto his use he became Lord of all his Fathers Empire When his prisoners were arrived he assigned them convenient C dwelling places in the Countrey of Babylon and with the spoils of War he magnificently repaired and decked the Temple of Bell and other places He enlarged the old City and repaired and beautified it with other buildings by means whereof they that would besiege the same were hindred from cutting off the current of the River to the prejudice of the Inhabitants He invironed it within with a treble Wall and outwardly with as mighty and as many enclosures and made all of burnt Brick The Walls were magnificently builded and the Gates bravely adorned in manner of Temples He caused a Palace to be builded near unto his Fathers antient Palace the magnificence and ornaments whereof I am not able to express onely this thing most memorable I have thought good to note that these great and pompous Buildings were finished in fifteen days In this Palace he had Vaults D raised so high that in outward appearance they seemed to be Mountains on which all sorts of Trees were planted He devised and prepared also a goodly Garden and called it the hanging Garden because his Wife having been brought up in the Countrey of Media desired at Babylon Megasthenes of Nabuchodonosor to see some resemblance of her own Countrey Megasthenes in the fourth Book of his Indian History maketh mention of this Garden in that place where he enforced himself to prove Diocles. that this King surpassed Hercules in valour and execution of worthy actions Philostratus For he said that Nabuchodonosor overcame the chief City of Lybia and a great part of Spain Diocles in the Second Book of the Persian History and Philostratus in his Phoenician and Indian History make mention of this King saying that he overcame the City of Tyre at the end of thirteen years at such time as Ithobal E Reigned over the Tyrians This is the sum of all that which the Historiographers write as touching this King CHAP. XI Nabuchodonosors Successors the destruction of Babylon by Cyrus King of Persia AFter Nabuchodonosors death Evilmerodach releaseth Jechonias from his long imprisonment his Son Evilmerodach obtained the Kingdom who incontinently delivered Jechonias King of Jerusalem out of prison and held him in the number of his most esteemed friends and gave him Presents and committed F the Government of the Palace of Babylon into his hands For his Father had not kept his promise with Jechonias 2 King 25. 27. when he surrendred himself his Wife Children and Friends into his hands Jer. 52. 31. ad finem in the behalf of his Countrey and to the intent that the City of Jerusalem should not be razed by those that besieged it Niglisar as we have heretofore declared Labophordach Evilmerodach died in the eighteenth year of his Reign Balthasar or Naboandel King of Babylon and Niglisar his Son obtained the Kingdom which he possessed fourty years and afterwards died After him the succession of the Kingdom came unto his Son called Labophordach which continued in him but for the space of nine moneths and after his death it came unto Balthasar who by the Babylonian was called Naboandel Against whom Cyrus King of Persia and Darius King of Media made War at such time as he was besieged in Babylon there hapned G a marvellous and prodigious spectacle H Balthasar sate upon a certain Festival day in a Royal Chamber The year of
which he intended As soon as he came to Babylon he took divers of his Countreymen with him who willingly follow'd him and went with him unto Jerusalem in the 25 year of the Reign of Xerxes and after G he had deliver'd his Letters to Sadeas and the other Governors he assembled the people of Jerusalem and standing up in the midst of them he spake unto the whole Congregation H to this effect The year of the World 3519. before Christ's Nativity 445. You men of Jury there is none of you but know what care God Almighty hath been pleased to take of our Forefathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob in regard of their piety and love to justice and he doth still make it evident that he will not abandon us in that I have obeained favour of the King and permission by his assistance to rebuild the Walls of our City and finish the rest of the Temple I therefore pray you who are assuredly persuaded of the envy and hatred the neighbouring Nations bear unto you Nehemias having gotten licence and authority to build the walls of Jerusalem inciteth the people thereunto who hearing that we are intent upon our building will overpress us and labour by all means possible to hinder us first to relie upon Gods Providence who will oppose himself against the hatred which they bear us and afterwards to intermit neither day nor night in prosecution of the building but with all care continue the work in that the opportunity doth require our diligence After he had spoken I to this effect he gave order that the Governors should take the measure of the Wall and distribute the task among the people Nehem. 2. v. 1. ad 11. according to the Burroughs and Towns and to every mans ability and after he had promised to employ both himself and all his family therein he dismissed the Assembly Hereupon the Jews incited by his authority addressed themselves to the work and then it was that they first began to give the name of Jews to those of our Nation who returned from the Captivity and to the Countrey the name of Judea because it had been heretofore inhabited by those of the Tribe of Juda. The Ammonites Moabites Samaritans and all the Inhabitants of Coelosyria understanding that the walls were raised with such haste and diligence Nehem. 4. 1. ad 15. were much troubled and resolved K with themselves to lie in ambush and to hinder them in the prosecution of their work so that they slew divers Jews and sought the means likewise to murther Nehemias himself and having hired certain strangers with money to commit the fact they â—ay in wait for him V. 16. ad fin They endeavour'd also to terrifie the Jews with vain reports The ardent care in building the walls of Jerusalem and by spreading certain rumors that divers Nations intended to make War against them by which reports being much troubled they desisted for a time from the prosecution of their building Yet none of these things could weaken Nehemia's diligence or resolution but that keeping a guard round about him he diligently prosecuted his design setting light by all occurrents so great was his affection to accomplish the work And therefore he carefully stood upon his guard not that he fear'd death but because he was persuaded L that his Fellow-Citizens would abate of their courage and resolution if he continued not with them to animate them to the prosecution of so holy an enterprize He commanded likewise that the Workmen while they wrought should have their Arms near them so that both Masons and Labourers carried their Swords Moreover he gave order that they should have their Targets by them and he placed certain Trumpetters some 500 foot distant the one from the other charging them that as soon as they discover'd the Enemy from any part they should incontinently sound the alarum and give notice unto the people to arm themselves and prepare for the fight for fear they should be surprized and found unprovided He himself also walked the round about the City by night The walls of Jerusalem finished with an indefatigable courage and without either eating or M sleeping but only for necessity sake and this labour endured he for the space of two years and three months for the Wall of Jerusalem was built again in that time in the 28 year of the Reign of Xerxes and in the ninth month After the City was fortified Nehemias and the people offered Sacrifices unto God Provision for the Priests and spent eight dayes in feasting When the rumor was spread abroad that this building was finished the Inhabitants of Syria were sore displeased But Nehemias perceiving that the City was weakly manned besought the Priests and Levites to forsake their dwellings without the City and to come and dwell within and to that intent he built them houses upon his own charge He ordained likewise that they that intended their Husbandry should bring the Tenths of their fruits unto Jerusalem to the intent that the Priests and Levites by enjoying their continual N maintenance 1 Esdras 10. might omit no time in the service of God The death of Nehemias wherein he was readily obey'd By this means the City of Jerusalem was very well peopled After that Nehemias had honourably accomplish'd divers other worthy actions deserving praise he died in a good old age He was a man so good so just and highly affectionate towards his Countrey and one to whom they are so much obliged for the benefits which they have receiv'd that his memory will remain for ever among the Jews O CHAP. VI. The year of the World 3543. before Christ's Nativity 421. A Artaxerxes succeeds his father Xerxes in the Kingdom of Persia he repudiates Queen Vashti his Wife and espouseth Esther the Neece of Mardocheus A man persuades Artaxerxes to banish all the Jews and to apprehend Mardocheus but he is hanged and Mardocheus established in his place AFter the death of Xerxes Hedio Ruffinus cap. 6. the Kingdom fell to Cyrus his son who by the Grecians was call'd Artaxerxes Under his government all the race of the Jews both Men Women and Children were in danger to be utterly exterminated the cause whereof I B will hereafter declare But first of all I must speak somewhat of the King and declare how it came to pass Esther 1 2. that he married an Hebrew Woman of the Blood Royal by whose means as it is said our Nation was preserv'd After that Artaxerxes had taken the Kingdom upon him and establish'd Governors over 127 Provinces from India as far as Aethiopia in the third year of his Reign he entertain'd and feasted all his Friends with great magnificence the Nations of Persia likewise with their Governors for 180 days He feasted after this for the space of seven days the Ambassadors of all Nations in the City of Susa after this manner
so doing they should be in security For the thirteenth day of the twelfth month by the Hebrews called Adar and by the Mecedonians Distre the posts that carried the Kings letters certified them that they should exterminate their enemies on that very day whereon they themselves were in danger to be exterminated The Governors likewise of the Provinces the Lords and chief Magistrates did honour to the Jews for the fear they had of Mardocehus and after the Kings Letters were published it came to pass that the Jews slew about five hundred of their enemies Within the City of Susa the King declared unto Esther the number of the dead that perished in the City Esther 9. v. 2. 5 10 13. and suspecting what might happen thorow the whole Countrey he asked her if she requested any further matter promising her that D he would see it executed she besought him that it might be lawful for the Jews to revenge themselves yet once more the next day upon their enemies and to hang Hamans ten Sons upon the gibbet which the King being loth to contradict Esther permitted so that on the 14. day of the Month Distre they slew about three hundred more of their enemies without taking the smallest portion of their goods Furthermore the Jews slew in the Countrey and in the Cities about sixty five thousand of their enemies whom they dispatched the thirteenth day of the month and solemnized the day following in mirth and feasting The Jews that were at Susan assembled themselves likewise on the fourteenth day of the month and banquetted that whole day Whence it cometh to pass that all the Jews which are throughout the world keep and solemnize E this day for a festival and send Presents the one unto the other Mardocheus also wrote unto the Jews who lived under the Empire of Artaxerxes commanding them to observe those dayes and to solemnize them willing them to charge their Successors to do the like to the end that this feast might continue for ever For since on that day they should have been destroyed by Haman they should do well if after they had escaped that danger and taken revenge on their enemies they should observe the same day to give thanks to God For this cause the Jews keep a solemn feast on these dayes and call it Purim that is to say Lotts But Mardocheus was great and powerfull with the King Governing the whole Kingdom under him and had also all the power that could be conferred on him by the Queen and for this cause the affairs of the Jews had F better success than was hoped but there was nothing during the whole reign of Artaxerxes which hapned to be of greater importanance than this which we are going to relate C. 10 per totum Puraea festa Mardocheus authority G H CHAP. VII The year of the World 3584. before Christ's Nativity 380. John the High-Priest kills Jesus his brother in the Temple Manasses the brother of Jaddus the High-Priest espouseth the daughter of Sanaballath Governor of Samaria AFter the death of Eliasib the High-Priest Judas his son succeeded in the office And Judas being dead Hedio Ruffinus cap. 7. John his son obtained the place and was the cause that Bagoses General of Artaxerxes Army The revenge taken of John for slaying his brother polluted the Temple and made the Jews tributaries so I that before they could offer their ordinary and daily sacrifices they were compelled to pay for every Lamb 50 drachmes which hapned upon this occasion John had a brother called Jesus whom Bagoses favoured and promised to give him the High-Priesthood One day these two Brethren being in the Temple they fell out about the succession and the quarrel rose so high that John slew his brother Jesus in that holy place It was a thing very strange that John being a Priest should commit such an impiety against his brother and yet far more strange in that so cruel an act and an offence so impious hath neither hapned amongst Greeks nor Barbarians But God left it not unpunished in that for the same sin the people lost their liberty and the Temple was polluted by the Persians When Bagoses had intelligence that John the High-Priest among the Jews had slain his brother Jesus in the Temple Jaddus High-Priest whose brother Manasses marrieth Sanaballaths daughter he came thither in all haste and began to break K forth into bitter threats against the Jews Have you said he been so bold as to commit murther in your Temple And when he attempted to enter they hindered him Whereupon he replied Am I therefore more polluted than the body that lieth dead in the Temple And having spoken thus he entred thereinto and for the space of seven years Bagoses being thus incensed against the Jews punish'd them for murthering Jesus After that John was deceased Jaddus his son was made High-Priest who had a brother called Manasses Sanaballath sent by the late King Darius to govern Samaria for he also was of the race of the Chuteans from whom came the Samaritans knowing that Jerusalem was a famous City and that the Kings thereof wrought much trouble unto the Inhabitants of Assyria and Coelosyria he willingly marrieth his daughter Nicasis to this Manasses with L an intent that this Marriage should be as a pledge of his good will to the Nation of the Jews CHAP. VIII Alexander the great King of Macedonia passeth out of Europe into Asia destroyes the Empire of the Persians and when it was believed that he would have demolish'd the City of Jerusalem he pardons the Jews and treats them very favourably M ABout this time Philip King of Macedon died in the City of Aegaea being traiterously slain by Pausanias the son of Cerastes Alexander made King after Philip his father King of Macedon of the race of Orestes and his son Alexander succeeded him in the kingdom who passing over the Hellespont gave battel unto the huge Army of Darius near the River Granic and there obtained a famous victory And hereupon also invading the Countrey of Lydia after he had conquered Jonia and over-run Caria he fell upon the quarters of Pamphilia as is declared in another place But the Elders of Jerusalem were much displeased that Jaddus's brother who was at that time High Priest and had married a foreign Woman should be companion and associate with him in the Priesthood so as they mutined against him For they supposed that that Marriage would be but a means to animate those who had a mind to profane Marriages N and prove an inducement to others to communicate in Marriage with strangers calling to mind that the cause of their evils and first captivity was because some of them had fallen and offended by coupling themselves with Women of foreign Nations They therefore commanded Manasses either to forsake his Wife or else never more to approach the Altar The High-Priest likewise being
divers places and planting them again in the same And in especial to the end that the service of God may be renewed we have set down a certain sum of money to be imployed in sacrifices and in buying Beasts for their offerings Wine Oyl and incense that is to say twenty thousand sicles of Silver and for sine Floure according to the law of the place one thousand four hundred and sixty measures of Wheat and three hundred seventy and five measures of salt And my will is that all these things that are above-named be delivered unto them according to the form of our ordinance We likewise command that the work of the Temple be finished with the galleries and other necessary buildings and that all the Timber be brought out of Judea and other places and especially out of Libanus without any tax or tallage which exemption also shall D take effect in all other necessaryes that are requisite towards the reparation of so famous a Temple My pleasure likewise is that all they of the same Nation govern their State according to their own laws Let the antient Priests and Scribes of the Temple also and the singing men be freed from all taxations that are payed by the powl and the tributes of the Crown and all other whatsoever And to the end that the City may be the sooner built I grant unto all them that inhabit the same as this present or that hereafter transport themselves thither within the month of October to inhabit the same with exemption from all charges for three years space We forgive them moreover the third part of their tributes to the intent they may recover their losses We will also that those Citizens that have been forcibly led from thence into servitude be set at liberty both they themselves and also those that are of their E alliance commanding their goods to be restored unto them Farewell These are the contents of this Letter The Edict of Antiochus the great in honor of the Temple And to yeild the more honour unto the Temple he sent an edict thorow all his Kingdom to this effect That it should not be lawfull for any stranger to enter within the inclosure of the Temple without the Jews permission except those that should be purified according to the law and custom of the place That no man should bring into the city any flesh of Horses Mules wild or tame Asses Leopards Foxes or Hares or Generally of any Cattel prohibited to be eaten by the laws of the Jews That it should not be lawful likewise for any man to bring their Skins into the City or to nourish any such beasts in the same but that it might be only lawfull to use these beasts which might be sacrificed unto God according to the law of their ancestors That F whosoever should not observe these laws he should pay three thousand drachmes of silver unto the Priests Furthermore to express his piety and fidelity towards us at such time as he heard of the troubles that happned in Phrygia and Lydia he wrought also unto Zeuxis Governour of one of the higher Provinces and his intire friend commanding him to send certain of our Nation from Babylon to Phrygia writing unto him unto this effect G H King Antiochus to Zeuxis his Father The year of the World 3790. before Christ's Nativity 204. Health Vnderstanding that those of Lydia and Phrygia are newly fallen into Rebellion I have thought good according to my duty to prevent the same and whilest I consulted with my friends what was to be done Antiochus's Epistle to Zeuxis in which he maketh honourable mention of the Jews it hath been thought fit that two thousand Families of the Jews should be sent thither all which should be drawn out of Mesopotamia and Babylon to plant them in Garisons and places of security For I am persuaded of their good affection and zeal towards us both in respect of their devotion towards God as also from the testimony which our Predecessors have given them namely that they are faithful and ready to execute that wherein I they are employed Moreover it is our pleasure that notwithstanding all difficulties you cause them to pass thither and permit them to live according to their own Laws Now when they shall arrive in that place thou shalt bestow on every one of them ground to build them houses on with sufficient Lands both for Tillage and to plant their Vineyards in for which they shall pay no Tribute for ten years space and during such time as they may gather of their own for their sustenance they shall be allowed their provision of Corn for themselves and their servants Our will is also that they who shall be employed on necessary affairs be sufficiently provided of that they need to the intent that being so bountifully dealt withall by us they may shew themselves the more affectionate in that which concerneth us Thou shalt give order also to the uttermost of thy power that this Nation be no wayes oppressed or injured by any man Farewell K Hitherto we have sufficiently declared what friendship Antiochus the Great bare unto the Jews Antiochus's friendship and confederacy with Ptolomy After this Antiochus contracted an alliance and friendship with Ptolomy who gave him his daughter Cleopatra in marriage and assigned him for her dowry Coelosyria The Samaritans molest the Jews Samaria Judea and Phoenicia and because these two Kings divided the Tributes between them the chiefest in authority in every Province collected from their Countrey and paid the Sum agreed upon to the Kings Treasury At that time the Samaritans puffed up with their prosperity vexed the Jews spoiling their Countrey Hedio Ruffinus cap. 4. and leading them away Prisoners by force This hapned under the High-Priest Onias Onias the High-Priest provoketh the King of Egypt for non-payment of his Tribute For after the decease of Eleazar Manasses his Uncle obtained the Priesthood L and after the death of Manasses Onias the son of Simon sirnamed the Just enjoyed this dignity Simon was brother to Eleazar as I have heretofore related This Onias was of no great capacity and withall was very covetous by which means he failed to pay the twenty Talents of silver which his Predecessors were wont to pay to the Kings of Egypt of the Tribute which the People paid unto him Whereupon Ptolomy Evergetes the father of Philopater was grievously incensed against him so as he sent an Ambassador to Jerusalem to accuse him because he failed to pay his accustomed Tribute threatning him that if henceforth he received it not he would divide the Countrey amongst his Soldiers and send them to inhabit it When the Jews heard this they were much troubled but Onias was no whit moved thereby because he was wholly given over to covetousness M N O CHAP. IV. The year of the World 3774. before Christ's Nativity 194. A
for they who kept it defended it valiantly For against every Engine the King built and raised up against them they erected a contrary Engine They only wanted victuals because their old provision was consumed and the ground had not been manured that year because it was the seventh in which according to the Law the Countrey ought not to be tilled which was the cause that divers of those that were besieged fled away privately for want of victuals insomuch that very few remained for the defence of the Temple In this condition were they who were besieg'd in the Temple But when King Antiochus and Lysias the General had received notice Antiochus hearing news of Philips intent to invade Persia giveth over his siege to meet him that Philip coming out of Persia intended to make himself Lord of the Countrey they concluded to give F over the siege for that time and to march forwards against Philip without giving any notice thereof to his Soldiers He only commanded that Lysias should call a Council of his Captains and without discovering of his design against Philip to tell them That he raised the siege because the place was very strong and his Army began to want victuals and the publick affairs required his presence in other parts of his Dominions Furthermore he thought it expedient to capitulate with the besieged and contract friendship with all the Nation of the Jews promising them the free exercise of their Religion because they rebelled only that they were deprived of it and he was assured that having the grant thereof they would live peaceably and he might safely return into his own Countrey When Lysias had declared these Reasons all the Army and the Captains approved thereof G H CHAP. XV. King Antiochus Eupator makes peace with the Jews but contrary to his promise he demolisheth the Wall that encompassed the Temple He cuts off the head of the High-Priest Onias sirnamed Menelaus and confers that honour upon Alcim Onias the Nephew of Menelaus retires into Egypt where the King and Queen Cleopatra his Wife permit him to build a Temple at Heliopolis in imitation of that at Jerusalem IN pursuance of this resolution Antiochus maketh peace with Judas King Antiochus sent a Herald to Judas and those that I were besieged with him promising them peace with permission to live according to their Religion The wall of the Temple defaced Which conditions they willingly embrac'd and having taken an oath of assurance from the King they surrendred up the Temple Whereupon Antiochus entred into it Onias otherwayes called Menelaus led away Prisoner and seeing it to be a place so well fortifi'd he contrary to his oath commanded his Army to level the Wall that inviron'd it even with the ground which done he return'd to Antioch leading away with him the High-Priest Onias who was called Menelaus For Lysias had counselled the King to murther Menelaus if he intended that the Jews should live in peace and the rather because it was he only who was the Author of all those evils by reason of the counsel he had given to Antiochus his father to inforce the Jews to forsake their Religion The King for that cause sent Menelaus unto Beraea K a City of Syria where he commanded him to be put to death after he had enjoy'd the High-Priesthood ten years Alcim or Jacimus made High-Priest He was a wicked man and to raise himself to that great honour and authority had caused several of our Nation to violate our most holy Laws As soon therefore as Menelaus was dead Alcim was made High-Priest who was called Jacimus Now when Antiochus found that Philip had already conquer'd a great part of his Countrey he fought with him and taking him Prisoner he put him to death But Onias the son of the High-Priest Philip slain by Antiochus whom as we have heretofore declared was left an Orphan in his infancy seeing that the King had slain his Uncle Menelaus Onias the High-Priests son built a Temple in Egypt resembling that at Jerusalem and given the Priesthood to Alcim who was not of the race of the Priests and had transferred this honour into another family at the persuasion of Lysias he fled unto Ptolomy King of L Egypt where being honourably entertained by the King and his Queen Cleopatra he obtained a place at Heliopolis where he built a Temple like unto that which was at Jerusalem whereof we shall hereafter have a more fit opportunity to speak CHAP. XVI Demetrius the son of Seleucus escapes from Rome comes into Syria and causeth himself to be crowned King and puts to death King Antiochus and Lysias He sends Bacchides with an Army into Judea to exterminate Judas and his party and to establish Alcim in the High-Priesthood he proceeds with great cruelty but Judas compels M him to retire to Demetrius for fresh supplies AT that time Demetrius the son of Seleucus fled from Rome Hedio Ruffinus cap. 15. and took possession of Tripolis in Syria and after he had set the Diadem upon his own head and had levied and hired certain Soldiers 1 Machab. 7. he invaded the kingdom Demetrius seizeth Tripolis and other Cities of â—yria and killeth Antiochus and Lysias where he was received to the general content of all men who submitting themselves unto him laid hold on the King Antiochus and Lysias and brought them alive unto him but he forthwith commanded that they should be put to death after that Antiochus had reigned two years To this new elected King divers Jews banish'd for their impiety and with them the High-Priest Alcim resorted Alcim the High-Priest with Apostates accuseth Judas before Demetrius who in general accused their own Nation and principally Judas N and his brethren objecting against them that they had slain his friends and all such as were on his side and that among all those that were in the kingdom and expected his coming some of them were slain and the rest being driven from their native Countrey were banish'd into other places Wherefore he desired him that he would send some one of his friends to take notice of the outrages committed by Judas and his brethren Demetrius was much moved by these reports and for that cause sent Bacchides who was in times past much esteemed by Antiochus Epiphanes for his valor and to whose government at that time all Mesopotamia was committed To whom he gave an Army joining with him the High-Priest Alcim with Commission to kill Judas and his Confederates Bacchides departing from Antioch with his Army came into Judea and sent an Herald unto Judas O and his brethren to treat with him upon certain Articles of Peace because his intent was to surprize them by some treachery But Judas suspecting his design gave little heed unto him for in that he came thither with so great an Army he easily conjectured that he intended no Peace
will all in this place assemble to celebrate the praises of God according as it hath been foretold by the Prophet Isaias There shall be saith he a Temple for our Lord God in Egypt many other things also hath he foretold touching this place This is the substance of that which Onias wrote unto King Ptolomey And by his answer which he made hereunto a man may easily conjecture what piety was both in him and Cleopatra his sister and wife For they have returned the sin and transgression of the Law which through this means fell upon Onias's head by this answer that ensueth F King Ptolomey and Queen Cleopatra to Onias the High-Priest Health We have perused your Letters by which you desire us to give you leave to cleanse the Temple that is defaced at Leontopolis in the seignory of Heliopolis in the place called Bubastis in the Plain We marvel very much that a Temple built in a place so unclean and full of execrable Beasts should be acceptable unto God but since that you inform us that the Prophet Isaiah did long since prophesie the same we give you liberty if it may be done according to the Law and with this condition that we commit not any sin against God G Upon this answer Onias taking possession of the place built therein a Temple and erected an Altar unto God according to the model of the Temple of Jerusalem but H far less and less rich I think it no wayes requisite to declare the dimensions thereof nor the vessels belonging to it because I describe them particularly in my seventh book of the Wars and Captivity of the Jews neither wanted there some Levites and Priests who being of the same opinion with Onias officiated at the celebration of Divine Service A Temple built in Egypt by Ptolomey's consent But let this suffice for the present touching the Temple But it came to pass that the Jews of Alexandria and the Samaritans that brought in the Service and Worship of the Temple upon the mount Garizim under Alexander the Great The Wars of the Jews lib. 7. cap. 37. dissented from one another and debated their differences before Ptolomey For the Jews said That the Temple in Jerusalem built according to Moses laws and ordinances Sedition betwixt the Jews and Samaritans as touching their Temple was the lawful Temple but the Samaritans maintained That that which was built I on mount Garazim was the true Temple They therefore besought the King That it would please him to sit in judgment with the assistance of his friends to hear their allegations in this behalf and to condemn the party unto death who should be found faulty in his process Now the advocates which pleaded for the Samaritans were Sabbeus and Theodosius and Andronicus the son of Messalem defended the cause of those of Jerusalem and the other Jews And both of them swore both by God and the King That they would bring their proofs according to the Law beseeching Ptolomey to adjudge him to death whom he should find to have falsifi'd his oath The King therefore sat down with his friends to hear the cause and determine their differences But the Jews of Alexandria were much displeased with them that had drawn the preheminence of the Temple K at Jerusalem into question and were highly discontent that a Temple so ancient and famous and so esteemed and honoured through the whole World should be so disparaged When therefore the day of Audience was come Sabbeus and Theodosius suffered Andronicus to speak first who began to prove the lawfulness holiness and religion of the Temple in Jerusalem out of the Law and by the successive government of the High Priests who from father to son and from hand to hand had received this honour therein alledging That all the Kings of Asia had honoured the Majesty of that place with presents and rich oblations whereas neither in the record of men nor course of antiquity the Temple of Garizim had been in any estimation Hereunto he added such other reasons as persuaded the King that the Temple of Jerusalem was built according to L the ordinance of Moses and caused him to adjudge Sabbeus and Theodosius to death This may suffice to have spoken concerning the differences of the Jews of Alexandria and such things as befell them during Ptolomey Philometors time CHAP. VII Alexander Ballez finding himself by the death of Demetrius in the peaceable possession of the Realm of Syria espouseth the daughter of Ptolomey Philometor King of Egypt Great honour is done by Alexander to Jonathan the High-Priest M AFter that Demetrius was slain in the field as we have already related Alexander made himself King of Syria Hedio Ruffinus cap. 5. and wrote to Ptolomey Philometor 1 Mac. 11. 1. desiring his daughter Alexander King of Syria marrieth Cleopatra Ptolomeys daughter the Princess Cleopatra in marriage telling him That it was not below his dignity to contract affinity with him since he had obtained his fathers Empire by the favor of God and had overcome Demetrius Ptolomey yielding a willing ear to his request wrote back That he was very glad that he had recovered his fathers kingdom promising him to give him his daughter in marriage assuring him that he would meet him at Ptolomais and bring his daughter unto him to that place and there celebrate the Nuptials After he had written these Letters Ptolomey made haste to Ptolomais and led with him his daughter Cleopatra where meeting with Alexander according to their appointment he deliver'd him his daughter N and gave her a dowry worthy of so great a King Unto the solemnizing of his marriage Alexander by Letters invited the High-Priest Jonathan commanding him to come to him to Ptolomais He went thither and presented magnificent Presents to both the Kings he was highly honour'd by both insomuch as Alexander constrained him to put off his ordinary garments and to put on a purple robe and after that to sit upon a royal Throne commanding his Captains to march before him through the City and to command by publick Edict That no man should dare to speak anything against him nor offer him any cause of discontent All which the Captains performed so that they who purposely and maliciously came thither to accuse him seeing the honour that was done unto him by the King fled away lest the mischief which they designed for him should fall upon O their own heads This King Alexander loved Jonathan so intirely that he afforded him the chief place amongst his dearest friends CHAP. VIII The year of the World 3818. before Christ's Nativity 146. A Demetrius Nicanor the son of King Demetrius entreth into Cilicia with an Army King Alexander Ballez gives the command of his to Apollonius who with very ill success sets upon Jonathan the High-Priest who defeats him takes Azot and burns the Temple of Dagon Ptolemey Philometor King of Egypt
prophane hands For I already perceive that the prophane Nations despise us and contemn you as if you had no Leader Simon succeedeth his brothers Judas and Jonathan and I know already that they are marching forward to fight you By these words Simon heartned the People who were distracted with fear so that they revived their spirits and conceived better hope Simon sendeth Jonathan Absalons son to Joppa to expulse the inhabitants thereof Tryphon by fraudulent promises under certain conditions persuadeth Simon that his brother should be set at liberty Whereupon all of them cried with a loud voice That Simon was their General and that he was to succeed his two valiant brethren N Judas and Jonathan in the Government and that as touching themselves they would be obedient in all things that he should command them He therefore assembled in one instant all the men at Arms in that Countrey and hastened to repair the City walls fortifying them with high and strong Towers and sent a certain friend of his called Jonathan the son of Absalon with an Army to Joppa commanding him to turn out the Inhabitants of that City from thence feraing they would submit themselves to Tryphon as for himself he remained in Jerusalem to secure the same Tryphon departing from Ptolomais with a great Army came into Judea leading his Prisoner Jonathan with him Whereupon Simon and his Army went out against him as far as Addida a City scituate upon a Mountain at the foot whereof beginneth the Champain O Countrey of Judea Tryphon knowing that Simon was made Governor of the Jews sent messengers unto him intending to circumvent him by Treason and Policy giving him to understand That if he were desirous of his brothers enlargement he should send him one hundred Talents of silver The year of the World 3821. before Christ's Nativity 143. and two of Jonathans children for hostages to assure him that being A set at liberty he should not withdraw Judea from the obedience of the King For till that present he was held and kept Prisoner by reason of the money which he ow'd the King Simon was no ways ignorant of this cunning intent of Tryphons but knew well enough that he should both lose his money if he should deliver the same and that his brother should not be enlarged no though his children were deliver'd for hostages on the other side he feared lest the People should judge sinisterly of him as if he had been the cause of his brothers death both by not delivering the money neither yet the children Having therefore assembled the Army he declar'd unto them what Tryphon demanded telling them That the whole scope of his actions were nothing else but treacherous stratagems and subtilities yet notwithstanding he told them That he had rather send both the money and the B children to Tryphon than by refusing his conditions and demands to be accused to have neglected the life of his brother Simon sent therefore both the money and children of Jonathan but Tryphon having receiv'd both kept not his promise but detain'd Jonathan and leading his Army thorow the Countrey intended to pass by Idumaea to repair to Jerusalem He came therefore to Dora a City in Idumaea and thitherward marched Simon to encounter with him encamping always right over against him They that were in the Castle of Jerusalem hearing news hereof sent Tryphon word that he should hasten and come unto them and send them munition whereupon he addressed his Horsemen pretending that very night to ride unto Jerusalem but the snow about that time fell in such abundance that it covered the way in such sort and was so thick as the Horses could not C Travel which hindred his repair to Jerusalem For which cause he departed from thence and came into Coelosyria Jonathan is slain by Tryphon and speedily invading the Countrey of Galaad he put Jonathan to death in that place and after he had buried him there he returned to Antioch But Simon sent unto Basca and transported his brothers bones and interred them in his Countrey Modin in his fathers Sepulchre and all the People mourned and lamented for him many days Simon also built a great monument of white and polished marble for his father and brethren Jonathans Monument and rais'd it to a great height and garnish'd it round about with galleries and pillars all of one piece which was an admirable Work to behold Besides that he erected seven Pyramids for his father mother and brethren for each of them one so great and so fair as they caused admiration in those that beheld them and are D as yet to be seen at this present day So great was Simons care that Jonathan and the rest of his family should be honour'd with so magnificent a Sepulchre which Jonathan dyed after he had exercis'd the place of High-Priest and possessed the Government for four years Thus much as touching his death As soon as Simon had taken possession of the High-Priesthood by the election of the People the very first year of his Government he acquitted the People of the Tribute which they were wont to pay to the Macedonians This liberty and exemption from Tribute hapned amongst the Jews one hundred and seventy years since the time that Seleucus The Jews discharged of Tributes sirnamed Nicanor obtain'd the kingdom of Syria And in so great honour was Simon amongst the People that in their private Contracts and publick Letters the date E began Simons authority From the first year of Simon the Benefactor and Governor of the Jewish Nation For they prospered greatly under his Government and had the victory of all their neighbouring Enemies round about them For he destroy'd the Cities of Gaza Joppa and Jamnia he demolished or slighted also the Cittadel of Jerusalem and level'd it with the ground Simon razeth the Castle of Jerusalem to the intent the Enemies might never seize on it any more nor retreat thither to endamage the City as they had done before Which when he had brought to pass he thought it not amiss but very profitable to level the Hill whereon the Castle stood to the intent the Temple might be the eminentest place All this he persuaded the People to do in a common Assembly representing to them how much they had suffer'd by the Garisons and how much they were like to suffer hereafter if a stranger should once F more be master of the kingdom and build a Cittadel in that place By these exhortations he persuaded the People to finish these Works and all of them began to work without intermission both day and night so that in the space of three years they level'd the mountain and from that time forward there was nothing but the Temple that commanded the City See here what Simon perform'd hitherto G H CHAP. XII The year of the World 3824. before Christ's Nativity 140. Tryphon caused Antiochus Alexander
Jews to entertain a foreign Army There was also a friendship and alliance betwixt him and Antiochus whom he entertain'd in the City with all his Army and furnish'd him largely and magnificently with all that which was necessary for the same and that which is O more Antiochus having undertaken an Expedition against the Parthians Hircanus marched also in his company Nicholas Damascene beareth witness hereof writing after this manner in his History Antiochus erected a Pageant near the flood Lycus after he had overcome Indates General of the Army of the Parthians The year of the World 3838. before Christ's Nativity 126. and abode there two days at Hircanus the Jews A request by reason of a solemn Feast at that time in which it was not lawful for the Jews to travel wherein he is no ways mistaken For the Feast of Pentecost was at that present the next day after the Sabbath and it is not lawful for us neither in our Sabbaths nor Feasts to journey any ways Antiochus slain in the conflict against the Parthians Antiochus fighting against Arsaces King of the Parthians lost the greater part of his Army and was himself slain His brother Demetrius succeeded him in the kingdom of Syria whom Arsaces had set at liberty at such time as Antiochus came into the kingdom of the Parthians as we have declared heretofore in another place CHAP. XVII B Hircanus after King Antiochus's death took back again many places in Syria and reneweth his alliance with the Romans King Demetrius is overcome by Alexander Zebinus who was descended of King Seleucus is taken afterwards in Tyre and dieth miserably Antiochus Gripus being his son overcometh Alexander who is killed in the battel Antiochus Syzicus who was his brother on the mothers side being Antiochus Sother's son maketh War against him and Hircanus in the mean time reigns peaceably in Judea HIrcanus hearing news of Antiochus death Hedio Ruffinus cap. 16. led forth his Army with all Expedition against the Cities of Syria Hircanus surprizeth divers Cities of Syria and layeth desolate the temple that was built on the hill Garizim hoping to find them unprovided both of garisons and means of defence as in effect it came to pass He therefore took the City of Medaba at C the end of six months after that his Army had suffer'd many calamities Afterwards he seized Samega and the Cities thereabout the Cities of Sichem and Garizim also where the Cutheans dwelt who had a Temple there made according to the model of the Temple of Jerusalem which Alexander the great permitted Sanaballath to build in favor of his Son-in-law Manasses The Idumaeans conquered by Hircanus admit circumcision and the laws of the Jews brother to the High-Priest Jaddus as we have heretofore declar'd which Temple was laid desolate 200 years after it was built Hircanus also took certain Fortresses and Cities of Idumaea as Adora and Marissa and after he had subdu'd all the Idumaeans he permitted them to inhabit the Countrey under this condition That they should consent to be circumcised and to live according to the Laws and Religion of the Jews D They through the desire they had to live in the place where they were born submitted themselves to be circumcis'd and to live according to the customs and ordinances of the Jews and from that day forward they were comprehended within the number of the Jews Hiâ—canus maketh a league with the Romans Whil'st thus Hircanus was High-Priest he thought good to renew the amity betwixt the Jews and the Romans and to this effect he sent an Embassage with Letters unto the Senate As soon as the Senate had receiv'd his Letters they made alliance with him to this effect ensuing Fanius M. F. Pr. assembled the Senate in the field of Mars the eighth day of February in the presence of L. Manlius L. F. Mentina and C. Sempronius C. F. Falerna concerning that which Simon the son of Dositheus Apollonius the son of Alexander Diodorus the son of Jason men of good reputation and honour and sent Ambassadors E by the People of the Jews have proposed who have dealt with us as touching the confederation and amity that this Nation had with the Romans and have likewise conferred as touching the affairs of State namely that Joppa and the Ports thereof Gazara and the Fountains thereunto belonging and those other Cities of the Countrey which Antiochus took from them contrary to the decree of the Senate should be restor'd unto them and that it may not be lawful for the Kings Soldiers to pass through their Countrey neither any of those Provinces that are under their government and that those things which were attempted by Antiochus during this War contrary to the arrest and decree of the Senate should be declar'd void to the end that the Ambassadors sent in the Senates behalf may provide for the restitution of those things which Antiochus had spoilt them of and may rate and set down the damages which the Countrey hath F receiv'd by this War Item That Letters of recommendation should be written in the behalf of the Jewish Ambassadors to the Kings and free People for their secure and safe return into their Countrey It hath been held convenient to make and ratifie this ordinance to the end to renew friendship and alliance with men of so good respect sent unto them by a Nation so good and faithful towards them And as touching the Letters the answer was That they should be written at such time as the affairs of the Senate would permit them any leisure and that from this time forward they would have care that no injury should be offer'd them And the Pretor Fanius was commanded also to deliver the Ambassadors money out of the common Purse to bear their charges home into their Countrey And thus did Fanius dismiss the Ambassadors of the Jews after he had given them money out of the common Treasury with the decree of G the Senate addressed to those that should conduct them and give them a sure convoy or safeguard to return into their Countrey And this was the state of the affairs during Hircanus Priesthood H But King Demetrius being sharply whetted to make War against Hircanus The year of the World 3844. before Christ's Nativity 120. could have neither time nor opportunity to fulfill his desire by reason that both the Syrians and his Soldiers were become his Enemies because of his wickedness of life For they sent Ambassadors to Ptolomey sirnamed Physcon to require him to send some one of Seleucus's race unto them Demetrius being overcome by Alexander is slain to be establish'd King Whereupon Ptolomey sent them Alexander sirnamed Zebina accompanied with an Army who giving battel to Demetrius worsted him and constrain'd him to flie to his Wife Cleopatra to Ptolomais who neither accepting nor entertaining him Hedio Ruffinus cap. 17. he was constrain'd to retire
Demetrius fighteth with Alexander had the upper hand who led with him 3000 Horsemen and 40000 Footmen Both on the one and the other side there fell out many subtil stratagems the one of them striving on the one side to inveigle and withdraw the foreign Soldiers who were Grecians and the other inforcing himself to reconcile those Jews that were of Demetrius's followers to his faction Alexander in this fight loseth all his hired Soldiers but neither the one noâ— other prevailed at all by these devices so that at length they were driven to decide their quarrel by the sword in which encounter Demetriâ—s had the upper hand For all the strangers that were on Alexanders side were every one E hewed in pieces after they had made sufficient proof both of their fidelity and valour There fell also many of Demetrius's Soldiers But after that Alexander had fled unto the mountains Six thousand men resort unto Alexander divers Jews to the number of 6000 in commiseration of his desperate estate and through the fear they had of Demetriâ—â— resorted unto him which when the Conqueror heard Alexander being assailed by the Jews besieged the mightiest of them in Bethom he retired himself After this the Jews made VVar against Alexander and in divers losses which they received there fell a great number of them in divers combats At length after he had 〈◊〉 up the best amongst them in the City of Bethom he besieged them and after he had taken the City and brought them under his subjection he carried them to Jerusalem where he committed an unspeakable and cruel murther Alexander crucifieth 800 Jews and murthereth their wives and children in their presence For whil'st he banquetted with his Concubines in the sight of them all he F commanded 800 of them or thereabout to be crucified and before their eyes whil'st they yet lived he caused their wives and childrens Threats to be cut All which he did to be revenged of those wrongs which he had received but he exceeded the bounds of Humanity herein notwithstanding they had rebelled against him and reduc'd him into a most pitiful estate and put him in danger both of his life and kingdom For being not content to assail and make VVar upon him with their Forces they drew strangers also into his Countrey against him and at length they overpower'd him so that he was constrained to yield up into the King of Arabians hands the Countries and Cities that he had conquered from the Moâ—bites and Galaadites for fear they should join with the Jews and make War against him Alexander sirnamed Thracidas besides other innumerable injuries and outrages which they G committed against him All this cannot hinder but that he ought to be abhorred for his cruelty so that he was justly called Thracidas that is to say as cruel as Thracian and H this Title continued amongst the Jews The year of the World 3887. before Christ's Nativity 77. The Soldiers of the contrary party who amounted to the number of 8000 fled by night into strong and sure holds and as long as Alexander lived they were in exile But at last he was deliver'd of all these Troubles he lived in quiet and governed his kingdom peaceably all the rest of his life-time But Demetrius marching from Judea to Beroea besieged his brother Philip with 10000 Foot and 1000 Horse But Straton Lord of Beroea allied to Philip called Zizus Duke of the Arabians and Mithridates Sinaces Governor of the Parthians unto his help who repairing unto him with great Forces besieged Demetrius in his own Trenches in which they so inclosed him by continual shooting of Darts and want of Water that they constrained him Demetrius besiegeth his brother Philip in Beroea and those that were with him to submit themselves to I their mercy When they had spoilt the whole Countrey and had seized on Demetrius they sent him prisoner to Mithridates who at that time was King of Parthia And as for the Antiochians as many of them as were found in the Camp were suffered to be gone with the safety of their lives and baggage and to return to Antioch But Mithridates King of Parthia honour'd Demetrius by all means possible until he was surprized with a sickness whereof he died Immediately after the battel Philip came into Antioch and having obtained the kingdom ruled over Syria CHAP. XXIII K Divers Wars of the Kings of Syria Alexander King of the Jews takes many places His death and his advice to his Queen Alexandra to insinuate her self in the favor of the Pharisees for to gain the love of the People AFter this Antiochus called Dionysius who was Philip's brother came into Damascus to make himself Master of it Hedio Ruffinus cap. 21. which he did quickly in his brothers absence who was gone against the Arabians Antiochus King of Damascus When his brother Philip who had an Army in a readiness to invade the Arabians had tydings hereof he came to Damascus with great speed and made him surrender up the City Antiochus thrust out of his kingdom by his brother both by the means of Milesius whom Antiochus had left Governor in the Castle and also by the consent of the Citizens themselves L But Philip shewed himself ungrateful towards Milesius performing nothing of that which he had promis'd him at the recovery of the City that the World might think that the fear of his power and not Milesius's favor was the cause of the surrender of Damascus Which act of his made Milesius suspect him and was the cause that he lost the City again For departing from thence to exercise himself at Tilt Milesius lockt the gates against him and kept the City for Antiochus Who having intelligence of that which had befallen Philip Caâ—pâ—â—asa called Antipatris returned out of Arabia and at that very instant led his Army into Judea in which were 800 Foot and 800 Horse Alexander fearing his approach made a deep Trench from Caparsabe Antioâ—hus's death and the Famine amongst his Army which is called at this day Antipatris as far as the Sea of Joppa which was the only streight whereby he might be assailed and made M a Wall fortified with wooden Towers with their Courts of Guard distant the one from the other 150 Furlongs to keep back Antiochus But he fired all his fortifications and made his Army pass into Arabia thorow this streight The King of Arabia retired upon the first assault but afterwards he presently came into the field with 10000 Horsemen whom Antiochus charged very valiantly and in the onset lost his life yet with victory whil'st he sought to succor a company of his men that were hard put to it After Antiochus's death his Army retired to the borough of Cana where divers of them dyed for hunger After him Aretas reigned in Coelosyria who was called unto that kingdom by those that held Damascus
the Jews and their Princes Hircanus and Aristobulus who were at odds the one against the other Aristobulus and Hircanus accused by the Jews before Pompey concerning their particular interests the Jews complained against Hircanus and Aristobulus both and alledged that they would not be governed by Kings because their custom was to obey Gods Priests whom they honoured affirming that these G two brethren who were descended of the race of Priests endeavoured to draw their Nation under a different form of government and to reduce them under slavery Hircanus H complained The year of the World 3902. before Christ's Nativity 62. that being the elder born he had been deprived of his inheritance by Aristobulus and had only but a small portion of the Countrey alotted him because Aristobulus had seized the rest by force He complained likewise of those incursions that both by Land and Sea Aristobulus's followers had endamaged their Frontiers with For the people had not revolted if he had not been a violent and turbulent man To this accusation of his Aristobulus's Apology before Pompey a thousand of the principallest of the Jews drawn on by Antipater's persuasion subscribed But Aristobulus answered That Hircanus was dispossessed of the Kingdom by reason of his incapacity and natural defects alledging for himself That the government was forced on him of necessity lest it should be transported to others he protested that he challenged no other title than that which his father Alexander I had had He brought in also for his Witnesses certain arrogant young men who were hated for their pomp purple Robes their curiosity in painting and curling their Hair and other braveries which they presented not like men that intended to hear a Case decided but rather to shew their vanity After that Pompey had heard them he condemn'd Aristobulus's violence but for that time he dismiss'd them after some favorable and gracious conference promising them that he would come into their Countrey Hedio Ruffinus cap. 6. and determine their differences after he had seen the Region of the Nabatheans commanding them in the meanwhile to live in peace He used Aristobulus likewise very kindly fearing lest he should incense the people and shut up his passage which notwithstanding came to pass For Aristobulus came into the City of Delion and from thence K went into Judea without regarding what Pompey had commanded him CHAP. VI. Pompey is offended at Aristobulus's retreat He marcheth against him Their several meetings without taking any effect POmpey hearing this was very much displeased and taking with him his Army which he had prepared against the Nabatheans with the supplies he had in Damascus and the rest of Syria Pompey marcheth out against Aristobulus besides the other Roman companies that he had he marched forth L against Aristobulus when he had passed Pella and Sâ—â—hopolis he came to Coreas which is the entrance into Judea drawing toward the heart of the Countrey There he found a strong Castle situate upon the top of a mountain called Alexandrion Aristobulus descendeth from his Fortress to confer with Pompey whither Aristobulus was retired He sent to invite him to come and parley with him who persuaded by the counsel of many of his best friends by no means to make War against the Romans Aristobulus delivereth the Fortresses to Pompey's hands came down to him and after he had debated his title with his brother concerning the Kingdom Pompey permitted him to return again into his Castle And this he did two or three times alwayes flattering Pompey through the hope he had of the Kingdom Hedio Ruffinus cap. 7. Meanwhile he retired himself and fortified the place and made preparation for the War lest Pompey should alot the Kingdom to Hircanus Pompey commanded him to M deliver up the fortresses that he held Mithridates King of Pontus slain by his son Pharnaces and to write with his own hand to the Captains of the Garisons who otherwise would not have obeyed him Aristobulus submitted but was so displeased that he repaired to Jerusalem on purpose to make preparations for War Immediately after Pompey marched towards him with his Army and a messenger coming from Pontus brought him news of Mithridates's death who was slain by his son Pharnaces N O CHAP. VII The year of the World 3903. before Christ's Nativity 61. H Aristobulus repents cometh to Pompey and treateth with him But his Soldiers refusing to deliver the money that he had promised and to receive the Romans into Jerusalem Pompey keepeth him Prisoner and besiegeth the Temple where Aristobulus's men were retired POmpey having encamped near Jericho where there was a number of Date-trees and where also groweth that balm which is the most precious Gabinius coming to receive the money Aristobulus had promised hath the City Gates shut against him of all other ointments distilling from a little shrub which is opened and slit by a sharp cutting stone the next morning he marched towards Jerusalem Aristobulus being sorry for his misbehavior came unto him offering him money and promising him to receive I him into Jerusalem he intreated him to lay aside all quarrels and to order all as he thought fit without coming to War Whereupon Pompey pardon'd him and condescended to his request Hedio Ruffinus cap. 8. and sent Gabinius with his Soldiers both to receive the money as also to enter the City Pompey besiegeth Jerusalem but could do neither for Aristobulus's Soldiers would not permit that any promise should be perform'd which Pompey took so ill that after he had committed Aristobulus to Prison he went in person against the City which was strongly fortified on every side except toward the quarter that extendeth Northward which was easie to be beaten down for this side is invironed with a large and deep Valley compassing the Temple which is inclosed with a very strong stone Wall K CHAP. VIII Pompey after a three months siege took the Temple of Jerusalem by assault and forbeareth plundering of it He lessens the Jews power He leaveth Scaurus to command his Army carrieth Aristobulus Prisoner to Rome with Alexander and Antigonus his two sons and his two daughters Alexander maketh his escape out of Prison IN the mean time the City of Jerusalem was divided for some thought good to yield up the City to Pompey Jerusalem partly betrayed partly besieged by Pompey others that were of Aristobulus's faction counselled that the gates should be kept shut and preparation for War should be made because the Romans L detained Aristobulus Prisoner The last prevailing seized the Temple and breaking down the bridge which was betwixt it and the City resolved to stand on their defence But the others not only deliver'd the City into Pompey's hands but the Royal Palace also who sent Piso his Lieutenant thither with his Forces to take possession thereof and to plant his Garisons therein
City of Alexandria is assigned to the Jewish Nation They have likewise their peculiar Magistrate who governeth the people endeth F and decideth their differences and maintaineth their contracts and ordinances as if he governed in his own Commonwealth By this means this Nation hath fortified and established it self in Egypt for that the Jews had their original amongst the Egyptians and for that Judea is near unto Egypt from whence the Jews are descended And as for Cyrene they have entred it in that it bordereth with that Countrey which is under the obedience of the Egyptians in like manner as Judea doth or rather for that in times past it appertained to the same Kingdom Thus far Strabo After that Crassus had disposed all things according to his own pleasure Crassus slain in Parthia he removed and marched forward to make War against the Parthians Cassius resisteth the Parthiaâ—s where both he and all his Army were destroyed as is declared in another place As for Cassius he retired himself into G Syria and took possession thereof to the end he might affront the Parthians who being A proud of their victory lately obtain'd made excursions so far and coming to Tyre he at length arrived in Judea where upon his first entrance he took the City of Tarichaea and led away from thence 30000 Prisoners He put Pitholaus also to death for having maintain'd Aristobulus's faction All which he did by Antipater's procurement and persuasion Antipater's Wife and Children who was in great credit with him and who also at that time was highly esteem'd amongst the Idumaeans amongst whom he married his Wife who was descended of one of the most famous families of Arabia her name was Cypron by whom he had these four sons Phasaelus and Herod who after was made King Joseph and Pheroras and one daughter called Salome This Antipater also made alliance with other Princes and especially with the Arabian to whose custody he committed his children during the time B he made War against Aristobulus But Cassius gather'd another Army and marched towards Euphrates to go against the Parthians as it is specified and recorded by other Writers CHAP. XIII Pompey causeth Alexander to be beheaded Aristobulus's son Philippion son of Ptolomey Mennaeus Prince of Chalcis marrieth Alexandra Aristobulus's daughter His father Ptolomey putteth him to death and marrieth this Princess C SHortly after this Caesar being Lord of Rome Pompey and the Senate being fled on the other side of the Ionian Sea Hedio Ruffinus cap. 14. al. 15. set Aristobulus at liberty determining to send him into Syria with two Legions as being a sufficient man to govern the State-affairs in those parts Nevertheless Aristobulus failed of his hopes and authority he expected at Caesar's hands Aristobulus delivered out of Prison is poysoned For Pompey's adherents prevented and poyson'd him so that he was buried by those of Caesar's faction His body was kept embalm'd with honey for a long time until that Antonius sent it into Jewry Hedio Ruffinus cap. 15. al. 16. to be entomb'd amongst the Kings and Princes Scipio by Pompey's commandment caused Alexander Aristobulus sons head to be cut off charging him with some misdemeanors which he had committed against the Romans he was executed in Antioch The slaughter of Aristobulus's son Ptolomey the son of Mennaeus who govern'd in Chalcis at D the foot of the mount Libanus took his brothers and sent his son Philippion to Ascalon to Aristobulus's Wife commanding her to send her son Antigonus and his daughters one of which called Alexandra was beloved by Philippion and married by him but afterwards he being slain Pompey Philippions father married her and continued the careful maintenance of his brother and sisters-in-law CHAP. XIV Antipater by Hircanus's order assisteth Caesar mightily in the Egyptian War and sheweth much valor E AFter Pompey's death Hedio Ruffinus cap. 16. al. 17. and that Victory which Caesar had obtained against him Antipater Governor of Judea by the commandment of Hircanus was very useful unto Caesar Antipater gathereth Soldiers out of Syria for Caesar's service For whereas Mithridates the Pergamenian brought him certain supplies and could not bring them on by reason of an arm of Nilus passing through Pelusium but was constrained to stay at Ascalon Antipater came unto him and brought with him 3000 Soldiers and dealt so with the Princes of Arabia to associate them with Caesar that by his means all they of Syria gave him their assistance and never altered their affection that they bear unto Caesar These were Jamblicus a great Lord and Ptolomey his son and Tholomaeus the son of Sohemus dwelling on the mount of Libanus and well nigh all F the Cities Mithridates being departed from Syria came to Pelusium where being repulsed and excluded by the Citizens he besieged the City Antipater in this War behav'd himself valiantly Antipater helpeth Mithridates to take Pelusium and after he had beaten down a pane of the Wall he first of all set forward to enter the City Whil'st Pelusium was in this estate the Jews that inhabited Egypt in the Countrey of Onias The Jews of Onias's Countrey are confederated with Caesar would neither grant passage to Antipater nor Mithridates that marched towards Caesar But Antipater who was of their Nation persuaded them to take their parts shewing them the Letter of the High-Priest Hircanus in which he invited them to be friends unto Caesar and exhorted them to furnish his Army with whatsoever they stood in need of Memphis in Egypt so that seeing that Antipater and the High-Priest were agreed together they submitted themselves They that dwelt round about Memphis G hearing that they were thus united sent for Mithridates also unto them who came and received them into his favor CHAP. XV. The year of the World 3917. before Christ's Nativity 47. A Antipater continueth to acquire great reputation in the Egyptian War Caesar cometh to Syria establisheth Hircanus in the High-Priesthood and conferreth great honours upon Antipater notwithstanding Antigonus Aristobulus's sons complaints WHen he was come to a place called Delta The conflict of the Egyptians with Mithridates at Delta he fought with the Enemies in a place which is called the Camp of the Jews in which battel Mithridates led the right Wing and Antipater the left Being hotly engaged the Wing that Mithridates commanded Alias cap. 18. began to give ground and was like to have been utterly routed had noâ— Antipater B running with his Soldiers along the River side obtained the upper hand of his Enemies by putting the Egyptians that were Conquerors to flight and restored Mithridates And pursued them so far that he got their Camp and called Mithridates to take part of the prey that he had recover'd from the fugitive Enemy Mithridates commendeth Antipater's service to Caesar Mithridates lost 800 of his men in this battel but Antipater
hers that were privy to her design to carry them out in the night time and to go directly towards M the Sea where there was a Bark in readiness prepared to convoy them into Egypt But Esop one of her houshold servants declared this enterprize of hers to Sabbion on of Alexandras friends supposing that he had been made privy thereunto who had no sooner inkling thereof but for that beforetimes he was Herods enemy by reason he was suspected to have been one of those that sought to poyson Antipatar he resolved by discovery of this secret flight to convert Herods hatred into friendship and presently discovered Alexandras secret enterprize to the King Who dissembling the matter until it was upon the point of execution surprized her at such time as she thought to fly and yet notwithstanding he pardoned her that fault in that he durst not decree any punishment against her though he could have found in his heart to have used severity N for that Cleopatra would not have contained her self had she but had such an occasion offered her to express her hatred against Herod Herod contriveth Aristobulus death For which cause under the colour of a high and magnanimous spirit he made shew to pardon her of his meere clemency yet inwardly resolved to destroy young Aristobulus yet not rashly upon the instant lest the act should grow apparent and palpable Now the feast of Tabernacles was at hand which was one of those that was ceremoniously and solemnly celebrated among us for which cause he concealed his intents during the festival dayes intending both in himself and in the presence and company of the people to follow all kind of pleasure and delight yet his envy incited him to hasten the execution of his will Aristobulus was at that time some seventeen O years old who when he approached the Altar to offer sacrifices according to the law apparelled in the High Priests Ornaments to perform the ceremonies he who for amiable countenance and good stature surpassed the tenderness of his years expressing in his countenance the dignity and Nobility of his Race The year of the World 39â—1 Before Christ's Nativity 33. drew the eyes and good affections A of all the people unto him so that they openly called to remembrance the noble actions of Aristobulus his Grand-Father All the people being therefore surmounted by their affections and at that present time being all of them overjoyed they brake out by little and little into acclamations mixt with wishes and prayers so that the good will the people bare to Aristobulus discovered it self openly and they manifestly although too hastily in such a Kingdom declared what evils they generaly endured For all which causes Herod concluded to execute that which he had plotted against Aristobulus As soon therefore as the feast was over-passed he went into Jericho where Alexandra entertained him In that place he used Aristobulus with all kindness to draw him to secure some place playing with him and counterfeting to sport after the fashion B of the young men to gratifie him Now the place where they sported being too hot they quickly wearied left their sport and went out together to take fresh air and finding a pleasant shade under certain Arbours and near certain fish-pools which were largely spred round about they beheld certain of their Servants and Friends that swom therein with whom not long after Aristobulus began to swim being perswaded thereunto by Herod Whereupon Herods confederates who were deputed to execute the murther laid hands on him and thrust him under the water pretending to duck him in sport and never gave him over untill such time as they had stifled him in the water This hapned about the evening and after this manner died Aristobulus after he had lived in all for the space of eighteen years and administred the Priest-hood one whole C year Aristobulus is drowned by Herods direction Ananel restored to the Priest-hood and after this Ananel presently recovered his former dignity When this accident was reported to the women all of them burst out in tears and were transported with strange lamentations which they uttered over the dead body All the City also was mightily troubled neither was there any private family that thought not it self touched by this inconvenience but imagined the loss in particular to concern himself and no other But above all when Alexandra had notice of this wicked deed she was more passionate and perplexed than any other being so much the more discomforted for that she knew how all things had hapned But the fear of a far greater mischief constrained her to repress her passion so that divers times she was ready to bereave her of her own life The lamentation for Aristobulus death and dispatch her self out of misery with her own hands D But she contained her self to the end that surviving and living after her son who was so fraudulently destroyed and prolonging her own life without giving any suspition or shadow that she might with more opportunity expect the occasion to revenge her self For which cause she dissembled all things concealed her grief and made shew that she knew nothing of that which was either intended or had hapned As for Herod he laboured by all means to perswade the strangers that this death had befallen Aristobulus without his knowledg and did not only prepare that which was requisite for the funeral but made shew to be truly sorrowful and it may be that in remembrance of Aristobulus beauty and flourishing young years he was realy touched with compassion notwithstanding Herods counterfeit sorrow that he imagined that his death should be a means of his own security E demeaning himself in all things circumspectly with intent to purge himself of that crime But especially he shewed his great magnificence in the interring of his body both in the furnishing and preparation of the Herse as in the perfumes and other things thereunto belonging in such sort as the grief which the Ladies had conceived was pacified after this manner of consolation F G H CHAP. IV. The year of the World 393â— before Christ's Nativity 165. Herod is obliged to repair to Antonius to clear himself from Aristobulus's death he winneth him with Presents He gave order before his way-going to his Brother-in-Law Joseph to put Mariamne to death if Antonius should condemn him to die Joseph revealed it imprudently to this Princess and Herod put him to death for being jealous of him and Mariamne Cleopatra's unsatiable ambition and avarice BUT none of all these things could either move or mollifie Alexandra but daily more and more she increased her sorrow and in the height of her tears kindled her wrath with a desire of revenge Alexandra certifieth Cleopatra of Herods Treasons and her sons traiterous murther She therefore acquainted Cleopatra by her private I Letters of Herods Treasons and her sons most miserable and untimely
assuring him that it was far below a Prince of his worth to cast himself into so manifest peril beseeching him to attempt nothing rashly Antonius conquereth Armenia For that Antonius would not endure the same notwithstanding it might be approved that it stood with his profit nay rather that by this means he should encrease his desire Further that no one colour of excuse should be left him in that she was the Woman of the greatest Note and Nobility of that time and that whatsoever profit might redound unto him by her death it would be an affront to Antonius Whereby it most evidently appeared how great damages would befal to the Kingdom and the N Kings family also advising him to humour her in all things except in her unlawfull request Herod bringeth Cleopatra onward on her way towards Egypt By these and such reasons and probable conjectures they deterred and disswaded him from adventuring upon this apparent danger and attempting so hainous an act so that contrariwise they induced him to offer Cleopatra many rich Presents and to conduct her onward on her way towards Egypt As soon therefore as Antonius had made himself Master of Armenia he sent Artabazes Tigrane's son with all his children who were great Princes Prisoners into Egypt and presented them to Cleopatra with all those precious Jewels likewise which were taken by him or found in the Kingdom But Artaxias his elder son who at that time had saved himself by flight reigned in Armenia whom Archelaas and Nero the Empeperor O drove out of his Kingdom and placed his younger brother Tigranes in his room as it shall be declared hereafter As for the Tributes of the Countreys which Herod was bound to pay unto Cleopatra for the lands bestowed on her by Antonius he without deceit The year of the World 3933. before Christ's Nativity 31. justly paid them supposing it to be very suitable to his security to continue A himself in her good favor As for the Arabians they seeing that Herod had the levying of such a Tribute payed him for some little time 200 Talents a year but afterwards they grew slow and negligent in their payments and scarcely satisfied the half CHAP. VI. Herod intendeth to go to assist Antonius against Augustus but Antonius obligeth him to follow on his design against the Arabians so he entreth their Countrey giveth them Battel and gaineth it but looseth a second when he thought to have win ARetas demeaning himself thus ungratefully and refusing to do that which in right B he ought to perform Herod made shew to take Arms against him but deferred his revenge in regard of the contentions amongst the Romans For at that time nothing else was expected but the Actian War which fell in the hundred and eighty seven Olympyade in which Augustus Caesar determined to try his Title with Antonius for the Monarchy Herod levieth an Army to assist Antonius against Octavian In the mean while Herod who had already for many years been Master of a peaceable and fruitful Countrey from whence he drew rich Revenues and many Forces gathered divers Forces with the greatest expedition that he might to succor Antonius But he by Letters signified unto him that he had no need of his assistance notwithstanding Herod is incited by Letters to the Arabian War he commanded him to make a road upon the Arabians whose perfidious dealing Antonius had not only understood by Herod himself but also by Cleopatra's advertisements For she very cunningly conceived that it would redound unto her C profit if one of these two should overthrow the other Herod according to these instructions from Antonius returned back into his Countrey and retained his Army always ready about him and presently invaded Arabia and with his Forces both Horse and Foot came directly to Diospolis where the Arabians having notice of his intended War against them came out to meet him They fought a most cruel Battel wherein at last the Jews had the upper hand After this a great Army of the Arabians assembled themselves at Cana a certain place in Coelosyria Whereof when Herod was fore-advertised he marched forth against them Herods Battels and Conquests accompanied with the greater part of his Forces As soon as he drew near to Cana he resolved to incamp in that place and after he had well fortified and intrenched his Forces to set on the Enemy with the first opportunity but D whilst he employed himself in the execution hereof all the Army of the Jews cryed out requiring him without delay to lead them forward against the Arabians and were so encouraged both in respect of the confidence they had in the good conduct and ordering of their Army as in regard of their forwardness who had been actors in the former War and partakers of the Victory so that they scarce gave their Enemies leisure to stand to their Arms. When Herod perceived that the heat and forwardness of the Souldiers could hardly be appeased he thought good to make use of the readiness of his Army and arming himself he marched on Head of his Army in battalia This sudden approach danted the Arabians For although for a while they made head against them yet perceiving their Enemies full of heart and themselves unable E to resist them divers of them retreated and betook themselves to flight so that all them had been utterly defeated had not Athenio endamaged Herod and the Jews For he having the command of that Army which Cleopatra had in that place and besides that Cleopatra's Chieftain overthroweth Herod bearing a privy grudge to Herod disposed his Army in a readiness and expecting the event of the Battel resolved with himself to contain his Forces if the Arabians overcame the Jews and so if they had the worst as indeed it came to pass to set upon the Jews who should be spent by that time and surprising them unawares even in the height of their hope of good success to massacre them with fresh supplies When the Jews had spent all their strength against their Enemies and expected nothing less than the assurance of the Victory The Arabians returning to the Battel kill those that fly and take the Camp he charged and overcame them who had retreated F into certain rough and difficult places whereunto their Enemies were better accustomed than themselves being grievously wounded by the Arabians who returned back and set upon them divers of them that fled were killed and of those that escaped few of them recovered the Camp Herod losing the hope of this Battel posted on Horseback as fast as he could to bring on fresh supplies but notwithstanding all his expedition and diligence yet could he not recover the place in time The Camp of the Jews was taken and sacked and the Arabians obtained no small success beyond their expectation From that time forward Herod began to make certain incursions into Arabia preying on the Countrey
desire he had of long life hath after this sort dealt with those of his Blood And it may be conjectured by these his last Commands that he had nothing in him that savoured of any humanity for that departing out of the World he had such a mind that all C the Nation and all such as were most affectionate towards him should be driven to sorrow and desolation commanding that in every house one should be killed yea such as had not in any sort offended him and were not accused of one mis-deed committed against any other whereas they that have any vertue finding themselves at that state have been accustomed to lay aside the hatred which they have before born unto their enemies D CHAP. IX Augustus referreth it to Herod to dispose of Antipater as he pleaseth Herod falling into a relapse of his Torments desireth to kill himself Achiabus one of his Grand-children hindreth him It is reported that he is dead Antipater endeavoureth in vain to bribe his Keeper to set him at liberty as soon as Herod heareth of it he sendeth one to kill him WHilst he delivered these instructions to his Kindred Letters are sent from Rome that Acme was executed by Caesar's Command and that he had Authority to use he received Letters from those Ambassadours which he had sent to Rome unto Caesar the effect whereof E was that Acme was put to death by Caesar's Command who was displeased with her for that she had been of Antipater's Conspiracy who was remitted to Herod's pleasure like a King and Father to use him as best pleased him either to exile and banish him or if it please him to put him to death Herod receiving these News recovered his Spirits a little through the pleasure he received in the Contents of those Letters Antipater as his pleasure both of Acme's death and of the power that was granted him to punish his Son But being assailed afresh by grievous Dolours and urged with a desire to eat Herod calling for a Knife an Apple intendeth to stab himself he called for an Apple and a Knife for he was accustomed to pare his Apples himself and cut a little and afterwards to eat it When as therefore he had gotten hold of the Knife he looked round about him determining to give F himself a mortal Wound therewith and had certainly done it had not Achiabus his Grand-child hastily stept within him Achiabus with holdeth his hand and stayed his hand and called for assistance At that time the sorrow and lamentation was renewed in all the Palace as if the King had been already dead Antipater thinking his Father to be dead dealeth with his Keeper for his delivery which Herod hearing of commandeth him to be slain And Antipater certainly believing that his Father was departed began to hope and confirmed no less in his words that being delivered out of Prison he should obtain the possession of the Kingdom without any difficulty and treated with the Jaylour concerning his deliverance offering him great Presents both in hand and hereafter as if there had been no other question but of that But so far was the Jaylour from obeying that which Antipater demanded that he went and acquainted the King what his intent was and what offers he made him Herod who had already conceived G a sinister opinion of his Son hearing what the Jaylour had said began to exclaim and to beat his head although he was at the uttermost gasp and lifting himself up upon his elbows he commanded that one of his Guards should presently go kill him and that done he should be buried in the Castle of Hircanion without H any honour CHAP. X. Herod altereth his Will declareth Archelaus his Successor he dieth five days after Antipater Herod's glorious Funeral ordained by Archelaus the peoples great acclamation in favour of Archelaus I AFter this Hedio Ruffinus chap. 10. having changed his mind he made a new Testament For he appointed Antipas Tetrarch of Galilee and of Peraea Herod's Will is changed whereas before he had instituted him for his Successor in the Kingdom He created Archelaus King he gave the Provinces of Gaulonites Trachonites Batanea and Paneade to Philip his Son and Archelaus's Brother by the Mother's side to be Tetrarch over those places He gave his Sister Salome Jamnia Azot and Phaselis with fifty thousand Crowns of Gold He provided also for his other Kins-men all whom he left rich in money which he gave them and revenews which he assigned them His Legacy to Caesar and Julia his Wife He gave Caesar ten Millions of Drachmes in Silver amounting to the summ of eleven hundred thousand Francks besides a great quantity K of Gold and Silver Plate and of precious Moveables To Julia Caesar's Wife and to certain others he bequeathed five millions of Drachmes amounting to five hundred and fifty thousand Francks Herod's death or thereabout After he had in this manner disposed all things some five days after he had caused Antipater to be executed he departed this life having reigned after Antigonus's death for the space of thirty and four years and thirty and seven years after he was elected and approved King by the Romans A man without respect cruel and severe towards all men Slave to his wrath Lord of the Laws yet so favoured by fortune as no man more for from a private man he became a King and being environed with many dangers he always happily escaped and he lived also a very long time Herod's mutable strange Fortune And as concerning his Family and Children in his L own opinion he was happy in that he overcame his enemies but in my opinion he was most unfortunate Before the King's death was thorowly known Salome and Alexas after the King's death dismiss the Jews that were shut up in the Hippodrome Salome and Alexas discharged those that were locked up in the Hippodrome and sent every one of them home unto his own house telling them that the King commanded them to depart and follow their houshold Affairs and till their Land wherein they performed a most noble action and benefitted the whole Nation with an especial good turn After the King's death was bruted abroad Salome and Alexas caused all the Army to be assembled in the Aâ—phitheatre in Jericho and first of all they caused Herod's Letters to be read which were addressed to the Souldiers Hedio Ruffinus chap. 11. in which he gave them thanks for the fidelity and M good will which they had expressed towards him Herods thanksgiving to his Army and testament read Archelaus is applauded by the people praying them to continue the same to Archelaus his Son whom he had appointed to be their King after him That done Ptolomey to whom the King had committed the custody of his Seal recited his Testament which was to take no effect except that Caesar approved the
lastly with the spoil of the treasury yet they assembled a Troop of the valiantest Soldiers and besieged the Palace threatning to burn the same with Sabinus and all other the Romans that were therein The Palace besieged by the Jews except they speedily departed and in so doing they promised both them and Sabinus all assurance and security whereby it came to pass that divers of them that I were in the Palace issued out and submitted themselves unto them But Rufus and Gratus having three thousand of those valiant Soldiers under their command Rufus and Gratus Captains of Herod's Army joyn with the Romans who had served Herod joyned themselves with the Romans The like did those Horsemen which followed Rufus who in like manner submitted themselves to their direction yet for all this the Jews continued and intended their Siege undermining their walls and exhorting the Romans to depart and not to deprive them of their liberty which they had long enjoyed under their Predecessors Sabinus was willing to depart from thence with his Soldiers yet durst not trust them in regard of their former attempt and he suspected the too liberal offer his enemies had made him but neglected it because he expected Varus K At the same time infinite other troubles were raised in divers other places of Judaea according as every one either was incensed with a desire of gain Hedio and Ruffinus cap. 15. or a will to revenge For two thousand Soldiers who had formerly served under Herod and being at that time cashier'd Divers tumults in Jewry lived at home assembling themselves together assailed those of the Kings faction who made head against them under the conduct of Herod's Nephew Aciabus Two thousand of Herod's Soldiers assail the Kings people who never daring to encounter them in a place of equal advantage in that they were old Soldiers and well exercised in war defended himself in that he held and kept himself as near as he could in the mountains and places of advantage Moreover Judas the Son of Ezechias the Arch-thief whom Herod overcame with so much difficulty at Sephoris a City in Galilee Judas Ezechias's Son the Arch-thief gathering unto him a band of desperate men L made incursions upon the King's Dominions And having taken all those Arms and Weapons which he might recover in that place he armed from the first to the last all those Souldiers that were with him he took away all that money which was reserved for the King in that place and affrighting the Inhabitants round about him he spoiled all those with whomsoever he met aspiring to the Kingdom not that he thought himself well enough qualified for that dignity but because he had gotten such freedom in wickedness he took the boldness to do any thing Whilst these troubles ranged in every place Simon also who had been one of Herod's servants Simon Herod 's Servant and both for his shape stature and strength was esteemed amongst all men undertook the Kingdom and being attended by a mighty Army and proclaimed M King by them who were a wicked and unbridled multitude and perswading himself that he was worthy to be King before any other he first of all set the Palace on fire in Jericho and spoiled all that was therein He burnt also divers other Royal Palaces belonging to the King which were in divers places of the Countrey giving them free license who were his followers in the Action to bear away the Prey that remained And far more licentious pranks had he played had not his practises been speedily and wisely prevented For Gratus who with the King's Soldiers had joyned himself winh the Romans Gratus conflict with Simon and gathered all the Forces that he had went out against this Simon And after a fierce Battel they on the other side of Jordan were put to flight and fighting rather with courage than Military Discipline they were overcome N And whilst Simon Simon beheaded in crossing a Valley sought to save himself by flight Gratus met with him and cut off his head About the same time also The Jews almost enraged in rebellion the Royal Palace of Amatha that was hard by Jordan was burnt by men of as bad disposition as Simon was And thus thorow the whole Nation reigned this raging Rebellion for that the Countrey had no King who by his Vertue might govern and moderate the people for that the strangers who were sent to repress these mutinies Athronges strong in body and goodly in stature attempteth the Royal Dignity did rather incense them through their Violence and Avarice For a certain obscure and base man neither esteemed for Vertue nor worthy of regard for his Riches but being a Shepherd utterly unknown before and only famous for his huge stature and strength called Athronges was so audacious to aspire to Royal O Dignity and took pleasure to offer violence not valuing his life and exposing himself to all hazards for the only unbridled affection he bare to Soveraignty He A had four Brothers of as goodly stature as himself The year of the World 3965. before Christ's Nativity 3. who were esteemed for men of valour and execution whereby they imagined they had the means offered them to obtain the Kingdom Each one of these had the Command over a Company For a great company of people resorted daily unto them the charge of whom was committed unto his Brethren at such time as any occasion of War was offered and he in the mean while wearing the Diadem on his head ordered counselled and commanded all things The Power of this Gallant endured a long time who was not called King for nothing for he disposed all things according to his own pleasure and both he and his Brethren were flesh'd with the slaughter of the Romans and those of the King's side whom he hated alike these by reason of the insolence they B had used during Herod's life-time the other in regard of those injuries which lately they supposed themselves to have received by them This hatred of theirs daily encreased more and more and there was no man that could escape their hands both in respect of the gain sought and for the custom they had to shed Blood They therefore at that time set upon the Romans and surprised them on the sudden near to Emmaus at such time as they carried Victuals and Munition unto their Camp and having enclosed their Centurion Arius with forty of their most valiant Footmen they shot him thorough with their Darts The rest that expected nothing less than death were saved by Gratus who came in upon them with the King's Souldiers whereupon leaving the dead bodies they retired Continuing their War C after this manner a long time according as occasion was offered they had done much mischief to the Romans and far more injury to the Nation of the Jews At last they were surprised the one in an
sat at their feet after divers discourses D held between them Agrippa began to speak after this manner unto Caius O said he would God the day were come wherein the old man departing out of this world would make you Governour thereof For his Son Tiberius would be no hindrance unto you for you might dispatch him Then should the World be happy and I likewise have my share in the Felicity Tiberius esteeming this his Accusation to be true and having of long time conceived a grudge against Agrippa for that notwithstanding he had commanded him to honour Tiberius who was his Nephew and Drusus's Son Agrippa had given small regard to his Commandment and had not honoured him but was wholly addicted unto Caius For which cause he said to Macron bind me this fellow He scarcely understanding that which he spake and no ways suspecting that he should give that Command E against Agrippa deferred the performance until such time as he might more exactly understand his mind When therefore Caesar turned into the Hippodrome and by chance met with Agrippa in the teeth This is he said he Macron whom I have commanded to be bound And demanding of him once more of whom he spake It is Agrippa said he Then had Agrippa recourse to submissive and humble Prayers refreshing the memory of his Son with whom he had been brought up alledging the education he had used towards his Nephew Tiberius but he prevailed nothing but was led away bound in those Purple Ornaments which he then wore At that time it was very hot weather Thaumastus Caius's Servant giveth Agrippa drink whom he promiseth to procure his Freedom and he was extreamly thirsty Whereupon espying Thaumastus one of Caius 's Servants who carried Water in a Pitcher he required F him to give him drink which when he had willingly bestowed on him he drank and afterwards said unto him This service thou hast done me in giving me drink shall do thee good one day For as soon as I escape out of these Bonds it shall not be long before I obtain thy liberty at Caius's hands for that thou hast not neglected to do me service in this my Imprisonment more than whilst I was in my Prosperity Neither deceived he the man's expectation of his promise but rewarded and gratified him For afterwards when he had obtained the Kingdom he begged Thaumastus 's liberty at Caius 's hands and made him his Steward and after his decease he gave order that he should serve in the same place with his Son Agrippa and his Daughter Bernice so that he died very old and much honoured But this happened afterward But at that time Agrippa stood before G the place bound with other Companions who likewise were in Bonds and through the grief he conceived he leaned against a certain Tree on which there sat an Owl One of those Prisoners who was by Nation a German beholding that Bird asked the Souldier that was fettered with him who he was that was apparelled in Purple and H understanding that his name was Agrippa and that he was a Jew and one of the Nobility of that Nation he desired the Soldier who to the end to guard him was chained with him to suffer him to draw near unto Agrippa and to have a little conference with him for that he had a great desire to ask him certain things concerning the Customs of his Countrey Which when he had obtained and having got near him he told him by an Interpreter of that which followeth Young man said he the sudden change that hath befallen thee at this present afflicteth and oppresseth thee with great and grievous Torment neither wilt thou easily believe that thou shalt escape from thy misery yet so doth the Divine Providence dispose of all things A certain German foretelleth Agrippa of his happy Fortunes to come and the manner of his death that thou shalt shortly be delivered Know therefore and I swear unto thee by the Gods both those of mine Ancestors and those also who I have residence and presidence in this place and who have procured us this Iron Chain that I will tell thee all not to yield thee pleasure by my vain discourse or to entertain thee with fruitless Consolation knowing well that when these Predictions shall happen to fail they will breed thee more sorrow than if thou hadst never heard of them But I have thought it good yea although it were with mine own danger to declare unto thee the Predictions of the Gods It cannot otherwise be but that shortly thou shalt be delivered from these Bonds and shalt be advanced to great honour and power so that those who at this day have compassion on thy Calamity shall envy thy Glory and thou shalt depart this life in great felicity and shalt leave thy Children mighty Possessions But bear this in thy remembrance that when thou shalt see this Bird once more thou must needs die within five days after These are those things which the Gods think meet to foretell thee by this Bird. As for my self I K have supposed I should do thee wrong if I should conceal this Prediction from thee having the fore-knowledg thereof I have therefore thought good to impart this joy unto thee whereby thorough hope of thy future profit thou mayest more easily endure thy present misfortune for which cause I beseech thee that as soon as thou shalt be partaker of this thy felicity thou wilt endeavour thy self to deliver us also from these Adversities This Presage of the German's seemed as ridiculous to Agrippa as admirable afterwards But Antonia being sore grieved at the young man's Calamity thought it not only a difficult matter for her to entreat Tiberius for him but altogether unprofitable in regard she should be repulsed yet she prevailed so much with Macron that he was L committed to the custody of such Soldiers who were of a more mild behaviour and had a Centurion appointed to keep him that suffered him to use his daily Bathings and gave his Friends and Servants leave to visit him by whose service and kindness his necessities might be relieved His Friend Silas also was admitted to speak with him and amongst his Free-men Marsyas and Stichus who brought him in such meats as he was delighted withal and Coverings under colour to sell them which by the permission of the Soldiers who had no less direction from Macron they spread by night for him to take his rest upon Agrippa lived six months in Prison See here the estate wherein Agrippa lived in Prison for the space of six Months But Tiberius being returned to Capreas began at first to be attainted with a certain lingring disease Tiberius falleth sick and sendeth for his Sons and for that his Sickness encreased more and M more he began to conceive a sinister hope of himself and commanded Euodus whom he most honoured amongst all his Free-men to bring him his Sons because he
should commit no such like offence For that his first action was not allowable Some of them also went to meet Albinus being on his way to Alexandria Ananus accused before Albinus to inform him that it was unlawful for Ananus to assemble the Council without his Licence Albinus perswaded by these words wrote a cholerick Letter to Ananus Jesus the Son of Damnaeus possesseth Ananus's place wherein he threatned to punish him And for the same cause King Agrippa dispossessed him of the Priesthood after he had held the same for the space of three months and in his stead he established Jesus the Son of Damnaeus After that Albinus was arrived in Jerusalem he employed all his care and study to pacifie the E Countrey by executing divers of the Thieves But the High Priest Ananias daily encreased in honour and credit and purchased the good will of the Citizens Some forcibly gather the Tenths of the Priests by his liberality and great gifts But he had some mischievous Servants about him who conversed with those that were most intemperate and audâ—cious who repaired from Barn to Barn and took up many Tithes that belonged to the Priests and beat those that refused to render them The Priests used no less violence than their servants having no man that might restrain them whereby it came to pass that the Priests who were formerly maintained by the tenth died at that time for want of Victuals And the Thieves renewing their entrance into the City by night during the Feast that was celebrated at that time The Thieves apprehend Ananias's Kindred and Servants took the Secretary of Captain Eleazar F alive who was Ananias's Son who was the High Priest And having bound him led him out of the City sending Ananias word that they would deliver his Secretary if he would prevail so much with Albinus as to deliver them their ten Companions then Prisoners who were taken by him To the performance whereof Ananias perswaded Albinus by manifest reasons Caesarea Philippi new builded by Agrippa and called Neronias And by obtaining his demand encreased and begat a number of miseries For the Thieves used all the cunning means they could devise in apprehending some one of Ananias's house and when they had taken any one of them alive they would not deliver him except before they might have one of their own delivered So that encreasing both in courage and number they became more and more insolent to afflict the Countrey G At that time King Agrippa enlarged the City of Caesarea The Berithians receive much kindness at Agrippa's hands surnamed Philippi and in honour of Nero called it Neronias He builded also to his great charge a Theatre in favour of the Berytians He distributed Oyl and Corn for every one of the people and adorned all the City with most antick and fine Portraitures upon the Porches The year of the world 4026. after Christs Nativity 64. In H short he transported into that City almost all the Ornaments of the rest of the Kingdom For which cause his Subjects began to hate him seeing he deprived them of their rare Ornaments to adorn one strange City Jesus the Son of Gamaliel succeeded in the Priesthood which the King had given him and taken away from Jesus the Son of Damnaeus who resigned him his place against his will Whereupon there arose a discord between them Ananias Costobarus and Saul prepared to spoil the weaker for having assembled their resolutest followers they came from bitter words to blows and stones But amongst all the rest Ananias was the richest in wealth and by his bounty reconciled the more unto him Costobarus also and Saul gathered each of them a Band of Rascals and desperate men These two were of the Blood-Royal and by reason of their affinity and alliance with Agrippa they were well beloved I For which cause they were insolent and violent oppressing always the weaker sort From this time forward the estate of our City grew desperate encreasing daily more and more in wickedness When Albinus understood that Gessius Florus came to succeed him Hedio Ruffinus chap. 17. alias cap. 22. desiring that they of Jerusalem should acknowledge some of his good deeds he called before him all those Prisoners that were notoriously guilty of Murther Albinus executeth the hainous Malefactors and caused them to be executed As for those that were imprisoned upon any small or slight cause upon payment of their Fines he delivered them and in so doing the Prison was cleansed of Malefactors and from that time the Countrey remained full of Thieves and Robbers The Levites Agrippa giveth them of the Tribe of Levi leave to wear the Linnen Garments who were ordained to sing Hymns to God solicited the King to assemble K the Council and thereby to permit them to wear the Linnen Robe which the Priests were accustomed to use telling him that such an Ordinance would dignifie his Estate very much in that he would be always famous in memory of this new Establishment Agrippa permitteth the Ministers of the Temple to sing the Sacred Hymns This Suit of theirs was easily granted for the King after he had consulted with those who were his Assistants suffered the Levites that sung the Hymns to lay aside their ordinary Robe and to apparel themselves in Linnen as best liked them He permitted also that another part of the Levites who intended the service of the Temple should learn to sing the Hymns and Psalms as they had required All which he did contrary to the Ordinances of the Countrey which being broken there was nothing else to be expected but Punishment L At that time the building of the Temple was finished The people of the Jews beseech the King that it may be lawful for them to repair the Porch And the people perceiving that more than eighteen thousand Work-men should be idle and deprived of Wages whereupon they were accustomed to live by the building of the Temple on the other side being loath to reserve their money through the fear they had of the Romans to provide for those Workmen in the entertainment of whom they resolved to employ their Treasure for if any one of them wrought but one hour of the day he was suddenly paid his wages they requested the King that it would please him to repair the Eastern Gate on the outward part of the Temple scituate in a Descent the Walls whereof were in height four hundred Cubits made of square Stones of white Marble from the top to the bottom and every stone twenty foot long and six M foot thick This Work was first builded by King Solomon who was the first that builded our Temple But Agrippa to whom Claudius Caesar had given the Commission of building of the Temple thinking with himself that it was very easie to break it down but very hard to build it up and that to re-edifie the Porch
Temple he purified it and compassed it with a Wall and made new Vessels for the M Service of God and placed them there because those that had been formerly consecrated there were prophaned He built likewise another Altar and began to renew the accustomed Sacrifice and observe the Rites of Religion Scarce was the City brought to its former Estate Antiochus dieth and leaveth the Kingdom to his Son Antiochus who gathereth a huge power and invadeth Jewry but Antiochus died leaving behind him Antiochus Eupator his Son and Heir not only of his Kingdom but also of his hatred against the Jews Who having gathered together fifty thousand Foot and almost five thousand Horse and fourscore Elephants entred by the Mountains into Judaea and took a Town called Bethsara near which Judas met him in a place called Bethzacary where the passage was something strait And before they joyned Battel Eleazar Judas's Brother seeing one Elephant higher than the rest bearing a N great Tower on his Back Ant. lib. 12. c. 14 15. and adorned with Golden Furniture thought Antiochus had been there â—leazar dieth being slain by an Elephant and ran from his Company breaking the Ranks of the Enemies till he came to the Elephant but he could not reach him whom he deemed to be the King he was so highly mounted all he could do was to wound the Elephant in the belly with his Sword till the Beast fell upon him and pressed him to death which act of his had no other success but this that by attempting so great a matter he gave testimony that he preferred Glory before his life Eleazar preferreth honour before life For he that rid on this Elephant was but a private person and although Antiochus had been there Eleazar had atchieved nothing more in this valiant attempt but yet he adventured his life in hope to perform some great exploit This act of his was a presage unto his Brother Judas of the event O of that days Battel for the Jews fought stoutly and a long time but yet Antiochus's Army being both more in number and more fortunate obtained the Victory and A Judas after the loss of many of his company fled to the Gophonites with those of his side who escaped Antiochus advanced afterwards to Jerusalem from whence after some stay he departed for want of Provisions leaving a sufficient Garrison there as for the rest of his Army he led them for their Winter-quarters into Syria But notwithstanding the King's departure Antiochus departing from Jerusalem leaveth a sufficient Garrison there Judas rested not but encouraged by many of his Nation who daily came to him and gathering also together those who escaped out of the former Battel he fought with the Forces of Antiochus at a village named Adasa where after many proofs of his valour in assaulting and slaughtering a great number of his enemies he himself at length was slain and within a few days after his Brother John also was betrayed Ant. l. 12. c 18 and slain by their treacheries who favoured B Antiochus Judas sighteth with Antiochus Captains and is slain Ant. l 13 c. 1. CHAP. II. The Succession of Princes from Jonathan to Aristobulus AFter Judas succeeded his Brother Jonathan in the dignity of Prince of the Jews The year of the World 3805. before Christ's Nativity 157. He carefully studied the peace and security of his people and fortified himself by the friendship of the Romans and was reconciled to Antiochus his Son yet did C not all these things procure his safety For Tryphon who was tutor to the young Antiochus laying wait for him Jonathan taken by Tryphon's subtilty is slain and seeking to spoil him of his friends took Jonathan at such a time as he came with a small company to Antiochus who was at Ptolemais and binding him led an Army against Judaea from whence being repulsed by Simon Jonathan's Ant. l. 15. c. â— Brother in displeasure and revenge thereof he slew Jonathan But Simon valiantly bestirring himself in the Conduct of the affairs of the Common-wealth The year of the World 3813. before Christ's Nativity 149. took Zara Joppe and Jamnia which were bordering Towns and overcoming the Garrison of Accaron he destroyed the City and assisted Antiochus against Tryphon who besieged Dora before that expedition which he made against the Medes Simon encountreth with Cendebeus and overcometh him Yet would not the greedy mind of the King be satisfied notwithstanding D Simon had thus faithfully served and assisted him to the ruine and death of Tryphon but in a short time after he sent Cendebeus the General of the Army to harass and spoil Judea and to take Simon Prisoner But Simon though very aged acted both youthfully and valiantly Ant. l 13 c. 14. and sent his Sons before with the most resolute men he had against Antiochus Simon by the tâ—eachery of his Son-in-law Ptolâ—maeus is taken and slain and himself with the residue of his Army assaulted another quarter of the enemies Camp and having laid many ambushes in the mountains he obtained a great victory After which he was made High Priest and delivered the Jews from the subjection of the Macedonians under which they had been two hundred and seventy years John otherwise called Hircanus the Son of Simon Finally by the treachery of Ptolemy his Son-in-law he was murthered at a Banquet who imprisoning his Wife and two Sons sent certain men E to kill his third Son John otherwise called Hircanus But the young man understanding the design fled to Jerusalem accompanied with a great multitude for he greatly hoped that the people would remember his Father's prowess especially because Ptolemy's iniquity was hated of all men Ptolemy also hasted to enter the City at another gate but he was speedily repulsed by the people who had already received Hircanus For which cause he presently retired himself into a Castle named Dagon situate beyond Jericho After that Hircanus had obtained the office of High Priest The year of the World 3831. before Christ's Nativity 131. which was left him by his Father and had offered Sacrifices to God he led forth his forces with all speed to besiege Ptolemy hoping to deliver his mother and brethren that were detained F Prisoners there by him His tenderness of nature was the only obstacle that hinder'd him from forcing the Castle Hircanus obtaineth the honour of the High-Priestâ—ood which his father had 〈…〉 cruelty agâ—â—â—t Hircanus's Mother For when Ptolemy perceived himself to be in danger he brought Hircanus's Mother and Brethren upon the walls and beat them where he might behold them in their torments threatning to cast them down from the wall except Hircanus would presently depart How great soever the indignation of Hircanus was it was forc'd to give place to the affection he had for persons so dear to him and to his compassion of seeing them suffer
out certain armed men who killed many of them and wounded the rest Hircanus after this disaster caused the dead to be buried and the wounded to be cured notwithstanding all this they that escaped would not contain themselves in Peace but so troubled the H City that Antonius in displeasure slew those that he had in hold CHAP. XI Of the War of the Parthians against the Jews Of the flight of Herod and his being made King of Judaea TWo years after this Ant. lib. 14. cap. 21. and when Barzapharnes a great Noble man of the Parthians governed Syria with Pacorus the King's Son Lysanias perswadeth Barzapharnes to depose Hircanus and enstate Antigonus Lysanias who had succeeded his Father I Ptolomaeus Son of Minaeus promised them a thousand Talents and five hundred Women to put Antigonus in possession of the Kingdom of Judaea and depose Hircanus Being induced by these promises Pacorus march'd along the Sea-coast and Barzapharnes past through the midst of the Countrey But amongst the rest of the places bordering on the Sea the Tyrians would not receive Pacorus notwithstanding the Citizens of Ptolemais and Sidon had given him entertainment wherefore he gave part of his Horse unto one who was the King's Butler called Pacorus as himself was commanding him to pass into Judaea and learn what their enemies meant to do and to help Antigonus where need required As they wasted the Countrey about Carmel many Jews came of their own accord and joyned with Antigonus shewing themselves K very prompt to fight for which cause he sent them before to take a place called Drymos where having fought with his enemies and put them to flight he pursued them with all speed as far as Jerusalem And his number being augmented he came to the King's Palace A sore fight in the Market-place betwixt Antigonus and Hircanus But Hircanus and Phasaelus met them with a strong Company and fought with them in the Market-place where the enemies were forced to fly and part of them were by Herod shut up in the Temple and he appointed to keep them sixty men which he placed in the houses next adjoyning But the people bearing a grudge to the two Brethren Daily slaughters in Jerusalem set the houses on fire Whereat Herod being angry for that his men were consumed with fire set upon the people and killed a great many of them and every hour one laid wait for another so that every day some were murthered L Now the Feast of Pentecost drawing nigh all places about the Temple and the whole City was filled with people of the Countrey whereof the most part was armed and Phasaelus kept the Walls and Herod with a small Company kept the King's Palace and assaulting their enemies upon the suddain as they were in the Suburbs they killed a great many of them and put all the rest to flight part of them he couped up in the City others he shut in the Temple and the rest between that and the uttermost Rampire Whereupon Antigonus requested that Pacorus might come and treat a Peace betwixt them Phasaelus entertaineth the Parthian and with him five hundred Horse Pacorus's Treason and subtilty Phasaelus moved by these prayers received the Parthian into the City and entertained him into his house accompanied with five hundred Horse who came under a pretence to make Peace but in effect he resorted M thither to help Antigonus for craftily conspiring against Phasaelus he perswaded him to repair to Barzapharnes as an Ambassadour to treat a Peace notwithstanding that Herod altogether disswaded him willing him to kill the Traitor and not to trust his subtilty adding that the Parthians were naturally unfaithful Pacorus departing out of the City The year of the World 3924. before Christ's Nativity 38. took Hircanus with him that he might be the less suspected and leaving some Horse with Herod named * Or free Eleutheri he followed Phasaelus with the rest When they came near Galilee they found the Inhabitants at variance and up in Arms and met with Barzapharnes who craftily with pretence of courtesie and friendship hid his Treachery who after he had bestowed Presents upon them and that they were retired laid an Ambush for them whereof they had intelligence N as they came to a place near the Sea-coast named Edippon Here they were informed of the thousand Talents that were promised Herod in Jerusalem and Phasaelus in the Camp are in danger of their lives and how that Antigonus had given the Parthians more than five hundred women of those that were amongst them and that oftentimes they had been laid wait for and had been lately taken but that delay was made till such time as Herod was surprized in Jerusalem lest he hearing what was become of them might provide for himself Now they perceived that these were not only words for they beheld some Guards not far off Yet would not Phasaelus forsake Hircanus notwithstanding that Oselius to whom Saramalla the richest among the Syrians had declared all the Treason exhorted him to fly but he chose rather to to go to Barzapharnes and to upbraid him to his face that he had treacherously laid O wait for him and for money had suffered himself to be corrupted whereas he himself would have given more for his life and liberty than Antigonus had done for the Kingdom A At these words the Parthian with Oaths and Protestations craftily freed himself from suspition and repaired to Pacorus But presently the Parthians who stayed behind and had charge so to do laid hands on Phasaelus and Hircanus who openly exclaimed against their falshood and perjury In the mean time Pacorus was sent out to surprize Herod and by some stratagem to â—oul him out of the City Herod is laid for to be betrayed He wrought by all the means he could according as he was instructed but Herod who was always wont to mistrust the perfideous practices of the Parthian and believed that the Letters which Phasaelus had writ to him to discover the Treason were fallen into the enemies hands would not go forth though Pacorus incited him to ride out and meet them that brought the Letters for he had already learnt B the taking of Phasaelus and Mariamne a very wise woman Hircanus's Daughter with many entreaties perswaded Herod not to go forth but to beware how he trusted himself to the mercy of that Barbarous people whose ill designs he could not be ignorant of Herod in the night time flyeth into Idumaea Whilst Pacorus was consulting with his Complices how he might privily effect his Treasons seeing it was not possible openly to circumvent a man of so great Wisdom Herod in the night time whilst his enemies neither knew nor suspected his intent took his nearest kindred and fled into Idumaea which being once known the Parthians followed him For which cause he made his Mother his Brethren and Mariamne whom he had espoused and
Antonia He built himself also a Palace in the upper part of the City Herod's Buildings and in it two very great Apartments so rich and admirable that no Temple was to be compared to them He termed one of them Caesarea and the other Agrippias in honour of Augustus and Agrippa But it was not only by Palaces that he would preserve his Name to Posterity and immortalize F his memory but in the Countrey of Samaria he built a fair City with a Wall which was about twenty stades in circuit and called it Sebaste and he sent thither six thousand Inhabitants giving them a most fertile Soil and sundry Privileges There also amongst other Buildings he erected a very fair Temple and dedicated it to Caesar About this Temple there was a piece of ground containing three stades and an half For this Testimony of Herod's affection Caesar added to his Dominion another Countrey In gratitude for which Herod erected another Temple of White Marble to him near the head of Jordan in a place called Panium where there is a Mountain rising very high into the air at the side whereof is an obscure Valley where there are high Rocks that by spouts of water falling on them are made hollow so that the water standing in G their concavity till they run over The Fountain head of Jordan falleth down with a stream of such a depth as is admirable At the foot of this Valley on the outside spring certain Fountains which many think to be the head of the River Jordan which whether it be true or no we will declare hereafter At Jericho also between the Castle of Cyprus and the other ancient Palaces he erected H other Buildings fairer and more commodious than the former calling them after the names of Augustus and Agrippa Finally there was no convenient place in the whole Kingdom wherein he erected not something in honour of Caesar and having in every place of his own Kingdom devised and dedicated Temples unto him in Syria also where he ruled he did the like founding in many Cites Temples which he called by the name of Caesar Aud perceiving that amongst the Cities of the Sea-coast there was one called Straton's Tower which being very old and ruinated and for the scituation thereof deserving reparation and cost he repaired it with White Stone and built a very Royal Palace therein in which work more than in any other he shewed how great and high his mind was For this stands in the midst between Dora I and Joppa in a Coast where there was no Port or Haven so that they who sail from Phaenicia into Egypt are in great danger by reason of the violent Winds that blow from Africa whose blasts enforce the water with such violence against the Rocks on the shore that the waves rebounding back again a good way within the Sea make the whole Sea tempestuous Herod makes a greater Port than that of Pâ—rarum .. But the King by his liberality and cost overcoming nature built Stations for Ships And although the nature of the place was altogether contrary to his intent yet he so overcame all difficulty that the Sea could do that Building no harm And it was so goodly and beautiful to behold that one would have thought there had been no difficulty in this admirable work An apt description of a Haven For having measured out a sit place for the Port he laid a Foundation twenty ells deep of Stone K whereof most of them were fifty foot long nine foot thick and ten foot broad and some bigger and all the bottom of the Haven where the water came was laid with these stones Which done he raised a Mole of two hundred foot whereof one hundred foot served to break the violence of the waves the other hundred foot served for a Foundation of the Wall wherewith the Haven was compassed and on which were built many goodly Towers the greatest and fairest whereof he called Drusius after the name of Drusus the Son of the Empress Livia Wife of Augustus Within the Port there were very many Vaults also to store such Merchandize as was brought into the Haven and divers other Vaults for Sea men to lodg in A very pleasant Descent which might serve for a Walk encompassed the whole Port The entrance hereunto L was on the North side for by reason of the scituation of the place the North Wind there is the calmest On either side of the entrance were three great Colosses set on Pilasters those on the left hand are propped up by a Tower being a solid Rock of Stone But at the entrance on the right hand were two huge stones joyned together which make a greater Tower than the other There is also a house adjoyning to the Haven built of white Stone The Streets of the City leading to this place are of one bigness and proportion Upon a Hill opposite to the mouth of the Haven he built a Temple very beautiful and exceeding great which he dedicated to Caesar wherein was placed Caesar's Statue full as great as that of Jupiter at Olympus for it was made after that Model and M another of Rome like that of Juno at Argos The City he built for the benefit of the Inhabitants of the Province Caesarea in times past called the Tower of Straton and the Port or Haven for Commerce All this he did in honour of Caesar after whose name he called it Caesarea And that nothing might be wanting to render it worthy so glorious a name he added to so many great works the fairest Market-place in the World Ant. lib 15. cap. 10. 12. besides a Theatre and an Amphitheatre not inferiour to the rest Ant. lib. 17. cap. 5. He also appointed Games and Spectacles to be celebrated every fifth year in honour of Augustus And himself first began them in the 192 Olympiade and he proposed great rewards not only to the Victors but also to the second and third after them Agrippium Moreover he repaired Anthedon which was destroyed by the Wars and called it Agrippina in honour of Agrippa whose name he caused to be engraven N over the Portal he built to the Temple Antipatris Nether was he unmindful of his Parents for in the richest Soil of the whole Kingdom he built a City in memory of his Father and by his name called it Antipatris being in a very rich Soil both for Woods and Rivers Cyprus At Jericho also he built a very goodly and strong Castle and called it Cyprus Phasaelus's Tower in honour of his Mother He likewise built a Tower in memory of his Brother Phasaelus at Jerusalem and called it Phasaelus his Tower of the strength and beauty of which we shall speak hereafter He also called another City Phasaelus which is scituate in a Valley beyond Jericho towards the North. Having thus eternized the memory of his Friends and Kindred he did not forget to
do the like for himself for he built a Castle on a Mountain near Arabia having on one O side a strong place of defence Herodium and this Castle he called Herodium after his own name By the same name also he called a Mount sixty stades from Jerusalem artificially made A in manner of a woman's Dug which he adorned on the top with round Turrets and round about it he built Princely houses gallantly adorned both within and without He also brought water from a great distance with great cost and charges and made a pair of stairs of pure White Marble to go up which had two hundred steps For the whole Hill was made by Art and was of an exceeding height At the foot thereof likewise he built another Palace and houses to receive his Friends and their Carriages Herodium a Castle resembling a City so that this Castle for the abundance of all necessary Lodgings seemed a City and yet was all the King's Palace Having erected thus many Buildings he shewed his great mind in strange Cities likewise for at Tripolis and Damascus and Ptolemais Herod's bounty to all men he built publick Colledges for instructing Youth He built the Wall of Byblis B and Seats Porches Temples and Markets at Berytus and Tyre At Sidon and Damascus he built a Theatre and a Water-conduit at Laodicea a Sea-town At Ascalon he built Fountains or Lakes very sumptuous and Baths with Pillars that for greatness and good work were miraculous To other places he gave Forrests and Ports and to many Cities added Fields as though they had been Fellow-cities of his Kingdom And to others as to Coos he gave Annual Revenues for ever to the end they might never lose the remembrance of the obligation they had to him Moreover he gave all poor people Corn and he often and in sundry places lent the Rhodians money to build a Navy of Ships Herod famous through the World At his own proper cost he repaired the Temple of Apollo Pythius which had been burnt What shall I say of his liberality towards them C of Lycia and Samos or his magnificent Gifts towards all the people of Jonia Nay and the Athenians The year of the World 3954. before Christ's Nativity 8. Lacedemonians Nicopolites and the Citizens of Pergamus and Mysia received very many benefits at his hands He paved also a large Street in Antioch of Syria which was in length twenty stades and that with fair Marble This Street before that time was so full of dirt that no man could go thorough it And all along it he built Galleries that people might go dry thorough it in rainy weather Some may say that these benefits thus bestowed were for the proper use of those people on whom he bestowed them but no man can deny but that which he did for the Citizens of Elis was not only common to those of Achaia but to all the World where the Games called Olympica Certamina were solemnized For Herod seeing D them decay only for want of maintenance and that this was the only remainder of all the ancient Monuments of Greece he not only in his person at that time became one of the proposers of rewards in that Olympiade in which he went to Rome but also gave a yearly stipend to maintain the same lest for want they should be left off It is not to be told what Debts and Tributes he remitted for he delivered the Phasaelites and Balaneotes and other Towns of Cilicia from the payment of a yearly Tribute yet was he not so liberal to them as he would have been fearing lest the envy of some might accuse him of some further meaning if he should be more bountiful to the Cities than those that were the owners thereof Herod a great hunter He exercised his body likewise in exercises fit for so valiant a mind for he was a very skilful hunter wherein he had always his E purpose by reason of his skill in riding so that in one day he killed forty Wild Beasts That Countrey hath many Boars but it hath more store of Harts and Wild Asses He was such a Warrier that no man was able to encounter with him so that many were astonished to see him with what force and exactness he cast the Dart and drew the Bow Herod besides the vertue of mind and body had the blessings of Fortune Besides the Vertue both of his mind and body he had also good Fortune for very seldom the event of War was otherwise than he expected if it sometimes fell out contrary it was not through his fault but through the rashness of his Soldiers or else through Treason F CHAP. XVII Of the disagreement between Herod and his Sons Alexander and Aristobulus BUt his private and domestical sorrows troubled his publick felicity Ant. lib. 1â— cap. 3 8. lib. 16. cap. 13. and most adverse fortune befel him through the means of a woman whom he loved as himself For being now made King he put away his Wife which he first married a Lady born in Jerusalem Herod expelleth Antipater out of the City and killeth Hircanus his Wife's Uncle whose name was Doris and married Mariamne the Daughter of Alexander the Son of Aristobulus which caused troubles in his house both before but especially after his return from Rome For he banished his eldest Son Antipater G whom he had by Doris out of the City only for his Children's sake that he had by Mariamne licencing him only at Festival times to come to the City in regard of some suspicion of Treason intended against him And afterwards he slew Hircanus his wifes Uncle notwithstanding that he returned out of Parthia unto him because he H suspected that he intended some treason against him Barzapharnes after he had taken all Syria had carried him away prisoner with him But his own Countreymen that dwelt beyond Euphrates in commiseration redeemed him from thraldom and had he been counselled by them and not come to Herod he had not been killed but the marriage of his Niece caused his death for for that cause and especially for the love of his native soil he came thither That which moved Herod to kill him was not for that he sought the Kingdom but because he had right to the Kingdom Herod's children by Mariamne Herod had five Children by Mariamne two Daughters and three Sons The youngest was sent to Rome to study where he died The other two he brought up like Princes both for their Mothers Nobility and for that they were born after he I was King But that which above all was most prevalent in their favour was the love he bare to Mariamne which from day to day tormented him more violently in such sort that he seem'd insensible of those griefs which this his best beloved caused to him For Mariamne hated him as much as he loved her and having a just cause and colour of
of the Garrisons mindful of the charge which Archelaus had given them refused him entrance affirming that they kept them more for Caesar than Archelaus Antipas elected King by Herod's former Testament striveth with Archelaus for the Kingdom At this time also Antipas one of Herod's Sons went to Rome with a design to obtain the Crown alledging that Herod's first Testament was of more force than the last and that he in the first was declared King and both Salome and divers others of his Kindred who sailed with Archelaus promised him their aid He took with him his Mother and Ptolomey Brother to Nicholaus in whom he had great confidence because he had been always faithful to Herod and was held by him in great credit But none had so much encouraged him as Irenaeus the Orator who had an excellent faculty of speaking Trusting to these he refused L the counsel of them who sought to perswade him to yield to Archelaus both as the elder and appointed by the last Testament of his Father Now when they were all arrived at Rome those of the Kindred that hated Archelaus and especially those that looked upon it as a sort of Liberty to be governed by the Romans favoured Antipas in hope that if their design of being freed from the Rule of Kings did not succeed they should at least have the comfort to be commanded by him and not by Archelaus Antipas accuseth Archelaus by Letters to Caesar And to further him the more he obtained Sabinus's Letters to Caesar wherein Archelaus was accused and Antipas commended Salome and the rest of the Complices presented Accusations against Archelaus to Caesar who after them delivered also his Justification in writing and withal his Father's Ring and an Inventory M of his Treasure Caesar calleth a Council of Roman Nobility by Ptolomey Caesar pondering with himself what both Parties alledged and the greatness and large Revenues of the Kingdom and the number of Herod's Children and having also read the Letters of Varus and Sabinus he called the chief of the Romans to Council where Caius the Son of Agrippa and his Daughter Julia whom he had adopted by his assignment sate in the first place and so he licenced the Parties to plead their Rights Antipaters's vehement Accusation against Archelaus Antipater Salome's Son being the greatest of all Archelaus's Adversaries spake first and said that Archelaus now only for form disputed for the Kingdom of which he had already possessed himself without waiting to know Caesar's Pleasure and that he did now strive in vain to render Caesar favourable to him whom he would not attend to judge of his Lawful Succession That after Herod's N death he suborned some to offer him the Diadem And that sitting on a Throne of Gold in Kingly manner he had changed all Orders of the Soldiers disposed of Offices and granted unto the people their Requests which could not be effected but by a King That he had also set at liberty many men who for great Crimes were imprisoned by his Father And having done all this he came now to Caesar to crave the shadow of the Kingdom the substance and body whereof he already possessed so that herein he left nothing to Caesar to dispose of but the bare Title Moreover he alledged that Archelaus did but counterfeit sorrow for his Father's death feigning himself to mourn in the day time Antipater 〈◊〉 to vehemency in accusing Archelaus and in the night he would be drunk and Riotous By which carriage he said that he had caused the Sedition of the people and incurred O their hatred After these Accusations he insisted upon the horrid slaughter of the multitude about the Temple for he said that they only came against the Festival Day to A offer Sacrifice and that they themselves were sacrificed as they were offering the Sacrifices which they brought And that there were such heaps of dead bodies in the Temple as never in any Foreign War the like had been seen That Herod foreseeing his cruelty never judged him worthy of the Kingdom till such time as his Understanding failed him The Will changed during Herod's Sickness when being more sick in mind than body he knew not whom he named his Successor in his last Will whereas he had nothing whereof he could blame him whom in his former Will he had appointed his Successor when he was in health Antipater against Archelaus both of mind and body Yet said he put the case Herod in his extremity knew what he did yet Archelaus hath rendred himself unworthy of the Kingdom by having committed many things against the Laws For said B he what will he be after he hath received Authority from Caesar who before he received any hath murthered so many Antipater having spoken more to this effect and at every Accusation taking Witness of his Kindred that stood by ended his Speech Then Nicolaus stood up Nicolaus defendeth Archelaus and first of all shewed that the slaughter of them in the Temple was necessary and unavoidable for they for whose death Archelaus was now accused were not only enemies of the Kingdom but also of Caesar And for other Crimes objected he shewed how that they were done even by the counsel and perswasion of the Accusers He also urged that the second Testament might be of force for that therein Herod had referred it to Caesar to confirm his Successor And C he who had such remembrance as to leave the Arbitriment of his Will to him who is Lord of all could not be thought to mistake himself in appointing his Heir nor yet deprived of his Senses Archelaus humbleth himself at Caesar's feet seeing he knew by whom he should be established When Nicolaus had ended his Speech and declared all that he thought might make for Archelaus Archelaus coming into the midst of the Council prostrated himself at Caesar's feet Caesar's Bounty and Humanity towards him Augustus courteously raised him from the ground and declared him worthy to succeed his Father Yet did he not pronounce a definitive Sentence but the same day the Council being dismissed that he might deliberate with himself at more leasure whether any one single person of those nominated in the two Wills should succeed their Father in the Kingdom or that the Kingdom should be divided amongst the D whole Family because they were many in number and had all need of Estate to support themselves with honour CHAP. II. Of the Fight and Massacre at Jerusalem between the Jews and the Sabinians BEfore Caesar determined any thing concerning this matter Ant. lib. 17. cap. 14. Malthace the Mother of Archelaus Sedition in Jerusalem fell sick and died and many Letters came out of Syria signifying E that the Jews had rebelled Which Varus foreseeing after the departure of Archelaus from thence had gone to Jerusalem to repress the Authors of that Sedition And because the multitude
Waves others suffered shipwrack some killed themselves rather than to be drowned many with the Waves were stricken against the Rocks so that the Sea was bloody and all the shore covered with dead Bodies and whosoever escaped the Sea and got to shore the Roman Souldiers there standing ready killed them Four thousand and two hundred bodies cast out Four thousand and two hundred dead Bodies were cast upon the shore So the N Romans having without any fight taken the City destroyed it and thus was Joppa taken and twice destroyed by the Romans in a short time Vespasian built there a Castle Vespasian taketh Joppa and encampeth in the Castle and placed in it some few Horsemen and Footmen to the end that none of the Jews might come thither again to play the Pirates and that the Footmen might keep the Castle and in the mean time the Horsemen might go forth and spoil all the Towns and Villages and Territories belonging to Joppa which also they did When the news of the destruction of Jotapata was brought to Jerusalem many gave small credit to it partly for the greatness of the Calamity partly for that no man could say he had seen the destruction of the City for none escaped the Massacre to carry the news â—ame it self declareth the destruction of Jotapata but only report thereof was spread abroad But at the last it was confirmed to O be true by those that dwelt near the place and then they believed it Many things also which were false were reported as true For it was bruited that Joseph was slain A in the destruction of the City All Jerusalem was so afflicted his for death that whereas others were lamented only by their Kindred all the City bewailed his supposed Death They mourned for him thirty days and hired Musicians to sing Funeral Songs for him At last truth discovered it self and the true news of the destruction of Jotapata with the accidents there Joseph is said to be slain in Jerusalem also how Joseph was not slain but was living in the hands of the Romans and that the Romans honoured him more than a Captive could expect The hatred malice and wrath in Jerusalem against Joseph Then the Jews began as much to hate him now living as before they had mourned for him when they supposed him dead Some said he was a Coward others that he was a Traitour to his Country and the whole City vented reproachful speeches against him These heavy tydings encreased their rage and their adversity which to wise B men had been a warning to provide lest the like should befal themselves made them more outragious so that always the end of one mischief was the beginning of another To be short now they were more incensed against the Romans than before in the thought that by revenging themselves of them they might also be revenged of Joseph And this was the Estate of the Citizens of Jerusalem CHAP. XVI C How Tiberias was yielded VEspasian was desirous to see the Kingdom of Agrippa for the King had intreated him to go thither Vespasian cometh unto Agrippas Kingdom and recreateth himself there and feasteth twenty days partly to the intent to feast him and his whole Army partly that he might repress some troubles arising in his Kingdom in the time of his absence And so he departed from Cesarea upon the Sea-coast and went to Caesarea Philippi where he stayed and refreshed his Souldiers twenty dayes and himself also feasted giving God thanks for his prosperous success in the War This done he had Intelligence that Tiberias and Tarichea were revolted both which Cities belonged to Agrippa's Kingdom whereupon determining utterly to destroy the Jews which inhabited thereabouts D he thought good to lead his Army against these two places especially that he might reward Agrippa for his good entertainment by surrendring these Cities to him In order whereunto he sent his Son Titus to Caesarea to bring the Souldiers there to Scythopolis which was the greatest City of all Decapolis and was near Tiberias whither himself being come he expected his Son's coming and departing from thence with three Legions he pitched his tent in a place called Enabris where the seditious people of Tiberias might behold his Army this place was thirty Furlongs from Tiberias From thence he sent Valerianus a Captain to exhort them to peace Valerianus peaceably speaks to the Townsmen and he sent fifty Horsmen to accompany him for he understood that the people desired peace and against their will were forced to War by some of the Seditious amongst E them Valerianus coming near the City Walls lighted from his Horse and commanded all his Company to do the like that they of Tiberias might not think that they came to fight The seditious sally out and put the Romans to flight but in peaceable manner before he spoke a word the boldest of the seditious persons issued out against him having one Jesus the Son of Tobias who had been a Captain of Thieves for their Leader Valerianus not presuming to fight without Authority from his General although he had been certain of the Victory and considering that it was great danger for so few to fight against a whole multitude and withal terrified with the boldness of the Jews contrary to his expectation he fled away on Foot accompanied only with five other leaving his Horse and the rest behind him whom Jesus and his followers took and brought into the City rejoycing F as though they had taken them in fight and not by treachery But the Senators and chief of the City The Citizens of Tiberias prostratet themselves before Vespasian and obtain pardon fearing what might ensue upon this fact went to King Agrippa who presented them to Vespasian they prostrated themselves at his feet beseeching him to have compassion on them and not to think the whole City partakers with those few wicked persons that so had merited his displeasure but to spare the people who always had honoured the Romans and only punish the Authors of that revolt and misdemeanour who also had with-held the whole City till now from yielding it self to the Romans Vespasian moved by their entreaties pardoned the City though he was exasperated against them all for taking of Valerianus Horse and because he perceived Agrippa was Solicitous for fear that the City should be destroyed and G so Vespasian promised the Citizens pardon Then Jesus and his associates thinking it not safe for them to abide there fled to Tarichea The next day Vespasian sent be-before before him Trajanus with certain Horsemen into the Castle to see if all the people desired H peace and finding them to be peaceably despos'd he with his whole Army came to the City The Inhabitants opening the Gates of the City went to meet him with great joy all crying out that he was the Author of their welfare and Benefactor and wishing him all
named it Carthage so that from the time of King Hyramus unto the building of Carthage is by this computation a hundred fifty five years and two Months and for as much as the Temple of Jerusalem was built in the twelfth year of Hyramus his reign the computation of the time since that year until the building of Cartbage is a hundred forty three years and eight Months What need we more beside this testimony of the Phoenicians The truth is now sufficiently made manifest for our Ancestors must needs have come into this Country we inhabit before such time as they D built a Temple in it as I have also prov'd in my Books of Antiquity collected out of our Holy Scripture I will now speak of that which the Chaldees writ of us in their Histories Berosus the Historiographer a Chaldean which do much agree in all other Matters with those of our Nation And first let Berosus be my witness who was a Chaldean born a man famous and known unto all that love learning for he in the Greek tongue writ Astronomy and the Philosophy of the Chaldeans Berosus imitating the most ancient Histories writeth of the Deluge how mankind was therein extinguished and he in all things imitateth Moses He also speaketh of the Ark wherein our forefather was preserved and affirmeth that it was carried into the tops of the Mountains in Armenia after this he prosecuteth the Genealogy of all that reigned E from Noe Nabulassarus Father to Nabuchodonosor the King of Babylon and Chaldea until Nabulassarus King of the Babylonians and Chaldeans He likewise setteth down how long every one reigned and in prosecuting the deeds of this King he recounteh how he sent his Son Nabuchodonosor into Egypt our Country with great power who finding them in rebellion subdued them and burnt the Temple at Jerusalem Nabuchodonosor conquered the rebels and so departed carrying with him all our Nation into Babylon whereupon our City was desolate seventy years until the reign of Cyrus King of the Persians Moreover he affirmeth that this Babylonian kept in subjection Egypt Syria Phoenicia and Arabia exacting more of them than ever any King of Babylon or Chaldea had done before his time And the words of Berosus must needs be to this effect Nabulassarus his Father hearing that his Substitute in Egypt Coelosyria and Phoenicia had rebelled he himself F not being able to take such pains committed his Affairs unto his his Son Nabuchodonosor gave him a part of his Army for that he was in the flower of his age and sent him against him Nabuchodonosor fighting with the said Substitute overthrew him and subdued the Country which of old belonged unto them and at the same time his Father Nabulassarus fell sick in Babylon Nabuchodonosor succeedeth in his Fathers Kingdom and died having Reigned twenty nine years But Nabuchodonosor long after understanding his Fathers death disposed of Egypt and other Provinces as he thought good and taking the Captives of Judea Phoenicia and the Syrians that lived in Egypt he committed them to certain of his friends to be brought after with his Carriages and Army to Babylon and so he himself accompanied with a very few took his jorney to Babylon through the Desart being G arriv'd he found the Chaldees ruled all and that their Nobility reserved the Kingdom for him he was made King and commanded Houses to be built for the Captives that H were coming in the most convenient places of Babylon and with the spoil he beautified the Temple of Belus and other places most richly and built a new City without the Wall of the old and providing lest hereafter the Enemies might turn the River and so have access unto the City he invironed the inner City with three several Walls and the outmost City likewise the Walls whereof were made of Brick but the Walls of the inner City were of Brick and Bitumen this done he builded most sumptuous Gates which might have become Temples 〈…〉 and moreover neer unto his Fathers Palace he builded another far greater and more costly than they the beauty and costliness whereof were hard and perhaps tedious to express Yet this we will say and it is considerable that this rich and incredibly beautiful Palace was builded in fifteen days in I it he erected Rocks of Stone like Mountains beset with all sorts of Trees he made a famous Mount and supported it with Pillars for his Wife having been brought up in the Country of the Medes desired to have a prospect into the fields and Mountains according to their way 〈…〉 This he relateth of the forementioned King and many things more in his Book of the affairs of the Chaldeans wherein he reproveth the Greek Writers who falsly affirme that Sâ—miramis the Assyrian Queen built Babylon and that they falsly report those wonderful works about Babylon to have been by her made and finished We must needs think that the Chaldean History is true seeing it agreeth with that of the Phoenicians which Berosus writ of the King of Babylon who subverted both Phaenicia and K all Syria with them also accordeth Philostratus in his History of the siege of Tyria and Megasthenes also in his fourth Book of the affairs of India The King of Babylon excelled Hercules in strength and 〈…〉 where he laboureth to prove that the said King excelled Hercules in strength and valour affirming that he subdued the greatest part of Africk and Spain and that the Temple of Jerusalem was burnt by the Babylonians and again re-edified by Cyrus and we may prove it out of Berosus who in his third book saith as followeth Nabuchodonosor having begun the third Wall fell sick and died when he had reigned forty three years and his Son Evelmeradochus succeed him who for his iniquity and licenciousness was treacherously slain by his Sisters Husband named Niriglissoroor after he had reigned two years He being dead the Traytor Niriglissoroor usurped the Kingdom and reigned four years L whose Son then a child was mace King called by name Laborosardochus and he reigned nine months The Walls of Babylon built of brick and bitumen who for corruptness of his manners was slain by his own Friends after whose death they who slew him consulting together made one Nabonidus a Babylonian King At this time the Walls of Brick and Bitumen about the River of Babylon were built In the eighth year of this Kings reign Cyrus coming with an Army out of Persia conquered all Asia and came with his Forces against Babylon but the King of Babylon having notice of his coming levied an Army advanc'd against him and gaue him Battel but being overcome he with a very few of his men was forced to flye into Borsippa Cyrus now besieged Babylon and purposed to destroy the outward Walls thereof but finding them too strong and impenetrable he returned to Bersippa to besiege Nabonidus the King of Babylon Cyrus
of the thirds of the fruit of your lands and the half of the fruit of your trees which heretofore you have been accustomed to pay that you may enjoy them peaceably from this time forward I acquit you also at this present for ever of all that which the Inhabitants of Judea and the three Provinces annexed thereunto Samaria Galilee and Peraea are bound to pay me willing L and commanding that the City of Jerusalem be held sacred and enjoy the priviledge of a Sanctuary and that it shall be exempt from the payment of tythes and all manner of impositions And I commit the fortress in the same to the hands of Jonathan the High-Priest permitting him to place such a Garison therein as he shall think fit and such as will faithfully keep it for his use I will also that all the Jews who are imprisoned in my Countrey be set at liberty Moreover it is my pleasure that no Horses of the Jews be taken up to run Post for us I grant also that the Sabbaths and festival dayes and three dayes also before every one of those feasts be dayes of liberty and freedom And my will is that the Jews who inhabit within my dominions be likewise freed from all molestations The like priviledge grant I them that will bear Arms with me to the number of 30000 who in what place soever they shall be shall have M no worser entertainment than mine own Army and part of them will I place in my Garisons the rest shall be of my guard and I will make them Captains in my Court and will permit them to live according to the ordinances of their Country which they shall observe and I will also that the three governments annexed to Judea be made subject unto the same laws My pleasure is in like manner that the High-Priest shall take order that no Jew shall worship in any other Temple than that of Jerusalem and of my own charge I give every year an 150000 sicles of silver to be employed in Sacrifices and that which shall be over and above those Sacrifices my pleasure is that it shall be your profit Moreover I acquit the Priests and Ministers of the Temple of the 10000 drachms of silver which the Kings levied on the Temple because they appertain unto the Priests who serve in the Temple as I have been rightly informed I grant N also to all those who shall repair unto the Temple of Jerusalem for refuge and within the precincts thereof whether it be for money due unto the King or for any other cause that they be acquit thereof and receive not any damage in their goods I permit also that the Temple be repaired and built at my charge My will is also that the walls of the City be re-edified and that certain Towers be built about the same at my expence Furthermore if there be any places fit to build fortresses and strong holds in thorow all the Countrey of Judea and to place Garisons in them my will is that all this be done and fortified at the charges levied out of mine own coffers These are the promises and offers that Demetrius made unto the Jews But King Alexander having gathered great Forces as well of strange and hired Soldiers O as of those who in Syria had revolted from Demetrius led forth his whole Army against the Enemy and after the Ensigns were displayed and the onset given the left wing of Demetrius compelled Alexanders Soldiers that fought against it to flie and his men pursuing them spoiled their Camp But the Right Wing in which the King himself A was being forced to retire was discomfited and as for the rest they betook themselves to flight but Demetrius fighting valiantly slew some of his enemies and in pursuing others who could not endure his fierce assault was in the end by setting spurs to his Horse The battel between Alexander and Demetrius and of Demetrius's death carried into a deep and muddy Bog whereinto by chance his Horse fell and being unable to get out he was slain in that place For being discover'd by his enemies they turned back upon him and having inclosed him they altogether shot their arrows against him so that he being on foot and fighting valiantly was at length slain after he had received divers wounds and was no longer able to resist Thus died Demetrius who departed this life the eleventh year of his Reign as we have related in another place B CHAP. VI. Onias the son of Onias the High-Priest builds a Temple in Egypt of the same form with that at Jerusalem A contention between the Jews and the Samaritans before Ptolemy Philometor King of Egypt concerning the Temple of Jerusalem and that of Garizim The Samaritans lose the cause BUT Onias the son of the High-Priest Hedio Ruffinus cap. 4. called also Onias who flying out of his Countrey Onias the son of Onias the High-Priest seeketh to build a Temple in Egypt lived in Alexandria with Ptolomey Philometor as we have heretofore declared C seeing all Judea destroyed by the Macedonians and their Kings and intending to acquire immortal praise determined to beseech the King Ptolomey and the Queen Cleopatra by Letters That it might be lawful for him to build a Temple in Egypt resembling in all things that at Jerusalem and that he might have liberty to place Levites and Priests in it of his own kindred And hereunto was he especially moved by a certain Prophecy of Isaiah who more than 600 years before had foretold that a Temple should be assuredly built in Egypt in honour of Almighty God by a Jew Being therefore encouraged by this Prediction he wrote a Letter to Ptolomey and Cleopatra to this effect During the time that I was employed in your Wars and by Gods favourable assistance have D done you many services I have visited Coelosyria and Phoenicia and have been in the City of Leontopolis which is in the Territories of Heliopolis I have also visited divers other places wherein the Jews have built Temples without observing those Rules that are necessary upon such an occasion which is the cause that they agree not among themselves as also the like hath hapned among the Egyptians through the multitude of Temples and the great diversity of Religions And having found out a very convenient place near a Castle called Bubastis in the Plain where there is store of all sorts of materials for building and Cattel fit for sacrifice I beseech you that it may be lawful for me to purifie the Temple that is ruinated in that place and dedicated to no sacred power and that in stead thereof to erect a Temple in honour of Almighty God according to the form and dimensions of that Temple which is at Jerusalem where E we shall pray for the preservation and prosperity both of your Self your Queen and Children And this will certainly unite all the Jews within the Kingdom of Egypt for they