Agrippa and slew them their men and all the multitude that was with him in Jerusalem and Judea The Elders in Judea with the wisest and goodliest Israelites seeing what was done departed from Jerusalem fearing Nero and the cruelty of the Romans therefore they took the Town of Sion and remained there for they would not be taken of the Romans to be of the same confederacy with the other The seditious hearing that took the Temple of the Lord so sedition and civil wars fell between the Seditious and the Ancients For when Eleasar heard that the Elders and the heads of the people were fled to the Mount Sion he and his company set upon them prevailed against them and slew a great many of them Agrippa perceiving the power of the seditious grew apace he sent out of his camp where he lay without the Town two valiant Captains one named Darius the other Philippus with 6000. men to succour those Elders and Sages that were desirous of peace These prevailed against Eleasar and the seditious that took his part made a great slaughter of them skirmishing for the space of seven daies together and at length put them to flight and pursued them to the Temple From that time forth the wars increased more and more between Eleasar and his complices and Agrippa with his hoast and the Sages Elders and Princes that took their part Upon a time when the Captains of Agrippa entred the Temple certain cut-throat murderers raised by the seditious mixt themselves amongst the Kings bands and getting behind their backs wounded them with daggers that they had under their kets so that the Kings souldiers having Launces and great arming swords in their hands such as they use in the wars could not wield them in the press by this means many of them were slain and the seditious got the victory Thus Darius and Philippus with the Roman Army were put to flight and the Elders with the Sages that were desirous of peace departed out of town and fled to King Agrippa Then had Eleasar and the seditious the whole rule of the City and all to their great damage for the fury of the seditious increased to such outragiousness that they set a fire King Agrippa's house that he had in Jerusalem spoiled all his treasure and all that was any thing worth they divided amongst themselves They burnt the books of accounts and bills of debts every one that were in his Palace Beronice's house also the Kings sister they set on fire and they slew all the cunning Artificers that were Masters of the Kings works so their rule and power in the City grew every day more and more grievous then other CHAP. V. IN those daies dwelt the Jews and Aramites together in all the Cities of Syria amongst whom also was war waged for the Caesarians brought the Romans into the Town against the Jews and slew them as many as they could find in the Town The Damascians also conspired together to destroy all the Jews that dwelt amongst them which thing they kept secret from their wives because for the most part they favoured the Jews religion Therefore the Aramites upon a certain night armed for the purpose beset all the waies and entrances into the Town and houses also and slew about ten thousand of the Jews coming upon them unawares when they were in their beds nothing mistrusting any such matter When the Jews of Jerusalem heard how the Aramites had dealt with the Jews in their Countrey suddenly they put themselves in arms and in a fury and rage like as it had been Lions and Bears that had lost their whelps they ran to Damasco burnt their holds put the Damascians to the sword men women and children even the very sucking babes yea their Oxen Sheep Camels and Asses with all other Cattle leaving none alive And thus they dealt with many Cities of the Syrians slaying and killing them not sparing either old or young male or female but destroyed all in most cruel wise even the very Infants and sucklings they haled from their mothers breasts and murthered them insomuch that all the whole land was full of the stink of the dead bodies that were slain for there was no man left to bury the Carkases So the Jews wasted all the Land of the Aramites and had destroyed it had not Castius a Captain of the Romans delivered Syria and the Country of Zapha The people therefore departed wholly from Aram to return into Judea and in the way they came to Scithopolis a City in Syria intending to besiege it for it was yet left untouched and was very strong At that time also the Jews and Aramites dwelt together in it The Jews therefore that were without offered peace to the Jews that dwelt in the Town but they refused it and defied them railing at them and for their friendly offer requited them with approbrius words and with injuries also For those Jews that dwelt in the aforesaid City with the Aramites loved together like brethren and for the most part they were of the Leviticall tribe stout men and hardy The host of the Jews without the City said unto them We come friendly unto you and would aid you The other Jews within answered We will neither your friendship nor ayd The army of the Jews hearing that consented and agreed to raise their siege to go to Jerusalem and there to remain for they had a great booty of Gold and Silver that they had gotten together of the spoiles of Syria After this the Syrians that dwelt in Sithopolis said to one another put case the Jews return again and make war upon us surely if they should so do these Jews that dwell among us would joyn with them and deliver up the City into their hands and then would they be revenged upon us and destroy us as they have done the other Cities of Syria Therefore they agreed to say unto the Jews and inhabitants of the City with them We understand your country men will invade us again and make war upon us wherefore depart ye forth of the City with your wives and children and lodg in the wood nigh unto the City till their army be gone again and then you shall return unto us The Jews were content to fulfil their minds went out of the City and placed themselves in the wood There was amongst them a certain young man named Schimeon a good man of war fierce big-made and very strong withall he in the favour of the Gentiles had slain many Jews and destroyed much of the people of God For during the time that the Jews besieged Scithopolis he issued out continually and skirmished with the host of the Jews many times putting them to flight and never would suffer them to waste the Town or to do any harm to the inhabitants thereof Now as Schimeon with his father Saul an honest old man and the rest of the people of the Jews that dwelt in Scithopolis remained altogether bodily in the Wood
Titus led into Jury Shortly after Vespasian gathered souldiers and repairing his Army joyned with Agrippa's company and returning to Seleucia wan it and slew every man leaving none alive and afterward going again to the Cities of Galilee took them serving them in like sort After that he came to the City called Nascela which was a walled Town and of all the Towns of defence throughout all Galilee none left but it This he besieged because thither resorted many cut-throats and wicked persons without the fear of God such as were robbers and rovers of the Land of Judea Amongst whom was a certain man named Jehochanan learned wise and prudent especially to do mischief a witty Counsellour and of such eloquence that he could perswade cunningly and disswade men from that they had purposed Besides this he was a murtherer ready to shed blood and to do any mischief a great robber and one that ever gaped for other mens goods by which means he was become very rich wherefore there resorted unto him all vain persons man-slayers rebells and ruffians like himself giving them large rewards that they might be of his fraternity his brethren and adherents and he to be their head Titus was sent to this City by his Father to offer them conditions of peace whither when he was come he sent his Embaâ—…adours to the Citizens to treate of peace with them whereunto the Citizens accorded were ready to enâ—…er into league with Titus When as this wicked Jehochanan perceived that the ancient men of the Town and the heads would accepâ—… of peace he commanded his companions to guard the wals to hinder them from speaking with the Romans saying that they themselves would return them an Answer So therefore seditious Jehochanan made answer to the Embassadors of Titus saying To morrow have we a solemn feast to the Lord God tell thy master Titus therefore that he grant us truce for 2 dais and the third day we wil give him answer wherwith Titus was content and deferred the assault for two dayes These things were done on Whit-sun-even which was called the Feast of weeks and harvest The night afore the third day appointed was come Jehochanan and his complices gat out of the Town and fled toward Jerusalem ere Titus knew thereof On the morrow he sent his Embassadors to demand their answer what they would do They answered we desire to enter into a league with you for we are yours and submit our selves to your pleasure upon the condition that none of the Romans hurt us either in our bodies or goods Titus upon this made peace with them confirming it by Writing sealed for the better assurance thereof So they opened the gates and Titus came into the Town with his whole Army and the Jews received him with great joy honouring him very much Then Titus enquired for Jehochanan and his confederates The Citizens declared unto him how he fled by night with all his unto Jerusalem Titus hearing that sent after to pursue him yet they found him not he had made such speed Notwithstanding many of the people that went out of the Town with him that they might escape the danger both men women and children old and impotent persons they overtook slew them every one and returned with a great spoil After this Titus won all the Cities in Galilee and set Rulers in them Then Vespasian dislodged from hence and came to the Mount Tabor which hath snow on it continually the height thereof is thirty furlongs and upon the top is a plain twenty three furlongs long Thither sent Vespasian one of his Captains called Palgorus which took the Mountain and the Town that stood thereon But here I will leave off the History of the other battels that were fought in other places in the Land of Israel and Galilee and speak no more of them in this Book for they be almost innumerable and we have made mention of them in the History of the Romans THE SECOND BOOK Containing The History of the siege of Jerusalem NOw will we describe the Batells of Jerusalem and how the City was besieged by the Romans wherein we will declare all things truly as our manner is and faithfully according to the verity of that that was done It came to passe therefore as Jehochanan the Galilean was fled to Jerusalem he found there men meet for his purpose injurious persons wicked men murderers deceivers blood-shedders an infinite number For out of all Countries within the Land of Judea there repaired thither all men of War to defend the Sanctuary of our God and Anani the high Priest received all that came These seeing Jehochanan anâ—… his valiantnesse revolted from Anani the high Priest and clave to him consulting with him concerning all their affairs So he conspired with these cut-throats to lay hands upon the riâ—… men of the City and to spoil them of their goods and this was their manner When they espyed any notable rich man of the City they would after this sort quarrel with him Art not thou he that hast sent letters to the Romans and to Vespasian to betray the City unto them Thus would they examine him before the people and when he would answer God forbid I shoulâ—… do so then would they bring in godless persons limbs of tâ—…e devil of their own company to bear false witness against him that he might be condemned to death by the law for a rebell Thus dealt they with Antipas and Lohia both Noble men and of the chief of the City and their goods with all their jewels the seditious seized for themselves They pick'd quarrels also with the â—…igh 〈◊〉 thrust them from their chairs that they could not execute their service Moreover they cast lots who should have the Priests office and who should be no Priest For they held the Priesthood and service of God for toyes gaudes and trifles So the lot fell upon one that was called Pani the son of Peniel a carterly husbandman ignorant of what belonged to the Priests office so that he was utterly unworthy of the Priesthood so light a matter made they of the Priesthood The good and the godly men of Jerusalem seeing the power of these ruffians and wicked persons bear such swinge they stuck together and determined to withstand them by force The people therefore earnestly moved with anâ—…ger set upon them and encouutred with them in such sort that the fight was great on both sides in the Streets in the Market-place in the Temple and in the entrance of the Temple till all the City was filled full of dead bodies and slain men For there was not so much as one street but there was some skirmishes in it The people at length got the upper-hand of the ruffians for they were eagerly set earnestly bent against them The seditious therefore seeing themselves not able to make their party good with the people fled every man into the Temple of the Lord shut it after them and there remained But
the array of the Romans but the Jews shrunk not from the Romans for they were in a fervent rage and wonderfull disdain and to further their courage Schimeon came to his men and cryed unto them with a loud voyce saying For the reverence of God friends flee not this day whosoever doth flee let him be sure he shall dye for it and his house be destroyed Titus also admonished his to keep their array and not to give back to Schimeon Then went he himself to that part of the Town where Jehochanans ward was there he caused a battering Ram to be planted and bent against the wall for there was a very large Plain There was at that time in Jerusalem one called Kantor who got to him a company of the Seditious and shot from the walls into the Romans Army where he slew very many and compelled the rest to retire This Kantor with nine other tall fellows whereof he was the Decurion defended one part of the Town Now as the Romans bended the Ram to batter the wall Kantor cryed unto Titus I beseech thee my Lord Titus be mercifull unto this most famous City that is almost beaten down already do not deface it utterly but take pitty of the Sanctuary that is in it and destroy not the habitation of the Lord God Titus at his request commanded his men to stay and to leave off battering the wall Then said he to Kantor Come forth hither to me and thou shalt save thy self I will pardon thee thou shalt not be destroyed Kantor answered I will see if I can perswade these my fellows to come with me But he did it upon colour for none other cause than craftily to trifle out time whereby he miâ—…ht cause Titus to leave off the assault for a while So he spake unto his fellows which knew his mind that the Romans might hear Let us go down and flee to the Roman Army Then they drew out their swords as though they would kill him and striking upon his harness he fell down to the ground in the sight of the Romans which were ignorant of his deceit Then one of the Romans let flye an arrow that wounded Kantor upon the face and glauncing from him slew another that stood by him Then Kantor cryed out What do ye will ye shoot at us that desire to be at peace with you which ye granted your selves and now will break your promise that ye made unto us Is this the reward my Lord Titus that thou renderest me for going about to flee unto thee that thy souldiers should shoot at me hearing me require conditions of peace Now therefore my Lord may it please thee to send hither some man of honour to whom I may come down and receive assurance of thy promise to be as one of thine own men Titus thinking he meant good faith spake unto Joseph willing him to go and make peace with the Jews in his name then to bring him unto him that he might find safe-gard of his life from the common destruction Joseph answerd Why wilt thou send me What have I offended thee Have I not ever done thee true and faithfull service Therefore if thou bear me any good will or favour send me not unto him whom I cannot trust For Joseph mistrusted some subtilty knowing Kantor afore So Titus sent one Captain Jiarus who said unto Kantor Come down and let us go together to Caesars son Kantor desired him to hold abroad his cloak lap that he might hurl him down his money that he had there lest the Jews perceiving it would take it from him and then he would come down And as Jiarus held up his lap to receive the money that Kantor spake of Kantor with all his might cast down a great stone which Jiarus espying lept aside and avoided but it lighted upon one of his fellows and slew him Titus was wonderfull wroth at this and forthwith planted yet another Ram against the wall and at length laid it flat upon the ground Then commanded Titus to make fires about the Wall where the Jews should think to escape Kantor seeing that would have fled and as he made haste to escape the fires the weight of his armour bare him down into the fire and there he died more desirous of death than life Then entred the Romans within the second wall against whom the Seditious issued and â—…ought with such vehement foâ—…ce that they prevailed against their enemies slue many of the Romans and forced the rest to retire unto the first wall that they had beaten down afore In this skirmish Titus himself took a bow and shot at the Jews in such wise that not one of his arrows were spent in vain but that it did some annoyance unto the Jews The Jews notwithstanding gave them the repulse from the Town and they were not able to make their party good with them Within four daies after came unto Titus a new supply of souldiers out of all quarters for ayd to the Romans by whose help they prevailed against the Jews at such time as they issued out of the Town and constrained them to withdraw themselves within the walls Yet Titus pittying the miserable state of the City Temple and People of the Lord at that time commanded his people to withdraw themselves from the walls and to leave off the assault for a while that he might offer peace to the Jews to see if they would now be content to submit themselves unto the Romans to have quietness and rest without danger of destruction Wherefore he gave them truce for five daies and upon the fift day he came to the gate of the City where he straightway espyed Schimeon and Jehochanan together preparing fire to destroy the Romans Engins of war for all the Jews had agreed together with one mind still to withstand the Romans Wherefore Titus perceiving the Jews to be so desperately bent that they had even vowed their lives to death he began to offer and propose unto them conditions of peace and sharply to reprove and blame their obstinate stubborness saying I have now won two of your walls and ye have but one left Therefore if yeâ—… will continue still in this self willed frowardness what will ye do most miserable creatures when as I shall gain also the third wall and quite destroy your City pulling down your Temple and all Why do ye not rather favour and spare your own lives your wives and children But the Jews set upon a sullen obstinacy would in no wise hear Titus speak Therefore Titus sent Joseph to declare his mind unto them in Hebrew that they might safely credit his promises and the peace that was offered Joseph therefore went and stood over against the gate keeping himself aloof off for he was afraid to come nigh the wall knowing that the people hated him because he had yielded himself to the Romans He called therefore unto them aloud Hearken all ye Hebrews and Jews I will declare unto you that
prayer availed â—…ideon when as he with three hundred men vanquished the whole host of Midian Amalek and the people of the East If prayer had not helped him I pray you what had three hundred men been able to do against so great a multitude Mark yefond people what chanced in the Covenant of the Lord that the Philistines took away Our fathers truly were not abâ—…e to recover it by their swords and force of Arms but with that Prayer that the just men of that Age made the Ark was brought again unto his place Consider the times of Hezekiah King of Juda when as 〈◊〉 King of Ashur came up bâ—…aspheming and rayling upon the Sanctuary of the Lord our God of Hosts breathing out the pride and malice of his heart By what means was he overthrown Did our fathers overcome him â—…y foâ—…ce of Arms No without doubt but with prayer and supplication For Hezekiah the King went and put on apparel meet for prayer instead of a shield he took sackcloth for a helmet he cast dust on his head and instead of arrows and a sword he made use of prayer and supplication And the prayer that Hezekiah made mounted so far as an arrow was never able to flee so that his petition and prayer overthrew 185. thousand most valiant men of the host of Senacherib Furthermore the King of Juda and King of Israel and King of Edom joyning their powers togeâ—…her invaded the Mâ—…abites and in a wildernesse and unoccupied and barren dry land they weâ—…e in great perill and thirst what profited them tâ—…eir artillery and furniture of war Did there not issue out for them at the instant prayer of Elisha a Prophet and man of God plenty of waâ—…er in the Desart a Brook in the Wildernesse Came it not to passe also by the prayer of the same Elisha that a wonderful hurly burly a â—…umbling and raâ—…ing of Chariots of War and of Horses was hâ—…ard in the Camps of the Syrians besieging the City of Samaria with the which noise the Syrians being afraid fled no man puâ—…uing nor following them Ye know also that by the prayer of the aforesaid Prophet the famine and lack of victuals that was in the Town of Samaria was turned into great abundance and plenty insomuch that thirty Epha's or measure of fine meal were sold for one piece of Silver Do ye not see most foolish men how our fore-fathers had the victory ever by prayer But let us come to the beginning again and speak of Moses What time as he held up his hands towards heaven had not Israel the upper-hand of the Amalekites by his prayer Joshua also by his prayer stayed the Sun and Moon in the sight of the people of Israel and the Sun stood still in Gibeon and the Moon in the valley of Ajalon that the evening was changed into noon day and so Israel vanquished their enemies Sampson also that most valiant Giant until such time as he had sinned did not God evermore hear his prayer and ever he gat the victory thereby After he had once sinned he decayed as any other mean person Likewise King Saul all the while he walked perfectly and purely his prayer increased his valiantnesse and strength but after he had once sinned God left him and gave him over David also King of Israel of famous memory from the time of his youth till his last end his valiantnesse never failed him and why because he alwayes was helped by his prayer neither would he ever fight against his Country-men and native people when as Saul persecuted him Wherefore he prevailed against his enemies and because he abstained to lay his hands upon his brethren therefore afterward all Nations feared him Did not Asa King of Juda accompanied with a small number of men make an Expedition against the Ethiopians and praying to the Lord God said on this wise We indeed know not what to do but our eyes are bent upon thee c. Which prayer the Almighty did hear and the Victory followed so that Asa slew in the Camp of the Ethiopians ten hundred thousand men Deborah a Prophetesse by her prayer brought to passe great health in Israel What shall I tell of divers other just and godly women which by their prayers obtained many things Tell me ye mad men know ye not what Amaziah King of Juda did he having wars with the Edomites vanquished them and led them prisoners with their wives and children and Idols also to Jerusalem and then fell to worshipping of the same Idols that he had taken from the Edomites saying unto them Ye are they that have saved me therefore do I worship you and by you have I overcome the Edomites To whom when a Prophet of the Lord came and asked him Why seekest thou and servest the gods of that people that were not able to deliver them out of thy hand By and by he taunted the Prophet again saying Who made thee of the King's Counsel wherefore after that he was no more reprehended of the Prophet for the Lord had determined to destroy him as it is written in the books of the Chronicles of the Kings of Juda. Therefore he was taken prisoner afterward like a fox when he had fought against Joas King of Israel in Bethshemeth and so was he compared to a low and vile thorn or shrub and Joas unto the Noble and high Cedar-tree Yea all the evils that ever hapned unto us in any age it came of our selves for our Lord God is righteous in all his works that ever he wrought upon us Our enemies never did us so much harm as we our selves did unto our selves Ye wot the Gentiles took the precious vessels of our sanctuary away to Babel and brought us them again undefiled but we polluted and defiled them our selves and the Temple also with innocent blood which we shed abundantly within it adding sinnes to sinnes evermore and more breaking the Law with our evill acts For who brought the Romans first against the City of Jerusalem but Hircanus and Aristobulus For they being at dissention betwixt themselves and one hating the other called the Romans against this City Who brought Antonius and Sosius Princes of the Romans against Jerusalem but Herod being at variance for the Kingdom with the house of the Chasmonanites Who also called Nero Caesar to reign over us Did you it not your selves Now therefore why rebel ye against the Empire and Dominion of the Romans If you will say Because the Roman President Edomeus ordered you too bad had it not been meet rather to complain of him to the Emperour then to rebel against the Romans and to make war against them But you will say We rebelled against Nero Caesar because he did us too much wrong Wherefore then rebel ye now against Vespasian Caesar a most mercifull man and one which never hurt you Or why make ye not peace with his son to be under him according as other Nations be that ye might live and not
certain of them could not brook nor take it because of their great hunger wherewith they had been long pined and when the meat descended down into their bellies they died straight Their little Children also when they saw bread they fell upon it and received it indeed with their teeth but they were not able to chew it and died holding the bread between their teeth Titus seeing them die when they tasted the meat had pity and compassion upon them and was very sorry saying unto Joseph What shall I do for thy people which assoon as they begin to eat die straightway Joseph answered My Lord I remember I have seen this experience that they which fast long and after would take meat first they must drink a little sodden milk or else eat of a certain corn called Simel sodden in milk wherewith they strengthen their bowels before they take meat especially such as walked through wildernesses whose bowells were long empty when they came to places inhabited and found meat they were wont to use this means Therefore Titus commanded his men to do as Joseph bad them whereby many of the Jews recovered and many died of the flux These Jews which escaped thus out of Jerusalem to the Camps of the Romans had swallowed their Gold Silver and precious Stones to hide them lest they should be found of the Seditious They therefore which recovered and brooked meat when they would satisfie Nature they went alone out of the Camp and after sought their Gold and Silver and precious Stones which were digested in their excrements and so did they every day At length certain Aramites and Arabians espying the Jews to use this fashion told it amongst their fellows one to another and made a conspiracy to lay wait for the Jews and whomsoever they got they ript their bellies to find the Gold and other Jewels which the Jews had hid there And by this means the Aramites and Arabians had murthered two thousand Jews But when Titus heard of this he was wonderful wroth and commanded them to be apprehended that had done this wicked deed and to be put to death whose goods were given to the Jews that remained alive They that were put to death for this fact were two thousand Aramites and Arabians together After this Titus espyed the Princes and Captains to have decked their Armour with Gold and Silver some of them also to wear Golden Scepters and some Scepters of Silver with other Ornaments upon their heads he called them together and said unto them Lay away this vain ostentation these things are they that provoked the Aramites and Arabians to work this wickedness against these poor miserable Jews which fled forth unto us that they might live under our protection The captains therefore and Princes of the Romans hearing Titus commandment were obedient and straight laid away from them those Ornaments of Gold and Silver Titus also gave commandment that the rest of the Arabians and Aramites shou d be banished the Camp and that no man hereafter should commit any such haynous deed against the Jews Notwithstanding when as any Aramite or Arabian could get any Jew far out of the Camp that no man might see it he killed him Of the Romans in the Camp no man either did or said any evil unto the Jews save certain ungodly Ruffians which had learned of the Aramites and Arabians those evil and wicked pranks for they also when they chanced to meet with any Jew out of the Camp if there were no man by they killed him and took away his Gold and Silver that lay hid in his bowels When this came to Titus's ear he commanded to make Proclamation in this wise Whosoever he be that hath seen heard or known any thing of this horrible deed which is committed of certain Romans upon the Jews or whosoever hath done any such thing himself let him come and make relation unto Titus which if he do the matter shall be forgiven him if not he shall bear the burden of his own wickednesse and stand at his peril if any thing be proved against him hereafter Therefore certain Romans who were conscious to themselves that they had committed the deed and being afraid of Titus reasoned with themselves thus If we do not confesse unto him the truth he will by his wisdom search out these offenders and punish them to death Wherefore trusting unto Titus's words of the Proclamation they came all whosoever had either done it himself or known other to do it and declared it to Titus saying This have I done This have I known This was I accessary unto and have not hitherto made thee privy thereunto There were of them in number 320â—… men that made this Confession All those Titus commanded to be cast into hot Ovens and to be burned This done the Jews were more safe ever after in the Romans Camp without any jeopardy no man hurting them either in word or deed yea if any Roman found a Jew abroad wandring he conducted him gently and peaceably into the Camp There was a certain Scribe of Jerusalem at that time a faithful man whose name was Menachen son of Seruk the Scribe whose Ancestours had served Esdras the Scribe of worthy memory in Babylon and being a keeper of the East gate which was in Jerusalem upon that side towards the Brook Kidron noted the number of the dead that were carried forth to burying by that Gate and found they came to 115. thousand eight hundred and eight persons which were all of the Nobles and Gentlemen or at least of the substantiallest men of the Jews Titus upon a time Joseph being present asked the question of those Princes of the Jews which were fled unto him saying I charge you upon your fidelity to shew me how many Jews be dead in the Town since the time I besieged it to this day They gave him the number therefore every man as far as they knew of the dead that were carried forth at all the gates to be buried and the sum amounted to 700575. besides them that every where lay dead in the houses and streets and besides them also that were slain in the Temple and they that lay here and there unburied Which when Titus heard he marvelled greatly and said It is well known to the Lord God of heaven that I am not the cause of these evils for I desired to be at peace with them oftner than once but the Seditious evermore would have nothing but War War CHAP. III. AT that time the hunger began to wax very great in the Town ' amongst the Seditious who never lackt before for they took it alwaies from other men by force till now at length they were distressed with hunger themselves so that after they had eaten up all their horses they ate also their dung and the leather of the Chariots neither was there left any green Boughes on the trees nor any herbs that the Seditious might get to eat For the Romans had hewed down
head and fled to the hill Then blowing their horns and making a shout together they rushed down upon the Grecians camp But when the Grecians saw that their grand Captain was slain they fled Chasmoname and his sons with all Israel followed the chase overthrew them and made great slaughter This done Mattathias the Priest went to Jerusalem puâ—…ified the Temple restored the worshipping of God and commanded all that were born during the time of Polipus to be circumcised for by the means of his inhibition they were uncircumâ—…sed Thus being established he sate upon the Throne of the Kiugdom and drove the Greeks out of the Land of Israel His kingdom endured one year which was the 212. year from the building of the second House After this he fell sick and like to die charged his sons to keep the observations of the Lord and to walk in his wayes also to play the men against the Grecians for the Religion of the Lord. Then brought he forth Judas a tall man a hardy and placing him in the Sanctuary took a horn of oyl and poured it upon his head whereat the Israelits clapped their hands and gave a great shout saying God save the King God save the King Soon after Judas gathered an Army of Israel and made an expedition against the Remnant of the Greeks that were left in the Holds of Israel and whatsoever he took in hand God gave it good successe Notwithstanding Antiochus sent against him a Puissant Army under the leading of one Captain Pelonius against whom Judas so warred that the Grecians went to wrack for he espied his time when they were destitute of victuals and speedily set upon them beat them down handsmooth and approached to Captain Pelonius slew the valiantest about him yea and him also When Antiochus heard this he was in a great rage wherefore he chose out a most valiant Captain called Lysias and sent him against Jerusalem with 1000. Horsemen and Footmen without number Judas having knowledge thereof commanded a Fast throughout all Israel for three dayes and afterwards took Muster of all his Army and made over them Captains of thousands hundreds fifties and tens These said to their souldiers Whosoever is afraid c. Whereupon many of the people returned home yet there remained 7500. of such courage all that one would not have run away for a hundred Lysias divided his Hoast into three parts committing them unto three Captains Nicanor Bagris and Ptolomy But after the Israelits had once given a great shout the Lord beat down the Greeks so that the Israelits destroyed nine thousand of their enemies and spoiled the whole Hoast and they that remained alive took themselves to flight The next day King Judas kept his Sabbath together with all Israel in the Temple for the battel was upon the sixth day The morrow after the Israelits returned to the spoil of those that were killed and after to pursue other that were not able to resist but they found none for they were fled into Astaroth Karnaum During the time of these Wars Antiochus invaded the Land of Persia for they had moved War against him and done injury wherefore he fought against him but having the overthrow at their hands he returned to Antiochia with great shame where also he found his Armies with another dishonour and foil Wherewith he was in such rage that he gathered together all the valiantest and best Warriours in all Grecia yea all that were able to bear weapons swearing he would bring with him such an Army that all the ground about Jerusalem should not suffice them to stand upon whom he would have with him even for his footmen only And he set forward his Horsemen with horses and wagons laden with all manner of munition for the Wars as Bows Shields Targets Swords and Spears Brestplates and Morions besides a great number of Elephants and such that twelve valiant men might fight upon one Elephant the Elephants being to them as a fortresse But King Judas taking heart to him put his trust in his God and joyned battel with him At length when he with the power of Israel approached to the Elephants they â—…lew them down right so that the Elephants roared the Horses and all the beasts that drew the baggage and furniture were very sore afraid King Antiochus also being mounted upon his Mare and not able to sit her in her flight was thrown down His servants therefore finding him took him up and bare him a while upon their shoulders and being a corpulent and grosse man they were not able to carry him further but cast him down in the way The Lord had plagued him also and his whole Host before with a dry scab or rotten mattier and with other most horrible diseases therefore as he saw all these things he confessed it to be the hand of God Whereupon he made a vow that if he escaped he would circumcise himself with all his souldiers and would convert them to the worshipping of the God of Israel but God heard him not He â—…ed therefore a foot as well as he might and died by the way through his grievous and sore diseases and Opiter his soâ—… reigned in his stead King Judas with all Israel returned with great joy to the house of the Lord offered sacrifice and as they had laid wood upon the Altar and the sacrifice upon that they called unto the Lord lovingly to accept their sacrifice and in the mean space fire came forth of the Altar by its own accord consuming the sacrifice and the wood the like never chanced unto them to this day This miracle was wrought the 25. day of the moneth Elul or August The King made an expedition also into Arabia to war upon the people thereof and made of them a great slaughter brought them into subjection and made them tributaries In his return he set upon a great City of the Greeks wan it and razed it After that he made a road into Greece ten dayes journey where came against him with a mighty Army the chief man in King Opiters Realm next his person but Judas discomfited him and all his people From whence he went to the City Sypolis that was under the Romans where came forth to meet him Godolias with a royal Present informing him that they had ever born the Israelits good will were their neighbours and shewed them pleasures The King examined the matter and found their words true so receiving their Presents departed thence After this Gorgorius a Captain of the Romans moved War with Judas but Judas struck a battel with him and destroyed his whole Army so that none escaped Opiter son of Antiochus hearing what acts Iudas â—…d in all Countries round about he mustred all his people levyed a puissant Army wherewith he came and besieged Bethar Then cryed Iudas and all Israel to their God with fasting and sacrifices The night after Iudas divided his men into certain bands commanding them to give the Grecians a Camisado
or new matters chanced His off-spring was not out of the Children of Israel but of those Romans which chanced to be vanquished and become subject under the dominion of the Israelits being but strangers and of no Noble house in Israel He had foure Sonnes Joseph the Eldest the next Pâ—…silus the third Herod and the fourth Pheroras these had also a sister called Salumith Antipater favoured Hircanus so entirely for his justice and uprightness sake that he opened unto him his brother Aristobulus and the Saduces intent giving him counsell to flye to Hartam King of Arabia but Antipater himself went before to break the matter to Hartam of whose coming Hartam was very glad Then Antipater declared to him how Harcanus was in mind to flye unto him because of Aristobulus his Brother If thou wâ—…lt help him saith he and lend him speedy aid thou shalt easily set Aristobulus beside the Kingdom for all Israel is inclined to Hircanus and favour not Aristobulus Hartam answered I am afraid of the Jews and their craftiness Alexander his Father put me thrice to the foil in battel by his subtilty and took my dominions from me Then Antipater swore unto him He shall be saith he thy true and trusty friend to do whatsoever thy heart desireth Thus Hartam was perswaded and they made a league together Then Antipater turned to Jerusalem caused Hircanus to flye in the night and they both went together to the King of Arabia who much rejoyced at Hircanus coming and received him honorably When they came together to intreat of the league Hartam demanded restitution of such Cities as Hircanus Father had taken from him to whom Hircanus consented in all things Wherefore Hartam raised all the people of Arabia and led them to Jerusalem to war upon it To Hircanus also came all the men of Juda save only they that dwelt at Jerusalem so betwixt them they beset the City round about It fortuned that in the solemnity of the Paâ—…seover they could not have their service of the solemnity in the holy place because of the wars whereupon a certain just and perfect man of the Town called Honyauriga brake out privily into the Camp of Hircanus and Antipater his counseller and besought them with much prayer and tears that they would grant a truce unto Jerusalem while the feast of sweet bread lasted that they might execute the service of solemnity in the Holy place To whom Hircanus said Thou art a just man and often when thou hast prayed the Lord hath heard thee pray now therefore unto the Lord to deliver Aristobulus into our hands and that Israel may rest Honyauriga answered Am I a God or able to remove battels that be stirred up for many mens iniquities Thus when he seemed to be unwilling to pray Hircanus men compelled him drawing their swords and saying it thou wilt not pray thou shalt dye for it Therefore as he saw his life in jeopardy he cryed unto the Lord O Lord everlasting which hast chosen thy people Israel out of all people and hast set thy Name in his house may it please thy Majesty to plant among the children of Israel friendship and brotherhood take away from â—…mong them this hatred which is risen of nothing and let not the one of these factions prevail against the other seeing they all be thy Servants and children of thy Covenant When the servants of Hircanus heard him say so they ran upon him with their swords and killed him But God deferred not his vengeance for he struck the host as well of the Arabians as of Hircanus with a grievous pestilence CHAP. II. AT the same time came from Rome a famous Captain called Pompeius to war against the country of Armenia This Pompeius sent one of his chief men to Damasco of whom as Aristobulus thus besieged had heard and that an Army of the Romans was come to Damasco he sent him a present of four hundred pound weight in gold desiring him to remove the Army of the Arabians from him and to raise the siege In those daies all the world obeyed the Romans That Captain therefore writ unto Hartam King of Arabia in this wise Depart from Jerusalem if not thou shalt understand thou hast broke thy league with the Senate of Rome and the whole Army of the Romans shall shortly invade thy Land Hartam on the sight of this letter raised his fiege and departed from Jerusalem Hircanus also and Antipater departed with shame and reproach Aristobulus upon that gathered a power and pursued after them gave the Arabians and Israelites that took Hircanus part a great overthrow and after returned to Jerusalem with much joy Shortly after Pompeius came to Damasco where Aristobulus presented him with a Vine of gold marvellous artificially wrought The roots of the Vine leavs clusters and Grapes that were upon it were pure gold the weight whereof was five hundred pound Pompeius was very gâ—…ad thereof and sent it to Rome to the Consul And the whole bench of the Senate which was of the number of three hundred and twenty Senators wondered at the cunning and wit of him that made it and with great joy they bare it into the Temple of their gods placing it in the presence of the great Idol Jupiter so called after the planet Jupiter Pompeius writ his Letters to Aristobulus with great thanks and commendation for the same assuring him how both he and the whole Senate favoured him and that he should have a friend of him to speak in his cause as long as he lived Hircanus hearing of this was clean dashed and in despair But Antipater comforted him saying let not the friendship that is betwixt Pompeius and thy brother dismay thee I will go to him and make him thy friend Upon that he went to Pompeius and perswaded his mind to hate Aristobulus and to favour Hircanus informing him thus If thou saith he defend Hircanus all Israel will be content to be under thy protection for they love him every man but if thou defend Aristobulus the people will not obey thee for they hate him Pompeius charged him that no man should be made privy to their communication For I quoth he will send for Aristobulus to come to me to Damasco and then I will cause to be laid hands upon him and deliver him bound to his brother restoring the Kingdom to him Aristobulus upon the sight of Pompeius letters resorted unto him Hircanus also came from the rock of the wilderness and as they appeared together before Pompeius Antipater desired him that he would do justice betwixt Hircanus the King and Aristobulus his brother that rebelled against him and took his Kingdom from him without cause whose sayings a thousand of the Elders of Israel stood up and witnessed to be true Aristobulus answered I never strove with him for the Kingdom untill such time as I saw all these that made Hircanus King to run in great obloquie and to sustain much reproach because he was
He while his father was executing his office could not abide to see the â—…raelites so misused at Florus hands but being kindled with a fervent zeal sounded a Trumpet whereby there assembled about him forthwith divers companies of young men goodly warriours by whose ayd he raised a great commotion and encountered with Florus and the Roman souldiers of whom he made a great slaughter prevailing much and getting at length the upper hand of Florus overthrew all the host so that Florus was constrained to fly alone out of Jerusalem unto Egypt In the way as he fled he chanced to meet with King Agrippa coming from Rome from Nero Cesar and going home into Judea to whom Florus declared what had hapned him through the youth of the Jews at Jerusalem And as Agrippa had passed Egypt and drew toward Jerusalem his sister Beronice directed her letters unto him moving him to rejoyn with the Jews and to aid them the people also came wholly the space of fourty miles out of the City of Jerusalem to meet him and fel down flat before him crying God save our King Agrippa But the King studied all he might to procure quietness and peace to the City and people So he entred into Jerusalem accompanied with two Noble men of Rome worthy Captains whom he brought with him in his train And when he came into the midst of the City the people cryed mainly out upon him saying Deliver us O King and let thy hand and help be on our side to succour us for we will never more be under the Roman subjection The King hearing this pityed the people very much notwithstanding he was not content that they were minded to Rebel against the Roman Empire Wherefore he called the people together at the entrance of the Court of the Temple where were present the Elders of Israel and all the chief men with the high Priest Anani and declared unto them the power of the Romans the strength of their Kingdom and what Nations round about them they had subdued in such sort as no remainder of them was left Wherefore he besought them not to provoke the Romans nor to destroy the people remaining in Israel He added moreover If ye will give ear to mine advice saith he I know it well dear breathren that there resteth in your hearts a great grief and I my self am full of sorrow and anguish that we are not of power to withstand the Romans albeit if you will be ruled by my Counsel ye shall find a redress for this matter For where Counsel is and good deliberation there 's safety and things come to prosperous success ye shall sustain for a while the yoak of the Roman Captains till I may certify Nero of the matter by my Letters and entreat him to rid us of these Rulers I beseech you be not hasty of Liberty Many seeking liberty have fallen into further captivity and greater bondage there be among our people many evil disposed persons whose delight is in wars for it is their whole study amongst whom many good men do also perish wherefore hear my words as for them that be wise they may perceive the matter themselves they that lack experience let them learn wisdom at my sayings Keep therefore silence which shall be as well to mine as to your own commodity for I shall not need to strain my self but speak the softlier withless pain and ye on the other side may the better hear and understand what I say If ye hold not your peace ye shal have two discommodities ye shal interrupt my com munication and hinder your selves from hearing But now to the purpose Ye shall be content and suffer till I write to Rome of these matters that Cesar may remove these evill Rulers and send us them that be more human and gentle If ye may have such a one then shall ye not think your selves in bondage but in liberty and worthily for then only is servitude grievous when as the Ruler is an unjust man and wicked Now therefore stay your selves quarrel not with them for although they be wicked yet will they be ashamed to do wrong openly for what they do they do it secretly but if ye should accuse them too much they would rub their foreheads and do it openly without all shame so should you make of your Judges and Rulers your open Enemies But it were far better to suffer an unjust governour then a just enemy for the one robbeth men privily the other is an open destroyer provoke them not therefore Consider the wild beasts that be under mens power and kept in chains as Lyons Bears and Leopards if a man let them alone they are quiet and harm no man but if a man go to their dens and anger them they will fly upon him and worry him and others too that be present The same ye may perceive in a fever and an ague which if a man will go about to cure at the beginning he shall make it more grievous but if he will remedy it by leisure the fervency of it will easily be quenched Now therefore refrain your selves and take heed that you draw not Caesar upon your heads and the whole Roman Empire Caesar coveteth not your harm neither sent he unto you these Rulers to hurt you his eyes cannot see from East to West nor his hand reach from Rome hither for it is flesh and blood but if you will abide till I may send Embassadours to Cesar I doubt not but I shall remove these Rulers and rid you of them peaceably without any war or blood shed If ye be utterly determined to resist the Roman Empire you shall understand you be in no wise able to do it for God is every where on their side so that they be Lords throughout all the world and all people serve them and shall do so till their end shall come But if ye will not do this for your own sakes yet do it for your own Countries sake your children and wives the Sanctuary and Priests whom ye are bound to love and spare lest ye cast away and undo them all at once I beseech you take my words in good part for I have spoken nothing but that is for your good and that may further our peace with the Romans which I most wish If you will be ruled and chuse peace I will take your part and do the best I can for you but if you will needs have wars ye shall have it alone for me I will not meddle with you With this Agrippa fell on weeping and so did also all the Elders with him and the men of most wisdom the chief in all Israel yea Anani the high Priest also could not refrain from tears Notwithstanding Eleazer his stout son with his routs of warlike young men about him they wept not at all nor would hearken or give any ear to wholesom Counsell but all at once with their drawn swords violently rushed upon the Roman Caprains that came with
he had been so disposed had been able to lay Joseph at his foot a thousand times not knowing him to be Joseph Wherefore when he was so roughly and so sharply taunted of him he might have killed him in his rage for he was a very Bold man and a hardy and of a very Noble courage who surely would not have counted it nothing to have slain the Egyptian and many more of them Notwithstanding he did not so but contrary submitting himself under the yoak of Joseph called him his Lord and good Master and supposing him to be some Egyptian he humbled himself before him to obtain his petition and to get Corn least his father his brethren and their family should die for hunger What should I say of Joseph so beautifull so wise and witty a man Was not he fain to serve in Pharaohs house wherein although his wisdom was well known insomuch that Pharaoh set more by him than by all the Noble men that were then alive He was also called Lord great Master and Pharaohs Father Nevertheless he humbly besought Pharaoh that he might sustain his Father and Brethren with bread knowing at that time the dominion belonged unto Pharaoh and his people being given them of God And although Joseph had list to return into the Land of Canaan with all his fathers whole houshold without Pharaohs leave no man could have letted him to do it for he bare the greatest rule at that time in Egypt yet he did not so Benjamin also was likened to a ravening wolfe for his fierceness when he was fetched again by force of Josephs steward faining a lye upon him how chanced he did not kill him Or else when he alone pursued Benjamin and his other brethren could not he if he had list have slain the man and buried him so that the matter should never have come to light Notwithstanding they did nothing so nor so but Judas wisely weighing the exaltations and directions the promotions and disgraces with the common courses of the world returned again with his brethren into the City went to Joseph and besought him untill his bowels were moved to pity and he was known of his brethren All these things doth the most holy law of the Lord rehearse unto us and putteth us in mind of for this intent that we may learn to bear for necessities sake the yoak of him that hath the preheminence and rule for his time Neither let any judge or think that Joseph offended God in that he submitted himself under the yoak of Pharaoh for it is no shame for a wise man to crouch unto him whose help he standeth in need of whatsoever it be much more if he be a King or a Lord know ye not that our fathers were in bondage to King Pharaoh in Egypt But after the Lord remembred the covenant that he made with our fathers and had determined to lead them out of Egypt he sent Moses our master of famous memory his Angel his chosen who knew the Loâ—…d to be with him whereby he was able to destroy whosoever did rise against him Nevertheless when he came to Pharaohs presence who then bare rule in Egypt he shewed not himselfe in armes but rather with thunder and hail that Pharaoh might well perceive and know God was the Lord. But at what time as Pharaoh oppressed the Israelites too sore our master Moses by Gods help brought them out of Egypt with a strong hand and stretched forth arm against the Egyptians whom he punished with continuall plagues by that means delivering the Israelites out of the hands of their Lords and Masters and bringing them to the mount of God made them heirs full of all goodness that is to say of the most holy law of God And after Joshua had subdued the holy land to the Israelites and that they inhabited it there chanced unto our fathers times of adversities as is mentioned in the books of the Prophets so that they were constrained to serve the King of Ashur a long season and the Kings of Persia To the Chaldees also were we in bondage although not very grievous but tolerable Moreover with other Kings of the Gentiles we had wars and sometimes we were put to foils sometimes we had the upper-hand Now therefore my brethren tell me What shame were it to you if ye were subject unto the Romans Or what are you to be compared to other Nations that be under their Dominion Do you not see that the Romans reign over your enemies and bear rule over them that sometimes were your Masters and hate us Were it not reason that you should love them which have brought down your enemies and revenged you of them Which notwithstanding you have nothing at all done but rather have hated them as men void of all perceivance without weighing and considering that since the time you were under them ye have alwayes lived in much peace And I my self when I withstood the Romans in Galilee knew very well that I should be overcome at length but I could do nothing because of the seditious persons that were with me which would in no wise follow my counsel Yea it stood me in hand to have a care of mine own person that I were not killed of them after I had once counselled and moved them to give up the Town Wherefore seeing the matter stood so and God knew my heart I thought best to fight against the Romans as I mighâ—… and when occasion served to escape to the Romans to take it Further when I was in the Cave with my forty companions I had been lost and perished had not God given me counsel making me a way to escape and save my life For they had almost slain me because I gave them counsel to yield themselves to the Romans and obey them For I saw this was the time of the Romans to bear rule and that God had appointed them to be Lords over all Nations For this is his manner like as above he hath made some to be rulers over othersome even so beneath also he hath set Rulers over the Kings of the Earth Who can controll him that is stronger then he The Romans at this present have the Dominion over all Lands and People over the Egyptians Assyrians Persians and Chaldees to every one of these you have been in bondage and over other Nations also which nevertheless do till their ground sowe mowe plant and gather in their fruits and who hath the profit of these goods and labour but the Romans who whiles the other toyl and travel do live in peace and rest themselves Wherefore mark this also my brethren the Kings of Macedonia once had the rule of the whole World specially in the time of Alexander of Macedonia but at this day their Empire is taken from them and they are become subjects to the Romans They when the Romans first set upon them were very haughty and stubborn determining to resist the Romans notwithstanding they were overcome of the
of brute beasts which according to nature bear rule one over another Notwithstanding in mankind it should never have come to passe that the bigger should so have dominion over the lesse unlesse for their sins for the the which they are so punished that one is compelled to bow his neck under anothers yoke Now therefore my dear people take humility and meeknesse unto you never covet to alter the law of Nature but rather receive my words and follow my counsell Obey the Romans prepared and ready to make league with you according to their bountifulnesse that ye may live and do full well CHAP. II. WHen Joseph had spoken these things in the hearing of the Citizens of Jerusalem they burst out and wept gnashing with their teeth and railed at Joseph over the walls hurling stones and darts at him to have killed him Therefore when Joseph saw they would not follow his counsel butwere so stiffe-necked he began to rebuke them crying unto them in this wise Wo to all froward people and such as rebell against the Lord God! What mean ye you wretches what have ye to leane unto that ye are so stubborn when neverthelesse the Lord is gone from you For you are wicked people and have sinned against him How can your sins be purged which you have committed in the Temple of the Lord by shedding of innocent blood without all mercy Ye are most guilty for ye have fought in the Temple and Sanctuary of the Lord ye have defiled it with dead bodies of them which ye have slain in the very midst thereof Besides ye have prophaned and unhallowed the Name of the Lord with making of Wars upon the Sabbath day upon your solemn and festival daâ—…es Tell me now ye froward rebels whether did ever your forefathers prevail against their enemies with spear and shield but rather with prayer pennance and purenesse of heart wherewith they served God and again he delivered them But you what have you to trust unto when as ye are unfaithful Your shelter and protection is departed from you and your Lord God aideth your enemies whose power he maintaineth to destroy you if you imaâ—…ine to be delivered with your swords and speares you are fouly deceived whereas God would not that ye should escape the hands of your enemies Open your eyes and see what David the annointed of the Lord said For the Lord will save neither by sword nor spear Call to your remembrance ye very fools Abraham your father which begot you by what means he overcame Pharaoh the King of Egypt who violently had taken away Sarah his wife from him surely none other way did he obtain the victory then by prayer to the Lord who stirred the spirit of Pharaoh and put him in mind to restore his wife Sarah clean and undefiled Abraham was quiet in his bed and at rest from all troubles but Pharaoh that great Lord and Ruler was punished in the mean season with great plagues because of Sarah whom he had taken to him by violence to deflower her which God would not suffer but rather uncovered Pharaohs flesh that he was fain to shew the secret parts of his body to Physitians to see if they could heal them But who can cure the infirmities which God sends or who knows his intents For who knew that Hezekiahs biles could be healed with a plaister of figs or Naman the Syrian's leprosie with the wâ—…ter of Jordan or the bitter water with wormwood Wherefore when as no man could cure Pharaoh he was fain to speak Abraham fair and to intreat him to pray to God to take away from him his plague and so by his prayer Pharaoh recovered Then Pharaoh apparelled Sarah in precious garments gave her gifts of Gold and Silver and precious Stones and sent her home honest pure and holy to Abraham living then at his own house â—…saac when he was driven out by Abimelech King of the Philistins and had with him the bond servants of his fathers houshold to the number of 800. and 18. with whom Abraham had discomfited five Kings beside many other more of his family so that he had been strong enough to have invadâ—… the Philistines yet he would not do it but with all meeknesse and humilâ—…ty he used himself towards the King of that Country Notwithstanding after he was driven out of the Land the Philistines came unto him and entreated him saying We perceive the Lord God is with thee c. as it is written in the Scripture What shall we say of Jacob when he fâ—…ed from the presence of his brother Esau he carried nothing with him but a bare staffe wherewith he passed ovâ—…r the River Jordan as it is wâ—…itten With my staffe passed I this Jordan His Ammunition that he took with him for his journey was prayâ—…r wherewith he made all his wars That was it for the which God assisted him when he went away to Laban and when he returned from him when also he was delivered out of the hands of his brother Esau who sought to kill him And this also he did bâ—… the way as he returned when he wrestled with a certain man that overcame him O Lord Who is able to number the mercies of the Lord and the marvels which he wrought with our fathers of worthy memory Abraham Isaac and Jacâ—…b What should I speak of Moses our shepherd the man of God that feared the cruelty of Pharoah until he writ in the Law that he had called the name of his son Eleazar for he said the God of his father helped him and delivered him out of the hands of Pharaoh And when he came before Pharaoh to deliver Israel out of his hands and to lead them out of Egypt With what things else overcame he the Tyrant withal then with prayer Did he not overthrow the pride of Pharaoh and his Charmers only with the Rod of the Lord which he had with him Wherewith also he smote Egypt with ten plagues aâ—…d divided the Sea into twelve parts And at the red Sea Moses resisted not Pharaoh and his host with force of Arms but with pâ—…ayer wherefore Pharaoh and all his were drowned in the bottom of the Sea But Moses sung a song of praise unto our God while the souldiers of the Egyptians perished that came against Moses and the people of Israel with weapons horses and chariots Notwithstandiug by Moses prayer they weâ—…e overwhelmed all in the Sea so that not one of them escaped Who is ignoraut of this that prayer is of more force than all instruments of war that it speedeth and hasteneth the help of the Lord and his saving health Do you not know when Joshua the minister of Moses passed over Jordan that he was a warlike man and had with him very many most valiant souldiers neverthelesse he destroyed not the seven walls of Jericho by force of War but only with prayer and with shouts and noise of the Priests of the Lord our forefathers Know ye not that
after this came many souldiers and great bands of men out of all Nations that were subject to the Empire of the Romans to aid Titus to whom Titus declared what had hapned him in that siege the stoutness of the Jews and how they had annoyed many waies the Roman army adding moreover and asking them Did you ever see four men withstand ten thousand and five hundred so that they being all together could neither overthrow them nor take them prisoners but the four slew them like as it had been tops of Coucumbers smitten off with most sharp swords When they heard this they wondred all very much Then Titus spake unto his host and to them which were newly repaired unto him to shew their advice and best counsel what was to be done lest we should be ashamed saith he before all them that shall hereafter hear of our Wars The gravest and most ancient of the Nations that were newly come to his aid answered If it please your Majesty let the Romans breath a while and take their rest which are now wearied with the sundry battels of the Jews and we who are not so broken with labour but fresh and lusty shall try what the Jews can do we cannot think that they are able to withstand so great a multitude But the Princes of the Romans desired Titus that he should not permit them this lest he should increase their own sorrows if peradventure they should be discomfited say they of the Jews and the matter redound unto their own shame For if we which are acquainted with them and know their manner of fight cannot sustain their violence How shall they do it that never had proof of the strength and force of the Jews They shall be to them like Hyssop which groweth upon the walls in comparison of the Cedar-trees of Libanus The other said nay they should do well enough with them And they urged Titus so instantly that they constrained him to grant them their desire Then Titus gave them leave to set upon the Jews thinking with himself peradventure the Jews may be put to the worse of these men that will fight without fear not knowing the force of the Jews for the Romans that have had trial of their strength fight fearfully and warily So the Lords of the strange Nations chose out of their Armies eighty thousand men Ten thousand Macedonians twenty thousand Britains five thousand Aramites ten thousand Africans ten thousand valiant Burgundians five thousand Redarans last of all ten thousand Persians and Chaldeans These therefore went into the Plain which is by the Sepulcher of Jehochanan the high Priest and from thence made an assault upon the Jews that were upon the Walls setting up their scaling ladders Jehochanan said to Schimeon and Eleazar his two Companions If you think good I will issue forth and skirmish with these uncircumcised to let them see what I can do Schimeon answered Let two of us do it and the third keep the gates and walls for thou alone art able to do nothing against them they are so many Eleazar allowed this advice offering himself to bear Jehochanan company Schimeon bad them go saying The Lord of the Sanctuary give them into your hands and deal not with you at this time according to your works Then Jehochanan and Eleazar issued with one thousand five hundred good men of War the ninth day of the moneth Tebeth which was the tenth moneth that Titus had besieged Jerusalem and overthrew of the Gentiles of that host fifty seven thousand and five hundred men besides three thousand whom they took prisoners but of the Jews were no more slain in that fight than only seven whose bodies with much rejoycing and great triumph they carried with them into the Town and buried them there lest peradventure the uncircumcised should have misordered them The Gentiles that were left with great shame and dishonour returned unto Titus who reprehended them because they would not believe the Romans The next day following the Jews brought forth the three thousand Nobles and Gentlemen that they had taken prisoners and plucked out of every one of them an eye and cut off every man the one hand after sent them back with shame and reproach to Titus's Camp Then Titus consulted with all his Princes what were best to do with the Israelites and when every man had said his mind he liked never a mans counsel but said unto them Well I have devised this with my self which I will follow and no man shall bring me from my purpose we will keep the siege without any assault or skirmish for their victuals failed them long ago and so they shall be famished Besides this when they shall see us cease to fight with them they will fall at variance amongst themselves and kill one another This counsel was thought good of all Titus's Princes wherefore they besieged the Town as Titus commanded and closed up all the wayes of the City round about lest the Jews should as they had done before come upon them unawares They appointed moreover watch day and night to take heed that no man should come out of the Town to gather herbs for their sustenance Then encreased the hunger in Jerusalem which if it had not been so grievous the City had never been won for the souldiers of the Town were lighter than Eagles and fiercer than Lions There died therefore of the famine wonderful many of the Jerusolemites so that the Jews could not find place to bury them in they were so many in every place of the Town Many cast their dead folks into their Wells and tumbled afterwards in themselves and died Many also made themselves graves and went into them alive where they tarried day and night and died unmourned-for For all mourning and accustomed lamentation for the dead was left off because of the unmeasurable famine which was so great that it cannot be told and I cannot relate the thousandth part of the mischief that followed of the hunger Titus seeing the innumerable carkases of the dead that were cast into the Brook Cedron like dung was wonderfully amazed with fear and stretched out his hands toward heaven saying Lord God of Heaven and Earth whom the Israelites believe in cleanse me from this sin which surely I am not the cause of for I required peace of them but they refused it and they themselves are cause of this mischief they have sinned against their own souls and lives I beseech thee impute it not to me for a sin that the Jews die on this manner At that time certain wicked persons of Jerusalem slandered Amittai the Priest falsely saying to Captain Schimeon Behold Amittai the high Priest which did let thee into the City goeth about to flee to the Tents of the Romans Thou hast experience of his great wit and wisdom how he also knoweth all the secret wayes into the Town Temple and Sanctuary and who can tell whether he will bring the Romans some night at midnight
of Israel Some interpreâ—…ed this of the King of Israel but the Priests said It is the King of the Romans The whole Roman Army being now come into the Temple and the Jews fled to Moâ—…nt Sion the Romans set up their â—…dols in the Lords Temple and railed at the Jews It happened that there came down to the Romans a little boy of the Priests from Mount Sion to a Captain of the Wall Keeper of the Temple desiring him to give him some water he taking pity on the boy gave him some the boy taking the vessel the water was in first drank himself then ran away with the rest the Captain made shew to run after him but let him go of puâ—…pose Once when the Romans were at their sacrifice with Titus some Priests came and besought him that he would not kill them he answered Why do you wish to live now and not rather dye with your brethren who have suffered death for Gods sake and for the sake of this House whereupon he commanded they should be all slain After Schimeon and Jehochanan sent to Titus for peace he answered This thing ye seek too late but how cometh it to pass that you beg your lives now being so few and that ye have wasted all things so desperately ye desire life and yet persevere in your malice still holding your swords in your hands have we not now taken your City Temple and the Sanctum Sanctorum What is there left for you to put hope in Therefore cast away your swords and lay down your armour and then if you come to me I know what I hâ—…ve to do peradventure I shall be gracious unto you Schimeon and Jehochanan answered We have sworn by the Lord our God who is God of Heaven and Earth thâ—…t we will never bear thy yoak nor serve thee or make any peace to be subject to thee therefore if it be thy pleasure to shew us mercy we will take our journey into the wilderness in granting this we will report to have found favour if not we will remain in this place to see what manner of death we shall dye Titus hearing this was much incensed and said remains the pride of your hearts and the hardness of your neck still with you though ye be Captives dare ye yet be so bold as to say ye have sworn not to endure our yoak Then Titus gave commandment to the Romans not to omit any opportunity to set upon the Seditious and by one means or other to destroy Schimeon and Jehochanan There was at that time a certain man of the Royall Blood whose name was Serach he accompanied with all his brethren and Sons that were there with him of the Kings blood came down from the Moâ—…nt Sion â—…o Titus who received them honorably and gently ordered them When Jehochanan and Schimeon understood that Serach and the reâ—…t were gone and had yielded themselves to Titus they went and set fire upon all â—…at was in the Kings Pallace that the Romans should have no â—…modity thereby From thence they went to the Temple where they found certain Commanders and Captains whom Titus had put in authority about the Temple of whom thâ—…ee were chief one Captain of the hoâ—…semen tâ—…e second of the Chariots and the third of the footmâ—…n him they killed and took hâ—…s companion alive One of them besought thâ—…m that had taken him that he might be bâ—…ought to Schimeon their Captain Let him saith he do with me as he list and in this one thing let me finâ—… favour at your hands They agreed and brought him to Schimeon who commanded his servants as soon as he was come to slay him But while he that was appointed to this business made delay and killed him not by and by he whipt down off the hill escaped and came to Titus who commanded him out of his sight being wroth with him that he had not fought unto death rather then to be taken alive But with the Jews was he wonderfully displeased that they had so despighâ—…ully ordered his men wherefore he commanded to kill all the Jews as many as could be found in the â—…ets of the City whom he would have spared before and caused proclamation to be made throughout all his Camp for their safety Then died many of the Jews â—…o that every place was full of dead bodies The men of War of the Edomâ—…tes which were with Schimeon perceiving how the matter went sent Embassadors to Titus to desire pâ—…ace and to save their lives which when it came to Schimeons ear he went unto them and slew the chief of them and their Noblemen the rest of the people of the Edomites fled unto Titus From that time forth Titus commanded his men to use no more cruelty to the Jews Soon after fled Jehochanan and Sâ—…himeon and hid themselves in certain caves The rest of the chief men of the Jews that were with them seeing them now to be fled came down from the Mount to Titus and fell down upon their faces before him upon the ground whom Titus received gently As for the Seditious that were witâ—… Schimeon and Jehochanan they fought till they all died together Then came forth unto Titus one Joshua a Priest son of Schaftai the High Priest bringing with him two Candlesticks of gold which were in the Sanctuary and the Tables of gold with other vessels of silver and gold and also the holy vestures decked with gold and precious stones all those he gave to Titus who made him chief Priest over them that remained next unto Joseph the Priest for Titus gave Joseph authority as well over the Priests and Leviâ—…es as over the whole people oâ—… the Jews Then was Gorion the Father of Joseph that writ this History brought out of prison with his wife and children among whom was one Bonian Josephs younger brother he was a very wise and godly Priest by whom God bestowed many benefits upon â—…e Israelites for Titus left him at Jerusalem and took him not with him as he did Joseph Josephs father lived after the City was taken twenty moneths and died They took also one Phineas a Priest who was keeper of the treasure-house he bewrayed and detected to the Romans all the Treasures of the Priests and their Vestments He gave also unto Titus a most precious oil with sweet odours and perfumes and garments also of purple which the Kings of the second Temple had given Wherefore both this Phineas and Joshua whom we mentioned before transgressed the Covenant of the Lord and offended God in that they deâ—…ivered his Jewels to the enemies of his people which they ought not to have done but rather to have died for the glory of the Lord as the other Priests did which cast themselves into the fire Thus was the City of Jerusalem taken with all the precious things that were therein And Tiâ—…us went up to Mount Sion took it and razed the walls thereof Three dayes after Jehochanan sore vext with hunger left
Anani the high Priest seeing the wicked to be fled to the Temple wiâ—…ed the people to cease their fighting with them in the Temple of the Lord left they should pollute it with the blood and dead caâ—…kasses of those wicked persons The people therefore left off the fight Then Anani beset the Temple round about with 6000. of the choisest and ablest men of the people well armed all of them with jackes and sallets and as well weapon'd with every man a sword a target and a spear or pike to keep the Temple that they should not come forth Moreover Anani cast in his mind that besides the invading them in the Temple which were nowaies seemly it should also be as great a damage if the people of the Lord should assault one another in that place For these causes he sent Embassadors to Jehochanan the Galilean chief Captain of the seditious and thieves offering him peace but Jehochanan refused it For the seditious had sent for the Edomites to come and aid them The Edomites had been ever from their first beginning very valiant and warlike-men yet they were subject to the Jews For Hircanus King of Juda had conquered them and caused them to be circumcised binding such of them as were the best Warriours to this service to stand in arms and keep watch and ward upon the walls of Jerusalem day and night and the rest of them to pay tribute to the Jews Upon a certain night came two and twenty thousand of these Edomites all good men of War against Jerusalem When Anani the Priest and the people that were with him heard the noise of the Edomites Army he went upon the walls and demanded of them what they were from whence they came and whither they would They answered We are Edomites and came out of Idumea to visit the Lord God and his Temple and to see in what case his people standeth for thus we come according to our accustomed manner as ever heretofore Anani answered You are dissemblers and not as your words do shew neither come ye to seek God and his Sanctuary nor yet to aid his people but rather to the supporting of Jehochanan grand Captain of Thieves Were it not better for you to assist the Sanctuary of God than these sinfull seditious persons that covet nothing els then to lay waste the House of God and to destroy his People They in the most holy City of God do shed the blood of Just Godly and Innocent men through whose wickedness the Romans have the upper hand of us because we have civil wars at home with the Seditious and external with the Romans Yea the wickedness of the Seditious is grown so far that the most part of us had rather be slain by the Romans than of our brethren the Jews If so be ye be come to maintain them ye shall understand that ye offend our Lord God exceedingly to help sinners and murtherers that tread the people of God under their feet like as men tread grapes in a wine-press and make the Temple of the Lord a dwelling-place of man-killers and wicked persons Ye say Ye come to seek the Lord how is it then that ye are thus in Arms after the manner of war Ye shall understand we shut not the gates of the Town because of you lest ye should come in after your accustomed manner but because of your armour and weapons that you have with you whâ—…ch are instruments of destruction a very unmeet fashion to come and visit the Lord You should rather have comeâ—…with offerings sacrifices confession and praise Notwithstanding if ye will enter into the Town for devotion sake ye are welcome but ye must lay away your weapons and so enter in peaceably The Edomites answered We marvell not a little at thee which art the high Priest our Lord and mediator and at the rest of the Priests of the Lord with the Elders and Judges of the people that be present with thee and your woâ—…ds seem strange in our ears For we understand you take us for your enemies and thereupon you stop us of our entrance into the City to visit the Lord God after our accustomed manner In that we be armed as ye object unto us Do ye not know that Vespasian draweth nigh to come to this holy City This we hearing of was the cause that we took our weapons with us to come to ayd you and keep the Town as we have been wont these many years But how should ye gather this that we come to support the wicked and seditious that be with you when as from the first day that ever we and our fathers were circumcised we never swarved fâ—…om the Law and commandments of the Lord Tell us if there be any commandmeâ—…t in the Law that biddeth a man to strengthen and maintain the power of the wicked to the which we are bound to hearken and to ayd these God forbid we should do this for we all both that be here and the other Edomites also be servants of the Lord and his people to maintain and defend the Law the people and the house of the Lord. Whiles they were thus talking together there arose up a great cloud and lightnings were seen with fire and darkness with mighty thunderâ—…claps and showers of hail that all that saw it were wonderfully afraid Wherefore the people fled wholly left not only the walls but Anani also for they could not abide to tarry any longer But Anani took heart unto him and abode it to mark those horrible signs of heaven which did appear that he might judge what they betokened The Figure of a fearful Comet And he gave his Judgment indeed but not according to the truth that the thunder and hail with darkness signified Gods help by the hope whereof they should defend the Sanctuary of the Lord. So likewise judged all the Elders that were with him without perceiving that all these signs betokened the evils that should come upon Jerusalem and all Israel When they that were shut in the Temple perceived that they that kept the Watch before the gate of the Temple were fled also for fear of the tempest they went and opened the doors of the Temple and in that darkness which although it was so great that one could not see another for the thickness thereof neither durst any of the Town once look out of his doors they were so afraid of those terrible signs of the Element yet came those desperate fellows the Seditious out of the Temple drew toward the walls without all fear with saws and other instruments to cut asunder the barrs of the gates And when the crashing of the thunder and hail was greatest then laboured they hardest in wresting asunder the locks and bolts of the gates lest they should be perceived And ever when the thunder clap was past then stayed they and left off till it came again Thus plaid they till they had broken and opened the gates and let the Edomites