Romans 4. How Placidus Assaulted Jotapata 5. How Vespasian invaded Galilee and how at his presence the Galileans fled C 6. How Gabara was taken 7. How Jotapata was besieged and of the situation and battery thereof 8. Of the Siege of Jotapata by Vespasian and of Joseph's diligence and of the excursions of the Jews against the Romans 9. How Vespasian battered the Walls of Jotapata with a Ram and other warlike Engines 10. How Jotapata was again assaulted 11. How Trajan and Titus took Japha 12. How Cerealis overcame the Samaritans 13. How Jotapata was taken D 14. How Joseph being taken saved his own life 15. How Joppe was taken again 16. How Tiberias was yielded 17. How Tarichea was besieged 18. Of the Lake called Genesareth and the Fountains of Jordan 19. How Tarichea was delivered CHAP. I. E Of Vespasian's coming into Judea and of the Massacre of the Jews VVHen the Emperor Nero understood the ill success of his Armies against the Jews Nero is amazed and afraid at the valiant acts of the Jews he was seized with fear and astonishment yet he dissembled it as much as necessity would permit him In the mean-while he set a good face on the matter and made as though he were of more courage saying That that which hapned was rather by the fault of his General Cestius than the valour of their Adversaries thinking that it behoved him who was Emperor not to shew himself moved with a little bad news and that the greatness of his Empire ought to secure his mind from the apprehension of considerable misfortunes Yet it appeared by the vexation of his F spirit that he was much moved and in great care to whom he should commit the charge of the East which had rebelled who might both reduce the Jews and hinder the Inhabitants of other Countries from the like attempts Nero sendeth Vespasian to govern in Syria and direct his War At last he pitcht upon Vespasian whom he thought only meet for that purpose a man who from his Infancy had been trained up in War even until he was gray-headed who had appeased the people of the West and helped them being troubled by the Germans and recovered it for the Romans as also he did Britain which was unknown before and for that cause made his Father Claudius triumph without taking any pains for it Nero considered all these things and his prudence grounded on old Age and Experience and that also he had Sons in the flower of their Age to be pledges for his fidelity who might assist their G Father by their Courage Wherefore God as it should seem even then disposing it so for the good of the whole Common-wealth Nero sent him to govern the Armies in Syria greatly encouraging him with fair speeches and promises as at that time need H required Accordingly Vespasian departed out of Achaia where he was with Nero and he commanded Titus his Son to lead the fifth and tenth Legions from Alexandria and he himself crossing over the Hellespont Vespasian and Titus gather great Forces against the Jews followed after by land into Syria where he assembled all the Roman forces and all Auxiliaries of the Kings adjoyning that were confederates The Jews after Cestius unfortunate success became proud of their Victory and could not contain themselves but like men uncapable of moderation they still gave more occasion of War and gathering all their Forces together they went to Ascalon which is an old City seven hundred and twenty furlongs distant from Jerusalem which the Jews had always hated for which cause they also first assaulted it The Commanders I in this expedition were three men excellent above the rest for Conduct and Valour to wit The Jews besiege Ascalon Niger of Paerea Silas the Babylonian and John the Essean Now the City of Ascalon had very strong Walls but few men to defend it for it had only one Company of Foot and one Band of Horse whom Antonius commanded The Jews made such haste as though they had dwelt hard by Anthony fighteth with the â—words Antonius perswading himself that they would assault him caused his Horse to issue forth of the City and neither fearing the multitude nor the malice of his adversaries he valiantly received the first assault of the Enemies and beat them back that attempted to assault the Wall So the Jews who were unskilful having to do with them that were expert and fighting on foot against Horsemen without order against those that were in good order lightly armed against K their adversaries who were well provided they were easily defeated Indeed they were more led by rage and fury than good Counsel and they against whom they fought were obedient and would do nothing without the commandment of their Leader Wherefore their first ranks being broken they were forced by the Horse to turn their backs and retiring themselves to their own Company who turned toward the Wall they became as it were Enemies to themselves So that seeking to avoid the Horsemen they were all dispersed about the field which was in every place for the advantage of the Horse The Romans overcome the Jews and make a great slaughter of them This greatly helped the Romans to kill so many Jews for they that fled were easily overtaken by the Romans and killed and others compassing divers of the Jews about slew them with Darts so that the Jews were in a great L desperation for all their great multitude as if they had been alone The Jews willing to overcome their misfortunes were ashamed to flie and so fled not hastily in hope that Fortune would change But the Romans not wearied with that which they did with great dexterity continued the fight the most part of the day so that there were slain of the Jews ten thousand 〈…〉 and two of their Leaders John and Silas The rest whereof many were wounded followed their General Niger who fled into a little Town of Idumaea named Salis Of the Romans only some were wounded in that fight Yet the Jews were not daunted with this misfortune but the grief thereof much increased their Courage neither were they dismayed with the former loss of so many men within so short time but rather calling to mind the great Victory they had got before they M drew upon themselves another defeat For before their mens wounds were healed they gathered together all their Forces and went again to Aschalon in great number and fury but with the same success and disadvantages in warlike affairs which they had before For Antonius having notice which way they meant to come placed an ambush in the way Eight thousand Jews slain at 〈◊〉 and the Horse setting upon them at unawares killed above eight thousand of them before they could prepare themselves to fight whereupon all the rest fled and Niger with them after he had given all the proofs that could be expected from a valiant man
necessary to declare the occasions whereon at that present the debate was grounded to the end that the Readers may understand the difficulty of the thing in question and that if they happen at any time to be concerned in such affairs they might by his example learn to discover the truth Two Women of loose life and conversation came unto him one of the which who seemed to have suffered the injury began after this manner D I Two women accuse one another for exchange of their children O King said she and this Woman dwell together in one Chamber but so it fortuned that both of us on one day and at the same hour bare each of us a son some three dayes after we were delivered this Woman lying by her Infant had in sleep overlaid it and stifled it and hath taken my Child from between my knees and laid it by her and put the dead Child whilest I slept A v. 16 ad fin into my bosome Now on the morrow when I thought to give mine Infant suck I found not mine own but perceived that her Child lay dead by me for I knew it because I had exactly marked it This my Child I have demanded at her hands and because I could not recover it I have made my Address unto your Majesty for in that we were alone and she is obstinate and feareth not to be convicted by any she persisteth in her denial of the same After the King had heard her request he enquired of the other if she had any thing E to answer to this accusation But she denying the act and averring that the Child which remained alive was hers and that the dead one appertained to the other and besides that since no Man appeared that might determine the controversie but all that stood by were amazed at the obscurity and difficulty of the debate the King at last found out this expedient of discovering the truth He commanded that both the Children should be brought before him Ver. 24 25. as well the living as the dead and calling one of his Guard unto him Solomon commandeth both the children to be divided into two parts he commanded him with his naked Sword to cut both the Children into two parts to the intent that both of them might take the half of the living and the other half of the dead Child This sentence of his at first seemed so ridiculous that it was exploded by all that stood by In the mean time the true Mother began to cry out and desire that F the matter might not pass so far but rather that they should give the whole Child that was alive unto the other for that it sufficed her so she might see him alive though he might be supposed to be anothers The other willingly consented to the division of the Infant and moreover required that the true Mother should be punished But the King conjecturing by the discourse both of the one Ver. 27. and of the other Solomon by the speech and gesture of the women discovereth the true mother which was the true Parent adjudged the Infant unto her that opposed his death for that in equity she was the true Mother and condemned the wickedness of the other who had murthered her own Child and laboured as much as in her lay to procure the death of her companions innocent Infant All the people took this judgment for an assured proof and sign of the Kings prudence and wisdom and from that time forwards they respected and honoured him as G one that was endowed with a divine spirit The Chieftains and Governors under him thorow all the Kingdom were these Vri governed the Countrey of Ephraim wherein was comprised the rule of Bethlehem Aminadab commanded over the quarter of Dura and the Sea-coast and had espoused the daughter of Solomâ—n The great Plain was subjected H to Benaia the son of Achila who governed likewise all the Countrey that extended towards Jordan Gaber commanded the Galaadites and Gaulonites as far as the Mountain Libanus and had under him sixty great Cities and Forts Achinadab governed all Galilee as far as Sadon Solomons governors and captains and had espoused also one of Solomons daughters called Basima Banacat presided over the Maâ—â—time Countrey near to the City of Arce Saphat commanded the Mountains Itabyr and Carmel 1 Reg. 4. 1 ad 21. and the Land of Galilee as far as Jordan Sonbeia governed the whole Land of the Benjamites Tabar had all the government on the other side of Jordan and was elected Governor-general over them all Thus about this time did the Hebrews wonderfully increase in riches and particularly the Tribe of Juda by reason that the people addicted themselves wholly to the tilling and manuring of their I Lands The happy peace of the Israelites in Solomons time For they were assured of their peace and not distracted by any warlike tumults and besides that fruitfully enjoying a most desired liberty they especially intended this thing onely to increase their private estates The King also had other Governors who ruled the Syrians and commanded other strange Nations which are extended from Euphrates as far as Egypt who gathered the Tribute of those Nations for the King These Barbarians every day furnished the King for his own Table Ver. 23. and the maintenance of his Houshold Solomons daily expences with thirty measures of fine flour and sixty of the courser ten fat Oxen and twenty grass Beeves with an hundred fat Lambs All which things besides Venison and Buffalles taken in chase Birds and Fish were furnished daily by the Barbarians to serve the Kings Houshold Ver. 26. He had likewise a great number of Chariots so that he had forty K thousand Mangers wherein his Horses fed Solomons chariot and horsemen and besides these he had twelve thousand Horsemen half whereof kept alwayes about the King in Jerusalem the rest were billetted in divers Villages belonging to the King Solomons prudence and wisdom and remained there And they that had the charge to furnish the Kings expences provided likewise necessary provender for the Horses conveying it to what place soever the King took his progress But so great was the wisdom and prudence which God had bestowed upon Solomon that he surpassed all his Progenitors and the Egyptians likewise who are esteemed the wisest of all Men were far behind him Solomons method in conjuration whereby he cast out devils For he excelled all those that in that time were in the greatest account amongst the Hebrews whose names I will not omit these were Ethan Eman Chaâ—â— and Dodan all four the sons of Machol He composed also 5000 Books of Odes and Songs L and 3000 Books of Parables and Similitudes beginning from the Hyssop unto the Cedar The like did he of all living creatures that feed on the earth swim in the waters or flie in the air for none of their
Women and the Maidens When they were brought in to Petronius who was placed higher than the rest they threw themselves before him upon the ground beating their Breasts and sobbing out so many sighs that nothing could be more pittiful and though Petronius commanded them to rise and come nearer they were scarce to be perswaded At length they approached with ashes upon their Heads their Eyes swimming with tears and their Hands F behind their Backs as if they had been going to Execution and he who was Spokesman for them all delivered himself to Petronius in these Terms SIR To remove all pretence of accusing us of any evil design we are come not only without arms but without any intention of making use of our hands which are the Armes that Nature has given to all mankind and do therefore present our selves before you to be treated as you please We have left our Houses destitute and brought our Wives and our Children along with us to the end we may joyn their instances with our own and by your mediation supplicate the Emperour either to preserve or extinguish us all together We are naturally lovers of Peace and are the more impetuously inclined to it because our greatest pleasure being to bring up our Children in our own way there is nothing that conduces more to it When Caius was advanced to the Empire and G we understood it by his Letters to Vitellius who was then Governour in Jerusalem and in whose place you have succeeded we gave him a testimony of our joy and signified it by publishing the good news thorow the rest of the Cities Our Temple was the first place where sacrifice H was offered for the happiness of his reign Would it be just that it should be the only place where that Religion should be abolished which had been observed there in all Ages We will leave our Houses our Goods and our Possessions to your Mercy all we beg is that nothing be introduced into our Temple but that it may remain in the same condition as it was left to us by our Fathers If you will not grant us that favour take away our lives which we can lose with much more satisfaction than behold the violation of our blessed Laws We are informed that great forces are preparing to fall upon and constrain us in case we oppose our selves against this Order but we are not so imprudent as to resist our Master We will sooner dy than entertain any such wicked design He may kill us and cut us in pieces if he pleases without any such I danger we intend nothing of defence we will be rather our own Priests and when we have sacrificed our Wives and our Children and Relations we will shed our own blood and mingle it with theirs and expire in petitioning God Almighty that he would not impute it to us as a Crime seeing we do it not either for want of respect to the Emperour on the one side nor for non-observance of our Laws on the other But before we are reduced to that extremity our humble request to you Sir is That you would vouchsafe us but some time till we can make our addresses to the Emperour 'T is possible we may obtain from him that he will not intrench upon the Worship which we conceive due only to God nor disturb us in the exercise of our Religion and put us into a worse condition than other Nations to whom he has indulg'd their ancient Liberties and Customs and confirmed the Decrees of Augustus and Tiberius his Predecessors who were so far from condemning our Conduct or reprehending our manners that they entirely K approved them It may be he may be mollified by our addresses The anger of Princes is not immortal nor are their wills alwayes the same It is only by Surmises and Calumnies that the Emperour is exasperated against us Permit us if you please to justify our selves and inform him of the Truth And what could be more severe than that we should be condemned without being heard If we can obtain nothing from him who will hinder him then from what he would do now But do not Sir we beseech you by refusing us the only hopes which remain to so great a multitude obstruct our application seeing we beg it out of a true sentiment of Piety and not any Interest unless it be said as is true that no Interest is so great as that which respects Preservation L CHAP. XV. Petronius affected with the Condition and Humility of the Jews and believing it unsafe to run them into despair writes to Caius in such a manner as might gain time Caius resents it highly but dissembles it in his answer to Petronius THIS Discourse was accompanied with so many sighs and tears that it wrought compassion in all that heard it and particularly in Petronius who was naturally M moderate and merciful For the request made to him in the Name of the whole Nation of the Jews seem'd not unreasonable and nothing could be more deplorable than the condition into which they were brought Petronius proposed and debated the business with his Councel and was much pleased to find those persons who were most bitter and inveterate against them before come about and grow more gentle and mild and others not afraid to declare how much they were concerned for the Extreme affliction of that People so that though he was not ignorant of the Cruelty of Caius and that he never forgave any man yet he seem'd to act by the motion of that Spirit which the Piety of our Religion infuses Whether it was that being a learned Man he had had some smattering of it before whether he had N gain'd it since his Governments in Asia and Syria in which Countries there are great numbers of Jews whether it was his own natural propensity that inclin'd him to what was reasonable and just Or whether it was because God does give usually good inclinations to great Men both for their own benefit and the advantage of the Publick which of these it was I cannot determine but so it was at that time The result was that the Statuaries should not be pressed but that Orders should be given them to imploy the utmost of their skill and make the Statue so accurately that it might pass for a Master-piece Pieces which are a short time in doing are a short time in decaying whereas such as are made with more deliberation last longer by far and are esteemed through several O Ages A Petronius did not incourage the Jews to send their Deputies towards the Emperour because he thought it not for their advantage to depend wholly upon the Capricio of a young Prince yet he did not absolutely forbid them because he saw there was danger both on the the one side and the other However he wrote a Letter to Caius without mentioning the Application which the Jews had made to him imputing the Cause of the Delay on
THE WORKS OF JOSEPHUS With great diligence Revised and Amended according to the Excellent French Translation OF Monsieur ARNAVLD D'ANDILLY Also the Embassy of PHILO JUDAEUS TO THE EMPEROR CAIUS CALIGULA Never Translated before With the References of the SCRIPTURE A New Map of the HOLY LAND And divers Copper-Plates serving to Illustrate the HISTORY Francis Patricius de Regno Lib. II. Cap. 10. Historiarum cognitio Regibus Ducibus Imperatoribus omnibus Principibus perquam necessaria habenda est quam Cicero appellat Testem Temporum Vitae Magistram veram Memoriae veritatis Nunciam Bernardus Epistola ad Suggerium Tune recentia jucundius bona clarescunt cum fuerint malis comparata prioribus LONDON Printed for Abel Roper at the Sun against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleet-street M.DC.LXXVI ADVERTISEMENTS CONCERNING THE WORKS OF Josephus I. Of the Jewish Antiquities THE Title alone of this History seems to recommend the same more than any Preface could do inasmuch as professing to deduce things from the Creation of the World to reach as high as the Reign of Nero and to derive the greatest part of its Relations from the Records of the Old Testament it implies that no other can equal it in Antiquity in Continuance and in Authority But that which further renders it after the Holy Scripture preferable to all other Histories is That whereas those have no other ground-work but the Actions of Men this represents to us the Actions of God himself There is seen resplendent everywhere in it his Power his Government his Goodness and his Justice His Power opens Seas and divides Rivers to give a dry passage to whole Armies and cause the Walls of the strongest Cities to fall down without battery His Government regulates all things and gives such Laws as may be stil'd the Fountain from which has been drawn whatever wisdom there is in the World His Goodness makes to fall from Heaven and to issue from the bosome of Rocks wherewith to satisfie the Hunger and allay the Thirst of a great People in the driest Desarts And all the Elements being as the Ministers of the Decrees which his Justice pronounces the Water destroys by a Deluge those which it condemns the Fire consumes them the Air overthrows them by its Tempests and the Earth opens it self to devour them His Prophets foretell nothing but they confirm the same by Miracles They who command his Armies undertake nothing but they atchieve it And the Leaders of his People being fill'd with his Spirit act like Angels rather than Men. Moses alone may be a Proof of all this Never did so many eminent Qualities meet together in one Person Nor did God ever shew in any Man under the Old Law since the Fall of the First how high the perfection of a Creature may rise whom he vouchsafes to accumulate with his favors Wherefore since a great part of this History may in some sort be said to be the Work of that incomparable Lawgiver because the same is wholly taken out of him it ought to be read not only with Esteem but also with Respect and the sequel to the end of what is contained in the Bible deserves no less in regard it was dictated by the same Spirit of God which guided the Pen of Moses when he writ the five first Books of the sacred History But moreover what might not be said of those admirable Patriarchs Abraham Isaac and Jacob of David that great both King and Prophet who deserv'd the unequal Elogium of being a Man according to God's own heart of Jonathan that most accomplisht Prince whose soul the Scripture saith was inseparably ty'd to that of that holy King of the illustrious Maccabees whose Piety equal to their Courage effected an union of the Supreme Power attending Royalty with the most Sacred Functions of the High-Priesthood and lastly of Joseph of Joshua of Gideon and of divers others who may pass for perfect Models of Virtue Conduct and Valor If the Heroes of Pagan Antiquity never atchiev'd anything comparable to these Heroes of God's People whose Actions might pass for Fables if it were not impiety to refuse credit to them there is no reason to wonder since those Heathens had onely humane Force but the hands of those whom God chose to fight under his Command were arm'd with his invincible help and the example of Deborah shews that even a Woman may become in a moment a great General of an Army Now if the Favors wherewith God cherishes those that are his ought to induce Monarchs not to trust but in his assistance the dreadful Punishments which he executes on those that lean on their own strength oblige them to tremble and the rejection of Saul and divers other great Princes instructs them by the terrible representation of their Fall to have recourse to God that they may escape the like misfortunes Yet not only Princes but Princesses also may find in this Book examples both to avoid and to imitate Queen Jezabel is a dismal one both of impiety and punishment And Queen Esther is a rare one of all the perfections and of all the rewards which can render the virtue and felicity of a great and holy Princess admir'd If great Personages find so great Examples here to lead them to avoid Vice and embrace Virtue there is no person of any condition whatsoever but may profit likewise by so useful a Book 'T is of general benefit for all so proper to imprint a respect of the Divine Majesty by the view of so many effects of his infinite Power and of his adorable Providence that his heart must be very hard that is not affected therewith And how can Christians but be mov'd with such a holy respect since the same History teaches us that those illustrious and so celebrated Conquerors Cyrus Darius and Alexander though Idolaters could not forbear having a Veneration for the Majesty and the Ceremonies of that Temple which was but a Figure of the Christian Church But if this History be so excellent in it self it must be confess'd that no man was so fit to write it as he that gave it both to his own Age and to Posterity For who could be better inform'd of the Customs and Manners of the Jews than a Jew Who could be better instructed of all the Ceremonies and Observations of the Law than a Priest Who could better relate the Events of so many Wars than a great Captain And who could better comprehend things and make judicious Reflections upon them than a man of great Quality and a great States-man Now all these qualifications concenter in Josephus He was a Jew by birth He was not only a Priest but of the first of the four and twenty races of the Priests who held the chief rank amongst those of their Nation He was descended from the Asmonaean Kings His great Exploits in War had made him admir'd even by the Romans And the several great Employments of which he so worthily acquitted
Ambassages the one unto the other they mutually conspir'd I to expel and if possible utterly extirpate the whole people Amongst the rest Hedio Ruffinus cap. 2. those of the Countrey of Cobol and the City Petra who are call'd Amalekites a Nation very warlike and more active than the rest were the chief Agents in this Expedition Exod. 17. 8 9. whose Kings both encourag'd one another and stir'd up the Neighbour Nations to the Israelites destruction The Amalekites war against the Israelites telling them that a Foreign Army flying from the thraldom of the Egyptians had invaded their Countrey whose multitudes were not a little to be suspected counselling them before they had gather'd head and recover'd more means and a Countrey to dwell in and grew more confident by their forbearance to charge them first rather than to expect their increase and so to oppress them esteeming it a better point of wisdom to repress their insolency and forwardness K in the Desart than to expect whil'st they were possess'd of strong and rich Cities For this said they is the part of wise men to resist the beginnings of power of their Adversaries and not to expect till by daily Exploits they more and more increase and rather to provide to prevent than deliver themselves from peril After these Ambassages it was decreed by general Council That they should endevor to invade and assault the Hebrews These determinations and designs of theirs troubled Moses very much for that he expected no Hostility When therefore he perceiv'd that the people were affrighted and amaz'd to see themselves being wholly unprovided to be charg'd by so strong and well-furnish'd an Army he re-comforted them and will'd them to bethink themselves of God's promises who by his power had set them at liberty L assuring them that they should overcome all those that made head against them to destroy them wishing them to think that though they were inferior to their Enemies in Weapons Ver. 9 10. Wealth Moses encourageth the people to expect nothing but victory and Munition and the like yet since they had God to friend and ready to fight for them against their Enemy they ought to be of good courage as being furnish'd with more than humane supplies Alledging further that they were not ignorant how great an Assister God was having had so often tryal of his goodness in their greatest dangers as an Enemy to their enemies and favorable to their proceedings which favor of his he most manifestly express'd by his miraculous deliverance of them from hunger and thirst by procuring them free escape when they were shut in by the Sea and Mountains And that which should most animate them to the Fight and Victory M was That if they came off victorious they should want nothing that appertain'd to a more commodious and peaceable life Moses thus having encourag'd the people by his words call'd unto him the chiefest of the Tribes and every one of them that had the charge of them both in private and publick Assembly commanding the younger to obey the elder and the elders to be obedient to their General Hereupon the people contemn'd their danger and were desirous of Fight hoping that this Conflict would prove the end of their calamities For which cause they earnestly desir'd Moses to lead them forth against the Enemy and not to dull the alacrity of the Soldiers by any untimely delay Ver. 9. Whereupon choosing out among the whole multitude such as were most fit for War he appointed the son of Naveus the Ephramite Josuah made Captain over the Israelites to lead them a man N valiant in Arms and prudent in counsel and of great piety as having been train'd up therein by Moses his Master He also in such sort disposed certain Bands that he might not be cut off from water he left so many as might guard the Camp and weaker company Thus stood they all Night long in Arms expecting only the Signal of their General and the Order of their Captains to attack their Enemies On the other side Moses slept not but instructed Josuah how he should conduct the Army And as soon as the day appear'd he encourag'd Josuah to shew himself such an one in that Battel as both the place wherewith he was honour'd and the Cause for which they fought requir'd wishing him by his prowess and good conduct to give life and courage to his Soldiers that follow'd him He likewise exhorted the chiefest of the Hebrews in particular and in O general heartned and emboldned all others that entred the Battel A After he had thus dispos'd the Army and given all necessary orders he committing the Army to God's protection and Josuah's conduct retir'd upon a Mountain Then encountred the Armies on both sides and every one fought most valiantly neither wanted there encouragement on either side And as long as Moses lifted up his hands the Hebrews had the better against the Amalekites But for that he was unable continually to support the same and because he observ'd that as often as he held down his hands so long the Enemies drove the Israelites to retreat he willed his brother Aaron and Vron his sister Maries husband to stand on each side of him and sustain his hands Which when they had perform'd the Hebrews by main force overcame the Amalekites so that all of them had been slain if the Chase had continu'd and had not been cut off B by the approach of the night Thus our Ancestors obtain'd a most happy and advantagious Victory For besides the glory they got in having overcome so potent Enemies and cast a terror into the hearts of the Nations round about to whom they have ever since been formidable they became Masters of the Enemies Camp and both in general and in particular got Riches whereas before that time they had not necessary means to maintain themselves And this Victory of theirs was the cause of their very great good fortune not only for the present but also for the time to come For not only had they their Enemies bodies under their subjection but also their spirits so as they were fear'd by all the Nations round about And they multiplied both in strength and riches Ver. 13. for there was a great quantity of gold and silver taken in the Camp Divers C Vessels likewise The Israelites recover a great prey in the Camp of the Amalekites and Tables of Brass were found therein likewise great quantity of Tissue-work and excellent Furniture for War Moreover they had all their Baggage Tents Harness and Horses and generally the whole provision of an Army became their prey The distribution of the spoils and prey Thus ended this Battel The success whereof so exalted the courage of the Israelites that they thought henceforward nothing would be unpossible to them The next day Moses caused the Enemies that were slain to be rifled and the scatter'd
that if you act after this manner God will not forsake you but taking pleasure in your virtue he will once more establish you in your former peace and liberty Matthias exhorteth his sons to piety fortitude and concord and will permit you to live again after the manner of your Ancestors True it is our bodies are mortal and subject unto destiny but the memory of our virtuous actions will never perish being therefore stirred up with the love thereof strive and bestir your selves to obtain honour to the end that projecting mighty things you make no difficulty to hazard your lives in the execution of the same Above all things I exhort you unto concord to the end that in whatsoever one of you shall be found more naturally apt and fitted than another he may prosecute it without any contradiction of the rest I charge you also to observe B and obey your brother Simon who is a politick and valiant man in whatsoever he shall counsel you And for your Captain you shall choose Machabeus because he is both valiant and strong for he shall revenge the injuries and outrages which have been done to our Nation and put our enemies to flight And assure your selves that there is no man that hath any love to Virtue and Religion who will not join himself unto you in so holy an enterprize CHAP. IX The death of Matthias Judas Machabeus one of his sons takes upon him the management of the publick Affairs He delivers his Countrey and purgeth it from the Abominations C which had been committed therein AFter Matthias had thus spoken unto his sons 1 Mac. 3. and pray'd God to favor their enterprizes Matthias death and to restore the People to their ancient policy and their accustomed manner of living Judas Machabeus appointed Governor which they had in former times observ'd he dyed and was buried in Modin After the People had mourned for him for a certain time and perform'd publickly such honour at his funerals as was agreeable to his quality his son Judas Machabeus took upon him the management of the War in the 146 year and by the assistance of his brethren and other Jews he drave the Enemies out of the Countrey and put those of his own Nation to death who had forsaken their Religion and purged the Countrey of all abominations D which had been committed therein CHAP. X. Apollonius General of Antiochus's Army cometh into Jewry and is discomfited and slain and also Serron Governor of the lower Syria WHen Apollonius Hedio Ruffinus cap. 9. who was Antiochus's General in Samaria heard hereof he gather'd his Army together Judas Machabeus overcometh Apollonius in battel and invaded Judea against whom Machabeus made head and overcame him in a battel wherein there died many and amongst the rest Apollonius E whose sword Machabeus got as his part in the spoil There were a great number of them also wounded Seron Governor of Coelosyria is put to flight in Judea and much booty was taken in the Enemies Camp after which victory enriched with spoils he retreated But Seron Governor of Coelosyria hearing hereof and understanding that divers had joined themselves with Judas and that he had already about him a sufficient power to keep the field and give him battel he thought that it concern'd him to begin to punish those who obey'd not the Kings Edicts Whereupon after he had assembled all the Forces that he had and besides them hired certain Apostates or fugitive Jews he marched forth against Judas and came as far as Bethoron a village in Jewry where he encamped Judas also came out to meet with him resolving to give him battel and seeing that his Soldiers would hardly be drawn out to fight both by F reason of their inequality of number as also because they were faint by fasting a long time he encourag'd them saying That the means to obtain victory and to have the upper hand over their Enemies consisted not in the greatness of their number but in their dependance upon God whereof they had a most eminent example in their Forefathers who had oftentimes defeated with a small number of men divers thousands of their Enemies because they fought for the defence of their Laws and for their Children for the greatest power said he that a man can have is to be innocent and without offence By these words persuaded he his Soldiers so that without any fear of the multitude of their Enemies they all together ran upon Seron and encountring with him they discomfited the Syrians For their Chieftain being slain all the rest betook themselves to flight in which thing only consisted the safety G of their lives Judas therefore pursuing them as far as the Champain slew about 800 of them The rest saved themselves in those quarters that bounded upon the Sea H CHAP. XI Judas Machabeus defeats a great Army which King Antiochus sent against the Jews Lysias the next year returns with a much greater power Judas kills five thousand of his men and causeth him to retreat He purifieth the Temple and setteth it in order Other great Exploits perform'd by him WHen King Antiochus heard these things Antiochus's preparation to invade Judea he was much displeased at that which had hapned whereupon he mustered all his Forces and hiring divers strangers and I mercenary Islanders he prepar'd himself to invade Judea about the Spring-time But after the muster of his Army when he found that his treasure failed him and that he was in great scarcity of money for his Tributes were not duly paid him because the Nations were rebellious being likewise in his own nature a man of great and magnificent spirit which put him upon great expences he resolved first of all to go into Persia to gather his Tributes Antiochus committing his Kingdom Provinces and son to Lysias's charge departeth into Persia He therefore left the charge of his affairs with Lysias a man very much esteemed by him and one that govern'd all the Countrey from Euphrates as far as the borders of Egypt and the lower Asia giving him likewise a part of his Army and some of his Elephants To him had the King given charge to see his son Antiochus carefully trained up until his return commanding him expresly That when he had conquered K Judea he should make the Inhabitants thereof his slaves and sell them to those that would give most and destroy Jerusalem and utterly abolish that race The King having given this charge to Lysias led forth his Army towards the Countrey of Persia in the 147 year And after he had passed Euphrates he marched onward toward the upper Provinces Lysias chose Ptolomy the son of Dorymenis Nicanor and Gorgias men of great power and authority amongst the Kings friends and gave them 40000 Footmen and 7000 Horsemen to invade Jewry Who marching as far as the City of Emaus encamped in the Plain near unto it and
of some continuance This man therefore being surprized and brought into the Camp of the Jews they required him that as by his prayers he had obtained water so at that time likewise he would by his imprecations incense God against Aristobulus and his adherents But whereas he refused and excused himself he was at last constrained by the people to perform their request so that standing L up in the midst of them he spake after this manner O God King of the whole world since they who are at this present here with me are thy people and those that are besieged are thy Priests I humbly beseech thee that when they shall require thee to be incensed against their brethren thou wilt not hear them and when as likewise they shall provoke thee against the other Onias contradicting the Jews petition is stoned to death thou wilt not respect them Hereupon a certain sort of reprobate Soldiers amongst the Jews hearing these words of his stoneth him to death But God immediately punished this cruelty in them and the murther of Onias so cursedly perpetrated was revenged by this means which ensueth Aristobulus and the Priests being besieged the feast of Eastâ—r or the Passeover fell out during which time it was an usual custom among the Jews to honour God with many sacrifices M Now they who were with Aristobulite not having any beasts to offer up in sacrifice they requested the other Jews that were without That they might have some delivered unto them for their money Whereunto it was answered That if they would give one thousand drachnis for every head they should have some delivered into them To this demand of theirs Aristobulus and the Priests that were with him willingly condescended and let down the prefixed price and deliver'd the same from the wall but the others after they had received the money deliver'd them not those beasts which they desired them to sell them to sacrifice but they were so impious that they falsified their oaths not only toward men Breach of faith and the revenge thereof but defrauded God also in denying that which they had promised toward the furnishing of their sacrifice For which cause the Priests being defrauded in this N manner contrary to the oath and protestations of their adversaries besought God to shew vengeance on their Countreymen that had committed this heinous and perjurious impiety neither did God defer their punishment but immediately after he sent a great and violent Wind that spoiled all the fruits of the Countrey so that a measure of Wheat was sold for eleven drachms O CHAP. IV. A Scaurus being sent by Pompey into Syria Aristobulus gained his friendship He forced King Aretas to raise the siege of Jerusalem Aristobulus gaineth a Battel against Aretas and Hircanus MEanwhile Pompey sent Scaurus into Syria himself being in person detained in Armenia Hedio Ruffinus chap. 4. in pursuit of the War betwixt him and Tigranes When Scaurus came unto Damascus Hircanus and Aristobulus send Ambassadors unto Scaurus he found that Metellus and Lollius had newly taken the City for which B cause he marched on towards Jewry where being arrived certain Ambassadors came unto him in the behalf of Aristobulus and others also in the name of Hircanus requiring alliance and confederacy in the behalf of them both and offering from each of them a Tribute of 400 Talents But Scaurus preferred Aristobulus's promises because he was the ablest Scaurus is presented and of the noblest spirit and withall more moderate in his demand whereas Hircanus was poor and covetous notwithstanding he demanded greater things than his brother did for it was a harder matter to subdue a City that was so strong than to beat a company of runnagate Nabatheans and scarcely well animated to prosecute that War Aristobulus maketh War against Aretas and Hircanus For these causes therefore he receiving his money raised the siege commanding Aretas to return which if he refused he declared him an Enemy to Rome This done Scaurus returned to Damascus and Aristobulus led forth his Army against Aretas and C Hircanus and fighting with them in a place called Papyron he obtained the victory and killed about some 7000 of his Enemies amongst the number of which was â—ephalius Antipater's brother CHAP. V. Pompey cometh into the lower Syria Aristobulus sends him a rich Present Antipater repaireth to him in Hircanus's behalf Both the brothers case was stated to Pompey who defers the decision of it till he reduce the Nabatheans Aristobulus without expecting till then retired into Judea D NOt long after this Pompey cometh into Syria and Aristobulus sendeth a Royal Present unto him Pompey came unto Damascus and as he travelled through Coelosyria divers Ambassadors resorted unto him from all parts of Syria Egypt and Judea For Aristobulus sent him a Present of great value namely a golden Vine of 500 Talents price Hereof Strabo the Cappadocian maketh mention in these words There came an Ambassador out of Egypt bearing a Crown of 4000 pieces of gold and another from Jewry with a Vine or Garden and the workmanship was called Terpole that is to say Recreation I have seen this Vine at Rome in the Temple of Jupiter Capitoline having the inscription of Alexander King of the Jews Antipater for Hircanus and Nicodemus for Aristobulus come as Ambassadors to Pompey and it was esteemed and valued at 500 Talents It is said that Aristobulus Prince of the Jews sent the same E Straight after this there came other fresh Ambassadors to Pompey Antipater from Hircanus and Nicodemus from Aristobulus who accused those that had taken money namely Gabimus for that he first of all had received 300 Talents besides other Presents and secondly Scaurus Hedio Ruffinus cap. 5. who had received 400 alledging that by that means they had incensed them against him A Castle destroyed in Apamea He therefore gave direction that they should repair unto him about the Spring each of them to justifie and maintain their several Rights as for himself he drew his Forces from their wintering places and marched towards Damascus destroying in his way a certain Fortress which Antiochus the Cyzicenian had fortified in Apamaea He visited also the Countrey of Ptolomey Mennaeus who was a wicked and perverse man Ptolomey Mennaeus fined at a great sum of money and no wayes differed from Dionysius Tripolitane who was punished F with the loss of his head and was united also with him in friendship and affinity yet acquitted of the death he deserved by the means of a 1000 Talents Ransom which Ptolomey distributed among his Soldiers for their pay He demolished likewise the Castle of Lysias wherein a Jew called Sylas tyrannized and passing by the Cities of Heliopolis and Chalcis and having likewise ascended the mountain which is between them he came to Coelosyria and from Pella repaired to Damascus In which place he gave audience to
account that terrour wherein he had put his enemies C and his own indignation a sufficient revenge and that he would spare the King by whose favour he came to be so potent adding moreover that he ought not to take it ill that he was called to answer his accusations since he was acquitted of them and consequently ought to shew himself grateful to the King who had saved his life Moreover that Prudence obliged him to consider the fortune of war together with the cause thereof that the justice of Hircanus side might do more for him than a whole Army and that he ought not to hope for victory being to fight against his own King who had always been gracious unto him and never had thought of doing him hurt but only being as it were urged thereunto by some of his Council who through meer envy and to satisfie their own passions had framed a shadow of an D accusation against him Herod was satisfied herewith and suppos'd it to be sufficient in order to his great designs to have shewed his forces and his power unto his Nation At this time began Civil war among the Romans near Apamia Bassus murthereth Sextus Caesar by treason in which Caecilius Bassus for the love he bare to Sextus Pompey slew Sextus Caesar at unawares and made himself Governour of his Army and other Captains of Caesar's to revenge his death made after Bassus with all their forces unto whom Antipater by his two Sons sent aid both for the sake of Caesar that was slain and of him that was yet alive for he was an entire friend and well-willer unto them both and these wars continuing long Marcus came out of Italy to succeed Sextus E CHAP. IX Caesar's death Cassius comes into Syria Herod ingratiates with him Malichus poysons Antipater who had sav'd his life For which Herod causes him to be slain AT this time arose great and bloody Civil Wars amongst the Romans after Caesar was slain by the treason of Cassius and Brutus Marcus Sextus Successor having ruled the Empire F three years and seven months Ant. l. 14. c. 2. By reason of which murther their troubles daily increased Julius Caesar slain by Brutus and Cassius and the Nobility being at variance amongst themselves every one followed that couse that they thought most expedient for themselves Whereupon Cassius presently marched into Syria Cassius levieth money in the cities to take possession of the Government of the Army which was about Apamia where he made Marcus and Bassus friends took the conduct of the Legions which they commanded and rais'd the siege from Apamia and leading the Army in his own person Herod Cassius friend he forced every City to be tributary and exacted without measure He commanded the Jews to contribute seven hundred Talents Cassius severe in his exactions Antipater fearing his displeasure appointed his Sons and others of his friends presently to gather the money and especially amongst the G rest he gave this charge to one Malichus a friend of his But Herod first of all got Cassius his favour having brought him an hunndred Talents which he had collected out of Galilee which was his part or Province As for the rest he accused them of negligence and was angry at the other Cities So that having pillaged Gophna and H Ammauntes The year of the world 3922. before Christ's Nativity 40. and other two small Cities he march'd onwards with intent to kill Malichus for that he had been so careless and negligent in gathering the tribute-money But Antipater presently disbursing unto Cassius an hundred Talents saved both him and all the rest of the Cities Malichus forgetful of Antipater's kindness Yet Malichus after Cassius was departed did no more remember how beneficial Antipater had been unto him but oftentimes treacherously laid wait to murther him because he hindered and withstood his villanous pretensions notwithstanding that himself had often confessed that Antipater had saved his life Antipater Antipater gathereth an Army against Malichus fearing both his power and subtilty passed over the River Jordan to gather an Army that he might prevent those treacheries But Malichus being discovered saw nothing left for him to do but to dissemble and accordingly by many I oaths and excuses he won Phasaelus chief of the Garrison in Jerusalem and Herod who was master of the Army that they should be a means to reconcile him unto Antipater Whereupon Antipater intreating Marcus who was General of the Army in Syria and had determined to kill him he was saved The reason that Marus would have put him to death was because Malichus was of a turbulent and factious spirit The young Caesar Octavius Augustus succeedeth after Caesar surnamed afterwards Augustus and Antonius warring against Cassius and Brutus Brutus and Cassius gathered an Army in Syria and in consideration of the great capacity of Herod they made him Procurator of all Syria giving him a band of horse and foot Cassius promiseth Herod after the War to make him King of Judaea Moreover Cassius promised him that if the war had an K happy end he would make him King of Judea But it so came to pass that the merit of Herod which raisd this hope so high was the cause of Antipater his Fathers death For Malichus being hereby put in fear hired one of the Kings officers for a certain sum of money to poyson Antipater by which means he died being thus unjustly rewarded for his good will toward wretched Malichus Antipater poysoned by Malichus He was a worthy man and fit to govern and recovered the Kingdom being lost for Hircanus Malichus perceiving the people incensed against him because they suspected that he had poysoned Antipater pacified and moderated their displeasure by denying the fact yet for his better security he gathered about him a Guard of armed men for he thought that Herod would not let the matter slip so Herod intendeth to revenge his Father's death but would presently come with an Army to L revenge his fathers death But by the counsel of his brother Phasaelus who sent him word not openly to encounter Malichus lest a sedition might arise among the people he patiently permitted it so to be and suffered Malichus to justifie himself and celebrated a solemn funeral for his Father which done he went to Samaria and appeased the sedition wherewith that City was disquieted After this he returned to Jerusalem intending to celebrate the Festival and having sent certain of his armed men before him he appointed the rest to accompany him But Malichus who feared this approach of his sollicited Hircanus to give order that no strangers should intermingle themselves among the people Malichus joyneth with Hircanus to disturb their devotion But Herod contemning this Prohibition entered the City by night whereupon Malichus once more came to him M and wept for Antipater Herod although he could very hardly
of Herod's a great calamity befel him in the seventh year of his Reign and in the midst of the War between Augustus and Antonius for about the beginning of the Spring there chanced a great Earthquake which killed an infinite multitude of beasts and thirty thousand people yet the Army had no harm for it lay in an open place With the report hereof the Arabians were highly encouraged B For as report always encreases a mischief the Arabians making account that all Judaea was destroyed and that there was no man left alive to resist them entred into the Countrey assuring themselves to conquer it having first slain the Ambassadours of the Jews that were sent to them Herod seeing his people terrified at the suddain approach of their enemies and disheartned with the continuance of their calamities rowzed up their drooping spirits by speaking to them on this wise Herod's Oration to his dismayed Soldiers I see no such great reason of your present fear for though there be cause for you to be troubled at the evils which God's indignation makes us suffer yet none but cowardly minds are daunted by the coming of their enemies who are but men whose violence if your selves please ye may repress For mine own part I am so far from being discouraged by the approach of mine enemies C that I rather think that God hath by his Providence sent this Earthquake as a snare to incite the Arabians to invade us to the end that by our means he may punish them For the cause that moveth them to assault us is not the trust they repose in their own valour and great Army but our misery Yet who knows not that that hope is deceitful that is not founded upon our own courage but upon others mis-fortunes there is nothing assured in humane affairs in respect either of prosperous success or adverse fortune which a man may perceive to alter upon all Occurrents as we our selves can witness by our own experience For in the first Conflict ye were Victors in the second ye were overcome and now the third time so far as I can conjecture they thinking themselves sure of the Victory shall by us be overcome For they who misdoubt nothing are rash in their proceedings whereas they D that are fearful and timorous Fear giveth Confidence providently seek to prevent their dangers so that I am encouraged to hope for Victory even by your fear For when you were too confident and against my will and direction ye encountered your enemies Athenio found opportunity to surprize you But now your prudent caution and discreet moderation is an evident token to me of assured Victory It behoveth you therefore before the Conflict to keep this mind but in the Conflict ye cannot shew too much ardour and courage to make our impious enemies see that no calamities whence soever they come whether from Heaven or from Earth can daunt the courage of the Jews whilst their breath is in their bodies and that never a one of you will suffer the Arabians to domineer over your Goods and Possessions whom many times you have almost made your slaves Be not therefore terrified with this E motion of an inanimate thing neither yet perswade your selves that the Earthquake portends any mis-fortune for even tbe Elements themselves by their own nature are subject to such defects and portend no other mishap but that which they bring with them Perhaps the Plague and Famine and Earthquake have some tokens demonstrating them before they come but when they are once come they signifie nothing else but at last end and cease of themselves But say we should be overcome can we suffer more harm than we have suffered by the Earthquake Herod's Peroration On the contrary what fear ought not our enemies to be possessed with for the crime whereby contrary to the Law of all Nations they have butchered our Ambassadours and offered to God such a Sacrifice for the good success of their War Think you they can hide themselves from the sight of God and from his mighty arm or that they shall F not be punished for their offence if filled with the couragious spirit of our Nation we stir up our selves to revenge that impious violating the Law of all Nations and so every one march on to fight not for his Wife and Children or Countrey but to revenge the murther of our Ambassadours who will lead our Army and know better than we that are alive to direct the same For my own part if you will be ruled by me I will be the first that will lead you and will hazard my self for you For you know full well that if your valour be not prejudiced by some headlong rashness there is no enemy that can bear your charge After he had by these perswasions animated his Soldiers Herod sacrificeth to God before the Battel and found them in some sort encouraged thereby he offered Sacrifice to God And presently after with all his G Army he passed over Jordan and pitching his Tents at Philadelphia not far from the enemies he made a shew to assault a Castle that was between them and him and so skirmished with them afar off desirous to draw them to the Battel The Arabians had sent some Troops to seize upon it but Herod's Forces gave the repulse and in despight H of them kept the hill There passed no day but he put his Army in Battalia and braved the Arabians and seeing they would not come to the shock for they were in great fear and Elthemus their General more than any he assaulted them in their Trenches and cast down their Rampier so that they were constrained to come forth to Battel without any order and their Horse and Foot were confusedly mixt together And although the Jews were in number inferior to them yet they were inferior to the Jews in courage nevertheless they became now more hardy because they despaired of the Victory and so long as they stood to it they had no great loss but when they turned their backs then many were slain by the Jews and many perished being trodden on by their fellows Those that escaped were forced to retire into I their Camp where Herod besieged them and there was such penury of water that for drink they were all like to perish For which cause they sent Ambassadours to the King offering him fifty Talents to let them go but he contemned them and would not hear them The Arabians through extreme thirst are enforced to â—ield to the Jews At length their want of water was so great that coming out by companies of their own accord they offered themselves to the Jews so that in this sort there came forth four thousand in five days whom the Jews put in chains and the sixth day the whole multitude despairing of their lives came forth to fight with whom Herod conflicting slew about seven thousand So great a Defeat satisfied Herod's
Evening yielded The fight of the Jews with the Romans in the Tower and offered themselves to be slain The Romans might have boasted that this Victory had been without blood-shed on their part had not Antonius a Centurion been slain treacherously Antonius slain by a Jew treacherously For one of them who fled into the Caves as many did requested Antonius to give him his hand in token that he might come out safe and without danger which he doing unadvisedly the Jew with I a spear struck him in the flank whereof he presently died The Romans that day slew all the people that they found and the days following they searcht all the secret places and drew those out of the Caves and Dens that had fled thither and slew all but Women and Infants 40000 Jews perish during the Siege and in the former battel so that they took away a thousand and two hundred Captives and the number of them who were slain during the siege and at such time as the City was taken amounted to fourty thousand Vespasian commanded the City to be destroyed and the Castles to be burnt Thus Jotapata was taken the thirteenth year of Nero's Reign on the first of July K CHAP. XIV How Joseph was taken and how he redeem'd his Life with Deeds and Words BUT especially above all others the Romans made diligent search for Joseph both for the animosity they had against him and also because Vespasian greatly desired to get him into his hands conceiving he being taken the greatest part of the War would then be ended so they sought him among the dead and amongst those that were L hid Joseph leaps into a deep trench and lieth hidden in a Cave but he fortune favouring him when the City was taken escaped from the midst of his Enemies and leapt into a deep Well which had a large Cave on the one side which they above could not perceive where he found fourty of the bravest of his men who had provision there for many days There in the day-time he lay hid and in the night he went forth to see if he could escape but perceiving that all places about were diligently watcht for to take him he returned again into the Cave and lay there two days Vespasian by Tribunes send Joseph assurance the third day a certain woman that had been with them in the Cave discovered him Then Vespasian sent two Tribunes to him to promise him safety and bring him before him the Tribunes names were Paulinus and Gallicanethus But Joseph would not accept the offer fearing that because he had been the Author of all M the Evils that the Romans had endured Nicanor the Tribune known to Joseph they sought him out to punish him till Vespasian sent Joseph Nicanor the third Tribune one of Josephs acquaintance Nicanor recounted to him how mild the Romans were towards them whom they had conquered and that the Roman Generals rather admired him for his Virtue than hated him Moreover that his General intended not to punish him which if he pleased he might do whether he yielded himself or no but to save him being so valiant a man adding also that if Vespasian meant ill he would never have imployed his Friend in such a message to use friendship so noble a Virtue to so evil a purpose as to work Treason and that he though Vespasian had been so minded would never have consented to have betrayed his friend Joseph For all Nicanors words he still hesitated as unresolved N what to do Whereat the Roman Souldiers being angry began to cast fire into the Cave but Vespasian hindred them being desirous to take Joseph alive Nicanor ceased not to intreat him and he perceiving how his Enemies began to be enraged and calling to mind the dreams he had had Josephs dream of the slaughter of the Jews wherein God had fore-shew'd him all the Jews calamities and what happy success should befal the Romans for he could interpret dreams and whatsoever God obscurely shewed being instructed in the Holy Books of the Prophets and himself a Priest as his Parents were being as it were now filled with the Spirit of God and the Dreams and Visions coming into his mind he prayed secretly to God after this manner Joseph filled with the Spirit of God secretly prayeth O great Creator of the Universe Seeing it pleaseth thee to ruin the Nation of the Jews and to send all good Fortune to the Romans and O that thou hast chosen me to foretell future events I submit to thy will and render my self to the Romans to save my life protesting that I mean not to go them to play the Traitor to my Country but as thy Minister And having thus spoken he yeilded himself to Nicanor H But they who were in the Cave with Joseph perceiving that he yeelded himself to the Romans flocked about him and cryed out What is become of all our love for our Laws Where are those generous Souls and true Jews to whom God when he created them inspired so great a contempt of Death Joseph consents to Nicanor Art thou O Joseph so desirous to live as to become a vile Bond-slave How soon hast thou forgotten thy self How many hast thou perswaded to embrace death for the sake of their liberty The Jews violence and expostulation against Joseph Truly thou hast but a shadow of valour and prudence in thee if thou dost hope that they will save thy life against whom thou hast so behav'd thy self or if they would save thee to desire life at their hands But seeing the Romans offer hath made thee forget thy self yet we to preserve the honour and credit of our Country will lend thee our Arms and Swords and so if thou be willing to die die like the General of the I Jews which if thou refuse to do thou shalt whether thou wilt or no die like a Traitor to thy Country When they had thus said they all threatned to kill him with their Swords if he yeilded to the Romans Joseph fearing their violence and being perswaded that if he died before he had revealed to his Nation the things which God had declared to him 〈◊〉 should fail in his duty to God he had recourse to the reasons which he thought most likely to prevail and spoke to this effect Wherefore Josephs Oration to his Countrymen O my Friends said he are you become murtherers of your selves Wherefore are ye so eager to divide things so united as the Soul and the Body are If any man imagine that my mind is changed the Romans know whether that be true or no. I confess K it is a thing most honourable to dye in War not any way but according to the Law of Arms to wit by the Conquerours hand If I entreat the Romans to spare my life then I am worthy to perish with mine own sword and hand But if they think good to spare
down This fell out otherwise than either part expected For the Jews who had caused indeed to be sorrowful for the fall of the Wall and that they had not prevented this mischance yet were as joyful and couragious as if Antonia still remained firm and strong And the joy of the Romans for this unexpected fall soon ceased No man durst ascend the Wall that John built when they saw the other Wall that B John had built within Yet they judged it easier to be taken then the former but no man durst ascend it because those who first assaulted it could not hope to come off alive Titus thinking that by hope and perswasion his Souldiers might be encouraged and knowing that many times promises and exhortations make men forget danger and sometimes to contemn death it self he called together the most valiant of all his Army and spake to them as followeth Fellow Souldiers Titus's exhortation to the most valiant and strongest It were a shamfull thing to exhort men to enterprize a thing without danger both to them that are exhorted and to him that exhorts for exhortations are only to be used in doubtful Affairs where it is prais-worthy for every man to adventure himself I confess it is a hardy attempt to ascend the Wall yet it is also a glorious death to die in C such a fight and especially it becometh those that are desirous to win honour and that they that first adventure valiantly to do it shall not go away unrewarded And first let this move you The patient minds of the Jews and their constancy in misfortunes which terrifieth others to wit the patient mind of the Jews and their constancy in adversity For it is a shame for the Roman Souldiers who in time of peace exercise themselves in Warlike Feats and are accustomed in time of War to get the Victory now to be overcome by the Jews and that at the end of the War we having also God to help us for all our harms proceed from the Jews desperation and their destruction and calamity by Gods favour and your valour is every day promoted For what else is betokened by their sedition amongst themselves their Famine the fall of their Walls without our Engines to batter them and the siege it self but the wrath of God towards them and his favour towards us D Wherefore it is unseemly for you either to give place to your inferiours or to neglect Gods favour and furtherance The wrath of God against the Jews is the Romans furtherance Is it not a shame that the Jews who were they conquered would sustaine no great reproach as being accustomed to serve and obey others should so valianty contemn death lest they should hereafter suffer or endure the like and many times boldly adventure and make excursions even amongst the midst of us not out of hope to overcome us but only to shew their valour and that we who have conqured almost the Earth and Sea to whom it is an infamy not to be victorious lie idle never make valiant assault upon our Enemies but being thus armed expect till Fortune and Famine deliver them into our hands Especially seeing that by undergoing a little danger all will b◠ours If we get into Antonia we have taken the City For suppose that we were then to fight against them that are within E the City which I do not think then having gotten the higher part of the City and being above our Enemies head we are assured of a perfect victory over them I omit now the commendations deserved of those who have been slain in Wars Titus speaks of the life to come after a poetical manner and whom immortal Glory keeps alive always in the memory of men of this life and those that do not so think and whose Souls and bodies descend together into the grave I pray that they may die of some evil death in peace For what valiant man knoweth not that the Soul of him that dies in War is presently received into the most pure Airy Element and from thence carried and placed among the Stars of Heaven from whence their heroick Souls appear to their posterity as blessed Spirits to animate them to vertue by the desire of possessing the same Glory one day And that those 〈◊〉 peace die of some disease and sickness their Souls are kept in F the bowels of the Earth in darkness notwithstanding that they be most Just and Pure and presently they are forgotten and their life and memory together with them extinguished Seeing therefore that we are all certain to die and that to die by the Sword is a more easie death than to die by any disease why should we deprive our selves of this opportunity seeing that at last we must necessarily quit our lives as a due debt to the destinies This I have spoken as though it were impossible to escape with life but they that bear the minds of men can find means to save themselves even in the greatest dangers For first of all that part of the Wall that is faln may easily be entred The reward of valiant men and the Wall new-built is not hard to be thrown down and many of you together enterprizing this work may one exhort and help another and your audacity and courage will quickly daunt the Enemies and perhaps we may succeed G without great loss in so Glorious an enterprize For they will no more resist us if we once ascend the Wall and let us but effect any one exploit either secretly or openly and the Jews will never more endure us though we be but few in number I engage my self so to reward H him that first enters upon the breach that all the Army shall envy his happiness for if he sur-Survice he shall command those that are now his equals and who so is slain in this quarrel I will do him great honour Though these words of so generous a Commander were enough to inflame the coldest brests Sabinus a man of a low Stature yet both in hand and heart valiant yet the greatness of the danger had made such an impression in their minds that no body presented himself to go to the breah c but one Sabinus a Syrian a man of excellent courage yet of so small stature that by his outward appearance one would have deemed him unfit to have been a Souldier for he was of very small stature and of black colour but he had a mind far greater than his body and strength scarce able to be contained in so little room Sabinus rising up said I offer my self I to thee O Caesar first of all to ascend the Wall and that with a willing mind and I wish your good fortune may second my affection Sabinus with eleven men approacheth the Wall But though it should not so fall out but I happen to be slain before I get to the top of the breach yet I shall have
men for if that I command you to commit a sin yet do not you offend in doing it The young mens constancy seeing you commit it only upon compulsion But the young Youths inflamed with a divine Spirit and Sense contemned so many kinds of torments L and despised the Tyrants threats and flatteries and their constancy for they gave him no just occasion put the Tyrant into a great rage By this it is evident how much Reason is master over Passion for if any slothful man not before trained up to it should of a sudden come to such a push at the very sight of such torments his mind would be troubled his countenance appalled his Legs under him would have trembled and he with fear have been confounded so that he would presently have retracted and professed himself unable to bear up against so many and so grievous torments saying My self being unwise what should I have made choice of Whether to endure these torments or accept of their promised benefits Whether I should have been moved to pity mine M own age or to compassionate my mother God would not have denied pardon for this deed I being forced thereunto and by doing it though against my will I shall get the Kings favour But where Reason and advice taketh place and hath well trained the mind to perfection the other consequently followeth As by the example of these brethren I will declare who as it were all with one voice denied to eat the sacrificed Swines flesh as they were commanded Wherefore said they O Tyrant dost thou persecute us that are innocent The seven brethren reply to Antiochus We both desire and wish to die and will until such time as death expelleth life firmly keep that which God commanded and Moses taught us And thou Tyrant do not seek to seduce us by pretending love towards us thou lover of injustice master of cruelty deviser of iniquity the N pardon which thou doest offer is to us more painful than punishment we contemn death and esteem not thy words as being by our late master Eleazar taught to despise them Why then doest thou suppose such pusillanimity to be in us young men seeing of late thou foundest such courage in an old man We follow him thou canst not try and know our minds except by tearing our bodies thou search them out We will safely and securely suffer for our God any thing and leaving this Earth we shall be entertained into Heaven and thou for so Tyrannizing most cruelly upon innocent Souls shalt be reserved to eternal fire The Tyrant enraged Antiochus commanded Maccabâ—us to be racked that he could neither prevail by fair promises nor by threatnings caused them to be beaten with Bulls pizzles and first of all he commanded Maccabeus the eldest of the seven brethren to be stript and stretched out upon a O Rack and his hands to be bound behind him and then to be most cruelly beaten A who wearied his tormenters by his suffering so great the force of vertue is in such manner that they desired more to leave beating him than he requested they should leave This done he was put upon a wheel and a weight hanged at his feet and so stretched round about it that his sinews and entrails brake and his pains increased yet being overcome with pain his mouth was not for all this stopped or hindred from calling upon God who beheld all and reproving the Tyrant for devising those torments for the Innocent he took strength and is said to have cried out after this manner Bloody Tyrant who persecutest the Majesty of God I whom thou thus tormentest am no Witch nor one who have murthered and killed another man but one who dies for justice observing B the Law and for Charity Then when the torturers overcome with compassion perswaded him to submit to the Kings pleasure he answered O ye wicked ministers of Tyranny your wheels are not so sharp and cruel that I thereby will be forced to forsake Heaven whereon my mind is fixed tear my flesh yea if you so please rost it at the fire torture and torment each parcel of my body with several cruelty you shall for all this find your selves unable to force us young men to impiety The death of the eldest brother As he thus spake a fire was kindled and he as he was upon the Wheel racked was so thrown into the fire and thus he was by flames and torments so burned that C his bowels appeared his mind nothing moved when his flesh yielded to the tortures who amidst his pangs cryed thus unto his brethren O beloved brethren learn of me an example of vertue consider the strength of an invincible courage contemn and despise the alluring baits of this world and rather obey God than this Tyrant who can if be please humble the proud and mighty and exalt the lowly and dejected As thus he spake he was taken out of the flame and flaid alive his tongue was pulled out of his mouth and he put into a frying pan and so he departed out of this life to the great admiration of all that beheld him and the joy of his brethren and mother and went before them to Heaven there to prepare a Kingdom for himself and them The second brother brought D After him the second brother called Aber was haled by the Souldiers and before the Tyrant asked him whether he would relent he caused all those torments to be shewed him thereby to terrifie him but he nothing thereat moved and denying to eat of that foresaid Sacrifice his hands were bound with Iron chains and he being hanged up by them the skin of his body was flain off from the Crown of his head unto his knees so that the entrails in his brest appeared naked yet in such manner as he might abide greater torments For he was cast before a cruel Libard thirsting most extremely after blood to the intent that he might devour with his teeth the rest of his body but the beast smelling of him no doubt by the great handy work of Almighty God forgot his cruelty and turning away his face did no hurt to the E Martyr But hereat the Tyrants rage increased and the Martyr by suffering such-torments was made more constant crying aloud O how pleasant is that death unto me which is caused by all sorts of torments for Gods sake yea so much the more pleasant for that I assuredly hope to find reward for it in heaven Let these torments inflicted upon me O Tyrant satisfie thy cruelty for my paâ—n is not by thy tortures increased but rather my pleasure as thou shalt find by my patience in this Agony More willing am I to suffer than thou to punish yet my pain in suffering is less than thine by inflicting the same upon me I am tormented for vertue and observing the Law and the justice of God shall banish thee from thy Regal seat Thou by
many in all the quarters of the Town cut down the Trees that were about them demolished some of them utterly burned others and the flames of them consumed several of the neighbouring Houses by which also the guilt Bucklers Statues and Inscriptions which the Roman Emperours had set up in honour of the Courage or Virtue of several of the Jews which ought to have been reverenced were burned and consumed In short Nothing was able to restrain their madness For in stead of apprehending punishment or Correction they understood the hatred which Caius had conceived M against the Jews and that nothing would please him better than to have them treated with that terrible Cruelty Again to cajole the Spirit of this Prince by their new flatteries to oppress and destroy us with more security and invade and subvert our Laws without fear they set up his Statues in such Oratories as they were not able to demolish by reason of the great number of Jews which gave them opposition and that which they erected in the principal of all the Oratories was placed in a Chariot drawn with four Horses in Brass in which they were so ardently zealous that having no Horses lately cast they took them out of the place appropriated to their publick Exercises lame and crippled as they were and as was reported made antiently for Queen Cleopatra the last of that Name Which N action of theirs ought rather to have offended Caius than otherwise For seeing he affected such extraordinary honours though the Horses had been new yet having been made for a Woman they were unworthy of him and though they were set up in favour of him yet they were too much spoiled and imperfect to give him satisfaction Besides they thought they should merit very much by changing these Oratories into Temples to augment the number of those which were dedicated to him which nevertheless they did not so much in honour of him as in hatred to our Nation And of this there needs no better proof than that for three hundred years together during the reign of ten of their Kings they never consecrated a Statue to any of them in their Chappels though they placed their Kings in the rank of their Gods and gave that Title to some of them And O it is no wonder that though they knew they were but men they should honour their A Princes like Gods seeing they payed the same adoration to Doggs Wolfs Lyons Crocodiles and several other amphibious Creatures insomuch as all Egypt is full of Temples Altars and Groves consecrated to their honour But as they were the greatest flatterers in the World and considered the Fortune more than the person of any Prince they will answer perhaps That the Roman Emperors being more puissant and prosperous than their own Kings it was but justice to give them more honour What answer can be more ridiculous For why then did they not give the same honour to Tiberius to whom Caius was obliged for his Empire since that Prince reigned three and twenty years with such prudence and felicity that he preserved to his dying day not only the Greek Provinces but the Barbarous in profound Peace and the enjoyment B of all things Was it that in his Birth he was inferiour to Caius He excell'd him on both sides both by the Father and Mother Was it that his Education or Learning was less What person in his time was wiser or more eloquent Was it that his years were not so many and by consequence his Experience not so great What Emperor ever ended his days in a happier old Age And even in his Youth was not his capacity and judgement wonderful which is not commonly acquired but but by number of years yet you never thought him worthy of such extraordinary honour What shall I say likewise of that inestimable Prince who seemed by the Eminence of his Virtues to be raised above the condition of men and by the multitude of his good deeds and the felicity of his Reign was the first who merited the glorious name C of Augustus and having received it himself from no body transmitted it to his posterity The Sea was in opposition against the Land and the Land against the Sea Europe was in Armes against Asia and Asia against Europe All the Grandees of the Empire divided to determine who should remain Master and it may be said that the whole race of mankind was ready to perish by this bloody and cruel war kindled at the same time in all parts of the world when in so horrible a Tempest this great Prince took the Rudder into his own hand restored Peace to the whole World renewed Plenty and Trade civiliz'd the Manners of the most barbarous Nations overwhelm'd as it were all the great Towns with so much happiness that they might have pass'd for Free States maintain'd Peace encouraged Justice and forbore not uncessantly to pour out his Favours D upon the People with full hands even to the end of his days This incomparable Emperour had Egypt under his Dominion for three and forty years together yet you never paid him that honour which you have done to Caius you set not up his Statues in the Oratories of the Jews though never Prince deserved so much reverence as he not only as he was the Foundation of the August Imperial Family But as he was the Uniter of that Soveraign Power which was divided before and used it with such moderation that thereby he procured the publick Felicity there being nothing more certain than that saying of the Antients The Government by many is most dangerous in respect of the mischiefs which do follow their diversity of Judgement The Example likewise of other People ought to have obliged you for in all other places they payd him E divine honour and consecrated many rich Temples to him such as are not to be seen either Ancient or Modern in other Towns and particularly in Alexandria For what other is comparable to that which upon his account bears the name of Sebastian built near the Port and in such esteem with Marriners and Sea-men It is so spacious and lofty it is visible a far off It is full of excellent Pictures admirable Statues and other rich Presents both of Silver and Gold that have been offered by great Persons nothing is more Magnificent than its Portico's its Quire its Galleries its Library and its Grove In so general a Concuorse of People could any man of sense say That this was not to pay Augustus all the honour that was due to him except putting up his Statues in the Oratories of the Jews No without doubt But that which hindred it F then was that they understood that incomparable Prince took as much pleasure to see every body live regularly and according to the Laws of their Country as he did care to have the Roman Laws put in execution and if he received any honours extraordinary from the blindness
call'd Rabatha was four Cubits in breadth and nine in length This success did not only bring present advantages to the Hebrews but also open'd them a way to greater Conquests Ruffin cap. 5. for they took sixty well fortifi'd Cities which were under C his Government Hedio cap. 6. Hierico so that there was not any of the meanest Soldiers but were greatly enrich'd with pillage After this Moses remov'd his Camp toward Jordan and pitched it in a broad Plain near the City of Jericho which is rich and fruitful and aboundeth with Palm-trees and Balm And now were the minds of the Israelites in such sort confirm'd that they desir'd nothing more than War and Battel and Moses thinking good to make use of this their forwardness having sacrific'd to God in way of Thanksgiving and feasted the People he sent part of them arm'd to destroy the Countrey of the Madianites and to force the Cities of that Region which War had this Original CHAP. VI. D Of the Prophet Balaam WHen Balac King of the Moabites who was both an old Friend and Confederate with the Madianites saw the progress of the Israelites Numb 22 23 24. per totum he began to suspect the security of his own fortune and estate for he knew not that God had inhibited the Hebrews to attempt the Conquest of any other Countrey but the Land of Canaan And therefore more rashly than prudently he resolv'd to oppose them and for that he durst not assail them in Battel whom he knew elevated with the success of many Victories yet desirous to hinder them from proceeding any further he sends Ambassadors to the Madianites to consult with them what was fit to be done C. 22. 1. ad 5 The Madianites knowing that E beyond Euphrates there liv'd a famous Prophet call'd Balaam who was their especial Friend sent some of their most honourable Princes together with Balac's Ambassadors Balac King of the Moabites Embassage to the Madianites beseeching him that he would come unto them and curse the Israelites The Prophet entertained the Ambassadors with great humanity and ask'd counsel of God concerning what answer he should give them Balaâ—s and the Madianites Embassage to Balaam God forbad him to do that which they deâ—ir'd And so Balaam told them that he wanted not will to gratifie them but that God to whom he owed the gift of Prophecy forbad him for that Army which they desired should be cursed was dearly beloved of God For which cause he gave them counsel to make peace with the Israelites upon any conditions which said he dismissed the Ambassadors But the Madianites being instantly requested by Balac once more sent their Ambassadors F to Balaam who desirous to satisfie them in their demands consulted with God But God offended with him commanded him to assent to the Ambassadors and he not conceiving that God spake thus to him in his anger Ver. 15. because he had not obey'd his order departed onward with the Ambassadors The second Embassage to Balaam But as he Travelled upon the way the Angel of God came and met him in a narrow place between two stone walls which when the She-ass whereon Balaam was mounted perceived she started out of the way and crushed her Master against one of the walls Ver. 21. ad 28. and neither by the strokes which he gave her being grieved by his bruise nor by any other means The Angel resisteth Balaam could she be drawn forward Whil'st the Angel kept his station and the Prophet continu'd tormenting the Ass God caus'd the Beast to speak to Balaam with a humane and articulate voice Ver. 28. 31. blaming him for that having G never before that time received damage by her The Ass speaketh to Balaam he had so cruelly tormented and beaten her and understood not that God did prohibit him from the performance of that which he desired The year of the World 2493. before Christ's Nativity 1473. As he stood amazed at the Prodigy an Angel appeared to him blaming H him and telling him that the Ass was not in fault but that himself deserv'd to be punisht for resisting God's will These words encreased Balaam's astonishment and he prepar'd himself to return back again but God commanded him to continue his intended journey Balaam is reproved by the Angel charging him to say nothing but that which he should inspire to him After God had given him this charge he went unto Balac who entertained him honorably Ver 35 36. and caused him to be brought to a certain Mountain from whence he might behold the Hebrews Camp Balaam cometh to Balac Balac also himself being Royally attended accompanied the Prophet conducting him unto a Mountain which was but 60 Furlongs from their Camp Balaam having well consider'd it desir'd the King to build seven Altars on which to offer seven Bulls and seven Rams All which being readily executed by the King he offer'd I a burnt Sacrifice to the end he might presage on which side the Victory would turn which done he address'd his speech in this manner toward the Army of the Israelites Happy People of whom God himself vouchsafeth to be the Conducter on whom he bestoweth so large blessings C. 23. 1. ad 10. and abundance of riches Balaam's prophecy of the people of Israel and over whom his Providence incessantly watcheth No other Nation shall equal you in the love of virtue your Successors also shall surpass you because amongst Men God only favoureth you and taketh care that no Nation under the Sun shall either exceed or equal you in happiness You shall likewise possess that rich Land which he hath promis'd you and your posterity shall be perpetual Lords thereof and the glory of your name shall fill both the whole Earth and Sea and so shall your Nation be multiplied that there shall K be no place of the World where it shall not be diffus'd Blessed are you most worthy Army and deserving great admiration being composed of the descendants of one single Man The Land of Canaan at this present will suffice you but know that hereafter the whole World will not be too great for your inhabitation so that both in the Islands and in the Continent you shall live in so great number that you shall equal the Stars of the Firmament And though you are like to grow so innumerable yet notwithstanding God will furnish you with all sort of good things in abundance in Peace and in War he will render you victorious Wherefore we ought to wish that our Enemies may resolve to take Arms and to assault you since they cannot do it without their own total destruction So greatly are you favoured and loved by God who takes pleasure to abase the proud and great and to raise the weak and humble L Thus spake Balaam in his prophetical spirit being inspired by the Spirit of
God But Balac was much incensed against him Ver. 11 12. exclaiming that he had not kept his promise for by great Rewards he had been by his Confederates drawn thither to curse them Balac being displeased reprehendeth Balaam and in stead of Exercrations against them he had given them the greatest Benediction The Prophet thus answer'd Thinkest thou said he that it lieth in our power as often as destinies are to be discovered to speak or conceal what we list Balaam's answer at such time as God speaketh in our mouths No he himself causeth us to utter those words which pleaseth him and he publisheth those Oracles by us which neither we know nor ever thought upon I have not forgotten the Request of the Madianites and I came hither to execute that which they desired at my hands but God M is more pâ—â—â—â—ful than my will who contrary to the will of God and for the particular favour of Men had purposed to speak otherwise but as soon as he entreth into our hearts he becomes absolâ—â—â— master of them Truly I had determined in my self to speak nothing in their praises neither was it in my mind to reckon up what God had decreed to bestow upon that Nation but because he hath purposed to advance their felicity and glory he put these words into my mouth Nevertheless since it is my desire to gratifie both thee and the Madianites whose Prayers I ought to consider let us erect new Altars and prepare other Sacrifices and make trial if God perhaps will be moved to grant me licence to curse this People Numb 14. 3 4. Hereunto Balac gave consent Balaam's Prophecy of things to come the Sacrifices were renew'd but Balaam could not obtain of God permission to curse the Israelites On the contrary falling on his face he predicted N the misfortunes of those Kingdoms and Cities which should oppose them of which some are not as yet built but by such things as have already happen'd to those that we know both on the Continent and in Islands even to our days we may gather most assuredly that what remaineth of this Prophecy to be fulfilled will surely take effect Balac being much displeas'd that the Israelites could not be cursed sent Balaam back again without honour Ver. 10 11. who as he came near Euphrates desir'd to see the King and the Princes of the Madianites Balaam's counsel against the Hebrews to whom he spake thus Since it is your desire O King and you Princes of Madian that I gratifie you although it be against the Will of God you shall hear all that I can say to you Hope not that any thing can extinguish the Race of the Hebrews either by War or Pestilence or Famine or any other chance for God hath care to preserve that Nation O from all evil so that no mischief can fall upon them whereby the whole multitude may be extinguished A though they may come into some affliction for a time yet they will afterwards flourish more than they did before being by such chastisement render'd more wise But if you desire to obtain some short Victory over them by this my counsel you shall bring your wishes to effect Send to their Camp the fairest of your daughters as trimly decked and beautified as is possible who by their beauty may conquer and by their love allure their hearts let these wander about and offer themselves to the conversation of the youngest and bravest amongst them and as soon as they see them enamour'd let them pretend to go away and being desir'd to stay let them not yield except they will be persuaded to forsake their Countrey Laws and the service of God from whom they received them and to adore the gods of the Madianites and Moabites Cap. 25. 1. ad 9. For by this means they shall incense God's wrath against themselves Having given B this advice The daughters of the Madianites come to the Camp of the Hebrews he departed Now when the Madianites according as they were counselled sent out their daughters the younger sort of the Hebrews became intangled with their beauty and conversing with them desir'd them not to deny them the pleasure and enjoyment of their beauty The young Women seeing them enamour'd made semblance of a desire to leave them and depart Whereupon the young Men earnestly intreated them to tarry and promis'd to marry them swearing that they would not only love them as their Wives but render them absolute Mistresses of themselves and all their Goods These promises they seal'd with Tears and the Women answer'd after this manner Valiant young Men we want not at home either riches or the affections of our Parents and friends neither come we hither to you for want of these things or to make sale of C our beauties but considering you as strangers for whom we have great esteem we have not disdained to shew you this civility Now therefore because you say you love us and are so troubled at this our departure we have thought good not to gainsay your entreaties if therefore you will plight your faith and promise us marriage which is the onely condition that can detain us we will willingly live with you as your lawful Wives but we fear lest when your lusts are satisfied you will with shame and contumely send us back again to our Parents which so reasonable apprehension of ours you ought to pardon These passionate Lovers promised to give their faith in what manner soever and refused no condition by reason of their extreme love Well then said the Virgins since you are so pleased and that you have Customs so different from other Nations that you use onely certain meats and drinks it is D necessary Ver. 1 2 3. if you will marry us to adore our gods For by no other argument can you persuade us The daughters of Madian allure the Israelites to Idolatry that your love is unfeigned except you honour as we do the same gods neither shall you be blamed if you honour the gods of that Countrey into which you are come considering that our gods are common unto all Nations whereas your God is adored by none but your selves Choose therefore said they either to conform your selves in opinion with other Men or seek out another World wherein you may live according to your particular ways and customs The Hebrews blinded with the love which they bare to the Virgins liked well their words Ver. 6. and consented to that which they said suffering themselves to be seduc'd according as they were invited The Hebrews blinded with the love of the Women revolt from the Laws of their Fathers so that they transgress'd the Ordinances of their Fathers in following strange gods to whom they offer'd Sacrifice according to the manner of the E Countrey They also fell to eat all those meats which were prohibited them by the Law and