laid seuen Bulles and seuen Rams All which being readily executed by the King he offered a burnt sacrifice to the end hee might presage and foreprophecie the victorie which done he spake after this maner Happie are you on whom God bestoweth so large a blessing and abundance of riches and vouchsafeth you his prouidence for your perpetuall guide and assistance Because there is not any sort of men before whom in innocencie of maners and study of honestie and vertue you are not to be preferred your successours also shall haue a more famous posteritie because amongst men God onely fauoureth you and taketh care that no nation vnder the Sunne shall either exceede or equall you in happinesse You shal likewise possesse that land whereto he hath sent you and your posteritie shall be perpetuall Lords thereof and the glorie of your name shall fulfill both the whole earth and sea and so shall your nation bee multiplied that there shall be no nation of the world that snall not bee intermixed with your bloud and line Blessed are you most worthy armie and deseruing great admiration hauing your increase thus multiplied by the meanes of one parent For the land of Canaan at this present shall entertaine you but in little number but know that hereafter the whole world is destinated for your habitation so that both in the Islands and in the continent you shall liue in so great number that you shall equall the starres of the firmament And whereas you are like to growe so innumerable yet notwithstanding he shall not suffer you to want the vtmost of plentie and abundance neither in warre shall he cease to animate and leade you against your enemies Let your enemies resolue to take armes and to assault you yet shall there no one returne from them to beare message of the victorie or to bring glad tidings to their wiues and children This prudence and prowesie is giuen you by Gods prouidence who onely can and may abase the power of greatnesse and repaire the weakenesse of obscuritie Thus spake the Wisard in his propheticall spirit being transported beyond himselfe and rauished with a supernaturall furie But Balac was sore incensed against him exclaiming that he had not kept couenant although by great rewards he had been by his Confederate drawne thither to curse them vrging it against him that in steed of execrations against them he had published their pietie and praises To whom the Prophet made this answer Thinkest thou said he that it lyeth in our power as often as destinies are to be discouered to speak or conceale what we list at such time as God speaketh in our mouthes No he himselfe vttereth those words which him listeth and publisheth those oracles by vs which neither we know nor euer thought vpon Verily I sufficiētly remember whereunto I was perswaded by the sollicitation of the Madianites for that cause came I hither to execute that which they extorted from my hands but God is more powerfull then my will who contrary to the will of God and for the particular fauour of men had purposed to speake otherwise but as soone as he entreth into our hearts there remayneth no more of our selues in our selues Truly I had determined in my self to speak nothing in their praises neither was it in my mind to reckon vp what God had decreed to bestow vpon that nation but the fauourable power which befriendeth them studieth nothing more then the felicitie glory of that nation hath in his prescience put these words into my mouth now therfore since it is my desire to gratifie both thee the Madianites whose prayers I ought not but admit go to let vs erect new Altars prepare fresh sacrifice and make trial if perhaps God wil be moued to grant me licence to curse these kind of men Hereunto Balac gaue his consent yet did not God ratifie those his imprecations made against the Israelites notwithstanding he had sacrificed twice so that falling on his face he declared the occurrences of their kingdomes and commonweales of most esteeme of which some one were not as yet built and such things likewise as should thereafter happen to those men both by land and sea euen to our daies out of all which things accomplished according to his predictions we may gather most assuredly that which of his prophecie is to be fulfilled will surely take effect Balac being sore displeased because the Israelites could not be cursed sent Balaam backe againe without honor who returning homewards at such time as he came vnto Euphrates called Balac and the Princes of the Madianites spake thus vnto them Balac and you Princes of Madian it behooueth me to gratifie you although it be against the will of God for which cause giue eare vnto me All the sorts of death that may be to the vttermost cannot extinguish the race of the Hebrewes neyther by warre or pestilence or famine or any other chance may they be ruinated for God hath care to preserue that nation from all euill so that no slaughter can fall vpon them whereby the whole multitude shall be extinguished yet in the meane while some things may not be auoyded whereby afflicted for a time they may presently flourish more then they did before being by such a chasticement reduced to better health For which cause if you seeke to obtaine some short victorie ouer them by this my counsell you shall bring your wishes to effect Send me the fairest of your daughters as trimly decked and beautified as is possible who by their beautie may conquer and by their loue allure their hearts let these wander about their campe and offer themselues to entertaine a familiar embrace if by the young men they shall be solicited thereunto and as soone as they shall espie them to be surprised with desire let them sodainly breake from them and when as they shall be required by them to stay let them not yeeld except they will be perswaded to forsake their countrey lawes and the seruice of God from whom they receiued them and honour the gods of the Madianites and Moabites For by this meanes shal they incense Gods wrath against themselues Which when he had certified and admonished them of he departed Now whē the Madianites according as they were counselled sent out their daughters the younger sort of the Hebrewes were intangled with the beautie of the damsels and growing in talke with them they prayed them that they would not enuie them the opportunity to reape the pleasure and enioyment of their beautie neyther that they would disdaine their intercourse they willingly both admit the words and the embraces of the young men and hauing well hette them with dalliance they addressed themselues to leaue them in the heat of their desires Whereupon they discomforted at the womens departure did instantly intreat them that they should not in that sort forsake them but that in hope of future
appertained to a more commodious and peaceable life Moses thus hauing encouraged the people by his words he called vnto him the chiefest of the tribes and euerie one of them that had the charge of them both in priuate and publike assembly commaunding the younger to obey the elder and the elders to be obedient to their Generall But they contemning their daunger and desirous of fight hoped that this conflict would proue the final end of their calamity for which cause they instantly besought Moses to lead them forth against the enemie praying him not to dull the alacritie of the soldiers by any vntimely delay Whereupon chusing out amongst the whole multitude such as were most fitte for warre he chose Iesus the sonne of Naueus the Ephraimite to lead them a man valiant in armes and prouident in counsaile and exceeding in pietie and not degenerating in that respect from Moses his master He also in such sort disposed certaine bands that he might not in any sort be cut off from water he left also so many as might guard the multitude keepe the campe and weake company Thus stood they all the night long in a readines to take armes such as they had fitted for them expecting their captaines who should lead them out to fight as soone as Moses should command them On the other side Moses slept not but instructed Iosuah how he should conduct the army And as soone as the day appeared he encouraged Iosuah to shew himselfe such a one in that battell as both the place where with he was honoured and the cause for which they fought required wishing him by his prowesse and good deserts to giue life and courage to his soldiers that followed him He likewise exhorted the chiefest of the Hebrewes in particular and in generall heartned and emboldened all other that entred the battell And as touching himselfe after he had thus disposed the armie by words and effect he retired himselfe vnto a mountaine committing the armie to Gods protection and Iosuahs conduct Then encountred the armies on both sides and euerieone foug◅t most valiantly neither wanted there encouragements on either sides and as long as Moses lifted vp his hands the Hebrewes had the better against the Amalekites B◅ for that he was vnable continually to support the same and because hee throughly perceiued and obserued that as often as he held downe his hands so long the enemies droue the Israelites to re◅eat he willed his brother Aaron and Vron his sister Maries husband to stand on each side of him and sustaine his hands and succour him for feare his forces should faile him Which when they had perfourmed the Hebrewes by maine force ouercame the Amalechites so that all of them had beene slaine if so be the chace had continued and had not beene cut off by the approch of the night At this time our predecessours obtained a most happie and necessarie victorie For they had the vpper hand ouer them that were embattelled agai◅st them and astonished and amated the nations round about and got great strength and riches by their trauell for being seased of the enemies campe they generally gate great riches and particularly were all of them relieued whereas before that time they had not necessarie meanes to maintaine themselues And this victorie of theirs was the cause of their verie great good fortune not onely for the present but also for the time to come For not onely had they their enemies bodies vnder their subiection but also their spirits so as they were feared by all the nations round about And they multiplied both in strength and riches for there was a great quantitie of gold and siluer taken in the campe Diuers vessels likewise and tables of brasse we◅e found therein likewise great quantity of tissue worke and excellent furniture for armes Moreouer they had all their baggage tents harnesse and horses and generally the whole prouision of an arranged battel became their pray Then after also they became more vertuous and industrious then before supposing that the end of all actions was obtained by industrie Thus ended this battell The next day Moses caused the enemies that were slaine to be rifled and gathered the scattered armes of those that fled He honored them also that had brauely demeaned themselues in the battell praised the Captaine Iosuah in publique whose honour was confirmed by the applause of the whole armie There was not one Hebrew that perished that day and so manie of the enemies were there put to the sword as their number cannot be expressed He offered likewise a sacrifice of thanks giuing vnto God and erected an altar vnto him and dedicated it to God the victor Hee prophesied moreouer that all the Amalechites should be vtterly extinguished so that none of them shuld be left aliue in that they had assaulted the Hebrewes that in the desart and at such time as they were in affliction He feasted the Generall in like sort This issue had this battell which was the first that was leuied against them or dur◅t assault them since their departure out of Egypt But as soone as Moses had celebrated a fe◅st in memorie of the victorie to the end he might giue the Hebrewes some repose after the battell abouenamed hee caused them to march in array for now at that time they had manie armed souldiers Thus passing onwards by little little they arriued the third month after their departure out of Egypt neere to the mountaine of Sinai where as before time it hath beene declared Moses saw the vision in the bush and other such like wonders CHAP. III. What counsel Raguell gaue to his sonne in law WHen Raguel Moses father in law vnderstood of this his good successe he came with great ioy vnto Moses vnder purpose to salute him his daughter Zephorah and her childrē who greatly reiovcing at his arriuall prepared a sacrifice and feasted the people neere vnto the bush which could not be consumed by fire and in the banquet time the people was distinguished according to the order and place of euerie family But Aaron with the assistance tooke Raguel and they sung praises vnto God ascrib◅g to him both the meanes and manne◅ of their libertie They also spake much in honour of their Generall by whose vertue all things had had so fortunate an issue Raguel on his side highly praised the people and dignified Moses their Gouernour by whose prudence so many good and valiant men were g◅ded But on the next day Raguel seeing Moses oppressed with the multitude of businesse by reason that he decided all their debates that appealed vnto him who were thus perswaded of him that at that time they were onely rightly censured when Moses gaue the sentence and they that were condemned by him endured the verdict patiently knowing that their cause was by him decided rather by the rule of iustice then the instinct of amerce he for
determined they should suffer for whō he had prepared the poyson Who so hath maimed any man or puld out his eye let him in like manner be maimed and blinded being depriued of the same member of his bodie whereof he hath depriued another man except he that is maimed had rather haue a pecuniarie amends by reason that the law remitteth it to the election of the offender to estimate his iniurie and if he will be more seuere he may If any one haue an Oxe that striketh with his horne let him kill him and if the same Oxe striketh and killeth any man in the field or mow let him be stoned to death and let no man eate the flesh thereof And if it be approued that the master which oweth the same hath heretofore knowne the qualitie of the beast and hath not taken order he should do no harme let him also he put to death as being the author of the murther committed by the Oxe But if the said Oxe kill a slaue either male or female he shall be stoned and the owner thereof shall pay thirtie fieles to the master of the slaue that is slaine If one Oxe be strooken by another so as he die thereof let both of them both that which is dead and that which stroke the other to death be sold and the price thereof shall be departed equally betwixt both their owners They that dig a pit or cesteme must be carefull that they inclose and fence it in with planks or bars not to hinder any man from drawing water but least any man by misfortune should fall into the same And if any mans beast shall fall into the same and it vndefenced the owner of the pit must pay to the owner of the beast the price thereof and euer after let it be conered as it were with a wall for feare least any thereafter fall into the same Let him that receiueth any thing in trust keepe it carefully as a thing sacred and diuine and let neither man nor woman attempt to alien that which is committed to his custody although thereby he might gaine an infinite sum of gold and although there were not any man that could conuince him therof For since that generally the conscience knoweth the same euery one ought to indeuour himselfe to deale vprightly supposing himselfe to be a sufficient witnes against himselfe let him do those things which are laudable in the sight of men but in especiall that which is pleasing to God from whose sight no wrongfull dealing is concealed if notwithstanding he to whom this trust is committed without any fraud on his part shall chance to lose the thing that is so left in trust let him present himself before seuen Iudges and there take an oth that nothing is lost by his wil or witting that he hath not conuerted any part dierof to his own vse whereupon let him be dismissed without any further enquirie But if he haue made vse of the least part of that which hath beene committed to his charge trust and that he happen to lose it he shall be condemned to restore all that which was committed to his keeping As it hath beene ordained in respect of matters in trust the like is decreed as touching hire which is due vnto the labourer and let each man take heed least he defraud a poore man of his hire knowing that God gaue him his hands in stead of lands and other possessions For which cause the paiment of hire ought not to be deferred but satisfied the same day by reason that God permitteth not that the labourer should lose the fruit of his trauell The children shall not be punished for the misdeeds of their parents but if they be vertuous and are begotten by lewde fathers they rather merit that men should haue compassion of them then that they should hate them neither are the offences of the children to be imputed to the parents by reason that youth oftentimes engageth it selfe in those follies which he neither learned by examples nor for which he endureth not to be reproued Eunuches are to be detested and their companies to be fled because they depriue themselues of manhood and the gift of begetting children which God hath giuen vnto men for the increase of mankind Such people therefore are to be driuen farre from vs and esteemed wholie inexcusable who kill their children before they be borne For it is a matter verie manifest that their spirits being effeminate their bodies also are degenerate Each thing also that is monstrous to behold is to be driuen away neither is it lawfull to geld either men or beasts Let this be the disposition of those lawes wherewith you shall be pollicied and gouerned in time of peace and God be fauourable vnto you and giue you grace to vse them in good order and without confusion And since it cannot otherwise be but that humane affaires must somtimes fall into troubles and daungers somewhiles beyond desire and expectation and otherwhiles of set purpose I will briefely set you downe certaine lawes as touching that point to the intent that being fore instructed of that which you ought to do you may haue aboundance of holsome remedies and being well prouided and instructed in that which you ought to do you may preuent and not fall into any daunger and calamitie God grant that you may inioy the countrey which he hath giuen you in contempt of trauels and in exercise of vertues and that you may possesse the same in securitie and peace and that strangers may not leuie armies to ouerthrow you and that no ciuill mutinie may be raised amongst you which may bring to passe that that which hath been well ordered and decreed by your auncestors doe come to nought when you shall happen to commit the contrarie Liue therefore and persist you to conforme your selues to those lawes which both God hath approued for good and hath also giuen you But if perhaps your selues at this present or your successours hereafter shall fortune to entertaine and vndertake a warre God grant it may happen without the confines of your countrey But if the matter must needs be tried out by the sword you shall send certaine heraulds to your destinated enemies For before you enter battell it shall be requisite first of all to parlee with them and to declare vnto them that you haue a great army and horses and weapons and besides all these that you haue Gods fauour and assistance who shall require them therefore that you may not be inforced to warre against them nor to make bootie of their goods and to carrie them away in spight of their resist If they condescend vnto any reasonable conditions then entertaine peace making your accompt that they are stronger then you be but if they will needs offer you iniurie you shall lead foorth your army against them hauing God for your Generall and soueraigne conductor and for his Lieutenant
his absence Whilest then he arriued neere vnto the Citie of Ramatha the seruant that followed him certified him that there dwelt a Prophet in that place to whose foresight the knowledge of the truth was subiect towards whom he counsailed him to addresse himselfe with assurance and confidence that by him he should vnderstand what was become of his Asses Saul replied that he had no meanes lest to recompence the Prophet by reason they had consumed all the money they had brought foorth with them in their iourney His seruant told him that he had as yet the fourth part of a sicle which they might giue him but they were both of them deceiued in that they were ignorant that the Prophet was not to be bribed When as therefore they drew neere vnto the gates of the Citie they met with certaine maidens that went out to fetch water of whom they demaunded where the Prophet dwelt who gaue them directions telling them that they were to make haste before that he were set downe to supper by reason he at that time entertained diuers guests and he himselfe was first wont to sit downe at the vpper end of the table Samuel had inuited this company by reason that all the day long he had instantly besought God that he would declare vnto him who it was that should be established king and God also gaue him to vnderstand that he would informe him the next day after and that about the same houre he would send a yoong man vnto him of the tribe of Beniamin For this cause Samuel sat in his house expecting the assignation which being come he came downe vnder pretence to go to supper and in the way he met with Saul At that verie instant God signified vnto Samuel that it was he whom he should elect Prince and gouernour ouer the people Saul addressing himselfe vnto Samuel besought him that he would shew him the Prophets lodging by reason that he was a stranger and knew it not Samuel told him that himselfe was the man to whom hee spake and led him to the banquet assuring him that his Asses in search of whom he had trauailed so long were in safetie and that all mens goods were at his commaund Saul answered My Lord I am too base to hope or expect so much and further my family is the least of all the families you therefore iest and mocke at me in speaking of such things as surpasse my condition The Prophet tooke him by the hand and brought both him and his seruant to the table and placed him aboue all those that were inuited who were to the number of seuentie Samuel commanded that the royall portion should be set before Saul and when the houre of bed time came all the rest arose and departed to their houses but Saul and his seruant lodged that night with the Prophet and as soone as it was day Samuel awaked Saul and departing with him out of towne he commanded him to send his seruant before and to remaine himselfe with him behind because he had certaine things to impart vnto him in priuate Hereupon Saul sent away his seruant and Samuel taking a cruet with oyle poured the same vpon the yong mans head and embracing him said Be thou King elected by God against the Philistines and for the defence of the Hebrewes Thou shalt haue this signe which I now shall informe thee of of thy future honour When thou shalt bee parted from hence thou shalt ouertake three men in the way who trauell to Bethel to adore and sacrifice vnto God the first of which thou shalt see bearing three loaues the second shall beare a goate and the third shal follow carrying a glasse of wine These shall embrace thee and caresse thee they shall giue thee two loaues and thou shalt receiue them And from thence shalt thou depart vnto that monument that beareth the name of Rachel where thou shalt meet with a messenger that shall certifie thee that the Asses are found From thence comming vnto Gabatha thou shalt finde the Prophets assembled in their congregation and being rauished by the spirit of God thou shalt prophecy amongst them so that whosoeuer shall behold thee shall be rauished in admiration and shall say whence commeth it to passe that the sonne of Cis hath attained to so good fortune and when thou hast had these signes know that God shall be with thee salute thy Father and thy kinsmen in my behalfe Hereafter thou shalt repaire and be sent vnto me vnto Galgal to ofter sacrifices of thankes giuing vnto God Hauing in this manner told and foretold him that which is forespoken he gaue him licence to depart and all these things hapned vnto Saul according as the Prophet Samuel had prophecied vnto him When Saul was arriued at Abenars house who was his vnckle whom he loued aboue all the rest of his other familiars Abner questioned with him about his voiage and as touching those things which had chaunced vnto him and Saul hid nothing from him but point by point informed him of all that which had hapned vnto him during his being and aboad with the Prophet Samuel and how he had declared vnto him the recouery of his Asles but as touching the royaltie and those things that concerned the same he concealed them supposing that if it should be made knowen it would not be beleeued but that he should reape hate thereby For although he were both his friend and cousen yet thought he it more secure and conuenient for him to burie the same in silence reputing as I suppose in himselfe the infirmitie of mans nature that no man is constant in loue but although by manifest assistance from God felicitie fall vpon any man yet other men do grieue repine that any one should be preferred before them After this Samuel assembled the people in the Citie of Maspha where he framed his speech in such sort as he certified them of those things which he had receiued from God namely that he hauing procured their libertie and brought their enemies in subiection vnder them next how they were forgetfull of so many benefits and had degraded God of his royaltie as if they were ignorant that the greatest good that might happen vnto men is to be gouerned by him that is the soueraigne good how they had determined to haue a man to their King who according to his pleasure appetite or according to the vnbridled bent of his passion would vse them like slaues made subiect vnto him and would vsurpe vpon their goods without forbearing any thing whatsoeuer that men are not so studious to maintaine their handie works and labours as God who hath an inestimable care of those whom he hath created Notwithstanding saith he since you haue thus determined and are after this manner resolued and that the outrage which you haue enterprised against God preuaileth with you set your selues all of you in order according to your tribes
conuicted by any she persisteth in her obstinate denyall of the same After the king had heard this her demaund he inquired of the other if she had any thing to answere vnto this accusation But she denying the act and auerring that the childe which remained aliue was hers and that the dead one appertained to the other and besides that since no man appeared that might determine the controuersie but all the assistance were amazed at the obscuritie and difficultie of the debate the king at last bethought him of this pollicie He commanded that both the children should be brought before his presence as wel the liuing as the dead and calling one of his guard vnto him he commanded him with his naked sword to cut both the children into two parts to the intent that both of theÌ„ might take the halfe of the liuing the other halfe of the dead childe This sentence of his was secretly condemned by all the people accounting it very childish In the meane time the true mother began to exclaime and desire that the matter might not passe so far but rather that they should giue the whole childe that was aliue vnto the other for that it sufficed her so as she might see him liue that he might be supposed to be an others The aduerse part offered her selfe to behold the diuision of the infant and moreouer required that the true mother should be punished But the King coniecturing by the discourse both of the one and of the other which of their meanings was most vnfained adiudged the infant vnto her that cried first for that in equitie she was the true mother and condemned the wickednesse of the other who had murthered her owne childe and laboured as much as in her lay to procure the death of her companions innocent infant All the people tooke this iudgement for an assured proofe and signe of the kings prudence and wisedome and from that time forwardes they respected and honoured him as one that was endowed with a diuine spirit The chiesetaines and gouernours vnder him thorow all the kingdome were these Vri gouerned the countrey of Ephraim wherein was comprised the rule of Bethleem Aminadab commanded ouer the quarter of Dura and the sea coast and had espoused the daughter of Salomon The great plaine was subiected to Banaia the sonne of Achila who gouerned likewise all the countrey that extended towards Iordan Gabar commanded the Galaadites and Gaulonites as farre as the mountaine Libanus and had vnder him sixtie great cities and forts Achinadab gouerned all Galilee as farre as Sidon and had espoused also one of Salomons daughters called Basima Banacat had the countrey that confineth the sea neere to the Citie of Arce Saphat the mountaines Itabyr and Carmel and the land of Galilee as farre as Iordan Sonbeia gouerned the whole land of the Beniamites Tabar had all the gouernmenâ—… 〈◊〉 the other side of Iordan and was elected gouernour generall ouer them all Thus about this time did the Hebrewes wonderfully increase in riches and the tribe of Iuda waxed opulent by reason that the people addicted themselues wholy to the tilling and manuring of their lands For their peace was vnder such assurance that being distracted by no warlike tumults and besides that fruitfully enioying a most desired libertie they especially intended this thing onely to encrease their priuate and particular estates The king also had other gouernors who ruled the Syrians and commanded other strange nations which are extended from Euphrates as farre as Aegypt who gathered the tribute of those nations for the king These Barbarians euerie day furnished the king for his owne table and the maintenance of his houshold with thirtie Cores of fine floure and sixtie of the courser ten fat oxen and twenty grasse beeues with a hundreth fat lambes All which things besides venison and buffalles taken in chase birds and fish were furnished daily by the Barbarians to serue the kings houshold He had likewise a great number of chariots so that he had fortie thousand mangers wherein his coach horses fed and besides these he had twelue thousand horsemen halfe whereof kept alwaies about the king in Ierusalem the rest were billetted in diuers villages belonging to the king and remained there And they that had the charge to furnish the kings expences prouided likewise necessarie prouender for the horses conueying it to that place wheresoeuer the king soiourned But so great was the wisedome and prudence which God had bestowed vpon Salomon that he surpassed all his progenitors and the Egyptians likewise who are esteemed the wisest of all men were farre behinde him in wit For he excelled all those that in that time were in the greatest account amongst the Hebrewes whose names I will not omit and these they were Ethan Eman Chalt and Dodan the sonne of Imaon He composed also a thousand and fiue hundreth bookes of odes and canticles and thirtie thousand bookes of Parables and Similitudes for to euery kind of plant he alluded his parable from Hysope vnto the Cedar The like did he of all liuing creatures that feed on the earth swimme in the waters or flie in the ayre for none of their natures was he ignorant of neither had he omitted to search the faculties in particular but examined discoursed on them all and had an inward speculation and knowledge of their seuerall and secret properties Hee obtained also by inspiration the arte of Magicke for the profit and health of men and the exorcising and casting out of diuels for he deuised certain incantations wherby the diseased are cured and left the methode of coniuration in writing whereby the diuels are enchanted and expelled so that neuer more they dare returne And this kind of healing to this day is very vsuall amongst those of our nation For I saw a certaine popular and priuate man amongst the Hebrewes in the presence of Vespasian his sonnes tribunes and other souldiers that cured diuers that were possessed And the manner of his cure was this He applied to the nose of the Demoniack a ring vnder the seale whereof was a roote of those things that Salomon had declared which drew the diuell out of the nostrils of the sicke as soone as he smelled the roote and as soone as the man was fallen he adiured him neuer more to returne intermixing some mention of Salomon and rehearsing those incantations that were inuented by him After this the said Eleazar being desirous to shew vnto them that were present the efficacie of his arte he set a pot or pitcher of water not farre from the place where the possessed stood and commanded the diuell at such time as he forsooke the man to ouerturne the pot and thereby to giue a signe vnto the assistants that he had forsaken the possessed which act of his manifestly declareth how great the science and wisedome of Salomon was For which cause I thought good in this place to make mention
to be drowned by the winds and chariots that haue no driuers to conduct them to be at one against another euen so should it perish and should ruinate it selfe by such an irregular motion By these things therefore that Daniel hath foretold I iudge that they are farre estraunged from the truth that affirme that God hath no care of humaine affaires for if wee see that all things happen casually then happen they not according to his prophecie But I haue written hereof according as I haue found and red and if any one will thinke otherwise let him continue his opinion as long as him list THE XI BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 11. booke 1 Syrus King of Persia dismisseth the Iewes from Babylon and permitteth them to returne into their countrey and contributeth towards the raparation of the Temple 2 The Kings gouernours hinder the building of the Temple 3 Cambyses commaundeth the Iewes that they should not build the Temple 4 Darius Hystaspis sonne buildeth a Temple for the Iewes 5 The bountie of Xerxes Darius sonne towards the Hebrew nation 6 How during Ataxerxes raigne the whole nation of the Iewes were almost extinguished thorow Amans trecherie 7 Bagoses Generall of Ataxerxes the youngers armie doth much iniurie to the Iewes 8 How bountifull Alexander of Macedon was vnto the Iewes CHAP. I. Cyrus King of Persia dismisseth the Iewes from Babylon and permitteth them to returne into their countrey and contributeth towards the building of the Temple THe first yeare of the raigne of Cyrus which was the seuentith after that our nation was translated from Iudaea to Babylon God had compassion of the captiuitie calamitie of his poore afilicted people euen as he had foretold them before the destruction of the Citie that after they had serued Nabuchodonosor and his posteritie for seuentie yeares he would againe restore them to their countrey wherein they were borne where they should build a Temple and enioy their former felicitie so brought he it to passe For he awakened the spirit of Cyrus and made him write his letters thorowout all Asia to this effect Thus saith the King Cyrus Since the Almightie God hath made me king of the whole world I am perswaded that it is he whom the Iewish nation doe adore for he hath declared my name by his Prophets before I was borne and hath said that I shall build his Temple in Ierusalem which is in the countrey of Iudaea Now Cyrus knew these things by reading of a booke of prophecie written by Isay two hundreth ten yeares before his time For he saith that God did secretly reueale these things vnto him speaking to this effect I will that Cyrus whō I haue declared King ouer many nations shall send my people backe into their countrey of Iudaea and shall build my Temple These things did Isay foretell one hundreth and fortie yeares before the ruine of the Temple Cyrus in reading these things being rauished in admiration of the Maiestie of God was surprised with an affection and zeale to finish that which was written He therefore called for all the men of greatest reckoning among the Iewes that were in Babylon and told them that he gaue them licence to returne into their countrey and to repaire the Citie of Ierusalem and erect the Temple of God promising them that he himselfe would assist them And to that effect he wrote vnto his gouernours and princes of those countries that confined vpon Iudaea charging them to contribute both gold and siluer toward the building of the temple and to furnish them with cattell for the sacrifice After that Cyrus had certified the Israelites of this his intent the Princes of the two tribes of Iuda and Beniamin with all the Leuites and Priests departed thence and repaired to Ierusalem Nathelesse diuers of the Iewes remained in Babylon in that they were loath to abandon those possessions they had gotten As soone as they came vnto the Kings friends they affoorded them both fauour and aide and furnished them with necessarie matter to build the temple some of them with gold other some with siluer and the rest with a certaine number of oxen and horses Thus paied they their vowes vnto God and offered the sacrifices according to the ancient custome as if the Citie had bin new builded againe and the ancient seruice of God but newly awakened Cyrus sent them backe also those vessels consecrated to God 〈◊〉 king Nabuchodonosor had sent into Babylon after he had spoiled the temple and deliuered them to Mithridates his treasurer commaunding him to carry and commit them to Abassars hands who should haue the custodie thereof vntill the temple were builded to the end that at such time as it were compleat he might deliuer them to the priests princes of the people to be restored again to the seruice of the Temple He sent letters also to the gouernours of Syria to this effect Cyrus King of Sisine and Sarabasane health I haue permitted those Iewes that inhabit my countrey to returne into their natiue countrey and to reedifie their Citie and erect the temple of God in Ierusalem in the same place where it stood before I haue also sent my treasurer Mithridates and Zorobabel the Prince of the Iewes with expresse charge and authoritie to lay the foundations of the same and to build it sixtie cubits in height and as many in bredth making three Isles of hewen stone and an other of such timber as the countrey affoordeth the Altar likewise whereupon they may offer sacrifice vnto God and my pleasure is that the charge of all these things come out of my cofers I haue also sent backe those vessels which Nabuchodonosor took out of the temple and haue deliuered them to the treasurer Mithridates and to Zorobabel the Prince of the Iewes to be conueyed to Ierusalem and restored to the temple of God the number whereof I haue heereunder subscribed Fiftie lauers of gold and foure hundreth of siluer fiftie pots of gold and foure hundreth of siluer fiftie golden sieues and fiue hundreth of siluer thirtie Ewers of gold and three hundreth of siluer thirtie great viols of gold and two thousand foure hundreth of siluer and besides all these one thousand other great vessels I release them also of the tribute which their predecessors were accustomed to pay namely the leuy of cattell wine and oyle and of two hundreth fiue thousand fiue hundreth drachmes and two thousand fiue hundreth measures of wheate yeelding fine flower Commanding these necessarie furnitures to be deliuered them out of the Tributes of Samaria and the Priests shall offer vp these sacrifices in Ierusalem according to the ordinance of Moses and during their sacrifice they shall make praiers vnto God for the preseruation of the king and his house to the end that the Empire of the Persians may be still permanent And my will is
These meeting with Ioseph on the way began to mocke at his basenesse and pouertie But when he came to Alexandria and had intelligence that the king was at Memphis he set forward and went out to meet him When as therefore the king accompanied with the queen and Athenion his friend who had discharged the place of Embassadour in Ierusalem came riding onward in his chariot Athenion who had been honourably entertained by Ioseph perceiuing him vpon the way certified the king that it was he of whom he had spoken vpon his returne from Ierusalem protesting on his behalfe that he was both a good and honourable yoong man Whereupon Ptolomey embraced him aboue the rest and made him mount his chariot Where he was no sooner seated but the king began to accuse Onias for that which he had committed But Ioseph said vnto him Pardon him O King and haue respect to his old old yeeres For you know that ordinarily old men yong children haue one and the same vnderstanding but for our selues who are young you shall haue what you please to require without any pretext or cause of discontent Hereupon the king tooke pleasure in the good behauiour and pleasant discourse of the young man and began to loue him the more as if he had receiued a present attestation of his wisedome whereupon he commaunded that he should be lodged in his owne pallace and that daily he should accompany him at his princely table As soone as the king came back to Alexandria the Lords of Syria seeing Ioseph sitting neere vnto the king were sore displeased and the day drawing neere wherein they were to receiue the assurance of their tribute they that were of the greatest reckoning in their countrey farmed the same so that the tributes of Coelesyria Phaenicia Iudaea and Samaria amounted together to eight thousand talents Whereupon Ioseph arising blamed the farmers for that they had plotted amongst themselues to beate downe the price of the tributes promising to giue the double and that he would likewise returne the forfeitures that were leuied vpon the goods of such as offended which were farmed together with the tributes The king gaue eare to this discourse of his with great content and said that he approoued the sale of these tributes vnto Ioseph who in this sort augmented his reuenue When as therefore he was demanded whether he could giue sureties he made him answere with a bold courage O king said he I will giue thee such pledges as are both worthy and honourable and such as you cannot mistrust Whenas therefore the king instanted him to produce them I w◅ said he O king present thee for sureties thy selfe the Queene thy wife that one of you may be a suretie for me to the other Ptolomey smiling hereat granted him the farme of the tribute without further suretie This fauour of his displeased those gouernours of the Cities that were come into Aegypt in that they saw themselues contemned and constrained to returne with shame vnto their houses But Ioseph obtained two thousand footmen from the king to the end to enforce the tribute from those Cities who were negligent in their paiments and after he had borrowed fiue hundreth talents of the kings friends in Alexandria hee departed into Syria As soone as he came to Ascalon he demaunded the payment of the tribute at the Citizens hands which they not onely refused to performe but moreouer vpbraided him with iniurious words For which cause laying hold on about some twentie of the principals among them he put them to death and hauing gathered their substances togither he sent the King some thousand talents certifying him of that which he had done Ptolomey admiring at his wisedome and allowing of his execution permitted him to dispose of all things at his pleasure The Syrians vnderstanding hereof were sore abashed and perceiuing that the Acalonites were slaine by Ioseph thorow the seueritie of his iustice and their disobedience they opened him the gates and receiued him willingly and payed him their tributes Wheras also the Scythopolitanes in way of cōtumacy refused to lay down according to order their accustomed tributes he slue the chiefest amongst them the confiscations of whose goods he sent vnto the king When as therefore he had gathered much siluer and made great gaines of the purchase of the tributes to the intent to establish and make his power of more continuance he liberally employed his gettings considering with himselfe that it was a part of wisedome to keepe and entertaine his good happe by those riches which he himselfe had gotten For he sent many presents both to the King and Queene and bestowed liberall bountie both on their familiars and fauourites and also on all those which had any authoritie credit or fauour in the court to win and bind them vnto him by his beneuolence And in this felicitie of his continued he the terme of twentie two yeares during which time he was the father of seuen children by one wife and of an other called Hircanus whom he begot on the daughter of his brother Solymius whom he married vpon this occasion which ensueth Walking vpon a time in Alexandria in the company of his brother who led with him his daughter alreadie mariageable to the intent to bestow her vpon some Iewe of good qualitie whilest he sate at meat with the king there entred into the banquet a certain faire damsel trained vp in dancing with whom growing enamored he told his brother thereof praying him that since by the lawes of their countrey it was forbidden that a Iew might marry with a stranger that he would hide his fault and be a faithfull assistant vnto him to the end that he might enioy her whom his heart desired His brother promised him to shew his willing forwardnes herein and in the meane time he adorned and decked his owne daughter and brought her by night vnto his bed whereupon he lay with her not knowing who she was by reason he had drunke ouermuch and had her company Which comming to passe diuers times he was as yet farre more burningly inflamed with the loue of this dancer and told his brother that he was in daunger to be enamoured all his life time and that notwithstanding the king would not grant her vnto him His brother told him that he ought not to vexe himselfe promising him that he should assuredly enioie her whom he loued and that already she was his wife opening vnto him how all things had hapned and how he had rather wrong his owne daughter then to suffer his brother to fall into dishonour After that Ioseph had praised the kind natural affection of his brother towards him he tooke his daughter to wife who bare him a sonne called Hircanus as it hath beene said Who being thirteene yeares olde gaue testimonie of that naturall spirit and dexteritie that was in him by reason whereof his brethren conceiued a certaine hatred against him
appeare how our nation reward entertaine such men as are vertuous and to the intent that the honour we impart vnto him may prouoke others to be the better affected towards vs. It is likewise decreed that amongst all the Athenians there be certaine Embassadours chosen who shall beare this Decree vnto him and exhort him to doe whatsoeuer is profitable for our common good seeing himselfe so much honoured by vs. Let this suffice to expresse the honors bestowed on Hircanus by the people of Rome and the Citizens of Athens After that Caesar had giuen order for the affaires of Syria he returned backe by sea And as soone as Antipater had brought Caesar out of Syria he returned into Iudaea and sodainly builded vp the walles which were before time defaced by Pompey and in riding circuit about the countrey he pacified the troubles not onely by menaces but by counsailes also which he gaue euery one to liue in peace certifying them that if they submitted themselues to Hircanus their prince they should liue happily and enioy their possessions without any trouble and that if they hoped to aduance themselues by any new commotion supposing by that meanes to profit themselues some way they should feele that in steed of a gouernor they had a master and in steed of a king they should find Hircanus a tyrant and in steed of the Romans and Caesar to be their gouernors they should feele and find them to be their most hatefull enemies for that they would not suffer that any thing should be altered that they had established By these and such like admonitions he kept and continued all the countrey in peace CHAP. XVII Antipater committeth the gouernment of Galilee to his sonne Herode and that of Ierusalem to Phasaelus his other sonne and how Sextus Caesar aduanceth Herode to great honors and dignities ANtipater perceiuing that Hircanus was slow and idle he declared and appointed Phasaelus his eldest sonne gouernour ouer Ierusalem and the countrey thereabout As for Herode who was verie young for he was not at that time aboue fifteene yeeres olde he committed Galilee vnto his charge who although he were young in yeeres yet did not his tender age any waies preiudice him because he was of a noble spirit and found out this sodaine occasion to expresse that vertue that was in him For hauing apprehended Exechias who was the prince of those theeues who ranged ouer all Syria a long time with a great troupe of outlawes he put him to death with diuers of his complices Which act of his got him no little estimation and credit among the Syrians for by that meanes he rid their countrey of all those robbers according as they desired He was therefore praised thorow the villages and Cities for this act as he that had giuen them peace and assured possession of their estates For this cause he was made knowne to Sextus Caesar who was vncle to Caesar the great Furthermore his brother Ph◅saelus was incited to follow his noble actions and inforced himselfe to obtaine no lesse reputation then he had for which cause he stroue to get the good will of the common people in Ierusalem gouerned the citie with such discretion that he acted all things to each mans content and abused not his power to any priuat mans iniurie which was the cause that Antipater was honoured by the whole nation with no lesse respect then if he had been their only Lord and soueraigne Yet did not this eminencie of estate so farre distract him that he forgot the loue and duetie he ought to Hircanus as in such like occasions it oftentimes falleth out notwithstanding diuers of the greatest amongst the Iewes seeing Antipater and his sonnes so highly aduanced both by the publike fauour of the whole nation as also by the reuenues that they drew both out of Iewry as also by the emploiment of Hircanus money were grieuously incensed against them For Antipater had made friendship with the Emperours of Rome and hauing perswaded Hircanus to send them money he had appropriated the same vnto himselfe sending it not in Hircanus name but in his owne which though Hircanus knew yet was he not mooued therewith but rather well contented But that which most of all terrified the princes of the Iewes was to behold the violent and audacious nature of Herode who gouerned after a royall and tyrannical manner For this cause they addressed themselues to Hircanus and accused Antipater openly How long said they will you dissemble and winke at those things that are daily practized see you not that Antipater and his sons possesse in effect the royall power and authoritie of the kingdome and that you haue onely the name Assure your selfe that you are not out of danger in contemning thus both your selfe and your kingdome For Antipater and his sonnes are not now your substitutes neither intend they your profit or your countries good whatsoeuer your opinion is of them but they openly are known for lords and Commanders For Herode Antipaters son hath already put Ezechias and his complices to death and thereby transgressed our lawes which forbid to take away any mans life how wicked soeuer he be except he be first of all condemned to death by the councell and notwithstanding this he hath been so bold as to doe iustice without your authoritie When Hircanus heard this he grew wroth for their mothers whom Herode had slain had incensed him by their continuall exclamations in the temple exhorting the king and people to call Herode to account before the councell of that which he had done So that Hircanus mooued by these womē called Herode to answere vnto those accusations which were obiected against him Who made his appearance forewarned by his father not to present himselfe after the maner of a priuate person but wel attended and accompanied to withstand all inconuenients After therefore he had taken order for the affaires in Galilee according as he thought meet in his owne discretion and that he himselfe was sufficiently accompanied to make his voiage with such a guard as neither might terrifie Hircanus with number nor leaue himselfe vnsecured in danger he resorted to Ierusalem Furthermore Sextus Caesar gouernour of Syria wrote vnto Hircanus to absolue him adding threats to his perswasions if so be he should performe the contrarie which gaue Hircanus occasion to deliuer Herode in despite of the councell and their intent the rather also for that he loued him as intirely as his sonne When as therefore Herode presented himselfe before the councell with his retinue all of them were astonished and none of those that accused him in his absence durst open their mouthes to speake one word but all of them kept silence not knowing what to doe Now whilest they stood vpon these tearmes a certaine man called Sameas who was of vpright conuersation and for this cause was not distracted with feare arose and spake to this effect Dread
honourable minded man knowing that their intent was such wrote himselfe vnto Artabanus who had nourished and brought him vp exhorting him to returne vpon his faith and to receiue againe his owne kingdome Artabanus vpon this motion gaue credit to his words and returned backe againe Whereupon Cinnamus came foorth and met him and prostrating himselfe before his feete called him king and afterwards taking the diademe from off his own head he set it vpon Artabanus head who by this means was restored to his former estate by Izates mediation after he had been driuen out of his kingdome by his chiefest nobilitie And hee did not forget the fauours which he had receiued at Izates hands but did him all the honour that possibly he could imagine For he permitted him to weare the straight Tiara and to sleepe vpon a guilded bed which is a priuiledge that belongeth only to the kings of Parthia He gaue him also a goodly and great countrey which he had taken from the king of Armenia This countrey was called Nisibis where in times past the Macedons had builded the Citie of Antioch by them called Mygdonia Presently after Izates was in this sort honoured Artabanus died leauing his kingdome to his sonne Vardanes who repaired to Izates praying him to ioyne with him in that warre which he intended to wage against the Romans but he preuailed not with him For Izates knowing the Romans force and good hap imagined that he vndertooke a matter beyond his power Furthermore he had sent fiue of his young sonnes to Ierusalem to learne our tongue and discipline and his mother likewise to adore in the temple for which cause he the rather held backe and disswaded Vardanes from enterprizing against the Romans whose power and puissant conquests he ordinarily reckoned vp vnto him to the end he might dismay him and by these his allegations cause him to giue ouer his purposed intent of war against them But the Parthian was displeased with this his perswasion and for that cause denounced a present warre against Izates But this his enterprize had but a fruitlesse issue for God cut off all his hopes For the Parthians vnderstanding what Vardanes intent was and how he was resolued to vndertake a war against the Romans slew him and gaue the kingdome to his brother Gotarza whom not long after this his brother Vologesus flew by treason restoring to his two brothers by the mother side these prouinces that is to say the kingdome of Media to Pacorus who was the eldest and Armenia to Tiridates who was the younger When Monobazus king Izates brother and the rest of his kinsfolke saw how happily all things succeeded to Izates and how in respect of his pietie towards God he was honoured and reuerenced by all men they also resolued themselues to forsake their religion and to serue God after the manner of the Iewes But this intent of theirs was discouered Whereupon the chiefest among them grew displeased yet did they not manifest their despite but kept it hidden in their hearts seeking some fit occasion to reuenge themselues as soone as they might They wrote also to Abias king of Arabia and promised him great summes of money if he would take armes against their king promising him that vpon the first charge they would forsake him for that they desired to be reuenged on him who was growne in hatred of their religion Hauing therefore confirmed their promise with an oath they incited him to make haste The king of Arabia performed that which they required and marched foorth against Izates with a great power And when as the first charge was ready to be giuen and before they came to handy-strokes all Izates souldiers forsooke him and turning their backes to their enemies fled in great disorder as if they had been surprized with a Panique feare yet was Izates no waies dismaied but hauing discouered that it was the treason and conspiracie of his greatest peeres he retired himselfe also into his campe where he inquired of the cause that they pretended After he knew that they had complotted with the Arabian he caused the conspiratours to be put to death and the next day after went out to fight and slew a great number of his enemies and constrained the rest to betake them to flight He pursued their king also into a fort called Arsam which he battered and assaulted with such spirit and diligence that he tooke the same with a great quantitie of bootie that was therein and returned to Adiabena with great triumph but he tooke not Abias aliue for hee himselfe had preuented his captiuitie with his death The Lords of Adiabena seeing themselues frustrated of their former hopes in that by Gods hand they were deliuered into the hands of their king could not containe their displeasure but practized further mischiefe for they wrote their letters to Vologesus king of Parthia desiring him to kill Izates and to bestow an other king vpon them who was a Parthian for that they hated their king who had abolished their religion and had embraced a strange lawe The Parthian vnderstanding hereof prepared himselfe for the warre and hauing no iust colour or pretext to inforce the same he sent a messenger vnto him to redemaund those honours which his father had giuen him which if he refused he denounced warre against him Izates was not a little troubled in his minde when he vnderstood this message For he thought that if he should restore the gifts he should offer himselfe great preiudice for that it would be imagined that he did it for feare knowing on the other side that if the Parthian should recouer that which he redemaunded yet would he not be in quiet he therfore commended his cause to God trusting that he would take care of him And building vpon this that the greatest good he might haue was to haue God to helpe he shut his wiues and children in a strong Castle and his corne in his strongest towers and afterwards burned all the hay and forrage and hauing after this manner prouided for all things he expected the approch of his enemie The Parthian came onward sooner then he was expected with a great power of horsmen and footmen For he marched forward in all haste and encamped neere vnto the floud that separateth Adiabena from Media Izates likewise encamped not farre from thence hauing with him about six thousand horsemen To whom the Parthian sent a messenger to giue him to vnderstand how great his power was which extended from the riuer of Euphrates as farre as Bactria recounting vnto him what kings he had vnder his subiection threatning him to punish him very seuerely in that he behaued himselfe so vngratefully towards his benefactors yea in such sort as the god whom he adored might not deliuer him out of the kings hands Hereunto Izates answered that he knew well that the Parthian farre exceeded him in power but that he was farre better assured that Gods power extended
borough of the caue of the Arbalians Bersobe Selamen Iotapata Capharath Comosogana Nepapha and the mountaine Itabyrium In those places hoorded I vp great store of corne and laid vp store of armour and munition for defence Meane while Iohn the sonne of Leui encreased his hatred daily more and more towards me being greatly agrieued to see my fortunes happy and the successe answerable and whereas hee was wholy resolued to rid me of my life after he had encompassed his country Gischala with wals he sendeth Simon his brother with one hundreth souldiers to Ierusalem to Simon the sonne of Gamaliel requiring him to labour the matter in such sort with the citie that my authoritie might be disanulled that Iohn by the common consent of all might be ordained gouernour ouer the affaires of Galilee This Simon was borne in Ierusalem noble in birth and in sect a Pharisee which sect of all other seemed most exactly instructed in the lawes of our countrey a man of excellent wisedome who by his counsaile was able to repaire the decaying ruines of his countrey who of long time had made vse of Iohns friendship because he was at that time mine enemie This man solicited by the intercessions of his friends perswaded the hie priest Ananus and Iesus the sonne of Gamala and other of his line and faction to cut off my increasing honours and not to permit me to attaine the fulnes and content thereof For it should be verie profitable for them also if I were remoued from the gouernment of Galilee Further he told Ananus and the rest that they were not to delay the matter least vpon the discouerie of their counsaile I should inuade the citie with mine army Thus spake Simon yet Ananus the high Priest replied that it might not easily be done for that diuers priests and gouernours of the people bare witnesse for me that I behaued my selfe honestly in that gouernment and that it was ill done to intend an accusation against a man who might not be touched with any misdemeanour When Simon had heard what Ananus had said he besought him and the rest also to speake nothing thereof neither to make his motion knowen certifying them that he had prouidently prouided that I should be speedily driuen out of Galilee And calling vnto him his brother Iohn he charged him to send presents to Ananus For said he in so doing they would so much worke with him that they would make him change his opinion In the end Simon obtained that which he long time sought after For Ananus and his adherents were corrupted with money and accorded to cast me from the gouernment of Galilee without the consent or allowance of any other of the citizens For which cause they thought good to send certaine noble men in birth and no waies inferiour to one another in learning whereof two of them were of the common sort and Pharises the one called Ionathas the other Ananias the third was Iozarus of the tribe of Leui who was also a Pharisee and of the race of the priests But Simon was of the order of the priests and the yongest of them all These did they commaund that calling togither a councell of the Galileans they should demaund why they loued me so well commanding them that if they answered that I was a Galilean they should likewise say that Ierusalem was their countrey But if they allowed in me the knowledge of the law they were likewise willed to say that they knew their country customes or if in regard of the name of priesthood they should say they loued me they should likewise auerre that two of them were priests Being thus instructed and receiuing fortie thousand siluer drachmes of the publike treasure for their fellow and consort Ionathas they sette forwardes And for that at the verie same time a certaine man called Iesus of Galilee was come to Ierusalem with a band of six hundreth souldiers they sent for him and hired him and gaue him three moneths pay commanding him to follow Ionathas and his companions and to doe that which they should commaund them and to these annexed they three hundreth Citizens whom they hired with reward With this preparation the Legates set forward being accompanied with Simon Iohns brother who had one hundreth souldiers with him who had commission from those that sent them that if I willingly gaue ouer armes they should send me aliue to Ierusalem and if I resisted by their authoritie they might lawfully kill me They had letters also directed to Iohn which incited him to make warre against me Moreouer they charged the Sephorites Gabarites and Tiberians to maintaine Iohn against me After that I had intelligence hereof by my fathers letters who had intelligence thereof by Iesus the sonne of Gamala one of those who were present at the deliberation and who intirely and familiarly loued me I was much grieued seeing with how much ingratitude my countrimen required me who of malice had decreed vpon my death and for that my father inuited me by most affectionate letters to draw my selfe homeward telling me how much he desired to see me who was his sonne before he left this life I imparted these things to my friends and certified them that within three daies I would forsake their countrey and retire my selfe into mine owne Whereupon they were altogither surprised with great sadnesse and besought mee with weeping teares that I would not forsake them for that they should be vtterly ouerthrowne if so be they were left destitute of my conduct But whereas by no meanes they might perswade me and the care of mine owne securitie preuailed verie much with me the Galileans fearing least I should leaue them and by that meanes the theeues should be encouraged to set vpon them they sent messengers thorow all Galilee to signifie vnto them the resolution of my departure Whereupon diuers of them being made priuie to these newes resorted vnto me from all parts bringing with them their wiues and children not so much as I suppose for the sorrow they conceiued at my departure as the feare that they had of their owne estates For they perswaded themselues that if I remained among them there could no mischiefe befall them They assembled therefore in a great plaine called Asoâ—…him where I remained That night in my sleepe I had a wonderfull dreame For lying in my bed and being wholy disconsolate and troubled with the newes I had receiued me thought that a certaine man from aboue spake vnto me after this manner Pacifie thou the passions of thy spirit and be thou free from all feare For that which discomforteth thee shall be that which shall make thee great and happy beyond thine expectation For not onely these things shall turne to a fortunate ende or issue but also many other Be not thou therefore dismaide but remember thy selfe that thou art reserued to make warre against the Romans After I had this dreame I
of the Iewes THE THIRD BOOKE OF THE WARRES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 3. booke 1 Of the comming of Vespasian generall of the Romans into Iudaea and of the two massacres of the Iewes and how the Sephorites yeelded themselues to Vespasian 2 The description of Galilee Samaria and Iudaea 3 Of the helpe sent v◅to them of Sepphoris and of the militarie discipline amongst the Romans 4 How Placidus assaulted Iotapata 5 How Vespasian inuaded Galilaea and at his onely presence how the Galileans fled 6 How Gadara was taken 7 How Iotapata was besieged and of the situation and batterie thereof 8 Of the siege of Iotapata by Vespasian and of Iosephs diligence and of the excursions of the Iewes against the Romans 9 How Vespasian did beate the wals of Iotapata with a Ram and other warlike engines 10 How Iotapata was againe assaulted 11 How Traian and Titus tooke Iapha 12 How Cerealis ouercame the Samaritans 13 How Iotapata was taken 14 How Ioseph being taken saued his owne life 15 How Ioppe was taken againe 16 How Tyberias was yeelded 17 How Tarichea was besieged 18 Of the lake called Genesar and the fountaines of Iordan 19 How Tarichea was deliuered CHAP. I. Of Vespasians comming into Iudaea and of the two massacres of the Iewes AFTER that Nero vnderstood of his euill successe against the Iewes he was seazed with feare and astonishment yet he dissembled it as much as necessitie would permit him In the meane while he set a good face on the matter and made as though he were of more courage saying that that which happened was rather by the fault of his generall then by the valour of their aduersaries thinking that it behooued him who was emperour not to shew himselfe mooued with a little bad newes and the greatnesse of his Empire shewed he had a mind which yeelded to no misfortune Yet it appeared by the vexation of his spirit that he was much moued in great care vnto whom he should cōmit the charge of the East which rebelled who both would conquer the Iewes and chastife the inhabitants about them that bare the same minde as they did At last he found Vespasian whom he thought only meet for that purpose a man who from his infancie had been trained vp in warres euen vntill he was gray headed who had appeased the people of the West helped them being troubled by the Germans and recouered it for the Romans as also he did Britannie which was vnknowne before and for that cause made his father Claudius triumph without taking any paines for it Nero considered all these and his prudence grounded in olde age with his experience who also had sonnes in the flower of their age to be pledges for his fidelitie that represented their fathers wisedome God as it should seeme euen then disposing something of the whole common wealth Nero sent him to gouerne the armies in Syria greatly encouraging him with faire speeches and promises as at that time neede required Thus he departed out of Achaia where he was with Nero and he commanded Titus his son to leade the fift and tenth legions from Alexandria and he himselfe crossing ouer to Hellespont went after by land into Syria where he assembled all the Roman forces and all the helpe of the kings adioyning that were confederates But the Iewes after Cestius vnfortunate successe became proud of their victorie and could not containe themselues but like men tossed at fortunes pleasure they still gaue more occasion of warre and gathering all their warlike forces togither they went to Ascalon which is an olde Citie seuen hundreth and twentie furlongs distant from Ierusalem which the Iewes alwaies hated for which cause also they first assaulted it The Gouernors in this expedition were three men excellent aboue the rest for strength and wisedome to wit Niger of Peraea Silas the Babylonian and Iohn the Essean Now the Citie of Ascalon had verie strong wals but few men to defend it for it had onely one company of footmen and one band of horsemen whom Antonius gouerned The Iewes made such haste as though they had dwelt hard by Antonius perswading himselfe that they would assault him caused his horsmen to i◅ue foorth of the Citie and neither fearing the multitude nor the malice of his aduersaries he valiantly aboad the first assault of the enemies and beate them backe that attempted to assault the wall So the Iewes who were vnkilfull hauing to doe with them that were expert and they being on foote fighting against horsemen without order against those that were in good order being light◅y armed against their aduersaries who were well prouided were easily repulsed Finally they were more led by rage and wrath then by good counsell and they against whom they fo◅ght were obedient and would doe nothing without the commandement of their leader For their first rankes being broken they were forced by the horsemen to turne their backs and turning themselues to their owne companie who turned toward the wall became as it were enemies to themselues So that euerie one seeking to auoide the horsemen they were all dispersed about the field which was in euerie place for the aduantage of the horsemen This greatly helped the Romans to kill so many Iewes for they that fled were easily ouertaken by the Romans and killed and others compassing diuers of the Iewes about slew them with dartes so that the Iewes were in as great desperation for all their huge multitude as if they had been alone The Iewes indeuouring to ouercome their misfortunes were ashamed to flie and so fled not hastily hoping that fortune would change But the Romans not wearied in that which they did with great dexteritie continued the fight the most part of the day so that there were slaine of the Iewes ten thousand and two of their leaders Iohn and Silas The rest many being wounded followed their Generall Niger who fled into a little towne of Idumaea named Salis many of the Romans also were wounded in that fight But the Iewes were not daunted with this misfortune but the griefe thereof much encreased their courage neither were they dismaied with the former losse of so many men within so short time but rather calling to minde their great victorie they had before were drawne to vndergo yet another mishap Shortly after before the mens wounds were healed they gathered togither all their forces and went againe to Ascalon in greater number and furie but with the same successe and skill in warlike affaires which they had before For Antonius hauing warning which way they meant to come placed an ambush in the waye and the horsemen setting vpon them at vnawares they killed aboue eight thousand of them before they could prepare themselues to fight and all the rest fled and Niger with them shewing as he fled many arguments of a valiant minde and for that the enemies
in the way to their Metropolitane Citie he there intrenched his army and then leauing the fift legion there he with the rest went into the Toparchy of Bethlepâ—…on firing it and all places thereabout as also the borders of Idumaea but he reserued there certaine Castles in fit places and fortified them And hauing taken two townes in the middest of Idumaea to wit Begabri and Caphartopha he slew there aboue ten thousand men and took almost a thousand and driuing out the rest of the inhabitants he left a great part of his army there who made incursions and wasted all the high places thereabout and he with the rest returned to Iamnia and from thence by Samaria and Neapolis called by the inhabitants Mabortha the second day of Iune he came into Corea and pitching his tents there the next day he came to Iericho where one of his captaines named Traian met him with the souldiers he brought from beyond Iordan which place he had conquered But the multitude before the Romans came fled from Iericho into the high countrey ouer against Ierusalem and many that staied behinde were there slaine So he found the Citie desolate being scituate in a plaine vnder a great mountaine that is barren which is of a huge length for it reacheth on the Northside vnto the borders of Scythopolis and on the South vnto the borders of Sodome and the lake Asphaltites It is all rockie and not inhabited because it beareth no fruit Ouer against this neere Iordan is scituate a huge mountaine beginning on the North side at Iulias and reaching vnto Bacra on the South which is the limits of Petra a citie of Arabia In this place is that that is called the mountaine of Iron reaching vnto the countrey of the Moabites The countrey betweene these two mountaines is called the great field reaching from the village Gennabara vnto the lake Asphaltites being in length two hundreth and thirty furlongs and in breadth a hundreth and twentie and in the middest it is deuided by the riuer Iordan There are also two lakes of contrarie natures Asphaltites and Tiberins for one of them is salt and barren but that of Tiberias sweete and fertile This plaine in sommer time is burned with the heat of the sun and the aire is infected in all places thereabouts saue only about those which adioine to Iordan and this is the cause that the palme trees that grow about the riuer side doe flourish most and are more fertile then the rest Neere vnto Iericho there is a large great fountaine which plentifully watereth the fields therabout runneth with a great stream out of the ground neere vnto the olde Citie which Iosue the son of Nun generall of the Hebrewes tooke by war the first of all that he tooke in the land of Canaan It is reported that in the beginning the waters of this fountaine did destroy all fruits of the earth and also made women be deliuered before their time and to infect all places with diseases the plague and afterward by Helizaeus the successor of Heliâ—… â—…as made sweet and fertile Who being once curteously entertained by the inhabitants of Iericho did so reward them and all the countrey for that their kindnesse and going vnto the fountaine he cast a pitcher full of salt into the water and hard by lifting vp his hands to heauen tempering with the fountaine water certaine sweet waters he praied God to qualifie the rage thereof to make it flow with more sweet streams and befought God to giue a better aire vnto the fountaine which both might cause plentie of fruits and also of children vnto the inhabitants that the water might haue y e vertue to make women fertile so long as they persisted in piety After these praiers with his hands he altered the fountaine according to the knowledge he had and from that time this fountaine which before was the cause of famine and sterilitie was now the cause of plentie and fertilitie And it so watereth the ground that where a little of it commeth it doth more good then all the other waters which lie long vpon it and so they that water their grounds but a little with it receiue much fruits and they that water their grounds with it much doe not receiue them in that measure yet it watereth a greater compasse of ground then other fountaines and in length it runneth thorow a plaine seuentie furlongs long and twentie broad There are most pleasant goodly Orchards and many sorts of palme trees growing by brooks sides which are diuers in the taste of their fruits the fattest whereof being pressed doe yeeld a iuice like hony nothing inferiour to other hony yet there is great store of hony in that countrey and the iuice of balme which is more prâ—…ous then all fruits growing There grow also Cypres trees myrobalans so that one may iustly call that part of the earth diuine where what fruit soeuer is most deere and pretious is in most abundance Also in all other fruits it surpasseth all countries in the world for it multiplieth and increaseth all things sooner there The cause hereof I iudge to be the pleasant waters and warme nourishing aire which as it were inuiteth all things to spring vp and then encreaseth them and the moisture causeth all things to take firme roote and also defendeth them from drought in sommer time when that countrey is vexed with such intolerable heates that all things are as it were scorched so that nothing then will grow yet if they be watered with water drawne before sun rise by the blowing of a milde temperat winde they are refreshed and it receiues a contrarie nature in winter time it is as it were luke warme temperate to them that go into it The aire of that place is so temperate that when it snoweth in other parts of Iudaea and is extreme colde the inhabitants in this place doe only weare a linnen garment This countrey is distant from Ierusalem a hundreth and fiftie furlongs and threescore from Iordan and all the ground betweene it and Ierusalem 〈◊〉 desart and stonie and so likewise betweene it and Iordan and Asphaltites though it be lower ground then the other Thus we haue sufficiently declared the fertilitie of Iericho CHAP. V. The description of the lake Asphaltites IT is worth the labour to describe the lake Asphaltites which is salt and sterile yet whatsoeuer is cast into it how weightie soeuer it be it swimmeth aboue the water so that one though he would vpon purpose cannot scarcely sinke vnto the bottome Vespasian comming thither to see it caused some to be taken who could not swimme and their handes to be bound behind them and cast into the midst thereof and all of them did swimme aloft being as it were borne vp by the power of some spirit Moreouer it is admirable how this lake thrice in euerie day changeth colour and shineth diuersly
these speeches he ioyfully yeelded vp the Ghost It is most true therefore which we at first affirmed to wit that the enduring of paines and torments is wrought by our reasons lore which once determined and resolued maketh a prosperous suffering of paines with all patience who wisely aduising men to that which is best doth settle confirme our opinions to follow it If therefore reason and the inferiour powers be at variance we must subiect them to reason if we will make a perfect victorie With this guide of reason our father Eleazar was most safely directed neither to be ouercome with paines nor to giue place vnto vnlawfull enticements and allurements he saued the ship of his bodie from all shipwracke that might arise by the tempestuous stormes of vanitie and suffered himselfe with no contrarie winde to be driuen from the right course yea though it was tossed vpon the waues of tyrannie yet did it remaine sound and vnbroken and keeping a direct course arriued in the hauen of saluation Neuer any man did seeke so valiantly to defend his Citie from an enemie as this holy olde man did his soule who amongst stripes crosses and flames was still the same man he was before For as the toppe of a high rocke standeth sase and resisteth the waue without any domage vnto it selfe euen so did the rocke of reason in this man beat backe the rage of those tempestuous waues that did beat against his bodie not permitting them to breake in and pierce the celestiall and diuine power of the soule O happie olde man more blessed then all of thy age O priest more sacred then all other priests who didst not pollute thy sacred lips with prophane meats impietie found no entrance that way from whence so many praiers to God had proceeded The tyrants cruelty could not preuaile against thee thou therfore art made an example for all priests of God to imitate Such a one behooued it a priest to be more strong then torments more able to suffer then the torturers to inflict punishment more forcible then princes commands yea and more potent then the fire wherein thou didst perish and finally thou wast ordained to be crowned with the lawrell of martyrdome for thy sufferance Thou hast surpassed all antiquitie thou shalt be an example to all posterity If then feeble olde age wherein al strength and heat of bodie was extinguished now vnfit to suffer torments as being alreadie broken with age could by the aduice of reason endure so many torments so many miseries who dare denie reason to be the chiefe cause of our sufferance We haue seene that all cruelty hath beene ouercome by a determination to persist in the seruice and feare of God yet many affirme that not all men who vse the aduice of reason are able to vndergoe such agonies but their assertion is vaine and of no force for most euident it is that he onely is ouercome by paine whom wisedome hath not armed with patience And no maruaile if he who rashly enterprise so waightie a matter and with due consideration do at last forsake and repent himselfe of that which he so vnaduisedly vndertooke But if we with due aduice and deliberation arme ourselues it is not an easie matter to remoue vs by any misfortune from our determination when we make account that misfortune will betide vs we are not easily dismaied thereat when it doth beride for that nothing befell vs that we expected not Therefore he that is wise and valiant is able to conquer his passions for that he doth well deli berate and when he commeth to his agony can put his determination in execution Neither is the wisedome of this olde man so much to be admired seeing children and as it were infants haue so deserued commendations in this point that they did worke astonishment in their tormentors for the courage and crueltie of Antiochus being ouercome by the wisedome of old age was now the more increased and by wicked counsell caused seuen worthie children of the Hebrews to be brought vnto Antioch out of their Castle Sosandrum who being young in yeeres and so as hee thought weake and vnable to suffer torments his hope was that either by perswasions or terror of tortures he might force them to renounce their religion He therefore commaunded these seuen together with their mother Salomona who now grew well in yeeres to bee brought before him so they according to his commaund were brought being of excellent beautie and worthie children of so vertuous a mother yea they resembled angels their faces shining like the cleare light of the Sunne their eyes sparkled in most comely and decent maner as testifying that they surpassed in vertue al other of humane race and condition Shee was descended of most vertuous and noble parentage and so shee her selfe had continued and liued but that excellent feature of body enriched with nobilitie of bloud and dignitie was now also made more noble by vertue and fortitude wherein shee passed all other things that could bee said in her commendations The tyrant beholding them and their mother amongst them with merrie and gladsome countenance hee thus craftily spake vnto the children I wish your good O admirable young-men for so both your beautie of body and noble parentage perswade me doe not therefore like mad men resist my commaund auoide not onely torments but death also For I desire not onely to exalt you vnto honour but also to increase your riches and possessions contemne the superstitious and superfluous beliefe of your Countrimen and imbrace our religion Which if you refuse to doe as I hope you will not I will deuise all torments whereby I may by a lingering and paineful death consume you And to the end to terrifie them the more he commaunded all instruments of torment to bee presented vnto their view and eye-sight So wheeles roddes hookes rakes rackes caudrons cagâ—… gridirons were brought forth and engines to torment the fingers and hands gauntlets awles bellowes brazen pots and frying pans for these are the names which we find For that which I terme bellowes was a thinne plate of yron to kindle or blow the fire with like a fanne and farre more horrible deuises of torments were shewed vnto them too long to rehearse whereof they hauing had a sight Antiochus said Consent vnto me O prudent young men for if that I commaund you to commit a sinne yet doe you not offend in doing it seeing you commit it onely vpon compulsion But the young youthes inflamed with a diuine spirit and sense contemned so many kinds of torments and despised the tyrants threates and flatteries and most godly for they gaue him no iust occasion they did driue the tyrant into a greater rage And by this it is euident how reason is maister ouer passion for if any slouthful man not before trained vp to it should of a sodaine come to such a push at the verie sight of such torments