had not such successe as he hoped for he came to Rome and brought Ionathas and the rest bound with him thinking that no more inquirie would be made of the false accusations inuented by himselfe But Vespasian suspecting the matter made diligent inquirie to know the truth and finding these crimes iniuriously imposed vpon those men at Titus intreatie he acquited them and punished Ionathas according to his desert who being first whipped was afterward burned aliue And Catullus at that time by reason of the mildnesse of the Emperours had nothing said vnto him but not long after he fell into a grieuous disease and was cruelly tormented not onely in bodie but also in mind For he was greatly terrified and still imagined to see the ghostes of them whom hee had so vniustly slaine readie to kill him so that hee cried out and not able to containe himselfe lept out of his bed as though hee had beene tortured with torments and fire And this disease dayly increasing on his guts and bowels rotting and issuing out of him at last he died in this manner leauing behind him an euident argument that the diuine iustice doth punish impious malefactors And this is the end of the Historie which we promised to bee set downe with all fidelitie for them that are desirous to know the euent of the warres betweene the Iewes and the Romanes And as for our stile we leaue it to the iudgement of the Reader but touching the veritie of the Historie it is such as no man neede to doubt of for I doe affirme that to bee the onely scope which I aymed at in this whole worke The end of the seuenth and last Booke of Flauius Iosephus of the Warres of the Iewes THE FIRST BOOKE OF FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS THE SONNE OF MATTHIAS WRITTEN AGAINST APION AS TOVCHING THE ANTIQVITIE OF THE IEWES ISuppose O thou worthiest amongst worthie men Epaphroditus that I haue sufficiently testified vnto them who shall reade those bookes which I haue written as touching the autentique historie of the Iewes that our nation is most auncient and that they haue had their originall from themselues and haue from the first beginning inhabited that Countrie whereof they are now possessed at this present To which effect I haue gathered out of our sacred writings and published in the Greeke tongue a Historie containing the occurrences of fiue thousand yeeres And for that I see their are diuers who being too much addicted and seduced by the scandalous blasphemies and reports which some of those who are Iewdly affected towards vs haue published against vs haue misconceited and misbeleeued that which I haue written of our antiquitie and labour to approue our nation to bee moderne because none of the most auncient and most renowmed Historio graphers among the Grecians haue thought our auncestors worthie to bee enrowled in their writings I haue for these causes held it a part of my dutie to write som short treatise hereupon both to reproue the euill intent and affected lying of those our calumners as also to correct their ignorance by teaching those who are desirous to know the truth what the originall of our motion is For proofe whereof I will reduce no other testimonie then those who from antiquitie haue beene iudged worthie of credite among the Greekes laying open before their eyes that they who haue slaunderously and falsely written against vs are conuicted by their owne mouthes I will also enforce my selfe to expresse the causes wherein verie few Grecians haue made mention of vs in their Histories and moreouer I will make it knowne to those that are ignorant either in effect or in pretence who they haue beene that omitted not our Historie First of all therefore I doe not a little maruaile at those who in respect of antiquitie suppose that the truth ought onely to be gathered from the Greekes and that they iustly may claime the honour and knowledge of faithfull writing whereat they neither vouchsafe either vs or any others the credite or truth in that wee set downe although I am able to proue that all things haue fallen out quite contrarie For which cause it behoueth vs not to looke vnto mens various opinions but to examine that which is right and gather the same by the effects For all that whatsoeuer is set downe by the Greekes is new and of late memorie and hath beene brought to execution in a maner but yesterday I meane the foundations of Cities the inuentions of Arts and the descriptions of Lawes and the latest practise amongst them hath beene and is the diligent trauaile in Historie But among the Aegyptians Chaldeis and Phoenicians for I presume not to compare my countrimen with them as they themselues confesse the memorie of their writings is most ancient and infallible For all these nations dwell in such countries as are not subiect to the corruption of aire and haue carefully prouided that none of those things that haue been done by them should sleepe in obscuritie but should be kept in memorie in the publike writings of the learnedest men Whereas innumerable corruptions haue crept in among the Greeks by which the memorie of things forepassed is defaced But they alwaies who haue established new estates haue each of them supposed in their owne behalfe that whosoeuer was of theirs he was the first of the world Yet notwithstanding they haue had the knowledge of the nature of letters verie late and haue attained the same with verie great difficultie For they that speake of the most auncient vse of the same doe boast and glorifie themselues that they haue receiued the knowledge thereof from the Phoenicians and Cadmus Yet notwithstanding there is not any one of them that can shew any record of that time either in their temple or in their publike registers whereas after there arose a great doubt and question whether those letters were in vse during their time who sithence haue for the space of many yeeres continued the siege before Troy And in sooth their opinion who affirme that they were ignorant of the vse of those letters which are at this present allowed and accustomed amongst vs is not to be refused For it is most manifest that there is not any writing extant among the Greekes that is more auncient then Homers poesie which as it is most manifest hath bin in allowance and continuance since the time of the siege of Troy and yet it is reported that he left no part of that his poesie in writing which was composed of diuers songs and onely sung by roate by which meanes it came to passe that there are so many contradictions in the same And as touching those who haue vndertaken to write histories among them I meane Cadmus the Milesian and Acusilaus the Argiue and after him if there were any others they were not aliue but verie little time before the passage of the Persians into Greece Furthermore they who among the Greekes were the
a tumult begun in Syria He also recordeth the greatnesse of our countrey and the fertilitie thereof they inhabite quoth he a countrey that hath almost thirtie hundreth thousand acres of most fertile ground for Iurie is of this largenesse that in time past we inhabited a large and very great citie which was verie populous he speaketh also of the building of our temple in this manner The Iewes haue many other townes and villages in euerie prouince but they haue one most strong citie the compasse of whose wals is fiftie stounds and in it inhabite a hundred and fiftie thousand men and this citie they called Ierusalem in the midst of it is a building of stone with foure porches a hundreth cubits about it hath also double gates wherein is a foure squared Altar made of vnhewen stones ioyned together and it is twentie cubites square euerie way and ten cubites high and about it is a most huge building where in is an Altar and a Candlesticke both of gold weighing two talents and there is kept a continuall light night and day which neuer goeth forth therein is no Image nor gift notrees nor wood growing there nor any thing of this sort Therein inhabite Priests both night and day celebrating certaine purifications and they drinke no wine in the Temple Moreouer he shewed how our nation warred vnder Alexanders successors and he reporteth that which he heard of a certaine Iew in the armie and I will set downe the Authors owne words As I went quoth he to the red Sea a certaine Iewe one of the horsemen that conducted vs named Mosollamus who was a couragious man and one who excelled all archers else both Greeks and other nations This Iewe euerie one hasting on forward of his iourney and being willed by a southsayer to stand he asked for what cause the multitude staied and went not forward presently the Southsayer shewed him a bird which hee diligently viewed and told the Iewe that if that bird did stand still in the place that then it was expedient for them to stand and if the bird did mount vp and flie that then they ought to march on forward but if it flew towards the place from whence they came that then it was wisedome to retire The Iewe hereat was silent yet drawing his bow hee shot an arrow and killed the bird whereat the Southsayer and certaine other were offended and cursed him But he taking the vnhappie bird in his hand said vnto them Are yee so mad as to thinke that this bird not hauing the foresight to preserue her selfe from this death is able to direct vs in the successe of our iourney Had this bird foreknowne future euents shee would haue eschewed this place for dread that Mosollamus a Iewe should haue strucken her with an arrow But wee will now leaue the testimonie of Hecataeus for euerie one that list may reade his booke and there vnderstand this more at large I will not omit the testimonie of Agatarchides a man of no euill in his owne opinion yet indeed one who hath vsed detraction to our owne nation This man speaking of Stratonice how leauing her husband Demetrius shee came into Syria and how Seleucus would not marrie her as shee hoped who hauing an armie at Babylon warred against Antioch and had taken the Citie and that shee fled into Seleucia where as she might haue made a more speedie escape by water but that shee was forwarned in a sleepe so to do that she was there taken and died c. Agatarchides hauing vsed this Preface and inueighed against Stratonices superstition he vseth an example of our nation in this manner The people that are called Iewes inhabite a most strong Citie which they call Ierusalem these people are wont to rest vpon the seuenth day and doe neither beare armes nor till their grounds nor doe anie other businesse vpon that day but their custome is to remaine in their Temple and there with stretched out armes continue in praier till night And so vpon a time they perseuering in that foolerie whilest they should haue defended their Citie Ptolomaeus Lagus entered it with many people and a great armie who greatly tyrannized ouer them and so they found by experience that the solemnitie appointed by their law was preiudiciall vnto them such like Churches as this did teach them and all nations else to flie vnto dreames which their law teacheth neuer considering that humane pollicie cannot preuaile against that which must necessarily happen Agatarchides thought this which he reporteth of vs to be ridiculous but they who weigh it with indifferencie shall perceiue that it is great commendation to our nation who rather suffer their Countrie and our saftie to be lost and endamaged then to violate the lawes of God I thinke I am thus able to shew that many writers omitted to make mention of our nation not for that they knew vs not but for enuie For Ierome who writ a booke of succession in the same time that Hecataeus liued who was a friend vnto King Antigonus and being president of Syria neuer mentioneth vs in all his Historie notwithstanding he was brought vp almost in our Countrie But Haecataeus writ a booke of vs so different are the minds of men for one of them thought our nation worthie to bee diligently recorded the other through malice was hindred from speaking the truth yet the Histories of the Chaldies Aegyptians and Phaenicians may suffice to proue our antiquitie together with the Greeke writers for besides those before mentioned Theophrastus also Theodotus Manaseas Ariphanes Hermogenes Euemeus Conon Zopyrion and many others no doubt for I haue not perused all mens bookes haue manifestly restified of vs. For many of the foresaid men were blinded with errors as not hauing gread our holy Scriptures yet they all ioyntly testifie our antiquitie for which I now alleadge them Truely Demetrius Phalereus Philon the elder and Eupolemus did not much erre from the truth and therefore reason it is that they should be borne with alâ—… for they were not so skilful as to search our writings with so much curiositie Being come thus farre it resteth that I now present one point more wherof I made mention in the beginning of this booke to wit that I declare the detractions and slaunderous reports of diuers concerning our nation to be false and voide of truth and I will vse the testimonie of those writers who record that the lying Historiographers at such time as they committed to writing the foresaid detractions did also euen against themselues register such like slaunders as they did against vs. And I doubt not but that all those who are conuersant in Histories can testifie that the like hath beene done by most writers for certaine priuate hatred or such like respects For some of the Gentiles haue attempted to deface the honour and reputation of the most renowmed Cities and to defame the manners of their Inhabitants Thus did Theopompus
him whom you your selues haue chosen surpassing all the rest in valour For whereas there are diuers commanders it falleth out that that which ought necessarily and readily to be executed is hindered and commonly the issue is vnfortunate where there are diuers commanders Let your army be generally leuied of men that are strong in body and hardie in courage and sequester from your armie him that is fearefull least such men hapning to flie when they ought to fight do giue your enemies the aduantage Let them also be free from warre who hauing built them a new house haue not enioyed the same for a yeares space as also he that hath planted a vineyard and hath not gathered the fruit thereof and besides these he that hath wedded a wife and hath not as yet brought her home to his house least being transported with the desire of these things and reseruing themselues to their forsaken pleasures in the behalfe of their wiues they fight but faintly and coldly But when you haue brought your army into the field take heed you commit no outrage and when you shall assault any Cities if you fortune to haue any need of matter to make engins of grub not the land neither see you cut downe the fruitfull trees but spare them remembring you that they are planted for the good of men and that if they could speake they would accuse you alledging that without cause of warre they are ill intreated against all right and that if they had the power to depart from thence they would dislodge and remoue into another countrey But when the battell is ended and the day is yours kill all those enemies that resisted you in the skirmish the rest reserue as your tributaries except the people of the land of Chanaan for they with all their families are to be ruinated Beware also but especially in warre that neither a woman vse a mans apparrell neither a man a womans raiment These are the lawes which Moses left He gaue them likewise certaine institutions which he had written fortie yeares before that time whereof we will speake in an other treatise Some few daies after for he assembled the people sixe daies one after the other he gaue them his blessing and pronounced his maledictions against those which should not liue according to his lawes but should transgresse the determinations thereof He red also vnto them a Poeme of sixe measures which he had enregistred in the holy booke contayning a prediction of things to come according to which all things haue and doe fall out without varying any waies from the truth and veritie These volumes and the Arke gaue he vnto the Priests in which he also placed the ten commaundements written in the two tables He committed also vnto them the custodie of the Tabernacle He likewise exhorted the people that at such time as by force they had conquered the promised countrey and were planted therein they should not forget the iniurie which the Amalechites had done vnto them but that they should lead forth their army against them and take vengeance of the wrongs they had done them at such time as they were in the desart And commaunded them that as soone as they had taken the countrey of Chanaan they should exterminate and extinguish all the people He willed them also to erect an Altar toward the rising of the sunne not farre from the citie of Sichem betweene two mountaines the one Garizim on the right hand and the other called Gebal on the left and that distributing the people into two parts sixe tribes in euery part they should plant them on the mountaines And he commaunded that the Leuites and Priests should be with them to the intent that they first of all that were vpon the mountaine of Garizim should beseech God that he would multiply his blessings vpon them that should be zealous of his seruice and carefull of the conseruation of his lawes without diuerting from that which Moses had commaunded The sixe other also were appointed to answere the like and when as likewise these six last had praied the sixe first were to answere them and confirme that which they had pronounced This done they pronounced maledictions against the transgressors each one answering other in ratification of that which had beene spoken He reduced also vnder writing these blessings and curses to the intent that the memorie thereof might neuer be suppressed or extinguished by time which he also being neere vnto his death caused to be written in the Altar on the one side thereof in that part which extended it selfe toward the place where the people stood at such time as they sacrificed and offered burnt offerings Since which day there were no more sacrafices offered in that place because it was contrarie to law Thus did Moses establish and these the Hebrewe nation obserue continually and vnuiolably euen vnto this day On the next morrow he reassembled all the people themselues their wiues and children he likewise commaunded that the slaues should be there present binding them by an oth that they should maintaine keepe the lawes and that diligently tying themselues to the will of God they should not so much esteeme either their kinred or meanes of perils or any other cause whatsoeuer as that thereby they should be driuen to neglect their lawes or depart from the ordinances thereof but whether it were any one of their kinred or any Citie whatsoeuer that would seeke to alter and disturbe the same or striue to weaken the estate thereof that both in particular and in publike they should expose themselues and endeuour to punish them and if they should fortune to take such a Citie that they should race and vtterly deface the same and if it were possible not to leaue one stone vpon another but to destroy the foundation But if they were too feeble to take such a reuenge yet that they should make it knowen that they were not consenting to their impietie Hereunto the whole people subscribed and sealed it with an oth He afterwards told them how the people should know when the sacrifice were agreeable vnto God and how they ought to march out to battell taking a signe of the stones of which I haue forespoken Iosuah likewise during the life and in the presence of Moses foreprophecied whatsoeuer he intended to performe for the profit of the people either abroad in the administration of warre or home in prescribing lawes and preparing them to an order of life which was newly prescribed them he told them that by instructions from God he foreprophecied that if they violated their countrey religion they should not escape their destruction for that both their country should be filled with forraine armes and their Cities sackt and their Temple burnt that they themselues should be sold vnder the speare that they should serue a nation which would not be moued or touched with commiseration of their afflictions and miseries and that
altar and to conduct him to the iudgement seat that he might in that place iustifie his actions But Ioab said that he would neuer abandon the Temple but that he had rather die in that place than in another When Banaia had certified the king of this his answer he commanded him to cut off his head in the same place according as he required and that in that sort he should be punished by reason of the two murthers which he had cursedly committed vpon the persons of Abner and Amasa commanding that his bodie should be buried in the same place to the end that his sinnes should neuer depart from his race and that both Dauid and Salomon might be held guiltlesse of the death of Ioab This commaund of his Banaia executed and was afterward made generall of all the men of warre Moreouer the king established Sadoc soly in the place of Abiathar whom he had deposed He commanded Semei also to build him a house in Ierusalem and to keepe himselfe therein without passing the floud of Cedron for if he chanced to breake that commaundement the penaltie which he should incurre should be no lesse then death and to the more serious performance of this his iniunction he tied him by a solemne oath Semei thanked Salomon for the charge he had imposed on him and swore that he would fulfill the same so that forsaking his owne countrey he came and dwelt in Ierusalem where after he had soiourned for the space of three yeeres it hapned that he had newes that two of his fugitiue slaues had fled and retired themselues in Geth whereupon he went to finde them out and no sooner returned he backe againe with them but that the king had intelligence that he had neglected his commandement and that which is more that he had broken that oath which he made vnto God wherewith he was wroth For which cause calling him vnto him he spake after this manner Hast thou not sworne said he that thou wilt no waies abandon or issue out of this Citie to depart into an other Truely thou shalt not escape the penalty of thy periurie but I will see iustice done vpon thee for the same and for those outrages thou didst offer vnto my father during his flight at which time thou didst shew thy selfe to be a wicked man in all things to the end that thou maiest vnderstand that the wicked receiue no priuiledge although that their punishments be for the present deferred but at such time as they suppose themselues to be assured because they haue suffered no punishment their punishment is augmented and made more grieuous then it had been if they had presently beene executed for their offences Whereupon Banaia slew Semei according as he was commanded From that day forward Salomon had his royall estate secured and after that his enemies had receiued condigne punishment he tooke to wife the daughter of Pharao king of Aegypt and afterwards builded the walles of Ierusalem farre greater and more stronger then they were before and all the rest of his life he gouerned his common-weale in peace so that his youthly yeeres hindred him not from the obseruation of iustice and the maintenance of lawes neither excluded the remembrance of that which his father had charged him at the houre of his death but behauing himselfe in all things exactly he executed the affaires of his kingdome with that circumspection that such as excelled him in yeeres and were aduanced in prudence could not surpasse him CHAP. II. Of the wisedome prudence and riches of Salomon and how first of all he builded the Temple in Ierusalem AS soone as he came to Hebron he determined to pay his vowes vnto God on that brazen altar which was erected by Moses and sacrificed thereon in burnt offrings a thousand head of cattell which honourable deuotion of his was most acceptable vnto God For the very same night after he had appeared vnto him in a dreame he commaunded him to aske whatsoeuer blessing as he imagined sufficient to recompence this his pietie But Salomon required a most high and excellent thing which God doth most liberally bestow and men in like sort very happily receiue For he demanded neither gold nor siluer nor any otherkind of riches such as a youthly man would require for these are onely affected by the common sort when the other are onely worthy of the diuine magnificence But giue me said he O Lord a ripe iudgement and a good vnderstanding to the intent that by these meanes I may administer iustice to this people with truth and equitie With this demaund of his God was greatly delighted and promised him to giue him all other things wherof he had made no mention namely riches and glorie and aboue all these such an vnderstanding and wisedome as no one man either king or priuate hath had before him Moreouer that he would continue the kingdome in his family for many ages if so be that he continued in the waies of iustice and obeyed God in all things and walked in his fathers waies in imitating his chiefest vertues After that Salomon had receiued these blessings from God and was made happy by these promises he forsooke his bed and worshipping God returned vnto Ierusalem where he offered great sacrifices before the Tabernacle and magnifically feasted all those of his houshold About the same time a verie difficult iudgement was brought him to decide the resolution whereof was very hard to bee discouered And I haue thought it necessarie to declare the occasions whereon at that present the debate was grounded to the end that the readers may vnderstand the difficultie of the cause in question and that if they happen at any time to be assistant in such like affaires they might draw as it were from the counterfeit of this kings wisedome a perfect modle whereby they may directly shape an answere to such demaunds as shall be offered them Two women of loose and lustfull conuersation came vnto him one of which who seemed to haue suffered the iniurie began after this manner I O king said she and this woman dwell togither in one chamber but so it fortuned that both of vs on one day and at the same houre bare each of vs a sonne some three daies after we were brought a bed this woman lying by her infant hath in sleepe ouerlaid it and stifled it and hath taken my childe from betweene my knees and laid it by her and setled the dead childe whilest I slept in my bosome Now on the morrow when I thought to offer the teate vnto mine infant I found not mine owne but perceiued that her child lay dead by me for I knew it because I had exactly marked it This my childe I haue redemaunded at her hands and because I could not recouer it I haue made my recourse vnto your maiesties iustice O king for in that we were sole women and she is obstinate and feareth not to be
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
haue obeyed him Aristobulus submitted and in discontent repaired to Ierusalem with full intent to prepare for warre Not long after this when as Pompey marched towards him with his army certaine messengers comming from Pontus certified him of Mithridates death who was slaine by his sonne Pharnaces CHAP. VII They of Ierusalem shut their gates against the Romanes WHen Pompey was encamped neere vnto Iericho in which place there were a number of Date trees and where also groweth that balme which is the most precious of all other oyntments distilling from a little shrub which is opened and slit by a sharpe cutting stone the next morning he marched towards Ierusalem At that time Aristobulus being sorie for his misbehauiour came vnto him offering him money and promising him to receiue him into Ierusalem he besought him that dismissing publike enmities and quarrels he would peaceably doe what him listed hereafter Whereupon Pompey pardoned him and condescended to his request and sent Gabinius with his soldiers both to receiue the money as also to enter the citie but his purpose failed him in both for Gabinius returned because he was excluded out of the citie neither receiued he any money for that Aristobulus soldiers would not permit that any promise should be performed Hereupon Pompey waxed wroth so that after he had committed Aristobulus to prison he went in person against the citie which was strongly fortified on euerie side except toward the quarter that extendeth northward which was easie to be beaten downe for this side is inuironed with a large and deepe valley compassing the temple which is inclosed with a meruailous strong wall of stone CHAP. VIII Pompey taketh the Temple and lower part of the Citie perforce BVt within the Citie there grew a diuision and faction by reason of the difference and dissident opinions of those that kept the same for some thought good to yeeld vp the citie into Pompeies hands othersome that were of Aristobulus faction counsailed that the gates should be kept shut and preparation for warre should be made for that the Romanes detained Aristobulus prisoner These later preuailing more then the rest seazed the temple and breaking downe the bridge which was betwixt it the Citie addressed themselues to stand on their defence But the others not onely deliuered the Citie into Pompeies hands but the royall pallace also who sent Piso his lieutenant thither with his forces to take possessiō therof to plant his garrisons therein and to fortify the houses neere adioining the temple whatsoeuer conuenient habitation without the walles First therefore Piso offered the besieged certaine conditions of peace which for that they refused he fortified and shut them in on euerie side being in all these his indeuours assisted by Hircanus On the out side of the Citie Pompey incamped with his army on the north part of the temple which was the easiest and meetest side to be assaulted on this side also there were certaine high towers and a huge trench besides a deepe valley tha◅ begirt the temple For towards the citie all waies and passages were so broken vp that no man could either go vp or downe and the bridge was taken away on that side where Pompey was encampt Each day did the Romanes trauell earnestly to raise a mount and cutting downe all the timber round about them hauing fitly applied the same the trench being fild vp although very hardly by reason of the incredible depth thereof the Rammes and Engines that were brought from Tyre were addressed with which they inforced and darted stones against the temple and had not the ordinance of the countrey commaunded to keepe the Sabbath which was the seuenth day of the weeke holy and to labour in no sort on that day the Romans had neuer bin able to haue raised their bulwarke if they within the temple had opposed themselues against them For the law permitteth to defend themselues against their enemies at such time as they are assailed vrged to fight but not assaile them when they intend any other worke Which when the Romanes vnderstood they neither gaue assault nor proffered skirmish on those daies which we call Sabbaths but they built their fortifications and towers and planted their engines so that the next day they were readie to put them in vse against the Iewes And hereby it is easie to coniecture how incredible the piety of our nation is how studious industrious they be in obseruing the diuine lawes For notwithstanding any present or imminent feare yet desisted they neuer to offer their solemne sacrifices but twice a day in the morning about the ninth houre the Priests offered vpon the altar notwithstanding any difficultie or daunger of the siege that might happen they omitted not the course of their oblations For at such time as the temple was taken in the third moneth and on a fasting day in the hundreth seuentie nine Olympiade in the yeere wherein Caius Antonius and Marcus Tullius Cicero were Consuls the enemy entred the temple by force and slue those that withstood them Yet notwithstanding all this the priests ceased not to exercise their accustomed sacrifice and neither the hazard of their liues nor the great number of those that were dead could force them to fly but that they held it more conuenient for them to indure all things that might happen in attending vpon the Altar thē to transgresse or vary one iot from their ordinances And that this may seeme to be no fable or praise of their dissembled deuotion but the exact and perfect truth all those that write the Histories concerning Pompey and his actes do witnesse no lesse amongst the number of which are Strabo Nicholas Titus Liuius the Romane Historiographer the most famous among the rest The greatest of those towers was battered by these engines and fell bearing a great pane of the wall to the earth with it which was the cause that the enemies in multitudes brake in by the breach The first that ascended the wal was Cornelius Faustus the sonne of Sylla with his soldiers After him mounted the Centurion Furius accompanied with those that followed him on the other side and thorow the midst of the breach did the Centurion Fabius enter with a strong squadron The whole circuite was filled with murthers and some of the Iewes died by the Romanes swords other some slue one another the rest cast themselues downe headlong from the steepie places many likewise set fire on their houses and consumed themselues therein for feare they should behold the executions that were performed by their enemies There died about twelue thousand Iewes and verie few Romanes Absolom also who was Aristobulus father in law and vncle was taken prisoner The religion of the temple likewise was not a little prophaned For whereas before that time no prophane man eyther entered or beheld that which was in the temple Pompey and diuers others that accompanied him entred the
Agrippa had not beene in Rome For he seeing that the matter was handled to the disaduantage of the Iewes besought Agrippina the Emperours wife that she would labour her husband in such sort that he would be pleased to take full knowledge of that which was done and that afterwards he should execute due iustice on those whom he found guiltie of that sedition Claudius fauourably gaue eare to this request and hearing the whole matter he found that the Samaritanes were the first authors of all those mischiefes and caused them to be put to death who came before him to pleade and banished Cumanus he gaue order also that captaine Celer should be sent backe to Ierusalem and that there in sight of all the people he should be dragged about the Citie vntil he died Furthermore he sent Claudius Foelix Pallas brother to gouerne Iudaea In the twelfth yeere of his raigne he gaue Agrippa Philips Tetrarchy with Batanea and besides that annexed thereunto Trachonitis and Abila which in times past appertained to Lysanias Tetrarchy taking from him the prouince of Chalcis which he had gouerned for the space of foure yeeres After that Agrippa had obtained this gift at Caesars hands he married his sister Drusilla to Azizus king of the Emesenians who consented to be circumcised because Epiphanes king Antiochus sonne would not giue care vnto the marriage for that he refused to entertaine the religion of the Iewes although in times past he had promised his father no lesse He gaue Mariamme also to Archelaus Chelcias sonne who by her fathers consent was before time promised him on whom he begat a daughter called Bernice A little after this the marriage of Azizus and Drusilla was broken off on this occasion following At such time as Foelix gouerned Iewrie he saw Drusilla and was surprised with her loue for that she surpassed all other women in beautie He therefore sent her a certaine Magician called Simon who was borne in Cypris and one of his greatest friends among the Iewes who perswaded her to forsake her first husband and to marrie with Foelix giuing her to vnderstand that she should be happy if she refused not this match She vnaduised and resolued to rid her selfe from the enuious affection which her sister Bernice bare towards her who hated her in regard of her beautie and for this occasion ceased not to iniurie her she condiscended to forsake the religion of the Iewes and to marrie with Foelix by whom she had a sonne who was called Agrippa His death hereafter will I declare and how in the Emperour Tiberius time he died and was burned in the fire of the mountaine Veâ—…ius with his wife Bernice remained a widow verie long time after Herodes death who was both her vncle and her husband and the report was that she had the company of her brother Finally she wrought so much that Polemon king of Cilicia caused himselfe to be circumcised to the end he might espouse her purposing by that means to make it knowne how falsely she had been accused Wherunto Polemon gaue eare because she was rich But this marriage continued not any long time For Bernice thorow her impudencie as it is reported abandoned Polemon who giuing ouer that marriage forsooke also the religion of the Iewes At the same time Mariamme hauing refused Archelaus her husband married with Demetrius one of the chiefest Iewes that were in Alexandria both in regard of his descent as also his riches who at that time also exercised the office of Alubarcha that is to say the gouernour of Arabia She caused the sonne she had by him to be called Agrippinus But of all this will I speake more exactly hereafter The Emperour Claudius died after he had raigned thirteene yeeres eight moneths and twentie daies Some say that he was poisoned by Agrippina his wife the daughter of Germanicus Claudius brother which was first married to Domitius Oenobarbus one of the greatest men of Rome after whose death and long widowhood she was finally married to Claudius into whose house she brought her sonne called Domitius by his owne fathers name Claudius had before time put Messalina his wife to death for the iealousie that he had of her although he had had children by her namely Britannicus and Octauius He had Octaâ—…ia also by his first wife Paetina which was elder then her brethren and was married to Nero whom Claudius so named and adopted for his sonne Agrippina fearing least Britannicus growing to mans estate should succeed his father in the Empire and desirous to make her owne sonne Emperor as it is reported she left nothing vnattempted that might bring her husband to his death and presently sent Bâ—…rrus who was generall of the army with certaine other captains and those of greatest power amongst his freemen to bring Nero into the field and to proclaime him Emperour He being thus established in the Empire caused Britannicus to be secretly poisoned and not long after this he openly caused his mother to be put to death yeelding her this recompence not onely for that she had borne him in her wombe but also for that by her pollicies he had obtained the Empire He likewise murthered Octauia his wife and diuers other noble men vnder colour of some conspiracie intended against him But I will no further prosecute this matter for that there are diuers who haue composed Neros historie of whom some haue had no regard of the truth but haue spoken at their pleasure for that he had been their benefactor othersome transported with hatâ—…ed and despite against him haue not been ashamed to publish such impudent lies against his renowne as they deserue to be condemned Neither doe I wonder that they haue inuented so many lies against Nero considering that in those histories which they wrote as touching the precedent Emperours they haue not studied to speake truth although they had not any occasion to hate them considering that they liued a long time after their death But let these contemners of truth write as them listeth for that they seeme to take delight in that licence For mine owne part I am intended to write nothing but the truth neither stand I much on that which concemeth not the matter which I intreat of purposing in all truth and diligence to declare that which hath befallen our nation of the Iewes without omitting of either their misfortunes or follies that haue proceeded with them I will therefore returne to the discouerie of our affaires Azizus king of Emesene being dead the first yeere of the Emperour Neros raigne his brother obtained the kingdome Aristobulus the sonne of Herode king of Chalcis had the gouernment of the signiorie of the lesser Armenia from Neros hands Caesar gaue Agrippa a certaine portion of Galilee commanding those of Tiberias and Tarichaea to liue vnder him Besides this he gaue him Iulias scituate beyond Iordan with fourteene burroughs neere adioyning thereunto CHAP.
an office of kindnes from a friend For by giuing we bewray our well wishing and by receiuing we proportion and continue frendship vpon this ground I praie you build the good entertainment of my present and nourish this good custome in me which was vsuall both amongst Grecians and Latins I meane my translation which if it please you I haue my wish As for my maligners I expect no worse from them then Iason the Thassalian who being assailed and wounded by an enemie who had an intent to kill him had an impostumation opened that saued his life their stabbe and stroke of disgrace shall cure and heale the hidden and neglected infirmities of my minde and notwithstanding I shall both Genio ingenio liue to loue you and lament their want of char◅ie Thus heartelie commending me I hastilie take my leaue being tied prentize of late to other mens importunities Your louing Friend Tho. Lodge THE FIRST OF THOSE SEVEN BOOKES WHICH WERE WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS THE SONNE OF MATTHIAS AS TOVCHING THE WARRE AND DESTRVCTION OF THE IEWES THE PRAEFACE In which the Author taxeth diuers Historiographers of vntruth and declareth his intent and specifieth the principall points of this Historie FOr as much as the warre which was enterprised betwixt the Iewes and Romans hath amongst all other beene the greatest that either hath beene attempted in our age or heard of in any other either between citie or citie or nation against nation there haue beene some who rather building their discourse on the vaine and improbable report of others then their owne iudgements haue according to the manner of orators made a historie of their hearsay and haue filled their discourses not only with vanitie but also with cōtradiction Others there were who for that they were eie witnesses or actors of the same haue according to their own fancies preferred many lies either to flatter the Romanes or exercise their hatred against the Iewes forging somewhiles accusations otherwhiles breaking out into praises without any obseruation of historicall veri◅e For this cause I Ioseph the sonne of Matthias by birth an Hebrew and a citizen and priest of Ierusalem who in the beginning of these wars bare armes against the Romanes and afterwards being therunto forced by necessitie was present at all those things which were attempted and prosecuted in those warres haue thought good to discourse in the Greeke tongue in fauour of all those who acknowledge the soueraigntie of the Romane Empire all that which heretofore in my owne language I haue imparted to those Barbarians that inhabit the East For at such time as I haue alreadie spoken as these most bitter and busie warres tooke their beginning the Romans were at ciuill warres among themselues and as touching the Iewes who were in yeeres valiant and in wits turbulent they being both strong in power and rich in money did so insolently abuse the time that being animated by the greatnes of those seditions and troubles haue somewhiles swamme in hope sometimes sweltered in feare of possessing or losing certaine soueraignties in the East For the Iewes hope was that all those of their nation euen they who inhabited the parts beyond Euphrates would haue both followed them in their rebellion and seconded their follies with their forces Moreouer at that time the Frenchmen who bordered vpon the Romans suffered them not to liue in peace and the Germanes also began to take armes Finally after the death of Nero seditions raigned euery where so that by reason of the oportunitie of these times many men went about to make themselues kings and the souldiers whetted on with the couetous desire of gaine desired nothing more then trouble and alteration For which cause I thinke it a matter both worthy reproofe and ill beseeming my reputation if in so waightie affaires I should suffer the truth to be smothered in incertainties and should permit the Parthians Babylonians and the furthest distant Arabians and those of our nation inhabiting beyond Euphrates togither with the Adiabenites to obtain the true knowledge of those euents by mine industrie whilest the Grecians diuers of those who haue not born armes with the Romans being distracted with factions deceiued by adulation should be ignorant hereof Yet some of these there be who notwithstanding their false informations stick not to write histories not only void of all truth but also no waies answerable to their subiect which they vndertake For whilest they labour to dignifie and extoll the Romans they altogither suppresse the fame and fortunes of the Iewes yet cannot I coniecture by what meanes they maie be held great who triumph in the conquest of men so obscure and abiect Nay whilest they thus extol the Romans valour in conquering the Iewes they nothing at all respect the continuance of the wars nor the multitude of the Roman souldiers nor the honour of their captaines whose titles are much embased if they hauing laboured so much to conquer Ierusalem should haue any thing derogated from the honour and prosperitie of their attempts For mine owne part I am not resolued to contradict those who shall enhance the glorie and noble actions of the Romans neiher to extol and dignifie the deserts of mine owne nation but my resolution is in all truth and sinceritie to set downe each occurrent without respect or partialitie towards either part In performance whereof I will fashion my discourse according to the matter I entreat of and as my griefe and sorrow shall inuite me to lament the miseries of my countrey For the ciuill dissension that dismembred the same was the cause that brought it to confusion and those tyrants that raigned amongst vs were such who forcibly drew the Romans with sword and sire to seeke the desolation of our holy temple The truth whereof Titus Caesar himselfe can iustifie who destroied the same and who during all those warres still pitied the people for that they as he well perceiued were kept in awe by ◅he seditious And who oftentimes of his owne accord deferred the surprisall of the Citie purposely protracting the siege to the intent that in the meane time the authors of the sedition and bloudie wars might haue leasure to repent and submit themselues Now if any man thinke that I write this as one that exclaimeth against the tyrants and their the eueries or that in bewailing the miseries of my lost countrey I accuse their villanies and thereby transgresse the limits of a historie let it be imputed to my griefe and so pardoned For amongst all the Cities that were euer gouerned by the Romans our Citie onely attained to the top of felicitie which now alas is brought into extreame miserie captiuitie and desolation Nay if all the misfortunes calamities which the world from the beginning hath seene be compared with the infelicitie and fall of the Iewes they are slight and of no moment And to increase our sorrow no forrainers but our owne familiar friends and
temple All which I wil recount without any dissimulation or swaruing from the truth of historie After this I will relate what cruelty the tyrants vsed against their own countrimen what humanitie the Romans shewed towards strangers and how oftentimes Titus who desired the safetie both of the Citie and Temple prouoked and inuited the seditious to mutual amitie Furthermore I wil report how the people of the Iewes after these many and grieuous wounds which they both suffered and suncke vnder sometimes by warre otherwhiles by sedition and many times by hunger were at length ouerthrowne to their vtter confusion Neither wil I omit the slaughter of such as reuolted neither the punishment inflicted on those that were captiue but I will set downe how the temple was burned against Caesars will and what an infinit masse of sacred treasure was deuoured by the fire But to shut vp the historie I will annex the surprisall of the Citie and what signes and wonders hapned before the same the captiuitie also of the tyrants themsel◅es and the number of those that were led away into captiuitie and what miserie euerie one of them end◅red how the Romans continuing their wars vtterly raced the fortresses of their captiues finally how Titus in trauailing thorow the whole countrey established a for me of gouernment therein and afterward returning into Italy triumphed with much honour All these things haue I comprehended in seuen bookes indeuouring as much as in me lieth to flie and auoide all occasion of reproofe and reprehension from those men who knew these affaires and were actors in the warres All which I haue done for their sakes who rather affect truth then follow their pleasure and according to that order and for me I haue proposed I will begin and prosecute my stile and Historie THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE WARRES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 1. booke 1 The destruction of Ierusalem by Antiochus 2 The succession of Princes from Ionathan vntill Aristobulus time 3 Of Aristobulus Antigonus Iudas Essaeus Alexander Theodore and Demetrius 4 Of the warre attempted betweene Alexander Antiochus and Aretas and of Alexandra and Hircanus 5 Of the warre betweene Hircanus and the Arabians and of the Expugnation of Ierusalem 6 Of the warre of Alexander with Hircanus and Aristobulus 7 Of the death of Aristobulus and the warre of Antipater against Mithridates 8 How Antipater was accused before Caesar and how Hircanus was high priest and Herod beg◅ to make warre 9 Of the dissension of the Romans after Caesars death and of Malichus his deceits 10 How Herod was accused and set free 11 Of the warre of the Parthians against the Iewes and of Herods flight and fortune 12 Of Herods warre for the recouering of Ierusalem after his returne from Rome and how he warred against the theeues 13 Of Iosephus death brother to Herod and how Ierusalem was besieged by the s◅e Herod and how Antigonus was slaine 14 Of the treacherous practises of Cleopatra against Herod and of his warre against the Arabians and of a great earthquake 15 How Herode was confirmed in the peaceable possession of the kingdome of Iudaea by Augustus Caesar. 16 Of the Cities and monuments repaired and builded by Herod and of his felicitie and liberalitie towards strangers 17 Of the discord betwixt Herod and his two sonnes Alexander and Aristobulus 18 Of Antipaters conspiracie against his father Herod 19 How Herod should haue been poisoned and how the treason was discouered 20 How Antipaters practises against Herod were knowne and punished 21 Of the golden Eagle and of Antipater and Herods death CHAP. I. How Ierusalem was destroied by Antiochus AT such time as Antioch◅ surnamed Epiphanes made warre against Sextus Pompeius for the whole gouernment of Syria there arose a sedition among the Iewes wherein euerie one indeuoured himselfe to haue the soueraignty ouer others and those of chiefest authoritie and nobilitie amongst the rest disdained to submit themselues to such as were their equals At that time a certaine man called Onias who was one of the high priests hauing gotten the vpper hand did driue the sonnes of To◅ias out of the Citie who flying to Antiochus for refuge besought him in all humilitie that he would leade his forces into Iudaea offering themselues to be his guides in that expedition and voiage Antiochus who long before that time desired such an occasion easily condescended to their requests leuying a great army entred their countrey and tooke the citie by force and ◅ue the most part of them who fauou◅ed Ptolomy and giuing his souldiers libertie to sacke the cit◅e he himselfe spoiled the temple also and for the space of three yeres and sixe moneths forbad al sacrifices and ceremonies which before time were accustomed and vsed in that place Whereupon Onias the high Priest fled vnto Ptolomey and hauing obtained a grant of a peece of ground from him within the liberties and precinct of Heliopolis he built a towne and temple in that place resembling the citie and sanctuarie in Ierusalem But neither was Antiochus satisfied with the vnexpected surprise of the citie nor with the pillage slaughter of the citizens but was so far transported by his passions incensed with the remembrance of those euils which he sustained during the siege of the citie that he compelled t◅ Iewes to forsake the customes of their country cōmanding them from that time forward to vs◅ no more circumcision of their children but that they should immolate swine vpon the Altar which when al of them iointly refused to obey the most constant among them were for that cause put to death Bacchides being made chiefe of the garrisons by the appointment of Antiochus what with his innated cruelty the impious commandement that was left him omitted no occasion to further his wicked impietie insomuch as he particularly tormented such as were of noble birth and qualitie so that each day for the most part he represented vnto them the fresh face and memorie of the desolation of their citie till all of them at the last being prouoked and whe◅d on through the grieuousnes of that which both themselues and others indured addressed themselues with confidence to prosecute the◅ reuenge A◅ length Matthias the sonne of Asmoneus one of the Priests who was borne in a village called Modin accompanied with his fiue sonnes and his owne household armed with swords slue Bacchides and fearing the power and multitude of the enemies garrisons speedily retired himselfe into the mountaines Thither resorted diuers of the people vnto him for which cause he waxing more confident and couragious came downe from the mountaines and ouercomming the captaines of Antiochus droue them out of the borders of Iudaea At such time therefore as through his happie successe he became potent and was by common consent of the people for that he had deliuered them from the subiection of straungers made their
first that introduced Philosophie and the knowledge of celestiall and diuine things that is to say Pherecydes the Svrian Pythagoras and Thales these all of them confesse with one accord that being instructed by the Aegiptians and Chaldeis they haue published some few writings which are supposed to be the most auncient that are among the Greekes and it is hardly beleeued also that they were written by them What reason therefore haue the Greeks to be so proud as if there were none but themselues only who knew the affaires of antiquitie and could exactly expresse their truth and veritie Or who cannot easily coniecture by their owne writers themselues that their writings were onely vpon hearesay and supposition and that their stile was onely tied to their vaine coniectures Hence commeth it to passe that in their bookes they cauell and reproue one another make no conscience to maintaine and write contradictions in one and the same things But it may be said that I taske my selfe to a fruitlesse labour if I should go about to informe those who are better experienced then my selfe in how many points Hellanicus differeth from Acusilaus as touching the Genealogie in how many places Acusilaus hath corrected Herodotus or how Ephorus hath approoued that Hellanicus was a liar in the greater part of that which he reciteth Ephorus hath been reprooued by Timaeus and in generall all them haue taxed Herodotus Neither hath Timaeus vouchsafed to accord with Antiochus or Philistus or Callias in the histories of Sicâ—…ly Neither haue they who haue written the histories of Athens or those who haue entreated of the Argoliques followed others What neede I recken vp those who in particular haue entreated of Cities or of succinct and short matters whereas in the description of the Persian warre and those exploits that were performed therein those of greatest authoritie are most at oddes Thucidides is accused by some for a liar in diuers places notwithstanding that he seemeth to haue described the historie of his time most exactly But the causes of this discord are diuers and it may be that they who shall narrowly prie into them shall find more For mine owne part those two which I shall here set downe in my opinion are of greatest weight The first and in my iudgement the chiefest is that amongst the Greekes from the beginning we haue not been industrious to keepe publike registers of such matters as hapned in any time or place which hath made them erre and giuen those a priuiledge to lie who afterwards would looke to write any thing of such matters as were acted long since Neither are the other Greekes onely to be touched with this negligence for not making account of such registers but amongst the Athenians also who are reputed to be glorious for the antiquitie of their countrey and who are exercised in sciences there is no mention of them For it is said that the most auncient and publike writings which they haue are those capitall lawes which were set downe by their lawmaker Draco who liued but a little time before Pisistratus tyrannie What neede wee speake of the Arcades who vaunt themselues of their antiquities For they haue learned the vse of letters with verie great difficultie and sometime after this whereas therefore there was not any writing published before that time which might instruct those that would learne or reprehend those that published vntruths from thence is it that so many differences haue happened among Historiographers A second cause is for that they who addicted themselues to compose histories did not busie themselues about the inquisition of the truth notwithstanding that each of them did ordinarily promise no lesse but they laboured to expresse how 〈◊〉 they were and fixed their whole study theron as the onely means wherby they hoped to obtaine reputation aboue the rest Some of them therefore addicted their stiles to â—…ables othersome by flattering praises thought to currie fauour with kings and Cities The rest inforced their studies to accusations by obtaining the worke of the writer thereof under trust to get the more credit thereby In effect they haue followed that coursd in composing their hitorie that was â—…uerie way different from the true nature thereof For the assured signe of a perfect and true historie is whereas all men accord both in word and writing iâ—… soâ—…ing down the same thing and they who haue written diuersly made men beleeue that they were the â—…est amongst aâ—… thâ—… rest We ought therefore to grant the superioritie to the Grecians in all that which concenâ—…h eloquence and the ornament of language but not in that which appertaineth to antiquitie or truth of Historie and especially when the question is that each man writ as touching his owne nation Seeing therfore that both the Aegyptians and Babylonians long time since vsed all diligence in writing in so much as their priests were hereunto enioyned who did most curiously entreat of all such points the same also did the Chaldeis amongst the Babylonians and the Phoenicians also inhabiting amongst the Greekes vsed lawes both concerning priuate and publike affaires which because all men confesse it I will omiâ—…to speake of I let passe also to recount what care our nation had of this point no doubt greater then those nations aboue mentioned had charging our high priests and prophets to execute this office which custome hath been obscrued euen vntill this our age yea and if I may presume so farre will be obserued in all succeeding ages as by the scope of my speech ensuing I will endeuour to make manifest For our nation did not onely depute this office to the most iust men amongst them in the beginning and vnto such as were alwaise ready to appease the heauie displeasure and wrath of God kindled against them but they also prouided to preserue the line and dissent of priests from all impuritie and from being intermingled with others For no man amongst vs can be a priest who is not borne of a woman descended from the priests line neither in this case is any respect made either of riches or honours but the partie who claimeth the dignitie of priesthood must by many witnesses proue his Genealogie and that he is descended from priests This custome is not onely of force in Iewrie our owne countrey but wheresoeuer else any of our nation inhabite as in Aegypt and Babylon and in any other place where continually the priests in their marriages haue this respect not to marrie with any woman that is not of their owne line and they send vnto Ierusalem the name and petigree of the woman whom they haue married and all testimonie hereof which they can deduce from her auncestors Now if warres molest our nation as often they haue in the time of Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes of Pompey the great Quintilius Varo and especially in this our age then those priests who suruiue make new Genealogies and pedigrees out of our holy writ
for the foresaid women that are not deuoured by the furie of war For they come vnto these women not fearing the companie of strangers amongst whom they li◅e yea this is an euident token of the priests integritie that euerie priest during the reuolution of two thousand yeers are registred togither with the names of their fathers and if any one doe erre or falsifie any of the things beforesaid he is then interdicted from the altar and from exercising any priestly function So that in the writings of such men all things must of necessitie be true and as they ought to be for that neither all men are permitted to write nor yet any dissonance and disagreement is found in their writings For such things as past in auncient times quite beyond the memorie of men were onely written by our Prophets who had the knowledge thereof by inspiration from God himselfe but other things of latter time are onely recorded by those who liued in the age wherein the things they writ of were done The bookes amongst vs containing the histories of all ages are neither infinit nor one repugnant to another for all our Chronicle is contained in two and twentie bookes to which bookes it is impietie to denie credit Fiue of these bookes were written by Moses comprehending Genealogies and the beginning of mankind and such notable euents as hapned euen from the beginning of the world vntill his death which is little lesse then three thousand yeeres After the death of Moses vntill the time wherein Artaxerxes liued who was king of the Persians and sonne to Xerxes the Prophets of our nation euerie one writ the historie of his time wherein he liued so that of these mens writings we haue thirteene bookes the foure other bookes which make vp the number alreadie mentioned are knowne to containe holy Hymnes dedicated vnto God and wholsome precepts for mans life and conuersation All things which from Artaxerxes vntill our time haue hapned are also set downe in writing yet the bookes wherein they are registred do not deserue so much credit as the former of auncient times for that there was no certaine successor of Prophets in this age Moreouer it is euident that to the former works we giue as great credite as to the things we our selues write and notwithstanding they haue been so long written yet in all that time no man durst presume either to alter or to blot out any thing therein contained For all Iewes euen from their cradle do beleeue these bookes to be sacred holy and diuine and therefore do giue all credite possible vnto them and so would willingly suffer death rather then to doe the contrarie Many captiues also of our nation haue alreadie been cruelly tormented and diuers waies put to death in open theaters only for that they would not cōmit any thing either in word or deed against their lawes nor violate the writings of their forefathers Now who amongst the Greekes did euer sustaine the like nay they are so farre from doing it that none can be found amongst them who would any losse in his goods or fortunes thereby to preserue all the writings of their nation from perdition and the reason hereof is that euerie one esteemeth the veritie of their Histories to depend vpon the will of the writer And this they do also of their most ancient Historiographers and not without cause for they euery day see men of their owne times writing Histories of matters past long before in former ages wherin neither themselues were present neither yet vouchsafe they to credit the writings of such as were then eye witnesses thereof yea some amongst them haue diuulged Histories of such things as of late befell our nation when themselues neuer haue beene in the place where such matters past as they did write of warre nor haue liued in any neighbour place vvhere they might haue probable report how matters past but onely making a few centones or broken newes they most impudently arrogate vnto therr patcht stuffe the name of a Historie I my selfe haue composed a most true Historie of those vvars and of enerie particuler thing there done as well I might hauing beene present in all those affaires For I was captaine of the Galileans amongst our nation so long as any resistance could be made againg the Romans and then it so fell out that I was taken by the Romans and being prisoner vnto Titus and Vespasian they caused me to be an eye witnesse of all things that past First in bonds and fetters afterward freed from them I was brought from Alexandria with Titus vvhen he went to the siege of Ierusalem So that nothing could then passe whereof I had not notice For beholding the Roman armie I committed to writing all things with all possible diligence My selfe also did onely manage all matters disclosed vnto the Romans by such as yeelded themselues for that I only did perfectly vnderstand them Lastly being at Rome and hauing now leasure all buisines being past I vsed the helpe of some for the puritie of the Greeke tongue and so I published a historie of all that had hapned in the foresaid wars which Historie of mine is so true that I feare not to call Vespasian and Titus Emperors in those wars to witnesse for them I first gaue a copie of that booke to them afterwards to many noble Romans who also were present in those warres I solde also many of them to our owne nation to such as vnderstood the greeke language amongst whom were Iulius Archilaus Herode the honest and the most worthie king Agrippa who all doe testifie that my historie containeth nothing but truth Who would not haue beene silent if in any thing either for ignorance or flatterie I had chaunged or omitted any particuler yet notwithstanding all this some ill disposed persons endeuour to discredit my historie as though they were disputing pro and contra amongst children in schooles being sometime on a sodaine too for a feined accusation and otherwise to feine a slaunderous and sodaine detraction neuer considering that he who promiseth other men a true relation of matters past must either be priuie vnto them by his owne knowledge as hauing beene present in the affaires or else haue that which he speaketh from other mens mouthes by report of them who know them both which I haue done For I gathered my other bookes of Antiquitie out of holy Scripture being my selfe a Priest and skilfull in our law and the historie of our wars I haue written my selfe being an agent in many matters therein contained and an eye witnesse of the rest so that nothing was said or done whereof I had not notice How then can any man excuse them from impudencie and malice who labour against me to proue my relation false They perhaps alledge that they haue read the commentarie containing the Emperours acts yet for all this they were not present in any action repugnant to that