he sawe it turned into a bloodie colour Amased at these accidents he was commaunded to be of good courage and assured that he should haue great assistance Moreouer that he should vse these signes before all men to the end said God that all may beleeue that being sent by me thou dost all this according to my commaundements Furthermore I enioyne thee that without any further delay thou haste thee into Egypt and that thou â—…ell day and night without leesing time without delaying any more to succour the poore Hebrewes grieuously afflicted in Egypt Moses hauing no cause to distrust that which God had promised him and being confirmed by these things whereof he was both an eye witnesse and auditor he required God that if there were any occasion to expresse the like power in Egypt he would vouchsafe to further the effect beseeching him further that he would not conceale his name from him to whom he had participated the hearing of his voice and the sight of his presence that it might please him therefore to declare vnto him his name to the end that when he should offer sacrifice vnto him he might call vpon the same God declared vnto him his name which before time had beene concealed amongst men and of which also it is not lawfull for me to speake Moses wrought these signes not only at that time but also when or wheresoeuer he thought it requisite by all which he gaue further credit to the fire which had appeared vnto him and assured himselfe that God would be his fauourable defender that he would deliuer his brethren and intangle and enwrap the Egyptians in great calamities And after that he had vnderstood that Pharao King of Egypt was dead during whose life he fled from thence he requested Raguel that he would giue him leaue to depart into Egypt for the profit of those of his nation and taking with him Sephora who was Raguel daughter and his maried wife and Gerson and Eleazar his children which he had by her he departed to go into Egypt Now this name of Gerson in the Hebrew tongue signifieth Forraine and Eleazar signifieth fauoured by God in memory that Moses had escaped from amongst the Egyptians by the assistance of the God of his fathers And as he approched neere the mountaines Aaron his brother by the commaundement of God came forth to meete him to whom he declared all that which had happened vnto him in the mountaine and that which God had giuen him in charge And as they passed onward of their way the men of greatest estimation amongst the Hebrewes hauing intelligence of his comming came out to meete him to whom Moses presented the abouenamed tokens by reason that he could not perswade them by words and they being astonished at that which they had seene him doe beyond their expectation waxed confident and conceiued a good hope of all things seeing that God had a care of their safetie When he perceiued that the Hebrewes were readie to obey him and that they protested to follow him in al that which he should command them through the earnest desire they had to be at liberty he presented himselfe before the king who had newly vndertaken the gouernment and shewed him the great benefits he had done vnto the Egyptians at such time as they were despised by the Ethiopians who had spoyled all their countrey and how he had spared no trauell but sustained all the charge of the warre as if it had beene waged for his owne proper nation On the other side he opened vnto him the daungers which he had iniustly suffered for his recompence he afterwards discoursed vnto him that which had befallen him neere vnto the fountaine of Sinai and the talke which God had in that place with him and the signes in particular which had been shewed vnto him in confirmation of those things whereunto he was enioyned exhorting the King not to mistrust or impeach the ordinance of God The King hearing this began to mocke him but Moses made him see in effect the signes which were shewed vnto him neere to the mountaine of Sinai But the King waxed wroth and grieuously reuiled him accusing him for that in times past he fled away for feare to be slaine in Egypt and at this present returned thither vnder a subtill pretext cloaking his craft with magike and inchantment the more to afright him And at the same instant he called into his presence the priests of Egypt to let them see those signes and to make it manifest that the Egyptians were exercised in those sciences and that he onely was not master in those things the which he boasted to performe by Gods power but that they were but deceits shadowes of meruailes to deceiue the multitude whereupon the priests cast downe their rods and they became serpents Moses being nothing moued herewith said O King I despise not the wisedome of the Egyptians but I protest that that which I haue done doth so farre surpasse all their magike and art as there is difference betweene diuine and humane things I will therefore shew you that that which I do is not by enchantment nor vnder colour of apparent veritie but by the prouidence and power of God This said he cast his rod vpon the ground commaunding it to change it selfe into a serpent whereunto it obeyed and wandering here and there it deuoured all the rods of the Egyptians which seemed to be serpents vntill they were all of them consumed and that done Moses tooke his staffe into his hand againe and it reassumed his pristine forme But the King being neuer the more astonished but the rather incensed at that which was done said that this wisedome and subtilty of Moses should profit him nothing which he vsed in disgrace of the Egyptians He commaunded therefore the ouerseer of the workes who had the gouernment ouer the Hebrewes that he should remit nothing of their labour but that he should oppresse them with more tedious and grieuous taskes then they were wont to be put vnto whereupon where he was wont to allowe them straw to make their tile with he forbare after that time to giue them that allowance and taxing them in the day time to follow their worke he appointed them by night to find and bring in their straw doubling thereby the waight of their former labour Notwithstanding all this Moses would neither desist from his purpose in regard of the kings threatning nor the continuall cry of his countrimen neither was in any sort appauled thereat but with a confident and vnappauled mind in regard of both he wholy intended this to restore his countrimen to their desired libertie Hee therefore once againe accosted the King perswading him to dismisse the Hebrewes to the end they might repaire vnto the mountaine Sinai and sacrifice vnto God in that place for no lesse saith hee hath he commaunded neither can any resist his will For which cause he aduised
neuer beene heard of amongst men they all of them during the whole night sung hymnes and songs of reioyce Moses likewise composed an Ode in Hexameter verse contayning the prayses of God and a thanksgiuing for the fauour he had done vnto them All these things haue I particularly declared according as I haue found them written in holy scriptures Neither ought any man to maruell at this so wonderfull a discourse that thorow the sea there should a passage be found to saue so manie persons in times past and they rude and simple whether it were done by the will of God or that it chaunced of it selfe since not long time agoe God so thinking it good the sea of Pamphilia deuided it selfe to giue way to Alexander King of Macedons souldiours hauing no other passage to destroy the empire of the Persians The next day the Aegyptians armes transported by the force of the streame were cast a shore into the armie of the Hebrewes which when Moses perceiued that it was done by the prouidence of God to the intent they might not be disarmed he gathered them together and furnished the Hebrewes therewith who afterwardes led them to the mountaine of Sinai to sacrifice vnto God and he offered him thankesgiuing for their deliuerance in the behalfe of the people according as he himselfe had before time commaunded him THE THIRD BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 3. booke 1 How Moses conducted the people out of Egypt to the mountaine of Sinai 2 Of the slaughter of the Amalechites and their confederates and of the pray which the Israelites attained thereby 3 Raguels counsaile vnto his sonne in law Moses 4 Moses ascending the mountaine of Sinai bringeth downe the Tables of the ten commaundements which he had receiued at Gods hands to the people 5 Of the Tabernacle made by Moses in the desart resembling a portable Temple 6 Of the Arke wherein Moses inclosed the Tables of the Law 7 Of the golden Table and Candlesticke and of the Altars of the Tabernacle 8 Of the apparrell both of the high Priests and the inferiors 9 Of Aarons Priesthood and of that which was ordained as touching the foastes and Sacrifices 10 The Lawes of Sacrifices and Purifications 11 The lawes and customes of warre 12 Sedition against Moses by reason of the want of victualles and the punishment of the seditious 13 Of the spies who hauing seene and searched the countrey of Chanaan and returning backe againe to the Israelites amated them with feare CHAP. I. How Moses conducted the people out of Egypt to the Mountaine of Sinai THis new and vnexpected deliuerance of the Hebrewes from their daunger was not alittle obscured by the wearines and tediousnes of their iourney which they indured in their trauell towards the mountaine of Sinai by reason that the countrey was desart and inhabitable destitute of victuals and wholy depriued of waters and not onely barren of that which serued for the sustenance of men but also euery waies destitute of pasturage and prouision for cattell for it was not onely drie and vtterly destitute of water but also depriued of all meanes to nourish and increase fruit Now they were inforced to prosecute their way thorow this countrey by reason they could not otherwise chuse so that they were constrained to beare with them the water which they had drawne before such time as they entered the desart according as their Captaine and Conductor had commaunded â—…hem which being spent they digged pits out of which they drew water with great difficultie by reason of the sterilitie of the countrey and further the water which they found in those places was bitter and no waies fit to drinke and that which was worse very little in quantitie Trauailing onwards of their iourney after this manner they arriued about the euening in a certaine place which by reason the waters thereabout were brackish they called Mara that is to say bittemesse there wearied with their trauell and their prouision failing them they began to be trauailed with necessitie so that they resolued to stay in that place and the rather in that they found a certaine pit there which although it were insufficient to satisfie so great an army yet for that they found it in that countrey it yeelded them no little consolation For they were giuen to vnderstand that if they trauelled onwards they should find no water and as touching the water of that pit it was so bitter and vnfit for their drinking that it neyther was agreeable with mens taste nor supportable by their verie cattell likewise Whereupon Moses seeing them so discomforted neither knowing in what sort to satisfie them in that he had not to deale with an opposite armie or enemy to the end to inforce and to repell them with valor and for that he manifestly perceiued that not onely a troupe of valiant men but also a multitude of women and children were like to perish he was verie sore perplexed not knowing what to doe and on himselfe he heaped the calamitie of them all as if himselfe onely were to beare the heauie burthen of their misery For all of them had their recourse vnto him and to no man else the women besought for their children the husbands intreated for their wiues beseeching him to take compassion of their desolations and to furnish them with some meanes to escape their miserie He addressed himselfe therefore in most humble manner to beseech almightie God that it might please him to conuert the euill qualitie of the water and to make it potable which grace and fauour he no sooner obtained but he tooke the end of his staffe and cast it at his feete and afterwards brake it in the midst and cleft it long-waies and cast it into the pit giuing the Hebrewes to vnderstand that God had heard their prayers and that he had promised them to giue them that water they desired if so be they would obey him and with alacritie and diligence performe that which should be commanded them And when they were inquisitiue of that which they ought to do to the intent the water might be changed he enioyned euerie one of them that was of best strength and abilitie amongst them to draw water giuing them to vnderstand that so soone as they had drawne out great store of water from the pit the rest that should remaine would be verie good and conuenient to be drunke wherein they trauelled in such sort that the water agitated and purified by often drawing became potable and refected the wearie multitude Hereupon dislodging from that place they came to Helim a countrey that a farre off seemed verie pleasant by reason that it was planted with Palme trees but the neerer they approched it the more tedious they found it for there were no more then seuentie palme trees in that place and they not verie tall or well growne by reason of the
of a Coriander seede of which euery one gathered and by commaundement it was enioyned that euery one of them should particularly gather euery day the measure of an Assaron which is the tenth part of an Epha to the end that no one should be scant◅ed of this foode which was done to that end least the weaker should want whilest the stronger thorow auarice should gather more then sufficed them And if any one contrarie to the prescript commaund had ga◅hered more then was permitted him although he toyled and trauelled more then any of them yet was his portion ◅o waies increased by that meanes For whatsoeuer beside the appointed measure of the Assaron remained till the next morning was of no value thorow bitternes and was putrefied thorow wormes so diuine and admirable was this kind of foode and of that nature that who so had sufficient thereof needed no other sort of sustenance Moreouer euen in these our daies al that countrey is bestrewed and bedewed with that kind of aliment which God in fauour of Moses sent for the peoples sustenance The Hebrewes call it Manna for in our tongue Man is an interrogation signifying what is that Thus liued they then ioifully being sustained by this kind of meat sent thē from heauen and vsed the same for the space of fortie yeares during that time which they liued in the desart But afterwards when they were dislodged from that place and encamped neere to Raphidim they were extremely trauailed with thirst where vpon their first arriuall they found some few springs but afterwards they found the land wholy destitute of water They therefore once more were incensed against Moses but he withdrawing himselfe apart from the furie of the people conuerted himselfe vnto God in prayer beseeching him that as he had giuen them food in their necessitie he would now also giue them drinke at that present wherein they were well nie choaked with thirst praying him to prouide them of drinke also or otherwise that their meat was vnprofitable to them whereon God presently granted his prayer promising Moses that he would giue him a fountaine and aboundance of water from that place from whence he least expected it Hereon he commaunded him that striking vpon the rock with his rod which was thereby hard at hand he should from thence seeke that which they demaunded and wanted assuring him that euerie one without trauell or labour should haue sufficient therefro which counsaile when Moses had receiued from Gods hands he returned vnto the people who expected him and had their eies fixed vpon him for at that time they beheld him descending from the rocke where he had made his prayer No sooner was he arriued but he told them that God would in like sort deliuer them from that necessitie and would gratiously grant them an vnexpected reliefe telling them that a floud should sodainly breake from the rocke but they beeing amased at that which they heard and doubting least tired with thirst and trauelled by iourneyes they should be inforced to hewe and cleaue the rocke Moses stroke the same in such sort with his rod that he deuided it in sunder and deliuered out most cleere and pure water in great aboundance The people were very sore astonished at this so strange accident so that beholding the water their thirst was quenched They afterward drunke of the water and found it verie sweet and pleasant resembling in the goodnes of it the diuine bountie power of the giuer thereof For this cause they highly esteemed Moses seeing that God had honoured him in this sort and they acknowledged Gods prouidence and their thanksgiuing by their sacrifices humbly thanking him for the care he had ouer them The sacred scriptures likewise which are kept and consecrated in the Temple testifie that God had foretold Moses also that water should in this sorte issue from the rocke CHAP. II. How the Amalechites and their associates were ouercome and how great a pray the Israelites obtained thereby BVt when the renowme of the Hebrewes waxed great and was spred in the eares of all men so as the brute thereof was heard in euerie part it came to passe that the inhabitants of that countrey were in very great feare whereupon sending embassages the one vnto the other they mutually incited themselues to expell and vtterly ruinate the whole nation Amongst the rest those of the countrey of Gobol and the Citie Petra who are called Amalechites a nation verie warlike and more actiue then the rest were the chiefe agents in this expedition whose Kings both encouraged one another and whetted their neighbour nations to the Israelites destruction telling them that a forraine army flying from the thraldome of the Egyptians had inuaded their countrey whose increases were not a little to be suspected counse◅ng them before they had gathered head and ◅couered more meanes and a countrey to dwell in and withall waxed more confident by reason of their forbearance to charge them first rather then to expect their increases and so to oppresse them esteeming it to a better point of wisedome to represse their insolencie and forwardnes in the desart then to expect whilest they were possessed of strong Cities rich meanes For this said they is the part of wise men to resist the vprisings and power o◅ their aduersaries and not to expect whilest by daily exploites they more more increase rather to prouide to preuent then deliuer themselues from perill After these embassages it was decreed by generall councell that they should endeuour to confront and assault the Hebrewes These determinations and desseignes of theirs amated and troubled Moses verie much for that he expected no hostilitie When therefore he perceiued that the people were affrighted and amased to see themselues being wholy vnprouided to be charged by so strong and well furnished an armie he recomforted them and willed them to bethinke themselues of Gods promises who by his power had set them at libertie assuring them that they should ouercome all those that made party and head against them to destroy them wishing them to thinke that though they were inferiour vnto their enemies in weapons wealth money and munition and such like yet since they had God to friend and readie to fight for them against their enemies that they ought to conceiue such courage as if they were furnished with farre more then humane supplies Alledging further that they were not ignorant how great an assister God was hauing had so often triall of his goodnes in their greatest daungers whom both he knew to be an enemie to their enemies and fauourable to their proceedings which fauour of his he most manifestly expressed by his miraculous deliuerance of them from hunger and thirst by yeelding them free escape when they were shut in by sea and mountaines and that which should most animate them to the fight and victorie at that time was that after this plunge they should want nothing that
bread of twentie foure Assars of flower and those loaues they baked two by two the day before the Sabboth and the day of the Sabboth in the morning they bring it and set it on the sacred Table opposing sixe to sixe the one against the other and vpon them are imposed two platters full of incense and these things remaine after this maner till the next Sabboth and then set they new in the place of the first which are giuen to the Priests for their maintenance The incense is cast into the sacred fire in which the burnt offerings are consumed and in place thereof there is new incense put The Priest also sacrificeth on his owne charge flower mingled with oyle and a little baked by fire and this doth he twise euerie day and bringeth to the fire halfe an Assar of flower in the morning and the other halfe in the euening But I will entreat hereof more expresly hereafter for the present me thinks I haue sufficiently spoken already Moses separated the tribe of Leui and exempted them from the other people to the end they might be consecrated vnto God and he purified them with liuing fountaine water and purged them with solemne sacrifice and committed the Tabernacle to their charge with all the holy things pertaining therunto and all the rest which had bin made for the couer of the Tabemacle to the end they might be ministers to the Priests their superiours who were already consecrated to God After this he distinguished the beasts also namely those that were to be eaten froÌ„ those which were to be forborne and abstained from of which we will speak at such time as occasion is offered vs and will bring proofes and the reason which induced him to ordaine that some were proper to feede vpon and for what cause he would that we should abstaine from other some He hath generally interdicted all vse of bloud in meates esteeming the bloud to be the soule and spirit of beasts He hath also generally prohibited to eat the flesh of those beasts that died by theÌ„selues likewise the caule and fat of goates of sheepe and oxen He thrust them likewise out of the company and conuersation of men who were leprous such as were troubled with the fluxe of their seed And as touching women that haue their sicknesse he sequestred them for the space of seuen dayes after which it was lawfull for them to conuerse indifferently the one with the other The like decreed he of those that had assisted the buriall of a dead man whom he permitted to conuerse with other after seuen dayes were expired It was a thing also decreed by law that he that was surprised with vncleannesse and vnpurified beyond the number of those dayes he should sacrifice two Wethers one of which should bee purified and the other giuen to the Priests The like sacrifice is made for him that hath had vnnaturall pollution who first washeth himselfe in cold water The like must they offer that haue vse of their lawfull wiues Hee altogether droue the leprous out of the citie not permitting them to frequent any mans companie but esteeming them as men little differing from the dead And if any one by his prayers made vnto God was deliuered from this disease and his skin reduced to his natiue colour such a one presented himselfe before God in diuers oblations and sacrifices of which wee will speake hereafter For which cause they are worthy to be laughed at who say that Moses fled out of Aegypt because he was a leper and that he conducted with him other such as were trauelled with that disease and brought them into the land of Canaan For if that were true Moses had not made these ordinances to his owne preiudice which if other had proposed it behooued him to haue opposed himselfe against them especially since amongst diuers other nations there are lepersâ—… who are held in great honour and who are so far from disdaine and contempt as that they haue beene made Generals of most notable armies and elected for Gouernours of common-weales hauing libertie to enter the Temples and to be present at the sacrifices What therefore hindred Moses if he had beene polluted with the like hatefull sicknesse to make such lawes and ordaine such statutes among those people who honoured and obeyed him whereby such as were therewith infected might be preferred By which it is manifest that those things that are obiected against him are rather of malice then probability But Moses being cleane from such sickenesse and conuersing amongst his countrimen which were vntainted made these ordinances for them that were sicke hauing regard to the honour of God But of these things let each man censure as best liketh him He forbad that women should enter into the Temple after their deliuerance or to assist the sacrifice vntill fortie dayes were expired if they had beene brought a bed of a sonne but if it were a daughter he willed that the number of the dayes should be doubled and that when they should enter they should present their offerings vnto God and to the Priests that offered them And if any one suspected that his wife had committed adultery hee brought an Assar of grinded barley and cast a handfull thereof before God and the rest was reserued for the maintenance of the Priests and then the Priest placing the woman in the porch which is right ouer against the Temple and taking the couer from her head writeth the name of God vpon a skinne and maketh her sweare that she hath not plaid false with her husband and wish if she had transgressed thè bounds of chastity that her right thigh might be put out of ioint her womb might rot and that death might follow thereupon but if through entire loue and iealousie proceeding therefro her husband had beene inconsiderately drawne into that suspition that she might within ten moneths bring forth a male child And after such an oath ministred vnto her the Priest wipeth out the name of God that was written on the skinne and wringeth it into a viall and then taking of the earth of the Temple according as he findeth it and hauing mingled the same giueth it the woman to drinke and if she hath beene vniustly accused she continueth with child and beareth her fruit her full time but if she hath falsified her faith to her husband forsworn herselfe before God then dieth she a shameful death for her thigh is nummed her wombe growes full of water See here how Moses hath prouided for these sacrifices at the purifying of a woman He furthermore made these lawes which ensue He generally forbad adulterie iudging it to be a great good hap if men demeaned themselues honestly in mariageÌ„ that both in politique estates and priuate families it was a thing most profitable that children should be borne in lawfull matrimonie The law also forbiddeth a man to haue the
pursued them they fled into the safest tower of a towne called Bezedel Antonius knowing it to be in vaine to stay about the tower that was inuincible yet loth to let the Generall of their aduersaries to escape set fire on the walles and so departing triumphed thinking that Niger had beene burned But he lept into a deepe vault in the Castle and so escaped and three daies after he shewed himselfe vnto his souldiers who sought for him weeping that they might burie his body for they thought him dead whō against all expectation seeing aliue they were verie glad as though by Gods prouidence he escaped to be still their leader Vespasian came to Antiochia which is the mother Citie of all Syria and brought his army with him which for greatnesse and happy successe doubtlesse was the third in the whole world and finding that king Agrippa did expect his comming he hasted with all his forces from thence to Ptolemais At this place there came vnto him the Citizens of Sephoris a Citie of Galilee who had no thought at all of rebellion these both prouident for their owne safetie and well knowing the forces of the Romans before Vespasian came submitted themselues vnto Cestius Gallus and receiued from him a garrison of souldiers and now also curteously entertaining Vespasian offered their help against their countrimen To whom Vespasian at their request gaue a guard of horse and foote so great as he thought was able to resist the force of their enemies if the lewes should attempt any thing against them For he thought it would be a great help vnto him in his warre to come to haue Sephoris the greatest Citie of Galilee scituate in a strong place on his side which otherwise might be a safegard to the whole nation CHAP. II. The description of Galilaea Samaria and Iudaea THere are two places named Galilaea the one is called high Galilaea and the other lowe Galilee and they are both compassed with Phoenicia and Syria On the west Ptolemais with the limits of his territorie doth part their borders and the mount Carmel which in time past belonged vnto Galilee but now vnto the Tyrians Vnto which adioineth Gabaa which signifieth the horsemens Citie so called for because king Herods horsmen were sent thither to inhabite On the South part it ioyneth to the Samaritanes and Scythopolitanes vnto Iordan On the East part it bordereth vpon Hippene and Gadaris and Gaulanitis which are the borders of king Agrippa his countrey On the North it bordereth vpon Tyria The length of lower Galilee reacheth from Tiberias vnto Zabulon neere which is Ptolemais by the sea coast In breadth it reacheth from the Village Xaloth scituated in a great field vnto Bersabe where also beginneth the breadth of high Galilee and reacheth vnto the village called Baca bordering vpon the Tyrians and the length thereof is from a village neere Iordan named Thella vnto Meroth And being of such bignesse and enuironed with so many nations yet did they alwaies resist forraine forces For the Galileans are from their childhood warlike and neuer are daunted by feare or penurie for their countrey is most fruitfull set with all manner of trees and verie fertill notwithstanding the inhabitants take small paines in tilling the ground All parts thereof are tilled by the inhabitants and there is no waste part There are many Cities and in euerie place there are villages populous and rich so that the least village there hath in it aboue fifteene thousand inhabitants And although Galilee be lesse in compasse then the region beyond the riuer yet it is more populous fertiler and richer then the same for it is all tilled and al beareth fruit But that beyond the water though it be bigger yet is it not all inhabited for there are many desert and barren places and onely beareth wilde fruits Peraea hath a good soile large fields beset with diuers trees especially oliues vines and palme trees and it is abundantly watered with brooks running from the mountaines and springs that continually come downe when in the dog daies they are almost drie The length of this place is from Macherunt to Pella the breadth from Philadelphia to Iordan This towne Pella before mentioned lieth on the North part and Iordan on the West and the countrey of the Moabites bordereth on the South and on the East Arabia Silbonitis Philadelphia and Gerasis Samaria is seated betweene Iudaea and Galilee beginning at a towne scituate in a place called Ginaea endeth in the Toparchy of Acrabatena nothing differing in nature from Iudaea For both of them are full of mountaines and fields and good for tillage full of trees abounding both with wild apples and others for they are of their nature drie but haue raine inough and haue passing sweet waters and aboundance of good grasse and great store of milch beasts and which is a great argument of wealth both places are verie populous The confines of these countries is Anauth a village otherwise called Borceos which lieth on the North part of Iudaea The South part of Iudaea if you measure the length is extended vnto the village of the Arabians called Iardan the breadth reacheth from Iordan vnto Ioppe in the midst thereof is scituate Ierusalem so that some call that citie the nauell of that countrey Iudaea also bordereth on the sea coast euen vnto Ptolemais It is deuided into eleuen portions the first is Ierusalem head chiefe of al being aboue all the rest as the head is aboue the bodie and the rest are Toparchies Gophna is the second after that Acrabatena then Thamna afterward Lydda also Ammaus and Pella and Idumaea and Engadda and Herodium and Iericho besides these Iamnia and Ioppe commaund the places adioyning Moreouer there is Gamala Gaulanitis Batanea Trachonitis which are portions belonging to King Agrippa his kingdome This countrey beginneth at mount Libanus and the fountaines of Iordan and reacheth in breadth vnto the lake neere Tiberias And in length it reacheth from Iulias to Arphas and the inhabitants are partly Iewes and partly Syrians CHAP. III. How aide was sent vnto the people of Sephoris and of the militarie discipline of the Romans I Haue alreadie spoken of Iudaea as briefely as might be and with what countries it is enuironed Now Vespasian sent helpe vnto the inhabitants of Sephoris to wit one thousand horsemen and sixe thousand foote Placidus the tribune being their gouernour the horsmen deuided themselues into two companies and lodged in a great plaine and the footmen were in garrison in the citie for to defend it but the horsemen staied without These horsemen made excursions on euerie side and greatly molested Ioseph who was quietly bent and also spoiled all that was without the cities alwaies repulsed the inhabitants if at any time they tooke courage to reuenge themselues Notwithstanding Ioseph assaulted the citie Sephoris hoping to take it which he before such time as it
approched the well and required those virgins that they would giâ—…e him drinke which they denied him saying that they could not get water but with great labour which they must beare into their howses and not lauishly bestow on others whereupon one amongst them reproued the rest for that discourtesie which they vsed towards the straunger saying that they had neuer beene conuersant amongst men that refused to giue him water that requested it wherupon she gaue him drink with an amiable countenance and he conceiuing good hope of all his busines yet being further desirous to know the euent of the matter he praised the honestie and courtesie of Rebecca who had not refused to trauell in her owne person to satisfie his necessitie asking her of what parents she was terming them happie that had such a daughter praying God that it might please him to grant them the good hap to marrie her to their contentment and match her with a man of honest reputation by whom she might be plentifull in good and lawfull children Rebecca made no difficultie to tell him the names of her parents the better to gratefie him neither concealed she her owne name but answered in this sort I am called said she Rebecca my father was named Bathuel who is long since dead Laban is our brother who together with my mother hath care of all our family and hath the charge and protection of my virginitie Which when he vnderstood he reioiced at all that which had happened vnto him and was comforted wâ—…th those things which he had heard perceiuing manifestly how God had prospered his iourney Whereupon drawing out a Iewell with certaine other ornaments such as virgins take delight to weare he offred them vnto the maid telling her that he gaue her these presents in requitall of that kindnesse she had offered him in satisfying his thirst for that she amongst so many other virgins had onely shewed her selfe affable and gracious requiring her that he might be entertained in her brothers house by reason that night had depriued him of the means from trauelling any further and that he was charged with certain Iewels of an espoused of great price which in no place as he said might be in more safety then in their custody whom in effect he had found so curteous honest assuring her that the vertue which appeared in her gaue him sufficient testimony both of the curtesy of her mother and brother who would not as he supposed take it in ill part if he were entertained to conclude that he would in no waies be chargeable vnto them but would pay for his lodging and expences To this Rebecca answered that he had reason to conceiue a good opinion of her parents humanitie but yet did in some sort preiudice them in suspecting their liberalitie assuring him that his entertainement should in no sort be mercenary but voluntary and free according to heir affection Yet first said she I will certifie my brother Laban hereof and afterwards guide and intertaine you in our house which done she conducted him into their tent commaundâ—…g her brother Labans seruants to take care of his Camels as for himselfe she entertained and feasted him at her brother Labans table When supper was past he spake both to the brother and mother of the virgin after this manner Abraham the sonne of Thares is your cousen For Nachor good mistres the grandfather of your children was Abrahams brother of one and the same father and mother He now sendeth me vnto you requiring you to giue this Damsell for wife to his legitimate and onely sonne educated and brought vp to be heire of all his substance whom although he might haue matcht with the richest maidens of his countrey yet hath he refused all of them desiring rather to impart this honour to one of his kinred and nation set not light therefore his good affection and desire For besides all other blessings and good fortunes which haue happily befallen me in this my iourney I haue by Gods especiall prouidence found out both the maid and your house For at such time as I drew neere the Citie and beholding many virgins that went a watering I besought God that I might light vpon this maiden and he vouchsafed me my desire Ratâ—…fie therefore on your part this mariage contracted by Gods prouidence and honour Abraham in granting your consent by this your daughters mariage whom I am sent to request at your hands with most intire affection Now they in that they both allowed a thing so behoofull and perceiued also that it was conformable to the will of God they sent their sister vnto him vnder the conditions demaunded and Isaac then maried her at such time as he had the managing of Abrahams affaires by reason that the other sonnes of Abraham were alreadie departed to take possession of their Colonies CHAP. XVII Of Abrahams death AFew daies after this Abraham deceased a man full of vertue vntill his last ende and honoured by God according to that intire loue he had to vertue with great affection All the daies of his life contained one hundreth seuentie and fiue yeares and he was buried in Hebron with his wife Sara and by his sonnes Isaac and Ismael CHAP. XVIII Of Isaacs sonnes Esau and Iacob and of their Natiuitie and education AFter the death of Abraham Rebecca Isaacs wife waxed bigge with child and the time of her reckoning being neere at hand Isaac was sore troubled and sought counsell at Gods hands who answered him that Rebecca should bring forth two twins and that of those two sonnes two nations should be deriued both which should be called by their names and that he who seemed to be the least of them should grow to be the greatest not long time after according as God had foretold him she was brought a bed of two twins the eldest of whom was verie hairy from the top of the head vnto the soale of the foote and at such time as he issued out of his mothers wombe his yonger brother held him by the heele The Father loued the elder who was called Esau and Seir by reason of his haire which the Hebrewes call Seir in their language but the younger who was called Iacob was deerely beloued by his mother Now for that a great famine raigned in that countrey Isaac hauing resolued to retyre himselfe to Egypt by reason of the abundance and plenâ—…ie of that countrey he went and dwelt at Gerat according as God had commanded In which place king Abimelech receiued and entertained him according to the law of hospitalitie and the league of friendship which was betwixt Abraham his father and him In the beginning therefore he shewed vnto him great signes of friendship but afterwards the enuie he had conceiued hindred him from persisting in the same for perceiuing that God was fauourable vnto Isaac and had an especiall care ouer him he droue him out of his countrey
conquering Egypt they generally wasted the same and hauing tasted of the sweetnesse of pillage without anie temper or moderation in their victorie they were incensed to attempt greater matters And whereas they perceiued that hauing wasted all their neighbour regions no man durst sally out to encounter them in armes they marched forward toward Memphis euen vnto the sea arriuing neere no Citie that either had the heart or durst make head against them By which calamities the Egyptians being ouersore oppressed they send one to take counsell of the Oracle in what manner they might preuent their miseries and when as an answer was giuen them that they should choose an Hebrew to assist them in the warres the king commanded his daughter to giue them Moses who together with the Empire might gouerne the whole armie She taking an oath of the king that no iniurie or violence should be offered him deliuered him into his hands esteeming it to be a great good fortune for Moses that he was called to the succours of her countrey and contrariwise she blamed the Sacrificers who were not ashamed to demaund his aid and assistance whom they had foreiudged and adiudged to be slaine as their common enemie But Moses exhorted by Thermuthis and the king willingly tooke the charge vpon him Whereat the Priests of both nations were verie ioyfull for the Egyptians hoped that when by his vertue and valouâ—… he had ouercome their enemies they afterwards might more easily dispatch murther him by some treason and sinister meanes and the Hebrewes conceiued a hope that they might depart out of Egypt by reason that Moses was the Generall of the armie Moses therefore making haste before such time as the enemies had any notice that he was dislodged he leuied his army and conducted them not along the bankes of the riuer but through the maine land wherein he made manifest his most admirable prudence For the iourney by land being very dangerous by reason of the multitude of serpents for the countrey thereabouts breedeth vp al sorts of theÌ„ and some of that kind as the like thereof are not seene in anie place els all different in proprietie malignitie and horrible forme and amongst these likewise there are some winged and apt to fly who not only offend those that they encounter on the earth very priuily but also tower verie high in the aire who houer about to hurt those that are not aware of them he for the securitie of his armie and to the end he might march without anie inconuenience inuented this marueilous and admirable stratageme For he caused two paniers of sedge to be made in forme of cofers and filled them with certaine birds which were called Ibes who are mortall enemies to serpents and before whom the serpents flee and sometimes in flying from them like Harts they are laid hold of and swallowed by them Otherwise these birds are managed and made tame and are not harmefull to any but to serpents of whom I will now cease to write anie further because the Greekes do already know what kind of bird it is When as therefore he arriued in the countrie of serpents he let flie his Ibes against the venemous beasts and made vse of them to encounter the other and when he had marched in this sort he attained and surprised the Ethiopians before they suspected him and sodainly câ—…arging them he ouercame them in battell spoyling them of the hope they had to conquer Egypt and entring the townes of Ethiopia he rased them and made a great slaughter of the inhabitants The Egyptian armie hauing tasted the happie successe that happened vnto them vnder the conduct of Moses intermitted not their occasion especially for that they saw that the Ethiopians were welnigh conquered or rather wholy destroyed and in the end hauing driuen them euen vnto Saba the chiefe citie of Ethiopia which Cambyses called Meroë for the loue which he bore vnto his sister who was so called they besieged them The Citie was strong and verie hard to be assailed by reason of the riuer Nilus which enuironed it round about on the other side the riuers of Astapus and Astaborra did flow in so freshly as they could neither breake the course of the water nor wade ouer the streame for the citie is builded in an Island inuironed with a strong wall round about hauing great rampiers betwixt the riuers and the walles built to resist the inundations of the waters which are the cause that the Citie may be very hardly taken although the opposite armie had found meanes to passe the water Now when Moses was verie sore grieued that his armie profited nothing by reason that the enemies durst not encounter them in open field behold what a chaunce happened Tharbis the daughter of the king of Ethiopia beholding Moses at such time as he approched with his armie neere vnto the walles of the Citie and seeing how valiantly he fought and behaued himselfe and wondering at the exploits and enterprises which he made which was the cause that the Egyptians almost despairing of their estates and libertie were growne so forward and how the Ethiopians not long before esteemed the conquereâ—…s and happie in their warlike exploits and fortunate executions were in the greatest extremitie of daunger she was surprised with his loue and for that this passion augmented more and more in her she sent vnto him seuen of heâ—… most faithfull and houshold seruants to offer him her loue and intreat with him of mariage The which he accepted vnder that condition that she should deliuer the Citie into his hands promising her vnder a solemne oath that at such time as he were master thereof he would take her to wife without falsifying or breach of his promise The matter was no sooner motioned but the effect followed so that hauing surprised conquered the Ethiopians and after he had giâ—…en thankes vnto God Moses accomplished the mariage and sent the Egyptians backe againe into their countrey Who conceiued an occasion of hatred against Moses because he had beene the cause of their safetie and began seriously to consult and deuise amongst themselues how they might betray him sâ—…pecting least he by reason of the happie successe he had had should beginne to quicken and reuiue some alterations in Egypt they accused him therefore of murther before the King who alreadie of himselfe had him in suspicion as well in respect of this hatred he bare him for his noble cariage and courage during such time as he was generall as also for the feare he had conceiued of the destruction of Egypt foretold by his priestes who incessantly incited him against Moses so that the King was vpon the point to lay hands on him and mâ—…rther him But he hauing intelligence of those his practises escaped and fled secretly flying from his presence thorow the desart by which the enemies least suspected that he should haue fled and although at no
place in his iourney he found victuals to sustaine him yet ouercame he his penury by his patience And arriuing neere a Citie of the Madians scituate vpon the snoare of the red sea that was named by one of Abraham and Chaeturas sonnes he sat him downe neere vnto a fountaine refreshing himselfe and taking his ease after his laborious iourney for it was aboâ—… noonested and the Citie alreadie appeared in his sight In this place there befell an occasion vnto him deriued from the manners and custome of liuing among the inhabitants of the countrey by which he both expressed his vertue and found an oportunitie to better his estate For whereas that Region is sore trauailed with want of water the shepheards had a custome to striue which of them should first possesse the pits for feare least the water should be quite consumed by others before that they and their cattell had quenched theâ—… thirst To thâ—…â—…taine therefore there camâ—… seuen virgins which were sisters and daughters of Raguel 〈◊〉 â—…st whom the inhabitants of that place held in great estimation who had the charge to attend their fathers flockes for that it is the exercise wherein the Troglodytes are wont to exercise their women These hasted themselues to draw sufficient water for their troupes into the â—…oughes expresly made to receiue the water when in the meane time the shepheards came and surprised them and droue away the virgins to the end they might be masters of the water Moses supposâ—…ng it a matter vnworthie his honour to suffer this oâ—…rage and to endure that by violence men should depriue virgins of their right and interest he droue away the shepheards who would haue enioyed that which appertained not vnto them and gaue necessarie succours to the dismayed maydens Who as soone as they were returned into their fathers presence told him the outrage that was done them by the shepheards and the succours that they found by the handes of a strâ—…nger beseeching him that the courtesie which he had shewen vnto them should not be 〈◊〉 but that in some sort he might receiue recompence The father commending his daughters thankfulnesse towards their bene factor commaunded them to bring Moses into his presence to the end he might remunerate him according as he deserued As soone as he came into his presence Raguel told him how his daughters had giuen him to vnderstand how kindly he had assisted theâ—… and hauing his vertue in admiration he said that he had not aduentured himselfe not done kindnesse to those that were without sense of the courtesies that were shewed vnto them but vnto those who were capable to giue him thankes yea so readie to requiâ—…e him that the greatnesse of their requitall should farre surpasse the measure of his humanitie Hee therefore adopted him for his sonne and gaue him one of his daughters to wife and made him â—…tendent and master of â—…s flockes in which in times past â—…e wealth and riches of forâ—… nations consisted Moses hauing obtained this good fortune at Ietheglaeus hands for such was Raguelâ—… suâ—…ame he abode there with him and attended his flockes But not long after he led his â—…attell to grase neere to the mountaine Sâ—… which is the highest of all those that are in that quarter and good for pasturage by reason of the holsome herbes that grow there abouts which noâ—…standing was not fed vpon before that time because the shepheards durst not frequent there abouts by reason of their opinion that dwelt in that countrey who said that God inhabited that mountaine there happened there vnto him a maruailous prodigie which was that a flame of fire seemed round about him in a bush without offensing eyther the greene herbes or the flowers or the bowes charged with fruit although the flame were both great and vehement He not a little amased at this vnexpected spectacle at last grew more and more amased when as he heard a voyce issuing out of the fire which called him by his name taxing and accusing him of boldnes in that he was not afraid to tread vpon that ground which hitherto was vnaccessible and religiously reuerenced and vnhanted by men counselling him that he should depart a farre off from the flame and content himselfe with that vision for although that he were a vertuous man and descended from great personages yet that he ought not to be curious to make further search into the same The same voyce also told him that the honour and glory which he obtained amongst men was by the assistance of God charging him to be of good courage and to repayre into Egypt for that in that place he should be captaine and guide of the Hebrew nation and should deliuer that people which were therein from the outrage seruitude which they suffered For said the voyce they shal inhabite this happie countrey wherein your father Abraham hath dwelt and they shall enioy all sorts of blessings vnder the conduct of thee and thy prudence Moreouer it commaunded him that hauing brought the Hebrewes out of Egypt he should offer sacrifice of thanksgiuing at such time as he should arriue againe in that place And such was the Oracle which he receiued from out of the flame Moses altogither rauished at that which he had both heard and seene spake thus O Lord it were madnes in me and no prudence if I should distrust thy power the which I reuerence and which as I know hath been manifested vnto my predecessors notwithstanding I stand in doubt how I who am a man of no eloquence and of lesse force should perswade my brethren by my words to forsake the countrey wherein they inhabite to follow me into that countrey whither I will conduct them And although they should be perswaded to doe the same how can I force Pharao to permit them to depart from thence by whose labours and trauels the Egyptians are daily increased in goods and riches Whereupon God gaue him to vnderstand that he should take vnto him a good courage and promised him that he himselfe would assist him and that if he had need of eloquence he would bestow vpon him the facultie of perswasion or if he were driuen to act any thing that he would redoible his forces commanding that in confirmation of those promises he had made him he should leâ—… fâ—…ll his staffe vpon the ground which hauing done a Dragon began to creepe vpon the ground and in turning and rouling himselfe lifted vp his crest on high making semblance to defend himselfe against those that should assaile him and againe a little whiles after became a staffe againe Afterwards he commaunded him to put his hand into his bosome and no sooner had he obeyed but that he drew it out altogether white in colour resembling chalke a little while after it recouered his ordinarie forme Moreouer he further willed him to drawe water out of the next well and to power it on the ground and
the Tabernacle was remoued this manner was obserued Assoone as the first charge was sounded they that were encamped towards the East first of all dislodged at the second charge they to the southward disincamped then was the Tabernacle vnpitched and caried in the midst sixe of the tribes marching before and sixe of them after the Leuites were all about the Tabernacle And when they sounded the third time the quarter towards the Westward remoued and the fourth was that to the Northward They made vse also of these Cornets in the diuine seruice with which they ordered the sacrifices on the Sabboth and other daies Then also was the first Passeouer celebrated with solemne offerings after their departure out of Aegypt they being in the desart CHAP. XII Sedition against Moses through the scarcitie of victuals and the punishment of the Rebellious NOt long after this they remoued their campe from the mountaine of Sinai and after certaine encampings of which we will speake they came to a place which is called Iseremoth where the people once more began to ruminate and reuiue their seditions and lay the fault of their laborious pilgrimage vpon Moses obiecting that by his perswasion they had left a fertile countrey and now not onely that they were destitute of the plentie thereof but also in stead of hoped felicitie forced to wander here and there in extreame miserie and trauelled with want of water and that if Manna likewise should in any sort faile them they were like all of them without question to perish for want of sustenance Hereunto annexed they diuers contumelies which were euery where inflicted against him being a man of so great desert and consequence Meane while there arose one amongst the people who admonishing them of the forepassed benefits receiued by the hands of Moses counselled them to be of good courage assuring them that at that time they should not be frustrate either of that hope or helpe which they expected at Gods hands But the people were the rather incēsed against him by these words and more more whetted their spleanes against the prophet who seeing them so desperate willed them to be of a good courage promising them that although by iniurious speeches he had vndeseruedly beene offenced by them yet that he would giue them store of flesh not for one day onely but also for many But they being incredulous and some one amongst them demaunding how he could make prouision for so many thousand men God saith he and I although we be euill spoken of by you yet will we neuer desist to be carefull for you and that shall you shortly perceiue Scarce had he spoken this but that all the campe was filled with quailes which they hunted for by heapes Yet God not long after that punished the insolencie and slaunder of the Hebrewes by the death of no small number for at this day the place retayneth his name which for that cause vvas imposed thereon and it is called Cabrothaba as if you should say the monuments of concupiscence CHAP. XIII Of the spies that were sent to search the land of Chanaan and how returning to the Israelites they amated them with feare BVt after that Moses had led them out of that place and had brought them into a countrey not so apt for habitation not farre from the borders of the Chanaanites which is called the Iawes he called the people to a councell and standing vp in the midst of them he spake after this manner God saith he hauing decreed to grant you two great benefits namely the libertie and possession of a happie countrey hath granted you alreadie the possession of the one and will shortly make you partakers of the other For we are vpon the borders of Chanaan from whence both the Cities and Kings are so farre from driuing vs as the vvhole nation being vnited together is not of power to expell vs. Let vs therefore addresse our selues verie confidently to attempt the matter for neither vvithout fight will they resigne the title of their countrey vnto vs neither vvithout great conflicts may we obtaine the palme of victorie Let vs therefore send out certaine spies to search into the secrets of the countrey and such as may coniecture how great their power is but aboue all things let vs be at vnitie one with another and let vs honour God who assisteth vs in all daungers and fighteth for vs. After that Moses had spoken after this manner the people applauding his counsels chose twelue out of the most noblest families of the tribes to go and search the countrey out of euery tribe one vvho beginning from the parts extending towards Egypt visited all the countrey of the Chanaanites vntill they came to the Citie of Amathe the mountaine of Libanus and hauing searched out both the land and the nature of the inhabitants they returned home againe hauing consumed fortie daies in those affaires Moreouer they brought with thē such fruits as the coūtrey yeelded by the beautie thereof by the quantity of those riches which they reported to be in that countrey they incouraged the harts of the people to fight valiantly but on the other side they dismaid thē with the difficultie of the conquest saying that there were certaine riuers impossible to be ouerpassed both for their greatnes depth that there were therin also inaccessible moūtalnes and Cities fortified both with wals and bulwarks moreouer they told them that in Hebron they found a race of Giants And thus these spies when as they had found all things farre greater amongst the Chanaanites then to that day they had seene since their departure out of Egypt they of set purpose by their feare brought the rest of the multitude into a dangerous suspition and perplexitie Who coniecturing by their discourse that it was impossible to conquer the land dissoluing the assembly returned each one to their houses lamenting with their wiues and children saying that God had onely in words promised many things but that in effect he gaue them no assistance moreouer they blamed Moses reuiled both him and his brother Aaron the high priest And thus spent they all the night in disquiet vrging their discontents both against the one and the other but on the morrow they reassembled their councell vnder this pretence that stoning Moses and his brother they might returne backe againe to Egypt from whence they came Which euent when two of the spies greatly suspected namely Iesus the sonne of Naue of the tribe of Ephraim and Caleb of the tribe of Iuda they went into the middest of them and appeased the multitude praying them to be of good hope and not to challenge Almightie God of deceit by yeelding certaine slight beliefe to some who by spreading vaine rumors of the affaires of Chanaan had terrified the credulous multitude but rather that they should follow them who both would be the actors and conductors also of
thing for him to slay him who was Gods elected for that it was Gods right to take reuenge on him who had giuen the kingdome and thus restrained he the others vnbridled furie Yet to the intent he might certifie the king that hauing the opportunitie to slay him he had spared his life he bare away with him his Iauelin and the pitcher of water that stood by Saul whilst he slept without the witting or knowledge of any of the campe so much were they deuoured and ouerhaled with sleepe He therefore departed thence in all assurance hauing executed all that which either the time or his courage would permit him to doe But after he had passed the riuer and had attained the top of a mountaine from whence he might be easily heard he cried out to Sauls soldiers and their generall Abner so strongly that he awaked them from their sleepe and calling vpon Abner as well as the common sort of souldiers the generall asked who it was that called him to whom Dauid answered It is I the sonne of Iesse your fugitiue but said he how commeth it to passe that thou who art so great and in chiefest authoritie about the king hast so small respect and gard of his person Thy sleep is more pleasant vnto thee then thy watch for his conseruation Assuredly this act of thine deserueth a capitall punishment because thou neither hast discouered me nor any others before we entred the campe or approched the â—…ing Seeke for the kings Iauelin and his pitcher of water and thou shalt perceiue in what great danger he hath been euen in the midst of you without any notice or discouerie of yours Saul perceiuing that it was Dauids voice and conceiued how that being in his hands whom he had surprised in the depth of sleep thorow the negligence of his guard he had not slaine him but pardoned him his life although it iustly lay in his power to take his head from him he said that he gaue him thankes and acknowledged his life from him exhorting him to be assured and without suspect of any euill to returne home vnto his house because he was perswaded that he loued not himselfe so much as he was intirely affected by Dauid notwithstanding that he had pursued him and for a long time past had chased him like a fugitiue constraining him also by diuers afflictions and great torments of spirit to be abandoned from his neerest parents and friends yea from Dauid himselfe who might haue preserued him and who had giuen him diuers demonstrations of his good will towards him and by whom he had been often times preserued whom notwithstanding he ceased not to pursue vnto the death who contrariwise desired nothing more then his life Hereupon Dauid willed him to send some one of his seruants to bring backe his Iauelin and pitcher of water protesting that God should be iudge of both their natures manners actions who knew that that day also he had spared his enemy whom if he had so thought good he might haue extinguished Saul hauing this second time escaped from Dauids hands returned to his royall house But Dauid fearing least if he soiourned in that place he should bee intrapped by Saul thought good to retire himselfe into the countrey of the Philistines and soiourne there So that accompanied with six hundreth men which he had with him he transported himselfe to Achis king of Geth one of their fiue Cities who receiued him with all his people and gaue him a place to dwell in so that he aboad in Geth hauing with him his two wiues Achimaas and Abigal Which when Saul vnderstood he made no more account to send or sallie out against him because that two seuerall times he had been in danger of his life at such time as he pursued him to intrap him Dauid held it not conuenient to remaine in the Citie of Geth and therfore requested the king of the Philistines that since he had courteously entertained him it might please him likewise to do him the fauour to assigne him a certaine place in his countrey where he might make his habitation because he feared to be chargeable to him if so be he remained in the Citie Achis assigned him a village called Siceleg which Dauid after he obtained the kingdome loued and honoured holding that for his owne demaine as his owne children and heires did after him But hereof will we speake in an other place The time that Dauid liued amongst the Philistines and in the towne of Siceleg were foure moneths and twentie daies during which time by seuerall and secret excursions against the bordering Sarrites and Amalechites he spoyled their countrey and returned backe againe with a great bootie of oxen and camels yet brought he thence no bondmen least Achis by their meanes should haue intelligence of his enterprise He sent likewise a part of the pray vnto the king and when he demaunded from whom he had taken the same he answered that he had taken it from the Iewes that dwelt Southward and in the plaine perswading him that he had done no losse so that Achis conceiued an opinion that since Dauid warred against his owne nation all the time of his aboad with him hee would be a faithfull seruant vnto him About the same time the Philistines hauing determined to lead forth their army against the Israelites sent out to their allies requiring them to assist them in that warre and to make their Rendeuous at Renga to the intent that being there assembled they might dislodge and assaile the Israelites Amongst their other auxiliarie companies Achis had requested Dauid to assist him with his six hundreth souldiers which he promised him willingly to performe telling him that the opportunitie was now come wherein he might requite his curtesie and the hospitalitie he had shewed him Achis promised him that after the victory when as all things had succeeded according as he desired he would preferre Dauid to the guard of his person thinking by the promise of this honour and trust he might augment Dauids forwardnes and affection towards him CHAP. XV. The Philistines renew their warre against the Hebrewes and obtaine the victorie and Saul with his sonnes are slaine in the battell BVt Saul about this time had banished all diuiners and inchanters and in generall all such as were tellers of fortunes reseruing none within his countrey but the Prophets When as therefore hee vnderstood that the Palestines were alreadie vp in armes and strongly encamped neere to the city of Sonna sciruate in the plain he marched forward made head against them with all his forces And as soone as he drew neere to the mountain of Gelboa he encamped right ouer against the enemy Now when his army discouered their great forces they were much discomforted no sooner beheld it but were amased Being therfore sore troubled herewith he sought counsel at Gods hands as touching the euent of the battell seeing he returned him no
rushing in amongst them made a great slaughter of them so that thorow the great quantitie of bloud which he shed his sword stuck fast to his hand and the Israelites seeing the Philistines put to flight by him came downe and ranne vpon them and obtained a miraculous and famous victorie ouer them For Eleazar slaughtered those that fled and the rest of the army followed and spoyled those that were slaine The third was the sonne of Ilus called Sebas who fighting against the Philistines in a place called the Iawe and seeing the Hebrewes to be affraid of their power and almost out of heart resisted them alone as if he had bin an arraunged army and slew some of them and pursued and put the rest to flight in that they were vnable to sustaine his force and violence These three exploited with their owne hands these executions of warre About that time that the king liued in Ierusalem the army of the Philistines came out to make warre vpon him and Dauid as we haue declared heretofore was gone vp into the higher citie to aske counsell of God what the euent of that warre should bee and the enemies being incamped in that valley that extendeth it selfe as farre as Bethleem a Citie some twentie furlongs distant from Ierusalem Dauid said to his companions There is verie good water in the place where I was born and especially that which is in the pitte which is neere vnto the gate if any one will bring me of that water to drinke I shall esteeme it more then if he gaue me great riches These three men hearing these words instantly ranne out and past thorow the enemies campe and went to Bethleem where hauing drawne water they returned backe vnto the king sallying thorow the midst of their enemies bringing newes that the Philistines being affraid of their hardinesse and great courage kept themselues vpon their guard not daring to charge them notwithstanding their small number But the king tasted not of this water which they brought him saying that it was bought with the danger of mens liues and therefore that it was no reason he should drinke thereof but he powred it out as an oblation vnto God giuing him thankes because he had deliuered his seruants After these three followed Abisai Ioabs brother who slew six hundreth of the enemy in one day The fift was Banaia of the race of the Leuites who being defied by certaine brothers famous amongst the Moabites for their vertue ouercame them Moreouer a certaine Aegyptian of a wonderfull stature hauing defied him notwithstanding the said Banaia was naked and the other armed yet charged he him and tooke away his iauelin and slewe him To these foresaid actes of his a man may annex this as the most valiant or very neerely equalling the rest For it came to passe that after a certaine snow a Lyon tossing amidst the flakes thereof fell into a pit whose mouth was so narrow that a man could not discerne where it was especially for that at the same time it was couered with snow where being inclosed and seeing no means to escape he roared out amaine which when Banaia who passed that way heard he followed the voice and drew neere vnto the place and afterwards went downe into the pit where with a staffe he bare in his hand he fought with ouercame and slew the Lyon The thirtie three other were of like valour and vertue But King Dauid being desirous to know how many thousands of men he could number amongst the people and forgetting the commaundement ordained by Moses who had giuen order that if the people had beene numbred there should be paid vnto God for euerie head halfe a sicle he commanded Ioab to go and number all the people and although Ioab had manifestly proued vnto him that it was a thing no waies necessarie yet could he not perswade him but that he enioyned him with all expedition to set forward on his way and muster the people of the Hebrewes Hereupon Ioab tooke with him the principals of the Tribes and Scribes and after circuited all the countrey of the Hebrewes to know how many men there were and at the end of nine moneths and twenty daies he returned to Ierusalem to the king and presented him with the list of the people the tribe of Beniamin only excepted for he neither numbred that tribe nor the tribe of Leui. This done the king perceiuing that he had displeased God was verie sorrowful and pensiue The route of the other Israelites was of nine hundreth thousand men able to beare armes and to follow the warre besides that the only tribe of Iuda contained 400. thousand men When the Prophets had certified Dauid how God was displeased with him he began to pray beseech him that it might please him to appease his wrath and to pardon his offence Hereupon God sent the Prophet Gad vnto him who brought him the choise of three things willing him to make election which of the three he would endure either that famine for seuen yeers space should raigne in his countries or that warre for three moneths space should afflict the same wherein he should haue the worst or that the plague and pestilence should for three daies space raunge amongst the Hebrewes Being thus distraught and troubled by reason of his difficult election amidst these imminent miseries and the Prophet vrging him to returne a short answere whereby God might be satisfied the king bethinking him that if he should aske famine he should rather seeme to respect his owne securitie then the common-weale in that no daunger might by that meanes touch him for that he had great store of corne in his barne and they vnfurnished and if for three moneths he should make choise to be ouercome by the enemy in that case also he might seeme to haue care of himselfe in that he had many strong Castles and a valiant guard of men to attend his person he therefore made choise of a plague that was both as incident to the prince as the subiect wherein each man was touched with equall and imminent feare saying that it was better to fall into the hands of God then into the hands of his enemies When the Prophet had receiued this answere from him he reported it vnto God who sent a plague and mortalitie amongst the Hebrewes whereby they died after diuers manners so that it was very hard to discerne the malady which being but one in kinde yet notwithstanding seased the people by ten thousand causes and vnknowne occasions For one of them died after another and the sicknesse surprising them at vnwares brought a sodain dissolution of the spirits and swouning vpon them so that some of them gaue vp the ghost with grieuous torments and most strange dolors Others were presently partched vp thorow the burning agonies they endured and vnrecouerable by any counsell or remedy consumed away amidst their languishing fits and tortures Others died strangled
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
of the Temple that extended to the northward the other fiue on the right hand toward the southward yet so as they affronted the East Here likewise placed he the sea full of water to the intent that the priests entring into the temple might wash their hands and feete before they went vp vnto the altar The other lauers serued to wash the inwards and feete of those beasts that were sacrificed He buâ—…lded likewise a brasen altar of twenty cubites long and as many in breadth and ten in height to offer burnt offrings thereon He made likewise all the vessels that belonged thereunto of brasse as kettlos water pots hookes and forkes and such like that in brightnesse equalled the pure gold The king also dedicated many tables and amongst these one great one of gold on which the sacred bread was laide the rest not farre inferiour yet made after diuers manners held ewers and platters of gold to the number of twenty thousand and of siluer fortie thousand He made likewise ten thousand candlestickes according as Moses had commanded whereof one he dedicated in the temple that according to the law it might giue light there in the day time He made a table also on which the loaues of bread were laid on the north side of the temple hard by the candlesticke which was placed towards the South-ward The altar of gold was planted betwixt them both All which things were enclosed in that part of the temple that contained fortie cubits before the tapistry of the holie of holiest where the Arke should be placed The king also caused fourescore thousand pots and a hundreth thousand ewers of gold and twise as many of siluer to be made and fourescore thousand plates of gold and twise so many of siluer to offer the kneaded flower in them vpon the altar and threescore thousand cups of gold and twise so many of siluer to lay the flower mingled with oyle thereon and two thousand measures of gold and twenty thousand of siluer resembling a Hin or an Epha of Moses Twenty thousand of Censors also all of gold wherein the perfume was burnt to hallow the temple other censors likewise in which they carried fire from the great altar and laid it on the lesser which was within the temple to the number of fiftie thousand He prepared also a thousand vestments for the vse of the priests with their surcots heads pectorals and with their precious ouches notwithstanding there was but one crowne wherein Moses had written the name of God which hath continued euen vntill this day He made also ten thousand stoales for the priests of fine linnen with scarlet girdles for euery one of them two hundreth thousand trumpets according to the ordinance of Moses fortie thousand instruments of musicke to record and praise God with as the Psalterie and harpe of a mixt matter the fift part gold and the fourth part siluer All which Salomon most magnificently prepared for the seruice of God sparing no cost but imploying himselfe to the vttermost of his power toward the ornament of the temple which he beautified and endowed with all these treasures He inuironed the temple likewise with a certaine wall some three cubits hie which in our toong we call Gison to exclude the prophane multitude and admit none but the priests only Without this wall there stood a temple fouresquare with great and broad Iles which opened with very great gates euery one according to the quarter of the winde and the doores thereof were couered with gold Into this place all the people that were purified might enter and they likewise that kept the ordinances of Moses It may not be spoken or scarcely beleeâ—…d although it were seene how admirable that exteriour temple was for he filled huge trenches which by reason of their immeasurable depth could not be lookte downe into without vehement apprehension of feare for they were foure hundreth cubits deepe yet notwithstanding he filled them and raised them to the height of the hill whereon the temple was built and by this means it came to passe that the walke without the temple was equalled with the foundation of the same This did he begirt with double porches sustained by pillars of rich stone the roofe whereof were of polished Cedar and the gates were of Massiue siluer After that king Salomon had in seuen yeers finished these so huge faire and magnificent buildings and all the other necessaries which he had bestowed vpon the temple and declared therby his great riches and confirmed his readines to be such that that which at the first sight might require a mans whole life to finish he accomplished in few yeeres in respect of the greatnesse of the temple He wrote vnto the gouernours and elders of the Hebrewes commanding them to assemble all the people in Ierusalem to behold the temple and to bring in the Arke of God and although this assembly was publikely proclaimed yet scarcely did the people make their appearance in Ierusalem before the seuenth moneth which we call Thuri and the Macedonians Hyperberete About this time fell the feast of Tabernacles which the Hebrewes most religiously obserue and honour with great festiuals They therefore tooke the Arke and Tabernacle that Moses had before time made with all those necessaries which appertained to the diuine seruice and bare them into the temple The king and all the people with the Leuites marched before hauing their cattell ready to sacrifice and filling the way with offrings and the bloud of diuers slaughtered beasts burning an infinit quantitie of perfumes wherewith the ayre was filled round about the sent whereof dispersed it selfe farre and neere to make it knowne that God would be present in that new builded and consecrated place if we may so speake of diuine thinges after a humane manner Thus ceased they not to sing and daunce vntil they came vnto the temple and after this sort conducted they the Arke But when as it was to be carried into the holy of holiest the rest of the multitude departed and the Priests onely placed it vnder the two Cherubims who embraced it with their winges as if it had beene couered with a pauilion or some canapie for they had been expressely fashioned after that manner by the workeman The Arke contained nought els but the two tables of stone in which were kept in writing the ten commaundements pronounced by God on the mount Sinai For as touching the candlesticke and the table and altar of gold hee placed them in the temple before the most holy of holiest in places correspondent to those where they stood when they were in the Tabernacle Then offered they the ordinarie sacrifices and placed the brazen altar before the temple neere vnto the gate so that when it was opened the other stood in sight and a man might see the seruice and magnificence that was vsed in the sacrifices And as touching the other vtensils he
deaths After that Ioram had taken possession of the kingdome he resolued to make warre vpon Misa the king of the Moabites who paid Achab his father before him the tribute of 200000. sheepe bearing wooll Whenas therefore he had assembled his forces he sent vnto Iosaphat requiring him that since he had beene his fathers friend he would likewise second and send him ayde in his intended warre against the Moabites who had as then newly reuolted from his gouernment Iosaphat not only promised him to yeeld him succours but moreouer he assured him that he would draw the king of Idumaea who was his subiect into their association When Ioram vnderstood these things by those whom he had sent vnto Iosaphat hee tooke his army with him and repaired to Ierusalem where he was magnificently receiued and intertained by the King of that Citie where after they had concluded to march thorow the desart of Idumaea and that way to charge the enemie in that they expected nothing lesse then to be endangered on that side these three kings departed together from Ierusalem namely the king of Ierusalem the king of Samaria and the king of Idumaea Now when they had marched some seuen daies iourney they found a great sarcitie of water amongst them both to water their horses to refresh their whole army by reason that their guides had led them astray out of the high way so that they were in great want and in especiall Ioram who by reason of the necessitie wherwith he was pressed cried vnto God expostulating with him for what offence of his he would betray three such kings as were there present into the hands of the king of Moab without stroke strooken But Iosaphat who was a vertuous man encouraged him and sent into the army to know whether there were any Prophet of God that had followed them to the battell to the intent said he that we may vnderstand by God what we ought to do and whereas one of the seruants of Ioram said that he had seene Elizaeus the sonne of Saphat the disciple of Elias all the three kings by the sollicitation of Iosaphat resorted vnto him now when they drewe neere vnto the Prophets tent which he had pitched apart from the rest of the company they asked him what should become of the army and Ioram in especiall questioned with him To whom Elizeus answered that he had no reason to sollicite him in this sort but to repaire vnto his fathers and mothers Prophets who would certifie him the truth Notwithstanding Ioram intreated him that he would prophecie and continue the preseruation of the army and the defence of his life but Elizeus sware by the liuing God that he would answere him nothing except for Iosaphats sake who was an vpightman and such a one as feared God Afterwards calling vnto them a certaine man that could cunningly play vpon instruments for so had the Prophet commaunded whilest he sung Elizeus was rauished with a diuine spirit and enioyned the kings to make certaine trenches in the channell of the riuer for said he you shall see the riuer full of water without either vvind cloud or raine so that both the whole army and all their cattell shall be saued and sufficiently sustained and God will not onely bestow these benefits on you but will giue you the vpper hand of your enemies also and you shal surprise the fairest and strongest Cities of the Moabites and you shall cut downe their trees ruinate their countrey and fill vp their fountaines and riuers When the Prophet had spoken thus the next day before sunne rise the riuer flowed aboundantly with water for some three daies iourney off God had suffered a very strong and setled raine to fall in Idumaea so that both the soldiers and their horses were sufficiently refreshed and watered When the Moabites were informed that the three kings came out against them tooke their way thorow the desart their king presently assembled his army and commaunded them to keepe the passages of the mountaines to the end they might hinder the enemy from entring their countrey vnawares Who beholding about the sunne rise that the water of the riuer was bloud red for at that time it arose in the countrey of Moab and at this houre the water is red they conceiued a false opinion that the three kings being pressed by thirst had slaine one another and that the riuer flowed with their bloud Being in this sort seduced with this imagination they besought the king to giue them leaue to gather their enemies spoiles which when they had obtained they altogether inconsiderately matched forth as if to a pray alreadie prepared for them and came vnto the kings campes vnder hope to find no man to resist them But their hope deceiued them for their enemies enuironed them round about and some of them were cut in peeces the rest turned backe and fled towards their owne countrey and the three kings entring into the territories of the Moabites destroyed their Cities pillaged the champion countrey disfigured their inclosures filling them with stones and mud taken out of the riuer cut downe their fairest trees stopped vp the sources of their waters and leuelled their wals with the ground The king of the Moabites himselfe seeing himselfe pursued and besieged and that his Citie was in daunger to be taken perforce sallied out verie valiantly with seuen hundreth men hoping by the swiftnes of his horse to breake thorow the Israelites campe on that side where he thought it was least defenced Which when he had attempted and could not execute because he charged on that side which was the best defended he returned backe againe into the Citie and committed a desperate and hatefull action for he tooke his eldest sonne who ought in right to succeede him in the kingdome and set him on the wall of the Citie and in the sight of all his enemies offered him for a burnt sacrifice vnto God The kings beholding this wofull spectacle were moued with compassion of his necessitie and ouercome with humanitie and mercy leuied the siege and returned backe againe into their countries After that Iosaphat was returned into Ierusalem he enioyed a peaceable gouernment but liued not long time after this exploit but died when he was threescore yeares olde in the fiue and twentith yeare of his raigne and was magnificently buried in Ierusalem according as the successour of Dauids vertue and kingdome ought to be entombed CHAP. II. Ioram obtaining the kingdome of Ierusalem slewe his brothers and his fathers friends HE left behind him diuers children the eldest of whom he appointed his successor in the kingdome who was called Ioram as his vncle was who was his mothers brother and Achabs sonne whilome king of Israel The king of the ten lines returning backe vnto Samaria kept with him the Prophet Elizaeus whose actions I wil heere recite because they are notable deserue to be registred in writing
vnto him See here my liege what store of bones are before Hircanus hereby you may coniecture that his father hath fleeced all Syria as he hath bared these bones of flesh The king laughing at Triphons words asked Hircanus how he came by so many bones before him Not without great cause said he O king for dogs deuoure the flesh with the bones as these doe in which speech he glanced at those who sate with him at the table because they had no bones before thē but men eat the flesh and cast the bones away as I do because I am a man The king wondring at his discreet answere commanded all the rest to applaud him in approbation of his witty vrbanity The next day he sought out all the kings friends and the principals in court and saluted them one by one enquiring of their seruants what presents they would court the king with vpon the birth of his sonne Who told him that some of them would giue twelue talents and othersome that were in dignitie would present him according to their abilitie Whereupon Hircanus made a shew of discontent in that he wanted power to offer such a present pretending that he had no more but fiue talents All which these seruants presently reported to their masters who were very ioyfull thereat for the hope they had conceiued that Ioseph should be blamed and would offend the King thorow the abiectnesse of his present Now when the day of the solemnitie was come and they likewise that pretended to present the king most magnificently offered no more then twenty talents Hircanus presented the hundreth yoong Lads he had bought to the King and the virgins vnto Cleopatra for whom he had paid a talent by the powle At this vnexpected magnificence of his gift all men were amazed but beside this he gaue gifts of diuers talents to the King and Queenes fauourites and seruants and their attendants whereby he warranted himselfe from the danger that might fall vnto him by their meanes For the brothers of Hircanus had written vnto them to murther him Ptolomey was highly delighted in the great magnificence of this yoong man and willed him to aske whatsoeuer gift he best liked at his hands But he required no other thing but that it would please the King to recommend him by his letters to his father and brethren When as therefore the king had singularly honoured him and had giuen him many bountifull rewards he wrote vnto his father and his brethren and all his gouernours and commissaries and in that sort sent him away His brothers hearing newes how hee had in all things highly contented the king and that he returned with great glorie they issued out to meet with him with an intent to murther him with their fathers knowledge For he being displeased with him by reason of his aboue named large expence had no care to warrantize him yet concealed he his discontent for feare of the king But when his brothers came and encountred him on the way he slew diuers of those that accompanied them and two of his brethren also were left slaine vpon the place and the rest fled to Ierusalem vnto their father And when as vpon his repaire vnto Ierusalem he perceiued that no man entertained him he waxed affraid and departed presently from thence to the other side of Iordan where he past his life in receiuing and gathering the tributes of the Barbarians In that time Seleucus surnamed Soter the sonne of Antiochus the great raigned in Asia At that time also died Ioseph Hircanus father who was a man of good conceit and great courage who established the people of the Iewes in their entire peace and had released them from prouertie and many desasters and had held the tributes of Syria Phoenicia and Samaria for the space of twenty two yeers His vncle Onias died also about the same time leauing the priesthood to his sonne Simon after whose death his sonne Onias was made high priest to whom Arius king of Lacedemon sent an embassade and letters the copy whereof hereafter ensueth CHAP. V. The frienship and societie of the Lacedemonians with Onias the high Priest of the Iewes ARius King of Lacedemon to Onias Health We haue found out a certaine writing wherin it is recorded that the Iewes and Lacedemonians are of the same race and both of them descended from Abraham It is therefore requisite that since you are our brethren that you giue vs to vnderstand wherein we may pleasure you The like will we doe also and will repute that which is yours to be ours as that which is ours shall in communitie be yours Demoteles our messenger bringeth you our letters foulded in square the seale whereof is an Aegle holding a Dragon in hertalous These were the contents of the Lacedemonians letters After the death of Ioseph it came to passe that the people began to mutine in the quarrell of his children For the elder brethren made warre against Hircanus who was the yoonger by meanes whereof the people were deuided The greater part of them followed the Elder faction and the high Priest Simon also by reason of his affinitie with them followed their partie Whereupon Hircanus resolued to repaire no more vnto Ierusalem but fixing his habitation on the other side of Iordan he made continuall warre against the Arabians slaying a great number of them and taking many prisoners He builded a huge tower of white marble from the bottome to the toppe and on the same planted he the figures of many liuing creatures in sculpture of great height About the same he drew and forced a deepe trench of flowing water and hauing hewed the front of the rocke that stood opposite against his building hee made diuers caues therein many furlongs long He made also diuers chambers therein both to eate sleepe and dwell in He drew thither likewise currants of springing water in so great abundance that it gaue much delight to those that dwelt there and great ornament to the whole building The mouth of euery caue was so little that but one only man could enter at once which he therfore made so narrow because they might the better serue for his securitie and refuge that if so be he were at any time assailed by his brethren he might auoid the danger of surprisall Moreouer he builded many huge halles which he adorned with great and goodly gardens and this place thus builded was called by him Tyre and is scituate betweene Arabia and Iudaea on the other side of Iordan not far from the countrey of Essebonitis He commanded in this countrey some seuen yeeres all that time that Seleucus raigned in Syria After whose death his brother Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes obtained the kingdome Ptolomey also King of Aegypt who was likewise called Epiphanes died and left two children very young behind him of whom the eldest was called Philometor and the yonger Physcon When as therfore Hircanus perceiued that
the kingdome he discouered his hypocrisie and shewed plainly that he was not vnaptly called Tryphon that is to say a trifler or mocker By which meanes he drew the hearts of the better sort from him and as for his army they grew so much in hatred of him that they submitted themselues to Cleopatra Demetrius wife who had at that time shut vp both her selfe and her children in Seleucia And wheras Antiochus surnamed the Deuout and brother to Demetrius was driuen from place to place and had not any Citie that would entertaine him for feare of Tryphon Cleopatra sent vnto him enuiting him both to be her husband and to take the possession of the kingdome And hereunto did she the rather draw him partly for that she was thereunto perswaded by her friends and partly for the fear she had least some one of Seleucia should betray the citie to Tryphon As soone as Antiochus was arriued in Seleucia and that from day to day his forces increased he marched forth into the field and fought with Tryphon and ouercame him in battell and droue him out of the higher Syria and pursued him as farre as Phoenicia where after he had retired himselfe into Dora a strong and impregnable Castle he besieged him therein and sent present Embassadors to Simon the high priest of the Iewes to confirme a friendship and confederacie with him Simon very curteously accepted his demaunds and presently sent Antiochus both money and victuals sufficient to furnish his army at the siege of Dora so that in short space he was accepted amongst the number of his intire friends Tryphon flying from Dora to Apamea was in that place besieged taken and flaine after he had raigned three yeeres CHAP. XIII After Tryphons death Simon made warre against Antiochus and droue Cendebaeus out of Iudaea BVt the innated auarice that was in Antiochus and the malignitie of his nature made him forgetfull of those offices and seruices that Simon had done him so that he sent Cendebaeus his great friend with a mighty army to inuade Iewry and to surprise Simon But he hauing some priuie intelligence of Antiochus treacherie notwithstanding that at this time hee was verie olde was in such sort moued with the iniuries that Antiochus had done him as animated with courage more then became his age he went himselfe to the warre as if as yet he had beene but youthfull he therefore caused his sonne to march before with the picked soldiers of his army and hauing left a number of his soldiers in ambush in the hollow retreats of the mountains he executed al his deseignes without failing in any one of them so that after he had euery way obtained the vpper hand of his enemies he euer after enioied his gouernment in peace during the remainder of his life and renewed likewise the confederacy with the Romans CHAP. XIIII Simon is traiterously slaine by his sonne in law Ptolomey at a banquet HE gouerned Iudaea for the space of eight yeeres and was at length slaine at a banquet by the trechery of Ptolomey his sonne in law who being seased of Simons wife and his two children and detaining them in prison sent out certaine of his traine besides to kill Iohn the third sonne surnamed Hircanus But the young man hauing-some inkling of their drift retired himselfe speedily into the citie and auoided the daunger that they complotted against him assuring himselfe of the good will of the people in consideration of the benefits they had receiued at his fathers hands and the hatred that they bare vnto Ptolomey who intending to enter the citie gates was sharply repulsed by the citizens for that they had alreadie entertained Hircanus CHAP. XV. How Ptolomey failing of his hopes Hircanus obtained the Soueraigntie WHereupon Ptolomey retired vnto a certaine Castle scituate beyond Ierico called Dagon but Hircanus was made high Priest in his fathers steed who after he had recommended himselfe to God by the firstling sacrifices that he offered marched out against Ptolomey his brother in law to make warre vpon him Now when he was fully addressed to besiege the place whither Ptolomey was retired he had the aduantage in all other things but onely by the affection that he bare vnto his mother and his brethren he was ouercome For Ptolomey hauing taken them and whipt them vpon the walles in all mens presence threatned Hircanus that vnlesse he leuied his siege he would cast them downe headlong from the top of the Castle now whereas one way Hircanus had a great desire to enforce and surprise the place so also on the other side he was wholy weakned thorow the desire that he had to redeeme those whom he loued from the enemies tyranny True it is that his mother stretching out her hands besought him that for her sake he should not giue ouer valiantly to assault the place but that he should bee the more encouraged to surprise the fortresse and to lay hold vpon his enemy be reuenged on the wrong that was offered vnto his decrest friends alledging that she thought it better to die in the middest of a thousand torments then that the enemie should escape vnpunished who had beene so manifest an occasion of their misery When Hircanus heard his mother speake thus he was more furiously incensed to giue the assault but as soone as he saw his mother so beaten and so sore wounded his heart melted within him and that seruent desire which he before had to batter and beat downe the citie was presently alaid and cooled and so the pitifull compassion on his mother surmounted and ouercame his irefull affection of reuenge Whilest thus the siege was continued and prolonged the yeere of reposâ—… celebrated among the Iewes was come For they obserued the seuenth yeere as the seuenth day is obserued in the weeke so that by this occasion Ptolomey was deliuered of this siege who afterwards slue both Hircanus mother and brethren which done he fled vnto Zeno surnamed Cotyla who at that time tyrannized in the citie of the Philadelphians CHAP. XVI Antiochus the Deuout maketh warre against Hyrcanus and vpon the receit of three hundreth talents contracteth alliance with him ANtiochus calling to mind the manifold losses he had receiued by Simons meanes inuaded Iury in the fourth yeere of his raigne and in the first of Hyrcanus gouernment which was in the hundreth sixtie and two Olympiade And after he had spoiled all the countrey he locked vp Hyrcanus within the Citie of Ierusalem which he had besieged with seuen campes yet with no aduantage at all both in regard of the strength of the walles as in respect of the valour of the Citizens as also the want of water which he had in his campe which was notwithstanding remedied by a great fall of raine which fell about the setting of the Pleiades in the beginning of Aprill On the North side also where there is a great plaine Antiochus caused one hundreth towers
had afterwards endured many paines and miseries Furthermore that his friends were in great daunger and left besieged for which cause hee had sailed by winter and despised all daungers onely to seeke for assistance at his hands on whom depended his hope and last refuge CHAP. XXVI Herode is made king of Iury by the Romane Senate ANtonius hearing all those alterations that had befallen Herode had compassion of his misery bethinking himselfe of the estate and condition of great men who are likewise subiect to no lesse casualties and the rather was he induced to doe him good both in remembrance of the friendship he had with Antipater his father as also by reason of Herodes promises of certaine summes of money if so be he were made king by his meanes as he had beene before time declared Tetrarch But that which most moued him hereunto was the hatred which he bare vnto Antigonus whom he accounted to be a mutinons man and an enemy to the Romans fortune On the other side Caesar was wel inclined to succour him both in regard of those armies which Antipater had brought into Aegyptin his fathers seruice as also because of the good hospitality and kindnes that he had shewed him in all things as in especiall to gratifie Antonius who was well affected towards Herode Whereupon the Senate being assembled Messala and Atratinus brought forth Herode and after they had praised him and recited the benefits which the Romans had receiued by his father and the great affection and good will which he bare to the people of Rome they accused declared Antigonus for the Romanes enemy not onely for his ancient crimes but also for that in contempt of the Romans he had receiued the kingdome from the Parthians Whilest the Senate was sore displeased at the report of these things Antonius arose and declared openly before thē all that in furtherance of the Parthian warre it were not amisse that Herode should be made king which opinion of his was generally allowed and finally ratified The principall demonstration of the loue and affection which Antonius bare vnto Herode was that he not onely obtained him the kingdome beyond all hope for neuer thought he that the Romans would grant that dignity vnto him who were wont to reserue that honour to those of the kings bloud and therefore he intended to haue demaunded it for his wiues brother Alexander and nephew to Aristobulus by the fathers side and to Hircanus by the mother which Alexander Herode afterwards put to death as it shall be declared in place conuenient but also for that within the terme of seuen daies he sent him out of Italy with the vnexpected titles of his felicitie As soone as the Senate weas risen Antonius and Caesar issued forth leading Herode betweene them and being accompanied by the Consuls and other magistrates went vp into the capitol to do sacrifice and to place there this decree the Senate had made as touching this matter The first day of Herodes raigne Antonius feasted him and after this sort was he established king in the hundreth eightie and fourth Olympiade in the yeere wherein C. Domitius Caluinus twice Consul and Caius Asinius Pollio were Consuls Meane while Antigonus besieged those that were in the castle of Massada who were plentifully furnished with all things necessary except it were water for which cause Ioseph Herodes brother that was within and two hundreth of his friends had concluded to flie vnto the Arabians for that they vnderstood that Malchus had repented himselfe of the fault he had committed against Herode But whilest they stoode vpon these termes God powred downe a huge raine on a certaine night that in short time filled their cestemes in such sort as that they had no more necessitie to flie and from that time forward they waxed confident and for that this abundance of water befel them by Gods prouidence they made a sallie vpon their enemies in which they charged Antigonus soldiers after such a maner somtime in open field sometime by couert assault that they slue a great number of them At that time Ventidius a Romane captaine was sent into Syria to driue the Parthians from thence after their departure he arriued in Iury making shew that he would assist Ioseph but in effect all his pretence was to draw money form Antigonus Being therefore encamped neer vnto Ierusalem and hauing drawn sufficient money from Antigonus he retired himselfe with the greater part of his forces and to the intent his deceitfull dealing might not be discouered he left Silo with a company of his soldiers who likewise was honoured by Antigonus for feare least he should be cause of some newe trouble before such time as the Parthians whose comming he expected should yeelde him aide CHAP. XXVII Herode returneth from Rome by sea and fighteth against Antigonus AFter that Herode was come from Italy by sea to Ptolemais and that he had assembled no small number of soldiers both straungers and his owne countrimen he marched forward against Antigonus and passed thorow Galilee Silo and Ventidius also gaue him assistance in this action hauing receiued direction by Gellius from Antonius that they should assist Herode to recouer his countrey But Ventidius was employed in appeasing the troubles that were raised in the cities by the Parthians and as touching Silo he kept in Iudaea hauing beene corrupted by Antigonus But the further that Herode daily marched into the countrey the more and more increased his forces and all Galilee except a very few submitted themselues vnto him Whilest therefore hee marched forward toward Massada being vrged thereunto in that he was to relieue his parents that were besieged therein the citie of Ioppe would not grant him passage for the citizens thereof were his enemies so that it behooued him first of all to ruinate the same to the end he might leaue no retreat or place of rescous for his enemy on his backe if so be he made towards Ierusalem Vpon which occasion Silo laying hold dislodged his army made thitherward whom when the Iewes did pursue Herode sallied out with a small company and put them to flight and saued Silo notwithstanding he fought very coldly and cowardly Afterwards being seazed of Ioppe he hasted onwards to deliuer his friends that were besieged in Massada but part of the inhabitants submitted themselues vnto him for the friendship they had borne vnto his father an other sort of them for the honour that they bare vnto him the rest admitted his goue◅ment in acknowledgement of those benefits they had receiued from them both But the greatest part was thereunto moued by the hope they had conceiued of their new elected king and the confirmation of his gouernment Thus by these meanes was his army mightily increased Whilest thus he marched forward Antigonus seazed those places that were fittest to lay ambushes in or to fight at aduantages by the way
there to meete with Caesar. And as soone as he arriued in that citie he tooke the Diademe from his head and laid it apart but as for his other princely ornaments he chaunged them in no sort and being admitted to Caesars presence he at that time gaue a more ample testimony of the greatnes of his magnanimitie and courage for neither addressed he his speech to intreat his fauour according to the custome of suppliants neither presented he any request as if he had in any sort offended him but gaue account of al that which he had done without concealing or mistrusting any thing For he freely confessed before Caesar that he had intirely loued Antonius and that to the vtmost of his power he had done him seruice to the end that he might obtaine the soueraigntie and monarchie not by annexing his forces vnto his in that he was otherwaies imployed in the Arabian warre but in furnishing him both with wheat and money and that this was the lest office which it behooued him to performe towards Antonius for that being once his professed friend it behooued him not onely to imploy his best endeuours on his so princely benefactor but also to hazard both his head and happines to deliuer him from perils All which said he I haue not performed according as I ought to haue done yet notwithstanding I know that at such time as he was ouercome in the Actian battell I did not alter my affection with his fortune neither did I restraine my selfe for although I befriended not Antonius with my presence and assistance in his Actian warre yet at leastwise I assisted him with my counsaile certifying him that he had but one onely meanes left him for his securitie and preuention of his vtter ruine which was to put Cleopatra to death for that by cutting her off hee might enioy her estate and might more easily obtaine his peace and pacifie thy displeasure against him And for that he gaue but slender regard for these mine admonitions by his owne sottishnesse and indiscretion he hath hurt himselfe and profited you because as I said he did not follow my counsaile Now therefore O Caesar in regard of the hate which you beare vnto Anthony you condemne my friendship also I will not denie that which I haue done neither am I affraid freely and publikely to protest how much I haue loued him but if without regard of persons you consider how kindly I am affected towards my benefactors and how resolute and constant a friend I am and how mindefull of kindnesse the effect of that which I haue done may make me knowne vnto thee For if the name be onely changed the friendship notwithstanding may remaine and deserue a due praise By these words which were manifest testimonies of his resolute and noble courage he so inwardly indeered himselfe vnto Caesar who was a magnificent and worthy monarcke that hee conuerted this his accusation into an occasion to winne and worke him to be his friend for which cause Caesar in setting the diademe vpon his head exhorted him that he should no lesse respect his friendship then he had in former time Anthonies and withall did him much honour certifying him moreouer that Capidius had written vnto him how much Herode had assisted him in his warres that he had with the monarches of Syria Herode seeing that he was thus entertained and that contrarie to his expectation the kingdome was more surely confirmed vnto him then before time both by Caesars bountie as also by the decree of the Senate which he had practized to obtaine for his greater assurance accompanied Caesar as farre as Aegypt presenting both himselfe and his friends with many rich gifts beyond the proportion of his estate endeuouring by these means both to win their fauors and to shew also the greatnes of his courage requiring moreouer at Caesars hands that Alexander who was one of Anthonies deerest friends might not be sought out to be punished yet notwithstanding he could not obtaine the same by reason of an oath that Caesar had past before he sollicited him That done he returned backe againe into Iewry with more greater honour and assurance then before whereby he stroke them with wonderfull amazement who expected his contrarie successe as if by Gods especiall prouidence he alwaies ouerwent his dangers to his greater honour Incontinently therefore hee prepared himselfe to entertain Caesar who returned out of Syria to take his iourney into Aegypt and receiued him at Ptolemais with all royall honour and gaue his army presents with all abundance of munition so that he was accounted for one of Caesars most affectionate friends and rode about with him at such time as he tooke the view of his army he entertained him also and his friends with one hundreth and fiftie men adorned with most rich and sumptuous apparell And for that they were to passe thorow a countrey wherein there was great scarcitie of water he furnished them both with water and wine so that they needed neither of them He gaue Caesar also eight hundreth talents and so royally satisfied he all men that they confessed themselues to haue had farre greater entertainment then the reuenues and profits of his kingdome could affoord them By which meanes he gaue the more ample testimonie of his forward friendship and free affection to deserue well and making vse of the opportunitie of the time he obtained the reputation of a prince of an heroicke and noble spirite so that hee was helde inferiour vnto no man for the good entertainment that he gaue to the chiefest Romans in their returne out of Aegypt CHAP. XI Herode being incensed by false accusations putteth his wife Mariamme to death BVt as soone as he returned into his kingdome he found all his houshold troubled and both his wife Mariamme and her mother Alexandra grieuously displeased with him For they supposing and not without cause that they were not shut vppe in that Castle for their securities sake but as it were in a prison so that in as much as they neither might make vse of other mens nor enioy their own goods they were highly discontented Mariamme also supposed that her husband did but dissemble his loue rather for his owne profit and commoditie then for any intire affection he bare towards her But nothing more grieued her but that she had not any hope to liue after him if so be he should happen to die especially for the order he had left as concerning her neither could she euer forget what commandement before that time he had left with Ioseph so that by all meanes possible she laboured to winne the affections of those that had the charge of her and especially Sohemus knowing verie well that her safetie depended wholy on his hands Who in the beginning behaued himselfe verie wisely and faithfully containing himselfe verie circumspectly within the bounds of his commission but after these Ladies had with prettie presents and feminine
and delight At the foote of this hill there are two houses worthie the sight for diuers their singularities namely by reason of those conduits of water which although they spring or in that place yet notwithstanding are they brought from farre with great cost and expence The plaine that adioyneth vpon it is all full of buildings after the manner of a citie and the top of the castle commaundeth all the plaine As soone as therefore he had disposed all his affaires according to his hearts desire he possessed his kingdome in great quietnes for that he made his subiects obediēt vnto him both by feare in shewing himselfe inexorable when it concerned him to punish and by liberality whereby he prouided for their publike necessities he therefore tooke an especiall care of himselfe as if the life and safetie of his person had beene the securitie of his people He behaued himselfe officiously and fauourably towards all forraine cities he entertained the princes by presents which according to his occasions he sent vnto them to insinuate himselfe into their fauours being in his owne nature magnificent and fit to gouerne so that all his fortunes increased and all things fell out happily according to his hearts desire True it is that the care which he imployed in honouring Caesar and other mightie magistrates of Rome caused him to outstrip his customes and to falsifie diuers ordinances of his countrey in building cities and erecting temples in honour of them although he builded them not in the land of Iury for the Iewes would not haue endured it because we are forbidden to honour Images and figures formed according to the likenes of a man as the Greekes are accustomed to do but he did this in the countrey and forraine cities and excused himselfe to the Iewes saying that he did it not of his owne head but performed that according to the charge and commaundement which he had from others who were greater then himselfe and in the meane while gratified Caesar and the Romanes in that he respected their honour more then he did the ordinances of his countrey although in all things he had a respect to his particular aduantage and determined with himselfe to leaue behind him after his death large and ample testimonies of his power and greatnes which was the cause that he builded cities with great charge and expence CHAP. XIII The building of the Citie of Caesarea WHen as therefore he had found out a fit and conuenient place vpon the sea coast to build a citie on which of long time had beene called the tower of Straton he both magnificently designed and set downe the modell and forme thereof and made many sumptuous buildings both of royall pallaces and of other priuate lodgings not builded after a sleight manner or of weake and fading matter but of marble stone But the greatest and busiest worke of all was the hauen which he made exempt and free from stormes and tempests that in greatnes resembled that of Piraeus and was so spacious that it was able to receiue many great ships into the road and had diuers roumes and warehouses to lay vp the merchandize therein And the more admirable was this pile because the stuffe that was fit to finish this so great work was not gathered or gotten in that place but must needly be brought from another place vpon great charge and expence This citie is seated in Phoenicia vpon the coast in the way to Aegypt betweene Ioppe and Dora certaine villages scituate vpon the sea coasts vnfit either for landing or harbour by reason of the Affricke wind that driuing the sand of the sea vpon the shore giueth not any quiet road vnto the ships but that the marchants are enforced for a long time to ride at ancor To correct this incommoditie of the place he made the circuit round about the port so spacious that it was able to receiue a great fleet and he cast downe to the bottome thereof which was about some twentie fathoms deepe certaine huge stones that for the most part were fifty foot long eight foot broad and nine foot high some more and some lesse The pile that was erected vpon this to affront the sea was a pane of two hundreth foot the halfe whereof was opposed against the waues to breake the fury of the streame and for this cause was called in the Greeke tongue Procymation that is to say Before floud The other halfe serued as a foundation to beare vp a wall of stone fortified with diuers towers the chiefest whereof was a faire pile or building which was called Drusus in memorie of Drusus Caesars sonne in law who died very young it had also diuers retreats or hostries in the same into which the mariners were receiued and lodged The descent being hard by encompassed all the portlike a round platforme that serued for a pleasant walking place for whom soeuer listed The entrance and mouth of the hauen was toward the north which is a wind that of all other most purifieth and cleanseth The supporter and strength of all the circuit on the left hand vpon the entrance to the port was an ample and huge tower to fasten it the more strongly and on the right hand were two huge pillars of stone more higher then the tower that stood opposite against them erected and fastned togither All round about the hauen there were certaine buildings abutting one vpon another of pollished marble and in the midst there was a little hillocke on which there was a certaine monument placed in honor of Caesar which presented it selfe to their sight who sayled to the port in which there were the figares of the Citie of Rome and of Caesar. This citie also was called Caesarea as much to be wondred at for the matter whereof it was built as for the arte whereby it was erected and no lesse cunning was there shewed in the vaults and conduits vnder ground then in those buildings that were aboue them some of them were conuaied toward the port and discharged themselues into the sea by certaine compassed spaces but there was one that went athwarts that comprehended all the rest to the end that there by the raine-water and the clensings of the Citie might be conuaied into the sea and that when the sea should flow it might wash and cleanse all the citie He erected also a Theater of stone and behinde the same to the Southward an Amphitheater that was able to receiue a great number of men and so pleasantly and fitly scituated that stom the same a man might discouer the sea This Citie was finished at the end of twelue yeers during which time the king was neither wearied by intending the worke nor negligent in furnishing the necessarie charges After this perceiuing that the Citie of Sebaste was already inhabited also hee resolued to send his two sonnes Alexander and Aristobulus to Rome to present them vnto the Emperour Caesar who no sooner
obtaine immortall praise for the present and a memorable and eternall glorie in time to come neither that they should protract the execution therof for feare of danger since death was a thing that might not be auoided so that since by the generall course of nature they must needly die it should become them brauely to forsake their liues with praise and honour in embracing vertue For to die in the execution of some noble exploit which cannot be atchieued without hazard or danger their children should be richly rewarded with the fruits thereof their other parents that should ou◅liue them of what sex soeuer should reape the fruits of that glorie which was honourably atchieued by them In these or such like words encouraged they the young men About that time there was a rumour spred that the king was dead which gaue verie great furtherance to the doctors resolution For at high noone they went vp into the temple they pulled and hewed downe the Aegle with their axes in the sight and assembly of a great number of people that were in the temple Now when the tidings hereof came vnto the eares of the kings captaine he fearing least some further and more fatall tumult might be raised drew out a strong companie of souldiers with him to repulse those that were assembled to hew downe the Aegle and charging the rude disarmed multitude who were gathered togither he easily flew and dispersed the most as for those 40. young men that valiantly addressed thēselues to resist he apprehended them and with them the authors of this sedition Iudas Matthias who thought scorne to submit thēselues and led them to the king who demanding of them how they durst deface the sacred image they answered that long before that time they had resolued it and that now according as they had resolued they had like valiant men performed the same For we said they maintaine the honour of God and the doctrine of our lawe whereof we are disciples neither ought you to admire that with contempt of your ordinances we haue preferred the lawes of our forefathers which Moses hath left vs in writing according as he was suggested and taught them by God neither doe we refuse any death or punishment which thou shalt inflict vpon vs being assured in our consciences that we suffer not for our impietie but pietie sake Thus spake they all of them continuing the like constant boldnesse in their answeres as they had shewed in their actions being also ready constantly to endure any punishment for that which they had attēpted Hereupon the king commanded them to be bound and sent them to Iericho then calling before him those principall Iewes who had the gouernment vnder him being brought into their assembly vpon his pallat by reason of his weaknesse he recited vnto them the numberlesse trauels he had endured for their sakes in like manner how vpon his great charges he had repaired and reedified the temple whereas the Asmoneans for the space of 125. yeeres wherein they raigned could not performe such a building in the honour of God Moreouer he signified vnto them how he had adorned the same with precious gifts for which he hoped that after his death his memorie and glorie should suruiue After this he expostulated with them for what cause they abstained not from offering him that outrage during his life time And why at noon daies and in the sight of all the people they had laid hands on those presents which he had dedicated vnto God and had taken those things away violently which though in words they appertained to him yet in effect if the act were well examined they had taken from God The gouernors suspecting his crueltie and fearing least his vnbridled passion should vrge him further by which meanes they might be assured of some seuere punishment answered him that those things were not done by their consents and that in their opinion the iniurie ought not to be let slip without punishment At that time Herod shewed himselfe more fauourable towards the rest but he caused Matthias to be depriued of the priesthood as one in part who had been the cause of that which had hapned and in his place substituted Iozar one of his wiues brethren During the priesthood of this Matthias it hapned also that an other high priest was elected that verie day wherein the Iewes did vsually celebrate their fast For Matthias the night before the day of the fast seemed in his dream to haue had the company of his wife and whereas for this cause he was vnfit to offer the deuine sacrifice he had Ioseph the sonne of Ellemus appointed him to be his assister and substitute by reason of his alliance Herode therefore deposed Matthias and as touching the other Matthias who had mooued this trouble both he and his companions were by his commandement consumed with fire This verie night the moone was ecclipsed Herods sicknesse grew more vehement For God punished those sins which he had committed For he was inflamed with a lent or slow fire which to the outward sense seemed not so vehement but Inwardly searched and afflicted all his entrails he had also a rauenous and an vnnaturall appetite to his meat which might no waies be satisfied Besides that he had an vlcer in his bowels with a strange and furious colicke His feet were swolne with moist and shining f◅egme and his stomacke was no lesse affected also His members rotted were full of crawling wormes with a filthie and no lesse troublesome Priapisme accompanied with an intollerable stench besides all this he had a strong con◅ulsion of his nerues and shortnesse of breath For which cause it was a generall opinion amongst holy men and such as had the knowledge of prophecie that the king was thus punished for his infinite impieties and sinnes committed against the maiestie of God And although he was tormented with an vnsupportable sicknes yet had he hope to escape and for that cause he sent for phisitions from all places and refused none of those remedies which they thought behoouefull for him He therefore past ouer Iordan and went into the hot bathes of Calliroes the waters whereof are potable besides other vertues they haue against all other kind of sicknes this water dischargeth it selfe into the lake called Asphaltite Being there it was thought good by his phisitions that he should refresh himselfe in those waters There being set by them into a bathing tub be filled with oyle he waxed so sicke that they held him for dead Whereupon all his household seruants wept and grieuously lamented and all his familiar friends crying out and bewailing him with their great noise caused him to come to himselfe and seeing himselfe wholy out of hope to escape he gaue order that there should a distribution be made to euery soldier the summe of fiftie drachmes and he offered great presents to their captaines his friends Afterwards
was poisoned by Piso whereof he died as it is declared in another place CHAP. IIII. The rebellion of the Iewes against Pontius Pilate PIlate Gouernour of Iudâ—… led his army from Caesarea to Ierusalem where he wintered them with an intent to bring in Caesars statues and standards into the Citie in contempt of our lawe which forbiddeth vs to make images For which cause those Gouernours that were before him were wont to make their entries into the Citie without such pictures or paintings Pilate was the first who vnawares and by night entered Ierusalem bringing with him his images Which when the people vnderstood in great multitudes they resorted to Caesarea beseeching him for many daies that he would transport those images into some other place But when as Pilate denied them to performe their request because the matter would redound to Caesars dishonour and the Iewes also ceased not to sollicite him some sixe daies after commanding his souldiers to lie in ambush in a readinesse he sate him downe in the Tribunall within the Hippodrome making vse of the oportunitie of the place for that it was most fit for a stratageme There being vrged once more about the same businesse he gaue a signe to his souldiers to beset them threatning them with death except they would presently giue ouer their suite and repaire euerie one of them with all speed to their owne houses But they prostrating themselues vpon the earth and offering their naked throats tolde him that they rather desired to die then to see their lawes violated which were with so great iudgement and reason proposed vnto them Pilate amazed at the confidence they shewed in the conseruation of their lawes sodainly caused Caesars images to be transported out of Ierusalem into Caesarea and out of the sacred treasurie he made certaine conduits of water that had their fountaine heads more then two hundreth stades off But the people tooke no pleasure in those conduits and diuers thousands of men assembled themselues exclaiming against Pilate endeuouring thereby to make him giue ouer his enterprise Some of them also vttered diuers iniurious speeches against him as it ordinarily falleth out amongst an vnbridled multitude But he causing them to be hemmed in by a great number of his souldiers attired in a popular habite as soone as they began to exclaime against him gaue a signe to his souldiers they as it was before time commanded them made vse of their maces and without distinction either of the persons or the offenders fell on all those whom they had encompassed And so vnmercifully laid on them who were naked and disarmed that some of them were slaine othersome grieuously hurt and after this manner was the tumult and sedition appeased At that time was IESVS a wise Man if it be lawfull to call him a Man For he was the performer of diuers admirable workes and the instructer of those who willingly entertaine the truth and he drew vnto him diuers Iewes and Greekes to be his followers This was Christ who being accused by the princes of our nation before Pilate and afterwards condemned to the Crosse by him yet did not those who followed him from the beginning forbeare to loue him for the ignominie of his death For he appeared vnto them aliue the third day after according as the diuine Prophets had before testified the same and diuers other wonderfull things of him and from that time forward the race of the Christians who haue deriued their name from him hath neuer ceased At that time also there fell out another accident which verie sore troubled the Iewes and in the temple of Isis at Rome there were many shamefull acts committed But I will first of all recount the accident in the temple of Isis and then will I declare that which befell the Iewes There was in Rome a Ladie called Paulina renowmed both for the nobilitie of hir house as also thorow her studie and exercise in vertue Besides this she was verie rich and with her riches beautifull and in her flowring yeeres and notwithstanding a verie mirrhor of chastitie She was married vnto a certaine noble man called Saturnine that equald her in all those her excellent perfections A certaine young man called Decius Mundus one of the knights of greatest account at that time fell in loue with her But she was of that disposition that it was impossible for him to corrupt her by presents And the more she refused those infinite presents which he sent vnto her the more was Mundus heart inflamed with ardent affection so that to enioy her but onely one night he offered her two hundreth thousand drachmes amounting in our English money to some sixe thousand pound yet for all this he could not ouercome her For which cause being vnable to endure this his vnfortunate loue he thought best to pine himselfe away for want of sustenance thereby to deliuer himselfe from the tyrannie of that passion wherewith he was afflicted Finally that he confidently resolued he constantly put in execution Now there was a certaine free woman that belonged to Mundus father whose name was Idâ—… expert in all sorts of subtilties who being sore aggrieued to behold the young mans resolution whom she saw wholy addicted to a desperate death she addressed her selfe vnto him and encouraged him with hope promising him to bring him to Paulinas speech by the meanes of a certaine bribe which she intended to offer He reioycing verie much at her motion demanded what summe would serue her who requiring nothing more then fiftie thousand drachmes to obtaine Paulina he furnished her presently When as by this means she had quickened the young mans spirit and receiued all that which she demanded she shaped not the same course which others had kept that had the sollicitation of the matter before seeing she saw that money would not tempt her but knowing that she was deepely deuoted to the seruice of Isis she practised this subtill and vnexpected policie She addressed her selfe to certaine priests of the temple and vpon great hopes and offer of greater presents and paying them downe vpon the present twentie and fiue thousand drachmes and promising them as much more vpon the performance of the bargaine she disclosed vnto them the passionate loue which the young man bare vnto Paulina exhorting them to worke so wisely that he might enioy her They bewitched with this huge present they had and hoped to receiue promised her to worke the feat Whereupon the eldest among them resorted to Paulina and hauing free accesse vnto her presence he required that he might haue conference with her in secret which when he had obtained he tolde her that he was sent vnto her by God Anubis in that the God was surprised with her loue and desired that she would come vnto him Paulina tooke great pleasure in this his discourse and tolde her familiars how she had been honoured with the amorous solicitation of a God and certified
to admit the statue Whilest the matter stood vpon these tearmes Aristobulus Agrippas brother and Elcias surnamed the Great accompanied with diuers of their houshold traine and some of the chiefest among the Iewes came vnto Petronius beseeching him that he would consider the obstinacie of the people neither giue them occasions to draw them into desperate actions but rather that he would write vnto Caius with what obstinacie the people refused the dedication of his image in the Temple and how giuing ouer the care of their husbandrie they prepared themselues for the warre without any trust or confidence in their owne strength being rather addressed to die then to suffer so great an indignitie to be offered to their religion Besides how giuing ouer their tillage there was nothing to be expected but robberie whereas they should want meanes to pay their customes by which meanes they hoped that Caesar would be mooued to moderate his seueritie towardes that nation and not to giue them cause of rebellion and that if he might not be mooued from the prosecution of the warre that then he might go forward with his businesse This was the effect of Aristobulus request But Petronius partly in respect of their praiers who instantly vrged him and the waightinesse of the action partly in regard of the contentious purpose of the Iewes supposing that it was a matter vnworthy a man to put so many thousands of men to death to satisfie Caius vnbridled desire and insolence and touched with the feare of God and the remorse of his own conscience he had rather to his owne danger informe the Emperour of the absurditie of the matter by his letters being no waies ignorant of his wrathfull spirit and forwardnesse in reuenge except his furious passion and expectation were answered For this thought he that although it altered not his resolution but happily inforced his displeasure against him in that he did not speedily execute his cōmaund yet that it was the duetie of a good man no not to refuse an assured death if so be he might saue so guiltlesse and huge a multitude When as therefore he had assembled the Iewes togither in Tiberias when many thousands of them resorted thither and disposed all those warlike forces that at that time gaue attendance on him round about him he tolde the Iewes first of all not his owne but the Emperours intent who would make them shortly taste his displeasure and enforce them to beare the burthen of his indignation who were so bold as to contradict him For himselfe that it necessarily concerned him that since by the Emperours fauour he had receiued so great houour he should not commit any thing contrarie to his commaund I hold it said he a matter most iust to employ my life honor for you to the end that so huge a number of men should not be drawne into danger of death and I will respect the excellencie of the lawes of your fathers for which you thinke you ought to entertaine warre and danger neither is it lawful to suffer the temple of God to be defiled by the authority of princes I wil therfore write vnto Caesar and certifie him of your mindes and in all that I may I will assist you to obtaine your requests God whose power surpasseth all industrie and humane force vouchsafe to conduct you and make you constant in the obseruation of your lawes and grant that he thorow excessiue desire of humane glorie commit not any thing that may offend God And if Caius be displeased and inforce his ineuitable displeasure against me I will vndertake all danger and endure all torments both in body and spirit to the end that I may not behold so many vertuous men as you are perish in your good and iust actions Go therefore each of you and plie your worke and till your lands my selfe wil send vnto Rome and both in my selfe and by my friends I wil employ my selfe for you After he had spoken thus he dismissed the assembly praying the chiefest amongst them to encourage the husbandmen to plie their businesse and to confirme the rest of the people in their good hope Of himselfe also he ceased not to animate them And truely God shewed his assistance to Petronius and assisted him in ◅ll his affaires For as soone as he had finished his discourse vnto the Iewes there sodainly fell a great raine beyond all humane expectation For the day was verie faire neither was there any appearance of raine in the ayre and all that yeere long there was an extreme drought so that men were past hope to haue any moisture notwithstanding that sometime there appeared certaine clouds in the heauens At that time therfore the water fell in great abundance and besides the expectation and opinion of men the Iewes conceiued hope that Petronius solliciting their cause should not bee repulsed But Petronius was more amazed then all the rest seeing euidently that God vndertooke the affaires of the Iewes and gaue them testimonie of his manifest assistance so that they that were their professed aduersaries had no meanes to contradict them as he himselfe wrote to Caius at large with inductions and exhortations to the end he should not drawe so many thousand men into a desperate resolution and vnhappy death For without warre it was impossible for them euer to make them forsake their religion Furthermore that he would not cut off and lose the reuenue which he receiued of that nation and would not erect a trophey of an euerlasting curse and malediction against himselfe Adding moreouer what the power of their God was which he had so cleerely declared that no man ought to doubt but that his mercifull hand was ouer them This is the content of Petronius letters On the other side king Agrippa who at that time conuersed at Rome grew more and more in fauour with Caius hauing entertained him at a banquet wherein he enforced himselfe to exceede all others in sumptuousnesse as in all other sorts of delights and pleasures yea with such festiuals entertained he him that not onely others but also the Emperour himselfe could not attaine to such magnificence so much inforced he himselfe to exceed all others thorow the great desire he had to content and satisfie Caesar in all things Caius was abashed at this his courage and magnificence seeing Agrippa enforce himselfe aboue his power and meanes to abound in siluer and all this to the intent to please him For which cause Caesar in acquitall of his kindnes intending to honour Agrippa to his vtmost power in granting him that which he most desired being one day whet with wine inuited him to drinke a carouse adding these words Agrippa I haue heretofore known the honour thou hast shewed towards me and thou hast expressed the earnest affection that thou bearest me in hazarding thy selfe in diuers dangers into which thou hast been drawne during Tiberius life time and hast omitted nothing no
dignitie of the man conducted him to Alexandria whither he no sooner resorted but Cleopatra receiued him verie honorably intending to make him the generall of her army which she was preparing at that present But he neither regarding the offers and request of the Queene nor yet discouraged by the hard winter season nor the dangers of the seas tooke his iourney towards Rome and being in great danger of shipwrack neere vnto Pamphilia both hee the rest of the passengers were inforced to cast away the most part of their loading with much adoe he arriued safe at Rhodes vvhich had been sore molested by Cassius vvarres there was he entertained by certaine of his friends Ptolomaeus and Saphinius and although his money grew scant yet there he builded a great galley vvith three rankes of oares and in it being accompanied with his friends he sailed to Brundusium and from thence went presently to Rome Where first of all in regard of familiaritie betweene his father and him he went to Antonius declaring vnto him both his owne calamitie and the miserable desolation of his vvhole countrey and howe leauing his dearest friends besieged in a Castle himselfe in humble manner through the stormie vvinter seas was come vnto him humbly crauing succor at his hands VVherupon Antonius compassionating his calamitie and remembring his familiaritie with Antipater and contemplating the vertue of Herod vvho stood before him determined vpon the present to make him king of the Iewes vvhom before he himselfe had made Tetrarch for he loued not Herode so vvell but he hated Antigonus as much for he held him both for a seditious person and for an enemie to the Romans Now to the accomplishing of this he found Caesar farre more ready then himselfe who called to minde the seruice that Antipater did in Aegypt vnder his father and his entertainment and friendship in all things and beside all these he vvas wrought and vvoon by Herods courage and valour For vvhich cause he procured the Senate to be assembled at vvhich time Messala and after him Aratinus in the presence of Herod recounted his fathers deserts and fidelitie towards the Romans declaring Antigonus to be an enemy not onely because that not long before he had reuolted but for that now lastly in despite of the Romans he had by the assistance of the Parthians vsurped the kingdome Vpon vvhich considerations the Senate being mooued and Antonius affirming it to be expedient for the Roman vvarres that Herod should be created king the vvhole Senate condescendéd and after the Senate vvas dismissed Antonius and Caesar went forth with Herod betweene them and the Consuls went before accompanied with other Magistrates to offer sacrifice and to register the decree of the Senate in the Capitoll And Antonius feasted Herod the first day of his raigne CHAP. XII Of Herods warre after he returned from Rome to recouer Ierusalem and against the theeues AT this time Antigonus besieged those that vvere left in the Castle of Massada vvho had great store of victuals and wanted nothing but vvater For vvhich cause Iesophus Herods brother purposed to flie vnto the Arabians with two hundreth of his dearest friends for that he had intelligence that Malichus repented him that he had giuen Herod no better entertainment Yea he had forsaken the Castle had not great store of raine fallen that verie night wherein he intended to flie for the vvels and cesternes being now filled vvith water there vvas no cause to flie so that voluntarily issuing out of the Castle he assaulted Antigonus souldiers and killed verie many of them sometime in open war and sometime by pollicie yet fought they not alwaies vvith fortunate successe but returned sometimes vvith losse In the meane time Ventidius vvho was Generall of that Roman army vvhich was sent to expulse the Parthians out of Syria after he had repulsed them resorted into Iudaea vnder pretence to succour Ioseph and the rest that vvere besieged but in effect to get Antigonus money When as therefore he drew neere vnto Ierusalem and had receiued the money he looked for he departed vvith the greatest part of his army leauing Silo behinde him vvith a few to colour his pretence and Antigonus hoping for a second supply from the Parthians feed Silo not to molest him for the present seeing he vvas in great possibilitie By this time Herode hauing sailed from Italy to Ptolemais and gathered a great army of strangers and his owne countrimen togither came into Galilee against Antigonus being assisted vvith the forces of Ventidius and Silo vvhom Delius vvho was sent from Antonius perswaded to establish Herod in his kingdome But Ventidius vvas busie in appeasing the broiles that the Parthians had made in the Cities and Silo vvas corrupted by Antigonus yet did not Herod vvant aide for euerie day the further he marched into the countrey the more his army encreased for all Galilee a verie few excepted yeelded vnto him Wherupon he purposed first of al to go to Massada to deliuer his friends that vvere there besieged but Ioppe hindred his purpose vvhich for that it vvas an enemy towne he thought it best to take it before he vvent further least that vvhilest he was going to Ierusalem his enemies should haue a place behinde him to flie vnto Now Silo ioyned armies vvith Herod reioycing that he had found occasion to resist because he vvas persecuted by the Iewes vvhom Herod with a loose wing of his army and a small companie of men terrified and presently put to flight and saued Silo also vvho had much adoe to make resistance against them This done and Ioppe taken he hasted to Massada and the people of the countrey some of them for his fathers sake othersome for his owne and many for both ioyned themselues vnto him many also came vnto him for hope because he vvas now king so that nowe he had a verie puissant army but Antigonus hindred his iourney by planting certaine ambushes in places conuenient vvhere Herode was to passe and yet for all this he little harmed him Herod hauing easily taken Massada and rescued his friends from thence he vvent to Ierusalem vvhere both Siloes souldiers and many of the Citie came and followed him being nowe terrified vvith the greatnesse of his forces there pitching their tents at the west side of the town they that guarded that part assaulted them with dartes and arrowes and others issuing by troupes foorth of the Citie assaulted the forefront of the army Whereupon Herode caused one to go about the wals of the Citie and to proclaime how that he was come for the good of the vvhole Citie and that he would not take reuenge of any though he were his open enemy and that he would pardon euen them that had been most seditious But when Antigonus his followers with lowd exclamations hindred the criers voices from being heard least any man should alter his minde Herod presently commaunded
was he reuenged vpon the Arabians and daily made incursions vpon their borders and ceased not to inuade and spoile them vntill by many he cried quittance with them for their one victory While thus he pursued his enemies a great calamitie befell him in the seuenth yeere of his raigne and in the midst of the Actian warre for about the beginning of the spring time there chaunced a great earthquake vvhich slew an infinite multitude of beasts and thirtie thousand people yet the army had no harme for it lay in an open place With the report hereof the Arabians were highly encouraged for such as report an euill occurrent do alwaies redouble the miserie thereof in relating it for which cause the Arabians making account that all Iudaea was ouerthrowne and that there was no man left aliue to resist them entred into Iudaea assuring themselues to conquer the countrey and before their comming they slew the Embassadours of the Iewes that were sent vnto them Herode perceiuing his countrimen terrified by the sodaine approch of their enemies and not onely broken but wearied with the greatnes and continuance of their calamities rowsed vp their drouping spirits that were tired with suspect encouraged them after this manner I see no reason of your present feare neither do I admire that you were terrified with the punishment of Gods indignation but it is a cowardly mind to be daunted by the comming of your enemies who are but men and whose violence if your selues please ye may represse For mine owne part I am so farre from being discouraged by the approch of my enemies that I rather thinke that God hath of his prouidence sent this earthquake as a bait to allure and incite the Arabians to inuade vs to the end that through our meanes he may punish them for the cause that moueth them to assault vs is not the trust they repose in their owne valour and great armie but it is our miserie that inuiteth them Yet who knoweth not that the hope is frustrated that is founded not vpon a mans priuate vertue but vpon another mans misfortune There is nothing assured in humane affaires in respect either of prosperous successe or aduerse fortune which a man may perceiue to alter vpon all occurrents as we our selues may witnes by our owne experience For in the first conflict you ouercame in the second ye were ouercome and now the third time for ought I can coniecture they thinking themselues sure of the victory shall by vs be ouercome for they who misdoubt nothing are rash in their proceedings whereas they that are fearefull and timorous prouidently seeke to preuent their daungers so that I am encouraged to hope for victorie euen by your feare For when as you were too confident and against my will and direction rushed in vpon your enemies Athenio found opportunitie to hurt vs but now since I perceiue in your minds a certaine remisnes and a forecast it is an euident token vnto me of assured victory It behooueth you therfore not only before the conflict to continue your accustomed minds but also in the conflict to shew that ye are men armed both with hearts â—…dines to 〈◊〉 end that our impious enemies may wel see that neither any humane calamity nor diuine punishment can daunt the courage of the Iewes whilest the breath is in their bodies and that neuer a one of you all will suffer the Arabians to domineere ouer your goods and possessions whom many times you haue almost made your slaues Be not therefore terrified with this motion of a boâ—… that hath no soule neither yet perswade your selues that the earthquake portendeth any massacre for euen the elements themselues by their own nature are subiect to such defects and portend no other mishap but that which they bring with them Perhaps the plague and famine and earthquake haue some tokens demonstrating them before they come but when they are once come they signifie nothing else but at last end and cease of themselues But say we should be ouercome can warre enforce more haâ—…e against vs then the earthquake hath done Truly it is an euident token of our enemies ruine and that by their owne cause who most cruelly contrarie to the law of all nations butchered our Embassadours offering to God such sacrifice for the good successe of their warres They cannot hide themselues from the slight of God and from his mightie power but presently they shall feele punishment for their offence if filled with the couragious spirit of our nation we be stirred vp to reuenge that impious violating the law of all nations and so euery one march on to fight not for his wife and children or countrey but to reuenge the murther of our Embassadours who will lead our army and know better then we that are aliue to direct the same For mine owne part if you will be ruled by â—…e I will be the first that will lead you and will hazard my selfe for you for you know full well that if your valour be not eclipsed by some headlong rashnes there is nothing that may make head against you After he had by these or such like perswasions sounded his souldiers and found them in some sort encouraged thereby he offered sacrifice to God And presently after with all his army hee passed ouer Iordan and pitching his tents at Philadelphia not farre from his enemie he made a shew to assault a castle that was between them and him and so skirmished with them a farre off desirous to draw them to the battell for the enemies had sent to intercept the castell but Herâ—…s forces gaue them the repulse and in despite of them kept the hill Thus euery day made he an offer to fight brauing the Arabians and sâ—…eing that they would not come to the shocke for they were in a great feare and Athemus their generall for very feare was ready to giue vp the ghost he assaulted them in their trenches and cast downe their rampier so as they were constrained to come forth to battel without any order their horsemen and footmen were confusedly mixt togither And although the Iewes in number were inferior vnto them yet they were inferiour vnto the Iewes in courage yet they became now more hardy because they despaired of the victory so long as they stood to it they had no great losse but when they â—…urned their backs then many were slaine by the Iewes many perished being trodeâ—… on by their fellowes Those that escaped were forced to retire theÌ„selues into theâ—… trenches where Herod besieged them although they were alreadie to be put to the sword yet was there such penâ—…e of water that for drink they were all like to perish For which cause they sent Embassadors to the king offering him fiftie talents to let them go but he contemned theÌ„ so much more â—…est was he by reason that their want of water was so great that coÌ„ming
a mountaine neere Arabia hauing on one side a strong place of defence and this Castle he called Herodium after his owne name By the same name also he called a tomb which he builded sixtie stounds from Ierusalem artificially made in maner of a womans dug which he richly adorned for within compasse of the top of it he caused round turrets to be placed and round about it he builded princely houses gallantly adorned both within and without He also brought water from a great way off with great cost and charges and made a paire of staires of pure white marble to go vp which had two hundreth steps For the whole hill was made by arte and it was of an exceeding height at the foote thereof likewise he builded another pallace and houses to receiue his friends and their carriage so that this castle for the abundance of all necessarie places seemed a citie and yet was it all the kings pallace Hauing erected thus many buildings he shewed his braue minde in strange Cities likewise for at Tripolis and Damascus and Ptolemais he builded publike bathes which are called exercises He builded the wall of Biblus and seates porches temples and markets at Berytus and Tyre at Sidon and Damascus he builded a Theater and a water conduit at Laodicea a sea towne At Ascalon he builded fountaines or lakes very sumptuous and baths with pillers that for greatnes and gallant worke were miraculous To other places he gaue woods and ports and vnto many cities he added fields as though they had been fellow cities of his kingdome Also toward the maintenance of the bathes he gaue a yeerely annuitie for euer as namely to those at Cous to the intent he might be an eternall benefactor Moreouer he gaue all poore people corne and he often and in sundry places gaue the Rhodians money to built a nauy of ships At his owne proper cost he repaired Pythium which was burnt with fire What should I say of his liberalitie which he extended vnto them of Lycia and Samia or the magnificent gifts which he vsed toward all the people of Ionia yea all things which their hearts could desire whereby he relieued all their necessities Nay both the Athenians and Lacedemonians and Nicopolites and the Citizens of Pergamus in Mysia receiued very many benefits at his hands He paued also a large streete in Antiochia of Syria which was in length twentie stounds and that with faire marble This streete before that time was so full of durt that no man could goe thorow it and all along it he builded galleries that people might go drie thorow it in rainy weather Some one may say that these benefits that he thus bestowed were done for the proper vse of those people on whom he bestowed them but no man can denie but that which he did for the citizens of Elis was not onely common to those of Achaia but vnto all the world where the games called Olympica Certamina were solemnized For Herode seeing them decay onely for want of maintenance and that this was the only remainder of all the ancient monuments of Greece he not only in his own person at that time became one of the proposers of rewards in that Olympiade which he assisted when he went to Rome but also gaue a yeerely stipend to maintaine the same least for want it should be left off It is not to be told what debts and tributes he remitted for he deliuered the Phasaelites and Balaneotes and other townes of Cilicia from the paiment of a yeerly tribute yet was he not so liberall vnto them as he would haue been fearing least the enuy of some might accuse him of some further meaning if he should be more bountifull vnto the cities then those that were the owners thereof He exercised his body likewise in exercises fit for so valiant a minde for he was a verie skilfull hunter wherein he had alwaies his purpose by reason of his skil in riding so that in one day he killed fortie wilde beasts That countrey hath many bores but it hath most store of Harts and wilde Asses He was such a warriour as no man was able to encounter withall so that many were astonished to see him exercise himselfe who admired him for casting a dart and shooting an arrow Beside the vertue both of his mind and bodie he had also good fortune for very seldome the euent of warre was otherwise then he expected which if it sometime chanced it was not through his fault but through the rashnes of his souldiers or else through treason CHAP. XVII Of the disagreement betweene Herode and his sonnes Alexander and Aristobulus BVt his priuate and domesticall sorrowes seemed to enuie him his publike felicitie and most aduerse fortune befell him through the meanes of a woman whom he loued as himselfe For being now made king he put away his wife which he first maried which was a Ladie borne in Ierusalem whose name was Doris and maried Mariamme the daughter of Alexander who was Aristobulus sonne which caused troubles in his house both before but especially after he returned from Rome For he banished his eldest sonne Antipater whom he had by Doris out of the citie onely for his childrens sake that he had by Mariamme licensing him onely at festiuall times to come vnto the citie in regard of some suspicion of treason intended against him And afterward he slew Hyrcanus his wiues vncle notwithstanding that he returned out of Parthia vnto him because after he suspected that he intended some treason against him whom Barzapharnes after he had taken all Syria tooke away prisoner with him But his own countrimen that dwelt beyond Euphrates in commiseration redeemed him from thraldome had he beene counselled by them and not come vnto Herode he had not beene killed but the mariage of his neece caused his death for for that cause and especially for the loue of his natiue soyle he came thither That which moued Herode to kill him was not for that he sought the kingdome but because he had right vnto the kingdome Herode had fiue children by Mariamme two daughters and three sons The yongest was sent to Rome to studie where he died The other two he brought vp like Princes both for their mothers nobilitie sake for that they were borne after he was king But that which aboue al other was most forcible was the loue he bare to Mariamme which from day to day tormented him more violently in such sort that he felt not any part of those griefes which this his best beloued enforced against him For Mariamme hated him as much as he loued her and hauing a iust cause and colour of discontent moreouer being emboldened by the loue which he bare her she euerie day vpbraided him with that which he had done vnto Hyrcanus her vncle and vnto her brother Aristobulus For Herode spared him not although he was a child
vvals to beate the Iewes from thence And so they cast stones and dartes and fire and arrowes in great abundance so that they did not onely beat the Iews frō off the vvals but also out of the reach of their shot for both the Arabian archers and those that vsed slings and dartes and all the engines continually plaied vpon them For all this the Iewes rested not but running out in companies as theeues they tooke away that vvhich defended the vvorkemen and then assaulted them hauing no de◅e and vvhen they had beaten them away destroied and fired all that the Romans had vvrought for their owne defence and safegard At last Vespasian perceiued that these domages happened for that there vvas space left betweene all these vvorkes vvhereby the enemies had accesse to doe them such harmes wherefore he vnited them togither and so hindered the priuie excursions of the Iewes When the mount vvas almost made and the towers vpon it finished Ioseph afraid to doe nothing for the safegard of the towne called all vvorkmen necessarie togither and commanded them to make the wal there higher but they said it vvas vnpossible for them to vvorke for the number of shot in that place Then Ioseph made this deuise to defend them he fixed stakes in the ground and fastened vnto them hides of Kine and Oxen new slaine by vvhich they vvere defended from shot and fire so that they labouring night and day raised the wall twentie cubites high erecting also vpon it many towers and by this meanes made it a strong defence Whereat the Romans vvho before thought themselues sure of the towne vvere now greatly dismaied both by this deuise of Iosephs and also by the hardinesse of the Iewes CHAP. VIII Of the siege of Iotapata by Vespasian and the diligence that Ioseph vsed and how the Iewes made excursions against the Romans THis stratageme and the carriage of the Iewes greatly mooued Vespasian for now they receiuing courage in that defence made assaults vpon the Romans of their owne accord and euerie day skirmished running out in companies and like theeues taking away vvhatsoeuer they lighted vpon and what they could not carrie away they set on fire At last Vespasian would not permit his souldiers to fight any longer but determined now to besiege it take it by want of victuals purposing either to make them come yeeld themselues for lacke of foode or if they held out to famish thē and that it would be more easie to take it by force if ceasing a while from assaulting it he afterward set vpon it they being in anguish for the danger they were in Wherefore he commanded all passages to be kept that none could goe out of the Citie But they had great store of corne and of all other things else except salt and water whereof they stoode in great want for there is neuer a fountaine in the citie and they haue little raine in sommer time so that the inhabitants were in great distresse for now there was hardly any water left in the citie Ioseph perceiuing there was abundance of all thinges else and that the citizens vvere valiant as also the siege like to cōtinue long he gaue to euery one vvater in measure vvith vvhich they vvere not contented thinking it as good to vvant altogether as to haue it in that manner now they began to saint as though they had suffered extreame drought The Romans perceiued this being vpon a high hill ouer against the place whither all the Iewes came togither to recome water and they with their shot killed many that came thither insomuch that Vespasian hoped that within short time their water would be spent and they constrained to yeeld But Ioseph to frustrate this hope commanded a great many garments to be layde in water and hanged vppon the wals so that the water might run downe vpon euery side When the Romans saw this they were much grieued and affraid for that they wasted so much water in mockerie and before had thought that they had wanted water to drinke And now Vespasian scorning to winne the citie by siege purposed to assault it againe by force The Iewes were verie glad of this themselues and the citie in danger rather wishing to be slaine then perish through hunger or thirst Ioseph deuised also another way to get such necessaries that he wanted out of the country for there was a◅alley out of the way therefore not regarded by the Romans wherefore Ioseph sent men into the countrie to his friendes for such things as the citie wanted by this way commanding them when they came neere the watchmen to hide and couer themselues with hairie skinnes that the watchmen might thinke them to be dogges and this he vsed a good space till at last the watchmen perceiued it and so set a guard there to stop the passage When Ioseph perceiued the Citie could not hold out long and fearing his owne life if still he continued there he treated with the chiefe of the citie that he might flie But the people perceiuing his intent flocked about him and be fought him to take pitie vpon them and not forsake them who had no hope but in him affirming that for his sake they were all couragious and bould to fight and if they were taken yet he would be a comfort vnto them telling him that it did not become him to flie from his enemies nor to forsake his friends neither as it were to leape out of a ship shaken with a tempest into the which he came when the seas were calme for so by this meanes he would soone ouerthrow the citie and once gone no man afterward could or durst resist their enemies for in him was all their hope Ioseph kept it to himselfe that his purpose was to worke his owne safetie for he told them the thing which he intended was for their good affirming that though he stayed still in the citie yet he could doe them little good and if the citie should chance to be taken then hee and they were like to perish but if he were abroade and not besieged he could doe them great good for hee would presently assemble all the people of Galilee and come against the Romans and so raise their siege whereas now in staying with them he saw not wherein he did them any good but rather incited the Romans against them making them more earnest to take the towne then they would be onely because he was there that they might take him but if they knewe once that hee were fled they would not then be so earnest in the siege Ioseph herewith could not perswade the people but they flocked faster about him and both young and olde of all sorts came and prostrated themselues at his feet weeping and beseeching him to take such hap as should befall them whether it were good or bad not for that they enuied his escape but for that they hoped they
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
receiued a peece of money to saue the Citie did not regarding his oth seeke to destroy the same The Romanes doe onely request the tribute that our auncestors were wont to pay vnto them which if they haue they will neuer destroy the Citie nor touch our holy things They will also permit you to enioy freely your families and possessions and suffer our lawes to remaine inuiolate It is altogether madnesse for you to hope that God will so punish iust men as he did sinners and impious persons who knoweth to punish at his pleasure To be short hee destroyed the Assyrians the first night that they encamped before the Citie And if he purposed also to deliuer you and punish the Romans he would then haue done it when Pompey and Sosius came against the citie or when Vespasian wasted Galilee or lastly now when Titus came to assault it But neither Pompey nor Sosius suffered any harme yet both of them tooke the Citie Vespasian so gained by warring against vs that he hath hereby got the whole empire And the fountaines which before gaue you no water yeeld it to Titus in great aboundance You know that before his comming the fountaines without the Citie and Siloa were so dried vp that water was sold by measure yet now they flow so plentifully that they doe not onely serue all the armie their cattell also but besides that do water all the gardens about What this wonder foretelleth you haue already experience When the king of Babylon came with his armie and destroyed the citie who tooke it and fired it and the Temple notwithstanding that as I am perswaded the Iewes of that time were nothing so wicked as you are Wherfore I thinke that God hath forsaken this holy place and is now gone to them that doe besiege you Wil not a good man flie a wicked house and hate the impious that dwell therein And doe you then thinke that God will abide your impietie who beholdeth all secrets and knoweth al things that are hid But what is secret amongst you Or what doe you seeke to hide Nay what doe you that your enemies doe not know All your iniquities are disclosed to all men and you euerie day striue one with another who shall bee most impious And you doe as greatly labour to shew your selues vicious as others doe to shew themselues vertuous Yet for all this there is time to amend and Gods wrath will be appeased if yee acknowledge your sins be penitent for your offences Cease from armes be ashamed of your Countrie now ruined through your owne meanes Turne your eyes and behold the beautie of the place whose ruine you seeke How braue a Citie how gorgious a Temple how rich with the giftes of all nations Who would fire these who would desire the ruine of these Or what is there in the world that better deserueth to bee serued then these O hard hearted people and more blockish then stones If you doe not pittie these yet let your families moue you euerie one of you looke vpon your children wiues and parents who shall all presently be consumed either with sword or famine I know that together with you shall perish my family and wife and house which sometime were of no small account And perhaps some of you doe thinke me therfore to speake this vnto you but kill them and take my bloud for recompence of your welfare and liues I my selfe am also prepared to die if after my death you would remember your selues Ioseph crying thus vnto them with teares trickling downe his cheekes the seditious were nothing mooued but told him that it was not safetie for them to yeeld But the people were perswaded to flie and some selling their possessions and that they had for smal prices they did swallow downe the gold for feare the theeues should take it from them And so when they had escaped vnto the Romans they emptying their bellies found it againe and so had money to buy them necessaries Titus also permitted many to go away whither soeuer they pleased which thing caused diuers to flie seeing that thereby they were deliuered out of their calamitie which in the citie they aboad and were not forced to serue the Romans But Iohn and Simon were as diligent to stop the waies least the Citizens should escape as they did hinder the Romans from entring into the Citie so that whosoeuer did but giue any suspition of flight he was presently by them put to death The richer sort whether they staid or fled were slain for their wealth and possessions The famine of the citie and the desperation of the theeues both increased alike euerie day more and more so that now there was no more corne found Wherfore the seditious persons brake into the houses and searched euerie corner for to find corne and if after their search they found any then they did beat the owners for denying it at the first and if they found none they tortured the housholders as hauing more cunningly hidden it And whosoeuer was yet strong of body and well liking him they presently kild for hereby they deemed him to haue store of food or els he should not haue bin in so good plight of body as he was And they that were pined with famine were by these barbarous seditious people slain who esteemed it no offence to kil them who would shortly after die though they were left aliue Many both rich and poore secretly exchanged all that they had for one bushell of corne and presently shutting themselues in the secretst roome of their house some of them did eate the corne as it was vnground others made bread therof as necessitie and feare required No man in the whole Citie sate downe to eat his meate on a table but greedily taking it not boiled from the fire they euen rawe as it was did eat it Most miserable was this manner of liuing and a spectacle which none without tears was able to behold for the strongest still got the most and the weakest bewailed their miserie for now famine was the greatest calamitie they endured And nothing doth arme men more then shame for during this famine no reuerence was had towards any man for wiues tooke the meate euen out of their husbands mouths and children from their parents and mothers euen from their infants which was the most lamentable thing of all No body had now any cōpassion neither did they spare their dearest infants but suffered them to perish euen in their armes taking from them the verie drops of life Yet could they not eate thus in such secrecie but presently some came to take away from them that whereon they fed For if in any place they saw any doore shut presently hereupon they coniectured that they in the house were eating meat and forthwith breaking downe the doores they came in and taking them by the throat they tooke the meat out of their mouths already chewed
that the same God likewise now thinketh good that I should forsake thee put vpon thee a constant mind and take in good part that thus thou must be sacrifiecd for in so doing I fulfill the comm◅dements of God who requireth at our hands that wee doe him this honour for the fauours which he hath bestowed vpon me in assisting me and in familier manner conuersing and associating me both in warre and peace Since therefore that being borne thou art to die not after the accustomed manner of the liuing but being offered in sacrifice by thine owne father to the generall father God I deeme it reasonable that since it seemeth good vnto him that thou depart out of this life not by sicknes nor by warre nor by any other inconuenience that naturally happeneth vnto men that it is behoofull also that thou render thy soule vnto him in the midst of praiers and the celebration of this sacrifice to the end he may receiue and seate thee neere himselfe Thou shalt be my purueyor and stay of mine age which is the cause for which I haue nourished thee if thou leaue me God for my purueyor and comfort in thy place Then Isaac with a noble heart like the gratious sonne of so godly a father heard all that which his father said with great contentment and answered that he would rather neuer haue beene borne then that he should once neglect the ordinance of God and of his father or shew himselfe negligent to submit his will to both their pleasures considering that if his father onely should commaund the same he should doe verie euill if he disobeyed him which said he marched towards the Altar and offered himselfe to the slaughter which had surely happened at that instant if God had not regarded him for with a loud voice he called Abraham by his name commaunding him that he should not kill his sonne auerring that he had not giuen him that commaundement because he tooke pleasure in humane bloud neither for that by such impietie he would depriue him of that sonne of whom it was his pleasure to make him the father but that by this act he intended to proue his affection to see whether being commaunded such a thing he would be obedient and for that he had made triall of his faith and readines and his vnspeakable pietie he did not repent him of that good he had done vnto him that the time should neuer be wherein he would forget to haue care of him and his race whensoeuer he should pray vnto him and that when the course of his yeares were happily ouerpast he should leaue a great signiory to those of his children which should be good and legitimate He tolde him moreouer that he would multiply the race in diuers Nations and that he would bestow great benefits vpon them and that the memorie of the chiefe of his ofspring should be euerlasting that whē they had gotten the country of Chanaan by armes they should be enuied by all men for their greatnes After that God had spoken after this manner it pleased him on the sodaine no man knoweth how to cause a Ramme to be seene and found there abouts for the sacrifice and thus being deliuered from all euils and inconueniences beyond their expectations after they had heard so many promises of so many blessings they embraced one another and celebrated the sacrifice which done they returned towards Sara in safetie and past the remnant of their liues in happinesse God giuing them his blessing in whatsoeuer they vndertooke CHAP. XV. The death of Sara Abrahams wife NOt long time after this Sara died after she had liued one hundreth twentie and seuen yeares and was buried in Hebron for the Chananeans freely offered them free buriall yet Abraham chose rather to buy a place to burie in of Ephrem a certaine Cittisen of Hebron for fower hundreth sickles where the monuments both of him and his posteritie are builded CHAP. XVI How the Nation of the Troglodytes came of Chetura the wife of Abraham AFter this Abraham married Chetura by whom he had sixe children strong in trauell and excellent in wisedome namely Zembranes Iazar Madar Madian Lousoubac Suus who likewise had sons Suus had Sabacan Dadanes Of Dadanes issued Latusimus Assurus Luures The children of Madan were Epha Ophres Anochus Ebidas Eldas Of all these children and their successors Abraham gathered and established the Colonies which possessed the countrey of the Troglodytes and all the countrey of Arabia the happie whose confi◅es extend euen vnto the red sea Some report that this Ophres conducted an armie into Libia and possessed the same and that his successors making their abode in that countrey called it by the name of Aphrica And this my opinion is confirmed by Alexander Polyhistor who writeth after this maner Cleodemus the Prophet who is also called Malchus hath written the actes of the Iewes according as Moses their lawmaker hath compiled the same in writing saith that of Chetura there were diuers children borne vnto Abraham and he nameth three by their names to wit Apher Surim and Iapher and that of Surem the Assyrians tooke their name of the two others Apher and Iapher the Citie of Affricke and the countrey of Africa take their names That they warred with Hercules against Lybia and Antaeus and how Hercules hauing taken Ophra his daughter to his wife had begotten of her Dedor who was father to Sophon from whom those Barbarians that are called Sophaces haue taken their name But Abraham knowing that he should prouide a wife for Isaac his sonne being almost fortie yeares olde sent the oldest seruant of his famely to betroth and intreat for Rebecca the daughter of the sonne of Nachor his brother for Isaac and bound him to the performance thereof with great othes celebrated according to these ceremonies which were that laying their two hands one ore anothers theighes they should call God to witnesse of there intent he sent also straunge presents vnto them such as were seldome seene in those parts he then departing from him was long time vpon the way because that in winter time it is troblesome to trauell through Mesopotamia by reason of the deep bogs in sommer for want of water besides the robberies of the country which strangers trauellers could not possibly escape except they stood vpon their guard h◅d conuoy Hereupon at length he arriued and entered a Citie called Carras being in the suburbes of the same he encountered with diuers damsels that went to fetch water whereupon he inwardly besought God that if the mariage were pleasing in his sight he might find Rebecca amongst them for whose cause Abraham had sent him thither to require her in mariage for his sonne and that he might know her by this signe that asking all the rest for water they should refuse him and she onely should satisfie him Tormented and tossed with these thoughts he